bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic errors are common in acute pediatric respiratory disease: a prospective, single-blinded multicenter diagnostic accuracy study in Australian Emergency Departments
Authors: Porter Paul , Brisbane Joanna , Tan Jamie , Bear Natasha , Choveaux Jennifer , Della Phillip , Abeyratne Udantha
Published: July 2021

Background

Diagnostic errors are a global health priority and a common cause of preventable harm. There is limited data available for the prevalence of misdiagnosis in pediatric acute-care settings. Respiratory illnesses, which are particularly challenging to diagnose, are the most frequent reason for presentation to pediatric emergency departments.

Objective

To determine the diagnostic error rate of acute childhood respiratory diseases in emergency departments.

Methods

Prospective, multicenter, single-blinded, diagnostic accuracy study in two well-resourced pediatric emergency departments in a large Australian city. Between September 2016 and August 2018, a convenience sample of children aged 29 days to 12 years who presented with respiratory symptoms was enrolled. The emergency department discharge diagnoses were reported by clinicians based upon standard clinical diagnostic definitions. These diagnoses were compared against consensus diagnoses given by an expert panel of pediatric specialists using standardized disease definitions after they reviewed all medical records.

Results

For 620 participants, the positive and negative percent agreement (%, [95% CI]) of the emergency department compared with the expert panel diagnoses were generally poor: isolated upper respiratory tract disease (61.4 [51.2, 70.9], 90.9 [88.1, 93.3]), croup (75.6 [64.9, 84.4], 97.9 [96.2, 98.9]), lower respiratory tract disease (86.4 [83.1, 89.6], 92.9 [87.7, 96.4]), bronchiolitis (66.9 [58.6, 74.5], 94.3 [80.8, 99.3]), asthma/reactive airway disease (91.0 [85.8, 94.8], 93.0 [90.1, 95.3]), clinical pneumonia (62·9 [49·7, 74·8], 95·0 [92·8, 96·7]), focal (consolidative) pneumonia (54·8 [38·7, 70·2], 86.2 [79.3, 91.5]). Only 59% of chest x-rays with consolidation were correctly identified. Between 6.9% and 14.5% of children were inappropriately prescribed based on their eventual diagnosis.

Conclusion

In well-resourced emergency departments, we have identified a previously unrecognized high diagnostic error rate for acute childhood respiratory disorders, particularly in pneumonia and bronchiolitis. These errors lead to the potential of avoidable harm and the administration of inappropriate treatment.
DACO: Distortion/artefact correction for diffusion MRI data in an integrated framework
Authors: Hsu Yung-Chin , Tseng Wen-Yih Isaac
Published: July 2021

In this paper we propose a registration-based algorithm to correct various distortions or artefacts (DACO) commonly observed in diffusion weighted (DW) magnetic resonance images (MRI). The registration in DACO is proceeded on the basis of a pseudo b0 image, which is synthesized from the anatomical images such as T1-weighted image or T2-weighted image, and a pseudo diffusion MRI (dMRI) data, which is derived from the Gaussian model of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) or the Hermite model of MAP-MRI. DACO corrects (1) the susceptibility-induced distortions, (2) the intensity inhomogeneity, and (3) the misalignment between the dMRI data and anatomical images by registering the real b0 image to the pseudo b0 image, and corrects (4) the eddy current (EC)-induced distortions and (5) the head motions by registering each of the DW images in the real dMRI data to the corresponding image in the pseudo dMRI data. As the above artefacts interact with each other, DACO models each type of artefact in an integrated framework and estimates these models in an interleaved and iterative manner. The mathematical formulation of the models and the comprehensive estimation procedures are detailed in this paper. The evaluation using the human connectome project data shows that DACO could estimate the model parameters accurately. Furthermore, the evaluation conducted on the real human data acquired from clinical MRI scanners reveals that the method could reduce the artefacts effectively. The DACO method leverages the anatomical image, which is routinely acquired in clinical practice, to correct the artefacts, minimizing the additional acquisitions needed to conduct the algorithm. Therefore, our method is beneficial to most dMRI data, particularly to those without acquiring the field map or blip-up and blip-down images.
Nonclinical Safety and Immunogenicity of an rVSV-ΔG-SARS-CoV-2-S vaccine in mice, hamsters, rabbits and pigs
Authors: Madar-Balakirski Noa , Rosner Amir , Melamed Sharon , Politi Boaz , Steiner Michal , Tamir Hadas , Yahalom-Ronen Yfat , David Elad Bar , Ben-Shmuel Amir , Sittner Assa , Glinert Itai , Weiss Shay , Bar-Haim Erez , Cohen Hila , Elia Uri , Achdout Hagit , Erez Noam , Rotem Shahar , Lazar Shlomi , Nyska Abraham , Yitzhaki Shmuel , Beth-Din Adi , Levy Haim , Paran Nir , Israely Tomer , Marcus Hadar
Published: July 2021

