bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A model for creating a virtual library in Iranian universities of medical sciences
Authors: Alipour-Hafezi Mehdi , Radfar Hamidreza , Rasuli Behrooz , Nabavi Majid , Haji Zeinolabedini Mohsen , Dehnad Afsaneh , Mohamadzadeh Shirin , Nemati-Anaraki Leila
Published: September 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to propose an integrating model for creating virtual libraries in Iranian universities of medical sciences.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was conducted with an analytic survey method. The statistical population comprised 66 Iranian universities of medical sciences, of which 59 libraries participated in the study. A researcher-made checklist was used for data collection. To ensure the accuracy of data, interviews and, in some cases, observations were also performed. Statistical estimates, including frequency, percentage, cumulative frequency and diagrams, were used for data analysis, and the system analysis method was used for modeling.

Findings

Results demonstrated that the library software programs of the studied universities of medical sciences do not have desirable interoperability capabilities. Only Azarsa program can exchange information with other systems. In terms of metadata and its standards, the studied libraries use programs with various standards, with MARC and Dublin Core standards being the most frequently used ones in the studied sample.

Originality/value

The model proposed here for integration is a hybrid model which can translate metadata standards and use the Z39.50 and OEI protocol to transfer data.
Customer service at altitude: effects of empowering leadership
Authors: Aryee Samuel , Kim Tae-Yeol , Zhou Qin , Ryu Seongmin
Published: September 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how team-level empowering leadership related to service performance through thriving at work and how shared organizational social exchange and customer orientation moderated the latter relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected the data from 283 flight attendants and their supervisors working at a major Korean airline. Multi-level analyses were used to test the effect of empowering leadership on employee outcomes.

Findings

Both team-level empowering leadership and customer orientation were significantly and indirectly associated with service performance via thriving at work. Additionally, customer orientation significantly moderated the relationship between team-level empowering leadership and thriving at work such that the relationship was stronger when customer orientation was low rather than high. In addition, shared organizational social exchange augmented the influence of team-level empowering leadership on service performance but not on thriving at work.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that team-level empowering leadership is more effective in enhancing thriving at work of employees when their customer orientation is low rather than high. In addition, a shared high-quality organizational social exchange augments the effect of empowering leadership on employees’ service performance.

Originality/value

This paper provides initial evidence of the interaction of team-level empowering leadership and individual¬-level customer orientation on thriving at work and service performance. Additionally, it documents the differential augmenting effect of shared organizational social exchange on the relationship between empowering leadership and these outcomes. Collectively, the findings explain why and when team-level empowering leadership relates to service performance.
A study on 3D virtual body formation and deformation by body shape analysis
Authors: Jang Heekyung , Chen Jianhui
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use body shape analysis and develop a 3D virtual body formation and deformation model that can accurately express size and shape.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, 1,882 sets of direct measurement data of Korean women in their 20s (19–29 years) were analyzed. These data sets were sourced from the sixth and seventh “Size Korea” anthropometric survey data. Through body shape analysis, the authors classified them into seven body types and selected their representative bodies. A 2D image based on the height, breadth, depth and length was first formed, and the representative virtual body was modeled using the polygon technique. The authors calculated the grading ratios for each body type according to the clothing sizing system, and modified the virtual body size type by morphing technique.

Findings

In order to accurately evaluate the fit in a virtual fitting system, it is necessary to study the body size and shape of the target age; this makes it possible to form virtual body reflecting the size and shape.

Originality/value

In this paper, the authors propose a new 3D virtual body formation method that is more accurate in shape and size compared to the present system. Through this, it will be possible to grasp the accurate simulation state in the virtual fitting system, and thereby evaluate the accurate fit.
The application of six sigma to reduce the pre-operative length of hospital stay at the hospital Antonio Cardarelli
Authors: Improta Giovanni , Ricciardi Carlo , Borrelli Anna , D’alessandro Alessia , Verdoliva Ciro , Cesarelli Mario
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The best treatment for femur fractures is the surgical one within 48 h from the admission to the hospital. These fractures have serious consequences, both in terms of morbidity and socio-economic impact. In the hospital A.O.R.N. Cardarelli of Naples in Italy, the mean pre-operative length of hospital stay (LOS) was nine days and just 4 per cent of patients was operated within the suggested time. Therefore, a diagnostic-therapeutic-assistance path (DTAP) was implemented to improve the process.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyzes two groups of patients (534 and 562, respectively) before and after the introduction of DTAP, through six sigma (SS) based on define, measure, analyze, improve and control cycle. Age, gender, American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) score, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and allergies were used as independent subgrouping variables. Thet-tests and chi-square were performed to compare the groups, tools of SS were used.

