bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrin β3, a RACK1 interacting protein, is required for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection and NF-κB activation in Marc-145 cells
Authors: Yang Chao , Lan Rui , Wang Xiaochun , Zhao Qian , Li Xidan , Bi Junlong , Wang Jing , Yang Guishu , Lin Yingbo , Liu Jianping , Yin Gefen
Published: January 2020

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is the pathogen of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), which is one of the most economically harmful diseases in modern pig production worldwide. Receptor of activated protein C kinase 1 (RACK1) was previously shown to be indispensable for the PRRSV replication and NF-κB activation in Marc-145 cells. Here we identified a membrane protein, integrin β3 (ITGB3), as a RACK1-interacting protein. PRRSV infection in Marc-145 cells upregulated the ITGB3 expression. Abrogation of ITGB3 by siRNA knockdown or antibody blocking inhibited PRRSV infection and NF-κB activation, while on the other hand, overexpression of ITGB3 enhanced PRRSV infection and NF-κB activation. Furthermore, inhibition of ITGB3 alleviated the cytopathic effects and reduced the TCID50titer in Marc-145 cells. We also showed that RACK1 and ITGB3 were NF-κB target genes during PRRSV infection, and that they regulate each other. Our data indicate that ITGB3, presumably as a co-receptor, plays an imperative role for PRRSV infection and NF-κB activation in Marc-145 cells. PRRSV infection activates a positive feedback loop involving the activation of NF-κB and upregulation of ITGB3 and RACK1 in Marc-145 cells. The findings would advance our elaborated understanding of the molecular host–pathogen interaction mechanisms underlying PRRSV infection in swine and suggest ITGB3 and NF-κB signaling pathway as potential therapeutic targets for PRRS control.

IMPORTANCE

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is one of the pathogens in pig production worldwide. Several cell surface receptors, such as heparan sulphate, sialoadhesin, vimentin and CD163, were identified to be involved in PRRSV infection in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs). We identified a cell surface protein, integrin β3 (ITGB3), as an interacting protein with receptor of activated protein C kinase 1 (RACK1) from Marc-145 cells. ITGB3 interacts with RACK1 and facilitates PRRSV infection and NF-κB activation in Marc-145 cells, presumably as a co-receptor of CD136 or vimentin. Both ITGB3 and RACK1 were NF-κB target genes, and they regulate each other. The activation of NF-κB and the transcription of its downstream genes are beneficial for PRRSV infection/replication. The novel findings would advance our elaborated understanding of the molecular host–pathogen interaction mechanisms underlying PRRSV infection in swine and suggest ITGB3-RACK1-NF-κB axis as a potential therapeutic target for PRRS control.
Survival of environmental DNA in sediments: Mineralogic control on DNA taphonomy
Authors: Freeman C.L. , Dieudonné L. , Agbaje O.B.A. , Zure M. , Sanz J.Q. , Collins M. , Sand K.K.
Published: January 2020

Extraction of environmental DNA (eDNA) from sediments are providing ground-breaking views of the past ecosystems and biodiversity. Despite this rich source of information, it is still unclear which sediments favour preservation and why. Here we used atomic force microscopy and molecular dynamics simulations to explore the DNA-mineral interaction to assess how mineralogy and interfacial geochemistry play a role in the preservation of environmental DNA on mineral substrates. We demonstrate that mineral composition, surface topography and surface charge influence DNA adsorption behavior as well as preservation. Modeling and experimental data show that DNA damage can be induced by mineral binding if there is a strong driving force for adsorption. The study shows that knowledge of the mineralogical composition of a sediment and the environmental conditions can be useful for assessing if a deposit is capable of storing extracellular DNA and to what extent the DNA would be preserved. Our data adds to the understanding of eDNA taphonomy and highlights that, for some mineral systems, fragmented DNA may not represent old DNA.
Who is more entrepreneurial? A comparative study of vocational and academic students
Authors: Bhattacharyya Arun , Kumar Narottam
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Research in the context of an individual’s choice of an entrepreneurial career has looked at effect of perceived self-efficacy (PSE), personality characteristics (PC) and subjective norms on entrepreneurial intentions (EIs). In contrast, the purpose of this paper is to compare these constructs across a vocational student (VC) group and an academic group (AC), in a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem. It also includes PC of the individuals as a variable.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis is based on a quantitative method followed by a qualitative approach to gain more insights in the study domain. It includes administration of a survey questionnaire and a round of unstructured interviews with select students.

Findings

Theorizing that there would be significant differences in PSE, PC and EIs between the two groups, the study demonstrates that for all the three variables, individuals opting for a vocational course exhibit significant difference as compared to an academic group. The results are significant when controlled for family business background and gender.

