bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Activin/Follistatin-axis deregulation is independently associated with COVID-19 in-hospital mortality
Authors: Synolaki Evgenia , Papadopoulos Vasileios , Divolis Georgios , Gavriilidis Efstratios , Loli Georgia , Gavriil Arianna , Tsigalou Christina , Tsahouridou Olga , Sertaridou Eleni , Rafailidis Petros , Pasternack Arja , Boumpas Dimitrios , Germanidis Georgios , Ritvos Olli , Metallidis Simeon , Skendros Panagiotis , Sideras Paschalis
Published: September 2020

Rationale

Activins are inflammatory and tissue-repair-related members of the TGFβ-superfamily that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several immuno-inflammatory disorders including sepsis/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We hypothesized that they might be of particular relevance to COVID-19 pathophysiology.

Objectives

To assess the involvement of the Activin-Follistatin-axis in COVID-19 pathophysiology.

Methods

Levels of Activins -A, -B and their physiological inhibitor Follistatin, were retrospectively analyzed in 314 serum samples from 117 COVID-19 patients derived from two independent centers and compared with common demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters. Optimal-scaling with ridge-regression was used to screen variables and establish a prediction model.

Main Results

The Activin/Follistatin-axis was significantly deregulated during the course of COVID-19 and was independently associated with severity and in-hospital mortality. FACT-CLINYCoD, a novel disease scoring system, adding one point for each of Follistatin >6235 pg/ml, Activin-A >591 pg/ml, Activin-B >249 pg/ml, CRP >10.3 mg/dL, LDH >427 U/L, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission, Neutrophil/Lymphocyte-Ratio >5.6, Years of Age >61, Comorbidities >1 and D-dimers >1097 ng/ml, efficiently predicted and monitored fatal outcome independently of multiplicity and timing of sampling (AUC: 0.951±0.032, p<10-6). Validation in 35 samples derived from a third hospital indicated comparable AUC (0.958±0.086, p=0.032).

Conclusion

This study unravels the link between Activin/Folistatin-axis and COVID-19 mortality and introduces FACT-CLINYCoD, a novel pathophysiology-based tool that copes with the dynamic and heterogeneous nature of COCVID-19, predicts disease outcome and supports clinical decision making. Prospective large-scale validation of this calculator, as well as investigation of the mechanisms linking Activin/Folistatin-axis to COVID-19 pathogenesis is warranted.
Dietary suppression of MHC-II expression in intestinal stem cells enhances intestinal tumorigenesis
Authors: Beyaz Semir , Roper Jatin , Bauer-Rowe Khristian E. , Xifaras Michael E. , Ergin Ilgin , Dohnalova Lenka , Biton Moshe , Shekar Karthik , Mou Haiwei , Eskiocak Onur , Özata Deniz M. , Papciak Katherine , Chung Charlie , Almeqdadi Mohammed , Fein Miriam , Valle-Encinas Eider , Erdemir Aysegul , Dogum Karoline , Garipcan Aybuke , Meyer Hannah , Fox James G. , Elinav Eran , Kucukural Alper , Kumar Pawan , McAleer Jeremy , Thaiss Christoph A. , Regev Aviv , Orkin Stuart H. , Yilmaz Ömer H.
Published: September 2020

Little is known about how interactions between diet, immune recognition, and intestinal stem cells (ISCs) impact the early steps of intestinal tumorigenesis. Here, we show that a high fat diet (HFD) reduces the expression of the major histocompatibility complex II (MHC-II) genes in ISCs. This decline in ISC MHC-II expression in a HFD correlates with an altered intestinal microbiome composition and is recapitulated in antibiotic treated and germ-free mice on a control diet. Mechanistically, pattern recognition receptor and IFNg signaling regulate MHC-II expression in ISCs. Although MHC-II expression on ISCs is dispensable for stem cell function in organoid culturesin vitro, upon loss of the tumor suppressor geneApcin a HFD, MHC-II- ISCs harbor greaterin vivotumor-initiating capacity than their MHC-II+ counterparts, thus implicating a role for epithelial MHC-II in suppressing tumorigenesis. Finally, ISC-specific genetic ablation of MHC-II in engineeredApc-mediated intestinal tumor models increases tumor burden in a cell autonomous manner. These findings highlight how a HFD alters the immune recognition properties of ISCs through the regulation of MHC-II expression in a manner that could contribute to intestinal tumorigenesis.
Metastatic Lymph Node Station Number Predicts Survival in Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Zhang Han , Jiang Cong , Jing Kaiqi , Zhang Jing , Chen Yan , Zhu Yuming , Jiang Gening , Zhang Peng
Published: September 2020

Purpose

As for pathologic N category, various regrouping strategies have been raised in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but little was done in small cell lung cancer(SCLC). On the basis of the suggestions discussed in NSCLC, we proposed a novel, metastatic lymph node station number (MNSN) - based pathologic N parameter and compared its efficacy in predicting survival with pN in SCLC.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the patients operated and pathologically diagnosed as SCLC in our hospital between 2009 and 2019. Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to compare survival between groups defined by pN and MNSN.

