bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genomic bases underlying the adaptive radiation of core landbirds
Authors: Wu Yonghua , Yan Yi , Zhao Yuanqin , Gu Li , Wang Songbo , Johnson David H.
Published: July 2020

Core landbirds undergo adaptive radiation with different ecological niches, but the genomic bases that underlie their ecological diversification remain unclear. Here we used the genome-wide target enrichment sequencing of the genes related to vision, hearing, language, temperature sensation, beak shape, taste transduction, and carbohydrate, protein and fat digestion and absorption to examine the genomic bases underlying their ecological diversification. Our comparative molecular phyloecological analyses show that different core landbirds present adaptive enhancement in different aspects, and two general patterns emerge. First, all three raptorial birds (Accipitriformes, Strigiformes, and Falconiformes) show a convergent adaptive enhancement for fat digestion and absorption, while non-raptorial birds tend to exhibit a promoted capability for protein and carbohydrate digestion and absorption. Using this as a molecular marker, our results show relatively strong support for the raptorial lifestyle of the common ancestor of core landbirds, consequently suggesting a single origin of raptors, followed by two secondary losses of raptorial lifestyle within core landbirds. In addition to the dietary niche, we find at temporal niche that diurnal birds tend to exhibit an adaptive enhancement in bright-light vision, while nocturnal birds show an increased adaption in dim-light vision, in line with previous findings. Our molecular phyloecological study reveals the genome-wide adaptive differentiations underlying the ecological diversification of core landbirds.
Intrinsic excitability mechanisms of neuronal ensemble formation
Authors: Alejandre-García Tzitzitlini , Kim Samuel , Pérez-Ortega Jesús , Yuste Rafael
Published: July 2020

Neuronal ensembles are coactive groups of cortical neurons, found in spontaneous and evoked activity, that can mediate perception and behavior. To understand the mechanisms that lead to the formation of ensembles, we co-activated optogenetically and electrically layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons in brain slices from mouse visual cortex, in animals from both sexes, replicatingin vitroan optogenetic protocol to generate ensemblesin vivo. Using whole-cell and perforated patch-clamp pair recordings we find that, after optogenetic or electrical stimulation, coactivated neurons increase their correlation in spontaneous activity, a hallmark of ensemble formation. Coactivated neurons showed small biphasic changes in presynaptic plasticity, with an initial depression followed by a potentiation after a recovery period. Unexpectedly, optogenetic and electrical stimulation-induced significant increases in frequency and amplitude of spontaneous EPSPs, even after single-cell stimulation. In addition, we observed strong and persistent increases in neuronal excitability after stimulation, with increases in membrane resistance and reduction in spike threshold. A pharmacological agent that blocks changes in membrane resistance can revert this effect. These significant increases in excitability may partly explain the observed biphasic synaptic plasticity. We propose that cell-intrinsic changes in excitability are involved in the formation of neuronal ensembles. We propose an “iceberg” model, by which increased neuronal excitability makes subthreshold connections suprathreshold, enhancing the effect of already existing synapses, and generating a new neuronal ensemble.

Significance Statement

We investigated the synaptic and cellular mechanisms underlying the formation of neuronal ensembles, i.e., spontaneously coactive groups of neurons. Usingin vitroelectrophysiology and optogenetic in slices of mouse neocortex we replicated a protocol that generates ensemblesin vivo. After optogenetic and electrical stimulation, we observed biphasic synaptic plasticity and, unexpectedly, major increases in excitability, input resistance, and reductions in firing threshold. The increased excitability can explain the observed synaptic plasticity. Our results reveal a major role for intrinsic excitability in the establishment of neuronal ensembles.
Molecular classification of zebrafish retinal ganglion cells links genes to cell types to behavior
Authors: Kölsch Yvonne , Hahn Joshua , Sappington Anna , Stemmer Manuel , Fernandes António M. , Helmbrecht Thomas O. , Lele Shriya , Butrus Salwan , Laurell Eva , Arnold-Ammer Irene , Shekhar Karthik , Sanes Joshua R. , Baier Herwig
Published: July 2020

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) form an array of feature detectors, which convey visual information to central brain regions. Characterizing RGC diversity is required to understand the logic of the underlying functional segregation. Using single-cell transcriptomics, we systematically classified RGCs in adult and larval zebrafish, thereby identifying marker genes for at least 33 stable and transient cell types. We used this dataset to engineer transgenic driver lines, enabling experimental access to specific RGC types. Strikingly, expression of one or few transcription factors often predicts dendrite morphologies and axonal projections to specific tectal layers and extratectal targets.In vivocalcium imaging revealed that molecularly defined RGCs exhibit highly specific functional tuning. Finally, chemogenetic ablation ofeomesa+RGCs, which comprise melanopsin-expressing types with projections to a small subset of central targets, selectively impaired phototaxis. Together, our study establishes a framework for systematically studying the functional architecture of the visual system.
Activatable zymography probes enable in situ localization of protease dysregulation in cancer
Authors: Soleimany Ava P. , Kirkpatrick Jesse D. , Su Susan , Dudani Jaideep S. , Zhong Qian , Bekdemir Ahmet , Bhatia Sangeeta N.
Published: July 2020

