bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early-life enteric infection and enteropathy markers are associated with changes in adipokine, apolipoprotein and cytokine profiles later in childhood consistent with those of an adverse cardiometabolic disease risk profile in a Peruvian birth cohort
Authors: Colston Josh M. , Chen Yen Ting , Hinson Patrick , Nguyen Nhat-Lan H. , Peñataro Yori Pablo , Olortegui Maribel Paredes , Trigoso Dixner Rengifo , Salas Mery Siguas , Guerrant Richard L. , François Ruthly , Kosek Margaret N.
Published: March 2021

Background

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors for cardiovascular disease thought to afflict over a billion people worldwide and is increasingly being identified in younger age groups and socio-economically disadvantaged settings in the global south. Enteropathogen exposure and environmental enteropathy in infancy may lead to metabolic syndrome by disrupting the metabolic profile in a way that is detectable in cardiometabolic markers later in childhood.

Methods

217 subjects previously enrolled in a birth cohort in Amazonian Peru were followed up annually from ages 2 to 5 years. Blood samples collected in later childhood were analyzed for a panel of 37 cardiometabolic biomarkers, including adipokines, apolipoproteins, cytokines, and other analytes. These were matched to extant early-life markers of enteropathy ascertained between birth and 2 years of age. Multivariate and multivariable regression models were fitted to test for associations adjusting for confounders.

Results

Fecal and urinary markers of intestinal permeability and inflammation (myeloperoxidase, lactulose and mannitol) measured from birth to 2 years of age were independently associated with later serum concentrations of soluble CD40-ligand, a proinflammatory cytokine correlated with adverse metabolic outcomes. Fecal myeloperoxidase was also strongly, directly associated with later levels of the anti-inflammatory adipocytokine omentin-1. Cumulative enteric protozoa exposure before 2 years of age showed stronger associations with later cardiometabolic markers than enteric viruses and bacteria and overall diarrheal episodes.

Conclusion

Early-life markers of enteric infection and enteropathy were associated with numerous changes in adipokine, apolipoprotein and cytokine profiles later in childhood consistent with those of an adverse cardiometabolic disease risk profile in this Peruvian birth cohort. Markers of intestinal permeability and inflammation measured in urine (lactulose, mannitol) and stool (myeloperoxidase, protozoal infections) during infancy, may predict disruptions to cytokine and adipocytokine production in later childhood that are precursors to metabolic syndrome in adulthood. Chronic enteric infections, such as by protozoan pathogens, may be more important drivers of these changes than symptomatic diarrhea or growth faltering.

Funding

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation OPP1066146 and OPP1152146.
Remote recruitment for Essential Coaching for Every Mother during COVID-19
Authors: Dol Justine , Murphy Gail Tomblin , McMillan Douglas , Aston Megan , Campbell-Yeo Marsha
Published: March 2021

Background

With a decrease in in-person support and increase in perinatal mental health concerns during the coronavirus pandemic, innovative strategies, such as mHealth, are more important than ever. However, due to physical distancing recommendations, recruitments for perinatal research needs to shift. The objective of this study is to desire the process evaluation of recruitment and retention of women for an mHealth pre-post intervention study for Essential Coaching for Every Mother.

Methods

Three methods were used for recruitment: social media, posters in hospital, and media outreach. First time mothers were eligible for enrollment antenatally (37+ weeks) and postnatally (<3 weeks). Eligibility screening occurred remotely via text message. Outcomes were days to recruit 75 participants, eligibility vs. ineligibility rates, dropout and exclusion reasons, survey completion rates, perinatal timing of enrollment, and recruitment sources.

Results

Recruitment ran July 15th-September 19th (67 days) with 200 screened and 88 enrolled, 70% antenatally. It took 50 days to enroll 75 participants. Mothers recruited antenatally (n=53) were more likely to receive all intervention message (68% vs. 19%). Mothers recruited postnatally (n=35) missed more messages on average (13.8 vs. 6.4). Participants heard about the study through family/friends (31%), news (20%), Facebook groups (16%), Facebook ads (14%), posters (12%), or other ways (7%).

Conclusion

Antenatal recruitment resulted in participants enrolling earlier and receiving more of the study messages. Word of mouth and media outreach were successful, followed by advertisement on Facebook. Remote recruitment was a feasible way to recruit for Essential Coaching for Every Mother.
Integration of proteomics with genomics and transcriptomics increases the diagnostic rate of Mendelian disorders
Authors: Kopajtich Robert , Smirnov Dmitrii , Stenton Sarah L. , Loipfinger Stefan , Meng Chen , Scheller Ines F. , Freisinger Peter , Baski Robert , Berutti Riccardo , Behr Jürgen , Bucher Martina , Distelmaier Felix , Graf Elisabeth , Gusic Mirjana , Hempel Maja , Kulterer Lea , Mayr Johannes , Meitinger Thomas , Mertes Christian , Metodiev Metodi D. , Nadel Agnieszka , Nasca Alessia , Ohtake Akira , Okazaki Yasushi , Olsen Rikke , Piekutowska-Abramczuk Dorota , Rötig Agnès , Santer René , Schindler Detlev , Slama Abdelhamid , Staufner Christian , Strom Tim , Verloo Patrick , von Kleist-Retzow Jürgen-Christoph , Wortmann Saskia B. , Yépez Vicente A. , Lamperti Costanza , Ghezzi Daniele , Murayama Kei , Ludwig Christina , Gagneur Julien , Prokisch Holger
Published: March 2021

