bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COVID-eVax, an electroporated plasmid DNA vaccine candidate encoding the SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain, elicits protective immune responses in animal models of COVID-19
Authors: Conforti Antonella , Marra Emanuele , Palombo Fabio , Roscilli Giuseppe , Ravà Micol , Fumagalli Valeria , Muzi Alessia , Maffei Mariano , Luberto Laura , Lione Lucia , Salvatori Erika , Compagnone Mirco , Pinto Eleonora , Pavoni Emiliano , Bucci Federica , Vitagliano Grazia , Stoppoloni Daniela , Pacello Maria Lucrezia , Cappelletti Manuela , Ferrara Fabiana Fosca , D’Acunto Emanuela , Chiarini Valerio , Arriga Roberto , Nyska Abraham , Lucia Pietro Di , Marotta Davide , Bono Elisa , Giustini Leonardo , Sala Eleonora , Perucchini Chiara , Paterson Jemma , Ryan Kathryn Ann , Challis Amy-Rose , Matusali Giulia , Colavita Francesca , Caselli Gianfranco , Criscuolo Elena , Clementi Nicola , Mancini Nicasio , Groß Rüdiger , Seidel Alina , Wettstein Lukas , Münch Jan , Donnici Lorena , Conti Matteo , Francesco Raffaele De , Kuka Mirela , Ciliberto Gennaro , Castilletti Concetta , Capobianchi Maria Rosaria , Ippolito Giuseppe , Guidotti Luca G. , Rovati Lucio , Iannacone Matteo , Aurisicchio Luigi
Published: June 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the β-coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has made the development of safe and effective vaccines a critical global priority. To date, four vaccines have already been approved by European and American authorities for preventing COVID-19 but the development of additional vaccine platforms with improved supply and logistics profiles remains a pressing need. Here we report the preclinical evaluation of a novel COVID-19 vaccine candidate based on the electroporation of engineered, synthetic cDNA encoding a viral antigen in the skeletal muscle, a technology previously utilized for cancer vaccines. We constructed a set of prototype DNA vaccines expressing various forms of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein and assessed their immunogenicity in animal models. Among them, COVID-eVax – a DNA plasmid encoding a secreted monomeric form of SARS-CoV-2 S protein RBD – induced the most potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody responses (including against the current most common variants of concern) and a robust T cell response. Upon challenge with SARS-CoV-2, immunized K18-hACE2 transgenic mice showed reduced weight loss, improved pulmonary function and significantly lower viral replication in the lungs and brain. COVID-eVax conferred significant protection to ferrets upon SARS-CoV-2 challenge. In summary, this study identifies COVID-eVax as an ideal COVID-19 vaccine candidate suitable for clinical development. Accordingly, a combined phase I-II trial has recently started in Italy.
Excellent negative predictive value (99.8%) of two rapid molecular COVID-19 tests compared to conventional RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in 2,011 tests performed in a single centre
Authors: Leong KW , Law TL , Saiful AS , Kang  , Woo  , Chow  , Yong ZL
Published: June 2021

Conventional Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) remains the gold standard for testing SARS-CoV-2. Since their availability, two rapid molecular COVID-19 tests were performed in parallel with RT-PCR in all urgent and emergency admissions, as the negative predictive value was not yet ascertained. In this study, we present the data of 2,011 test results using either ID Now COVID-19 (Abbott) (Abbott ID NOW) or Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 (Cepheid) (GeneXpert) tests comparing to conventional RT-PCR results. The negative predictive value is 99.8%(3 false negatives out of 1,964 tests) using a cut-off CT value of 40. Using a cut-off of RT-PCR CT value of 30 (predicting infectivity), the negative predictive value is reduced to 99.9% (1 out of 1,964 tests). With these results, we feel confident to recommend the immediate use of the rapid PCR tests alone and to use conventional RT-PCR for confirmation testing after.
Intragranular strain estimation in far-field scanning X-ray diffraction using a Gaussian process
Authors: Henningsson Axel , Hendriks Johannes
Published: June 2021