Results

From 2009 to 2019, 566 patients received surgery for SCLC and 530 of them were eligible for subsequent analysis, with a median follow-up time of 21 months. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 58.8%, 38.6%, 27.9% for pN0, pN1, pN2 stages and were 58.8%, 36.8%, 22.1%, 0% for MNSN0, 1-2, 3-5, 6-7 groups, respectively. Analyses of overall and recurrence-free survival (RFS) revealed that pN1 could not be distinguished from pN2 (OS, p = 0.099; RFS, p = 0.254), but the groups in MNSN were well separated from each other (OS, p< 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.063; RFS, p< 0.001, p = 0.026, p = 0.01, compared with the former group). When adjusted for sex, age, smoking, tumor purity and T stage, MNSN groups were independent hazard factors for OS and RFS.

Conclusions

Based on our cohort study, the MNSN-based N parameter might be a better indicator to predict survival than pN in SCLC and worth considering in the definition of N category in the future.
Unequal Lives: A Sociodemographic Analysis of Covid19 Transmission and Mortality in India
Authors: Dibyachintan Soham , Nandy Priyanka , Das Kalyan , Vinjanampathy Sai , Mitra Mithun K.
Published: September 2020

The hierarchy of social structures shape, in very particular and measurable ways, the differential impact that a disease has on different parts of society. In this study, we use district-level disease data to perform an ecological analysis of Covid19 outcomes in India vis a vis the local socioeconomic gradient. Average doubling times and case fatality ratios have been quantified as measures of transmission and mortality, respectively, and association analysis performed with twenty variables of socioeconomic vulnerability. Persistent patterns are observed between disease outcome and social inequality, linking poor living conditions to a faster spread, an elderly populace to a slower spread, and both a college education and the presence of medical facilities to low fatality rates.
Metagenomics Strain Resolution on Assembly Graphs
Authors: Quince Christopher , Nurk Sergey , Raguideau Sebastien , James Robert , Soyer Orkun S. , Summers J. Kimberly , Limasset Antoine , Eren A. Murat , Chikhi Rayan , Darling Aaron E.
Published: September 2020

We introduce a novel bioinformatics pipeline, STrain Resolution ON assembly Graphs (STRONG), which identifies strainsde novo, when multiple metagenome samples from the same community are available. STRONG performs coassembly, followed by binning into metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs), but uniquely it stores the coassembly graph prior to simplification of variants. This enables the subgraphs for individual single-copy core genes (SCGs) in each MAG to be extracted. It can then thread back reads from the samples to compute per sample coverages for the unitigs in these graphs. These graphs and their unitig coverages are then used in a Bayesian algorithm, BayesPaths, that determines the number of strains present, their sequences or haplotypes on the SCGs and their abundances in each of the samples.

Our approach both avoids the ambiguities of read mapping and allows more of the information on co-occurrence of variants in reads to be utilised than if variants were treated independently, whilst at the same time exploiting the correlation of variants across samples that occurs when they are linked in the same strain. We compare STRONG to the current state of the art on synthetic communities and demonstrate that we can recover more strains, more accurately, and with a realistic estimate of uncertainty deriving from the variational Bayesian algorithm employed for the strain resolution. On a real anaerobic digestor time series we obtained strain-resolved SCGs for over 300 MAGs that for abundant community members match those observed from long Nanopore reads.
Soil stabilisatizion for DNA metabarcoding of plants and fungi. Implications for sampling at remote locations or via third-parties
Authors: Clasen Lina A , Detheridge Andrew P , Scullion John , Griffith Gareth W
Published: September 2020

Storage of soil samples prior to metagenomic analysis presents a problem. If field sites are remote or if samples are collected by third parties, transport to analytical laboratories may take several days or even weeks. The bulk of such samples and requirement for later homogenisation precludes the convenient use of a stabilisation buffer, so samples are usually cooled or frozen during transit. There has been limited testing of the most appropriate storage methods for later study of soil organisms by eDNA approaches. Here we tested a range of storage methods on two contrasting soils, comparing these methods to the control of freezing at −80°C followed by freeze-drying. To our knowledge this is the first study to examine the effect of storage conditions on eukaryote DNA in soil, including both viable organisms (fungi) and DNA contained within dying/dead tissues (plants). For fungi, the best storage regimes (closest to the control) were storage a 4°C (for up to 14 d) or active air-drying at room temperature. The worst treatments involved initial freezing followed by thawing which led to significant later spoilage. The key spoilage organisms were identified asMetarhizium carneumandMortierellaspp., with a general increase in saprotrophic fungi and reduced abundances of mycorrhizal/biotrophic fungi. Plant data showed a similar pattern but with greater variability in community structure especially in the freeze-thaw treatments, probably due to stochastic variation in substrates for fungal decomposition, algal proliferation and some seed germination. In the absence of freeze drying facilities, samples should be shipped refrigerated but not frozen if there is any risk of thawing.
Mutational Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Genome in African Population
Authors: Omotoso Olabode E. , Babalola Ayoade D. , Matareek Amira
Published: September 2020