By lack of functional evidence, genome-based diagnostic rates cap at approximately 50% across diverse Mendelian diseases. Here, we demonstrate the effectiveness of combining genomics, transcriptomics, and, for the first time, proteomics and phenotypic descriptors, in a systematic diagnostic approach to discover the genetic cause of mitochondrial diseases. On fibroblast cell lines from 145 individuals, tandem mass tag labelled proteomics detected approximately 8,000 proteins per sample and covered over 50% of all Mendelian disease-associated genes. Aberrant protein expression analysis allowed the validation of candidate protein-destabilising variants, in addition to providing independent complementary functional evidence to variants leading to aberrant RNA expression. Overall, our integrative computational workflow led to genetic resolution for 22% of 121 genetically unsolved whole exome or whole genome negative cases and to the discovery of two novel disease genes. With increasing democratization of high-throughput omics assays, our approach and code provide a blueprint for implementing multi-omics based Mendelian disease diagnostics in routine clinical practice.
COVID-19: Optimal Allocation of Ventilator Supply under Uncertainty and Risk
Authors: Yin Xuecheng , Büyüktahtakın İ. Esra , Patel Bhumi P.
Published: March 2021

This study presents a new risk-averse multi-stage stochastic epidemics-ventilator-logistics compartmental model to address the resource allocation challenges of mitigating COVID-19. This epidemiological logistics model involves the uncertainty of untested asymptomatic infections and incorporates short-term human migration. Disease transmission is also forecasted through a new formulation of transmission rates that evolve over space and time with respect to various non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as wearing masks, social distancing, and lockdown. The proposed multi-stage stochastic model overviews different scenarios on the number of asymptomatic individuals while optimizing the distribution of resources, such as ventilators, to minimize the total expected number of newly infected and deceased people. The Conditional Value at Risk (CVaR) is also incorporated into the multi-stage mean-risk model to allow for a trade-off between the weighted expected loss due to the outbreak and the expected risks associated with experiencing disastrous pandemic scenarios. We apply our multi-stage mean-risk epidemics-ventilator-logistics model to the case of controlling the COVID-19 in highly-impacted counties of New York and New Jersey. We calibrate, validate, and test our model using actual infection, population, and migration data. The results indicate that short-term migration influences the transmission of the disease significantly. The optimal number of ventilators allocated to each region depends on various factors, including the number of initial infections, disease transmission rates, initial ICU capacity, the population of a geographical location, and the availability of ventilator supply. Our data-driven modeling framework can be adapted to study the disease transmission dynamics and logistics of other similar epidemics and pandemics.
Case-control, diagnostic accuracy study of a non-sputum CD38-based TAM-TB test from a single milliliter of blood
Authors: Hiza Hellen , Hella Jerry , Arbués Ainhoa , Magani Beatrice , Sasamalo Mohamed , Gagneux Sebastien , Reither Klaus , Portevin Damien
Published: March 2021

Background

CD4 T cell phenotyping-based blood assays have the potential to meet WHO target product profiles (TPP) of non-sputum-biomarker-based tests to diagnose tuberculosis (TB). Yet, substantial refinements are required to allow their implementation in clinical settings. This study assessed the real time performance of a simplified T cell activation marker (TAM)-TB assay to detect TB in adults from one millilitre of blood with a 24h turnaround time.

Methods

We recruited 479 GeneXpert®positive cases and 108 symptomatic but GeneXpert®negative controls from presumptive adult TB patients in the Temeke District of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. TAM-TB assay accuracy was assessed by comparison with a composite reference standard comprising GeneXpert®and solid culture. A single millilitre of fresh blood was processed to measure expression of CD38 or CD27 by CD4 T cells producing INF-γ and/or TNF-α in response to a synthetic peptide pool covering the sequences ofMycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) ESAT-6, CFP-10 and TB10.4 antigens on a 4-color FACSCalibur apparatus.

Results

Significantly superior to CD27 in accurately diagnosing TB, the CD38-based TAM-TB assay specificity reached 93.4% for a sensitivity of 82.2% with an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.87 (95% CI 0.84-0.91). The assay performance was not significantly affected by HIV status.