rVSV-ΔG-SARS-CoV-2-S is a clinical stage (Phase 2) replication competent recombinant vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Nonclinical safety, immunogenicity and efficacy studies were conducted in 4 animal species, using multiple dose levels (up to 108 PFU/animal) and various dosing regimens. There were no treatment related mortalities in any study, or any noticeable clinical signs. Compared to unvaccinated controls, hematology and biochemistry parameters were unremarkable and no adverse histopathological findings gave cause for safety concern in any of the studies. There was no viral shedding in urine, nor viral RNA detected in whole blood or serum samples 7 days post vaccination. The rVSV-ΔG-SARS-CoV-2-S vaccine immune response gave rise to neutralizing antibodies, cellular immune response, and increased lymphocytic cellularity in the spleen germinal centers and regional lymph node. No evidence for neurovirulence was found in C57BL/6 immune competent mice or in highly sensitive IFNAR KO mice. Vaccine virus replication and distribution in K18 hACE2 transgenic mice showed a gradual clearance from the vaccination site with no vaccine virus recovered from the lungs. The rVSV-ΔG-SARS-CoV-2-S vaccine was well tolerated locally and systemically and elicited an effective immunogenic response up to the highest dose tested, supporting further clinical development.
T-CoV: a comprehensive portal of HLA-peptide interactions affected by SARS-CoV-2 mutations
Authors: Nersisyan Stepan , Zhiyanov Anton , Shkurnikov Maxim , Tonevitsky Alexander
Published: July 2021

Rapidly appearing SARS-CoV-2 mutations can affect T cell epitopes, which can help the virus to evade either CD8 or CD4 T-cell responses. We developed T-cell COVID-19 Atlas (T-CoV,https://t-cov.hse.ru) – the comprehensive web portal, which allows one to analyze how SARS-CoV-2 mutations alter the presentation of viral peptides by HLA molecules. The data are presented for common virus variants and the most frequent HLA class I and class II alleles. Binding affinities of HLA molecules and viral peptides were assessed with accuratein silicomethods. The obtained results highlight the importance of taking HLA alleles diversity into account: mutation-mediated alterations in HLA-peptide interactions were highly dependent on HLA alleles. For example, we found that the essential number of peptides tightly bound to HLA-B*07:02 in the reference Wuhan variant ceased to be tight binders for the Indian (Delta) and the UK (Alpha) variants. In summary, we believe that T-CoV will help researchers and clinicians to predict the susceptibility of individuals with different HLA genotypes to infection with variants of SARS-CoV-2 and/or forecast its severity.
Selection-Enriched Genomic Loci (SEGL) Reveals Genetic Loci for Environmental Adaptation and Photosynthetic Productivity in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Lucker Ben F. , Panchy Nicolas L. , Temple Joshua A. , Benning Urs F. , Bibik Jacob D. , Neofotis Peter G. , Weissman Joseph C. , Baxter Ivan R. , Shiu Shin-Han , Kramer David M.
Published: July 2021

This work demonstrates an approach to produce and select hybrid algal strains exhibiting increased photosynthetic productivity under multiple environmental conditions. This simultaneously addresses two major impediments to improving algal bioenergy production: 1) generating new genetic variants with improved performance; and 2) disentangling complex interactions between genetic and physiological factors contributing to these improvements. We pooled progeny generated from mating two environmental isolates of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and cultured the pools under multiple environmental conditions. Strains from the outcompeting populations showed substantial (in some cases over 3 fold) increases in productivity over the parental lines under certain environments related to biomass production, including laboratory conditions as well as hyperoxia, fluctuating light, high salinity and high temperature. The results indicate that C. reinhardtii has remarkable, untapped, directed evolution capacity that may be harnessed using breeding and competition approaches. The populations were deep sequenced at multiple time points to identify “Selection-Enriched Genomic Loci” (SEGL) that accumulated in the populations, and thus likely confer increased fitness under the respective environmental conditions. With improved resolution, SEGL mapping can identify allelic combinations used for targeted breeding approaches, generating elite algal lines with multiple desirable traits, as well as to further understand the genetic and mechanistic bases of photosynthetic productivity.

Significance Statement

Increasing the photosynthetic efficiency of algae during biomass production is perhaps the most critical hurdle for economically sustainable algal based biofuels. This presents unique challenges because modifications designed to increase photosynthesis often result in decreased fitness, due to production of toxic reactive oxygen species when photosynthesis is not adequately regulated. These problems are exacerbated under natural and outdoor production environments because of the complex nature of photosynthesis and the multifaceted interactions between genetic, environmental and physiological factors. Here, we demonstrate a high throughput biotechnological screening approach that simultaneously produces algal strains with highly increased autotrophic productivity and identifies genomic loci contributing to these improvements. Our results demonstrate that Chlamydomonas reinhardtii exhibits high directed evolutionary capacity readily accessed through breeding and selection.
Recovering Escherichia coli plasmids in the absence of long-read sequencing data
Authors: Paganini J. , Plantinga N.L. , Arredondo-Alonso S. , Willems R.J.L. , Schürch A.C.
Published: July 2021

The incidence of infections caused by multidrug-resistant E. coli strains has risen in the past years. Antibiotic resistance in E. coli is often mediated by acquisition and maintenance of plasmids. The study of E. coli plasmid epidemiology and genomics often requires long-read sequencing information, but recently a number of tools that allow plasmid prediction from short-read data have been developed.

