bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcription Co-Factor LBH Is Necessary for Maintenance of Stereocilia Bundles and Survival of Cochlear Hair Cells
Authors: Liu Huizhan , Giffen Kimberlee P. , M’Hamed Grati , Morrill Seth W. , Li Yi , Liu Xuezhong , Briegel Karoline J. , He David Z.
Published: May 2020

Hearing loss affects ~10% of adults worldwide and is irreversible. Most sensorineural hearing loss is caused by progressive loss of mechanosensitive hair cells (HCs) in the cochlea of the inner ear. The molecular mechanisms underlying HC maintenance and loss are largely unknown. Our previous cell-specific transcriptome analysis showed that Limb-Bud-and-Heart (LBH), a transcription co-factor implicated in development, is abundantly expressed in outer hair cells (OHCs). We usedLbh-null mice to identify its role. Surprisingly,Lbhdeletion did not affect differentiation and early development of HCs, as nascent HCs inLbhknockout mice had normal looking stereocilia bundles. Whole-cell recording showed that the stereocilia bundle was mechanosensitive and OHCs exhibited the characteristic electromotility. However,Lbh-null mice displayed progressive hearing loss, with stereocilia bundle degeneration and OHC loss as early as postnatal day 12. Cell-specific RNA-seq and bioinformatic analyses identifiedSpp1, Six2, Gps2, Ercc6, Snx6as well asPlscr1, Rarb, Per2, GmnnandMap3k5among the top five transcription factors up- or down-regulated inLbh-null OHCs. Furthermore, this analysis showed significant gene enrichment of biological processes related to transcriptional regulation, cell cycle, DNA damage/repair and autophagy. In addition, Wnt and Notch pathway-related genes were found to be dysregulated inLbh-deficient OHCs. We speculate that LBH may promote maintenance of HCs and stereocilia bundles by regulating Notch and Wnt signaling activity. Our study implicates, for the first time, loss of LBH function in progressive hearing loss, and demonstrates a critical requirement of LBH in promoting HC survival.
NDI: A platform-independent data interface and database for neuroscience physiology and imaging experiments
Authors: García Murillo Daniel , Rogovin Ora , Zhao Yixin , Chen Shufei , Wang Ziqi , Keeley Zoey C. , Shin Daniel I. , Suárez Casanova Victor M. , Zhu Yannan , Martin Lisandro , Papaemmanouil Olga , Hooser Stephen D. Van
Published: May 2020

Collaboration in neuroscience is impeded by the difficulty of sharing primary data, results, and software across labs. Here we introduce Neuroscience Data Interface (NDI), a platform-independent standard that allows an analyst to use and create software that functions independently from the format of the raw data or the manner in which the data is organized into files. The interface is rooted in a simple vocabulary that describes common apparatus and storage devices used in neuroscience experiments. Results of analyses – and analyses of analyses – are stored as documents in a scalable, queryable database that stores the relationships and history among the experiment elements and documents. The interface allows the development of an application ecosystem where applications can focus on calculation rather than data format or organization. This tool can be used by individual labs to exchange and analyze data, and it can serve to curate neuroscience data for searchable archives.
Immunoinformatic identification of B cell and T cell epitopes in the SARS-CoV-2 proteome
Authors: Crooke Stephen N. , Ovsyannikova Inna G. , Kennedy Richard B. , Poland Gregory A.
Published: May 2020

A novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged from China in late 2019 and rapidly spread across the globe, infecting millions of people and generating societal disruption on a level not seen since the 1918 influenza pandemic. A safe and effective vaccine is desperately needed to prevent the continued spread of SARS-CoV-2; yet, rational vaccine design efforts are currently hampered by the lack of knowledge regarding viral epitopes targeted during an immune response, and the need for more in-depth knowledge on betacoronavirus immunology. To that end, we developed a computational workflow using a series of open-source algorithms and webtools to analyze the proteome of SARS-CoV-2 and identify putative T cell and B cell epitopes. Using increasingly stringent selection criteria to select peptides with significant HLA promiscuity and predicted antigenicity, we identified 41 potential T cell epitopes (5 HLA class I, 36 HLA class II) and 6 potential B cell epitopes, respectively. Docking analysis and binding predictions demonstrated enrichment for peptide binding to HLA-B (class I) and HLA-DRB1 (class II) molecules. Overlays of predicted B cell epitopes with the structure of the viral spike (S) glycoprotein revealed that 4 of 6 epitopes were located in the receptor-binding domain of the S protein. To our knowledge, this is the first study to comprehensively analyze all 10 (structural, non-structural and accessory) proteins from SARS-CoV-2 using predictive algorithms to identify potential targets for vaccine development.

