bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A meta-analysis of factors affecting labour productivity of construction SMEs in developing countries
Authors: Adebowale Oluseyi Julius , Agumba Justus Ngala
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The global construction industry is significant to economic development, whereas the sector, particularly its small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have continued to suffer from low labour productivity for decades. This has given rise to the concern of relevant construction stakeholders on the need to address the challenges undermining labour productivity growth in construction. Hence, this study aims to conduct a meta-data analysis of factors that hamper productivity growth of construction SMEs in developing countries.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review of existing studies relative to factors affecting construction labour productivity (CLP) is presented. Thereafter, eight developing countries-based studies that are specific to SMEs were selected for meta-data analysis using relative importance index values from the studies.

Findings

The essential productivity influencing factors were identified and quantitative data of the selected studies were synthesised. The effect summaries derived from the meta-data analysis revealed that the most significant factors that negatively affect CLP amongst SMEs include: workers’ skills, inadequate training, rework, management style and incentive to labour.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to scientifically analysed secondary data relative to SME contractors in developing countries.

Practical implications

The findings of the study can be adopted by construction stakeholders to evolve productivity growth policies for construction SMEs in developing countries.

Originality/value

Synthesis of quantitative data of different studies has lent deeper insight into a more realistic and scientific precision of factors affecting labour productivity of construction SMEs.
Family firm succession in tourism and hospitality: an ethnographic case study approach
Authors: Kallmuenzer Andreas , Tajeddini Kayhan , Gamage Thilini Chaturika , Lorenzo Daniel , Rojas Alvaro , Schallner Michael Josef Alfred
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Grounded in stewardship theory, this study explores the motives, actions and meanings of multiple stakeholders involved in an inter-family hospitality family firm succession.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal, ethnographic case study approach collects data from 15 in-depth interviews, one year of observation and a one-month on-site internship.

Findings

Results show that a well-defined succession plan and the active involvement of the successor/s in the succession process would foster a strong stewardship commitment to the family business. Moreover, a clear and open communication strategy is required to strategically manage rivalry and competition among potential successors during an inter-family succession.

Originality/value

The succession process of family firms remains an intensely discussed phenomenon, and despite its importance to the tourism and hospitality industry, the intersection between tourism and hospitality and family business literature is sparse. Notably, the tourism and hospitality literature lacks a multiple stakeholder perspective to holistically capture the motives, actions and meanings of numerous stakeholders involved in an inter-family succession.
Intellectual capital's link with financing opportunities
Authors: Del Baldo Mara , Giampaoli Daniele , Macrellino Maddalena , Bontis Nick
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study aims to provide empirical evidence on the link between intellectual capital and a firm's ability to attract funding and financing in Italian companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 125 Italian companies was collected through an online survey and analysed using structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

Results show that structural capital has a positive, direct impact on both human and relational capital. At the same time, relational capital is the only intellectual capital component that has a positive, direct impact on a firm's ability to attract funding and financing. Finally, we found that a firm's ability to attract funding and financing impacts both innovation and financial performance.

Originality/value

This novel study is among the first to provide empirical evidence of how human, relational and structural capital interact with each other and enhance a firm's ability to attract funding and financing.
The impacts of inward knowledge transfer and absorptive capacity on the turnover of host country nationals in MNE subsidiaries: a multilevel modeling approach
Authors: Park Jin Suk , Chang Jae Yoon , Lee Taehun
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study aims to find how the turnover of host country nationals (HCNs) would be affected by the knowledge transfer from a headquarter to a subsidiary. Knowledge transfer in a multinational corporation (MNC) has been discussed as a critical factor in the MNC’s success. Because HCNs are essential to synergizing with a new knowledge inflow during this knowledge transfer process, their turnover entails negative consequences such as knowledge loss.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper empirically tests the unbalance between knowledge received (KR) and absorptive capacity (AC) as the most critical organizational predictor by using the secondary longitudinal records and survey data of 4,915 employees. Multilevel survival analysis is used to calculate the individuals’ turnover hazard.

Findings

While finding that the primary effect of transferred knowledge is to reduce turnover, the study demonstrates the unbalance between a subsidiary’s AC and KR increases the likelihood of HCNs’ turnover within the organization. The authors also recognize the possibility of nonlinear trends of KR and AC on the turnover hazard.

Originality/value

The authors answer how knowledge transfer shapes a subsidiary’s work environment to prevent or increase turnover, which has been barely examined for HCNs who comprise the crucial demographic group in knowledge transfer. To enhance the originality further, this study empirically observes the actual turnover of HCNs with a conceptually comprehensive view incorporating both learning and political approaches.
A non-traditional open-source solution for altmetrics
Authors: Jamwal Vineet , Kaur Simran
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Altmetric carries the potential of highlighting scholarly content by measuring online interactions much before other forms of traditional metrics grow up. The aim of this paper is to be the single point of access for librarians, scientists, information specialists, researchers and other scholars in public to learn to embed the open-source embeddable badge provided by Altmetric in their websites and showcase their article altmetrics. Libraries can take advantage of this free and innovative tool by incorporating it in their own websites or digital repositories.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper elucidates steps for embedding altimetric institutional repository badges in personal websites or institutional repositories.

