bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stochastic simulation of successive waves of COVID-19 in the province of Barcelona
Authors: Bosman M. , Esteve A. , Gabbanelli L. , Jordan X. , López-Gay A. , Manera M. , Martínez M. , Masjuan P. , Mir Ll.M. , Paradells J. , Pignatelli A. , Riu I. , Vitagliano V.
Published: December 2021

Analytic compartmental models are currently used in mathematical epidemiology to forecast the COVID-19 pandemic evolution and explore the impact of mitigation strategies. In general, such models treat the population as a single entity, losing the social, cultural and economical specifici- ties. We present a network model that uses socio-demographic datasets with the highest available granularity to predict the spread of COVID-19 in the province of Barcelona. The model is flexible enough to incorporate the effect of containment policies, such as lockdowns or the use of protec- tive masks, and can be easily adapted to future epidemics. We follow a stochastic approach that combines a compartmental model with detailed individual microdata from the population census, including social determinants and age-dependent strata, and time-dependent mobility information. We show that our model reproduces the dynamical features of the disease across two waves and demonstrate its capability to become a powerful tool for simulating epidemic events.
Genetic Subgroups Inform on Pathobiology in Adult and Pediatric Burkitt Lymphoma
Authors: Thomas Nicole , Dreval Kostiantyn , Gerhard Daniela S. , Hilton Laura K. , Abramson Jeremy S. , Bartlett Nancy L. , Bethony Jeffrey , Bowen Jay , Bryan Anthony C. , Casper Corey , Cruz Manuela , Dyer Maureen A. , Farinha Pedro , Gastier-Foster Julie M. , Gerrie Alina S. , Grande Bruno M. , Greiner Timothy , Griner Nicholas B. , Gross Thomas G. , Harris Nancy L. , Irvin John D. , Jaffe Elaine S. , Leal Fabio E. , Martin Jean Paul , Martin Marie-Reine , Mbulaiteye Sam M. , Mullighan Charles G. , Mungall Andrew J. , Mungall Karen , Namirembe Constance , Noy Ariela , Ogwang Martin D. , Orem Jackson , Ott German , Petrello Hilary , Reynolds Steven J. , Slack Graham , Soudi Shaghayegh , Swerdlow Steven H. , Traverse-Glehen Alexandra , Wilson Wyndham H. , Wong Jasper , Marra Marco A. , Staudt Louis M. , Scott David W. , Morin Ryan D.
Published: December 2021

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) accounts for the majority of pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) and is relatively rare but significantly more lethal when diagnosed in adults. The global incidence is highest in Sub-Saharan Africa, where Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positivity is observed in 95% of all tumors. Both pediatric (pBL) and adult (aBL) cases are known to share some driver mutations, for exampleMYCtranslocations, which are seen in > 90% of cases. Sequencing efforts have identified many common somatic alterations that cooperate withMYCin lymphomagenesis with approximately 30 significantly mutated genes (SMG) reported thus far. Recent analyses revealed non-coding mutation patterns in pBL that were attributed to aberrant somatic hypermutation (aSHM). We sought to identify genomic and molecular features that may explain clinical disparities within and between aBL and pBL in an effort to delineate BL subtypes that may allow for the stratification of patients with shared pathobiology. Through comprehensive sequencing of BL genomes, we found additional SMGs, including more genetic features that associate with tumor EBV status, and established three new genetic subgroups that span pBL and aBL. Direct comparisons between pBL and aBL revealed only marginal differences and the mutational profiles were consistently better explained by EBV status. Using an unsupervised clustering approach to identify subgroupings within BL and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), we have defined three genetic subgroups that predominantly comprise BL tumors. Akin to the recently defined DLBCL subgroups, each BL subgroup is characterized by combinations of common driver mutations and non-coding mutations caused by aSHM. Two of these subgroups and their prototypical genetic features (ID3andTP53) had significant associations with patient outcomes that were different among the aBL and pBL cohorts. These findings highlight not only a shared pathogenesis between aBL and pBL, but also establish genetic subtypes within BL that serve to delineate tumors with distinct molecular features, providing a new framework for epidemiological studies, and diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
XopQ induced stromule formation inNicotiana benthamianais causally linked to ETI signaling and depends on ADR1 and NRG1
Authors: Prautsch Jennifer , Erickson Jessica Lee , Özyürek Sedef , Gormanns Rahel , Franke Lars , Parker Jane E. , Stuttmann Johannes , Schattat Martin Hartmut
Published: December 2021

