bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In-silico modeling of COVID-19 ARDS: pathophysiological insights and potential management implications
Authors: Das Anup , Saffaran Sina , Chikhani Marc , Scott Timothy E , Laviola Marianna , Yehya Nadir , Laffey John G. , Hardman Jonathan G. , Bates Declan G.
Published: July 2020

Objectives

Patients with COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (CARDS) appear to present with at least two distinct phenotypes: severe hypoxemia with relatively well-preserved lung compliance and lung gas volumes (Type 1) and a more conventional ARDS phenotype displaying the typical characteristics of the ‘baby lung’ (Type 2). We aimed to test plausible hypotheses regarding the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying CARDS, and to evaluate the resulting implications for ventilatory management.

Design

We adapted a high-fidelity computational simulator, previously validated in several studies of ARDS, to (a) develop quantitative insights into the key pathophysiologic differences between CARDS and conventional ARDS, and (b) assess the impact of different PEEP, FiO2 and tidal volume settings.

Setting

Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Systems Medicine Research Network.

Subjects

The simulator was calibrated to represent CARDS patients with both normal and elevated body mass indices undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation.

Measurements and Main Results

An ARDS model implementing disruption of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and vasodilation leading to hyperperfusion of collapsed lung regions failed to replicate clinical data on Type 1 CARDS patients. Adding mechanisms to reflect disruption of alveolar gas-exchange due to the effects of pneumonitis, and heightened vascular resistance due to the emergence of microthrombi, produced levels of V/Q mismatch and hypoxemia consistent with data from Type 1 CARDS patients, while preserving close to normal lung compliance and gas volumes. Atypical responses to PEEP increments between 5 and 15 cmH2O were observed for this Type 1 CARDS model across a range of measures: increasing PEEP resulted in reduced lung compliance and no improvement in oxygenation, while Mechanical Power, Driving Pressure and Plateau Pressure all increased. FiO2 settings based on ARDSnet protocols at different PEEP levels were insufficient to achieve adequate oxygenation. Incrementing tidal volumes from 5 to 10 ml/kg produced similar increases in multiple indicators of ventilator induced lung injury in the Type 1 CARDS model to those seen in a conventional ARDS model.

Conclusions

Our model suggests that use of standard PEEP/ FiO2 tables, higher PEEP strategies, and higher tidal volumes, may all be potentially deleterious in Type 1 CARDS patients, and that a highly personalized approach to treatment is advisable.
Impulse dispersion of aerosols during singing and speaking
Authors: Echternach Matthias , Gantner Sophia , Peters Gregor , Westphalen Caroline , Benthaus Tobias , Jakubaß Bernhard , Kuranova Liudmila , Döllinger Michael , Kniesburges Stefan
Published: July 2020

Group singing events have been linked to several outbreaks of infection during the CoVID-19 pandemic, leading to singing activities being banned in many areas across the globe. This link between singing and infection rates supports the possibility that aerosols are partly responsible for person-to-person infection. In contrast to droplets, the smaller aerosol particles do not fall to the ground within a short distance after being expelled by e.g. a singer. Aerosol particles hover and spread via convection in the environmental air. According to the super-spreading theory, choir singing and loud talking (theater and presentations) during rehearsals or performances may constitute a high risk of infectious virus transmission to large numbers of people. Thus, it is essential to define the safety distances between singers in super-spreading situations.

The aim of this study is to investigate the impulse dispersion of aerosols during singing and speaking in comparison to breathing and coughing. Ten professional singers (5 males and 5 females) of the Bavarian Radio Chorus performed 9 tasks including singing a phrase of Beethoven’s 9th symphony, to the original German text. The inhaled air volume was marked with small aerosol particles produced via a commercial e-cigarette. The expelled aerosol cloud was recorded with three high definition TV cameras from different perspectives. Afterwards, the dimensions and dynamics of the aerosol cloud was measured by segmenting the video footage at every time point.

While the median expansion was below 1m, the aerosol cloud was expelled up to 1.4m in the singing direction for individual subjects. Consonants produced larger distances of aerosol expulsion than vowels. The dispersion in the lateral and vertical dimension was less pronounced than the forward direction. After completion of each task, the cloud continued to distribute in the air increasing its dimensions. Consequently, we propose increasing the current recommendations of many governmental councils for choirs or singing at religious services from 1.5m to the front and 1m to the side to a distance between choir singers of 2m to the front and 1.5m to the sides.
Proteomic Differences in the Hippocampus and Cortex of Epilepsy Brain Tissue
Authors: Pires Geoffrey , Leitner Dominique , Drummond Eleanor , Kanshin Evgeny , Nayak Shruti , Askenazi Manor , Faustin Arline , Friedman Daniel , Debure Ludovic , Ueberheide Beatrix , Wisniewski Thomas , Devinsky Orrin
Published: July 2020

