bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chitinophaga extrema sp. nov., isolated from subsurface soil and leaf litter in a tropical peat swamp forest
Authors: Goh Calvin Bok Sun , Wong Li Wen , Parimannan Sivachandran , Rajandas Heera , Loke Stella , Croft Lawrence , Yule Catherine Mary , Pasbakhsh Pooria , Lee Sui Mae , Tan Joash Ban Lee
Published: November 2020

A Gram-negative, filamentous aerobic bacterium designated as strain Mgbs1T was isolated on 12 April 2017 from the subsurface soil and leaf litter substrate at the base of a Koompassia malaccensis tree in a tropical peat swamp forest in the northern regions of the state of Selangor, Malaysia (3° 39′ 04.7′ N 101° 17′ 43.7′′ E). Phylogenetic analyses based on the full 16S rRNA sequence revealed that strain Mgbs1T belongs to the genus

Chitinophaga

with the greatest sequence similarity to

Chitinophaga terrae

KP01T (97.65 %),

Chitinophaga jiangningensis

DSM27406T (97.58 %), and

Chitinophaga dinghuensis

DHOC24T (97.17 %). The major fatty acids of strain Mgbs1T (>10 %) are iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1
 ω5c and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH while the predominant respiratory quinone is menaquinone-7. Strain Mgbs1T has a complete genome size of 8.03 Mb, with a G+C content of 48.5 mol%. The DNA–DNA hybridization (DDH) score between strain Mgbs1T and

C. jiangningensis

DSM27406T was 15.9 %, while in silico DDH values of strain Mgbs1T against

C. dinghuensis

DHOC24T and

C. terrae

KP01T were 20.0 and 19.10% respectively. Concurrently, Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) scores between strain Mgbs1T against all three reference strains are 73.2 %. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic consensus, strain Mgbs1T represents a novel species of the genus

Chitinophaga

, for which the name Chitinophaga extrema sp. nov. is proposed (=DSM 108835T=JCM 33276T).
Optimized cell systems for the investigation of hepatitis C virus E1E2 glycoproteins
Authors: Kalemera Mphatso D. , Capella-Pujol Joan , Chumbe Ana , Underwood Alexander , Bull Rowena A. , Schinkel Janke , Sliepen Kwinten , Grove Joe
Published: November 2020

Great strides have been made in understanding and treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) thanks to the development of various experimental systems including cell-culture-proficient HCV, the HCV pseudoparticle system and soluble envelope glycoproteins. The HCV pseudoparticle (HCVpp) system is a platform used extensively in studies of cell entry, screening of novel entry inhibitors, assessing the phenotypes of clinically observed E1 and E2 glycoproteins and, most pertinently, in characterizing neutralizing antibody breadth induced upon vaccination and natural infection in patients. Nonetheless, some patient-derived clones produce pseudoparticles that are either non-infectious or exhibit infectivity too low for meaningful phenotyping. The mechanisms governing whether any particular clone produces infectious pseudoparticles are poorly understood. Here we show that endogenous expression of CD81, an HCV receptor and a cognate-binding partner of E2, in producer HEK 293T cells is detrimental to the infectivity of recovered HCVpp for most strains. Many HCVpp clones exhibited increased infectivity or had their infectivity rescued when they were produced in 293T cells CRISPR/Cas9 engineered to ablate CD81 expression (293TCD81KO). Clones made in 293TCD81KO cells were antigenically very similar to their matched counterparts made parental cells and appear to honour the accepted HCV entry pathway. Deletion of CD81 did not appreciably increase the recovered titres of soluble E2 (sE2). However, we did, unexpectedly, find that monomeric sE2 made in 293T cells and Freestyle 293-F (293-F) cells exhibit important differences. We found that 293-F-produced sE2 harbours mostly complex-type glycans whilst 293T-produced sE2 displays a heterogeneous mixture of both complex-type glycans and high-mannose or hybrid-type glycans. Moreover, sE2 produced in 293T cells is antigenically superior; exhibiting increased binding to conformational antibodies and the large extracellular loop of CD81. In summary, this work describes an optimal cell line for the production of HCVpp and reveals that sE2 made in 293T and 293-F cells are not antigenic equals. Our findings have implications for functional studies of E1E2 and the production of candidate immunogens.
Forecasting Confirmed Cases and Mortalities of COVID-19 in the US
Authors: Jamshidi Babak , Kakavandi Mohsen , Zargaran Shahriar Jamshidi , Talaei-Khoei Amir
Published: November 2020

Background

The wide spread of COVID-19 in the US has placed the country as the most infected population worldwide. This paper aims to forecast the number of confirmed cases and mortalities from 12 April to 21 May, 2020. There has been a large body of literature in forecasting epidemic outbreaks such as C algorithms with shortfall of predicting for long periods and autoregressive integrated moving average models with the limited flexibility. However, the US COVID-19 data shows great variety in the relative increments of confirmed cases. This requires a reproductive time series.