InNicotiana benthamiana, expression of theXanthomonaseffector XopQ triggers ROQ1-dependent ETI responses and in parallel accumulation of plastids around the nucleus and the formation of stromules. Both processes were proposed to contribute to ETI-related hypersensitive cell death and thereby to plant immunity. Whether these reactions are directly connected to ETI signaling events has not been tested. Here we utilized transient expression experiments to determine whether XopQ-mediated plastid reactions are a result of XopQ perception by ROQ1 or a consequence of XopQ virulence activity. We find thatN. benthamianamutants lacking ROQ1, both RNLs (NRG1 and ADR1) or EDS1, fail to elicit XopQ-dependent host cell death and stromule formation. Mutants lacking only NRG1 lost XopQ-dependent cell death but retained some stromule induction that was abolished in the RNL double mutant. This analysis aligns XopQ-induced stromules with the ETI signaling cascade but not to host programmed cell death. Furthermore, data reveal that XopQ-triggered plastid clustering is not strictly linked to stromule formation during ETI. Our data suggest that stromule formation, in contrast to chloroplast peri-nuclear dynamics, is an integral part of theN. benthamianaETI response and that both RNL sub-types play a role in this ETI response.

One sentence summary

Genetic analysis aligns effector triggered immunity (ETI) induced stromule formation with the ETI signaling cascade but not programmed cell death and questions stromule guided peri-nuclear plastid clustering.
Considering the methodological limitations and external validity issues of pharmacological drug trials in adult ADHD: An umbrella review (Open Protocol)
Authors: Boesen Kim , Paludan-Müller Asger Sand , Ioannidis John PA
Published: December 2021

This is a protocol to an umbrella review entitled, ‘Considering the methodological limitations and external validity issues of pharmacological drug trials in adult ADHD: An umbrella review (Open Protocol)’.
COVID-19 cluster size and transmission rates in schools from crowdsourced case reports
Authors: Tupper Paul , Pai Shraddha ,   COVID Schools Canada, Colijn Caroline
Published: December 2021

The role of schools in the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is controversial, with some claiming they are an important driver of the pandemic and others arguing that transmission in schools is negligible. School cluster reports that have been collected in various jurisdictions are a source of data about transmission in schools. These reports consist of the name of a school, a date, and the number of students known to be infected. We provide a simple model for the frequency and size of clusters in this data, based on random arrivals of index cases at schools who then infect their classmates with a highly variable rate, fitting the overdispersion evident in the data. We fit our model to reports from four Canadian provinces, providing estimates of mean and dispersion for cluster size, whilst factoring in imperfect ascertainment. Our parameter estimates are robust to variations in ascertainment fraction. We use these estimates in two ways: i) to explore how uneven the distribution of cases is among different clusters in different jurisdictions (that is, what fraction of cases are in the 20% largest clusters), and ii) to determine the distribution of instantaneous transmission rate β among different index cases. We show how these latter distributions can be used in simulations of school transmission where we explore the effect of different interventions, in the context of highly variable transmission rates.
Mortality trends and lengths of stay among hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Ontario and Québec (Canada): a population-based cohort study of the first three epidemic waves
Authors: Xia Yiqing , Ma Huiting , Buckeridge David L , Brisson Marc , Sander Beate , Chan Adrienne , Verma Aman , Ganser Iris , Kronfli Nadine , Mishra Sharmistha , Maheu-Giroux Mathieu
Published: December 2021

Background

Epidemic waves of COVID-19 strained hospital resources. We describe temporal trends in mortality risk and length of stay in intensive cares units (ICUs) among COVID-19 patients hospitalized through the first three epidemic waves in Canada.

Methods

We used population-based provincial hospitalization data from Ontario and Québec to examine mortality risk and lengths of ICU stay. For each province, adjusted estimates were obtained using marginal standardization of logistic regression models, adjusting for patient-level characteristics and hospital-level determinants.

Results

Using all hospitalizations from Ontario (N=26,541) and Québec (N=23,857), we found that unadjusted in-hospital mortality risks peaked at 31% in the first wave and was lowest at the end of the third wave at 6-7%. This general trend remained after controlling for confounders. The odds of in-hospital mortality in the highest hospital occupancy quintile was 1.2 (95%CI: 1.0-1.4; Ontario) and 1.6 (95%CI: 1.3-1.9; Québec) times that of the lowest quintile. Variants of concerns were associated with an increased in-hospital mortality. Length of ICU stay decreased over time from a mean of 16 days (SD=18) to 15 days (SD=15) in the third wave but were consistently higher in Ontario than Québec by 3-6 days.

