bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endothelial Dysfunction and 6-Year Risk of Mortality in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Langberg Nina Elisabeth , Jenssen Trond G. , Haugen Anders J. , Mjøen Geir , Birkeland Kåre I. , Åsberg Anders , Hartmann Anders , Dahle Dag Olav
Published: December 2021

Background.

Endothelial dysfunction is an early and potentially reversible stage in the atherosclerotic process. We assessed endothelial dysfunction noninvasively in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and evaluated the association with mortality and graft outcomes.

Methods.

Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was measured in arteria brachialis by ultrasound, with baseline diameters obtained at rest and maximal diameters obtained during reactive hyperemia occurring after 5 min of forearm occlusion. FMD% is the percentage difference of flow-mediated dilation relative to baseline. Endpoints on mortality and graft outcomes were collected from The Norwegian Renal Registry. The distribution of risk according to FMD levels was assessed in Cox regression using a restricted cubic spline function. FMD was dichotomized using receiver operating characteristic analysis to identify optimal cut points at maximal sensitivity and specificity.

Results.

From a total of 269 KTRs in 2012, 152 (56.5%) were eligible and examined 10 wk after transplantation, and 145 had successful FMD measurements. During a mean follow-up of 6.5 y, 26 patients died, 11 lost their graft, and 34 experienced either graft loss or death. Mortality increased with lower FMD levels until about 5% dilation and did not change with further reduction in FMD% (P for nonlinearity <0.01). An optimal cut point of FMD ≤5.36% defined impaired endothelial function and FMD% below this level, was associated with fatal outcome, hazard ratio (HR), 9.80 (1.29–74.62), P = 0.03, uncensored graft loss, HR, 7.80 (1.83–33.30), P = 0.01, but an association with death-censored graft loss was lost after adjusting for pulse pressure, HR, 4.58 (0.55–37.92), P = 0.16.

Conclusions.

We found that impaired FMD is strongly associated with mortality in KTRs.
Registration and medical certification of deaths in the Indian States: A comparative analysis of data of CRS and MCCD reports (2010-2019)
Authors: Pandey Anuj Kumar , Gautam Diksha , Thomas M Benson , Kharakwal Yogita
Published: December 2021

Background

The medical certification of cause of death (MCCD) under Civil Registration System (CRS) has been implemented in the States/UTs in a phased manner to provide data on cause of death but due to incomplete coverage and inadequate quality of civil registration data and medically certified data system, use of this data has been compromised. The completeness of registration of death (CoRD) and completeness of medically certified deaths were assessed from 2010 to 2019 at state level to understand their current status and trend over time and also to identify gaps in data to improve data quality.

Methods

CoRD and CoMeRD for each year for each state was calculated from the CRS reports and MCCD reports respectively for the period 2010-2019. Data were analyzed nationally as per geographical region and individual state. Union Territories excluding Delhi and Telangana have not been considered in this analysis.

Results

The CoRD in India have increased in the CRS from 66.9% in 2010 to 92 percent in 2019, a significant increase of 37.7% over 9 years (P<0.001) whereas India has not witnessed a substantial increase in the CoMeRD in MCCD which has increased from 17.1% in 2010 to only 20.6% in 2019. Among the 29 States, 18 (62%) had CoRD >95 percent in 2019, with 15 states recording 100 percent of CoRD however just 3 states (10.3%) have CoMeRD more than 50% namely Goa (100%), Manipur (67.3%) and Delhi (61.7%).

Interpretation & conclusions

Despite the significant progress made in CoRD in India, importance of medical certification cannot be undermined; critical differences between the States within the CRS and MCCD remain a cause of concern. Concentrated efforts to assess the strengths and weaknesses at the State level of the MCCD and CRS processes, quality of data and plausibility of information generated are needed in India.
Predicted Symptomatic Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 Vaccine Against Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Volkov Oleg
Published: December 2021

This paper presents predictions of the symptomatic effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 (Comirnaty) vaccine against Omicron B.1.1.529, the latest SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern. They were obtained assuming fold decreases in Omicron neutralisation by vaccine-induced antibodies versus neutralisation of the virus Wild Type. A 25-fold decrease was assumed based on Omicron pseudovirus neutralisation study by Pfizer and BioNTech; a 94-fold, based on live-Omicron neutralisation study in South Africa; and 40, 80 and 120 folds, hypothesised based on genetic information. The effectiveness of two vaccine doses was predicted as 66% (42, 86), 48% (25, 72) and 42% (20, 66) for up to five months starting 2-4 weeks after the second dose, for the 25, 80 and 120 folds, respectively. The effectiveness of booster vaccination was predicted under a highly conservative assumption that the third dose would increase neutralisation by only 3.3 folds compared to the second dose. The predictions of effectiveness for up to five months, starting 2-4 weeks after the third dose, were 81% (59, 95), 67% (43, 87) and 61% (37, 82) for the 25, 80 and 120 folds, respectively. Despite the large fold decreases considered, the vaccine could still provide substantial protection, particularly after a booster and against severe disease. The paper is accompanied by free software which can be used to predict the symptomatic effectiveness of Comirnaty against Omicron under different neutralisation folds, including those obtained experimentally.
Incidence rates and symptomatology of community infections with SARS-CoV-2 in children and parents: The CoKids longitudinal household study
Authors: de Hoog MLA , Sluiter-Post JGC , Westerhof I , Fourie E , Heuvelman VD , Boom TT , Euser SM , Badoux P , Reusken C , Bont LJ , Sanders L , Jaddoe VWV , Herpers BL , Eggink D , Wildenbeest JG , Duijts L , van Houten MA , Bruijning-Verhagen PCJL
Published: December 2021

