bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Availability and Feasibility of Chemsex Services Within Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics in the Netherlands: A Cross-Sectional Survey Among Sexually Transmitted Disease Nurses
Authors: Evers Ymke J. , Levels Luuk T.J. , Dukers-Muijrers Nicole H.T.M. , Van Liere Geneviève A.F.S. , Hoebe Christian J.P.A.
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Chemsex—using illicit drugs during sex—is prevalent among men who have sex with men (MSM) and associated with sexual and mental health harms. Sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics are a frequently visited and trusted health care facility for MSM. This study assessed the frequency and extent to which chemsex is addressed by Dutch STD nurses.

Methods

Of the 24 Dutch public STD clinics, an online questionnaire was distributed in 20 STD clinics (83%) in 2019; the questionnaire was sent to 191 STD nurses, of whom 108 (57%) completed the questionnaire. The main outcome was addressing chemsex during regular MSM consultations, measured on a 5-point Likert scale (never-always). Items measuring knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, and the social norm were also measured on a 5-point Likert scale (totally disagree–totally agree).

Results

Of the 108 participating STD nurses, 77 (71%) addressed chemsex regularly or always during MSM consultations. In general, STD nurses indicated to have sufficient knowledge about chemsex (mean [SD], 3.6 [0.5]) and a positive attitude toward addressing chemsex (mean [SD], 4.3 [0.5]). A need for training on chemsex was reported by 82 (76%) STD nurses, especially in signaling problematic chemsex (56/82; 68%). Three STD clinics (15%) had a protocol on addressing chemsex, and 3 STD clinics (15%) had referral pathways to addiction care.

Conclusion

Sexually transmitted disease nurses from Dutch STD clinics regularly addressed chemsex during MSM consultations. Our results show relevance of educating STD nurses on signaling problematic chemsex and arranging referral pathways to addiction care to optimize chemsex related health care.
Single-Payer Health Care in the United States: Implications for Plastic Surgery
Authors: Cuccolo Nicholas G. , Crystal Dustin T. , Ibrahim Ahmed M. S. , Lin Samuel J.
Published: June 2020

Health care reform continues to be a topic of debate among lawmakers, politicians, physicians, and citizens of the United States. In recent years, proposed changes to the health care industry have grown in both granularity and popularity, with the possibility of adapting a single-payer health insurance system reaching an all-time high. The implications of such a policy are far-reaching and can be challenging to conceptualize, especially in isolation. The purpose of this article is to review some of the anticipated changes under this new system, specifically as they pertain to the field of plastic surgery.
Intravenous Immunoglobulin for Inflammatory Myositis
Authors: Ohad Maayan , Shemer Asaf , Lavie Inbar , Ozeri David , Shoenfeld Yehuda , Kivity Shaye
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Inflammatory myopathies are treated with glucocorticoids and other immunosuppressive medications. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is increasingly used for refractory or severe cases; however, the evidence for their effectiveness is limited. We assessed effectiveness and safety of IVIG when used with other immunomodulatory agents in the treatment of inflammatory myopathies.

Methods

This study reviewed records of patients diagnosed with dermatomyositis or polymyositis and treated with IVIG, from 2009 through 2016 in 1 tertiary medical center. Mixed-effects general linear regression models were applied to determine effectiveness of treatment on muscle strength, creatinine phosphokinase levels, and steroid dosage.

Results

Twenty-three patients with dermatomyositis/polymyositis treated with IVIG were followed up for a mean of 31 (SD, ±25) months. During this period, a significant improvement in muscle strength was demonstrated, with a mean increase of 0.92 Medical Research Council scale points (β = 0.14; confidence interval [CI], 0.136–0.149; p < 0.0001), a significant reduction of creatinine phosphokinase levels and steroid dosage with a mean decrease of 1140 IU/L (β = −0.274; CI, −0.354 to −0.195; p < 0.0001), and 36 mg/d (β = −0.008; CI, −0.011 to −0.006; p < 0.0001), respectively. Overall, remission was observed in 10 patients (43.5%), and partial remission in 6 patients (26%), whereas 1 patient (17%) remained refractory to treatment, and 6 patients (27%) were lost to follow-up.

Conclusions

The majority of patients with inflammatory myopathies experienced a clinical and laboratory improvement during IVIG treatment. In addition, a steroid-sparing effect was noticed in most patients. These results encourage the use of IVIG as an alternative treatment option for patients with limited responsiveness to conventional methods.
Genomic and genetic sequence information of strains assigned to the genus Rhodopseudomonas reveal the great heterogeneity of the group and identify strain Rhodopseudomonas palustris DSM 123T as the authentic type strain of this species
Authors: Imhoff Johannes F. , Meyer Terrance E. , Kyndt John
Published: June 2020

The genus

Rhodopseudomonas

, containing purple nonsulfur photosynthetic Proteobacteria, has a number of strains that belong to different species, although many of them are collectively called

