bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conformational entropy limits the transition from nucleation to elongation in amyloid aggregation
Authors: Phan Tien M. , Schmit Jeremy D.
Published: June 2020

The formation ofβ-sheet rich amyloid fibrils in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders is limited by a slow nucleation event. To understand the initial formation ofβ-sheets from disordered peptides, we used all-atom simulations to parameterize a lattice model that treats each amino acid as a binary variable withβand non-βstates. We show that translational and conformational entropy give the nascentβ-sheet an anisotropic surface tension which can be used to describe the nucleus with two-dimensional Classical Nucleation Theory. Since translational entropy depends on concentration, the aspect ratio of the criticalβ-sheet changes with protein concentration. Our model explains the transition from the nucleation phase to elongation as the point where theβ-sheet core becomes large enough to overcome the conformational entropy cost to straighten the terminal molecule. At this point theβ-strands in the nucleus spontaneously elongate, which results in a larger binding surface to capture new molecules. These results suggest that nucleation is relatively insensitive to sequence differences in co-aggregation experiments because the nucleus only involves a small portion of the peptide.

SIGNIFICANCE

The conversion of soluble proteins to amyloid aggregates is associated with many neurodegenerative diseases. Experiments have shown that this conversion occurs by a slow nucleation step followed by rapid growth. This work identifies the principle contributions to the free energy barrier that separates these two stages. It also shows how factors like protein concentration, sidechain interactions, and interactions with the environment can modify the barrier and affect nucleation times.
Notch Regulates Vascular Collagen IV Basement Membrane Through Modulation of Lysyl Hydroxylase 3 Trafficking
Authors: Gross Stephen J. , Webb Amelia M. , Peterlin Alek D. , Durrant Jessica R. , Judson Rachel , Kushner Erich J.
Published: June 2020

During angiogenesis, endothelial cells secrete proteins that make up a planar protein network surrounding blood vessels termed basement membrane (BM). Collagen type IV (Col IV) is a BM protein associated with early blood vessel morphogenesis and is essential for blood vessel stability. To date, little is known about how endothelial cells mediate intracellular transport and selective secretion of Col IV. We have identified the GTPase Rab10 as a major regulator of Col IV vesicular trafficking during vascular development. Knockdown of Rab10 reducedde novoCol IV secretionin vivoandin vitro. Mechanistically, we determined that Rab10 is an indirect mediator of Col IV secretion, partnering with atypical Rab25 to deliver the enzyme lysyl hydroxylase 3 (LH3) to Col IV-containing vesicles staged for secretion. Loss of Rab10 or Rab25 resulted in depletion of LH3 from Col IV-containing vesicles and rapid lysosomal degradation of Col IV. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Rab10 activation is downstream of Notch signaling, indicating a novel connection between permissive Notch-based vessel maturation programs and vesicle trafficking. Overall, our results illustrate both a new trafficking-based component in the regulated secretion of Col IV and how this vesicle trafficking program interfaces with Notch signaling to fine-tune BM secretion during blood vessel development.
Lipid extraction from dried blood spots and dried milk spots for high throughput lipidomics
Authors: Furse Samuel , Koulman Albert
Published: June 2020

Dried blood spots (DBS) and dried milk spots (DMS) represent convenient matrices for collecting and storing human samples. However, the use of these sample types for researching lipid metabolism remains relatively poorly explored, and especially the efficiency of lipid extraction is unclear. A visual inspection of punched DBSs after standard extraction suggests that the samples remain largely intact. DMSs comprise a dense aggregate of milk fat globules on one side of the card, suggesting that the lipid fraction may be physically inaccessible. This led us to the hypotheses that decoagulating may facilitate lipid extraction from both DBSs and DMSs. We tested decoagulation using a mixture of strong chaeotropes (guanidine and thiourea) in both DBS and DMS in the context of high throughput lipidomics (96/384w plate). Extraction of lipids from DMSs was tested with established extractions and one novel solvent mixture in a high throughput format. We found that exposure of DBSs to chaeotropes facilitated collection of the lipid fraction but was ineffective for DMSs. The lipid fraction of DMSs was best isolated without water, using a mixture of xylene/methanol/isopropanol (1:2:4). We conclude that decoagulation is essential for efficient extraction of lipids from DBSs and that a non-aqueous procedure using a spectrum of solvents is the best procedure for extracting lipids from DMSs. These methods represent convenient steps that are compatible with the sample structure and type, and with high throughput lipidomics.

