bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Syntheses and crystal structures of hydrated and anhydrous 1:2 cocrystals of oxyresveratrol and zwitterionic proline
Authors: Ouiyangkul Passaporn , Saithong Saowanit , Tantishaiyakul Vimon
Published: August 2020

The hydrated and anhydrous 1:2 cocrystals of oxyresveratrol (4-[(E)-2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]benzene-1,3-diol; OXY; C14H12O4) and proline [(S)-pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid; PRO; C5H9NO2], namely, 4-[(E)-2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]benzene-1,3-diol bis[(S)-pyrrolidin-1-ium-2-carboxylate] monohydrate, C14H12O4·2C5H9NO2·H2O, and the anhydrous form, C14H12O4·2C5H9NO2, were obtained by crystallization at different temperatures. Both of them crystallize with orthorhombic (P212121) symmetry. The structures display N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions between PRO and PRO, OXY and OXY, and OXY and PRO. In the hydrated cocrystal, these types of contacts are also observed between the OXY, PRO and water molecules. A combination of these interactions leads to a three-dimensional supramolecular assembly in each case. Hirshfeld surfaces were used to gain further insight into the intermolecular interactions in the packing, including the relative percentage contributions of the significant intermolecular H...H and H...O/O...H contacts.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (aqua-κO)(methanol-κO)[N-(2-oxidobenzylidene)threoninato-κ3
O,N,O′]copper(II)
Authors: Katsuumi Natsuki , Onami Yuika , Pradhan Sayantan , Haraguchi Tomoyuki , Akitsu Takashiro
Published: August 2020

In the title complex molecule, [Cu(C11H11NO4)(CH4O)(H2O)], the Cu atom is coordinated in a distorted square-pyramidal geometry by a tridentate ligand synthesized from L-threonine and salicylaldehyde, one methanol molecule and one water molecule. In the crystal, the molecules show intra- and intermolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonds. The Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions to the packing are H...H (49.4%) and H...O/O...H (31.3%) contacts.
From martial law to Sunflower: the evolution of Taiwan's student movement
Authors: Hsu Jenshuo
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper explores how the student movement in Taiwan transformed after the abolition of martial law. After democratization, there were three large-scale student protests, in 1990, 2008 and 2014. This paper explores the development through this period of student movement organizations, issues and interrelations between organizations and individuals.

Design/methodology/approach

The study of the process of transformation and development is based on an analysis of newspaper and magazine articles and books about the student movement. To provide an insider's view, magazines, statements and meeting memos written by activists are also included.

Findings

As a legacy of the student movement in the 1980s, the 1990 Wild Lily protest advocated democratization and organized a cross-school alliance. This pattern declined, however, because it proved hard to recruit participants after democratization. Instead, student activists returned to education-related issues, and the scale of student organizations remained small. The 2008 Wild Strawberry protest was carried out by autonomous, self-organized groups, which reflected the emergence of individuals as activists. Afterward, student movement organizations attempted to create multiple networks consisted of various issues and participants. These groups built solidarity by cooperating on education and political issues and became the base for the 2014 Sunflower protest.

Originality/value

This paper explores the rarely described historical context for the student movement between large-scale student protests in Taiwan and provides a more comprehensive understanding of the interrelation of organizations and individuals in contemporary social movements.
The Anchor Borrowers Programme and youth rice farmers in Northern Nigeria
Authors: Olanrewaju Opeyemi , Osabohien Romanus , Fasakin James
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of Anchor Borrowers Programme (APB) on youth rice farmers’ productivity (yield/ha).

Design/methodology/approach

Using cross-sectional data from youth rice farmers in Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria, probit regression was used to examine the determinants of participation in ABP amongst the youth rice farmers. In addition, the instrumental variable (IV) regression approach that could mitigate selection bias due to unobservable factors resulting from the cross-sectional nature of the data was also used to determine the impact of the ABP on rice productivity of youth farmers.

Findings

Findings from the study indicated that marital status, education, access to credit and membership of cooperative association were the significant determinants of participation in the ABP amongst the youth rice farmers.

Practical implications

The implication of the result is that participation in the ABP leads to an increase in yield by about 42.46%, which shows the effectiveness of the ABP in the study area.

Originality/value

This study provides a rigorous econometric analysis of the determinants of ABP and its impact on rice productivity amongst youth farmers in Northern Nigeria. Thus, the study recommends improvement in credit accessibility, participation in the cooperative association and more education of the farmers to sustain the inputs distribution aim of the ABP.
The effects of customer involvement on perceived service performance and word-of-mouth: the mediating role of service co-creation
Authors: Cheung Millissa Fung Yi , To Wai Ming
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This study aims to use the framework of customer dominant logic to explore the mediating role of service co-creation on the relationships between customer involvement and perceived service performance and between customer involvement and word-of-mouth (WOM). It also investigates the moderating role of customer relational-motivational orientation on the relationship between customer involvement and service co-creation.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect responses from 289 Hong Kong's customers in different service settings. Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed research model.