Findings

The analyses were conducted considering overall patients and some subgroups. The overall reduction in LOS was about 54 per cent, patients without cardiovascular diseases and with a low ASA score had the highest reduction, more than 60 per cent. All thep-values proved a high statistically significant difference between the two groups.

Research limitations/implications

The influence of the Italian health-care system is a minor limitation while, unfortunately, the lack of a follow-up did not allow quantifying the real gain in health of patients. A lean thinking analysis would suit this context.

Practical implications

There are practical advantages for both hospital and patients: the hospital will have an increase in admissions and more beds available, while patients will benefit of a faster intervention and a shorter wait.

Originality/value

This is the first analysis through SS of DTAP showing its positive influences in terms of both socio-economic impact and patients’ outcome. Policy leaders could use this study as an example to evaluate the introduction of the same clinical pathway in other health facilities.
Analysis of lean manufacturing strategy using system dynamics modelling of a business model
Authors: Gomez Segura Miguel , Oleghe Omogbai , Salonitis Konstantinos
Published: September 2019

Purpose

A system dynamics (SD)-based methodology is described for analysing the impact of lean manufacturing strategies on a company's business performance, using business model canvas (BMC) perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach is used to describe the methodology which consists of conceptualising a SD model on the basis of BMC. The base SD model is elaborated to include variables and concepts that consider the effects of lean manufacturing metrics on business performance. In the modelling experimentation, the lean manufacturing metrics are made to take on likely values one would expect if certain lean practices are initiated or improved. The experimental results provide one with the likely impact on business performance, if one were to improve lean manufacturing practices.

Findings

The simulation results for the case study show that lean improvements, on the short-run, have a significant impact on business performance, but in the long run, the impact is only marginal.

Research implications/limitations

The described methodology provides one with a structured format for investigating the impact of lean practices on business performance. Although the developed SD model was built with generality in mind, it remains to be reproduced in other settings to test its replicability.

Practical implications

The methodology enables an organisation target which lean improvements to initiate based on their strategic impact on the business.

Originality/value

Limited studies exist where SD and business models are combined to test the strategic impact of lean manufacturing.
Demystifying lean leadership
Authors: Netland Torbjørn H. , Powell Daryl John , Hines Peter
Published: September 2019

Purpose

There is convincing evidence that companies need a special form of leadership to succeed with lean transformations. The general advice for lean leaders, however, is often obvious or unrealistic. The purpose of this paper is to propose and discuss specific lean leadership practices for top-managers, middle managers and front-line managers.

Design/methodology/approach

In this conceptual paper, the authors draw on their rich experience from researching, leading and consulting in lean transformations in a large number of firms.

Findings

Leaders must adapt lean leadership practices to their hierarchical levels. This paper provides a framework to understand and debate lean leadership at different levels of the organisational hierarchy.

Originality/value

This paper demystifies lean leadership by offering a discussion of specific lean leadership practices at different hierarchical levels. The paper offers a new perspective for researchers studying lean leadership behaviours and contains helpful advice for firms seeking lean transformations.
Actor engagement in online health communities
Authors: Stadtelmann Michael , Woratschek Herbert , Diederich Christina
Published: September 2019

Purpose

This study aims to deal with actor engagement practices and identifies different roles in actor engagement (AE), using the service-dominant logic (S-D logic) literature and the pivotal concept of value co-creation within the frame of engagement platforms.

Design/methodology/approach

The context of this research is an online health community, provided by a pharmaceutical firm, which moderates the interaction between its members. The authors use a grounded theory approach with the methodology of netnography. These research are based on the approaches of ethnography and is a suitable qualitative method for analyzing human behavior in certain situations.

Findings

The results indicate that customers and/or actors operate as resource integrators in the perspective of S-D logic. Independent social and economic actors adopt both the roles of service providers and service beneficiaries in a reciprocal manner. Value co-creation in online communities based on practices, which actually define the respective role. Three main engagement practices are identified: information-, advising- and empathy-practices.

Research limitations/implications

The findings point to the importance of the dynamic and interactive concept of actor engagement and present a clearer understanding of customer, who act both in provider- and beneficiary-roles. However, it becomes evident that a customer orientation should address the actor playing a beneficiary-role, who uses (or selects) the value proposition, and not actors who play the role of financial resources provider.