Conclusion

In-hospital mortality risks and lengths of ICU stay declined over time in both provinces, despite changing patient demographics, suggesting that new therapeutics and treatment, as well as improved clinical protocols, could have contributed to this reduction. Continuous population-based monitoring of patient outcomes in an evolving epidemic is necessary for health system preparedness and response.
Ribosome changes elicit non-canonical translation for chemosurvival in G0 leukemic cells
Authors: Datta C. , Truesdell SS. , Bukhari SIA. , Ngue H. , Buchanan B. , Wu Keith Q. , Le Tonqueze O. , Lee S. , Granovetter M. , Boukhali M. , Kreuzer J. , Haas W. , Vasudevan S.
Published: December 2021

Quiescent leukemic cells survive chemotherapy, with translation changes. Our data reveal that FXR1, a protein amplified in several aggressive cancers, increases in quiescent and chemo- treated leukemic cells, and promotes chemosurvival. This suggests undiscovered roles for this RNA- and ribosome-associated protein in chemosurvival. FXR1 depletion decreases translation and ribosome subunits, with altered rRNAs, snoRNAs, and ribosomal proteins (RPs). We find that FXR1 binds factors that promote ribosome gene transcription and bind snoRNAs. Ribosome changes increased in FXR1-overexpressing cells, including increased snoRNAs and RPLP0/uL10, activate eIF2α kinases. Accordingly, phospho-eIF2α increases, enabling non- canonical translation of survival and immune regulators in FXR1-overexpressing cells. Overriding these with inhibitors reduces chemosurvival. Thus, increased FXR1 in quiescent or chemo-treated leukemic cells, alters ribosomes that trigger stress signals to re-direct translation for chemosurvival.

One Sentence Summary

FXR1 alters ribosomes in G0, which induce stress signals to elicit noncanonical translation for AML drug and immune survival.
A reference genome for the critically endangered woylie, Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi
Authors: Peel Emma , Silver Luke , Brandies Parice , Hogg Carolyn J , Belov Katherine
Published: December 2021

Biodiversity is declining globally, and Australia has one of the worst extinction records for mammals. The development of sequencing technologies means that genomic approaches are now available as important tools for wildlife conservation and management. Despite this, genome sequences are available for only 5% of threatened Australian species. Here we report the first reference genome for the woylie (Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi), a critically endangered marsupial from Western Australia, and the first genome within the Potoroidae family. The woylie reference genome was generated using Pacific Biosciences HiFi long-reads, resulting in a 3.39 Gbp assembly with a scaffold N50 of 6.49 Mbp and 86.5% complete mammalian BUSCOs. Assembly of a global transcriptome from pouch skin, tongue, heart and blood RNA-seq reads was used to guide annotation with Fgenesh++, resulting in the annotation of 24,655 genes. The woylie reference genome is a valuable resource for conservation, management and investigations into disease-induced decline of this critically endangered marsupial.
Structural basis for topological regulation of Tn3 resolvase
Authors: Montano Sherwin P. , Rowland Sally-J. , Fuller James R. , Burke Mary E. , MacDonald Alasdair I. , Boocock Martin R. , Stark W. Marshall , Rice Phoebe A.
Published: December 2021

Site-specific DNA recombinases play a variety of biological roles, often related to the dissemination of antibiotic resistance, and are also useful synthetic biology tools. The simplest sitespecific recombination systems will recombine any two cognate sites regardless of context. Other systems have evolved elaborate mechanisms, often sensing DNA topology, to ensure that only one of multiple possible recombination products is produced. The closely-related resolvases from the Tn3 and γδ transposons have historically served as paradigms for the regulation of recombinase activity by DNA topology. However, despite many proposals, models of the multi-subunit protein-DNA complex (termed the synaptosome) that enforces this regulation have been unsatisfying due to a lack of experimental constraints and incomplete concordance with experimental data. Here we present new structural and biochemical data that lead to a new, detailed model of the Tn3 synaptosome, and discuss how it harnesses DNA topology to regulate the enzymatic activity of the recombinase.
Physiological activation of the nephron central command drives endogenous kidney tissue regeneration
Authors: Gyarmati Georgina , Shroff Urvi Nikhil , Riquier-Brison Anne , Desposito Dorinne , Ju Wenjun , Izuhara Audrey , Deepak Sachin , Burford James L , Kadoya Hiroyuki , Chen Yibu , Rinschen Markus M. , Ahmadi Nariman , Lau Lester , Gill Inderbir S. , Kretzler Matthias , Peti-Peterdi János
Published: December 2021

Tissue regeneration is limited in several organs including the kidney, contributing to the high prevalence of kidney disease globally. However, evolutionary and physiological adaptive responses and the presence of renal progenitor cells suggest existing remodeling capacity. This study uncovered a novel endogenous tissue remodeling mechanism in the kidney that is activated by the loss of body fluid and salt and involves a unique niche of chief cells called macula densa (MD) that control resident progenitor cells via secreted angiogenic, growth and extracellular matrix remodeling factors, cytokines and chemokines. Serial intravital imaging, MD Wnt mouse models and transcriptome analysis provide functional and molecular characterization of this newly identified MD program for kidney regeneration complemented with human and therapeutic translation. The concept that chief cells responding to organ-specific physiological inputs control local progenitors and direct them to remodel or repair tissues may be applicable to other organs and diverse tissue regenerative therapeutic strategies.
Over-expression of wild-typeACVR1in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva mice rescues perinatal lethality and inhibits heterotopic ossification
Authors: Yamamoto Masakazu , Stoessel Sean J. , Yamamoto Shoko , Goldhamer David J.
Published: December 2021

