bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating temporal and spatial variation of eDNA in a nearshore rocky reef environment
Authors: Ely Taylor , Barber Paul H. , Gold Zachary
Published: December 2020

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is increasingly used to measure biodiversity of marine ecosystems. However, key aspects of spatial and temporal dynamics of eDNA remain unknown. Particularly, it is unclear how long eDNA signals persist locally in dynamic marine environments, since degradation rates have predominantly been quantified through mesocosm studies. To determinein situeDNA residence times, we introduced an eDNA signal from a non-native fish into a Southern California rocky reef ecosystem, and then measured changes in both introduced and background eDNA signals over 96 hours. Foreign eDNA signal could no longer be detected 7.5 hours after introduction, far exceeding disappearance rates quantified in laboratory studies. In addition, native vertebrate eDNA signals varied greatly over the 96 hours of observation, but time of day and tidal direction did not drive this variation in community structure. Species accumulation curves showed that standard sampling protocols using 3 replicate 1 L sea water samples were insufficient to capture full diversity of local marine vertebrates, capturing only 76% of all taxa. Despite this limitation, a single eDNA sample captured greater vertbrate diversity than 18 SCUBA based underwater visual transect surveys conducted at a nearby site. There was no significant difference in species richness between temporal replicates and spatial replicates, suggesting a space for time substitution may be effective for fully capturing the diversity of local marine vertebrate communities in nearshore rocky reef environments. This result is particularly important in designing eDNA metabarcoding sampling protocols to capture local marine species diversity.
Layer-dependent loss and enhancement of geniculostriate and retinotectal pathways in adult human amblyopia
Authors: Wen Wen , Wang Yue , He Sheng , Liu Hong , Zhao Chen , Zhang Peng
Published: December 2020

Abnormal visual experience during critical period leads to reorganization of neuroarchitectures in primate visual cortex. However, developmental plasticity of human subcortical visual pathways remains elusive. Using high-resolution fMRI and pathway-selective visual stimuli, we investigated layer-dependent response properties and connectivity of subcortical visual pathways of adult human amblyopia. Stimuli presented to the amblyopic eye showed selective response loss in the parvocellular layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus, and also reduced the connectivity to V1. Amblyopic eye’s response to isoluminant chromatic stimulus was significantly reduced in the superficial layers of the superior colliculus, while the fellow eye’s response robustly increased in the deeper layers associated with increased cortical feedbacks. Therefore, amblyopia led to selective reduction of parvocellular feedforward signals in the geniculostriate pathway, whereas loss and enhancement of parvocellular feedback signals in the retinotectal pathway. These findings shed light for future development of new tools for treating amblyopia and tracking the prognosis.

Highlights

Amblyopia impairs feedforward processing in the P layers of the LGN

Layer-dependent loss and enhancement of cortical feedback signals in the SC

Pathway-specific abnormalities explain amblyopic deficits in visual acuity and attention

Significance statement

How abnormal visual experiences during critical period shape the function and wire the neural circuits of human subcortex remains largely unknown. With high-resolution fMRI and visual stimuli to preferentially activate layer-dependent response in human subcortical pathways, the current study clearly demonstrates that amblyopia shifts the homeostatic interocular balance of human subcortex in a pathway-specific manner. Amblyopia led to selective loss of parvocellular feedforward signals in the geniculostriate pathway, whereas deficit and enhancement of parvocellular feedback signals in the retinotectal pathway. These pathwayspecific functional abnormalities provide the neural basis for amblyopic deficits in visual acuity, control of eye movement and attention. It sheds light for future development of new tools for treating amblyopia and tracking the prognosis.
Engineering large chromosomal deletions by CRISPR-Cas9
Authors: Eleveld Thomas F. , Bakali Chaimaa , Eijk Paul P. , Stathi Phylicia , Poddighe Pino J , Ylstra Bauke
Published: December 2020

Arm-level chromosomal deletions are a prevalent and defining feature of cancer. A high degree of tumor-type and subtype specific recurrencies suggest a selective oncogenic advantage. However, due to their large size it has been difficult to pinpoint the oncogenic drivers that confer this advantage. Suitable functional genomics approaches to study the oncogenic driving capacity of arm-level deletions are limited. Here we present an effective technique to engineer arm-level deletions by CRISPR-Cas9 and create isogenic cell line models. We simultaneously induce double-strand breaks (DSBs) at two ends of a chromosomal arm and select the cells that have lost the intermittent region. Using this technique, we induce arm-level deletions on chromosome 11q (65 MB) and chromosome 6q (53 MB) in neuroblastoma cell lines. Such isogenic models enable further research on the role of arm-level deletions in tumor development and growth and their possible therapeutic potential.
Global cognitive performance is not influenced by diurnal rhythm
Authors: De Jager Celine H. , Varangis Eleanna , Stern Yaakov
Published: December 2020

Objective

The human brain is influenced by different biological rhythms, including the daily 24-hour (diurnal) cycle. Past studies have reported evidence of variation in cognitive performance over the course of the day, and of differences in the peak time for cognition in older age. Here, we investigated these questions using two existing longitudinal studies of healthy adults.

