bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bacterial protein interaction networks: connectivity is ruled by gene conservation, essentiality and function
Authors: Dilucca Maddalena , Cimini Giulio , Giansanti Andrea
Published: April 2020

Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks are the backbone of all processes in living cells. In this work we relate conservation, essentiality and functional repertoire of a gene to the connectivitykof the corresponding protein in the PPI networks. Focusing on a set of 42 bacterial species with reasonably separated evolutionary trajectories, we investigate three issues: i) whether the distribution of connectivity values changes between PPI subnetworks of essential and nonessential genes; ii) how gene conservation, measured both by the evolutionary retention index (ERI) and by evolutionary pressures (evaluated through the ratioKa/Ksand ENC plots) is related to the the connectivity of the corresponding protein; iii) how PPI connectivities are modulated by evolutionary and functional relationships, as represented by the Clusters of Orthologous Proteins (COGs). We show that conservation, essentiality and functional specialization of genes control in a quite universal way the topology of the emerging bacterial PPI networks. Noteworthy, a structural transition in the network is observed such that, for connectivitiesk≥ 40, bacterial PPI networks are mostly populated by genes that are conserved, essential and which, in most cases, belong to the COG cluster J, related to ribosomal functions and to the processing of genetic information.
Age-related differences in negative cognitive empathy but similarities in positive affective empathy
Authors: Ziaei Maryam , Oestreich Lena , Reutens David C. , Ebner Natalie C.
Published: April 2020

Empathy, among other social-cognitive processes, changes across adulthood. More specifically, cognitive components of empathy (understanding another’s perspective) appear to decline with age, while findings for affective empathy (sharing another’s emotional state) are rather mixed. Structural and functional correlates underlying cognitive and affective empathy in aging and the extent to which valence affects empathic response in brain and behavior are not well understood yet. To fill these research gaps, younger and older adults completed a modified version of the Multifaceted Empathy Test, which measures both cognitive and affective empathy as well as empathic responding to both positive and negative stimuli (i.e., positive vs. negative empathy). Adopting a multimodal imaging approach and applying multivariate analysis, the study found that for cognitive empathy to negative emotions, regions of the salience network including the anterior insula and anterior cingulate were more involved in older than younger adults. For affective empathy to positive emotions, in contrast, younger and older adults recruited a similar brain network including main nodes of the default mode network. Additionally, increased structural integrity (fractional anisotropy values) of the posterior, but not the anterior, cingulum bundle was related to activation of default mode regions during affective empathy for positive emotions in both age groups. These findings provide novel insights into the functional networks subserving cognitive and affective empathy in younger and older adults and highlight the importance of considering valence in empathic response in aging research. Further this study, for the first time, underscores the role of the posterior cingulum bundle in higher-order social-cognitive processes such as empathy, specifically for positive emotions, in aging.
Urinalysis, but not blood biochemistry, detects the early renal-impairment in patients with COVID-19
Authors: Zhou Haifeng , Zhang Zili , Fan Heng , Li Junyi , Li Mingyue , Dong Yalan , Guo Weina , Lin Lan , Kang Zhenyu , Yu Ting , Tian Chunxia , Gui Yang , Qin Renjie , Wang Haijun , Luo Shanshan , Hu Desheng
Published: April 2020

Background

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) caused infectious disease, termed COVID-19, outbroke in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 patients manifested as lung injury with complications in other organs, such as liver, heart, gastrointestinal tract, especially for severe cases. However, whether COVID-19 causes significant acute kidney injury (AKI) remained controversial.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics, urine and blood routine tests and other laboratory parameters of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Wuhan Union Hospital.

Findings

178 patients, admitted to Wuhan Union hospital from February 02 to February 29, 2020, were included in this study. No patient (0 [0%]) presented increased serum creatinine (Scr), and 5 (2.8%) patients showed increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN), indicating few cases with “kidney dysfunction”. However,for patients (83) with no history of kidney disease who received routine urine test upon hospitalization, 45 (54.2%) patients displayed abnormality in urinalysis, such as proteinuria, hematuria and leukocyturia, while none of the patients was recorded to have acute kidney injury (AKI) throughout the study. Meanwhile, the patients with abnormal urinalysis usually had worse disease progression reflecting by laboratory parameters presentations, including markers of liver injury, inflammation, and coagulation.

Conclusion

Many patients manifested by abnormal urinalysis on admission, including proteinuria or hematuria. Our results revealed that urinalysis is better in unveiling potential kidney impairment of COVID-19 patients than blood chemistry test and urinalysis could be used to reflect and predict the disease severity. We therefore recommend pay more attention in urinalysis and kidney impairment in COVID-19 patients.
Core warming of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients undergoing mechanical ventilation – a protocol for a randomized controlled pilot study
Authors: Bonfanti Nathaniel , Gundert Emily , Goff Kristina , Drewry Anne M. , Bedimo Roger , Kulstad Erik
Published: April 2020

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, is spreading rapidly across the globe, with no proven effective therapy. Fever is seen in most cases of COVID-19, at least at the initial stages of illness. Although fever is typically treated (with antipyretics or directly with ice or other mechanical means), increasing data suggest that fever is a protective adaptive response that facilitates recovery from infectious illness.

