bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of Ecuador: A revised checklist, new records and species of medical importance
Authors: Ponce Patricio , Cevallos Varsovia , Carrazco-Montalvo Andrés
Published: February 2021

Ecuador is one of the countries with the highest biodiversity in the world, this can also be seen in the Culicidae family. However, there are a limited number of studies on this group. This work provides a baseline reference for this insect group and information about numerous potential and vector disease species. Species names and records were extracted from the National Mosquito Reference Collection at INSPI-Quito, published literature and web databases. The specimens at the INSPI collection were identified using morphological keys and, in a few cases, using molecular markers in the genus Anopheles. An updated list includes the subfamilies Culicinae and Anophelinae, eight tribes, 22 genera and 200 species. We present 18 species cataloged as new records for Ecuador represented in two subfamilies, 6 tribes and 9 genera. Taxonomic notes, geographical distribution and medical importance data for the species involved are provided. The updated list of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) is a guide for researchers and health personnel when studying biodiversity, fauna, insect vectors and strategies to prevent the spread of vector diseases.
Glycan-Based Shaping Of The Microbiota During Primate Evolution
Authors: Singh Sumnima , Bastos-Amador Patricia , Thompson Jessica A. , Truglio Mauro , Yilmaz Bahtiyar , Cardoso Silvia , Sobral Daniel , Soares Miguel P.
Published: February 2021

Genes encoding certain glycosyltransferases are thought to be under relatively high selection pressure, due to the involvement of the glycans that they synthesize in host-microbe interactions. Here we used a mouse model to investigate whether the loss of α-1,3-galactosyltransferase (GGTA1) function and Galα1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-R (αGal) expression during primate evolution might have affected host-microbiota interactions. We found thatGgta1deletion in mice shaped the composition of the gut microbiota in relation to the bacterial species present. This occurred via an immunoglobulin (Ig)-dependent mechanism, associated with IgA targeting of αGal-expressing bacteria. Systemic infection by the Ig-shaped microbiota elicited a less severe form of sepsis than infection with the non-Ig-shaped microbiota. This suggests that in the absence of host αGal, the microbiota is shaped towards lower pathogenicity, likely providing a fitness gain to the host. We infer that high selection pressure exerted by bacterial sepsis may have contributed to increase frequency ofGGTA1loss-of-function mutations in ancestral primates that gave rise to humans.
Single-cell analysis of the ventricular-subventricular zone reveals signatures of dorsal and ventral adult neurogenic lineages
Authors: Redmond Stephanie A. , Silla Arantxa Cebrian , Nascimento Marcos Assis , Mansky Benjamin , Wu David , Obernier Kirsten , Rodriguez Ricardo Romero , Lim Daniel A. , Alvarez-Buylla Arturo
Published: February 2021

The ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ) is home to the largest neurogenic niche in the adult mouse brain. Previous work has demonstrated that resident stem cells in different locations within the V-SVZ produce different subtypes of new neurons for the olfactory bulb. While great progress has been made in understanding the differences in regional stem cell potential using viral and genetic lineage tracing strategies, the core molecular heterogeneity that underlies these regional differences is largely unknown. Here we present single whole-cell and single nucleus sequencing datasets of microdissected adult mouse V-SVZ, and evidence for the existence of two broad populations of adult neural stem cells. By using spatially resolved microdissections in the single nucleus sequencing dataset as a reference, and mapping marker gene expression in the V-SVZ, we find that these two populations reside in largely non-overlapping domains in either the dorsal or ventral V-SVZ. Furthermore, we identified two subpopulations of newly born neurons that have gene expression consistent with dorsal or ventral origins. Finally, we identify genes expressed by both stem cells and the neurons they generate that specifically mark either the dorsal or ventral adult neurogenic lineage. These datasets, methods and findings will facilitate the study of region-specific regulation of adult neurogenesis.
A Multiscale, Systems-level, Neuropharmacological Model of Cortico-Basal Ganglia System for Arm Reaching under Normal, Parkinsonian and Levodopa Medication Conditions
Authors: Nair Sandeep Sathyanandan , Muddapu Vignayanandam Ravindernath , Chakravarthy V. Srinivasa
Published: February 2021

