bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic evolution of locomotor performance independent of changes in extended phenotype use in spiders
Authors: Kelly Michael B. J. , Khan Md Kawsar , Wierucka Kaja , Jones Braxton R. , Shofner Ryan , Derkarabetian Shahan , Wolff Jonas O.
Published: October 2023

Many animals use self-built structures (extended phenotypes) to enhance body functions, such as thermoregulation, prey capture or defence. Yet, it is unclear whether the evolution of animal constructions supplements or substitutes body functions—with disparate feedbacks on trait evolution. Here, using brown spiders (Araneae: marronoid clade), we explored if the evolutionary loss and gain of silken webs as extended prey capture devices correlates with alterations in traits known to play an important role in predatory strikes—locomotor performance (sprint speed) and leg spination (expression of capture spines on front legs). We found that in this group high locomotor performance, with running speeds of over 100 body lengths per second, evolved repeatedly—both in web-building and cursorial spiders. There was no correlation with running speed, and leg spination only poorly correlated, relative to the use of extended phenotypes, indicating that web use does not reduce selective pressures on body functions involved in prey capture and defence
per se
. Consequently, extended prey capture devices serve as supplements rather than substitutions to body traits and may only be beneficial in conjunction with certain life-history traits, possibly explaining the rare evolution and repeated loss of trapping strategies in predatory animals.
The accuracy ofApis melliferareference genomes: from version Amel 3.0 to Amel 4.5
Authors: Conlon Benjamin H. , Oertelt Eike , Routtu Jarkko
Published: October 2023

The availabilty of reference genomes is accelerating rapidly, making their use in a wide variety of biological research programmes more feasible than ever. However, current Next-Generation Sequencing platforms are limited in the length of reads they are able to produce; requiring the correct order to be determined algorithmically. While there is a potential for errors in assembly algorithims, genetic pedigree data can be used to identify recombination events and, as recombination events are rare locally, test the order of sequences within a genome assembly. We use high-resolution population genomic data to test and compare the assembly quality of the three most recent reference genome assemblies for the western honey bee (Apis mellifera). As a model organism, there are several reference genomes available forA. melliferawith estimated recombination rates ranging from 19 cM/Mb to 37 cM/Mb. We identify a large degree of variation between assemblies and find that at least 20% of the most recentA. melliferareference genome is mis-assembled. Providing an explanation for the degree of variation in estimated recombination rates and potentially influencing results downstream.
Classification and management strategy of spontaneous carotid artery dissection
Authors: Zhou Baoning , Li Chong , Jiao Zhouyang , Cao Hui , Xu Peng , Liu Shirui , Li Zhen , Hua Zhaohui
Published: October 2023

Background and Purpose

Spontaneous carotid artery dissections (sCAD) are the main cause of stroke in middle-aged and young people. There is still a lack of clinical classification to guide the management of sCAD. We reviewed our experience with 179 sCAD patients and proposed a new classification for sCAD with prognostic and therapeutic significance.

Methods

This is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data from June 2018 to June 2023 of sCAD patients treated at a large tertiary academic institution in an urban city in China. Depending on the degree of luminal narrowing and pseudoaneurysm formation on imaging, sCAD was classified into four types. Type IV dissections were divided into type IVA and type IVB dissections according to the presence of intracranial occlusion.

Results

A total of 179 patients and 197 dissected arteries met the inclusion criteria. More than two-thirds of type I dissections are completely recanalized after antithrombotic therapy, and only one case (1.8%) had recurrent ischemic stroke. A total of 38 % of type II dissections and 73% of type III dissections received endovascular treatment (EVT) for persistent flow-limited dissections, enlargement of pseudoaneurysm, or aggravation of clinical symptoms despite antithrombotic therapy. Type IV dissections are more likely to lead to the occurrence of ischemic stroke, and presented with more severe symptoms. About 33% of type IVB dissections received emergent intervention due to intracranial occlusion or aggravation of symptoms after medical treatment.

Conclusions

This study proposes a novel and more comprehensive classification method and management strategy for sCAD. Antithrombotic therapy is beneficial to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke for stable sCAD like type I. Non-emergent EVT can be an alternative therapeutic approach for patients who meet indications as in type II to IVA. Urgent procedure with neurovascular intervention might be needed in those with type IVB SCAD. The short-term results of EVT for sCAD are encouraging, and long-term device-related and functional outcome should be elucidated.
Drug classes affecting intracranial aneurysm risk: genetic correlation and Mendelian randomization
Authors: Ruigrok Ynte M. , Veldink Jan H. , Bakker Mark K.
Published: October 2023

Abstract and key words

Background

There is no non-invasive treatment option to prevent aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (ASAH) caused by intracranial aneurysm (IA) rupture. We aimed to identify drug classes that may affect liability to IA using a genetic approach.