Findings

The results of structural equation modeling showed that the freedom of co-creation and the degree of collaboration fully mediated the effect of customer involvement on perceived service performance and WOM. Additionally, relational-motivational orientation moderated the relationships between customer involvement and the freedom of co-creation and between customer involvement and the degree of collaboration.

Practical implications

This research provides implications to managers on how to facilitate an environment that stimulates customer co-creation. Customer-contact employees must be trained with the necessary interpersonal skills to serve customers with different levels of relational-motivational orientation.

Originality/value

The study is one of the first to identify customer involvement as a key antecedent of service co-creation attributes and the moderating role of relational-motivational orientation on the relationships between customer involvement and service co-creation attributes.
Systematising multidisciplinary sustainable building design processes utilising BIM
Authors: Zanni Mariangela , Ruikar Kirti , Soetanto Robby
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Sustainability considerations are often treated as an add-on to building design, following ad-hoc processes for their implementation. The purpose of this study was to investigate, model and facilitate the early stages of building information modelling (BIM) enabled sustainable building design (SBD) by formalising the ad-hoc working relationships of the best practices in order to standardise the optimal collaboration workflows.

Design/methodology/approach

Four stages of data collection were conducted, including a total of 32 semi-structured interviews with industry experts from 17 organisations. Fourteen “best practice” case studies were identified, and roles and responsibilities, resources, information exchanges, interdependencies, timing and sequence of events and critical decisions were examined.

Findings

The research classified the critical components of SBD into a framework utilising content and thematic analyses. These components were coordinated explicitly into a systematic process, which followed concurrent engineering (CE) principles utilising Integrated DEFinition (IDEF) 3 structured diagramming technique. Then, Green BIM Box (GBB) workflow management prototype tool was developed to analyse communication and delivery of BIM-enabled SBD in a centralised system.

Originality/value

This study represents an improvement to previous attempts to systematically define the BIM-enabled SBD process for the early stages. The results support the idea that a transparent SBD process, which follows specified communication patterns, can assist in achieving sustainability efficiently in terms of time, cost and effort.
Modeling the enablers of humanitarian supply chain management: a hybrid group decision-making approach
Authors: Agarwal Sachin , Kant Ravi , Shankar Ravi
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper intends to explore and appraise the humanitarian supply chain management enablers (HSCMEs) for efficient and effective humanitarian operations. This research aims to analyze the interaction of enablers for humanitarian supply chain management (HSCM) using a proposed hybrid framework consists of fuzzy Delphi (FD), interpretive structural modeling (ISM)–matriced impacts croises multiplication appliquee a un classement (MICMAC) and revised Simos approach.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is deliberate to identify 28 HSCMEs through a literature review and experts' opinions; out of which 20 HSCMEs are selected using FD. ISM is applied to know contextual relationship among the selected HSCMEs for developing a hierarchical model. The MICMAC analysis classifies the HSCMEs based on driving power and dependence power to validate the developed hierarchical ISM structure. The revised Simos technique is used to prioritize the HSCMEs to access its relative significance in humanitarian operations.

Findings

The finding of the analysis suggests that government policy and leadership support obtained the highest priority, having high driving power and low dependence power is significantly strategic and emerged as the leading driver for the HSCM implementation.

Research limitations/implications

ISM model presents an insight into interrelationship among HSCMEs, but this cannot quantify the impact of each HSCMEs.

Practical implications

Disaster relief aid agencies and stakeholders may focus on the enablers having high driving power and higher weight in designing and executing an effective and efficient humanitarian supply chain and to improve their activities and strategies of HSCM.

Social implications

This research helps humanitarian logisticians and humanitarian organizations to make better decisions to improve their operational performance in pre and postdisaster phases.

Originality/value

This paper explores the application of proposed hybrid framework to analyze the HSCMEs that can be considered as the original contribution.
The effect of corporate social responsibility performance on financial performance: the case of food industry
Authors: Partalidou Xanthi , Zafeiriou Eleni , Giannarakis Grigoris , Sariannidis Nikolaos
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The present study examines the impact of the different dimensions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance on the financial performance of food companies.

Design/methodology/approach

As proxies for the financial performance, two different indices are employed: a single index, namely, operating income and an aggregate financial index, namely, economic score. The CSR performance based on Thomson Reuter’s data stream methodology involves three distinct aspects of the CSR concept: environmental, social and governance for the time spanning 2012–2017.

Findings

Findings based on estimated generalized least squares (EGLS) indicate that the higher level of environmental performance (as described by an aggregate environmental index), the publishing of a stand-alone sustainable report and the implementation of quality principles, such as Total Quality Management (TQM), Lean and Six Sigma positively affect the financial performance.

