bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Obesity impairs cognitive function via metabolic syndrome and cerebrovascular disease: an SEM analysis in 15,000 adults from the UK Biobank
Authors: Morys Filip , Dadar Mahsa , Dagher Alain
Published: June 2020

Chronic obesity is associated with several complications, including cognitive impairment and dementia. However, we have piecemeal knowledge of the mechanisms linking obesity to central nervous system damage. Adiposity leads to the metabolic syndrome, consisting of inflammation, hypertension, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. In turn, these metabolic abnormalities cause cerebrovascular dysfunction, which may cause white and grey matter tissue loss and consequent cognitive impairment. While there have been several neuroimaging studies linking adiposity to changes in brain morphometry, a comprehensive investigation of the relationship has so far not been done. Here we use structural equation modelling applied to over 15,000 individuals from the UK Biobank to identify the causal chain that links adiposity to cognitive dysfunction. We found that body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio were positively related to higher plasma C-reactive protein, dyslipidemia, occurrence of hypertension and diabetes, all of which were in turn related to cerebrovascular disease as measured by volume of white matter hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging. White mater hyperintensities were associated with lower cortical thickness and volume and higher subcortical volumes, which were associated with cognitive deficits on tests of visuospatial memory, fluid intelligence, and working memory among others. In follow-up analyses we found that inflammation, hypertension and diabetes mediated 20% of the relationship between obesity and cerebrovascular disease and that cerebrovascular disease mediated a significant proportion of the relationship between obesity and cortical thickness and volume. We also showed that volume of white matter hyperintensities was related to decreased fractional anisotropy and increased mean diffusivity in the majority of white matter tracts, pointing to white matter dysconnectivity as a major cause of impaired cognition. Our results have clinical implications, supporting a role for the management of adiposity in the prevention of late-life dementia and cognitive decline.
Higher clinical acuity and 7-day hospital mortality in non-COVID-19 acute medical admissions: prospective observational study
Authors: Lyall Marcus J , Lone Nazir I
Published: June 2020

Objectives

To understand the effect of COVID-19 lockdown measures on severity of illness and mortality in non-COVID-19 acute medical admissions.

Design

A prospective observational study

Setting

3 large acute medical receiving units in NHS Lothian, Scotland. Participants: Non-covid-19 acute admissions (n = 1756) were examined over the first 31 days after the implementation of the COVID-19 lockdown policy in the United Kingdom on 23rd March 2019. Patients admitted over a matched interval in the previous 5 years were used as a comparator cohort (n = 14961).

Main outcome measures

Patient demography, biochemical markers of clinical acuity and 7-day hospital inpatient mortality.

Results

Non-covid-19 acute medical admissions reduced by a mean 43.8% (95% CI 27.3, 59.4) across all 3 sites in comparison to the mean of the preceding 5 years P < 0.001. The reduction in admissions predominated in the over 75 age category and a greater proportion arrived by emergency ambulance transport. Non-covid-19 admissions during lockdown had a greater incidence of severe renal injury, hyperlactataemia and over twice the risk of hospital death within 7 days 5.01% vs 2.49% which persisted after adjustment for confounders (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.70,2.73, P < 0.0001)

Conclusions

These data support current fears that patients are delaying seeking medical attention for acute illness which is associated with worsening clinical parameters and a higher risk of death following admission.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific T cell activation identifies individuals at high risk of tuberculosis disease
Authors: Mpande Cheleka A.M. , Musvosvi Munyaradzi , Rozot Virginie , Mosito Boitumelo , Reid Timothy D. , Schreuder Constance , Lloyd Tessa , Bilek Nicole , Huang Huang , Obermoser Gerlinde , Davis Mark M. , Ruhwald Morten , Hatherill Mark , Scriba Thomas J. , Nemes Elisa ,   ACS Study Team
Published: June 2020

Background

Provision of tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) to individuals withMycobacterium tuberculosis(M.tb) infection (TBI) is a key strategy to reduce the global tuberculosis burden. Tuberculosis risk is significantly higher after recent compared to remote TBI. We aimed to define a blood-based biomarker, measured with a simple flow cytometry assay, to stratify different stages of TBI to infer risk of disease.

Methods

Healthy adolescents were serially tested with QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT) to define recent (QFT conversion <6 months) and remote (persistent QFT+ for >1 year) TBI. M.tb-specific T cells were defined as IFN-g+TNF+CD3+ cells upon CFP-10/ESAT-6 or M.tb lysate stimulation. ΔHLA-DR median fluorescence intensity (MFI) was defined as the difference in HLA-DR expression between M.tb-specific and total T cells. Biomarker performance was assessed by blinded prediction in untouched test cohorts with recentversusremote TBI or tuberculosis disease, and unblinded analysis of asymptomatic adolescents with TBI who remained healthy (non-progressors) or who progressed to microbiologically-confirmed disease (progressors).