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder affecting over 70 million people worldwide, with a high rate of pharmaco-resistance, diverse comorbidities including progressive cognitive and behavioral disorders, and increased mortality from direct (e.g., Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy [SUDEP], accidents, drowning) or indirect effects of seizures and therapies. Extensive research with animal models and human studies provides limited insights into the mechanisms underlying seizures and epileptogenesis, and these have not translated into significant reductions in pharmaco-resistance, morbidities or mortality. To help define changes in molecular signaling networks associated with epilepsy, we examined the proteome of brain samples from epilepsy and control cases. Label-free quantitative mass spectrometry (MS) was performed on the hippocampal CA1-3 region, frontal cortex, and dentate gyrus microdissected from epilepsy and control cases (n=14/group). Epilepsy cases had significant differences in the expression of 777 proteins in the hippocampal CA1-3 region, 296 proteins in the frontal cortex, and 49 proteins in the dentate gyrus in comparison to control cases. Network analysis showed that proteins involved in protein synthesis, mitochondrial function, G-protein signaling, and synaptic plasticity were particularly altered in epilepsy. While protein differences were most pronounced in the hippocampus, similar changes were observed in other brain regions indicating broad proteomic abnormalities in epilepsy. Among the most significantly altered proteins, G-protein Subunit Beta 1 (GNB1) was one of the most significantly decreased proteins in epilepsy in all regions studied, highlighting the importance of G-protein subunit signaling and G-protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) in epilepsy. Our results provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying epilepsy, which may allow for novel targeted therapeutic strategies.
The “good, the bad and the double-sword” effects of exposure to MPs and their organic additives on N2-fixing bacteria
Authors: Fernández-Juárez Víctor , López-Alforja Xabier , Frank-Comas Aida , Echeveste Pedro , Bennasar-Figueras Antoni , Ramis-Munar Guillem , Gomila Rosa María , Agawin Nona S. R.
Published: July 2020

The accumulation of microplastics (MPs) pollution at depths suggests the susceptibility of benthic organisms (e.g.seagrasses and their associated macro- and micro-organisms) to the effects of these pollutants. Little is known about the direct effects of MPs and their organic additives on marine bacteria,e.g.in one of the most ecologically significant groups, the diazotrophs or N2-fixing bacteria. To fill this gap of knowledge, we exposed marine diazotrophs found in association with the endemic Mediterranean seagrassPosidonia oceanicato pure MPs which differ in physical properties (e.g.density, hydrophobicity and/or size), namely, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polystyrene (PS) and to their most abundant associated organic additives (e.g.fluoranthene, 1,2,5,6,9,10-hexabromocyclododecane [HBCD] and dioctyl-phthalate [DEHP]). Growth, protein overexpression, direct physical interactions between MPs and bacteria, phosphorus (P) acquisition mechanisms and N2-fixation rates were evaluated. Our results show species-specific responses of the autotrophic and heterotrophic N2-fixing bacteria tested and the responses were dependent on the type and concentration of MPs and additives. N2-fixing cyanobacteria were positively affected by environmental and high concentrations of MPs (e.g.PVC), as opposed to heterotrophic strains, that were only positively affected with high concentrations of ∼120 µm-size MPs (detecting the overexpression of proteins related to plastic degradation and C-transport), and negatively affected by 1 µm-size PS beads. Generally, the organic additives (e.g.fluoranthene) had a deleterious effect in both autotrophic and heterotrophic N2-fixing bacteria and the magnitude of the effect is suggested to be dependent on bacterial size. We did not find evidences that specific N2-fixation rates were significantly affected by exposure to MPs, albeit changes in bacterial abundance can affect the bulk N2-fixation rates. In summary, we reported for the first time, the beneficial (the “good”), deleterious (the “bad”) and/or both (the “double-sword”) effects of exposure to MPs and their organic additives on diazotrophs found in association with seagrasses.
Genome analysis of clinical pneumococcal isolates to decipher sequence types, antibiotic resistance mechanisms and virulence gene profiles
Authors: Peela Sreeram Chandra Murthy , Rose Steffi , Sistla Sujatha
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Streptococcus pneumoniaeis a common cause of meningitis and pneumonia. Various studies have explored the relationship between genome and phenotypic characteristics like antibiotic resistance.

Methods

Four pneumococcal isolates from clinical specimens were included. DNA was extracted and genomes were sequenced in 2×101bp layout. Standard genome analysis tools and pipelines were employed to understand phenotypic characteristics.

Results

There was almost perfect agreement of genome-based predictions and phenotypic methods for antibiotic resistance. Novel sequence type (ST) was identified in one of the isolates. In total 29 virulence genes were common for all the isolates.
Crosstalk between chloroplast protein import and the SUMO system revealed through genetic and molecular investigation
Authors: Watson Samuel James , Li Na , Ye Yiting , Wu Feijie , Ling Qihua , Jarvis R. Paul
Published: July 2020