Significance Statement

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 recently emerged from China, rapidly spreading and ushering in a global pandemic. Despite intensive research efforts, our knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 immunology and the proteins targeted by the immune response remains relatively limited, making it difficult to rationally design candidate vaccines. We employed a suite of bioinformatic tools, computational algorithms, and structural modeling to comprehensively analyze the entire SARS-CoV-2 proteome for potential T cell and B cell epitopes. Utilizing a set of stringent selection criteria to filter peptide epitopes, we identified 41 T cell epitopes (5 HLA class I, 36 HLA class II) and 6 B cell epitopes that could serve as promising targets for peptide-based vaccine development against this emerging global pathogen.
Human DICER helicase domain recruits PKR and modulates its antiviral activity
Authors: Montavon Thomas C. , Baldaccini Morgane , Lefèvre Mathieu , Girardi Erika , Chane-Woon-Ming Béatrice , Messmer Mélanie , Hammann Philippe , Chicher Johana , Pfeffer Sébastien
Published: May 2020

The antiviral innate immune response mainly involves type I interferon (IFN) in mammalian cells. The contribution of the RNA silencing machinery remains to be established, but several recent studies indicate that the ribonuclease DICER can generate viral siRNAs in specific conditions. It has also been proposed that type I IFN and RNA silencing could be mutually exclusive antiviral responses. In order to decipher the implication of DICER during infection of human cells with alphaviruses such as the Sindbis virus and Semliki forest virus, we determined its interactome by proteomics analysis. We show that DICER specifically interacts with several double-stranded RNA binding proteins and RNA helicases during viral infection. In particular, proteins such as DHX9, ADAR-1 and the protein kinase RNA-activated (PKR) are enriched with DICER in virus-infected cells. We demonstrate that the helicase domain of DICER is essential for this interaction and that its deletion confers antiviral properties to DICER in an RNAi-independent, PKR-dependent, manner.

Author summary

While RNAi has been recognized as an efficient antiviral defense system in organisms such as plants and insects, its physiological importance in mammals remains to be determined. DICER is an enzyme involved in cleaving long double-stranded RNAs and is essential for RNAi induction. Using mass spectrometry analysis, we determined its interactome in human cells and showed that RNA binding proteins such as PKR are specifically enriched upon infection with the Sindbis virus or the Semliki forest virus. We determined that the N terminal helicase domain of the DICER protein acts as a platform to recruit these factors during infection and that its deletion confers an antiviral activity to DICER.
On the automatic annotation of gene functions using observational data and phylogenetic trees
Authors: Vega Yon George G. , Thomas Duncan C. , Morrison John , Mi Huaiyu , Thomas Paul D. , Marjoram Paul
Published: May 2020

Motivation

Gene function annotation is important for a variety of downstream analyses of genetic data. Yet experimental characterization of function remains costly and slow, making computational prediction an important endeavor. In this paper we use a probabilistic evolutionary model built upon phylogenetic trees and experimental Gene Ontology functional annotations that allows automated prediction of function for unannotated genes.

Results

We have developed a computationally efficient model of evolution of gene annotations using phylogenies based on a Bayesian framework using Markov Chain Monte Carlo for parameter estimation. Unlike previous approaches, our method is able to estimate parameters over many different phylogenetic trees and functions. The resulting parameters agree with biological intuition, such as the increased probability of function change following gene duplication. The method performs well on leave-one-out validation, and we further validated some of the predictions in the experimental scientific literature.

Availability

Our method has been implemented as an R package and it is available online athttps://github.com/USCBiostats/aphylo. Code needed to reproduce the tables and figures can be found inhttps://github.com/USCbiostats/aphylo-simulations.

Author summary

Understanding the individual role that genes play in life is a key issue in biomedical-sciences. While information regarding gene functions is continuously growing, the number of genes with unknown biological purpose is yet greater. Because of this, scientists have dedicated much of their time to build and design tools that automatically infer gene functions. In this paper, we present yet another attempt to do such. While very simple, our model of gene-function evolution has some key features that have the potential to generate an impact in the field: (a) compared to other methods, ours is highly-scalable, which means that it is possible to simultaneously analyze hundreds of what are known as gene-families, compromising thousands of genes, (b) supports our biological intuition as our model’s data-driven results coherently agree with what theory dictates regarding how gene-functions evolved, (c) notwithstanding its simplicity, the model’s prediction accuracy is comparable to other more complex alternatives, and (d) perhaps most importantly, it can be used to both support new annotations and to suggest areas in which existing annotations show inconsistencies that may indicate errors or controversies.
Homogeneity among glyphosate-resistantAmaranthus palmeriin geographically distant locations
Authors: Molin William T. , Patterson Eric L. , Saski Christopher A.
Published: May 2020