Originality/value

In recent years, the construct of AE, and, in particular, customer engagement have been established both in theory and in practice. However, there are few empirical research publications so far, that try to explain engagement practices in online communities, especially in the healthcare sector.
Amoeba management and organizational ambidexterity
Authors: Adler Ralph , Hiromoto Toshiro , Suzuki Hiroyuki
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extensively discuss the performance management system characteristics of amoeba management and organizational ambidexterity to provide conceptual comparisons between the two and assist scholars and practitioners in their respective research design and adoption decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

Management databases that included Science Direct, ABI/INFORM Global, Business Source Premier and Scopus (and their Japanese counterparts), as well as a number of journals known for publishing work on amoeba management and organizational ambidexterity, were used to identify relevant published work. An initial identification of almost 2,500 books and articles was reduced to the paper’s approximately 100 references. Feedback from presenting the paper at management conferences and university seminars supports the comprehensiveness of the assembled literature.

Findings

This paper shows that prior research’s conflating of amoeba management and organizational ambidexterity is misguided. While the two performance management systems share a common overarching philosophy on how to successfully operate in highly competitive environments and adopt a similar urgency about the need for business units to feature relatively small numbers of employees, significant differences involving the enactment of strategy, organizational structure, organizational culture, planning horizon, performance measures, employee involvement, employee selection and leadership prevail.

Originality/value

By providing scholars and practitioners with better, more holistic understandings of amoeba management and organizational ambidexterity, the paper seeks to advance theoretical and practical understandings of the two performance management systems. The model provided helps scholars incorporate into their research more complete theoretical constructions and operational representations of these two performance management systems and helps practitioners make better informed adoption choices.
Does organizational innovation always lead to better performance? A study of firms in Vietnam
Authors: Phan Thi Thuc Anh
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between organizational innovation and performance of firms in Vietnam.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the literature review, the author proposed five hypotheses covering the relationships between different aspects of organizational innovation and firm performance. Data collected from a survey of 266 firms in Vietnam were analyzed to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

Two out of three aspects of organizational innovation, including “innovation in business practices” and “innovation in workplace organization,” are significantly positively associated with firm performance. However, there was no evidence to support the relationship between firm performance and the third organizational innovation aspect, “organizational innovation in external relations.” The results also show that the interaction terms among three aspects of organizational innovation do not have significant impacts on firm performance.

Practical implications

Firms in Vietnam should pay more attention to innovation in business practices and innovation in workplace organization since two aspects have clear positive influences on performance. Moreover, firms can perform each of the organizational innovation aspects independently or in parallel, as the implementation of organizational innovation in one aspect does not influence the impact on the firm performance of organizational innovation in other aspects.

Originality/value

This study provides important insights into the widely recognized yet little-researched relationship between organizational innovation and firm performance and concludes that organizational innovation has a positive impact on firm performance.
Ranking Belarus on competitiveness and economic freedom
Authors: Evans Anthony , Naurodski Sierz
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide primary data so that Belarus can be incorporated into existing Global Performance Indicators (GPIs).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a survey following World Economic Forum (WEF) methods and combined our data with publicly available information.

Findings

The authors find that Belarus would have risen from 61st in the 2012/2013 Global Competitiveness Index to 55th in 2013/2014. The authors also estimate a position of 125th on the 2018 Economic Freedom Index.

Research limitations/implications

Many GPIs have flaws and the findings outline how they can be improved to gain more accurate views.

Practical implications

Policymakers can now make meaningful judgments around how competitive the Belarusian economy is, and the extent of economic freedom relative to its peers.

Social implications

Belarus has received sanctions on account of its policy environment and this paper sheds light on the current state of economic freedom.

Originality/value

The paper utilises primary data that has been previously unpublished in the English language.
Identity, glass borders and globally mobile female talent
Authors: Kirk Susan
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the interplay between identity and global mobility in the careers of senior, female talent, uniquely taking into account the perceptions of both female and male participants. In addition, the role organisations can play in enabling women to overcome these identity constraints is identified.

Design/methodology/approach

This interpretivist study draws on data from 38 in-depth interviews with senior managers in a large, multinational organisation to elicit a rich picture of how such careers are enacted.

Findings

Findings reveal how identity conflicts function as a glass border for globally mobile, senior female talent. Ways in which talent can access positive identity narratives to inform global mobility choices are identified.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of this study include the relatively small sample size and the single case design of this research. The findings, however, offer insights into the identity work of globally mobile, female talent across different contexts.

Practical implications

Organisations can facilitate access to identity narratives through mentoring, face-to-face forums and via the internet to enable globally mobile, female talent to make more informed global mobility choices.