Originality/value

The results provide useful implications to stakeholders, mainly to corporate managers and investors for uptaking initiatives aiming toward the eco-efficiency of the food company.
Turkish and Slovenian health ministries' use of Twitter: a comparative analysis
Authors: Okay Aydemir , Ašanin Gole Pedja , Okay Ayla
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how the health ministries of Turkey and Slovenia use Twitter as government agencies obliged to communicate with the public.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a content analysis methodology to examine how Turkish (TR) and Slovenian (SLO) health ministries use Twitter for informing and encouraging behavior change in the public. A total of 662 “tweets” were analyzed. Drawing on prior studies, a coding scheme was developed and employed, and χ2 and t-tests were conducted for data analysis. Additionally, this study aimed at effecting a content analysis according to the “four models” method of Grunig and Hunt regarding efforts made to build communication with the public.

Findings

This study uncovered that the TR and SLO health ministries did not utilize two-way communication principles for Twitter communication, and their frequency of Twitter use is inadequate.

Research limitations/implications

The sampled tweets were selected by using a scientific sampling method. However, this might not have been substantial enough to represent the entirety of tweets in the study timeframe. Analyzing tweets across a longer timeframe would be helpful in confirming this study's findings. This study was also limited to two countries and to publicly available tweets; the messages of health ministries' followers to the ministries themselves were not examined. The findings of this study may not be generalizable to other countries. Other potential studies, with a particular focus on this topic, may be able to measure individual perceptions of the credibility and usefulness of messages from health ministries and their willingness to engage in two-way communication.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to evaluate how the health ministries of Turkey and Slovenia communicate on Twitter and to apply the four models of Grunig and Hunt with regard to Twitter. This study also identified that noncompeting government agencies were not minded to communicate with their publics.
Meaningful gamification for psychological empowerment: exploring user affective experience mirroring in a psychological self-help system
Authors: Li Manning , Chau Patrick Y.K. , Ge Lin
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Inspired by the dynamic changes in our daily lives enabled via quantified-self technologies and the urgent need for more studies on the human-computer interaction design mechanisms adopted by these applications, this study explores the value of user affective experience mirroring and examines the empowerment effect of meaningful gamification in a psychological self-help system (PSS) that aids people in work stress relief.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on an analysis of the existing systems and theories in relevant fields, we conducted mixed-method research, involving semi-structured interviews, experience sampling experiments and user bio data triangulations, to identify the benefits of user affective experience mirroring and examine the impact of visual impact metaphor–based (VIM) meaningful gamification on PSS users.

Findings

For a gamified PSS, users generally perceive VIM as arousing more feelings of enjoyment, empathy, trust and usefulness, empowering them to gain more mastery and control over their emotional well-beings, especially with relieving their occupational stress and upbringing their level of perceived happiness. Overtime, VIM-based meaningful gamification further boosts such value of a PSS.

Research limitations/implications

Weaving together meaningful gamification and psychological empowerment theories, the results emphasized that successful empowerment of user through gamification in PSSs relies heavily on whether a deeper and meaningful affective connection can be established with the users, in short, “meaningful gamification for psychological empowerment”. Such an understanding, as demonstrated in our research framework, also sheds light on the design theories for persuasive technology and human influence tactics during human computer interactions.

Practical implications

The results of the study demonstrate to practitioners how to make the best use of gamification strategies to deeply relate to and resonate with users. Even without complicated game-play design, meaningful gamification mechanisms, such as VIM facilitate the empowerment of users while gaining their appreciation, establishing a deeper connection with them and eventually generating persuasive effects on intended future behavioural outcomes.

Social implications

The effective management of work-related stress with handy tools such as a VIM-based PSS can be beneficial for many organizations and, to a large extent, the society.

Originality/value

This study proposed and empirically demonstrated the empowerment effect of meaningful gamification for PSS users. In this cross-disciplinary study, theories from different research domains were synthesized to develop a more thorough and multi-faceted understanding of the optimal design strategies for emerging information systems like this VIM-based PSS.
Emotional competence at work
Authors: Ikävalko Heini , Hökkä Päivi , Paloniemi Susanna , Vähäsantanen Katja
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The study investigated emotional competence at work and elaborated emotional competence in relation to sociocultural aspects of emotions at work.

Design/methodology/approach

Emotional competence at work was explored via interviews, surveys and observations. The study was conducted over one year, during which an emotion-training intervention was conducted within a medium-sized company, operating in the healthcare sector.

Findings

The study shed light on emotional competence at work, identifying three domains: individual emotional competence, emotional competence within interactions and emotional competence embedded in workplace practices.

Research limitations/implications

This study was conducted in one organization.

Practical implications

Organizational developers are recommended to implement activities such as training interventions in order to build emotional competence; this applies not only at the individual level but also to achieve interaction among members of the organization within collective workplace practices.