Rhodopseudomonas palustris

. The type species

R. palustris

and closely related species are the focus of this paper. The comparison of available genome sequences indicate that the following

Rhodopseudomonas

species are well recognized:

R. palustris

(strains ATH 2.1.6T=DSM 123T=NBRC 100419T and BisB5),

Rhodopseudomonas rutila

(strains R1T, DSM 126, CGA009, ATH 2.1.37, Eli 1980, ATCC 17001 and TIE1),

Rhodopseudomonas pentothenatexigens

JA575T and

Rhodopseudomonas faecalis

JCM 11668T. Other strains for which genome sequences are available are distinct from these four species. Evidence is presented that

R. palustris

strain ATH 2.1.6T–KCM as obtained directly from the van Niel collection by one of us (T.E.M.) is identical to the DSMZ deposit DSM 123T of ATH 2.1.6T, but not to the deposit at ATCC 17001. The amino acid sequences of the cytochromes C2 and C556 from

R. palustris

strain ATH 2.1.6T–KCM are in complete agreement with the translated genome sequences of

R. palustris

DSM 123T. In addition, the 16S rRNA gene sequence of

R. palustris

NBRC 100419T completely matches that of strain DSM 123T. In conclusion, the type strain of

R. palustris

ATH 2.1.6T is correctly represented by DSM 123T and NBRC 100419T. However, the deposit at ATCC 17001 has properties that do not conform with properties of authentic

R. palustris

, but rather indicate that this is a strain of

R. rutila

. The previously suggested assignment of the type strain of

R. palustris

DSM 123T to the new species

R. pseudopalustris

was incorrect because strain DSM 123T is the authentic type strain of

R. palustris

.
Muricauda oceani sp. nov., isolated from the East Pacific Ocean
Authors: Dong Bingxia , Zhu Sidong , Chen Ting , Ren Na , Chen Xiunuan , Chen Yong , Xue Zehao , Shen Xudong , Huang Yizhe , Yang Jifang , Chen Jigang
Published: June 2020

A Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated strain 501str8T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from the East Pacific Ocean. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain 501str8Tbelonged to the genusMuricauda, with closely related type strainsMuricauda aquimarinaSW-63T(98.5 %),Muricauda lutimarisSMK-108T(98.3 %) andMuricauda ruestringensisB1T(97.9 %). Up-to-date bacterial core gene set analysis revealed that strain 501str8Trepresented one independent lineage withM. aquimarinaSW-63T. The average nucleotide identity values of strain 501str8TwithM. aquimarinaSW-63TandM. lutimarisSMK-108Twere 80.2 and 81.3 %, respectively.In silicoDNA–DNA hybridization values between strain 501str8TandM. aquimarinaSW-63TandM. lutimarisSMK-108Twere 22.8 and 32.9 %, respectively. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-6, and iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 03-OH and iso-C15 : 1G were the dominant cellular fatty acids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 42.8 mol%. Differential phylogenetic distinctiveness and chemotaxonomic differences, together with the phenotypic properties observed in this study, revealed that strain 501str8Tcould be differentiated from closely related species. Therefore, we propose that strain 501str8Trepresents a novel species of the genusMuricauda, for which the nameMuricauda oceanisp. nov. is suggested. The type strain is 501str8T(=JCM 33902T=MCCC 1K04567T).
Salinimonas iocasae sp. nov., a halophilic bacterium isolated from a polychaete tube in a hydrothermal field
Authors: Zhang Huan , Wang Hao , Cao Lei , Chen Hao , Wang Minxiao , Lian Chao , Zhong Zhaoshan , Li Chaolun
Published: June 2020

A moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain KX18D6T, was isolated from the tube of the polychaete Paralvinella hessleri collected from a hydrothermal field located in the Okinawa Trough. Strain KX18D6T was Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, facultatively anaerobic, motile, oxidase- and catalase-positive, and grew optimally at 30–35 °C, pH 7.0 and in the presence of 3–5 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain KX18D6T grouped with the members of the genus

Salinimonas

, including

Salinimonas chungwhensis

BH030046T (97.7 % sequence similarity),

Salinimonas lutimaris

DPSR-4T (97.2 %) and

Salinimonas sediminis

N102T (96.4 %). Genome sequencing of strain KX18D6T revealed a genome size of 4.16 Mb and a DNA G+C content of 47.3 mol%. Genomic average nucleotide identity (orthoANI) values of strain KX18D6T with

S. chungwhensis

DSM 16280T,

S. lutimaris

KCTC 23464T and

S. sediminis

N102T were 76.2, 73.1 and 73.2 %, respectively, while the in silico DNA–DNA hybridization (GGDC) values for strain KX18D6T with these strains were 25.3, 17.7 and 18.0 %, respectively. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c/C16 : 1 ω6c), C16 : 0 and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c/C18 : 1 ω6c). The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 8, and the predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. On the basis of comparative analysis of phylogenetic, phylogenomic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain KX18D6T (=KCTC 72464T=MCCC 1K03884T) is clearly distinguishable from the type strains of species of the genus