Highlights

The efficiency of lipid extractions on dried milk and dried blood spots was tested

The number of lipid variables and the total signal strength were used as objective measures

Decoagulation of dried blood spots improved extraction efficiency

A mixture of xylene, methanol and isopropanol isolates the lipid fraction best from DMSs

An aqueous extraction using dichloromethane was the most efficient method for isolating lipids from DBSs
Age-dependent glycomic response to the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus and its association with disease severity
Authors: Chen Shuhui , Kasper Brian , Zhang Bin , Lashua Lauren P. , Ross Ted M. , Ghedin Elodie , Mahal Lara K.
Published: June 2020

Influenza A viruses cause a spectrum of responses, from mild cold-like symptoms to severe respiratory illness and death. Viral strains and intrinsic host factors, such as age, can influence the severity of the disease. Glycosylation plays a critical role in influenza pathogenesis, however the molecular drivers of influenza outcomes remain unknown. In this work, we characterized the glycomic response to the H1N1 2009 pandemic influenza A virus in age-dependent severity. Using a ferret model and a lectin microarray technology we have developed, we compared responses in newly weaned and aged animals, a model for young children and the elderly, respectively. Glycomic analysis revealed changes in glycosylation over the course of the infection, that were associated with severity in an age-dependent manner. These responses may help explain the differential susceptibility to influenza A virus infection of young children and the elderly.
miR156-mediated changes in leaf composition lead to altered photosynthetic traits during vegetative phase change
Authors: Lawrence Erica H. , Springer Clint J. , Helliker Brent R. , Poethig R. Scott
Published: June 2020

Plant morphology and physiology change with growth and development. Some of these changes are due to change in plant size and some are the result of genetically programmed developmental transitions. In this study we investigate the role of the developmental transition, vegetative phase change (VPC), on morphological and photosynthetic changes.

We used overexpression of miR156, the master regulator of VPC, to modulate the timing of VPC inPopulus tremula x alba, Zea maysandArabidopsis thalianato determine its role in trait variation independent of changes in size and overall age.

Here we find that juvenile and adult leaves in all three species photosynthesize at different rates and that these differences are due to phase-dependent changes in specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf N but not photosynthetic biochemistry. Further, we found juvenile leaves with high SLA were associated with better photosynthetic performance at low light levels.

This study establishes a role for VPC in leaf composition and photosynthetic performance across diverse species and environments. Variation in leaf traits due to VPC are likely to provide distinct benefits under specific environments and, as a result, selection on the timing of this transition could be a mechanism for environmental adaptation.
Retrospective Methodology to Estimate Daily Infections from Deaths (REMEDID) in COVID-19: the Spain case study
Authors: García-García David , Vigo María Isabel , Fonfría Eva S. , Herrador Zaida , Navarro Miriam , Bordehore Cesar
Published: June 2020

The number of new daily infections is one of the main parameters to understand the dynamics of an epidemic. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, however, such information has been underestimated. Here, we propose a retrospective methodology to estimate daily infections from daily deaths, because those are usually more accurately documented. This methodology is applied to Spain and its 19 administrative regions. Our results showed that probable infections during the first wave were between 35 and 42 times more than those officially documented on 14 March, when the national government decreed a national lockdown and 9 times more than those documented by the updated version of the official data. The national lockdown had a strong effect on the growth rate of virus transmission, which began to decrease immediately. Finally, the first inferred infection in Spain is about 43 days before it was officially reported during the first wave. The current official data show delays of 15-30 days in the first infection relative to the inferred infections in 63% of the regions. In summary, we propose a methodology that allows reinterpretation of official daily infections, improving data accuracy in infection magnitude and dates because it assimilates valuable information from the National Seroprevalence Studies.
Clinical Characteristics in Children and Adolescents with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Experience in a highly complex Public Hospital in the city of São Paulo
Authors: Vieira Rafael Santos Rodrigues , de Aguiar Erisson Linhares , de Araújo Evangelista Nara Michelle , Sarrubbo Sergio Antonio Bastos , Verlangieri Helmar Abreu Rocha , Otsuka Marcelo
Published: June 2020

Objective

Faced with the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, the real impact of the disease on children and adolescents and the behavior of the disease in this population are questioned. This study aims to assess the clinical characteristics of children and adolescents with SARS-CoV-2 infection and the effectiveness of the measures adopted at the institution.

Methods

This is a prospective study carried out from 11/04/2020 to 19/06/2020. Investigated 346 patients between zero and eighteen years old, with analysis of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 confirmed by RT-PCR, obtained from a nasopharynx and oropharynx swab, attended at a highly complex public pediatric hospital in the city of São Paulo.

Protocols for clinical management and treatment of cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were adopted during the assistance and implementation of a preoperative screening protocol. They were evaluated according to sex, age, epidemiology, presence of comorbidities, clinical manifestations, therapy used, need for hospitalization in the ward and ICU, use of mechanical ventilation (MV) and evolution.