Recent years have seen the emergence of conditionally activated diagnostics and therapeutics that leverage protease-cleavable peptide linkers to enhance their specificity for cancer. However, due to a lack of methods to measure and localize protease activity directly within the tissue microenvironment, the design of protease-activated agents has been necessarily empirical, yielding suboptimal results when translated to patients. To address the need for spatially resolve d protease activity profiling in cancer, we developed a new class ofin situprobes that can be applied to fresh-frozen tissue sections in a manner analogous to immunofluorescence staining. These activatable zymography probes (AZPs) detected dysregulated protease activity in human prostate cancer biopsy samples, enabling disease classification. We then leveraged AZPs within a generalizable framework to design conditional cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, and demonstrated the power of this approach in the Hi-Myc mouse model of prostate cancer, which models features of early pathogenesis. Multiplexed screening against barcoded substrates yielded a peptide, S16, that was robustly and specifically cleaved by tumor-associated metalloproteinases in the Hi-Myc model.In situlabeling with an AZP incorporating S16 revealed a potential role of metalloproteinase dysregulation in proliferative, pre-malignant Hi-Myc prostatic glands. Last, we incorporated S16 into anin vivoimaging probe that, after systemic administration, perfectly classified diseased and healthy prostates, supporting the relevance ofex vivoactivity assays toin vivotranslation. We envision AZPs will enable new insights into the biology of protease dysregulation in cancer and accelerate the development of conditional diagnostics and therapeutics for multiple cancer types.
Cross-species analysis of enhancer logic using deep learning
Authors: Minnoye Liesbeth , Taskiran Ibrahim Ihsan , Mauduit David , Fazio Maurizio , Van Aerschot Linde , Hulselmans Gert , Christiaens Valerie , Makhzami Samira , Seltenhammer Monika , Karras Panagiotis , Primot Aline , Cadieu Edouard , van Rooijen Ellen , Marine Jean-Christophe , Egidy Giorgia , Ghanem Ghanem-Elias , Zon Leonard , Wouters Jasper , Aerts Stein
Published: July 2020

Deciphering the genomic regulatory code of enhancers is a key challenge in biology because this code underlies cellular identity. A better understanding of how enhancers work will improve the interpretation of noncoding genome variation and empower the generation of cell type–specific drivers for gene therapy. Here, we explore the combination of deep learning and cross-species chromatin accessibility profiling to build explainable enhancer models. We apply this strategy to decipher the enhancer code in melanoma, a relevant case study owing to the presence of distinct melanoma cell states. We trained and validated a deep learning model, called DeepMEL, using chromatin accessibility data of 26 melanoma samples across six different species. We show the accuracy of DeepMEL predictions on the CAGI5 challenge, where it significantly outperforms existing models on the melanoma enhancer of IRF4. Next, we exploit DeepMEL to analyze enhancer architectures and identify accurate transcription factor binding sites for the core regulatory complexes in the two different melanoma states, with distinct roles for each transcription factor, in terms of nucleosome displacement or enhancer activation. Finally, DeepMEL identifies orthologous enhancers across distantly related species, where sequence alignment fails, and the model highlights specific nucleotide substitutions that underlie enhancer turnover. DeepMEL can be used from the Kipoi database to predict and optimize candidate enhancers and to prioritize enhancer mutations. In addition, our computational strategy can be applied to other cancer or normal cell types.
PtyNAMi: ptychographic nano-analytical microscope
Authors: Schropp Andreas , Döhrmann Ralph , Botta Stephan , Brückner Dennis , Kahnt Maik , Lyubomirskiy Mikhail , Ossig Christina , Scholz Maria , Seyrich Martin , Stuckelberger Michael E. , Wiljes Patrik , Wittwer Felix , Garrevoet Jan , Falkenberg Gerald , Fam Yakub , Sheppard Thomas L. , Grunwaldt Jan-Dierk , Schroer Christian G.
Published: July 2020