Methods

Time of neuropsychological battery testing was extracted from study records, and we analyzed cognitive performance measures from 4 domains (Vocabulary, Processing Speed, Fluid Reasoning, and Episodic Memory) in 543 healthy adults between the ages of 20 and 80. Time of day was dichotomized as morning (281 tested before noon), and afternoon (242 tested after noon).

Results

Multivariate analyses controlling for both gender and years of education revealed no significant effect of time of testing (or its interaction with participant age) on cognitive performance. These results suggest that diurnal effects during time periods typically used to test human subjects are unlikely to have a meaningful effect on performance on the neuropsychological tests that are used for standard cognitive assessment.

Conclusion

This suggests that the effect of time of day on cognition in the context of aging may not be as ubiquitous as previously suggested, and thus is unlikely to represent a large confound in existing studies of cognition across the adult lifespan.
A cryptic BRCA2 repeated motif binds to HSF2BP oligomers with no impact on meiotic recombination
Authors: Ghouil Rania , Miron Simona , Koornneef Lieke , Veerman Jasper , Paul Maarten W. , Le Du Marie-Hélène , Sleddens-Linkels Esther , van Rossum-Fikkert Sari E. , van Loon Yvette , Felipe-Medina Natalia , Pendas Alberto M. , Maas Alex , Essers Jeroen , Legrand Pierre , Baarends Willy M. , Kanaar Roland , Zinn-Justin Sophie , Zelensky Alex N.
Published: December 2020

BRCA2 plays a prominent role in meiotic homologous recombination (HR). Loss of BRCA2 or several of its meiotic partners causes fertility defects. One of these partners, HSF2BP, was recently discovered as expressed physiologically in germline and ectopically produced in cancer cells. It has an N-terminal coiled coil motif involved in direct binding to the protein BRME1, and both HSF2BP and BRME1 are essential for meiotic HR during spermatogenesis. It also interacts through its C-terminal Armadillo (ARM) domain with a conserved region of BRCA2 of unknown function. We analyzed the structural properties and functional consequences of the BRCA2-HSF2BP interaction and tested the emerging model of its involvement in meiosis. We solved the crystal structure of the complex between the BRCA2 fragment that is disordered in solution and the HSF2BP dimeric ARM domain. This revealed two previously unrecognized BRCA2 repeats that each interact with one ARM monomer from two different dimers. BRCA2 binding triggers ARM tetramerization, resulting in a complex containing two BRCA2 fragments connecting two ARM dimers. The 3D structures of the BRCA2 repeats are superimposable, revealing conserved contacts between the BRCA2 residues defining the repeats and the HSF2BP residues lining the groove of the ARM. This large interface is responsible for the nanomolar affinity of the interaction, significantly stronger than any other measured interaction involving BRCA2. Deleting exon 12 fromBrca2, encoding the first repeat, disrupted BRCA2 binding to HSF2BPin vitroand in cells. However,Brca2Δ12/Δ12mice with the same deletion were fertile and did not show any meiotic defects, contrary to the prediction from the model positing that HSF2BP acts as a meiotic localizer of BRCA2. We conclude that the high-affinity interaction between BRCA2 and HSF2BP and the resulting HSF2BP oligomerization are not required for RAD51 and DMC1 recombinase localization to meiotic double strand breaks and for productive meiotic HR.
ACE2 peptide fragment interacts with several sites on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1
Authors: Kuznetsov Aleksei , Arukuusk Piret , Härk Heleri , Juronen Erkki , Langel Ülo , Ustav Mart , Järv Jaak
Published: December 2020

The influence of the peptide QAKTFLDKFNHEAEDLFYQ on the kinetics of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein S1 binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2) was studied to model the interaction of the virus with its host cell. This peptide corresponds to the sequence 24-42 of the ACE2 α1 domain, which is the binding site for the S1 protein. The on-rate and off-rate of S1-ACE2 complex formation were measured in the presence of various peptide concentrations using Bio-Layer Interferometry (BLI). The formation of the S1-ACE2 complex was inhibited when the S1 protein was preincubated with the peptide, however, no significant inhibitory effect was observed in the absence of preincubation. Dissociation kinetics revealed that the peptide remained bound to the S1-ACE2 complex and stabilized this complex. Computational mapping of the S1 protein surface for peptide binding revealed two additional sites, located at some distance from the receptor binding domain (RBD) of S1. These additional binding sites affect the interaction between the peptide, the S1 protein, and ACE2.
Sox2 levels configure the WNT response of epiblast progenitors responsible for vertebrate body formation
Authors: Blassberg Robert , Patel Harshil , Watson Thomas , Gouti Mina , Metzis Vicki , Delás M Joaquina , Briscoe James
Published: December 2020

