bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phenotypic analysis of an MLL-AF4 gene regulatory network reveals indirect CASP9 repression as a mode of inducing apoptosis resistance
Authors: Harman Joe R. , Thorne Ross , Jamilly Max , Tapia Marta , Crump Nicholas T. , Rice Siobhan , Beveridge Ryan , Morrissey Edward , de Bruijn Marella F.T.R , Roberts Irene , Roy Anindita , Fulga Tudor A. , Milne Thomas A.
Published: July 2020

Regulatory interactions mediated by transcription factors (TFs) make up complex networks that control cellular behavior. Fully understanding these gene regulatory networks (GRNs) offers greater insight into the consequences of disease-causing perturbations than studying single TF binding events in isolation. Chromosomal translocations of theMixed Lineage Leukemia gene(MLL) produce MLL fusion proteins such as MLL-AF4, causing poor prognosis acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALLs). MLL-AF4 is thought to drive leukemogenesis by directly binding to genes and inducing aberrant overexpression of key gene targets, including anti-apoptotic factors such as BCL-2. However, this model minimizes the potential for circuit generated regulatory outputs, including gene repression. To better understand the MLL-AF4 driven regulatory landscape, we integrated ChIP-seq, patient RNA-seq and CRISPR essentiality screens to generate a model GRN. This GRN identified several key transcription factors, including RUNX1, that regulate target genes using feed-forward loop and cascade motifs. We used CRISPR screening in the presence of the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax to identify functional impacts on apoptosis. This identified an MLL-AF4:RUNX1 cascade that repressesCASP9,perturbation of which disrupts venetoclax induced apoptosis. This illustrates how our GRN can be used to better understand potential mechanisms of drug resistance acquisition.

Graphical abstract caption

A network model of the MLL-AF4 regulatory landscape identifies feed-forward loop and cascade motifs. Functional screening using CRISPR and venetoclax identified an MLL-AF4:RUNX1:CASP9repressive cascade that impairs drug-induced cell death.
Human adipocyte differentiation and composition of disease-relevant lipids are regulated by miR-221-3p
Authors: Ahonen Maria A. , Asghar Muhammad Yasir , Parviainen Suvi J. , Liebisch Gerhard , Höring Marcus , Leidenius Marjut , Fischer-Posovszky Pamela , Wabitsch Martin , Mikkola Tomi S. , Törnquist Kid , Savolainen-Peltonen Hanna , Haridas P.A. Nidhina , Olkkonen Vesa M.
Published: July 2020

MicroRNA-221-3p (miR-221-3p) is associated with both metabolic diseases and cancers. However, its role in terminal adipocyte differentiation, adipocyte lipid metabolism, and lipid signaling in human disease are uncharacterized. miR-221-3p or its inhibitor were transfected into differentiating or mature human adipocytes. Triglyceride (TG) content and adipogenic gene expression were monitored, global lipidome analysis was carried out, and mechanisms underlying the effects of miR-221-3p were investigated. Finally, cross-talk between miR-221-3p expressing adipocytes and MCF-7 breast carcinoma (BC) cells was studied, and miR-221-3p expression in tumor-proximal adipose biopsies from BC patients analyzed. miR-221-3p overexpression inhibited terminal differentiation of adipocytes, as judged from reduced TG storage and gene expression of the adipogenic markersSCD1, GLUT4, FAS, DGAT1/2, AP2, ATGLandAdipoQ. The signaling adaptor protein 14-3-3γ was identified as a potential mediator of the miR-221-3p effects. Importantly, miR-221-3p overexpression inhibitedde novolipogenesis but increased the concentrations of ceramides and sphingomyelins, while reducing diacylglycerols, concomitant with suppression of sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase, ATP citrate lyase, and acid ceramidase. miR-221-3p expression was elevated in tumor proximal adipose tissue from patients with invasive BC. Conditioned medium of miR-221-3p overexpressing adipocytes stimulated the invasion and proliferation of BC cells, while medium of the BC cells enhanced miR-221-3p expression in adipocytes. miR-221-3p plays a pivotal role in the terminal differentiation of white adipocytes and their lipid composition. Elevated miR-221-3p impairs adipocyte lipid storage and differentiation, and modifies their ceramide, sphingomyelin, and diacylglycerol content. These alterations are relevant for metabolic diseases but may also affect cancer progression.
Lateral Hypothalamic GABAergic neurons encode and potentiate sucrose’s palatability
Authors: Garcia Aketzali , Coss Alam , Luis-Islas Jorge , Puron-Sierra Liliana , Luna Monica , Villavicencio Miguel , Gutierrez Ranier
Published: July 2020