Findings

In the test cohorts, frequencies of M.tb-specific T cells differentiated between QFT- (n=25) and QFT+ (n=47) individuals [area under the ROC curve (AUCROC): 0.94; 95%CI: 0.87-1.00]. ΔHLA-DR MFI significantly discriminated between recent (n=20) and remote (n=22) TBI (AUCROC 0.91; 95%CI: 0.83-1.00); remote TBI and newly diagnosed tuberculosis (n=19; AUCROC 0.99; 95%CI: 0.96-1.00); and between tuberculosis progressors (n=22) and non-progressors (n=34; AUCROC 0.75, 95%CI: 0.63-0.87).

Interpretation

The ΔHLA-DR MFI biomarker can identify individuals with recent TBI and those with disease progression, allowing targeted provision of TPT to those at highest risk of tuberculosis.
“The transcriptome-wide association search for genes and genetic variants which associate with BMI and gestational weight gain in women with type 1 diabetes”
Authors: Ludwig-Słomczyńska Agnieszka H. , Seweryn Michał T. , Kapusta Przemysław , Pitera Ewelina , Mantaj Urszula , Cyganek Katarzyna , Gutaj Paweł , Dobrucka Łucja , Wender-OŻegowska Ewa , Małecki Maciej T. , Wołkow Paweł P.
Published: June 2020

Background

Clinical data suggest that BMI and gestational weight gain (GWG) are strongly interconnected phenotypes, however the genetic basis of the latter is rather unclear. Here we aim to find genes and genetic variants which influence BMI and/or GWG.

Methods

We have genotyped 316 type 1 diabetics using Illumina Infinium Omni Express Exome-8 v1.4 arrays. The GIANT, ARIC and T2D-GENES summary statistics were used for TWAS (performed with PrediXcan) in adipose tissue. Next, the analysis of association of imputed expression with BMI in the general and diabetic cohorts (Analysis 1 and 2) or GWG (Analysis 3 and 4) was performed, followed by variant association analysis (1Mb around identified loci) with the mentioned phenotypes.

Results

In Analysis 1 we have found 175 BMI associated genes and 19 variants (p<10−4) which influenced GWG, with the strongest association for rs11465293 in CCL24 (p=3.18E-06). Analysis 2, with diabetes included in the model, led to discovery of 1812 BMI associated loci and 207 variants (p<10−4) influencing GWG, with the strongest association for rs9690213 in PODXL (p=9.86E-07). In Analysis 3, among 648 GWG associated loci, 2091 variants were associated with BMI (FDR<0.05). In Analysis 4, 7 variants in GWG associated loci influenced BMI in the ARIC cohort.

Conclusions

Here, we have shown that loci influencing BMI might have an impact on GWG and GWG associated loci might influence BMI, both in the general and T1DM cohorts. The results suggest that both phenotypes are related to insulin signaling, glucose homeostasis, mitochondrial metabolism, ubiquitinoylation and inflammatory responses.
Development and external validation of a diagnostic model for periprocedural bradycardia during primary percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Li Yong , Lyu Shuzheng
Published: June 2020

Background

Periprocedural bradycardia weaks the benefit of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and has deleterious effects on organ perfusion of patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Objective

To develop and externally validate a diagnostic model of periprocedural bradycardia..

Methods

Design: Multivariable logistic regression of a cohort of acute STEMI patients. Setting: Emergency department ward of a university hospital. Participants: Diagnostic model development: Totally 1820 acute STEMI patients who were consecutively treated with PPCI from November 2007 to December 2015 in Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University. External validation: Totally 716 acute STEMI patients who were treated with PPCI from January 2016 to June 2018 in Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University. Outcomes:Periprocedural bradycardia during PPCI. Periprocedural bradycardia was defined as preoperative heart rate ≥ 50 times / min, intraoperative heart rate <50 times / min persistent or transient.

Results

Totally 332 (18.2%)patients presented periprocedural bradycardia in the development dataset and 102 (14.2%) patients presented periprocedural bradycardia in the validation dataset. The strongest predictors of periprocedural bradycardia were intra-procedural hypotension, the culprit vessel was not left anterior descending (LAD), using thrombus aspiration devices during procedure, sex, history of coronary artery disease, total occlusion of culprit vessel, and no-reflow. We developed a diagnostic model of periprocedural bradycardia.The area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve(AUC) was 0.8384± 0.0122 in the development set. We constructed a nomogram based on predictors of periprocedural bradycardia using the development database. The AUC was 0.8437±0.0203 in the validation set. Discrimination, calibration, and decision curve analysis were satisfactory.

Conclusions

We developed and externally validated a diagnostic model of periprocedural bradycardia during PPCI.

We registered this study with WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform(ICTRP). Registration number: ChiCTR1900023214.