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a devastating disease of progressive heterotopic bone formation for which effective treatments are currently unavailable. FOP is caused by dominant gain-of-function mutations in the receptor ACVR1 (also known as ALK2), which render the receptor inappropriately responsive to activin ligands. In previous studies, we developed a genetic mouse model of FOP that recapitulates most clinical aspects of the disease. In this model, genetic loss of the wild-typeAcvr1allele profoundly exacerbated heterotopic ossification, suggesting the hypothesis that the stoichiometry of wild-type and mutant receptors dictates disease severity. Here, we tested this model by producing FOP mice that conditionally over-express human wild-type ACVR1. Injury-induced heterotopic ossification (HO) was completely blocked in FOP mice when expression of both the mutant and wild-type receptor were targeted to Tie2-positive cells, which includes fibro/adipogenic progenitors (FAPs). Perinatal lethality ofAcvr1R206H/+mice was rescued by constitutiveACVR1over-expression and these mice survived to adulthood at predicted Mendelian frequencies. Constitutive over-expression ofACVR1also provided protection from spontaneous HO, and the incidence and severity of injury-induced HO in these mice was dramatically reduced. Analysis of pSMAD1/5/8 signaling both in cultured cells andin vivoindicates thatACVR1over-expression functions cell-autonomously by reducing osteogenic signaling in response to activin A. Manipulating the stoichiometry of FOP-causing and wild-type ACVR1 receptors may provide the foundation for novel therapeutic strategies to treat this devastating disease.
Amphotericin B resistance in Leishmania mexicana: Alterations to sterol metabolism, lipid transport and oxidative stress response
Authors: Alpizar-Sosa Edubiel A. , Binti Ithnin Nur Raihana , Wei Wenbin , Pountain Andrew W. , Weidt Stefan K. , Donachie Anne M. , Ritchie Ryan , Dickie Emily A. , Burchmore Richard J. S. , Denny Paul W. , Barrett Michael P.
Published: December 2021

Amphotericin B is increasingly used in treatment of leishmaniasis. Here, fourteen independent lines of Leishmania mexicana and one L. infantum line were selected for resistance to either amphotericin B or the related polyene antimicrobial, nystatin. Sterol profiling revealed that, in each line, the predominant ergostane-type sterol of wild-type cells was replaced by other sterol species. Broadly, two different profiles emerged among the resistant lines. Whole genome sequencing then showed that these distinct profiles were due either to mutations in the sterol methyl transferase (C24SMT) gene locus or the sterol C5 desaturase (C5DS) gene. In three lines an additional deletion of the miltefosine transporter was found. Differences in sensitivity to amphotericin B were apparent, depending on whether cells were grown in HOMEM, supplemented with foetal bovine serum, or a serum free defined medium (DM). These differences appeared to relate to the presence of lipids in the former. Metabolomic analysis after exposure to AmB showed that a large increase in glucose flux via the pentose phosphate pathway preceded cell death in cells sustained in HOMEM but not DM, indicating the oxidative stress was more significantly induced under HOMEM conditions. Several of the lines were tested for ability to infect macrophages and replicate as amastigote forms, alongside their ability to establish infections in mice. While several lines showed reduced virulence, at least one AmB resistant line displayed heightened virulence in mice whilst retaining its resistance phenotype, emphasising the risks of resistance emerging to this critical drug.
Exploring consumer non-knowledge in the agrifood context and its effects on behaviour
Authors: Torres-Ruiz Francisco José , Garrido-Castro Elisa , Gutiérrez-Salcedo María
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Consumer knowledge has been one of the most studied variables in marketing due to its strong influence on consumer behaviour. Knowledge level has traditionally been measured through objective knowledge and the number of correct answers in a battery of items about product characteristics. The authors argue that this analysis could be complemented with other information, that is, the structure of non-knowledge. The main objective of this work is to explore the nature and explanatory potential of this new dimension on consumer behaviour in the agrifood context. The principal hypothesis is that, while they may have similar levels of objective knowledge, there are significant differences between the behaviour of consumers who have a predominant pattern of ignorance (tendency to answer “I don't know”) and those who are in error (tendency to give wrong answers).

Design/methodology/approach

The present study draws on data derived from five case studies examining consumer knowledge about agrifood products (olive oils, Iberian ham and orange juice) and certain aspects of consumer behaviour. A sample of 4,112 participants was classified into two non-knowledge profiles: wrong, if most items answered incorrectly in a questionnaire were wrong; or ignorant, if most items answered incorrectly were “don't know”.

Findings

The results obtained supported the argument that complementing the study of consumer knowledge with an analysis of the structure of non-knowledge is worthwhile, as differences within the structure are associated with different patterns of consumer behaviour.

