bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crotamiton derivative JM03 extends lifespan and improves oxidative and hypertonic stress resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans via inhibiting OSM-9
Authors: Bao Keting , Feng Jiali , Liu Wenwen , Mao Zhifan , Bao Lingyuan , Sun Tianyue , Song Zhouzhi , Hu Zelan , Li Jian
Published: September 2021

While screening our in-house 1,072 marketed drugs for their ability to extend the lifespan using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as an animal model, crotamiton (N-ethyl-o-crotonotoluidide) showed anti-aging activity and was selected for further structural optimization. After replacing the ortho-methyl of crotamiton with ortho-fluoro, crotamiton derivative JM03 was obtained and showed better activity in terms of lifespan-extension and stress resistance than crotamiton. It was further explored that JM03 extended the lifespan of C. elegans through osmotic avoidance abnormal-9 (OSM-9). Besides, JM03 improves the ability of nematode to resist oxidative stress and hypertonic stress through OSM-9, but not osm-9/capsaicin receptor related-2 (OCR-2). Then the inhibition of OSM-9 by JM03 reduces the aggregation of Q35 in C. elegans via upregulating the genes associated with proteostasis. SKN-1 signaling was also found to be activated after JM03 treatment, which might contribute to proteostasis, stress resistance and lifespan extension. In summary, this study explored a new small molecule derived from crotamiton, which has efficient anti-oxidative, anti-hypertonic and anti-aging effects, and could further lead to promising application prospects.
OGT controls mammalian cell viability by regulating the proteasome/mTOR/mitochondrial axis
Authors: Li Xiang , Yue Xiaojing , Sepulveda Hugo , Burt Rajan A. , Scott David A. , Carr Steven A. , Myers Samuel A. , Rao Anjana
Published: September 2021

O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) catalyzes the modification of serine and threonine residues on nuclear and cytosolic proteins with O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). OGT is essential for mammalian cell viability, but the underlying mechanisms are still enigmatic. We employed a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 viability screen in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) with inducible Ogt gene deletion and showed that the block in cell viability induced by OGT deficiency stems from mitochondrial dysfunction secondary to mTOR hyperactivation. In normal cells, OGT maintains low mTOR activity and mitochondrial fitness through suppression of proteasome activity; in the absence of OGT, increased proteasome activity results in increased steady-state amino acid levels, which in turn promote mTOR lysosomal translocation and activation, and increased oxidative phosphorylation. mTOR activation in OGT-deficient mESCs was confirmed by an independent phosphoproteomic screen. Our study highlights a novel series of events whereby OGT regulates the proteasome/ mTOR/ mitochondrial axis in a manner that maintains homeostasis of intracellular amino acid levels, mitochondrial fitness and cell viability. A similar mechanism operates in CD8+ T cells, indicating its generality across mammalian cell types. Manipulating OGT activity may have therapeutic potential in diseases in which this signaling pathway is impaired.
Empowering rare variant burden-based gene-trait association studies via optimized computational predictor choice
Authors: Kuang Da , Li Roujia , Wu Yingzhou , Weile Jochen , Hegele Robert A. , Roth Frederick P.
Published: September 2021

Background

Causal gene/trait relationships can be identified via observation of an excess (or reduced) burden of rare variation in a given gene within humans who have that trait. Although computational predictors can improve the power of such ‘burden’ tests, it is unclear which are optimal for this task.

Method

Using 140 gene-trait combinations with a reported rare-variant burden association, we evaluated the ability of 20 computational predictors to predict human traits. We used the best-performing predictors to increase the power of genome-wide rare variant burden scans based on ∼450K UK Biobank participants.

Results

Two predictors—VARITY and REVEL—outperformed all others in predicting human traits in the UK Biobank from missense variation. Genome-scale burden scans using the two best-performing predictors identified 1,038 gene-trait associations (FDR < 5%), including 567 (55%) that had not been previously reported. We explore 54 cardiovascular gene-trait associations (including 15 not reported in other burden scans) in greater depth.

Conclusions

Rigorous selection of computational missense variant effect predictors can improve the power of rare-variant burden scans for human gene-trait associations, yielding many new associations with potential value in informing mechanistic understanding and therapeutic development. The strategy we describe here is generalizable to future computational variant effect predictors, traits and organisms.
Neuromuscular connectomes across development reveal synaptic ordering rules
Authors: Meirovitch Yaron , Kang Kai , Draft Ryan W. , Pavarino Elisa C. , Henao Echeverri Maria Fernanda , Yang Fuming , Turney Stephen G. , Berger Daniel R. , Peleg Adi , Montero-Crespo Marta , Schalek Richard L. , Lu Ju , Livet Jean , Tapia Juan-Carlos , Lichtman Jeff. W.
Published: September 2021