Originality/value

Previous studies on emotional competence have been limited to the individual level. The sociocultural approach to emotional competence adopted in this study recognizes – in addition to the individual and interactional level of emotional competence – emotional competence at work as related to practices at work.
Barriers for sustainability reporting: evidence from Indo-Pacific region
Authors: Dissanayake Dinithi , Kuruppu Sanjaya , Qian Wei , Tilt Carol
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the barriers for sustainability reporting practices in five different countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses surveys and semi-structured interviews to explore the main barriers faced by the managers of listed companies in undertaking sustainability reporting.

Findings

The findings of the study reveal that the main barriers for sustainability reporting are attributable to lack of knowledge and understanding, additional cost involved, time constraints, lack of awareness and education in sustainability reporting and a lack of initiatives from government. These vary between three groups of countries: those with more developed reporting, those with less developed reporting and those with strong cultural constraints to reporting.

Research limitations/implications

This study adapts Lewin’s field theory and three-step model of change to be applied to group dynamics at a broader country level rather than at an organisational level.

Practical implications

The barriers identified in this paper are important for reporting companies to come up with strategies to mitigate existing barriers and for regulatory authorities to provide subsidies and other incentives to supplement the efforts of these listed companies. Also, non-reporting companies could use the findings as a measure of cautiousness to set up the necessary processes to have a smooth sustainability reporting process in their companies.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies that explore the barriers for sustainability reporting in five countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
Technical efficiency of health-care systems in selected middle-income countries: an empirical investigation
Authors: Nassar Heba , Sakr Hala , Ezzat Asmaa , Fikry Pakinam
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the technical efficiency of the health-care systems in 21 selected middle-income countries during the period (2000–2017) and determine the source of inefficiency whether it is transient (short run) or persistent (long run).

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the stochastic frontier analysis technique through employing the generalized true random effects model which overcomes the drawbacks of the previously introduced stochastic frontier models and allows for the separation between unobserved heterogeneity, persistent inefficiency and transient inefficiency.

Findings

Persistent efficiency is lower than the transient efficiency; hence, there are more efficiency gains that can be made by the selected countries by adopting long-term policies that aim at reforming the structure of the health-care system in the less efficient countries such as South Africa and Russia. The most efficient countries are Vietnam, Mexico and China which adopted a social health insurance that covers almost the whole population with the aim of increasing access to health-care services. Also, decentralization in health-care has assisted in adopting health-care policies that are suitable for both the rural and urban areas based on their specific conditions and health-care needs. A key success in the implementation of the adopted long-term policies by those countries is the continuous monitoring and evaluation of their outcomes and comparing them with the predefined targets and conducting any necessary modifications to ensure their movement in the right path to achieve their goals.

Originality/value

Although several studies have evaluated the technical efficiency both across and within countries using non-parametric (data envelopment analysis) and parametric (stochastic frontier analysis) approaches, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first attempt to evaluate the technical efficiency of selected middle-income countries during the period (2000–2017) using the generalized true random effects stochastic frontier analysis model.
Application of a hybrid selective inventory control technique in a hospital: a precursor for inventory reduction through lean thinking
Authors: Gurumurthy Anand , Nair Vinoth Kumar , Vinodh S.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The cost of providing healthcare is spiralling up in recent times. On the one hand, patients expect the highest quality of service, while on the other hand, the managers of the healthcare services want to minimise the total operating expenses. Hence, healthcare organisations implement lean thinking (LT) to achieve these twin objectives. LT reduces the eight wastes that are prevalent in the healthcare processes and functions. In particular, if the wasteful inventories related to expensive medical supplies are reduced, the resulting cost savings can help in providing affordable and accessible healthcare.

Design/methodology/approach

Hence, in this paper, a case study of a hospital is presented where LT is implemented. One of the projects was related to inventory reduction in the store of the catheterisation laboratory (cath lab). A hybrid methodology called multi-unit selective inventory control (MUSIC) that combined these three dimensions (3D), namely, consumption value, criticality and lead time or ease of availability was used to classify the medical supplies into different categories.

Findings

Based on the results obtained, various inventory systems and the associated tools and techniques of LT were proposed. For example, a deep dive into the A-class items revealed that some of the medical supplies fell under both vital and scarce categories. Hence, it was recommended that the case hospital should follow the economic order quantity (EOQ) with safety stock approach as these items were to be shipped from other states in India. Subsequently, the focus should be on developing a local supplier and attempts should be made to establish a kanban system with adequate information sharing.

Practical implications

This study demonstrates the step-by-step methodology of MUSIC-3D which would guide the procurement managers to apply the same in their organisation. It also helps them in identifying appropriate elements of LT for inventory reduction before the actual deployment.