Objective

To describe a randomized controlled pilot study of core warming patients with COVID-19 undergoing mechanical ventilation.

Methods

This prospective single-site randomized controlled pilot study will enroll 20 patients undergoing mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure due to COVID-19. Patients will be randomized 1:1 to standard-of-care or to receive core warming via an esophageal heat exchanger commonly utilized in critical care and surgical patients. The primary outcome is the severity of acute respiratory distress syndrome (as measured by PaO2/FiO2 ratio) at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours after initiation of treatment. Secondary outcomes include hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, viral load, and 30-day mortality.

Results

Resulting data will provide effect size estimates to guide a definitive multi-center randomized clinical trial. ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT04426344.

Conclusions

With growing data to support clinical benefits of elevated temperature in infectious illness, this study will provide data to guide further understanding of the role of active temperature management in COVID-19 treatment and provide effect size estimates to power larger studies.
Quantifying the effect of quarantine control in Covid-19 infectious spread using machine learning
Authors: Dandekar Raj , Barbastathis George
Published: April 2020

Since the first recording of what we now call Covid-19 infection in Wuhan, Hubei province, China on Dec 31, 2019 (CHP 2020), the disease has spread worldwide and met with a wide variety of social distancing and quarantine policies. The effectiveness of these responses is notoriously difficult to quantify as individuals travel, violate policies deliberately or inadvertently, and infect others without themselves being detected (Liet al. 2020a; Wu & Leung 2020; Wanget al. 2020; Chinazziet al. 2020; Fergusonet al. 2020; Kraemeret al. 2020). Moreover, the publicly available data on infection rates are themselves unreliable due to limited testing and even possibly under-reporting (Liet al. 2020b). In this paper, we attempt to interpret and extrapolate from publicly available data using a mixed first-principles epidemiological equations and data-driven neural network model. Leveraging our neural network augmented model, we focus our analysis on four locales: Wuhan, Italy, South Korea and the United States of America, and compare the role played by the quarantine and isolation measures in each of these countries in controlling the effective reproduction numberRtof the virus. Our results unequivocally indicate that the countries in which rapid government interventions and strict public health measures for quarantine and isolation were implemented were successful in halting the spread of infection and prevent it from exploding exponentially. In the case of Wuhan especially, where the available data were earliest available, we have been able to test the predicting ability of our model by training it from data in the January 24thtill March 3rdwindow, and then matching the predictions up to April 1st. Even for Italy and South Korea, we have a buffer window of one week (25 March - 1 April) to validate the predictions of our model. In the case of the US, our model captures well the current infected curve growth and predicts a halting of infection spread by 20 April 2020. We further demonstrate that relaxing or reversing quarantine measures right now will lead to an exponential explosion in the infected case count, thus nullifying the role played by all measures implemented in the US since mid March 2020.
Genetic diversity ofAnopheles coustaniin high malaria transmission foci in southern and central Africa
Authors: Ciubotariu Ilinca I. , Jones Christine M. , Kobayashi Tamaki , Bobanga Thierry , Muleba Mbanga , Pringle Julia C. , Stevenson Jennifer C. , Carpi Giovanna , Norris Douglas E. ,   for the Southern and Central Africa International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research
Published: April 2020

Despite ongoing malaria control efforts implemented throughout sub-Saharan Africa, malaria remains an enormous public health concern. Current interventions such as indoor residual spraying with insecticides and use of insecticide-treated bed nets are aimed at targeting the key malaria vectors that are primarily endophagic and endophilic. While these control measures have resulted in a substantial decline in malaria cases and continue to impact indoor transmission, the importance of alternative vectors for malaria transmission has been largely neglected.Anopheles coustani,an understudied vector of malaria, is a species previously thought to exhibit mostly zoophilic behavior. However, recent studies from across Africa bring to light the contribution of this and ecologically similar anopheline species to human malaria transmission. Like many of these understudied species,An. coustanihas greater anthropophilic tendencies than previously appreciated, is often both endophagic and exophagic, and carriesPlasmodium falciparumsporozoites. These recent developments highlight the need for more studies throughout the geographic range of this species and the potential need to control this vector. The aim of this study was to explore the genetic variation ofAn. coustanimosquitoes and the potential of thisAnophelesspecies to contribute to malaria parasite transmission in high transmission settings in Nchelenge District, Zambia, and the Kashobwe and Kilwa Health Zones in Haut-Katanga Province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Morphologically identifiedAn. coustanispecimens that were trapped outdoors in these study sites were analyzed by PCR and sequencing for species identification and blood meal sources, and malaria parasite infection was determined by ELISA and qPCR. Fifty specimens were confirmed to beAn. coustaniby the analysis of mitochondrial DNA cytochromecoxidase subunit I (COI) and ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS2). Further, maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis of COI and ITS2 sequences revealed two distinct phylogenetic groups within this relatively small regional collection. Our findings indicate that bothAn. coustanigroups have anthropophilic and exophagic habits and come into frequent contact withP. falciparum,suggesting that this potential alternative malaria vector might elude current vector controls in Northern Zambia and Southern DRC. This study sets the groundwork for more thorough investigations of bionomic characteristics and genetic diversity ofAn. coustaniand its contribution to malaria transmission in these regions.
Computational analysis suggests putative intermediate animal hosts of the SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Chu Peng , Zhou Zheng , Gao Zhichen , Cai Ruiqi , Wu Sijin , Sun Zhaolin , Chen Shuyuan , Yang Yongliang
Published: April 2020