The root cause of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the death of dopaminergic neurons in Substantia Nigra pars compacta (SNc). The exact cause of this cell death is still not known. Loss of SNc cells manifest as the cardinal symptoms of PD, including tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural imbalance. To investigate the PD condition in detail and understand the link between loss of cells in SNc and PD symptoms, it is important to have an integrated multiscale computational model that can replicate the symptoms at the behavioural level by evoking the key cellular and molecular underlying mechanisms that contribute to the pathology. In line with this objective, we present a multiscale integrated model of cortico-basal ganglia motor circuitry for arm reaching task, incorporating a detailed biophysical model of SNc dopaminergic neuron. Earlier researchers have shown that fluctuations in dopamine (DA) signals are analogous to reward/punishment signals, thereby prompting application of concepts from reinforcement learning (RL) to modelling the basal ganglia system. In our model, we replace the abstract representations of reward with the realistic variable of extracellular DA released by a network of SNc cells and incorporate it with the RL-based behavioural model, which simulates the arm reaching task. Our results showed that as SNc cell loss increases, the percentage success rate to reach the target decreases, and average time to reach the target increases. With levodopa (L-DOPA) medication, both the success rate and the average time to reach the target improved significantly. The proposed model also exhibits how differential dopaminergic axonal degeneration in basal ganglia results in various cardinal symptoms of PD as manifest in reaching movements. From the model results, we were able to show the side effects of L-DOPA mediation, such as wearing off and peak dosage dyskinesias. Moreover, from the results, we were able to predict the optimum dosage for varying degrees of cell loss and L-DOPA medication. The proposed model has a potential clinical application where drug dosage can be optimized as per patient characteristics. We conclude that our model presents a realistic and efficient way of simulating the PD pathology conditions and the effect of levodopa medication, thereby giving a reliable indicator towards the optimization of the drug dosage.
Genome-Wide Identification of 5-Methylcytosine Sites in Bacterial Genomes By High-Throughput Sequencing of MspJI Restriction Fragments
Authors: Anton Brian P. , Fomenkov Alexey , Wu Victoria , Roberts Richard J.
Published: February 2021

Single-molecule Real-Time (SMRT) sequencing can easily identify sites of N6-methyladenine and N4-methylcytosine within DNA sequences, but similar identification of 5-methylcytosine sites is not as straightforward. In prokaryotic DNA, methylation typically occurs within specific sequence contexts, or motifs, that are a property of the methyltransferases that “write” these epigenetic marks. We present here a straightforward, cost-effective alternative to both SMRT and bisulfite sequencing for the determination of prokaryotic 5-methylcytosine methylation motifs. The method, called MFRE-Seq, relies on excision and isolation of fully methylated fragments of predictable size using MspJI-Family Restriction Enzymes (MFREs), which depend on the presence of 5-methylcytosine for cleavage. We demonstrate that MFRE-Seq is compatible with both Illumina and Ion Torrent sequencing platforms and requires only a digestion step and simple column purification of size-selected digest fragments prior to standard library preparation procedures. We applied MFRE-Seq to numerous bacterial and archaeal genomic DNA preparations and successfully confirmed known motifs and identified novel ones. This method should be a useful complement to existing methodologies for studying prokaryotic methylomes and characterizing the contributing methyltransferases.
An opposing self-reinforced odor pre-exposure memory produces latent inhibition inDrosophila
Authors: Jacob Pedro F. , Vargas-Gutierrez Paola , Okray Zeynep , Vietti-Michelina Stefania , Felsenberg Johannes , Waddell Scott
Published: February 2021

Prior experience of a stimulus can inhibit subsequent acquisition or expression of a learned association of that stimulus. However, the neuronal manifestations of this learning effect, named latent inhibition (LI), are poorly understood. Here we show that odor pre-exposure produces LI of appetitive olfactory memory performance inDrosophila. Behavioral expression of LI requires that the context during memory testing resembles that during the odor pre-exposures. Odor pre-exposure forms an aversive memory that requires dopaminergic neurons that innervate the γ2α′1 and α3 mushroom body compartments - those to α3 exhibit increasing odor-driven activity with successive pre-exposures. In contrast, odor-specific responses of the corresponding mushroom body output neurons are suppressed. Odor pre-exposure therefore recruits specific dopaminergic neurons that provide teaching signals that attach negative valence to the odor itself. LI ofDrosophilaappetitive memory consequently results from a temporary and context-dependent retrieval deficit imposed by competition with this short-lived aversive memory.
Effects of physical, chemical, and biological ageing on the mineralization of pine wood biochar by aStreptomycesisolate
Authors: Zeba Nayela , Berry Timothy D. , Whitman Thea L.
Published: February 2021

If biochar is to be used for carbon (C) management, we must understand how ageing affects biochar C mineralization. Here, we incubated aged and unaged eastern white pine wood biochar produced at 350 and 550 °C with aStreptomycesisolate, a putative biochar-decomposing microbe. Ageing was simulated via exposure to (a) alternating freeze-thaw and wet-dry cycles (physical ageing), (b) concentrated hydrogen peroxide (chemical ageing) and (c) nutrients and microorganisms (biological ageing). Elemental composition and surface chemistry (Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy) of biochar samples were compared before and after ageing. Ageing significantly increased biochar C mineralization in the case of physically aged 350 °C biochar (p < 0.001). Among 350 °C biochars, biochar C mineralization was positively correlated with an increase in O/C ratio (R2= 0.78) and O-containing functional groups (R2= 0.73) post-ageing, suggesting that surface oxidation during ageing enhanced biochar degradation by the isolate. However, in the case of 550 °C biochar, ageing did not result in a significant change in biochar C mineralization (p > 0.05), likely due to lower surface oxidation and high condensed aromatic C content. These results have implications for the use of biochar for long term C storage in soils.

