bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A national analysis of trends in COVID-19 infection and clinical management in Veterans Health Administration medical facilities
Authors: Aboumrad Maya , Shiner Brian , Riblet Natalie , Huizenga Hugh , Neupane Nabin , Young-Xu Yinong
Published: January 2021

OBJECTIVE

We explored longitudinal trends in sociodemographic characteristics, reported symptoms, laboratory findings, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment, comorbidities, and 30-day in-hospital mortality among hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 43,267 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in the Veterans Health Administration between 03/01/20 and 08/31/20 and followed until 09/30/20. We focused our analysis on patients that were subsequently hospitalized, and categorized them into groups based on the month of hospitalization. We summarized our findings through descriptive statistics. We used a nonparametric rank-sum test for trend to examine any differences in the distribution of our study variables across the six months.

RESULTS

During our study period, 8,240 patients were hospitalized, and 1,081 (13.1%) died within 30 days of admission. Hospitalizations increased over time, but the proportion of patients that died consistently declined from March (N=221/890, 24.8%) to August (N=111/1,396, 8.0%). Patients hospitalized in March compared to August were younger on average, mostly black, and symptomatic. They also had a higher frequency of baseline comorbidities, including hypertension and diabetes, and were more likely to present with abnormal laboratory findings including low lymphocyte counts and elevated creatinine. Lastly, receipt of mechanical ventilation and Hydroxychloroquine declined from March to August, while treatment with Dexamethasone and Remdesivir increased.

CONCLUSION

We found evidence of declining COVID-19 severity and fatality over time within a national health care system.
Novel method for the extraction of DNA from Lamniformes tooth and denticle enamel Suitable for PCR
Authors: Swig Bryan , Collier Ralph S.
Published: January 2021

Extraction of high-quality genomic DNA from Lamniformes tooth fragment and dermal denticle enamel is discussed as a method of identifying individual sharks. We describe a procedure that permits isolation of genomic DNA of satisfactory size and quality for PCR analysis, as well as for most routine cloning applications. This method should allow for the non-invasive collection of genomic samples from Lamniformes.
Investigating the effect of Ser256 phosphorylation on gating of aquaporin-2: Molecular Dynamics study
Authors: Priyadarshini Pragya , Singh Balvinder
Published: January 2021

Regulation of water transport via aquaporins is crucial for osmoregulation and water homeostasis of an organism. This transport of water is regulated either by gating or trafficking wherein AQPs are transported from intracellular storage sites to plasma membrane. It has been proposed that water movement via AQP2 is regulated by post-translational modification. We aimed to explore the structural and functional changes occurring in AQP2 due to Ser256 phosphorylation. We have carried out molecular dynamics simulations to investigate molecular basis of effect of phosphorylation on water permeability of AQP2. MD simulations show that there are mild variations in the pore sizes of different monomers of the phosphorylated and unphosphorylated AQP2. Analysis of inter and intra-monomeric interactions such as hydrogen bond, electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions has been carried out. Structures of the phosphorylated AQP2 do not show any blocking of mouth of pore of the monomers during the course of MD simulations. Further, water permeability calculations do corroborate the above finding. This molecular dynamics study suggests that phosphorylation of C-terminal Ser-256 residue of AQP2 may not be directly responsible for gating mechanism.
Time-resolved FRET screening identifies small molecular modifiers of mutant Huntingtin conformational inflexibility in patient-derived cells
Authors: Wilbertz Johannes H. , Frappier Julia , Muller Sandra , Gratzer Sabine , Englaro Walter , Stanek Lisa M. , Calamini Barbara
Published: January 2021

Huntington’s disease (HD) is the most common monogenic neurodegenerative disease and is fatal. CAG repeat expansions in mutant Huntingtin (mHTT) exon 1 encode for polyglutamine (polyQ) stretches and influence age of onset and disease severity, depending on their length. mHTT is more structured compared to wild-type (wt) HTT, resulting in a decreased N-terminal conformational flexibility. mHTT inflexibility may contribute to both gain of function toxicity, due to increased mHTT aggregation propensity, but also to loss of function phenotypes, due to decreased interactions with binding partners. High-throughput-screening techniques to identify mHTT flexibility states and potential flexibility modifying small molecules are currently lacking. Here, we propose a novel approach for identifying small molecules that restore mHTT’s conformational flexibility in human patient fibroblasts. We applied an antibody-based time-resolved Förster resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET) immunoassay, measuring endogenous HTT flexibility using two validated HTT-specific antibodies. The ratio of TR-FRET signal at 4°C and 20°C differs between wtHTT and mHTT and allowed to perform a high-throughput screening using HTT flexibility as a read-out. We identified several small molecules that can partially rescue mHTT inflexibility, presumably by altering HTT post-translational modifications. This novel screening approach has the potential to identify previously unknown HD drugs and drug targets.
Changing Patterns and Drivers of Increased Pesticides Use in Smallholder Vegetable Production Systems in Tanzania
Authors: Kapeleka Jones A. , Sauli Elingarami , Sadik Omowunmi , Ndakidemi Patrick A.
Published: January 2021