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a highly infectious and pathogenic virus has claimed lot of lives globally since its outbreak in December 2019 posing dire threat on public health, global economy, social and human interaction. At moderate rate, mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome are evolving which might have contributed to viral genome variability, transmission, replication efficiency and virulence in different regions of the world. The present study elucidated the mutational landscape in SARS-CoV-2 genome among the African population, which may have contributed to the virulence, pathogenicity and transmission observed in the region. Multiple sequence alignment of the SARS-CoV-2 genome (356 viral protein sequences) was performed using ClustalX version 2.1 and phylogenetic tree was built using Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis (MEGA) X software. ORF1ab polyprotein, spike glycoprotein, ORF3, ORF8 and nucleocapsid phosphoprotein were observed as mutational hotspots in the African population and may be of keen interest in the adaptability of SARS-CoV-2 to the human host. While, there is conservation in the envelope protein, membrane glycoprotein, ORF6, ORF7a, ORF7b and ORF10. The accumulation of moderate mutations (though slowly) in the SARS-CoV-2 genome as revealed in our study, could be a promising strategy to develop drugs or vaccines with respect to the viral conserved domains and host cellular proteins and/or receptors involved in viral invasion and replication to avoid a new viral wave due to drug resistance and vaccine evasion.
Development of a method for revertable CRISPR/Cas9-based mutagenesis in cell culture
Authors: Walsh Jonathon , Eggenschwiler Jonathan
Published: September 2020

CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis is a revolutionary tool for genetics in organismal and cell culture systems. One notable caveat with this system is the potential for phenotype-inducing off-target/background mutations. There has been considerable success in modifying the methodology to minimize these potential confounds. Here we have developed a tool to functionally demonstrate that a targeted mutation of interest is responsible for the phenotype observed. This approach creates revertable mutations in cell culture systems using CRISPR/Cas9-induced homology-directed repair (HDR) to insert a LoxP-flanked transcriptional stop sequence into an early intron of a target gene. This method has the potential to be used in multiplexed and inducible scenarios to restore gene function within a given experiment.
Unique Genotypic Features of HIV-1 C Gp41 Membrane Proximal External Region Variants during Pregnancy Relate to Mother-to-child Transmission via Breastfeeding
Authors: Yin Li , Chang Kai-Fen , Nakamura Kyle J. , Kuhn Louise , Aldrovandi Grace M. , Goodenow Maureen M.
Published: September 2020

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) through breastfeeding remains a major source of pediatric HIV-1 infection worldwide. To characterize plasma HIV-1 subtype C populations from infected mothers during pregnancy that related to subsequent breast milk transmission, an exploratory study was designed to apply next generation sequencing and a custom bioinformatics pipeline for HIV-1 gp41 extending from heptad repeat region 2 (HR2) through the membrane proximal external region (MPER) and the membrane spanning domain (MSD). Viral populations during pregnancy from women who transmitted by breastfeeding, compared to those who did not, displayed greater biodiversity, more frequent amino acid polymorphisms, lower hydropathy index and greater positive charge. Viral characteristics were restricted to MPER, failed to extend into flanking HR2 or MSD regions, and were unrelated to predicted neutralization resistance. Findings provide novel parameters to evaluate an association between maternal MPER variants present during gestation and lactogenesis with subsequent transmission outcomes by breastfeeding.

IMPORTANCE

HIV-1 transmission through breastfeeding accounts for 39% of MTCT and continues as a major route of pediatric infection in developing countries where access to interventions for interrupting transmission is limited. Identifying women who are likely to transmit during breastfeeding would focus therapies during the breastfeeding period to reduce MTCT. Findings from our pilot study identify novel characteristics of gestational viral MPER quasispecies related to transmission outcomes and raise the possibility for predicting MTCT by breastfeeding based on identifying mothers with high-risk viral populations.
Targeted manipulation of abundant and rare taxa in theDaphnia magnamicrobiota with antibiotics impacts host fitness differentially
Authors: Cooper Reilly O. , Vavra Janna M. , Cressler Clayton E.
Published: September 2020

Host-associated microbes contribute to host fitness, but it is unclear whether these contributions are from rare keystone taxa, numerically abundant taxa, or interactions among community members. Experimental perturbation of the microbiota can highlight functionally important taxa; however, this approach is primarily applied in systems with complex communities where the perturbation affects hundreds of taxa, making it difficult to pinpoint contributions of key community members. Here, we use the ecological model organismDaphnia magnato examine the importance of rare and abundant taxa by perturbing its relatively simple microbiota with targeted antibiotics. We used sublethal antibiotic doses to target either rare or abundant members across two temperatures, then measured key host life history metrics and shifts in microbial community composition. We find that removal of abundant taxa had greater impacts on host fitness than did removal of rare taxa and that the abundances of non-target taxa were impacted by antibiotic treatment, suggesting no rare keystone taxa exist in theDaphnia magnamicrobiota but microbe-microbe interactions may play a role in host fitness. We also find that microbial community composition was impacted by antibiotics differently across temperatures, indicating ecological context shapes within-host microbial responses and effects on host fitness.

