bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Severity of COVID-19 at elevated exposure to perfluorinated alkylates
Authors: Grandjean P , Timmermann C.A.G. , Kruse M. , Nielsen F. , Vinholt P. Just , Boding L. , Heilmann C. , Mølbak K.
Published: October 2020

Background

The course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) seems to be aggravated by air pollution, and some industrial chemicals, such as the perfluorinated alkylate substances (PFASs), are immunotoxic and may contribute as well.

Methods

From Danish biobanks, we obtained plasma samples from 323 subjects aged 30-70 years with known SARS-CoV-2 infection. The PFAS concentrations measured at the background exposures included five PFASs known to be immunotoxic. Register data was obtained to classify disease status, other health information, and demographic variables. We used ordinal and ordered logistic regression analyses to determine associations between PFAS concentrations and disease outcome.

Results

Plasma-PFAS concentrations were higher in males, in subjects with Western European background, and tended to increase with age, but were not associated with the presence of chronic disease. Of the study population, 108 (33%) had not been hospitalized, and of those hospitalized, 53 (16%) had been in intensive care or were deceased. Among the five PFASs considered, perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) showed an odds ratio (OR) of 2.19 (95% confidence interval, CI, 1.39-3.46) for increasing severities of the disease, although the OR decreased to 1.77 (95% CI, 1.09, 2.87) after adjustment for age, sex, sampling site and interval between blood sampling and diagnosis.

Conclusions

Measures of individual exposures to immunotoxic PFASs included PFBA that accumulates in the lungs. Elevated plasma-PFBA concentrations were associated with an increased risk of more severe course of CIVID-19. Given the low background exposure levels in this study, the role of PFAS exposure in COVID-19 needs to be ascertained in populations with elevated exposures.
Drinking and smoking polygenic risk is associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes of children and young adults independently of psychopathology and substance use
Authors: De Angelis Flavio , Wendt Frank R. , Pathak Gita A. , Tylee Daniel S. , Goswami Aranyak , Gelernter Joel , Polimanti Renato
Published: October 2020

Background

Alcohol drinking and tobacco smoking are hazardous behaviors associated with a wide range of adverse health outcomes, including many mental and physical disorders.

Methods

To investigate the pleiotropic mechanisms linking these traits to cognitive and behavioral development, we explored the association of polygenic risk scores (PRS) related to drinks per week (DPW), age of smoking initiation (ASI), smoking initiation (SI), cigarettes per day (CPD), and smoking cessation (SC) with 433 neurodevelopmental features in 4,498 children and young adults of European ancestry from the Philadelphia neurodevelopmental cohort (PNC). This sample was not enriched for specific psychiatric traits, but 21% of the PNC participants endorsed substance use.

Results

After applying a false discovery rate multiple testing correction accounting for the number of PRS and traits tested, we identified 36 associations related to psychotic symptoms, emotion and age recognition social competencies, verbal reasoning, anxiety-related traits, parents’ education, and substance use. These associations were independent of the genetic correlations among the alcohol-drinking and tobacco-smoking traits and those with cognitive performance, educational attainment, risk-taking behaviors, and psychopathology. The removal of participants endorsing substance use did not affect the associations of each PRS with neurodevelopmental traits identified as significant in the discovery analyses. Gene-ontology enrichment analyses identified several neurobiological processes underlying mechanisms of the PRS associations we report. These were mainly related to brain connectivity.

Conclusions

We provide novel insights into the genetic overlap of smoking and drinking behaviors with neurodevelopment in children and young adults, highlighting their independence from psychopathology and other substance use.
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Global Prediction Using Hybrid Artificial Intelligence Method of ANN Trained with Grey Wolf Optimizer
Authors: Ardabili Sina , Mosavi Amir , Band Shahab S. , Varkonyi-Koczy Annamaria R.
Published: October 2020

An accurate outbreak prediction of COVID-19 can successfully help to get insight into the spread and consequences of infectious diseases. Recently, machine learning (ML) based prediction models have been successfully employed for the prediction of the disease outbreak. The present study aimed to engage an artificial neural network-integrated by grey wolf optimizer for COVID-19 outbreak predictions by employing the Global dataset. Training and testing processes have been performed by time-series data related to January 22 to September 15, 2020 and validation has been performed by time-series data related to September 16 to October 15, 2020. Results have been evaluated by employing mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and correlation coefficient (r) values. ANN-GWO provided a MAPE of 6.23, 13.15 and 11.4% for training, testing and validating phases, respectively. According to the results, the developed model could successfully cope with the prediction task.
Is increased mortality by multiple exposures to COVID-19 an overseen factor when aiming for herd immunity?
Authors: Helle Kristina B. , Sadiku Arlinda , Zelleke Girma M. , Bouba Aliou , Ibrahim Toheeb B. , Obama H. Christian Tsoungui , Appiah Vincent , Ngwa Gideon A. , Teboh-Ewungkem Miranda I. , Schneider Kristan A.
Published: October 2020

Background

Governments across the globe responded with different strategies to the COVID-19 pandemic. While some countries adapted draconic measures, which have been perceived controversial others pursued a strategy aiming for herd immunity. The latter is even more controversial and has been called unethical by the WHO Director-General. Inevitably, without proper control measure, viral diversity increases and multiple infectious exposures become common, when the pandemic reaches its maximum. This harbors not only a potential threat overseen by simplified theoretical arguments in support of herd immunity, but also deserves attention when assessing response measures to increasing numbers of infection.