Method

This paper suggests a time series based on the relative increments of confirmed cases. The proposed time series assumes the changes in the time series and provides flexibility. The suggested model was applied on the data observed from 27 February to 11 April 2020 and its objective is forecasting 40 days from 12 April to 21 May 2020.

Results

It is expected that by May 21, 2020, the accumulative number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the US rises to 1,464,729, with 80% confidence interval. Our analysis also shows that by the 21st of May, the cumulative number of mortalities caused by COVID-19 in the US from 18747 cases on 11 April increases to around 73250 cases on 21 May, 2020.

Conclusion

Our results highlight the value of reproductive strategies in time series modelling of COVID-19. Our model benefits from a reproductive strategy from a time point in which the US COVID-19 data demonstrates a sudden fall.
Antiviral activity of plant juices and green tea against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virusin vitro
Authors: Frank Bruno , Conzelmann Carina , Weil Tatjana , Groß Rüdiger , Jungke Peggy , Eggers Maren , Müller Janis A. , Münch Jan , Kessler Uwe
Published: November 2020

Many plant juices, extracts and teas have been shown to possess antiviral activity. We here analyzed the virucidal activity of black chokeberry(Aronia melanocarpa),pomegranate(Punica granatum),and elderberry(Sambucus nigra)juice, as well as green tea(Camellia sinensis)against different respiratory viruses. We found that all tested plant derived products effectively inactivated influenza virus, whereas only chokeberry juice diminished SARS-CoV-2 and vaccinia virus infectivity. None of the products inactivated non-enveloped human adenovirus type 5. Thus, black chokeberry juice exerts virucidal activity against different enveloped viral pathogens underin vitroconditions. Whether application of virucidal juices or green tea as oral rinses may lower viral loads in the oral cavityin vivoremains to be evaluated.
Filtration Performance Degradation of In-Use Masks by Vapors from Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers and the Mitigation Solutions
Authors: He Weidong , Guo Yinghe , Liu Jingxian , Yue Yang , Wang Jing
Published: November 2020

How often does one perform hand disinfection while wearing a mask? In the current COVID-19 pandemic, wearing masks and hand disinfection are widely adopted hygiene practices. However, our study indicated that exposure to the vapors from alcohol-based sanitizers during hand disinfection might degrade the filtration performance of the in-use masks, and the degradation worsened with the increasing number of hand disinfection. After five times of hand disinfection, the filtration efficiencies of surgical masks decreased by >8% for 400 and 500nm particles and by 3.68±1.83 % for 1μm particles. This was attributed to the dissipation of electrostatic charges on the masks when exposed to the alcohol vapor generated during hand disinfection. Simple practice of vapor-avoiding hand disinfection could mitigate the effects of alcohol vapor, which was demonstrated on two brands of surgical masks. The vapor-avoiding hand disinfection is recommended to be included in the hygiene guide to maintain the mask performance.

Graphic abstract
Differential Involvement of the Locus Coeruleus in Early- and Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease: A Potential Mechanism of Clinical Differences?
Authors: Bolton Corey J. , Tam Joyce W.
Published: November 2020

Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD) has been associated with an increased likelihood of atypical clinical manifestations such as attentional impairment, yet the cause of this heterogeneity remains unclear. The locus coeruleus (LC) is implicated early in Alzheimer’s disease pathology and is associated with attentional functioning. This study investigated post-mortem atrophy of the LC in EOAD and late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) in a large, well-characterized sample. Results show nearly four times greater likelihood of higher LC atrophy in EOAD as compared to LOAD after controlling for other measures of pathological progression (p < .005). Follow-up analyses within the EOAD group revealed that compared to those who displayed mild or no LC atrophy at autopsy, those with moderate-severe atrophy of the LC displayed significantly worse performance on various baseline measures of attentional functioning (p < .05), despite similar overall cognition (p = .25). These findings suggest the LC is an important potential driver of clinical and pathological heterogeneity in EOAD.
From Vaccine to Pathogen: Modeling Sabin 2 Vaccine Virus Reversion and Evolutionary Epidemiology
Authors: Wong Wesley , Gauld Jillian , Famulare Michael
Published: November 2020

The oral poliovirus vaccines (OPV) are one of most effective disease eradication tools in public health. However, the Sabin 2 vaccine strain can revert attenuation and cause outbreaks of circulating, vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2) that are clinically indistinguishable from wild poliovirus (WPV). Accurately assessing cVDP2 risk requires disentangling the complex interaction between epidemiology and evolutionary biology. Here, we developed a Sabin 2 reversion model that simulates the reversion of Sabin 2 to WPV based on the clinical differences in shedding duration and infectiousness between individuals vaccinated with Sabin 2 and those infected with wild poliovirus. Genetic reversion is informed by a canonical reversion pathway defined by three gatekeeper mutations (A481G, U2909C, and U398C) and the accumulation of genetic load from deleterious nonsynonymous mutations. Our model captures essential aspects of both phenotypic and molecular evolution and simulates transmission using a multiscale transmission model that consolidates the relationships among immunity, susceptibility, and transmission risk. We show that despite the rapid reversion of Sabin 2, cVDPV2 outbreaks can be controlled by maintaining high levels of population-level immunity and sanitation. Supplementary immunization activities must maintain high vaccine coverage to prevent future cVDPV2 outbreaks in the targeted intervention zone, but declining global immunity against Sabin 2 makes them increasingly risky to implement in poor sanitation regions regardless of historical immunization activity. A combined strategy of assessing and improving sanitation levels in conjunction with high coverage vaccination campaigns will limit future cVDPV2 emergence and spread.