AIM

The CoKids study aimed to estimate the community incidence of symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 in children and parents and to assess the symptomatology of SARS-COV-2 infections relative to SARS-CoV-2 negative respiratory episodes.

METHODS

In this prospective study, households with at least one child <18 years were recruited from three existing Dutch cohorts. Participation included SARS-CoV-2 screening at 4-6 weeks intervals for all household members during 23 weeks of follow-up and active reporting of new onset respiratory symptoms until July 1st 2021. Follow-up was temporarily intensified following new onset respiratory symptoms in a household member or a SARS-CoV-2 positive screening test and included daily symptom recording, repeated PCR testing (nose-throat, saliva and fecal samples) and SARS-CoV-2 antibody measurement (paired dried blood spots) in all household members. Age-stratified incidence rates for SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative episodes were calculated. Symptomatology and disease burden of respiratory episodes were compared by SARS-CoV-2 status and age.

RESULTS

In total 307 households were enrolled including 1209 subjects. We detected 64 SARS-CoV-2 positive and 118 SARS-CoV-2 negative respiratory outbreaks. The highest incidence rate was found in children <12 years for SARS-CoV-2 negative episodes (0.93/ person-year (PY); 95%CI: 0.88-0.96). The SARS-CoV-2 incidence in this age-group was 0.21/PY for confirmed only, and 0.41/PY if probable cases were included. SARS-CoV-2 incidence did not differ by age group (p>0.27). Nasal congestion/runny nose, with or without cough and fatigue were the three most prevalent symptom clusters for both SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative respiratory episodes. Among children, no differences were observed in the symptomatology and severity of SARS-CoV-2 positive versus negative respiratory episodes, whereas among adults, SARS-CoV-2 positive episodes had a higher number and severity of symptoms and with a longer duration p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Using active, longitudinal household follow up, we detected a high incidence rate of SARS-CoV-2 infections in children that was similar to adults. The findings suggest that after 20 months of COVID-19 pandemic, up to 2/3 of Dutch children < 12 years have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. Symptomatology and disease severity of SARS-CoV-2 in children is similar to respiratory illness from other causes. In adults, SARS-COV-2 positive episodes are characterized by more and prolonged symptoms, and higher severity. These findings may assist decisions on COVID-19 policies targeting children.
High visit-to-visit cholesterol variability predicts heart failure and adverse cardiovascular events: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Kai Chan Jeffrey Shi , Satti Danish Iltaf , Athena Lee Yan Hiu , Ho Hui Jeremy Man , Loy Lee Teddy Tai , Chou Oscar Hou In , Chung Wai Abraham Ka , Ciobanu Ana , Liu Ying , Liu Tong , Zhang Qingpeng , Yung Cheung Bernard Man , Zhou Jiandong , Tse Gary
Published: December 2021

Background

Dyslipidaemia is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, the long-term prognostic value of visit-to-visit cholesterol variability for the risks of heart failure (HF) is uncertain. We investigated the associations between cholesterol variability and the risk of HF and adverse cardiovascular events.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included patients attending family medicine clinics in Hong Kong during 2000-2003 with follow-up until 2019. Patients with at least three sets of blood cholesterol (low-density (LDL-C) and high-density (HDL-C) lipoprotein cholesterol) levels available at different visits were included. Patients with prior HF, myocardial infarction (MI), use of HF medications, and pregnancy were excluded. Visit-to-visit variability was calculated using standard deviation and coefficient of variation (CV). The primary outcome was HF. The secondary outcomes were cardiovascular mortality, and myocardial infarction.

Results

A total of 5662 patients were included (2152 males; mean age 63.3±12.4 years; mean follow-up 15.3±4.6 years). Higher variability of HDL-C (hazard ratio (HR) for CV: 13.757 [6.261, 30.226], p<0.0001) predicted new-onset HF. Higher variability of LDL-C (HR for CV: 3.885 [1.942, 7.775], p=0.0001) and HDL-C (HR for CV: 39.118 [13.583, 112.657], p<0.0001) predicted higher risk of MI, but not cardiovascular mortality. These associations remained significant in patients without baseline usage of lipid-lowering medication(s) (N=4068), but were all insignificant in patients with baseline usage of lipid-lowering medication(s) (N=1594).