Synopsis

This study highlights the impact of ageing on the microbial mineralization of biochar, which can affect its long-term C storage capacity.

TOC Graphic
A comprehensive urine proteome database generated from patients with various renal conditions and prostate cancer
Authors: Swensen Adam C. , He Jingtang , Fang Alexander C. , Ye Yinyin , Nicora Carrie D. , Shi Tujin , Liu Alvin Y. , Sigdel Tara K. , Sarwal Minnie M. , Qian Wei-Jun
Published: February 2021

Urine proteins can serve as viable biomarkers for diagnosing and monitoring various diseases. A comprehensive urine proteome database, generated from a variety of urine samples with different disease conditions, can serve as a reference resource for facilitating discovery of potential urine protein biomarkers. Herein, we present a urine proteome database generated from multiple datasets using 2D LC-MS/MS proteome profiling of urine samples from healthy individuals (HI), renal transplant patients with acute rejection (AR) and stable graft (STA), patients with non-specific proteinuria (NS), and patients with prostate cancer (PC). A total of ~28,000 unique peptides spanning ~2,200 unique proteins were identified with a false discovery rate of <0.5% at the protein level. Over one third of the annotated proteins were plasma membrane proteins and another one third were extracellular proteins according to gene ontology analysis. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of these proteins revealed 349 potential biomarkers. Surprisingly, 43% (167) of all known cluster of differentiation (CD) proteins were identified in the various human urine samples. Interestingly, following comparisons with five recently published urine proteome profiling studies, which applied similar approaches, there are still ~400 proteins which are unique to this current study. These may represent potential disease-associated proteins. Among them, several proteins such as myoglobin, serpin B3, renin receptor, and periostin have been reported as pathological markers for renal failure and prostate cancer, respectively. Taken together, our data should provide valuable information for future discovery and validation studies of urine protein biomarkers for various diseases.
PXC2, a polarized receptor kinase, functions to repress ground tissue cell divisions and restrict stele size
Authors: Goff Jason , Rony R. M. Imtiaz Karim , Ge Zengxiang , Hajný Jakub , Rodriguez-Furlan Cecilia , Friml Jiri , Van Norman Jaimie M.
Published: February 2021

Coordination of cell division and differentiation is critical for tissue patterning during organ development. Directional signaling and cell polarity have important roles in coordination of these processes. For instance, the Arabidopsis receptor-like kinase INFLORESCENCE AND ROOT APICES KINASE (IRK) functions to restrict stele area and repress longitudinal anticlinal divisions (LADs) in the endodermis where it is polarly localized. IRK is closely related to PXY/TDR CORRELATED 2 (PXC2); here, we show that PXC2 exhibits similar polarized accumulation suggesting they have related functions.pxc2roots have increased stele area andirk pxc2double mutant roots show increases in stele area and endodermal LADs beyond either single mutant, indicating that polarly localized IRK and PXC2 function redundantly to repress endodermal LADs and stele area. The double mutant also exhibits agravitropic root growth and abnormal cotyledon vein patterning. Manipulation of PIN1 trafficking and (re)localization mechanisms indicate that PXC2 and/or IRK suggest a link to modulation of polar auxin transport. We conclude that IRK and PXC2 have partially redundant functions in the root, but may have independent functions that are tissue-specific. We propose that repression of endodermal LADs and stele area through a PXC2/IRK-mediated, directional signaling pathway is required for normal ground tissue cell divisions, tissue patterning, and growth in Arabidopsis roots.
Action-based predictions affect visual perception, neural processing, and pupil size, regardless of temporal predictability
Authors: Lubinus Christina , Einhäuser Wolfgang , Schiller Florian , Kircher Tilo , Straube Benjamin , van Kemenade Bianca M.
Published: February 2021

Sensory consequences of one’s own action are often perceived as less intense, and lead to reduced neural responses, compared to externally generated stimuli. Presumably, such sensory attenuation is due to predictive mechanisms based on the motor command (efference copy). However, sensory attenuation has also been observed outside the context of voluntary action, namely when stimuli are temporally predictable. Here, we aimed at disentangling the effects of motor and temporal predictability-based mechanisms on the attenuation of sensory action consequences. During fMRI data acquisition, participants (N = 25) judged which of two visual stimuli was brighter. In predictable blocks, the stimuli appeared temporally aligned with their button press (active) or aligned with an automatically generated cue (passive). In unpredictable blocks, stimuli were presented with a variable delay after button press/cue, respectively. Eye tracking was performed to investigate pupil-size changes and to ensure proper fixation. Self-generated stimuli were perceived as darker and led to less neural activation in visual areas than their passive counterparts, indicating sensory attenuation for self-generated stimuli independent of temporal predictability. Pupil size was larger during self-generated stimuli, which correlated negatively with blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) response: the larger the pupil, the smaller the BOLD amplitude in visual areas. Our results suggest that sensory attenuation in visual cortex is driven by action-based predictive mechanisms rather than by temporal predictability. This effect may be related to changes in pupil diameter. Altogether, these results emphasize the role of the efference copy in the processing of sensory action consequences.
Mitochondrial F1FOATP synthase determines the local proton motive force in cristae tips
Authors: Rieger Bettina , Arroum Tasnim , Villalta Jimmy , Busch Karin B.
Published: February 2021