Pesticides use has become a key component of smallholder horticulture production. Therefore, dynamics in pesticides handling need to be ascertained. This study assessed drivers of pesticides use and determinants of changing patterns of pesticides handling practices in smallholder vegetable systems. Data were collected from 385 farmers from Iringa, Arusha, Manyara, and Kilimanjaro regions in Tanzania through an in-depth survey and field observations. A binary probit model was used to derive factors fostering increased pesticides use. Results showed that 47.9 % of all pesticides were wrongly used. Most farmers (88.6%) lacked knowledge of pest control and 88.9% were unaware of safety practices. Disposal methods of empty pesticides foster occupational and environmental exposure (58%). There was an increasing trend in pesticides use (58.4%), accompanied by changing pesticides formulations. Over 60 pesticides with 29 different formulations were used. Mixing pesticides (71.2%), high dose rates with increased frequency of application were observed. Pesticides under Class II WHO hazard (68.9%) dominated. Extremely hazardous (Class Ia) and highly hazardous (Class Ib) were also used. Binary probit model showed that number of crops grown, pesticides mixing, and region contributed positively to the likelihood of increased pesticides use while farmers’ perception of effectiveness of pesticides, lack of access to safe use information, poor use of safety gears and inability to read pesticides labels had a negative impact. The fate of pesticides use in smallholder vegetable production systems is therefore the culmination of serious health and environmental implications. Excessive pesticides use escalated by increased number of crops, improper use of PPE, and pesticides mixing practices subjects the general population to pesticides environmental exposure thereby jeopardizing sustainability of smallholder vegetable production in Tanzania. Regular training to farmers and extension officers on current and emerging issues on pests and pesticide safe use is vital.
The viral oncoproteins Tax and HBZ reprogram the cellular mRNA splicing landscape
Authors: Vandermeulen Charlotte , O’Grady Tina , Galvan Bartimee , Cherkaoui Majid , Desbuleux Alice , Coppin Georges , Olivet Julien , Ameur Lamya Ben , Kataoka Keisuke , Ogawa Seishi , Thiry Marc , Mortreux Franck , Calderwood Michael A. , Hill David E. , Van Weyenbergh Johan , Charloteaux Benoit , Vidal Marc , Dequiedt Franck , Twizere Jean-Claude
Published: January 2021

While viral infections are known to hijack the transcription and translation of the host cell, the extent to which encoded viral proteins coordinate these perturbations remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that the oncoviral proteins Tax and HBZ interact with specific components of the spliceosome machinery, including the U2 auxiliary factor large subunit (U2AF2), and the complementary factor for APOBEC-1 (A1CF), respectively. Tax and HBZ perturb the splicing landscape in T-cells by altering cassette exons in opposing manners, with Tax inducing exon inclusion while HBZ induces exon exclusion. Among Tax- and HBZ-dependent splicing changes, we identify events that are also altered in Adult T cell leukemia (ATL) patients, and in well-known cancer census genes. Our interactome mapping approach, applicable to other viral oncogenes, has identified spliceosome perturbation as a novel mechanism coordinately used by Tax and HBZ to reprogram the transcriptome.

Highlights

Tax and HBZ interact with RNA-binding proteins as well as transcription factors

HTLV-1 encoded proteins Tax and HBZ alter the splicing landscape in T-cells

Tax and HBZ expression affect alternative splicing of 33 and 63 cancer genes, respectively

Opposing roles for Tax and HBZ in deregulation of gene expression

Graphical abstract
Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol inhibits Hedgehog-dependent patterning during development
Authors: Lo Hsiao-Fan , Hong Mingi , Szutorisz Henrietta , Hurd Yasmin L. , Krauss Robert S.
Published: January 2021

Many birth defects are thought to arise from a multifactorial etiology; i.e., interaction between genetic and environmental risk factors. The Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway regulates myriad developmental processes, and pathway inhibition is associated with birth defects, including holoprosencephaly (HPE). Cannabinoids are HH pathway inhibitors, but little is known of their effects on HH-dependent processes in mammalian embryos, and their mechanism of action is unclear. We report here that the psychoactive cannabinoid Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) induces two hallmark HH loss-of-function phenotypes (HPE and ventral neural tube patterning defects) inCdonmutant mice, which have a subthreshold deficit in HH signaling. THC therefore acts as a “conditional teratogen”, dependent on a complementing but insufficient genetic insult. In vitro findings indicate that THC is a direct, albeit relatively weak, inhibitor of the essential HH pathway component, Smoothened. In contrast, the canonical THC receptor, cannabinoid receptor-type 1, is not required for THC to inhibit HH signaling. Cannabis consumption during pregnancy may contribute to the combination of risk factors underlying specific developmental disorders. These findings therefore have significant public health relevance.
Individual differences in representational similarity of first and second languages in the bilingual brain
Authors: Nichols Emily S. , Gao Yue , Fregni Sofia , Liu Li , Joanisse Marc F.
Published: January 2021