Conclusion

Higher visit-to-visit cholesterol variability was varyingly associated with significantly increased long-term risks of HF and adverse cardiovascular events. Such associations may be negated by using lipid-lowering medication(s).
Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia-1is required for proper pyramidal cell-interneuron communication and network dynamics in the prefrontal cortex
Authors: Sauer Jonas-Frederic , Bartos Marlene
Published: December 2021

We interrogated prefrontal circuit function in mice lackingDisrupted-in-schizophrenia-1(Disc1-mutant mice), a risk factor for psychiatric disorders. Single-unit recordings in awake mice revealed reduced average firing rates of fast-spiking interneurons (INTs), including optogenetically identified parvalbumin-positive cells, and a lower proportion of INTs phase-coupled to ongoing gamma oscillations. Moreover, we observed decreased spike transmission efficacy at local pyramidal cell (PYR)-INT connectionsin vivo, suggesting a reduced excitatory effect of local glutamatergic inputs as a potential mechanism of lower INT rates. On the network level, impaired INT function resulted in altered activation of PYR assemblies: While assembly activations were observed equally often, the expression strength of individual assembly patterns was significantly higher in Disc1-mutant mice. Our data thus reveal a role of Disc1 in shaping the properties of prefrontal assembly patterns by setting prefrontal INT responsiveness to glutamatergic drive.
Scalable batch-correction approach for integrating large-scale single-cell transcriptomes
Authors: Shen Xilin , Shen Hongru , Wu Dan , Feng Mengyao , Hu Jiani , Liu Jilei , Yang Yichen , Yang Meng , Li Yang , Shi Lei , Chen Kexin , Li Xiangchun
Published: December 2021

Integration of the evolving large-scale single-cell transcriptomes requires scalable batch-correction approaches. Here we propose a simple batch-correction method that is scalable for integrating super large-scale single-cell transcriptomes from diverse sources. The core idea of the method is encoding batch information of each cell as a trainable parameter and added to its expression profile; subsequently, a contrastive learning approach is used to learn feature representation of the additive expression profile. We demonstrate the scalability of the proposed method by integrating 18 million cells obtained from the Human Cell Atlas. Our benchmark comparisons with current state-of-the-art single-cell integration methods demonstrated that our method could achieve comparable data alignment and cluster preservation. Our study would facilitate the integration of super large-scale single-cell transcriptomes. The source code is available athttps://github.com/xilinshen/Fugue.
The Prion Protein Octarepeat Domain Forms Transient β-sheet Structures Upon Residue-Specific Cu(II) and Zn(II) Binding
Authors: Gielnik Maciej , Szymańska Aneta , Dong Xiaolin , Jarvet Jüri , Svedružić Željko M. , Gräslund Astrid , Kozak Maciej , Wärmländer Sebastian K. T. S.
Published: December 2021

Misfolding of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) is associated with the development of fatal neurodegenerative diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Metal ions appear to play a crucial role in the protein misfolding, and metal imbalance may be part of TSE pathologies. PrPCis a combined Cu(II) and Zn(II) metal binding protein, where the main metal binding site is located in the octarepeat (OR) region. Here, we used biophysical methods to characterize Cu(II) and Zn(II) binding to the isolated OR region. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy data suggest that the OR domain binds up to four Cu(II) ions or two Zn(II) ions. Upon metal binding, the OR region seems to adopt a transient antiparallel β-sheet hairpin structure. Fluorescence spectroscopy data indicates that under neutral conditions, the OR region can bind both Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions, whereas under acidic conditions it binds only Cu(II) ions. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that binding of both metal ions to the OR region results in formation of β-hairpin structures. As formation of β-sheet structures is a first step towards amyloid formation, we propose that high concentrations of either Cu(II) or Zn(II) ions may have a pro-amyloid effect in TSEs.
Third BNT162b2 vaccination neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection
Authors: Nemet Ital , Kliker Limor , Lustig Yaniv , Zuckerman Neta S. , Erster Oran , Cohen Carmit , Kreiss Yitshak , Alroy-Preis Sharon , Regev-Yochay Gili , Mendelson Ella , Mandelboim Michal
Published: December 2021

Using isolates of SARS-CoV-2 WT, Beta, Delta and most importantly Omicron we studied the capability of the BNT162b2 vaccine given in two or three doses to neutralize major SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC).