Ptychographic X-ray imaging at the highest spatial resolution requires an optimal experimental environment, providing a high coherent flux, excellent mechanical stability and a low background in the measured data. This requires, for example, a stable performance of all optical components along the entire beam path, high temperature stability, a robust sample and optics tracking system, and a scatter-free environment. This contribution summarizes the efforts along these lines to transform the nanoprobe station on beamline P06 (PETRA III) into the ptychographic nano-analytical microscope (PtyNAMi).
MrPIXEL: automated execution of Pixel calculations via the Mercury interface
Authors: Reeves Matthew G. , Wood Peter A. , Parsons Simon
Published: July 2020

The interpretation of crystal structures in terms of intermolecular interaction energies enables phase stability and polymorphism to be rationalized in terms of quantitative thermodynamic models, while also providing insight into the origin of physical and chemical properties including solubility, compressibility and host–guest formation. The Pixel method is a semi-empirical procedure for the calculation of intermolecular interactions and lattice energies based only on crystal structure information. Molecules are represented as blocks of undistorted ab initio molecular electron and nuclear densities subdivided into small volume elements called pixels. Electrostatic, polarization, dispersion and Pauli repulsion terms are calculated between pairs of pixels and nuclei in different molecules, with the accumulated sum equating to the intermolecular interaction energy, which is broken down into physically meaningful component terms. The MrPIXEL procedure enables Pixel calculations to be carried out with minimal user intervention from the graphical interface of Mercury, which is part of the software distributed with the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD). Following initial setup of a crystallographic model, one module assigns atom types and writes necessary input files. A second module then submits the required electron-density calculation either locally or to a remote server, downloads the results, and submits the Pixel calculation itself. Full lattice energy calculations can be performed for structures with up to two molecules in the crystallographic asymmetric unit. For more complex cases, only molecule–molecule energies are calculated. The program makes use of the CSD Python API, which is also distributed with the CSD.
X-ray characterization of physical-vapor-transport-grown bulk AlN single crystals
Authors: Wicht Thomas , Müller Stephan , Weingärtner Roland , Epelbaum Boris , Besendörfer Sven , Bläß Ulrich , Weisser Matthias , Unruh Tobias , Meissner Elke
Published: July 2020

AlN slices from bulk crystals grown under low thermomechanical stress conditions via the physical vapor transport (PVT) method were analyzed by X-ray methods to study the influence of the growth mode on the crystal quality. Defect types and densities were analyzed along axial [0001] as well as lateral growth directions. X-ray diffraction (0110) rocking-curve mappings of representative wafer cuts reveal a low mean FWHM of 13.4 arcsec, indicating the generally high crystal quality. The total dislocation density of 2 × 103 cm−2 as determined by X-ray topography is low and dislocations are largely threading edge dislocations of b = 1/3〈1120〉 type. The absence of basal plane dislocations in homogeneous crystal regions void of macroscopic defects can be linked to the low-stress growth conditions. Under the investigated growth conditions this high crystal quality can be maintained both along the axial [0001] direction and within lateral growth directions. Exceptions to this are some locally confined, misoriented grains and defect clusters, most of which are directly inherited from the seed or are formed due to the employed seed fixation technique on the outer periphery of the crystals. Seed-shaping experiments indicate no apparent kinetic limitations for an enhanced lateral expansion rate and the resulting crystal quality, specifically with regard to the growth mode on a-face facets.
SAS-cam: a program for automatic processing and analysis of small-angle scattering data
Authors: Wu Hongjin , Li Yiwen , Liu Guangfeng , Liu Haiguang , Li Na
Published: July 2020

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is a widely used method for investigating biological macromolecules in structural biology, providing information on macromolecular structures and dynamics in solution. Modern synchrotron SAXS beamlines are characterized as high-throughput, capable of collecting large volumes of data and thus demanding fast data processing for efficient beamline operations. This article presents a fully automated and high-throughput SAXS data analysis pipeline, SAS-cam, primarily based on the SASTBX package. Five modules are included in SAS-cam, encompassing the data analysis process from data reduction to model interpretation. The model parameters are extracted from SAXS profiles and stored in an HTML summary file, ready for online visualization using a web browser. SAS-cam can provide the user with the possibility of optimizing experimental parameters based on real-time feedback and it therefore significantly improves the efficiency of beam time. SAS-cam is installed on the BioSAXS beamline at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility. The source code is available upon request.
Pushing the temporal resolution in absorption and Zernike phase contrast nanotomography: enabling fast in situ experiments
Authors: Flenner Silja , Storm Malte , Kubec Adam , Longo Elena , Döring Florian , Pelt Daniël M. , David Christian , Müller Martin , Greving Imke
Published: July 2020