Originality/value

This paper has contributed to the academic literature in the entrepreneurship domain by differentiating the choice of an academic course prior to taking up a career in entrepreneurship and how it impacts entrepreneurial orientations. These interrelationships can further be extended into the domain of social media and networks, to draw interesting insights pertaining to how students get influenced by the social media in their choice of entrepreneurial career.
Use of electronic resources by law academics: a case study from the University of Namibia
Authors: Leonard Anna , Hamutumwa Nampa Meameno , Mnubi-Mchombu Chiku
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of e-resources by the Faculty of Law’s academic staff at the University of Namibia’s (UNAM’s) main campus. The study aimed to determine their level of awareness of electronic resources (e-resources) available to them, how useful and effective they found these e-resources, and the challenges they face in accessing them.

Design/methodology/approach

A convenient sampling technique was used to select a sample of 12 law academics from the population of 17. The study used both qualitative and quantitative research methods using questionnaires and a semi-structured interview guide.

Findings

Findings revealed that the majority of the law academics were aware of the e-resources subscribed by UNAM’s library, although some were not aware of the newly subscribed international law databases. The findings further revealed that the academics used e-resources for research, publications and teaching purposes, but irregular training, bandwidth problems and limited searching skills hindered their use of e-resources.

Practical implications

Findings could be used to inform future collection-development decisions, realignment of information-literacy training and promotion and marketing of library services.

Originality/value

This study has made a significant contribution in the understanding the use of electronic legal resources by law academics at UNAM. The findings and recommendations could also benefit similar academic institutions in developing countries like Namibia.
Collection management of electronic resources in engineering college libraries of Aligarh, India: a study
Authors: Muzamil Mushtaq Muzamil Mushtaq , Ariba Tausif Ariba Tausif
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the e-resource collection development practices of the engineering college libraries of Aligarh. The research includes budgeting, collection development policy, collection evaluation, sources of funds, modes of procurement, pricing models and other aspects related to collection development activity.

Design/methodology/approach

The descriptive method was used for conducting the study, in which a well-structured questionnaire was administered followed by interview of the librarians of six engineering college libraries under study.

Findings

It was found that these colleges are much more interested in focusing on building a strong e-resource collection in their libraries. During the past few years, the budget has also been increased in majority of libraries for the acquisition of e-resources. The study found that the major factors affecting the selection of electronic resources (e-resources) in these colleges are quality, subject coverage, license agreement and vendor support. It was also revealed that majority of libraries lack proper collection development policy, especially for e-resources. The study suggested that these libraries should build their collections keeping in mind the different areas of specializations of engineering studies and the contemporary changes in the field.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is restricted exclusively to the study of collection development process of e-resources and the librarians of six major engineering colleges of Aligarh as respondents.

Practical implications

This study has great importance for the librarians of the similar engineering colleges in India. The findings and suggestions of the study can help not only in understanding the engineering college librarianship and its current trends but can also help library professionals who are facing similar challenges in their libraries.

Originality/value

The present study is about the e-resource collection development practices followed in engineering colleges of Aligarh, which can serve as a pedestal for future studies in other academic and special libraries in India and elsewhere.
Authentically, proudly ethical
Authors: Septianto Felix , Tjiptono Fandy , Arli Denni
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Prior research suggests that consumers can engage in moral decoupling by separating their judgments of morality from their judgments of performance. Hence, they might rationalize the benefits of unethical behavior without condoning the behavior itself. This paper aims to study how a discrete positive emotion, such as authentic pride, can mitigate moral decoupling.

Design/methodology/approach

Using three experimental studies, this research investigates and tests the underlying mechanism driving authentic pride, its effects and its key moderator. The results are analyzed using ANOVAs, regression-based serial mediation and moderated mediation analyses.

Findings

The results show that authentic pride decreases consumer acceptance of unethical behavior across different contexts, including purchase intentions for unethically manufactured products (Study 1), evaluations of the corporate social responsibility activities of a tobacco company (Study 2) and acceptance of questionable consumer behavior in daily situations (Study 3).

Research limitations/implications

This research explores attitudes and behavioral intentions as dependent variables. It would thus be of interest for future research to examine a behavioral measure.

Practical implications

Given the potential problems of moral decoupling among consumers, marketers can devise effective strategies to reduce this problem using authentic pride appeals.