A new method for estimation of intragranular strain fields in polycrystalline materials based on scanning three-dimensional X-ray diffraction (scanning 3DXRD) data is presented and evaluated. Given an a priori known anisotropic compliance, the regression method enforces the balance of linear and angular momentum in the linear elastic strain field reconstruction. By using a Gaussian process (GP), the presented method can yield a spatial estimate of the uncertainty of the reconstructed strain field. Furthermore, constraints on spatial smoothness can be optimized with respect to measurements through hyperparameter estimation. These three features address weaknesses discussed for previously existing scanning 3DXRD reconstruction methods and, thus, offer a more robust strain field estimation. The method is twofold validated: firstly by reconstruction from synthetic diffraction data, and secondly by reconstruction of a previously studied tin (Sn) grain embedded in a polycrystalline specimen. Comparison against reconstructions achieved by a recently proposed algebraic inversion technique is also presented. It is found that the GP regression consistently produces reconstructions with lower root-mean-square errors, mean absolute errors and maximum absolute errors across all six components of strain.
Aerodynamic ground effects on DLRF6 vehicle
Authors: Tahani Mojtaba , Masdari Mehran , Bargestan Ali
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The overall performance of an aerial vehicle strongly depends on the specifics of the propulsion system and its position relative to the other components. The purpose of paper is this factor can be characterized by changing several contributing parameters, such as distance from the ground, fuselage and wing as well as the nacelle outlet velocity and analyzing the aerodynamic performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Navier–Stokes equations are discretized in space using finite volume method. A KW-SST model is implemented to model the turbulence. The flow is assumed steady, single-phase, viscous, Newtonian and compressible. Accordingly, after validation and verification against experimental and numerical results of DLRF6 configuration, the location of the propulsion system relative to configuration body is examined.

Findings

At the nacelle outlet velocity of V/Vinf= 4, the optimal location identified in this study delivers 16% larger lift to drag ratio compared to the baseline configuration.

Practical implications

Altering the position of the propulsion system along the longitudinal direction does not have a noticeable effect on the vehicle performance.

Originality/value

Aerial vehicles including wing-in-ground effect vehicles require thrust to fly. Generating this necessary thrust for motion and acceleration is thoroughly affected by the vehicle aerodynamics. There is a lack of rigorous understanding of such topics owing to the immaturity of science in this area. Complexity and diversity of performance variables for a numerical solution and finding a logical connection between these parameters are among the related challenges.
A systematic review of factors influencing the implementation of health promotion programs in the construction industry
Authors: Fuller Tamara , Hasan Abid , Kamardeen Imriyas
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The construction industry has a poor reputation for an unhealthy lifestyle and a high prevalence of health problems such as obesity, stress and hypertension among construction workers. The review examines the factors influencing the design and delivery of health promotion programs implemented by construction organisations to educate workers and promote a healthy lifestyle. It also identifies gaps in research and practices and proposes directions for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review of 51 relevant journal articles published during 2010–2019 was undertaken to achieve the aim of the study.

Findings

The review reveals 46 different factors grouped into four major themes related to individuals, organisations, industry and the program, influencing the successful implementation of health promotion programs. The top ten most cited factors are cost, time, facilities and resources, transient workforce, delivery method, influence from managers, long working hours, masculine culture, production pressure and interest. The review also found a noticeable lack of studies on implementing health promotion programs in the context of developing countries, small and medium-sized construction organisations, residential sector workers, and construction professionals and female workers.

Research limitations/implications

The review's scope is limited to research on health promotion programs, and it did not investigate the factors affecting the health of construction workers in construction projects.

Practical implications

A better understanding of various influencing factors present at different decision levels will inform the future implementation of targeted workforce health promotion strategies to foster construction workers' health and well-being.

Originality/value

The review reveals bottlenecks that need to be addressed to successfully implement health promotion programs in the construction industry. It provides new insights that can improve existing health and workplace policies and health promotion programs in the construction industry. Finally, it identifies new research directions in a neglected but crucial area of workers' health and safety management.
Toward maximization of peer-to-peer accommodation hosts’ competitive productivity (CP)
Authors: Kim Sung In , Kim Jaewook , Koh Yoon , Bowen John T.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The research purpose is to conceptualize competitive productivity (CP) in the peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation businesses. This study aims to conceptualize the four driving forces of P2P hosts’ CP and to empirically capture guest-based equity that supports such conceptual hosts’ CP model.

Design/methodology/approach

The goal of this paper is to apply Bauman’s Firm competitive productivity (FCP) model to the P2P accommodation business to conceptualize the CP of micro-entrepreneurial hosts. Four areas of the FCP model were reviewed to find how each of them contributes to the P2P hosts’ CP maximization.

Findings

Host talent, host resource management, value and host branding were conceptualized as key drivers of P2P hosts’ CP. The study also filled a gap in current literature by empirically analyzing online reviews to successfully capture key guest-based equity as satisfiers contributing to host talent, resource and branding.

Practical implications

Based on the hosts’ CP model, customer-generated resources play a significant role in the managerial implications, so that guest reviews with needs and wants and ratings can be empirically used to strengthen hosts’ CP under specific market circumstances.

Originality/value

This study is the first attempt to conceptualize a P2P host as a micro-entrepreneurial firm in the sharing economy platform for CP. This study looked at how the unique characteristics of the P2P accommodation industry and guest-based equity affect the P2P hosts’ CP.
Observations on the leadership of the pharmaceutical and medical technology industry from a generalized Darwinism perspective
Authors: Smith Brian David
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify leadership behaviours that appear to be salient in life science firms and to explain them as Darwinian adaptations to the particular characteristics of that industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This work used a pragmatist, inductive, mode 2 research methodology. The method used semi-structured, laddered, qualitative interviews with 23 individuals from 22 firms in the pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors.