We demonstrate low neutralization efficiency against delta and wild-type for vaccines with more than 5 months following the second BNT162b2 dose, with no neutralization efficiency against Omicron. We demonstrate the importance of a third dose, by showing a 100-fold increase in neutralization efficiency of Omicron following a third dose, with a 4-fold reduced neutralization compared to that against the Delta VOC. The durability of the effect of the third dose is yet to be determined.
Metabolitin-based molecular drug delivery by targeting GPR158 in glioblastoma
Authors: Zhao Huashan , Zhu Wen , Li Jingwei , Lin Jinju , Lei Xiaohua , Zhang Pengfei , Zhang Jian V.
Published: December 2021

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a lethal form of intracranial tumor. One of the obstacles to treat GBM is the blood-brain barrier which limit the transportation of drugs into the tumor site. Here, based on our previous study on metabolitin (MTL) and osteocalcin, we generated a molecular drug delivery system that consisted of metabolitin and small molecules such as fluorescent dye or peptide drugs for diagnosis and treatment. And we designed a GBM diagnostic probe (MTL-ICG) and therapeutic peptide drug (MTL-NBD) that can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In a NIR animal live imaging system, we found MTL-ICG can penetrate cross BBB and label the GBM site. The in vitro experiment showed that MTL-NBD had inhibitory effect on GBM cell line (U87-MG). Besides, after orthotopic transplantation of GBM into mouse cortex, treatment of MTL-NBD intravenously showed inhibition trend, which were similar with the effect of NBD, a known anti-tumor polypeptide drug. In addition, we found the GPR158, the receptor of osteocalcin, was also high expressed in grafting site. Taken together, these findings suggest that MTL is a promising cell penetrating peptide targeting GPR158 in GBM, which provide a novel delivery tool for GBM.
Production and secretion of functional full-length SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Kiefer Anna , Niemeyer Justus , Probst Anna , Erkel Gerhard , Schroda Michael
Published: December 2021

The spike protein is the major protein on the surface of coronaviruses. It is therefore the prominent target of neutralizing antibodies and consequently the antigen of all currently admitted vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Since it is a 1273-amino acids glycoprotein with 22 N-linked glycans, the production of functional, full-length spike protein was limited to mammalian and insect cells, requiring complex culture media. Here we report the production of full-length SARS-CoV-2 spike protein – lacking the C-terminal membrane anchor – as a secreted protein in the prefusion-stabilized conformation in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. We show that the spike protein is efficiently cleaved at the furin cleavage site during synthesis in the alga and that cleavage is abolished upon mutation of the multi-basic cleavage site. We could enrich the spike protein from culture medium by ammonium sulfate precipitation and demonstrate its functionality based on its interaction with recombinant ACE2 and ACE2 expressed on human 293T cells. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a GRAS organism that can be cultivated at low cost in simple media at a large scale, making it an attractive production platform for recombinant spike protein and other biopharmaceuticals in low-income countries.
Systematic discovery of receptor-ligand biology by engineered cell entry and single-cell genomics
Authors: Yu Bingfei , Shi Quanming , Belk Julia A. , Yost Kathryn E. , Parker Kevin R. , Huang Huang , Lingwood Daniel , Davis Mark M. , Satpathy Ansuman T. , Chang Howard Y.
Published: December 2021

Cells communicate with each other via receptor-ligand interactions on the cell surface. Here we describe a technology for lentiviral-mediated cell entry byengineeredreceptor-ligand interaction (ENTER) to decode receptor specificity. Engineered lentiviral particles displaying specific ligands deliver fluorescent proteins into target cells upon cognate receptor-ligand interaction, without genome integration or transgene transcription. We optimize ENTER to decode interactions between T cell receptor (TCR)-MHC peptides, antibody-antigen, and other receptor-ligand pairs. We develop an effective presentation strategy to capture interactions between B cell receptor (BCR) and intracellular antigen epitopes. Single-cell readout of ENTER by RNA sequencing (ENTER-seq) enables multiplexed enumeration of TCR-antigen specificities, clonality, cell type, and cell states of individual T cells. ENTER-seq of patient blood samples after CMV infection reveals the viral epitopes that drive human effector memory T cell differentiation and inter-clonal phenotypic diversity that targets the same epitope. ENTER enables systematic discovery of receptor specificity, linkage to cell fates, and cell-specific delivery of gene or protein payloads.

HIGHLIGHTS

ENTER displays ligands, deliver cargos, and records receptor specificity.

ENTER deorphanizes antigen recognition of TCR and BCR.

ENTER-seq maps TCR specificity, clonality and cell state in single cells.