Importance

Understanding the contributions of rare and abundant taxa to host fitness is an outstanding question in host microbial ecology. In this study, we use the model zooplanktonDaphnia magnaand its relatively simple cohort of bacterial taxa to disentangle the roles of distinct taxa on host life history metrics, using a suite of antibiotics to selectively reduce the abundance of functionally important taxa. We also examine how environmental context shapes the importance of these bacterial taxa on host fitness.
Order versus disorder in two isomorphous pyrazolone-substituted diethyl propanedioates prepared using a three-component one-pot reaction under solvent-free conditions
Authors: Shreekanth Tharangini K. , Yathirajan Hemmige S. , Kalluraya Balakrishna , Foro Sabine , Glidewell Christopher
Published: September 2020

Two new substituted propanedioate esters have been synthesized using a three-component solvent-free thermal reaction between diethyl propanedioate (diethyl malonate), 5-chloro-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbaldehyde and an aryl azide, forming two new C—C bonds in a single step. The products diethyl (RS)-2-[(4-bromophenyl)(5-methyl-3-oxo-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methyl]propanedioate, C24H25BrN2O5 (I), and diethyl (RS)-2-[(4-chlorophenyl)(5-methyl-3-oxo-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methyl]propanedioate, C24H25ClN2O5 (II), are isomorphous, with Z′ = 2 in space group P21/n. The two independent molecules in compound (I) are both fully ordered, while each of the independent molecules in compound (II) is disordered, but in different ways. In one molecule of (II), the N-phenyl ring is disordered over two sets of atomic sites having occupancies 0.635 (10) and 0.365 (10), and in the other molecule the ester function is disordered over two sets of atomic sites having occupancies 0.690 (5) and 0.310 (5). In both structures, the two independent molecules adopt different conformations and, in each structure, the molecules are linked into complex sheets by a combination of N—H...O, C—H...O and C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds. Comparisons are made with some related structures.
Crystal structure, optical property and Hirshfeld surface analysis of bis[1-(prop-2-en-1-yl)-1H-imidazol-3-ium] hexachloridostannate(IV)
Authors: Ferjani Hela
Published: September 2020

A new 0D organic–inorganic hybrid material bis[1-(prop-2-en-1-yl)-1H-imidazol-3-ium] hexachloridostannate(IV), (C6H9N2)2[SnCl6], has been prepared and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, Hirshfeld surface analysis and UV–visible spectroscopy. The structure consists of isolated [SnCl6]2− octahedral anions separated by layers of organic 1-(prop-2-en-1-yl)-1H-imidazol-3-ium cations. The 1-(prop-2-en-1-yl) fragment in the organic cation exhibits disorder over two sets of atomic sites having occupancies of 0.512 (9) and 0.488 (9). The crystal packing of the title compound is established by intermolecular N/C–H...Cl hydrogen bond and π– π stacking interactions. Hirshfeld surface analysis employing three-dimensional molecular surface contours and two-dimensional fingerprint plots has been used to analyse the intermolecular interactions present in the structure. The optical properties of the crystal were studied using UV–visible absorption spectroscopy, showing one intense band at 208 nm, which is attributed to π–π* transitions in the cations.
trans-Diaquabis(N,N,N′-trimethylethylenediamine)nickel(II) dichloride
Authors: Miecznikowski John R. , Jasinski Jerry P. , Flaherty Nicole F. , Mircovich Emma E. , Smolinsky Allison N. , Bertolotti Natalia R.
Published: September 2020

In the title salt, [Ni(C5H12N2)2(H2O)2]Cl2, the asymmetric unit is comprised of half of the complex cation and a chloride ion with the NiII atom of the cation situated about a twofold rotation axis. The six-coordinate NiII atom of the cation is connected to four N atoms from two methyl-substituted ethyelenediamine ligands and two water molecules in a slightly distorted octahedral environment. The five-membered chelate ring is in a slight envelope conformation. The crystal packing features O—H...Cl and N—H...Cl intermolecular interactions with the Cl− ion forming weak bifurcated hydrogen bonds with nearby water molecules and N—H interactions, leading to a three-dimensional supramolecular network structure.
Diosgenin-3,6-dione: second polymorph in space group P212121
Authors: Guerrero-Luna Gabriel , Reyes Melchor Jaquelin , Bernès Sylvain , Hernández-Linares María-Guadalupe
Published: September 2020