Findings

This open-source Altmetric tool tracks a range of sources to catch and collect the scholarly activity and assists in monitoring and reporting the attention surrounding an author’s work in a very timely manner.

Originality/value

This tool is freely available to libraries worldwide.
Influence of copper pillar bump structure on flip chip packaging during reflow soldering: a numerical approach
Authors: Ishak Mohammad Hafifi Hafiz , Abdul Aziz Mohd Sharizal , Ismail Farzad , Abdullah M.Z.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the experimental and simulation studies on the influence of copper pillar bump structure on flip chip packaging during reflow soldering.

Design/methodology/approach

In this work, solidification/melting modelling and volume of fluid modelling were used. Reflow soldering process of Cu pillar type FC was modelled using computational fluid dynamic software (FLUENT). The experimental results have been validated with the simulation results to prove the accuracy of the numerical method.

Findings

The findings of this study reveal that solder volume is the most important element influencing reflow soldering. The solder cap volume reduces as the Cu pillar bump diameter lowers, making the reflow process more difficult to establish a good solder union, as less solder is allowed to flow. Last but not least, the solder cap height for the reflow process must be optimized to enable proper solder joint formation.

Practical implications

This study provides a basis and insights into the impact of copper pillar bump structure on flip chip packaging during reflow soldering that will be advancing the future design of 3D stack package. This study also provides a superior visualization and knowledge of the melting and solidification phenomenon during the reflow soldering process.

Originality/value

The computational fluid dynamics analysis of copper pillar bump structure on flip chip packaging during reflow soldering is scant. To the authors’ best knowledge, no research has been concentrated on copper pillar bump size configurations in a thorough manner. Without the in-depth study, copper pillar bump size might have the impact of copper pillar bump structure on flip chip packaging during reflow soldering. Five design of parameter of flip chip IC package model was proposed for the investigation of copper pillar bump structure on flip chip packaging during reflow soldering.
Real-time bi-directional people counting using an RGB-D camera
Authors: Rahmaniar Wahyu , Wang W.J. , Chiu Chi-Wei Ethan , Hakim Noorkholis Luthfil Luthfil
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new framework and improve a bi-directional people counting technique using an RGB-D camera to obtain accurate results with fast computation time. Therefore, it can be used in real-time applications.

Design/methodology/approach

First, image calibration is proposed to obtain the ratio and shift values between the depth and the RGB image. In the depth image, a person is detected as foreground by removing the background. Then, the region of interest (ROI) of the detected people is registered based on their location and mapped to an RGB image. Registered people are tracked in RGB images based on the channel and spatial reliability. Finally, people were counted when they crossed the line of interest (LOI) and their displacement distance was more than 2 m.

Findings

It was found that the proposed people counting method achieves high accuracy with fast computation time to be used in PCs and embedded systems. The precision rate is 99% with a computation time of 35 frames per second (fps) using a PC and 18 fps using the NVIDIA Jetson TX2.

Practical implications

The precision rate is 99% with a computation time of 35 frames per second (fps) using a PC and 18 fps using the NVIDIA Jetson TX2.

Originality/value

The proposed method can count the number of people entering and exiting a room at the same time. If the previous systems were limited to only one to two people in a frame, this system can count many people in a frame. In addition, this system can handle some problems in people counting, such as people who are blocked by others, people moving in another direction suddenly, and people who are standing still.
Perceived systems intelligence and performance in organizations
Authors: Törmänen Juha , Hämäläinen Raimo P. , Saarinen Esa
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study aims to introduce the perceived systems intelligence (SI) inventory, developed based on the earlier published self-report SI inventory (Törmänen et al., 2016). It can be used together with earlier managerial level tools for building a learning organization and included in general 360-style evaluations in personnel development.

Design/methodology/approach

The inventory is validated with confirmatory factor analysis with a model based on the self-report SI inventory, using data from full-time used employees and managers in the USA and UK. Perceived SI factor scores are correlated with the perceived study performance of the individual.

Findings

The perceived SI inventory is found to have good factorial validity, and it correlates strongly with evaluations of perceived study performance. Managers perceived high in performance are also found to score high in perceived SI. Perceived SI does not depend on gender, age, organization size or industry.

Originality/value

The perceived SI inventory is the first personnel level peer evaluation tool suggested for developing learning organizations. The new inventory makes peer evaluations possible and provides a new grassroots level tool for personnel development programs in learning organizations.
Trophic plasticity of mixotrophic corals under contrasting environments
Authors: Sturaro Nicolas , Hsieh Yunli Eric , Chen Qi , Wang Pei‐Ling , Denis Vianney
Published: September 2021

Mixotrophic organisms can derive nutrition from both auto‐ and heterotrophy, which allows them to use a variety of trophic pathways to sustain their metabolic demands under variable conditions. Therefore, when facing environmental change, these organisms are expected to demonstrate an intrinsic ability to acclimatize through trophic plasticity.