ENTER-seq of patient sample decodes antiviral T cell memory.
Fast, live-cell imaging of 15 intracellular compartments by deep learning segmentation of super-resolution data
Authors: Zhanghao Karl , Li Meiqi , Chen Xingye , Liu Wenhui , Wang Yiming , Wu Zihan , Shan Chunyan , Wu Jiamin , Zhang Yan , Xi Peng , Jin Dayong
Published: December 2021

The number of colors that can be used in fluorescence microscopy to image the live-cell anatomy and organelles’ interactions is far less than the number of intracellular organelles and compartments. Here, we report that deep convolutional neuronal networks can predict 15 subcellular structures from super-resolution spinning-disk microscopy images using only one dye, one laser excitation, and two detection channels. Comparing to the colocalization images, this method achieves pixel accuracies of over 91.7%, which not only bypasses the fundamental limitation of multi-color imaging but also accelerates the imaging speed by more than one order of magnitude.
Bis(η5-cyclopentadienyl)(2-{[(2-methoxyphenyl)imino]methyl}phenolato-κ3
O,N,O′)terbium
Authors: Minyaev Mikhail E. , Lyssenko Konstantin A. , Roitershtein Dmitrii M. , Nifant'ev Ilya E.
Published: December 2021

The air- and moisture-sensitive title compound, [Tb(C5H5)2(C14H12NO2)], was synthesized from tris(cyclopentadienyl)(tetrahydrofuran)terbium and 2-{[(2-methoxyphenyl)imino]methyl}phenol. Each Tb atom is coordinated by two cyclopentadienyl ligands in an η5-coordination mode and by one N and two O atoms of the organic ligand in a tridentate κ3
O,N,O′-mode.
Market orientation, performance and the mediating role of innovation in Indonesian SMEs
Authors: D'souza Clare , Nanere Marthin , Marimuthu Malliga , Arwani Mokhamad , Nguyen Ninh
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Despite the theoretical advancements of market orientation and firm performance, there is a paucity of research regarding SMEs in Indonesia. Customer and competitor orientation were examined as two distinct constructs as per the literature, as it has been questioned for its robustness. They have been used synonymously, even though customer orientation is operationalised as a component of a market orientation construct. There is support for the argument from a theoretical point of view to keep customer orientation and competitor orientation separate. The objective of this research was to empirically test market orientation concepts on firm performance and assessing customer and competitor orientation separately. Furthermore, it also tests whether innovation plays a mediating role.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 309 small and medium-sized firms was found eligible for this study. Structural Equation Modelling was used to analyze the data. A multi-industry sample of firms was used to strengthen the generalisability of the results. The sample was acquired from two databases of SMEs directory in Kudus and Pati, East Java Indonesia, participants were randomly selected.

Findings

The findings show that innovation mediates the relationship between competitor orientation and firm performance, while competitor orientation had no significant relationship with firm performance. Customer orientation was found to positively influence firm performance.

Originality/value

The role of innovation as a mediator within SMEs in a developing country opens up avenues for further research among other developing countries. By examining both the concepts of customer and competitor orientation separately and establishing relationships, we validate support for this argument both from a methodological and theoretical point of view.
Drought-tolerant Bambara groundnuts as future food: a comprehensive review of its properties and applications in food
Authors: Pui Liew-Phing , Tan Wen-Chian , Kong Ianne , Tan Choon-Hui
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This review provides an overview of the applications of Bambara groundnuts in various food products. The genetic diversity, physical properties and chemical compositions of the crop are also elucidated.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper critically reviewed the physicochemical properties and applications of Bambara groundnuts from recent literature.

Findings

Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea) is a drought-tolerant crop from West Africa that contains not only carbohydrates and fats but is also high in protein. The cultivars of Bambara groundnut can be distinguished by the colours of seeds, which range from red, blue-eye, brown and black-eye. Bambara groundnuts contain carbohydrate (57–67%), protein (15–25%), fat (4–8%), fibre (1.4–1.5%) and ash (2.9–4%). As a percentage of protein, the essential amino acids, lysine, methionine and cysteine are relatively high in Bambara groundnuts. Meanwhile, linoleic, palmitic and linolenic acids are the fatty acids present in this crop.

Practical implications

Several studies have shown that Bambara groundnuts can be used as fat substitutes, emulsifiers, water binders, bulking agents and thickeners due to its water and oil absorption properties, gelling, pasting, emulsifying and foaming abilities. Bambara groundnuts are used in the development of many intermediate or final products like flour blend, cookies, bread and fermented milk. It has a positive impact on the overall proximate, functional, mineral and amino acid profiles of the food products.

Originality/value

Despite its high nutrient density, Bambara groundnuts are an underutilised legume due to unavailability and lack of knowledge among consumers on its benefits. There is a need to promote the use of Bambara groundnuts as a future food.
Creating space and time for innovation - a methodology for building adaptation design appraisal using physics-based simulation tools and interactive multi-objective optimization
Authors: Shahi Sheida , Beesley Philip , Haas Carl Thomas
Published: December 2021

Purpose

It is crucial to consider the multitude of possible building adaptation design strategies for improving the existing conditions of building stock as an alternative to demolition.