Originality/value

This research demonstrates how authentic pride can decrease consumer acceptance of unethical behavior. More importantly, this research enriches our understanding of the underlying mechanism driving the influence of authentic pride such that it increases the belief in a just world, which in turn lowers moral decoupling (a serial mediation).
Work and non-work identities in global virtual teams
Authors: Shaik Farheen Fathima , Makhecha Upam Pushpak , Gouda Sirish Kumar
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Increasing digitization has transformed ways of work in modern age. Organizations are increasingly relying on global virtual teams (GVTs) as new forms of working. However, the challenges of configuration of GVTs have been reported to reduce the levels of employee engagement, especially so in multicultural GVTs. Extant research indicates cultural intelligence as one of the drivers of employee engagement in GVTs, though the nature of this relationship has remained unclear. As there is scarce literature on the nature of this relationship, the purpose of this paper is to examine the linkages between cultural intelligence and employee engagement and the authors explain the findings using the identity lens.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is an ethnographic inquiry to understand the nature of the relationship between cultural intelligence and employee engagement.

Findings

The results of the study indicate that the inclusionary pressures of non-work identities (national culture) are high in context of GVTs owing to their configuration. However, preferences (alignment or misalignment) of team members either initiate gain cycles or loss cycles, thus effecting the levels of employee engagement. Further, it was found that individual preferences may dynamically change from misalignment toward alignment with improved levels of cultural intelligence among team members of GVTs. The relationship between cultural intelligence and employee engagement has been found to be mediated by trust among team members in GVTs.

Originality/value

This is one of the first papers to understand the dynamics of this relationship in an organizational GVT context. The authors also propose a unique framework combining cultural intelligence, trust and employee engagement in the context of GVTs.
To switch or not to switch: the role of tourists’ psychological engagement in the context of Airbnb Malaysia
Authors: Tiamiyu Tosin , Quoquab Farzana , Mohammad Jihad
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The demand for Airbnb is at a peak in Malaysia with 137% of yearly growth. As such, it is indeed important to understand what makes tourists to switch to Airbnb. However, little has been known about this issue in the existing literature. Considering this, the present study aims to shed some light on the factors that drive tourists to switch to Airbnb. More specifically, the objectives of this study are to examine the direct effects of price unfairness and alternative attractiveness on psychological engagement, and to examine the direct effect as well as the mediating effect of psychological engagement towards tourists’ switching intention in the context of Malaysian Airbnb.

Design/methodology/approach

By considering the attribution theory, this study developed and tested a framework to examine tourists’ switching intentions. A Web-based survey was designed to collect the data which yielded 162 complete and usable responses. Structural equation modelling, more particularly, partial least squares (SmartPLS, version 3) technique was used to analyze the data.

Findings

The results revealed that price unfairness negatively affects psychological engagement, which in turn negatively affects tourists’ switching intention. However, no significant relationship was found between alternative attractiveness and psychological engagement. Additionally, psychological engagement mediated the relationship between “price unfairness and tourists’ switching intention”, but not between “alternative attractiveness and tourists’ switching intention.”

Practical implications

It is expected that the findings of this study will enable the hoteliers to better understand the impact of perceived unfairness, alternative attractiveness and psychological engagement in provoking tourists to switch to Airbnb services. It eventually will assist them in improving their offerings and services accordingly.

Originality/value

The discussion on Airbnb is quite new in the tourism literature. This study is among the pioneers to highlight the switching intention towards Airbnb in the Malaysian market. Guided by the attribution theory, this study developed and tested comparatively new linkages. More specifically, no prior study has considered psychological engagement as the antecedent of the switching intention which this study attempted to address. Additionally, this is a prior study that examines the mediating effect of psychological engagement between price unfairness, alternative attractiveness and switching intention.
Content marketing in e-commerce platforms in the internet celebrity economy
Authors: Geng Ruibin , Wang Shichao , Chen Xi , Song Danyang , Yu Jie
Published: January 2020

Purpose

With the popularity of social media and, recently, live streaming, internet celebrity endorsements have become a prevalent approach to content marketing for e-commerce sellers. Despite the widespread use of social media and online communities, empirical studies investigating the economic value of user-generated content (UGC) and marketer-generated content (MGC) still lag behind. The purpose of this paper is to contribute both theoretically and practically to capture both first-order effects and second-order effects of internet celebrity endorsements on marketing outcomes in an e-commerce context.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducts a cross-sectional regression to evaluate the economic value of internet celebrity endorsement, and a panel vector autoregressive model is adopted to examine the relationship between celebrities’ and consumers’ content marketing behaviors and e-commerce sales performance. The authors also adopt look-ahead propensity-score matching technique to correct for selection bias.

Findings

The empirical results show that the content generation efforts of marketers and the interaction behaviors between marketers and consumers will significantly influence the e-commerce sales, which refers to the first-order effects of internet celebrity endorsement. Moreover, interactions within the fan community exert second-order effects of content marketing on sales performance.