Here, we reviewed 25 available plasmid prediction tools and categorized them into binary plasmid/chromosome classification tools and plasmid reconstruction tools. We benchmarked six tools that aim to reliably reconstruct distinct plasmids, with a special focus on plasmids carrying antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamase genes. They use either assembly graph information (plasmidSPAdes, gplas), reference databases (MOB-Suite, FishingForPlasmids) or both (HyAsP and SCAPP) to produce plasmid predictions. The benchmark data set consisted of 240 E. coli strains, harboring 631 plasmids, which were representative for the diversity of E. coli in public databases. Notably, these strains were not used for training any of the tools.

We found that two thirds (n=425, 66.3.%) of all plasmids were correctly reconstructed by at least one of the six tools, with a range of 92 (14.58%) to 317 (50.23%) correctly predicted plasmids. However, the majority of plasmids that carried antibiotic resistance genes (n=85, 57.8%) could not be completely recovered as distinct plasmids by any of the tools. MOB-suite was the only tool that was able to correctly reconstruct the majority of plasmids (n=317, 50.23%), and performed best at reconstructing large plasmids (n=166, 46.37%) and ARG-plasmids (n=41, 27.9%), but predictions frequently contained chromosome contamination (40%). In contrast, plasmidSPAdes reconstructed the highest fraction of plasmids smaller than 18 kbp (n=168, 61.54%). Large ARG-plasmids, however, were recovered with small precision values (median=0.47, IQR=0.61), indicating that plasmidSPAdes frequently merged sequences derived from distinct replicons. Additionally, only 63% of all plasmid-borne ARGs were correctly predicted by plasmidSPAdes.

The remaining four tools (FishingForPlasmids, HyAsP, SCAPP and gplas) were able to correctly reconstruct a combined total of 18 plasmids that were missed by MOB-suite and plasmidSPAdes.

Available bioinformatic tools can provide valuable insight into E. coli plasmids, but also have important limitations. This work will serve as a guideline for selecting the most appropriate plasmid reconstruction tool for studies focusing on E. coli plasmids in the absence of long-read sequencing data.
A Deep Learning Framework for Prediction of Clinical Drug Response of Cancer Patients and Identification of Drug Sensitivity Biomarkers using Preclinical Samples
Authors: Hostallero David Earl , Wei Lixuan , Wang Liewei , Cairns Junmei , Emad Amin
Published: July 2021

Background

Prediction of the response of cancer patients to different treatments and identification of biomarkers of drug sensitivity are two major goals of individualized medicine. In this study, we developed a deep learning framework called TINDL, completely trained on preclinical cancer cell lines, to predict the response of cancer patients to different treatments. TINDL utilizes a tissue-informed normalization to account for the tissue and cancer type of the tumours and to reduce the statistical discrepancies between cell lines and patient tumours. In addition, this model identifies a small set of genes whose mRNA expression are predictive of drug response in the trained model, enabling identification of biomarkers of drug sensitivity.

Results

Using data from two large databases of cancer cell lines and cancer tumours, we showed that this model can distinguish between sensitive and resistant tumours for 10 (out of 14) drugs, outperforming various other machine learning models. In addition, our siRNA knockdown experiments on 10 genes identified by this model for one of the drugs (tamoxifen) confirmed that all of these genes significantly influence the drug sensitivity of the MCF7 cell line to this drug. In addition, genes implicated for multiple drugs pointed to shared mechanism of action among drugs and suggested several important signaling pathways.

Conclusions

In summary, this study provides a powerful deep learning framework for prediction of drug response and for identification of biomarkers of drug sensitivity in cancer.
Structure of mycobacterial CIII2CIV2 respiratory supercomplex bound to the tuberculosis drug candidate telacebec (Q203)
Authors: Yanofsky David J. , Di Trani Justin M. , Krol Sylwia , Abdelaziz Rana , Bueler Stephanie A. , Imming Peter , Brzezinski Peter , Rubinstein John L.
Published: July 2021