The title steroid, [(25R)-spirost-4-en-3,6-dione, C27H38O4], is obtained by oxidation of diosgenin, using the Jones reagent (CrO3/H2SO4). The crystal structure was previously reported in space group P212121, but nonetheless with the wrong absolute configuration and omitting positions for H atoms [Rajnikant et al. (2000). Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. Sci. Technol. Sect. C, 12, 101–110]. The diffraction data set reported herein is for a second polymorph in the same space group, as evidenced by simulated powder patterns. Both forms are characterized by a similar orthorhombic unit cell, and a similar arrangement of the molecules in the crystal structure. However, the conformation of the A/B rings in the steroid nucleus is slightly modified, leading to the observed polymorphism.
Bis(μ4-adamantane-1,3-dicarboxylato-1κO
1:2κO
1′:3κO
3:4κO
3′)octacarbonyl-1κ2
C,2κ2
C,3κ2
C,4κ2
C-tetrakis[tris(4-methylphenyl)phosphane]-1κP,2κP,3κP,4κP-tetraosmium(I)(2 Os–Os)
Authors: Zometa Paniagua Diego F. , Powell Gregory L. , Powell Cynthia B. , Reinheimer Eric W.
Published: September 2020

The title complex, [{Os2(CO)4(C21H21P)2}2(C12H14O4)2], is a centrosymmetric molecular loop consisting of two Os—Os sawhorse units linked by two adamantane dicarboxylato bridges. It was synthesized by the microwave-mediated reaction between Os3(CO)12 and adamantane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid. In contrast to the related complex [{Os2(CO)6}2(μ4-adamantane-1,3-diacetate)2], the metal–metal axes within each molecule are oriented parallel rather than perpendicular to one another. The crystal structure exhibits cavities that contain residual electron density peaks, but it was not possible to unambiguously identify the solvent therein. The contribution of the disordered solvent molecules to the scattering was removed using the SQUEEZE (Spek (2015). Acta Cryst. C71, 9–18) routine in PLATON [Spek (2020). Acta Cryst. E76, 1–11]. These solvent molecules are not considered in the given chemical formula and other crystal data.
Women empowerment and adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices in Nigeria
Authors: Oyawole Funminiyi Peter , Shittu Adebayo , Kehinde Mojisola , Ogunnaike Gbemisola , Akinjobi Lois Toluwani
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This study assessed the extent of women empowerment and empirically investigated its effect on the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices at the plot level in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the empowerment score and women empowerment gap for each household which were derived from the Abbreviated Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index, a multivariate probit model which controlled for the influence of gender and women empowerment on climate-smart agricultural practices' adoption was estimated. The study made use of data from the ECOWAS-RAAF-PASANAO survey conducted in Nigeria in 2017.

Findings

The results show that men are significantly more empowered than women in four out of the five domains of empowerment and are more likely to adopt crop rotation. However, female plot managers have a higher likelihood of adopting green manure and agroforestry, while no significant gender differences in the adoption of organic manure and zero/minimum tillage were found.

Social implications

The results suggest that closing the empowerment gap between women and their spouses would positively influence the adoption of agroforestry.

Originality/value

This study represents the first attempt to examine the adoption of these practices from a gender perspective using a nationally representative plot-level dataset in Nigeria. Furthermore, this study contributes to existing literature on how gender differences influence technology adoption by modelling the effect of empowerment score for each plot manager, and the women empowerment gap for each household on the adoption of five climate-smart agricultural practices.
Consumers’ security and trust for online shopping after GDPR: examples from Poland and Ukraine
Authors: Strzelecki Artur , Rizun Mariia
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to consider the question of changes brought to consumers’ trust and security issues by the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in electronic commerce.

Design/methodology/approach

Online shopping policies in Poland and Ukraine are compared from the perspective of four factors as follows: application of terms of service and privacy policy, usage of online payment systems, presence in price comparison engines and grade of secure sockets layer security certificates. Comparison is conducted within the framework of three research questions (complemented by eight hypotheses) set to reveal whether: policies of personal data protection and server security for online stores in both countries are the same; all online stores in both countries obey the existing e-commerce rules; e-commerce policies in the two countries differ significantly. The sample for analysis contains 40 Polish and 40 Ukrainian online stores, representing four industries, namely, electronics, entertainment, fashion and goods for children.

Findings

The research allowed to reveal major differences in the privacy policy of the two countries, caused, mainly, by the absence of GDPR in Ukraine. It also disclosed much stronger cooperation of online stores and price comparison engines in Poland compared to Ukraine. At the same time, research results allow to state that server security in both countries is on the same rather high level and that online stores use transparent and safe methods of online payment.

Research limitations/implications

This research opens a way to other, expanded observations which will include more countries and larger scopes of data. Its main limitation is that GDPR influence is only studied in two countries, not in all countries where it is implemented.

Originality/value

This research contributes from security and trust perspectives by analyzing the situation in two countries as follows: the EU member (Poland) and a non-EU country (Ukraine). The value of exploring the situation of Ukrainian e-commerce consists of understanding how online stores function without implementing the GDPR. Observation of shopbots application allows drawing an important conclusion of the necessity for online stores to cooperate with such services. It was also revealed that consumers’ trust in both countries depends a lot on the payment methods applied by an online store and on the ease of use of these methods.
Exploring the connection between organizations and organisms in dealing with change
Authors: Arghode Vishal , Jandu Narveen , McLean Gary N.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to review organizational studies literature and related fields to explore the parallel between organizations and organisms in dealing with change.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors reviewed the literature to explore organizational change theories. Additionally, they referred to biological studies to explore the connection between organizations and organisms.