Originality/value

This paper provides new insights for e-commerce retailers to evaluate the economic values of internet celebrity endorsement, a new content marketing practice in e-commerce platform.
Assessing the university student perceived learning gains in generic skills
Authors: Chow Joseph , Tse Ada , Armatas Christine
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report undergraduate students’ learning gains in six areas of generic skills. The paper reports on students’ responses to the First Year Experience (FYE) Survey completed at the end of their first year and Graduating Student Survey (GSS) in the final semester of their final year.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a longitudinal design was applied in data collection, analysis and reporting of assessment if student learning gains. The undergraduate students who were the first cohort of four-year curriculum students in a Hong Kong university were selected as the sample. Repeated measures of reported learning gains of a longitudinal sample based on stacking of both FYE and GSS data were analysed using the Rasch model.

Findings

The results showed that the scale for measuring the six areas of generic skills had high reliability and good person separation. Comparison of repeated measures from the same group of students at the two time points were examined to explore whether there is growth in the generic skills during their university studies.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation of the study was the relatively small sample size of 359 students in one higher education institution.

Practical implications

The findings of the study provide insight into conceptual understanding and measurement of university student learning gains.

Originality/value

Whilst several studies have investigated university student learning gains, there is limited research which explores the use Rasch modelling in assessment of student learning gains in multiple areas towards completion of their undergraduate studies.
In plain sight – developing strategic responses to corporatised organised crime
Authors: Murray Kenneth
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to consider the ways organised crime exerts influence in legitimate commercial markets through its ability to act through corporate vehicles. Discussion of weaknesses in company registration procedures and the criminal justice system that enable this to happen. Development of strategic rather than tactical responses is proposed to counter it.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents case studies based on practitioner experience and discusses points that arise.

Findings

This paper considers the extent to which the problem represents a threat to the well-being and competitiveness of domestic commercial markets and how these threats can be most effectively addressed.

Research limitations/implications

This is a point of view paper authored by a practitioner with professional expertise in the field.

Practical implications

There is a need to develop strategic cross-agency responses to this problem. This will develop better levels of precautionary awareness of how these influences can establish footholds in commercial markets and provide a sounder basis for taking effective measures to contain and counter their influence.

Social implications

The social implications relate to the distorting influence of money derived from crime being deployed in legitimate spheres.

Originality/value

The originality/value of this paper is to raise awareness and re-invigorate discussion on the influence of organised crime in legitimate commercial markets.
Energy drinks
Authors: Hasan Towhid , Sultana Marjia , Hossain Md. Tareq , Khatun Lima , Alauddin Md.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This research aimed to study patterns of energy drinks (ED) consumption among university students and to identify the determinants for their preferences.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 students from various departments of Jashore University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh, by convenience sampling. A self-administered, structured questionnaire was used to collect data.

Findings

About 52.3 per cent of the students were between 21 and 23 years of age, and half of them were male. More than half (53 per cent) of the students had consumed ED at least once in their lifetime. Only 22.1 per cent of these consumers had any knowledge of the ingredients in ED, and 4.3 per cent did not know the possible negative impacts. Bivariate analysis was performed to identify the variables significantly associated with ED consumption among students. The risks of ED consumption were found to be: male gender (Odds Ratio (OR) = 4.04; 95 per cent Confidence Interval (CI) = 2.36–6.92), father educated up to SSC (OR = 18.47; 95 per cent CI = 2.30–148.90) or college and above (OR = 17.01; 95 per cent CI = 2.31–135.60), smoker (OR = 3.87; 95 per cent CI = 1.61–9.35) and doing irregular physical activity (OR = 2.43; 95 per cent CI = 1.23–4.78).

Originality/value

ED consumption among university students is high, but their perception regarding the ingredients and potential health hazards is opaque. Therefore, it is imperative that at both community and individual levels, interventions should focus on educating and empowering individuals to make firm and positive decisions concerning their dietary habits and health.
Privileging downward accountability in Waqf management
Authors: Osman Ahmad Zamri , Agyemang Gloria
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to argue for the need of beneficiaries’ involvement in matters impacting them. The current effort to improve waqf management and the trend of waqf studies seems to focus on waqf financing/investment using sophisticated financial tools and inviting participation from business entities. There was no conscious effort to engage the beneficiaries/public as the means to inform and improve the way waqf properties are managed despite it being, arguably, the primary stakeholder.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative study informed by the concept of downward accountability. Interviews with staff involved in managing waqf properties are conducted. Data is interpreted, resulting in emerging themes.

