bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Informative Neural Codes to Separate Object Categories
Authors: Shahmohammadi Mozhgan , Vahab Ehsan , Karimi-Rouzbahani Hamid 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn order to develop object recognition algorithms, which can approach human-level recognition performance, researchers have been studying how the human brain performs recognition in the past five decades. This has already in-spired AI-based object recognition algorithms, such as convolutional neural networks, which are among the most successful object recognition platforms today and can approach human performance in specific tasks. However, it is not yet clearly known how recorded brain activations convey information about object category processing. One main obstacle has been the lack of large feature sets, to evaluate the information contents of multiple aspects of neural activations. Here, we compared the information contents of a large set of 25 features, extracted from time series of electroencephalography (EEG) recorded from human participants doing an object recognition task. We could characterize the most informative aspects of brain activations about object categories. Among the evaluated features, event-related potential (ERP) components of N1 and P2a were among the most informative features with the highest information in the Theta frequency bands. Upon limiting the analysis time window, we observed more information for features detecting temporally informative patterns in the signals. The results of this study can constrain previous theories about how the brain codes object category information.
Whole genome sequencing of nearly isogeneic WMI and WLI inbred rats identifies genes potentially involved in depression
Authors: de Jong Tristan , Kim Panjun , Guryev Victor , Mulligan Megan , Williams Robert W , Redei Eva E , Chen Hao 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe WMI and WLI inbred rat substrains were generated from the stress-prone, and not yet fully inbred, Wistar Kyoto (WKY) strain using bi-directional selection for immobility in the forced swim test followed by over 38 generations of inbreeding. Despite the low level of genetic diversity among WKY progenitors, the WMI substrain is more vulnerable to stress relative to its WLI control substrain. Here we quantify numbers and classes of sequence variants distinguishing these substrains and test the hypothesis that they are nearly isogenic.ResultsThe WLI and WMI genomic DNA were sequenced using Illumina xTen, IonTorrent and 10X Chromium technologies to obtain a combined coverage of over 100X. We identified 4,296 high quality homozygous SNPs and indels that differ between the WMI and WLI substrains. Gene ontology analysis of these variants showed an enrichment for neurogenesis related pathways. In addition, high impact variations were detected in genes previously implicated in depression (e.g.Gnat2), depression-like behavior (e.g.Prlr, Nlrp1a), other psychiatric disease (e.g.Pou6f2, Kdm5a, Reep3, Wdfy3) or stress response (e.g.Pigr).ConclusionsThe high coverage sequencing data confirms the near isogenic nature of the two substrains, which combined with the variants detected can lead to the identification of genetic factors underlying greater susceptibility for depression, stress reactivity, and addiction.
Unusual evolution of tree frog populations in the Chernobyl exclusion zone
Authors: Car Clément , Gilles André , Armant Olivier , Burraco Pablo , Beaugelin-Seiller Karine , Gashchak Sergey , Camilleri Virginie , Cavalie Isabelle , Laloi Patrick , Adam-Guillermin Christelle , Orizaola Germán , Bonzom Jean-Marc 
Published: December 2020

