bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complementary feeding practices in 80 low- and middle-income countries: prevalence and socioeconomic inequalities in dietary diversity, meal frequency and dietary adequacy
Authors: Gatica-Domínguez Giovanna , Neves Paulo A. R. , Barros Aluísio J. D. , Victora Cesar G.
Published: December 2020

Objective

To describe patterns and socioeconomic inequalities in complementary feeding practices among children aged 6-23 months in 80 low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods

We analyzed national surveys carried out since 2010. Complementary feeding indicators for children aged 6-23 months included minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF) and minimum acceptable diet (MAD). Between- and within-country inequalities were documented using relative (wealth deciles) and absolute (estimated household income) socioeconomic indicators.

Results

Only 21.3%, 56.2% and 10.1% of the 80 countries showed prevalence levels above 50% for MDD, MMF and MAD, respectively. Western & Central Africa showed the lowest prevalence for all indicators, whereas the highest for MDD and MAD was Latin America & Caribbean, and for MMF in East Asia & the Pacific. Log per capita gross domestic product was positively associated with MDD (R2 = 48.5%), MMF (28.2%) and MAD (41.4%). Pro-rich within-country inequalities were observed in most countries for the three indicators; pro-poor inequalities were observed in two countries for MMF, and in none for the other two indicators. Breastmilk was the only type of food with a pro-poor distribution, whereas animal-source foods (dairy products, flesh foods and eggs) showed the most pronounced pro-rich inequality. Dietary diversity improved sharply when absolute annual household incomes exceeded about US$20,000. There were no consistent differences among boys and girls for any of the indicators studied.

Conclusion

Monitoring complementary feeding indicators in the world and implementing policies and programs to reduce wealth-related inequalities are essential to achieve optimal child nutrition.
SARS-CoV-2 infections in 171 countries and over time
Authors: Louca Stilianos
Published: December 2020

Understanding the dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic, evaluating the efficacy of past and current control measures, and estimating vaccination needs, requires knowledge of the number of infections in the population over time. This number, however, generally differs substantially from the number of confirmed cases due to a large fraction of asymptomatic infections as well as geographically and temporally variable testing effort and strategies. Here I use age-stratified death count statistics, age-dependent infection fatality risks and stochastic modeling to estimate the prevalence and growth of SARS-CoV-2 infections among adults (age ≥ 20 years) in 171 countries, from early 2020 until April 9, 2021. The accuracy of the approach is confirmed through comparison to previous nationwide general-population seroprevalence surveys in multiple countries. Estimates of infections over time, compared to reported cases, reveal that the fraction of infections that are detected vary widely over time and between countries, and hence comparisons of confirmed cases alone (between countries or time points) often yield a false picture of the pandemic’s dynamics. As of April 9, 2021, the nationwide cumulative SARS-CoV-2 prevalence (past and current infections relative to the population size) is estimated at 61% (95%-CI 42-78) for Peru, 58% (39–83) for Mexico, 57% (31–75) for Brazil, 55% (34–72) for South Africa, 29% (19-48) for the US, 26% (16–49) for the United Kingdom, 19% (12–34) for France, 19% (11–33) for Sweden, 9.6% (6.5–15) for Canada, 11% (7–19) for Germany and 0.67% (0.47–1.1) for Japan. The presented time-resolved estimates expand the possibilities to study the factors that influenced and still influence the pandemic’s progression in 171 countries. Regular updates are available at: www.loucalab.com/archive/COVID19prevalence
Shotgun lipidomics and mass spectrometry imaging unveil diversity and dynamics in lipid composition inGammarus fossarum
Authors: Fu Tingting , Knittelfelder Oskar , Geffard Olivier , Clément Yohann , Testet Eric , Elie Nicolas , Touboul David , Abbaci Khedidja , Shevchenko Andrej , Lemoine Jerome , Chaumot Arnaud , Salvador Arnaud , Degli-Esposti Davide , Ayciriex Sophie
Published: December 2020