Results

66 confirmed patients with COVID 19 were identified. Median age was 7 years old, with the male gender predominant (2:1). 27 patients (40.9%) had contact with symptomatic respiratory individuals, comorbidity occurred in 50 cases (75.8%). Main clinical manifestations were: fever, 37 patients (56.1%); cough, 23 (34.8%); respiratory distress in 10 (15.2%) and gastrointestinal symptoms in 24 (36.4%). 38 patients (57.6%) received antibiotics and 13 (19.7%) received corticotherapy. 37 patients (56.1%) required hospitalization, eight (19.5%) in the ICU and six (75%) requiring MV. One death occurred and others with good evolution.

Conclusion

This study corroborates the perception that the pediatric patient has a more benign manifestation, even in the presence of comorbidities, requiring the screening of surgical patients. The protocol adopted by the institution proved to be effective, with no contamination being observed among patients or between patients and collaborators.
Proteomic blood profiling in mild, severe and critical COVID-19 patients
Authors: Patel Hamel , Ashton Nicholas J , Dobson Richard J.B , Andersson Lars-Magnus , Yilmaz Aylin , Blennow Kaj , Gisslen Magnus , Zetterberg Henrik
Published: June 2020

The recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic manifests itself as a mild respiratory tract infection in the majority of individuals leading to COVID-19 disease. However, in some infected individuals, this can progress to severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), leading to multi-organ failure and death. The purpose of this study is to explore the proteomic differences between mild, severe and critical COVID-19 positive patients. Blood protein profiling was performed on 59 COVID-19 mild (n=26), severe (n=9) or critical (n=24) cases and 28 controls using the OLINK inflammation, autoimmune, cardiovascular and neurology panels. Differential expression analysis was performed within and between disease groups to generate nine different analyses. From the 368 proteins measured per individual, more than 75% were observed to be significantly perturbed in COVID-19 cases. Six proteins (IL6, CKAP4, Gal-9, IL-1ra, LILRB4 and PD-L1) were identified to be associated with disease severity. The results have been made readily available through an interactive web-based application for instant data exploration and visualization, and can be accessed athttps://phidatalab-shiny.rosalind.kcl.ac.uk/COVID19/. Our results demonstrate that dynamic changes in blood proteins that associate with disease severity can potentially be used as early biomarkers to monitor disease severity in COVID-19 and serve as potential therapeutic targets.
Maternal postnatal depression and offspring depression at age 24 years in a UK-birth cohort: the mediating role of maternal nurturing behaviours concerning feeding, crying and sleeping
Authors: Culpin Iryna , Hammerton Gemma , Bornstein Marc H , Heron Jon , Evans Jonathan , Cadman Tim , Sallis Hannah M , Tilling Kate , Stein Alan , Kwong Alex SF , Pearson Rebecca M
Published: June 2020

Importance

Few longitudinal studies have examined the role of maternal nurturing parenting behaviours concerning feeding, crying and sleeping in the association between maternal postnatal depression (PND) and offspring depression in adulthood.

Objective

To examine the association between PND and offspring depression at age 24 years and the mediating role of maternal nurturing behaviours concerning feeding, crying and sleeping.

Design

Longitudinal study of mothers and their offspring in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, followed up through age 24 years. Offspring ICD-10 depression diagnosis at age 24 years was established using the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised. Symptoms of maternal depression were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at 8 months postnatally. Maternal nurturing behaviours concerning feeding, crying and sleeping were assessed using self-reported questionnaires administered from birth to age 3 years.

Results

The sample with complete data on confounders for the mediation analyses was 5,881. In the fully adjusted model, there was evidence of an indirect effect from PND to offspring depression through the combination of all parenting factors (probit regression coefficient [B]=0.038, 95%CI 0.005, 0.071); however, there was no evidence of a direct effect from early maternal PND to adult offspring depression once the indirect effect via parenting factors was accounted for (B=0.009, 95%CI -0.075, 0.093). There was evidence for specific indirect effects through maternal worries about feeding (B=0.019, 95%CI 0.003, 0.035, p=0.010) and maternal perceptions and responses to crying (B=0.018, 95%CI 0.004, 0.032, p=0.012). Analyses in a larger sample using multiple imputation led to similar results.