In mammals, the connections between motor neurons and muscle fibers profoundly reorganize in the early postnatal period. To better understand this synaptic rewiring we traced out all the connectivity in muscles at successive ages in the mouse using serial section scanning electron microscopy in a muscle at birth and Brainbow-based and XFP-based fluorescent reconstructions in neonatal and older muscles respectively. Our data indicate that axons prune about 85% of their branches in the first two weeks of postnatal life, and that while much of this pruning leaves neuromuscular junctions with only one remaining axon (a ∼8-fold reduction), it also causes a ∼6-fold reduction in the number of muscle fibers that possess more than one neuromuscular junction. Unexpectedly, the simplification of the wiring diagram was not haphazard but rather was constrained by the tendency for neurons to maintain co-innervation the longest with other neurons based on their proximity in an abstract rank order. This synaptic ordering preference was even significant at birth when connectivity was the most overlapping but became more striking as development proceeded and was even obvious in the few adult muscle fibers that retained more than one axon at different neuromuscular junctions. Analysis of properties of muscle fibers sharing axons at developing ages and changes in the physical distance between neuromuscular junctions that were maintained in young versus older muscles suggests that the rank order of motor neurons is based on their relative similarity in activity patterns. This same ranking governs both the close-proximity synaptic competitions within neuromuscular junctions and the long-distance competitions that remove or maintain synapses millimeters apart meaning that all neuromuscular rewiring is based on the same global activity ordering rule. We think it is likely that this ranking is related to the ultimate recruitment order of motor axon activity as first described by (Henneman, 1957). Thus the emerging structure of neuromuscular circuitry is a product of its function: initial nearly all-to-all connectivity gives rise to a well-organized system of axons, allowing for the orderly recruitment of neurons during a smoothly graded behavior.
Core cysteine residues in the PAN domain are critical for HGF/c-MET signaling
Authors: Pal Debjani , De Kuntal , Shanks Carly M. , Feng Kai , Yates Timothy B. , Morrell-Falvey Jennifer , Davidson Russell B. , Parks Jerry M. , Muchero Wellington
Published: September 2021

The Plasminogen-Apple-Nematode (PAN) domain, with a core of four to six cysteine residues, is found in > 28,000 proteins across 959 genera but its role in protein function is not fully understood. The PAN domain was initially characterized to be present in numerous proteins including hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Dysregulation of HGF-mediated signaling results in numerous deadly cancers. All biological impacts of HGF in cell proliferation are triggered by binding of HGF to its cell surface receptor, cellular mesenchymal-epidermal transition (c-MET). Here, we show that four PAN domain cysteine residues are essential for HGF/c-MET signaling. Mutating these residues resulted in retardation of perinuclear localization, cellular internalization of HGF and its receptor, c-MET, and c-MET ubiquitination. Our observations indicate that the PAN domain of HGF is required for the c-MET binding and subsequent c-MET autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of its downstream targets, protein kinase B (AKT), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Furthermore, transcriptional activation of HGF/c-MET signaling-related genes including matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), ETS translocation variant 1, 4, and 5 (ETV1, ETV4, ETV5), and early growth response 1 (EGR1) was impaired and cell proliferation was attenuated. These results suggest that core cysteine residues in the PAN domain are critical for HGF/c-MET interaction, c-MET mediated signal transduction, and cell survival. Thus, targeting the PAN domain of HGF may represent a mechanism for selectively regulating the binding and activation of the c-MET pathway.

Significance

HGF/c-MET signaling induces multifunctional cellular responses. Dysregulation of HGF/c-MET signaling cascade can lead to tumorigenesis by transforming normal cells to tumor cells. This work defines the importance of core cysteine residues in the PAN domain of HGF in downstream activation of HGF/c-MET signaling. To understand the role of cysteines in the PAN domain, PAN mutants of HGF were used to stimulate c-MET signaling in cells and the impact was delineated by determining phosphorylation and transcription of downstream targets. Mutations in core cysteines in the HGF-PAN domain completely blocked downstream phosphorylation and perinuclear accumulation of c-MET. These results suggest an indispensable role for the cysteine-rich PAN domain in HGF/c-MET interaction and could set the stage for future therapies that selectively disrupt the MET signaling cascade with limited off-target effects in tumors overexpressing HGF/c-MET.
Nutritional and quality characteristics of wheat bread fortified with different levels of soaked–dehulled moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia) seeds powder
Authors: Ali Rehab F.M. , Althwab Sami A. , Alfheeaid Hani A. , El-Anany Ayman Mohammed , Alhomaid Raghad M. , Alharbi Hend F.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Soaked–dehulled moth bean seed (SDMBS) powder was incorporated into wheat flour and the paper aims to investigate its effects on the nutritional and quality properties of composite bread.