Sentinel species are playing an indispensable role in monitoring environmental pollution in aquatic ecosystems. Many pollutants found in water prove to be endocrine disrupting chemicals that could cause disruptions in lipid homeostasis in aquatic species. A comprehensive profiling of the lipidome of these species is thus an essential step towards understanding the mechanism of toxicity induced by pollutants. We here extensively examined both the composition and spatial distribution of lipids in freshwater crustaceanGammarus fossarum. The baseline lipidome of gammarids of different gender and reproductive stage was established by high throughput shotgun lipidomics. Spatial lipid mapping by high resolution mass spectrometry imaging led to the discovery of sulfate-based lipids in hepatopancreas and their accumulation in mature oocytes. We uncovered inG. fossaruma diverse and dynamic lipid composition that deepens our understanding of the biochemical changes during development and which could serve as a reference for future ecotoxicological studies.
Topoisomerase 1 inhibition therapy protects against SARS-CoV-2-induced inflammation and death in animal models
Authors: Yuin Ho Jessica Sook , Wing-Yee Mok Bobo , Campisi Laura , Jordan Tristan , Yildiz Soner , Parameswaran Sreeja , Wayman Joseph A , Gaudreault Natasha N , Meekins David A , Indran Sabarish V. , Morozov Igor , Trujillo Jessie D , Fstkchyan Yesai S , Rathnasinghe Raveen , Zhu Zeyu , Zheng Simin , Zhao Nan , White Kris , Ray-Jones Helen , Malysheva Valeriya , Thiecke Michiel J , Lau Siu-Ying , Liu Honglian , Junxia Zhang Anna , Chak-Yiu Lee Andrew , Liu Wen-Chun , Aydillo Teresa , Salom Melo Betsaida , Guccione Ernesto , Sebra Robert , Shum Elaine , Bakker Jan , Kaufman David A. , Moreira Andre L. , Carossino Mariano , Balasuriya Udeni B R , Byun Minji , Miraldi Emily R , Albrecht Randy A , Schotsaert Michael , Garcia-Sastre Adolfo , Chanda Sumit K , Jeyasekharan Anand D , TenOever Benjamin R , Spivakov Mikhail , Weirauch Matthew T , Heinz Sven , Chen Honglin , Benner Christopher , Richt Juergen A , Marazzi Ivan
Published: December 2020

The ongoing pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently affecting millions of lives worldwide. Large retrospective studies indicate that an elevated level of inflammatory cytokines and pro-inflammatory factors are associated with both increased disease severity and mortality. Here, using multidimensional epigenetic, transcriptional,in vitroandin vivoanalyses, we report that Topoisomerase 1 (Top1) inhibition suppresses lethal inflammation induced by SARS-CoV-2. Therapeutic treatment with two doses of Topotecan (TPT), a FDA-approved Top1 inhibitor, suppresses infection-induced inflammation in hamsters. TPT treatment as late as four days post-infection reduces morbidity and rescues mortality in a transgenic mouse model. These results support the potential of Top1 inhibition as an effective host-directed therapy against severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. TPT and its derivatives are inexpensive clinical-grade inhibitors available in most countries. Clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy of repurposing Top1 inhibitors for COVID-19 in humans.
Light-activated tetrazines enable live-cell spatiotemporal control of bioorthogonal reactions
Authors: Liu Luping , Zhang Dongyang , Johnson Mai , Devaraj Neal K.
Published: December 2020

Bioorthogonal ligations encompass coupling chemistries that have considerable utility in living systems.1–3Among the numerous bioorthogonal chemistries described to date, cycloaddition reactions between tetrazines and strained dienophiles are widely used in proteome, lipid, and glycan labeling due to their extremely rapid kinetics.4,5In addition, a variety of functional groups can be released after the cycloaddition reaction,6,7and drug delivery triggered byin vivotetrazine ligation8is in human phase I clinical trials.9While applications of tetrazine ligations are growing in academia and industry, it has so far not been possible to control this chemistry to achieve the high degrees of spatial and temporal precision necessary for modifying mammalian cells with single-cell resolution. Here we demonstrate visible light-activated formation of tetrazines from photocaged dihydrotetrazines, which enables live-cell spatiotemporal control of rapid biorthogonal cycloaddition reactions between tetrazines and dienophiles such astrans-cyclooctenes(TCOs). Photocaged dihydrotetrazines are stable in conditions that normally degrade tetrazines, enabling efficient early-stage incorporation of bioorthogonal handles into biomolecules such as peptides. Photocaged dihydrotetrazines allow the use of non-toxic visible light to trigger tetrazine ligations on live mammalian cells. By tagging reactive phospholipids with fluorophores, we demonstrate modification of HeLa cell membranes with single-cell spatial resolution. Finally, we show that photo-triggered therapy is possible by coupling tetrazine photoactivation with strategies that uncage prodrugs in response to tetrazine ligation, opening up new methods for photopharmacology and precision drug delivery using bioorthogonal chemistry.
Guidelines for accurate genotyping of SARS-CoV-2 using amplicon-based sequencing of clinical samples
Authors: Kubik Slawomir , Marques Ana Claudia , Xing Xiaobin , Silvery Janine , Bertelli Claire , De Maio Flavio , Pournaras Spyros , Burr Tom , Duffourd Yannis , Siemens Helena , Alloui Chakib , Song Lin , Wenger Yvan , Saitta Alexandra , Macheret Morgane , Smith Ewan W. , Menu Philippe , Brayer Marion , Steinmetz Lars M. , Si-Mohammed Ali , Chuisseu Josiane , Stevens Richard , Constantoulakis Pantelis , Sali Michela , Greub Gilbert , Tiemann Carsten , Pelechano Vicent , Willig Adrian , Xu Zhenyu
Published: December 2020

Background

SARS-CoV-2 genotyping has been instrumental to monitor virus evolution and transmission during the pandemic. The reliability of the information extracted from the genotyping efforts depends on a number of aspects, including the quality of the input material, applied technology and potential laboratory-specific biases. These variables must be monitored to ensure genotype reliability. The current lack of guidelines for SARS-CoV-2 genotyping leads to inclusion of error-containing genome sequences in studies of viral spread and evolution.