Sucrose is attractive to most species in the animal kingdom, not only because it induces a sweet taste sensation but also for its positive palatability (i.e., oromotor responses elicited by increasing sucrose concentrations). Although palatability is such an important sensory attribute, it is currently unknown which cell types encode and modulate sucrose’s palatability. Studies in mice have shown that activation of GABAergic LHAVgat+neurons evokes voracious eating; however, it is not known whether these neurons would be driving consumption by increasing palatability. Using optrode recordings, we measured sucrose’s palatability while VGAT-ChR2 transgenic mice performed a brief access sucrose test. We found a subpopulation of LHAVgat+neurons encodes palatability by increasing (or decreasing) their activity as a function of the increment in licking responses evoked by sucrose concentrations. Optogenetic gain of function experiments, where mice were able to choose among available water, 3%, or 18% sucrose solution, uncovered that opto-stimulation of LHAVgat+neurons consistently promoted higher intake of the most palatable stimulus (18% sucrose). In contrast, if they self-stimulated near the less palatable stimulus, some VGAT-ChR2 mice preferred water over 18% sucrose. Unexpectedly, activation of LHAVgat+neurons increased quinine intake but only during water deprivation, since in sated animals, they failed to promote quinine intake or tolerate an aversive stimulus. Conversely, these neurons promoted overconsumption of sucrose when it was the nearest stimulus. Also, experiments with solid foods further confirmed that these neurons increased food interaction time with the most palatable food available. We conclude that LHAVgat+neurons increase the drive to consume, but it is potentiated by the palatability and proximity of the tastant.
Stimulus-dependent contrast sensitivity asymmetries around the visual field
Authors: Himmelberg Marc M. , Winawer Jonathan , Carrasco Marisa
Published: July 2020

Asymmetries in visual performance at isoeccentric locations are known asperformance fields. At a fixed eccentricity, visual performance is best along the horizontal, intermediate along the lower vertical, and poorest along the upper vertical meridian. Theseperformance fieldsare pervasive across a range of visual tasks, including those mediated by contrast sensitivity. However, contrastperformance fieldshave not been characterized with a systematic manipulation of stimulus spatial frequency, eccentricity, and size; three parameters that constrain contrast sensitivity. Further, individual differences inperformance fieldsmeasurements have not been assessed. Here, we use an orientation discrimination task to characterize the pattern of contrast sensitivity across four isoeccentric locations along the cardinal meridians, and to examine whether and how this asymmetry pattern changes with systematic manipulation of stimulus spatial frequency (4 cpd to 8 cpd), eccentricity (4.5° to 9°), and size (3° visual angle to 6° visual angle). Our data demonstrate that contrast sensitivity is highest along the horizontal, intermediate along the lower vertical, and poorest along the upper vertical meridian. This pattern is consistent across stimulus parameter manipulations, even though they cause profound shifts in contrast sensitivity. Eccentricity-dependent decreases in contrast sensitivity can be compensated for by scaling stimulus size alone. Moreover, we find that individual variability in the strength ofperformance fieldasymmetries is consistent across conditions. This study is the first to systematically and jointly manipulate, and compare, contrastperformance fieldsacross spatial frequency, eccentricity, and size, and to address individual variability inperformance fields.
A testis-specific Heme Peroxidase HPX12 regulates male fertility in the mosquitoAnopheles stephensi
Authors: Kumari Seena , Chauhan Charu , Rani Jyoti , Das De Tanwee , Tevatiya Sanjay , Sharma Punita , Pandey Kailash C , Pande Veena , Dixit Rajnikant
Published: July 2020