Current theories of bilingualism disagree on the extent to which separate brain regions are used to maintain or process one’s first and second language. The present study took a novel multivariate approach to address this question. We examined whether bilinguals maintain distinct neural representations of two languages; specifically, we tested whether brain areas that are involved in processing word meaning in either language are reliably representing each language differently, and whether language representation is influenced by individual differences in proficiency level and age of acquisition of L2. Thirty-one English-Mandarin bilingual adults performed a picture-word matching task in both languages. We then used representational similarity analysis to examine which brain regions reliably showed different patterns of activity for each language. As a group, there were no regions that reliably represented languages distinctly. However, both proficiency and age of acquisition predicted dissimilarity between language representations in several brain areas within the language network as well as several regions of the ventral visual pathway, demonstrating that top-down language knowledge and individual language experience shapes concept representation in the processing stream. The results support the model of an integrated language system in bilinguals, along with a novel description of how representations for each language change with proficiency level and L2 age of acquisition.
Voxelwise encoding models show that cerebellar language representations are highly conceptual
Authors: LeBel Amanda , Jain Shailee , Huth Alexander G.
Published: January 2021

There is a growing body of research demonstrating that the cerebellum is involved in language understanding. Early theories assumed that the cerebellum is involved in low-level language processing. However, those theories are at odds with recent work demonstrating cerebellar activation during cognitive tasks. Using natural language stimuli and an encoding model framework, we performed an fMRI experiment where subjects passively listened to five hours of natural language stimuli which allowed us to analyze language processing in the cerebellum with higher precision than previous work. We used this data to fit voxelwise encoding models with five different feature spaces that span the hierarchy of language processing from acoustic input to high-level conceptual processing. Examining the prediction performance of these models on separate BOLD data shows that cerebellar responses to language are almost entirely explained by high-level conceptual language features rather than low-level acoustic or phonemic features. Additionally, we found that the cerebellum has a higher proportion of voxels that represent social semantic categories, which include “social” and “people” words, and lower representations of all other semantic categories, including “mental”, “concrete”, and “place” words, than cortex. This suggests that the cerebellum is representing language at a conceptual level with a preference for social information.

Significance Statement

Recent work has demonstrated that, beyond its typical role in motor planning, the cerebellum is implicated in a wide variety of tasks including language. However, little is known about the language representations in the cerebellum, or how those representations compare to cortex. Using voxelwise encoding models and natural language fMRI data, we demonstrate here that language representations are significantly different in the cerebellum as compared to cortex. Cerebellum language representations are almost entirely semantic, and the cerebellum contains over-representation of social semantic information as compared to cortex. These results suggest that the cerebellum is not involved in language processing per se, but cognitive processing more generally.
Metagenomic methylation patterns resolve complex microbial genomes
Authors: Wilbanks Elizabeth G. , Doré Hugo , Ashby Meredith H. , Heiner Cheryl , Roberts Richard J. , Eisen Jonathan A.
Published: January 2021

The plasticity of bacterial and archaeal genomes makes examining their ecological and evolutionary dynamics both exciting and challenging. The same mechanisms that enable rapid genomic change and adaptation confound current approaches for recovering complete genomes from metagenomes. Here, we use strain-specific patterns of DNA methylation to resolve complex bacterial genomes from the long-read metagenome of a marine microbial consortia, the “pink berries” of the Sippewissett Marsh. Unique combinations of restriction-modification (RM) systems encoded by the bacteria produced distinctive methylation profiles that accurately binned and classified metagenomic sequences. We linked the methylation patterns of each metagenome-assembled genome with encoded DNA methyltransferases and discovered new restriction modification (RM) defense systems, including novel associations of RM systems with RNase toxins. Using this approach, we finished the largest and most complex circularized bacterial genome ever recovered from a metagenome (7.9 Mb with >600 IS elements), the finished genome ofThiohalocapsasp. PB-PSB1 the dominant bacteria in the consortia. From these methylation-binned genomes, we identified instances of lateral gene transfer between sulfur-cycling symbionts (Thiohalocapsasp. PB-PSB1 andDesulfofustissp. PB-SRB1), phage infection, and strain-level structural variation.
A platform for curated products from novel open reading frames prompts reinterpretation of disease variants
Authors: Neville Matthew D.C. , Kohze Robin , Erady Chaitanya , Meena Narendra , Hayden Matthew , Cooper David N. , Mort Matthew , Prabakaran Sudhakaran
Published: January 2021

