bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ASSESSMENT OF FLUORESCEIN ANGIOGRAPHY NONPERFUSION IN EYES WITH DIABETIC RETINOPATHY USING ULTRAWIDE FIELD RETINAL IMAGING
Authors: Silva Paolo S. , Liu Danni , Glassman Adam R. , Aiello Lloyd P. , Grover Sandeep , Kingsley Ronald M. , Melia Michele , Sun Jennifer K. ,   for the DRCR Retina Network
Published: March 2022

Purpose:

Evaluate association of retinal nonperfusion (NP) on ultrawide field (UWF) fluorescein angiography (FA) with diabetic retinopathy (DR) severity and predominantly peripheral lesions (PPL).

Methods:

Multicenter observational study, 652 eyes (361 participants) having nonproliferative DR (NPDR) without center-involved diabetic macular edema in at least one eye. Baseline 200° UWF-color and UWF-FA images were graded by a central reading center for color-PPL and FA-PPL, respectively. UWF-FA was graded for NP index within concentric zones: posterior pole (<10 mm from fovea), midperiphery (10–15 mm), and far periphery (>15 mm).

Results:

Baseline Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study DR severity was 31.7% no DR/mild NPDR, 24.1% moderate NPDR, 14.0% moderately severe NPDR, 25.6% severe/very severe NPDR, and 4.6% proliferative DR. Worse DR severity was associated with increased NP index overall (P = 0.002), in the posterior pole (P < 0.001), midperiphery (P < 0.001), and far periphery (P = 0.03). On average, 29.6% of imaged retinal NP was in the posterior pole, 33.7% in midperiphery, and 36.7% in far periphery. Increased NP index was associated with FA-PPL (P < 0.001) but not with color-PPL (P = 0.65).

Conclusion:

Approximately, 70% of NP in diabetic eyes is located outside the posterior pole. Increased NP is associated with the presence of FA-PPL, suggesting UWF-FA may better predict future DR worsening than UWF-color alone.
REGIONAL SCLERAL THICKNESS AS A RISK FACTOR FOR CENTRAL SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY
Authors: Spaide Richard F. , Fisher Yale L. , Ngo Wei Kiong , Barbazetto Irene
Published: March 2022

Purpose:

To evaluate regional sclera thicknesses as possible risk factors for central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).

Methods:

Patients with CSC and controls were evaluated with contact B-scan ultrasonography using a 20 Mhz concentric phased array ultrasound unit and enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography to measure the scleral thickness at the equator and posterior pole. The resultant data were evaluated using univariate analysis and generalized estimating equations.

Results:

There were 40 patients with CSC with a mean age of 58 years and 23 controls with a mean age of 60.7 years (P = 0.31). The mean subfoveal scleral thicknesses were 1.3 mm in the CSC group and 0.86 mm in the control group (P < 0.001). The mean equatorial scleral thickness was 0.61 mm in the CSC group and 0.42 mm in the control group (P < 0.001). Using generalized estimating equations, the equatorial scleral thickness (P = 0.001), posterior scleral thickness (P < 0.001), and subfoveal choroidal thickness (P = 0.032) were independent predictors of CSC. Once these variables were entered into the equation, neither sex nor age were significant predictors. Generalized estimating equation analysis showed that equatorial, but not posterior, scleral thickness was a significant predictor of subfoveal choroidal thickness.

Conclusion:

Scleral thicknesses of the posterior and equatorial portions of the eye were found to be significant predictors of CSC, consistent with what was proposed in the theory of venous overload choroidopathy. Direct measurement by high resolution ultrasonography provides independent information about specific regions of the sclera and also avoids making speculative assumptions derived from anterior segment measurements.
NINE-YEAR PROGRESSION OF PENTOSAN MACULOPATHY WITH MULTIMODAL RETINAL IMAGING
Authors: Santina Ahmad , Fogel-Levin Miri , Abraham Neda , Sarraf David
Published: March 2022

Background/Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristic pattern of progression of pentosan polysulfate (PPS) maculopathy with multimodal retinal imaging in two patients, including one with over 9 years of follow-up.

Methods:

Two patients with PPS maculopathy were sequentially evaluated with near-infrared reflectance (NIR) and optical coherence tomography.

Results:

Near-infrared reflectance showed characteristic centrifugal progression of the parafoveal hyperreflective lesions toward the vascular arcades with the development of hyporeflective areas in both cases. Optical coherence tomography demonstrated focal retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) thickening that corresponded to the hyperreflective lesions on NIR. On subsequent optical coherence tomography scans, the hyperreflective areas resolved with the development of ellipsoid zone attenuation, RPE disruption, and atrophy, which colocalized with hyporeflectivity on NIR.