In humans, dysregulation of the antioxidant defense system has a detrimental impact on male fertility and reproductive physiology. Establishing such a correlation in disease vectors may pave a new way to manipulate male’s reproductive physiology, but remains the least attended. Since long - term storage of healthy and viable sperm earmarks male’s reproductive competency, we tested whether the anti-oxidative system protein also influences male fertility in the mosquitoAn. stephensi. We showed that a testis-specific HPX12 is critical for maintaining the physiological homeostasis of male mosquito’s reproductive organs. Disruption of this antioxidant enzyme by dsRNA silencing in the male mosquito severely impairs the reproductive potential of mated blood-fed female mosquitoes,resulting in a loss of 60% eggs. Our data demonstrate that increased ROS in the HPX12 mRNA depleted mosquitoes is an ultimate cause of sperm disabilities both qualitatively as well as quantitatively.
Inactivation of p21-Activated Kinase 2 (Pak2) Inhibits the Development ofNf2-Deficient Malignant Mesothelioma
Authors: Sementino Eleonora , Kadariya Yuwaraj , Cheung Mitchell , Menges Craig W. , Tan Yinfei , Kukuyan Anna-Mariya , Shrestha Ujjawal , Karchugina Sofiia , Cai Kathy Q. , Peri Suraj , Duncan James S. , Chernoff Jonathan , Testa Joseph R.
Published: July 2020

Malignant mesotheliomas (MM) show frequent somatic loss of theNF2tumor suppressor gene. TheNF2product, Merlin, is implicated in several tumor-related pathways, including p21-activated kinase (PAK) signaling. Merlin is both a phosphorylation target for PAK and a negative regulator of this oncogenic kinase. Merlin loss results in PAK activation, and PAK inhibitors hold promise for the treatment ofNF2-deficient tumors. To test this possibility in anin vivogenetic system,Nf2f/f;Cdkn2af/fmice were crossed to mice with conditional knockout ofPak2, a highly expressed group I Pak member. Cohorts of these animals were injected in either the thoracic or peritoneal cavities with adeno-Cre virus to delete floxed alleles in the mesothelial lining. Loss ofPak2resulted in a markedly decreased incidence and delayed onset and progression of pleural and peritoneal MMs inNf2;Cdkn2a-deficient (NC)mice, as documented by Kaplan-Meier survival curves andin vivobioluminescent imaging. RNA-seq revealed that MMs fromNC;Pak2-/-mice showed downregulated expression of genes involved in several oncogenic pathways (Wnt, Akt) when compared to MMs from mice retaining Pak2. Kinome profiling showed that, as compared toNCMM cells,NC;Pak2-/-MM cells had multiple kinase changes indicative of an epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Collectively, these findings suggest thatNC;Pak2-/-MMs adapt by reprogramming their kinome and gene signature profiles to bypass the need for PAK activity via the activation of other compensatory oncogenic kinase pathways. The identification of such secondary pathways offers opportunities for rational combination therapies to circumvent resistance to anti-PAK drugs.
A secreted NlpC/P60 endopeptidase fromPhotobacterium damselaesubsp.piscicidacleaves the peptidoglycan of potentially competing bacteria
Authors: Lisboa Johnny , Pereira Cassilda , Rifflet Aline , Ayala Juan , Terceti Mateus S. , Barca Alba V. , Rodrigues Inês , Pereira Pedro J.B. , Osorio Carlos R. , García-del Portillo Francisco , Boneca Ivo Gomperts , Vale Ana do , dos Santos Nuno M.S.
Published: July 2020

Peptidoglycan(PG) is a major component of the bacterial cell wall, forming a mesh-like structure enwrapping the bacteria that is essential for maintaining structural integrity and providing support for anchoring other components of the cell envelope. PG biogenesis is highly dynamic and requires multiple enzymes, including several hydrolases that cleave glycosidic or amide bonds in the PG. Here, it is described the structural and functional characterization of an NlpC/P60-containing peptidase fromPhotobacterium damselaesubsp.piscicida(Phdp), a Gram-negative bacterium that causes high mortality of warm-water marine fish with great impact for the aquaculture industry. PnpA (PhotobacteriumNlpC-likeProteinA) has a four-domain structure with a hydrophobic and narrow access to the catalytic center and specificity for the γ-D-glutamyl-meso-diaminopimelic acid bond. However, PnpA does not cleave the PG ofPhdpand neither PG of several Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial species. Interestingly, it is secreted by thePhdptype II secretion system and degrades the PG ofVibrio anguillarumandV. vulnificus. This suggests that PnpA is used byPhdpto gain an advantage over bacteria that compete for the same resources or to obtain nutrients in nutrient-scarce environments. Comparison of the muropeptide composition of PG susceptible and resistant to the catalytic activity of PnpA, showed that the global content of muropeptides is similar, suggesting that susceptibility to PnpA is determined by the three-dimensional organization of the muropeptides in the PG.