WNT signalling has multiple roles. It maintains pluripotency of embryonic stem cells, assigns posterior identity in the epiblast and induces mesodermal tissue. We provide evidence that these distinct functions are conducted by the transcription factor SOX2, which adopts different modes of chromatin interaction and regulatory element selection depending on its level of expression. At high levels, SOX2 acts as a pioneer factor, displacing nucleosomes from regulatory elements with high affinity SOX2 binding sites and recruiting the WNT effector, TCF/β-catenin, to maintain pluripotent gene expression. Reducing SOX2 levels destabilises pluripotency and reconfigures SOX2/TCF/β-catenin occupancy to caudal epiblast expressed genes. These contain low-affinity SOX2 sites and are co-occupied by T/Bra and CDX. The loss of SOX2 allows WNT induced mesodermal differentiation. These findings define a role for Sox2 levels in dictating the chromatin occupancy of TCF/β-catenin and reveal how context specific responses to a signal are configured by the level of a transcription factor.
Neuronal regulated Ire1-dependent mRNA decay controls germline differentiation inC. elegans
Authors: Levi-Ferber Mor , Shalash Rewayd , Thomas Adrien Le , Salzberg Yehuda , Shurgi Maor , Ashkenazi Avi , Henis-Korenblit Sivan
Published: December 2020

Understanding the molecular events that regulate cell pluripotency versus acquisition of differentiated somatic cell fate is fundamentally important. Studies inC. elegansdemonstrate that knockout of the germline-specific translation repressorgld-1, causes germ cells within tumorous gonads to form germline-derived teratoma. Previously we demonstrated that ER stress enhances this phenotype to suppress germline tumor progression (Levi-Ferber M, 2015). Here, we identify a neuronal circuit that non-autonomously suppresses germline differentiation, and show that it communicates with the gonad via the neurotransmitter serotonin to limit somatic differentiation of the tumorous germline. ER stress controls this circuit through regulated IRE-1-dependent mRNA decay of transcripts encoding the neuropeptide FLP-6. Depletion of FLP-6 disrupts the circuit’s integrity and hence its ability to prevent somatic-fate acquisition by germline tumor cells. Our findings reveal mechanistically how ER stress enhances ectopic germline differentiation, and demonstrate that RIDD can affect animal physiology by controlling a specific neuronal circuit.
Stable Polymer Bilayers for Protein Channel Recordings at High Guanidinium Chloride Concentrations
Authors: Yu Luning , Kang Xinqi , Alibakhshi Mohammad Amin , Pavlenok Mikhail , Niederweis Michael , Wanunu Meni
Published: December 2020

Use of chaotropic reagents is common in biophysical characterization of biomolecules. When the study involves transmembrane protein channels, the stability of the protein channel and supporting bilayer membrane must be considered. In this letter we show that planar bilayers composed of poly(1,2-butadiene)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer are stable and leak-free at high guanidinium chloride concentrations, in contrast to diphytanoyl phosphatidylcholine bilayers which exhibit deleterious leakage under similar conditions. Further, insertion and functional analysis of channels such as α-hemolysin and MspA are straightforward in these polymer membranes. Finally, we demonstrate that α-hemolysin channels maintain their structural integrity at 2M guanidinium chloride concentrations using blunt DNA hairpins as molecular reporters.
Peptidome profiling for the immunological stratification in sepsis: a proof of concept study
Authors: Ledesma Martín , Todero María Florencia , Maceira Lautaro , Prieto Monica , Vay Carlos , Galas Marcelo , López Beatriz , Yokobori Noemí , Rearte Bárbara
Published: December 2020

Sepsis has been called “the graveyard of pharmaceutical companies” due to the numerous failed clinical trials. The lack of tools to monitor the immunological status in sepsis constrains the development of immunomodulatory therapies. Here, we evaluated a test based on whole plasma peptidome acquired in a MALDI-TOF-mass spectrometer used for bacterial biotyping and machine-learning algorithms to discriminate the different immunological phases of sepsis. In this proof of concept study, two discrete lipopolysaccharide-(LPS) induced murine models emulating the pro- and anti-inflammatory phases that occur during sepsis were evaluated. The LPS group was inoculated with a single high dose of LPS, recalling the proinflammatory phase, and the IS groups was subjected to increasing doses of LPS to induce the anti-inflammatory/immunosuppression phase. Unstimulated mice served as controls. Both experimental groups showed the hallmarks of pro- and anti- inflammatory phases respectively; the LPS group showed leukopenia and higher levels of cytokines and tissue damage markers, and the IS group showed neutrophilia, lymphopenia and significantly lower antibody titers upon immunization. Principal component analysis of the plasma peptidomes formed three discrete clusters that mostly coincided with the experimental groups. In addition, machine-learning algorithms discriminated the different experimental groups with a sensitivity and specificity of up to 95.7% and 90.9% respectively. Our data reveal the potential of plasma peptidome analysis by MALDI-TOF-mass spectrometry as a simple, speedy and readily transferrable method for sepsis patient stratification that would contribute to therapeutic decision-making based on their immunological status.
The β-Carotene-Oxygen Copolymer: its Relationship to Apocarotenoids and β-Carotene Function
Authors: Mogg Trevor J. , Burton Graham W.
Published: December 2020