The chloroplast proteome contains thousands of different proteins that are encoded by the nuclear genome. These proteins are imported into the chloroplast via the action of the TOC translocase and associated downstream systems. Our recent work has revealed that the stability of the TOC complex is dynamically regulated by the ubiquitin-dependent chloroplast-associated protein degradation (CHLORAD) pathway. Here, we demonstrate that the stability of the TOC complex is also regulated by the SUMO system.Arabidopsismutants representing almost the entire SUMO conjugation pathway can partially suppress the phenotype ofppi1, a pale yellow mutant lacking the Toc33 protein. This suppression is linked to the increased stability of TOC proteins and improvements in chloroplast development. In addition, we demonstrate using molecular and biochemical experiments that the SUMO system directly targets TOC proteins. Thus, we have identified a regulatory link between the SUMO system and chloroplast protein import.
Multi-site co-mutations and 5’UTR CpG immunity escape drive the evolution of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Zhang Jingsong , Kang Junyan , Liu Mofang , Han Benhao , Li Li , He Yongqun , Yi Zhigang , Chen Luonan
Published: July 2020

The SARS-CoV-2 infected cases and the caused mortalities have been surging since the COVID-19 pandemic. Viral mutations emerge during the virus circulating in the population, which is shaping the viral infectivity and pathogenicity. Here we extensively analyzed 6698 SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequences with specific sample collection dates in NCBI database. We found that four mutations, i.e., 5’UTR_c-241-t, NSP3_c-3037-t, NSP12_c-14408-t, and S_a-23403-g, became the dominant variants and each of them represented nearly 100% of all virus sequences since the middle May, 2020. Notably, we found that co-occurrence rates of three significant multi-site co-mutational patterns, i.e., (i) S_a-23403-g, NSP12_c-14408-t, 5’UTR_c-241-t, NSP3_c-3037-t, and ORF3a_c-25563-t; (ii) ORF8_t-28144-c, NSP4_c-8782-t, NSP14_c-18060-t, NSP13_a-17858-g, and NSP13_c-17747-t; and (iii) N_g-28881-a, N_g-28882-a, and N_g-28883-c, reached 66%, 90%, and nearly 100% of recent sequences, respectively. Moreover, we found significant decrease of CpG dinucleotide at positions 241(c)-242(g) in the 5’UTR during the evolution, which was verified as a potential target of human zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP). The four dominant mutations, three significant multi-site co-mutations, and the potential escape mutation of ZAP-target in 5’UTR region contribute to the rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 virus in the population, thus shaping the viral infectivity and pathogenicity. This study provides valuable clues and frameworks to dissect the viral replication and virus-host interactions for designing effective therapeutics.

One Sentence Summary

Four dominant mutations, three significant multi-site co-mutations, and 5’UTR CpG escape contribute to the rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Protective porcine influenza virus-specific monoclonal antibodies recognize similar haemagglutinin epitopes as humans
Authors: Holzer Barbara , Rijal Pramila , McNee Adam , Paudyal Basu , Clark Becky , Manjegowda Tanuja , Salguero Francisco J. , Bessell Emily , Schwartz John C. , Moffat Katy , Pedrera Miriam , Graham Simon P. , Placido Marie Bonnet-Di , La Ragione Roberto M. , Mwangi William , Beverley Peter , McCauley John W. , Daniels Rodney S. , Hammond John , Townsend Alain R. , Tchilian Elma
Published: July 2020

Pigs are natural hosts for the same subtypes of influenza A viruses as humans and integrally involved in virus evolution with frequent interspecies transmissions in both directions. The emergence of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus illustrates the importance of pigs in evolution of zoonotic strains. Here we generated pig influenza-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from H1N1pdm09 infected pigs. The mAbs recognized the same two major immunodominant haemagglutinin (HA) epitopes targeted by humans, one of which is not recognized by post-infection ferret antisera that are commonly used to monitor virus evolution. Neutralizing activity of the pig mAbs was comparable to that of potent human anti-HA mAbs. Further, prophylactic administration of a selected porcine mAb to pigs abolished lung viral load and greatly reduced lung pathology but did not eliminate nasal shedding of virus after H1N1pdm09 challenge. Hence mAbs from pigs, which target HA can significantly reduce disease severity. These results, together with the comparable sizes of pigs and humans, indicate that the pig is a valuable model for understanding how best to apply mAbs as therapy in humans and for monitoring antigenic drift of influenza viruses in humans, thereby providing information highly relevant to making influenza vaccine recommendations.
Chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of essential oils from the receptacle of sunflower (Helianthus annuusL.)
Authors: Liu Xinsheng , Li Xinlu , Qiao Zian , Li Wannan , Gao Bo , Han Lu
Published: July 2020