Methods

We obtained genome-wide association summary statistics for unruptured IA (N=2,140 cases), ASAH (N=5,140 cases), and the combined group (N=7,495 cases; N=71,934 controls in all groups), and drug usage from 23 drug classes (N up to 320,000) based on European-ancestry cohorts. We calculated genetic correlation between IA and ASAH, and liability to drug usage independent of the risk factor high blood pressure. Next, we evaluated the causality and therapeutic potential of independent correlated drug classes using three different Mendelian randomization frameworks.

Results

Blood pressure-independent correlations with IA were found for antidepressants, paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid, opioids, beta-blockers, and peptic ulcer and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease drugs. MR showed that the genetically predicted usage of none of these drug classes were causally related to IA. Genetically predicted high responders to antidepressant drugs were at higher risk of IA (odds ratio [OR]=1.61, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.09-2.39, P=0.018) and ASAH (OR=1.68, 95%CI=1.07-2.65, P=0.024) if they used antidepressant drugs. This effect was absent in non-users. For beta-blockers, additional analyses showed that this effect was not independent of blood pressure after all. Genetic liability to chronic multisite pain, an indication for pain medication (paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid, and opioids), was associated with increased IA risk (OR=1.63, 95%CI=1.24-2.14), but not consistently across sensitivity analyses.

Conclusions

We did not find drugs decreasing liability to IA and ASAH but did find that antidepressant drugs may increase liability. In addition, we observed pleiotropy between IA, chronic pain, and pain medication usage, but the driving factor for this pleiotropy remains to be determined. Our results help to better understanding pathogenic mechanisms underlying IA.
A method for sampling parasitizedDrosophila suzukiipuparia from soil
Authors: Capko Clarissa , Thiessen Jason , Harach Lana , Fraser Jessica L. , Franklin Michelle T. , Abram Paul K.
Published: October 2023

Methods to measure the diversity and biological control impact of parasitoids for the control of spotted-wing drosophila,Drosophila suzukii(Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) are being developed in support of biological control programs around the world. Existing methods to determine parasitism levels and parasitoid species composition focus on samplingD. suzukiiwithin fresh and rotting fruit. However, manyD. suzukiipupate in the soil or in dropped fruit, where additional parasitism could occur and where their parasitoids are thought to overwinter. Here we introduce a method for extracting parasitizedD. suzukiipuparia from the soil through a sieve and flotation system, allowing for effective collection of puparia, from which parasitoids can then be reared. Although the method considerably underestimates the absolute number of puparia in soil samples, it nonetheless yields a high number of puparia relative to sampling effort and provides a robust estimate of the relative abundance of puparia among samples. Using this method, we confirmed that at least five species of parasitoids, including some that have rarely been detected in past studies, overwinter in their immature stages insideD. suzukiipuparia in south coastal British Columbia, Canada. The ability to sample puparia from the soil will lead to a more comprehensive view of bothD. suzukiiand parasitoid abundance throughout the season, help confirm parasitoid establishment following intentional releases, and provide a way to measure the diversity of parasitoid species and potential interactions among parasitoids (e.g., hyper- or klepto-parasitism) that can often occur on the soil surface.
Patient Screening for Self-Expanding Percutaneous Pulmonary Valves using Virtual Reality
Authors: Zablah Jenny E. , Than Jeannie , Brownen Lorna P. , Rodriguez Salvador , Morgan Gareth J.
Published: October 2023

Background

In recent years, self-expanding technology to treat pulmonary regurgitation in the native RVOT became FDA approved in the U.S. and is now routinely used. The current practice for selection of patients who are candidates for these devices includes screening for “anatomic fit”, performed by each of the manufacturing companies. Our study aims to validate the use of virtual reality as a tool for local physician-led screening of patients.

Methods

This retrospective study from Children’s Hospital Colorado included patients who underwent pulmonary valve replacement and had screening for a Harmony TPV or Alterra Pre Stent performed between September 2020 and January 2022. The data from the commercial companies dedicated analysis for self-expanding TPVR evaluation with perimeter analysis was collected. Virtual Reality simulation was performed blinded by two congenital interventional cardiologists using Elucis virtual reality software and an Oculus Quest 2 headset.

Results

Among the 27 evaluated cases, the use of a self-expandable valve was recommended by companies dedicated analysis in 23 cases (85.2%), by VR assessment in 26 cases (96.3) and finally implanted in 25 cases (92.6%). Regarding the level of agreement, both modalities (Manufacturer and VR) were good at screeninginpatients who received a self-expanding valve (100% vs. 96.1%). When it came to screening the patientsout, VR presented good capacity to accurately classify non-suitable patients (50% vs. 100%).