Disclaimer Statement

The authors have withdrawn their manuscript whilst they wish to perform additional experiments to validate their conclusions further. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as reference for the project. If you have any questions, please contact the corresponding author for more details.
The Mechanism of MICU-Dependent Gating of the Mitochondrial Ca2+Uniporter
Authors: Garg Vivek , Paranjpe Ishan , Unsulangi Tiffany , Suzuki Junji , Milescu Lorin S. , Kirichok Yuriy
Published: April 2020

Mitochondrial Ca2+uniporter (MCU) mediates mitochondrial Ca2+uptake, regulating ATP production and cell death. According to the existing paradigm, MCU is occluded at the resting cytosolic [Ca2+] and only opens above an ∼400 nM threshold. This Ca2+-dependent gating is putatively conferred by MICUs, EF hand-containing auxiliary subunits that block/unblock the MCU pore depending on cytosolic [Ca2+]. Here we provide the first direct, patch-clamp based analysis of the Ca2+-dependent MCU gating and the role played by MICUs. Surprisingly, MICUs do not occlude the MCU pore, and MCU is a constitutively active channel without cytosolic [Ca2+] activation threshold. Instead, MICUs potentiate MCU activity when cytosolic Ca2+binds to their EF hands. MICUs cause this potentiation by increasing the probability of open state of the MCU channel.

One Sentence Summary

Auxiliary MICU subunits do not occlude the mitochondrial Ca2+uniporter (MCU) but increase its activity as cytosolic Ca2+is elevated.
Exploration of target spaces in the human genome for protein and peptide drugs
Authors: Liu Zhongyang , Li Honglei , Jin Zhaoyu , Li Yang , Guo Feifei , He Yangzhige , Liu Xinyue , Li Dong , He Fuchu
Published: April 2020

Motivation

Protein and peptide drugs, after decades of development have grown into a major drug class of the marketplace. Target identification and validation is crucial for their discovery, and bioinformatics estimation of candidate targets based on characteristics of successful target proteins will help improve efficiency and success rate of target selection. However, owing to the development history of the pharmaceutical industry, previous systematic exploration of target space mainly focused on traditional small-molecule drugs, whereas that for protein and peptide drugs is blank. Here we systematically explored target spaces in the human genome specially for protein and peptide drugs.

Results

We found that compared with other proteins, targets of both successful protein and peptide drugs have their own characteristics in many aspects and are also significantly different from those of traditional small-molecule drugs. Further based on these features, we developed effective genome-wide target estimation models respectively for protein and peptide drugs.
Anin vitroovarian explant culture system to examine sex change in a hermaphroditic fish
Authors: Goikoetxea Alexander , Damsteegt Erin L , Todd Erica V , McNaughton Andrew , Gemmell Neil J , Lokman P Mark
Published: April 2020

Many teleost fishes undergo natural sex change, and elucidating the physiological and molecular controls of this process offers unique opportunities not only to develop methods of controlling sex in aquaculture settings, but to better understand vertebrate sexual development more broadly. Induction of sex change in some sequentially hermaphroditic or gonochoristic fish can be achievedin vivothrough social manipulation, inhibition of aromatase activity, and steroid treatment. However, the induction of sex changein vitrohas been largely unexplored. In this study, we established anin vitroculture system for ovarian explants in serum-free medium for a model sequential hermaphrodite, the New Zealand spotty wrasse (Notolabrus celidotus). This culture technique enabled evaluating the effect of various treatments with 17β-estradiol (E2), 11-ketotestosterone (11KT) or cortisol (CORT) on spotty wrasse ovarian architecture for 21 days. A quantitative approach to measuring the degree of ovarian atresia within histological images was also developed, using pixel-based machine learning software. Ovarian atresia likely due to culture was observed across all treatments including no-hormone controls, but was minimised with treatment of at least 10 ng/mL E2. Neither 11KT nor CORT administration induced proliferation of spermatogonia (i.e. sex change) in the cultured ovaries indicating culture beyond 21 days may be needed to induce sex changein vitro. Thein vitrogonadal culture and analysis systems established here enable future studies investigating the paracrine role of sex steroids, glucocorticoids and a variety of other factors during gonadal sex change in fish.
Dual targeting of TatA points to a chloroplast-like Tat pathway in plant mitochondria
Authors: Bennewitz Bationa , Sharma Mayank , Tannert Franzisca , Klösgen Ralf Bernd
Published: April 2020