Sunflower (Helianthus annuusL.) contains active ingredients, such as flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins. However, few studies have focused on essential oils from the receptacle of sunflower (SEOs). The chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of SEOs were assessed whether SEOs could be used as nature preservatives and medicines. The extraction rate of SEOs was 0.4% by using hydro-distillation and solvent with petroleum ether, which is much higher than that by only using hydro-distillation (0.2%) in the previous study. A total of 81 volatile constituents of SEOs were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The main constituents of SEOs were α-pinene (31.17%), calamenene (5.66%), α-terpineol (4.71%), verbenone (3.15%), kaur-16-ene (2.52%) and terpinolene (1.47%). The antimicrobial activities of SEOs were assessed against three bacteria (E. coli,P. aeruginosa, andS. aureus) and two fungi (S. cerevisiaeandCandida albicans). The MIC of SEOs againstP. aeruginosaandS. aureuswas 0.2 mg/mL. The MIC of SEOs againstS. cerevisiaewas 3.2 mg/mL. The MIC of SEOs againstE. coliandCandida albicanswas 6.4 mg/mL. The results showed that SEOs had high antibacterial and antifungal actions. The antioxidant activity was determined with three different analytical assays (DPPH, ABTS and iron reducing ability). The results of antioxidant activities showed that SEOs had high antioxidant activities. The results proved that SEOs could be used as natural preservatives and medicines, due to its excellent antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.
Repulsive expansion dynamics in colony growth and patterning
Authors: Cao Yangxiaolu , Neu John , Meldgin David R. , Lu Ting , You Lingchong
Published: July 2020

Spatial expansion of a population of cells can arise from growth of microorganisms, plant cells, and mammalian cells. It underlies normal or dysfunctional tissue development and it can be exploited as the foundation for programming spatial patterns. This expansion is often driven by continuous growth and division of cells within a colony, which in turn pushes the peripheral cells outward. This process generates a repulsion velocity field at each location within the colony. Here we show that this process can be approximated as coarse-grained repulsive-expansion kinetics. This framework enables accurate and efficient simulation of growth and gene expression dynamics in radially symmetric colonies with homogenous z-directional distribution. It is robust even if cells are not spherical and vary in size. The simplicity of the resulting mathematical framework also greatly facilitates generation of mechanistic insights.
Cellular events of acute, resolving or progressive COVID-19 in SARS-CoV-2 infected non-human primates
Authors: Fahlberg MD , Blair RV , Doyle-Meyers LA , Midkiff CC , Zenere G , Russell-Lodrigue KE , Monjure CJ , Haupt EH , Penney TP , Lehmicke G , Threeton BM , Golden N , Datta PK , Roy CJ , Bohm RP , Maness NJ , Fischer T , Rappaport J , Vaccari M
Published: July 2020

We investigated the immune events following SARS-CoV-2 infection, from the acute inflammatory state up to four weeks post infection, in non-human primates (NHP) with heterogeneous pulmonary pathology. The acute phase was characterized by a robust and rapid migration of monocytes expressing CD16 from the blood and concomitant increase in CD16+ macrophages in the lungs. We identified two subsets of interstitial macrophages (HLA-DR+ CD206–), a transitional CD11c+ CD16+ cell population that was directly associated with IL-6 levels in plasma, and one long lasting CD11b+ CD16+ cell population. Strikingly, levels of monocytes were a correlate of viral replication in bronchial brushes and we discovered TARC (CCL17) as a new potential mediator of myeloid recruitment to the lungs. Worse disease outcomes were associated with high levels of cell infiltration in lungs including CD11b+ CD16hi macrophages and CD11b+ neutrophils. Accumulation of macrophages was long-lasting and detectable even in animals with mild or no signs of disease. Interestingly, animals with anti-inflammatory responses including high IL-10:IL-6 and kynurenine to tryptophan ratios had less signs of disease. Our results unravel cellular mechanisms of COVID-19 and suggest that NHP may be appropriate models to test immune therapies.
Motor and Sensory Cortical Processing of Neural Oscillatory Activities revealed by Human Swallowing using Intracranial Electrodes
Authors: Hashimoto Hiroaki , Takahashi Kazutaka , Kameda Seiji , Yoshida Fumiaki , Maezawa Hitoshi , Oshino Satoru , Tani Naoki , Khoo Hui Ming , Yanagisawa Takufumi , Yoshimine Toshiki , Kishima Haruhiko , Hirata Masayuki
Published: July 2020

Swallowing, a unique movement, is attributed to the indispensable orchestration of motor-output and sensory-input. We hypothesized that swallowing can illustrate differences between motor and sensory neural processing. Eight epileptic participants fitted with intracranial electrodes over the orofacial cortex were asked to swallow a water bolus. Mouth-opening and swallowing were treated as motor tasks, while water-injection as sensory tasks. Phase-amplitude coupling between lower frequency and high γ (HG) band (75–150 Hz) was investigated. An α (10-16 Hz) -HG coupling appeared before motor-related HG power increase (burst), and a θ (5-9 Hz) -HG coupling appeared during sensory-related HG burst. The motor- and sensory-related HG amplitude were modulated at the trough of α oscillations and peak of θ oscillations, respectively. These contrasting results acquired from the orofacial cortex can help to fully elucidate the sensory-motor function in the brain.
Molecular mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 cell entry inhibition via TMPRSS2 by Camostat and Nafamostat mesylate
Authors: Hempel Tim , Raich Lluís , Olsson Simon , Azouz Nurit P. , Klingler Andrea M. , Rothenberg Marc E. , Noé Frank
Published: July 2020