Conclusion

Our institutional experience with virtual reality TPVR planning, accurately predicted clinical outcomes. This paves the way for routine use of VR in patient selection for self-expanding valve technologies.
Crystal structures of QseE and QseG: elements of a three-component system from Escherichia coli
Authors: Matsumoto Koki , Fukuda Yohta , Inoue Tsuyoshi
Published: October 2023

Bacteria regulate virulence by using two-component systems (TCSs) composed of a histidine kinase (HK) and a response regulator (RR). TCSs respond to environmental signals and change gene-expression levels. The HK QseE and the RR QseF regulate the virulence of Enterobacteriaceae bacteria such as enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. The operon encoding QseE/QseF also contains a gene encoding an outer membrane lipoprotein, qseG. The protein product QseG interacts with QseE in the periplasmic space to control the activity of QseE and constitutes a unique QseE/F/G three-component system. However, the structural bases of their functions are unknown. Here, crystal structures of the periplasmic regions of QseE and QseG were determined with the help of AlphaFold models. The periplasmic region of QseE has a helix-bundle structure as found in some HKs. The QseG structure is composed of an N-terminal globular domain and a long C-terminal helix forming a coiled-coil-like structure that contributes to dimerization. Comparison of QseG structures obtained from several crystallization conditions shows that QseG has structural polymorphisms at the C-terminus of the coiled-coil structure, indicating that the C-terminus is flexible. The C-terminal flexibility is derived from conserved hydrophilic residues that reduce the hydrophobic interaction at the coiled-coil interface. Electrostatic surface analysis suggests that the C-terminal coiled-coil region can interact with QseE. The observed structural fluctuation of the C-terminus of QseG is probably important for interaction with QseE.
Structural and functional characterization of the novel endo-α(1,4)-fucoidanase Mef1 from the marine bacterium Muricauda eckloniae
Authors: Mikkelsen Maria Dalgaard , Tran Vy Ha Nguyen , Meier Sebastian , Nguyen Thuan Thi , Holck Jesper , Cao Hang Thi Thuy , Van Tran Thi Thanh , Thinh Pham Duc , Meyer Anne S. , Morth Jens Preben
Published: October 2023

Fucoidanases (EC 3.2.1.–) catalyze the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds between fucose residues in fucoidans. Fucoidans are a compositionally and structurally diverse class of fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides that are primarily found in brown seaweeds. Here, the structural characterization of a novel endo-α(1,4)-fucoidanase, Mef1, from the marine bacterium Muricauda eckloniae is presented, showing sequence similarity to members of glycoside hydrolase family 107. Using carbohydrate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses, it is shown that the fucoidanase Mef1 catalyzes the cleavage of α(1,4)-linkages between fucose residues sulfated on C2 in the structure [-3)-α-L-Fucp2S-(1,4)-α-L-Fucp2S-(1-]
n
in fucoidan from Fucus evanescens. Kinetic analysis of Mef1 activity by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the specific Mef1 fucoidanase activity (Uf) on F. evanescens fucoidan was 0.1 × 10−3 Uf µM
−1. By crystal structure determination of Mef1 at 1.8 Å resolution, a single-domain organization comprising a (β/α)8-barrel domain was determined. The active site was in an extended, positively charged groove that is likely to be designed to accommodate the binding of the negatively charged, sulfated fucoidan substrate. The active site of Mef1 comprises the amino acids His270 and Asp187, providing acid/base and nucleophile groups, respectively, for the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds in the fucoidan backbone. Electron densities were identified for two possible Ca2+ ions in the enzyme, one of which is partially exposed to the active-site groove, while the other is very tightly coordinated. A water wire was discovered leading from the exterior of the Mef1 enzyme into the active site, passing the tightly coordinated Ca2+ site.
New boundaries for sustainability accounting? A case study of multi-entity accounting and reporting in the agrifood sector
Authors: Maughan Rebecca , O'Dochartaigh Aideen
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study examines how accounting tools and techniques are used to create and support membership and reporting boundaries for a multi-entity sustainability scheme. It also considers whether boundary setting for this initiative helps to connect corporate activity with planetary boundaries and the SDGs.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study of a national agrifood sustainability scheme, analysing extensive documentary data and multi-entity sustainability reports. The concept of partial organising is used to frame the analysis.

Findings

Accounting, in the form of planning, verification, target setting, annual review and reporting, can be used to create a membership and a reporting boundary. Accounting tools and techniques support the scheme's standard-setting and monitoring elements. The study demonstrates that the scheme offers innovation in how sustainability reporting is managed. However, it does not currently provide a cumulative assessment of the effect of the sector's activity on ecological carrying capacity or connect this activity to global sustainability indicators.

Research limitations/implications

Future research can build on this study's insights to further develop our understanding of multi-entity sustainability reporting and accounting's role in organising for sustainability. The authors identify several research avenues including: boundary setting in ecologically significant sectors, integrating global sustainability indicators at sectoral and organisational levels, sustainability controls in multi-entity settings and the potential of multi-entity reporting to provide substantive disclosure.