Hard X-ray nanotomography enables 3D investigations of a wide range of samples with high resolution (<100 nm) with both synchrotron-based and laboratory-based setups. However, the advantage of synchrotron-based setups is the high flux, enabling time resolution, which cannot be achieved at laboratory sources. Here, the nanotomography setup at the imaging beamline P05 at PETRA III is presented, which offers high time resolution not only in absorption but for the first time also in Zernike phase contrast. Two test samples are used to evaluate the image quality in both contrast modalities based on the quantitative analysis of contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and spatial resolution. High-quality scans can be recorded in 15 min and fast scans down to 3 min are also possible without significant loss of image quality. At scan times well below 3 min, the CNR values decrease significantly and classical image-filtering techniques reach their limitation. A machine-learning approach shows promising results, enabling acquisition of a full tomography in only 6 s. Overall, the transmission X-ray microscopy instrument offers high temporal resolution in absorption and Zernike phase contrast, enabling in situ experiments at the beamline.
Structural characterization of the derivatives of bis{[2,6-(dimethylamino)methyl]phenyl} selenide with palladium(II) and mercury(II)
Authors: Gupta Anand , Deka Rajesh , Butcher Ray J. , Singh Harkesh B.
Published: July 2020

The intramolecularly coordinated homoleptic diorgano selenide bis{2,6-bis[(dimethylamino)methyl]phenyl} selenide, C24H38N4Se orR2Se, whereRis 2,6-(Me2NCH2)2C6H3,14, was synthesized and its ligation reactions with PdIIand HgIIprecursors were explored. The reaction of14with SO2Cl2and K2PdCl4resulted in the formation of themetaC—H-activated dipalladated complex {μ-2,2′-bis[(dimethylamino)methyl]-4,4′-bis[(dimethylazaniumyl)methyl]-3,3′-selanediyldiphenyl-κ4C1,N2:C1′,N2′}bis[dichloridopalladium(II)], [Pd2Cl4(C24H38N4Se)] or [{R(H)PdCl2}2Se],15. On the other hand, when ligand14was reacted with HgCl2, the reaction afforded a dimercurated selenolate complex, {μ-bis{2,6-bis[(dimethylamino)methyl]benzeneselanolato-κ4N2,Se:Se,N6}-μ-chlorido-bis[chloridomercury(II)], [Hg2(C12H19N2Se)Cl3] orRSeHg2Cl3,16, where two HgIIions are bridged by selenolate and chloride ligands. In palladium complex15, there are two molecules located on crystallographic twofold axes and within each molecule the Pd moieties are related by symmetry, but there are still two independent Pd centers. Mercury complex16results from the cleavage of one of the Se—C bonds to form a bifurcated SeHg2moiety with the formal charge on the Se atom being −1. In addition, one of the Cl ligands bridges the two Hg atoms and there are two terminal Hg—Cl bonds. Each Hg atom is in a distorted environment which can be best described as a T-shaped base with the bridging Cl atom in an apical position, with several angles close to 90° and with one angle much larger and closer to 180°.
Investigation of convolutional neural network U-net under small datasets in transformer magneto-thermal coupled analysis
Authors: Gong Ruohan , Tang Zuqi
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the approach combine the deep learning (DL) and finite element method for the magneto-thermal coupled problem.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the DL of electrical device with the hypothesis of a small dataset, with ground truth data obtained from the FEM analysis, U-net, a highly efficient convolutional neural network (CNN) is used to extract hidden features and trained in a supervised manner to predict the magneto-thermal coupled analysis results for different topologies. Using part of the FEM results as training samples, the DL model obtained from effective off-line training can be used to predict the distribution of the magnetic field and temperature field of other cases.

Findings

The possibility and feasibility of the proposed approach are investigated by discussing the influence of various network parameters, in particular, the four most important factors are training sample size, learning rate, batch size and optimization algorithm respectively. It is shown that DL based on U-net can be used as an efficiency tool in multi-physics analysis and achieve good performance with only small datasets.

Originality/value

It is shown that DL based on U-net can be used as an efficiency tool in multi-physics analysis and achieve good performance with only small datasets.
Design and implementation of system-on-chip for peripheral component interconnect express encryption card based on multiple algorithms
Authors: Kuilin Chen , Xi Feng , Yingchun Fu , Liang Liu , Wennan Feng , Minggang Jiang , Yi Hu , Xiaoke Tang
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The data protection is always a vital problem in the network era. High-speed cryptographic chip is an important part to ensure data security in information interaction. This paper aims to provide a new peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) encryption card solution with high performance, high integration and low cost.

Design/methodology/approach

This work proposes a System on Chip architecture scheme of high-speed cryptographic chip for PCIe encryption card. It integrated CPU, direct memory access, the national and international cipher algorithm (data encryption standard/3 data encryption standard, Rivest–Shamir–Adleman, HASH, SM1, SM2, SM3, SM4, SM7), PCIe and other communication interfaces with advanced extensible interface-advanced high-performance bus three-level bus architecture.