Recent evidence from proteomics and deep massively parallel sequencing studies have revealed that eukaryotic genomes contain substantial numbers of as-yet-uncharacterized open reading frames (ORFs). We define these uncharacterized ORFs as novel ORFs (nORFs). nORFs in humans are mostly under 100 codons and are found in diverse regions of the genome, including in long noncoding RNAs, pseudogenes, 3′ UTRs, 5′ UTRs, and alternative reading frames of canonical protein coding exons. There is therefore a pressing need to evaluate the potential functional importance of these unannotated transcripts and proteins in biological pathways and human disease on a larger scale, rather than one at a time. In this study, we outline the creation of a valuable nORFs data set with experimental evidence of translation for the community, use measures of heritability and selection that reveal signals for functional importance, and show the potential implications for functional interpretation of genetic variants in nORFs. Our results indicate that some variants that were previously classified as being benign or of uncertain significance may have to be reinterpreted.
Nondestructive enzymatic deamination enables single-molecule long-read amplicon sequencing for the determination of 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine at single-base resolution
Authors: Sun Zhiyi , Vaisvila Romualdas , Hussong Laura-Madison , Yan Bo , Baum Chloé , Saleh Lana , Samaranayake Mala , Guan Shengxi , Dai Nan , Corrêa Ivan R. , Pradhan Sriharsa , Davis Theodore B. , Evans Thomas C. , Ettwiller Laurence M.
Published: January 2021

The predominant methodology for DNA methylation analysis relies on the chemical deamination by sodium bisulfite of unmodified cytosine to uracil to permit the differential readout of methylated cytosines. Bisulfite treatment damages the DNA, leading to fragmentation and loss of long-range methylation information. To overcome this limitation of bisulfite-treated DNA, we applied a new enzymatic deamination approach, termed enzymatic methyl-seq (EM-seq), to long-range sequencing technologies. Our methodology, named long-read enzymatic modification sequencing (LR-EM-seq), preserves the integrity of DNA, allowing long-range methylation profiling of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) over multikilobase length of genomic DNA. When applied to known differentially methylated regions (DMRs), LR-EM-seq achieves phasing of >5 kb, resulting in broader and better defined DMRs compared with that previously reported. This result showed the importance of phasing methylation for biologically relevant questions and the applicability of LR-EM-seq for long-range epigenetic analysis at single-molecule and single-nucleotide resolution.
Structure and mechanism of copper–carbonic anhydrase II: a nitrite reductase. Corrigendum
Authors: Andring Jacob T. , Kim Chae Un , McKenna Robert
Published: January 2021

Statements in the article by Andring et al. [IUCrJ, (2020), 7, 287–293] are corrected.
2-Chloro-3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid and -benzamide: structural characterization of two precursors for antitubercular benzothiazinones
Authors: Richter Adrian , Goddard Richard , Schlegel Tom , Imming Peter , Seidel Rüdiger W.
Published: January 2021

8-Nitro-1,3-benzothiazin-4-ones are a promising class of new antitubercular agents, two candidates of which, namely BTZ043 and PBTZ169 (INN: macozinone), have reached clinical trials. The crystal and molecular structures of two synthetic precursors, 2-chloro-3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid, C8H3ClF3NO4 (1), and 2-chloro-3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, C8H4ClF3N2O3 (2), are reported. In 1 and 2, the respective carboxy, carboxamide and the nitro groups are significantly twisted out of the plane of the benzene ring. In 1, the nitro group is oriented almost perpendicular to the benzene ring plane. In the crystal, 1 and 2 form O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen-bonded dimers, respectively, which in 2 extend into primary amide tapes along the [101] direction. The trifluoromethyl group in 2 exhibits rotational disorder with an occupancy ratio of 0.876 (3):0.124 (3).
Measuring competitiveness through the global competitiveness project framework: the Brazilian experience
Authors: De Montreuil Carmona Linda Jessica , Gomes Giancarlo
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to validate the global competitiveness project (GCP) framework in the Brazilian context; second, to describe the competitiveness levels on a sample of Brazilian firms, searching for heterogeneities of size, age and industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used the theoretical-empirical GCP framework, comprising the dimensions: human capital, product, domestic market, networks, technology, decision-making, competitive strategy, marketing, internationalization and online presence (Lafuente, Szerb and Rideg, 2016; Lafuente et al., 2019) and applied descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and cluster analysis, on a survey data set of 55 Brazilian firms from different sizes, ages and industries.

Findings

The GCP framework was found robust, reliable and useful in emerging economies as the Brazilian. Three clusters of competitiveness were identified. Heterogeneities were detected in knowledge-intensive business services results. This work allows a better understanding of competitiveness through the identification and measurement of dimensions, which can help managers to identify/audit capacities to plan/improve firm performance.