Originality/value

In the present study, it is proposed that the measurement of knowledge be complemented with an analysis of the consumer's non-knowledge structure (items not answered correctly), given its effects on behaviour, an aspect hitherto unconsidered in the literature. To do so, a new index is proposed.
Safety performance prediction and modification strategies for construction projects via machine learning techniques
Authors: Abbasianjahromi Hamidreza , Aghakarimi Mehdi
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Unsafe behavior accounts for a major part of high accident rates in construction projects. The awareness of unsafe circumstances can help modify unsafe behaviors. To improve awareness in project teams, the present study proposes a framework for predicting safety performance before the implementation of projects.

Design/methodology/approach

The machine learning approach was adopted in this work. The proposed framework consists of two major phases: (1) data collection and (2) model development. The first phase involved several steps, including the identification of safety performance criteria, using a questionnaire to collect data, and converting the data into useful information. The second phase, on the other hand, included the use of the decision tree algorithm coupled with the k-Nearest Neighbors algorithm as the predictive tool along with the proposing modification strategies.

Findings

A total of nine safety performance criteria were identified. The results showed that safety employees, training, rule adherence and management commitment were key criteria for safety performance prediction. It was also found that the decision tree algorithm is capable of predicting safety performance.

Originality/value

The main novelty of the present study is developing an integrated model to propose strategies for the safety enhancement of projects in the case of incorrect predictions.
A local smart city approach in the context of smart environment and urban resilience
Authors: Ateş Mücella , Erinsel Önder Deniz
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Although smart city studies have increased recently, smart city discussions are made based on general concepts not specific to the region. The region-specific local smart city strategy in the built environment is key to climate resilience in the built environment in the face of natural disasters. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the smart environment, which expresses the spatial dimension of smart cities. This research defines a region-specific smart city model and revealing the role of this model in the resilience against disasters of the built environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method was conducted in four steps. In Step 1, the authors suggested new smart environmental assessment criteria with climatic and geographical data within the scope of the collective mind of the region. In Step 2, they determined the expert group to evaluate within the scope of the AHP method and then compared the significance levels of the current and suggested smart environmental assessment criteria by the AHP method.

Findings

From the results, it turned out that smart urbanization processes, which are trying to relate to local characteristics, are of great importance in terms of ensuring urban resilience. The results also highlight that the existing smart environmental assessment criteria in the literature are insufficient to ensure the climatic resilience of the built environment in the face of natural disasters.

Research limitations/implications

The study is in an intermediary section, which has a gap in the literature due to its subject. Although it has focused on an acute problem and a current research problem, the lack of literature on the field has been a limitation. Determining the cities where the field studies would be conducted has been a major limitation. For an objective hypothesis test within the scope of the AHP method, the sample group should consist of experts working in smart city projects in cities that are in the top 3 in five different smart city rankings, where field studies are conducted. Within this limited cluster, creating a large sample group was an important limitation.

Originality/value

This research looks into the existing gaps of the relation between climate resilience of the built environment and the local smart city approach. This examination will foster a holistic approach in the practice of sustainable smart city in the built environment, thus reinforcing urban resilience and climate studies in the context of smart cities.
Russian merger control: in favor of foreign companies?
Authors: Redkina Anastasiia , Molodchik Mariia , Jardon Carlos
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to reveal the attitude of the Russian competition authorities towards cross-border mergers involving foreign buyers. The study addresses the following question: Is the probability of Russian competition authorities' intervention significantly different when a foreign buyer takes part in the merger? This is the key test to reveal whether competition authorities gravitate towards “economic nationalism” or “promotion of foreign investments”.

Design/methodology/approach

The discrete choice model is applied to the dataset of 7,607 merger cases investigated by the Russian competition authorities between 2012 and 2017. The probability of competition authorities' intervention, such as merger correction by using remedies or deal rejection, is used as a measure of special attention.

Findings

The study finds out favoritism patterns of the regulator with regard to foreign companies. In particular, the deals involving a foreign buyer had less chance of intervention, i.e. imposition of remedies, from national competition authorities. The sanctions period does not moderate the probability of approval of a cross-border merger with foreign buyers by the Russian competition authorities.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to merger control literature by addressing the political economy issues. It discovers that, besides regulation by the law, there are hidden motives, such as protectionism or favoritism of foreign companies, which could drive the regulator's decision. Therefore, the studies of cross-border mergers provide an opportunity to investigate the political issues of merger control through the identification of a special attitude to foreign companies and analysis of regularities that might explain such a policy.
Indigenous youth transitioning from out-of-home care in Australia: a study of key challenges and effective practice responses
Authors: Mendes Philip , Standfield Rachel , Saunders Bernadette , McCurdy Samone , Walsh Jacinta , Turnbull Lena
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to report on the findings of a qualitative study that explored the views of 53 service providers assisting Indigenous young people (known in Australia as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth) transitioning from out-of-home care (OOHC) in Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach was adopted involving semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 53 representatives of state and territory government departments, non-government organisation service providers and Aboriginal community-controlled organisations (ACCOs) across Australia. The project was designed to gain the perspectives of those working within the system and their views on how it interacts with Indigenous care leavers. Interview questions aimed to ascertain the strengths and weaknesses of the leaving care support systems available to this cohort, as well as the key challenges facing service providers in supporting them. Finally, the study aimed to make recommendations for policy development in this area and identify potential best practice service responses.