Conclusion:

This report describes the progression of pentosan polysulfate maculopathy over almost 10 years of PPS treatment and highlights the importance of NIR as a tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of PPS maculopathy. Pentosan polysulfate lesions present as areas of focal RPE thickening with ensuing development of ellipsoid zone loss and RPE drop-out. The pathophysiology of PPS toxicity is unknown and may either result from primary RPE or choroidal toxicity.
Patterns of Adherence to a Dapivirine Vaginal Ring for HIV-1 Prevention Among South African Women in a Phase III Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Browne Erica N. , Brown Elizabeth R. , Palanee-Phillips Thesla , Reddy Krishnaveni , Naidoo Logashvari , Jeenarain Nitesha , Nair Gonasagrie , Husnik Marla J. , Singh Devika , Scheckter Rachel , Soto-Torres Lydia , Baeten Jared M. , van der Straten Ariane ,   On behalf of the MTN-020/ASPIRE Study Team
Published: March 2022

Background:

Persistent use of HIV prevention methods can be a challenge, particularly for some younger women. The long-acting, discreet, woman-centric dapivirine vaginal ring offers promise as a prevention method with less user burden, which could support continued use. We assessed dapivirine vaginal ring use to understand adherence patterns and identify characteristics influencing patterns.

Setting:

Participants enrolled in South Africa in the MTN-020/ASPIRE randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Methods:

We used group-based trajectory modeling to identify clusters of participants with similar longitudinal patterns of adherence in the last year of participation and potential predictors of group membership. Women with at least 1 year of follow-up were included (n = 626).

Results:

Five adherence patterns were identified: (1) consistently high, 34%, (2) consistently moderate, 34%, (3) consistently low, 16%, (4) decreasing, 9%, and (5) increasing, 7%. Women younger than 22 years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0 to 3.0], using an intrauterine device (AOR 3.3, 95% CI: 1.4 to 7.8) or oral contraceptives (AOR 3.9, 95% CI: 1.7 to 8.9), experiencing menses (AOR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1 to 3.0), and who reported inconsistent condom use (AOR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.0 to 3.3) were more likely to be classified as consistently low compared to consistently high (referent).

Conclusions:

Most South African women successfully persisted with a moderate or high level of use. Encouraging ring replacement with completion of menses may help to decrease concerns about hygiene and improve persistence. Associations between contraception and persistent low adherence suggest efforts may be needed to ensure contraceptive method choice does not interfere with ring use.
Youth violence prevention can be enhanced by geospatial analysis of trauma registry data
Authors: Doucet Jay J. , Godat Laura N. , Berndtson Allison E. , Liepert Amy E. , Weaver Jessica L. , Smith Alan M. , Kobayashi Leslie M. , Biffl Walter L. , Costantini Todd W.
Published: March 2022

BACKGROUND

Geographic information systems (GIS) have been used to understand relationships between trauma mechanisms, locations, and social determinants for injury prevention. We hypothesized that GIS analysis of trauma center registry data for assault patients aged 14 years to 29 years with census tract data would identify geospatial and structural determinants of youth violence.

METHODS

Admissions to a Level I trauma center from 2010 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed to identify assaults in those 14 years to 29 years. Prisoners were excluded. Home and injury scene addresses were geocoded. Cluster analysis was performed with the Moran I test for spatial autocorrelation. Census tract comparisons were done using American Communities Survey (ACS) data by t-test and linear regression.

RESULTS

There were 1,608 admissions, 1,517 (92.4%) had complete addresses and were included in the analysis. Mean age was 23 ± 3.8 years, mean ISS was 7.5 ± 6.2, there were 11 (0.7%) in-hospital deaths. Clusters in six areas of the trauma catchment were identified with a Moran I value of 0.24 (Z score = 17.4, p < 0.001). Linear regression of American Communities Survey demographics showed predictors of assault were unemployment (odds ratio, 4.5; 95% confidence interval, 2.7–6.4; p < 0.001), Spanish spoken at home (odds ratio, 6.6; 95% confidence interval, 3.4–9.8; p < 0.001) and poverty level (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–2.7; p < 0.001). Education level of less than high school diploma, single parent households and race were not significant predictors.

CONCLUSION

GIS analysis of registry data can identify high-risk areas for youth violence and correlated social and structural determinants. Violence prevention efforts can be better targeted geographically and socioeconomically with better understanding of these risk factors.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic/Epidemiological; Level III.
The Utility of Noninvasive PET/CT Myocardial Perfusion Imaging in Adult Liver Transplant Candidates
Authors: Tincopa Monica A. , Weinberg Richard L. , Sengupta Shreya , Slivnick Jeremy , Corbett James , Sonnenday Christopher J. , Fontana Robert J. , Sharma Pratima
Published: March 2022

Background.

The optimal cardiovascular (CV) risk stratification in liver transplant (LT) candidates remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate concordance of findings between dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE), positron emission tomography/computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (PET/CT MPI), and left heart catheterization in adult LT candidates.

Methods.

Data on 234 consecutive adult LT candidates from February 2015 to June 2018 with PET/CT MPI were reviewed. Adverse CV outcomes were adjudicated via chart review by a board-certified cardiologist.