Scleractinian corals are ecologically important mixotrophs, but understanding their trophic plasticity has been impaired by an oversimplification towards inconsistent proxies of coral diet and overlooking intraspecific variability.

Here, we applied a Bayesian analysis of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope data to determine the trophic niches of six common species of scleractinian corals and their associated endosymbionts, and combined it with an unsupervised machine learning algorithm to identify trophic behaviours and strategies.

We found a variable amount of nutritional plasticity identified by different trophic behaviours within and between mixotrophic corals living under the same environmental conditions. Furthermore, we observed changes in trophic plasticity across environmental conditions. Corals from variable environments had larger host and endosymbiont niches than corals from stable environments. In addition, deeper corals had niches indicating a greater degree of heterotrophy than shallow corals. Collectively, corals exhibited distinct trophic strategies by promoting trophic niche differentiation along the mixotrophic continuum and conspecific individual colonies displayed high trophic variation.

Our results provide a foundation to understand how mixotrophic organisms may adjust their nutrition in response to ongoing global environmental change and the consequential modification of benthic assemblages.
Mapping the field of public ancillary funds
Authors: Williamson Alexandra Kate , Luke Belinda G.
Published: September 2021

This study analyses and profiles public ancillary funds (PubAFs), charitable trusts that act as intermediaries between public donors and approved nonprofit beneficiary organisations. PubAFs are an important part of Australia's philanthropic landscape given their public benefit purpose, yet little is known about this sector's characteristics and identities. This paper examines PubAFs, analysing online databases and reports and PubAF websites (where available). Based on the analysis of data from three sources: the Australian Charities and Not‐for‐profits Commission, Australian Taxation Office, and websites of 991 PubAFs (where available), this study provides valuable insights for the public, philanthropic practitioners, and researchers. Findings systematically map the field to develop an extended taxonomy, as a basis for promoting understanding and legitimacy beyond PubAFs’ moral intentions, providing valuable insights into an opaque group of organisations at a time when the philanthropic sector's transparency is limited and legitimacy is being questioned.
School‐to‐work transition and subjective well‐being in Australia
Authors: Dietrich Hans , Patzina Alexander , Chesters Jenny , Reissner Volker
Published: September 2021

The school‐to‐work transition is a demanding period during an individual's life course in all societies particularly because the educational decisions made during this period have long‐lasting consequences in multiple life domains. Moreover, adverse starting points after secondary school are likely to lead to adverse outcomes that might cumulate over the life course. This study analyses subjective well‐being during this sensitive period and examines the following two questions. First, how do different school‐to‐work transitions relate to subjective well‐being changes? Second, how does subjective well‐being develop during and after secondary schooling? As the school‐to‐work transition period is structured by gender, each analytical step aims to identify gender differences. Furthermore, based on life course theories, this study investigates whether adverse starting points after secondary school lead to cumulative effects in the development of subjective well‐being. Based on data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey and fixed effects regressions, our results reveal that transitions to employment increase subjective well‐being, while transitions to unemployment decrease subjective well‐being. Furthermore, transitions to study increase subjective well‐being only among men, while such transitions appear to decrease subjective well‐being among women. The results related to the development of subjective well‐being indicate that subjective well‐being decreases during secondary schooling and continues to decrease after individuals leave school. This decrease is stronger among men. Finally, our results reveal the negative cumulative effects of adverse starting points on the development of subjective well‐being. Overall, the results reveal great intra‐individual variation in subjective well‐being during the school‐to‐work transition period in Australia.
Diversity training, inclusive education and our inevitable lament
Authors: Whitburn Ben , Corcoran Tim
Published: September 2021

As education systems the world over acknowledge the significance of supporting students with disabilities and related conditions to maintain school enrolment, building the capacity of educators to fulfil an inclusive ambition is frequently promoted through activities like awareness training. Here, the intention is to potentially change how people living with disability are understood and related to. Traditionally, awareness raising work relies on psychological interventions targeting human being’s cognitive‐behavioural triumvirate – thoughts, feelings and behaviours, nudging public policy and individual attitudes to sustain such changes. Yet, an inevitable lament typically befalls researchers and practitioners when inclusive ideals are not reached through the promotion of human rights, individualised support and positive attitudes. Advancing a conceptual approach to orientating to difference resourced by theory from critical psychology, critical disability and affirmative ethics, our discussion seeks to question the validity of current orientations to awareness training in favour of engaging difference differently. The discussion is relevant to education policy makers and practitioners seeking to reduce inequities, particularly among students living diverse ways of being within mainstream populations, so they might engage difference differently to reduce school exclusion.
Housing Price Volatility: What's the Difference between Investment and Owner‐Occupancy?*
Authors: Yang Yang , Rehm Michael , Zhou Mingquan
Published: September 2021