The classical view of oxidative phosphorylation is that a proton motive force PMF generated by the respiratory chain complexes fuels ATP synthesis. Under glycolytic conditions, ATP synthase in its reverse mode also can contribute to the PMF. Here, we dissected the two functions of ATP synthase and the role of its inhibitory factor 1 (IF1) under different metabolic conditions in detail. pH profiles of mitochondrial sub-compartments were recorded with high spatial resolution in live mammalian cells by positioning a pH-sensor directly at F1and FOof ATP synthase, complex IV and in the matrix. Our results clearly show that ATP synthase activity is substantially controlling the PMF and that IF1 is essential under OXPHOS conditions to prevent reverse ATP synthase activity due to an almost negligible ΔpH.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

HIGHLIGHTS

The ΔpH along and across the inner mitochondrial membrane is not homogeneous

The proton motive force at cristae tips is controlled by F1FOATP synthase

Under OXPHOS conditions, the pH difference between FOand F1of active ATP synthase is almost negligible (1.2 proton vs. 1 proton equivalent)

IF1 is required to prevent the onset of ATP hydrolysis under OXPHOS conditions
Ribovore: ribosomal RNA sequence analysis for GenBank submissions and database curation
Authors: Schäffer Alejandro A. , McVeigh Richard , Robbertse Barbara , Schoch Conrad L. , Johnston Anjanette , Underwood Beverly A. , Karsch-Mizrachi Ilene , Nawrocki Eric P.
Published: February 2021

Background

The DNA sequences encoding ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs) are commonly used as markers to identify species, including in metagenomics samples that may combine many organismal communities. The 16S small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene is typically used to identify bacterial and archaeal species. The nuclear 18S SSU rRNA gene, and 28S large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene have been used as DNA barcodes and for phylogenetic studies in different eukaryote taxonomic groups. Because of their popularity, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) receives a disproportionate number of rRNA sequence submissions and BLAST queries. These sequences vary in quality, length, origin (nuclear, mitochondria, plastid), and organism source and can represent any region of the ribosomal cistron.

Results

To improve the timely verification of quality, origin and loci boundaries, we developed Ribovore, a software package for sequence analysis of rRNA sequences. Theribotyperandribosensorprograms are used to validate incoming sequences of bacterial and archaeal SSU rRNA. Theribodbmakerprogram is used to create high-quality datasets of rRNAs from different taxonomic groups. Key algorithmic steps include comparing candidate sequences against rRNA sequence profile hidden Markov models (HMMs) and covariance models of rRNA sequence and secondary-structure conservation, as well as other tests. Nine freely availableblastnrRNA databases created and maintained with Ribovore are used for checking incoming GenBank submissions and used by theblastnbrowser interface at NCBI. Since 2018, Ribovore has been used to analyze more than 50 million prokaryotic SSU rRNA sequences submitted to GenBank, and to select at least 10,435 fungal rRNA RefSeq records from type material of 8,350 taxa.

Conclusion

Ribovore combines single-sequence and profile-based methods to improve GenBank processing and analysis of rRNA sequences. It is a standalone, portable, and extensible software package for the alignment, classification and validation of rRNA sequences. Researchers planning on submitting SSU rRNA sequences to GenBank are encouraged to download and use Ribovore to analyze their sequences prior to submission to determine which sequences are likely to be automatically accepted into GenBank.
Accelerating COVID-19 research with graph mining and transformer-based learning
Authors: Tyagin Ilya , Kulshrestha Ankit , Sybrandt Justin , Matta Krish , Shtutman Michael , Safro Ilya
Published: February 2021

In 2020, the White House released the, “Call to Action to the Tech Community on New Machine Readable COVID-19 Dataset,” wherein artificial intelligence experts are asked to collect data and develop text mining techniques that can help the science community answer high-priority scientific questions related to COVID-19. The Allen Institute for AI and collaborators announced the availability of a rapidly growing open dataset of publications, the COVID-19 Open Research Dataset (CORD-19). As the pace of research accelerates, biomedical scientists struggle to stay current. To expedite their investigations, scientists leverage hypothesis generation systems, which can automatically inspect published papers to discover novel implicit connections. We present an automated general purpose hypothesis generation systems AGATHA-C and AGATHA-GP for COVID-19 research. The systems are based on graph-mining and the transformer model. The systems are massively validated using retrospective information rediscovery and proactive analysis involving human-in-the-loop expert analysis. Both systems achieve high-quality predictions across domains (in some domains up to 0.97% ROC AUC) in fast computational time and are released to the broad scientific community to accelerate biomedical research. In addition, by performing the domain expert curated study, we show that the systems are able to discover on-going research findings such as the relationship between COVID-19 and oxytocin hormone.