AbstractDespite the ubiquity of pollutants in the environment, their long-term ecological consequences are not always clear and still poorly studied. This is the case concerning the radioactive contamination of the environment following the major nuclear accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Notwithstanding the implications of evolutionary processes on the population status, few studies concern the evolution of organisms chronically exposed to ionizing radiation in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Here, we examined genetic markers for 19 populations of Eastern tree frog (Hyla orientalis) sampled in the Chernobyl region about thirty years after the nuclear power plant accident to investigate microevolutionary processes ongoing in local populations. Genetic diversity estimated from nuclear and mitochondrial markers showed an absence of genetic erosion and higher mitochondrial diversity in tree frogs from the Chernobyl exclusion zone compared to other European populations. Moreover, the study of haplotype network permitted us to decipher the presence of an independent recent evolutionary history of Chernobyl exclusion zone’s Eastern tree frogs caused by an elevated mutation rate compared to other European populations. By fitting to our data a model of haplotype network evolution, we suspected that Eastern tree frog populations in the Chernobyl exclusion zone have a high mitochondrial mutation rate and small effective population sizes. These data suggest that Eastern tree frogs populations might offset the impact of deleterious mutations because of their large clutch size, but also question the long term impact of ionizing radiation on the status of other species living in the Chernobyl exclusion zone.
Composition Wheels: Visualizing dissolved organic matter using common composition metrics across a variety of Canadian Ecozones
Authors: Aukes Pieter J. K. , Schiff Sherry L. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractDissolved organic matter (DOM) is a ubiquitous component of aquatic systems, impacting aquatic health and drinking water quality. These impacts depend on the mixture of organic molecules that comprise DOM. Changing climates are altering both the amount and character of DOM being transported from the terrestrial system into adjacent surface waters, yet DOM composition is not monitored as often as overall concentration. Many DOM characterization methods exist, confounding comparison of DOM composition across different studies. The objective of this research is to determine which parameters in a suite of relatively simple and common DOM characterization techniques explain the most variability in DOM composition from surface and groundwater sites. Further, we create a simple visualization tool to easily compare compositional differences in DOM. A large number of water samples (n=250) was analyzed from six Canadian ecozones for DOM concentration, ultraviolet-visible light absorbance, molecular size, and elemental ratios. Principal component analyses was used to identify quasi-independent DOM compositional parameters that explained the highest variability in the dataset: spectral slope, specific-UV absorbance at 255nm, humic substances fraction, and dissolved organic carbon to dissolved organic nitrogen ratio. A ‘Composition Wheel’ was created by plotting these four parameters as a polygon. Our results find similarities in DOM composition irrespective of site differences in vegetation and climate. Further, two main end-member Composition Wheel shapes were revealed that correspond to DOM in organic-rich groundwaters and DOM influenced by photodegradation. The Composition Wheel approach uses easily visualized differences in polygon shape to quantify how DOM evolves by natural processes along the aquatic continuum and to track sources and degradation of DOM.
Multi-omics profiling of living human pancreatic islet donors reveals heterogeneous beta cell trajectories toward type 2 diabetes
Authors: Wigger Leonore , Barovic Marko , Brunner Andreas-David , Marzetta Flavia , Schöniger Eyke , Mehl Florence , Kipke Nicole , Friedland Daniela , Burdet Frederic , Kessler Camille , Lesche Mathias , Thorens Bernard , Bonifacio Ezio , Quigley Cristina Legido , Delerive Philippe , Dahl Andreas , Simons Kai , Aust Daniela , Weitz Jürgen , Distler Marius , Schulte Anke M , Mann Matthias , Ibberson Mark , Solimena Michele 
Published: December 2020

AbstractExisting studies do not sufficiently describe the molecular changes of pancreatic islet beta cells leading to their deficient insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Here we address this deficiency with a comprehensive multi-omics analysis of metabolically profiled pancreatectomized living human donors stratified along the glycemic continuum from normoglycemia to T2D. Islet pools isolated from surgical samples by laser-capture microdissection had remarkably heterogeneous transcriptomic and proteomic profiles in diabetics, but not in non-diabetic controls. Transcriptomics analysis of this unique cohort revealed islet genes already dysregulated in prediabetic individuals with impaired glucose tolerance. Our findings demonstrate a progressive but disharmonic remodeling of mature beta cells, challenging current hypotheses of linear trajectories toward precursor or trans-differentiation stages in T2D. Further, integration of islet transcriptomics and pre-operative blood plasma lipidomics data enabled us to define the relative importance of gene co-expression modules and lipids positively or negatively associated with HbA1c levels, pointing to potential prognostic markers.
Networks of marine protected areas under fluctuating connectivity: The importance of within-MPA dynamics
Authors: Bani Ridouan , Peller Tianna , Marleau Justin , Fortin Marie-Josée , Guichard Frédéric 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe design of marine protected areas (MPAs) has been optimized under assumptions of spatially and temporally homogeneous larval dispersal, despite complex spatiotemporal patterns displayed by ocean currents. Here we studied the effect of dispersal variability on the effectiveness of MPA networks across scales. We adopted a nested approach integrating the dynamics of both within and among MPA connectivity into a stochastic metapopulation model and first derived metapopulation persistence (required reproductive effort) and stability over MPA networks by partitioning within and among MPA contributions in relation to the spatial resolution of within-MPA connectivity. We applied this framework over a range of dispersal traits (spawning time and pelagic larval duration) and MPA network configurations, based on simulated biophysical connectivity along the northeast Pacific coast. Our results show how within-MPA dynamics affect predictions based on parameters of MPA networks such as MPA size, spacing, and pelagic larval duration. Increasing within-MPA spatial resolution predicted increasing population persistence and stability independently of other network properties. High-resolution within-MPA dynamics also predicted a negative relationship between species persistence and MPA spacing while that relationship was non-monotonic under low-resolution within-MPA dynamics. Our analysis also resolved the role of pelagic larval duration for scaling up within-MPA dynamics to MPA networks: species with short larval duration led to increasing network stability with MPA spacing while the opposite was observed for species with long larval duration. Our study stresses the importance of integrating fluctuating larval connectivity, both within and among MPAs, and more specifically suggest the benefit of small and nearby MPAs under increasing ocean variability.
Transientgrb10aKnockdown Permanently Alters Growth, Cardiometabolic Phenotype and the Transcriptome inDanio rerio
Authors: Evans Bridget L , Garner Terence , De Leonibus Chiara , Wearing Oliver H , Shiels Holly A , Hurlstone Adam F L , Clayton Peter E , Stevens Adam 
Published: December 2020