β-Carotene spontaneously copolymerizes with molecular oxygen to form a β-carotene-oxygen copolymer compound (“copolymer”) as the main product, together with small amounts of many apocarotenoids. Both the addition and scission products are interpreted as being formed during progression through successive free radical β-carotene-oxygen adduct intermediates. The product mixture from full oxidation of β-carotene, lacking both vitamin A and β-carotene, has immunological activities, some of which derive from the copolymer. However, the copolymer’s chemical makeup is unknown. A chemical breakdown study shows the compound to be moderately stable but nevertheless the latent source of many small apocarotenoids. Although the copolymer alone is only slightly affected by heating at 100°C for 4 h, in methanol solution it is significantly degraded by hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide, liberating many apocarotenoids. GC-MS analysis with mass-spectral library matching identified a minimum of 45 structures, while more than 90 others remain unassigned. Thirteen products are Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) human flavor agents. Newly identified products include various small keto carboxylic acids and dicarboxylic acids, several of which are central metabolic intermediates. Also present are the dialdehydes glyoxal and methyl glyoxal, recently reported as β-carotene metabolites in plants. Although both compounds at higher concentrations are known to be toxic, at low concentration methyl glyoxal has been reported to be potentially capable of activating an immune response against microbial infection. In plants, advantage is taken of the electrophilic reactivity of specific apocarotenoids derived from β-carotene oxidation to activate protective defenses. Given the copolymer occurs naturally and is a major product of non-enzymatic β-carotene oxidation in stored plants, by partially sequestering apocarotenoid metabolites the copolymer may serve to limit potential toxicity and maintain low cellular apocarotenoid concentrations for signaling purposes. In animals the copolymer may serve as a systemic source of apocarotenoids.
XMAP215 promotes microtubule catastrophe by disrupting the growing microtubule end
Authors: Farmer Veronica , Arpağ Göker , Hall Sarah , Zanic Marija
Published: December 2020

The GTP-tubulin cap is widely accepted to protect microtubules against catastrophe. The GTP-cap size is thought to increase with the microtubule growth rate, presumably endowing fast-growing microtubules with enhanced stability. It is unknown what GTP-cap properties permit frequent microtubule catastrophe despite fast growth. Here, we investigate microtubules grownin vitroin the presence and absence of the microtubule polymerase XMAP215. Using EB1 as a GTP-cap marker, we find that GTP-cap size increases regardless of whether growth acceleration is achieved by increasing tubulin concentration or by XMAP215. In spite of the increased mean GTP-cap size, microtubules grown with XMAP215 display increased catastrophe frequency, in contrast to microtubules grown with more tubulin, for which catastrophe is abolished. However, microtubules polymerized with XMAP215 have large fluctuations in growth rate and EB1 intensity; display tapered and curled ends; and undergo catastrophe at faster growth rates and with higher EB1 end-localization. Our results underscore the role of growth irregularities in overall microtubule stability.
Pharmacophore-based peptide biologics neutralize SARS-CoV-2 S1 and deter S1-ACE2 interactionin vitro
Authors: Shah Masaud , Moon Sung Ung , Woo Hyun Goo
Published: December 2020

Effective therapeutics and stable vaccine are the urgent need of the day to combat COVID-19 pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein has a pivotal role in cell-entry and host immune response, thus regarded as potential drug- and vaccine-target. As the virus utilizes the S1 domain of spike to initiate cell-attachment and S2 domain for membrane fusion, several attempts have been made to design viral-receptor and viral-fusion blockers. Here, by deploying interactive structure-based design and pharmacophore-based approaches, we designed short and stable peptide-biologicsi.e. CoV-spike-neutralizing peptides (CSNPs) including CSNP1, CSNP2, CSNP3, CSNP4. We could demonstrate in cell culture experiments that CSNP2 binds to S1 at submicromolar concentration and abrogates the S1-hACE2 interaction. CSNP3, a modified and downsized form of CSNP2, could neither interfere with the S1-hACE2 interaction nor bind to S1. CSNP4 exhibited dose-dependent binding to both S1 and hACE2 and abolished the S1-hACE2 interactionin vitro. CSNP4 possibly enhance the mAb-based S1 neutralization by limiting the spontaneous movement of spike receptor-binding domain (RBD), whereas CSNP2 allowed RBD-mAb binding without any steric hindrance. Taken together, we suggest that CSNP2 and CSNP4 are potent and stable candidate peptides that can neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 spike and possibly pose the virus to host immune surveillance.
Performance measurement in a transitional economy: unfolding a case of KPIs
Authors: Uddin Shahzad , Popesko Boris , Papadaki Šárka , Wagner Jaroslav
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper aims to make contributions to the debate on “performance measurement in practice” focussing on how organisational participants respond to the “new regime” of key performance indicators (KPIs) and whether KPIs materialise as intended in a transitional economy.