Conclusions

We successfully implemented TAM-TB immunoassay routine testing with a 24h turnaround time at district level in a resource limited setting. Starting from one millilitre of fresh blood and being not influenced by HIV status, TAM-TB assay format and performance appears closely compatible with the optimal TPP accuracy criteria defined by WHO for a non-sputum confirmatory TB test.
Characterizing the COVID-19 illness experience to inform the study of post-acute sequelae and recovery: a qualitative study
Authors: Santiago-Rodriguez Edda I. , Maiorana Andres , Peluso Michael J. , Hoh Rebecca , Tai Viva , Fehrman Emily A. , Hernandez Yanel , Torres Leonel , Spinelli Matthew A. , Gandhi Monica , Kelly J. Daniel , Martin Jeffrey N. , Henrich Timothy J. , Deeks Steven G. , Sauceda John A.
Published: March 2021

We aimed to characterize the variability in the illness experience and recovery process from COVID-19. We conducted in-depth individual interviews with participants enrolled in the Long-term Immunological Impact of Novel Coronavirus (LIINC) cohort study in San Francisco, California from June through October of 2020. Participants were adults who had a previously confirmed positive SARV-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification test result, had recovered or were recovering from acute infection, and underwent serial evaluations at our clinical research center. We purposefully sampled 24 English- and Spanish-speaking adults with asymptomatic, mild and severe symptomatic infection, including those who were hospitalized, and those with HIV co-infection. Half of our sample (50.0%) identified as Latinx/Hispanic and most of the participants were men (62.5%). We used thematic analysis to characterize the illness experience, recovery process, and mental health impact of experiencing COVID-19 and present clinical data for each participant. Emergent themes were: (1) across symptom profiles and severity, experiencing COVID-19 was associated with psychological distress, (2) among participants with symptomatic infection, the illness experience was characterized by uncertainty in terms of managing symptoms and recovery, and (3) despite wide-ranging illness experiences, participants shared many common characteristics, including health information-seeking behavior facilitated by access to medical care, and uncertainty regarding the course of their illness and recovery. COVID-19 was associated with elevated levels of psychological distress, regardless of symptoms.
Integrin α6 upregulation in nucleus pulposus cell under high oxygen tension attenuates intervertebral disc degeneration
Authors: Xu Zeng , Zheng Jiancheng , Zhang Ying , Wu Huiqiao , Sun Bin , Zhang Ke , Wang Jianxi , Zang Fazhi , Zhang Xingkai , Guo Lei , Wu Xiaodong
Published: March 2021

The destruction of low oxygen microenvironment played critical roles in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disk degeneration (IVDD). In this study, high oxygen tension (HOT) treatment upregulated integrin α6(ITG α6) expression, which could be alleviated by blocking PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. And the levels of ITG α6 expression were increased in the NP tissue from IVDD patients and IVDD rat model with mild degeneration, which were reduced as degeneration degree increases. Further studies found that ITG α6 could protect NP cells against HOT-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress, and protect NP cells from HOT-inhibited ECM proteins synthesis. ITG α6 upregulation by HOT contributed to maintain a NP tissue homeostasis through the interaction with hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). Furthermore, silencing of ITG α6 in vivo could obviously accelerate puncture-induced IVDD. Taken together, ITG α6 upregulation by HOT in NP cells might be a protective factor in IVDD as well as restore NP cell function.
Efficacy and safety of Ayurveda interventions for Sinusitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ahmad Azeem , S. Gundeti Manohar , P. Dave Parth , Jameela Sophia , Khanduri Shruti , Rao B.C.S. , Srikanth N.
Published: March 2021

Objectives

To provide a broad evaluation of the efficacy and safety of Ayurveda interventions (procedural and non-procedural) for the management of sinusitis, and also of the relative efficacy and safety of different Ayurveda therapies for Sinusitis.

Methods

Five electronic databases for published research articles, three databases for the unpublished doctoral thesis, clinical trial registries, and hand searches were done till August 2020. All comparative clinical trials recruiting sinusitis patients of any age group, receiving Ayurveda intervention, regardless of forms, dosages, and ingredients, for not less than one week were included. The data extraction and the risk of bias(RoB) assessment were done by two reviewers independently.

Results

A total of 2824 records were identified, of which 09 randomized parallel arms trials met inclusion criteria. No studies were found comparing Ayurveda versus placebo or non-Ayurveda interventions. Combined Ayurveda therapy (CT) was statistically more beneficial compared with either procedural or non-procedural Ayurveda therapy alone in reducing symptoms nasal discharge (standardized MD −0.71, 95% CI −1.16 to −0.26, I258%, 210 participants) and headache (standardized MD −0.44, 95% CI −0.86 to −0.02, I256%, 218 participants), however, no significant difference was found in reducing symptoms nasal obstruction and loss of smell. No numerical data related to the safety of Ayurveda intervention was found in included trials. Because, included trials(09) were having ‘high’ to ‘unclear’ overall bias, sub-standard methodology, and heterogeneity in results, the overall findings need to be interpreted cautiously.

Conclusions

Although individual studies appeared to produce positive results, very low certainty of total effect(downgraded twice for RoB, once for inconsistency, indirectness, and imprecision each) hindered to arrive at any conclusion regarding efficacy or safety of Ayurveda interventions for sinusitis. There is a need for well-designed-executed-reported clinical studies on clinically relevant outcomes.

PROSPERO registration number

RD42018103995

ARTICLE SUMMARY

Strength and limitations of this study

This is the first systematic review to provide the status of available evidence on the efficacy and safety of Ayurveda interventions for sinusitis.