This research examines housing price volatility and its determinants in Auckland, New Zealand. It differs from the existing literature by dividing residential sales into four groups: leveraged investment (LI), leveraged owner‐occupancy (LO), unleveraged investment (UI) and unleveraged owner‐occupancy (UO). The housing price volatility of these groups is estimated using autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (ARCH) models. This study builds four vector autoregression (VAR) models to conduct Granger causality tests and impulse response analyses. It is found that the four volatility series respond differently to shocks. A decrease in housing prices is a significant determinant across all four groups of transactions.
Synthesis and characterization of tracers and development of a fluorescence polarization immunoassay for amantadine with high sensitivity in chicken
Authors: Guo Liuchuan , Liu Meixuan , Li Qiang , Dong Baolei , Li Hongfang , Mari Ghulam Mujtaba , Liu Rui , Yu Wenbo , Yu Xuezhi , Wang Zhanhui , Zhang Suxia , Shen Jianzhong , Wen Kai
Published: September 2021

Fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) is a homogeneous and rapid analytical method that is suitable for high‐throughput screening of large numbers of samples. However, FPIA typically suffers from lower sensitivity than the well‐established enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), limiting its wide application as an analytical tool that can be run with trace levels of an analyte. Herein, a highly sensitive FPIA for detecting amantadine (AMD) in chicken is described. To achieve high sensitivity, nine chemical tracers of AMD that employ different fluoresceins, fluorescein derivatives, and haptens were synthesized and paired with four previously produced monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). The effect of the tracer structure on the sensitivity of FPIA was investigated and discussed. We found that the tracers with a linear and shorter bridge between adamantane and fluorescein generally provided higher sensitivity. After optimization, N′‐(1‐adamantyl) ethylenediamine (AEDA), an AMD structural analogue labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), achieved the lowest IC50 value (1.0 ng/ml) in the FPIA, which was comparable to that of the heterologous ELISA format that used the same mAb7G2. We also investigated the possible recognition mechanism of mAbs in terms of conformational and electronic aspects. The developed FPIA was applied to chicken to detect AMD residue, demonstrating a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.9 µg/kg with recoveries of 76.5–89.3% and coefficients of variation (CVs) below 14.5%. These results show that the proposed FPIA is an efficient, accurate, and convenient method for the rapid screening of AMD residues in chicken.

Practical Application

The fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) was developed to determine and quantify amantadine (AMD) in chicken samples with high sensitivity. This homogeneous method avoids coating and washing steps and may provide high‐throughput AMD screening in chicken in 10 min with high accuracy and precision. FPIA can be used as a monitoring tool and contribute significantly to the rapid detection of AMD in chicken.
Sensory methodology in product optimization of cold smoked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) processed with atomized purified condensed smoke
Authors: Waldenstrøm Lene , Gaarder Mari Øvrum , Lerfall Jørgen
Published: September 2021

Atomized purified condensed smoke (PCS) is a smoke processing technique, producing fewer harmful substances during processing, than conventional smoking. Manufacturers of cold smoked salmon (CSS) are however skeptical to PCS due to expected decrease in perceptual quality. The aim of this study was to use sensory methodology (Check All That Apply [CATA], Descriptive Analysis [DA] and Napping®) in optimization of PCS processed CSS. A three‐step experiment was performed using five unique PCS condensates and varying process parameters. In each step, PCS processed CSS were perceptually evaluated and compared with conventional CSS. In Step one, PCS processed CSS was compared to conventional CSS, initiating process changes prior to the next step. In Step two, conventional CSS, two new condensates and the altered CSS from Step one, were screened to choose two prototypes for Step three. In Step three, perceptual differences, consumer acceptance, and physiochemical parameters of the two PCS prototypes and conventional CSS were examined. Napping® was proven effective for sorting and describing samples, distinguishing the dry and smoky ones from the shiny, soft, and mild varieties. CATA with hedonic scaling successfully characterized samples and the ideal CSS, gave useful information about consumer acceptance, and identified salty, smokey and natural to be important drivers of liking. The two descriptive tests CATA and DA in Step three, processing yield and physiochemical parameters gave a complete prototype description and input for further development. By combining the results from sensory perception and the physicochemical measurements, the experiment succeeded to produce a promising PCS prototype with sensory quality and consumer acceptance similar to conventional CSS.