Findings

The work found four aspects of the industry’s external environment that, collectively, distinguish it from other sectors. Further, it found four leadership behaviours that appear to be strongly characteristic of the industry. Further analysis revealed critical antecedents of these behaviours in the form of micro-foundations. Finally, these behaviours and their antecedents appeared to be a Darwinian adaptation to selection pressures created by the external environment.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this work are limited to the life sciences sector and do not support generalization beyond this sector. The work has three implications. Firstly, that leadership behaviours can be seen as at least partly sector-specific. Secondly, that the specificity of leadership behaviours appears related to identifiable characteristics of the industry environment. Thirdly, that the principles of generalized Darwinism provide a useful lens for understanding leadership behaviour in this sector.

Practical implications

This work implies that leadership training and development should recognize the specific industry context of the leader and not assume that leadership behaviour is a general, non-specific set of behaviours. Further, the work implies that appropriate leadership can be more readily enabled by paying attention to certain micro-foundations.

Originality/value

This work is original in two ways. Firstly, it addresses the leadership behaviours of the life sciences sector specifically. No previous work has done this. Secondly, it applies generalized Darwinism to the topic of leadership, which has not been attempted previously.
To forgive or retaliate? How regulatory fit affects emotional reactions and repurchase decisions following product failures
Authors: Atav Gizem , Chatterjee Subimal , Roy Rajat
Published: June 2021

Purpose

When a product fails out of negligence on the seller’s part, consumers can either retaliate against the seller, more so if a third party encourages them to do so, or forgive the seller should the seller express remorse. This paper aims to examine how the fit between the consumer’s promotion/prevention regulatory orientation and the promotion/prevention frame of a message of contrition (retaliation), such as an apology from a chief executive officer (CEO) (a class action suit threat by a lawyer), affects such forgiveness (retaliation) intentions in the form of product repurchase decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

In two laboratory experiments, this paper temporally induces a promotion or prevention orientation in the study participants and thereafter ask them to imagine experiencing a product failure and listening to (1) the CEO apologize for the harm (eliciting sympathy/encouraging repurchase); or (2) a lawyer inviting them to seek damages for the harm (eliciting anger/discouraging repurchase). This paper frames the messages from the CEO/lawyer such that they fit either with a promotion mindset or with a prevention mindset.

Findings

This paper finds that, following a message of apology, a frame-focus fit (compared to a frame-focus misfit) elicits sympathy and encourages repurchase universally across promotion and prevention-oriented consumers. However, following a message encouraging retaliation, the same fit elicits anger and discourages repurchase more among prevention-oriented than promotion-oriented consumers.

Originality/value

Although past research has investigated how regulatory fit affects forgiveness intentions, this paper fills three research gaps therein by (a) addressing both forgiveness and retaliation intentions, (b) deconstructing the fit-induced “just right feelings” by exploring their underlying emotions of sympathy and anger, and (c) showing that fit effects are not universal across promotion and prevention-oriented consumers. For practice, the results suggest that managers can lessen the fallout from product failures by putting consumers in a promotion mindset that strengthens the effect of a promotion-framed apology and inoculates them against all types of retaliatory messages.
Public debt, corruption and shadow economy in Africa: an empirical analysis
Authors: Owusu-Nantwi Victor , Owusu-Nantwi Gloria
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of corruption and shadow economy on public debt in 51 African countries. In addition, the study explores the causal linkage between corruption, shadow economy and public debt.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs vector error correction model and Kao cointegration test to examine the long-run relationship between corruption, shadow economy and public debt in Africa.

Findings

The study finds a positive and statistically significant relationship between corruption and public debt. Further, the study reports a positive and statistically significant effect of shadow economy on public debt. In the short run, the study finds a unidirectional causal relationship between corruption, shadow economy and public debt with the direction of causality running from corruption and shadow economy to public debt, respectively.

Practical implications

This study recommends that countries should pursue policies and programs that would provide resources to agencies tasked with the responsibility of fighting corruption. This would ensure that countries have effective institutions that curb vulnerabilities to corruption and reduce the size of the shadow economy and public debt.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by showing how corruption and shadow economy affects public debts of African countries. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first attempt to examine this relationship in the context of Africa.
Institutional quality and risk in the banking system
Authors: Canh Nguyen Phuc , Schinckus Christophe , Su Thanh Dinh , Chong Felicia Hui Ling
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to offer an empirical study of the impact of institutional quality on the banking system risk and credit risk.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying cross-sectional dependent tests and stationary tests to check the property of our sample, the panel corrected standard errors model is recruited as the main estimator, while feasible generalized least squares, pool ordinary least squares (OLS), robust pool OLS and other estimators are used as a robustness check for an unbalanced panel data for 56 economies divided into three subsamples between 2002 and 2015.