The imidazopyridine telacebec, also known as Q203, is one of only a few new classes of compounds in more than fifty years with demonstrated antituberculosis activity in humans. Telacebec inhibits the mycobacterial respiratory supercomplex composed of complexes III and IV (CIII2CIV2). In mycobacterial electron transport chains, CIII2CIV2 replaces canonical CIII and CIV, transferring electrons from the intermediate carrier menaquinol to the final acceptor, molecular oxygen, while simultaneously transferring protons across the inner membrane to power ATP synthesis. We show that telacebec inhibits the menaquinol:oxygen oxidoreductase activity of purified Mycobacterium smegmatis CIII2CIV2 at concentrations similar to those needed to inhibit electron transfer in mycobacterial membranes and Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth in culture. We then used electron cryomicroscopy (cryoEM) to determine structures of CIII2CIV2 both in the presence and absence of telacebec. The structures suggest that telacebec prevents menaquinol oxidation by blocking two different menaquinol binding modes to prevent CIII2CIV2 activity.
A Newcastle disease virus-vector expressing a prefusion-stabilized spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 induces protective immune responses against prototype virus and variants of concern in mice and hamsters
Authors: Sun Weina , Liu Yonghong , Amanat Fatima , González-Domínguez Irene , McCroskery Stephen , Slamanig Stefan , Coughlan Lynda , Rosado Victoria , Lemus Nicholas , Jangra Sonia , Rathnasinghe Raveen , Schotsaert Michael , Martinez Jose , Sano Kaori , Mena Ignacio , Innis Bruce L , Wirachwong Ponthip , Thai Duong Huu , Oliveira Ricardo Das Neves , Scharf Rami , Hjorth Richard , Raghunandan Rama , Krammer Florian , García-Sastre Adolfo , Palese Peter
Published: July 2021

Rapid development of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines and expedited authorization for use and approval has been proven beneficial to mitigate severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spread and given hope in this desperate situation. It is believed that sufficient supplies and equitable allocations of vaccines are necessary to limit the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of additional variants of concern. We have developed a COVID-19 vaccine based on Newcastle disease virus (NDV) that can be manufactured at high yields in embryonated eggs. Here we provide evidence that the NDV vector expressing an optimized spike antigen (NDV-HXP-S), upgraded from our previous construct, is a versatile vaccine that can be used live or inactivated to induce strong antibody responses and to also cross-neutralize variants of concern. The immunity conferred by NDV-HXP-S effectively counteracts SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice and hamsters. It is noteworthy that vaccine lots produced by existing egg-based influenza virus vaccine manufacturers in Vietnam, Thailand and Brazil exhibited excellent immunogenicity and efficacy in hamsters, demonstrating that NDV-HXP-S vaccines can be quickly produced at large-scale to meet global demands.
Selective sorting of microRNAs into exosomes by phase-separated YBX1 condensates
Authors: Liu Xiao-Man , Ma Liang , Schekman Randy
Published: July 2021

Exosomes may mediate cell-to-cell communication by transporting various proteins and nucleic acids to neighboring cells. Some protein and RNA cargoes are significantly enriched in exosomes. How cells efficiently and selectively sort them into exosomes remains incompletely explored. Previously we reported that YBX1 is required in sorting of miR-223 into exosomes. Here we show that YBX1 undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in vitro and in cells. YBX1 condensates selectively recruit miR-223 in vitro and into exosomes secreted by cultured cells. Point mutations that inhibit YBX1 phase separation impair the incorporation of YBX1 protein into biomolecular condensates formed in cells, and perturb miR-233 sorting into exosomes. We propose that phase separation-mediated local enrichment of cytosolic RNA binding proteins and their cognate RNAs enables their targeting and packaging by vesicles that bud into multivesicular bodies. This provides a possible mechanism for efficient and selective engulfment of cytosolic proteins and RNAs into intraluminal vesicles which are then secreted as exosomes from cells.
Bayesian estimation of population size and overlap from random subsamples
Authors: Johnson Erik K. , Larremore Daniel B.
Published: July 2021

Counting the number of species, items, or genes that are shared between two sets is a simple calculation when sampling is complete. However, when only partial samples are available, quantifying the overlap between two sets becomes an estimation problem. Furthermore, to calculate normalized measures of β-diversity, such as the Jaccard and Sorenson-Dice indices, one must also estimate the total sizes of the sets being compared. Previous efforts to address these problems have assumed knowledge of total population sizes and then used Bayesian methods to produce unbiased estimates with quantified uncertainty. Here, we address populations of unknown size and show that this produces systematically better estimates—both in terms of central estimates and quantification of uncertainty in those estimates. We further show how to use species count data to refine estimates of population size in a Bayesian joint model of populations and overlap.
Sex-dependent Lupus Ruminococcus blautia gnavus strain induction of zonulin-mediated intestinal permeability and autoimmunity
Authors: Deng Jing , Azzouz Doua F. , Ferstler Nicole , Silverman Gregg J.
Published: July 2021