Practical Application

The use of atomized purified condensed smoke (PCS) is considered healthier than conventional smoke processing (EU Regulation 2065/2003; Lingbeck et al., 2014). Even if PCS is widely used in meat processing, manufacturers of cold smoked salmon (CSS) are hesitant, fearing loss of perceptual quality. However, by using sensory methodology in product optimization of PCS processed CSS, a promising prototype was developed. With some more testing and adjustments, it will be possible to produce healthier CSS with similar sensory quality and consumer acceptance to conventionally CSS and offer this to a world‐wide market.
Osmotic, osmovacuum, sonication, and osmosonication pretreatment on the infrared drying of Ginkgo seed slices: Mass transfer, mathematical modeling, drying, and rehydration kinetics and energy consumption
Authors: Boateng Isaac Duah , Yang Xiao‐Ming
Published: September 2021

This study evaluated the mass transfer, drying, and rehydration kinetics (drying and rehydration curve, moisture diffusivity [Deff]), energy consumption (specific energy consumption [SEC], moisture extraction rate (MER), and specific moisture extraction rate [SMER]), and mathematical modeling of infrared dried Ginkgo biloba seed (GBS) using the various nonthermal pretreatments namely: osmotic (OS), osmovacuum (V + OS), ultrasound (US, ginkgo seed immersed in a distilled water with US), and osmosonication (US + OS, ginkgo seeds immersed in an OS solution with US). Results showed that various pretreatments affected mass transfer, drying, and rehydration characteristics, and energy consumption, which was confirmed by principal component analysis. In terms of mass transfer, US pretreatment recorded the highest weight loss while the osmosonication pretreatment registered the highest solid gain. The entire drying process occurred in the falling‐rate period. The Deff values were within the normal range of agroproducts (10−11 to 10−8 m2/s). The modified Page‐I and Weibull model best fitted the drying and rehydration kinetics, respectively, with the coefficient of determination (R2) > 0.991, root mean square error, residual sum of squares, and reduced chi‐square closer to zero, compared with the other models. The untreated GBS (control) had the lowest energy efficiency (lowest SMER and MER) and the highest SEC than the pretreated GBS. Among the various pretreatments, the US pretreatment of GBS was superior, with the highest Deff, MER, SMER, and drying rate, and lowest drying time and SEC. Based on the findings, sequential US pretreatment and infrared drying is a feasible drying technique for GBS that could be used commercially.

Practical Application

Ginkgo tree cultivation in China has exceeded market needs with 60,000 tons per annum of GBS produced. Hence, there is a compelling need to explore new chances to use GBS availability irrespective of the seasonality and address the problem where GBS utilization is limited to the early phases of home‐cooked dishes. Although drying increases the shelf life of ginkgo seeds, there is a higher operation cost. Thus, pretreatment can reduce energy consumption and augment the product quality is ideal. This research reported the impact of nonthermal pretreatments on ginkgo seeds’ mass transfer, drying, and rehydration characteristics. The present results will provide a comprehensive understanding of the engineering application of ginkgo seed pretreatment, allowing for the best technique to be selected.
Improved high throughput protocol for targeting eukaryotic symbionts in metazoan and eDNA samples
Authors: Minardi Diana , Ryder David , del Campo Javier , Garcia Fonseca Vera , Kerr Rose , Mortensen Stein , Pallavicini Alberto , Bass David
Published: September 2021

Eukaryote symbionts of animals are major drivers of ecosystems not only because of their diversity and host interactions from variable pathogenicity but also through different key roles such as commensalism and to different types of interdependence. However, molecular investigations of metazoan eukaryomes require minimising coamplification of homologous host genes. In this study we (1) identified a previously published “antimetazoan” reverse primer to theoretically enable amplification of a wider range of microeukaryotic symbionts, including more evolutionarily divergent sequence types, (2) evaluated in silico several antimetazoan primer combinations, and (3) optimised the application of the best performing primer pair for high throughput sequencing (HTS) by comparing one‐step and two‐step PCR amplification approaches, testing different annealing temperatures and evaluating the taxonomic profiles produced by HTS and data analysis. The primer combination 574*F – UNonMet_DB tested in silico showed the largest diversity of nonmetazoan sequence types in the SILVA database and was also the shortest available primer combination for broadly‐targeting antimetazoan amplification across the 18S rRNA gene V4 region. We demonstrate that the one‐step PCR approach used for library preparation produces significantly lower proportions of metazoan reads, and a more comprehensive coverage of host‐associated microeukaryote reads than the two‐step approach. Using higher PCR annealing temperatures further increased the proportion of nonmetazoan reads in all sample types tested. The resulting V4 region amplicons were taxonomically informative even when only the forward read is analysed. This region also revealed a diversity of known and putatively parasitic lineages and a wider diversity of host‐associated eukaryotes.
Improved high‐throughput MHC typing for non‐model species using long‐read sequencing
Authors: Cheng Yuanyuan , Grueber Catherine , Hogg Carolyn J. , Belov Katherine
Published: September 2021