Design/methodology/approach

Integration of physics-based simulation tools and decision-making tools such as Multi-Attribute Utility (MAU) and Interactive Multi-objective Optimization (IMO) in the design process enable optimized design decision-making for high-performing buildings. A methodology is presented for improving building adaptation design decision making, specifically in the early-stage design feasibility analysis. Ten residential building adaptation strategies are selected and applied to one primary building system for eight performance metrics using physics-based simulation tools. These measures include energy use, thermal comfort, daylighting, natural ventilation, systems performance, life cycle, cost-benefit and constructability. The results are processed using MAU and IMO analysis and are validated through sensitivity analysis by testing one design strategy on three building systems.

Findings

Quantifiable comparison of building adaptation strategies based on multiple metrics derived from physics-based simulations can assist in the evaluation of overall environmental performance and economic feasibility for building adaptation projects.

Research limitations/implications

The current methodology presented is limited to the analysis of one decision-maker at a time. It can be improved to include multiple decision-makers and capture varying perspectives to reflect common practices in the industry.

Practical implications

The methodology presented supports affordable generation and analysis of a large number of design options for early-stage design optimization.

Originality/value

Given the practical implications, more space and time is created for exploration and innovation, resulting in potential for improved benefits.
Enhancing perceived product value through peripheral product anecdotes
Authors: Wiener Hillary J.D. , Wiener Joshua , Arnold Todd
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new strategic marketing tool: a peripheral product anecdote (PPA), or a brief, interesting story that is loosely connected to a product but not connected to its history, quality or usage. A PPA is contrasted with similar tools, such as product/brand heritage claims. This study investigates when PPAs are most effective at increasing willingness to pay.

Design/methodology/approach

Five experiments examine the effect of different PPAs on willingness to pay. This study examines product-use situation as a moderator (Studies 3 and 4) and conversational value as a mediator (Studies 2 and 4).

Findings

Customers will pay a premium for products with PPAs, but only when they intend to use the products in social situations where they could share the anecdote with others. Mediation analyses reveal these anecdotes are valuable because they provide purchasers with a conversation topic (a source of social currency).

Practical implications

In contrast to brand heritage stories, nearly any firm can associate a PPA with their product. These anecdotes are a low-cost way for firms to increase willingness to pay for products. PPAs are innovative and varied, unlike brand heritage stories which tend to be static.

Originality/value

This paper shows that customers sometimes want packaged goods, such as beer and snacks, to help them have conversations and will pay more for products that do so. It introduces the PPA as one way marketers can help customers achieve this goal of conversation.
An unsupervised one-class-classifier support vector machine to simultaneously monitor location and scale of multivariate quality characteristics
Authors: Maji Arijit , Mukherjee Indrajit
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose an effective unsupervised one-class-classifier (OCC) support vector machine (SVM)-based single multivariate control chart (OCC-SVM) to simultaneously monitor “location” and “scale” shifts of a manufacturing process.

Design/methodology/approach

The step-by-step approach to developing, implementing and fine-tuning the intrinsic parameters of the OCC-SVM chart is demonstrated based on simulation and two real-life case examples.

Findings

A comparative study, considering varied known and unknown response distributions, indicates that the OCC-SVM is highly effective in detecting process shifts of samples with individual observations. OCC-SVM chart also shows promising results for samples with a rational subgroup of observations. In addition, the results also indicate that the performance of OCC-SVM is unaffected by the small reference sample size.

Research limitations/implications

The sample responses are considered identically distributed with no significant multivariate autocorrelation between sample observations.

Practical implications

The proposed easy-to-implement chart shows satisfactory performance to detect an out-of-control signal with known or unknown response distributions.

Originality/value

Various multivariate (e.g. parametric or nonparametric) control chart(s) are recommended to monitor the mean (e.g. location) and variance (e.g. scale) of multiple correlated responses in a manufacturing process. However, real-life implementation of a parametric control chart may be complex due to its restrictive response distribution assumptions. There is no evidence of work in the open literature that demonstrates the suitability of an unsupervised OCC-SVM chart to simultaneously monitor “location” and “scale” shifts of multivariate responses. Thus, a new efficient OCC-SVM single chart approach is proposed to address this gap to monitor a multivariate manufacturing process with unknown response distributions.
An empirical investigation of the professional identification of sales managers and their ethical intentions
Authors: Vocino Andrea , McClaren Nicholas
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to show how senior management can create work environments conducive to ethical behavior in organizations through the use of sales managers’ professionalism and professional identification. The study also aims to demonstrate the influence of professional identification in occupations other than those requiring certification.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conceptualizes and tests a model using data collected from a survey panel of 350 sales managers. To test the hypotheses, this study makes use of covariance structured analysis.

Findings

The results demonstrate the importance of developing sales managers’ professionalism as an antecedent to professional identification. The findings also show professional identification positively affects professional ethical values, work-related norms and occupational commitment. This study finds that work-related norms moderate the relationship between professional ethical values and ethical intentions and directly and positively influence ethical intentions.