IMPORTANCE

Peptidoglycan (PG) is a major component of the bacterial cell wall formed by long chains of two alternating sugars interconnected by short peptides, originating a mesh-like structure that enwraps the bacterial cell. Although PG provides structural integrity and support for anchoring other components of the cell envelope, it is constantly being remodeled through the action of specific enzymes that cleave or joint its components. Here, it is shown thatPhotobacterium damselaesubsp.piscicida, a bacterium that causes high mortality in warm-water marine fish, produces PnpA, an enzyme that is secreted into the environment and is able to cleave the PG of potentially competing bacteria, either for gaining competitive advantages and/or to get nutrients. The specificity of PnpA to the PG of some bacteria and its inability to cleave others may be explained by differences in the structure of the PG mesh and not by different muropeptide composition.
Positivity of SARS-CoV-2, by RT-PCR among workers of a Public Hospital in the city of Santos, SP, Brazil 2020
Authors: Caseiro Marcos Montani , Mazzurana Monica , Barreiro Bruno , Barbosa Estela Capelas , Barbosa Antônio Pires
Published: July 2020

Background

Infection with SARS-CoV-2, associated with severe respiratory symptoms, currently called COVID-19, represents one of the greatest health challenges of this century. Health professionals, as well as hospital workers, are the most vulnerable population for acquiring SARS-CoV-2 due to their greater proximity to sick patients, especially in specialized hospitals for the treatment of these patients.

Study Design

We ran a questionnaire by all the employees of a Public Service Hospital specialised in COVID-19 treatment (1307 employees), in the municipality of Santos, São Paulo, Brazil, who presented some symptoms compatible with COVID-19 and positive results by RT-PCR, in Oropharynx Swab collection. The questionnaire collected socio-demographic information, as well as data related to the work areas where they were divided into two groups: Employees at higher risk or those who directly deal with patients (914 employees or 69.9%) and lower risk for employees in the administrative area (393 employees or 30.1%).

Results

211 (16.1%) of the Hospital’s employees had to stop their work-related activities due to presenting positive RT-PCR. There were 39 (9.9%) positives in low risk areas and 172 (18.8%) positives in employees in high risk areas. Within the latter group, Nurses, Nursing Assistants and Doctors were the most frequently infected professionals. Regarding the symptoms of professionals positively diagnosed based on RT-PCR, the most frequent symptoms were body pain (83.4%); headache (80.6%); fever (57.8%) and dry cough (53.1%).

Conclusion

A high proportion of workers in COVID-19 specialized hospitals was infected by the virus, despite all the protective measures adopted, showing the high transmission capacity of this virus. Stricter individual protection measures among employees must be adopted.
Twitter and Census Data Analytics to Explore Socioeconomic Factors for Post-COVID-19 Reopening Sentiment
Authors: Rahman Md. Mokhlesur , Ali G. G. Md. Nawaz , Li Xue Jun , Paul Kamal Chandra , Chong Peter H.J.
Published: July 2020

Investigating and classifying sentiments of social media users (e.g., positive, negative) towards an item, situation, and system are very popular among the researchers. However, they rarely discuss the underlying socioeconomic factor associations for such sentiments. This study attempts to explore the factors associated with positive and negative sentiments of the people about reopening the economy, in the United States (US) amidst the COVID-19 global crisis. It takes into consideration the situational uncertainties (i.e., changes in work and travel pattern due to lockdown policies), economic downturn and associated trauma, and emotional factors such as depression. To understand the sentiment of the people about the reopening economy, Twitter data was collected, representing the 51 states including Washington DC of the US. State-wide socioeconomic characteristics of the people (e.g., education, income, family size, and employment status), built environment data (e.g., population density), and the number of COVID-19 related cases were collected and integrated with Twitter data to perform the analysis. A binary logit model was used to identify the factors that influence people toward a positive or negative sentiment. The results from the logit model demonstrate that family households, people with low education levels, people in the labor force, low-income people, and people with higher house rent are more interested in reopening the economy. In contrast, households with a high number of members and high income are less interested to reopen the economy. The accuracy of the model is good (i.e., the model can correctly classify 56.18% of the sentiments). The Pearson chi2 test indicates that overall this model has high goodness-of-fit. This study provides a clear indication to the policymakers where to allocate resources and what policy options they can undertake to improve the socioeconomic situations of the people and mitigate the impacts of pandemics in the current situation and as well as in the future.
periscope: sub-genomic RNA identification in SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Sequencing Data
Authors: Parker Matthew D , Lindsey Benjamin B , Leary Shay , Gaudieri Silvana , Chopra Abha , Wyles Matthew , Angyal Adrienn , Green Luke R , Parsons Paul , Tucker Rachel M , Brown Rebecca , Groves Danielle , Johnson Katie , Carrilero Laura , Heffer Joe , Partridge David G , Evans Cariad , Raza Mohammad , Keeley Alexander J , Smith Nikki , Filipe Ana Da Silva , Shepherd James G , Davis Chris , Bennett Sahan , Kohl Alain , Aranday-Cortes Elihu , Tong Lily , Nichols Jenna , Thomson Emma C ,   The COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) consortium, Wang Dennis , Mallal Simon , de Silva Thushan I
Published: July 2020