The entry of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 into human cells can be inhibited by the approved drugs camostat and nafamostat. Here we elucidate the molecular mechanism of these drugs by combining experiments and simulations.In vitroassays confirm the hypothesis that both drugs act by inhibiting the human protein TMPRSS2. As no experimental structure is available, we provide a model of the TMPRSS2 equilibrium structure and its fluctuations by relaxing an initial homology structure with extensive 280 microseconds of all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) and Markov modeling. We describe the binding mode of both drugs with TMPRSS2 in a Michaelis complex (MC) state preceding the formation of a long-lived covalent inhibitory state. We find that nafamostat to has a higher MC population, which in turn leads to the more frequent formation of the covalent complex and thus higher inhibition efficacy, as confirmedin vitroand consistent with previous virus cell entry assays. Our TMPRSS2-drug structures are made public to guide the design of more potent and specific inhibitors.
Pleiotropic win-win mutations can rapidly evolve in a nascent cooperative community despite unfavorable conditions
Authors: Hart Samuel F. M. , Chen Chi-Chun , Shou Wenying
Published: July 2020

Cooperation, paying a cost to benefit other individuals, is widespread. Cooperation can be promoted by pleiotropic “win-win” mutations which directly benefit self and partner. Previously, we showed that “partner-serving” should be defined as increased benefit supply rate per intake benefit (Hart & Pineda et al., 2019). Here, we report that “win-win” mutations can rapidly evolve even in nascent cooperation under conditions unfavorable for cooperation. Specifically, in a well-mixed environment we evolved engineered yeast cooperative communities where two strains exchanged costly metabolites lysine and hypoxanthine. Among cells that consumed lysine and released hypoxanthine,ecm21mutations repeatedly arose.ecm21is “self-serving”, improving self’s growth rate in limiting lysine.ecm21is also “partner-serving”, increasing hypoxanthine release rate per lysine consumption and the steady state growth rate of partner.ecm21also arose in monocultures evolving in lysine-limited chemostats. Thus, even without any pressure to maintain cooperation, pleiotropic win-win mutations may readily evolve.
Evidence of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in cats and dogs from households in Italy
Authors: Patterson E.I. , Elia G. , Grassi A. , Giordano A. , Desario C. , Medardo M. , Smith S.L. , Anderson E.R. , Prince T. , Patterson G.T. , Lorusso E. , Lucente M.S. , Lanave G. , Lauzi S. , Bonfanti U. , Stranieri A. , Martella V. , Basano F. Solari , Barrs V.R. , Radford A.D. , Agrimi U. , Hughes G. L. , Paltrinieri S. , Decaro N.
Published: July 2020

SARS-CoV-2 originated in animals and is now easily transmitted between people. Sporadic detection of natural cases in animals alongside successful experimental infections of pets, such as cats, ferrets and dogs, raises questions about the susceptibility of animals under natural conditions of pet ownership. Here we report a large-scale study to assess SARS-CoV-2 infection in 817 companion animals living in northern Italy, sampled at a time of frequent human infection. No animals tested PCR positive. However, 3.4% of dogs and 3.9% of cats had measurable SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody titers, with dogs from COVID-19 positive households being significantly more likely to test positive than those from COVID-19 negative households. Understanding risk factors associated with this and their potential to infect other species requires urgent investigation.

One Sentence Summary

SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in pets from Italy.
TRIM28 congenital predisposition to Wilms’ tumor: novel mutations and presentation in a sibling pair
Authors: Moore Colin , Monforte Hector , Teer Jamie K. , Zhang Yonghong , Yoder Sean , Brohl Andrew S. , Reed Damon R.
Published: July 2020

Wilms’ tumor is the most common renal malignancy in children. In addition to staging, molecular risk stratification, such as loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in Chromosomes 1 and 16, is being increasingly used. Although genetic predisposition syndromes have been well-characterized in some Wilms’ tumors, recent sequencing and biology efforts are expanding the classification of this malignancy. Here we present a case of siblings with remarkably similar presentations of bilateral Wilms’ tumor at ∼12 mo of age. Thorough exam after the younger sibling was diagnosed did not reveal any signs to suggest one of the known Wilms’ predisposition syndromes. Both were treated with standard therapies with good response and long-term sustained complete remission of 53 and 97 mo, respectively. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on a tumor sample from each patient and matched blood from one, revealing a shared truncation mutation of TRIM28 in all three samples with heterozygosity in the germline sample. TRIM28 loss has been recently implicated in early-stage Wilms’ tumors with epithelioid morphology. These siblings expand the phenotype for presentation with multifocal disease with retained excellent response to standard therapy.
A positive to negative uniaxial thermal expansion crossover in an organic benzothienobenzothiophene structure
Authors: Dumitrescu Dan G. , Roche Gilles H. , Moreau Joël J. E. , Dautel Olivier J. , van der Lee Arie
Published: July 2020