Research limitations/implications

This study used a panel sampling technique and these findings cannot be generalized to other populations. This study recommends that this study is replicated not only with sales managers but also with other categories of marketers. This study also highlights that more work using methods such as longitudinal panel data and experimentation is required to validate the current findings.

Practical implications

The findings are of particular interest to senior managers and managers of professional associations, as well as other sales practitioners. Because ethical intentions are affected by work-related norms and from an interaction between work-related norms and professional ethical values, senior managers need to ensure both the work activities in which their staff are involved and the professional ethical values of their employees contribute to appropriate ethical intentions.

Originality/value

This study introduces professional identification into the sales ethics literature and theorize relationships among the professionalism of sales managers and their professional identification, work-related norms, professional ethical values, occupational commitment and ethical intentions. This study empirically measures the professionalism of sales managers.
Bending and flexural-buckling strength of steel members considering strain-rate-effects at elevated temperatures
Authors: Ozaki Fuminobu , Umemura Takumi
Published: December 2021

Purpose

In this study, the bending strength, flexural buckling strength and collapse temperature of small steel specimens with rectangular cross-sections were examined by steady and transient state tests with various heating and deformation rates.

Design/methodology/approach

The engineering stress and strain relationships for Japan industrial standard (JIS) SN400 B mild steels at elevated temperatures were obtained by coupon tests under three strain rates. A bending test using a simple supported small beam specimen was conducted to examine the effects of the deformation rates on the centre deflection under steady-state conditions and the heating rates under transient state conditions. Flexural buckling tests using the same cross-section specimen as that used in the bending test were conducted under steady-state and transient-state conditions.

Findings

It was clarified that the bending strength and collapse temperature are evaluated by the full plastic moment using the effective strength when the strain is equal to 0.01 or 0.02 under fast strain rates (0.03 and 0.07 min–1). In contrast, the flexural buckling strength and collapse temperature are approximately evaluated by the buckling strength using the 0.002 offset yield strength under a slow strain rate (0.003 min–1).

Originality/value

Regarding both bending and flexural buckling strengths and collapse temperatures of steel members subjected to fire, the relationships among effects of steel strain rate for coupon test results, heating and deformation rates for the heated steel members were minutely investigated by the steady and transient-state tests at elevated temperatures.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being of the stranded seafarers
Authors: Wong Chun Pong
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being and mental health of the seafarers who had to overstay on ships after their contracts expired, identifies topics that affect their mental distress and recommends measures to overcome these.

Design/methodology/approach

Four research questions about the impacts on the seafarers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were raised. A literature review and a questionnaire survey were conducted to find answers. Ship officers were asked to assess and fill in the questionnaires for the stranded seafarers onboard in order to collect sufficient samples rapidly for this study.

Findings

Despite the guidelines provided by the shipping companies being adequate to protect the seafarers from COVID-19, their mental distress levels have been worsened under the pandemic. The crew change crisis causes anxiety and negatively impacts on their working performance; however, the repatriation expectation of the stranded seafarers is of the highest concern. Three topics were identified as having impacts on the mental health of the stranded seafarers: crew change crisis, low vaccination rate and the lack of key worker recognition. While international stakeholders are advocating for support in these issues, the shipping companies and the seafarers need to do their parts to exacerbate the mental distress, and to survive and thrive beyond the pandemic.

Originality/value

The findings of this study will help the shipping companies to navigate the challenges and the seafarers to overcome issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health and social care access for adults with learning disabilities across the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020
Authors: Flynn Samantha , Hatton Chris
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to present data about access to health and social care services during the COVID-19 pandemic for adults with learning disabilities across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected directly from 621 adults with learning disabilities and through separate proxy reports by family carers and paid support staff of another 378 adults with learning disabilities. The data were collected between December 2020 and February 2021 and concerned the use of health and social care services since the start of the first COVID-19 national lockdown in March 2020.

Findings

Access to and use of health and social care services significantly reduced for adults with learning disabilities across the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic between March 2020 and February 2021, with many people not receiving any services at all during that period. Similar patterns were seen across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. However, data suggest some variations between countries for some services.

Practical implications

Future pandemic planning must ensure that access to these essential services is not completely lost for adults with learning disabilities and their family carers, as it was in some cases during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Originality/value

This is the largest study about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health and social care services for adults with learning disabilities in the UK. The authors primarily collected data directly from adults with learning disabilities, and worked with partner organisations of people with learning disabilities throughout the study.
William Gladstone and the Homeric Constitution
Authors: PAYNTER ALASTAIR
Published: December 2021