Findings

To cope successfully with change, organizations need to be aware of the critical, vulnerable points that may endanger their survival. These vulnerabilities can arise from external or internal factors or both. Organizational leaders, being aware of these criticalities, can act swiftly to deal with threats while keeping an eye on available opportunities.

Research limitations/implications

Future research could be conducted on understanding the elements of biological transformations through an in-depth study focused on species that have undergone frequent mutations and adaptations. It is hoped that HRD researchers, especially organization development (OD) theorists and practitioners, can build upon the ideas presented in this article.

Practical implications

The review and analysis can open doors for HRD practitioners to seek a better understanding of biological transformations, while enabling them to borrow ideas to be used in leading organizational change and design successful organizational change.

Originality/value

In this paper, the authors selected organizational theories to outline parallels between organizations and organisms to emphasize what organizations can learn from the success of organisms changing over billions of years. Thus, this paper uniquely contributes to HRD literature by encouraging OD researchers to conduct more interdisciplinary research. Most importantly, this paper contributes to understanding the underlying theories in HRD/OD.
Supply chain collaboration: differing perspectives of Brazilian companies
Authors: Carvalho Nayara Louise , Mendes Juliana Veiga , Akim Erica Kushihara , Mergulhão Ricardo Coser , Vidal Vieira José Geraldo
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This article examines the extent of collaboration experienced by 191 Brazilian shippers, logistics service providers (LSPs) and carriers in their logistics operations in urban freight transport. This study investigates relationships over time, the type of service and the nuances associated with the frequency of meetings, frequency of technical visits and frequency of training.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors carried out a component analysis and, based on factor loadings, calculated indexes for use in non-linear canonical correlations to evaluate company-level differences in perceptions of the degree of collaboration and strength of relationship over time.

Findings

The results indicate that in the triad, LSPs are the strongest supporters of collaboration over time regardless of whether the logistics service is shared or dedicated; shippers demonstrate the weakest support for collaboration and prioritize relationships of one to three years in length. Carriers seek to develop short-term relationships and participate actively in meetings and technical visits because they strongly support strategic and interpersonal collaboration. Carriers also follow LSPs in terms of strategic and interpersonal collaboration and shared logistics services.

Originality/value

This article contributes to understanding the perceptions of interactions among specific logistics collaboration elements related to strategic, tactical and interpersonal relationships that the Brazilian companies face in their daily urban freight transport.
Understanding consumer attitudes in cause-brand alliances in sports: the role of sport entity attitudes
Authors: Joo Soyoung , Koo Jakeun , Nichols Bridget Satinover
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This study examines the effects of congruence and reliability on cause-brand alliance (CBA) program attitudes—exploring how CBA program attitudes and sport entity attitudes affect attitudes toward a sport-related and sport-unrelated brand in a single CBA.

Design/methodology/approach

About 240 survey participants answered questions before and after being exposed to information about the NFL Play 60 program. Consistent partial least squares structural equation modeling is utilized to test the hypotheses.

Findings

Results suggest both congruence and reliability positively influence CBA program success; and both sport-related and sport-unrelated brands positively affect consumer attitudes when they participate in a CBA with a high-profile sport entity. This occurs directly through CBA program attitudes for a sport-unrelated brand and indirectly through sport entity attitudes for a sport-related brand.

Originality/value

This study extends the CBA literature in sports by showing (1) the role of reliability on CBA program attitudes, (2) the role of sport entity attitudes on other cause partner attitudes and (3) different paths for sport-related versus sport-unrelated brands that are partnered with a premium sport entity to achieve CBA program brand enhancements.
Pattern-based dual learning for point-of-interest (POI) recommendation
Authors: Thaipisutikul Tipajin , Chen Yi-Cheng
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Tourism spot or point-of-interest (POI) recommendation has become a common service in people's daily life. The purpose of this paper is to model users' check-in history in order to predict a set of locations that a user may soon visit.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors proposed a novel learning-based method, the pattern-based dual learning POI recommendation system as a solution to consider users' interests and the uniformity of popular POI patterns when making recommendations. Differing from traditional long short-term memory (LSTM), a new users’ regularity–POIs’ popularity patterns long short-term memory (UP-LSTM) model was developed to concurrently combine the behaviors of a specific user and common users.