Results.

Median age was 60.8, body mass index 30.2 kg/m2, and model of end-stage liver disease–sodium 14; 61% were male, and 54% had diabetes. Thirty-seven percent had nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and 29% alcohol-related liver disease. Sixty-five percent of patients had a DSE, of which 41% were nondiagnostic. No factors were independently associated with having a nondiagnostic DSE. The median global myocardial flow reserve correlated positively with hemoglobin and negatively with model of end-stage liver disease–sodium, age, ejection fraction, and body mass index. Moderate/high-risk MPIs were associated with older age and known CV disease. In patients with 2 cardiac testing modalities, findings were concordant in 87%. Eleven of 53 LT recipients experienced an adverse CV outcome, but no independent predictors were identified for this outcome.

Conclusions.

Results of different cardiac risk-stratification modalities were concordant across modalities the majority of the time in LT candidates, although these findings were not independently correlated with risk of post-LT CV outcomes. Given the high rates of nondiagnostic DSEs in this population, PET/CT MPI may be the preferred CV risk-stratification modality in older patients and those with known CV disease.
Non-Born–Oppenheimer effects in molecular photochemistry: an experimental perspective
Authors: Ashfold Michael N. R. , Kim Sang Kyu
Published: March 2022

Non-adiabatic couplings between Born–Oppenheimer (BO)-derived potential energy surfaces are now recognized as pivotal in describing the non-radiative decay of electronically excited molecules following photon absorption. This opinion piece illustrates how non-BO effects provide photostability to many biomolecules when exposed to ultraviolet radiation, yet in many other cases are key to facilitating ‘reactive’ outcomes like isomerization and bond fission. The examples are presented in order of decreasing molecular complexity, spanning studies of organic sunscreen molecules in solution, through two families of heteroatom containing aromatic molecules and culminating with studies of isolated gas phase H
2
O molecules that afford some of the most detailed insights yet available into the cascade of non-adiabatic couplings that enable the evolution from photoexcited molecule to eventual products.

This article is part of the theme issue 'Chemistry without the Born–Oppenheimer approximation'.
Validation of AI-based software for objectification of conjunctival provocation test results in routine examinations and clinical studies
Authors: Yarin Yury , Kalaitzidi Alexandra , Bodrova Kira , Mösges Ralf , Kalaidzidis Yannis
Published: March 2022

Abstracts

1.

Background

Provocation tests are widely used in allergology to objectively reveal patients’ sensitivity to specific allergens. The objective quantification of an allergic reaction is a crucial characteristic of these tests. Due to the absence of objective quantitative measurements the conjunctival provocation test (CPT) is a less frequently used method despite its sensitivity and simplicity. We developed a new method AllergoEye based on AI for quantitative evaluation of conjunctival allergic reactions and validated it in a clinical study.

2.

Methods

AllergoEye was implemented as a two component system. The first component is based on an Android smartphone camera for screening and imaging the patient’s eye and the second one is PC based for image analysis and quantification. For the validation of AllergoEye an open-label, prospective, monocentric study was carried out on 41 patients. Standardized CPT was performed with sequential titration of grass allergens in 4 dilutions with the reaction evaluated by subjective/qualitative symptom scores and by quantitative AllergoEye scores.

3.

Results

AllergoEye demonstrated high sensitivity (98%) and specificity (90%) as compared with human-estimated allergic reaction. Tuning cut-off thresholds allowed to increase the specificity of AllergoEye to 97%, where the correlation between detected sensitivity to allergen and sIgE CAP-class becomes obvious. Strikingly, such correlation was not found with sensitivity to allergen detected by subjective and qualitative symptom scores.

4.

Conclusion

The clinical validation demonstrated that AllergoEye is a sensitive and efficient instrument for objective measurement of allergic reactions in CPT for clinical studies as well as for routine therapy control.
Study Protocol for a Phase III Randomised Controlled Trial of Sailuotong (SLT) for Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease with Cerebrovascular Disease
Authors: Karamacoska Diana , Chan Daniel K.Y. , Leung Isabella , Liu Jian-xun , Brodaty Henry , Fahey Paul P , Bensoussan Alan , Chang Dennis H.
Published: March 2022

Background

Vascular dementia (VaD) accounts for 15-20% of all dementia cases. It is a syndrome of acquired cognitive impairment with a complex pathophysiological basis. A novel herbal formulation (Sailuotong; SLT) consisting of Panax ginseng, Ginkgo biloba and Crocus sativus extracts was developed to treat VaD. Preclinical animal studies found significant improvements in memory and in pathogenic biochemical parameters. Appropriate safety of SLT was shown in acute and chronic toxicity studies, and early clinical trials of SLT demonstrated enhancements in cognition in VaD patients. A fully powered study with a long intervention period is needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of this novel intervention.