Findings

The empirical results show several significant contributions. First, an improvement in institutional quality is an important factor to reduce the banking system risk. This effect of the institutions is less important in well-capitalized, highly profitable and in high-economic growth countries. This effect is also stronger in highly liquid banking systems. Notably, a better institutional quality helps to reduce the banking system risk in the highly concentrated banking system. Second, institutional quality has a significant negative relationship with the banking credit risk, especially in highly concentrated banking systems and in high-growth countries. This influence is weaker in highly liquid and well-capitalized banking systems. Finally, better institutions reduce the positive effect of trade openness, but it induces a higher credit risk for the banking system from the trade openness. Notably, a better institutional quality enhances the negative effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow on both banking system risk and credit risk. These findings are documented for a global sample and three subsamples: low and lower-middle-income economies, upper-middle-income economies and high-income economies.

Originality/value

This study provides some recommendations, for policymakers, on the roles of institutions in the banking system and financial stability.
Do brand relationships on social media motivate young consumers’ value co-creation and willingness to pay? The role of brand love
Authors: Wallace Elaine , Torres Pedro , Augusto Mário , Stefuryn Maryana
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Drawing on consumer brand relationship theory, this study aims to investigate online brand engagement, brand trust and consumer brand identification as antecedents of brand love, amongst Generation Y and Z consumers. It explores the role of brand love in predicting consumers’ intention to co-create value and willingness to pay a premium price for the brand, for brands followed on social media.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from a study of 332 followers of brands on social media were analysed using structural equation modelling.

Findings

Results highlight the role of brand love in mediating the relationship between antecedents online brand engagement and consumer brand identification on intention to co-create value and willingness to pay a premium price. Consumers who trust the brand are more likely to intend to co-create value and are more willing to pay a price premium and these relationships are enhanced when the brand is loved.

Practical implications

Findings provide guidance for managers seeking to build brand friendship relationships with young consumers through social media. Results caution against a form of “superficial” friendship where the consumer may interact and co-create value online, yet fail to value the brand, evidenced through a willingness to pay a premium price.

Originality/value

The research identifies the critical role of brand love in fostering relationships with brands that young consumers follow on social media. The study reveals that neither online brand engagement nor consumer brand identification will result in co-creation of value or willingness to pay a premium price unless the consumer experiences brand love.
Manager in coaching role and reciprocal learning
Authors: Lyons Paul , Bandura Randall
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this manuscript is the presentation of: (1) a reciprocal learning process for coach and employee, and (2) a practical implementation guide.

Design/methodology/approach

Various search tools were used to explore the areas of manager in coaching role, learning orientation, reciprocal learning, integrative pedagogy (IP) and experiential learning. Coordination and integration of the areas examined resulted in a guide for manager application.

Findings

A method (guide, action plan) was created for use by a manager in a coaching role and the employee being coached. The method serves the information and learning needs of both participants. The collaborative relationship is grounded in mutual support, and participants help each other grow and change.

Research limitations/implications

Following completion of one action plan, research may be conducted to address areas such as coach self-perception of competence and self-efficacy; and employee perceptions of coach’s interest, helpfulness and effectiveness. It is also possible to study perceptions of participants with regard to the quality of the coach–employee relationship.

Practical implications

Application of the proposed method/approach is intended, in part, to stimulate employee engagement and motivation, and it provides the manager with some new platforms to interact with employees in the coaching role.

Originality/value

The role of manager-as-coach has been wedded to the possibilities of reciprocal learning in which both, manager and employee, gain knowledge, skill and personal development from a focused approach. In addition, the approach or method presented combines elements of IP with experiential learning.
Responding to racial injustice by listening and learning from employees
Authors: Cumberland Denise M. , Deckard Tyra G. , Ellinger Andrea D.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine a unique application of mega-events theory in a US health-care organization. The organization hosted 50 virtual listening calls (LCs) in the summer of 2020 to understand and to hear their employees’ voices regarding their emotions about issues of racial injustice and to solicit their ideas for creating a more inclusive workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used an illustrative, descriptive qualitative design. Using Saldaña’s (2015) structural coding approach, data from 388 employees who voluntarily participated in 50 virtual LCs were analyzed.

Findings

A total of eight themes with respective subthemes emerged regarding employees’ range of emotions and six themes emerged regarding employees’ specific suggestions for creating a more diverse and inclusive organization. This research suggests that hosting these open, virtual LCs enabled a space for employees to authentically voice their perspectives, learn from each other and afforded a powerful learning opportunity for organizational leaders to inform their diversity and inclusion practices.