We have developed periscope, a tool for the detection and quantification of sub-genomic RNA (sgRNA) in SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequence data. The translation of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome for most open reading frames (ORFs) occurs via RNA intermediates termed “sub-genomic RNAs”. sgRNAs are produced through discontinuous transcription which relies on homology between transcription regulatory sequences (TRS-B) upstream of the ORF start codons and that of the TRS-L which is located in the 5’ UTR. TRS-L is immediately preceded by a leader sequence. This leader sequence is therefore found at the 5’ end of all sgRNA. We applied periscope to 1,155 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from Sheffield, UK and validated our findings using orthogonal datasets andin vitrocell systems. Using a simple local alignment to detect reads which contain the leader sequence we were able to identify and quantify reads arising from canonical and non-canonical sgRNA. We were able to detect all canonical sgRNAs at expected abundances, with the exception of ORF10. A number of recurrent non-canonical sgRNAs are detected. We show that the results are reproducible using technical replicates and determine the optimum number of reads for sgRNA analysis. In VeroE6 ACE2+/− cell lines, periscope can detect the changes in the kinetics of sgRNA in orthogonal sequencing datasets. Finally, variants found in genomic RNA are transmitted to sgRNAs with high fidelity in most cases. This tool can be applied to all sequenced COVID-19 samples worldwide to provide comprehensive analysis of SARS-CoV-2 sgRNA.
Geographic patterns of human allele frequency variation: a variant-centric perspective
Authors: Biddanda Arjun , Rice Daniel P. , Novembre John
Published: July 2020

A key challenge in human genetics is to describe and understand the distribution of human genetic variation. Often genetic variation is described by showing relationships among populations or individuals, in each case drawing inferences over a large number of variants. Here, we present an alternative representation of human genetic variation that reveals the relative abundance of different allele frequency patterns across populations. This approach allows viewers to easily see several features of human genetic structure: (1) most variants are rare and geographically localized, (2) variants that are common in a single geographic region are more likely to be shared across the globe than to be private to that region, and (3) where two individuals differ, it is most often due to variants that are common globally, regardless of whether the individuals are from the same region or different regions. To guide interpretation of the results, we also apply the visualization to contrasting theoretical scenarios with varying levels of divergence and gene flow. Our variant-centric visualization clarifies the major geographic patterns of human variation and can be used to help correct potential misconceptions about the extent and nature of genetic differentiation among populations.
A genome epidemiological study of SARS-CoV-2 introduction into Japan
Authors: Sekizuka Tsuyoshi , Itokawa Kentaro , Hashino Masanori , Kawano-Sugaya Tetsuro , Tanaka Rina , Yatsu Koji , Ohnishi Asami , Goto Keiko , Tsukagoshi Hiroyuki , Ehara Hayato , Sadamasu Kenji , Taira Masakatsu , Shibata Shinichiro , Nomoto Ryohei , Hiroi Satoshi , Toho Miho , Shimada Tomoe , Matsui Tamano , Sunagawa Tomimasa , Kamiya Hajime , Yahata Yuichiro , Yamagishi Takuya , Suzuki Motoi , Wakita Takaji , Kuroda Makoto ,   COVID-19 Genomic Surveillance Network in Japan
Published: July 2020

Background

After the first case of COVID-19 in Japan on 15 January 2020, multiple nationwide COVID-19 clusters were identified by the end of February. The Japanese government focused on mitigating emerging COVID-19 clusters by conducting active nationwide epidemiological surveillance. However, an increasing number of cases appeared until early April, many with unclear infection routes exhibiting no recent history of travel outside Japan. We aimed to evaluate the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome sequences from COVID-19 cases until early April and characterise the genealogical networks to demonstrate possible routes of spread in Japan.

Methods

Nasopharyngeal specimens were collected from patients and a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction testing for SARS-CoV-2 was performed. Positive RNA samples were subjected whole genome sequencing and a haplotype network analysis was performed.