Findings

This paper argues that the way waqf entity is structured and the staff’s value is important in determining whether benefit accrues to beneficiaries. Grounded on Islamic ethos, the values of individual staff is imperative in ensuring downward accountability is discharged. The closeness and empathy between staff and beneficiaries contribute towards a meaningful operationalisation of downward accountability.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the nature of methodology focusing on specific waqf practices in two specific waqf settings, the result must be interpreted within its context.

Practical implications

Waqf entity needs to have a structure where beneficiaries are meaningfully involved.

Social implications

This paper argues that the benefit of waqf establishment may not accrue to beneficiaries if it is undertaken without their engagement.

Originality/value

This paper raises the importance of engaging beneficiaries as one of the approaches in serving them. Any future project involving the targeted beneficiaries should involve them in some capacities.
Indirect effect of workplace bullying on emotional exhaustion through job insecurity among Malaysian workers
Authors: Jalali Alireza , Jaafar Mastura , Hidzir Nur Izzati
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Although workplace bullying has often been considered a significant source of health-related problems, only a handful of studies have deeply examined this relationship. This paper aims to fill this gap by inspecting the direct as well as indirect relationships between bullying and emotional exhaustion. This study also explores the buffering role of religion between job insecurity and emotional exhaustion.

Design/methodology/approach

This correlational paper used the quantitative method of data collection (N = 102) from employees in Malaysia and used SmartPLS to analyze the data. To operationalize workplace bullying as the second-order factor, partial least squares was used to estimate the two-stage model through the repeated use of a manifest variable.

Findings

The result of the current study showed that workplace bullying has a positive impact on job insecurity as well as emotional exhaustion while also having a positive indirect effect on emotional exhaustion through job insecurity. Moreover, the result of this study reveals that religion has a moderating (buffering) influence on the relationship between job insecurity and emotional exhaustion.

Research limitations/implications

The study merely applied self-report measures, thus potentially involving the common method variance problems.

Practical implications

Human resource professionals must be aware that employees who are exposed to bullying actions may consider emotional exhaustion and job security needs to be restored among targets. For instance, they need to ensure that no unwanted and illegitimate relocation or alternation of work task has occurred. Furthermore, it is significant to encourage employees to regularly attend religious services because religious involvement could foster mental health, in part by lowering the risk of exposure to stressful life events such as job insecurity.

Originality/value

This study could be beneficial for organizations and researchers looking to address emotional exhaustion, security and bullying in a context broader than physical health and may further supplement the discussions around workplace bullying, mental health and religion.
An investigation on the link between driver demographic characteristics and distracted driving by using the SHRP 2 naturalistic driving data
Authors: Cao Haotian , Zhang Zhenghao , Song Xiaolin , Wang Hong , Li Mingjun , Zhao Song , Wang Jianqiang
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of driver demographic characteristics on the driving safety involving cell phone usages.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 1,432 crashes and 19,714 baselines were collected for the Strategic Highway Research Program 2 naturalistic driving research. The authors used a case-control approach to estimate the prevalence and the population attributable risk percentage. The mixed logistic regression model is used to evaluate the correlation between different driver demographic characteristics (age, driving experience or their combination) and the crash risk regarding cell phone engagements, as well as the correlation among the likelihood of the cell phone engagement during the driving, multiple driver demographic characteristics (gender, age and driving experience) and environment conditions.

Findings

Senior drivers face an extremely high crash risk when distracted by cell phone during driving, but they are not involved in crashes at a large scale. On the contrary, cell phone usages account for a far larger percentage of total crashes for young drivers. Similarly, experienced drivers and experienced-middle-aged drivers seem less likely to be impacted by the cell phone while driving, and cell phone engagements are attributed to a lower percentage of total crashes for them. Furthermore, experienced, senior or male drivers are less likely to engage in cell phone-related secondary tasks while driving.

Originality/value

The results provide support to guide countermeasures and vehicle design.
A hybrid invasive weed optimization for an imperfect, two-warehouse, lot-sizing problem
Authors: Atabaki Mohammad Saeid , Pasandideh Seyed Hamid Reza , Mohammadi Mohammad
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Lot-sizing is among the most important problems in the production and inventory management field. The purpose of this paper is to move one step forward in the direction of the real environment of the dynamic, multi-period, lot-sizing problem. For this purpose, a two-warehouse inventory system, imperfect quality and supplier capacity are simultaneously taken into consideration, where the aim is minimization of the system costs.

Design/methodology/approach

The problem is formulated in a novel continuous nonlinear programming model. Because of the high complexity of the lot-sizing model, invasive weed optimization (IWO), as a population-based metaheuristic algorithm, is proposed to solve the problem. The designed IWO benefits from an innovative encoding–decoding procedure and a heuristic operator for dispersing seeds. Moreover, sequential unconstrained minimization technique (SUMT) is used to improve the efficiency of the IWO.