Compound 6,6′-([1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene-2,7-diyl)bis(butan-1-ol) (BTBT-C4OH) displays a continuous type 0 first-order isosymmetric phase transition at 200 K which is accompanied by a continuous change of the thermal expansion along the b axis from positive to negative. The equivalent isotropic atomic displacement parameters for all non-hydrogen atoms as well as all the eigenvalues of the anisotropic atomic displacement tensor show discontinuous behavior at the phase transition. The eigenvalues of the translational tensor in a rigid-body description of the molecule are all discontinuous at the phase transition, but the librational eigenvalues are discontinuous only in their temperature derivative. BTBT-C4OH displays a similar type of quasi-supercritical phase transition as bis(hydroxyhexyl)[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (BTBT-C6OH), despite the difference in molecular packing and the very large difference in thermal expansion magnitudes.
The COVID-19 office in transition: cost, efficiency and the social responsibility business case
Authors: Parker Lee D.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to critically evaluate the COVID-19 and future post-COVID-19 impacts on office design, location and functioning with respect to government and community occupational health and safety expectations. It aims to assess how office efficiency and cost control agendas intersect with corporate social accountability.

Design/methodology/approach

Theoretically informed by governmentality and social accountability through action, it thematically examines research literature and Web-based professional and business reports. It undertakes a timely analysis of historical office trends and emerging practice discourse during the COVID-19 global pandemic's early phase.

Findings

COVID-19 has induced a transition to teleworking, impending office design and configuration reversals and office working protocol re-engineering. Management strategies reflect prioritisation choices between occupational health and safety versus financial returns. Beyond formal accountability reports, office management strategy and rationales will become physically observable and accountable to office staff and other parties.

Research limitations/implications

Future research must determine the balance of office change strategies employed and their evident focus on occupational health and safety or cost control and financial returns. Further investigation can reveal the relationship between formal reporting and observed activities.

Practical implications

Organisations face strategic decisions concerning both their balancing of employee and public health and safety against capital expenditure and operation cost commitments to COVID-19 transmission prevention. They also face strategic accountability decisions as to the visibility and correspondence between their observable actions and their formal social responsibility reporting.

Social implications

Organisations have continued scientific management office cost reduction strategies under the guise of innovative office designs. This historic trend will be tested by a pandemic, which calls for control of its spread, including radical changes to the office at potentially significant cost.

Originality/value

This paper presents one of few office studies in the accounting research literature, recognising it as central to contemporary organisational functioning and revealing the office cost control tradition as a challenge for employee and community health and safety.
Bandwidth lost: family planners and post-war television
Authors: Borge Jessica
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how early planned PR efforts at the British Family Planning Association [FPA] resulted in an epoch-making television appearance in November 1955, tessellating with current methodological debates in the history of PR.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a qualitative, micro-history approach and original archival document research conducted at Wellcome Collection, London and the BBC Written Archives Centre, Caversham, to reconstruct early PR activity at the FPA. It intercedes in debates on historiography, the diversification of the history of PR and the concepts of mediatization and advocacy in historical contexts.

Findings

Attaining broadcast coverage for birth control issues was historically difficult and was made more so by Marie Stopes. The subject was commonly packaged into the less problematic issues of population and infertility. The FPA achieved explicit television coverage in 1955 after establishing a focussed PR plan to stage and exploit a silver jubilee event. This vindicated the FPA's mission, validated service users and created broadcast opportunities.

Research limitations/implications

Research is limited by temporal scope (1870s–1950s), and reliance on document sources, footage of television programmes being unavailable. This paper has implications for the history of PR, contributing to the diversification of the field by suggesting an original approach to the intersection of public relations and social change.

Originality/value

This paper surfaces overlooked primary sources and is the first account of how birth control appeared as a topic on early British broadcast media.
Multisector exposure and vulnerability to climate change in India: Case of National Capital Territory of Delhi, India
Authors: Agrawal Mahak
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The idea is to propagate the concept of climate resilience in India beyond international mandates and bold statements, enabled through utilization of open data. The research underscores need for climate responsive planning for megacities in India with an example of National Capital Territory of Delhi, the capital of India whose trends and policies often form a blueprint for others to follow.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was conducted in six distinct, yet inter-related stages: literature review, data collection, data analysis at four levels – city, zonal, planning division and flood plains inhabited by climate vulnerable population with least adaptive capacity, formulating alternative scenarios of future development, evaluation of scenarios, conclusions and recommendations.

Findings

India has approximately 8,000 urban centres. Less than 2% of these centres have a planning document. Less than 1% of these documents acknowledge climate change as a phenomenon let alone a challenge to urban future. It is therefore a priority to address the challenge from a planning perspective for India.

Research limitations/implications

Methodologies for evaluating the multiplier effect are still in their pre-final stage and there exist uncertainties and margin of error.

Practical implications

Aligned with pre-tested methodologies, the research through extensive empirical and spatial-temporal analysis indicates severity and irreversibility of socio-economic and environmental losses.

Originality/value

Risks and vulnerabilities to climate change and climate induced disasters exhibit multiplier effect that varies spatially across a region's demography. Quantitative analysis of multiplier effect on the secondary environment is rarely explored in climate studies. The paper addresses this lacuna by examining climate risks to Indian megacities with a case example of Delhi. The findings suggest that urbanization, climate risks and natural environment are interlinked, where an impact of one generates ripples across other two and their secondary environment plus sectors.
The role of higher education institutions as employers of apprentices
Authors: Wright Caleb
Published: July 2020

Purpose

A discussion piece of how apprenticeships can be used by HEIs as employers.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores the current apprenticeship landscape; what HEIs are already doing with apprenticeships; the arguments for using apprenticeships in the sector. There is then a case study on how the University of Birmingham uses apprenticeships before a discussion about future directions.