Design/methodology/approach

Inspired by the epistemological instruction of Schatzki's practice theory, this paper draws on qualitative data collected through face-to-face interviews, observations and documentary analysis of a single organisation.

Findings

KPIs were introduced at PK (a manufacturing concern in Czech Republic) but widely seen as contradictory, inconsequential, top-down and unrealistic. These lead organisational participants to adopt a pragmatic approach towards PM embracing KPIs' subjective assessment and manipulation, common sense or doing the job as given, and superficial compliance (symbolism).

Research limitations/implications

The paper would be interesting to researchers because of its explanation of performance measurement practice in a distinct empirical setting, for its application of a practice theory inspired by Schatzki, and for inspiring new research agendas in transitional economies.

Practical implications

The paper recommends the mobilisation of artefacts, such as various forms of bottom-up discussions, to encourage interactions between organisational members and influence individual beliefs and practical understandings of the intended managerial projects.

Originality/value

The paper has focussed on “organisations of practice” to unravel the “doings” of organisational participants to explore the micro-processes of PM which otherwise would have been ignored. These “doings” and “sayings”, linked by pools of understanding, rules or instructions, and a teleoaffective structure, enabled the authors to unmask inherent tensions and contradictions in a new regime of performance measures such as KPIs.
The passive properties of TA10 in Coca-Cola containing oral environment
Authors: Liu Ming , Li Jun , Li Danping , Zheng Lierui
Published: December 2020

Purpose

At present, carbonated drinks such as cola are especially favored by the younger generation. But because of its acid, it often leads to tooth demineralization, resulting in “cola tooth”. However, the influence of cola on the corrosion resistance of passive film of TiA10 alloy restorative materials is rarely reported. The purpose of this study was to analysis the corrosion resistance, composition of the passive film of TA10 alloy in different concentrations of Cola.

Design/methodology/approach

The passive behavior of TA10 alloy in artificial saliva (AS) and Cola was studied by means of potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, Mott-Schottky techniques and combined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) surface analysis.

Findings

With the increase of cola content, the self-corrosion current density of the alloy increases sharply, and the corrosion resistance of the passive film is the best in AS, while Rp in cola is reduced to half of that in AS. The thickness of the passive film in AS, AS +cola and cola is about 9.5 nm, 7.5 nm and 6 nm, respectively. The passive film in cola has more defects and the carrier density is 1.55 times as high as that in AS. Cola can weaken the formation process of the protected oxide, promote the formation of high valence Ti-oxides and increase the content of Mo-oxides in the passive film.

Originality/value

These results have important guiding significance for the safe use of the alloy in the complex oral environments.
Preliminary survey of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K activity level and their cancer risk in some foodstuff, Sudan
Authors: Idriss Hajo , M Elhassan Haitham
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to buildup baseline data for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K levels in different food samples and computes their cancer risk (CR).

Design/methodology/approach

This report has been performed to buildup baseline data for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K levels in different food samples and computes their CR. 226Ra, 232Th and 40K activity levels were measured using ?-ray spectrometry based on high-purity germanium (HPGe).

Findings

The findings exhibited that the annual effective dose (AED) and CR due to 226Ra ingestion in foodstuff samples have shown the trends cereal > vegetable > meat > fruits > sesame. Meanwhile, (AED) and (CR) due to 40K displayed the trends vegetable > cereal > meat > fruits > sesame. Although the average value of radiological dose due to ingestion of some radionuclides slightly exceed the values of some foodstuff around the world. However, the overall average of (AED) for all foodstuff samples (226.6 µSv/y) was found to be far below the world average (AED) (300 µSv/y).

Practical implications

The main contributor to the AED was 40K 85, 226Ra 9 and 232Th 6%. The computed magnitude values for CR owing to 226Ra, 232Th, 40K (1.3 × 10−5) lower than International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) CR of (2.5 × 10−3) for the general public.

Originality/value

The main contributor to the AED was 40K 85 %, 226Ra 9% and 232Th 6%. The computed magnitude values for CR owing to 226Ra, 232Th, 40K (1.3 × 10−5) lower than ICRP CR of (2.5 × 10−3) for the general public.
Let natural learning arise!: optimizing organizational learning through a customized leadership development program
Authors: Roberts Robin
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper examined a tiered leadership development program (LDP) designed to optimize natural organizational learning.