Findings

Taking into consideration a two-warehouse system along with the imperfect quality items leads to model nonlinearity. Using the proposed hybrid IWO and SUMT (SUIWO) for solving small-sized instances shows that SUIWO can provide satisfactory solutions within a reasonable computational time. In comparison between SUIWO and a parameter-tuned genetic algorithm (GA), it is found that when the size of the problem increases, the superiority of SUIWO to GA to find desirable solutions becomes more tangible.

Originality/value

Developing a continuous nonlinear model for the concerned lot-sizing problem and designing a hybrid IWO and SUMT based on a heuristic encoding–decoding procedure are two main originalities of the present study.
Development of polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite composite resin for 405 nm digital light projection 3D printing
Authors: Lin Yuan-Min , Chen Hsuan , Lin Chih-Hsin , Huang Pin-Ju , Lee Shyh-Yuan
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop resin composite materials composed of polycaprolactone (PCL) acrylates and hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles for ultraviolet digital light projection (DLP) three-dimensional (3D) printing technique.

Design/methodology/approach

Two PCL-based triacrylates, namely, glycerol-3 caprolactone-triacrylate (Gly-3CL-TA) and glycerol-6 caprolactone-triacrylate (Gly-6CL-TA) were synthesized from ring-opening polymerization ofε-caprolacton monomer in the presence of glycerol and then acrylation was performed using acryloyl chloride. 3D printing resins made of Gly-3CL-TA or Gly-6CL-TA, 5% HA and 3% of photoinitiator 2,4,6-Trimethylbenzoyl-diphenyl-phosphineoxide were then formulated. The surface topography, surface element composition, flexural strength, flexural modulus, cytotoxicity and degradation of the PCL-based scaffolds were then characterized.

Findings

Resin composite composed of Gly-3CL-TA or Gly-6CL-TA and 5% (w/w) of HA can be printed by 405 nm DLP 3D printers. The former has lower viscosity and thus can form a more uniform layer-by-layer structure, while the latter exhibited a higher flexural strength and modulus after being printed. Both composite materials are non-cytotoxic and degradable.

Originality/value

This study provides a direction of the formulation of environment-friendly resin composite for DLP 3D printing. Both resin composites have huge potential in tissue engineering applications.
Strategic teams: the agents of change
Authors: Wolf Daniel , Felger Brooke
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the nature of change readiness and resolve as a principal feature of strategic teams. Change leadership and management in the context of strategy, talent and culture provide the organization with the capacity for navigating change at the process, category and business levels. This paper provides a practical look at the cultivation of strategic teams as agents for making change strategy happen.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have examined a series of variables that inform the strategic agenda, talent blocks and beams, and the cultural agenda for organizations large and small. They have built a general framework for mapping and engaging what serves as a strong mind-set of change readiness and resolve, along with specific team-building elements for learning and development.

Findings

Strategic teams that are part of the structure and culture of the organization serve as development grounds for change competence and capacity at the group and individual levels. Further, because there are several types of strategic teams with diverse roles and functions, the change readiness and resolve mechanics are subject to experimentation and adaptation. This results in a strong mind-set for change leadership and management and the ability to deploy effectively across a range of situations, needs and challenges.

Originality/value

This work offers a practical set of views on change and adaptive capacity, and the development pathways that afford an organization the ongoing preparation of individuals and groups for changes in process and policy, programs and categories and business models through the most demanding transformation journeys.
Rock physics model of tight oil siltstone for seismic prediction of brittleness
Authors: Tan Wenhui , Ba Jing , Müller Tobias , Fang Gang , Zhao Haibo
Published: January 2020

Tight oil siltstones are rocks with complex structure at pore scale and are characterized by low porosity and low permeability at macroscale. The production of tight oil siltstone reservoirs can be increased by hydraulic fracturing. For optimal fracking results, it is desirable to map the ability to fracture based on seismic data prior to fracturing. Brittleness is currently thought to be a key parameter for evaluating the ability to fracture. To link seismic information to the brittleness distribution, a rock physics model is required. Currently, there exists no commonly accepted rock physics model for tight oil siltstones. Based on the observed correlation between porosity and mineral composition and known microstructure of tight oil siltstone in Daqing oilfield of Songliao basin, we develop a rock physics model by combining the Voigt–Reuss–Hill average, self‐consistent approximation and differential effective medium theory. This rock physics model allows us to explore the dependence of the brittleness on porosity, mineral composition, microcrack volume fraction and microcrack aspect ratio. The results show that, as quartz content increases and feldspar content decreases, Young's modulus tends to increase and Poisson ratio decreases. This is taken as a signature of higher brittleness. Using well log data and seismic inversion results, we demonstrate the versatility of the rock physics template for brittleness prediction.
The biogeography of thermal risk for terrestrial ectotherms: Scaling of thermal tolerance with body size and latitude
Authors: Rubalcaba Juan G. , Olalla‐Tárraga Miguel Á.
Published: January 2020