Findings

The study found that the OOHC service systems continue to fail Indigenous care leavers, their families and communities. Study findings revealed that Indigenous care-leavers face substantial challenges and that the support systems for those leaving OOHC are often culturally insensitive and ineffective. Many Indigenous OOHC leavers lacked the supports they needed to develop safe and ongoing relationships with their traditional Country, family and communities. To promote more positive transitions and outcomes, effective practice responses were identified, including culturally safe programmes and proportional funding for ACCOs to advance greater self-determination.

Originality/value

This research is the first national study in Australia to examine the specific transition from care pathways and experiences of Indigenous young people. The findings add to the limited existing knowledge on Indigenous care leavers globally and should inform practice and policy innovations with this cohort in Australia and beyond.
Dimensions of cybersecurity performance and crisis response in critical infrastructure organisations: an intellectual capital perspective
Authors: Garcia-Perez Alexeis , Sallos Mark Paul , Tiwasing Pattanapong
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This research addresses the relationships between the current, dynamic organisational cyber risk climate, organisational cybersecurity performance and changes in cybersecurity investments, with an aim to address the hostile epistemic climate for intellectual capital management presented by the dynamics of cybersecurity as a phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

Expanding on the views of digital security and resilience as a knowledge problem, the research looks at cybersecurity as a critical capability within organisations, particularly relevant in critical infrastructure sectors. The problem is studied from the perspective of 400 C-level executives from critical infrastructure sectors across the UK. Data collected at the peak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a time when critical infrastructure organisations have been under a significant strain due to an increase in cybersecurity incidents, were analysed using partial least square structural equation modelling.

Findings

The research found a significant correlation between the board's perception of a change in their cybersecurity risk climate and patterns of both the development of cybersecurity management capabilities and cybersecurity investments. The authors also found that a positive correlation exists between the efforts placed by critical infrastructure organisations in cybersecurity training and the changes in investment in their cybersecurity, particularly in relation to their intellectual capital development efforts.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper that explores the board's perception of cybersecurity in critical infrastructure organisations both from the intellectual capital perspective and in the dynamic cyber risk climate derived from the COVID-19 crisis. The authors’ findings expand on the growing perception of cybersecurity as a knowledge problem, and thus inform future research and practice in the domain of intellectual capital management and its role in supporting the cybersecurity and digital resilience of business and society.
Adaptive leadership of doctors during COVID-19
Authors: Santra Sayoni , Alat Priya
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the adaptive leadership of doctors during COVID-19 to understand the leadership competencies required for adaptive events.

Design/methodology/approach

Phenomenology-based qualitative design was used. Data were collected from six doctors from the state of Kerala, India using semi-structured interviews.

Findings

Five themes were identified. The first theme, core leadership shows that doctors perceive leaders as educators, learners and social beings. The second theme, adaptive challenges, describes the ambiguous pandemic-related challenges that doctors are facing including, unusual occupational demands, information overload, sociocultural issues and personal intricacies. The third theme reflects that for doctors, adaptive work during the pandemic included – new learning to address unique issues, changing perspectives and establishing and maintaining a safe and engaging workplace environment. The fourth theme describes the adaptive leadership competencies such as regulating distress, providing direction, maintaining disciplined action, fostering collaboration, empowering, understanding organizational linkages, strategic vision and communication skills. The fifth theme elucidates the lacunae in leadership training as perceived by the doctors.

Research limitations/implications

The findings can help in developing and enhancing competency frameworks for doctors’ adaptive leadership.

Originality/value

This is one of the earliest studies to systematically examine components of adaptive leadership for doctors during COVID-19 and identify associated competencies.
The effect of cash versus equity compensation on audit committee decision-making - evidence from the 2007 Deloitte censure
Authors: Behrend Matthew J. , Pitman Marshall K.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effect of cash versus equity compensation on audit committee decision-making after the Public Companies Oversight Board’s 2007 censure of Deloitte.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 2,588 firms, this paper uses two different compensation measurements to empirically examine the effect of audit committee compensation on decision-making.

Findings

The authors find that audit committee compensation effects the post-censure decision-making of Deloitte’s clients. The results support the hypothesis that cash compensation paid to audit committees influences audit committee members to retain their auditors post-censure. Additionally, there is some evidence to support the hypothesis that equity compensation increases the propensity to switch auditors post-censure.