Methods and findings

We extend the simulation model underlying the pandemic preparedness web interface CovidSim 1.1 (http://covidsim.eu/) to study the hypothetical effect of increased morbidity and mortality due to ‘multi infections’, either acquired at by successive infective contacts during the course of one infection or by a single infective contact with a multi-infected individual.

The simulations are adjusted to reflect roughly the situation in the East Coast of the USA. We assume a phase of general contact reduction (‘lockdown’) at the beginning of the epidemic and additional case-isolation measures. We study the hypothetical effects of varying enhancements in morbidity and mortality, different likelihoods of multi-infected individuals to spread multi infections and different susceptibility to multi infectious in different disease phases. It is demonstrated that multi infections lead to a slight reduction in the number of infections, as these are more likely to get isolated due to their higher morbidity. However, the latter substantially increases the number of deaths. Furthermore, simulations indicate that a potential second lockdown can substantially decrease the epidemic peak, the number of multi-infections and deaths.

Conclusions

Enhanced morbidity and mortality due to multiple disease exposure is a potential threat in the COVID-19 pandemic that deserves more attention. Particularly it underlines another facet questioning disease management strategies aiming for herd immunity.
Dysregulation of Pulmonary Responses in Severe COVID-19
Authors: Wu Dandan , Yang Xuexian O.
Published: October 2020

Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) predominantly have a respiratory tract infection with various symptoms and high mortality is associated with respiratory failure second to severe disease. The risk factors leading to severe disease remain unclear. Here, we reanalyzed a published single-cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-Seq) dataset and found that bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with severe disease compared to those with mild disease contained decreased TH17 type cells, decreased IFNA1 expressing cells with lower expression of toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and TLR8, increased IgA expressing B cells, and increased hyperactive epithelial cells (and/or macrophages) expressing matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), Hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2), and Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), which may together contribute to the pulmonary pathology in severe COVID-19. We propose IFN-I (and TLR7/TLR8) and PAI-1 as potential biomarkers to predict the susceptibility to severe COVID19.
Statistical learning occurs during practice while high-order rule learning during rest period
Authors: Quentin Romain , Fanuel Lison , Kiss Mariann , Vernet Marine , Vékony Teodóra , Janacsek Karolina , Cohen Leonardo , Nemeth Dezso
Published: October 2020

Knowing when the brain learns is crucial for both the comprehension of memory formation and consolidation, and for developing new training and neurorehabilitation strategies in healthy and patient populations. Recently, a rapid form of offline learning developing during short rest periods has been shown to account for most of procedural learning, leading to the hypothesis that the brain mainly learns during rest between practice periods. Nonetheless, procedural learning has several subcomponents not disentangled in previous studies investigating learning dynamics, such as acquiring the statistical regularities of the task, or else the high-order rules that regulate its organization. Here, we analyzed 506 behavioral sessions of implicit visuomotor deterministic and probabilistic sequence learning tasks, allowing the distinction between general skill learning, statistical learning and high-order rule learning. Our results show that the temporal dynamics of apparently simultaneous learning processes differ. While general skill and high-order rule learning are acquired offline, statistical learning is evidenced online. These findings open new avenues on the short-scale temporal dynamics of learning and memory consolidation and reveal a fundamental distinction between statistical and high-order rule learning, the former benefiting from online evidence accumulation and the latter requiring short rest periods for rapid consolidation.
TCR affinity controls the dynamics but not the functional specification of the Th1 response to mycobacteria
Authors: Bhattacharyya Nayan D , Counoupas Claudio , Daniel Lina , Zhang Guoliang , Cook Stuart J , Cootes Taylor A , Stifter Sebastian A , Bowen David G , Triccas James A , Bertolino Patrick , Britton Warwick J , Feng Carl G
Published: October 2020