Between 1858 and 1890 the British statesman William Ewart Gladstone produced five major works on the Greek poet Homer, in addition to a number of smaller articles and pamphlets on related subjects. Although these studies examined all aspects of the Homeric world in the minutest detail, the most enduring analysis concerned the politics of the poems. He considered Homer to stand at the fountainhead of the Western political tradition and therefore to be of the utmost importance for students of politics. Examining the tripartite division of the Homeric constitution between king, council and assembly, he went so far as to discern the distant ‘germ’ of the English constitution. Despite minor modulations, his political reading of Homer remained remarkably constant throughout his life, despite his own party‐political evolution from Tory to Peelite to Liberal. This article considers his reading of the Homeric polity and suggests that this continuity of analysis reflects a far greater and deeper constancy and stability in his own thought than many scholars have allowed for.
Assessing transport and retention of nitrate and other materials through the riparian zone and stream channel with simulated precipitation
Authors: Dodds Walter K. , Wichman Gretchen , Guinnip James P. , Corman Jessica R. , Blair John M.
Published: December 2021

Riparian zones, the interfaces between land and stream, perform vital ecosystem functions including transformation and retention of nutrients and sediment moving across the landscape. Although many studies assess transport through and transformation of materials in riparian zones, less is known about the direct influence of precipitation falling on these zones on material retention and transport. Additionally, few experiments can compare riparian retention to stream‐channel retention.

We present a novel experimental approach to assess retention of nitrate entering as precipitation in riparian zones and compare riparian retention and movement of nitrate, other ions, sediments to and within the adjacent stream channel. We simulated an intense precipitation event with 15N‐labelled nitrate as a bioactive solute and bromide as an inert tracer. This method extends tracer release approaches applied to streams worldwide and links it to processes at the aquatic/ terrestrial interface. It further allows determination of movement of materials into streams from bankside precipitation.

The riparian zone removed or retained a greater proportion of nitrate than the stream relative to bromide; over half the added bromide reached the stream through a few metres of riparian zone, compared to only 0.2% of the added nitrate. Of the 0.2% that reached the stream, 30% of that nitrate was removed or retained by instream processes after travelling 60 downstream. Roughly 10% of the total 15N addition ended up sequestered in the above‐ground portions of the riparian grasses by the end of the growing season, and very little of it was recovered from the soil. We saw little evidence of bulk transport of other ions or sediment from this riparian soil to the stream.

Our data are consistent with the concept of high nitrate retention in vegetated riparian zones, even for nitrate falling directly upon them in the form of atmospheric deposition in precipitation.
Two pumps or one pump? A comparison of human liver normothermic machine perfusion devices for transplantation
Authors: Liu Qiang , Del Prete Luca , Hassan Ahmed , Pezzati Daniele , Bilancini Mary , D’Amico Giuseppe , Diago Uso Teresa , Hashimoto Koji , Aucejo Federico , Fujiki Masato , Sasaki Kazunari , Kwon Choon Hyuck David , Eghtesad Bijan , Miller Charles , Quintini Cristiano
Published: December 2021

Background

Normothermic machine perfusion provides continuous perfusion to ex situ hepatic grafts through the portal vein and the hepatic artery. Because the portal vein has high flow with low pressure and the hepatic artery has low flow with high pressure, different types of perfusion machines have been employed to match the two vessels’ infusion hemodynamics.

Methods

We compared transplanted human livers perfused through a 2‐pump (n = 9) versus a 1‐pump perfusion system (n = 6) where a C‐clamp is used as a tubing constrictor to regulate hemodynamics.

Results

There was no significant difference between groups in portal vein or hepatic artery flow rate. The 1‐pump group had more hemoglobin in the perfusate. However, there was no significant difference in plasma hemoglobin between the 2‐pump and 1‐pump groups at each time point or in the change in levels, proving no hemolysis occurred due to C‐clamp tube constriction. After transplantation, the 2‐pump group had two cases of early allograft dysfunction (EAD), whereas the 1‐pump group had no EAD. There was no graft failure or patient death in either group during follow‐up ranging from 20–52 months.

Conclusions

Our data show that the 1‐pump design provided the same hemodynamic output as the 2‐pump design, with no additional hemolytic risk, but with the benefits of lower costs, easier transport and faster and simpler setting.
Securing collective representation in non‐union European multinational companies: The case of Ryanair pilots’ (partial) success
Authors: Geary John F.
Published: December 2021

Compelling a recalcitrant employer to cede its staff independent collective representation has always been a fraught and difficult exercise. It is an inordinately more complex task when that employer is a multinational company that is capable of moving its operations from one country to another with relative ease. For workers to be successful, requires that they and their representatives coordinate their organizing and mobilizing activities across national boundaries in a manner that they have rarely been able to achieve. This inductive study examines one such rare example – Ryanair – and investigates the basis for its pilots’, albeit partial, success. Its contribution is the explication of a causal model that identifies a set of institutional and structural conditions, and agentic actions that led Ryanair to cede its staff union representation, while also pointing to the limitations of the pilots’ ‘victory’. It ends by identifying a number of changes to Europe's institutional and regulatory architecture that, if enacted, could help the workers of resolutely anti‐union MNEs secure recognition for unitary pan‐European structures of representation.