The biogenesis of membrane-bound electron transport chains requires membrane translocation pathways for folded proteins carrying complex cofactors, like the Rieske Fe/S proteins. Two independent systems were developed during evolution, namely the Twin-arginine translocation (Tat) pathway, which is present in bacteria and chloroplasts, and the Bcs1 pathway found in mitochondria of yeast and mammals. Mitochondria of plants carry a Tat-like pathway which was hypothesized to operate with only two subunits, a TatB-like protein and a TatC homolog (OrfX), but lacking TatA. Here we show that the nuclearly encoded TatA has dual targeting properties, i.e., it can be imported into both, chloroplasts and mitochondria. Dual targeting of TatA was observed within organelloexperiments employing isolated chloroplasts and mitochondria as well as after transient expression of suitable reporter constructs in epidermal leaf cells. The extent of transport of these constructs into mitochondria of transiently transformed leaf cells was relatively low, causing a demand for highly sensitive methods to be detected, like thesasplitGFP approach. Yet, the dual import of TatA into mitochondria and chloroplasts observed here points to a common mechanism of Tat transport for folded proteins within both endosymbiotic organelles.
Causally Linking Neural Dominance to Perceptual Dominance in a Multisensory Conflict
Authors: Yun Kyongsik , Bhattacharya Joydeep , Sandkuhler Simone , Lin Yong-Jun , Iwaki Sunao , Shimojo Shinsuke
Published: April 2020

When different senses are in conflict, one sense may dominate the perception of other sense, but it is not known whether the sensory cortex associated with the dominant modality exerts directional influence, at the functional brain level, over the sensory cortex associated with the dominated modality; in short, the link between sensory dominance and neuronal dominance is not established. In a task involving audio-visual conflict, using magnetoencephalography recordings in humans, we first demonstrated that the neuronal dominance – visual cortex being functionally influenced by the auditory cortex – was associated with the sensory dominance – participants’ visual perception being qualitatively altered by sound. Further, we found that prestimulus auditory-to-visual connectivity could predict the perceptual outcome on a trial-by-trial basis. Subsequently, we performed an effective connectivity-guided neurofeedback electroencephalography experiment and showed that participants who were briefly trained to increase the neuronal dominance from auditory to visual cortex also showed higher sensory, i.e. auditory, dominance during the conflict task immediately after the training. The results shed new light into the interactive neuronal nature of multisensory integration and open up exciting opportunities by enhancing or suppressing targeted mental functions subserved by effective connectivity.
Linearly polarized X-ray fluorescence computed tomography based on a Thomson scattering light source: a Monte Carlo study
Authors: Chi Zhijun , Du Yingchao , Huang Wenhui , Tang Chuanxiang
Published: April 2020

A Thomson scattering X-ray source can provide quasi-monochromatic, continuously energy-tunable, polarization-controllable and high-brightness X-rays, which makes it an excellent tool for X-ray fluorescence computed tomography (XFCT). In this paper, we examined the suppression of Compton scattering background in XFCT using the linearly polarized X-rays and the implementation feasibility of linearly polarized XFCT based on this type of light source, concerning the influence of phantom attenuation and the sampling strategy, its advantage over K-edge subtraction computed tomography (CT), the imaging time, and the potential pulse pile-up effect by Monte Carlo simulations. A fan beam and pinhole collimator geometry were adopted in the simulation and the phantom was a polymethyl methacrylate cylinder inside which were gadolinium (Gd)-loaded water solutions with Gd concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 4.0 wt%. Compared with the case of vertical polarization, Compton scattering was suppressed by about 1.6 times using horizontal polarization. An accurate image of the Gd-containing phantom was successfully reconstructed with both spatial and quantitative identification, and good linearity between the reconstructed value and the Gd concentration was verified. When the attenuation effect cannot be neglected, one full cycle (360°) sampling and the attenuation correction became necessary. Compared with the results of K-edge subtraction CT, the contrast-to-noise ratio values of XFCT were improved by 2.03 and 1.04 times at low Gd concentrations of 0.2 and 0.5 wt%, respectively. When the flux of a Thomson scattering light source reaches 1013 photons s−1, it is possible to finish the data acquisition of XFCT at the minute or second level without introducing pulse pile-up effects.
Leveraging the triple helix model to upgrade the medical and aromatic plants value chain
Authors: Sultan Suhail
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this research paper is to explore innovation activity between the three institutional spheres of government, universities and industry in the Palestinian MAPs sector, with the aim of supporting the growth of the sector through the THM.