Registered Date :16 May 2019.http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=39087&htm=4
SARS-CoV-2 in human sewage in Santa Catalina, Brazil, November 2019
Authors: Fongaro Gislaine , Hermes Stoco Patrícia , Marques Souza Dóris Sobral , Grisard Edmundo Carlos , Magri Maria Elisa , Rogovski Paula , André Schörner Marcos , Barazzetti Fernando Hartmann , Christoff Ana Paula , de Oliveira Luiz Felipe Valter , Bazzo Maria Luiza , Wagner Glauber , Hernández Marta , Rodriguez-Lázaro David
Published: June 2020

We analysed human sewage located in Florianópolis (Santa Catalina, Brazil) from late October until the Brazil lockdown on early March. We detected SARS-CoV-2 in two samples collected independently on 27th November 2019 (5.49±0.02 log genome copies/L). Subsequent samplings were positive until 4th March 2020 (coinciding with the first COVID-19 case reported in Santa Catalina), with a SARS-CoV-2 RNA increase of one log (6.68±0.02 log genome copies/L). Our results show that SARS-CoV-2 has been circulating in Brazil since late November 2019, much earlier than the first reported case in the Americas (21st January 2020, USA).
Combination of Antibody based rapid diagnostic tests used in an algorithm may improve their performance in SARS CoV-2 diagnosis
Authors: Kushemererwa Grace Esther , Kayongo Ismail , Semanda Patrick , Nansumba Hellen , Tadeo Iga , Namulindwa Christine , Nyegenye Wilson , Kiyaga Charles , Ogwok Patrick , Ndidde Susan , Ssewanyana Isaac
Published: June 2020

Background

Globally response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is highly limited by diagnostic methods. Currently, World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of molecular assays for confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection which are highly expensive and require specialized laboratory equipment. This is a limitation in mass testing and in low resource settings. SARS CoV-2 IgG/IgM antibody tests have had poor diagnostic performance that do not guarantee their use in diagnostics. In this study we demonstrate a concept of using a combination of RDTs in an algorithm to improve their performance for diagnostics.

Method

Eighty six (86) EDTA whole blood samples were collected from SARS-CoV-2 positive cases admitted at Masaka and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospitals in Uganda. These were categorized from day when confirmed positive as follows; category A (0-3 days, 10 samples), category B (4-7 days, 20 samples), Category C (8-17 days, 11 samples) and Category D (18-28 days, 20 samples). Plasma was prepared, transported to the testing laboratory and stored at −200C prior to testing. A total of 13 RDTS were tested following manufacturer’s instructions. Data was entered in Microsoft Excel exported to STATA for computation of sensitivity and specificity. We computed for all possible combinations of 2 of the 13 RDTS (13C2) that were evaluated in parallel algorithm.

Results

The individual sensitives of the RDTs ranged between 74% and 18% and there was a general increasing trend across the categories with days since PCR confirmation. A total of 78 possible combinations of the RDTs to be used in parallel was computated. The combinations of the 2 RDTS improved the sensitivities to 90%.

Discussion

We demonstrate that use of RDTs in combinations can improve their overall sensitivity. This approach when used on a wider range of combination of RDTs may yield combinations that can give sensitivities that are of diagnostics relevance in mass testing and low resource setting.
Evidence suggests a novel cerebrospinal circulatory system exists in human nerves
Authors: Pessa Joel E
Published: June 2020

Evidence from a 5-year study including 150 fresh human cadaver dissections, microsurgery, fluorescent microinjections, immunohistochemistry and confocal imaging suggests a novel CSF circulatory system exists in human nerves. We introduced this system in 2017. Here we provide further evidence to support our conclusion. No previous manuscript, text, or atlas has identified a CSF circulatory system in nerves. The human nervous system is devoid of lymphatics. CSF vessels in human nerves are distinct from blood vessels and lymphatics; may be a remnant of the primitive circulatory system in multi-cellular organisms; and likely predate the vascular circulation in animals.
Facilitating mGluR4 activity reverses the long-term deleterious consequences of chronic morphine exposure
Authors: Becker Jerome AJ , Pellissier Lucie P , Corde Yannick , Laboute Thibaut , Léauté Audrey , Gandía Jorge , Le Merrer Julie
Published: June 2020

Background

Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of abstinence from drugs of abuse is critical to allow better recovery and ensure relapse prevention in addicted subjects.

Methods

By comparing the long-term transcriptional consequences of morphine and cocaine exposure, we identified the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 4 (mGluR4) as a promising pharmacological target in morphine abstinence. We evaluated the behavioral and molecular effects of facilitating mGluR4 activity in abstinent mice.

Results

Transcriptional regulation of marker genes of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) allowed best discriminating between 4-week morphine and cocaine abstinence. Among these markers,Grm4, encoding mGluR4, displayed down-regulated expression in the caudate putamen and NAc of morphine, but not cocaine, abstinent mice. Remarkably, chronic administration of the mGluR4 positive allosteric modulator (PAM) VU0155041 (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) rescued social abilities, normalized stereotypies and anxiety and blunted locomotor sensitization in morphine abstinent mice. This treatment improved social preference but increased stereotypies in cocaine abstinent mice. Finally, the beneficial behavioral effects of VU0155041 treatment in morphine abstinent animals were correlated with restored expression of key MSN and neural activity marker genes in the NAc.