Conclusions and Relevance

The adverse impact of PND on offspring depression in early adulthood was explained by maternal nurturing behaviours concerning feeding, crying and sleeping in early infancy. Residual confounding and measurement error are likely, limiting causal conclusions. If found to be causal, reducing worries around early maternal nurturing behaviours could be a target for interventions to reduce adverse outcomes in adult offspring of depressed mothers.
A Macroeconomic SIR Model for COVID-19
Authors: Bayraktar Erhan , Cohen Asaf , Nellis April
Published: June 2020

Abstract

The current COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have highlighted the close and delicate relationship between a country’s public health and economic health. Macroeconomic models which use preexisting epidemic models to calculate the impacts of a disease outbreak are therefore extremely useful for policymakers seeking to evaluate the best course of action in such a crisis. We develop an SIR model of the COVID-19 pandemic which explicitly considers herd immunity, behavior-dependent transmission rates, remote workers, and indirect externalities of lockdown. This model is presented as an exit time control problem where the lockdown ends when the population achieves herd immunity, either naturally or via a vaccine. A social planner prescribes separate levels of lockdown for two separate sections of the adult population - those who are low-risk (ages 20-64) and those who are high-risk (ages 65 and over). These levels are determined via optimization of an objective function which assigns a macroeconomic cost to the level of lockdown and the number of deaths. We find that, by ending lockdowns once herd immunity is reached, high-risk individuals are able to leave lockdown significantly before the arrival of a vaccine without causing large increases in mortality. Additionally, if we incorporate a behavior-dependent transmission rate which represents increased personal caution in response to increased infection levels, both output loss and total mortality are lowered. Lockdown efficacy is further increased when there is less interaction between low- and high-risk individuals, and increased remote work decreases output losses. Overall, our model predicts that a lockdown which ends at the arrival of herd immunity, combined with individual actions to slow virus transmission, can reduce total mortality to one-third of the no-lockdown level, while allowing high-risk individuals to leave lockdown well before vaccine arrival.
Face mask wearing rate predicts COVID-19 death rates across countries
Authors: Miyazawa D , Kaneko G
Published: June 2020

Identifying biomedical and socioeconomic predictors of the number of deaths caused by COVID-19 can help the development of effective interventions. In this study, we used the hypothesis-driven regression approach to test the hypothesis that the mask wearing rate, along with age and obesity, can largely predict the cumulative number of deaths across countries. Our regression models explained 69% of the variation in the cumulative number of deaths per million (March to June 2020) among 22 countries, identifying the face mask wearing rate in March as an important predictor. The number of deaths per million predicted by our elastic net regression model showed high correlation (r = 0.86) with observed numbers. These findings emphasize the importance of face masks in preventing the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19.

One Sentence Summary

Face mask wearing rate in March is a strong predictor of the cumulative number of deaths per million caused by COVID-19 among 22 countries.
Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among health care workers in a country with low burden of COVID-19
Authors: Psichogiou Mina , Karabinis Andreas , Pavlopoulou Ioanna D. , Basoulis Dimitrios , Petsios Konstantinos , Roussos Sotirios , Patrikaki Maria , Jahaj Edison , Protopapas Konstantinos , Leontis Konstantinos , Rapti Vasiliki , Kotanidou Anastasia , Antoniadou Anastasia , Poulakou Garyphallia , Paraskevis Dimitrios , Sypsa Vana , Hatzakis Angelos
Published: June 2020

Greece is a country with limited spread of SARS-CoV-2 and cumulative infection attack rate of 0.12% (95%CI 0.06%-0.26%). Health care workers (HCWs) are a well-recognized risk group for COVID-19. The study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in two hospitals and assess potential risk factors. Hospital-1 was involved in the care of COVID-19 patients while hospital-2 was not. A validated, rapid, IgM/IgG antibody point-of care test was used. 1,495 individuals consented to participate (response rate 77%). The anti-SARS-CoV-2 weighted prevalence was 1.07% (95%CI 0.37-1.78) overall and 0.44% (95%CI 0.12-1.13) and 2.4% (95%CI 0.51-8.19) in hospital-1 and hospital-2, respectively. The overall, hospital-1, and hospital-2 seroprevalence was 9, 3 and 20 times higher than the estimated infection attack rate in general population, respectively. Suboptimal use of personal protective equipment was noted in both hospitals. These data have implications for the preparedness of a second wave of COVID-19 epidemic.
A primary care approach to the COVID-19 pandemic: clinical features and natural history of 2,073 suspected cases in the Corona São Caetano programme, São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Leal Fabio E , Mendes-Correa Maria C , Buss Lewis F , Costa Silvia F , Bizario Joao CS , de Souza Sonia RP , Thomaz Osorio , Tozetto-Mendoza Tania R , Villas-Boas Lucy S , Silva Lea CO , Grespan Regina MZ , Capuani Ligia , Buccheri Renata , Domingues Helves , Alexander Neal DE , Mayaud Philippe , Sabino Ester C
Published: June 2020

Background

Despite most cases not requiring hospital care, there are limited community-based clinical data on COVID-19.