Significance Statement

Since the withdrawal of the Sabin 2 oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV2), circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks caused by the genetic reversion of Sabin 2 vaccine virus (cVDPV2) have been increasing in frequency. The current strategies for combating cVDPV2 involve supplemental immunization activities with monovalent Sabin 2 oral poliovirus (mOPV2), which can inadvertently seed future cVDPV2 outbreaks. Accurately assessing future cVDPV2 outbreak risk following mass mOPV2 campaigns is critical poliovirus eradication efforts but must consider the interaction between genetic reversion and epidemiological transmission. We developed an evolutionary epidemiology model to integrate Sabin 2 genetic reversion and transmission into a single framework to evaluate their relative contribution to cVDPV2 outbreaks and inform future intervention strategies.
New Insights from Old Data: Multimodal Classification of Schizophrenia using Automated Deep Learning Configurations
Authors: Gagana B
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous cognitive disorder where clinical classification is challenging because of the lack of well-established, non-invasive diagnoses biomarkers. There is, hence, a need for objective systems that can classify Schizophrenia despite challenges such as overlapping symptomatic factors, diverse internal clinical manifestations, and complex diagnostic process leading to delayed treatment. Thus, experimentation with automated machine learning architectural frameworks (AutoML) is presented in order to handle multimodal Functional Network Connectivity(FNC) and Source Based Morphometry(SBM) features based on functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) and structural magnetic resonance imaging(sMRI) components respectively. On evaluating the resultant AutoML models with respect to approximately 280 machine learning architectures on the Overall AUC metric, the former outperforms the latter despite remarkable limitations including complex high dimensional feature space with very little data.
Signature morpho-electric, transcriptomic, and dendritic properties of extratelencephalic-projecting human layer 5 neocortical pyramidal neurons
Authors: Kalmbach Brian E. , Hodge Rebecca D. , Jorstad Nikolas L. , Owen Scott , Bakken Trygve E. , de Frates Rebecca , Yanny Anna Marie , Dalley Rachel , Graybuck Lucas T. , Daigle Tanya L. , Radaelli Cristina , Mallory Matt , McGraw Medea , Dee Nick , Nicovich Philip R. , Keene C. Dirk , Gwinn Ryder P. , Silbergeld Daniel L , Cobbs Charles , Ojemann Jeffrey G , Ko Andrew L , Patel Anoop P , Ellenbogen Richard G. , Sorensen Staci A. , Smith Kimberly , Zeng Hongkui , Tasic Bosiljka , Koch Christof , Lein Ed S. , Ting Jonathan T.
Published: November 2020

In the neocortex, subcerebral axonal projections originate largely from layer 5 (L5) extratelencephalic-projecting (ET) neurons. The highly distinctive morpho-electric properties of these neurons have mainly been described in rodents, where ET neurons can be labeled by retrograde tracers or transgenic lines. Similar labeling strategies are not possible in the human neocortex, rendering the translational relevance of findings in rodents unclear. We leveraged the recent discovery of a transcriptomically-defined L5 ET neuron type to study the properties of human L5 ET neurons in neocortical brain slices derived from neurosurgeries. Patch-seq recordings, where transcriptome, physiology and morphology are assayed from the same cell, revealed many conserved morpho-electric properties of human and rodent L5 ET neurons. Divergent properties were also apparent but were often smaller than differences between cell types within these two species. These data suggest a conserved function of L5 ET neurons in the neocortical hierarchy, but also highlight marked phenotypic divergence possibly related to functional specialization of human neocortex.
Multiplexed Detection of Sepsis Markers in Whole Blood using Nanocomposite Coated Electrochemical Sensors
Authors: Zupančič Uroš , Jolly Pawan , Estrela Pedro , Moschou Despina , Ingber Donald E.
Published: November 2020