Methods

A rigorous phase III clinical trial was developed with the aim of recruiting 238 patients diagnosed with mild to moderate probable VaD, or VaD mixed with Alzheimer’s disease (where cerebrovascular disease is the clinical dominant contributor to dementia, abbreviated as CVD+AD). Using a permuted block strategy, participants will be randomly allocated to receive SLT (120 mg bd) or placebo capsules for an intervention period of 52 weeks and will be followed-up for an additional 13 weeks. The primary outcome measures are the Vascular Dementia Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale and Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living scale. Secondary outcome measures include the Clinician’s Interview Based Impression of Change-Plus, CLOX, EXIT-25, Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Clinician rating scale, and Dementia Quality of Life questionnaire. Safety is assessed through adverse event reports and liver, renal, and coagulation studies.

Discussion

Primary and secondary outcome measures will be compared between treatment and placebo groups, using intention to treat and per protocol analyses. We hypothesise that a 52-week treatment of SLT will be clinically effective and well tolerated in participants with VaD or AD+CVD. This project will provide vital efficacy and safety data for this novel treatment approach to VaD.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), ACTRN 12616000057482. Registered on 20 January 2016. https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=369471&isReview=true
Antiviral roles of interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-1, 3 and 7 against human coronavirus infection
Authors: Xu Danyang , Sampson Duncan Joseph K. , Licursi Maria , Gohda Jin , Kawaguchi Yasushi , Hirasawa Kensuke
Published: March 2022

Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) are key elements of antiviral innate responses that regulate transcription of interferons (IFNs) and IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). As many human coronaviruses are known to be sensitive to IFN, antiviral roles of IRFs are yet to be fully understood. TypeI or II IFN treatment protected MRC5 cells from infection of human coronavirus 229E, but not human coronavirus OC43. Infection of 229E or OC43 efficiently upregulated ISGs, indicating that antiviral transcription is not suppressed during their infection. Antiviral IRFs, IRF1, IRF3 and IRF7, were activated in cells infected with 229E, OC43 or severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). RNAi knockdown and overexpression of the IRFs demonstrated that IRF1 and IRF3 have antiviral property against OC43 while only IRF3 and IRF7 are effective to restrict 229E infection. Our study demonstrates that IRF3 plays critical roles against infection of human coronavirus 229E and OC43, which may be an anti-human coronavirus therapeutic target.
Transcriptional and translational profiling in yeast reveals the use of diverse genome decoding mechanisms to generate functionally distinct proteoforms
Authors: Fenton Darren A , Świrski Michał , O’Connor Patrick B F , Kiniry Stephen J , Michel Audrey M , Kufel Joanna , Baranov Pavel V , Morrissey John P
Published: March 2022

The coding potential of the eukaryotic genome can be greatly expanded by the regulated use of mechanisms that generate more than one protein product from a gene. We combined techniques for mapping 5’ and 3’ ends of RNA transcripts with ribosome profiling to study the organisation of protein coding gene expression in the yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus. We uncovered over 1000 cases of novel proteoforms due to use of alternative transcription or translation start sites, identified 800 translated upstream open reading frames, observed surprising translation of antisense RNAs, and discovered a novel case of programmed ribosomal frameshifting. In some cases, features are conserved across yeast species, whereas others are species-specific. This offers new possibilities to explore the evolution of genomes and gene regulation in budding yeasts. Our analysis also enabled us to improve the genome annotation of K. marxianus by adding or correcting annotations of over 300 protein coding genes. The processed data has been made available on the GWIPS-viz and Trips-Viz browsers, thus providing an accurate data-driven annotation of transcripts and their protein coding regions along with quantitative information on their transcription and translation.
Multicellular Reservoir Computing
Authors: Nikolić Vladimir , Echlin Moriah , Aguilar Boris , Shmulevich Ilya
Published: March 2022

Abstract

The capacity of cells to process information is currently used to design cell-based tools for ecological, industrial, and biomedical applications such as detecting dangerous chemicals or for bioremediation. In most applications, individual cells are used as the information processing unit. However, single cell engineering is limited by the necessary molecular complexity and the accompanying metabolic burden of synthetic circuits. To overcome these limitations, synthetic biologists have begun engineering multicellular systems that combine cells with designed subfunctions. To further advance information processing in synthetic multicellular systems, we introduce the application of reservoir computing. Reservoir computers (RCs) approximate a temporal signal processing task via a fixed-rule dynamic network (the reservoir) with a regression-based readout. Importantly, RCs eliminate the need of network rewiring, as different tasks can be approximated with the same reservoir. Previous work has already demonstrated the capacity of single cells, as well as populations of neurons, to act as reservoirs. In this work, we extend reservoir computing in multicellular populations with the widespread mechanism of diffusion-based cell-cell signaling. As a proof-of-concept, we simulated a reservoir made of a 3D community of cells communicating via diffusible molecules and used it to approximate two benchmark signal processing tasks, computing median and parity functions from binary input signals. We demonstrate that a diffusion-based multicellular reservoir is a feasible synthetic framework for performing complex temporal computing tasks that provides a computational advantage over single cell reservoirs. We also identified a number of biological properties that can affect the computational performance of these processing systems.
Leveraging the local genetic structure for trans-ancestry association mapping
Authors: Xiao Jiashun , Cai Mingxuan , Yu Xinyi , Hu Xianghong , Wan Xiang , Chen Gang , Yang Can
Published: March 2022