Methods and findings

The Corona São Caetano program is a primary care initiative offering COVID-19 care to all residents of São Caetano do Sul, Brazil. After triage of potentially severe cases, consecutive patients presenting between 13th April and 13th May 2020 were tested at home with SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase (RT) PCR; positive patients were followed up for 14 days. RT-PCR-negative patients were offered SARS-CoV-2 serology. We describe the clinical features, virology and natural history of this prospective population-based cohort. Of 2,073 suspected COVID-19 cases, 1,583 (76·4%) were tested by RT-PCR, of whom 444 (28·0%, 95%CI: 25·9% - 30·3%) were positive; 604/1,136 (53%) RT-PCR-negative patients underwent serology, of whom 52 (8·6%) tested SARS-CoV-2 seropositive. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 were cough, fatigue, myalgia and headache; whereas self-reported fever, anosmia, and ageusia were most associated with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. RT-PCR cycle thresholds were lower in men, older patients, those with fever and arthralgia, and around symptom onset. The rates of hospitalization and death among 444 RT-PCR-positive cases were 6·7% and 0·7%, respectively, with older age and obesity more frequent in the hospitalized group.

Conclusions

COVID-19 presents similarly to other mild respiratory disease in primary care. Some symptoms assist the differential diagnosis. Most patients can be managed at home.
Uptake of insurance-embedded credit in presence of credit rationing: evidence from a randomized controlled trial in Kenya
Authors: Ndegwa Michael K. , Shee Apurba , Turvey Calum G. , You Liangzhi
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Drought-related climate risk and access to credit are among the major risks to agricultural productivity for smallholder farmers in Kenya. Farmers are usually credit-constrained due to either involuntary quantity rationing or voluntary risk rationing. By exploiting randomized distribution of weather risk-contingent credit (RCC) and traditional credit, the authors estimate the causal effect of bundling weather index insurance to credit on uptake of agricultural credits among rural smallholders in Eastern Kenya. Further, the authors assess farmers' credit rationing, its determinants and effects on credit uptake.

Design/methodology/approach

The study design was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in Machakos County, Kenya. 1,170 sample households were randomly assigned to one of three research groups, namely control, RCC and traditional credit. This paper is based on baseline household survey data and the first phase of loan implementation data.

Findings

The authors find that 48% of the households were price-rationed, 41% were risk-rationed and 11% were quantity-rationed. The average credit uptake rate was 33% with the uptake of bundled credit being significantly higher than that of traditional credit. Risk rationing seems to influence the credit uptake negatively, whereas premium subsidies do not have any significant association with credit uptake. Among the socio-economic variables, training attendance, crop production being the main household head occupation, expenditure on food, maize labour requirement, hired labour, livestock revenue and access to credit are found to influence the credit uptake positively, whereas the expenditure on non-food items is negatively related with credit uptake.

Research limitations/implications

The study findings provide important insights on the factors of credit demand. Empirical results suggest that risk rationing is pervasive and discourages farmers to take up credit. The study results also imply that credit demand is inelastic although relatively small sample size for RCC premium subsidy groups may be a limiting factor to the authors’ estimation.

Originality/value

By implementing a multi-arm RCT, the authors estimate the factors affecting the uptake of insurance bundled agricultural credits along with eliciting credit rationing among rural smallholders in Eastern Kenya. This paper provides key empirical findings on the uptake of RCC and the effect of credit rationing on uptake of agricultural credits, a field which has been majorly theoretical.
Economic analysis of dry season vegetable production in Ogun State, Nigeria
Authors: Adeagbo Olayinka A. , Adejumo Oluwabunmi O.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The study was conducted to investigate the economics of dry season vegetable production in Ogun state, Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Descriptive statistics, budgetary technique and regression analysis model were used to analyze the data collected from 120 respondents using multistage sampling technique.

Findings

Descriptive statistics showed that while the mean age of the farmers was 62.1 ± 38.78, the mean farming experience was 17.3 ± 12.84. Majority (56.7%) of the respondents were uneducated. Vegetable enterprise in the area was male-dominant. The result of budgetary analysis revealed that the average net and total income were ₦ 55,405.29 and ₦ 131,514, respectively. While the average total variable cost was ₦ 64,767.29, average total cost was ₦ 76,108.70. Benefit cost ratio and rate of returns were 1.73 and 0.73, respectively. The regression analysis revealed that revenue from vegetable production in the study area was influenced by farm size, seed quantity, farming experience, quantity of labor and fertilizer used.

Research limitations/implications

It is therefore imperative for policymakers to encourage dry season vegetable farming as a viable enterprise option for the unemployed and upcoming entrepreneurs. Meanwhile, the government should design and implement policies that would improve access to land, labor, quality seed, water and fertilizers.