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays a critical role in the vertebrate immune system. Accurate MHC typing is critical to understanding not only host fitness and disease susceptibility, but also the mechanisms underlying host‐pathogen co‐evolution. However, due to the high degree of gene duplication and diversification of MHC genes, it is often technically challenging to accurately characterise MHC genetic diversity in non‐model species. Here we conducted a systematic review to identify common issues associated with current widely used MHC typing approaches. Then to overcome these challenges, we developed a long‐read based MHC typing method along with a new analysis pipeline. Our approach enables the sequencing of fully phased MHC alleles spanning all key functional domains and the separation of highly similar alleles as well as the removal of technical artefacts such as PCR heteroduplexes and chimeras. Using this approach, we performed population‐scale MHC typing in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), revealing previously undiscovered MHC functional diversity in this endangered species. Our new method provides a better solution for addressing research questions that require high MHC typing accuracy. Since the method is not limited by species or the number of genes analysed, it will be applicable for studying not only the MHC but also other complex gene families.
Cultural similarities and differences in lay theories of altruism: Replication of Carlson and Zaki (2018) in a Japanese sample
Authors: Kawamura Yuta , Sasaki Shusaku , Kusumi Takashi
Published: September 2021

Previous studies have confirmed that some benefits related to prosocial acts (e.g., tax reduction for charitable donation) can influence how the prosocial acts are perceived by others. Carlson and Zaki (2018) systematically investigated how altruism perceived by observers is influenced by self‐oriented benefits (material, social, and emotional benefits) that actors received (consequences) or expected to receive before acting (motives) in an American sample. Their experiments showed that prosocial acts with material and social benefits were perceived as less altruistic than those with other‐oriented benefits. Additionally, prosocial acts motivated by self‐oriented benefits (material, social, or emotional benefits) were perceived as less altruistic than those with other‐oriented motives. To examine the generalisability of those results, the present study replicated Carlson and Zaki (2018) in a Japanese sample. In general, the present study successfully replicated the original results. However, there were three differences: (a) Japanese individuals considered altruistic behaviours with social benefits equally altruistic as prosocial acts with other‐oriented benefits, (b) Japanese individuals considered prosocial acts motivated by emotional benefits as not altruistic, and (c) by default, Japanese individuals tended to see others as selfish. The origins of these cultural differences are discussed.
Risk of atrial fibrillation is increased in patients with exfoliation syndrome: the Utah project on exfoliation syndrome (UPEXS)
Authors: Wirostko Barbara M. , Curtin Karen , Taylor Samuel C. , Paulson Chase , Pompoco Christian , Besch Brian M. , Ranjan Ravi , Ritch Robert
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Exfoliation syndrome, a systemic disorder with ocular manifestations, is associated with lysyl oxidase‐like gene variants. Along with transforming growth factor beta‐1, lysyl oxidase‐like 1 is a key enzyme in stabilizing extracellular matrix and remodelling collagen/elastin. Given the role that transforming growth factor beta‐1, lysyl oxidase‐like gene variants and fibrosis play in atrial fibrillation, an association with exfoliation syndrome was investigated.

Methods

An exfoliation syndrome cohort of 2803 patients and an atrial fibrillation cohort of 43 694 patients aged 60–90 years at disease onset were identified using the Utah Population Database (1996–2015). Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate risk of atrial fibrillation in exfoliation syndrome patients and risk of exfoliation syndrome in atrial fibrillation patients compared with respective 5:1 sex‐ and age‐matched control cohorts. Kaplan–Meier curves were examined to assess survival in atrial fibrillation patients by exfoliation syndrome status.

Results

Exfoliation syndrome patients had a 21% greater risk (95% CI 1.06–1.37; p < 0.0001) of atrial fibrillation. This was more pronounced in exfoliation syndrome patients with no hypertension history, who exhibited a 52% increased atrial fibrillation risk (95% CI 1.27–1.82; p < 0.0001). Atrial fibrillation patients exhibited a 20% increased risk of exfoliation syndrome (95% CI 1.07–1.35; p = 0.003), while atrial fibrillation patients with no hypertension had a 72% higher exfoliation risk (95% CI 1.45–2.03; p < 0.0001). Atrial fibrillation patients with exfoliation syndrome had a higher estimated probability of survival (alive at study end or at last follow‐up) compared with patients with no exfoliation history (p < 0.0001, log‐rank test).

Conclusions

Exfoliation syndrome patients were at a statistically significant increased risk of atrial fibrillation. Similarly, atrial fibrillation patients were at a statistically significant higher risk of exfoliation, particularly when hypertension history was absent.
Decolonizing health care: Challenges of cultural and epistemic pluralism in medical decision‐making with Indigenous communities
Authors: Cohen‐Fournier Sara Marie , Brass Gregory , Kirmayer Laurence J.
Published: September 2021