Design/methodology/approach

The heuristic design of the tiered LDP linked learning pragmatic to the leaders’ workplace to the LDP content instructed in real-time.

Findings

The longitudinal study showed that real-time connected natural learning and LDP instruction fortified the participants’ competencies systemically throughout the organization easily measured through continuous assessment and feedback from multiple sources.

Research limitations/implications

The study relied on assessment data perceived by workplace observers. Though perception bias is prevalent in studies dependent on qualitative feedback, the feedback in this study was useful to determine the heuristic value of the study parameters. Future research focused on identifying specific elements of natural learning influencing leadership development would enrich the customized content of the tiered LDP. Organizations considering a tiered LDP are cautioned to contemplate if their organization has the internal expertise to implement and facilitate such a program or require external affordable consultancies for the LDP.

Originality/value

This paper introduces a unique and comprehensive tiered leadership development program that promotes stackable and transferable learning symbiotic of leaders’ relationships and organizational tasks at a variety of organizational levels.
Do financial constraints moderate the relationship between innovation subsidies and firms' R&D investment?
Authors: Acebo Enrique , Miguel-Dávila José-Ángel , Nieto Mariano
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse whether the effect of innovation subsidies on firms' R&D investment varies depending on whether the firm is suffering from financial constraints.

Design/methodology/approach

To address this analysis, the authors provide a theoretical model and test their hypothesis using an econometric analysis of an unbalanced panel of 3,865 innovative Spanish firms during 2010–2017. They employ the SABI database to obtain firms' financial and economic data and incorporate firms' MORE financial rating. Specifically, the authors use the GMM-SYS technique to regress and measure the marginal effects of innovation subsidies size on firms' R&D investment and the influence of firms' financial constraints.

Findings

The results of this work indicate that financial constraints negatively moderate the effect of subsidies on R&D investment; that is, those firms that receive a subsidy and suffer financial constraints invest less in R&D projects than those which also receive the subsidy and do not suffer financial constraints. Besides, this work found that innovation subsidies alone do not significantly increase firms' R&D investment.

Originality/value

From a neoclassical point of view, the existence of financial constraints is the justification of public innovation policies. However, due to the difficulty of measuring financial constraints, innovation literature has abandoned the analysis of this crucial variable. This work reintroduces this vital variable and analyses how it interacts with innovation subsidies on firms' R&D investment.
Predicting the inpatient hospital cost using a machine learning approach
Authors: Kulkarni Suraj , Ambekar Suhas Suresh , Hudnurkar Manoj
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Increasing health-care costs are a major concern, especially in the USA. The purpose of this paper is to predict the hospital charges of a patient before being admitted. This will help a patient who is getting admitted: “electively” can plan his/her finance. Also, this can be used as a tool by payers (insurance companies) to better forecast the amount that a patient might claim.

Design/methodology/approach

This research method involves secondary data collected from New York state’s patient discharges of 2017. A stratified sampling technique is used to sample the data from the population, feature engineering is done on categorical variables. Different regression techniques are being used to predict the target value “total charges.”

Findings

Total cost varies linearly with the length of stay. Among all the machine learning algorithms considered, namely, random forest, stochastic gradient descent (SGD) regressor, K nearest neighbors regressor, extreme gradient boosting regressor and gradient boosting regressor, random forest regressor had the best accuracy with R2 value 0.7753. “Age group” was the most important predictor among all the features.

Practical implications

This model can be helpful for patients who want to compare the cost at different hospitals and can plan their finances accordingly in case of “elective” admission. Insurance companies can predict how much a patient with a particular medical condition might claim by getting admitted to the hospital.

Originality/value

Health care can be a costly affair if not planned properly. This research gives patients and insurance companies a better prediction of the total cost that they might incur.
Patient centricity: lip service or genuine commitment? A qualitative examination of the pharmaceutical industry
Authors: Katsanis Lea Prevel , Pitta Dennis , Morinville Anne
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is two-fold: first, to identify the degree of adoption of patient centricity in the pharmaceutical industry and second, to understand how the industry operationalizes this strategy. It is an important shift in the industry because of its central focus on the patient.

Design/methodology/approach

A content analysis was used based on publicly available documentation that includes industry publications, company and brand websites and clinical trial publications to identify the frequency of words used to describe patient centricity.

Findings

The key finding of this study is that the leading pharmaceutical firms overwhelmingly use patient support/access programs as the primary method of implementing patient centric strategies.

Research limitations/implications

Future research is needed to identify what impact these strategies have on patients; and whether or not these strategies have an impact on lowering drug prices and improved clinical outcomes for patients.