Originality/value

This study represents a unique application of mega-events theory, focuses on pivotal events in the summer of 2020 that have been nationally and globally impactful and demonstrates the power of listening and learning to inform taking action in a health-care organization already constrained with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The impact of corporate social responsibility on financial distress: evidence from developing economy
Authors: Farooq Muhammad , Noor Amna
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on the likelihood of financial distress for a sample of 139 Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) listed firms throughout 2008–2019.

Design/methodology/approach

The dynamic generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator is used to examine the impact of CSR on financial distress. The investment in CSR is measured through a multidimensional financial approach which comprises the sum of the contribution made by the company in the form of charitable donation, employees’ welfare and research and development, while the Altman Z-score is used as an indicator of financial distress. The higher the Z-score, the lower will be the probability of financial distress.

Findings

The authors find a significant positive impact of CSR on financial distress in GMM model. This finding is consistent with the shareholder view and over-investment hypothesis of CSR as management makes an investment in CSR to get personal benefits, which resultantly leads the firm toward financial distress state. Further, this positive relationship remains present for firms having strong involvement in foreign business through exports.

Research limitations/implications

Like other studies, the present study is not free from limitations. First, financial firms are skipped from the sample, although literature witnesses a lot of studies highlight the financial firms’ commitment to achieving CSR goals. Second, financial distress occurs in different stages, and this study fails to establish a linkage between CSR engagement at different stages of financial distress. In the future, researchers can make valuable addition by covering these missing links in present studies.

Practical implications

Findings suggest several practical implications. For policymakers, they should encourage firms to adopt more socially responsible behavior as it not only prevents them from distress but also comes with better investment behavior, minimize bankruptcies and make economies more strong and stable. Second, results suggest corporate managers emphasize socially responsible behavior as its benefits are beyond the “societal benefits” as it lessens financial distress through lower cost of debt, lesser financial constraints and reduced cost of information asymmetry, and it minimizes the cost of capital. Lastly, investors make risk premium assessments related to future earnings by determining the likelihood of financial distress in the future.

Originality/value

The study extends the body of existing literature on CSR and the likelihood of financial distress in Pakistan, which is according to the best knowledge of the authors, not yet studied before. The results suggest that policymakers may pay special attention to the quality of CSR while predicting corporate financial distress.
Spatial evaluation of the impact of a climate change participatory extension programme on the uptake of soil management practices*
Authors: Yang Wei , Knook Jorie
Published: June 2021

Participatory extension programmes (PEPs) are a popular policy tool to stimulate the uptake of climate change mitigation practices on a farm level. Given the public investment in PEPs, reliable evaluation is important. However, few studies evaluate climate change PEPs. Moreover, the evaluations conducted so far do not correctly account for potential spatial effects, such as the influence of neighbouring farms on PEP participation. Therefore, this paper estimates the impact of PEP participation on the uptake of a climate change mitigation practice and soil management, and identifies the importance of spatial effects on PEP participation. A spatial propensity score matching method is applied to a dataset from Scotland, consisting of 134 PEP and 184 control farmers. The results show that PEP participation facilitates the uptake of soil management practices and that spatial dependence exists in farmers’ decision‐making, indicating the need for the inclusion of spatial factors. This study contributes to the current literature by combining spatial econometric analysis and propensity score matching to conduct a quantitative evaluation of a climate change PEP. The evaluation methodology provides decision‐makers with reliable insights into the potential contribution of PEPs towards climate change mitigation targets.
Hybrid Offerings Sales Capability: Conceptualization, Scale Development and Validation
Authors: Schaarschmidt Mario , Walsh Gianfranco , Evanschitzky Heiner
Published: June 2021

Manufacturing‐oriented firms increasingly shift from transaction‐focused to value‐focused selling, and gain competitive advantages by selling innovative product–service bundles, known as hybrid offerings. The key purpose of this research is to develop a measure of hybrid offering sales capability (HOSC). In particular, following an established scale‐development paradigm, this study develops a measure to indicate firms’ capability to sell hybrid offerings in business‐to‐business markets, and it provides insights into the antecedents and consequences of such a capability. The conceptualization of HOSC emerged from a case study involving two companies and comprises four dimensions: recruiting, training, incentivizing and applying. A rigorous evaluation of the initial item pool produces a 10‐item, four‐component HOSC measure embedded in a conceptual model of three innovation‐related antecedents and firm performance as a key outcome. Tests of experimental, nomological and predictive validity were conducted using samples of 155 professionals, 135 decision‐makers in small and medium‐sized companies, and 164 industrial sales managers. The findings offer relevant implications for both research and the management of hybrid offerings at the sales level, which we summarize in the form of a future research agenda.
Internal coherence matters: Lessons for nutrition and dietetics research
Authors: Palermo Claire , Reidlinger Dianne P. , Rees Charlotte E.
Published: June 2021

Aim

Internal coherence in research refers to the alignment between ontology (nature of reality), epistemology (nature of knowledge), axiology (values), methodology and methods and is an important but often overlooked element of research quality. We therefore aimed to illustrate the concept of internal coherence in nutrition and dietetics research, and its importance beyond individual elements of study quality.