The quality of T cell responses depends on the lymphocytes’ ability to undergo clonal expansion, acquire effector functions and traffic to the site of infection. Although TCR signal strength is thought to dominantly shape the T cell response, by using TCR transgenic CD4+T cells with different pMHC binding affinity, we reveal that TCR affinity does not control Th1 effector function acquisition nor the functional output of individual effectors following mycobacterial infection. Rather, TCR affinity calibrates the rate of cell division to synchronize the distinct processes of T cell proliferation, differentiation and trafficking. By timing cell division-dependent IL-12R expression, TCR affinity controls when T cells become receptive to Th1-imprinting IL-12 signals, determining the emergence and magnitude of the Th1 effector pool. These findings reveal a distinct yet cooperative role for IL-12 and TCR signalling in Th1 differentiation and suggests that the temporal activation of clones with different TCR affinity is a major strategy to coordinate immune surveillance against persistent pathogens.
Pallidal deep brain stimulation alters cortico-striatal synaptic communication in dystonic hamsters
Authors: Heerdegen Marco , Zwar Monique , Franz Denise , Neubert Valentin , Plocksties Franz , Niemann Christoph , Timmermann Dirk , Bahls Christian , van Rienen Ursula , Paap Maria , Perl Stefanie , Lüttig Annika , Richter Angelika , Köhling Rüdiger
Published: October 2020

Background

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the globus pallidus internus (GPi) is considered to be the most relevant therapeutic option for patients with severe dystonias, which are thought to arise from a disturbance in striatal control of the GPi, possibly resulting in thalamic disinhibition. The mechanisms of GPi-DBS are far from understood. Hypotheses range from an overall silencing of target nuclei (due to e.g. depolarisation block), via differential alterations in thalamic firing, to disruption of oscillatory activity in the β-range. Although a disturbance of striatal function is thought to play a key role in dystonia, the effects of DBS on cortico-striatal function are unknown.

Objective

We hypothesised that DBS, via axonal backfiring, or indirectly via thalamic and cortical coupling, alters striatal network function. We aimed to test this hypothesis in thedtsz-hamster, an animal model of inherited generalised, paroxysmal dystonia.

Methods

Hamsters (dtsz-dystonic and non-dystonic controls) were bilaterally implanted with stimulation electrodes targeting the entopeduncular nucleus (EPN, equivalent of human GPi). DBS (130 Hz), and sham DBS, were performed in unanaesthetised animals for 3 hours. Synaptic cortico-striatal field potential responses, as well as miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSC) and firing properties of medium spiny striatal neurons were subsequently recorded in brain slice preparations obtained from these animals immediately after EPN-DBS, to gauge synaptic responsiveness of cortico-striatal projections, their inhibitory control, and striatal neuronal excitability.

Results

DBS increased cortico-striatal responses in slices from control, but not dystonic animals. Inhibitory control of these responses, in turn, was differentially affected: DBS increased inhibitory control in dystonic, and decreased it in healthy tissue. A modulation of presynaptic mechanisms is likely involved, as mEPSC frequency was reduced strongly in dystonic, and less prominently in healthy tissues, while cellular properties of medium-spiny neurons remained unchanged.

Conclusion

DBS leads to dampening of cortico-striatal communication with restored inhibitory tone.
Diurnal changes in perineuronal nets and parvalbumin neurons in the rat medial prefrontal cortex
Authors: Harkness John H. , Gonzalez Angela E. , Bushana Priyanka N. , Jorgensen Emily T. , Hegarty Deborah M. , Di Nardo Ariel A. , Prochiantz Alain , Wisor Jonathan P. , Aicher Sue A. , Brown Travis E. , Sorg Barbara A.
Published: October 2020

Perineuronal nets (PNNs) surrounding fast-spiking, parvalbumin (PV) inhibitory interneurons are vital for providing excitatory:inhibitory balance within cortical circuits, and this balance is impaired in disorders such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, and substance use disorders. These disorders are also associated with altered diurnal rhythms, yet few studies have examined the diurnal rhythms of PNNs or PV cells. We measured the intensity and number of PV cells and PNNs labeled withWisteria floribundaagglutinin (WFA) in the rat prelimbic medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) at Zeitgeber times (ZT) ZT0, 6, 12, and 18. We also measured the oxidative stress marker 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG). Relative to ZT0, the intensities of PNN and PV staining were increased in the dark (active) phase compared with the light (inactive) phase. The intensity of 8-oxo-dG was decreased from ZT0 at all time points (ZT6,12,18), in both PV cells and non-PV cells. To examine corresponding changes in inhibitory and excitatory inputs, we measured GAD 65/67 and vGlut1 puncta apposed to PV cells with and without PNNs. Relative to ZT6, there were more excitatory puncta on PV cells surrounded by PNNs at ZT18, but no changes in PV cells devoid of PNNs. No changes in inhibitory puncta were observed. Whole-cell slice recordings in fast-spiking (PV) cells with PNNs showed an increased ratio of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor:N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (AMPA:NMDA) at ZT18vs. ZT6. The number of PV cells and co-labeled PV/PNN cells containing the transcription factor orthodenticle homeobox 2 (OTX2), which maintains PNNs, showed a strong trend toward an increase from ZT6 to ZT18. These diurnal fluctuations in PNNs and PV cells are expected to alter cortical excitatory:inhibitory balance and provide new insights into treatment approaches for diseases impacted by imbalances in sleep and circadian rhythms.
Nascent RNA sequencing identifies a widespread sigma70-dependent pausing regulated by Gre factors in bacteria
Authors: Sun Zhe , Yakhnin Alexander , FitzGerald Peter C. , Mclntosh Carl E. , Kashlev Mikhail
Published: October 2020