Practical implications

Future research is needed to identify what impact these strategies have on patients; and whether or not these strategies have an impact on lowering drug prices and improved clinical outcomes for patients. Limitations include the reliance on publicly available documentation.

Social implications

Pharmaceutical firms need to be aware that their publically available profile suggests a one-dimensional approach to patient centricity and this may influence the way patients, physicians and policymakers view their attitudes toward patients. This study is the first to systematically examine the activities of leading pharmaceutical firms with respect to the adoption and implementation of patient-centric strategies in a comprehensive fashion.

Originality/value

This study is the first to systematically examine the activities of leading pharmaceutical firms with respect to the adoption and implementation of patient-centric strategies in a comprehensive fashion.
Analysis of issues of generic medicine supply chain using fuzzy AHP: a Pilot study of Indian public drug distribution scheme
Authors: Shweta  , Kumar Dinesh
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Integrated supply chain in pharmaceutical industry requires organized planning and modeling of each strategic element of pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC). The aim is to coordinate each activity of PSC and design a robust strategy to make the system hassle-free. Each activity of industry is interdependent and follows certain co-relations with each other. The paper focuses on the four most significant identified issues in PSC and analyses the weightages of these issues and their sub issues with respect to cost incurred and time taken to manage whole chain of supply.

Design/methodology/approach

Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process methodology has been applied to rank the issues which consume maximum time and/or costs.

Findings

The derived result shows that warehouse design and management (WDM) consumes more than one third of the total time and around half of the total cost. Other than WDM, process of supplier selection for procurement is second most time and cost consuming issue. The derived results are discussed and provided to the field experts of the area. The analysis will be useful for decision makers to economize PSC.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to PSC; hence, result may vary with other practical situations.

Practical implications

This generated scope for further research on how to minimize the weightage of WDM for cost and time in PSC industry so that decision-makers can optimize the economic system of PSC.

Originality/value

The research is based on the field survey of India’s largest generic medicine distributing company in the government sector; hence, analysis has been performed on real situation.
Tools of power: pay-for-performance in French and German health reforms
Authors: Brunn Matthias
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Pay-for-performance (P4P) as an innovation for improved health care has been introduced in many health systems worldwide. The aim of this article is to apply and refine a specific theoretical angle for the analysis of these reforms, the theoretical frameworks of public policy instruments and programmatic actors, in order to highlight differences between countries.

Design/methodology/approach

This analysis is based on a comparative case study of the introduction of P4P in France and Germany in the ambulatory sector for the period from 2007 until 2017. This included a literature review and semi-structured interviews with 23 actors between 2013 and 2015.

Findings

The introduction of a supposedly clear-cut policy instrument – P4P in health care – is distinctly shaped by the intertwined configuration of institutional architecture and the policy programme of key system actors. This can be understood as a continuation of long-term transformations, most importantly the increasingly direct influence of the state and a weakening of the representation of the medical profession, as well as an internal fragmentation of the latter.

Originality/value

This analysis illustrates the applicability of the policy instrument approach to the heath sector. In addition, the authors have applied the dual perspective of policy instruments and programmatic actors. Both proved complementary and appropriate for the study of a highly technical instrument such as P4P.
Exploring the potential of collaborative teaching nested within professional learning networks
Authors: Schnellert Leyton , Butler Deborah L.
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This research investigated whether structuring an inquiry-oriented professional learning network to include school-based co-teaching partners would amplify educators' success in taking up and adapting evidence-based understandings and practices as meaningful in their contexts. Our research questions were: (1) What conditions did educators identify in the PLN overall that supported their co-construction of knowledge and practice development together? and (2) How did including co-teaching partners in the PLN help participants to mobilize knowledge and/or practices in the contexts where they were working?

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case study design was used because of its potential to examine how and why questions about complex processes as situated in context (Butler, 2011; Yin, 2014). A case study methodology allowed us to collect and coordinate multiple forms of evidence (i.e. interviews, teacher reflective writing, classroom artifacts, field notes) to examine both how conditions created within the PLN supported learning and how co-teaching partners were mobilizing what they were learning in their school contexts. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and data was analyzed abductively through an iterative and recursive process (Braun et al., 2018).

Findings

Conditions within the PLN overall that participants identified as supportive to their knowledge mobilization and practice development included: having a shared focus, feeling accountability to the group, collaborative enactment of practices within the PLN, large group sharing and debriefing, sustained cycles of collaborative inquiry, affective support, valuing diversity and drawing from expert others as resources. Participants also identified the benefits that accrued specifically from working with co-teaching partners. In addition, findings showed how the degree to which partners engaged in rich forms of collaborative inquiry could be related to their learning and situated practice development.