Design/methodology/approach

Different ratios of SDMBS powder (0%–12.5%) were mixed into wheat flour to prepare composite bread. Proximate composition, mineral content and functional properties of SDMBS powder and wheat flour were studied. The composite bread samples were assayed for proximate composition, mineral nutrients, amino acid composition, physical characteristics as well as sensorial properties.

Findings

Protein and ash contents of SDMBS powder were found to be 2.15 and 5.69 fold higher than wheat flour. Water absorption capacity (WAC), oil absorption capacity (OAC), (FC) and emulsion activity (EA) values of SDMBS powder were also 1.63, 1.78, 4.43 and 1.58 times higher than wheat flour, respectively. The inclusion of different levels of SDMBS powder into wheat flour significantly (p = 0.05) increased the functional properties of composite flours. Bread samples fortified with SDMBS powder exhibited higher values of essential amino acids than the recommendations of World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization/United Nations University (2007). The bread samples containing 10% and 12.5% of SDMBS powder provided 39.23% and 41.15% of the recommended lysine level, respectively. The addition of a higher proportion of SDMBS powder into wheat flour gradually increased the protein and ash contents of the bread samples. Control sample without SDMBS powder (0%) and samples fortified containing 2.5% and 5% of SDMBS powder received the highest scores of overall acceptance, whereas the bread sample with the highest SDMBS powder (12.5%) content received the lowest scores.

Research limitations/implications

The main findings of the current investigation indicated that the addition of 2.5–5% of SDMBS powder into wheat flour enhanced the nutritional and quality characteristics of wheat bread.

Originality/value

SDMBS powder could be incorporated into refined wheat bread to achieve functional bread with significantly higher protein content.
Mission statement effectiveness: investigating managers' sensemaking role
Authors: Toh Seong-Yuen , Tehseen Shehnaz , Mahmoud Ali B. , Cheok Jason , Grigoriou Nicholas , Opute John
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study highlights the instrumental role of the mission statement as a tool used by managers to shape value congruence to achieve enhanced employee performance levels.

Design/methodology/approach

A variance-based structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data obtained from a sample of 123 managers working in private organisations in Malaysia.

Findings

The management sensemaking approach is useful in mission statement research. Managers' involvement in clarifying the mission statement to various firm stakeholders, especially employees, is the strongest predictor of value congruency between employees and the firm, leading to improved levels of employee behavioural performance. Managers can influence value congruency through two processes: (1) guiding and shaping employees' values and (2) adapting the mission statement's contents.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies can consider the impact of managerial role modelling on employees' value alignment with the firm in longitudinal studies. Other aspects of alignment offer further research opportunities, for example, HR policy alignment and alignment of marketing and operation strategies with the mission statement.

Practical implications

Managers should move beyond treating the mission statement as a management tool. Instead, it is a firm philosophy that reflects managers' words and deeds and exemplifies their philosophical ideals.

Originality/value

Despite three decades of research into the relationship between the mission statement and performance, the results have been mixed. Therefore, this study adopts a sensemaking approach to research the mission-performance relationship underpinned by the resource-based view (RBV) theory.
Decoding leadership to leverage employee engagement in virtual teams
Authors: Mutha Prapti , Srivastava Manjari
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Virtual teams are characterized by short social exchanges and a lack of para-verbal and non-verbal communication. This poses several challenges to virtual leaders. This study aims to decode the role of leadership and understand its impact on engaging geographically dispersed teams. This research offers a comprehensive view of idealized influence and inspirational motivation – the two sub-factors of transformational leadership which defines the charisma of a leader in leveraging engagement of virtual employees. It also studies the impact of effective leadership communication and trust between team members in engaging employees working in virtual teams.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is a mixed method study. Phase I of qualitative study (10 FGD) facilitated phase II of quantitative study. A questionnaire was developed to reflect themes that emerged from qualitative phase. The focus of the qualitative study was to understand the role of leaders viewed by virtual employees in the context of engagement. A cross-sectional data of 300 respondents from eight different industries was gathered using a survey questionnaire. Purposive non-probability sampling technique was used. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling, SmartPLS 3 software.

Findings

Results showed that leaders play a significant role in engaging virtual employees. The transformational leadership behaviour with a purview of idealized influence and inspirational motivation positively engages employees in virtual teams. The findings emphasize that trust between team members impacts engagement, and trust mediates the relationship between leadership communication effectiveness and engagement of virtual employees.

Practical implications

Positive leadership behaviour such as transformational leadership helps create an environment of trust and engagement that is experienced by a team working distantly. Leader plays a critical role to foster an engaging environment that boosts the potential of every employee. Organizations invest a lot of money, time and resources in leadership and communication training. This study could help organizations in training their managers/leaders for adapting their leadership style that suits the virtual work environment. Organizations can also pay attention to the required skill sets of people while hiring and/or promoting leaders who have to lead virtual employees.