The search strategy was comprehensive, all the relevant sources were searched for published as well as unpublished research works.

This systematic review has a broad review question, which compromises its eternal validity.

The certainty of the overall effect is ‘very low’ due to ‘unclear’ to ‘high’ overall risk of bias, lack of validated outcome measures, inconsistency in results with wide CIs, small sample sizes, incomplete reporting, etc.
Effect of intravesical chemotherapy on the survival of patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer undergoing transurethral resection: a retrospective cohort study among older adults
Authors: Das Ashis Kumar , Mishra Devi Kalyan , Gopalan Saji Saraswathy
Published: March 2021

Background

The average age of diagnosis for bladder cancer is 73 and about 75 percent of all bladder cancers are non-muscle invasive at initial diagnosis. It is recommended that non-muscle invasive bladder cancers (NMIBC) should be treated with transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) followed by chemotherapy. However, there is no large-scale study from real-world databases to show the effectiveness of chemotherapy on the survival of older adults with NMIBC that have undergone TURBT. This study aimed to investigate the effects of chemotherapy on survival among older NMIBC patients with TURBT.

Methods

Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2010-2015), we performed analyses of cancer-specific mortality and overall mortality comparing chemotherapy versus no chemotherapy after TURBT. Coarsened exact matching was performed to balance the baseline patient characteristics. Cox proportional hazards and Kaplan-Meir analyses were used to evaluate survival outcomes.

Results

A total of 3,222 matched patients with 1,611 in each arm (chemotherapy and no chemotherapy) were included in our study. After adjusting for covariates, multivariable Cox regression analyses show chemotherapy was associated with lower cancer-specific mortality (HR 0.63; 95% CI 0.42-0.94; p value 0.024). However, chemotherapy did not have any effect on overall mortality (HR 0.84; 95% CI 0.65-1.07; p value 0.159). The Kaplan-Meier curves show the protective effects of chemotherapy on cancer specific survival (p=0.032), but not on overall survival (p=0.34).

Conclusion

Chemotherapy improved cancer specific survival among older patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer undergoing TURBT surgery, but it had no effect on overall survival. There is a need for more granular level real-world data on chemotherapy regimens and dosage to effectively investigate the effects of chemotherapy on survival of older patients with NMIBC that have undergone TURBT.
The role of connectivity on COVID-19 preventive approaches
Authors: Pina V. Miró , Nava-Trejo J. , Tóbiás A. , Nzabarushimana E. , González-Casanova A. , González-Casanova I.
Published: March 2021

Preventive and modelling approaches to address the COVID-19 pandemic have been primarily based on the age or occupation, and often disregard the importance of heterogeneity in population contact structure and individual connectivity. To address this gap, we developed models based on Erdős-Rényi and a power law degree distribution that first incorporate the role of heterogeneity and connectivity and then can be expanded to make assumptions about demographic characteristics. Results demonstrate that variations in the number of connections of individuals within a population modify the impact of public health interventions such as lockdown or vaccination approaches. We conclude that the most effective strategy will vary depending on the underlying contact structure of individuals within a population and on timing of the interventions.

Author summary

The best strategy for public health interventions, such as lockdown or vaccination, depends on the contact structure of the population and the timing of the intervention. In general, for heterogeneous contact structures that mimic the COVID-19 spread, which is characterized by the presence of super spreaders, vaccinating the most connected individuals first was the most effective strategy to prevent infections and deaths, especially when coupled to serological tests. Models considering heterogeneity in human interactions need be used to identify the best potential vaccine prioritization strategies.
Using translational in vitro-in vivo modeling to improve drug repurposing outcomes for inhaled COVID-19 therapeutics
Authors: Stoddard Madison , Yuan Lin , Chakravarty Arijit
Published: March 2021

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgent need for antiviral treatments that can be deployed rapidly. Drug repurposing represents a promising means of achieving this objective, but repurposing efforts are often unsuccessful. A common hurdle to effective drug repurposing is a failure to achieve a sufficient therapeutic window in the new indication. A clear example is the use of ivermectin in COVID-19, where the approved dose (administered orally) fails to achieve therapeutic concentrations in the lungs. Our proposed solution to the problem of ineffective drug repurposing for COVID-19 antivirals is two-fold: to broaden the therapeutic window by reformulating therapeutics for the pulmonary route, and to select drug repurposing candidates based on their model-predicted therapeutic index for inhalation. In this article, we propose a two-stage model-driven screening and validation process for selecting inhaled antiviral drug repurposing candidates. While we have applied this approach in the specific context of COVID-19, this in vitro-in vivo translational methodology is also broadly applicable to repurposing drugs for diseases of the lower respiratory tract.
Transmembrane Kinases are essential for plant development
Authors: Li Qiang , Yang Jie , Zhang Yi , Wang Fen , Chang Mingzeng , Xu Tongda , Wang Shui , He Jun
Published: March 2021

Transmembrane kinase family proteins (TMKs) have been implicated in regulating both auxin signaling and plant development. To obtain insights of the potential TMKs’ function in plant development, we regenerated new full sets oftmkmutants, and discovered many new phenotypes, such as defective organogenesis, smaller rosette leaves, fertility defects and selfing population defects in different combination oftmkmutants. Taken together, our results demonstrated that TMKs participated in multiple aspects of plant development, which provided a great reference for any future research.