Originality/value

Drawing on identity theory, this paper examines how identity work for globally mobile, female talent has more fluid interpersonal boundaries than for men, creating on-going identity struggles. In highlighting how identity narratives can act as a means of breaching the glass border and facilitating global mobility for female talent, a contribution is made to existing debates in the fields of identity, gender studies and global talent management.
Sustainable value chain activities towards sustainable food services: a case study from Finland
Authors: Tikkanen Irma , Jaakkola Leila
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the sustainable value chain activities that have been implemented when providing sustainable food services and sustainable value. A municipal catering organisation in Finland is introduced as an example.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical framework comprises sustainability as a strategy and the value chain and its sustainability. Existing research on the sustainability of food services and sustainable value in the professional kitchens is described. The primary data were collected from the two representatives of the case organisation using a written questionnaire with open-ended questions. Furthermore, secondary data from the web pages of the case organisation were utilised. The sustainable actions were categorised using a pattern-matching logic.

Findings

The findings illustrate the implemented pragmatic sustainable actions in all primary and support activities, which are local, national and international. These actions were based on the owner municipality’s strategy of sustainable development. Economic, social and ecological sustainable values were achieved.

Practical implications

The case description may act as a reference model for a catering organisation when targeting sustainable food services and sustainable value. The case might also be utilised as a teaching case in hospitality management schools. The paper contributes to the pragmatic view of sustainability by describing the everyday working orientation of the case organisation.

Originality/value

The case provides practical information on how to achieve sustainable economic, social and ecological values in municipal food services.
Thermoviscoelastic response of an axially loaded beam under laser excitation and resting on Winkler’s foundation
Authors: Abouelregal Ahmed E. , Zenkour Ashraf M.
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the response of viscoelastic beam resting on a Winkler’s foundation and subjected to an axial initial stress, thermal load and an ultra-fast laser heating.

Design/methodology/approach

In this introduced model, the authors considered the interaction design between the vertical springs only. The beam is considered as an Euler–Bernoulli beam exposed to sinusoidal varying heat.

Findings

The deflection and the temperature response of the beam are obtained using Laplace transform and its numerical inversion method. In the numerical example, the effect of the laser pulse duration and viscous damping coefficient on the transverse displacement response of the beam is discussed. The thermoelastic interactions of the beam due to the axial load are also illustrated.

Originality/value

Physical views of this paper may be useful for the design and vibration analysis of micro-resonators and micro-sensors applications. In addition, the utilization of laser-ultrasonic technology has found wide applications in lab environments, and in an expanding number of cases, it is extending to the industrial field and realm application.
The impact of Generation Z in the intention to purchase real estate in Kosovo
Authors: Hoxha Visar , Zeqiraj Emblema
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the impact that Generation Z has on the real estate industry of Kosovo. By studying the behaviors and characteristics of Gen Z the stakeholders in the real estate industry can gain advantages and opportunities in getting to comprehend their preferences, their perspective and their decision to buy real estate in Kosovo.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study used a quantitative research method. For the purpose of this study a questionnaire with close-ended questions is used. The questionnaire used for this study is a self-evaluation and self-administrated questionnaire. The study included 200 people, mainly Albanian speakers who participated in the questionnaire. All participants of the questionnaire were strictly members of Generation Z that were born in the time period of 1995–2012. In this questionnaire the participants were provided with full anonymity, since none of their identity data were requested during this process.

Findings

The findings of this study indicate that Gen Z and their different characteristics will have an impact on the real estate industry.

Research limitations/implications

This study can be utilized as a landmark for agents of real estate on understanding how they can use the characteristics and behaviors of Gen Z in their favor, by pointing out the prominence of those characteristics and behaviors in realizing the needs and desires of the potential buyers and the influence they have on the decision to buy property. Furthermore, through this study, the real estate agencies will be provided with multiple reasons that substantiate the necessity to perform the proper research about differences between generations.

Originality/value

The study is the first quantitative study that studies the linkage between behaviors and characteristics of Generation Z and their intention to purchase real estate.
Understanding purchase intention of university students towards skin care products
Authors: Lee Jia En , Goh Mei Ling , Mohd Noor Mohd Nazri Bin
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors which will contribute to consumers’ purchase intention on skin care products. Four factors, namely, brand awareness, brand association, perceived quality and brand loyalty, were included in this study.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 150 sets of self-administered questionnaires were distributed to students in a local private university in Melaka. Convenience sampling was used and data collected were analysed using SmartPLS to perform the measurement model and structural model.

Findings

Findings have showed that there are positive relationships between brand awareness, brand association, perceived quality and brand loyalty and consumers’ purchase intention towards skin care products. Furthermore, it is concluded that perceived quality is the most significant factor in influencing consumers’ purchase intention.

Originality/value

Firms are able to benefit from this study by formulating their brand management tactics referring to the findings to have competitive advantage over their competitors.
Antibacterial silver submicron wire-polylactic acid composites for fused filament fabrication
Authors: Walker Jenna Stephanie , Arnold John , Shrestha Cynthiya , Smith Damon
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of silver submicron-scale wire (AgSMW) additives in filament feedstock for fused filament fabrication (FFF) additive manufacturing technologies. The antibacterial effect of the additive on printed objects is assessed and its impact on mechanical behavior is determined.