Promoter-proximal pausing regulates expression of many eukaryotic genes and serves as checkpoints for assembly of elongation/splicing machinery. Little is known how broadly the pausing is employed in transcriptional regulation in bacteria. We applied NET-seq combined with RNase I footprinting for genome-wide analysis of σ70-dependent transcription pauses inEscherichia coli. ManyE. coligenes appear to contain clusters of strong backtracked pauses at 10-20-bp distance from the transcription start site caused by retention of σ70subunit in RNA polymerase. The pauses in 10-15-bp register of the promoter are dictated by binding of σ70to canonical −10 element, 6-7 nt spacer and “YR+1Y” motif centered at transcription start site all characteristic for strongE. colipromoters. The promoters for the pauses in 16-20-bp register contain an additional −10-like sequence positioned on the same face of the DNA duplex as the original −10 element suggesting that σ70hopping was responsible for these pauses. Ourin vitroanalysis reveals that RNA polymerase backtracking and DNA scrunching are involved in these pauses that are relieved by Gre transcript cleavage factors. The genes coding for transcription factors are enriched in these pauses suggesting that σ70and Gre proteins regulate transcription in response to changing environmental cues.
Sleep spindles coordinate corticostriatal reactivations during the emergence of automaticity
Authors: Lemke S. M. , Ramanathan D. S. , Darevsky D. , Egert D. , Berke J. D. , Ganguly K.
Published: October 2020

Plasticity within the corticostriatal network is known to regulate the balance between behavioral flexibility and automaticity. Repeated training of an action has been shown to bias behavior towards automaticity, suggesting that training may trigger activity-dependent corticostriatal plasticity. However, surprisingly little is known about the natural activity patterns that may drive plasticity or when they occur during long-term training. Here we chronically monitored neural activity from primary motor cortex (M1) and the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) during both training and offline periods, i.e., time away from training including sleep, throughout the development of an automatic reaching action. We first show that blocking striatal NMDA receptors during offline periods prevents the emergence of behavioral consistency, a hallmark of automaticity. We then show that, throughout the development of an automatic reaching action, corticostriatal functional connectivity increases during offline periods. Such increases track the emergence of consistent behavior and predictable cross-area neural dynamics. We then identify sleep spindles during non-REM sleep (NREM) as uniquely poised to mediate corticostriatal plasticity during offline periods. We show that sleep spindles are periods of maximal corticostriatal transmission within offline periods, that sleep spindles in post-training NREM reactivate neurons across areas, and that sleep-spindle modulation in post-training NREM is linked to observable changes in spiking relationships between individual pairs of M1 and DLS neurons. Our results indicate that offline periods, in general, and sleep spindles, specifically, play an important role in regulating behavioral flexibility through corticostriatal network plasticity.
Acoustic stimulation increases implicit adaptation in sensorimotor adaptation
Authors: Leow Li-Ann , Tresilian James R. , Uchida Aya , Koester Dirk , Spingler Tamara , Riek Stephan , Marinovic Welber
Published: October 2020

Sensorimotor adaptation is an important part of our ability to perform novel motor tasks (i.e., learning of motor skills). Efforts to improve adaptation in healthy and clinical patients using non-invasive brain stimulation methods have been hindered by interindividual and intra-individual variability in brain susceptibility to stimulation. Here, we explore unpredictable loud acoustic stimulation as an alternative method of modulating brain excitability to improve sensorimotor adaptation. In two experiments, participants moved a cursor towards targets, and adapted to a 30° rotation of cursor feedback, either with or without unpredictable acoustic stimulation. Acoustic stimulation improved initial adaptation to sensory prediction errors in Study 1, and improved overnight retention of adaptation in Study 2. Unpredictable loud acoustic stimulation might thus be a potent method of modulating sensorimotor adaptation in healthy adults.
Distinct autoinhibitory mechanisms regulate vinculin binding by αT-catenin and αE-catenin
Authors: Heier Jonathon A. , Pokutta Sabine , Dale Ian W. , Kim Sun Kyung , Hinck Andrew P. , Weis William I. , Kwiatkowski Adam V.
Published: October 2020