Findings

The authors introduced the concept of dual learning for POI recommendation. Several performance evaluations were conducted on real-life mobility data sets to demonstrate the effectiveness and practicability of POI recommendations. The metrics such as hit rate, precision, recall and F-measure were used to measure the capability of ranking and precise prediction of the proposed model over all baselines. The experimental results indicated that the proposed UP-LSTM model consistently outperformed the state-of-the-art models in all metrics by a large margin.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing literature by incorporating a novel pattern–based technique to analyze how the popularity of POIs affects the next move of a particular user. Also, the authors have proposed an effective fusing scheme to boost the prediction performance in the proposed UP-LSTM model. The experimental results and discussions indicate that the combination of the user's regularity and the POIs’ popularity patterns in PDLRec could significantly enhance the performance of POI recommendation.
Subordinate-oriented strengths-based leadership and subordinate job performance: the mediating effect of supervisor–subordinate guanxi
Authors: Ding He , Yu Enhai
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to examine the association of subordinate-oriented strengths-based leadership (SSBL) with subordinates’ job performance (task performance and innovative behavior) as well as the meditating role of supervisor–subordinate guanxi (SSG) in these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Self-report data on SSBL, SSG, task performance and innovative behavior were gathered from 642 Chinese employees working in various Chinese enterprises. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.

Findings

The results indicated that SSBL is positively related to subordinates’ job performance (task performance and innovative behavior). Furthermore, SSG partially mediated the relationship of SSBL with task performance and with innovative behavior.

Originality/value

This study is the first to empirically examine the relationship of SSBL with job performance. In addition, this study adds to the knowledge on the SSBL–job performance linkage by investigating the mediational effect of SSG on the relationship.
Corporate environmental responsibility in China: a strategic political perspective
Authors: Wang Wei , Zhao Chunxiang , Jiang Xinfeng , Huang Yiming , Li Sihai
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Against the background of the enormous economic transition China is undertaking, government intervention over corporate behavior is a frequent and, arguably, necessary measure. Among the most serious problems facing China, economically and reputationally, are environmental issues. So, how is the government intervening in the environmental performance of Chinese enterprises? And how are Chinese enterprises responding? These are the questions to be answered in this study.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper sampled listed companies on China’s Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. The data were collected from the HeXun corporate social responsibility report, CSMAR and WIND databases. A Tobit model was used to conduct the main 2SLS regression analysis, and the robustness tests followed the propensity score matching method.

Findings

The analysis shows that environmental performance is positively related to the government subsidies a company receives. The “Eight-point Regulation of the Centre” crack-down on social corruption introduced in 2012 has weakened rent-seeking overall, but rent-seeking behavior through the cloak of corporate environmental performance has become more serious. As a result, non-polluting and state-owned enterprises are significantly less concerned about their environmental performance, while polluting and private enterprises are more motivated to become good environmental citizens.

Practical implications

This research provides a greater understanding of the drivers behind environmentally-responsible behavior in Chinese companies. These insights can be used by policymakers and environmental regulators to incentivize a more widespread ground-swell of change across the gamut of Chinese business.

Social implications

Environmental policy and practice informed by research-driven recommendations can not only make valuable contributions to the health and well-being of Chinese society but also, as a significant contributor to climate change, environmental reforms have global benefits.

Originality/value

This study explores the motivations behind rent-seeking associated with environmental investment. The findings expand the research horizon of relevant literature on corporate political rent-seeking and deepen the understandings of the economic consequences of corporate investment into environmental practice. The results provide empirical evidence for the Chinese government to implement environmental regulations based on incentives beyond simple profit-making.
Development of a supply chain risk mitigation index for distillery
Authors: Raghuram P. , Sandeep Perumalla , Sreedharan V. Raja , Saikouk Tarik
Published: September 2020

Purpose

A huge number of events can affect the operations of a long and complicated supply chain. This paper deals with the development of a supply chain risk mitigation index (SCRMI) based on a risk mitigation maturity framework. A comprehensive list of supply chain risks has been ascertained and segregated into risks faced at various supply chain echelons through a detailed literature review.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on an extensive literature review and questionnaire to identify risks. order of magnitude analytic hierarchy process (OM-AHP) was used as the methodology to assess the prioritization of supply chain risks under two clusters, viz., Probability and severity leading to risk were tested in a distillery.

Findings

SCRMI was determined and used to categorize their maturity level in facing supply chain risks. Thus, organization can focus on improvements for their specific needs.

Research limitations/implications

The model was tested in the distillery industry. It should be tested in other contexts with other methods to provide generalizability.

Practical implications

This research provides direction to managers for choosing risk mitigation strategies based on the global supply chain environment. SCRMI can be a performance metric for the supply chain managers.

Originality/value

The manufacturer's readiness to take action in the face of disruptions in the supply chain is a critical challenge in today's complex business environment and SCRMI framework is instrumental in such business environment.
Single‐center analysis of antiresorptive agent‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw in lung cancer patients
Authors: Okamura Misato , Fujita Kohei , Yamamoto Yuki , Kanai Osamu , Nakatani Koichi , Horimoto Kanna , Hashimoto Masayuki , Sawai Satoru , Shimosato Maiko , Yoshida Kazuya , Mio Tadashi
Published: September 2020

Background

Over the past two decades, antiresorptive agent‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ARONJ) has become a growing concern. We examined the incidence of ARONJ and identified its risk factors in lung cancer patients in the real‐world clinical setting. To our knowledge, we are the first to do so.

Patients and methods

We retrospectively analyzed lung cancer patients with bone metastases who had received anti‐resorptive agents (zoledronate or denosumab) at the National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center from October 2012 to September 2018. All ARONJ cases were diagnosed by the dentists according to the established diagnostic criteria.