Sepsis is a leading cause of mortality worldwide that is difficult to diagnose and manage because this requires simultaneous analysis of multiple biomarkers. Electrochemical detection methods could potentially provide a way to accurately quantify multiple sepsis biomarkers in a multiplexed manner as they have very low limits of detection and require minimal sensor instrumentation; however, affinity-based electrochemical sensors are usually hampered by biological fouling. Here we describe development of an electrochemical detection platform that enables detection of multiple sepsis biomarkers simultaneously by incorporating a recently developed nanocomposite coating composed of crosslinked bovine serum albumin containing a network of reduced graphene oxide nanoparticles that prevents biofouling. Using nanocomposite coated planar gold electrodes, we constructed a procalcitonin sensor and demonstrated sensitive PCT detection in undiluted serum and clinical samples, as well as excellent correlation with a conventional ELISA (adjusted r2 = 0.95). Sensors for two additional sepsis biomarkers — C-reactive protein and pathogen-associated molecular patterns — were developed on the same multiplexed platform and tested in whole blood. Due to the excellent antifouling properties of the nanocomposite coating, all three sensors exhibited specific responses within the clinically significant range without any cross-reactivity in the same channel with low sample volume. This platform enables sensitive simultaneous electrochemical detection of multiple analytes in human whole blood, which can be expanded further to any target analyte with an appropriate antibody pair or capturing probe, and thus, may offer a potentially valuable tool for development of clinical point-of-care diagnostics.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Space-Time Covid-19 Bayesian SIR modeling in South Carolina
Authors: Lawson Andrew B , Kim Joanne
Published: November 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has spread across the world since the beginning of 2020. Many regions have experienced its effects. The state of South Carolina in the USA has seen cases since early March 2020 and a primary peak in early April 2020. A lockdown was imposed on April 6th but lifting of restrictions started on April 24th. The daily case and death data as reported by NCHS (deaths) via the New York Times GitHUB repository have been analyzed and approaches to modeling of the data are presented. Prediction is also considered and the role of asymptomatic transmission is assessed as a latent unobserved effect. Two different time periods are examined and one step prediction is provided.
Rapid development of SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain-conjugated nanoparticle vaccine candidate
Authors: Kang Yin-Feng , Sun Cong , Zhuang Zhen , Yuan Run-Yu , Zheng Qing-Bing , Li Jiang-Ping , Zhou Ping-Ping , Chen Xin-Chun , Zhang Xiao , Yu Xiao-Hui , Kong Xiang-Wei , Zhu Qian-Ying , Xu Miao , Zhong Nan-Shan , Zeng Yi-Xin , Feng Guo-Kai , Ke Chang-Wen , Zhao Jin-Cun , Zeng Mu-Sheng
Published: November 2020

The ongoing of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, resulting in economic losses and seriously threating the human health in worldwide, highlighting the urgent need of a stabilized, easily produced and effective preventive vaccine. The SARS-COV-2 spike protein receptor binding region (RBD) plays an important role in the process of viral binding receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and membrane fusion, making it an ideal target for vaccine development. In this study, we designed three different RBD-conjugated nanoparticles vaccine candidates, RBD-Ferritin (24-mer), RBD-mi3 (60-mer) and RBD-I53-50 (120-mer), with the application of covalent bond linking by SpyTag-SpyCatcher system. It was demonstrated that the neutralizing capability of sera from mice immunized with three RBD-conjugated nanoparticles adjuvanted with AddaVax or Sigma Systerm Adjuvant (SAS) after each immunization was ~8-to 120-fold greater than monomeric RBD group in SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus and authentic virus neutralization assay. Most importantly, sera from RBD-conjugated NPs groups more efficiently blocked the binding of RBD to ACE2 or neutralizing antibody in vitro, a further proof of promising immunization effect. Besides, high physical stability and flexibility in assembly consolidated the benefit for rapid scale-up production of vaccine. These results supported that our designed SARS-CoV-2 RBD-conjugated nanoparticle was competitive vaccine candidate and the carrier nanoparticles could be adopted as universal platform for future vaccine development.
ASCL1 drives induction of a transitory cell state required for repair of the injured neonatal brain
Authors: Bayin N. Sumru , Mizrak Dogukan , Stephen Daniel N. , Lao Zhimin , Sims Peter A. , Joyner Alexandra L.
Published: November 2020

The underlying molecular foundation of neural progenitor diversity and plasticity is critical for understanding repair processes. The neonatal cerebellum with multiple progenitor populations has high regenerative potential. Upon ablation of cerebellar granule cell progenitors at birth, a normally gliogenic Nestin-expressing progenitor (NEP) in the Bergmann glia (Bg) layer (BgL-NEPs) undergoes adaptive reprograming to restore granule neuron production while a white matter NEP (WM-NEPs) reduces interneuron production. However, the cellular states and genes regulating the NEP fate switch are not known. Here using scRNA-seq and fate-mapping, we defined the molecular subtypes of NEPs and their lineages under homeostasis and repair. Five NEP populations comprising two molecular subtypes,Hopx-expressing gliogenic- andAscl1-expressing neurogenic-NEPs were identified in both states. Furthermore, in the WM, distinct NEP populations generate interneurons or astrocytes, and amongst gliogenic-NEPs, astrocyte and Bg lineages are molecularly separable. Importantly, we uncovered that after injury a new transitory cellular state arises fromHopx-NEPs in the BgL that is defined by initiation of expression of the neurogenic geneAscl1. Moreover,Ascl1is required for adaptive reprogramming and the full regenerative capacity of the cerebellum. We thus define new populations of NEPs and identifed the transcription factor responsible for inducing a transitory cell critical for a glial to neural switchin vivofollowing injury.
Involvement of c-Jun N-terminus kinase 2 (JNK2) in Endothelin-1 (ET-1) mediated neurodegeneration of retinal ganglion cells
Authors: Kodati Bindu , Stankowska Dorota L. , Krishnamoorthy Vignesh R. , Krishnamoorthy Raghu R.
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The goal of this study was to determine if JNK2 plays a causative role in endothelin-mediated loss of RGCs in mice.