Salinimonas

and is considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Salinimonas

, for which the name Salinimonas iocasae sp. nov. is proposed.
Genomics of Atlantic Forest Mycobacteriaceae strains unravels a mobilome diversity with a novel integrative conjugative element and plasmids harbouring T7SS
Authors: Morgado Sergio Mascarenhas , Paulo Vicente Ana Carolina
Published: June 2020

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are agents of bacterial evolution and adaptation. Genome sequencing provides an unbiased approach that has revealed an abundance of MGEs in prokaryotes, mainly plasmids and integrative conjugative elements. Nevertheless, many mobilomes, particularly those from environmental bacteria, remain underexplored despite their representing a reservoir of genes that can later emerge in the clinic. Here, we explored the mobilome of the

Mycobacteriaceae

family, focusing on strains from Brazilian Atlantic Forest soil. Novel

Mycolicibacterium

and

Mycobacteroides

strains were identified, with the former ones harbouring linear and circular plasmids encoding the specialized type-VII secretion system (T7SS) and mobility-associated genes. In addition, we also identified a T4SS-mediated integrative conjugative element (ICEMyc226) encoding two T7SSs and a number of xenobiotic degrading genes. Our study uncovers the diversity of the

Mycobacteriaceae

mobilome, providing the evidence of an ICE in this bacterial family. Moreover, the presence of T7SS genes in an ICE, as well as plasmids, highlights the role of these mobile genetic elements in the dispersion of T7SS.
A “Deep Dive” into the SARS-Cov-2 Polymerase Assembly: Identifying Novel Allosteric Sites and Analyzing the Hydrogen Bond Networks and Correlated Dynamics
Authors: Barakat Khaled , Ahmed Marawan , Tabana Yasser , Ha Minwoo
Published: June 2020

Replication of the SARS-CoV-2 genome is a fundamental step in the virus life cycle and inhibiting the SARS-CoV2 replicase machinery has been proven recently as a promising approach in combating the virus. Despite this recent success, there are still several aspects related to the structure, function and dynamics of the CoV-2 polymerase that still need to be addressed. This includes understanding the dynamicity of the various polymerase subdomains, analyzing the hydrogen bond networks at the active site and at the template entry in the presence of water, studying the binding modes of the nucleotides at the active site, highlighting positions for acceptable nucleotides’ substitutions that can be tolerated at different positions within the nascent RNA strand, identifying possible allosteric sites within the polymerase structure and studying their correlated dynamics relative to the catalytic site. Here, we combined various cutting-edge modelling tools with the recently resolved SARS-CoV-2 cryo-EM polymerase structures to fill this gap in knowledge. Our findings provide a detailed analysis of the hydrogen bond networks at various parts of the polymerase structure and suggest possible nucleotides’ substitutions that can be tolerated by the polymerase complex. We also report here three “druggable” allosteric sites within the nsp12 RdRp that can be targeted by small molecule inhibitors. Our correlated motion analysis shows that the dynamics within one of the newly identified sites are linked to the active site, indicating that targeting this site can significantly impact the catalytic activity of the SARS-CoV-2 polymerase.
Liver-specific suppression of ANGPTL4 improves obesity-associated diabetes and mitigates atherosclerosis in mice
Authors: Singh Abhishek K. , Chaube Balkrishna , Canfrán-Duque Alberto , Zhang Xinbo , Price Nathan L. , Aryal Binod , Sun Jonathan , Citrin Kathryn M , Rotllan Noemi , Lee Richard G. , Suárez Yajaira , Fernández-Hernando Carlos
Published: June 2020

Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is a major regulator of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity, which is responsible for maintaining optimal levels of circulating triacylglycerol (TAG) for distribution to different tissues including the adipose tissues (ATs), heart, muscle and liver. Dysregulation of trafficking and portioning of fatty acids (FA) can promote ectopic lipid accumulation in metabolic tissues such as the liver, ultimately leading to systemic metabolic dysfunction. To investigate how ANGPTL4 regulates hepatic lipid and glucose metabolism, we generated liver-specific ANGPTL4 knockout mice (LKO). Using metabolic turnover studies, we demonstrate that hepatic ANGPTL4 deficiency facilitates catabolism of TAG-rich lipoprotein (TRL) remnants in the liver via increased hepatic lipase (HL) activity, which results in a significant reduction in circulating TAG and cholesterol levels. Deletion of hepatocyte ANGPTL4 protects against diet-induce obesity, glucose intolerance, liver steatosis, and atherogenesis. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that absence of ANGPTL4 in hepatocytes promotes FA uptake which results in increased FA oxidation, ROS production, and AMPK activation. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of a targeted pharmacologic therapy that specifically inhibits ANGPTL4 in the liver and protects against diet-induced obesity, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, and liver damage without causing any of the deleterious effects previously observed with neutralizing antibodies.
Brief Communication: Magnetic Immuno-Detection of SARS-CoV-2 specific Antibodies
Authors: Pietschmann Jan , Vöpel Nadja , Spiegel Holger , Krause Hans-Joachim , Schröper Florian
Published: June 2020