Imbalances in the gut microbiome are suspected as contributors to the pathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and our studies and others have documented that patients with active Lupus nephritis have expansions of the obligate anaerobe, Ruminococcus blautia gnavus (RG). To investigate whether the RG strains in Lupus patients have in vivo pathogenic properties, we colonized C57BL/6 mice with individual RG strains from healthy adults or those from Lupus patients. These strains had a similar capacity for murine intestinal colonization, in antibiotic-preconditioned specific-pathogen-free, as well as germ-free adults, and their neonatally colonized litters. Lupus-derived RG strains induced high levels of intestinal permeability that was significantly greater in female than male mice, whereas the RG species-type strain (ATCC29149/VPI C7-1) from a healthy donor had little or no effects. Lupus RG strain-induced functional alterations were associated dysregulated occluden transcript production in the ileal wall as well as raised serum levels of zonulin, a regulator of tight junction formation between cells that form the gut barrier. Notably, the level of Lupus RG-induced intestinal permeability was significantly correlated with serum IgG anti RG cell-wall lipoglycan antibodies, and to anti-native DNA autoantibodies that are a biomarker for SLE. Strikingly, gut permeability was completely reversed by oral treatment with larazotide acetate, an octapeptide that is a specific molecular antagonist of zonulin. Taken together, these studies document a molecular pathway by which RG strains from Lupus patients induce a leaky gut and autoimmunity that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of flares of clinical Lupus disease.
Synthesis of modified nucleotide polymers by the poly(U) polymerase Cid1: Application to direct RNA sequencing on nanopores
Authors: Vo Jenny , Mulroney Logan , Quick-Cleveland Jen , Jain Miten , Akeson Mark , Ares Manuel
Published: July 2021

Understanding transcriptomes requires documenting the structures, modifications, and abundances of RNAs as well as their proximity to other molecules. The methods that make this possible depend critically on enzymes (including mutant derivatives) that act on nucleic acids for capturing and sequencing RNA. We tested two 3’ nucleotidyl transferases,Saccharomyces cerevisiaepoly(A) polymerase andSchizosaccharomyces pombeCid1, for the ability to add base and sugar modified rNTPs to free RNA 3’ ends, eventually focusing on Cid1. Although unable to polymerize ΨTP or 1meΨTP, Cid1 can use 5meUTP and 4thioUTP. Surprisingly, Cid1 can use inosine triphosphate to add poly(I) to the 3’ ends of a wide variety of RNA molecules. Most poly(A) mRNAs efficiently acquire a uniform tract of about 50 inosine residues from Cid1, whereas non-poly(A) RNAs acquire longer, more heterogeneous tails. Here we test these activities for use in direct RNA sequencing on nanopores, and find that Cid1-mediated poly(I)-tailing permits detection and quantification of both mRNAs and non-poly(A) RNAs simultaneously, as well as enabling the analysis of nascent RNAs associated with RNA polymerase II. Poly(I) produces a different current trace than poly(A), enabling recognition of native RNA 3’ end sequence lost by in vitro poly(A) addition. Addition of poly(I) by Cid1 offers a broadly useful alternative to poly(A) capture for direct RNA sequencing on nanopores.
DiMeLo-seq: a long-read, single-molecule method for mapping protein-DNA interactions genome-wide
Authors: Altemose Nicolas , Maslan Annie , Smith Owen K. , Sundararajan Kousik , Brown Rachel R. , Detweiler Angela M. , Neff Norma , Miga Karen H. , Straight Aaron F. , Streets Aaron
Published: July 2021

Molecular studies of genome regulation often rely on the ability to map where specific proteins interact with genomic DNA. Existing techniques for mapping protein-DNA interactions genome-wide rely on DNA amplification methods followed by sequencing with short reads, which dissociates joint binding information at neighboring sites, removes endogenous DNA methylation information, and precludes the ability to reliably map interactions in repetitive regions of the genome. To address these limitations, we created a new protein-DNA mapping method, calledDirectedMethylation withLong-readsequencing (DiMeLo-seq), which methylates DNA near each target protein’s DNA binding sitein situ, then leverages the ability to distinguish methylated and unmethylated bases on long, native DNA molecules using long-read, single-molecule sequencing technologies. We demonstrate the optimization and utility of this method by mapping the interaction sites of a variety of different proteins and histone modifications across the human genome, achieving a single-molecule binding site resolution of less than 200 bp. Furthermore, we mapped the positions of the centromeric histone H3 variant CENP-A in repetitive regions that are unmappable with short reads, while simultaneously analyzing endogenous CpG methylation and joint binding events on single molecules. DiMeLo-seq is a versatile method that can provide multimodal and truly genome-wide information for investigating protein-DNA interactions.
Combining a multi-analyzer stage with a two-dimensional detector for high-resolution powder X-ray diffraction: correcting the angular scale
Authors: Fitch Andrew , Dejoie Catherine
Published: July 2021