Findings

This paper presents a high-speed cryptographic chip that integrates several high-speed parallel processing algorithm units. The test results of post-silicon sample shows that the high-speed cryptographic chip can achieve Gbps-level speed. That means only one single chip can fully meet the requirements of cryptographic operation performance for most cryptographic applications.

Practical implications

The typical application in this work is PCIe encryption card. Besides server’s applications, it can also be applied in terminal products such as high-definition video encryption, security gateway, secure routing, cloud terminal devices and industrial real-time monitoring system, which require high performance on data encryption.

Social implications

It can be well applied on many other fields such as power, banking, insurance, transportation and e-commerce.

Originality/value

Compared with the current strategy of high-speed encryption card, which mostly uses hardware field-programmable gate arrays or several low-speed algorithm chips through parallel processing in one printed circuit board, this work has provided a new PCIe encryption card solution with high performance, high integration and low cost only in one chip.
An assessment of attachment style measures in marketing
Authors: David Meredith E. , Carter Kealy , Alvarez Claudio
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Attachment theory is emerging as an important theoretical foundation in marketing because of the relational nature of consumption, but little guidance exists as to which of many attachment style measures is most suitable for use by researchers. As a result, many measures are being used with little justification, and frequently, these scales are being adapted due to poor measurement fit, length or wording unrelated to the focal attachment figure. This paper aims to evaluate seven existing attachment style measures and provides recommendations regarding which measure is the most suitable for assessing the impact of chronic attachment styles on marketing outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review identified seven measures of attachment style for analysis. Two studies examine the psychometric properties, susceptibility to response bias and predictive validity of the seven measures (Study 1n = 325 and Study 2n = 205).

Findings

Among the seven scales evaluated, the Johnson et al. (2012) [Johnson, Whelan, and Thomson (JWT)] measure exhibited the best psychometric properties and predictive validity for general (i.e. not relationship-specific) attachment styles. In addition, two relationship-specific measures, also with strong psychometric properties, were better able to capture their respective relationships or relationship types than general attachment styles, as expected.

Research limitations/implications

This research provides guidance to researchers on which measure to use when examining the impact of attachment style in marketing.

Practical implications

This research provides marketing researchers guidance on which measure to use when examining the impact of general attachment styles. Because the JWT scale is brief, psychometrically sound and demonstrates strong predictive validity, it can be used for academic and managerial purposes. The authors also confirm previous research suggesting that relationship-specific measures of attachment style may act differently than general interpersonal attachment style measures and vary in their ability to predict marketing outcomes.

Originality/value

This research is the first to provide guidance regarding which measure of attachment style to use in marketing and consumer research. This research can serve as a reference point for future researchers in selecting measures of attachment style and may allow for convergence on a narrow set of measures to advance research in marketing.
Can globalisation promote female labour force participation?
Authors: Sangha Harpal , Riegler Robert
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to analyse whether globalisation, i.e. informational and economic globalisation, promoted or impeded female labour force participation (FLFP) in South Asia.

Design/methodology/approach

The KOF Globalisation Index is used alongside a fixed effect panel data Discroll–Kraay estimator to control for unobserved factors and achieve robust standard errors. The sample covers all South Asian countries for the period 1999–2015.

Findings

Globalisation does not advocate the “feminisation of employment”; in fact, the impact is negative. This is driven by the economic dimension of globalisation, particularly for younger women. However, this impact is mitigated by informational globalisation that affects FLFP positively, especially for women aged 35 years and older.

Practical implications

Without support of the right governmental policies, there is a danger of globalisation creating new obstacles for women to enter the labour market.

Originality/value

This paper adds to the existing literature by using the more comprehensive KOF globalisation measure to identify the overall effect of globalisation on FLFP in South Asia, being the first study to analyse the impact of informational alongside economic globalisation, and investigating whether globalisation affects the labour force participation rate of various female age cohorts differently.
“First meetings”: constructive first encounters between pre-service teachers and their mentors
Authors: Connolly Steve , Bates Gareth , Shea James
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the findings from an action research project in which the researchers sought to develop a set of questions for use by mentors (experienced teachers) and mentees (pre-service teachers) on a course of initial teacher education (ITE) when they first met – the “initial encounter”.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers used an action research approach in order to address the lower retention rate of pre-service teachers from different backgrounds, such as Black and Minority ethnic (BAME) and the issues around mentoring which may exacerbate this problem. Discussions between the course team and participating mentors and mentees suggested that the initial encounter between mentor and mentee was significant, and an action research methodology would allow for developing questions that might structure such encounters.