Reproducibility

All code, details, and pre-trained models are available athttps://github.com/IlyaTyagin/AGATHA-C-GP

CCS CONCEPTS

•Applied computing→Bioinformatics;Document management and text processing; •Computing methodologies→Learning latent representations;Neural networks;Information extraction;Semantic networks.
Antibody ligation of carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1), CEACAM3, and CEACAM6, differentially enhance the cytokine release of human neutrophils in responses toCandida albicans
Authors: Klaile Esther , Prada Salcedo Juan Pablo , Klassert Tilman E. , Besemer Matthias , Bothe Anne-Katrin , Durotin Adrian , Müller Mario M. , Schmitt Verena , Luther Christian H. , Dittrich Marcus , Singer Bernhard B. , Dandekar Thomas , Slevogt Hortense
Published: February 2021

Invasive candidiasis, often caused byCandida albicans, is an important healthcare-associated fungal infection that results in a high mortality rate of up to 40%. Neutrophils are the first line of defense during Candida infections. They can initiate various killing mechanisms and release cytokines to attract further immune cells to the site of infection. These responses are tightly controlled, since they can also lead to severe tissue/organ damage. We hypothesized that the regulation ofC. albicans-specific neutrophil functions by the immunoregulatoryC. albicansreceptors CEACAM1, CEACAM3, and CEACAM6 are involved in the immune pathology of candidemia. Here, we analyzed the effects of the specific antibodies B3-17, 308/3-3, and 1H7-4B, respectively, targeting the three CEACAM receptors onC. albicans-induced neutrophil responses. We show that ligation of CEACAM6 significantly enhanced the response toC. albicans, as evidenced by the increased CXCL8/IL-8 secretion. By assessing the transcriptional responses, we found that CEACAM6 ligation and to some extent CEACAM1 ligation, but not CEACAM3 ligation, resulted in altered gene regulation of theC. albicans-stimulated neutrophils. Genes that were differentially regulated by the different CEACAM-targeting antibodies were analyzed for affected cellular processes and signaling pathways using various bioinformatics methods, including integrated network analyses and dynamic simulations of signaling cascades. Predicted changes in cellular pathways and cellular functions included CEACAM-specific alterations in apoptosis and cytokine secretion. In particular, we verified predicted changes in IL-1β/IL-6 expression in response to the antibody ligation of all three targeted CEACAMs and apoptosis induction by anti-CEACAM6 antibody treatment in presence ofC. albicansstimulation. Specifically, CEACAM6 ligation by 1H7-4B enhanced neutrophil apoptosis and increased immediate and long-term cytokine release in responses toC. albicans. CEACAM1 ligation by B3-17 mainly enhanced the immediate secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and CEACAM3 ligation by 308/3-3 increased the long-term release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Taken together, we demonstrated for the first time that CEACAM receptors have an important and differential impact on the regulation ofC. albicans-induced immune functions in human neutrophils.
Transcriptome and metabolome analyses revealed that narrowband 280 and 310 nm UV-B induce distinctive responses in Arabidopsis
Authors: Tsurumoto Tomohiro , Fujikawa Yasuo , Ohta Daisaku , Okazawa Atsushi
Published: February 2021

In plants, the UV-B photoreceptor UV RESISTANCE LOCUS8 (UVR8) perceives UV-B and induces UV-B responses including synthesis of UV-B absorbing phenolic compounds such as anthocyanins. UVR8 absorbs a range of UV-B (260–335 nm). However, the responsiveness of plants to each UV-B wavelength has not been intensively studied so far. Here, we performed transcriptome and metabolome analyses of Arabidopsis using UV light emitting diodes (LEDs) with peak wavelengths of 280 and 310 nm to investigate the differences in the wavelength-specific UV-B responses. Irradiation with both UV-LEDs induced gene expression of the transcription factor ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5), which has a central role in the UVR8 signaling pathway. However, the overall transcriptomic and metabolic responses to 280 and 310 nm UV-LED irradiation were different. Most of the known UV-B-responsive genes, such as salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and defense-related genes, responded only to 280 nm UV-LED irradiation. Lipids, polyamines and organic acids were the metabolites most affected by 280 nm UV-LED irradiation, whereas the effect of 310 nm UV-LED irradiation on the metabolome was considerably less. Enzymatic genes involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway upstream in anthocyanin biosynthesis were up-regulated only by 280 nm UV-LED irradiation. On the other hand, no enzymatic genes downstream in anthocyanin biosynthesis were induced by the UV-LEDs, but rather, they were down-regulated by 310 nm UV-LED irradiation. These results revealed that the responsivenesses of Arabidopsis to 280 and 310 nm UV-B were significantly different, suggesting that UV-B signaling is mediated by more complex pathways than the current model.
Rapidly Increasing SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization by Intravenous Immunoglobulins Produced from Plasma Collected During the 2020 Pandemic
Authors: Farcet Maria R. , Karbiener Michael , Schwaiger Julia , Ilk Reinhard , Kreil Thomas R.
Published: February 2021