Originality/value

The exponential increase in virtual working has necessitated decoding essential leadership skills to engage the virtual workforce. Working virtually is psychologically a different experience and hence requires a separate study. The lack of proximity and face-to-face conversations in virtual teams increases the complexity of leading and thus alters the engagement equation. This paper explores the impact of leaders in enhancing employee engagement and that is presented in a condensed manner.
Sport federations' organizational innovativeness: an empirical comparison of characteristics and attitudes
Authors: Corthouts Joris , Zeimers Géraldine , Helsen Kobe , Demeulemeester Camille , Könecke Thomas , Zintz Thierry , Scheerder Jeroen
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Being innovative is important for non-profit sport organizations in order to meet the ever-changing and increasing societal needs. Understanding why and to what extent organizational innovativeness differs between non-profit sport organizations is, therefore, important to assess and increase their chances of survival. The purpose of this study is to compare the structural characteristics and attitudes of innovation attributes between three groups of sport federations (SFs).

Design/methodology/approach

An online self-assessment survey was sent to all recognized regional Belgian SFs (N = 156). Simultaneously, an observational desk research (i.e. media analysis) was carried out. Results from both data collection methods were combined to develop a composite organizational innovativeness-index, based on which the federations were then clustered in three distinct adopter groups.

Findings

Comparative statistics show that structural background characteristics generally are poor indicators for adopter categorization. In contrast, the attitudes about compatibility (i.e. the consistency of innovations with existing values) and complexity (i.e. the extent to which innovations are difficult to apprehend) seem the most important distinctive determinants for the different groups of SFs.

Originality/value

The study's contribution is twofold. First, it offers a methodological contribution with the development of an index, which enables the categorization of non-profit sport organizations according to their organizational innovativeness; thus, it provides a critical counter-argument to the importance of organizational structural background characteristics from previous studies. Second, the study's results may support non-profit sport organizations in improving their innovativeness, for instance by improving the perception of compatibility with innovation or by guiding policymakers in creating a more supportive environment for these organizations to do so.
Workplace preparedness for an ageing workforce: a case study
Authors: Egdell Valerie , Maclean Gavin , Raeside Robert , Chen Tao
Published: September 2021

Purpose

For many nations, their workforces are ageing. The purpose of this paper is to explore the concerns and attitudes of employers to employing older workers and what information they require.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey of workplaces was undertaken in the Fife region of Scotland, which in economic and demographic terms is representative of wider Scotland and other nations in Northern Europe. Descriptive analysis was undertaken to give insight into concerns and actions taken regarding ageing workforces.

Findings

Most workplaces perceive more advantages to employing older workers than challenges. Many have adapted training and work practices, but many have not. The majority surveyed believe that existing policies and strategies are sufficient. This points to the need for national and local government and employer associations to become more active to persuade workplaces to better manage future workplaces.

Research limitations/implications

Generalisability is problematic and the small sample restricted the scope of statistical analysis.

Practical implications

The authors were unable to judge the severity of how an ageing workforce impacts on workplace performance, as employers found it difficult to conceptualise and identify the impact of ageing from market and economic pressures.

Social implications

Resulting from population ageing the workforce of many societies are becoming older, this will impact on workplace relations and the social identity of those over the age of 50 years.

Originality/value

Little research has been undertaken to assess workplaces awareness of, and how to adapt to, an ageing workforce, and research is required to inform and guide management strategy of employers.
What motivates employees to use social media at work? A perspective of self-determination theory
Authors: Wei Shaobo , Chen Xiayu , Liu Chunli
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The authors develop a conceptual model to examine how three basic psychological needs (i.e. needs for competence, autonomy and relatedness) affect employee social media use (i.e. work- and social-related use). The authors propose that the need for autonomy positively moderates the relationship between need for competence and work-related use, whereas it negatively moderates that between need for relatedness and social-related use.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the proposed model, 332 internal and 271 external social media users in the workplace were recruited.

Findings

The results indicate that needs for competence and autonomy and needs for relatedness and autonomy positively affect the work- and social-related use, respectively, of internal and external social media. Need for autonomy positively moderates the relationship between need for competence and work-related use of internal social media, and it negatively moderates that between need for relatedness and the social-related use of internal social media. Need for autonomy has no moderating effect on the relationship between need for competence and work-related use, whereas it negatively moderates the relationship between need for relatedness and the social-related use of external social media.