Since the initial report of glyphosate-resistant (GR)Amaranthus palmeri(S) Wats. in 2006, resistant populations have been reported in 28 states. The mechanism of resistance is amplification of a 399-kb extrachromosomal circular DNA, called theEPSPSreplicon, and is unique to glyphosate-resistant plants. The replicon contains a single copy of the 10-kb 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene which causes the concomitant increased expression of EPSP synthase, the target enzyme of glyphosate. It is not known whether the resistance by this amplification mechanism evolved once and then spread across the country or evolved independently in several locations. To compare genomic representation and variation across theEPSPSreplicon, whole genome shotgun sequencing (WGS) and mapping of sequences from both GR and susceptible (GS) biotypes to the replicon consensus sequence was performed. Sampling of GR biotypes from AZ, KS, GA, MD and DE and GS biotypes from AZ, KS and GA revealed complete contiguity and deep representation with sequences from GR plants, but lack of homogeneity and contiguity with breaks in coverage were observed with sequences from GS biotypes. The high sequence conservation among GR biotypes with very few polymorphisms which were widely distributed across the USA further supports the hypothesis that glyphosate resistance most likely originated from a single population. We show that the replicon from different populations was unique to GR plants and had similar levels of amplification.
A Cross-Sectional Study of Prevalence and Spatial Patterns of Major Limb Loss in the Acholi Sub-Region of Uganda
Authors: Atim Pamela , Loum Constantine S. , Okello Tom R. , Magada Samuel M. , Yagos Walter Onen , Abelle Peter , Moro Emmanuel B. , Huck Jonathan J. , Redmond Anthony , Nirmalan Mahesh
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUND

There is a widely reported preponderance of major limb loss in Northern Uganda, which is believed to have been caused in large part by prolonged civil war. Access to rehabilitation facilities is extremely limited, and there has never been a study to understand how many people have major limb loss, nor how many of them have had access to medical or rehabilitative services.

AIM

The first prevalence study of disability and major limb loss in the region, and evaluated spatial patterns of cases of MLL.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

SETTING

This research was undertaken in a community setting (at subjects’ homes).

POPULATION

7,864 randomly selected households throughout the Acholi Sub-Region of Northern Uganda.

METHODS

This study comprised two questionnaires, the first to be completed by the head of every sampled household (n=7,864), and the second by any member of the household with major limb loss (n=181). Household locations were examined for spatial autocorrelation using Moran’sIstatistic. The χ2goodness of fit statistic was used to profile those with major limb loss in comparison with the underlying population.

RESULTS

We conservatively estimate that there are c.10,117 people with major limb loss in the region who require long-term rehabilitation services (c.0.5% of the population), and c.150,512 people with disabilities other than MLL (c.8.2% of the population). People with major limb loss are spread throughout the region (as opposed to clustered in specific locations) and are disproportionately male, older and less well educated than the general population.

CONCLUSION

This research demonstrates, for the first time, the extent of the inadequacy of long-term rehabilitation services for those with major limb-loss in the study area. We provide new insight into the reasons that people are not accessing medical and rehabilitative services, and propose a way forward through the successful demonstration of an ‘outreach clinic’ model.

CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT

The discovery of the spatial pattern of those with major limb loss, alongside the demonstration of the clinical outreach model, provides a compelling argument for the need of more such services and associated policy frameworks in remote and rural regions in the Global South.

TIDIER Checklist

We confirm that this manuscript conforms to theSTROBE Checklist for Cross-Sectional Studies
The Red Queen’s Crown: an evolutionary arms race between coronaviruses and mammalian species reflected in positive selection of the ACE2 receptor among many species
Authors: Hajibabaei Mehrdad , Singer Gregory A. C.
Published: May 2020

The world is going through a global viral pandemic with devastating effects on human life and socioeconomic activities. This pandemic is the result of a zoonotic coronavirus, Severe Acute Respirsatory Syndrom Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which is believed to have originated in bats and transferred to humans possibly through an intermediate host species (Zhou et al. 2020; Coronaviridae Study Group of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses 2020). The virus attacks host cells by attaching to a cell membrane surface protein receptor called ACE2 (Ge et al. 2013; Zhou et al. 2020). Given the critical role of ACE2 as a binding receptor for a number of coronaviruses, we studied the molecular evolution of ACE2 in a diverse range of mammalian species. Using ACE2 as the target protein, we wanted to specifically test the Red Queen hypothesis (Dawkins and Krebs 1979) where the parasite and host engage in an evolutionary arms race which can result in positive selection of their traits associated to their fitness and survival. Our results clearly show a phylogenetically broad evolutionary response, in the form of positive selection detected at the codon-level in ACE2. We see positive selection occurring at deep branches as well as 13 incidents at the species level. We found the strongest level of positive selection in Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), donkey (Equus asinus), large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus), Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii), and dog (Canis lupus familiaris). At the codon-level, we found up to 10% of ACE2 codons are impacted by positive selection in the mammalian lineages studied. This phylogenetically broad evolutionary arms race can contribute to the emergence of new strains of coronaviruses in different mammalian lineages with a potential to transfer between species given the common binding receptor ACE2. Our study provides a molecular evolutionary perspective to the current pandemic and sheds light on its evolutionary mechanisms.

“Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution” (Theodosius Dobzhansky)
Effect of postlearning meditation on memory consolidation: level of focused attention matters
Authors: Collins Megan B. , Wamsley Erin J.
Published: May 2020

Recent studies demonstrate that eyes-closed rest benefits memory consolidation, perhaps due to reduced attention to environmental stimuli. Here, we asked whether focusing attention to internal thoughts and feelings after learning similarly blocks memory consolidation. Verbal memory was tested following an eyes-closed consolidation period filled with either focused attention to breath or quiet rest. Although breath-focus did not impair memory relative to quiet rest overall, participants who reported being more successful in maintaining breath-focus during this condition showed increased forgetting. We interpret these findings as incompatible with a simple sensory-interference-based account of rest's effect on memory.
Construction output modelling: a systematic review
Authors: Oshodi Olalekan , Edwards David J. , lam Ka Chi , Olanipekun Ayokunle Olubunmi , Aigbavboa Clinton Ohis
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Construction economics scholars have emphasised the importance of construction output forecasting and have called for increased investment in infrastructure projects due to the positive relationship between construction output and economic growth. However, construction output tends to fluctuate over time. Excessive changes in the volume of construction output have a negative impact upon the construction sector, such as liquidation of construction companies and job losses. Information gleaned from extant literature suggests that fluctuation in construction output is a global problem. Evidence indicates that modelling of construction output provides information for understanding the factors responsible for these changes.

Methodology

An interpretivist epistemological lens is adopted to conduct a systematic review of published studies on modelling of construction output. A thematic analysis is then presented, and the trends and gaps in current knowledge are highlighted.

Findings

It is observed that interest rate is the most common determinant of construction output. Also revealed is that very little is known about the underlying factors stimulating growth in the volume of investment in maintenance construction works. Further work is required to investigate the efficacy of using non-linear techniques for construction output modelling.

Originality

This study provides a contemporary mapping of existing knowledge relating to construction output and provides insights into gaps in current understanding that can be explored by future researchers.
Airport project delivery within BIM-centric construction technology ecosystems
Authors: Keskin Basak , Salman Baris , Ozorhon Beliz
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to systematically analyse how building information modelling (BIM) transforms complex infrastructure settings (i.e. airports) around digital technologies by enhancing connectivity and collaboration between major stakeholders and construction technology solutions. The objectives include understanding each project party's perspective for BIM implementation to align their motivations and connectivity along project's supply chain network and how BIM drives construction technology ecosystem uses for a more integrative and collaborative project delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopts qualitative data collection and analysis methods comprising semi-structured interviews, thematic analysis and an explanatory case study of a large-hub airport project.

Findings

The study findings show that enabling BIM implementation leads to streamlining construction technology ecosystem uses that increase connectivity within project parties' processes. Airports – as hosting high-value assets – can fast realize value of synergistic activities throughout project delivery by harnessing significant amount of siloed data created by each major party.

Originality/value

The study provides a structured analysis of how complex project settings leverage construction technology uses through their core BIM processes by highlighting multi-party approaches from an ecosystem perspective. This study also contributes to the body of knowledge and practice by presenting a transferrable and scalable approach for leveraging connected construction technology in a large-scale project involving fragmented processes managed by a large number of stakeholders.
Gender, diversity management perceptions, workplace happiness and organisational citizenship behaviour
Authors: Mousa Mohamed , Massoud Hiba K. , Ayoubi Rami M.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether females have different perceptions of diversity management and workplace happiness compared to their male colleagues. Furthermore, the paper explores whether diversity management perceptions mediate the relationship between workplace happiness and organisational citizenship behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 260 questionnaires from a number of public hospitals in Egypt were analysed using both t-test and Structural Equation Modelling.

Findings

We found that female physicians perceive diversity management policies/protocols more positively than their male colleagues. Moreover, gender has no or little effect on physicians’ perceptions of workplace happiness. We also found that workplace happiness positively affects physicians’ organisational citizenship behaviour, and finally, diversity management practices can mediate the relationship between workplace happiness and physicians’ organisational citizenship behaviour.

Practical implications

We believe that managers can raise the feeling of workplace happiness among their staff if they maintain some personal relationships with physicians, care about the physicians’ work/life balance, promote after work gatherings, initiate coffee time talks, encourage open communication practices and more.

Originality/value

The paper is based on the argument that although employees might be happy in the workplace through (engagement, job satisfaction, affective commitment), their happiness, however,will unlikely be reflected into a positive organisational citizenship behaviour towards their organisation, except (social exchange theory) they feel or perceive (equity theory) the overall practices of diversity management in that organisation positively. Thus, studying the mediating effect of perceptions towards diversity management is mainly our contribution.
The student as customer and quality in higher education
Authors: Calma Angelito , Dickson-Deane Camille
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper explores some management concepts and how applying these concepts from business to higher education can be problematic, let alone incompatible, particularly in relation to measuring quality in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

It provides a conceptual understanding of the literature on quality in the higher education context. It does so by examining the literature on students as customers, customer expectations, customer satisfaction and other management theories that have been applied to higher education.