Methods

JNK2-/-and wild type (C57BL/6) mice were intravitreally injected in one eye with 1 nmole of ET-1, while the contralateral eye was injected with the vehicle. At two time points (2 h and 24 h) following the intravitreal injections, retinal sections were obtained and phosphorylated c-Jun was assessed. In a separate set of experiments, JNK2-/-and wild type mice were intravitreally injected with either 1 nmole of ET-1 or its vehicle, and euthanized 7 days post-injection. Retinal flat mounts were stained with antibodies to the RGC marker, Brn3a, and surviving RGCs were quantified. Axonal degeneration was assessed by imaging PPD stained optic nerve sections.

Results

Intravitreal ET-1 administration produced a significant increase in immunostaining for phospho c-Jun in wild type mice, which was appreciably lower in the JNK2-/-mice. A significant (p<0.05) 26% loss of RGCs was found in wild type mice, 7 days post injection with ET-1. JNK2-/-mice showed a significant (p=0.36) protection from RGC loss following ET-1 administration, compared to wild type mice injected with ET-1. A significant decrease in axonal counts and an increase in the collapsed axons was found in ET-1 injected mice eyes.

Conclusion

JNK2 appears to play a major role in ET-1 mediated loss of RGCs in mice. Neuroprotective effects of JNK2 following ET-1 administration occur mainly in the soma and not in the axons of RGCs.
Exploring the programmability of management accounting work for increasing automation: an interventionist case study
Authors: Korhonen Tuomas , Selos Erno , Laine Teemu , Suomala Petri
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to better understand management accounting automation by exploring the programmability of management accounting work.

Design/methodology/approach

We build upon the literature on digitalization in management accounting and draw upon the pragmatic constructivist methodology to understand how digitalization takes place at the individual actors' level in accounting practice. The paper uses a data set from an interventionist case study of a machinery manufacturer.

Findings

We examine an actual process of automating management accounting tasks. During this development process, surprisingly, calculation tasks remained more fit for humans than machines though, initially, they were thought to be programmable.

Research limitations/implications

According to our findings, practitioners may interpret experts' nonprogrammable work tasks as programmable and seek to automate them. Only identifying the factual possibilities for automating accounting-related work can lead to automation-improved efficiency. Our findings can be increasingly relevant for advanced analytics initiatives and applications within management accounting (e.g. robotic process automation, big data, machine learning and artificial intelligence).

Practical implications

Practitioners need to carefully analyze the entity they wish to automate and understand the factual possibilities of using and maintaining the planned automatic system throughout its life cycle.

Originality/value

The paper shows that when processes are assessed from a distance, the nonprogrammable management accounting tasks and expertise can become misinterpreted as programmable, and the goal of automating them has little chance of success. It also shows possibilities for human accountants to remain relevant in comparison to machines and paves the way for further studies on advanced decision technologies in management accounting.
Selecting suitable procurement system for steel building construction
Authors: Perera G.P.P.S. , Tennakoon T.M.M.P. , Kulatunga Udayangani , Jayasena Himal Suranga , Wijewickrama M.K.C.S.
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to select a suitable procurement method for steel building construction in Sri Lanka following a systematic method which weigh, both procurement selection factors and existing procurement systems.

Design/methodology/approach

An abductive research stance is followed in this empirical study. Procurement selection factors were selected through a critical literature review which was followed by a quantitative questionnaire survey. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistical analysis and relative important index.

Findings

The critical literature review outlined 46 procurement selection factors, out of which 26 factors were very important in steel building procurement selection. Short construction period and higher constructability of design are ranked at the top with the highest priority rating factors. Management-oriented procurement system was selected as the most appropriate procurement system for steel building constructions within the Sri Lankan context.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to widely use three procurement systems in Sri Lankan construction industry. Yet, the process followed in selecting the most appropriate procurement system could be applied for other contexts. The implications of the study are mainly identifying management-oriented procurement as the most suitable procurement method for steel building construction in Sri Lanka.

Practical implications

The systematic procedure of procurement method selection for steel building construction may use in the Sri Lankan construction industry to limit the resource loss due to wrong selection of procurement.

Originality/value

A study which critically and comprehensively presenting a procurement selection process for steel building construction is not recorded in Sri Lanka prior to this study.
Trust-based cooperation in Silk Road Economic Belt countries: strategical ordering in the assembly supply chain
Authors: Pu Xujin , Yue Zhenxing , Chen Qiuyan , Wang Hongfeng , Han Guanghua
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This paper's purpose is to suggest that manufacturers strategically place soft orders for assembly materials with suppliers in Silk Road Economic Belt countries who probably doubt the realization of the soft orders placed.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a two-stage Stackelberg competition is constructed, taking into account the supplier's trust level in formulating the decision process in the assembly supply chain. The authors then provide a buyback contract to coordinate the supply chain, in which the manufacturer obtains enough supplies by sharing some of the perceived risks of not fully trusted suppliers. Furthermore, the authors conduct a numerical study to investigate the influence of trust under a decentralized case and a buyback contract.