Method

A targeted literature search in Nutrition and Dietetics was used to identify research illustrating one example of three main approaches to research (scientific, interpretive and critical inquiry) published between November 2017 and November 2020. Studies were included if they related to education research based on the expertise of the authors, and illustrated diverse points about internal coherence. The authors independently critiqued included studies for internal coherence and synthesised their findings.

Results

From 76 manuscripts, 14 were identified as describing education research. Of the three selected studies that were critiqued, all had elements of internal coherence, in particular alignment between epistemology and methodology. However, each had elements of misalignment too, specifically between epistemology, axiology and method. The results point to the profession's historical groundings privileging the scientific approach, showing how this can yield misalignments, particularly when describing the limitations of interpretive and critical inquiry approaches.

Conclusion

This review demonstrates the importance of internal coherence as a marker of quality, over and above existing quality assessment checklists for qualitative and quantitative methodologies. As such, it can help authors, reviewers and editors to improve the quality of nutrition and dietetics research and its reporting.
Sirtuin 6 promotes eosinophil differentiation by activating GATA‐1 transcription factor
Authors: Bang In Hyuk , Park Dami , Lee Youngyi , Cho Hwangeui , Park Byung‐Hyun , Bae Eun Ju
Published: June 2021

There is evidence emerging that exposure to cold temperatures enhances alternative activation of macrophages in white adipose tissue (WAT), which promotes adipocyte beiging and adaptive thermogenesis. Although we recently reported that NAD+‐dependent deacetylase sirtuin 6 (Sirt6) drives alternatively activated (M2) macrophage polarization, the role of myeloid Sirt6 in adaptive thermogenesis had remained elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that myeloid Sirt6 deficiency impaired both thermogenic responses and M2 macrophage infiltration in subcutaneous WAT (scWAT) during cold exposure. Moreover, the infiltration of Siglec‐F‐positive eosinophils in scWAT and Th2 cytokines levels was reduced in myeloid Sirt6 knockout mice. An ex vivo bone marrow‐derived cell culture experiment indicated that Sirt6 was required for eosinophil differentiation independent of its deacetylase activity. Data from our in vitro experiments show that Sirt6 acted as a transcriptional cofactor of GATA‐1, independent of its catalytic function as a deacetylase or ADP‐ribosyltransferase. Specifically, Sirt6 physically interacted with GATA‐1, and enhanced GATA‐1’s acetylation and transcriptional activity by facilitating its cooperation with p300. Overall, our results suggest that myeloid Sirt6 plays an important role in eosinophil differentiation and fat beiging/adaptive thermogenesis, which is at least in part due to its ability to bind GATA‐1 and stimulate its transcriptional activity.
The prevalence of right‐sided colonic diverticulosis in a New Zealand population
Authors: Turner Greg A. , O'Grady Michael J. , Senadeera Sajith C. , Wakeman Chris J. , McCombie Andrew , Purcell Rachel V. , Frizelle Frank A.
Published: June 2021

Background

Once considered to be a congenital condition, the epidemiology of right‐sided colonic diverticulosis (RCD) is evolving. Acute diverticulitis (AD) is a complication of RCD which is frequently misdiagnosed as appendicitis, resulting in unnecessary surgery, as there is strong evidence supporting medical management for right‐sided AD. In general, the incidence of AD correlates with the prevalence of RCD, which shows marked geographic variation. Few data reporting RCD prevalence come from Western countries, so the aim of this study is to define the prevalence of RCD in a New Zealand population.

Methods

Independent review of the imaging from 1000 consecutive patients undergoing a computed tomography Kidney/Ureter/Bladder scan for suspected urolithiasis at Christchurch Hospital between January and November 2017 was undertaken, to determine the presence or absence, and distribution of colonic diverticulosis. Patients were excluded if they had a history of colonic resection, known IBD, or were less than 18‐years old.

Results

Thirty‐one patients were excluded, leaving 969 eligible patients. Overall, 95 patients (9.8%) had RCD identified. The prevalence of RCD increased significantly with advancing age, being present in 2.3% of those aged 18–29, increasing to 20.3% in those greater than 70‐years old (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The prevalence of RCD in a New Zealand population is relatively high and increases significantly with age. This adds support to the role of cross‐sectional imaging in the evaluation of suspected appendicitis, to exclude right‐sided AD. The association with advancing age supports RCD being an acquired condition rather than a congenital condition as was previously thought.
An alternative electroretinography protocol for children: a study of diagnostic agreement and accuracy relative to ISCEV standard electroretinograms
Authors: Marmoy Oliver R. , Moinuddin Mohammed , Thompson Dorothy A.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

To assess the diagnostic accuracy and agreement between a paediatric electroretinography protocol used at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH‐ERG) and the ‘gold standard’ international protocol (ISCEV‐ERG) in health and disease.