Design/methodology/approach

The research study employed a qualitative exploratory design. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from the three spheres of the THM related to the agricultural sector. Content analysis was conducted on the data obtained from the interviews, followed by comparative analysis.

Findings

Some elements of the THM are present in the Palestinian MAPs sector, but others are missing, preventing its success. An effective policy is an important prerequisite for a THM to survive and thrive. There is a need to clarify the rules of engagement in terms of collaboration between the three institutional spheres. To promote innovation in the sector, there is a need to empower the farmers and cooperatives, improve farming system efficiency, upgrade distributors to logistic service providers, and build hybrid processing models.

Practical implications

The role of government is to apply policy to facilitate relations and exchanges between the three spheres. Industry possesses the motivation to invest in high-growth potential sectors. Universities could take the opportunity to establish its presence and fine-tune its portfolio of tasks so that industry is aware of these tasks and sees value in them.

Originality/value

The paper discusses the university–industry–government relationships in the framework of a developing and unstable economy such as Palestine.
Approaching multinationals in clusters from different perspectives
Authors: Hervas-Oliver Jose-Luis , Belussi Fiorenza , Sedita Silvia Rita , Caloffi Annalisa , Gonzalez-Alcaide Gregorio
Published: April 2020

Purpose

For the specific topic of multinationals in clusters, both regional strands and international business and management literatures address the topic from different yet intertwined perspectives. This study aims to facilitate the integration of the conversations and the distinct literatures to produce a clear understanding and conceptualization of the existent knowledge on the topic, with the aim to foster an integration of those different lines of inquiry on the topic that can advance scholarly research and improve policymaking.

Design/methodology/approach

Mixing a robust and longitudinal bibliometric analysis (1992-2018) and a qualitative critical review, the study disentangles sub-conversations on the topic in each literature.

Findings

The study encounters commonalities that foster cross-fertilization and blind spots that prevent integration of findings from each literature.

Research limitations/implications

Both literatures need to cross-fertilize and integrate each other’s knowledge.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to integrate literatures using bibliometrics, mapping the existing knowledge on two key areas of competitiveness: clusters and multinationals.
Do not expect others do what you should! Supply chain complexity and mitigation of the ripple effect of disruptions
Authors: Birkie Seyoum Eshetu , Trucco Paolo
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Recent studies have argued that companies may actively implement practices to mitigate disruptions in their supply chain and reduce the extent of damage on performance. Other studies have shown that disruptions may propagate in supply chains, leading to consequences that are more negative and raising doubts on the effectiveness of mitigation strategies implemented downstream. This study investigates the influence of supply chain complexity on the two phenomena and their interplay, taking a focal company's perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic procedure for data collection, encoding and aggregation based on incident data mainly from secondary sources was used. Multiple regression models were run to analyse direct and moderation effects involving resilience, distance of impact location from trigger point, and supply chain complexity on weighted performance change.

Findings

Supply chain complexity is found to have positive moderation on the ripple effect of disruption. Resilience capability remains to have dominating direct positive effect in mitigating disruptions when supply chain complexity is taken into account.

Research limitations/implications

This study extends the research discourse on supply chain resilience and disruption management with focus on the supply side. It demonstrates that, along with the severity of the disruption scenario, the ripple effect must also be considered when analyzing the benefits of resilience practices implemented by the focal company.

Practical implications

Complexity in the supply chain can only help to smooth-out the rippling effects of a disruption, which go largely beyond supply-demand unbalances and lead time fluctuations. To mitigate it better, the focal company has to act proactively with adequate resilience practices, which also connects to the importance of better visibility across multiple supply chain tiers.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that empirically tests the benefits of resilience practices and the ripple effect of disruptions under the moderation role of supply chain complexity.
Making a digital innovator: antecedents of innovativeness with digital technologies
Authors: Mancha Rubén , Shankaranarayanan G.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

To compete in the current digital economy, organizations need a workforce capable of developing novel products/services using digital technologies to create value. The purpose of this study is to explore and understand the antecedents of digital innovativeness so that we can appropriately train the workforce.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors theorize a model linking four individual characteristics (entrepreneurial orientation, digital literacy, entrepreneurial self-efficacy and digital technology self-efficacy) to digital innovativeness. They frame four hypotheses and validate them using a survey.