Results

We used clinical samples and synthetic viral genomes to evaluate the impact of experimental factors, including viral load and sequencing depth, on correct sequence determination using an amplicon-based approach. We found that at least 1000 viral genomes are necessary to confidently detect variants in the genome at frequencies of 10% or higher. The broad applicability of our recommendations was validated in >200 clinical samples from six independent laboratories. The genotypes of clinical isolates with viral load above the recommended threshold cluster by sampling location and period. Our analysis also supports the rise in frequency of 20A.EU1 and 20A.EU2, two recently reported European strains whose dissemination was favoured by travelling during the summer 2020.

Conclusions

We present much-needed recommendations for reliable determination of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequence and demonstrate their broad applicability in a large cohort of clinical samples.
A comprehensive catalogue of regulatory variants in the cattle transcriptome
Authors: Liu Shuli , Gao Yahui , Canela-Xandri Oriol , Wang Sheng , Yu Ying , Cai Wentao , Li Bingjie , Xiang Ruidong , Chamberlain Amanda J. , Pairo-Castineira Erola , D’Mellow Kenton , Rawlik Konrad , Xia Charley , Yao Yuelin , Navarro Pau , Rocha Dominique , Li Xiujin , Yan Ze , Li Congjun , Rosen Benjamin D. , Van Tassell Curtis P. , Vanraden Paul M. , Zhang Shengli , Ma Li , Cole John B. , Liu George E. , Tenesa Albert , Fang Lingzhao
Published: December 2020

Characterization of genetic regulatory variants acting on the transcriptome of livestock is essential for interpreting the molecular mechanisms underlying traits of economic value and for increasing the rate of genetic gain through artificial selection. Here, we build a cattle Genotype-Tissue Expression atlas (cattle GTEx,http://cgtex.roslin.ed.ac.uk/) as part of the pilot phase of Farm animal GTEx (FarmGTEx) project for the research community based on publicly available 11,642 RNA-Seq datasets. We describe the landscape of the transcriptome across over 100 tissues and report hundreds of thousands of genetic associations with gene expression and alternative splicing for 24 major tissues. We evaluate the tissue-sharing patterns of these genetic regulatory effects, and functionally annotate them using multi-omics data. Finally, we link gene expression in different tissues to 43 economically important traits using both transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) and colocalization analyses to decipher the molecular regulatory mechanisms underpinning such agronomic traits in cattle.
Neutrophil and monocyte dysfunctional effector response towards bacterial challenge in critically-ill COVID-19 patients
Authors: Shambat Srikanth Mairpady , Gómez-Mejia Alejandro , Schweizer Tiziano A. , Huemer Markus , Chang Chun-Chi , Acevedo Claudio , Pijuan Judith Bergada , Vulin Clement , Miroshnikova Nataliya , Hofmänner Daniel A. , Wendel Garcia Pedro D. , Hilty Matthias P , Karl Philipp Bühler , Schüpbach Reto A. , Brugger Silvio D. , Zinkernagel Annelies S.
Published: December 2020

COVID-19 displays diverse disease severities and symptoms. Elevated inflammation mediated by hypercytokinemia induces a detrimental dysregulation of immune cells. However, there is limited understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis impedes innate immune signaling and function against secondary bacterial infections. We assessed the influence of COVID-19 hypercytokinemia on the functional responses of neutrophils and monocytes upon bacterial challenges from acute and corresponding recovery COVID-19 ICU patients. We show that severe hypercytokinemia in COVID-19 patients correlated with bacterial superinfections. Neutrophils and monocytes from acute COVID-19 patients showed severely impaired microbicidal capacity, reflected by abrogated ROS and MPO production as well as reduced NETs upon bacterial challenges. We observed a distinct pattern of cell surface receptor expression on both neutrophils and monocytes leading to a suppressive autocrine and paracrine signaling during bacterial challenges. Our data provide insights into the innate immune status of COVID-19 patients mediated by their hypercytokinemia and its transient effect on immune dysregulation upon subsequent bacterial infections
Clostridium perfringenosumsp. nov., a closely related species toClostridium perfringensand its virulence factors, isolated from a human soft tissue infection
Authors: Rodríguez César , Kiu Raymond , Quesada-Gómez Carlos , Sandí Cindy , Hall Lindsay J
Published: December 2020