Findings

It argues that the current bases for perceiving quality such as meeting customer expectations, satisfying the customer, ensuring quality control, meeting standards and assessing the cost associated with poor quality are in disagreement with the principal aims and measures of quality in higher education.

Research limitations/implications

This paper can certainly benefit from many other concepts in business that have been applied in higher education, which it lacks. It only focussed on a number of key and popular ideas in management theory that have been used in higher education more broadly.

Practical implications

Student-focussed quality initiatives can be devoid of the student as customer concept. How programs, subjects and experiences are curated can be solely for the purpose of continuous improvement. Second, universities that choose to treat the student as a customer may find it beneficial to apply a relationship marketing approach to higher education. Lastly, those against the student as customer concept may focus on the long-term impact of quality initiatives such as promoting lifelong learning, building long-term relationships with alumni and employers and those that further promote academic integrity.

Originality/value

Some considerations have been offered. These considerations revisit the basic notions of teaching and learning in higher education. It puts an emphasis on sidestepping the student as customer metaphor, that learning is not expressed in dollar terms, and that the quality of the student experience cannot be measured by student evaluation alone because it is felt much later in life.
Relationships between young adults’ housing tenure, elements of perceived job security and social capital in Britain
Authors: Aguda Oluwadamilola , Ebohon Obas John
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Against the backdrop of the changing trends in tenure in the UK housing system, young adults are faced with different situations that continue to shape their housing consumption and decisions. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships amongst young adults’ housing tenure, social capital and elements of perceived job security in Britain. Socio-psychological dimension of housing tenure decisions has been receiving attention by housing market analysts and practitioners seeking deeper understandings of the UK housing market dynamics, particularly in the wake of changing tastes and preferences of young people concerning housing decisions across major cities of the world.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach has been applied to the harmonised version of the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) from 2001 to 2015.

Findings

The authors discovered that British young adults’ homeownership decisions are increasingly influenced by social capital and elements of perceived job insecurity, depending on their tenure of origin. Furthermore, this study will significantly enhance the understanding of tenure shifts amongst young adults in the UK and provide property developers, local authorities and central governments the knowledge and information to guide economic policies, urban renewal towards achieving better social cohesion and sustainable communities.

Originality/value

Very little has been done to investigate the contributions of social capital formation, for example, neighbourhood or social integration and social relations and elements of perceived job security on housing tenure transitions among British young adults. This study will further provide property developers, local authorities and central governments the knowledge and information to guide economic policies, urban renewal towards achieving better social cohesion and sustainable communities.
Determinants of international marketing strategy for emerging market multinationals
Authors: Rana Sudhir , Prashar Sanjeev , Barai Munim Kumar , Hamid Abu Bakar Abdul
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The main objective of this study is to evolve the basis of beneficial impact assessment of international marketing strategy (IMS) for emerging market multinationals by applying construct-measurement research methodology. The purpose of this study is to link the conceptual definition and empirical indicators of the proposed integrated model with the objective on “Developing Model to Assess Benefit Impacts Generated by International Marketing”, the authors named it GAMBIT.

Design/methodology/approach

Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data from international marketing executives and senior management executives from Indian manufacturing firms using Churchill's approach (1979, 1987). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modeling (using SPSS Statistics 20.0 and AMOS) were used to develop the GAMBIT model. Various hypotheses pertaining to perfect order fulfillment and quality level were formulated.

Findings

In the order of significance, the four key influential factors for beneficial impact assessment in the multicultural global environment are as follows: sources of beneficial impacts; operational efficiency; international marketing strategic choice and beneficial outcomes.

Originality/value

Although companies have realized the importance of assessing beneficial impacts, they often do not know how exactly the assessment should be made. Thus, the present study provides a useful tool for evaluating the totality of beneficial impacts offered by IMS.
Identification of barriers to synergistic implementation of TQM-SCM
Authors: Kaur Mandeep , Singh Kanwarpreet , Singh Doordarshi
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The study aims at finding out major barriers for synergistic adoption of TQM-SCM in the medium- and large-scale manufacturing organizations in India. All these barriers create hurdles for the organizations as well as supply chain partners in improving their business performance. The study is a blend of theoretical and practical frameworks, which will focus on key barriers leading to interrupt the successful synergistic implementation of TQM-SCM in manufacturing organization.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, survey of 116 Indian organizations has been carried out to identify barriers that hinder successful implementation of TQM-SCM. Afterward, VIKOR approach was proposed to rank the major barriers of TQM-SCM implementation in Indian manufacturing organizations.

Findings

Identification of barriers to synergistic implementation of TQM-SCM in the manufacturing industry of India, ranking of these barriers in terms of their severity.