Findings

This study reveals that two antecedents of individual digital innovativeness linked to personal beliefs of competency are correlated to an individual's digital innovativeness. It also challenges long-held assumptions in technology education and industry by revealing that two other factors typically associated with digital innovativeness – basic digital literacy and entrepreneurial orientation – do not relate to the individual's digital innovativeness.

Originality/value

We believe that the study is the first of its kind to examine the antecedents of digital innovativeness with an eye on the characteristics necessary to innovate with digital technologies to create value. By hiring employees exhibiting high levels of these characteristics, promoting a culture of experimentation and educating its workforce to gain confidence in its abilities to execute and deploy digital technologies, organizations can secure their strategic position in a business landscape driven by digital innovations.
“Write the story you want to read”: world-queering through slash fanfiction creation
Authors: Floegel Diana
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This pilot study explores how queer slash fanfiction writers reorient cis/heteronormative entertainment media (EM) content to create queer information worlds.

Design/methodology/approach

Constructivist grounded theory was employed to explore queer individuals' slash fanfiction reading and creation practices. Slash fanfiction refers to fan-written texts that recast cis/heteronormative content with queer characters, relationships, and themes. Theoretical sampling drove ten semi-structured interviews with queer slash writers and content analysis of both Captain America slash and material features found on two online fanfiction platforms, Archive of Our Own and fanfiction.net. “Queer” serves as a theoretical lens through which to explore non-cis/heteronormative perspectives on gender and sexuality.

Findings

Participants' interactions with and creation of slash fanfiction constitute world-queering practices wherein individuals reorient cis/heteronormative content, design systems, and form community while developing their identities over time. Findings suggest ways that queer creators respond to, challenge, and reorient cis/heteronormative narratives perpetuated by EM and other information sources, as well as ways their practices are constrained by structural power dynamics.

Research limitations/implications

This initial data collection only begins to explore the topic with ten interviews. The participant sample lacks racial diversity while the content sample focuses on one fandom. However, results suggest future directions for theoretical sampling that will continue to advance constructs developed from the data.

Originality/value

This research contributes to evolving perspectives on information creation and queer individuals' information practices. In particular, findings expand theoretical frameworks related to small worlds and ways in which members of marginalized populations grapple with exclusionary normativity.
The effects of financial inclusion on agricultural productivity in Nigeria
Authors: Fowowe Babajide
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Farmers are the largest group of financially excluded persons in Nigeria, thereby highlighting the supply shortfall in finance to agriculture in Nigeria. Availability of finance would go a long way in improving output and productivity in agriculture, and consequently help in reducing poverty. This study conducts an empirical investigation of the effects of financial inclusion on agricultural productivity in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

This study makes use of the Living Standards Measurement Study–Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA). This is a new data set on agricultural households which contains information on agricultural activities and various household activities, including banking, savings and insurance behaviour. Considering the data are such that there are observations for households over three time periods, the study exploits the time series and cross-section dimension of the data by using panel data estimation.

Findings

The empirical results of the study show that financial inclusion, irrespective of how it is measured, has exerted positive and statistically significant effects on agricultural productivity in Nigeria.

Originality/value

While considerable research has been conducted to examine how finance affects broad macroeconomic aggregates, little is known about the effects of finance at the household and individual level. It is important to explicitly account for financial inclusion when examining the effects of finance on individuals and households. This study improves on existing research and offers new insights into the effects of financial inclusion on the economic activities of agricultural households in Nigeria.
Understanding and investing in healthcare innovation and collaboration
Authors: Day-Duro Emma , Lubitsh Guy , Smith Gillian
Published: April 2020

Purpose

To understand the partnership between clinicians and academics who come together to provide high-quality care alongside research and innovation, identifying challenges and productive conditions for innovation and collaboration across multi-disciplinary teams.

Design/methodology/approach

An explorative action research methodology was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 clinical, academic and executive leads at a large metropolitan tertiary care hospital with an academic health services portfolio in the UK.

Findings

Clinical leaders recognise the division of limited resource, restrictive employment contracts and the divergent priorities of each organisation as challenges hindering the collaborative process and derailing innovation. Developing a culture of respect, valuing and investing in individuals and allowing time and space for interaction help facilitate successful innovation and collaboration. Successfully leading collaborative innovation requires a combination of kindness, conviction and empowerment, alongside the articulation of a vision and accountability.

Research limitations/implications

Action research continues at this site, and further enquiry into the experiences, challenges and solutions of non-leaders when collaborating and innovating will be captured to present views across the organisation.

Practical implications

Clinical and academic collaboration and innovation are essential to the continued success of healthcare. To ensure hospitals can continue to facilitate this in increasingly challenging circumstances, they must ensure longevity and stability of teams, devote time and resource to research and innovation, nurture interpersonal skills and develop kind and empowering leaders.