Methods

Patient databases between 2010 and 2020 were screened to identify children with an ISCEV‐ERG recorded within four years of a GOSH‐ERG. Electroretinogram (ERG) component peak times and amplitudes were re‐measured, and data were analysed in terms of absolute abnormality and proportional deviation from respective reference ranges. Abnormality was defined by the retinal system affected and by individual ERG a‐ and b‐wave component analysis.

Results

A total of 59 patients were included: 38 patients had retinal disease defined by an abnormal ISCEV‐ERG and 21 had normal ISCEV‐ERGs. When absolute abnormality was defined by combined retinal systems, the GOSH‐ERG showed an excellent overall sensitivity of 95% (accuracy 86%). Individual retinal systems showed good–excellent sensitivity (67%–100%) and specificity (68%–97%). Electroretinogram (ERG) component sensitivities ranged between 60% and 97% and specificities between 79% and 97% dependent upon the protocol step. The proportional relationship appeared mostly linear between protocols. Electroretinogram (ERG) morphology was comparable for both protocols in a range of retinal diseases including those with pathognomonic ERGs.

Conclusion

We demonstrate the high diagnostic accuracy of a paediatric ERG protocol (GOSH‐ERG) relative to ISCEV standard ERGs. The close proportional deviation and similar waveform morphology indicate ERGs from each protocol are similarly affected in disease. This encourages the use of the GOSH‐ERG protocol in the screening, diagnosis and monitoring of retinal disease in children who are unable to comply with the rigorous ISCEV‐ERG protocol.
Design‐based properties of the nearest neighbor spatial interpolator and its bootstrap mean squared error estimator
Authors: Fattorini Lorenzo , Marcheselli Marzia , Pisani Caterina , Pratelli Luca
Published: June 2021

Nearest neighbor spatial interpolation for mapping continuous populations and finite populations of areas or units is approached from a design‐based perspective, that is, populations are fixed, and uncertainty stems from the sampling scheme adopted to select locations. We derive conditions for design‐based pointwise and uniform consistency of the nearest neighbor interpolators. We prove that consistency holds under certain schemes that are widely applied in environmental and forest surveys. Furthermore, we propose a pseudopopulation bootstrap estimator of the root mean squared errors of the interpolated values. Finally, a simulation study is performed to assess the theoretical results.
Effect of Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction on dehydroepiandrosterone‐sulfate in adults with self‐reported stress. A randomized trial
Authors: Jørgensen Maja Arena , Pallesen Karen Johanne , Fjorback Lone Overby , Juul Lise
Published: June 2021

Long‐term stress can lead to long‐term increased cortisol plasma levels, which increases the risk of numerous diseases. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfated form dehydroepiandrosterone‐sulfate (DHEAS), together DHEA(S), have shown to counteract some of the effects of cortisol and may be protective during stress. The program “Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction” (MBSR) has shown to have positive effects on stress. The present study examined a possible effect of MBSR on DHEAS in plasma compared to a waiting list and a locally developed stress reduction program (LSR) in people with self‐reported stress. The study was a three‐armed randomized controlled trial conducted in a municipal health care center in Denmark. It included 71 participants with self‐reported stress randomized to either MBSR (n = 24) or LSR (n = 23), or a waiting list (n = 24). Blood samples were collected at baseline and at 12 weeks follow‐up to estimate effects of MBSR on DHEAS. The effect of MBSR on DHEAS was statistically significant compared to both the waiting list and LSR. We found a mean effect of 0.70 µmol/L (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.18–1.22) higher DHEAS in the MBSR group compared with the waiting list group and a mean effect of 0.54 µmol/L (95% CI = 0.04–1.05) higher DHEAS in the MBSR group compared with the LSR group. Findings indicate an effect on DHEAS of the MBSR program compared to a waiting list and LSR program in people with self‐reported stress. However, we consider our findings hypothesis‐generating and validation by future studies is essential.
Levetiracetam as the first‐line treatment for neonatal seizures: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Hooper Robert G , Ramaswamy Viraraghavan Vadakkencherry , Wahid Rachael M , Satodia Prakash , Bhulani Adarsh
Published: June 2021

Aim

To assess the effectiveness and safety of levetiracetam when used as first‐line treatment of neonatal seizures.