Originality/value

The adoption of TQM-SCM on synergistic basis is still in its early stages in India. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that is designed to prioritize barriers responsible for hindering successful synergistic implementation of (TQM-SCM) in Indian manufacturing industry. Further, the results of the study will be helpful for managers in order to prepare action plans to overcome the hurdles to TQM-SCM implementation.
The influence of YouTubers on followers’ use intention
Authors: Corrêa Stela Cristina Hott , Soares João Luiz , Christino Juliana Maria Magalhães , Gosling Marlusa de Sevilha , Gonçalves Carlos Alberto
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between the follower’s engagement with YouTubers and his/her intention of using a brand they advertise or use. Self-connection, brand love and trust are mediating variables concerning the YouTuber–follower relationship and involvement is the antecedent variable of the engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was carried out and 272 YouTubers’ followers responded. The structural model was tested by covariance-based structural equation modeling using the software R, v3.6.0.

Findings

The present study reveals that the follower’s engagement with YouTubers presents itself within cognitive, affective and behavioural aspects; it rises from the involvement the followers have with their favourite YouTuber. Engagement, enhanced by self-connection, love and trust in the YouTuber, impacts the intention of use of a brand he/she indicates or uses.

Practical implications

YouTube is a relevant channel for advertising and promoting a brand. Hence, the company should bear in mind the fact that the YouTuber appointed to represent its image must be connected to the feelings and interests of their followers as well as those of the brands to be publicised.

Originality/value

The present research proposes a novel conceptual connection to engagement, established no longer by the brand of a product or service, but by YouTubers. It aims at rendering contribution to this subject as it investigates the correlation of use intention of a brand, subject to the engagement with a human brand, herein represented by YouTubers.
Experiencing family ethnography: challenges, practicalities and reflections on practice
Authors: Nash Cathriona , O'Malley Lisa , Patterson Maurice
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer a critical reflection on the experience and challenges associated with conducting a family ethnography along with methodological guidance that generates insights for future researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a family ethnography as a methodological approach to investigate family consumption in context with a view towards capturing detailed consumption experiences.

Findings

A family ethnography is a valuable but challenging methodology to follow in its preparation, practice and publishing. Despite these challenges, they are surmountable with some lateral thinking to conduct methodologically and ethically sound ethnographic research.

Research limitations/implications

The method, challenges and guidance offered here can be used to make the most of ethnography as a methodological approach to family research.

Practical implications

The critical reflection of the experience and challenges of conducting a family ethnography along with the practical advice offered here may guide those considering using ethnographic research.

Originality/value

Contributions include a critical reflection on the experience and challenges of conducting a family ethnography, ethical and methodological guidelines to overcome them and operational guidelines for their use.
Surgical treatment of intestinal stricture in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Mohan Helen M. , Coffey John C.
Published: May 2020

Fibroblast infiltration and collagen deposition result in structural changes in the bowel wall, and lead to strictures in intestinal inflammatory disease. While strictures can also occur in other contexts, such as malignancy, this review focuses on the surgical treatment of stricture secondary to inflammatory bowel disease. Distinguishing between predominantly inflammation vs established fibrosis as the cause of a stricture can be challenging. While inflammatory strictures may be responsive to medication, predominantly fibrotic strictures usually need surgical intervention. Both endoluminal and extraluminal approaches are described in this review. Endoscopic dilatation of strictures is suitable for short‐segment isolated small bowel strictures. Other options are to divide the stricture surgically but preserve the length, performing a strictureplasty or resecting the strictured segment. The mesentery is increasingly recognized as playing a role in stricture recurrence. In a relapsing‐remitting disease such as Crohn's disease, the preservation of intestinal length is essential and balance is needed between this and a complete resection to reduce the risk of recurrence. Pre‐ and postoperative involvement of the multidisciplinary team is essential to improve outcomes in this challenging clinical scenario.
Biocompatible implant mimicking cartilage: A new horizon for reconstructive facial field
Authors: Biswas Biswajit Kumar , Dey Sutapa , Chakrabarty Anindya , Laha Arghya , Mandal Tapan Kumar , Karmakar Laxmikanta , Das Debajyoti
Published: May 2020