Design/methodology/approach

AgSMW-PLA composite FFF filaments were fabricated by solution processing, granulation and extrusion. The reduction in the growth of Escherichia coli (E. coli) is measured after exposure to FFF-printed composite test specimens with AgSMW additive concentrations ranging from 0.0 to 10.0 weight per cent. The effect of the additive addition on the thermal properties and tensile mechanical performance was measured. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the composite microstructure and fracture behavior.

Findings

E. coli growth was reduced by approximately 50 per cent at the highest additive concentration of 10.0 weight per cent. This is attributed to the release of silver ions through water diffusion into the bulk of the composite. The ultimate tensile strength declined with increasing AgSMW concentration with a moderate reduction of 18 per cent at 10.0 weight per cent. The elastic modulus did not vary significantly at any of the concentrations studied. The ductility of the composite was only notably reduced at the highest concentration. The reduction in mechanical strength and strain at break is attributed to an increase in void defects in the composite with increasing additive concentration.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates the successful incorporation of AgSMWs into FFF-compatible filaments for use in commercially available printing systems. The results demonstrate significant reduction of bacteria growth when using these materials. While the mechanical performance degrades slightly, the results indicate the material’s efficacy for a variety of potential biomedical applications. As a proof of concept, surgical tools were printed using the composite.
Fortification of milk with plant extracts modifies the acidification and reducing capacities of yoghurt bacteria
Authors: Alwazeer Duried , Bulut Menekşe , Tunçtürk Yusuf
Published: September 2019

The acidification and reducing capacities of yoghurt bacteria were evaluated in different plant extract‐enriched milk samples. The milk samples enriched with thyme and grape seed extracts exhibited the highest values of acidification capacity for Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (LB) (0.0065 pH unit/min) and Streptococcus thermophilus (ST) (0.0068 pH unit/min). The highest values of reducing capacity were observed in thyme (−0.98 mV/min), grape (−1.92 mV/min) and green tea (−0.75 mV/min)‐enriched samples for LB, ST and mixed culture of LB + ST, respectively. The fortification of yoghurt with plant extracts modified the acidification and reducing activities of starters, thus changing the fermentation time and quality attributes of the product.
The criminal costs of wrongful convictions
Authors: Norris Robert J. , Weintraub Jennifer N. , Acker James R. , Redlich Allison D. , Bonventre Catherine L.
Published: September 2019

Research Summary

In this article, we examine criminal offending by true perpetrators after innocent people are arrested and convicted for their crimes. After investigating a set of cases in which DNA was used to exonerate the innocent and to identify the guilty party, we identified 109 true perpetrators, 102 of whom committed additional crimes. We found a total of 337 additional offenses committed by the true perpetrators, including 43 homicide‐related and 94 sex offenses. By extrapolating from our findings, we estimate that the wrong‐person wrongful convictions that occur annually may lead to more than 41,000 additional crimes.

Policy Implications

Our findings indicate that one consequence of wrongful convictions, allowing the true perpetrators of crimes to remain at liberty and commit new crimes that imperil prospective victims, represents an important threat to public safety and thereby dramatically compounds the harms caused to innocents. We stress the importance of framing wrongful conviction issues to capture these important crime control concerns and, thus, to help galvanize public opinion and promote policy reforms that will mutually benefit adherents of both crime control and due process perspectives.
Genomic clues of the evolutionary history of Bos indicus cattle
Authors: Utsunomiya Y. T. , Milanesi M. , Fortes M. R. S. , Porto‐Neto L. R. , Utsunomiya A. T. H. , Silva M. V. G. B. , Garcia J. F. , Ajmone‐Marsan P.
Published: September 2019

Together with their sister subspecies Bos taurus, zebu cattle (Bos indicus) have contributed to important socioeconomic changes that have shaped modern civilizations. Zebu cattle were domesticated in the Indus Valley 8000 years before present (YBP). From the domestication site, they expanded to Africa, East Asia, southwestern Asia and Europe between 4000 and 1300 YBP, intercrossing with B. taurus to form clinal variations of zebu ancestry across the landmass of Afro‐Eurasia. In the past 150 years, zebu cattle reached the Americas and Oceania, where they have contributed to the prosperity of emerging economies. The zebu genome is characterized by two mitochondrial haplogroups (I1 and I2), one Y chromosome haplogroup (Y3) and three major autosomal ancestral groups (Indian‐Pakistani, African and Chinese). Phenotypically, zebu animals are recognized by their hump, large ears and excess skin. They are rustic, resilient to parasites and capable of bearing the hot and humid climates of the tropics. Many resources are available to study the zebu genome, including commercial arrays of SNP, reference assemblies and publicly available genotypes and whole‐genome sequences. Nevertheless, many of these resources were initially developed to support research and subsidize industrial applications in B. taurus, and therefore they can produce bias in data analysis. The combination of genomics with precision agriculture holds great promise for the identification of genetic variants affecting economically important traits such as tick resistance and heat tolerance, which were naturally selected for millennia and played a major role in the evolution of B. indicus cattle.
Mutations in ASIP and MC1R: dominant black and recessive black alleles segregate in native Swedish sheep populations
Authors: Rochus C. M. , Westberg Sunesson K. , Jonas E. , Mikko S. , Johansson A. M.
Published: September 2019