Originality/value

This paper provides insight into accounting's role in boundary setting for a multi-entity sustainability initiative. It adds to our understanding of the potential of a multi-entity reporting boundary to support connected measurement between corporate activity and global sustainability indicators. It builds on work on partial organising and provides insight into how accounting can support this form of organising for sustainability.
Accounting for the “harms” of social media firms: dialogic accountability and discursive contestation in public hearings
Authors: Yusuff Kolawole , Whittle Andrea , Mueller Frank
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Existing literature has begun to identify the agonistic and contested aspects of the ongoing development of accountability systems. These “contests” are particularly important during periods of change when an accountability “deficit” has been identified, that is, when existing accountability systems are deemed inadequate and requiring revision. The purpose of this paper is to explore one such set of contests in the case of large technology and social media firms: the so-called “big tech”. The authors focus specifically on “big tech” because of increasing societal concerns about the harms associated with their products, services and business practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analysed four US Congressional hearings, in which the CEO of Facebook was held to account for the company's alleged breaches and harms. The authors conducted a discourse analysis of the dialogue between the account giver (Mark Zuckerberg) and account holders (Members of Congress) in the oral testimony at the four hearings.

Findings

Two areas of contestation in the dialogue between the account giver and account holders are identified. “Epistemic contests” involved contestation about the “facts” concerning the harms the company had allegedly caused. “Responsibility contests” involved contestation about who (or what) should be held responsible for these harms and according to what standards or criteria.

Originality/value

The study advances critical dialogical accountability literature by identifying two areas of contestation during periods of change in accountability systems. In so doing, they advanced the theory by conceptualising the process of change as underpinned by discursive contests in which multiple actors construct and contest the “problem” with existing accountability systems. The outcomes of these contests are significant, the authors suggest, because they inform the development of reforms to the accountability system governing big tech firms and other industries undergoing similar periods of contestation and change.
Digital transformation preparedness: an exploratory study
Authors: Kumar Anil , Salmona Michelle , Berry Robert , Grummert Sara
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Digital transformation (DT) harnessing the potential of emerging technology creates opportunities and challenges for organizations worldwide. Senior executives view DT as a key initiative for future competitiveness, a view shared by academic researchers. What may challenge the organization is that the vision may be present while preparedness may be lacking. Organizational preparedness depends on managers and employees charged with implementing DT and their perceptions on preparedness are often not aligned with senior executives.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, the authors explore the perceptions of managers and employees on DT preparedness in an organization by gathering data from 579 participants. This study uses an innovative approach to qualitative data analysis using interactive topic modeling.

Findings

Findings in this qualitative study provide valuable insights on the perceptions of these individuals and helps understand (a) how they view DT preparedness and (b) may behave in this context. In general DT is well understood, however managers are not keen to change work processes to take advantage of the new digital tools and there appears that generational gap is a barrier to successful DT.

Originality/value

Senior executives play a central role communicating the DT vision necessary to inspire managers and employees. As organizations continue to invest large sums of money to explore value creation for customers and stakeholders by leveraging digital technologies, the information systems (IS) discipline can take the lead by asking the question, what can be done to improve the understanding of DT implementation in an organization?
An exploration of employees’ experiences of online food delivery: evidence from employee reviews
Authors: Saydam Mehmet Bahri , Borzyszkowski Jacek , Karatepe Osman M.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Online food delivery service has evolved swiftly and stretched the bounds of the catering business. In the gig economy, being a food delivery rider draws employees with the promise of flexibility and independence. To this end, the purpose of this paper is to explore the main themes shared in online reviews by food delivery riders and which of these themes are linked to positive and negative ratings.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used 729 employee reviews posted on the Glassdoor website. In addition, they used content analysis to examine reviews of Uber Eats online food ordering company shared by food delivery riders on an online platform.

Findings

The results of this study include seven main themes: “earning,” “customers,” “orders,” “tips,” “car,” “flexible schedule” and “app” (navigation). Positive concepts are associated with “earning,” “orders,” “tips” and “flexible schedule.” Negative themes are linked to the “app” (navigation), “car” and “customers.”

Practical implications

Management should consider online reviews as employees’ opinions and voices. Specifically, management should provide financial support to employees for car maintenance, offer insurance for income stability and arrange training programs to enable them to use several tip-enhancing behaviors.

Originality/value

No research has been conducted using online reviews from an employment search engine to investigate employees’ experiences of online food delivery. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first attempts using user-generated content from an employment search engine to explore employees’ experiences.
Remarkable lives – Robyn Clegg-Gibson in conversation with Robert Hurst
Authors: Clegg-Gibson Robyn , Hurst Robert
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to share Robyn Clegg-Gibson’s story.

Design/methodology/approach

Robyn wrote a biography of her experiences. Robert then asked a series of questions from the perspective of a mental health academic researcher.

Findings

Robyn shared stories from her life, and how her experiences have shaped her life and herself.

Research limitations/implications

Narratives such as this give us an overview of only a single person’s experiences. However, they allow the person with lived experience to explore their story in depth.

Practical implications

What Robyn has written is very emotional. Her story will give readers an insight into her life and experiences.