Many organisms are shrinking in size in response to global warming. However, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms linking body size and temperature of organisms across their geographical ranges. Here we investigate the biophysical mechanisms determining the scaling of body temperature with size across latitudes in terrestrial ectotherms.

Using biophysical models, we simulated operative temperatures experienced by lizard‐like ectotherms as a function of microclimatic variables, body mass and latitude and used them to generate null predictions for the effect of size on temperature across geographical gradients. We then compared model predictions against empirical data on lizards' field body temperature (Tb) and thermal tolerance limits (CTmax and CTmin).

Our biophysical models predict that the allometric scaling of operative temperatures with body size varies with latitude, with a positive relationship at low latitudes that vanishes with increasing latitude. The analyses of thermal traits of lizards show a significant interaction of body size and latitude on Tb and CTmax and no effect of body mass on CTmin, consistent with model's predictions. The estimated scaling coefficients are within the ranges predicted by the biophysical model. The effect of body mass, however, becomes non‐significant after controlling for the phylogenetic relatedness between species.

We propose that large‐bodied terrestrial ectotherms exhibit higher risk of overheating at low latitudes, while size differences in thermal sensitivity vanish towards higher latitudes.

Our work highlights the potential of combining mechanistic models with empirical data to investigate the mechanisms underpinning broad‐scale patterns and ultimately provide a null model to develop baseline expectations for further empirical research.
HIV infection confers distinct mechanisms in severe drug eruption: Endogenous virus activation with aberrant Th2/Th1 and CD8+ T cells function
Authors: Tang Jun‐Ting , Li Yu‐Ye , Zhang Yi , Liu Jun , Guan Wei , Wang Rui‐Rui , He Li‐Ping , Zhang Jian‐Bo , Kuang Yi‐Qun
Published: January 2020

Severe drug eruption (SDE), a common skin disease, becomes dangerous when it occurs in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Forty patients including HIV+ SDE+ (n = 15), HIV− SDE+ (n = 15) and HIV+ SDE− (n = 10) subjects were enrolled in our study. All HIV+ patients were at acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) stage. Serum levels of TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, IL‐4, IL‐13, IL‐6, CXCL9, and CCL17 were quantified by ELISA. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) loads were quantified by RT‐qPCR. CD4, CD8, Th1, Th2, TNF‐α‐CD8, and IFN‐γ‐CD8 T cell populations were measured by flow cytometry. Levels of biochemical indexes in HIV+ SDE+ patients were significantly different from in HIV− SDE+ patients (P < .05). EBV and CMV viral loads were significantly higher in HIV+ SDE+ patients, but not in HIV− SDE+ patients (P < .05). Inflammatory cytokines TNF‐α and IFN‐γ were significantly elevated in HIV+ SDE+ patients (P < .05). Th2/Th1 populations and TNF‐α secreting or IFN‐γ secreting CD8+ T cells, were significantly up‐regulated in HIV+ SDE+ patients compared to HIV− SDE+ patients (P < .05). Conversely, the CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly down‐regulated in HIV+ SDE+ patients compared to HIV− SDE+ patients (P < .05). HIV infection confers distinct clinical phenotypes and immune inflammatory mechanisms in SDE. Sustained EBV and CMV activation, unbalanced Th2/Th1 and overactive CD8+ T cells mediating a pro‐inflammatory response could act as distinct mechanisms in the aggravation of SDE in HIV+ SDE+ patients.
A Census of Medicolegal Death Investigation in the United States: A Need to Determine the State of our Nation’s Toxicology Laboratories and Their Preparedness for the Current Drug Overdose Epidemic
Authors: Ropero‐Miller Jeri D. , Smiley‐McDonald Hope M. , Zimmer Stephanie A. , Bollinger Katherine M.
Published: January 2020