One-sentence summary

Multipletmkmutants analysis illustrated the key roles of TMKs in plant development.
Low ozone concentration and negative ions for rapid SARS-CoV-2 inactivation
Authors: De Forni Davide , Poddesu Barbara , Cugia Giulia , Gallizia Giovanni , La Licata Massimo , Lisziewicz Julianna , Chafouleas James , Lori Franco
Published: March 2021

Ozone is a powerful anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral agent, yet exposure to high levels of ozone can pose risks to human/animal health and, in the long term, corrode certain objects. In order to overcome these risks, we evaluated the potential of using a relatively short exposure of a low concentration of ozone to disinfect an indoor environment in the absence of individuals and animals. ICON3 by O3ZONO/M2L, a new disinfection device generating both ozone and negative ions, was selected to assess the potential of this strategy to inactivate different viral isolates of SARS-CoV-2.

Tests under controlled laboratory conditions were performed in a system consisting of an ozone-proof airtight plastic box inside a biological safety cabinet, where suspensions of two strains of SARS-CoV-2 were exposed to ozone and negative ions and virucidal activity was measured by means of two complementary methodologies: viral replication capacity and viral titer determination.

These studies revealed that low concentration ozone (average 3.18 ppm after the peak) inactivated up to >99% of SARS-CoV-2 within 20 minutes of exposure. Under controlled conditions, similar ozone exposure was recreated with ICON3 in different volume rooms (15, 30, 60 m3) where a linear relationship was observed between the room volume and the time of continuous ozone/ions flow required to reach and maintain the desired ozone levels used in the laboratory studies.

These studies suggest that ICON3 may have the potential for use in the disinfection of SARS-CoV-2 in indoor environments in the absence of individuals and animals, under properly controlled and monitored safety conditions.
The Sugar Porter gene family ofPiriformospora indica: Nomenclature, Transcript Profiling and Characterization
Authors: Raj Sumit , Kumar Manoj , Singh Alok Kumar , Dua Meenakshi , Johri Atul Kumar
Published: March 2021

Piriformospora indicais one of the prominent mutualistic root endophyte known to overcome phosphate and nitrogen limitation in a wide variety of plant species, reciprocally takes up carbohydrates for its survival and growth. A total of nineteen potential hexose transporters have been identified fromP. indicagenome, that may contributes to its potential of carbohydrate assimilation from host plant. Phylogenetic analysis assembles it in 10 groups within 3 clusters. To ease the study, systematic nomenclature were provided to 19 putative hexose transporters as “PiST1-PiST19” in accordance to their appearance on the supercontigs genome sequence ofP. indica. The protein length ranges from 487 to 608 amino acids. Out of 19 putative hexose transporters, 9 have been predicted to contain 12 transmembrane domains (PiST1, PiST2, PiST5, PiST6, PiST9, PiST10, PiST11, PiST12 and PiST17), along with MFS family and Sugar porter subfamily motif. Therefore, transcripts were detected for these 9 genes. During colonization, threeP. indicagenes PiST1, PiST5 and PiST9 have shown induction as compared to axenic culture. Similarly during phosphate starvation, revealed PiST12 to be strongly enhanced. Carbon starvation study in liquid axenic culture resulted in induction of 4 genes, PiST6, PiST9, PiST12 and PiST17. We found co-relation in the expression pattern of PiPT and PiST12 during phosphate starvation.In silicoanalysis revealed the presence of functional conserved fucose permease (FucP) domain, involved in fructose transport. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that PiST12 groups closely with basidiomycetes hexose transporters. Further, functional complementation of Δhxtnull mutant revealed, PiST12 is able to complement growth on fructose and galactose but negligible on glucose.
Negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR or rapid antigen test result and the subsequent risk of being infectious: a mathematical simulation study
Authors: Krumkamp Ralf , Kreuels Benno , Jaeger Veronika K. , May Jürgen , Mikolajczyk Rafael , Karch André
Published: March 2021

Background

A considerable proportion of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs from asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic cases. Therefore, different polymerase chain reaction (PCR)- or rapid antigen test (RAT)-based approaches are being discussed and applied to identify infectious cases that would have gone undetected (e.g., in nursing homes). In this article, we provide a framework to estimate the time-dependent risk of being infectious after a negative SARS-CoV-2 test and we simulate the number of expected cases over time in populations of individuals who initially tested negative.

Methods

A Monte Carlo approach is used to simulate infections that occurred over a one-week period in populations with 1,000 individuals following a negative SARS-Cov-2 test. Parameters representing the application of PCR tests or RATs are utilized, and SARS-CoV-2 7-day incidences between 25 and 200 per 100,000 people are considered. Simulation results are compared to case numbers predicted via a mathematical equation.