SARS-CoV-2 causes ongoing infections worldwide, and identifying people with immunity is becoming increasingly important. Available point-of-care diagnostic systems as lateral flow assays have high potential for fast and easy on-site antibody testing but are lacking specificity, sensitivity or possibility for quantitative measurements. Here, a new point-of-care approach for SARS-CoV-2 specific antibody detection in human serum based on magnetic immuno-detection is described and compared to standard ELISA. For magnetic immuno-detection, immunofiltration columns were coated with a SARS-CoV-2 spike protein peptide. SARS-CoV-2 peptide reactive antibodies, spiked at different concentrations into PBS and human serum, were rinsed through immunofiltration columns. Specific antibodies were retained within the IFC and labelled with an isotype specific biotinylated antibody. Streptavidin-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles were applied to label the secondary antibodies. Enriched magnetic nanoparticles were then detected by means of frequency magnetic mixing detection technology, using a portable magnetic read-out device. Measuring signals corresponded to the amount of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies in the sample. Our preliminary magnetic immuno-detection setup resulted in a higher sensitivity and broader detection range and was four times faster than ELISA. Further optimizations could reduce assay times to that of a typical lateral flow assay, enabling a fast and easy approach, well suited for point-of-care measurements without expensive lab equipment.
Salt Added to Food and Body Mass Index: A Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Zhou Long , Wen Xiaoxiao , Zhao Liancheng , Yu Yan
Published: June 2020

Background and objective

Observational studies suggest that dietary sodium (salt) intake may be associated with body mass index (BMI). However, these findings may be biased by confounding and reverse causality. The present study aimed to apply a bidirectional Mendelian Randomization (MR) framework to determine the causal association between salt added to food (do not include salt used in cooking) and BMI by integrating summary-level genome-wide association study (GWAS) data.

Methods

We performed two-sample MR analyses using summary statistics of GWAS. Inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was used to analyze the effect of the preference of salt added to food on BMI. We used maximum likelihood estimation and random effect model as auxiliary verification. A bidirectional MR analysis with BMI as the exposure and salt added to food as the outcome was also performed.

Results

We identified 74 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were genome-wide significant (P < 5×10-8) for the preference of salt added to food in the UK Biobank (n = 462,630) and were investigated for their association with BMI in a meta-analysis of 322,154 European-descent individuals from GWAS and Metabochip studies. The IVW method estimate indicated that the preference of salt added to food was positively associated with BMI (β = 0.1416, SE = 0.0576, P = 0.0139). Results from maximum likelihood estimation (β = 0.1476, SE = 0.0363, P < 0.0001) and the random effect model (β = 0.1411, SE = 0.0572, P = 0.0137) were consistent with the IVW. Bidirectional MR analyses suggested that BMI was not associated with the preference of salt added to food.

Conclusion

Our results provided qualitative evidence supporting a causal relationship between salt intake and BMI.
Implementation of An Online COVID-19 Epidemic Calculator for Tracking the Spread of the Coronavirus in Singapore and Other Countries
Authors: Yap Fook Fah , Yong Minglee
Published: June 2020

This paper describes the methods underlying the development of an online COVID-19 Epidemic Calculator for tracking COVID-19 growth parameters. From publicly available infection case data, the calculator is used to estimate the effective reproduction number, doubling time, final epidemic size, and death toll. As a case study, we analyzed the results for Singapore during the “Circuit breaker” period from April 7, 2020 to the end of May 2020. The calculator shows that the stringent measures imposed have an immediate effect of rapidly slowing down the spread of the coronavirus. After about two weeks, the effective reproduction number reduced to 1.0. Since then, the number has been fluctuating around 1.0.

The COVID-19 Epidemic Calculator is available in the form of an online Google Sheet and the results are presented as Tableau Public dashboards at www.cv19.one. By making the calculator readily accessible online, the public can have a tool to meaningfully assess the effectiveness of measures to control the pandemic.
Globally Coherent Weekly Periodicity in the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Unnikrishnan C. S.
Published: June 2020

After the major exponential phase, the Covid-19 pandemic is on a milder rate of increase globally, and past the peak in many countries. In this phase a marked systematic weekly periodicity in the Covid-19 attack has become clear, the study of which could be useful for the long term strategy to deal with the virus and the pandemic. The most important aspect of this strong weekly modulation is its global nature, phase-coherent over most of globe, independent of the geographical location. The fact that the same periodicity is now evident even those countries Asia and Africa, where it was absent or not prominent earlier, suggests the possibility that the pattern could be an early indicator for significant community transmission. The global coherent periodicity with a time scale that agrees with the time scales of virus incubation and infection may be important in tracking the long term interaction of the virus with the host.
Immunotherapy with immunocytokines and PD-1 blockade enhances the anticancer activity of small molecule-drug conjugates targeting carbonic anhydrase IX
Authors: Millul Jacopo , Krudewig Christiane , Zana Aureliano , Plaza Sheila Dakhel , Puca Emanuele , Villa Alessandra , Neri Dario , Cazzamalli Samuele
Published: June 2020