Social implications

There is so much to learn from a story like Robyn’s. In particular, from her experiences of police processes after a crime.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that Robyn has chosen to publish her unique story in the written form. The value of Robyn sharing her story is apparent upon reading it.
The case study methodology in architectural research: evaluation of epistemological adequacy
Authors: Kalua Amos
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study sought to populate a concise set of guidelines for use of the case study research methodology and evaluate the adequacy with which the methodology has been used previously within both the positivist and interpretivist domains of architectural research.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, the study set out to establish, from the literature, the nature of the case study methodology. Thereafter, a set of guidelines for adequate use of the methodology was populated. The study, then, proceeded to examine selected architectural research papers that had used the case study methodology in order to evaluate the adequacy with which they had used the methodology. The research papers were randomly drawn from two major architectural research journals publishing scholarly work within the positivist and interpretivist paradigms.

Findings

Within the interpretivist domain of architectural research, the study found that there might exist some inadequacy in the way in which the case study methodology has been used.

Originality/value

Despite the popularity of the case study methodology, there have only been limited scholarly attempts at developing a set of guidelines with which to evaluate the adequacy of its usage, particularly within the context of architectural research. This lack of a concise set of guidelines might lead to inappropriate usage of the methodology. This study sought to undertake a review of the usage of the methodology within architectural research with two objectives, namely, populating a concise set of guidelines for use of the methodology and evaluating the adequacy with which the methodology has been used previously.
Multichannel seismic data attenuation compensation via curvelet‐based sparsity promotion
Authors: Mo Tongtong , Yin Ying , Luo Ren , Wang Benfeng
Published: October 2023

Due to subsurface viscosity and heterogeneity, the vertical resolution of observed seismic data is decreased after wave propagation, generating nonstationary seismic data with amplitude attenuation and phase distortion. Inverse Q filtering techniques are always used to enhance the vertical resolution of seismic data. However, the majority of inverse Q filtering methods treat attenuation compensation trace by trace, which may produce non‐robust compensation results with poor transverse continuity and amplify noise energy in noisy cases. Thus, we develop a novel sparsity‐promoting inversion‐based multichannel seismic data attenuation compensation approach by introducing a sparse constraint for curvelet coefficients of multichannel compensated data, which takes the transverse continuity of compensated data into account. Besides, the proposed method with a sparse constraint for curvelet coefficients has a better noise‐resistance property, which can attenuate the noise energy in noisy cases during attenuation compensation, improving compensation accuracy and robustness. To improve its computational efficiency, a fast iterative shrinkage–thresholding algorithm is adopted to solve the established lasso problem. Synthetic data examples with different noise levels and two post‐stack field data examples validate the effectiveness of the proposed multichannel method. Its compensation results have superior vertical resolution, transverse continuity and noise robustness in comparison to the conventional single‐channel compensation method using a damped least squares algorithm.
Sublethal nickel toxicity shuts off manganese oxidation and pellicle biofilm formation in Pseudomonas putidaGB‐1
Authors: Marques Mendonca Raissa , Fulton Taylor , Blackwood Christopher , Costello David
Published: October 2023

In sediments, the bioavailability and toxicity of Ni are strongly influenced by its sorption to manganese (Mn) oxides, which largely originate from the redox metabolism of microbes. However, microbes are concurrently susceptible to the toxic effects of Ni, which establishes complex interactions between toxicity and redox processes. This study measured the effect of Ni on growth, pellicle biofilm formation and oxidation of the Mn‐oxidizing bacteria Pseudomonas putida GB‐1. In liquid media, Ni exposure decreased the intrinsic growth rate but allowed growth to the stationary phase in all intermediate treatments. Manganese oxidation was 67% less than control for bacteria exposed to 5 μM Ni and completely ceased in all treatments above 50 μM. Pellicle biofilm development decreased exponentially with Ni concentration (maximum 92% reduction) and was replaced by planktonic growth in higher Ni treatments. In solid media assays, growth was unaffected by Ni exposure, but Mn oxidation completely ceased in treatments above 10 μM of Ni. Our results show that sublethal Ni concentrations substantially alter Mn oxidation rates and pellicle biofilm development in P. putida GB‐1, which has implications for toxic metal bioavailability to the entire benthic community and the environmental consequences of metal contamination.
From ‘I Think’ to ‘I Feel’
Authors: Coleman Stephen
Published: October 2023

This article explores what pollsters, journalists and politicians mean when they refer to the ‘mood’ of a nation, population or community. To what extent does the concept of mood resemble and differ from the notion of ‘public opinion’? It is argued that the ubiquity of mood‐talk reflects a move away from the myth that political action is motivated by rational instrumentalism. Attention to mood takes seriously the force of pre‐cognitive affectivity and its shaping of public disposition; the disorientating effects of diffuse globalism in which experiences and the feelings to which they give rise do not have obvious causes; and the emergence of new spaces in which affects travel and mutate freely, widely and rapidly. The article suggests that we are living in moody times in which attention to the public zeitgeist may be more important than polling responses to discrete issues.
Middle‐income country trap and total factor productivity growth
Authors: Lee Young Hoon , Park Jungsoo
Published: October 2023