Results

The simulations showed a linear increase in cases over time in populations of individuals who initially tested SARS-CoV-2 negative. The different false negative rates of PCR tests and RATs have a strong impact on the number of simulated cases. The simulated and the mathematically predicted case numbers were comparable. However, Monte Carlo simulations highlight that, due to random effects, infectious cases can exceed predicted case numbers even shortly after a test was conducted.

Conclusions

The analysis demonstrates that the number of infectious cases in a population can be effectively reduced by the screening of asymptomatic individuals. However, the time since the negative test and the underlying SARS-CoV-2 incidence are critical parameters in determining the observed subsequent number of cases in tested populations.
A flexible repertoire of transcription factor binding sites and a diversity threshold determines enhancer activity in embryonic stem cells
Authors: Singh Gurdeep , Mullany Shanelle , Moorthy Sakthi D. , Zhang Richard , Mehdi Tahmid , Tian Ruxiao , Duncan Andrew G. , Moses Alan M. , Mitchell Jennifer A.
Published: March 2021

Transcriptional enhancers are critical for development and phenotype evolution and are often mutated in disease contexts; however, even in well-studied cell types, the sequence code conferring enhancer activity remains unknown. To examine the enhancer regulatory code for pluripotent stem cells, we identified genomic regions with conserved binding of multiple transcription factors in mouse and human embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Examination of these regions revealed that they contain on average 12.6 conserved transcription factor binding site (TFBS) sequences. Enriched TFBSs are a diverse repertoire of 70 different sequences representing the binding sequences of both known and novel ESC regulators. Using a diverse set of TFBSs from this repertoire was sufficient to construct short synthetic enhancers with activity comparable to native enhancers. Site-directed mutagenesis of conserved TFBSs in endogenous enhancers or TFBS deletion from synthetic sequences revealed a requirement for 10 or more different TFBSs. Furthermore, specific TFBSs, including the POU5F1:SOX2 comotif, are dispensable, despite cobinding the POU5F1 (also known as OCT4), SOX2, and NANOG master regulators of pluripotency. These findings reveal that a TFBS sequence diversity threshold overrides the need for optimized regulatory grammar and individual TFBSs that recruit specific master regulators.
El Batraa manufacturers for chemicals and paint
Authors: Sheta Ashraf , Wael Sandra , Soliman Mariam , Abdallah Nour , Bahnassy Rovan , Waleed Zeina , El Safty Zeinab
Published: March 2021

Learning outcomes

• Develop an understanding of how to institutionalize a family business. • Define the dynamics of the family business decision-making process in emerging markets. • Assess the cultural differences between founders and successors in an emerging markets context. • Identify the role of intergenerational differences in deciding the future strategy of a family business in emerging markets.

Case overview/synopsis

This case addresses El Batraa Manufacturers for Chemicals and Paints S.A.E., a privately owned family business operating in the coloring paste industry in Egypt. The main dilemma of the case is the existence of different visions about the business between the old and new generations. Also, it addresses the importance of understanding family dynamics to resolve existing challenges. The necessity of having governance in a family business is highlighted, together with a clear succession plan to secure family unity and business sustainability. Sandra the main protagonist within the case is trying to arrive to a resolution that can guarantee a motivating environment for her to join the family business. Her main dilemma is whether to choose to join the family business, with all the existing challenges or not. Accordingly, she proposes some steps to make the family business more appealing.

Complexity academic level

Under Graduate and Master of Business Administration level.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.
The wellness zone headmasters salon and spa: managing growth
Authors: Nagar Komal
Published: March 2021

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes of this paper is as follows: to identify unique selling points of a growing business for attaining competitive advantage; to understand the role of segmentation for Wellness Zone Headmasters (WZH); to explore different strategic choices for successful expansion of business; to help students understand the concept of customer satisfaction in a competitive industry; and to understand the importance of differentiation as a major deciding factor for the future of a business.

Case overview/synopsis

In March 2020, Kumud Goel, one of the directors of WZH, a chain of wellness spa and salon in Jammu and Kashmir (India), was considering different marketing strategies to grow her existing business. The company had opened two new outlets in the past two years and was looking at increasing its customer base. Kumud was concerned about keeping her customers satisfied in a highly competitive industry. She was aware that differentiation was critical for future growth. In what ways could WZH differentiate itself from its competitors at a time when the market was exploding? Could customer segmentation be the solution? What measures would WZH need to take to increase its repeat customers?

Complexity academic level

The case is appropriate for use in a 90-min class in a Masters in Business Administration-level management course and for undergraduates, especially marketing majors and in a module on marketing strategy and customer value.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 8: Marketing.
Developing a comprehensive business case for sustainability: an inductive study
Authors: Yadav Neetu , Mankavil Kovil Veettil Nandakumar
Published: March 2021

Purpose

In this paper, the authors argue that there is a flip side to the business-and-sustainability relationship, which deals with how sustainability affects management practices. The so-called first-class leading companies in sustainability have put sustainability at the centre of strategic planning and defined their business case for sustainability. This paper aims to analyse these companies on sustainability imperatives and propose a comprehensive framework for developing a business case for sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper investigates the sustainability strategies and initiatives of six leading global firms (Nike, Unilever, Siemens AG, General Electric, Interface and Walmart). It provides insights into how leading firms have developed a comprehensive business case for their sustainability initiatives and are enjoying a competitive advantage. The inductive approach, using the case method and interpretive structural modelling, is used to propose a comprehensive framework for defining the business case for sustainability that might help other organisations do well by doing good and create sustainable value.