Small molecule-drug conjugates (SMDCs) represent an alternative to conventional antitumor chemotherapeutic agents, with the potential to improve the therapeutic window of cytotoxic payloads through active delivery at the site of the disease. In this article we describe novel combination therapies consisting of anti-Carbonic Anhydrase IX SMDCs combined with different immunomodulatory products. The therapeutic effect of the SMDCs was potentiated by combination with PD-1 blockade and with tumor-homing antibody-cytokine fusions in mouse models of renal cell carcinoma and colorectal cancer. The combination with L19-IL12, a fusion protein specific to the alternatively-spliced EDB domain of fibronectin containing the murine interleukin-12 moiety, was active also against large established tumors. Analysis of the microscopic structures of healthy organs performed three months after tumor eradication confirmed absence of pathological abnormalities in the healthy kidney, liver, lung, stomach and intestine. Our findings may be of clinical significance as they provide motivation for the development of combinations based on small molecule-drug conjugates and immunotherapy for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma and of hypoxic tumors.
Polygenic Scores for Cognitive Abilities and their Association with Different Aspects of General Intelligence – a Deep Phenotyping Approach
Authors: Genç Erhan , Schlüter Caroline , Fraenz Christoph , Arning Larissa , Metzen Dorothea , Nguyen Huu Phuc , Voelkle Manuel C. , Streit Fabian , Güntürkün Onur , Kumsta Robert , Ocklenburg Sebastian
Published: June 2020

Intelligence is a highly polygenic trait and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified thousands of DNA variants contributing with small effects. Polygenic scores (PGS) can aggregate those effects for trait prediction in independent samples. As large-scale light-phenotyping GWAS operationalized intelligence as performance in rather superficial tests, the question arises which intelligence facets are actually captured. We used deep-phenotyping to investigate the molecular determinants of individual differences in cognitive ability. We therefore studied the association between PGS of intelligence (IQ-PGS), cognitive performance (CP-PGS) and educational attainment (EA-PGS) with a wide range of intelligence facets in a sample of 557 healthy adults. IQ-PGS, CP-PGS and EA-PGS had the highest incremental R2s for general (2.71%; 4.27%; 2.06%), verbal (3.30%; 4.64%; 1.61%) and numerical intelligence (3.06%; 3.24%; 1.26%) and the weakest for non-verbal intelligence (0.89%; 1.47%; 0.70%) and memory (0.80%; 1.06%; 0.67%). These results indicate that PGS derived from light-phenotyping GWAS do not reflect different facets of intelligence equally well, and thus should not be interpreted as genetic indicators of intelligence per se. The findings refine our understanding of how PGS are related to other traits or life outcomes.
Ultra-structural analysis and morphological changes during the differentiation of trophozoite to cyst inEntamoeba invadens
Authors: Singh Nishant , Naiyer Sarah , Bhattacharya Sudha
Published: June 2020

Entamoeba Histolytica, a pathogenic parasite, is the causative organism of amoebiasis and uses human colon to complete its life cycle. It destroys intestinal tissue leading to invasive disease. Since it does not form cyst in culture medium, a reptilian parasiteEntamoeba invadensserves as the model system to study encystation. Detailed investigation on the mechanism of cyst formation, information on ultra-structural changes and cyst wall formation during encystation are still lacking inE. invadens. Here, we used electron microscopy to study the ultrastructural changes during cyst formation and showed that the increase in heterochromatin patches and deformation of nuclear shape were early events in encystation. These changes peaked at ~20h post induction, and normal nuclear morphology was restored by 72h. Two types of cellular structures were visible by 16h. One was densely stained and consisted of the cytoplasmic mass with clearly visible nucleus. The other consisted of membranous shells with large vacuoles and scant cytoplasm. The former structure developed into the mature cyst while the latter structure was lost after 20h, This study of ultra-structural changes during encystation inE. invadensopens up the possibilities for further investigation into the mechanisms involved in this novel process.
Ubiquilin proteins regulate EGFR levels and activity in lung adenocarcinoma cells
Authors: Kurlawala Zimple , Saurabh Kumar , Dunaway Rain , Shah Parag P. , Siskind Leah J. , Beverly Levi J.
Published: June 2020