Originality/value

Findings show the generative potential of inviting co-teaching partners into a PLN to engage in collaborative inquiry with others. PLNs offer the benefit of engaging with educators from outside of one's practice context, which enables pushing their thinking in new directions. Our findings add to the literature by revealing how in situ knowledge mobilization can be amplified when educators participating within a PLN are also working through cycles of inquiry with a co-teaching partner. Overall, this study offers a PLN model where teachers have built-in support for knowledge co-creation and mobilization both within and outside of their school contexts.
Development of digitalised maintenance – a concept
Authors: Algabroun Hatem , Bokrantz Jon , Al-Najjar Basim , Skoogh Anders
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper presents a concept for digitalised maintenance (DM), maps the conceptualised DM to maintenance problems in industries and highlights challenges that might be faced when realizing this concept.

Design/methodology/approach

First, maintenance problems that are faced by the industry are presented, followed by a conceptualisation of DM. Next, a typical operational scenario is used as an exemplification to show system dynamics. The characteristics of this conceptualised DM are then mapped to the identified maintenance problems of industry. Then, interesting initiatives in this domain are highlighted, and finally, the challenges to realize this approach are discussed.

Findings

This paper identified a set of problems related to maintenance in industry. In order to solve current industrial problems, exploit emerging digital technologies and elevate future industries, it will be necessary to develop new maintenance approaches. The mapping between the criteria of DM and maintenance problems shows the potential of this concept and gives a reason to examine it empirically in future work.

Originality/value

This paper aims to help maintenance professionals from both academia and industry to understand and reflect on the problems related to maintenance, as well as to comprehend the requirements of a digitalised maintenance and challenges that may arise.
Family influence and firm performance: the mediating role of stewardship
Authors: Afonso Alves Catarina , Matias Gama Ana Paula , Augusto Mário
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study examines how stewardship might mediate the influence of family ownership on firm financial performance. The authors argue that differences in financial performance may reflect not only the family's influence but also the prevalence of a stewardship-oriented culture, across varying degrees of family influence.

Design/methodology/approach

The measure of family influence uses the F-PEC scale: family [F], power [P], experience [E] and culture [C]. It supports cross-firm comparisons of different levels of family influence. To capture the multidimensional nature of family influence, this study uses structural equation modelling and measures the meditating effects of stewardship.

Findings

The results reveal a mediating effect of stewardship; family firms achieve better performance when they take advantage of and encourage stewardship attitudes among owners and leaders. Factors associated with stewardship behaviour, including stewardship motivation and stewardship culture, help explain why some family firms perform better than others.

Practical implications

When analysing the behaviour of family firms, interested entrepreneurs, managers and consultants should acknowledge that the family's influence entails both financial and emotional capital. The survival of the family businesses depends on balancing these aspects.

Originality/value

In response to calls for research into mediators of the complex relationship between family influence and firm outcomes, this study provides a novel explanation for performance-maximizing behaviours by organizations, in which pro-organizational attitudes coexist with self-serving motives.
Social capital and knowledge integration in interdisciplinary research teams: a multilevel analysis
Authors: Zhang Xueyan , Wang Xiaohong , Zhao Wei
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Effective knowledge integration is vital for decision making in interdisciplinary research (IDR) teams. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the antecedents of knowledge integration. This study aims to examine how social capital at different levels and their interaction influences knowledge integration in IDR teams. Specifically, this study explores the moderating role of team social capital in the relationship between individual social capital and knowledge integration.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey on 346 individuals from 46 IDR teams in a research university in China is conducted. A multilevel analysis of the hierarchical linear model is used to process the sociometric data.

Findings

Results reveal that team social capital interacts with individual social capital by influencing knowledge integration. At the individual level, tie strength and structural equivalence have a positive influence on knowledge integration. There is an inverted U-shaped relationship between betweenness centrality and knowledge integration. Furthermore, team cohesion negatively moderates the positive effect of tie strength and structural equivalence on knowledge integration. No support is found for the moderating role of team cohesion on the effect of betweenness centrality.

Originality/value

First, different from previous research on social capital at single levels, this study links the individual-level and the team-level views to explore the effects of social capital on knowledge integration. Second, this study enriches research on inducing factors of knowledge integration. Third, this study extends social capital research and knowledge integration research to the IDR team context.
Relaxed Bodies and Comfortable Clothes: Reframing Masculinity in Post‐War Australia
Authors: Cramer Lorinda
Published: December 2020

As Australia's Second World War servicemen began returning home, many anticipated the pleasure of stepping out of their uniforms for the last time. Yet scholarship on the role clothing played in repatriation and post‐war rehabilitation in Australia remains scarce. Exploring the post‐war swing towards sportswear, the article considers the growing idea of relaxed bodies and the language of comfort that underpinned it. It argues that being attentive to men's dress allows us to engage with a reframing of attractive, able, white, heterosexual bodies that combined two icons of Australian masculinity – the Anzac and the athlete – into a more relaxed vision of manliness.