Findings

The paper reports that although there are a range of advantages for using apprenticeships, HEIs could still use apprenticeships more.

Originality/value

This paper uses a range of sources as detailed in the reference.
Expanding/contracting fin of rectangular profile
Authors: M. Turkyilmazoglu
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study an expandable or contractible metallic fin and heat transfer process. The fin is assumed to be thin having a rectangular cross section. It is attached to a hot surface with a time-dependent temperature, and its tip extends to a medium (fluid) of an ambient temperature. With the insulated wall constraint at the tip, the tip of the metallic fin has the property of expanding or contracting in time at a specific rate.

Design/methodology/approach

The corresponding physical problem is so formulated that the unsteady heat transfer problem is governed by means of a similarity variable represented by a second-order ordinary differential equation. The system can be reduced to the traditional well-documented steady state fin problem often studied in the literature, if the unsteadiness is turned off from the formulated system.

Findings

The system is then solved analytically for the temperature distribution through the fin. The fin tip temperatures are calculated, and the heat transfer analysis is made with varying physical parameters. And finally, observations are discussed leading to better fin efficiency and heat transfer enhancement.

Originality/value

An expandable or contractible metallic fin and heat transfer process are analyzed for the first time in the literature. Full solutions are presented, whose numerical correspondence is discussed through graphical and tabular forms.
Bank concentration and SME financing availability: the impact of promotion of financial inclusion in China
Authors: Lu Zhiqiang , Wu Junjie , Liu Jia
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The promotion of financial inclusion can disturb the composition of traditional bank concentration and change the relationship between bank concentration and the availability of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) financing. This paper concentrates on a less frequently explored area of research by examining the relationships between bank concentration, financial inclusion and SME financing availability respectively, and the interaction between bank concentration and financial inclusion after the implementation of a financial inclusion strategy in China.

Design/methodology/approach

Using firm-level data from 1,509 listed SMEs in China from 2007 to 2017 and applying rigorous analyses, we identify how bank concentration affects SME financing availability under the promotion of financial inclusion and also the mechanisms involved.

Findings

We find that bank concentration and financial inclusion respectively have positive impacts on the credit available to listed SMEs, indicating that the promotion of financial inclusion in China has reached a new high watermark. The positive impact of bank concentration is reduced when the level of financial inclusion is high. Conversely, a higher level of financial inclusion favours SME credit availability at only a low degree of bank concentration. Our findings suggest that financial inclusion has a substitution effect on bank concentration and has enabled us to add new interpretations to relevant theories; namely, the Market Power and Information Theories respectively.

Originality/value

This study provides new insights into the relationship between bank concentration and SME finance availability under the promotion of financial inclusion.
Studying the effects of future-oriented factors and turnover when threatened
Authors: McGinley Sean , Line Nathaniel Discepoli , Wei Wei , Peyton Taylor
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine the nascent stream of literature connecting grit and protean career orientation to job attitudes, turnover intentions and job embeddedness and how job insecurity moderates the aforementioned associations.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the threat-rigidity hypothesis and self-determination theory, a series of hypotheses were developed and tested among 1,151 current employees in the hotel/lodging industry in the USA. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data and explain the results.

Findings

Job insecurity played a key moderating role between the lower-order dimensions of grit and the outcome variables, but not with protean career orientation. Specifically, passion and perseverance were associated with job attitudes and turnover intentions differently, questioning the validity of grit as a higher-order construct.

Originality/value

The study explains how the lower-order dimensions of grit explain turnover and job embeddedness while also suggesting that the validity of grit as a higher-order construct needs to be further examined. The results of this study also may advise managers on how to recruit new hires that will remain with their organizations for the long run.
Optimal design of micro-dimples on crankpin bearing surface for improving engine’s lubrication and friction
Authors: Jiao Renqiang , Nguyen Vanliem , Le Vanquynh , Bui Vancuong
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the optimal design of micro-dimples on the bearing surface of the crankpin bearing (CB) to ameliorate the engine’s lubrication and friction (ELF).

Design/methodology/approach

A hydrodynamic model of the CB considering the influence of the asperity contact is built under the impact of the dynamic loading of the slider-crank-mechanism. The micro-dimples on non-slip surface of the bearing are designed and optimized based on the lubrication model and multi-objective genetic algorithm. The performance of optimal micro-dimples on ameliorating the ELF is analyzed and compared with that of optimal CB dimensions via the reduction of the solid contact force, friction force and friction coefficient between the crankpin and bearing surfaces; and the increase of the oil film pressure.

Findings

The optimal design of micro-dimples on the bearing surface may not only greatly ameliorate the ELF but also make the rotation of the crankpin inside the bearing more stable in comparison with the optimization of CB dimensions.