Originality/value

This work uniquely focuses on a real-time collaborative and innovative development. By employing action research while this development was happening, we were able to access the real time views of those at the centre of that collaboration. We offer insight into the challenges and effective solutions that consultant-level clinical leaders encounter when attempting to innovate and collaborate in practice.
Exploring the potential for collective leadership in a newly established hospital network
Authors: De Brún Aoife , McAuliffe Eilish
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Achieving integrated care is a key focus for health systems and has resulted in various structures between and within organisations. The reorganisation of the Irish health system into hospital networks/groups aims to encourage work across hospitals to integrate care. This study evaluated if collective leadership emerged over time through increased interaction and collaboration following the organisation of hospitals into a network. A secondary aim was to elucidate the potential for collective leadership, through understanding the barriers and enablers perceived by participants.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed social network analysis and qualitative interviews. Leaders across the hospital group were invited to participate in an online network survey and interviews (analysed using thematic analysis) at three time points over an 18-month period.

Findings

Although there was evidence that some parts of network were beginning to operate collectively, the structures observed were more typical of a hierarchical network. Disruption in the network and uncertainty regarding permanence of the organisational structure had a negative impact on the potential for collective leadership. Yet, progress was evident in terms of establishing building blocks for collective leadership and integration, including developing trust, mutual understanding and creating space for change.

Practical implications

This study contributes to the literature by reflecting on the mechanisms and initiatives perceived as enabling/inhibiting collective leadership. Based on this research, it is important to communicate a clear and consistent message about the plans for the organisations involved and be clear regarding the roles and expectations for those involved in introducing new approaches to leadership and integration. Honest collaboration, openness and certainty in communication will likely be important in order to help create the contextual conditions to enable collective and system approaches to introduce “stepping stones” to change. These conditions include developing interpersonal relationships between leaders, creating time and space for deep and shared reflection, and enhancing trust among colleagues.

Originality/value

A key strength of this study is the linking of leadership-as-networks theory with social network methods to investigate collective leadership in practice. This study contributes to the literature by reflecting on the mechanisms and initiatives perceived as enabling/inhibiting collective leadership.
Blockchain technology in international business: changing the agenda for global governance
Authors: Hooper Amanda , Holtbrügge Dirk
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Blockchain technology has extended beyond the border of cryptocurrency and taken hold in various areas of international business. This study aims to analyze the impacts of blockchain on international business and the resulting challenges and implications for global governance.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis of multiple blockchain applications in international finance, banking and insurance, supply chain management and logistics and marketing and advertising shows that the use of blockchain in international business has different impacts on global governance.

Findings

Although the protection of property rights can be improved and transaction costs can be reduced, the effects on other functions of global governance are more ambivalent.

Research limitations/implications

As a recommendation for future studies, the need for more multidisciplinary and empirical research is proposed.

Practical implications

As the technology disrupts business activities, it also affects the governance of these activities on a global scale. Suggestions for the future regulation of blockchain applications in international business are developed.

Originality/value

Blockchain technology has extended beyond the border of cryptocurrency and taken hold in various areas of international business. This study aims to analyze the impacts of blockchain on international business and the resulting challenges and implications for global governance. The application of blockchain technology in international business across multiple industries is explored in order to draw conclusions about its impacts on global governance. It is determined that blockchain brings about both challenges and benefits for global governance.
Effect of mTOR inhibitors during CMV disease in kidney transplant recipients: Results of a pilot retrospective study
Authors: Kaminski Hannah , Belanger Juliette , Mary Julien , Garrigue Isabelle , Acquier Mathieu , Déchanet‐Merville Julie , Merville Pierre , Couzi Lionel
Published: April 2020

mTOR inhibitors exert a preventive effect on cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in CMV seropositive (R+) kidney transplant recipients, but their impact during the curative treatment of CMV disease in high‐risk kidney transplant recipients has not been investigated. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of mTOR inhibitors compared with mycophenolic acid in 63 consecutive kidney transplant recipients (80% of D+R−) suffering from CMV disease with a persistent or a recurrent CMV DNAemia. In this monocentric retrospective study, 16 had their treatment converted to mTOR inhibitors and 47 did not. The Kaplan–Meier curves did not show any significant differences in CMV DNAemia eradication (77% vs. 88% respectively; hazard ratio (HR), 1.648 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.913–2.973]; log‐rank test, P = .132), DNAemia recurrence (36% vs. 47%; HR, 1.517 [95% CI, 0.574–4.007]; log‐rank test, P = .448) and CMV clinical recurrence (17% vs. 27%; HR, 1.375 [95% CI, 0.340–5.552]; log‐rank test, P = .677) between patients who received mTOR inhibitors and those who did not. These results were confirmed in uni‐ and multivariate time‐dependent Cox regressions. In summary, conversion from mycophenolic acid to mTOR inhibitors seems inadequate for improving CMV clearance or in better preventing CMV recurrences during severe or persistent CMV disease.
The impact of paid family leave in the United States on birth outcomes and mortality in the first year of life
Authors: Montoya‐Williams Diana , Passarella Molly , Lorch Scott A.
Published: April 2020

Objective

To evaluate the effect of paid family leave in California on statewide rates of preterm birth, low birthweight, postneonatal mortality, and overall infant mortality.