Findings

The authors found that all supply chain partners in Silk Road Economic Belt countries experience potential losses due to not fully trusting certain conditions. The study also shows that, in Silk Road Economic Belt countries, operating under a buyback contract is better than being without one in terms of assembly supply chain performance.

Research limitations/implications

On the one hand, the authors only consider the asymmetry of demand information without considering that of cost structure information. On the other hand, a natural extension of the paper is to integrate single-period transactions into the multi-period transaction problem setting. As all these issues require substantial effort, the authors reserve them for future exploration.

Originality/value

Doing business with not-fully-trustworthy partners in Silk Road Economic Belt countries is risky, and this study reveals how trust works in global cooperation and with strategic reactions in situations of partial trust.
Sexual risk behaviours and HIV knowledge and beliefs of Shan migrants from Myanmar living with HIV in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Authors: Jirattikorn Amporn , Tangmunkongvorakul Arunrat , Musumari Patou Masika , Ayuttacorn Arratee , Srithanaviboonchai Kriengkrai , Banwell Cathy , Kelly Matthew
Published: November 2020

Purpose

For decades, northern Thailand has been a hub for migration in the Greater Mekong Sub-region, particularly for migrants from Myanmar. HIV prevalence among Myanmar/Burmese migrants is higher than in the general Thai population. This study aims to focus on Shan migrants living with HIV in Chiang Mai, the metropolitan centre of northern Thailand and to examine two related aspects: migrants’ sexual risk behaviour and their HIV knowledge and beliefs. The study aims to understand circumstances in which mobility increases HIV risk behaviour and prevalence.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a qualitative study, the authors conducted in-depth interviews in 2017 with 43 HIV-infected Shan migrants (21 males and 22 females), and 29 health-care providers who work in district hospitals in Chiang Mai.

Findings

The authors found that social and economic vulnerability associated with migration, and AIDS-related mortality, increased migrants’ likelihood of having multiple serial partners. Confusion about HIV symptoms, stigmatization of HIV positive women and low risk perceptions, particularly among men, increased their risk behaviours.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to study the way of life, sexual behaviour and HIV knowledge and beliefs of Shan Migrants from Myanmar Living with HIV in Thailand.
Solidarity and social behaviour: how did this help communities to manage COVID-19 pandemic?
Authors: Igwe Paul Agu , Ochinanwata Chinedu , Ochinanwata Nonso , Adeyeye Jonathan Olufemi , Ikpor Isaac Monday , Nwakpu Sanita Ekwutosi , Egbo Obiamaka P. , Onyishi Ike E. , Vincent Olusegun , Nwekpa Kenneth Chukwuma , Nwakpu Kingsley Onuoha , Adeoye Ayodeji Adeyinka , Odika Precious Onyinyechi , Fakah Henrietta , Ogunnaike Olaleke Oluseye , Umemezia Evelyn Iyose
Published: November 2020

Purpose

During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdowns, stay at home or work from home, many have argued that the westernised non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) do not provide remedial in low-income countries like Nigeria, where informal job seekers, street traders, informal labourers and artisans depend mainly on the informal economy. By applying social solidarity (SS) and community-based approach (CBA), the authors evaluate individual acts (trust, altruism and reciprocity) during the lockdown and how these practices evolve from individual approaches to collective actions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study reflects on pragmatism research paradigm that enables researchers to maintain both subjectivity in their reflections and objectivity in data collection and analysis. The authors adopt a qualitative method through purposeful and convenience sampling procedure. Data were analysed thematically to identify elements of SS, individual acts, collective or community actions and perceptions.

Findings

The findings reveal that COVID-19 had a disproportionate impact (lack of food and a fall in daily income) on workers, informal job seekers, informal businesses operators and the poor households. As such, the study developed a reflective model of solidarity exhibited by individual acts and collective acts (practices of resource pooling, information sharing, women empowerment, distribution of palliatives and donations) within trusted circles that helped people cope with the lockdown experiences.

Practical implications

Solidarity represents beliefs, practices of values and norms. The SS exhibited by people through NPI would have implications on planning and monitoring the effectiveness of public health programmes during a pandemic in the future.

Social implications

The findings of citizens and community actions have implications related to the process of building communities – coming together – and solidarity that enhances social development with implications on community health policy agenda during disasters, emergencies and health pandemic.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to analyse the relationship between trust, altruism, reciprocity, SS and CBA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, it seems reasonable to clarify the concept of SS given the lack of clarity about the definitions from previous studies.
Community attachment and emotional well-being: an empirical study of an online community for people with diabetes
Authors: Wu Philip Fei , Bernardi Roberta
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how community attachment to an OHC reduces the OHC users' emotional distress and therefore improves their emotional well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey study was conducted in one of the largest online health communities (OHC) for people with diabetes.