Practical implications

Findings may support managers to identify, estimate and manage their competitiveness pillars, and thus increase their competitiveness levels with a focus on strategic long-term goals.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to knowledge production in two ways: to the validation of the framework in the Brazilian scenario and the understanding of the dynamics of competitiveness of firms.
Exploring determinants of pre-training motivation and training effectiveness: a temporal investigation
Authors: Kodwani Amitabh Deo , Kodwani Manisha
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The present study is an attempt to extend previous findings and examine the role of the trainer's reputation, training nomination and training reputation on pre-training motivation and training effectiveness in a business context.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors hypothesized that trainer reputation, training nomination and training reputation would affect pre-training motivation; and that pre-training motivation would act as a mediator between these three variables and training effectiveness. The sample is constituted by 251 managerial-level employees at a large firm in India who completed pre-training and post-training surveys. These data were then analyzed using structural equation modeling and other inferential techniques.

Findings

The results suggested that self-nomination positively influences pre-training motivation. Similarly, positive training and trainer reputations also affect pre-training motivation. Pre-training motivation mediates the relationship between trainer reputation, training nomination, training reputation and training effectiveness.

Research limitations/implications

The method bias and measurement error cannot be ruled out. The data were collected from employees in a single firm via self-reports, and, ceteris paribus, it would be advantageous to broaden the sampling frame to cover multiple organizations with data collected using more than one methodology. However, the temporal lag of 45 days used herein between collecting predictor data and criterion data can reasonably be expected to have mitigated this problem to some extent.

Practical implications

The findings regarding the reputation suggest that what trainees know or what they believe they know about the trainer or the training program they are going to attend will have a significant impact on their pre-training motivation, and subsequently on the training effectiveness. It is also essential to understand how trainees get information about training. Most often, this information travels through various informal channels and passes through many people, and thus trainees may get inadequate or incorrect information about the training program and the trainer.

Originality/value

Previous research indicates that only a small proportion of training actually gets transferred to the job (Mackay, 2007). This study augments the literature by putting forward empirical evidence that could be leveraged by firms' senior management teams pursuant of optimizing investments in the training of employees.
Terrain imperatives for Mini unmanned aircraft systems applications
Authors: Ramesh P.S. , Muruga Lal Jeyan J.V.
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Amongst all classes of unmanned aircraft system (UAS), the rise of the Mini UAS class is the most dominant. Mini UASs are field-deployable systems and hence are not expected to operate from a runway. Therefore, the operating terrain plays an important role in the deployment and employment of the Mini UAS. However, there is limited published work in this area. The impact of terrain is more critical for military applications than civilian applications. The purpose of this paper is to explore the implications of various types of terrain on the employment and deployment of Mini UAS.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explores the implications of various types of terrain on the employment and deployment of Mini UAS.

Findings

Mini UAS with field deployable requirements is often launched within the tactical battle area in case of military applications or in close proximity to the intended target area for civilian applications. Due to the size and weight of the Mini UAS, launch and recovery becomes an important factor to be considered. Rotary wing or fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing configuration UAS overcomes the limitations of Mini UAS and hence it is the preferred option. Impact of the terrain is significantly higher for military applications as compared to civil applications. Mountain terrain is the most challenging for Mini UAS operations.

Practical implications

This paper will help the designers configure the UAS as per the operating terrain.

Originality/value

Terrain affects the deployment and employment of Mini UAS and the capabilities of the system with respect to terrain in which it is expected to operate must be considered during the design of a Mini UAS. The paper will help the designers configure the UAS as per the operating terrain.
Multi-sided platform strategies for organizations: transforming the business model
Authors: Mancha Rubén , Gordon Steven
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore and summarize the strategies organizations can follow when adopting a multi-sided platform (MSP) business model. MSPs benefit from direct and indirect network effects, quick scaling, fast innovation and new revenue streams.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws from the literature on business model innovation to identify five strategies in which organizations can transform by creating or acquiring an MSP. This taxonomy is confirmed with a classification of 20 MSPs adopted by 18 organizations, 5 short case studies and an interview with an executive involved in the launch of an organization’s MSP.

Findings

To implement an MSP, companies can expand their offerings, intermediate their industry with a marketplace, expand to new geographies or market segment, co-innovate their core product or service and co-innovate complementary offerings.

Practical implications

Organizations are presented with five distinct approaches to transform their business model and benefit from MSP interactions. The cases, quotes from executives and analyzes will serve organizations in designing a platform strategy.

Originality/value

This study provides executives and researchers with insights about how organizations can transform their business models with MSPs.
What theories underpin performance-based financing? A scoping review
Authors: Paul Elisabeth , Bodson Oriane , Ridde Valéry
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The study aims to explore the theoretical bases justifying the use of performance-based financing (PBF) in the health sector in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a scoping review of the literature on PBF so as to identify the theories utilized to underpin it and analyzed its theoretical justifications.