Immunoglobulin (IG) lots (N=176) released since March 2020 were tested for SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies, with first positive results for September 2020 lots, mean = 1.8 IU/ml, 46% of lots positive. From there, values steadily increased, in correlation with the cumulative COVID-19 incidence, to reach a mean of 36.7 IU/ml and 93% of lots positive by January 2021. Extrapolating the correlation, IGs could reach an anti-SARS-CoV-2 potency of ~400 IU/ml by July 2021. At that stage, prophylactic IG treatment for primary/secondary immunodeficiency could contain similar doses of anti-SARS-CoV-2 as convalescent plasma which is used for treatment of COVID-19.
Performance of BL07A at NewSUBARU with installation of a new multi-layered-mirror monochromator
Authors: Tanaka Shotaro , Suzuki Shuto , Mishima Tomohiro , Kanda Kazuhiro
Published: February 2021

Soft X-rays excite the inner shells of materials more efficiently than any other form of light. The investigation of synchrotron radiation (SR) processes using inner-shell excitation requires the beamline to supply a single-color and high-photon-flux light in the soft X-ray region. A new integrated computing multi-layered-mirror (MLM) monochromator was installed at beamline 07A (BL07A) of NewSUBARU, which has a 3 m undulator as a light source for irradiation experiments with high-photon-flux monochromatic light. The MLM monochromator has a high reflectivity index in the soft X-ray region; it eliminates unnecessary harmonic light from the undulator and lowers the temperature of the irradiated sample surfaces. The monochromator can be operated in a high vacuum, and three different mirror pairs are available for different experimental energy ranges; they can be exchanged without exposing the monochromator to the atmosphere. Measurements of the photon current of a photodiode on the sample stage indicated that the photon flux of the monochromatic beam was more than 1014 photons s−1 cm−2 in the energy range 80–400 eV and 1013 photons s−1 cm−2 in the energy range 400–800 eV. Thus, BL07A is capable of performing SR-stimulated process experiments.
To be more philanthropic when joining the government-controlled business association? Evidence from Chinese private firms
Authors: Yan Youliang , Xu Xixiong
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether and how affiliation with the government-controlled business association, namely, China Federation of Industry and Commerce (CFIC), affects corporate philanthropy in an emerging market.

Design/methodology/approach

Through an analysis of survey data gathered from Chinese private firms, this paper conducts multiple regressions to examine the impact of the CFIC membership on corporate philanthropy.

Findings

Empirical results show that the CFIC membership of private entrepreneurs is significantly positively associated with corporate philanthropy. Moreover, this study finds that the provincial marketization level and the firm Communist Party branch attenuate the positive association between CFIC membership and corporate philanthropy, indicating that the effect of CFIC on corporate philanthropy is more pronounced in regions with lower marketization level and firms without Communist Party branch. The findings are robust to various alternate measures of corporate philanthropy and remain valid after controlling for potential endogeneity.

Practical implications

Firms will be more active in corporate philanthropy to respond to the government’s governance appeal when they join the CFIC. This highlights the implications of political connections and in particular on the value of government-controlled business associations in the Chinese business world.

Originality/value

This study extends the literature on the determinants of corporate philanthropy and deepens the theoretical understanding of the governance role of business association with Chinese characteristics.
Using genetic programming to model the bond strength of GFRP bars in concrete under the effects of design guidelines
Authors: Chuang Ying-Ji , Tsai Hsing-Chih
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to use a derivative of genetic programming to predict the bond strength of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars in concrete under the effects of design guidelines. In developing bond strength prediction models, this paper prioritized simplicity and meaningfulness over extreme accuracy.

Design/methodology/approach

Assessing the bond strength of GFRP bars in concrete is a critical issue in designing and building reinforced concrete structures.

Findings

Ultimately, the equation of a linear form of a particular design guideline was suggested as the optimal prediction model. Improvements to the current design guidelines suggested by this model include setting a 1.31 magnification and considering the effects of the three significant parameters of bar diameter (db), minimum cover-to-bar diameter (C/db) and development length to bar diameter (l/db) under an acceptable root mean square error accuracy of around 2 MPa. Furthermore, the model suggests that the original influence parameter of concrete compressive strength (fc) may be removed from bond strength calculations.

Originality/value

The model suggests that the original influence parameter of concrete compressive strength (fc) may be removed from bond strength calculations.
Application of genetic programming in the identification of tool wear
Authors: Wang Hao , Dong Guangming , Chen Jin
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is building the regression model related to tool wear, and the regression model is used to identify the state of tool wear.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, genetic programming (GP), which is originally used to solve the symbolic regression problem, is used to build the regression model related to tool wear with the strong regression ability. GP is improved in genetic operation and weighted matrix. The performance of GP is verified in the tool vibration, force and acoustic emission data provided by 2010 prognostics health management.