Originality/value

This study results not only clearly ameliorates the ELF but also can be applied to the slip/non-slip surface pairs of other journal bearings to enhance their lubrication performance.
The relationship between organizational attitude and lean practices: an organizational sense-making perspective
Authors: Malik Mohsin , Abdallah Salam
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Past studies of lean have failed to sufficiently address the importance of social factors for successful lean implementations. This paper aims to broaden and deepen the understanding of lean as a socio-technical paradigm by conceptualizing lean implementation as an organizational change process.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws on the organizational sense-making literature to conceptualize and validate lean implementation as an organizational change process that necessitates a focus on the ability of organizational actors to construct a shared meaning of lean. This study posit that this shared understanding shapes the collective behaviour and attitudes of people towards a future desired organizational state such as a successful implementation of lean. Survey data were collected from various manufacturing and services firms to test the hypothesis derived from literature using a structural equation modelling approach.

Findings

The mutual social interactions of organizational actors contribute to an enabling lean organizational attitude that has a dominant effect on the lean practices of employee involvement, internal technical practices, supplier and customer management. This study also established boundary conditions for these relationships by identifying firm size as a moderating variable.

Research limitations/implications

The findings establish a supportive organizational attitude as an antecedent for lean implementation, which goes beyond the current socio-technical characterization of lean management. This conceptualization draws the attention of researchers and practitioners towards the critical role of the cooperative behaviours of organizational actors in lean implementations.

Originality/value

The statistical results add a novel perspective to the discourse on the social dimension of lean implementation by conceptualizing and validating lean management as a combination of organizational attitude and the process facilitators comprising of employee empowerment, internal technical practices, supplier and customer management.
The tunnel seismic advance prediction method with wide illumination and a high signal‐to‐noise ratio
Authors: Lu Xinglin , Liao Xian , Wang Yao , Wang Guimei , Fu Zhihong , Tai HengMing
Published: July 2020

Tunnel seismic prediction is widely used in the field of tunnel seismic advance detection. The illumination of the target and the signal‐to‐noise ratio of the data are two key factors affecting the precision of data interpretation. Current seismic prospecting has shortcomings on sites: (1) The lighting shots are solely towards one side of the tunnel wall, (2) the geophones are placed far away from the tunnel face and (3) the surface waves from the tunnel wall dominate over the reflection waves, lowering the signal‐to‐noise ratio of the data at the tunnel wall. This paper proposes a tunnel symmetrical geometry to tackle the above challenges. The arrangement is to place 12 sources uniformly on each side of the tunnel wall and six geophones on the tunnel wall and face. Results of simulated data and measured data show that the proposed method enables (1) broad illumination of the target body, (2) the enhancement of illumination energy of the target body, and (3) higher data signal‐to‐noise ratio. The proposed symmetrical geometry method provides better interpretation in terms of broader coverage, higher quality and greater distance of investigation.
Trade‐offs between biodiversity and agriculture are moving targets in dynamic landscapes
Authors: Macchi Leandro , Decarre Julieta , Goijman Andrea P. , Mastrangelo Matías , Blendinger Pedro G. , Gavier‐Pizarro Gregorio I. , Murray Francisco , Piquer‐Rodriguez María , Semper‐Pascual Asunción , Kuemmerle Tobias
Published: July 2020

Understanding how biodiversity responds to intensifying agriculture is critical to mitigating the trade‐offs between them. These trade‐offs are particularly strong in tropical and subtropical deforestation frontiers, yet it remains unclear how changing landscape context in such frontiers alters agriculture–biodiversity trade–offs.

We focus on the Argentinean Chaco, a global deforestation hotspot, to explore how landscape context shapes trade‐off curves between agricultural intensity and avian biodiversity. We use a space‐for‐time approach and integrate a large field dataset of bird communities (197 species, 234 survey plots), three agricultural intensity metrics (meat yield, energy yield and profit) and a range of environmental covariates in a hierarchical Bayesian occupancy framework.

Woodland extent in the landscape consistently determines how individual bird species, and the bird community as a whole, respond to agricultural intensity. Many species switch in their fundamental response, from decreasing occupancy with increased agricultural intensity when woodland extent in the landscape is low (loser species), to increasing occupancy with increased agricultural intensity when woodland extent is high (winner species).

This suggests that landscape context strongly mediates who wins and loses along agricultural intensity gradients. Likewise, where landscapes change, such as in deforestation frontiers, the very nature of the agriculture–biodiversity trade–offs can change as landscapes transformation progresses.

Synthesis and applications. Schemes to mitigate agriculture–biodiversity trade–offs, such as land sparing or sharing, must consider landscape context. Strategies that are identified based on a snapshot of data risk failure in dynamic landscapes, particularly where agricultural expansion continues to reduce natural habitats. Rather than a single, fixed strategy, adaptive management of agriculture–biodiversity trade–offs is needed in such situations. Here we provide a toolset for considering changing landscape contexts when exploring such trade‐offs. This can help to better align agriculture and biodiversity in tropical and subtropical deforestation frontiers.