In 2007, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported on 2004 data collected from the Census of Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices (CMEC). The CMEC was one of the first comprehensive reports on the state of the medicolegal death investigation system in the United States and included information on administration, expenditure, workload, specialized death investigations, records and evidence retention, and resources. However, the report did not include responses on questions that were related to toxicology such as specimen retention and type of testing. The purpose of this publication is to provide the community with toxicology laboratory‐specific responses from nearly 2000 medical examiner and coroner (MEC) offices. Data obtained from a BJS CMEC public use dataset for any remaining information that was not reported in the 2007 BJS report were evaluated specific to the operation of toxicology laboratories within a MEC office or specific to toxicology testing. The CMEC includes information on average operating budget for MEC offices with internal or external toxicology services, budget for toxicology/microbiology services, respondents’ routine uses of toxicology analysis, toxicology specimen retention time, average turnaround times, use of computerized information management systems, and participation in federal data collections. These historical data begin to address the present state of our nation’s toxicology laboratories within the medicolegal death investigation system and their preparedness for the current drug overdose epidemic.
Bringing the Security Analyst into the Loop: From Human‐Computer Interaction to Human‐Computer Collaboration
Authors: ROGERS LIZ
Published: January 2020

This case study examines how one Artificial Intelligence (AI) security software team made the decision to abandon a core feature of the product – an interactive Knowledge Graph visualization deemed by prospective buyers as “cool,” “impressive,” and “complex” – in favor of one that its users – security analysts – found easier to use and interpret. Guided by the results of ethnographic and user research, the QRadar Advisor with Watson team created a new knowledge graph (KG) visualization more aligned with how security analysts actually investigate potential security threats than evocative of AI and “the way that the internet works.” This new feature will be released in Q1 2020 by IBM and has been adopted as a component in IBM's open‐source design system. In addition, it is currently being reviewed by IBM as a patent application submission. The commitment of IBM and the team to replace a foundational AI component with one that better aligns to the mental models and practices of its users represents a victory for users and user‐centered design, alike. It took designers and software engineers working with security analysts and leaders to create a KG representation that is valued for more than its role as “eye candy.” This case study thus speaks to the power of ethnographic research to embolden product teams in their development of AI applications.

Dominant expressions of AI that reinforce the image of AI as autonomous “black box” systems can be resisted, and alternatives that align with the mental models of users proposed. Product teams can create new experiences that recognize the co‐dependency of AI software and users, and, in so doing, pave the way for designing more collaborative partnerships between AI software and humans.
Quality control of the parasitoid wasp Trichogramma brassicae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) over 45 generations of rearing on Sitotroga cerealella
Authors: Ghaemmaghami Ehsan , Fathipour Yaghoub , Bagheri Abdoolnabi , Talebi Ali Asghar , Reddy Gadi V. P.
Published: January 2020

Trichogramma brassicae (Bezdenko) is an important biological control agent that has been used widely against many lepidopteran pests. Commonly, colonies of Trichogramma are mass reared on factitious hosts such as Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) over many generations. In this study, we evaluated the quality and performance of a colony of T. brassicae that had been reared for over 45 generations (G) using two‐sex life table parameters and parasitism capacity. We found that female adult longevity was significantly different among sequential generations, ranging from 5.58 ± 2.5 d (at G5) to 3.75 ± 1.42 d (at G45). However, no significant difference was found in male adult longevity among different generations. Although female wasps survived longer until the 15th generation, they allocated more days for egg laying at G5 and G10. The highest values of gross reproductive rate (GRR), net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ) and mean generation time (T) were found in G5 and G10, which also showed significantly higher c0. No significant difference in the finite parasitism rate (ω) was found among generations up to G15. These results suggest that T. brassicae wasps held under continuous laboratory rearing can be used successfully in biological control programs until the 15th generation without any loss of quality or performance. However, laboratory mass rearing colonies declined in quality after 15 generations and we suggest that they should be rejuvenated regularly by adding field‐collected parasitoids periodically.
Relationship between serum cystatin C and prognosis of nondiabetic peritoneal dialysis patients
Authors: Zhang Suojian , Cao Juan , Zhang Xu , Qiao Zhenguo , Xie Yan
Published: January 2020

We investigated whether serum cystatin C predicted treatment failure and mortality in nondiabetic peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. We studied 163 new‐onset, nondiabetic PD patients between January 2010 and January 2019. Patients were followed up until death or 1 July 2019. Serum cystatin C was measured within 1 week before PD. Basic demographic and laboratory test data were collected. Patients were divided into low (<5.54 mg/L) and high (≥5.54 mg/L) serum cystatin C groups. The Kaplan‐Meier method and log‐rank test showed that the technical survival rate of the low cystatin C group was higher than that of the high cystatin C group. There was no difference in overall survival between the two groups. Multivariate Cox model showed that serum cystatin C was an independent risk factor for PD failure. Serum cystatin C could predict PD failure but was not associated with mortality in nondiabetic PD patients.