This study assessed the factors allowing middle‐income countries to achieve higher income levels and thus escape the middle‐income trap (MIT). By deriving a stochastic production function using the Cornwell–Schmidt–Sickles (CSS) estimator and country panel data, we successfully distinguished between growth due to total factor productivity (TFP) and that attributable to various production inputs after controlling for random shocks and cross‐sectional dependence. We found that TFP growth was the main factor distinguishing middle‐income countries that have and have not escaped from the MIT; the former countries had significantly higher TFP growth.
Actualizing novel trajectories: Chronological and kairotic improvisations
Authors: Fernandez Virginie , Giordano Yvonne , Hällgren Markus
Published: October 2023

The role of first responders during extreme crisis events consists of improvising under time pressure to retain control of the unfolding situation and mitigate harmful effects to help organizations restore their ‘normal’ functioning. This pervasive view of crises as cosmologic events obscures their transformational dimension and their long‐term positive outcomes. In this article, we explore how actors respond to time pressure and vital stakes while identifying and actualizing a novel trajectory. They improvise to overcome limitations, create, and enact a desirable future to seize an opportunity that arises due to unexpected surprises. We argue that the actualization of novel trajectories relies on a combination of the enactment of a duplicate temporality that combines the chronological time‐pressure of the unfolding event and kairotic time, in which critical decisions and actions actualize the desired future. Our contributions to the crisis management literature are twofold. First, we conceptualize chronological and kairotic improvisation practices to acknowledge that crisis response is not only about acting quickly but also about doing the right thing at the right time. Second, we shed light on crises as ‘cosmologic’ events, showing that they can be a point of origin for long‐term positive outcomes. Finally, we advocate for a deeper and fine‐grained consideration of time and temporality to advance crisis management studies.
Homicide or suicide? A probabilistic approach for the evaluation of the manner of death in sharp force fatalities
Authors: Irmici Marco , D'Aleo Michele , Pelletti Guido , Pirani Filippo , Giorgetti Arianna , Fais Paolo , Pelotti Susi
Published: October 2023

The role of forensic science can be defined as providing relevant opinions to assist investigators and courts of law in answering questions. The Likelihood Ratio (LR) provides a quantitative and logical approach to communicating the strength of expert evidence. We reviewed existing forensic literature on sharp force fatalities, focusing on studies reporting the manner of death and the frequency of some characteristics that are traditionally assessed. Four studies were included, resulting in a database of 173 suicides and 354 homicides. The LR of each of the characteristic under both hypotheses (suicide and homicide) was obtained. Subsequently, the LR was computed in six fatalities with known manner of death, three suicides and three homicides, by multiplying the corresponding LR of each individual characteristic. LR ranged from 115 to 140,250 in suicidal cases and from 9 to 2728 in homicidal cases. Compared to other fields of forensic science where LR is used extensively, the values obtained in our cases of sharp force fatalities is low. However, in forensic pathology there is evidence that is outside the expert's opinion, and it is for the trier of fact, such as the judge or jury, to draw conclusions. Nevertheless, the LR serves as a tool for interpreting and weighing evidence while maintaining the distinct roles of the trier of fact and the expert. To comprehensively apply the LR in the field of sharp force deaths, it will be necessary to standardize the methodology of investigation and data collection in descriptive studies.
Complex interactions among insect viruses‐insect vector‐arboviruses
Authors: Wang Hui , Chen Qian , Wei Taiyun
Published: October 2023

Insects are the host or vector of diverse viruses including those that infect vertebrates, plants, and fungi. Insect viruses reside inside their insect hosts and are vertically transmitted from parent to offspring. The insect virus–host relationship is intricate, as these viruses can impact various aspects of insect biology, such as development, reproduction, sex ratios, and immunity. Arthropod‐borne viruses (arboviruses) that cause substantial global health or agricultural problems can also be vertically transmitted to insect vector progeny. Multiple infections with insect viruses and arboviruses are common in nature. Such coinfections involve complex interactions, including synergism, dependence, and antagonism. Recent studies have shed light on the influence of insect viruses on the competence of insect vectors for arboviruses. In this review, we focus on the biological effects of insect viruses on the transmission of arboviruses by insects. We also discuss the potential mechanisms by which insect viruses affect the ability of hosts to transmit arboviruses, as well as potential strategies for disease control through manipulation of insect viruses. Analyses of the interactions among insect vectors, insect viruses and arboviruses will provide new opportunities for development of innovative strategies to control arbovirus transmission.
Development of gluten‐free craft beer: Impact of brewing process on quality attributes and consumer expectations for sensory properties
Authors: Cela Nazarena , Galgano Fernanda , Di Cairano Maria , Condelli Nicola , Scarpa Teresa , Marconi Ombretta , Alfeo Vincenzo , Perretti Giuseppe
Published: October 2023