In a test experiment, a two-dimensional pixel detector was mounted on the nine-channel multi-analyzer stage of the high-resolution powder diffraction beamline ID22 at the ESRF. This detector replaces a bank of scintillation counters that detect the diffracted intensity passing via the analyzer crystals as the diffractometer arm is scanned. At each diffractometer detector arm angle 2Θ, a 2D image is recorded that displays nine distinct regions of interest corresponding to the diffraction signals transmitted by each of the analyzer crystals. Summing pixels from within each region of interest allows the diffracted intensity to be extracted for each channel. X-rays are diffracted from the sample at various angles, 2θ, into Debye–Scherrer cones. Depending on the azimuthal angle around the cone, diffracted photons satisfy the analyzer-crystal Bragg condition at different diffractometer 2Θ values and arrive on the detector at different horizontal (axial) positions. The more the azimuthal angle deviates from diffraction in the vertical plane, the lower the 2Θ angle at which it is transmitted by an analyzer crystal, and the greater the distance of the detecting pixel from the centerline of the detector. This paper illustrates how the axial resolution afforded by the pixel detector can be used to correct the apparent diffraction angle, 2Θ, given by the diffractometer arm to its true diffraction angle, 2θ. This allows a reduction in peak asymmetry at low angle, and even with a relatively small axial acceptance, the correction leads to narrower peaks than if no correction is applied. By varying axial acceptance with diffraction angle, it is possible to optimize angular resolution at low diffraction angles and counting statistics at high angles. In addition, there is an intrinsic peak broadening with increasing azimuthal angle, dependent on the axial beam and detector pixel sizes. This effect reduces with 2θ, as the curvature of the Debye–Scherrer cones decreases. This broadening can be estimated and used to help choose the axial range to include as a function of diffraction angle.
Corporate social responsibility actions and organizational legitimacy at the peak of COVID-19: a sentiment analysis
Authors: Giacomini Davide , Martini Mattia , Sancino Alessandro , Zola Paola , Cavenago Dario
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to analyse stakeholder sentiment about the corporate social responsibility (CSR) actions implemented by Italian companies between February 20, 2020 and April 20, 2020, which was the first peak in the outbreak of the COVID-19 health emergency in Italy.

Design/methodology/approach

Using sentiment analysis, the impact of COVID-19 on CSR actions is analysed through reactions to the news published on Twitter by a sample of Italian news agencies.

Findings

The analysis indicates that the actions most appreciated are those that are more radical, e.g. where the company has converted part of its production to make goods that are useful in dealing with the COVID-19 emergency. The study identifies a new category of actions definable as “crisis-shaped CSR.”

Practical implications

This is one of the first studies concerning the effects of the pandemic on both CSR actions and organizational legitimacy.

Originality/value

This work explains which strategic approach to CSR is the most effective in supporting corporate reputation in times of crisis, this study identified which of the CSR initiatives adopted by companies in Italy were more effective in stimulating positive interactions and sentiment among the general public.
Service encounters with virtual agents: an examination of perceived humanness as a source of customer satisfaction
Authors: Söderlund Magnus , Oikarinen Eeva-Liisa
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Firms have begun to introduce virtual agents (VAs) in service encounters, both in online and offline environments. Such VAs typically resemble human frontline employees in several ways (e.g. the VAs may have a gender and a name), which indicates the presence of an assumption by VA designers – and by firms that employ them – that VA humanness is a positively charged characteristic. This study aims to address this assumption by examining antecedents to perceived humanness in terms of attribution of agency, emotionality and morality, and the impact of perceived humanness on customer satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was distributed online to participants who had been interacting with existing VAs, and they were asked to focus on one of them for this study. The questionnaire comprised measures of antecedents to perceived humanness of VAs, perceived humanness per se and customer satisfaction. A structural equation modeling approach was used to assess associations between the variables.

Findings

Attributions of agency, emotionality and morality to VAs contributed positively to the perceived humanness of the VAs, and perceived humanness was positively associated with customer satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

Additional humanness capabilities should be explored in further research.

Practical implications

Firms using VAs in service encounters should make attempts to maximize perceived VA humanness, and this study shows that it may be beneficial if such attempts comprise signals that VAs have agency, emotionality and morality.

Originality/value

By examining VAs in terms of a set of fundamental human capabilities, the present study contributes to existing research on human–VA service encounters, which to date has focused on more superficial VA characteristics (such as if the VA has a face and gender).
Migrant health as a human right amidst COVID-19: a culture-centered approach
Authors: Dutta Mohan J.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this manuscript is to examine the negotiations of health among low-wage migrant workers in Singapore amidst the COVID-19 outbreaks in dormitories housing them. In doing so, the manuscript attends to the ways in which human rights are constituted amidst labor and communicative rights, constituting the backdrop against which the pandemic outbreaks take place and the pandemic response is negotiated.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is part of a long-term culture-centered ethnography conducted with low-wage migrant workers in Singapore, seeking to build communicative infrastructures for rights-based advocacy and interventions.