Method

Four electronic databases, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov were systematically searched from inception until 20th November 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies that included neonates born preterm and term were eligible for inclusion. The primary outcome measure was levetiracetam effectiveness, defined as seizure cessation within 24 hours of starting treatment. Secondary outcomes included short‐term adverse events, mortality before discharge, and long‐term neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Results

Fourteen studies assessing 1188 neonates were included: four RCTs, three observational trials with phenobarbital as the control arm, and seven observational studies of levetiracetam with no control arm. Pooled efficacy of levetiracetam from observational studies was 45% (95% confidence interval [CI] 34–57%) (GRADE – very low). Meta‐analysis of RCTs evaluating levetiracetam versus phenobarbital showed that both were equally effective (risk ratio [95% CI] 0.6 [0.30–1.20]) (GRADE – very low). Levetiracetam resulted in a lower risk of short‐term adverse events compared to phenobarbital (risk ratio [95% CI] 0.24 [0.06–0.92]) (GRADE – moderate).

Interpretation

Very low certainty of evidence suggests levetiracetam might not be more effective than phenobarbital. Moderate certainty of evidence indicates levetiracetam is associated with a lower risk of adverse events. Future trials on neonatal antiseizure medication therapy should include continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring as standard of care and enrol a homogenous population with similar seizure aetiology.

What this paper adds

Levetiracetam is effective in 45% of neonatal seizures.

Levetiracetam might not be more effective than phenobarbital.

Levetiracetam is likely to be safer than phenobarbital.

Evidence available is limited and of very low certainty.
Left lateralization of neonatal caudate microstructure affects emerging language development at 24 months
Authors: Tan Ai Peng , Ngoh Zhen Ming , Yeo Shayne Siok Peng , Koh Dawn Xin Ping , Gluckman Peter , Chong Yap Seng , Daniel Lourdes Mary , Rifkin‐Graboi Anne , Fortier Marielle V. , Qiu Anqi , Meaney Michael
Published: June 2021

The complex interaction between brain and behaviour in language disorder is well established. Yet to date, the imaging literature in the language disorder field has continued to pursue heterogeneous and relatively small clinical cross‐sectional samples, with emphasis on cortical structures and volumetric analyses of subcortical brain structures. In our current work, we aimed to go beyond this state of knowledge to focus on the microstructural features of subcortical brain structures (specifically the caudate nucleus) in a large cohort of neonates and study its association with emerging language skills at 24 months. Variations in neonatal brain microstructure could be interpreted as a proxy for in utero brain development. As language development is highly dependent on cognitive function and home literacy environment, we also examined their effect on the caudate–language function relationship utilizing a conditional process model. Our findings suggest that emerging language development at 24 months is influenced by the degree of left lateralization of neonatal caudate microstructure, indexed by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)‐derived fractional anisotropy (FA). FA is an indirect measure of neuronal and dendritic density within grey matter structures. We also found that the caudate–language function relationship is partially mediated by cognitive function. The conditional indirect effect of left caudate FA on language composite score through cognitive function was only statistically significant at low levels of home literacy score (−1 standard deviation [SD]). The authors proposed that this may be related to ‘compensatory’ development of cognitive skills in less favourable home literacy environments.
Statistical modelling of measurement error in wet chemistry soil data
Authors: van Leeuwen Cynthia C. E. , Mulder Vera L. , Batjes Niels H. , Heuvelink Gerard B. M.
Published: June 2021

There is a growing demand for high‐quality soil data. However, soil measurements are subject to many error sources. We aimed to quantify uncertainties in synthetic and real‐world wet chemistry soil data through a linear mixed‐effects model, including batch and laboratory effects. The use of synthetic data allowed us to investigate how accurately the model parameters were estimated for various experimental measurement designs, whereas the real‐world case served to explore if estimates of the random effect variances were still accurate for unbalanced datasets with few replicates. The variance estimates for synthetic data were unbiased, but limited laboratory information led to imprecise estimates. The same was observed for unbalanced synthetic datasets, where 20, 50 and 80% of the data were removed randomly. Removal led to a sharp increase of the interquartile range (IQR) of the variance estimates for batch effect and the residual. The model was also fitted to real‐world and total organic carbon (TOC) data, provided by the Wageningen Evaluating Programmes for Analytical Laboratories (WEPAL). For , the model yielded unbiased estimates with relatively small IQRs. However, the limited number of batches with replicate measurements (5.8%) caused the batch effect to be larger than expected. A strong negative correlation between batch effect and residual variance suggested that the model could not distinguish well between these two random effects. For TOC, batch effect was removed from the model as no replicates were available within batches. Again, unbiased model estimates were obtained. However, the IQRs were relatively large, which could be attributed to the smaller dataset with only a single replicate measurement. Our findings demonstrated the importance of experimental measurement design and replicate measurements in the quantification of uncertainties in wet chemistry soil data.

Highlights

Accurate uncertainty quantification depends on the experimental measurement design.

Linear mixed‐effects models can be used as a tool to quantify uncertainty in wet chemistry soil data.

Lack of replicate measurements leads to poor estimates of error variance components.

Measurement error in wet chemistry soil data should not be ignored.