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada made it clear that understanding the historical, social, cultural, and political landscape that shapes the relationships between Indigenous peoples and social institutions, including the health care system, is crucial to achieving social justice. How to translate this recognition into more equitable health policy and practice remains a challenge. In particular, there is limited understanding of ways to respond to situations in which conventional practices mandated by the state and regulated by its legal apparatus come into direct conflict with the values and autonomy of Indigenous individuals, communities, and nations. In this paper, we consider two cases of conflict between Indigenous and biomedical perspectives to clarify some of the competing values. We argue for the importance of person‐ and people‐centered approaches to health care. These value conflicts must be understood at multiple levels to clarify their personal, social, cultural, and political dimensions. Taking into account the divergence between epistemic cultures and communities allows us to understand the multiple narratives deployed in decision‐making processes in clinical, community, and juridical contexts. Recognizing the knowledge claims of Indigenous peoples in health care can help clinicians avoid reinforcing the divides created by the structural and institutional legacy of colonialism. This analysis also provides ways to adjudicate conflicts in health care decision‐making by disentangling cultural, political, medical, and pragmatic issues to allow for respectful dialogue. Insofar as the engagement with cultural pluralism in health care rights is conducted with reciprocal recognition, the medical community and Indigenous peoples can address together the difficult question of how to integrate different epistemic cultures in the health care system.
Protocol versus practice: Deviations from guidelines in low‐risk twin deliveries in the United States
Authors: Morris Julia M. , Bertotti Andrea M.
Published: September 2021

Background

Medical guidelines recommend vaginal delivery for low‐risk twin pregnancies because cesareans increase the probability of maternal morbidity and mortality. Yet, vaginal delivery rates for twins are considerably lower than for comparable singletons. One explanation for this disparity argues that greater risk associated with twins warrants increased surgical intervention. An alternative explanation is that twin deliveries are more likely to deviate from protocols that advise vaginal birth.

Methods

Using the 2017 Natality Detail File (N = 3,197,401), we measured alignment of vaginal birth and trial of labor (TOL) with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ guidelines for twin and singleton no‐indicated‐risk births. We calculated predicted probabilities for the population and by maternal race/ethnicity to assess whether low rates of vaginal births among twins are explained by associated risk factors, or by deviations from recommended delivery methods.

Results

Overall, 31.2% of twins were born vaginally compared with 79.4% of singletons. Controlling for indicated risks, the predicted probability of vaginal birth for twins was 0.49 and 0.85 for singletons. The predicted probability of TOL for twins was 0.18 and 0.47 for singletons. Maternal race/ethnicity was only weakly associated with mode of delivery. These findings indicate that no‐indicated‐risk twin pregnancies, across maternal racial/ethnic categories, have lower probabilities of vaginal birth and TOL than would be expected with widespread adherence to current guidelines.

Conclusions

Given the life‐threatening consequences that may result from unnecessary surgical procedures, our findings highlight the need for further research to illuminate medical and nonmedical mechanisms driving nonadherence to clinical guidelines for twin births.
Heart rate variability associated with acute exercise challenge in children with sickle cell anaemia
Authors: Kienzle Stephan L. , Rodeghier Mark , Liem Robert I.
Published: September 2021

We examined heart rate variability (HRV) during exercise testing in 20 children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) and 12 controls. Subjects achieved lower median HRV at peak exercise [standard deviation of R‐wave to R‐wave intervals (SDNN), 2·3 vs 2·9 ms, P = 0·027; logarithmic transformation of high frequency power (lnHF), 0·9 vs 1·3 ln(ms2), P = 0·047] and had lower post‐exercise HRV across minute‐by‐minute analysis of recovery. After adjustment for haemoglobin, fitness and SCA status, subjects had lower HRV at the end of recovery with differences increasing as baseline HRV increased. Further investigation of HRV and exercise safety in SCA is warranted.
Prognostic heterogeneity of adult B‐cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patients with t(1;19)(q23;p13)/TCF3‐PBX1 treated with measurable residual disease‐oriented protocols
Authors: Ribera Jordi , Granada Isabel , Morgades Mireia , González Teresa , Ciudad Juana , Such Esperanza , Calasanz María‐José , Mercadal Santiago , Coll Rosa , González‐Campos José , Tormo Mar , García‐Cadenas Irene , Gil Cristina , Cervera Marta , Barba Pere , Costa Dolors , Ayala Rosa , Bermúdez Arancha , Orfao Alberto , Ribera Josep‐Maria ,   the Programa para el Tratamiento de Hemopatias Malignas (PETHEMA) Group (Spanish Society of Hematology, SEHH)
Published: September 2021

The prognosis of t(1;19)(q23;p13)/transcription factor 3‐pre‐B‐cell leukaemia homeobox 1 (TCF3‐PBX1) in adolescent and adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) treated with measurable residual disease (MRD)‐oriented trials remains controversial. In the present study, we analysed the outcome of adolescent and adult patients with t(1;19)(q23;p13) enrolled in paediatric‐inspired trials. The patients with TCF3‐PBX1 showed similar MRD clearance and did not have different survival compared with other B‐cell precursor ALL patients. However, patients with TCF3‐PBX1 had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of relapse, especially among patients aged ≥35 years carrying additional cytogenetic alterations. These patients might benefit from additional/intensified therapy (e.g. immunotherapy in first complete remission with or without subsequent haematopoietic stem cell transplantation).
Dynamic biomarker and imaging changes from a phase II study of pre‐ and post‐surgical sunitinib
Authors: Welsh Sarah J. , Thompson Nicola , Warren Anne , Priest Andrew N. , Barrett Tristan , Ursprung Stephan , Gallagher Ferdia A. , Zaccagna Fulvio , Stewart Grant D. , Fife Kate M. , Matakidou Athena , Machin Andrea J. , Qian Wendi , Ingleson Victoria , Mullin Jean , Riddick Antony C. P. , Armitage James N. , Connolly Stephen , Eisen Timothy G. Q.
Published: September 2021

Objective

To explore translational biological and imaging biomarkers for sunitinib treatment before and after debulking nephrectomy in the NeoSun (European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials Database [EudraCT] number: 2005‐004502‐82) single‐centre, single‐arm, single‐agent, Phase II trial.