By studying genes associated with coat colour, we can understand the role of these genes in pigmentation but also gain insight into selection history. North European short‐tailed sheep, including Swedish breeds, have variation in their coat colour, making them good models to expand current knowledge of mutations associated with coat colour in sheep. We studied ASIP and MC1R, two genes with known roles in pigmentation, and their association with black coat colour. We did this by sequencing the coding regions of ASIP in 149 animals and MC1R in 129 animals from seven native Swedish sheep breeds in individuals with black, white or grey fleece. Previously known mutations in ASIP [recessive black allele: g.100_105del (D5) and/or g.5172T>A] were associated with black coat colour in Klövsjö and Roslag sheep breeds and mutations in both ASIP and MC1R (dominant black allele: c.218T>A and/or c.361G>A) were associated with black coat colour in Swedish Finewool. In Gotland, Gute, Värmland and Helsinge sheep breeds, coat colour inheritance was more complex: only 11 of 16 individuals with black fleece had genotypes that could explain their black colour. These breeds have grey individuals in their populations, and grey is believed to be a result of mutations and allelic copy number variation within the ASIP duplication, which could be a possible explanation for the lack of a clear inheritance pattern in these breeds. Finally, we found a novel missense mutation in MC1R (c.452G>A) in Gotland, Gute and Värmland sheep and evidence of a duplication of MC1R in Gotland sheep.
Two linked TBXT (brachyury) gene polymorphisms are associated with the tailless phenotype in fat‐rumped sheep
Authors: Han J. , Yang M. , Guo T. , Niu C. , Liu J. , Yue Y. , Yuan C. , Yang B.
Published: September 2019

T‐box transcription factor T (TBXT), encoding the brachyury protein, is an embryonic nuclear transcription factor involved in mesoderm formation and differentiation. Previous studies indicate that TBXT mutations are responsible for the tailless or short‐tailed phenotype of many vertebrates. To verify whether the tailless phenotype in fat‐rumped sheep is associated with TBXT mutations, exon 2 of the TBXT gene for 301 individuals belonging to 13 Chinese and Iranian sheep breeds was directly sequenced. Meanwhile, 380 samples were used to detect the genotypes of the candidate variations by mapping to their reads databases in the Sequence Read Archive repository of GenBank. The results showed that one missense mutation, c.334G>T (GGG>TGG) with a completely linked synonymous variant c.333G>C (CCG>CCC) was found to be associated with the ‘tailless’ characteristic in typical fat‐rumped sheep breeds. The c.334G>T transversion led to the conversion of glycine to tryptophan at the 112th amino acid in the T‐box domain of the brachyury protein. In addition, crossbreeding experiments for long‐tailed and tailless sheep showed that CT/CT allele of nucleotides (nt) 333 and 334, a recessive mutation, would cause sheep tails to be shorter, suggesting that these two linked variants at nucleotides 333 and 334 in TBXT are probably causative mutations responsible for the tailless phenotype in sheep.
“I know you can do this” versus “How can you be so stupid?” Feedback among Chinese and American young adult friends
Authors: Zhong Xiaxin , Lee Jeong Min , Morling Beth
Published: September 2019

According to past research, young adults prefer positive feedback from their friends, but emotional reactions to negative feedback are less severe in Korea than in the United States. We extended this past work in several ways: We studied both giving and receiving feedback, recruited Chinese young adults, used realistic scenarios, and employed the situation‐sampling method. Using text‐message‐based vignettes, Study 1 found that both American and Chinese friends used happy emojis when exchanging positive feedback whereas Americans used less positive emojis than did the Chinese when exchanging negative feedback. We then collected actual examples of feedback that people had given to their friends (Study 2a) and showed them to new samples of Chinese and American young adults (Study 2b). This situation‐sampling methodology found that (a) Americans rated negative feedback from both cultures especially negatively, and (b) negative feedback examples from China were rated especially negatively by people in both cultures. That is, although Chinese negative feedback is seemingly more harsh, Chinese young adults do not react as negatively.
Diverse strains of Actinobacillus lignieresii isolated from clinically affected cattle in a geographically restricted area
Authors: Turni C , Yee S , Epstein V , Jackson B , Li K , Knowles G , Blackall PJ
Published: September 2019

Objective

To investigate whether an outbreak of Actinobacillus lignieresii was caused by one or multiple strains.