Findings

Sixty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Economic theories were predominant, with the principal-agent theory being the most commonly-used theory, explicitly referred to by two-thirds of included studies. Psychological theories were also common, with a wide array of motivation theories. Other disciplines in the form of management or organizational science, political and social science and systems approaches also contributed. However, some of the theories referred to contradicted each other. Many of the studies included only casually alluded to one or more theories, and very few used these theories to justify or support PBF. No theory emerged as a dominant, consistent and credible justification of PBF, perhaps except for the principal-agent theory, which was often inappropriately applied in the included studies, and when it included additional assumptions reflecting the contexts of the health sector in LMICs, might actually warn against adopting PBF.

Practical implications

Overall, this review has not been able to identify a comprehensive, credible, consistent, theoretical justification for using PBF rather than alternative approaches to health system reforms and healthcare providers' motivation in LMICs.

Originality/value

The theoretical justifications of PBF in the health sector in LMICs are under-documented. This review is the first of this kind and should encourage further debate and theoretical exploration of the justifications of PBF.
A two-nation investigation of leadership self-perceptions and motivation to lead in early adulthood: the moderating role of gender and socio-economic status
Authors: Hoyland Thomas , Psychogios Alexandros , Epitropaki Olga , Damiani Jonathan , Mukhuty Sumona , Priestnall Chris
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Drawing on the social-cognitive and motivational literature of leadership, the present study examines the influence of young adults' self-perceptions of leadership on their leadership self-efficacy (LSE) and motivation to lead (MTL) in their future career. The authors further examine gender and socio-economic status (SES) as important moderators of the proposed relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The present investigation consists of a two-study research design, based on data collected from young adult samples across two culturally different countries, namely the UK (N = 267) and Japan (N = 127).

Findings

The study presents evidence of self-perceptions of leadership influencing LSE and MTL. The results further support the mediating role of leader self-efficacy. Regarding the moderating role of gender, results in both samples showed that the effects of leader self-efficacy on MTL were stronger for males. SES was found to moderate the effects of leadership self-perceptions of negative implicit leadership theories (ILTs) on LSE in the UK sample and the effects of leadership self-perceptions of positive ILTs on LSE in the Japanese sample.

Originality/value

This study fills the gap of empirical research focused on early adulthood influences on leadership development. In particular, this study has a three-fold contribution, by, firstly, developing a conceptual model that examines the role of young adults' self-perceptions of leadership on their self-efficacy as leaders and MTL; secondly examining contingencies of the proposed relationships; and thirdly testing the conceptual model in two countries.
The impact of service excellence and service innovation on organisational reputation: quantitative evidence from Jordanian public sector
Authors: Aladwan Shaker A. , Alshami Sajeda I.
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The aim of this paper is the identification of the impacts that innovation and service excellence have upon organisational reputation within public sector organisations in Jordan.

Design/methodology/approach

An approach was adopted that was quantitative with a questionnaire designed that was to be self-administrated for the primary data collection. In total, there was distribution of 600 questionnaires from which 556 were retrieved with a high rate of response (92.7%).

Findings

Through analysis of the data, several findings were revealed by the study, including that innovation was the factor with the most influence (beta = 0.81) upon organisational reputation within the public sector in Jordan compared to the factor for service excellence (beta = 0.54).

Practical implications

The research has several potential implications for theory and management for those making decisions and policies within public administration such as in relation to enhancement of innovation strategy application for improving the reputations of organisations within the public sector. Furthermore, the paper fills a gap within the theory of organisational reputation and within the literature generally, especially in the context of public administration.

Originality/value

In regard to value and originality of this paper, it can be considered the first of its type for the public sector in Jordan, and perhaps the Arab region as a whole, that has examined the impacts that innovation and service excellence have upon organisational reputation within the context of public administration.
Field‐based ecological studies to assess prospective biological control agents for invasive alien plants: An example from giant rat's tail grass
Authors: Sutton Guy F. , Canavan Kim , Day Michael D. , Paterson Iain D.
Published: January 2021

Biological control (biocontrol) of invasive alien plants is a widely utilised weed management tool. Prospective biocontrol agents are typically assessed through host specificity testing and pre‐release efficacy studies performed in quarantine. However, rearing of the potential biocontrol agents and/or test plants is often difficult or impossible under quarantine conditions. Moreover, practitioners may attain laboratory artefacts in quarantine, which may result in the potential agent being needlessly rejected. Field‐based studies in the weed's indigenous distribution could overcome these issues.