Findings

The researchers found that a useful and effective set of questions could be developed and used by mentors and mentees. Additionally, this process gave researchers insights into the nature of the first encounters between mentors and mentees on an ITE course and how both groups see their roles. In several cycles of action research, the participants produced a number of iterations of such questions, which were refined across a two-year period.

Research limitations/implications

While it is too early to tell if the issues leading to the lower retention rate of pre-service teachers that prompted the project have been reduced in any significant way, the researchers suggest that thinking about these initial encounters can have an impact on the way mentors and mentees go on to build a relationship.

Originality/value

The authors found that there is very little research in the field of teacher education which looks at initial encounters between mentors and mentees, and thus make an original contribution to the mentoring literature.
Lean construction and simulation for performance improvement: a case study of reinforcement process
Authors: Bajjou Mohamed Saad , Chafi Anas
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This research seeks to evaluate the impact of applying lean construction principles on the performance of reinforcement operations using a discrete-event simulation (DES) approach.

Design/methodology/approach

Process mapping of reinforcements operations was first established through field observation and interviews with construction managers involved in the selected project. Subsequently, quantitative data were gathered and then used to identify the best probabilistic density functions for each activity duration based on the fit-quality tests. Upon testing the validity of the real-world model, a lean simulation model was developed, using ARENA software, to investigate the impact of lean construction principles on the performance of such processes.

Findings

Lean principles are effective in enhancing the performance of the selected construction process. Output performance measurements for real-world model and lean model revealed that lean construction principles led to 41% improvement in process productivity, 14% enhancement in process efficiency and 17% reduction in cycle time.

Research limitations/implications

The statistical findings only represent the process under study (reinforcement process) and cannot be generalized to other construction activities. In order to draw generalizable conclusions, future works are needed to extend this study to different project sizes and more complex construction processes (e.g. bricklaying process and concrete pouring operations). Moreover, there are other factors such as labor skills, rework and uncertainty, site conditions that require further analyses for leaner construction projects.

Originality/value

The methodology and the techniques presented in this work can be used for decision making by analyzing various lean construction scenarios and evaluating their impacts on performance outcomes of any construction process prior to real-world implementation.
How do digital influencers affect social commerce intention? The roles of social power and satisfaction
Authors: Wang Panpan , Huang Qian , Davison Robert M.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The success of social commerce depends on consumers' willingness to participate in social commerce activities. Practitioners have attached increasing attention to facilitating social commerce intention with influencer strategies. However, theoretical understanding or empirical investigation on the impact of digital influencers on consumers' social commerce intention is limited. This study aims to provide new insights into the drivers of two forms of social commerce intention: social shopping and social sharing intention. Based on the theoretical lens of social power, this study answers how digital influencers affect consumer satisfaction and ultimately boost their intention to conduct social commerce activities.

Design/methodology/approach

A field interview is conducted to determine the appropriate social power forms. An online survey on a large social commerce site in China with 310 respondents is conducted to test the proposed model.

Findings

Results indicate that expert power and referent power derived from digital influencers predict most of the consumers' economic satisfaction, whereas referent power and reciprocity power explain consumers' social satisfaction. Economic satisfaction affects social shopping and social sharing intention, whereas social satisfaction only influences social sharing intention.

Originality/value

This study sheds new light on the theoretical understanding of the effect of digital influencers through a lens of social power. It provides new insight into the determinants of social commerce intention. It also compensates for the neglect of social satisfaction in the social commerce context.
The sexual life of men with psychopathic traits
Authors: Zara Georgia , Bergstrøm Henriette , Farrington David P.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the sexuality of individuals with psychopathic traits. Sexuality is not only a physiological need but also a way by which people connect to others. According to a Darwinian perspective, psychopathic traits are seen as adaptive responses to environmental conditions, and as a nonpathological and reproductively viable life history strategy, although superficial emotionality and a detached interpersonal style characterise individuals who are high on psychopathic traits.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development are analysed. This is a prospective longitudinal study of 411 London males, with face-to-face interviews from 8 to 48 years of age.

Findings

Men who are high on psychopathic traits were likely to drift from one relationship to another, without a particular attachment to any of them, and to be sexually promiscuous. They never used contraception, which increased their likelihood of having several children from different partners.

Practical implications

Findings provide an insight into the non-criminal sexual behaviour of males with high psychopathic traits; evidence on a pattern of unsafe/risky sexual relations by males with high psychopathic traits; information on targeting risk factors to prevent the intergenerational transmission of psychopathy.