Findings

In result, the regression model discovered by GP can identify the state of tool wear. Compared to other regression algorithms, e.g. support vector regression and polynomial regression, the identification of GP is more precise.

Research limitations/implications

The regression models built in this paper can only make an assessment of the current wear state with current signals of tool. It cannot predict or estimate the tool wear after the current state. In addition, the generalization of model has some limitations. The performance of models is just proved in the signals from the same type of tools and under the same work condition, and different tools and different work conditions may have influences on the performance of models.

Originality/value

In this study, the discovered regression model can identify the state of tool wear precisely, and the identification performances of model applied in other tools are also excellent. It can provide a significant information about the health of tool, so the tools can be replaced or repaired in time, and the loss caused by tool damage can be avoided.
Addressing COVID through PCD: policy coherence for vulnerability in development and its relationship to the coronavirus pandemic
Authors: Moldes-Anaya Sergio , Koff Harlan , Da Porto Angelica , Lipovina Tara
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to understand how coronavirus impacts relate to existing vulnerabilities in different world regions.

Design/methodology/approach

The article utilizes quantitative analysis to examine regional variations in coronavirus risk assessment. It then qualitatively employs a policy coherence for development (PCD) approach to analyze how public policies contribute to or mitigate vulnerability, defined as the product of exposure to external shocks, institutional coping capabilities and risk associated with social divisions in societies.

Findings

The research presented below shows that significant regional variance exists in terms of coronavirus risk, based on statistical analysis of the INFORM COVID-19 Risk Report prepared by the European Commission. The PCD analysis highlights important relationships between public policy strategies and the construction of both underlying vulnerabilities and coronavirus impacts.

Practical implications

The PCD approach presented here focuses on the reconciliation of trade-offs. It shows how policy interactions affect vulnerabilities and suggests that coherent policy strategies aimed at reducing vulnerabilities are necessary in order to adequately respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

Originality/value

This analysis frames vulnerability as a socially constructed condition and through implementation of a PCD approach, it indicates how policy strategies contribute to or mitigate vulnerabilities. In doing so, it intends to contribute conceptually to the literature on vulnerability by showing how policy incoherences contribute to the construction of this condition. Empirically, the originality of this article is its statistical analysis of regional variance of coronavirus risk and the qualitative analysis of policy strategies in representative cases and how they have affected vulnerabilities and coronavirus impacts.
Analyzing health-care service environment with Malaysian general practice clinics
Authors: Rahman Muhammad Khalilur , Newaz Md Shah , Hemmati Mina , Mallick S M Yusuf
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the private general practice (GP) clinics' service environment, patients' satisfaction and their impact on word of mouth (WoM) for others for future treatment in GP clinics.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected from 367 respondents using a paper-based survey questionnaire. Partial least square (PLS) is used to evaluate the proposed model and hypotheses relationships.

Findings

The findings reveal that ambience and service delivery have a high significant influence on patients' emotional satisfaction (β = 0.27, t = 4.31, p = 0.00) and (β = 0.26, t = 4.81, p = 0.00), respectively, while interior décor has a positive and significant influence on satisfaction (β = 0.13, t = 1.98, p = 0.04). The results indicate that exterior design and cleanliness are not associated with satisfaction. Patients' emotional satisfaction is highly related to WoM (β = 0.55, t = 13.44, p = 0.00). The results also show that emotional satisfaction has a significant mediating effect on the relationship between clinic service environments (ambience, interior décor, service delivery) and WoM (β = 0.15, t = 3.94, p = 0.00), (β = 0.073, t = 3.94, p = 0.04), (β = 0. 0.143, t = 4.13, p = 0.00), respectively.

Originality/value

The study will provide insights regarding Malaysian health consumers' perceptions toward GP clinics' service environment, whether they remain utilitarian or have evolved to entail hedonic appreciations. The contribution to the service environment could be adopted by future health-care studies, particularly those intended to examine GP clinics and other clinic-based institutions.
Confronting the unprecedented: micro and small businesses in the age of COVID-19
Authors: Bressan Alessandro , Duarte Alonso Abel , Kok Seng Kiat
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand how micro and small firms are navigating through the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat, and the alternatives they are implementing to coexist with the ongoing crisis. To this end, Italy's socioeconomically and traditionally significant wine industry is examined. The study considers insights of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and develops a theoretical framework, which proposes various emerging theoretical dimensions, including proactiveness, support-reliance and resourcefulness.

Design/methodology/approach

Winery owners–managers were contacted and invited to partake in the study completing an online questionnaire. Overall, 167 useable responses were collected.