Originality/value

None of the papers has utilised the MUSIC-3D methodology as a precursor for inventory reduction, specifically within the domain of LT. Similarly, identifying and proposing different type of inventory systems and various LT practices based on this unique method is a novel attempt.
Impacts of community market development on the residents’ well-being and satisfaction
Authors: Fakfare Pipatpong , Wattanacharoensil Walanchalee
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the attitude and effects that community residents perceive the development of community market as a tourist attraction. The study examines the moderating role of the stages of the community life cycle, particularly the consolidation and stagnation stages, on the perceived tourism impacts concerning the community well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modelling using partial least squares analysis has been used in this study. This study has collected the responses from 852 respondents who are the residents of the 10 community markets in Thailand.

Findings

The key findings reveal that under the context of community markets, the economic factor, cultural factor and attitude of residents towards community market development have strong influences on community well-being, while the environmental factor does not show influence. Moreover, a deeper investigation on the stages of community development reveals various emphases on their impacts on the community well-being. The residents of the markets under the consolidation (early maturity) stage perceive the economic and cultural impacts to have more influence on well-being than the other stages, whereas residents of the markets under the stagnation (late maturity) stage perceive that the environmental factor and the attitude of having the community market have more influence. Although the findings that use the community life cycle as a moderating role do not yield significant results, they provide a preliminary understanding of how tourism stages shape the perception of residents on community well-being.

Originality/value

The findings provide insights into one type of domestic tourism, the community market, which is a common tourist attraction in Thailand. Community markets have not been particularly investigated in previous literature. This study is also among a handful works which apply the tourism life cycle as a moderating role to investigate the perception of residents towards the economic, cultural and environmental impacts on community well-being.
Efficacy and tolerability of low‐dose spironolactone and topical benzoyl peroxide in adult female acne: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Patiyasikunt Mattana , Chancheewa Bussabong , Asawanonda Pravit , Noppakun Nopadon , Kumtornrut Chanat
Published: August 2020

Effective therapies for adult female acne (AFA) are limited. Oral spironolactone (SPL), 100–200 mg/day, is currently used off‐label to treat AFA. However, high‐dose SPL results in clinically significant side‐effects which prevent widespread use in clinical practice. The efficacy of low‐dose spironolactone in AFA is unknown. We examined the efficacy and tolerability of low‐dose (25–50 mg/day) oral SPL in Thai women with moderate AFA. A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial was conducted for 12 weeks. Moderate AFA patients aged between 25 and 45 years received a combination of daily topical benzoyl peroxide (BP) 2.5% plus either SPL 25 mg (SPL25 group), SPL 50 mg (SPL50 group) or placebo. We performed total acne counts and Adult Female Acne Scoring Tool (AFAST) grading at 4‐week intervals. The success rate, defined as the proportion of participants achieving a “clear/almost clear” AFAST grade by the end of week 12, was considered as the main outcome. Treatment‐related adverse events (TRAE) were recorded. We enrolled 63 participants in the study. The total acne counts decreased significantly in all three groups (P < 0.05) as compared with baseline. Participants in the SPL50 group had a significantly higher success rate than those in the placebo group (P < 0.05). Serum potassium and creatinine levels showed no significant changes with treatment or between groups. A small number of participants in SPL25 and SPL50 reported mild and temporary TRAE, such as menstrual irregularities, breast tenderness and dizziness. The combination of SPL 50 mg/day and topical BP proved effective in improving moderate AFA in Thai women, with an acceptable side‐effect profile. We propose this regimen as an option for treating moderate AFA.
Biogenesis of Type V pili
Authors: Shoji Mikio , Shibata Satoshi , Sueyoshi Takayuki , Naito Mariko , Nakayama Koji
Published: August 2020

Pili or fimbriae, which are filamentous structures present on the surface of bacteria, were purified from a periodontal pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis, in 1980s. The protein component of pili (stalk pilin), which is its major component, was named FimA; it has a molecular weight of approximately 41 kDa. Because the molecular weight of the pilin from P. gingivalis is twice that of pilins from other bacterial pili, the P. gingivalis Fim pili were suggested to be formed via a novel mechanism. In earlier studies, we reported that the FimA pilin is secreted on the cell surface as a lipoprotein precursor, and the subsequent N‐terminal processing of the FimA precursor by arginine‐specific proteases is necessary for Fim pili formation. The crystal structures of FimA and its related proteins were determined recently, which show that Fim pili are formed by a protease‐mediated strand‐exchange mechanism. The most recent study conducted by us, wherein we performed cryoelectron microscopy of the pilus structure, provided evidence in support of this mechanism. As the P. gingivalis Fim pili are formed through novel transport and assembly mechanisms, such pili are now designated as Type V pili. Surface lipoproteins, including the anchor pilin FimB of Fim pili that are present on the outer membrane, have been detected in certain Gram‐negative bacteria. Here, we describe the assembly mechanisms of pili, including those of Type V and other pili, as well as the lipoprotein transport mechanisms.
Host phospholipase C‐γ1 impairs phagocytosis and killing of mycobacteria by J774A.1 murine macrophages
Authors: Paroha Ruchi , Chourasia Rashmi , Rai Rupal , Kumar Awanish , Vyas Ashish K. , Chaurasiya Shivendra K. , Singh Anirudh K.
Published: August 2020