Originality/value

First, the authors’ findings offer significant empirical support for the different social media uses, namely work and social related. Second, this study highlights the importance of psychological needs of employees in determining the form of social media use. Third, this study empirically demonstrates the differences in psychological needs and social media use between two different social media contexts.
A policy-level perspective to tackle rural digital inclusion
Authors: Wagg Sharon , Simeonova Boyka
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper explores how policy-level stakeholders tackle digital inclusion in the context of UK rural communities.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders that operate nationally in government departments, government funded organisations and third sector organisations that provided a policy-level perspective on digital inclusion initiative provision across England, Scotland and Wales. Activity theory (AT) was utilised as a theoretical framework, where a variety of factors–tools, rules, community, division of labour and contradictions–were found to have an influence on digital inclusion initiative provision.

Findings

Digital inclusion initiative provision in UK rural communities is organised through the multi-stakeholder involvement of national organisations, and collaboration with intermediary organisations to provide digital skills training and support. The process is fraught with difficulties and contradictions, limited knowledge sharing; reduced or poor-quality connectivity; lack of funding; lack of local resources; assumptions that organisations will indeed collaborate and assumptions that intermediary organisations have staff with the necessary skills and confidence to provide digital skills training and support within the rural context.

Research limitations/implications

This study highlights the benefit of using AT as a lens to develop a nuanced understanding of how policy-level stakeholders tackle digital inclusion.

Practical implications

This study can inform policy decisions on digital inclusion initiative provision suitable for rural communities.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper provides new insights into the understanding of how policy-level stakeholders tackle digital inclusion and the provision of digital inclusion initiatives; it builds on the use of AT to help unpick the complexity of digital inclusion initiative provision as a phenomenon; it reveals contradictions in relation to trust, and the need for knowledge sharing mechanisms to span and align different interpretations of digital inclusion across the policy-level; and reveals an extension of AT demonstrated through the “granularity of the subject” which enables the multi-actor involvement of the stakeholders involved in digital inclusion at policy-level to emerge.
Practically there? Exploring public relations educators' perceptions of creativity in the curriculum and classroom
Authors: Barker Richie , McDonald Sharyn
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the position of creativity within Australian public relations courses and explore how academics embed what is often identified by industry as a core skill for future and current practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

The study consists of semi-structured interviews with 15 public relations academics to examine their views on the value and delivery of creativity in the public relations curriculum.

Findings

The findings of this exploratory study indicate creativity is addressed implicitly by educators who rely on personal and internalised knowledge rather than the application of a specific theory or body of knowledge pertaining to creativity. In addition, it identifies a series of challenges educators face including students' lack of confidence when required to be creative and a lack of clarity on how to successfully evaluate creativity in assessment tasks.

Originality/value

Creativity has been identified as a vital future workplace skill and highlighted as an important capability in global best practice frameworks for public relations professionals. However, the successes and barriers experienced by educators who are responsible for building and evaluating students’ creative abilities have yet to be specifically explored. In response, this study considers educators' perceptions of their practice with regard to this prominent professional attribute and applies this knowledge to argue for theory-led pedagogies, particularly the use of models that emphasise the social nature of creativity, to demystify creativity and enhance students' work readiness as future practitioners.
How innovations in strategy have picked up with COVID-19
Authors: Lorange Peter
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to explore how corporate strategies have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

A wide array of literature has been surveyed. Also, several senior executives have been interviewed. And two senior management counterparts have provided inputs. The approach taken is thus exploratory and pre-paradigmatic. This sets the stage for potential empirical investigations.

Findings

There seems to be a clear shift towards more web-based inputs regarding the way corporations are executing their strategies. Surprisingly shorter-term strategy implementation seems to be rather effective. More fundamental shifts in strategies, however, seem to depend a lot on executives' abilities to travel, and this have been severely curtailed.

Research limitations/implications

The propositions that are stated in the paper have not been tested empirically. This sets clear limitations regarding generalizability.

Practical implications

It seems important to strengthen firms' capabilities regarding distance-driven strategic execution, as well as strengthened cash flow management.

Social implications

There seems to be a clear shift towards more nationalization, and a slowing-down of globalization.

Originality/value

While many of the findings might be seen as rather self-evident, there is nevertheless originality in the way that COVID-19's impact on firms' strategies has been analysed.
No one left behind: risk communication to the street vendors during COVID-19 social distancing
Authors: Thanh Pham Tien , Nguyen Hanh Thi Hong , Ngan Le Thi Bao , Nguyen Doan My Duyen , Phan Gia Han , Nguyen Thi My Nhung
Published: September 2021

Purpose

COVID-19 presents a serious and unprecedented challenge around the globe. Street vendors are the most vulnerable group during this pandemic regarding livelihood loss and contagion risk. This research aims to examine the roles of risk communication work in enhancing COVID-19 risk perceptions and adoption of COVID-19 preventive behaviors among street vendors.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from the street vendors in urban Vietnam. A binary probit model was used for analyzing the relationships among exposure to risk communication, risk perception and adoption of preventive behaviors.