Sporobolus pyramidalis and Sporobolus natalensis (giant rat's tail grass; Poaceae) are indigenous in Africa but have become problematic invasive alien plants in Australia. A previous biocontrol program was terminated because the candidate agent could not be reared and tested in quarantine. We performed field‐based host specificity and efficacy studies for prospective biocontrol agents in South Africa (indigenous distribution). Forty‐seven non‐target grass species were sampled during host specificity assessments. Candidate agent efficacy was estimated based on damage to the target weeds, for each host specific candidate individually and in combination with other host‐specific candidates.

Three species of endophagous wasps were deemed host specific. Efficacy assessments identified an undescribed stem‐boring wasp (Tetramesa sp.) species as the most damaging candidate. A second Tetramesa species was much less damaging alone but had a cumulative impact on the plant in combination with the more damaging Tetramesa species. Both Tetramesa species are recommended for importation into quarantine in Australia for confirmatory host specificity testing with a significantly reduced test plant list.

Synthesis and applications. Similar field‐based assessments in the indigenous distribution of weeds targeted for biocontrol could be included in the future programs. Where rearing of potential agents and/or test plants is difficult or impossible under quarantine conditions, our field‐based method provides an alternative. Where quarantine‐based testing is feasible, this method ensures that only candidates that have passed an ecologically realistic host‐specificity and potential efficacy screening are imported into quarantine. This may reduce the number of agents that are imported and the length of time each agent is kept in quarantine. This is advantageous because quarantine space is highly valuable and is usually a limiting factor in pre‐release assessments of biocontrol agents.
Adaptive monitoring in action: Reconsidering design‐based estimators reveals underestimation of whitebark pine disease prevalence in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Authors: Shanahan Erin , Wright Wilson J. , Irvine Kathryn M.
Published: January 2021

Identifying and understanding status and trends in ecological indicators motivates continual monitoring over decades. Many programs rely on probability surveys and their companion design‐based estimators for status assessments (e.g. Horvitz–Thompson). Design‐based estimators do not easily extend to trend estimation nor situations with observation errors. Field‐based monitoring efforts inevitably have turnover of field crew members which may affect consistency and accuracy of data collection over time. Additionally, design‐based estimators ignore the complexities of spatial and temporal heterogeneity in an ecological indicator and how this variability may be linked to environmental or biological dynamics. We propose monitoring programs should re‐evaluate their prescribed statistical methods, consider model‐based approaches and adapt their sampling designs as needed to improve inferences.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, home to two of the most iconic U.S. National Parks, has experienced significant declines in whitebark pine Pinus albicaulis communities due to forest pathogens, insect outbreaks, wildland fires and drought. Whitebark pine is a keystone species found in mountainous environments throughout the Western U.S. and Canada. We assessed the design‐based ratio estimator originally recommended for estimating prevalence of white pine blister rust Cronartium ribicola. We compared the design‐based estimator to a model‐based approach that accounts for the sampling design, imperfect detection and allows for infection probabilities to vary over space and time.

Ignoring observation errors led to lower estimated prevalence of white pine blister rust in the general population. Using model‐based approaches, we found that the probability of infection has increased since 2004. However, overall prevalence likely has not changed because of the mountain pine beetle Dendroctonus ponderosae‐induced shift towards smaller diameter trees that have a lower probability of infection compared to their larger cohorts.

Synthesis and Applications. Using a design‐based approach to detect change in ecological indicators falls short because of the inability to account for observation errors or to explore environmental or biological factors explaining temporal dynamics. Inherently understanding the mechanisms leading to changes in an ecological indicator over time informs potential management actions. Our assessment underscores the need for continued evaluation and updating of a monitoring program's sampling design and analytical procedures to maintain relevancy.
Is Obesity Policy in England Fit for Purpose? Analysis of Government Strategies and Policies, 1992–2020
Authors: THEIS DOLLY R.Z. , WHITE MARTIN
Published: January 2021

Policy Points

This analysis finds that government obesity policies in England have largely been proposed in a way that does not readily lead to implementation; that governments rarely commission evaluations of previous government strategies or learn from policy failures; that governments have tended to adopt less interventionist policy approaches; and that policies largely make high demands on individual agency, meaning they rely on individuals to make behavior changes rather than shaping external influences and are thus less likely to be effective or equitable.

These findings may help explain why after 30 years of proposed government obesity policies, obesity prevalence and health inequities still have not been successfully reduced.

If policymakers address the issues identified in this analysis, population obesity could be tackled more successfully, which has added urgency given the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Context

In England, the majority of adults, and more than a quarter of children aged 2 to 15 years live with obesity or excess weight. From 1992 to 2020, even though the government published 14 obesity strategies in England, the prevalence of obesity has not been reduced. We aimed to determine whether such government strategies and policies have been fit for purpose regarding their strategic focus, nature, basis in theory and evidence, and implementation viability.