Practical implications

This study will be of interest to regulators, policymakers and researchers as it provides further evidence in the area of audit committee decision-making and the effect of cash and stock compensation paid to audit committee members.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence of the association between audit committee compensation and audit committee decision-making by investigating the effect of cash-based compensation and stock-based compensation on audit committee decision-making.
Intellectual capital disclosure on Twitter – empirical evidence from the world’s largest companies
Authors: Bryl Łukasz , Fijałkowska Justyna , Hadro Dominika
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine intellectual capital disclosure (ICD) on Twitter by 60 of the world’s largest companies and explains the main themes communicated to stakeholders. The second objective is to determine which topics provoke most stakeholders’ reactions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors perform content analysis on more than 42,000 tweets to examine ICD practices along with the reactions of stakeholders in the form of retweets and “favorites” toward the information disclosed.

Findings

Intellectual capital (IC) is an important theme in corporate disclosure practices, as more than one-third of the published tweets refer to IC. The world’s largest companies focus on relational capital information, followed by human and structural capital. The main IC themes disclosed were management philosophy, corporate reputation and business partnering. Tweets related to IC are of greater interest to stakeholders than other tweets and provoke more reactions. There is no complete consistency between the topics most intensively disclosed by companies and those that elicit the most vivid responses from the addressees.

Practical implications

This study offers an understanding of the world’s largest companies’ practices that refer to ICD via social media and has implications for organizations in the creation and use of communication channels when developing a dialogue with stakeholders on topics regarding IC that may lead to better management of IC performance.

Originality/value

This paper is a response to the call for studies on ICD via social media, which is strongly highlighted in the recent literature concerning future research on IC and until now was almost absent in the field of business units. This research provides in-depth insights into the use of Twitter to disclose IC elements and indicates which fields and topics of this disclosure provoke stakeholders’ reactions, which is a novelty in ICD studies.
Self-presentation and gender on social media: an exploration of the expression of “authentic selves”
Authors: Kondakciu Klaudia , Souto Melissa , Zayer Linda Tuncay
Published: December 2021

Purpose

In response to calls for more research on gender(s) in digital contexts, this paper aims to ask, how do individuals engage in self-presentation of their gender identities on social media?

Design/methodology/approach

Using a multi-method qualitative approach, this research explores the narratives of 17 Millennials as they negotiate their online gender expressions with a particular focus on the image-based social platforms, Facebook and Instagram. Specifically, in-depth interviews, a collage technique and visual data from informants’ social media pages were analyzed to identify emergent themes.

Findings

Drawing on the theoretical work of Goffman’s (1971) self-presentation and Butler’s (1999) gender performance, this research highlights a pervading discourse of authenticity or the desire for Millennial social media users to craft and perform a perceived “authentic self” online. This often entails both expressions of gender fluidly and gender policing. Further, four strategies emerge in the data which reveal how individuals negotiate and navigate their gendered self-presentation online, either in an agentic manner or as a protective measure.

Originality/value

While much research exists on online self-presentation, gender(s) has been under-researched in a digital context. Existing studies examine the content of social media pages (e.g. Facebook profiles or women’s Instagram pages) as it relates to gender, but largely do not explore the lived experiences and narratives of individuals as they negotiate their gendered expressions. In addition, the use of visual data through the collage technique adds valuable insight into how gender is experienced and performed. Findings reveal that while Millennials are often touted as a gender-fluid generation, tensions still exist in online gendered expressions.
Pollination biology and reproductive success in four Brazilian species of Gomesa (Orchidaceae: Oncidiinae): Specific pollinators, but high pollen loss and low fruit set
Authors: Castro Jonas B. , Perdomo Oscar , Singer Rodrigo B.
Published: December 2021

Four species of Gomesa (Gomesa flexuosa, Gomesa ranifera, Gomesa cornigera, and Gomesa riograndensis), a horticulturally important, albeit scarcely studied orchid genus, were investigated. Pollination biology was studied through fieldwork in Rio Grande do Sul in Southern Brazil during two flowering seasons. Breeding systems were studied through controlled pollinations in cultivated plants. All studied species secrete floral oils through elaiophores and are exclusively pollinated by native, oil‐collecting bees of the Centridini or Tapinotaspidini tribes. Pollinarium reconfiguration after withdrawal, a feature likely promoting cross‐pollination, was recorded in G. cornigera and G. riograndensis. All studied species are pollinator‐dependent and either predominantly or fully self‐incompatible, that is, unable to set fruit following self‐pollination. The used indexes of pollination efficiency consistently scored values below 1, indicating that in all studied species less than one flower is pollinated per pollinarium removed. Accordingly, pollen loss was high, ranging from 40% to 75%. Furthermore, inflorescences in natural populations displayed low fruit sets (below 13%). Gomesa flexuosa presented the highest values of pollinarium removal (36.24%) and deposition (15.34%). Significantly, this is the only studied species bearing a tabula infraestigmatica, a column swelling that bees hold to stabilize themselves while gathering the floral oils. Since pollinators were observed in all studied species spending considerable time (up to 3 min 46 s) and visiting several (up to 19) flowers, we propose that the observed low fruit set is the result of a combination of self‐incompatibility, pollinator‐mediated self‐pollination, and pollen loss.
A Passage to India: Altering Tracks through Paternalistic Welfarism for High Performance in India's Public Sector Rail Undertakings
Authors: Pereira Vijay , Malik Ashish
Published: December 2021