To date, few studies investigated the differences between the two main gluten‐free (GF) brewing techniques, such as the use of enzymes and the use of unconventional GF grains in brewing, by consumer perspective. In this study a GF beer brewed with sorghum and quinoa, as brewing adjuncts, was compared to the enzymatic‐treated counterpart, in order to evaluate the effect of deglutinization treatment on physicochemical, volatile, and sensory characteristics of final beer. Moreover, the influence of brewing process and raw materials information on consumers' sensory perceptions, willingness to buy (WTB) and willingness to pay (WTP) was also investigated (n = 105 consumers), under blind (B), expected (E), and informed (I) conditions. The enzymatic‐treated sample showed comparable physicochemical attributes with the untreated counterpart, except for a significant reduction in color and foam stability (p < 0.05). Non‐significant difference between samples was found in the overall liking, WTB, and WTP mean scores in all three sensory test conditions (p > 0.05). The information about the deglutinization treatment had a negative impact on overall liking (p < 0.01), although WTP for both samples was significantly higher in the informed test than in blind condition (p < 0.05). Overall, Check‐All‐That‐Apply test results confirmed that the deglutinization treatment does not affect the beer sensory profile, even if the information about brewing ingredients and technologies may slightly influence the consumers' sensory perception. Therefore, this result proves that it is possible to produce a marketable GF beer, simply by partially replacing 40% of barley malt with unconventional GF grains, without using enzymes for gluten reduction purpose.
Comparison of 2D and 3D convolutional neural networks in hyperspectral image analysis of fruits applied to orange bruise detection
Authors: Pourdarbani Raziyeh , Sabzi Sajad , Zohrabi Reihaneh , García‐Mateos Ginés , Fernandez‐Beltran Ruben , Molina‐Martínez José Miguel , Rohban Mohammad H.
Published: October 2023

Recent advances in hyperspectral imaging (HSI) have demonstrated its ability to detect defects in fruit that may not be visible in RGB images. HSIs can be considered 3D images containing two spatial dimensions and one spectral dimension. Therefore, the first question that arises is how to process this type of information, either using 2D or 3D models. In this study, HSI in the 550–900 nm spectral range was used to detect bruising in oranges. Sixty samples of Thompson oranges were subjected to a mechanical bruising process, and HSIs were taken at different time intervals: before bruising, and 8 and 16 h after bruising. The samples were then classified using two convolutional neural network (CNN) models, a shallow 7‐layer network (CNN‐7) and a deep 18‐layer network (CNN‐18). In addition, two different input processing approaches are used: using 2D information from each band, and using the full 3D data from each HSI. The 3D models were the most accurate, with 94% correct classification for 3D‐CNN‐18, compared to 90% for 3D‐CNN‐7, and less than 83% for the 2D models. Our study suggests that 3D HSI may be a more effective technique for detecting fruit bruising, allowing the development of a fast, accurate, and nondestructive method for fruit sorting.

Practical Application

Orange bruises can reduce the market value of food, which is why the food processing industry needs to carry out quality inspections. An effective way to perform this inspection is by using hyperspectral images that can be processed with 2D or 3D models, either with deep or shallow neural networks. The results of the comparison performed in this work can be useful for the development of more accurate and efficient bruise detection methods for fruit inspection.
Drone audition for bioacoustic monitoring
Authors: Wang Lin , Clayton Michael , Rossberg Axel G.
Published: October 2023

Multi‐rotor drones equipped with acoustic sensors have great potential for bioacoustically monitoring vocal species in the environment for biodiversity conservation. The bottleneck of this emerging technology is the ego‐noise from the rotating motors and propellers, which can completely mask the target sound and make sound recordings unusable for further analysis. The ego‐noise not only degrades the performance of bioacoustic monitoring but also impacts the behaviour of target species if the drone is too close to the target area. In this paper, we address this challenging problem by combining hardware and software solutions that minimize the impact of drone ego‐noise on bioacoustic monitoring.

To collect the target sound from the ground, we used a shotgun microphone recording system suspended underneath the drone body with a wire rope (steel fishing line) of length 2 m. The suspended rope puts a large distance between the drone and the recorder, reducing the propeller sound perceived by the microphone. The shotgun microphone enables the sound to be picked up from the ground effectively while rejecting the drone sound from above. We further developed a software solution that aims to automatically recognize the bird species from the bird call recording and we proposed a noise‐augmented training scheme to improve the robustness of bird recognition in the presence of strong drone noise.

We evaluated the performance of the system in a test problem of recognizing 20 bird species with in‐flight recordings, where a loudspeaker on the ground simulates bird calls. The recordings were obtained using a drone hovering at various altitudes ranging from 5 to 30 m. By combining the hardware and software solutions, the system recognizes birds robustly at an altitude of 30 m and signal‐to‐noise ratio −25 dB.