Cartilage is avascular with limited to no regenerative capacity, so its loss could be a challenge for reconstructive surgery. Current treatment options for damaged cartilage are also limited. In this aspect there is a tremendous need to develop an ideal cartilage‐mimicking biomaterial that could repair maxillofacial defects. Considering this fact in this study we have prepared twelve silicone‐based materials (using Silicone 40, 60, and 80) reinforced with hydroxyapatite, tri‐calcium phosphate, and titanium dioxide which itself has proven their efficacy in several studies and able to complement the shortcomings of using silicones. Among the mechanical properties (Young’s modulus, tensile strength, percent elongation, and hardness), hardness of Silicone‐40 showed similarities with goat ear (P > .05). Silicone peaks have been detected in FTIR. Both AFM morphology and SEM images of the samples confirmed more roughed surfaces. All the materials were nonhemolytic in hemocompatibility tests, but among the twelve materials S2, S3, S5, and S6 showed the least hemolysis. For all tested bacterial strains, adherence was lower on each material than that grown on the plain industrial silicone material which was used as a positive control. S2, S3, S5, and S6 samples were selected as the best based on mechanical characterizations, surface characterizations, in vitro hemocompatibility tests and bacterial adherence activity. So, outcomes of this present study would be promising when developing ideal cartilage‐mimicking biocomposites and their emerging applications to treat maxillofacial defects due to cartilage damage.
The simplified follicular lymphoma PRIMA‐prognostic index is useful in patients with first‐line chemo‐free rituximab‐based therapy
Authors: Kimby Eva , Lockmer Sandra , Holte Harald , Hagberg Hans , Wahlin Björn E. , Brown Peter , Østenstad Bjørn
Published: May 2020

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a heterogeneous disease; therefore, reliable prognostic tools are needed to plan treatment strategies. The FL International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) was developed before the rituximab era, while the PRIMA‐PI was built on rituximab chemotherapy. Our objective was to evaluate these two prognostic tools in a cohort of 291 patients with FL treated in two prospective randomised Nordic Lymphoma Group trials with rituximab ± interferon. All patients had symptomatic/progressive disease and were previously untreated. The PRIMA‐PI was prognostic for both time to treatment failure (TTF) and overall survival (OS) (log‐rank P = 0·003 and P < 0·001, respectively). The PRIMA‐PI high‐risk identified a small group of patients with a very short TTF and OS compared to the low‐risk group, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1·90 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1·30–2·78, P = 0·001) and HR of 3·19 (95% CI 1·75–5·83, P < 0·001), respectively. The FLIPI risk groups were prognostic only for OS (log‐rank P = 0·018). The simplified PRIMA‐PI was valid in our FL cohort with first‐line rituximab‐containing chemo‐free therapy and shows an improved risk stratification compared to the FLIPI, especially in patients aged >60 years. Patients in the PRIMA‐PI high‐risk group should be considered for alternative therapies.
Prognostic utility of a geriatric nutritional risk index in combination with a comorbidity index in elderly patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma
Authors: Lee Shin , Fujita Kei , Morishita Tetsuji , Negoro Eiju , Oiwa Kana , Tsukasaki Hikaru , Yamamura Osamu , Ueda Takanori , Yamauchi Takahiro
Published: May 2020

Reflecting the increasing risk in elderly patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), prognostic predictors other than the International Prognostic Index have attracted more attention. This study presents the first analysis of the prognostic utility of the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) in combination with the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) for overall survival (OS) in elderly DLBCL patients. A multicentre retrospective was conducted on a cohort of 451 patients (≥65 years). The GNRI and CCI were independent predictors in a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. There was a nonlinear correlation between the GNRI and OS in a Cox model with restricted cubic spline. Multivariate receiver operating characteristic curves showed a significant improvement in prediction accuracy when the GNRI was added to CCI. Adding the GNRI to CCI yielded a significant category‐free net reclassification improvement (0·556; 95% CI: 0·378–0·736, P < 0·001) and integrated discrimination improvement (0·094; 95% CI: 0·067–0·122, P < 0·001). The decision curve analysis demonstrated the clinical net benefit associated with the adoption of the GNRI. The GNRI was not only a predictor of OS but also remarkably improved the prognosis prediction accuracy when incorporated with the CCI, having the ability to stratify the prognosis of elderly DLBCL patients.
Camouflage in predators
Authors: Pembury Smith Matilda Q. R. , Ruxton Graeme D.
Published: May 2020

Camouflage – adaptations that prevent detection and/or recognition – is a key example of evolution by natural selection, making it a primary focus in evolutionary ecology and animal behaviour. Most work has focused on camouflage as an anti‐predator adaptation. However, predators also display specific colours, patterns and behaviours that reduce visual detection or recognition to facilitate predation. To date, very little attention has been given to predatory camouflage strategies. Although many of the same principles of camouflage studied in prey translate to predators, differences between the two groups (in motility, relative size, and control over the time and place of predation attempts) may alter selection pressures for certain visual and behavioural traits. This makes many predatory camouflage techniques unique and rarely documented. Recently, new technologies have emerged that provide a greater opportunity to carry out research on natural predator–prey interactions. Here we review work on the camouflage strategies used by pursuit and ambush predators to evade detection and recognition by prey, as well as looking at how work on prey camouflage can be applied to predators in order to understand how and why specific predatory camouflage strategies may have evolved. We highlight that a shift is needed in camouflage research focus, as this field has comparatively neglected camouflage in predators, and offer suggestions for future work that would help to improve our understanding of camouflage.
Parental perceptions of paediatric rehabilitation services using the Malay Measure of Processes of Care
Authors: Tew Siew Peng , Ahmad Fauzi Aishah
Published: May 2020

Background

Neurodevelopmental disabilities are amongst the main conditions encountered in our paediatric rehabilitation centre. To identify the necessary actions to achieve family‐centred care in the tertiary healthcare division, we explored the perceptions of parents on the paediatric rehabilitation services received by their children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Method

A cross‐sectional study involving 200 parents of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities aged 1–18 years was carried out. The Malay version of the Measure of Process of Care (MPOC‐20) questionnaire was used to measure the perceptions of parents on the services. Descriptive statistical analysis was done to describe the mean score of each MPOC‐20 scale. Univariate and bivariate analyses were used to examine the associations between the characteristics of parents and children as well as the sociodemographic and environmental factors with the MPOC‐20 scales.