Methods

Nine isolates of A. lignieresii were obtained from the lymph nodes of 15 affected cattle from two farms to determine whether a single strain was involved. An enterobacterial repetitive insertion consensus sequence (ERIC) PCR was used for genotyping, and the repeats‐in‐toxin genes were analysed by PCR and sequencing.

Results

Isolates from the two farms belonged to two and three genotypes, with a total of four genotypes detected. Genes of the apxICABD operons of some strains had deletions in the apxIA (~697 bp) and in the apxID (~187 bp) genes. The toxin gene deletions and the ERIC PCR patterns suggested the involvement of different A. lignieresii genotypes.

Conclusion

There was no evidence that a unique genotype was associated with actinobacillosis on the two farms, confirming that this disease was associated with other contributing factors.
Population pharmacokinetics of sildenafil in extremely premature infants
Authors: Gonzalez Daniel , Laughon Matthew M. , Smith P. Brian , Ge Shufan , Ambalavanan Namasivayam , Atz Andrew , Sokol Gregory M. , Hornik Chi D. , Stewart Dan , Mundakel Gratias , Poindexter Brenda B. , Gaedigk Roger , Mills Mary , Cohen‐Wolkowiez Michael , Martz Karen , Hornik Christoph P. ,   on behalf of the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act – Pediatric Trials Network Steering Committee
Published: September 2019

Aims

To characterize the population pharmacokinetics (PK) of sildenafil and its active metabolite, N‐desmethyl sildenafil (DMS), in premature infants.

Methods

We performed a multicentre, open‐label trial to characterize the PK of sildenafil in infants ≤28 weeks gestation and < 365 postnatal days (cohort 1) or < 32 weeks gestation and 3–42 postnatal days (cohort 2). In cohort 1, we obtained PK samples from infants receiving sildenafil as ordered per the local standard of care (intravenous [IV] or enteral). In cohort 2, we administered a single IV dose of sildenafil and performed PK sampling. We performed a population PK analysis and dose‐exposure simulations using the software NONMEM®.

Results

We enrolled 34 infants (cohort 1 n = 25; cohort 2 n = 9) and collected 109 plasma PK samples. Sildenafil was given enterally (0.42–2.09 mg/kg) in 24 infants in cohort 1 and via IV (0.125 or 0.25 mg/kg) in all infants in cohort 2. A 2‐compartment PK model for sildenafil and 1‐compartment model for DMS, with presystemic conversion of sildenafil to DMS, characterized the data well. Coadministration of fluconazole (n = 4), a CYP3A inhibitor, resulted in an estimated 59% decrease in sildenafil clearance. IV doses of 0.125, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg every 8 hours (in the absence of fluconazole) resulted in steady‐state maximum sildenafil concentrations that were generally within the range of those reported to inhibit phosphodiesterase type 5 activity in vitro.

Conclusions

We successfully characterized the PK of sildenafil and DMS in premature infants and applied the model to inform dosing for a follow‐up, phase II study.
Physical capacity outcomes in patients with severe obesity after 12 months of physician‐led multidisciplinary team care: A case series from a public hospital clinical obesity service
Authors: Atlantis Evan , Langford Kiri , Piya Milan , Ho Vincent , Skelsey Kathryn , Rickards Lachlan , Edwards Suzanne , Kormas Nic
Published: September 2019

Impaired physical capacity is common in people with severe levels of obesity. We aimed to investigate changes in physical capacity outcomes in patients with severe obesity following 12 months of physician‐led multidisciplinary care from a “real world” Australian public hospital setting using a case series study design. We extracted data from medical records for all of the eligible patients referred to our clinical obesity service from 2010 to 2015 (69 of 239). We found significant (P < .05) pre‐test/post‐test (mean ± SD) improvements in the 6‐minute walk test (6MWT) (339 ± 120 to 417 ± 112 m); 30‐second sit‐to‐stand test (11 ± 4 to 15 ± 6 counts) and sit‐and‐reach test (−12 ± 13 to −8 ± 15 cm). Using linear mixed‐effects models adjusting for repeated measurements over time (baseline vs 12 months) and testing for potential predictors, we found: mean 6MWT was associated with 12‐month time period (56 m), body mass index (BMI, −3 m), no walking aid over 12 months (106 m) and no opioid analgesics (75 m); mean sit‐to‐stand was associated with 12‐month time period (3 counts), age at referral (−0.2 counts), BMI (−0.2 counts), and diabetes (3 counts); and mean sit‐and‐reach was associated with 12‐month time period (5 cm), female gender (5 cm) and total medications (−0.9 cm). Using causal mediation analysis, our results show that total exercise classes partially mediates change in walking capacity among those with cardiovascular disease. Our study shows that significant and clinically important improvements in physical capacity outcomes in patients with severe obesity can be achieved following 12 months of intensive specialist obesity services, such as ours.
Northward range expansion in spring‐staging barnacle geese is a response to climate change and population growth, mediated by individual experience
Authors: Tombre Ingunn M. , Oudman Thomas , Shimmings Paul , Griffin Larry , Prop Jouke
Published: September 2019