Results

A total of 171 patients were reviewed, 13 (7.6%) of whom experienced ARONJ. Among the 13 patients, six (46.2%), four (30.8%) and three (23.1%) had adenocarcinoma, squamous carcinoma and not otherwise specified, respectively. ARONJ was stage 2 in three (23.1%) patients and stage 3 in 10 (76.9%). More cycles of antiresorptive agents (odds ratio [OR] = 11.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.47–53.99; P < 0.01), use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs; OR = 5.05; 95% CI, 1.56–16.37; P < 0.01) and longer survival duration (≥2 years; OR = 12.16; 95% CI, 3.17–46.65; P < 0.01) were independently associated with ARONJ in a multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

The incidence of ARONJ was relatively high in lung cancer patients with bone metastases. When using antiresorptive agents, oncologists should closely monitor patients for ARONJ during the course of treatment and regularly consult with dentists, especially in patients receiving ICIs.
Association between disability status and dental attendance in Australia—A population‐based study
Authors: Lopez Silva Claudia Patricia , Singh Ankur , Calache Hanny , Derbi Hajer A. , Borromeo Gelsomina L.
Published: September 2020

Aims

Disability is a key social determinant of health. The objective of this study was to test the association between disability status and irregular dental attendance among the Australian population, and to examine whether the observed association varied among adolescents.

Methods

Data on 17 501 participants from The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) were analysed. The main outcome examined was irregular dental attendance (two or more years since last dental visit) with disability as the primary exposure. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to test the associations between disability and dental attendance pattern. Models were adjusted for age, gender, country of birth, region of residence, education and income. Analysis was repeated among adolescents (15‐ to 24‐year‐old) to examine for variations in observed association.

Results

One in four participants reported having a disability. Unadjusted model showed that the odds for irregular dental attendance were 1.40 times greater (95%; CI, 1.30‐1.51) in those with disability than those without disability. After adjusting for all covariates, participants with disability had 1.20 times higher odds (95%; CI 1.10‐1.30) of irregular dental attendance than those without disability. Irregular dental attendance was 1.41 times greater (95%; CI 1.10‐1.80) in those with disability aged 15‐24 years than those without disability.

Conclusions

Australian individuals with disability are more likely to have irregular dental attendance than those without.
Continuous glucose monitoring in patients with remission of type 2 diabetes after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy without or with duodenojejunal bypass
Authors: Sawada Shojiro , Kodama Shinjiro , Tsuchiya Satoko , Kurosawa Satoko , Endo Akira , Sugawara Hiroto , Hosaka Shinichiro , Kawana Yohei , Asai Yoichiro , Yamamoto Junpei , Munakata Yuichiro , Izumi Tomohito , Takahashi Kei , Kaneko Keizo , Imai Junta , Imoto Hirofumi , Tanaka Naoki , Naitoh Takeshi , Ishigaki Yasushi , Katagiri Hideki
Published: September 2020

Bariatric surgery is associated with a high remission rate of type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, it is unclear whether patients showing remission of diabetes actually have normal blood glucose levels throughout the day. We therefore performed continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in 15 ambulatory patients showing remission of diabetes after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) without or with duodenojejunal bypass (DJB) at the time of diabetic remission (12.9 ± 1.8 months after bariatric surgery). The definition of remission of diabetes was based on the American Diabetes Association criteria. The mean, SD, and coefficient of variation (CV) of glucose calculated from CGM were 6.2 ± 0.6 mmol/L, 1.5 ± 0.4 mmol/L, and 23.7 ± 6.2%, respectively. These values were higher than those of healthy participants without diabetes previously reported. The percentages of time spent above 10.0 mmol/L and below 3.9 mmol/L were 2.6 (IQR 0‐5.0)% and 0 (IQR 0‐8.0)%, respectively. Thus, patients with remission of diabetes after LSG or LSG/DJB still had substantial periods of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia throughout the day. Therefore, we must manage patients with diabetes carefully, even after apparent remission of type 2 diabetes in response to bariatric surgery.
Continuously steerable differential beamformers with null constraints for circular microphone arrays
Authors: Huang Gongping , Cohen Israel , Chen Jingdong , Benesty Jacob
Published: September 2020

Differential beamforming combined with microphone arrays can be used in a wide range of applications related to acoustic and speech signal acquisition and recovery. A practical and useful method for designing differential beamformers is the so-called null-constrained method, which was developed based on linear arrays and requires only the nulls' information from the target directivity pattern. While it is effective and easy to use, this method is found not suitable for designing steerable differential beamformers with circular arrays. This paper reexamines this technique in the context of circular differential microphone arrays. By analyzing the properties of the circular array topology, the null-constrained method is extended to include symmetric constraints, which is inherent in the design of circular arrays. This extension yields a design method for fully steerable differential beamformers that require only minimum information from the target beampattern. Simulations justify the theoretical analysis and demonstrate the good properties of the developed method.