Ubiquilin proteins (UBQLNs) are involved in diverse cellular processes like ERAD (endoplasmic reticulum associated degradation), autophagy, apoptosis and epithelial to mesenchymal transition. UBQLNs interact with a variety of substrates, including cell surface receptors, transcription factor regulators, proteasomal machinery proteins, and transmembrane proteins. Additionally, previous work from our lab shows that UBQLN1 interacts with IGFR family members (IGF1R, IGF2R, INSR) and this interaction regulates the activity and proteostasis of IGFR family members. Here, we examined regulation of UBQLN1 with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) in lung adenocarcinoma cells. Loss of UBQLN1 occurs at high frequency in human lung cancer patient samples and we have shown that loss of UBQLN1 is capable altering processes involved in cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial to mesenchymal transition in lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. Here, we present data that loss of UBQLN1 resulted in increased turnover of total EGFR, whilst increasing the relative amount of active EGFR in lung adenocarcinoma cells, especially in the presence of its ligand EGF. Furthermore, loss of UBQLN1 led to a more invasive cell phenotype as manifested by increased proliferation, migration and speed of movement of these lung adenocarcinoma cells. Taken together, UBQLN1 regulates expression and stability of IGFRs and EGFR, members of the receptor tyrosine kinase family of proteins in lung cancer cells.
Auditors’ response to readability of financial statement notes
Authors: Salehi Mahdi , Lari Dasht Bayaz Mahmoud , Mohammadi Shaban , Adibian Mohammad Seddigh , Fahimifard Seyed Hamed
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The main objective of the present study is to assess the potential impact of readability of financial statement notes on the auditor's report lag, audit fees and going concern opinion (GCO).

Design/methodology/approach

The statistical population of this study includes all listed firms on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) for the period of 2012–2017. The systematic elimination method is used for sampling and multiple regression and EViews software are used for testing the hypothesis models.

Findings

The obtained results show that there is a significant and positive relationship between audit report lags and readability of financial statements. Moreover, it is also revealed that readability of financial statements is positively associated with audit fees. Furthermore, the findings suggest a negative correlation between readability indexes and issuing GCOs, denoting hard-to-read statements is considered as a risk factor by auditors. Finally, the observations of our robustness tests suggest that the association between audit report lag and readability of financial statements is robust.

Originality/value

This is the first conducted investigation concerning auditor's response to the readability of financial statement notes in TSE. The outcome of current paper may pave the way for revising and developing Iranian accounting standards in order to give a fairer and clearer picture of financial reports.
Student perspectives on employability development in higher education in South Africa
Authors: Pitan Oluyomi Susan , Muller Colette
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study responds to identified challenges of poor work-readiness of many graduates and the inadequate relation between education and work. Through students' perspectives, the study examines the extent to which selected South African universities are supporting their students in developing employability skills and the influence of such employability support on students' enhanced employability.

Design/methodology/approach

Through purposive sampling, information was obtained from a sample of 402 final year students at two universities in South Africa. After an exploratory factor analysis, 34 of the 35 items on the questionnaire successfully loaded for further analysis under seven components.

Findings

South African universities that were analysed are adequately engaging their students with two of the six employability development opportunities (EDOs), while students' engagement with the other four is only to a fair extent. EDOs are found to jointly influence students' employability. The curriculum has the highest influence, followed by personal development planning, career development learning and work experience. Real-world activities and extracurricular activities were not found to influence students' self-perceived employability.

Originality/value

Beyond identifying skills that graduates are expected to possess, which dominate the discussion and debate on graduate employability, this study elucidates the role of universities in providing support structures – EDOs – that enable students to establish an appropriate connection between theory and practice. It provides insight into the employability potential of South African universities and increases the universities' awareness of what they can do to ensure the production of work-ready graduates.
Educating researchers in the metadiscipline of foresight
Authors: Kahan James P.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The science of Foresight differs from the commonplace notion of what a science is because it is a metadiscipline – a logical type of science higher than the logical type of disciplinary sciences. It is practical, uses transdisciplinary processes that combine scientific disciplines and often examines counterfactuals in a scientific manner. This study aims to demonstrate that Foresight is a science, by presenting a number of best practices and potential innovations in higher education that could facilitate obtaining skills for Foresight science.

Design/methodology/approach

The methods of scientific education that have served us well in the past are inadequate for metadisciplinary sciences such as Foresight. The paper discusses what metadisciplinarity is, using a variety of examples, and distinguishes it from disciplines and ways of crossing disciplinary boundaries. Understanding the essential characteristics of Foresight as a metadisciplinary science leads to identifying current best practices and possible educational innovations in undergraduate education that will facilitate obtaining Foresight skills. Throughout the paper, examples are drawn from the education and professional experience of the author in the USA and Europe.

Findings

This paper demonstrates that Foresight is a science and presents a number of best practices and potential innovations in higher education that could facilitate obtaining skills for Foresight science. It identifies barriers to those innovations and approaches to overcome them.

Originality/value

This viewpoint paper clarifies the meaning of the terms interdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity and metadisciplinarity to identify the essential characteristics of Foresight as a science. Then, it identifies and advocates needed changes in North American higher education to provide earlier and more efficient opportunities for Foresight researchers and users to obtain the skills they need.
It is not my job: exploring the disconnect between corporate security policies and actual security practices in SMEs
Authors: Sadok Moufida , Alter Steven , Bednar Peter
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to present empirical results exemplifying challenges related to information security faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It uses guidelines based on work system theory (WST) to frame the results, thereby illustrating why the mere existence of corporate security policies or general security training often is insufficient for establishing and maintaining information security.