Conclusions

This study is the first report of relieving effects of a pharmacological treatment, chronic administration of the mGluR4 PAM VU0155041, on long-term deleterious consequences of morphine exposure. It illustrates the neurobiological differences between opiate and psychostimulant abstinence and points to pharmacological repression of excessive activity of D2-MSNs in the NAc as a promising therapeutic lever in drug addiction.
Colloblasts act as a biomechanical sensor for suitable prey inPleurobrachia
Authors: Townsend JP , Merces GOT , Castellanos GP , Pickering M
Published: June 2020

Ctenophores are a group of largely-planktonic, gelatinous carnivores whose most common method of prey capture is nearly a phylum-defining trait. Tentaculate ctenophores release an unknown proteinaceous adhesive from specialised colloblast cells lining their tentacles following prey contact with the tentacles. There exist no extant studies of the mechanical properties of colloblast adhesive. We use live microscopy techniques to visualise adhesion events betweenPleurobrachia pileuscolloblasts and probes of different surface chemistries in response to probing with varying contact areas. We further define two mechanisms of adhesion termination upon probe retraction. Adapting a technique for measuring surface tension, we examine the adhesive strength of tentacles in the ctenophorePleurobrachia bacheiunder varying pH and bonding time conditions, and demonstrate the destructive exhaustion of colloblast adhesive release. We find that colloblast-mediated adhesion is rapid, and that the bonding process is robust against shifts in ambient pH. However, we find that thePleurobrachiacolloblast adhesive system is among the weakest biological adhesive systems yet described. We place this surprising observation into a broader ecophysiological context by modeling prey capture for prey of a range of sizes. We find that limited use of colloblast adhesive with high surface area contact is suitable both for capturing appropriately sized prey and rejecting, by detachment, prey above a certain size threshold. This allowsPleurobrachia, lacking a mechanism to directly “see” potential prey they are interacting with, to invest in capturing only prey of an appropriate size, decreasing the risk of injury.

Summary statement

Ctenophore colloblast adhesive is found to be strong, but few colloblasts are simultaneously active, producing a weakly-adhering system. A physical model demonstrates how such a system may filter unsuitable prey.
Aligning SARS-CoV-2 Indicators via an Epidemic Model: Application to Hospital Admissions and RNA Detection in Sewage Sludge
Authors: Kaplan Edward H. , Wang Dennis , Wang Mike , Malik Amyn A. , Zulli Alessandro , Peccia Jordan
Published: June 2020

Ascertaining the state of coronavirus outbreaks is crucial for public health decision-making. Absent repeated representative viral test samples in the population, public health officials and researchers alike have relied on lagging indicators of infection to make inferences about the direction of the outbreak and attendant policy decisions. Recently researchers have shown that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be detected in municipal sewage sludge with measured RNA concentrations rising and falling suggestively in the shape of an epidemic curve while providing an earlier signal of infection than hospital admissions data. The present paper presents a SARS-CoV-2 epidemic model to serve as a basis for estimating the incidence of infection, and shows mathematically how modeled transmission dynamics translate into infection indicators by incorporating probability distributions for indicator-specific time lags from infection. Hospital admissions and SARS-CoV-2 RNA in municipal sewage sludge are simultaneously modeled via maximum likelihood scaling to the underlying transmission model. The results demonstrate that both data series plausibly follow from the transmission model specified and provide a 95% confidence interval estimate of the reproductive number R0 ≈ 2.4 ±0.2. Sensitivity analysis accounting for alternative lag distributions from infection until hospitalization and sludge RNA concentration respectively suggests that the detection of viral RNA in sewage sludge leads hospital admissions by 3 to 5 days on average. The analysis suggests that stay-at-home restrictions plausibly removed 89% of the population from the risk of infection with the remaining 11% exposed to an unmitigated outbreak that infected 9.3% of the total population.

Highlights

A maximum likelihood method for aligning observed lagged epidemic indicators via an underlying transmission model is derived and illustrated using observed COVID-19 hospital admissions and SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations measured in sewage sludge to model a local SARS-CoV-2 outbreak

The method enables direct estimation of the reproductive number R0 from the observed indicators along with the initial prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the population at risk

The analysis suggests tracking SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration in sewage sludge provides a 3 to 5 day lead time over tracking hospital admissions, consistent with purely statistical time series analysis previously reported

The model enables estimation of the fraction of the population compliant with government-mandated stay-at-home restrictions, the size of the exposed population, and the fraction of the population infected with SARS-CoV-2 over the outbreak
Endo-lysosomal Aβ concentration and pH enable formation of Aβ oligomers that potently induce Tau missorting
Authors: Schützmann Marie P. , Hasecke Filip , Bachmann Sarah , Zielinski Mara , Hänsch Sebastian , Schröder Gunnar F. , Zempel Hans , Hoyer Wolfgang
Published: June 2020

Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) forms metastable oligomers >50 kD, termed AβOs or protofibrils, that are more effective than Aβ amyloid fibrils at triggering Alzheimer’s disease-related processes such as synaptic dysfunction and Tau pathology, including Tau mislocalization. In neurons, Aβ accumulates in endo-lysosomal vesicles at low pH. Here, we show that the rate of AβO assembly is accelerated 8,000-fold upon pH reduction from extracellular to endo-lysosomal pH, at the expense of amyloid fibril formation. The pH-induced promotion of AβO formation and the high endo-lysosomal Aβ concentration together enable extensive AβO formation of Aβ42 under physiological conditions. Exploiting the enhanced AβO formation of the dimeric Aβ variant dimAβ we furthermore demonstrate targeting of AβOs to dendritic spines, potent induction of Tau missorting, a key factor in tauopathies, and impaired neuronal activity. The results suggest that the endosomal/lysosomal system is a major site for the assembly of pathomechanistically relevant AβOs.
Ancestral reconstructions decipher major adaptations of ammonia oxidizing archaea upon radiation into moderate terrestrial and marine environments
Authors: Abby Sophie S. , Kerou Melina , Schleper Christa
Published: June 2020

Unlike all other archaeal lineages, ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA) of the phylum Thaumarchaea are widespread and abundant in all moderate and oxic environments on Earth. The evolutionary adaptations that led to such unprecedented ecological success of a microbial clade characterized by highly conserved energy and carbon metabolisms have, however, remained underexplored. Here we reconstructed the genomic content and growth temperature of the ancestor of all AOA as well as the ancestors of the marine and soil lineages based on 39 available complete or nearly complete genomes of AOA. Our evolutionary scenario depicts an extremely thermophilic autotrophic, aerobic ancestor from which three independent lineages of a marine and two terrestrial groups radiated into moderate environments. Their emergence was paralleled by (I) a continuous acquisition of an extensive collection of stress tolerance genes mostly involved in redox maintenance and oxygen detoxification, (II) an expansion of regulatory capacities in transcription and central metabolic functions and (III) an extended repertoire of cell appendages and modifications related to adherence and interactions with the environment. Our analysis provides insights into the evolutionary transitions and key processes that enabled the conquest of the diverse environments in which contemporary AOA are found.
Reliability of serological tests for COVID-19: Comparison of three immunochromatography test kits for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies
Authors: Fujigaki Hidetsugu , Takemura Masao , Osawa Michiko , Sakurai Aki , Nakamoto Kentaro , Setod Koichi , Fujita Takashi , Hata Tadayoshi , Akiyama Hidehiko , Doi Yohei , Saito Kuniaki
Published: June 2020

Background

Several immunochromatographic serological test kits have been developed to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific antibodies, but their relative performance and potential clinical utility is unclear.

Methods

Three commercially available serological test kits were evaluated using 99 serum samples collected from 29 patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Results

The IgM antibody-positive rates of the three serological test kits for samples taken at the early stage of the disease (0–6 days after onset) were 19.0%, 23.8%, and 19.0%, respectively. The IgM antibody-positive rates over the entire period were 21.2%, 60.6%, and 15.2%, respectively. The IgG antibody-positive rates for samples taken after 13 days of onset were 100.0%, 97.6%, and 97.6%, respectively.

Conclusion

There were large differences among the results of the three test kits. Only few cases showed positive results for IgM in the early stage of disease and the IgM antibody-positive rates over the entire period were low, suggesting that the kits used in this study were unsuitable for diagnosis of COVID-19. The IgG antibody was positive in almost all samples after 13 days of onset, suggesting that it may be useful for determining infections in the recent past.
A Robust, Safe and Scalable Magnetic Nanoparticle Workflow for RNA Extraction of Pathogens from Clinical and Environmental Samples
Authors: Ramos-Mandujano Gerardo , Salunke Rahul , Mfarrej Sara , Rachmadi Andri , Hala Sharif , Xu Jinna , Alofi Fadwa S. , Khogeer Asim , Hashem Anwar M. , Almontashiri Naif A.M. , Alsomali Afrah , Hamdan Samir , Hong Peiying , Pain Arnab , Li Mo
Published: June 2020

Diagnosis and surveillance of emerging pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 depend on nucleic acid isolation from clinical and environmental samples. Under normal circumstances, samples would be processed using commercial proprietary reagents in Biosafety 2 (BSL-2) or higher facilities. A pandemic at the scale of COVID-19 has caused a global shortage of proprietary reagents and BSL-2 laboratories to safely perform testing. Therefore, alternative solutions are urgently needed to address these challenges. We developed an open-source method calledMagnetic-nanoparticle-AidedViralRNAIsolation ofContagiousSamples (MAVRICS) that is built upon reagents that are either readily available or can be synthesized in any molecular biology laboratory with basic equipment. Unlike conventional methods, MAVRICS works directly in samples inactivated in acid guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform (e.g., TRIzol), thus allowing infectious samples to be handled safely without biocontainment facilities. Using 36 COVID-19 patient samples, 2 wastewater samples and 1 human pathogens control sample, we showed that MAVRICS rivals commercial kits in validated diagnostic tests of SARS-CoV-2, influenza viruses, and respiratory syncytial virus. MAVRICS is scalable and thus could become an enabling technology for widespread community testing and wastewater monitoring in the current and future pandemics.
Superspreading in Early Transmissions of COVID-19 in Indonesia
Authors: Hasan Agus , Susanto Hadi , Kasim Muhammad Firmansyah , Nuraini Nuning , Lestari Bony , Triany Dessy , Widyastuti Widyastuti
Published: June 2020