Over the past two decades, genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have successfully advanced our understanding of genetic basis of complex traits. Despite the fruitful discovery of GWASs, most GWAS samples are collected from European populations, and these GWASs are often criticized for their lack of ancestry diversity. Trans-ancestry association mapping (TRAM) offers an exciting opportunity to fill the gap of disparities in genetic studies between non-Europeans and Europeans. Here we propose a statistical method, LOG-TRAM, to leverage the local genetic architecture for TRAM. By using biobank-scale datasets, we showed that LOG-TRAM can greatly improve the statistical power of identifying risk variants in under-represented populations while producing well-calibrated p-values. We applied LOG-TRAM to the GWAS summary statistics of 29 complex traits/diseases from Biobank Japan (BBJ) and UK Biobank (UKBB), and achieved substantial gains in power (the effective sample sizes increased by 49% in average compared to the BBJ GWASs) and effective correction of confounding biases compared to existing methods. Finally, we demonstrated that LOG-TRAM can be successfully applied to identify ancestry-specific loci and the LOG-TRAM output can be further used for construction of more accurate polygenic risk scores (PRSs) in under-represented populations.
T cells induce interferon-responsive oligodendrocytes during white matter aging
Authors: Kaya Tuğberk , Mattugini Nicola , Liu Lu , Ji Hao , Besson-Girard Simon , Kaiji Seiji , Liesz Arthur , Gokce Ozgun , Simons Mikael
Published: March 2022

A hallmark of nervous system aging is a decline of white matter volume and function, but the underlying mechanisms leading to white matter pathology are unknown. Here, we found age-related alterations of oligodendrocytes with a reduction of total oligodendrocyte density in the aging murine white matter. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we identify interferon-responsive oligodendrocytes, which localize in proximity of CD8+ T cells in the aging white matter. Absence of functional lymphocytes decreased oligodendrocyte reactivity and rescued oligodendrocyte loss, while T-cell checkpoint inhibition worsened the aging affect. In summary, we provide evidence that T cells induced interferon-responsive oligodendrocytes are important modifiers of white matter aging.
Telomere to telomere sequence of modelAspergillus fumigatusgenomes
Authors: Bowyer Paul , Currin Andrew , Delneri Daniela , Fraczek Marcin G.
Published: March 2022

The pathogenic fungusAspergillus fumigatusis a major etiological agent of fungal invasive and chronic diseases affecting tens of millions of individuals worldwide. A high-quality reference genome is a fundamental resource to study its biology, pathogenicity and virulence as well as to discover better and more effective treatments against diseases caused by this fungus. Here, we used PacBio Single Molecule Real-Time (SMRT) and Oxford Nanopore sequencing forde novogenome assembly of two laboratory reference strains ofA. fumigatus,CEA10 and A1160. We generated full length chromosome assemblies and a comprehensive telomere to telomere coverage for these two strains including ribosomal repeats and the sequences of centromeres, which we discovered to be composed of long transposon elements.
A Bayesian approach to incorporate structural data into the mapping of genotype to antigenic phenotype of influenza A(H3N2) viruses
Authors: Harvey William T. , Davies Vinny , Daniels Rodney S. , Whittaker Lynne , Gregory Victoria , Hay Alan J. , Husmeier Dirk , McCauley John W. , Reeve Richard
Published: March 2022

Surface antigens of pathogens are commonly targeted by vaccine-elicited antibodies but antigenic variability, notably in RNA viruses such as influenza, HIV and SARS-CoV-2, pose challenges for control by vaccination. For example, influenza A(H3N2) entered the human population in 1968 causing a pandemic and has since been monitored, along with other seasonal influenza viruses, for the emergence of antigenic drift variants through intensive global surveillance and laboratory characterisation. Statistical models of the relationship between genetic differences among viruses and their antigenic similarity provide useful information to inform vaccine development though accurate identification of causative mutations is complicated by highly correlated genetic signals that arise due to the evolutionary process. Here, using a sparse hierarchical Bayesian analogue of an experimentally validated model for integrating genetic and antigenic data, we identify the genetic changes in influenza A(H3N2) virus that underpin antigenic drift. We show that incorporating protein structural data into variable selection helps resolve ambiguities arising due to correlated signals, with the proportion of variables representing haemagglutinin positions decisively included, or excluded, increased from 59.8% to 72.4%. The accuracy of variable selection judged by proximity to experimentally determined antigenic sites was improved simultaneously. Structure-guided variable selection thus improves confidence in the identification of genetic explanations of antigenic variation and we also show that prioritising the identification of causative mutations is not detrimental to the predictive capability of the analysis. Indeed, incorporating structural information into variable selection resulted in a model that could more accurately predict antigenic assay titres for phenotypically-uncharactrised virus from genetic sequence. Combined, these analyses have the potential to inform choices of reference viruses, the targeting of laboratory assays, and predictions of the evolutionary success of different genotypes, and can therefore be used to inform vaccine selection processes.
Structure of BrxA from Staphylococcus aureus, a bacilliredoxin involved in redox homeostasis in Firmicutes
Authors: McHugh Colin S. , Cook Paul D.
Published: March 2022