Findings

The analysis reveals the outreach of risk communication work to the street vendors. A rather large proportion of the respondents perceive high risks associated with COVID-19. All respondents adopt COVID-19 preventive behaviors; however, the proportion of regular adoption is moderate and even very low for most behaviors. Their frequent exposure to risk communication significantly raises their risk perceptions and encourages their regular adoption of preventive behaviors, particularly regarding the measures that are affordable and less detrimental to their livelihood.

Originality/value

This research is among the first attempts to examine risk communication to the vulnerable group, how they perceive risks and the extent to which they adopt preventive behaviors during a public health crisis. This research draws some implications for risk communication and social welfare policies to obtain sustainable development goals.
The observed pattern and hidden process of female reproductive trajectories across the life span in a non‐human primate
Authors: Lee D. Susie , Kang Yul H. R. , Ruiz‐Lambides Angelina V. , Higham James P.
Published: September 2021

Age‐specific fertility trajectories are fundamental to understanding population structure and the evolutionary ecology of diverse life histories. However, characterizing reproductive ageing has been difficult with cross‐sectional data, where senescence especially late in life can be confounded by selective disappearance. Addressing such challenge requires longitudinal data tracking the reproductive life span of known individuals, but such data are rare, especially for very long‐lived species such as primates.

We analyse the entire life span trajectory of annual fertility, from reproductive maturity to death, for 673 free‐ranging female rhesus macaques, Macaca mulatta, on Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico.

Using generalized linear mixed‐effects models (GLMMs), we first tested if time to death explains the ageing pattern independently of and additionally to chronological age, and if so, whether there is interaction between them. While GLMM captures the patterns in the data well, it is not a generative model. For example, given the GLMM and an individual's reproductive trajectory up to a given age, we cannot directly predict the probability of reproduction or death in the next year. For this reason, we further fitted a hidden Markov chain model (HMM) which allows just such a prediction, and additionally helps infer the process underlying the observed trajectory.

We show that, after accounting for individual differences in fertility, reproductive ageing exhibits both age‐dependent decline and also an abrupt terminal decline independently of age at death. We infer from the HMM that the underlying process of reproductive trajectory is where individuals cycle between reproductive bouts until they enter an irreversible frail condition that constrains fertility.

The findings provide valuable insights into the longitudinal progression of reproductive trajectories in primates, by revealing both age‐dependent and age‐independent patterns and processes of ageing, and contribute to a growing body of literature on reproductive ageing and senescence across animal taxa.
Equality and Equity in Emerging Multilateral Financial Institutions: The Case of the BRICS Institutions
Authors: Luo Hang , Yang Lize
Published: September 2021

The New Development Bank (NDB) and the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) were built by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (the BRICS countries) in response to the ‘disappointing’ Bretton Woods Institutions, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The main difference between the Bretton Woods Institutions and the BRICS institutions is that the latter adopts an equal‐weight system instead of a weighted voting system in the NDB (all five BRICS countries have equal shares and voting weights regardless of the major differences in their economic weights) and uses consensus instead of majority voting rules to make decisions regarding critical issues in the CRA. In fact, both the equal‐weight system and consensus rule are unprecedented in the history of multilateral financial institutions. The World Bank, the IMF, the Asian Development Bank and even the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) all adopt weighted voting systems and majority voting rules. We explain why the BRICS countries adopt these unprecedented designs through precise power measurements and carefully designed experiments. First, we measure the voting power of each member of the BRICS’ NDB and CRA under the current decision‐making systems, using this information as a control group. Then, we remeasure the voting power of each member of the NDB under the assumption that their shares and voting weights are allocated according to their economic weights; additionally, we remeasure the voting power of each country of the CRA under the assumption that majority rules are adopted when decisions are being made on critical issues. Moreover, we establish evaluation indices of power equality and power equity based on classic and variant Gini coefficients and Lorenz curves and use them to assess and compare the power structures of the BRICS’ NDB and CRA in the contexts of different voting weight reallocations and different voting rules redesigns. We use these indices to precisely analyse whether the power structures of the BRICS institutions become more equable or equitable in the examined contexts and to investigate the relationship between equality and equity in this setting.
Scenarios for BRICS Evolution in Light of the India–China Conflict
Authors: Papa Mihaela , Verma Raj
Published: September 2021