α-catenin binds directly to β-catenin and connects the cadherin-catenin complex to the actin cytoskeleton. Tension regulates α-catenin conformation: actomyosin-generated force stretches the middle(M)-region to relieve autoinhibition and reveal a binding site for the actin-binding protein vinculin. Here we describe the biochemical properties of αT(testes)-catenin, an α-catenin isoform critical for cardiac function, and how intramolecular interactions regulate vinculin binding autoinhibition. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) showed that αT-catenin binds the β-catenin/N-cadherin complex with a similar low nanomolar affinity to that of αE-catenin. Limited proteolysis revealed that the αT-catenin M-region adopts a more open conformation than αE-catenin. The αT-catenin M-region binds the vinculin N-terminus with low nanomolar affinity, indicating that the isolated αT-catenin M-region is not autoinhibited and thereby distinct from αE-catenin. However, the αT-catenin head (N- and M-regions) binds vinculin 1000-fold more weakly (low micromolar affinity), indicating that the N-terminus regulates M-region binding to vinculin. In cells, αT-catenin recruitment of vinculin to cell-cell contacts requires the actin-binding domain and actomyosin-generated tension, indicating that force regulates vinculin binding. Together, our results indicate that the αT-catenin N-terminus is required to maintain M-region autoinhibition and modulate vinculin binding. We postulate that the unique molecular properties of αT-catenin allow it to function as a scaffold for building specific adhesion complexes.
Non-apoptotic enteroblast-specific role of the initiator caspase Dronc for development and homeostasis of theDrosophilaintestine
Authors: Lindblad Jillian L. , Tare Meghana , Amcheslavsky Alla , Shields Alicia , Bergmann Andreas
Published: October 2020

The initiator caspase Dronc is the only CARD-domain containing caspase inDrosophilaand is essential for apoptosis. Here, we report that homozygousdroncmutant adult animals are short-lived due to the presence of a poorly developed, defective and leaky intestine. Interestingly, this mutant phenotype can be significantly rescued by enteroblast-specific expression ofdronc+indroncmutant animals, suggesting that proper Drone function specifically in enteroblasts, one of four cell types in the intestine, is critical for normal development of the intestine. Furthermore, enteroblast-specific knockdown ofdroncin adult intestines triggers hyperplasia and differentiation defects. These enteroblast-specific functions of Drone do not require the apoptotic pathway and thus occur in a non-apoptotic manner. In summary, we demonstrate that an apoptotic initiator caspase has a very critical non-apoptotic function for normal development and for the control of the cell lineage in the adult midgut and therefore for proper physiology and homeostasis.

Highlights

droncmutants die from a fragile and leaky intestine

dronchas a critical function in enteroblasts of the intestine

dronccontrols proliferation and differentiation in the intestine

droncperforms these functions in an apoptosis-independent (non-apoptotic) manner
Biological insights from the whole genome analysis of human embryonic stem cells
Authors: Merkle Florian T. , Ghosh Sulagna , Genovese Giulio , Handsaker Robert E. , Kashin Seva , Karczewski Konrad , O’Dushlaine Colm , Pato Carlos , Pato Michele , MacArthur Daniel G. , McCarroll Steven A. , Eggan Kevin
Published: October 2020

There has not yet been a systematic analysis of hESC whole genomes at a single nucleotide resolution. We therefore performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) of 143 hESC lines and annotated their single nucleotide and structural genetic variants. We found that while a substantial fraction of hESC lines contained large deleterious structural variants, finer scale structural and single nucleotide variants (SNVs) that are ascertainable only through WGS analyses were present in hESCs genomes and human blood-derived genomes at similar frequencies. However, WGS did identify SNVs associated with cancer or other diseases that will likely alter cellular phenotypes and may compromise the safety of hESC-derived cellular products transplanted into humans. As a resource to enable reproducible hESC research and safer translation, we provide a user-friendly WGS data portal and a data-driven scheme for cell line maintenance and selection.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

IN BRIEF

Merkle and Ghosh et al. describe insights from the whole genome sequences of commonly used human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines. Analyses of these sequences show that while hESC genomes had more large structural variants than humans do from genetic inheritance, hESCs did not have an observable excess of finer-scale variants. However, many hESC lines contained rare loss-of-function variants and combinations of common variants that may profoundly shape their biological phenotypes. Thus, genome sequencing data can be valuable to those selecting cell lines for a given biological or clinical application, and the sequences and analysis reported here should facilitate such choices.

HIGHLIGHTS

One third of hESCs we analysed are siblings, and almost all are of European ancestry

Large structural variants are common in hESCs, but finer-scale variation is similar to that human populations

Many strong-effect loss-of-function mutations and cancer-associated mutations are present in specific hESC lines

We provide user-friendly resources for rational hESC line selection based on genome sequence
Small Bragg-plane slope errors revealed in synthetic diamond crystals
Authors: Pradhan Paresh , Wojcik Michael , Huang Xianrong , Kasman Elina , Assoufid Lahsen , Anton Jayson , Shu Deming , Terentyev Sergey , Blank Vladimir , Kim Kwang-Je , Shvyd'ko Yuri
Published: October 2020