We estimate the basic reproduction numberℛ0and the overdispersion parameter𝒦at two regions in Indonesia: Jakarta-Depok and Batam. Based on the first 1288 confirmed cases in both regions, we find a high degree of individual-level variation in the transmission. The basic reproduction numberℛ0is estimated at 6.79 and 2.47, while the overdispersion parameter𝒦of a negative-binomial distribution is estimated at 0.06 and 0.2 for Jakarta-Depok and Batam, respectively. This suggests that superspreading events played a key role in the early stage of the outbreak, i.e., a small number of infected individuals are responsible for large amounts of COVID-19 transmission.
Association of BMI and Obesity with Composite poor outcome in COVID-19 adult patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Soeroto Arto Yuwono , Soetedjo Nanny Natalia , Purwiga Aga , Santoso Prayudi , Kulsum Iceu Dimas , Suryadinata Hendarsyah , Ferdian Ferdy
Published: June 2020

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate the association between obesity and composite poor outcome in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature search from PubMed and Embase database. We included all original research articles in COVID-19 adult patients and obesity based on classification of Body Mass Index (BMI) and composite poor outcome which consist of mortality, morbidity, admission of Intensive Care Unit (ICU), mechanical ventilation, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), and severe COVID-19.

Results

Nine studies were included in meta-analysis with 6 studies presented BMI as continuous outcome and 3 studies presented BMI as dichotomous outcome (obese and non-obese). Most studies were conducted in China (55.5%) with remaining studies from French, Germany, and United States (US). COVID-19 patients with composite poor outcome had higher BMI with mean difference 0.55 kg/m2(95% CI 0.07–1.03, P=0.02). BMI ≥30 (obese) was associated with composite poor outcome with odds ratio 1.89 (95% CI 1.06–3.34, P=0.03). Multivariate meta-regression analysis by including three moderators: age, hypertension, and Diabetes Mellitus type 2 (DM type 2) showed the association between obesity and composite poor outcome was affected by age with regression coefficient =-0.06 and P=0.02. Subgroup analysis was not performed due to the limited number of studies for several outcomes.

Conclusion

Obesity is a risk factor of composite poor outcome of COVID-19. On the other hand, COVID-19 patients with composite poor outcome have higher BMI. BMI is an important routine procedure that should be assessed in the management of COVID-19 patients and special attention should be given to patients with obesity.
Structural basis for selective targeting of Rac subfamily GTPases by a bacterial effector protein
Authors: Dietz Nikolaus Balthasar , Huber Markus , Sorg Isabel , Goepfert Arnaud , Harms Alexander , Schirmer Tilman , Dehio Christoph
Published: June 2020

Ras-homology (Rho) family GTPases are conserved molecular switches controlling fundamental cellular activities in eukaryotic cells. As such, they are targeted by numerous bacterial toxins and effector proteins, which have been intensively investigated regarding their biochemical activities and discrete target spectra; however, molecular mechanisms of target selectivity have remained elusive. Here, we report a bacterial effector protein that targets all four Rac subfamily members of Rho family GTPases, but none of the closely related Cdc42 or RhoA subfamilies. This exquisite target selectivity of the FIC domain AMP-transferase Bep1 fromBartonella rochalimaeis based on electrostatic interactions with a subfamily-specific pair of residues in the nucleotide-binding motif and the Rho insert helix. Residue substitutions at the identified positions in Cdc42 facilitate modification by Bep1, while corresponding Cdc42-like substitutions in Rac1 greatly diminish modification. Our study establishes a structural paradigm for target selectivity towards Rac subfamily GTPases and provides a highly selective tool for their functional analysis.
Improvement of the thrust-torque ratio of an unmanned helicopter by using the ABC algorithm
Authors: Konar Mehmet , Turkmen Aydin , Oktay Tugrul
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use an ABC algorithm to improve the thrust–torque ratio of a rotating-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) model.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of UAVs, such as aircraft, drones, helicopters, has become one of the popular engineering areas with the development of technology. This study aims to improve the value of thrust–torque ratio of an unmanned helicopter. For this purpose, an unmanned helicopter was built at the Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Erciyes University. The maximum thrust–torque ratio was calculated considering the blade length, blade chord width, blade mass density and blade twist angle. For calculation, artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm was used. By using ABC algorithm, the maximum thrust–torque ratio was obtained against the optimum input values. For this purpose, a model with four inputs and a single output is formed. In the generated system model, optimum thrust–torque ratio was calculated by changing the input values used in the ±5% range. As a result of this study, approximately 31% improvement was achieved. According to these results, the proposed approach will provide convenience to the designers in the design of the rotating-wing UAV.