All long‐distance migrants must cope with changing environments, but species differ greatly in how they do so. In some species, individuals might be able to adjust by learning from individual experiences and by copying others. This could greatly speed up the process of adjustment, but evidence from the wild is scarce. Here, we investigated the processes by which a rapidly growing population of barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) responded to strong environmental changes on spring‐staging areas in Norway. One area, Helgeland, has been the traditional site. Since the mid‐1990s, an increasing number of geese stage in another area 250 km further north, Vesterålen. We collected data on goose numbers and weather conditions from 1975 to 2017 to explore the extent to which the increase in population size and a warmer climate contributed to this change in staging area use. During the study period, the estimated onset of grass growth advanced on average by 0.54 days/year in each of the two areas. The total production of digestible biomass for barnacle geese during the staging period increased in Vesterålen but remained stable in Helgeland. The goose population has doubled in size during the past 25 years, with most of the growth being accommodated in Vesterålen. The observations suggest that this dramatic increase would not have happened without higher temperatures in Vesterålen. Records of individually marked geese indicate that from the initial years of colonization onwards, especially young geese tended to switch to Vesterålen, thereby predominating in the flocks at Vesterålen. Older birds had a lower probability of switching to Vesterålen, but over the years, the probability increased for all ages. Our findings suggest that barnacle geese integrate socially learned behaviour with adjustments to individual experiences, allowing the population to respond rapidly and accurately to global change.
Robustness of trait connections across environmental gradients and growth forms
Authors: Flores‐Moreno Habacuc , Fazayeli Farideh , Banerjee Arindam , Datta Abhirup , Kattge Jens , Butler Ethan E. , Atkin Owen K. , Wythers Kirk , Chen Ming , Anand Madhur , Bahn Michael , Byun Chaeho , Cornelissen J. Hans C. , Craine Joseph , Gonzalez‐Melo Andres , Hattingh Wesley N. , Jansen Steven , Kraft Nathan J. B. , Kramer Koen , Laughlin Daniel C. , Minden Vanessa , Niinemets Ülo , Onipchenko Vladimir , Peñuelas Josep , Soudzilovskaia Nadejda A. , Dalrymple Rhiannon L. , Reich Peter B.
Published: September 2019

Aim

Plant trait databases often contain traits that are correlated, but for whom direct (undirected statistical dependency) and indirect (mediated by other traits) connections may be confounded. The confounding of correlation and connection hinders our understanding of plant strategies, and how these vary among growth forms and climate zones. We identified the direct and indirect connections across plant traits relevant to competition, resource acquisition and reproductive strategies using a global database and explored whether connections within and between traits from different tissue types vary across climates and growth forms.

Location

Global.

Major taxa studied

Plants.

Time period

Present.

Methods

We used probabilistic graphical models and a database of 10 plant traits (leaf area, specific leaf area, mass‐ and area‐based leaf nitrogen and phosphorous content, leaf life span, plant height, stem specific density and seed mass) with 16,281 records to describe direct and indirect connections across woody and non‐woody plants across tropical, temperate, arid, cold and polar regions.

Results

Trait networks based on direct connections are sparser than those based on correlations. Land plants had high connectivity across traits within and between tissue types; leaf life span and stem specific density shared direct connections with all other traits. For both growth forms, two groups of traits form modules of more highly connected traits; one related to resource acquisition, the other to plant architecture and reproduction. Woody species had higher trait network modularity in polar compared to temperate and tropical climates, while non‐woody species did not show significant differences in modularity across climate regions.

Main conclusions

Plant traits are highly connected both within and across tissue types, yet traits segregate into persistent modules of traits. Variation in the modularity of trait networks suggests that trait connectivity is shaped by prevailing environmental conditions and demonstrates that plants of different growth forms use alternative strategies to cope with local conditions.