Originality/value

These findings are significant in highlighting the impact of psychopathic traits upon interpersonal and family dynamics in community samples, as detecting the impact of problematic intimate relationships is difficult in the absence of evident criminality. Rather than completely neglecting their children, men with psychopathic traits spent time with their sons but not with their daughters.
Love your mistakes!—they help you adapt to change. How do knowledge, collaboration and learning cultures foster organizational intelligence?
Authors: Kucharska Wioleta , Bedford Denise A.D.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The study aims to determine how the acceptance of mistakes is related to adaptability to change in a broad organizational context. Therefore, it explores how knowledge, collaboration and learning cultures (including “acceptance of mistakes”) might help organizations overcome their resistance to change.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used two sample groups: students aged 18–24 years (330 cases) and employees aged >24 years (326 cases), who worked in knowledge-driven organizations. Structural equation models were developed, assessed and compared.

Findings

The effect of the “learning climate” on “adaptability to change” mediated by “acceptance of mistakes” has been detected for young students aged 18–24 years; however, this relationship is not significant for business employees aged >24 years. This result indicates that organizations, unlike universities, do not use mistakes as a tool to support learning that is to lead to change.

Research limitations/implications

Both samples used in the study were obtained from Poland. The business sample was in the majority represented by small and medium-sized enterprises. Therefore, the presented findings may only be applicable to Poland.

Practical implications

Acceptance of mistakes is vital for developing a learning culture. Mistakes help employees adapt to change. Hence, a learning culture that excludes the acceptance of mistakes is somehow artificial and may be unproductive. Paradoxically, the findings reveal that the fact that employees’ intelligence (adaptability to change) improves via mistakes does not mean that organizational intelligence will also increase. Thus, organizations that do not develop mechanisms of learning from mistakes lose the learning potential of their employees.

Originality/value

This study proposes a constant learning culture scale that includes the “acceptance of mistakes” and “learning climate” dimensions. Further, it empirically proves the value of mistakes for adaptability to change. Moreover, it also contributes to the existing literature by demonstrating the mechanism of the relationship between knowledge, collaboration and learning cultures in the context of adaptability to change. This study breaks with the convention of “exaggerated excellence” and promotes the acceptance of mistakes in organizations to develop organizational intelligence.
Non-financial reporting formats in public sector organizations: a structured literature review
Authors: Manes-Rossi Francesca , Nicolò Giuseppe , Argento Daniela
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Research dealing with non-financial reporting formats in public sector organizations is progressively expanding. This paper systematizes the existing literature with the aim of understanding how research is developing and identifying the gaps in need of further investigation.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured literature review was conducted by rigorously following the steps defined in previous studies. The structured nature of the literature review paves the way for a solid understanding and critical analysis of the state of the art of research on non-financial reporting formats in public sector organizations.

Findings

The critical analysis of the literature shows that most existing studies have focused on sustainability reporting in higher education institutions, local governments and state-owned enterprises, while remaining silent on the healthcare sector. Additional theoretical and empirical approaches should feed future research. Several areas deserve further investigations that might impactfully affect public sector organizations, standard setters, practitioners and scholars.

Originality/value

This paper offers a comprehensive review of the literature on different reporting formats that public sector organizations adopt to report various dimensions of their performance to both internal and external stakeholders. The structured literature review enables the identification of future directions for the literature in this field.
The attitudes of residents on the conservation of built-heritage of a historic temple town – Kanchipuram, India
Authors: Kesavaperumal Thirumaran , Kandasamy Kiruthiga , Ramasubramanian Renganathan
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The degradation of a town’s traditional architectural settings is a prominent issue in the historic towns that possess a rich heritage and legacies of architectural character in its urban fabric that have developed over the course of its evolution. Resident participation in built-heritage conservation can be explained in terms of deliberate acts. Thus, this study aims to analyse the attitudes of residents on the conservation of built heritage (ARCBH) in the historic town of Kanchipuram.

Design/methodology/approach

The historic temple town of Kanchipuram has been surveyed and focused in this study. A questionnaire was designed to investigate the ARCBH in Kanchipuram. Data were collected and analysed with the help of structural equation modelling and AMOS software. A structural equation model was developed, and hypotheses were framed for an empirical study.

Findings

The findings indicate that the ARCBH has an effective relationship with practical issues that occur in traditional architecture, built-heritage attachment and an awareness of existing heritage schemes.

Social implications

The study results indicate that considering resident attitude and attachment is important. In addition, the results provide useful insights for formulating practical measures relevant to built-heritage conservation.

Originality/value

There has been no attempt to come up with practical implications from the attitudes of residents on the conservation of built-heritage in the historic temple towns of Tamil Nadu, India.
Obstetric outcomes in major vs minor placenta praevia: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Chung Philip , Cheer Kenny , Malacova Eva , Okano Satomi , Rudra Thangeswaran
Published: July 2020

Background

Placenta praevia (PP) is a rare obstetric condition associated with significant maternal and perinatal morbidity. Traditionally, the degree of PP has been classified into minor and major; however, there are very few robust studies that compare the maternal outcomes of these types of PP.