Findings

According to these results, approximately 31% improvement was achieved, and the proposed approach will provide convenience to the designers in the design of the rotating-wing UAV.

Research limitations/implications

It takes a long time to obtain the optimum thrust–torque ratio value through the ABC algorithm method.

Practical implications

Using ABC algorithm provides to improve the value of thrust–torque ratio of an unmanned helicopter. With this algorithm, unmanned helicopter flies more than ever. Thus, the presented method based on the ABC algorithm is more efficient.

Social implications

The application of the ABC algorithm method can be used effectively to calculate the thrust–torque ratio in UAV.

Originality/value

Providing an original and penetrating a method that saves time and reduces the cost to improve the value of thrust–torque ratio of an unmanned helicopter.
The effects of consumer ethnocentrism and consumer animosity on perceived betrayal and negative word-of-mouth
Authors: Lee Hsiang-Ming , Chen Tsai , Chen Yu-Shan , Lo Wei-Yuan , Hsu Ya-Hui
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to survey whether consumer ethnocentrism and animosity will affect consumers' perceived betrayal and cause negative word-of-mouth (NWOM).

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted a 2 (consumer ethnocentrism) × 3 (consumer animosity) between-subject experiment design to test the hypotheses. Comprised of 380 respondents, this study used ANOVA to examine the data.

Findings

The results showed that if a brand violates the perception of fairness, ethnocentrism and animosity will have a positive effect on perceived betrayal. In addition, low consumer animosity revealed a significant consumer ethnocentrism effect and low ethnocentrism revealed a significant animosity effect, while the relationship between perceived betrayal and word of mouth is negative.

Originality/value

The current research adds to the understanding about how the reaction to a domestic brand's marketing strategies that are viewed as unfair and hurt the domestic consumers' expectations.
Understanding the influence of lean and agile strategies on creating firms’ supply chain risk management capabilities
Authors: Ahmed Waqar , Rashdi Muhammad Zaki
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Lean and agile strategies are two basic supply chain paradigms that strategist decouples based on their internal and external environment. This study aims to identify the influence of market orientation (MO) and quality management (QM) deployment on the supply chain strategies. Furthermore, this study also seeks empirical evidence of the impact of these core strategies on creating risk management capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative research technique is deployed to explain the phenomenon. The data was gathered through a structured scale questionnaire from supply chain professionals working at different manufacturing firms. Valid data of 134 respondents is then analyzed through partial least squares structural equation modeling for further empirical understanding.

Findings

The outcome of the research indicates that MO capability; as an external drive is a key to make an operational strategy. QM as an internal control is more prone to formulating a lean strategy (LS). Another important finding is that LS does not complement risk management capabilities especially in an uncertain market condition.

Practical implications

The study suggested concrete implications for risk management through the right mix of lean and agile supply chain strategies. There are some good insights for the supply chain policy-makers working in a developing country.

Originality/value

This study will provide empirical evidence for managing supply chain risk through an effective strategy making.
Entity deduplication in big data graphs for scholarly communication
Authors: Manghi Paolo , Atzori Claudio , De Bonis Michele , Bardi Alessia
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Several online services offer functionalities to access information from “big research graphs” (e.g. Google Scholar, OpenAIRE, Microsoft Academic Graph), which correlate scholarly/scientific communication entities such as publications, authors, datasets, organizations, projects, funders, etc. Depending on the target users, access can vary from search and browse content to the consumption of statistics for monitoring and provision of feedback. Such graphs are populated over time as aggregations of multiple sources and therefore suffer from major entity-duplication problems. Although deduplication of graphs is a known and actual problem, existing solutions are dedicated to specific scenarios, operate on flat collections, local topology-drive challenges and cannot therefore be re-used in other contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

This work presents GDup, an integrated, scalable, general-purpose system that can be customized to address deduplication over arbitrary large information graphs. The paper presents its high-level architecture, its implementation as a service used within the OpenAIRE infrastructure system and reports numbers of real-case experiments.

Findings

GDup provides the functionalities required to deliver a fully-fledged entity deduplication workflow over a generic input graph. The system offers out-of-the-box Ground Truth management, acquisition of feedback from data curators and algorithms for identifying and merging duplicates, to obtain an output disambiguated graph.

Originality/value

To our knowledge GDup is the only system in the literature that offers an integrated and general-purpose solution for the deduplication graphs, while targeting big data scalability issues. GDup is today one of the key modules of the OpenAIRE infrastructure production system, which monitors Open Science trends on behalf of the European Commission, National funders and institutions.
The organisational adoption of soft law encouraging joint consultative committees in Mauritius
Authors: Croucher Richard , Sandvik Alexander Madsen , Gooderham Paul , Michel Didier
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Joint consultative committees (JCCs) involving employee representatives exist to stimulate positive employee relations and unlock employee involvement to build organisational performance. They are rare in Africa. Mauritius is a successful, beacon economy for Africa. We therefore investigate which categories of an organisation implemented the 2008 Mauritian government Code of Practice on JCCs, to discover how effective this “soft law” for of institutional change had been three years after its inception, when post-Code JCCs were formed.