Originality/value

The study adds to the growing body of literature on inherent prospects for labor and entrepreneurs as regards the opportunities latent in dry season farming activities.
Exploring social aspects of task perception using cognitive sociology
Authors: Rha Eun Youp , Belkin Nicholas
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore effects of individuals' social context on their perception of a task, for better understanding of social aspects of task-based information seeking behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

This study took a qualitative case approach and conducted semi-structured one-on-one interviews with 12 participants. A cross-context comparative approach was chosen to identify effects of the social contexts on individuals. For comparative analysis, the research population was tenured faculty members in two different disciplines, natural sciences and humanities. The interview data were analyzed and coded using NVivo12 through an open coding process.

Findings

The results demonstrate that the same task type is differently perceived by individuals in different social contexts. Reasons for the different perceptions in the different contexts are associated with social factors of the disciplines, specifically social norms and practices.

Originality/value

This study uses a novel theoretical framework, cognitive sociology, to examine social aspects of human perception in relation to task-based information seeking behavior, which has been little understood theoretically and empirically in the field of information science.
The role of organizational justice in the customer orientation–performance relationship
Authors: Trincado-Munoz Francisco , Valenzuela-Fernández Leslier , Hebles Melany
Published: June 2020

Purpose

While companies have increasingly encouraged employees to adopt a customer orientation, less attention has been given to the impact that customer orientation has on employees' job outcomes and performance. Previous research has used job demands-resource theory (JD-R) and proposed several mechanisms through which customer orientation influences performance, yet the intervening variables in the process have shown inconsistent results. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the contextual role of organizational justice on the relationship between customer orientation and performance through work engagement. In this way, offering more understanding of the contingent effects that intervene in the customer orientation–performance relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a structural equation model (SEM) in a sample of 249 marketing, sales and management managers in Chilean companies, this paper tested different hypotheses concerning the role of work engagement, organizational justice and customer orientation in relation to perceived performance.

Findings

This study informs that organizational justice (procedural and distributive justice) moderates the relationship between customer orientation and performance through work engagement. Precisely, the findings reveal that at lower values of organizational justice, changes in customer orientation negatively influence work engagement and in turn performance.

Originality/value

The results contribute to strengthening customer orientation theory by integrating a contextual variable often omitted: organizational justice. By exploring the moderation effect of organizational justice on customer orientation, this paper reveals contingent effects of employees' perceived fairness on the organization in the relationship between customer orientation and performance through work engagement. The findings encourage managers to look after employees' perceived organizational justice when they implement customer-oriented approaches, in particular, of those employees who work in the frontline sales and service positions.
Research fatigue in COVID-19 pandemic and post-disaster research: causes, consequences and recommendations
Authors: Patel Sonny S. , Webster Rebecca K. , Greenberg Neil , Weston Dale , Brooks Samantha K.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Research fatigue occurs when an individual or population of interest tires of engaging with research, consequently avoiding further participation. This paper considers research fatigue in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic, to identify contributory factors and possible solutions for future post-disaster research.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw on examples from the literature and their own observations from the recruitment and data collection phases of qualitative and quantitative studies, to provide an overview of possible research fatigue in the current COVID-19 pandemic, with implications for future post-disaster research.

Findings

People affected by disasters sometimes receive multiple requests for study participation by separate teams who may not necessarily be coordinating their work. Not keeping participants informed of the research process or outcomes can lead to disillusionment. Being overburdened with too many research requests and failing to see any subsequent changes following participation may cause individuals to experience research fatigue.

Originality/value

Guidelines for researchers wishing to reduce the occurrence of research fatigue include ensuring greater transparency within research; sharing of results and using oversight or gatekeeper bodies to aid coordination. Failure to restrict the number of times that people are asked to participate in studies risks poor participation rates. This can subsequently affect the quality of information with which to inform policy-makers and protect the health of the public during the COVID-19 pandemic or other public health disasters/emergencies.
Intellectual capital in Italian healthcare: senior managers' perspectives
Authors: Manes-Rossi Francesca , Bisogno Marco , Aversano Natalia , Citro Francesca
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study investigates the perceptions of intellectual capital (IC) among senior managers at Italian local healthcare units (LHUs) and the interrelations among IC components. It also provides a comprehensive definition of IC in the healthcare context and managerial guidance on improving IC to enhance LHU performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was carried out to investigate perceptions among LHU senior management and identify characteristics of each primary IC component. The pilot study's results were examined using principal component analysis.

Findings

The findings illustrate senior management's perceptions of IC in LHUs and the extent to which management identifies and manages IC. A comprehensive definition of IC components in the healthcare sector is derived from these findings.