Findings

The success stories of the chosen organisations reaffirm that there is a business case for sustainability initiatives and efforts, as companies derive long-term benefits and also enjoy a competitive advantage. Other firms, which are yet to pave their paths towards sustainability, have a lot to learn from these successes.

Practical implications

The conceptual framework proposed in this paper will be very useful for organisations that are still on the path to establishing a business case for sustainability as there is a lot to learn from the first-class companies practising sustainability and learn from their reflection and experience.

Originality/value

The study in this paper contributes to the existing knowledge base by presenting a comprehensive list of sustainability imperatives that helps an organisation define the business case for sustainability and proposes a conceptual framework in this direction.
Financial planning for retirement of self-employed workers in the Ghanaian economy
Authors: Ofori Edmond
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the types of financial plan Ghanaian self-employed workers have towards their retirement, and the main forces that motivate these workers to financially plan for their pension.

Design/methodology/approach

The study focused on self-employed workers aged from 15 to 60 years. Questionnaires were administered in gathering data for the study. The researcher used probit model in analysing the driving forces behind self-employed workers' financial planning for retirement.

Findings

The study revealed that bank/credit union/savings and loans savings, building of apartments for renting, investment in SSNIT pension, investment in treasury bills/fixed deposits, investment in ownership of business and private insurance pension are the types of financial plan that exist for self-employed workers towards their retirement. The study found that age, marital status, level of education, household size, number of children, renting a house, life style of the future retiree, income, risk level of job and types of retirement plan are the driving forces behind the retirement plans of self-employed workers.

Practical implications

Using the identified types of financial plan and driving forces in this study, governments in the developing countries can develop and implement self-employed pension schemes, educate and encourage more self-employed workers to plan for their retirement.

Originality/value

Analysing the driving forces behind retirement plans of self-employed people in developing economies.
Revisiting the impact of organized labor on corporate bottom lines
Authors: Osiichuk Dmytro , Mielcarz Paweł , Kavalenka Julia
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Relying on an international panel data set, the purpose of this paper is to quantify the economic impact of labor unionization on corporate financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Static panel regression analysis is performed for a firm-level multinational data set to elucidate the postulated empirical relationships between employee unionization and corporate performance. The transmission mechanisms intermediating the studied effects are discussed and operationalized.

Findings

The empirical evidence demonstrates that firms with a higher level of employee unionization spend more on wages and labor-related expenses. The concomitant downside of higher resource extraction by unions is a lower rate of net employment creation and a higher possibility of redundancy layoffs.

Originality/value

Overall, the authors demonstrate that by creating a credible threat of employee disobedience manifested through strikes and internal wage disputes, labor unions remain an effective mechanism of increasing employees’ bargaining power. Despite the discovered weak negative associative link between the degree of unionization and corporate financial performance, the authors perceive the overall evidence to be inconclusive on this matter.
Comparison of nutritional status between lacto-ovo vegetarian and non-vegetarian Jordanian adults
Authors: Al-Ma’aitah Aseel , Tayyem Reema
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Vegetarian diets exclude meat, fish and poultry and/or egg and dairy products, these diets are based on grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes and seeds. The purpose of this study is to compare the nutritional status between lacto-ovo vegetarian and non-vegetarian Jordanian adults.

Design/methodology/approach

A case-control study was conducted during the period between (April–November 2019). In total, 200 Jordanians in early adulthood aged between 18 and 35 years participated in the present study; 100 subjects were non-vegetarians and 100 subjects were lacto-ovo vegetarians. The ratio was (1:1). Matching between the two groups was done in terms of age, sex and body mass index. A package that consisted of three structured questionnaires: Personal Information Sheet, Food Frequency Questionnaire and Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall were administered to all participants in this study.

Findings

The concentration of serum vitamin B12 was significantly higher (P = 0.011) in non-vegetarians than lacto-ovo vegetarians. The means of intake of calories (P = 0.003), calories from fat (P = 0.001), calories from saturated fat (P = 0.001), protein (P = 0.001), fat (P = 0.001), saturated fat (P = 0.001), monounsaturated fat (P = 0.022), polyunsaturated fat (P = 0.001), cholesterol (P = 0.001) and omega-6 (P = 0.039) were significantly higher in non-vegetarians. The intakes Mean of carbohydrates (P = 0.001), fiber (P = 0.001) and soluble fiber (P = 0.001) were significantly higher in lacto-ovo vegetarians compared to non-vegetarians. The mean of beta-carotene intake was significantly higher (P = 0.001) in lacto-ovo vegetarians compared to non-vegetarians, although the intakes of vitamin A(RAE) and retinol were significantly higher (P = 0.029, P = 0.001, respectively) in non-vegetarians as compared to lacto-ovo vegetarians. The means of vitamins B2 (P = 0.018), B3 (P = 0.001), B3NE (P = 0.001), B6 (mg) (P = 0.001), B12 (P = 0.001), E-a-Tocopherol (P = 0.001) and D (P = 0.001) intake were significantly higher in non-vegetarians compared to lacto-ovo vegetarians. The mean intakes of vitamins C (P = 0.033), folate (P = 0.005) and K (P = 0.002) were significantly in lacto-ovo vegetarians compared to non-vegetarians. Means intake of some minerals was significantly higher in non-vegetarians than lacto-ovo vegetarians.