Two Gram-positive, anaerobic bacteria, designated 27733 and 27737, were isolated from a soft tissue infection from a human patient. They were preliminarily identified asClostridium perfringensthrough a series of phenotypic tests, including Gram-staining, determination of lipase and hemolytic activities, MALDI-ToF profiling, and a commercial biochemical identification system. In line with these results, genomes obtained for both isolates were ~3.56 Mbp in size, showed a DNA G+C content of ~28.4%, and containedC. perfringensribosomal markers (i.e. 16S rRNA gene identity >99.0% toC. perfringensATCC13124T). A closer examination of these sequences; however, revealed low average Nucleotide Identity (~87%) and digital DNA-DNA Hybridization (~35%) values between isolates 27733/27737 andC. perfringensATCC13124T, as well as substantial differences in gene content to multipleC. perfringensstrains, indicating that they represent a novel species within the genusClostridium.Congruently, Bayesian dating analyses placed the divergence of this new species andC. perfringensfrom its common ancestor hundreds of thousands of years ago. Isolates 27733/27737 are not genomically identical (34-197 SNPs apart) and carry genes forC. perfringens-liketoxins (<94% nucleotide sequence identity), includingplc(alpha toxin),pfoA(perfringolysin O, theta-toxin),nagHIJKL(hyalorudinase, mu-toxin),nanHIJ(exo-alpha sialidase), andcloSI(alpha-clostripain). They do not have known antibiotic resistance genes but were catalogued as resistant to clindamycin through phenotypic tests. On the basis of the presented evidence, and due to its resemblance and potential confusion withC. perfringens,we herein propose the speciesC. perfringenosumsp. nov. and strain 27733 as its type strain.
Multimodal Single-Cell Omics Analysis of COVID-19 Sex Differences in Human Immune Systems
Authors: Hou Yuan , Zhou Yadi , Gack Michaela U. , Lathia Justin D. , Kallianpur Asha , Mehra Reena , Chan Timothy , Jung Jae U. , Jehi Lara , Eng Charis , Cheng Feixiong
Published: December 2020

Sex differences in the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been controversial and the underlying mechanisms of COVID-19 sexual dimorphism remain understudied. Here we inspected sex differences in SARS-CoV-2 positivity, hospitalization, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), sera immune profiling, and two single-cell RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) profiles from nasal tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of COVID-19 patients with varying degrees of disease severity. Our propensity score-matching observations revealed that male individuals have a 29% increased likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 positivity, with a hazard ration (HR) 1.32 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-1.48) for hospitalization and HR 1.51 (95% CI 1.24-1.84) for admission to ICU. Sera from male patients at hospital admission had decreased lymphocyte count and elevated inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and neutrophils). We found that SARS-CoV-2 entry factors, including ACE2, TMPRSS2, FURIN and NRP1, have elevated expression in nasal squamous cells from males with moderate and severe COVID-19. Cell-cell network proximity analysis suggests possible epithelium-immune cell interactions and immune vulnerability underlying a higher mortality in males with COVID-19. Monocyte-elevated expression of Toll like receptor 7 (TLR7) and Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) is associated with severe outcomes in males with COVID-19. These findings provide basis for understanding immune responses underlying sex differences, and designing sex-specific targeted treatments and patient care for COVID-19.
Evaluation of the potential of commercial use of microalgae in the world and in Ukraine
Authors: Pavliukh Lesia , Shamanskyi Sergii , Boichenko Sergii , Jaworski Artur
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate of the microalgae potential for commercial application, in particular to conduct experimental study of biogenic compounds removal from sewage waters by microalgae, and to calculate economical benefits from biofertizers and biofuel production.

Design/methodology/approach

Experimental study in the concentration change of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds in the cultivation of Chlorella Vulgaris microalgae in various types of sewage water was carried out.

Findings

The efficiency wastewater treatment by microalgae was confirmed. The economic benefit from the biomass utilization as biofuel production was calculated.

Practical implications

Implementation of wastewater treatment technology with biomass recycling for biofuel and biofertilizers production will minimize the impact on the environment.

Originality/value

As a results of experimental studies, the ability of microalgae to reduce biogenic elements in wastewater was confirmed. Microalgae can be used both for wastewater treatment to biogenic elements removal, such as phosphorous and nitrogen compounds, and biofuel, biofertilizers production. Prospects of the commercial use of microalgae are obvious. They are specially adapted to an environment dominated by viscous forces.
Perceptions of information literacy competencies among future psychology professionals: a comparative study in Spain and Portugal
Authors: Pinto María , Fernández-Pascual Rosaura , Lopes Carlos , Antunes Maria Luz , Sanches Tatiana
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The aim of the study is to analyze the perceptions of belief-in-importance (BI), self-efficacy (SE) and preferred source of learning (SL) of information literacy (IL) competencies among psychology students in Spain and Portugal.

Design/methodology/approach

Unified protocol was based on the questionnaire IL-HUMASS (26 items). Quantitative diagnostic-comparative study was carried out, including factor and variance analysis. Hypothesis compliance was checked.

Findings

By country, there are no significant differences in students' perceptions, although the scores in BI are higher than in SE. By category, there are some significant differences, and the least valued is that of processing. By individual competency, seven of them show differences between countries. Learning preferences are for a mix of classroom and autonomous learning. Students barely realize the value of libraries. Within factor structures, which share the same components in each dimension, some emerging factors do appear.

Practical implications

Motivation (BI and SE) with respect to IL competencies is a key asset for future psychologists. Interest should focus on some emerging motivational factors. Students' appreciation of the library should enhance through the corresponding initiatives for improvement. This method could be complemented by qualitative studies.