Research limitations/implications

The research provides a better understanding of IC in the healthcare context and facilitates further research into how IC may be incorporated in quotidian organizational procedures. Results suggest that LHU managers should invest in increasing trust and respect and engage employees in organizational processes to provide recognition for the active role they play. Ongoing management of the three primary IC components is shown to have clear advantages, particularly on their connectivity.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to an increasingly important strand of theoretical research – IC in the healthcare context – and also adds new knowledge on the practical applications of IC in LHUs.
How entrepreneurial orientation drives farmers' innovation differential in Ugandan coffee multi-stakeholder platforms
Authors: Barzola Iza Carlos Luis , Dentoni Domenico
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study explores the role of the key dimensions of farmers' entrepreneurial orientation – namely proactiveness, risk-taking, innovativeness and intentions – as drivers of product, process and market innovation in the context of one coffee MSP in Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data from 152 coffee farmers were analyzed via confirmatory factor analysis and partial least square multi-variate statistics.

Findings

Findings highlight, first, that farmers' proactiveness significantly drives their product innovation and, to a lesser extent, process innovation. This effect holds when considering key control variables, such as access to key resources and associated actors. Second, more surprisingly, farmers' innovativeness hampers market innovation. Third, entrepreneurial intentions per se did not play a significant role in farmers' innovation. Fourth, the adapted measurement of risk-taking from the Western literature did not suit well the Ugandan coffee farming context.

Research limitations/implications

These results lead to methodological implications for the measurement of farmers' risk-taking, innovative and proactive attitudes, as well as market innovation in rural Africa. Furthermore, they expand the role farmers' entrepreneurial orientation on product, process and market innovation in a rural African context.

Originality/value

Multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) are often claimed to play an important role in stimulating farmers' innovation and enhancing rural development. Nevertheless, little is known yet on if why some farmers participating in MSPs may innovate more than others. This paper addresses this gap by shedding light on the role of farmers' entrepreneurial orientation.
Hidden and forbidden: conceptualising Dark Knowledge
Authors: Burnett Simon , Lloyd Annemaree
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of Dark Knowledge, an epistemology that acknowledges both alternative knowledge and ways of knowing which are cognizant of the moral and ethical positioning of each.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper that uses existing relevant literature to develop the work. The paper uses a four-stage literature search process and draws upon a range of disciplines, including philosophy, computer science and information management, to underpin the evolution of the concept.

Findings

As a conceptual paper, no empirical findings are presented. Instead, the paper presents an embryonic model of Dark Knowledge and identifies a number of characteristics, which may be used to explore the concept in more detail.

Research limitations/implications

There is a clear need to develop a body of empirical work, adding to the theoretical perspectives presented in this paper. It is anticipated that this paper will provide one of the cornerstones for future studies in this area.

Originality/value

The paper makes an original contribution to the study of information behaviours, practices and epistemology.
The COVID-19 pandemic: new concerns and connections between eHealth and digital inequalities
Authors: Khilnani Aneka , Schulz Jeremy , Robinson Laura
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Telemedicine has been advancing for decades and is more indispensable than ever in this unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic. As shown, eHealth appears to be effective for routine management of chronic conditions that require extensive and repeated interactions with healthcare professionals, as well as the monitoring of symptoms and diagnostics. Yet much needs to be done to alleviate digital inequalities that stand in the way of making the benefits of eHealth accessible to all. The purpose of this paper is to explore the recent shift in healthcare delivery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic towards telemedicine in healthcare delivery and show how this rapid shift is leaving behind those without digital resources and exacerbating inequalities along many axes.

Design/methodology/approach

Because the digitally disadvantaged are less likely to use eHealth services, they bear greater risks during the pandemic to meet ongoing medical care needs. This holds true for both medical conditions necessitating lifelong care and conditions of particular urgency such as pregnancy. For this reason, the authors examine two case studies that exemplify the implications of differential access to eHealth: the case of chronic care diseases such as diabetes requiring ongoing care and the case of time-sensitive health conditions such as pregnancy that may be compromised by gaps in continuous care.

Findings

Not only are the digitally disadvantaged more likely to belong to populations experiencing greater risk – including age and economic class – but they are less likely to use eHealth services and thereby bear greater risks during the pandemic to meet ongoing medical care needs during the pandemic.

Social implications

At the time of writing, almost 20% of Americans have been unable to obtain medical prescriptions or needed medical care unrelated to the virus. In light of the potential of telemedicine, this does not need to be the case. These social inequalities take on particular significance in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originality/value

In light of the COVID-19 virus, ongoing medical care requires exposure to risks that can be successfully managed by digital communications and eHealth advances. However, the benefits of eHealth are far less likely to accrue to the digitally disadvantaged.
Multi-stakeholder perspectives on indicators for sustainable maintenance performance in production contexts: an exploratory study
Authors: Franciosi Chiara , Di Pasquale Valentina , Iannone Raffaele , Miranda Salvatore
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Poor maintenance management leads to non-negligible economic, environmental and social impacts and obstacles to the sustainable manufacturing paradigm. Studies evaluating maintenance impacts on sustainability underline growing interest in the topic, but reports on the industrial field are lacking. Therefore, this paper investigates the industrial environment and the indicators that manufacturing companies use for measuring their maintenance impacts.