Design/methodology/approach

This research was designed to produce a better appreciation and understanding of potential issues or gaps in security practices in SMEs. The research team interviewed 187 employees of 39 SMEs in the UK. All of those employees had access to sensitive information. Gathering information through interviews (instead of formal security documentation) made it possible to assess security practices from employees’ point of view.

Findings

Corporate policies that highlight information security are often disconnected from actual work practices and routines and often do not receive high priority in everyday work practices. A vast majority of the interviewed employees are not involved in risk assessment or in the development of security practices. Security practices remain an illusory activity in their real-world contexts.

Research limitations/implications

This paper focuses only on closed-ended questions related to the following topics: awareness of existing security policy; information security practices and management and information security involvement.

Practical implications

The empirical findings show that corporate information security policies in SMEs often are insufficient for maintaining security unless those policies are integrated with visible and recognized work practices in work systems that use or produce sensitive information. The interpretation based on WST provides guidelines for enhancing information system security.

Originality/value

Beyond merely reporting empirical results, this research uses WST to interpret the results in a way that has direct implications for practitioners and for researchers.
Asian solo male travelling mobilities – an autoethnography
Authors: Tham Aaron
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aims to unpack the notion of travelling mobilities from the perspectives of an Asian solo traveller using the context of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Design/methodology/approach

An autoethnography was used for this research, analysing reflective notes drafted on hand-written journals over the duration of six days over three host cities of the sporting event.

Findings

Asian solo men appear to be treated very differently from their Western counterparts and solo female tourists. In addition, engaging with a sport that is highly Western-centric exposes the liminal spaces of in-between. Being of Asian appearance and conversant in Japanese further blurred the travelling mobilities of being an unlikely sports fan, an impromptu translator, a presumed local resident and an unconventional wanderer.

Originality/value

These limitations notwithstanding, the research has contributed to the paucity of knowledge surrounding Asian solo male tourists and some aspects of their corresponding travelling mobilities. Such nuanced understanding then inform tourism and hospitality knowledge and practice of offering relevant experiences to such a market.
Factors impacting post-earthquake damage repair cost estimations
Authors: Kahandawa Ravindu , Domingo Niluka , Chawynski Gregory , Uma S.R.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Reconstruction processes after an earthquake require estimating repair costs to decide on whether to repair or rebuild. This requires an accurate post-earthquake cost estimation tool. Currently, there are no post-earthquake loss estimation models to estimate repair costs accurately. There are loss assessment tools available, namely, HAZUS, performance assessment calculation tool (PACT), seismic performance and loss assessment tool (SLAT) and seismic performance prediction tool, which have not been specifically used for post-earthquake repair cost estimation. This paper aims to focus on identifying factors that need to be considered when upgrading these tools for post-earthquake repair cost estimation.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was conducted as an exploratory study using a literature review, document analysis of the PACT, SLAT and HAZUS software and 18 semi-structured interviews.

Findings

The research identified information sources available for estimation and factors to be considered when developing estimations based on the information sources.

Research limitations/implications

The data was collected from professionals who were involved mostly in housing repair work in New Zealand. Therefore, impact of these repair work factors might vary in other forms of structures such as civil structures include bridges and the country as a result of varying construction details and standards.

Practical implications

The identified factors will be used to improve the loss estimation tools are such as PACT and HAZUS, as well as to develop a post-earthquake repair cost estimation tool.

Originality/value

Currently, the identified factors impacting post-earthquake damage repair cost estimations are not considered in loss estimation tools. Factors identified in this research will help to develop a more accurate cost estimation tool for post-earthquake repair work.
Smart scheduling on cloud for IoT-based sprinkler irrigation
Authors: Mannan J. Mannar , S. Kanimozhi Suguna , M. Dhivya , T. Parameswaran
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper aims to reduce the manpower, electricity, and water consumption for irrigation.

Design/methodology/approach

The IoT-based smart irrigation system designed with various sensors to collect farm field data, and stored all the data in the cloud for scheduling the irrigation.

Findings

This system reduces the water and electricity consumption, and labor cost.

Research limitations/implications

Difficult to implement on a small farm field with different crops.

Practical implications

Crop type, soil type and environment data should be considered for better saving of water.

Social implications

Reduces the water consumption, electricity, man power and increase production.

Originality/value

The soil type, crop type and environment data have been added before irrigation. The climate data also included before scheduling. Dynamic changing of irrigation timings based on the climate and sensor data.
How is responsible leadership related to the three-component model of organisational commitment?
Authors: Haque Amlan , Fernando Mario , Caputi Peter
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The increasing number of corporate scandals and averseness to employee commitment have brought the concept of responsible leadership (RL) to the forefront of organisational studies. Many studies have found that leadership practice is an antecedent of employees' organisational commitment. However, little attention has been devoted to exploring the newly evolved RL for its impact on employee commitment. This study examines the influence of RL on the three-component model of organisational commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying the Social Identity Theory of Leadership (SITL), this study investigates the relationships between RL and the three-component model of organisational commitment. In particular, this study is framed to apply RL as a value-based leadership approach to examine its relationship on employees’ three types of organisational commitment such as affective, continuance and normative commitment. A web-based self-administered survey was applied to collect data targeting a sample of 200 full-time Australian employees.