Results

The mean score of the MPOC‐20 scales ranged from 4.50 to 5.65 (SD 0.93–1.51). Amongst the MPOC‐20 scales, parents ranked enabling, having good partnership and being comprehensive (EP) the highest, whereas the provision of specific information (PS) received the lowest score. Amongst all the MPOC‐20 scales, significant differences were shown in parent's employment, between children's age groups and between ethnic groups.

Conclusions

The Malay MPOC‐20 is a validated tool that can be used in evaluation of services among the Malay‐speaking community, and therefore, it is recommended for our clinical use to improve family‐centred practice in paediatric rehabilitation.
Allele HLA‐DQB1*06 reduces fibrosis score in patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Tan Hwa‐Li , Zain Shamsul Mohd , Eng Hooi‐Sian , Mohamed Zahurin , Mahadeva Sanjiv , Chan Wah‐Kheong , Lau Peng‐Choong , Basu Roma Choudhury , Mohamed Rosmawati
Published: May 2020

Aim

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) regions were highlighted as important genetic markers for various liver diseases by hepatology‐related genome‐wide association studies. Replication studies in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are limited and none has investigated the association of HLA alleles with non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and other histological characteristics. In the current study, we examined the association of HLA‐DQA1 and HLA‐DQB1 alleles with NAFLD spectrum and its histological characteristics.

Methods

Consecutive biopsy‐proven NAFLD patients (n = 191) and healthy controls (n = 188) were enrolled and genotyped for HLA‐DQA1 and HLA‐DQB1 alleles using the sequence‐specific oligonucleotide–polymerase chain reaction method.

Results

No association was found between the HLA alleles and NAFLD or NASH in a case–control setting. Nevertheless, among NAFLD patients, the frequency of HLA‐DQB1*06 allele was significantly the lowest in NASH with significant fibrosis (10.4%) and approximately similar for NASH without significant fibrosis (22.9%) and NAFL (22.5%) (P = 0.004). It is noteworthy that the association remains significant after correction for multiple comparisons (Pc = 0.04). Multivariate analysis revealed that HLA‐DQB1*06 allele is also associated with fibrosis score (P = 0.001); the result remains significant after correction for multiple comparisons.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that HLA‐DQB1*06 is associated with lower fibrosis score in NAFLD patients.
Surveillance of medically‐attended influenza in elderly patients from Romania—data from three consecutive influenza seasons (2015/16, 2016/17, and 2017/18)
Authors: Pițigoi Daniela , Streinu‐Cercel Anca , Ivanciuc Alina Elena , Lazãr Mihaela , Cherciu Carmen Maria , Mihai Maria Elena , Nițescu Maria , Aramă Victoria , Crăciun Maria Dorina , Streinu‐Cercel Adrian , Săndulescu Oana
Published: May 2020

Background

Influenza is an acute infection affecting all age groups; however, elderly patients are at an increased risk. We aim to describe the clinical characteristics and the circulation of influenza virus types in elderly patients admitted for severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) to a tertiary care hospital in Bucharest, Romania, part of the I‐MOVE+ hospital network.

Methods

We conducted an active surveillance study at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Prof. Dr Matei Balș,” Bucharest, Romania, during three consecutive influenza seasons: 2015/16, 2016/17, and 2017/18. All patients aged 65 and older admitted to our hospital for SARI were tested for influenza by PCR.

Results

A total of 349 eligible patients were tested during the study period, and 149 (42.7%) were confirmed with influenza. Most patients, 321 (92.5%) presented at least one underlying condition at the time of hospital admission, the most frequent being cardiovascular disease, 270 (78.3%). The main influenza viral subtype circulating in 2015/16 was A(H1N1)pdm09, followed by A(H3N2) in 2016/17 and B influenza in 2017/18. Case fatality was highest in the 2015/16 season (3.7%), 0% in 2016/17, and 1.0% in 2017/18. Vaccination coverage in elderly patients with SARI from our study population was 22 (6.3%) over the three seasons.

Conclusions

Our study has highlighted a high burden of comorbidities in elderly patients presenting with SARI during winter season in Romania. The influenza vaccine coverage rate needs to be substantially increased in the elderly population, through targeted interventions.