Bacilliredoxins are small proteins that are involved in redox homeostasis in bacillithiol-producing bacteria. They reduce mixed bacillithiol disulfides on protected proteins through a disulfide-exchange reaction, restoring the thiol group on the target protein. Bacilliredoxins contain an unusual conserved CGC motif, and their exact catalytic mechanism remains unclear. Here, a 1.6 Å resolution X-ray crystallographic structure of the bacilliredoxin BrxA (YphP) from Staphylococcus aureus is presented. The structure contains bacillithiol in a mixed disulfide with Cys54, as well as a disulfide linkage at Cys56, which may play a role in dimer stabilization. The structure presented here will provide insight into the function of BrxA and other bacilliredoxins.
Organizational silofication: implications in grouping experts for organizational performance
Authors: Silberman Dave , Carpenter Rob E. , Cabrera Elena , Kernaleguen Jasmine
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This paper presents a viewpoint that considers the construction of ‘expertise’ as an impediment to successfully using cross-functional expertise in the organization. The construction of expertise forms a bounded perspective that creates hidden impediments to success that culminate in organizational underachievement.

Design/methodology/approach

Experiential knowledge of the authors that incorporated 20 years of organizational management experience and extensive practice of hiring experts to progress organizational learning, knowledge, and development is the primary basis of this work.

Findings

A common misperception of ‘expertise’ relates to a limiting perspective on what expertise is? Organizations segregate expertise (silo) as a way of increasing functionality and division of labor in an organizational structure. However, organizational underachievement is not due to functional arrangement in the organization’s structure (which is a commonly held belief) rather a byproduct of a bounded perspective necessary to construct expertise.

Practical implications

Organizations who understand that the bounded perspective of expertise is the source constraining use of their acquired expertise gain insight to an actionable opportunity to rectify cross-functional restraints. Core elements are offered to minimize the impact of organizational silofication.

Originality/value

This paper is unique in that it introduces a bounded perspective as the source impeding the use of workplace expertise rather than functional placement.
A perspective on collaborative partnerships to expand campus buy-in for digital collections
Authors: Latham Bethany
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore, from the perspective of a medium-sized academic library, how libraries can pursue and use collaboration with other units on campus to increase support and buy-in for digital collections.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is approached from the perspective of a medium-sized academic library located in Alabama, USA. This study examines ways to foster collaboration with diverse campus units, the challenges that can be encountered and ways to overcome these barriers to collaboration. Examples of the potential and realized benefits are also enumerated.

Findings

This paper demonstrates that, while there are challenges that must be overcome, regular and sustained collaboration with nonlibrary campus units can result in the creation of unique digital collections that such units are not capable of pursuing without library partnership. These partnerships increase visibility for the library and its services, as well as buy-in and support for digital collections from other campus units and, importantly, university administration.

Practical implications

Academic libraries, especially those at small- to medium-sized institutions, face continual budget restrictions and calls to justify the resources expended. This impacts all aspects of library services, but especially the creation of digital collections, which are cost- and labor-intensive. By offering examples of collaboration, libraries can explore ways to partner that will foster buy-in and support at their own institutions.

Originality/value

This paper provides examples and details considerations that can make the process of collaboration simpler and more effective for other academic libraries to pursue.
Mobility and sustainable transportation in higher education: evidence from Monterrey Metropolitan Area in Mexico
Authors: Moreno Jorge O. , Caamal-Olvera Cinthya G. , Luna Edgar M.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the demand for mobility in higher education to understand the critical elements of students' mobility and the potential impact of accessing sustainable alternatives. The demand for different means of transportation accounts for socioeconomic variables such as household income and size, gender, age, among other travel factors such as distance, time, speed and direct cost.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses a unique data set encompassing a representative sample of households across gender and municipalities in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area in Mexico. This paper uses the value of transportation time savings approach to estimate the derived demand for mobility in higher education across different means. The empirical strategy uses a linear utility framework in a multinomial non-ordered logit model to analyze the conditional selection of transportation as a function of sociodemographics, direct monetary costs and travel determinants such as travel time, distance and speed.