Patients and Methods

Treatment‐naïve patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) received 50 mg once daily sunitinib for 12 days pre‐surgically, then post‐surgery on 4 week‐on, 2 week‐off, repeating 6‐week cycles until disease progression in a single arm phase II trial. Structural and dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnet resonance imaging (DCE‐MRI) and research blood sampling were performed at baseline and after 12 days. Computed tomography imaging was performed at baseline and post‐surgery then every two cycles. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors [RECIST]) excluding the resected kidney. Secondary endpoints included changes in DCE‐MRI of the tumour following pre‐surgery sunitinib, overall survival (OS), progression‐free survival (PFS), response duration, surgical morbidity/mortality, and toxicity. Translational and imaging endpoints were exploratory.

Results

A total of 14 patients received pre‐surgery sunitinib, 71% (10/14) took the planned 12 doses. All underwent nephrectomy, and 13 recommenced sunitinib postoperatively. In all, 58.3% (seven of 12) of patients achieved partial or complete response (PR or CR) (95% confidence interval 27.7–84.8%). The median OS was 33.7 months and median PFS was 15.7 months. Amongst those achieving a PR or CR, the median response duration was 8.7 months. No unexpected surgical complications, sunitinib‐related toxicities, or surgical delays occurred. Within the translational endpoints, pre‐surgical sunitinib significantly increased necrosis, and reduced cluster of differentiation‐31 (CD31), Ki67, circulating vascular endothelial growth factor‐C (VEGF‐C), and transfer constant (KTrans, measured using DCE‐MRI; all P < 0.05). There was a trend for improved OS in patients with high baseline plasma VEGF‐C expression (P = 0.02). Reduction in radiological tumour volume after pre‐surgical sunitinib correlated with high percentage of solid tumour components at baseline (Spearman’s coefficient ρ = 0.69, P = 0.02). Conversely, the percentage tumour volume reduction correlated with lower baseline percentage necrosis (coefficient = −0.51, P = 0.03).

Conclusion

Neoadjuvant studies such as the NeoSun can safely and effectively explore translational biological and imaging endpoints.
Lack of efficacy of mono‐mode of action therapeutics in COVID‐19 therapy ‐ How the lack of predictive power of preclinical cell and animal studies leads developments astray
Authors: Haberland Annekathrin , Müller Johannes
Published: September 2021

The diverse experiences regarding the failure of tested drugs in the fight against COVID‐19 made it clear that one should at least question the requirement to apply classical preclinical development strategies that demand cell and animal efficacy models to be tested before going into clinical trials. Most animals are not susceptible to infection with SARS‐CoV‐2, and so this led to one‐sided virus replication experiments in cells and the use of animal models that have little in common with the complex pathogenesis of COVID‐19 in humans. Therefore, non‐clinical development strategies were designed to meet regulatory requirements, but they did not truly reflect the situation in the clinic. This has led the search for effective agents astray in many cases. As proof of this statement, we now bring together the results of such required preclinical experiments and compare with the results in clinical trials. Two clear conclusions that can be drawn from the experience to date: The required preclinical models are unsuitable for the development of innovative treatments medical devices in the case of COVID‐19 and mono‐action strategies (e.g. direct antivirals) are of very little or no benefit to patients under randomized,blinded conditions. Our hypothesis is that the complex situation of COVID‐19 may benefit from multi‐mode drugs. Here, the molecular class of aptamers could be a solution.
An empirical test of prototype and revisionist models of attachment stability and change from middle childhood to adolescence: A 6‐year longitudinal study
Authors: Waters Theodore E. A. , Yang Rui , Finet Chloë , Verhees Martine W. F. T. , Bosmans Guy
Published: September 2021

We examined the prototype v. revisionist models of attachment stability with a five‐wave, 6‐year, longitudinal study of attachment security from middle childhood to adolescence in a White Western European sample (N = 157; Wave 1 Mage = 10.91, SD = 0.87; 52% female). Attachment was assessed using both questionnaire (Experiences in Close Relationships) and narrative‐based measures (Attachment Script Assessment). In addition, a set of potential moderators of prototype‐like stability were examined. Results indicated that data from both attachment assessments best fit the prototype model. Moderator analyses indicated that male sex significantly undermined the influence of an attachment prototype and parent‐child conflict and parental divorce enhanced the influence of an attachment prototype on stability.