What is the future of the BRICS (Brazil–Russia–India–China–South Africa) group? BRICS has transformed in record time from a global non‐entity into an informal institution that pursues global policy leadership, features extensive policy coordination among five powerful countries, and creates its own organizations. While BRICS momentum seemed unstoppable, a militarized dispute between India and China in 2020 raised questions about the group’s future. This contribution concludes the Special Section by arguing that the BRICS group is not broken. Instead, it faces a range of strategic, geopolitical and operational challenges: how it addresses them will define its future trajectory and its impact on global governance. This essay analyses the situation from a conflict resolution perspective while bringing together insights from the five BRICS countries. It conceptualizes new directions for the BRICS group. Two possible internal conflict management scenarios are outlined: circumventing conflict and making institutional adjustments. Yet the real test of the group’s resilience is its ability to exert collective leadership and improve global governance. BRICS’ response to COVID‐19 and to the challenge of sustainable development offers insights into the group’s ability to advance community goals.
Effect of forestry (Pinus sp.) on the bat community (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in Neotropical region
Authors: Liposki Biassi David , Baldissera Ronei , Galiano Daniel , de Souza Rezende Renan
Published: September 2021

Different land uses can influence the way species are distributed across the landscape, which can generate arguments and justifications for conservation and the management of potential areas for conservation. Our study aimed to evaluate the structural complexity of the habitat (canopy openness) and the different land uses (native forest cover, silviculture and agriculture) in the composition of species of the bat community in areas of native forest and silviculture. We also aimed to compare the richness, abundance and beta diversity between these habitats. Bats were captured using mist nets during 21 nights of sampling in each area. We found an unusual pattern for bat assemblages in Neotropical regions, registering greater species richness for the family Vespertilionidae. No significant differences were found between the two areas regarding the abundance, species composition and beta diversity. The native forest area showed greater species richness, corroborating our hypothesis. We demonstrated how bat species are distributed in habitats with different land uses, as well as the importance of native forest areas to maintain the set of regional species.
Re‐evaluation of the prognostic significance of retropharyngeal node metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with intensity‐modulated radiotherapy
Authors: Chen Bijuan , Zhan Zhouwei , Pan Jianji , Xiao Youping , Tang Linbo , Guo Qiaojuan , Xu Yun , Zong Jingfeng , Zhang Ruiting , Xu Hanchuan , Lin Shaojun
Published: September 2021

Background and Purpose

To investigate the prognostic value of retropharyngeal lymphadenopathy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after intensity‐modulated radiotherapy.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective studies were performed in a total of 1197 patients. We evaluated the incidence of the retropharyngeal node (RPN) metastasis and the characteristics of the metastatic RPN including laterality, size, necrosis, and extranodal neoplastic spread.

Results

RPN metastasis occured in 86.3% of patients. The RPN and level II metastasis shared similar survival outcomes. RPN metastasis was an independent prognostic factor for distant failure (hazard ratio = 1.615; 95% confidence interval, 1.063–2.452; P = 0.025), in which the laterality of RPN metastasis significantly influences both the distant failure (P = 0.006) and disease progression (P = 0.001). In N1 disease, the occurrence of unilateral and bilateral RPN metastasis resulted in significantly different outcomes of the disease‐specific survival (P = 0.045) and progression‐free survival (P = 0.049). The co‐occurrence of bilateral RPN and cervical lymph nodes (CLN) metastasis was an independent adverse prognostic factor (P < 0.01) for distant failure and disease progression but not for locoregional recurrence.

Conclusion

Both the RPN and level II are the first stations of NPC lymph node metastasis. For N1‐stage NPC patients, RPN metastasis, especially co‐occurrence of bilateral RPN and CLN metastasis, have an adverse influence on survival outcomes.
Clinical characteristics of two‐hundred thirty‐two dogs (2006–2018) treated for suspected anaphylaxis in Perth, Western Australia
Authors: Turner K , Boyd C , Stander N , Smart L
Published: September 2021

Objective

To describe the clinical features of dogs treated for suspected anaphylaxis in Perth, Western Australia.

Design

Single‐centre observational case series with retrospective and prospective phases.

Methods

This was a two‐phase study of dogs with clinical suspicion of anaphylaxis presenting to the emergency service of a university teaching hospital. Dogs required evidence of, and appropriate treatment of, a type 1 hypersensitivity reaction as well as two or more organs affected (or cardiovascular signs alone) to be included. Phase 1 includes retrospective case series of 186 dogs (March 2006–December 2018). Phase 2 includes prospective descriptive case series of 46 dogs (October 2017–July 2018) focused on clinical signs.

Results

In phase 1, 88 (47%) dogs had evidence of insect exposure prior to the acute event. One hundred forty (75%) dogs had dermatological signs, 141 (76%) had gastrointestinal signs and 129 (69%) had cardiovascular signs. Ninety‐two (49%) dogs had vasoconstrictive shock (5 with bradycardia), 24 (13%) had vasodilatory shock, 8 (4%) had mixed vasodilatory and vasoconstrictive shock and 5 (3%) had unclassifiable shock. On focused abdominal ultrasound, 42 of 71 (59%) dogs had gallbladder wall oedema and 3 of 71 (4%) dogs had peritoneal free fluid. In phase 2, the distributions of insect exposure, organ dysfunction and sonographic abnormalities were similar to phase 1.