Findings

The study results show that RL significantly effects all three components of organisational commitment. Both affective and normative commitments were significantly associated by RL compared to employees' continuance commitment.

Originality/value

The paper extends the knowledge regarding newly evolved concept of RL which explains the significance of employee commitment and, further it provides empirical evidence from the perspective of SITL. The main contribution in this paper comes from new knowledge about the associations among RL and the three-component model of organisational commitment.
Assessing the efficiency of financial supply chain for Chinese commercial banks: a two-stage AR-DEA model
Authors: Xu Guangcheng , Zhou Zhixiang
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate Chinese commercial banks efficiency based on different non-performing loans in the process. Moreover, we identified the difference among different types of banks (state-owned commercial banks, joint-stock commercial banks and city commercial banks) and different operation stages (deposit producing sub-stage, profit earning sub-stage and overall stage).

Design/methodology/approach

Assurance region (AR) restrictions are combined with a two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) model. The efficiency scores of 26 Chinese commercial banks (listed banks) are analyzed by a two-stage AR-DEA model in the study period of 2013–2017.

Findings

The results show that state-owned commercial banks had better performance than joint-stock commercial banks and city commercial banks over the five-year study period. The development of Internet finance has positive impact on deposit producing sub-stage and insignificant non-homogeneity existed among the different groups in the circumstances of considering different non-performing loans.

Practical implications

The research findings provide practical insights that help bank managers find the defects in operation process, which need to be improved.

Originality/value

Previous studies viewed non-performing loans as an integrated whole variable. The paper divides non-performing loans into three categories based on the risk and investigates the effect of different types of loans on bank efficiency scores.
2D lidar to kinematic chain calibration using planar features of indoor scenes
Authors: Lourenço Bernardo , Madeira Tiago , Dias Paulo , Santos Vitor M. Ferreira , Oliveira Miguel
Published: June 2020

Purpose

2D laser rangefinders (LRFs) are commonly used sensors in the field of robotics, as they provide accurate range measurements with high angular resolution. These sensors can be coupled with mechanical units which, by granting an additional degree of freedom to the movement of the LRF, enable the 3D perception of a scene. To be successful, this reconstruction procedure requires to evaluate with high accuracy the extrinsic transformation between the LRF and the motorized system.

Design/methodology/approach

In this work, a calibration procedure is proposed to evaluate this transformation. The method does not require a predefined marker (commonly used despite its numerous disadvantages), as it uses planar features in the point acquired clouds.

Findings

Qualitative inspections show that the proposed method reduces artifacts significantly, which typically appear in point clouds because of inaccurate calibrations. Furthermore, quantitative results and comparisons with a high-resolution 3D scanner demonstrate that the calibrated point cloud represents the geometries present in the scene with much higher accuracy than with the un-calibrated point cloud.

Practical implications

The last key point of this work is the comparison of two laser scanners: the lemonbot (authors’) and a commercial FARO scanner. Despite being almost ten times cheaper, the laser scanner was able to achieve similar results in terms of geometric accuracy.

Originality/value

This work describes a novel calibration technique that is easy to implement and is able to achieve accurate results. One of its key features is the use of planes to calibrate the extrinsic transformation.
Trends of learning analytics in STE(A)M education: a review of case studies
Authors: Li Kam-Cheong , Wong Billy Tak-Ming
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to present a review of case studies on the use of learning analytics in Science, Technology, Engineering, (Arts), and Mathematics (or STE[A]M) education. It covers the features and trends of learning analytics practices as revealed in case studies.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 34 case studies published from 2013 to 2018 reporting relevant learning analytics practices were collected from Scopus and Google Scholar for analysis. The features and trends of practices were identified through a comparison of the first (2013–2015) and the second period (2016–2018).

Findings

The results showed an increasing adoption of learning analytics in STE(A)M education, particularly in the USA and European countries and at the tertiary level. More specific types of data have been collected for the learning analytics practices, and the data related to students’ learning processes has also been more frequently used. The types of STE(A)M learning practices have become more diversified, with technology enhancement features increasingly introduced. The outcomes of the case studies reflect the overall benefits of learning analytics and address the specific needs of STE(A)M education. There have also been fewer types of limitations encountered in the learning analytics practices over the years, with unknown correlation among variables, small sample size and limited data being the major types.

Originality/value

This study reveals the implementation of learning analytics in relation to the contexts and needs of STE(A)M education. The findings also suggest future work for examining the adoption of learning analytics to cope with the development of STE(A)M and, in particular, how the successful experience of learning analytics in other disciplines could be transferred to STE(A)M.