Findings

The findings articulate the ways in which the outbreaks in dormitories housing low-wage migrant workers are constituted amidst structural contexts of organizing migrant work in Singapore. These structural contexts of extreme neoliberalism work catalyze capitalist accumulation through the exploitation of low-wage migrant workers. The poor living conditions that constitute the outbreak are situated in relationship to the absence of labor and communicative rights in Singapore. The absence of communicative rights and dignity to livelihood constitutes the context within which the COVID-19 outbreak emerges and the ways in which it is negotiated among low-wage migrant workers in Singapore.

Originality/value

This manuscript foregrounds the interplays of labor and communicative rights in the context of the health experiences of low-wage migrant workers amidst the pandemic. Even as COVID-19 has made visible the deeply unequal societies we inhabit, the manuscript suggests the relevance of turning to communicative rights as the basis for addressing these inequalities. It contributes to the extant literature on the culture-centered approach by depicting the ways in which a pandemic as a health crisis exacerbates the challenges to health and well-being among precarious workers.
Analysing the complexities of sustainable wood supply chain in the Amazon: a systems thinking approach
Authors: Elias Arun A. , Donadelli Flavia , Paiva Ely L. , Bacic Araujo Paulo Philipe
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The overall objective of this study is to holistically analyse the complexities involved in the adoption of sustainable wood supply chain in the Amazon and to develop strategic interventions to improve the system.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the systems thinking and modelling framework that included problem structuring followed by the development of a systems model. Tumbira and Santa Helena do Inglês, two Amazonian communities, were used as a case. Data were collected by staying inside the Amazon, observing the community members and interacting with them during their activities, including logging inside the forest.

Findings

A behaviour over time (BOT) graph developed as a part of problem structuring showed that deforestation of the Amazon is still increasing, despite the creation of protected areas and NGO activities in the region. Developing a sustainable wood supply chain is considered as one of the approaches for sustainable forestry in the Amazon, but its adoption is slow. The systems model captured the underlying structure of this system and explained this counterintuitive behaviour using eleven interacting feedback loops.

Research limitations/implications

This study is confined to two Amazonian communities and recognises the limitations of generalisations.

Practical implications

This paper illustrates the development of three strategic interventions to improve the adoption of sustainable wood supply chain in the Amazon.

Originality/value

This study highlights the real issues faced by real communities living in the Amazon for adopting sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices. It contributes to the literature on sustainable wood supply chain by systemically analysing the challenges in its adoption, not sufficiently discussed in the literature.
Process quality management and operational performance: exploring the role of learning and development orientation
Authors: Sahoo Saumyaranjan
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to assess the influence of process quality management (PQM) practices on a firm's operational performance (OP) and investigate the mediating role of a firm's learning and development orientation (LDO) in the PQM–OP relationship. The paper also assesses the extent to which the proposed mediation is moderated by senior management support (SMS).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on the sociotechnical system theory to carry out a survey study of 278 functional managers from various manufacturing firms in India through a postal mail survey approach. The response rate has been improved by frequent telephone follow-ups. The collected data was analyzed for mediation of LDO and moderated mediation of SMS in the proposed framework using Hayes's PROCESS Macro in statistical package for social sciences.

Findings

The research findings show that both PQM and LDO lead to better performance and should be encouraged. LDO was found to partially mediate the effect of PQM on the firm's OP. The results also show that an enhanced learning capability of an organization can significantly influence improvement in OP through a stronger support of senior management.

Research limitations/implications

The current study explored the mediating role of LDO in the relationship between PQM and OP, while providing a future research opportunity for an empirical review of the mediating effect of LDO between the effects of just-in-time, maintenance and process benchmarking activities on OP.

Practical implications

To transform PQM activities into a competitive advantage, firms need to develop learning capabilities. Senior managers in the manufacturing industry should strongly focus upon creating a learning-centered work culture to improve performance and productivity.

Originality/value

The study provides insights into the type of people-related activities that manufacturing firms should undertake to enhance their OP. Few studies in the extant literature have used SMS as a moderator to improve LDO's impact on business operations. The study aims at bridging this gap.
Parenting advantages of emerging market multinationals (EMNCs) in luxury fashion retailing
Authors: Bai Huifeng , He Weijing , Shi Jin , McColl Julie , Moore Christopher
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This empirical research, adopting an international retailing perspective, aims to examine the parenting advantages offered by emerging market multinationals (EMNCs) in luxury fashion retail sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers adopted a qualitative case study, and the qualitative data were collected through ten semi-structured interviews with senior managers.

Findings

It is a win–win situation for the EMNCs as parent groups of Western luxury fashion brands, as the EMNCs can access critical assets including advanced brand management expertise, retailing know-how, and the services skills needed for higher income consumers. Meanwhile, the subsidiary brands benefit from a high degree of autonomy, intra-group resource utilisation, a competitive brand portfolio and most importantly economies of scales in the value chain, particularly in production. The perceived risks of EMNCs ownership include potentially restricted autonomy and the uncertainty over corporate development activities in the future, as well as the risks of diluting brand image caused by the inconsistency between country of origin and country of ownership.