Conclusion

Dogs presenting with suspected anaphylaxis showed a broad range of presentations. Dermatological signs were absent in a proportion of dogs, vasoconstrictive shock was more frequent than vasodilatory and unique features of shock were identified. This study highlights the challenges of diagnosis based on presenting features alone.
Illusory social agents within and beyond voices: A computational linguistics analysis of the experience of psychosis
Authors: Shiel Lisha , Demjén Zsófia , Bell Vaughan
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Psychosis has a strong social component and often involves the experience of being affected by ‘illusory social agents’. However, this experience remains under‐characterized, particularly for social agents in delusions and non‐vocal hallucinations. One useful approach is a form of computational linguistics called corpus linguistics that studies texts to identify patterns of meaning encoded in both the semantics and linguistic structure of the text.

Methods

Twenty people living with psychosis were recruited from community and inpatient services. They participated in open‐ended interviews on their experiences of social agents in psychosis and completed a measure of psychotic symptoms. Corpus linguistics analysis was used to identify key phenomenological features of vocal and non‐vocal social agents in psychosis.

Results

Social agents i) are represented with varying levels of richness in participants’ experiences, ii) are attributed with different kinds of identities including physical characteristics and names, iii) are perceived to have internal states and motivations that are different from those of the participants, and iv) interact with participants in various ways including through communicative speech acts, affecting participants’ bodies, and moving through space. These representations were equally rich for agents associated with hallucinated voices and those associated with non‐vocal hallucinations and delusions.

Conclusions

We show that the experience of illusory social agents is a rich and complex social experience reflecting many aspects of genuine social interaction and is not solely present in auditory hallucinations, but also in delusions and non‐vocal hallucinations.

Practitioner Points

The experience of being affected by illusory social agents in psychosis extends beyond hallucinated voices.

They are a rich and complex social experience reflecting many aspects of genuine social interaction.

These are also likely to be a source of significant distress and disability.
Les campements urbains parisiens à la marge du politique : quelle articulation du contrôle de la police et de l'émancipation politique?
Authors: Piva Annaelle
Published: September 2021

En Europe, de nombreux exilés se heurtent à des politiques migratoires de plus en plus restrictives qui provoquent en région parisienne des situations d'errance. Les personnes qui cherchent l'asile expérimentent de longues périodes d'attente et d'incertitude qui se passent principalement dans la rue. Entre 2015 et 2020, cette errance a conduit à la formation de regroupements sous la forme de campements spontanés et à l'élaboration d'un système d'évacuation par les autorités, lequel n'empêche pas leurs reformations successives. Ces campements dessinent alors la frontière d'un non‐accès aux droits qui contraint les exilés à une posture d'attente subalterne. Nous proposons ici d'étudier la géographie et les ambivalences des campements, à la fois espaces d'exception, espaces normalisés et espaces de revendications. Nous nous inspirons des notions de police et de politique développées par Rancière, dans le cadre d'une approche critique de la géographie et des études sur la citoyenneté. Nous défendons l'idée que les campements urbains parisiens, sous certaines conditions géographiques, sont situés « aux bords du politique » selon les termes du philosophe, c'est‐à‐dire à l'articulation des processus de contrôle et d'émancipation.
Mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome
Authors: Jonak Constanze , Tittes Julia , Brunner Patrick Manfred , Guenova Emmanuella
Published: September 2021

Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) are primary cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas (CTCL) with not yet fully understood etiology and pathogenesis. Conceptually, MF and SS are classified as distinct entities arising from different T helper cell subsets. MF is the most common CTCL entity, while SS is very rare. MF presents clinically with patch, plaque and/or tumor stages, but can also evolve as erythroderma, which in turn is pathognomonic for SS. SS is characterized by a detectable tumor‐cell burden (Sézary cells) in the peripheral blood consistent with advanced‐stage disease and a poor prognosis. In early‐stage disease of MF, which is the predominant form, the prognosis is generally favorable. However, in up to 30 % of patients, there is progression of skin lesions, which can ultimately lead to visceral involvement. The histological manifestation of MF can be subtle in early‐stage disease and therefore a careful clinicopathological correlation is paramount. The treatment of MF/SS is dependent on the disease stage. Therapeutic options include both skin‐directed and systemic regimens. Apart from allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT), there is as yet no curative therapy for MF/SS. Accordingly, the treatment approach is symptom oriented and aims to reduce the tumor burden and improve health‐related quality of life. However, the therapeutic landscape for CTCL is constantly being expanded by the discovery of novel therapeutic targets.