Findings

OHC participants are likely to experience reduced emotional distress when they have developed an attachment to the community. This attachment is, in turn, positively associated with the normative expectations of reciprocity and the affective feeling of gratitude. However, some commonly used behavioral measures of community participation, such as visit frequency and membership tenure, have little to do with either community attachment or reduced emotional distress.

Research limitations/implications

The research highlights the pivotal role of community attachment in appraising the much-debated benefits of OHCs. However, the cross-sectional survey study has its limitations in terms of establishing causality.

Practical implications

OHC managers need to look beyond some of the commonly used metrics, such as monthly visits and number of new postings, and focus on fostering a sense of attachment among existing users in order to fulfill the OHC's potential of emotional support. Our study implies that design features facilitating reciprocation and gratitude expression among users can lead to a strong emotional bond.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies on the antecedents of community attachment and the relationship between community attachment and emotional distress in the context of OHC.
Formjacking attack: Are we safe?
Authors: Dharmavaram Vijaya Geeta
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Today, online shopping and online business has become a new norm especially in the current pandemic scenario. With more businesses running online, cyber criminals are coming up with different tactics to steal identity and sensitive information such as credit card and banking credentials either for personal monetary gain or to sell in the dark Web. One form of such attack that is seen in the recent times is formjacking attack. This paper aims to review the current scenario of formjacking attack and its modus operandi. The paper also provides certain counter measures that can be adopted by the users and website owners.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper mainly focuses on the modus operandi of formjacking attack to understand the severity of the problem. Based on the way the attack is carried out, some guidelines to be followed are provided. Later, a brief review of machine learning techniques is furnished to understand how it may help as secure defense mechanism.

Findings

Formjacking attacks are on a rise in the past two years, especially during the holiday season. Cyber criminals have been using smart tactics to carry out these attacks which are very difficult to detect. Machine learning techniques may prove to be effective in combating these attacks.

Originality/value

Formjacking attack is not just a concern of the customers who may lose their sensitive data, but the onus also lies on the companies itself to ensure they protect their customer’s data from theft. Not much research is found regarding formjacking attack, as it is relatively a new form of attack. The paper reviews this attack and provides some measure that can be followed. It also provides few guidelines which can be used for further research in devising a security tool to mitigate this problem.
Public accounting profession and fraud detection responsibility
Authors: Rustiarini Ni Wayan , Yuesti Anik , Gama Agus Wahyudi Salasa
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The study aims to examine the influence of auditor personal factors, such as goal orientation, self-efficacy and professional commitment to auditor’s responsibility to detect the fraudulent, particularly in small accounting firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors surveyed 86 auditors working in small accounting firms in Bali Province, Indonesia.

Findings

The results prove the role of self-efficacy as a mediating variable in the relationship of goal orientation and auditor responsibility. This result at once confirms that self-efficacy can improve individual performance even in complex tasks. This study also proves the role of professional commitment as a mediator variable.

Research limitations/implications

Given that the respondents came from small accounting firms, these findings are not intended to be generalized with auditors in large accounting firms.

Practical implications

These findings highlight essential efforts to reduce audit expectation gaps between auditors and the public. The small accounting firms’ leaders must to alignment workplace organizational goals and organization professional goals. A dualism of purpose causes the auditor to fail to fulfill the responsibility of fraud detection.

Social implications

There is a severe audit expectation gap related to the auditor’s role in detecting fraud. This finding expected to answer public questions related to auditors’ ability and responsibility in small accounting firms in detecting fraud.

Originality/value

There is limited research on auditor responsibility, particularly in small audit firms in developing countries. Also, there is still debate scientific about the influence of goal orientation, self-efficacy and professional commitment to auditor performance.
Work design expectations of Japanese MNCs’ local managers in English-speaking and Far East cultural clusters – USA, Thailand and India
Authors: Ashta Ashok
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The importance of work design to organizational engagement and firm performance is increasingly recognized in management scholarship. For international business, a majority of variation in work design based on national cultures is addressed through cross-cultural management scholarship. However, there is a paucity of qualitative research on the influences international business human resource managers face for work design in the intercultural environment of overseas subsidiaries. The purpose of this interpretivist study was to examine the lived experience of overseas subsidiaries’ local managers to surface a more nuanced understanding of their expectations and related implications for work.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical research was conducted through semistructured in-depth interviews with senior managers of subsidiaries of Japanese MNCs in USA, Thailand and India.

Findings

The findings of the study develop and extend on prior cross-cultural management scholarship on world cultural clusters revealing changed expectations of work in intercultural work environments as instantiated by Japanese MNCs.

Social implications

Through engaging work design, international businesses can contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8 that pertains to decent work.