Data Sources

Live birth and death certificates from all in‐hospital deliveries occurring in California (state exposed to the family leave policy) and two unexposed states (Missouri and Pennsylvania) from 1999 to 2008 (n = 6 164 203).

Study Design

We used a difference‐in‐differences approach to compare rates of infant health outcomes before and after implementation of the 2004 policy in California with rates in two states without paid family leave policies. Prespecified stratified analyses examined whether policy response differed by maternal characteristics. Conditional regression models using comparisons matched on a mother's likelihood of living in California in the pre–family leave period were then employed as sensitivity analyses to confirm our findings.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Probabilistic methods were used to match live birth records to maternal and newborn hospital records. Only singleton births were included. Dyads were excluded if the infant gestational age was <23 weeks or greater than 44 weeks or if the birthweight was an outlier.

Principal Findings

Compared to the unexposed states, adjusted postneonatal mortality rates decreased by 12 percent in California after 2004 (aOR 0.88, 95% CI 0.80‐0.97). There were no significant effects on the other outcomes. There were no differences in the effect by race/ethnicity or insurance status except for increased odds of low birthweight among privately insured women in California after 2004. Point estimates in the propensity score–matched sensitivity models were similar to the results of the fully adjusted models for all four outcomes, but confidence intervals crossed one.

Conclusions

Implementation of paid family leave policies in California was associated with a 12 percent reduction in postneonatal mortality after adjusting for maternal and neonatal factors.
Plant extracts effectiveness to extend bison meat shelf life
Authors: Sood Vipasha , Tian Wenchao , Narvaez‐Bravo Claudia , Arntfield Susan D. , González Argenis Rodas
Published: April 2020

The effectiveness of plant extracts (0.05% rosemary and 0.08% oregano) to extend shelf life of bison strip loin steaks in terms of color stability and consumer acceptability was studied. Steaks treated with oregano presented lower oxygen consumption, higher metmyoglobin‐reducing activity (MRA), decreased lipid oxidation, and provided a stable red color with less discoloration during the retail display period than the control and rosemary treated steaks (P < 0.05). Results from consumer sensory evaluation indicated that treated steaks under study were not significantly different from the control (P > 0.05) based on palatability attributes and acceptability. However, rosemary treated steaks were more desirable and palatable than their oregano counterparts (P < 0.05). Overall, plant extracts, particularly oregano, can improve color stability of bison steaks due to its antioxidants properties and ability to increase MRA capacity in fresh bison meat without posing any negative impact on its sensory attributes.

Practical Application

This study will provide valuable information to the bison meat industry on how to offer a more consistent and acceptable product (in terms of palatability and color) to consumers using plant‐based natural antioxidants, without diminishing the palatability of their products. This technology can offer two more days of shelf life in retail overwrap packaging, consequently, opening the possibility for the bison industry to expand its market with a potential to reduce retail losses due to poor color stability and early browning (that is, stock out, markdowns, and waste due to expired display life).
Past, present, and future of allergen immunotherapy vaccines
Authors: Dorofeeva Yulia , Shilovskiy Igor , Tulaeva Inna , Focke‐Tejkl Margarete , Flicker Sabine , Kudlay Dmitriy , Khaitov Musa , Karsonova Antonina , Riabova Ksenja , Karaulov Alexander , Khanferyan Roman , Pickl Winfried F. , Wekerle Thomas , Valenta Rudolf
Published: April 2020

Allergen‐specific immunotherapy (AIT) is an allergen‐specific form of treatment for patients suffering from immunoglobulin E (IgE)‐associated allergy; the most common and important immunologically mediated hypersensitivity disease. AIT is based on the administration of the disease‐causing allergen with the goal to induce a protective immunity consisting of allergen‐specific blocking IgG antibodies and alterations of the cellular immune response so that the patient can tolerate allergen contact. Major advantages of AIT over all other existing treatments for allergy are that AIT induces a long‐lasting protection and prevents the progression of disease to severe manifestations. AIT is cost effective because it uses the patient´s own immune system for protection and potentially can be used as a preventive treatment. However, broad application of AIT is limited by mainly technical issues such as the quality of allergen preparations and the risk of inducing side effects which results in extremely cumbersome treatment schedules reducing patient´s compliance. In this article we review progress in AIT made from its beginning and provide an overview of the state of the art, the needs for further development, and possible technical solutions available through molecular allergology. Finally, we consider visions for AIT development towards prophylactic application.