Wavefront-preserving X-ray diamond crystal optics are essential for numerous applications in X-ray science. Perfect crystals with flat Bragg planes are a prerequisite for wavefront preservation in Bragg diffraction. However, this condition is difficult to realize in practice because of inevitable crystal imperfections. Here, X-ray rocking curve imaging is used to study the smallest achievable Bragg-plane slope errors in the best presently available synthetic diamond crystals and how they compare with those of perfect silicon crystals. It is shown that the smallest specific slope errors in the best diamond crystals are about 0.08 (3) µrad mm−2. These errors are only 50% larger than the 0.05 (2) µrad mm−2 specific slope errors measured in perfect silicon crystals. High-temperature annealing at 1450°C of almost flawless diamond crystals reduces the slope errors very close to those of silicon. Further investigations are in progress to establish the wavefront-preservation properties of these crystals.
Countermeasures to Japan's declining birthrate: history, current situation and problems
Authors: Nishimura Takahiro
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Since 1974, Japan's total fertility rate has been constantly below replacement level. The purpose of this paper is to focus on Japan's low fertility issue and countermeasures that were adopted, in order to explore the reasons why the countermeasures were unable to solve the problem?

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyzes both the historical changes and the current situation of Japan's countermeasures. It also focuses on how in Japan marriage behavior and couples' fertility behavior changed during the implementation of the countermeasures from both objective and subjective perspectives. Based on results of the analysis, the paper explores the inherent problems regarding the countermeasures.

Findings

The paper shows that there is no sign that Japan's low fertility could be overcome, and puts forward three problems regarding the countermeasures. The paper suggests paying greater attention to the contradictions in the current policies and to go beyond the field of family policy and population policy to consider the following questions from a more macro perspective: (1) how to make fertility more desirable and meaningful and (2) how to encourage the related social systems to promote people's spontaneity both in marriage and childbearing.

Originality/value

The paper uses the latest data and focuses on analyzing the countermeasures from a more macro perspective rather than discussing specific problems of the countermeasures. Based on both objective data and subjective views and, given the characteristics of Japanese society, the paper explores in depth the problems regarding the countermeasures. By improving empirical knowledge, the paper seeks to contribute more generally to low fertility countries' “fertility revival”.
Private tutoring and the subjective rationalities of parents: the experiences in South Korea and Singapore
Authors: Tan Charlene
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This article proposes a model of subjective rationalities to shed light on the global phenomenon of parental reliance on private tutoring for their children. The model is illustrated using the examples of the rational decision-making process and outcome of parents with regards to enrolling their children in private tutoring in South Korea and Singapore.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a theoretical paper that relies on a critical review of official documents, academic publications and newspaper reports.

Findings

This article proposes an original model to shed light on the global phenomenon of parental reliance on private tutoring for their children. The model highlights the following: the dynamic interactions between parents, education policy and private tutoring; the active role of private tutoring providers; and the socio-culturally embedded and complex nature of educational decisions.

Research limitations/implications

This is a conceptual paper that proposes a theoretical model, so there is no empirical data.

Originality/value

This article fills an existing research gap on the dynamic interactions between the parents, education policy and private tutoring. It offers an original model that illuminates the rational decision-making process and outcome of parents that pertains to private tutoring for their children.
A test of Hofstede's model of culture following his own approach
Authors: Minkov Michael , Kaasa Anneli
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Recent studies exposed serious issues with Hofstede's popular model of culture, especially his uncertainty avoidance (UA) and masculinity-femininity (MAS–FEM) dimensions. However those studies did not focus on work-related issues as in Hofstede’s research.

Design/methodology/approach

We followed Hofstede’s approach to his dimensions more closely than anyone before in a large cross-cultural study. We used data from the nationally representative International Social Survey Program (over 50,000 respondents from 47 countries), measuring work goals and work-related stress in a way similar to Hofstede's.

Findings

UA and MAS–FEM, as measured and described by Hofstede, did not replicate. They lack internal consistency and the items that target them are not associated with Hofstede's UA and MAS–FEM indices. Instead, some of those items follow a very different and sound logic, invalidating Hofstede's UA and MAS–FEM theories. Our study provides additional evidence that UA and MAS–FEM are misleading artifacts of Hofstede's IBM database, with no analogues outside IBM. An improved, recently reported version of individualism-collectivism (IDV-COLL) replicated nearly perfectly, solidifying the validity of that dimension of national culture. A revised version of long-term orientation, called flexibility–monumentalism (FLX–MON) also replicated well.

Research limitations/implications

We discuss lessons for the cross-cultural field, including cross-cultural management, as well as policy-making by national governments, to be drawn from the controversial story of Hofstede's model. We advise a stronger focus on empirical confirmation and replication rather than excessive faith in fascinating, yet unproven theory.

Practical implications

To avoid further confusion, we advise researchers, consultants and managers to reconsider the use of Hofstede's UA and MAS–FEM and focus on the valid dimensions in the revised Minkov-Hofstede model.

Social implications

A number of national governments recently launched large-scale studies of their national cultures, based on Hofstede's model. The goal of those studies was to involve culture in the design of social and economic development policies. Studies of this kind should be founded on empirically sound models or else they can result in the formulation of flawed policies.