Findings

Men students are more likely to use an unsustained transportation mode such as a car or cab than women. Income is a crucial determinant for transportation demand. There is a negative relationship between household income and walking or riding the bus but positive with driving a car. An increase in the time of the trip decreases the probability of walking while increasing the likelihood of using a car or riding the bus to school. Students who feel safe while riding a bus are more likely to use the bus or walk as transportation than using a car. Finally, having access to better quality sidewalks significantly incentive walking over other transportation options.

Practical implications

Results show that individuals would almost always choose private vehicles because of the personal comforts and time savings.

Social implications

Understanding the demand for higher education and access to sustainable transportation might provide new insights into campus planning and development. Access to public transportation options can reduce the travel costs for students with lower incomes and enlarge options for students who have to commute longer distances by car. Sustainable transportation access plays a role in promoting equality and economic development.

Originality/value

This study’s results bring new light on how transportation becomes an essential component of the opportunity cost of college education and could define its role in promoting equality or increasing inequality. This study’s finding is of particular interest for cities where housing location seems to be independent of access to school, work or other amenities.
Credit-to-GDP ratios – non-linear trends and persistence: evidence from 44 OECD economies
Authors: Cuestas Juan Carlos , Gil-Alana Luis A. , Malmierca María
Published: March 2022

Purpose

In particular, in this article, the authors investigate the degree of persistence in the credit-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio in 44 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) economies in the context of nonlinear deterministic trends.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use Chebyshev's polynomials in time, which allow us to model changes in the data in a smoother way than by structural breaks.

Findings

This study’s results indicate that approximately one-quarter of the series display non-linear structures, and only Argentina displays a mean reverting pattern.

Research limitations/implications

Policy implications of the results obtained are discussed at the end of the manuscript.

Originality/value

The authors use an approach developed that allows for non-linear trends based on Chebyshev polynomials in time, with the residuals being fractionally integrated or integrated of order d, where d can be any real value.
Applying enquiry and problem based learning to mission-oriented innovation policy: from policy to pedagogy to teaching and learning practice
Authors: Randles Sally , Dewick Paul , Hannan Eleanor , Nicholson Dawn Theresa , Rietbergen Martijn , Taylor Christopher , Vargas Valeria Ruiz , Wadham Helen , Withycombe Keeler Lauren
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aims to present theory, practice and original research findings to support the proposition that broad enquiry and problem-based learning (EPBL) approaches provide an appropriate pedagogical lens for sustainability educators to develop the knowledge and skills needed to work effectively within mission-oriented innovation policy (MIP) environments.

Design/methodology/approach

The research study comprised four elements, each of which used different research methods. The first element involved a literature review mapping the synergies between MIP and EPBL; the second element piloted the use of EPBL for undergraduate modules related to sustainability challenges; the third element involved external stakeholders in the co-creation of a postgraduate programme that brought together innovation and sustainability, with EPBL fundamental to the design and development; the fourth element curated and comparatively analysed international cases of EPBL in the context of MIP, and sustainability challenges in particular, highlighting the versatility of EPBL and the importance of creativity in EPBL design and implementation.

Findings

The systematic literature review reveals synergies between the key features of EPBL and defining characteristics of MIP, indicating the relevance of applying EPBL to support MIP. Two in situ pilots generated 13 recommendations on the benefits and operational challenges of applying EPBL. These recommendations informed the design and development of a postgraduate programme, involving a transdisciplinary consultation process with key industrial and societal stakeholders. Comparative analysis of four international case studies describing EPBL applied in practice in different international settings show there is no “one size fits all”. Instead, the application of EPBL to different sustainability challenges and for different learner groups demonstrates the versatility of the pedagogical approach and the creativity of the sustainability educators.

Originality/value

A discourse around the appropriate pedagogical methods and teaching/learning practice to equip the current and future workforce with the knowledge and skills to respond to MIP and global sustainability challenges is nascent but emerging. This paper makes a scientific and practical contribution to the discourse. The authors show how EPBL can underpin the design of programmes to provide learners with the knowledge and skills to support organisations working effectively within an MIP context, especially addressing sustainability challenges. The authors provide recommendations for educators seeking to embed EPBL within their curriculum and call for external stakeholders to proactively engage with educators to co-create programmes with context-specific outcomes.
What drives Muslims to boycott French brands? The moderating role of brand judgement and counterargument
Authors: Salma Shofiya Yusri , Aji Hendy Mustiko
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate some factors that might drive Muslims in Indonesia to get involved in a French brands boycott movement by examining the moderating role of brand judgment and counterargument.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey has been conducted to 1,063 respondents from all over Indonesia. The respondents are selected using the purposive sampling technique. The model is assessed using covariance-based structural equation modeling, which includes the assessment of measurement and structural model. An interaction moderation technique is applied to examine the effect of moderators on the structural model.

Findings

This study shows that the French brand boycott is strongly affected by consumer animosity, perceived efficacy and subjective norms. Moreover, this study also found that the effect of animosity on boycott intention is dampened by brand judgment and counterargument.