High‐performance work practices (HPWPs) enacted within public sector undertakings (PSUs) in emerging economies are a relatively underexplored topic. By employing the theoretical lens of social exchange and the ability, motivation and opportunity paradigm, this paper highlights the mediating effects of knowledge sharing on the relationship between employee perceptions of HPWPs and employee and business unit performance. We provide evidence drawn from both manager‐ and employee‐level voices by applying a qualitative case study design to two large Indian PSUs and taking a reverse/inverse approach in order to delineate the commonly understood conceptualizations of HPWPs. Our findings confirm the presence of a combination of high‐commitment, high‐involvement and high‐performance work systems that increase the ability, motivation and opportunity of employees to share knowledge, and thus help achieve positive employee and financial outcomes. We found that our set of HPWPs exhibit a strong paternalistic welfarism ethos. We also discuss the implications of our study for research and practice.
A stratified analysis of a deep learning algorithm in the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy in a real‐world study
Authors: Li Na , Ma Mingming , Lai Mengyu , Gu Liping , Kang Mei , Wang Zilong , Jiao Shengyin , Dang Kang , Deng Junxiao , Ding Xiaowei , Zhen Qin , Zhang Aifang , Shen Tingting , Zheng Zhi , Wang Yufan , Peng Yongde
Published: December 2021

Background

The aim of our research was to prospectively explore the clinical value of a deep learning algorithm (DLA) to detect referable diabetic retinopathy (DR) in different subgroups stratified by types of diabetes, blood pressure, sex, BMI, age, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), diabetes duration, urine albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio (UACR), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at a real‐world diabetes center in China.

Methods

A total of 1147 diabetic patients from Shanghai General Hospital were recruited from October 2018 to August 2019. Retinal fundus images were graded by the DLA, and the detection of referable DR (moderate nonproliferative DR or worse) was compared with a reference standard generated by one certified retinal specialist with more than 12 years of experience. The performance of DLA across different subgroups stratified by types of diabetes, blood pressure, sex, BMI, age, HbA1c, diabetes duration, UACR, and eGFR was evaluated.

Results

For all 1674 gradable images, the area under the receiver operating curve, sensitivity, and specificity of the DLA for referable DR were 0.942 (95% CI, 0.920‐0.964), 85.1% (95% CI, 83.4%‐86.8%), and 95.6% (95% CI, 94.6%‐96.6%), respectively. The DLA showed consistent performance across most subgroups, while it showed superior performance in the subgroups of patients with type 1 diabetes, UACR ≥ 30 mg/g, and eGFR < 90 mL/min/1.73m2.

Conclusions

This study showed that the DLA was a reliable alternative method for the detection of referable DR and performed superior in patients with type 1 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy who were prone to DR.
Adaptive capacity to dietary Vitamin B12 levels is maintained by a gene‐diet interaction that ensures optimal life span
Authors: Nair Tripti , Chakraborty Rahul , Singh Praveen , Rahman Sabnam Sahin , Bhaskar Akash Kumar , Sengupta Shantanu , Mukhopadhyay Arnab
Published: December 2021

Diet regulates complex life‐history traits such as longevity. For optimal lifespan, organisms employ intricate adaptive mechanisms whose molecular underpinnings are less known. We show that Caenorhabditis elegans FLR‐4 kinase prevents lifespan differentials on the bacterial diet having higher Vitamin B12 levels. The flr‐4 mutants are more responsive to the higher B12 levels of Escherichia coli HT115 diet, and consequently, have enhanced flux through the one‐carbon cycle. Mechanistically, a higher level of B12 transcriptionally downregulates the phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase pmt‐2 gene, which modulates phosphatidylcholine (PC) levels. Pmt‐2 downregulation activates cytoprotective gene expression through the p38‐MAPK pathway, leading to increased lifespan only in the mutant. Evidently, preventing bacterial B12 uptake or inhibiting one‐carbon metabolism reverses all the above phenotypes. Conversely, supplementation of B12 to E. coli OP50 or genetically reducing PC levels in the OP50‐fed mutant extends lifespan. Together, we reveal how worms maintain adaptive capacity to diets having varying micronutrient content to ensure a normal lifespan.