Macrophages represent the first line of defense against invading Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). In order to enhance intracellular survival, Mtb targets various components of the host signaling pathways to limit macrophage functions. The outcome of Mtb infection depends on various factors derived from both host and pathogen. A detailed understanding of such factors operating during interaction of the pathogen with the host is a prerequisite for designing new approaches for combating mycobacterial infections. This work analyzed the role of host phospholipase C‐γ1 (PLC‐γ1) in regulating mycobacterial uptake and killing by J774A.1 murine macrophages. Small interfering RNA mediated knockdown of PLC‐γ1 increased internalization and reduced the intracellular survival of both Mtb and Mycobacterium smegmatis (MS) by macrophages. Down‐regulation of the host PLC‐γ1 was observed during the course of mycobacterial infection within these macrophages. Finally, Mtb infection also suppressed the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor‐α and chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 5 (RANTES) which was restored by knocking down PLC‐γ1 in J774A.1 cells. These observations suggest a role of host PLC‐γ1 in the uptake and killing of mycobacteria by murine macrophages.
Shotgun metagenomics reveal a diverse assemblage of protists in a model Antarctic soil ecosystem
Authors: Thompson Andrew R. , Geisen Stefan , Adams Byron J.
Published: August 2020

The soils of the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) of Antarctica are established models for understanding fundamental processes in soil ecosystem functioning (e.g. ecological tipping points, community structuring and nutrient cycling) because the extreme physical environment drastically reduces biodiversity and ecological complexity. Understanding the functioning of MDV soils requires in‐depth knowledge of the diversity of MDV soil species. Protists, which contribute significantly to soil ecosystem functioning worldwide, remain poorly characterized in the MDV. To better assess the diversity of MDV protists, we performed shotgun metagenomics on 18 sites representing a variety of landscape features and edaphic variables. Our results show MDV soil protists are diverse at both the genus (155 of 281 eukaryote genera) and family (120) levels, but comprise only 6% of eukaryotic reads. Protists are structured by moisture, total N and distance from the local coast and possess limited richness in arid (< 5% moisture) and at high elevation sites, known drivers of communities in the MDV. High relative diversity and broad distribution of protists in our study promotes these organisms as key members of MDV soil microbiomes and the MDV as a useful system for understanding the contribution of soil protists to the structure of soil microbiomes.
MAPK pathway‐related tyrosine phosphatases regulate development, secondary metabolism and pathogenicity in fungus Aspergillus flavus
Authors: Yang Guang , Cao Xiaohong , Ma Genli , Qin Ling , Wu Yuanzhen , Lin Jian , Ye Peng , Yuan Jun , Wang Shihua
Published: August 2020

Mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are highly conserved in eukaryotic cells and are known to play crucial roles in the regulation of various cellular processes. However, compared with kinase‐mediated phosphorylation, dephosphorylation catalysed by phosphatases has not been well characterized in filamentous fungi. In this study, we identified five MAPK pathway‐related phosphatases (Msg5, Yvh1, Ptp1, Ptp2 and Oca2) and characterized their functions in Aspergillus flavus, which produces aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), one of the most toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites. These five phosphatases were identified as negative regulators of MAPK (Slt2, Fus3 and Hog1) pathways. Deletion of Msg5 and Yvh1 resulted in significant defects in conidiation, sclerotia formation, aflatoxin production and crop infection. Additionally, double knockout mutants (ΔMsg5/ΔPtp1, ΔMsg5/ΔPtp2 and ΔMsg5/ΔOca2) displayed similar defects to those observed in the ΔMsg5 single mutant, indicating that Msg5 plays a major role in the regulation of development and pathogenicity in A. flavus. Importantly, we found that the active site at C439 is essential for the function of the Msg5 phosphatase. Furthermore, the MAP kinase Fus3 was found to be involved in the regulation of development, aflatoxin biosynthesis and pathogenicity, and its conserved phosphorylation residues (Thr and Tyr) were critical for the full range of its functions in A. flavus. Overall, our results reveal that MAPK related tyrosine phosphatases play important roles in the regulation of development, secondary metabolism and pathogenicity in A. flavus, and could be developed as potential targets for preventing damage caused by this fungal pathogen.
Attitudes towards risk‐reducing early salpingectomy with delayed oophorectomy for ovarian cancer prevention: a cohort study
Authors: Gaba F , Blyuss O , Chandrasekaran D , Osman M , Goyal S , Gan C , Izatt L , Tripathi V , Esteban I , McNicol L , Ragupathy K , Crawford R , Evans DG , Legood R , Menon U , Manchanda R
Published: August 2020

Objective

To determine risk‐reducing early salpingectomy and delayed oophorectomy (RRESDO) acceptability and effect of surgical prevention on menopausal sequelae/satisfaction/regret in women at increased ovarian cancer (OC) risk.