Practical implications

First, multinational companies are advised to be careful in creating a campaign. They should avoid sensitive words or the use of specific figures or places highly respected by Muslims. A sensitive campaign might spread hatred, and it is directly connected with the boycott movement based on history. Second, it is pivotal for multinational companies to focus more on product or brand values instead of controversial issues. Finally, multinational companies are also advised to strengthen brand love. When brand love is strong, it is difficult for them to stop patronizing the brand or even switch to other brands.

Originality/value

Prior studies’ findings are still inconclusive in explaining some factors that lead to the success of a boycott call-to-action. Therefore, this study contributes to boycott literature by revealing the importance of brand judgment and counterargument to moderate consumer animosity and boycott intention link.
Scenarios for New Zealand tourism: a COVID-19 response
Authors: Yeoman Ian Seymour , Postma Albert , Hartman Stefan
Published: March 2022

Purpose

A case study about the creation of four scenarios that were used to make sense of the fast-moving pace of COVID-19 and the consequences for New Zealand tourism.

Design/methodology/approach

Adapting global visitor economy scenarios, a set of New Zealand tourism scenarios were constructed using a “back of house Shell” method and were supplemented with an expert panel to test the reliability and validity of the scenarios.

Findings

The four scenarios constructed were based on two critical uncertainties, namely economic recession and the moral dilemma of the consumer. Four scenarios were portrayed using film and TV titles to help participants visualise the scenarios. Crazy Rich Asians: Recovery represented many of the attributes of tourism in New Zealand prior to COVID-19 i.e. a focus on high value tourists from Asia. Contagion: Survival of the Fittest represented the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic. This Side of Paradise: ReThinking Tourism focused on rebuilding tourism based upon the principles of sustainability. The Colony: Gated Communities represented fortress destinations trying to keep COVID-19 at bay. Each scenario portrayed several features including a unique narrative, tourism, the tourist, vision, strategy and risks. The paper highlighted the trade-offs and conflicts between the scenarios as COVID-19 unfolded in different directions.

Originality/value

In a fluid situation, the paper reminds readers of the value of scenarios as framing devices to understand the fast-moving pace of COVID-19 when New Zealand was in unchartered waters. Thus, this study highlights how a scenario-planning process builds resilience and foresight to help stakeholders and actors make sense of crisis situations.
An integrative learning approach: combining improvement methods and ambidexterity
Authors: Avby Gunilla
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to explore whether the principles behind improvement methods and the underlying learning orientations of ambidexterity have the potential to support the managing of ideas for implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

By combining improvement methods and ambidexterity, this study presents a pragmatic framework for innovative working with a scientific underpinning linked to organizational learning.

Findings

The descriptive stages in the plan-do-check-act method for improvement are instructive in their focus on progress and helpful in untangling the more explanatory nature of ambidexterity to frame innovative working.

Research limitations/implications

Although the framework’s usefulness for innovative working is subject to future studies, the implementation, validation and results of the framework in pilot research may contribute to the body of knowledge.

Practical implications

The proposed framework can be used in teaching the key role of strategic leadership to explore and exploit over time. The framework has the potential to guide innovative working in practice by making better use of the employees’ tacit knowledge in such a way that they are empowered to explore new ways of defining problems and searching for solutions to improve organizational performance. The results of the implementation will impact the employees’ quality of life.

Originality/value

This study advances the current understanding of how the seemingly contradictory activities of exploration and exploitation can model an integrative learning approach.
Patient and physician perspectives on alopecia areata: A real‐world assessment of severity and burden in Japan
Authors: Edson‐Heredia Emily , Aranishi Toshihiko , Isaka Yoshitaka , Anderson Peter , Marwaha Simran , Piercy James
Published: March 2022

The criteria used by physicians to assess alopecia areata severity and its associated burden from the patients' point of view are not well understood. We aimed to understand physician‐assessed determinants of disease severity, factors associated with severity, patient–physician concordance, and patient‐reported burden by severity. Data were drawn from the Adelphi Alopecia Areata Disease Specific Programme™, a point‐in‐time survey of dermatologists and their alopecia areata patients in real‐world practice in Japan conducted between January and March 2021. Patients were categorized into three groups by current disease severity according to physician subjective assessment: mild, moderate, or severe. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes were described within and compared between the three patient groups. Our study of 97 dermatologists and 587 patients found overall scalp hair loss was the most important factor considered by physicians in determining disease severity. More severe disease was associated with loss of eyebrow hair, eyelashes, and hair loss from other body areas. Agreement on disease severity between physicians and patients was moderate. From the patient perspective, greater severity of alopecia areata was associated with greater anxiety and depression, with lower work productivity and worse quality of life. Our study provides insights into which factors physicians use to determine alopecia areata severity, how physician and patient severity assessments compare, and the burden of alopecia areata on patients.