Originality/value

The study adds to extant understanding of the work design antecedent to engagement by broadening to intercultural environment impacts understanding facilitated by empirical lived experience data and suggesting a modification to extant theory. This study pioneers in taking world cultural clusters as the field for evaluating data.
Do cryptocurrencies enable and facilitate modern slavery?
Authors: Naheem Mohammed Ahmad
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of cryptocurrencies in facilitating operations relating to modern slavery and specifically human trafficking. Over the past decade, law enforcement agencies and intergovernmental organisations have established mechanisms, including financial regulations, to curb and identify such operations. Regulation over conventional financial institutions has greatly aided in identifying cross-border and transregional trafficking operations. However, there remains concern over the role of cryptocurrencies in the modern trafficking enterprise.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper follows a review of the literature, discussing specific cases that have exposed the role of cryptocurrencies in facilitating human trafficking. This paper first presents a comprehensive discussion on the existing operational mechanism of organisations in human trafficking. Subsequently, it determines the potential use of cryptocurrencies in circumventing detection by law enforcement agencies.

Findings

This paper finds that existing controls have allowed law enforcement to identify illicit transactions concerning human trafficking through conventional financial institutions. However, the most effective mechanism of identifying such operations is becoming increasingly difficult with the use of cryptocurrencies. Although there are potential solutions to the issues, cryptocurrencies, and the anonymity they offer, have allowed criminal organisations to evade detection using a more active marketplace through the internet.

Research limitations/implications

Law enforcement agencies and regulators must take into account the nature of cryptocurrencies and the limitations of regulations on such global virtual assets. Instead, this paper’s findings suggest alternate methods, including regulation on exchanges, blockchain use for documentation and investments in detection technologies that allow identification of trafficking operations and forced labour.

Originality/value

This paper presents existing cases and growing concerns that cannot be quantified in the current circumstance. Further, the paper aims to specifically discuss the role of cryptocurrencies in the existing human trafficking supply chain, offering readers and law enforcement agencies a perspective into criminal organisations’ combination of conventional trafficking operations and modern technological resources. Further, it makes a recommendation to invest in detection mechanisms that are different from the conventional theory based on identification by “following the money”.
The relationship between organizational learning and sustainable performance: an empirical examination
Authors: Zgrzywa-Ziemak Anna , Walecka-Jankowska Katarzyna
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between organizational learning (OL) and business sustainability (BS) and to carry out its empirical examination.

Design/methodology/approach

Extensive literature research was carried out. Then, an empirical study was conducted in 694 Polish and Danish companies. Two phenomena related to OL were adopted: OL processes and organizational learning capability (OLC). BS was examined through the concept of sustainable performance (SP). Research models were tested using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The empirical studies have shown a positive, statistically significant relationship between OL and BS. The research supports the view that the intensification of the OL processes is substantial for BS, whereas the OLC concept is less relevant to the development of BS. The effect of OL on total SP was stronger than on any SP dimension. OL supports the synergies of the results obtained by the organization for the benefit of BS.

Research limitations/implications

The model verification is based on the samples from two countries, and, therefore, the hypothesis requires further verification in different business contexts. In addition, there are different factors influencing BS, which have not been included in the research and should be analyzed in the future.

Originality/value

An in-depth, critical literature analysis shows that the theoretical foundation of the role of OL in shaping BS is fragmented and poorly empirically verified. The value of this paper is the presentation of large-scale empirical studies comparing the relationship between BS and two phenomena: OLC and the OL processes. The results obtained in the course of the research open up new research directions with respect to both the relationship between OL and BS as well as between OL and organizational performance.
Prognosis after steroid pulse therapy and seasonal effect in acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis
Authors: Iida Tadatsune , Nakamura Michiko , Inazawa Minako , Munetsugu Takichi , Nishida Makiko , Fujimoto Tomoko , Sasaki Yoshiyuki , Ohshima Yuichiro , Nakazato Yoshihiko , Namiki Takeshi , Yokozeki Hiroo
Published: November 2020

Acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis is a rare disease with unknown etiology. Sudden loss of sweating function adversely affects young patients’ quality of life. Although systemic corticosteroid therapy is the most frequently reported treatment for the disease, its effectiveness is controversial because of the risk of recurrence. To assist clinical decision‐making regarding whether to use steroids, we investigated the treatment responsiveness and recurrence rates in patients undergoing steroid pulse therapy and explored factors affecting these rates. We retrospectively collected data of 124 patients who received steroid pulse therapy to calculate the rate of responsiveness to the therapy. We also conducted a time‐to‐event analysis in a cohort of 57 patients who responded to steroid pulse therapy to estimate the recurrence rate after the therapy. As a result, the response and recurrence rates were 73% and 48%, respectively. Recurrence occurred within 1 year in most patients. The overall effectiveness of steroid pulse therapy was estimated to be 57% considering the recurrence rate. A delay from onset to treatment and younger age appeared to be negative factors for effectiveness. Moreover, we found a significant seasonal effect on both treatment and recurrence: autumn was the worst season for acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis in Japan. Our study revealed that steroid pulse therapy can be expected to be effective in half of treated patients. We recommend starting the therapy promptly after the diagnosis; however, it is also worth considering the season for treatment planning.