Design

Multicentre, cohort, questionnaire study (IRSCTN:12310993).

Setting

United Kingdom (UK).

Population

UK women without OC ≥18 years, at increased OC risk, with/without previous RRSO, ascertained through specialist familial cancer/genetic clinics and BRCA support groups.

Methods

Participants completed a 39‐item questionnaire. Baseline characteristics were described using descriptive statistics. Logistic/linear regression models analysed the impact of variables on RRESDO acceptability and health outcomes.

Main outcomes

RRESDO acceptability, menopausal sequelae, satisfaction/regret.

Results

In all, 346 of 683 participants underwent risk‐reducing salpingo‐oophorectomy (RRSO). Of premenopausal women who had not undergone RRSO, 69.1% (181/262) found it acceptable to participate in a research study offering RRESDO. Premenopausal women concerned about sexual dysfunction were more likely to find RRESDO acceptable (odds ratio [OR] = 2.9, 95% CI 1.2–7.7, P = 0.025). Women experiencing sexual dysfunction after premenopausal RRSO were more likely to find RRESDO acceptable in retrospect (OR = 5.3, 95% CI 1.2–27.5, P < 0.031). In all, 88.8% (143/161) premenopausal and 95.2% (80/84) postmenopausal women who underwent RRSO, respectively, were satisfied with their decision, whereas 9.4% (15/160) premenopausal and 1.2% (1/81) postmenopausal women who underwent RRSO regretted their decision. HRT uptake in premenopausal individuals without breast cancer (BC) was 74.1% (80/108). HRT use did not significantly affect satisfaction/regret levels but did reduce symptoms of vaginal dryness (OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.2–0.9, P = 0.025).

Conclusion

Data show high RRESDO acceptability, particularly in women concerned about sexual dysfunction. Although RRSO satisfaction remains high, regret rates are much higher for premenopausal women than for postmenopausal women. HRT use following premenopausal RRSO does not increase satisfaction but does reduce vaginal dryness.

Tweetable abstract

RRESDO has high acceptability among premenopausal women at increased ovarian cancer risk, particularly those concerned about sexual dysfunction.
Impact of hysterectomy on analgesic, psychoactive and neuroactive drug use in women with endometriosis: nationwide cohort study
Authors: Brunes M , Altman D , Pålsson M , Söderberg MW , Ek M
Published: August 2020

Objective

To evaluate how hysterectomy affects the prescription of analgesic, psychotropic and neuroactive drugs in women with endometriosis using population‐based nationwide registers.

Design

Nationwide cohort study.

Setting

Swedish national registers, from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2018.

Population

Women with benign disease undergoing a total hysterectomy during the 4‐year period of 2012–2015. Women with endometriosis (n = 1074) were identified and compared with women who did not have endometriosis (n = 10 890).

Methods

Prospectively collected data from two population‐based registers were linked: the Swedish National Quality Register of Gynaecological Surgery and the Swedish National Drug Register. Multivariate logistic regression was used as the main statistical method.

Main outcome measures

Changes in drug prescription over time for 3 years prior to and 3 years after hysterectomy.

Results

The frequency of prescription of analgesics was higher in women with endometriosis compared with women without endometriosis (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.7–2.9). Among women with endometriosis, the prescription of analgesics (OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.8–1.2) did not decrease 3 years after hysterectomy compared with the 3 years prior to surgery. There was also a significantly higher rate of prescription of psychoactive (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.4–2.0) and neuroactive drugs (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3–2.7) in the long term postoperatively.

Conclusions

In women undergoing hysterectomy, endometriosis was associated with a higher prescription rate of analgesics. In the endometriosis group the prescription of analgesic, psychoactive and neuroactive drugs did not decrease when comparing prescription rates for the 3 years prior to and the 3 years after surgery.

Tweetable abstract

In women with endometriosis, the long‐term prescription of analgesics did not decrease after hysterectomy.
Impact of wheat endogenous lipids on the quality of fresh bread: Key terms, concepts, and underlying mechanisms
Authors: Melis Sara , Delcour Jan A.
Published: August 2020

While wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) flour contains only low levels of lipids (2.0% to 3.0%), they tremendously affect fresh bread quality. They are either starch (30% to 40%) or nonstarch (60% to 70%) lipids. While the former are important in bread staling, they affect neither bread loaf volume nor crumb structure as they are only set free at the very end of the baking process and prior to that they are not available because of their location inside starch granules. This review mainly focuses on wheat nonstarch lipids and how they impact on bread quality. Traditional approaches for investigating their role in bread making have been to use flours varying in bread making quality, to defat and reconstitute flour with (fractions of) the extracted lipids and/or to supplement flour with lipids from wheat or other sources. More recently, lipases have been successfully applied to investigate how wheat lipids affect bread making. It is generally accepted that their impact on bread loaf volume and crumb structure largely if not entirely relates to that on bread dough gas cells stability. However, today there are still different views and hypotheses on the mechanism(s) whereby they impact fresh bread quality. This review first defines and introduces the key terms, concepts, and theories related to lipids, lipases, and bread making. Next, the effects that wheat endogenous lipids and their enzymatically released hydrolysis products have on fresh bread properties and the mechanisms whereby they exert these effects are reviewed.
Abusive Pediatric Thoracolumbar Fracture Due to Forced Hyperextension: Case Report, Biomechanical Considerations, and Review of the Literature
Authors: Webb Milad , Sherman Sarah S. , Sung LokMan , Schmidt Carl J. , Hlavaty Leigh
Published: August 2020