Originality/value

This is the first study of large samples from many nations showing that even when Hofstede's method is followed closely by focusing on work-related issues, UA and MAS–FEM do not emerge from the data, and this is not because of data deficiencies but because the logic of UA and MAS–FEM is demonstrably flawed. Our study also demonstrates new methods for the replication of IDV-COLL and FLX–MON, though without claiming that they are superior to existing ones.
ESG impact on performance of US S&P 500-listed firms
Authors: Alareeni Bahaaeddin Ahmed , Hamdan Allam
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate whether there are relationships among corporate disclosure of environmental, social and governance (ESG) and firms’ operational (ROA), financial (ROE) and market performance (Tobin’s Q), and if these relationships are positives or negatives or even neutral.

Design/methodology/approach

The study sample covers US S&P 500-listed companies during the period 2009 to 2018. Panel regression analysis was used to examine the study hypotheses and achieve the study aims.

Findings

The results showed that ESG disclosure positively affects a firms’ performance measures. However, measuring ESG sub-components separately showed that environmental (EVN) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure is negatively associated with ROA and ROE. EVN and CSR disclosure is positively related to Tobin’s Q. Further, corporate governance (CG) disclosure is positively related to ROA and Tobin’s Q, and negatively related to ROE. More importantly, ESG, CSR, EVN and CG tend to be higher with firms that have high assets and high financial leverage. Furthermore, the higher level of ESG, EVN, CSR and CG disclosure, the higher the ROA and ROE.

Originality/value

The study limns a vision of the role of ESG on firm performance. This study tries to determine whether there are relationships among all ESG disclosure and FP, and if they are positive, negative or even neutral.
Investigating employee creativity through employee polychronicity and employee resilience: a glimpse of nurses working in the health-care sector
Authors: Anser Muhammad Khalid , Yousaf Zahid , Sharif Muhammad , Yijun Wang , Majid Abdul , Yasir Muhammad
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between employee polychronicity and employee creativity. This study also explores the mediating role of employee resilience in the relationship between employee polychronicity and employee creativity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was based on a quantitative research design, and a survey instrument was used to collect data from doctors and nurses. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and four-step Baron and Kenney (1986) approaches were used to check the impact of nurses’ polychronicity on creativity through resilience.

Findings

Results proved that employee polychronicity positively influences employee creativity. The finding indicates that employee resilience acts as a mediator in the relationship between employee polychronicity and employee creativity.

Originality/value

The worth of this study rests on the deeper understanding of the employee polychronicity–employee creativity link in the health-care sector. Moreover, by bringing to the fore employee resilience as a mediator of the polychronicity–creativity relationship, this study provided a new vantage point to explore the intricacies concerned with the relationships between polychronicity, resilience and creativity.
Do autonomous and trusting hospital employees generate, promote and implement more ideas? The role of distributed leadership agency
Authors: Jønsson Thomas Faurholt , Unterrainer Christine Maria , Kähler Helena Grøn
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Employees constitute an important source of innovation in organizations. Innovation management strategies often include attempts of stimulating employees' innovative contribution by instilling managerial trust and granting job autonomy. However, the authors suggest and investigate the role of employees' distributed leadership agency (DLA) in hospital employee-driven innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors tested the hypotheses using survey data from 1,536 nonmanagerial employees at a hospital in Denmark. In order to deal with a methodological risk of survey designs, the authors assessed and adjusted the results for common method variance (CMV).

Findings

The authors validated a DLA measurement instrument and found an indirect relationship between job autonomy and trust in management on the one hand, via DLA, and with idea generation, promotion and implementation on the other hand. In addition, the results showed a small direct relationship between job autonomy and the three innovative behaviors. The results showed that CMV did bias relationships and reliabilities but only little.

Practical implications

The study introduces distributed leadership to the field of innovation management and confirms that this concept is highly relevant for employee innovation. In order to strengthen an organization's innovative potential, leaders may not only need to grant autonomy and instill trust in their employees, but also gain from employee innovation by distributing leadership tasks to employees.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to introduce distributed leadership to the field of employee innovation management. By identifying distributed leadership as a key variable, the findings add to one’s extant understanding of how employee involvement encourages employee innovation.
In-store marketing of private labels: applying cue utilisation theory
Authors: Mishra Sita , Malhotra Gunjan , Saxena Garima
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of in-store private label marketing to impact the attitude of consumers towards private label brands (PLBs) by influencing consumers' perceived quality variations between the PLBs and national brands.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on “Cue utilisation theory” and focusses on how retailers can influence consumers' perception of quality variations by providing them in-store marketing cues. Data was collected through the mall intercept method in New Delhi, India. Data analysis was done using AMOS 25 and the PROCESS SPSS macro.

Findings

This study establishes the effect of in-store private label marketing in improving consumers' quality perception of PLBs vis-à-vis national brands and thereby leading to a positive attitude towards PLBs. Further, the national brand promotions attitude is found to moderate the relationship between private label marketing and attitude towards PLBs. However, contrary to the authors' expectations, it has a positive effect on this relationship. The study found an insignificant moderation influence of price consciousness.