AbstractEmbryonic growth trajectory is a risk factor for chronic metabolic and cardiovascular disorder. Grb10 is a negative regulator of the main pathways driving embryonic growth. This study investigates the long-term cardiometabolic consequences and transcriptomic profiles of transient disruption of grb10a expression in Danio rerio. Knockdown was associated with increased embryonic growth (+7%) and metabolic rate (+25%), and decreased heart rate (- 50%) in early life. Juvenile growth and respiratory rate were also elevated (+30% and 7-fold increase respectively). The transcriptome was permanently remodelled by this transient disruption, with dysregulation of multiple growth, cardiac, and metabolic pathways. Phenotypic alteration persisted into adulthood, resulting in a leaner body with elevated skeletal and cardiac muscle content and aerobic scope (43%). This study not only confirms for the first time that transient disruption of a single gene can result in permanent transcriptomic remodelling but correlates this remodelling with persistent alterations to the adult cardiometabolic phenotype.
The impact of corporate social responsibility on the risk of commercial banks with different levels of financial constraint
Authors: Nguyen Liem Thanh , Nguyen Khuong Vinh 
Published: December 2020

PurposeThis research investigates the link between corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and bank risk-taking in Vietnam and introduces the constraint factor to see whether this link alters with different levels of constraint.Design/methodology/approachUsing a sample of commercial banks in Vietnam from 2008 to 2017, this study employs two-step system generalized method of moments (Sys GMM) with a finite sample correction mechanism to estimate the models.FindingsThe results suggest that CSR activities reduce bank risk-taking, and this relationship is only present in the case of financially constrained banks. Unconstrained banks, on the other hand, are more likely to invest in unnecessary CSR, thus reducing bank performance and increasing bank risk-taking.Research limitations/implicationsThe first implication from this study is that CSR activities might be considered as a risk-mitigating tool and should be invested in that respect. Secondly, regulatory units and investors should be more cautious about CSR expenditures since this type of spending could increase default risk, especially for banks with easy access to external financing. One particular limitation of this study is the low number of observations available for banks in Vietnam. Future studies could use texture analysis to expand the sample or consider macro-level governance characteristics to examine which factors might modify the relationship between CSR and bank risk.Originality/valueVery limited studies discussed the link between corporate social responsibility and bank performance and bank risk. There are even fewer papers examining the relationship between CSR and risk, and most of these papers deal with advanced economies. Furthermore, no studies investigate the interaction effect of CSR and financial constraint, which should be prevalent in developing countries on bank risk. As a consequence, the current study seeks to verify the impact of financial constraints on the link between CSR and bank risk.
Barriers to innovation and willingness to innovate in the food sector: the case of Chile
Authors: Valdés Gonzalo , Astorga Jonathan , Fuentes-Solís Rodrigo , Alonso Dos Santos Manuel 
Published: December 2020

PurposeThe goal of this research is to evaluate obstacles to innovation according to the perception of firms in the Chilean food sector, and to assess the relationships of these obstacles with innovation spending and willingness to innovate.Design/methodology/approachWe analyzed data from the Chilean National Innovation Survey (Encuesta Nacional de Innovación) of 2017 and 2019, which were administered by the Ministry of Economy and the National Institute of Statistics. This survey is designed to be nationally representative. The methods we employed to analyze the data include linear regression, probit and logit models and factor analysis.FindingsWe found that obstacles to innovation can be grouped into five types, namely: cost-based, knowledge-related, market problems, lack of necessity for innovations and regulatory. Cost was positively, and significantly, associated with innovation (expenditures and willingness to innovate). We argue that this is because as firms engage in innovation, they become aware of the associated costs. Also, knowledge obstacles and lack of necessity were negatively associated with innovation. This may mean that as firms engage in innovation, they are able to overcome said obstacles; which speaks well of their innovation ecosystem.Originality/valueWe develop the argument that survey-based studies of obstacles are amenable to a perception-based interpretation of obstacles, because most surveys tend to collect firms' perceptions. Consequently, we provide perception-based explanations for our findings. Additionally, most empirical studies of obstacles in the food sector are of a qualitative nature. Our work supplements this literature with a quantitative analysis that can expand our understanding of innovation in the food industry.
Global reform meets local context: cultural compatibility and practice adoption in public sector reform
Authors: Yee Wai-Hang , van Thiel Sandra 
Published: December 2020