Originality/value

This is probably the first diagnostic-comparative study on perceptions of IL competencies among future psychology professionals.
COVID-19 responsive teaching of undergraduate architecture programs in India: learnings for post-pandemic education
Authors: Varma Anurag , Jafri Mohammad Shoeb
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to have an overview of how Indian institutions offering undergraduate architecture programs have responded to the pandemic situation. It seeks to appraise the alternative approaches adopted for teaching-learning, communication, assignment and evaluation and assess their effectiveness for progressive improvisations or integration with pedagogy. The paper articulates a view on the suitability of online teaching for architecture education in India, on basis of educators' experiences of teaching during the pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was conducted for obtaining primary data from the educators given the paucity of information. The questions elicited structured information on aspects of the transition process, IT/online platform and tools, the efficacy of online teaching-learning and trajectory of blended learning.

Findings

All institutions managed the transition to online teaching without much difficulty. However, the paper raises the need for professional training and feedback from students. One-third of the respondents express satisfaction with online teaching, despite low satisfaction about the effectiveness of online teaching of a design studio. The results convey the need for more engagement with digital tools and representational software on integrated platforms. The study finds consensus on the future potential of blended learning and advocates developing an integrated framework and curriculum for architecture education in India.

Originality/value

The paper synthesizes viewpoints on online teaching-learning of architecture program in wake of the pandemic from an educators' perspective. The emergent perspectives are viewed dialogically in context of global voices to articulate a future trajectory of blended learning in the domain of architecture education.
Adoption, use and management of process mining in practice
Authors: Grisold Thomas , Mendling Jan , Otto Markus , vom Brocke Jan
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study explores how process managers perceive the adoption, use and management of process mining in practice. While research in process mining predominantly focuses on the technical aspects, our work highlights organizational and managerial implications.

Design/methodology/approach

We report on a focus group study conducted with process managers from various industries in Central Europe. This setting allowed us to gain diverse and in-depth insights about the needs and expectations of practitioners in relation to the adoption, use and management of process mining.

Findings

We find that process managers face four central challenges. These challenges are largely related to four stages; (1) planning and business case calculation, (2) process selection, (3) implementation, and (4) process mining use.

Research limitations/implications

We point to research opportunities in relation to the adoption, use and management of process mining. We suggest that future research should apply interdisciplinary study designs to better understand the managerial and organizational implications of process mining.

Practical implications

The reported challenges have various practical implications at the organizational and managerial level. We explore how existing BPM frameworks can be extended to meet these challenges.

Originality/value

This study is among the first attempts to explore process mining from the perspective of process managers. It clarifies important challenges and points to avenues for future research.
Abusive supervision and workplace deviance: the role of negative reciprocity
Authors: Faldetta Guglielmo
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study aims to explore the process that, from abusive supervision, leads to the different kinds of workplace deviant behaviors, using the norm of negative reciprocity as the main mechanism that can trigger this process.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a literature review from organizational behavior and reciprocity fields and builds a theoretical model on the relationship between abusive supervision and workplace deviance within organizations.

Findings

This study develops a theoretical model where abusive supervision causes a feeling of injustice, which can motivate employees to seek revenge in the form of workplace deviant behaviors. Moreover, negative direct balanced reciprocity will moderate the relationship between the desire for revenge and minor interpersonal workplace deviance; negative direct non-balanced reciprocity will moderate the relationship between the desire for revenge and severe interpersonal workplace deviance; negative generalized balanced reciprocity will moderate the relationship between the desire for revenge and minor organizational workplace deviance; negative generalized non-balanced reciprocity will moderate the relationship between the desire for revenge and severe organizational workplace deviance.

Originality/value

Previous studies have used negative reciprocity as a moderator, but for the first time, it is split in direct and generalized and in balanced and non-balanced. In particular, when direct negative reciprocity is present, the revenge will take the form of interpersonal workplace deviance; when generalized negative reciprocity is present, the revenge will take the form of organizational workplace deviance. On the other side, when balanced reciprocity is present, revenge will take the form of minor workplace deviance, while when non-balanced reciprocity is present, revenge will take the form of severe workplace deviance.
Centering community in COVID-19 responses: refugee women's livelihoods in a global pandemic
Authors: Golesorkhi Lara-Zuzan , Fortson Grace , Harder Katherine , Riedmann Trevor
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this commentary is to share preliminary findings from our ethnographic research on refugee women's livelihoods during the COVID-19 pandemic in Portland, Oregon (USA), and to highlight the significance of community efforts in providing gender-responsive measures that address the specific needs and challenges of refugee women.

Design/methodology/approach

This commentary draws on a mixed-method approach, including ethnographic research (interviews and observations) as well as an analysis of emerging research on the social implications of COVID-19 in the fields of migration and gender.