Research limitations/implications

Very few EMNCs have moved into luxury fashion retailing to date, which means that the sampling frame was small. The findings were generated from China, which is perceived to be of considerable psychic distance in terms of culture and policies compared to other emerging markets that have been heavily influenced by colonialism.

Practical implications

This paper suggests that practitioners, particularly EMNCs, support their subsidiary luxury fashion brands through parenting advantages and develop their own high-end fashion brands through internationalisation.

Originality/value

This empirical study contributes to the current international retailing literature by offering in depth insights of parenting advantages offered by EMNCs in luxury fashion retailing. It also enriches the EMNC literature, which has mainly adopted an international business scope, by extending this understanding into luxury fashion retailing.
Structural equation modeling of residents' attitudes and tourism development: a SET based - study of the Kashmir region in India
Authors: Bhat Aasif Ali , Majumdar Kakali
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The present study tries to develop a model that assesses the factors that determine support for tourism development by residents of the Kashmir region.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data have been collected (n = 650) from the residents of the top five tourist destinations through a pre-tested questionnaire by a multistage convenient sampling method. A model has been drafted and tested through the technique of structural equation modeling by applying the social exchange theory as a theoretical framework.

Findings

The results revealed that residents who perceived more benefits were more expected to support tourism development, and residents who perceive more costs were less expected to support tourism development, thus supporting the social exchange theory.

Originality/value

The results of this study are extremely useful for the local government and tourism institutions in the future planning of tourism development and also fill the vast gap in the tourism literature with a theoretical base.
Design and optimization of actuator for multi-joint soft rehabilitation glove
Authors: Wang Xinjie , Cheng Yan , Zheng Huadong , Li Yihao , Wang Caidong
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Currently, rehabilitation medical care is expensive, requires a large number of rehabilitation therapist and which can only limit in the fixed location. In addition, there is a lack of research on the structure optimization and theoretical analysis of soft actuators for hand rehabilitation. In view of the problems above, this paper aims to propose a cheap, portable, wearable soft multiple joints rehabilitation glove.

Design/methodology/approach

First, this paper determined the hyperelastic constitutive model by material tensile test. Second, the soft actuator’s internal longitudinal section shape was optimized through the comparison of three diverse chamber structures. Meanwhile, the motion model of the soft actuator is established by the finite element model analysis method. Then, this paper established the constitutive model of the soft actuator according to the torque equilibrium equation and analyzed the relationship between the soft actuator’s bending angle and the input air pressure. This paper has verified that the theoretical model is correct through the soft actuator bending test. Finally, rehabilitation gloves were manufactured according to the model and the rehabilitation performance and grasping ability of gloves were verified through experiments.

Findings

The optimization results show that the internal semicircular cavity has better performance. Then, the actuator performance is better after adding the external arc structure and optimizing the physical dimension. The experimental results show that the trajectory of the actuator conforms to the mathematical model and rehabilitation gloves can meet the needs of rehabilitation treatment.

Practical implications

Rehabilitation gloves made of actuators can help patients with hand dysfunction in daily rehabilitation training. Then, it can also assist patients with some fine and complicated hand movements.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a new type of soft rehabilitation glove, which is composed of new soft actuators and adapting pieces. The new actuator is small enough to be fitted to the knuckle of the glove to move each joint of the finger.
Challenges faced by older people in a district of Uttar Pradesh: a qualitative study
Authors: Patel Avanish Bhai
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The steady rise in aged population has brought many challenges such as social, economic and health care that confront of the older people in their later life. The purpose of this study is to understand the nature of challenges among the older people and to assess the role of social security programmes for the welfare of the older people. The qualitative descriptive research has been applied in this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative descriptive research has been applied in this paper. The study was conducted in a sample of 220 elderly living in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, using purposive sampling. The study was based on interviews. The order of questions and samples depended on the information flow during the interviews. The purposes of using the qualitative descriptive research in the present study are to satisfy the researcher’s curiosity and desire for better understanding to discuss the challenges faced by older people (these challenges are social vulnerability, poor economic conditions, poor health and no familiarity with government programmes), to understand the practicability of the study in extensive way and to explain why any phenomenon occurs or why older people face problems in later life.

Findings

The first finding demonstrates that the different challenges among older people such as social, economic and health challenges are affecting their way of life and sense of well-being and are fracturing their social bonds from the family and society. The second finding indicates that only 46.3% older people are benefitted from government pension programmes schemes. While the numbers of older people are unknown from other government welfare programmes such as health programmes, concession for older people and maintenance and welfare of parent and senior citizen act are not able to work properly due to lack of awareness and lack of proper communication between older people and government bodies.

Originality/value

This is an original work of the author. The research work is based on primary data that examine the nature of challenges such as health, economic and social challenges faced by older people in later life and impact of these problems on the well-being of older people.