Pediatric thoracolumbar fractures are rare due to the physiological differences which afford greater resilience to the immature spine. Most pediatric thoracolumbar fractures occur as the result of high energy trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents, and modes of reasonable accidental injuries are limited by age and developmental capabilities of the child. These fractures can occur as the result of inflicted blunt force trauma and child abuse, and in most cases, the mechanism of injury to the spine is not known. We report the death of a 29‐month‐old man due to blunt force trauma to the back and forced hyperextension of the thoracolumbar spine causing fracture of the fourth lumbar (L4) vertebral body. A complete forensic examination revealed a previous healing fracture of the anterior aspect of the L4 vertebral body, with acute disruption of the anterior longitudinal ligament overlying the fracture site, complete fracture of the vertebral body, and fatal retroperitoneal hemorrhage. We present a review of the biomechanical considerations of the pediatric spine, a survey of pediatric spinal fractures, and a review of the literature on pediatric abusive thoracolumbar fractures. In this case, there was never a provided explanation for how the injury occurred; however, understanding the biomechanics of the pediatric spine allowed for the determination of the mechanism, force required to produce this specific pattern of abusive spinal injury, and the manner of death.
Knockdown of specific cuticular proteins analogous to peritrophin 3 genes disrupt larval and ovarian development in Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Authors: Hou Qiu‐Li , Chen Er‐Hu , Dou Wei , Wang Jin‐Jun
Published: August 2020

Cuticular proteins (CPs) are critical components of the insect cuticle and play important roles in maintaining normal insect development and defense against various environmental stresses. The oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) is one of the most destructive pests worldwide, and its eight CPs analogous to peritrophin 3 (BdCPAP3) family genes have been identified in our previous study. In the present study, we further explored the possible roles of CPAP3 genes in B. dorsalis development. Each sequence of BdCPAP3 genes contained three conserved ChtBD2 (chitin‐binding) domains. Spatial and temporal expression patterns revealed that the four BdCPAP3 genes (BdCPAP3‐A1, B, E, and E2) might play important roles in larval pupariation of B. dorsalis. Moreover, treatment with a juvenile hormone analog (methoprene) significantly restricted expression of these four CPAP3 genes, whereas treatment with 20‐hydroxy‐ecdysone induced expression. The RNA interference (RNAi) results revealed that down‐regulated CPAP3 genes led to significant delay of pupariation, and injection of dsBdCPAP3‐E into 5‐d‐old B. dorsalis larvae caused approximately 40% mortality. Interestingly, we also confirmed that BdCPAP3‐D2 was involved in B. dorsalis ovarian development. This study showed that some specific CPAP3 genes had crucial roles in B. dorsalis development, and these CP genes could be used as potential targets to control this pest via RNAi.
Lower soluble Klotho levels in the pretransplant period are associated with an increased risk of renal function decline in renal transplant patients
Authors: Shikida Yasuto , Mizobuchi Masahide , Yoshitake Osamu , Kato Tadashi , Ogata Hiroaki , Koiwa Fumihiko , Honda Hirokazu
Published: August 2020

Serum soluble Klotho levels are associated with renal function in predialysis patients with chronic kidney disease. However, few reports exist regarding the association between soluble Klotho levels and renal function in kidney transplant (KTx) recipients. This was a retrospective observational study of 41 living KTx recipients. The serum soluble Klotho levels were classed as “high” (>456 pg/mL [i.e., high‐Klotho group]) or “low” (≤456 pg/mL [i.e., low‐Klotho group]). Renal function decline was defined as a decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 30% or more from the baseline value within 3 months after KTx. A multivariable time‐to‐event analysis between the groups was conducted. Among the KTx recipients, the incidence of a 30% decrease in the eGFR was significantly higher in the low‐Klotho group than in the high‐Klotho group (P = .036). After adjusting for donor age, donor sex, the presence of rejection, and the number of cytomegalovirus infections, multivariable Cox models revealed that low soluble Klotho levels remained associated with a higher risk of a 30% decrease in the eGFR (hazard ratio, 2.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.02‐6.41). These findings suggested that lower soluble Klotho levels in the pre‐KTx period are associated with an increased risk of renal function decline in KTx recipients.