Findings

Refugee women's livelihoods have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in various specific ways: from losing jobs and healthcare to becoming essential workers and assuming additional caretaker roles, to finding oneself again in unprecedented situations of limited mobility and social isolation. These impacts have been informed by restricted access to resources and services, lack of information about resources and services, and paramount fear due to ever-changing policy. Based on interviews and observations the authors conducted, they find that in many ways, community efforts have addressed the specific needs and challenges of refugee women in the absence of gender-responsive COVID-19 measures across institutional levels and policy areas.

Originality/value

In this commentary, the authors present original data from their ethnographic research on a particularly marginalized, yet resilient population: refugee women. By centering refugee women's experiences, the authors highlight the lack of gender-responsiveness in COVID-19 measures and provide insights into social implications of COVID-19 that often remain overlooked and understudied in discourse and politics.
Value (co-)creation in B2B sales ecosystems
Authors: Rusthollkarhu Sami , Hautamaki Pia , Aarikka-Stenroos Leena
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Digital ecosystemic business environments challenge dyadic approaches to value creation and particularly to business-to-business (B2B) sales. This paper aims to offer a novel conceptualization of the connection between value creation and B2B sales, which indicates practical implications and builds an agenda for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper integrates theoretical insights on service-dominant logic, service ecosystems, interactional value co-creation and B2B sales. This paper uses anecdotal evidence from the field of B2B sales to illustrate theoretical concepts developed in the paper.

Findings

The paper develops the concept of value idea emergence (VIE), the process through which B2B entities become aware of a pursuable benefit. The paper further proposes that value (co-)creation in ecosystems happens through VIE’s intertwinement with the process of value proposition creation, a process, which includes all activities needed to bring a value proposition to a customer. The paper then discusses the role of B2B in these processes and proposes an agenda for future research.

Practical implications

The novel conceptualizations of value (co-)creation can help B2B sales managers to understand the ecosystemic nature of the interactions that affect sales and value creation in the current business environment.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the literature on B2B sales and value creation by proposing a novel concept of VIE, introducing a conceptual model of interactive value (co-)creation in ecosystems and reformulating the role of B2B sales in value creation. These theory-developing insights can be used to guide both academic and managerial attention to interactions happening in the ecosystem outside of the buyer-seller dyad.
Tourism as a lever for a more inclusive society
Authors: Moreno de la Santa Javier González-Soria
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Tourism is an industry with an enormous capacity for galvanizing local economies and for offering economic and social opportunities to broad sectors of the population. But it is not sufficient to just create and develop new destinations, products and services; new models for development that have inclusion at their core need to be adopted, taking up the opportunities offered by a prosperous and growing market.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides a viewpoint analysis of the link between inclusive tourism and tourism development.

Findings

This paper demonstrates that tourism is about reducing uncertainty around what to expect from a destination or service. It is also about creating an environment where all people feel welcome and included. It creates choice and instils confidence in all people, empowering them to sign up for new experiences.

Practical implications

In the light of growing inequality globally, this paper demonstrates that it is important to consider how to make tourism, one of the world’s largest industries, more inclusive.

Originality/value

This paper offers an experience-based analysis and reflection of the bridge between tourism and inclusiveness, particularly in remote and less developed areas.
Ultraviolet A rush hardening for chronic actinic dermatitis: Pilot treatment outcomes
Authors: Wang Tianjing , Gong Yangyang , Rong Wei , Li Li , Zhang Jialin , Li Hui‐Zhong
Published: December 2020

Chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD) is a common debilitating photodermatosis. Patients often have to completely avoid outdoor activities, which severely impacts their quality of life. Phototherapy is effective for CAD and seems to increase patients’ tolerance towards sunlight and consequently decrease the extent of disease. Unfortunately, the slower onset and time‐consuming nature of phototherapy limits the clinical application. Considering the effectiveness and time‐saving nature of ultraviolet (UV)‐A rush hardening in solar urticaria, we performed a pilot study to determine whether UV‐A rush hardening is effective in CAD. Six patients with CAD were exposed to multiple sessions of UV‐A for 4–5 days at 1‐h intervals/day. Subsequently, maintenance UV‐A exposure was performed at 1–2‐week intervals. Phototesting at baseline showed that three patients were sensitive to both UV‐A and ‐B, and the other three patients only showed UV‐A sensitivity. All of the patients responded well to UV‐A rush hardening and four (67%) maintained a good remission status after 1 year. The results of this pilot study suggest that UV‐A rush hardening phototherapy is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of CAD, while future larger prospective studies using objective scores of disease activity and quality of life are needed.
Sensitive quantification of dipicolinic acid from bacterial endospores in soils and sediments
Authors: Rattray Jayne E. , Chakraborty Anirban , Li Carmen , Elizondo Gretta , John Nisha , Wong Michelle , Radović Jagoš R. , Oldenburg Thomas B. P. , Hubert Casey R. J.
Published: December 2020