Findings

While facing the loss of vital income through decreasing demand and exports, participants resort to exploiting various initiatives, including “reinventing” their firms. Their observations also recognise the vital supporting role of various key stakeholders, first and foremost family members, as well as clients and staff. Concerning how owners-managers envision managing their firm post-COVID-19, two predominant groups are identified, one strongly favouring modern-day alternatives, and the second committing to the firm's traditional business model. Overall, the different predictors of the TPB, namely attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control emerged.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first that empirically analyses micro and small firms in a socioeconomically and traditionally significant industry during an unprecedented event. In addition, the proposed theoretical framework provides a roadmap and guide to examine, understand and assimilate the entrepreneurial journey through a devastating event.
Lean Six Sigma as an organizational resilience mechanism in health care during the era of COVID-19
Authors: Hundal Gaganpreet Singh , Thiyagarajan Senthilkumar , Alduraibi Manal , Laux Chad Matthew , Furterer Sandra L. , Cudney Elizabeth A. , Antony Jiju
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate how Lean Six Sigma (LSS) may help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 within health care environments. The goals of this study were to understand the current knowledge of LSS and COVID-19 through a systematic review of the current literature, identify the gap in the current knowledge of LSS in COVID-19 mitigation within health care environments and define the principles of LSS, within organizational resilience that support a health care organization’s ability to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

A narrative literature review was conducted to identify relevant research. A total of 21 subject matter experts (SMEs) meeting the inclusion criteria were approached through a guided interview process. Content analysis was conducted to describe how LSS principles contribute to supporting health care organizations operating in the era of COVID-19.

Findings

Study results report that personal safety is the primary subject, followed by supporting dimensions of process redesign, and telemedicine. LSS topics that directly relate to COVID-19 are in four thematic areas: tools, applications, benefits and challenges. Particular areas of application, techniques, challenges and benefits are identified and discussed that could be applied proactively and reactively, to organizational and supply chain resilience to recover from COVID-19.

Research limitations/implications

There were a number of limitations to the generalizability of this work. The sample size was small and purposeful, thus, external validity of the study results are not determined. The SMEs in this study have not implemented the practices noted in the results at the time of the study, and knowledge of results is limited to the study aims.

Originality/value

This study of LSS principles and COVID-19 has implications for practitioners and offers specific guidance for areas of health care adoption of LSS techniques and tools that benefit patient safety, challenges for the user to be mindful of and potential benefits in resilience of operations in the era of COVID-19.
The flexibility of corporate payouts vis-à-vis capital investment: some UK evidence
Authors: Chasiotis Ioannis , Georgantopoulos Andreas G.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study investigates the relative flexibility of payouts vis-à-vis investment in the UK, motivated by concerns regarding this market's distinct payout characteristics and limited relevant research. It addresses the information gap related to the use of conditional mean estimations and examines firm behavior across the investment distribution.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample is an unbalanced panel of 6,173 firm-year observations, from 271 non-financial firms in the FTSE-All Share Index, during 1990–2019. Estimation methods include pooled- ordinary least squares (OLS) and firm fixed-effects regressions as well as unconditional quantile regressions with firm fixed effects.

Findings

For the “average” firm results show a negative relationship between share repurchases and investment, amplified in the presence of financial constraints and growth opportunities. Quantile regressions analysis reveals heterogeneous firm behavior as this relationship becomes stronger in successive quantiles of the investment distribution and disappears at the upper/lower extremes. Results suggest that UK firms exploit the inherent flexibility of share repurchases to facilitate investment. However, this flexibility appears irrelevant to firms with extremely high/low investment, characterized by significant differences in growth opportunities, cash flows and external financing cost. Dividends and investment are independent across the investment distribution, underlining the rigidity of dividends in the UK.

Originality/value

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the relative flexibility of payouts vis-à-vis investment in the UK, using firm-level financial data and at points other than the conditional mean. Its value lies in that it shows that share repurchases facilitate rather than impede investment and thus do not corroborate relevant concerns by economists and policymakers. Additionally, by utilizing a relatively new methodology it uncovered heterogeneous firm behavior across the investment distribution suggesting that conditional mean estimations should be applied with caution at least for highly heterogeneous samples.
The relationship between business strategy and management entrenchment
Authors: Salehi Mahdi , Arianpoor Arash
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The present study's main objective is to assess the relationship between business strategy and management entrenchment in listed firms on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE).

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, 128 firms have been assessed during 2012–2017. The management entrenchment variable is measured using five factors: management ownership, board independence, chief executive officer (CEO) tenure, managers' compensation and CEO duality.

Findings

The obtained results show a negative and significant relationship between the aggressive strategy of the current year (and that of the previous year) and management entrenchment such that adopting an aggressive business strategy in the current and previous years can debilitate the management entrenchment. Moreover, there is a negative and significant relationship between the current year's defensive strategy and management entrenchment, and employing a defensive business strategy in the current year can also weaken the management entrenchment. At the same time, there is no significant relationship between the previous year's defensive business strategy and management entrenchment.

Originality/value

Managerial entrenchment is a determining factor in the economy, and regarding the dominant norms in the emerging markets and developing countries, this factor is different from that of the developed countries. It is more important in some markets, like Iran that is dealing with economic sanctions. On the other hand, Tehran Stock Exchange observes numerous modifications, especially providing financial statements in accordance with international standards that are expected to affect the determination of business strategy in firms.