Design/methodology/approach

We test propositions derived from institutional theory broadly conceived, through analysis of data from 120 organizations in Mauritius responding to a comprehensive HR survey covering a wide range of organisational level policies and practices conducted during the JCC formation period 2011–2012.

Findings

By 2012, nearly 30% of our sample had JCCs. Three quite distinct categories of an organisation created them, as follows: those with substantial union influence, those where strategic HRM was practiced and recently formed organisations. Remarkably, no interaction effects existed between the three categories.

Originality/value

Several contributions are made to shed light on a previously unstudied institution. First, we empirically establish that over a limited period in response to institutional change in the form of the code of practice, JCCs increased from 10% of organizations to almost 30%. Our second central contribution is to show three principal, quite separate organisational antecedents of JCCs, which do not interact statistically.
In-plane dynamic response of a hydraulic pipe subjected to random vibration
Authors: Qu Wei , Zhang Huailiang , Li Wei , Peng Ling , Sun Wenqian
Published: June 2020

Purpose

To improve the transmission efficiency and reduce the damage to pipes in the hydraulic systems of tunnel boring machine subjected to random vibration, this paper aims to propose a novel dynamic characteristic analysis method that considers random vibration.

Design/methodology/approach

A fluid-structure interaction motion equation of the pipe is established by using Hamilton’s principle. The finite element method and discrete analysis method of random vibration are used to construct a model of the dynamic behavior of the pipe.

Findings

The influences of fluid parameters and external excitation parameters on the dynamic characteristics of pipes are analyzed. The experimental results are found to be in good agreement with the simulation results, which demonstrates that the proposed analytical method can provide a theoretical reference for the design and selection of hydraulic pipes subjected to random vibration.

Originality/value

The proposed method can be regarded as a future calculation method for pipes subjected to random vibration, and the transmission efficiency of the pipe can be improved.
A decision support tool for planning module installation in industrial construction
Authors: Farajmandi Mahmoud , Ali Mostafa , Hermann Rick , AbouRizk Simaan
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Properly planned module installation on an industrial site is a critical factor in delivering a project safely, on time and within budget. Different sizes of heavy-duty mobile cranes are used to pick, swing and place the modules. Crane selection depends on module size and weight, as well as crane availability, location and configuration. Weeks can be spent in trial and error to prepare and improve module installation plans due to the large number of ways to install the modules on site, high crane operating costs and other crane-module constraints. A tool to automatically generate module installation plans is essential.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a novel heuristic-based methodology for planning and sequencing module installation on industrial construction sites that takes into account proposed technological constraints.

Findings

Case studies are presented to demonstrate the ease and effectiveness of the developed methodology in planning module installations.

Originality/value

On a complex project, the tool can save time in preparing the installation plan, while also reducing the amount of crane supporting tasks (foundation preparation and crane movement).
Relationship between CSR motivations and corporate social performance: a study in the power industry in India
Authors: Acharyya Moumita , Agarwala Tanuja
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The paper aims to understand the different motivations / reasons for engaging in CSR initiatives by the organizations. In addition, the study also examines the relationship between CSR motivations and corporate social performance (CSP).

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from two power sector organizations: one was a private sector firm and the other was a public sector firm. A comparative analysis of the variables with respect to private and public sector organizations was conducted. A questionnaire survey was administered among 370 employees working in the power sector, with 199 executives from public sector and 171 from private sector.

Findings

“Philanthropic” motivation emerged as the most dominant CSR motivation among both the public and private sector firms. The private sector firm was found to be significantly higher with respect to “philanthropic”, “enlightened self-interest” and “normative” CSR motivations when compared with the public sector firms. Findings suggest that public and private sector firms differed significantly on four CSR motivations, namely, “philanthropic”, “enlightened self-interest”, “normative” and “coercive”. The CSP score was significantly different among the two power sector firms of public and private sectors. The private sector firm had a higher CSP level than the public sector undertaking.

Research limitations/implications

Further studies in the domain need to address differences in CSR motivations and CSP across other sectors to understand the role of industry characteristics in influencing social development targets of organizations. Research also needs to focus on demonstrating the relationship between CSP and financial performance of the firms. Further, the HR outcomes of CSR initiatives and measurement of CSP indicators, such as attracting and retaining talent, employee commitment and organizational climate factors, need to be assessed.

Originality/value

The social issues are now directly linked with the business model to ensure consistency and community development. The results reveal a need for “enlightened self-interest” which is the second dominant CSR motivation among the organizations. The study makes a novel contribution by determining that competitive and coercive motivations are not functional as part of organizational CSR strategy. CSR can never be forced as the very idea is to do social good. Eventually, the CSR approach demands a commitment from within. The organizations need to emphasize more voluntary engagement of employees and go beyond statutory requirements for realizing the true CSR benefits.