PurposeThe paper proposes that public sector organizations facing institutionalized reform pressure may not only integrate the reform into their operation when it fits but also pace the integration while undergoing organizational cultural transformations to fit with the reform. The newly cultivated cultural characteristics, nonetheless, need to be compatible externally with the ideational basis of the reform and internally with existing values and beliefs embodied by the organizations.Design/methodology/approachBuilding on a neo-institutionalist perspective, the paper develops a model which considers the possibilities and conditions that local cultural change in the reforming organizations may facilitate reform integration. To test the model's analytical potential, the paper analyzed reform responses of semi-autonomous agencies from Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden under the New Public Management (NPM) reform. Ordinary least square (OLS) regression models were performed on the survey data collected from agency heads (or representative) during the peak of the reform trend. Analyzing this sample of later adopters whose government generally enjoyed high degrees of capacity and autonomy provided a preliminary test to the model's potential.FindingsSignificant statistical relations were found between the adoption of operation-level NPM practices and the extent that an agency's cultural characteristics fit with both the ideational basis of NPM and the exiting value-belief mix the agency embodied. Agency characteristics of “proactive responsiveness” and “goal-oriented cooperation” were found significantly related to adoption of NPM practices, showing the possibility of cultivating local cultural changes in reforming organizations.Originality/valueWhile compatible with neo-institutionalist emphasis on local continuity, the paper describes an alternative scenario of reform integration for public managers.
Responding to funding scarcity: governance challenges in Swedish and South African development partnerships
Authors: Jönsson Jayne , Huzzard Tony 
Published: December 2020

Purpose
In the context of the general funding scarcity in the nonprofit sector, this paper aims to inquire into the governance challenges facing nonprofit aid organizations in a donor–recipient partner relationship. In particular, the authors focus on the challenges of commercial diversification as the espoused alternative to aid-funding.

Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative design was deployed to collect and analyze data collected from interviews conducted in three case organizations in an aid development partnership.

Findings
The various responses at the organizational level are presented as well as analyses of the inter-organizational aspects. All organizations have responded strategically to reductions in funding from state/government and other aid sources by attempting to diversify commercially yet at the same time maintain dependency on aid-funding. This entailed tensions between the logics of the market and mission. These tensions are manifest not only within the organizations but also in the relations between them.

Originality/value
Analyses of the twin-track strategies have highlighted that maintaining aid dependency and resource diversification have different and conflicting relational prerequisites and require diverse and conflicting internal capabilities. The paper develops a conceptual framework for capturing the governance challenges of this strategic dilemma and concludes that the choices of pursuing continued aid-funding and seeking new commercial opportunities are invariably mutually exclusive.
The effects of illicit financial flows on oil and gas revenue generation in Nigeria
Authors: Umar Bello , Mohammed Zayyanu 
Published: December 2020

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to determine the extent illicit flows affect the oil and gas revenue generation in Nigeria specifically the activities concerning oil theft.

Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative approach using a systematic quantitative assessment technique was used to select peer-reviewed articles and reports that discussed crude oil theft in Nigeria. This was followed by the use of empirical evidence and content analysis.

Findings
Crude oil theft in Nigeria accounts for 10% of illicit financial flows (IFFs) from Africa annually and this amounts to US$6bn annually.

Research limitations/implications
Oil theft is a new subject area of public policy and academic research; data, secondary literature and peer-reviewed journal articles are limited. This paper was from the public sector perspective only.

Originality/value
This study is one of the few works to highlight the connection between crude oil theft and IFFs.
Aid diversion, accountability and questions unanswered: contextualising the World Bank working paper on offshore capture of foreign aid
Authors: Damianos Stephen 
Published: December 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to engage a contentious World Bank publication beyond its controversy. In particular, it assesses mechanisms that facilitate elite capture of foreign aid and potential strategies of accountability.Design/methodology/approachThis paper adopts desk research methodology, relying primarily upon journal papers, books and internet sources related to international development and corruption.FindingsThis paper isolates three factors that contribute to elite capture of foreign aid: the codified secrecy of offshore tax havens, customary clientelism and decentralised aid. Regarding accountability measures, it advocates decreasing livelihood dependence on local elites and encouraging meaningful involvement by civil society.Originality/valueThis paper de-sensationalises the controversial World Bank working paper, providing a contextualised reading that at the time of publication does not yet exist.