Originality/value

This study complements existing literature on “Cue utilisation theory” by demonstrating the importance of in-store private label marketing in improving consumers' attitudes towards PLBs. It also extends to fill some gaps in the literature by studying the direct, mediating and moderating relationship among in-store private label marketing, perceived quality variations, price consciousness, national brand promotion attitude and attitude towards PLBs, especially in an emerging market such as India.
The interplay between product and retail service meaning
Authors: Artusi Federico , Bellini Emilio
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The innovation of meaning paradigm is a strategy to radically innovate product and service meanings. While researchers have focussed on the role of product and retail space meanings as interlinked in the pursuit of innovation, no investigation has been directed towards understanding when the two meanings differ. This research explores how companies can manage two different meanings offered through their retail services and the products sold.

Design/methodology/approach

Due to the highly intangible and subjective nature of meaning, as well as the exploratory aim of the research, a case study approach has been adopted. In particular, the research compares two case studies of similar companies in the beauty industry. Data were triangulated across three different sources: a panel of experts, ethnographic research in the two companies' stores and extensive academic and practitioner publications.

Findings

Findings suggest that innovating the service meaning can be a viable strategy to differentiate a retail offering the product meaning which is no longer perceived as different with respect to competitors.

Originality/value

The study applies the innovation of meaning concept to retail services, distinguishing the meaning given to the store from that given to products, thereby offering managers a strategy to innovate a suffering retail format.
Creating pre-conditions for change in clinical practice: the influence of interactions between multiple contexts and human agency
Authors: Myall Michelle , May Carl , Richardson Alison , Bogle Sarah , Campling Natasha , Dace Sally , Lund Susi
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore what happens when changes to clinical practice are proposed and introduced in healthcare organisations. The authors use the implementation of Treatment Escalation Plans to explore the dynamics shaping the translational journey of a complex intervention from research into the everyday context of real-world healthcare settings.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative instrumental collective case study design was used. Data were gathered using qualitative interviews (n = 36) and observations (n = 46) in three English acute hospital trusts. Normalisation process theory provided the theoretical lens and informed data collection and analysis.

Findings

While each organisation faced the same translational problem, there was variation between settings regarding adoption and implementation. Successful change was dependent on participants' ability to manage and shape contexts and the work this involved was reliant on individual capacity to create a new, receptive context for change. Managing contexts to facilitate the move from research into clinical practice was a complex interactive and iterative process.

Practical implications

The paper advocates a move away from contextual factors influencing change and adoption, to contextual patterns and processes that accommodate different elements of whole systems and the work required to manage and shape them.

Originality/value

The paper addresses important and timely issues of change in healthcare, particularly for new regulatory and service-oriented processes and practices. Insights and explanations of variations in implementation are revealed which could contribute to conceptual generalisation of context and implementation.
Analyzing the Chinese budgetary responses to COVID-19: balancing prevention and control with socioeconomic recovery
Authors: Wu Shaolong , Lin Muhua
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the scope and magnitude of Chinese budgetary responses to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzes budgetary response in China by means of public reports, news reports and policy documents.

Findings

The Chinese responses were comprehensive, flexible and fast. Through the normal authorization process, simplifying procedures of budget allocation and special legislative approval after the surge of COVID-19 cases, China used many budgetary measures to help suffering businesses and households to buffer the economic difficulties caused by the pandemic. It also increased public health spending very quickly so subnational governments could control and prevent the pandemic with the necessary resources. International relief efforts have also been increased. These findings show the unique strength of the Chinese political system, which is very flexible and quick in resource mobilization.

Originality/value

This study offers a quick review of the Chinese budgetary responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also highlights some of the future concerns and needs of the Chinese government in domestic and global health areas.
Corporate social responsibility in ports of Latin America
Authors: López-Morales José Satsumi , Huerta-Estévez Antonio , Andrade-Estrada Myrna Guadalupe , Zarrabal-Gutiérrez Claudia Guadalupe
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The activities carried out in ports are disruptive to the environment where they are located. Therefore, the objective of this work is to analyze the presence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the missions and visions of the main ports of Latin America.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative technique of content analysis was applied to the missions and visions of 72 ports in Latin America. First, the missions and visions of the ports were collected (72). Second, it was assigned a value 1 if the mission had any evidence of CSR, 0 if it had no evidence and “-” if the mission was not found. The same procedure was performed with the visions.

Findings

Results indicate that 20.83% of the ports allude to CSR in their missions, 34.72% of the ports allude to it in their missions and visions and 13.88% only allude to it in their visions (22 ports did not mention it in their missions or their visions). So, the main findings indicate that in Latin America the majority of ports do not consider elements of CSR in their missions and visions.

Originality/value

This paper is mainly focused on covering two gaps in the literature: first, to increase knowledge about the strategic bases of ports in Latin America through their missions and visions; and second, to visualize the coherence of the missions and visions with the activities of CSR.