Originality/value

The current study showed that lacto-ovo vegetarians had lower serum vitamin B12 levels. The consumption of fruits, vegetables and legumes was higher in lacto-ovo vegetarians than non-vegetarians. While lacto-ovo vegetarian diet provided less fat, saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, monounsaturated fat and cholesterol than non-vegetarians, it could be considered a rich source for fiber, folate, beta-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin K.
Political connection, family involvement, and IPO underpricing: Evidence from the listed non‐state‐owned enterprises of China
Authors: Cao Zhen , Chen Yulin , Zeng Jianyu , Zhang Qunzi
Published: March 2021

Based on hand‐collected data on Chinese listed non‐state‐owned enterprises (hereafter, non‐SOEs), this paper investigates how political connection and family involvement affect firms' IPO underpricing. We find that political connection and family involvement, serving as common compensatory mechanisms for institutional deficiencies, can significantly alleviate the IPO underpricing of non‐SOEs. Moreover, evidence shows that in regions with a well‐developed institutional environment, political connection significantly reduces the degree of IPO underpricing. But for companies located in regions with a poorer institutional environment, family involvement helps to achieve lower underpricing. The effects also vary with firm size. Political connection significantly mitigates underpricing of large firms. But for small firms, only family involvement plays a significant role in lowering IPO underpricing. Finally, we find that instead of increasing the offering price, the effect works in another way. Non‐SOEs with political connection and family involvement are no longer growth firms, for which the influence of the regulatory bar set by the China Security Regulatory Committee (CSRC) decreases. These firms tend to experience poorer long‐term performance after the IPO. This may lead to a relatively lower price in the secondary market, resulting in a lower level of IPO underpricing.
Mortality among birds and bats during an extreme heat event in eastern South Africa
Authors: McKechnie Andrew E. , Rushworth Ian A. , Myburgh Ferdi , Cunningham Susan J.
Published: March 2021

Heat‐related mortality events involving birds and bats are projected to occur more frequently as a result of anthropogenic global heating. Reports of mass mortalities associated with extreme heat have, over the last decade, mostly involved Australian birds and pteropodid flying‐foxes. Here, we report a mortality event involving ~110 birds and fruit bats in eastern South Africa in early November 2020 when maximum air temperatures (Tmax) reached 43–45°C and relative humidities were 21–23%. The mortalities included 47 birds of 14 species, all but three of which were passerines, and ~60 Wahlberg’s epauletted fruit bats (Epomophorus wahlbergi). This mortality event occurred on a single very hot day preceded by several cooler days (Tmax = 37–39°C at one location) and involved weather conditions similar to those associated with at least one recent flying‐fox die‐off in Australia. The disproportionately high representation of passerines among the avian mortalities supports recent predictions that songbirds are more vulnerable to lethal hyperthermia on account of the relative inefficiency of panting as an avenue of evaporative heat dissipation. As far as we are aware, this is the first documented heat‐related mortality event involving wild birds and bats in southern Africa.
Robotic sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis – Natural orifice extraction with stapleless hand‐sewn intracorporeal anastomosis
Authors: Kudsi Omar Yusef , Gokcal Fahri , Bou‐Ayash Naseem , Chudner Alexandra
Published: March 2021

Aim

A sigmoidectomy is the most definitive surgical treatment for recurrent diverticulitis. While it is usually accomplished via transabdominal specimen extraction and stapled anastomosis, the robotic platform can facilitate novel approaches and techniques. This is the first report of the initial experience using robotic sigmoidectomy with natural orifice specimen extraction and hand‐sewn anastomosis (NOSHA).

Method

A prospectively maintained database of NOSHA procedures performed between 2018 and 2020 was retrospectively examined. The technique was described and variables across preoperative, intra‐operative and postoperative timeframes were presented. The Clavien‐Dindo classification system was used to describe postoperative complications.

Results

Sixteen patients with recurrent diverticulitis treated with NOSHA were included in this study. Transanal specimen extraction and an intracorporeal hand‐sewn anastomosis were achieved in all patients. However, two (12.8%) patients required specimen debulking prior to extraction. The mean operating time was 171.7 min, and patients had a return of bowel function within an average period of 35.2 h. The mean hospital length of stay was 2.9 days. In total, two (12.8%) complications were seen: one postoperative ileus managed conservatively and one readmission for abdominal pain which resolved without intervention. No anastomotic leaks or reoperations were observed.

Conclusion

Robotic NOSHA appears to be a viable technique for the surgical management of diverticulitis. Further studies are needed to establish its utility for various diseases and its reproducibility across clinical practices.