Endospore‐forming bacteria make up an important and numerically significant component of microbial communities in a range of settings including soils, industry, hospitals and marine sediments extending into the deep subsurface. Bacterial endospores are non‐reproductive structures that protect DNA and improve cell survival during periods unfavourable for bacterial growth. An important determinant of endospores withstanding extreme environmental conditions is 2,6‐pyridine dicarboxylic acid (i.e. dipicolinic acid, or DPA), which contributes heat resistance. This study presents an improved HPLC‐fluorescence method for DPA quantification using a single 10‐min run with pre‐column Tb3+ chelation. Relative to existing DPA quantification methods, specific improvements pertain to sensitivity, detection limit and range, as well as the development of new free DPA and spore‐specific DPA proxies. The method distinguishes DPA from intact and recently germinated spores, enabling responses to germinants in natural samples or experiments to be assessed in a new way. DPA‐based endospore quantification depends on accurate spore‐specific DPA contents, in particular, thermophilic spores are shown to have a higher DPA content, meaning that marine sediments with plentiful thermophilic spores may require spore number estimates to be revisited. This method has a wide range of potential applications for more accurately quantifying bacterial endospores in diverse environmental samples.
Nitrate respiration and diel migration patterns of diatoms are linked in sediments underneath a microbial mat
Authors: Merz Elisa , Dick Gregory J. , de Beer Dirk , Grim Sharon , Hübener Thomas , Littmann Sten , Olsen Kirk , Stuart Dack , Lavik Gaute , Marchant Hannah K. , Klatt Judith M.
Published: December 2020

Diatoms are among the few eukaryotes known to store nitrate (NO3−) and to use it as an electron acceptor for respiration in the absence of light and O2. Using microscopy and15N stable isotope incubations, we studied the relationship between dissimilatory nitrate/nitrite reduction to ammonium (DNRA) and diel vertical migration of diatoms in phototrophic microbial mats and the underlying sediment of a sinkhole in Lake Huron (USA). We found that the diatoms rapidly accumulated NO3−at the mat‐water interface in the afternoon and 40% of the population migrated deep into the sediment, where they were exposed to dark and anoxic conditions for ~75% of the day. The vertical distribution of DNRA rates and diatom abundance maxima coincided, suggesting that DNRA was the main energy generating metabolism of the diatom population. We conclude that the illuminated redox‐dynamic ecosystem selects for migratory diatoms that can store nitrate for respiration in the absence of light. A major implication of this study is that the dominance of DNRA over denitrification is not explained by kinetics or thermodynamics. Rather, the dynamic conditions select for migratory diatoms that perform DNRA and can outcompete sessile denitrifiers.
Reading to Write
Authors: Nolan Deborah , Stoudt Sara
Published: December 2020

Deborah Nolan and Sara Stoudt present a framework for learning the art of statistical storytelling
Coupling PCSWMM and WASP to Evaluate Green Stormwater Infrastructure Impacts to Storm Sediment Loads in an Urban Watershed
Authors: Beganskas Sarah , Ryan Robert J. , Walters Evelyn , Soro Manahel , Cushman Elizabeth , Toran Laura
Published: December 2020

We coupled rainfall–runoff and instream water quality models to evaluate total suspended solids (TSS) in Wissahickon Creek, a mid‐sized urban stream near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Using stormwater runoff and instream field data, we calibrated the model at a subdaily scale and focused on storm responses. We demonstrate that treating event mean concentrations as a calibration parameter rather than a fixed input can substantially improve model performance. Urban stormwater TSS concentrations vary widely in time and space and are difficult to represent simply. Suspended and deposited sediment pose independent stressors to stream biota and model results suggest that both currently impair stream health in Wissahickon Creek. Retrofitting existing detention basins to prioritize infiltration reduced instream TSS loads by 20%, suggesting that infiltration mitigates sediment more effectively than detention. Infiltrating stormwater from 30% of the watershed reduced instream TSS loads by 47% and cut the frequency of TSS exceeding 100 mg/L by half. Settled loads and the frequency of high TSS values were reduced by a smaller fraction than suspended loads and duration at high TSS values. A widely distributed network of infiltration‐focused projects is an effective stormwater management strategy to mitigate sediment stress. Coupling rainfall–runoff and water quality models is an important way to integrate watershed‐wide impacts and evaluate how management directly affects urban stream health.
How Are Institutions Informed? Proactive Trading, Information Flows, and Stock Selection Strategies*
Authors: Wang Yan
Published: December 2020

Using the relationship between institutional trades and sequential public information, this study provides a systematic way to identify institutional trades that are informative about future equity returns. By studying the US financial institutions from 1994 to 2016, I show that institutional trades initiated by managers responding proactively to upcoming informational signals strongly predict future stock returns. The predictability of informed institutions is more evident for stocks with higher information asymmetry and in periods of higher profit opportunities. The informed institutions outperform the uninformed ones by 2% on an annualized basis and their performance gap is persistent. Importantly, the return predictability of informed institutional trades is not subsumed by the return‐predictive signals documented in prior research, computed either from institutional holdings or from financial statements. Further analyses show that the informed institutional investors derive their superior ability to forecast future stock returns from processing corporate fundamentals and acquiring private information. This study derives a novel return predictor using the institutions' proactive trading behavior and identifies various informational sources of informed traders.
Improving the uptake of Kangaroo Mother Care in neonatal units: A narrative review and conceptual framework
Authors: Gill Victoria R. , Liley Helen G. , Erdei Carmina , Sen Sarbattama , Davidge Ruth , Wright Amy L. , Bora Samudragupta
Published: December 2020

Kangaroo Mother Care is a beneficial intervention for high‐risk infants; however, global uptake is lacking. Recent systematic reviews have collated the numerous studies that identify diverse barriers and enablers to the use of Kangaroo Mother Care. In this narrative review, we combine the findings of these systematic reviews with more recent studies to propose a conceptual framework, encompassing factors that may affect the initiation and maintenance of Kangaroo Mother Care in neonatal units.