Method

We undertook a mixed‐methods study, involving a document review and analysis of government strategies either wholly or partially dedicated to tackling obesity in England. We developed a theory‐based analytical framework, using content analysis and applied thematic analysis (ATA) to code all policies. Our interpretation drew on quantitative findings and thematic analysis.

Findings

We identified and analyzed 14 government strategies published from 1992 to 2020 containing 689 wide‐ranging policies. Policies were largely proposed in a way that would be unlikely to lead to implementation; the majority were not interventionist and made high demands on individual agency, meaning that they relied on individuals to make behavior changes rather than shaping external influences, and are thus less likely to be effective or to reduce health inequalities.

Conclusions

The government obesity strategies’ failure to reduce the prevalence of obesity in England for almost 30 years may be due to weaknesses in the policies’ design, leading to a lack of effectiveness, but they may also be due to failures of implementation and evaluation. These failures appear to have led to insufficient or no policy learning and governments proposing similar or identical policies repeatedly over many years. Governments should learn from their earlier policy failures. They should prioritize policies that make minimal demands on individuals and have the potential for population‐wide reach so as to maximize their potential for equitable impacts. Policies should be proposed in ways that readily lead to implementation and evaluation.
Varieties of Constitutionalism in the European Union
Authors: Larsen Signe Rehling
Published: January 2021

The underlying assumption of constitutional pluralism, one of the dominant theories of EU legal scholarship, is a fundamental constitutional homogeneity amongst the EU Member States allowing for harmonious co‐existence and ‘constitutional tolerance’. This article challenges this assumption by demonstrating that the EU is characterised by a fundamental constitutional heterogeneity. It argues that the Member States are influenced by at least three different ‘varieties of constitutionalism’: ‘post‐fascist constitutionalism’, ‘evolutionary constitutionalism’ and ‘post‐communist constitutionalism’. The article shows that the type of constitutionalism dominant in a Member State influences its conception of the nature of the EU and its legal and political relationship to the project of European integration. The EU is therefore characterised by a fundamental constitutional asymmetry. The rise of authoritarianism in Poland and Hungary, while extreme, should thus not be treated as an exception to an otherwise constitutionally homogenous Union.
Ethno‐nationalist populism and the mobilization of collective resentment
Authors: Bonikowski Bart
Published: January 2021

Scholarly and journalistic accounts of the recent successes of radical‐right politics in Europe and the United States, including the Brexit referendum and the Trump campaign, tend to conflate three phenomena: populism, ethno‐nationalism and authoritarianism. While all three are important elements of the radical right, they are neither coterminous nor limited to the right. The resulting lack of analytical clarity has hindered accounts of the causes and consequences of ethno‐nationalist populism. To address this problem, I bring together existing research on nationalism, populism and authoritarianism in contemporary democracies to precisely define these concepts and examine temporal patterns in their supply and demand, that is, politicians’ discursive strategies and the corresponding public attitudes. Based on the available evidence, I conclude that both the supply and demand sides of radical politics have been relatively stable over time, which suggests that in order to understand public support for radical politics, scholars should instead focus on the increased resonance between pre‐existing attitudes and discursive frames. Drawing on recent research in cultural sociology, I argue that resonance is not only a function of the congruence between a frame and the beliefs of its audience, but also of shifting context. In the case of radical‐right politics, a variety of social changes have engendered a sense of collective status threat among national ethnocultural majorities. Political and media discourse has channelled such threats into resentments toward elites, immigrants, and ethnic, racial and religious minorities, thereby activating previously latent attitudes and lending legitimacy to radical political campaigns that promise to return power and status to their aggrieved supporters. Not only does this form of politics threaten democratic institutions and inter‐group relations, but it also has the potential to alter the contours of mainstream public discourse, thereby creating the conditions of possibility for future successes of populist, nationalist, and authoritarian politics.
Meeting the orphan: early relational trauma, synchronicity and the psychoid
Authors: Lagutina Lara
Published: January 2021

In this paper I attempt to show how deep engagement, which is gradually developed within the relational container, can facilitate access to the psychoid dimension of the unconscious characterized by a quality of interconnectedness. The resulting synchronistic experiences can support and strengthen this container as well as having profound re‐connecting impact on the people involved. With this in mind, I suggest that openness to this dimension can be very important in working with the issues of loss, abandonment, aloneness and mistrust in human connections – the symbolic domain of the orphan. Although none of the patients I describe in this paper were actual orphans, symbolically the orphan theme featured significantly in their processes, in that early relational trauma left them feeling profoundly alone and unable to trust human contact. For this reason, the most important yet difficult challenge of the work was to help them restore their sense of connectedness to themselves and to others. I consider the role of attunement and reverie as the basis for facilitating this openness and propose that such openness can be seen as a feature of the analytic attitude in its own right and that it constitutes a unique contribution of the Jungian approach to working with early trauma.