Design/methodology/approach

In this pilot survey study, several stakeholders of production enterprises in the south of Italy were interviewed to unveil the spread of the measurement of maintenance impacts on sustainability and the indicators used by those companies.

Findings

The interview results showed a low level of awareness among stakeholders about maintenance impacts on sustainability. Maintenance stakeholders are mainly focused on technical and economic factors, whereas environmental, quality and safety stakeholders are becoming more aware of maintenance impacts on environmental and social factors. However, both groups need guidelines to define sustainability indicators to assess such impacts.

Originality/value

This exploratory study allowed us to investigate the current situation in industrial organisations and achieve the first variegated and diversified vision of the awareness of company stakeholders on maintenance impacts on the sustainability of several business functions. This paper provides a valuable contribution to “maintenance and sustainability” research area in production contexts and sheds light on non-negligible maintenance impacts on sustainability, providing preliminary insights on the topic and an effective basis for defining future research opportunities. Moreover, this study enables increased awareness among internal and external manufacturing company stakeholders on the role of maintenance in sustainable production.
Modelling condition-based maintenance for nonidentical two-component systems considering four types of dependencies
Authors: Alrabghi Abdullah
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The move toward Industry 4 is accelerated by the availability of affordable sensing technologies and networking infrastructure. Condition-Based Maintenance is the well-suited maintenance strategy to make use of the information available on assets condition to optimize maintenance interventions. However, devising the optimum maintenance policy requires a representative model of the maintenance system. Most of the existing research has been focusing on single-component systems. However, assets nowadays are complex and composed of many components. The modeling of multicomponent maintenance systems presents various challenges, especially if interactions between components, such as stochastic, structural, economic and resource dependencies are considered.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, we present a detailed modeling approach based on Discrete Event Simulation for nonidentical two-component systems subject to Condition-Based Maintenance considering all four types of dependencies.

Findings

The research has shown that optimizing the maintenance system without considering resource dependence led to different and better solutions. In addition, there is a trade-off between maintenance cost and asset availability, confirming the need for multiobjective optimization.

Originality/value

This paper outlines a modeling approach of CBM for nonidentical two-component systems considering stochastic, structural, economic and resource dependencies. A demonstration on a case study is followed where multiobjective optimization was applied to obtain the optimal maintenance policy while minimizing maintenance cost and maximizing asset availability simultaneously.
Food variety, dietary diversity scores and dietary quality of complementary foods consuming by 6-24 months aged children in Jimma town, southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Mezgebo Kiros , Lema Tefera Belachew , Neela Satheesh
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to assess Food Variety Score (FVS), Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) and dietary quality of collected complementary foods consumed in Jimma town, southwest Ethiopia.

Design/methodology/approach

Multi-stage stratified simple random sampling method was used to identify 384 children who were between 6 to 24 months of age living in Jimma town, Ethiopia. FVS and DDS were assessed based on 24 h recall method. Aliquot of infant’s diet samples were collected from randomly selected 30 household mothers feeding to 6-24 months aged children, and they are combined to get 15 samples by enquiring the ingredients similarly used in preparation. The major nutrients, anti-nutrients were determined with standard procedures. Further, nutrient adequacy and mean adequacy were determined for collected samples.

Findings

Results showed that mean FVS was 7.14 ± 4.07 (range 0 to 18) and DDS was 3.44 ± 1.75 (range 1 to 8). Consumption of diversified diet among the studied population significantly associated with residence areas of children’s (p= 0.001), age of the care taker (p= 0.001), occupation of care takers (p= 0.001), monthly income (p= 0.001), average money spent on food purchase per month (p= 0.001). Average mean adequacy of macronutrients (crude protein, crude fat and carbohydrate) was observed as 0.81, micronutrient (Fe, Ca, Zn) mean adequacy was 0.49 and Vitamin A adequacy was 0.34 for the complementary foods. All the complementary foods were reported mean adequacy of < 1 for macro and micro nutrients.

Originality/value

Studies on dietary diversity and dietary quality of the complementary foods were not documented in Jimma town, Ethiopia. The results of this study are highly useful to understand the complementary foods consumption pattern particularly in dietary diversity and food variety. Moreover, results obtained on dietary quality are very useful to recommend further development in complementary food preparations in the study area.