Conclusion

This conceptual framework includes parental, healthcare professional, and healthcare system factors, and highlights the potential interplay between them. In line with this, we suggest strategies to improve the uptake of Kangaroo Mother Care in neonatal units.
Meeting families where they are: Text‐based support in parent to parent programs
Authors: Dodds Robin L.
Published: December 2020

Background

Social support can be an important buffer to stress to parents when their child has a disability. Parent to parent (P2P) is an evidence‐based peer support program for parents of children with disabilities, where support is provided over the telephone. However, younger parents may prefer electronic communication platforms.

Methods

This paper reports on the results of an online survey of P2P stakeholders regarding: How text‐based support is being used in P2P programs and whether text‐based support is perceived as providing benefits to parents of children with disabilities. A 13‐item survey was developed, which included 10 opportunities to provide Likert, nominal, ordinal and dichotomous responses, as well as three open‐ended questions. Thirty‐one P2P coordinators participated.

Results

The majority of participants reported that text‐based support was provided regularly in support relationships, most frequently to parents between 25 and 34. The most common platforms used included email and text messages, private Facebook groups and the Facebook Messenger application. Participants indicated that most P2P programs did not have a written policy or guidelines regarding text‐based support. Qualitative themes of best practice, connection, (mis)understanding, convenience, preferences and privacy are also presented.

Conclusion

Because parents of young children are frequently referred to P2P programs for information and support, it is important the P2P program adapts to the preferences of a new generation while continuing to provide reliable and effective support. (word count: 225).
Possible involvement of regulatory T cell abnormalities and variational usage of TCR repertoire in children with autoimmune neutropenia
Authors: Goda S , Hayakawa S , Karakawa S , Okada S , Kawaguchi H , Kobayashi M
Published: December 2020

Autoimmune neutropenia (AIN) in childhood is characterized by chronic neutropenia and positivity for anti-neutrophil antibodies, resulting in the excessive destruction of neutrophils. In this study, we investigated the involvement of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the pathogenesis of AIN in childhood. Tregs have been classified into three subpopulations based on the expressions of CD45RA and forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3): resting Tregs, activated Tregs and non-suppressive Tregs. The frequency of activated Tregs (CD4+CD25+FoxP3highCD45RA− T cells) as well as that of total Tregs (CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T cells) in peripheral blood was significantly decreased in patients with AIN. Analysis of the T cell receptor (TCR)-Vβ repertoire of CD4+ T cells revealed skewed usages in patients with AIN compared with that observed in age-matched control subjects. Regarding T cell subsets, the use of four of 24 TCR-Vβ families in Tregs and one in conventional T cells were increased in patients with AIN. The number of patients with AIN who showed skewed usages of TCR-Vβ family in conventional and Tregs was significantly higher than that reported in control subjects. When the preference between Tregs and conventional T cells in each TCR-Vβ family was individually compared, different use was prominently observed in the TCR-Vβ 9 family in patients with AIN. These results suggest that the quantitative abnormalities of Tregs and the skew of the TCR-Vβ repertoire in CD4+ T cells, including Tregs and conventional T cells, may be related to autoantibody production through a human neutrophil antigen-reactive T cell clone.
Neural induction: Historical views and application to pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Sasai Noriaki , Kadoya Minori , Ong Lee Chen Agnes
Published: December 2020

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are a useful experimental material to recapitulate the differentiation steps of early embryos, which are usually invisible and inaccessible from outside of the body, especially in mammals. ES cells have greatly facilitated the analyses of gene expression profiles and cell characteristics. In addition, understanding the mechanisms during neural differentiation is important for clinical purposes, such as developing new therapeutic methods or regenerative medicine. As neurons have very limited regenerative ability, neurodegenerative diseases are usually intractable, and patients suffer from the disease throughout their lifetimes. The functional cells generated from ES cells in vitro could replace degenerative areas by transplantation. In this review, we will first demonstrate the historical views and widely accepted concepts regarding the molecular mechanisms of neural induction and positional information to produce the specific types of neurons in model animals. Next, we will describe how these concepts have recently been applied to the research in the establishment of the methodology of neural differentiation from mammalian ES cells. Finally, we will focus on examples of the applications of differentiation systems to clinical purposes. Overall, the discussion will focus on how historical developmental studies are applied to state‐of‐the‐art stem cell research.