Aims

To identify any significant differences in obstetric outcomes between major and minor PP, including antepartum, intraoperative and postpartum complications.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital between 2009 and 2018; all women were diagnosed with PP.

Results

Of the total of 368 women recruited, over half of the participants were diagnosed with major PP (57%), while the remaining had minor PP. Women with major PP, compared to women with minor PP, had an increased risk of antepartum haemorrhage (odds ratio (OR) 2.77, P < 0.001), delivery at an earlier gestational age (36.1 vs 37.4 weeks), general anaesthesia (OR 3.25, P < 0.001), greater proportion of emergency lower segment (51% vs 40%) and classical caesarean (7.7% vs 3.8%), increased number of uterotonics (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.17, P < 0.031), greater blood loss (IRR 1.32, P < 0.001) and higher frequency of blood transfusion (IRR 2.00, P < 0.027), and longer postpartum hospital stay (IRR 1.26, P < 0.001). Hysterectomy was performed for three women with major PP, compared to one with minor PP.

Conclusions

The degree of PP significantly impacts obstetric outcomes, with major PP associated with worse maternal morbidity antenatally, intraoperatively and postpartum. Therefore, to optimise patient care, this study emphasises the importance of identifying and distinguishing between different types of PP.
Origins of SARS‐CoV‐1 and SARS‐CoV‐2 are often poorly explored in leading publications
Authors: Wenzel John
Published: July 2020

In the rush to understand the coronaviruses that threaten human health, authors of many prominent papers have not performed phylogenetic analyses to the standard of the field today. Errors include faulty placement of the root of the phylogeny, outdated methods of reconstruction, poor taxon sampling, inappropriate emphasis on selected functional elements, and inadequate consideration of ambiguity. As a result, certain conclusions regarding the origin of human infections are not supported soundly or are wrong.
Dasycerine rove beetles: Cretaceous diversification, phylogeny and historical biogeography (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Dasycerinae)
Authors: Yin Zi‐Wei , Lü Liang , Yamamoto Shûhei , Thayer Margaret K. , Newton Alfred F. , Cai Chen‐Yang
Published: July 2020

Within the hyperdiverse beetle family Staphylinidae, Dasycerinae is one of the smallest and most cryptic subfamilies, comprising a sole extant genus characterized by a latridiid beetle‐like body form. Little has been known about their early diversification, character evolution, phylogeny and historical biogeography because of limited fossil material and lack of a phylogeny integrating extant and extinct representatives. Here we report an unexpectedly diverse dasycerine fauna from the mid‐Cretaceous of northern Myanmar, including a new genus and four new species. To reconstruct the early evolutionary history of Dasycerinae, we present a phylogenetic framework of the subfamily based on a dataset integrating all extant and extinct taxa using parsimony, maximum‐likelihood and Bayesian methods. †Cedasyrus gen. n., characterized by distinct sexual dimorphism in antennal and elytral lengths, is recovered as the basal‐most lineage, sister to the remaining two extinct genera and all living Dasycerus species. †Vetudasycerus is recovered as sister to †Protodasycerus + Dasycerus. Among all extinct taxa, †Protodasycerus bears distinctly longer elytra, and appears to represent a transitional form from †Vetudasycerus to Dasycerus. Phylogenetic inferences and ancestral distribution reconstruction support an “Out‐of‐Orient” model for Dasycerinae. Either the Bering‐ or North Atlantic Land Bridge may have served as a passageway for dasycerine dispersal between Eurasian and North American continents. An elevation‐reconstruction analysis indicated that the ancestor of the extant Dasycerus probably lived at a high altitude and stayed at this elevation through the end of the Miocene. We propose that the extinction of dasycerine ancestors living on the Tethyan islands at low altitude was likely caused by sea‐level rise and climatic warming during the Late Cretaceous. The high‐altitude areas might have played the role of refugia that harboured subalpine derivatives which eventually gave rise to the extant Dasycerus.
Bioethics and practical justice in the post‐COVID‐19 era
Authors: Ogbogu Ubaka , Hardcastle Lorian
Published: July 2020

The ethical concept of justice, as it relates to the development and deployment of innovative health technologies, commands the fair and equitable distribution of burdens and benefits. In bioethics, specific guidance on practical strategies for achieving what this concept of justice demands are somewhat elusive. Drawing on issues of justice arising or likely to arise in the context of the search for a vaccine or cure for COVID‐19, this paper argues for a focus on the concept of “practical justice” in post‐pandemic bioethics work. To illustrate the value and promise of this concept, the paper reflects on an approach to achieving practical justice in health biotechnology research that is grounded in a commitment to offer technical assistance to developing and under‐resourced nations.