This demonstrates the feasibility of our drone audition system for bioacoustic monitoring. The proposed method overcomes a long‐standing bottleneck problem in drone audition and promises new applications of bioacoustic monitoring in research and management.
METTL3 promotes choriocarcinoma progression by activating the miR‐935/GJA1 pathway in an m6A‐dependent manner
Authors: Wang Wenzhi , Shi Jianyong , Zheng Lei
Published: October 2023

The emerging role of microRNA‐935 (miR‐935) in modulating cancer progression has been recognized. However, its role in regulating choriocarcinoma (CCA) development and progression remains unknown. The present work aims to reveal the effect of miR‐935 on CCA cell tumor properties and the related mechanism. The RNA expression of methyltransferase 3, N6‐adenosine‐methyltransferase complex catalytic subunit (METTL3), miR‐935, and gap junction protein alpha 1 (GJA1) was detected by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Protein expression of GJA1, Ki67, and METTL3 was measured by western blotting and immunohistochemistry assays. CCK‐8 and colony formation were used to analyze cell proliferation. Transwell assays were performed to assess cell migration and invasion. Angiogenesis was investigated by tube formation assay. Xenograft mouse model assay was used to determine miR‐935‐mediated effect on tumor formation in vivo. The luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull‐down assay were used to verify the relationship between miR‐935 and GJA1. MeRIP assay was used to analyze the m6A methylation of pri‐miR‐935. MiR‐935 expression was significantly upregulated in CCA tissues and cells when compared with control groups. MiR‐935 overexpression promoted CCA cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tube formation and tumor tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo, but miR‐935 knockdown showed the opposite effects. In addition, miR‐935 targeted GJA1 and mediated CCA cell tumor properties by negatively regulating GJA1 expression. METTL3 promoted miR‐935 maturation by inducing m6A methylation of pri‐miR‐935, and its overexpression contributed to CCA cell tumor properties through the regulation of miR‐935. METTL3 promoted choriocarcinoma progression by m6A‐dependently activating the miR‐935/GJA1 pathway.
Comparison of surgical outcomes of Carlevale sutureless scleral fixation and Artisan Aphakia intraocular lens
Authors: Van Severen V. , Maaijwee K. J. M. , Pennekamp C. W. A. , Feenstra H. M. A. , van Dijk E. H. C. , Lindstedt E. W. , Bamonte G.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

To compare intra‐ and postoperative results of sutureless scleral fixated Carlevale intraocular lens (IOL) with iris fixated Artisan IOL.

Methods

Monocentre, retrospective analysis of refractive outcomes and intra‐ and postoperative complications of patients who received a Carlevale or Artisan IOL between January 2019 and March 2022.

Results

178 eyes of 169 patients were included (101 Carlevale and 77 Artisan IOLs). The standard follow‐up time was 1 month. Two statistically significant differences were found: in the deviation of the postoperative spherical equivalent of the refraction from the preoperative chosen IOL target (p = 0.019; mean deviation was −0.46 in the Carlevale and 0.08 in the Artisan group), and the number of eyes with complications between the Carlevale and Artisan groups (p = 0.003; 33 in the Carlevale and 42 in the Artisan group).

Conclusion

The current study is the largest so far comparing both refractive outcomes and complications after implantation of Carlevale and Artisan IOL. The Carlevale IOL does not carry a greater complication risk on the short‐term follow‐up. This provides additional evidence that the Carlevale IOL has to be added to the armamentarium of the ophthalmic surgeon.
Liver biopsy for assessment of suspected drug‐induced liver injury in metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatohepatitis clinical trials: Expert consensus from the Liver Forum
Authors: Palmer Melissa , Kleiner David E. , Goodman Zachary , Brunt Elizabeth , Avigan Mark I. , Regev Arie , Hayashi Paul H. , Lewis James H. , Mehta Ruby , Harrison Stephen A. , Siciliano Massimo , McWherter Charles A. , Vuppalanchi Raj , Behling Cynthia , Miller Veronica , Chalasani Naga , Sanyal Arun J.
Published: October 2023

Background

Causality assessment of suspected drug‐induced liver injury (DILI) during metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatohepatitis (MASH) clinical trials can be challenging, and liver biopsies are not routinely performed as part of this evaluation. While the field is moving away from liver biopsy as a diagnostic and prognostic tool, information not identified by non‐invasive testing may be provided on histology.

Aim

To address the appropriate utilisation of liver biopsy as part of DILI causality assessment in this setting.

Methods

From 2020 to 2022, the Liver Forum convened a series of webinars on issues pertaining to liver biopsy during MASH trials. The Histology Working Group was formed to generate a series of consensus documents addressing these challenges. This manuscript focuses on liver biopsy as part of DILI causality assessment.

Results

Expert opinion, guidance and recommendations on the role of liver biopsy as part of causality assessment of suspected DILI occurring during clinical trials for a drug(s) being developed for MASH are provided. Lessons learned from prior MASH programs are reviewed and gaps identified.

Conclusions

Although there are no pathognomonic features, histologic evaluation of suspected DILI during MASH clinical trials may alter patient management, define the pattern and severity of injury, detect findings that favour a diagnosis of DILI versus MASH progression, identify prognostic features, characterise the clinicopathological phenotype of DILI, and/or define lesions that influence decisions about trial discontinuation and further development of the drug.