Findings

Some of the primary clusters identified during January and February in Japan directly descended from Wuhan-Hu-1-related isolates in China and other distinct clusters. Clusters were almost contained until mid-March; the haplotype network analysis demonstrated that COVID-19 cases from late March through early April may have caused an additional large cluster related to the outbreak in Europe, leading to additional spread within Japan. National self-restraint during February was effective in mitigating the COVID-19 spread, but late action on stopping immigration and declaring national emergency in Japan might be involved in the later increase in cases.

Interpretation

Genome surveillance suggested that at least two distinct SARS-CoV-2 introductions from China and other countries occurred.

Funding

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development.
Associations of exercise and social support with mental health during quarantine and social-distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey in Germany
Authors: Bauer Leonie Louisa , Seiffer Britta , Deinhart Clara , Atrott Beatrice , Sudeck Gorden , Hautzinger Martin , Rösel Inka , Wolf Sebastian
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Social distancing and quarantine measures applied during the COVID-19 pandemic might result in mental health problems. In this cross-sectional study we examined if perceived social support, exercise in minutes per week and change in exercise are protective factors regarding symptoms of depression, anxiety, and sleeping disorders.

Method

In April 2020, n = 4271 German adults completed an online survey including mental health questionnaires regarding depression (PHQ-D), anxiety (PHQ-D) and sleep (PSQI), as well as questionnaires related to protective factors such as exercise (BSA-F), physical activity-related health competence (PAHCO) and social support (F-SozU).

Results

Complete case analysis (n = 3700; mean age 33.13 ± 11.73 years, 78.6 % females) resulted in elevated prevalence of depressive disorder (31.4%), panic disorder (5.7%) and other anxiety disorders (7.4%). 58.3% reported symptoms of insomnia. Three separate models of multiple regression were conducted. Perceived social support was associated with lower values of anxiety (beta = −0.10; t(19) = −6.46; p >0.001), lower values of depressive symptoms (beta = −0.22; t(19) = −15.71; p < .001) and lower values of sleeping disorder symptoms (beta = −0.15; t(19) = −9.55; p < .001). Change towards less exercise compared to the time before Covid-19 was associated with and higher values of anxiety (beta = −0.05; t(19) = −2.85; p= .004), higher values of depressive symptoms (beta = −0.08; t(19) = - 5.69; p < .001), and higher values of sleeping disorder symptoms (beta = −0.07; t(19) = −4.54; p < .000). Post-hoc analysis (ANOVAs) revealed that a change towards less exercise was significantly associated with more depressive, anxiety and sleeping disorder symptoms whereas a positive change was not. No significant association was found for exercise in minutes per week for all outcomes.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have a negative impact on mental health in the German population. Social Support and a stable amount of exercise might attenuate these negative mental health consequences. Ongoing monitoring of the impact of the pandemic on mental health and possible protective factors is needed in order to create a basis for the development of appropriate prevention and intervention measures.
ESTIMATING UNDERDIAGNOSIS OF COVID-19 WITH NOWCASTING AND MACHINE LEARNING – EXPERIENCE FROM BRAZIL
Authors: Garcia Leandro Pereira , Gonçalves André Vinícius , Andrade Matheus Pacheco , Pedebôs Lucas Alexandre , Vidor Ana Cristina , Zaina Roberto , Hallal Ana Luiza Curi , Canto Graziela De Luca , Traebert Jefferson , de Araujo Gustavo Medeiros , Amaral Fernanda Vargas
Published: July 2020

Background

Brazil has the second largest COVID-19 number of cases, worldly. Even so, underdiagnosis in the country is massive. Nowcasting techniques have helped to overcome the underdiagnosis. Recent advances in machine learning techniques offer opportunities to refine the nowcasting. This study aimed to analyze the underdiagnosis of COVID-19, through nowcasting with machine learning, in a South of Brazil capital.

Methods

The study has an observational ecological design. It used data from 3916 notified cases of COVID-19, from April 14th to June 02nd, 2020, in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. We used machine-learning algorithm to classify cases which had no diagnosis yet, producing the nowcast. To analyze the underdiagnosis, we compared the difference between the data without nowcasting and the median of the nowcasted projections for the entire period and for the six days from the date of onset of symptoms to diagnosis at the moment of data extraction.

Results

The number of new cases throughout the entire period, without nowcasting, was 389. With nowcasting, it was 694 (UI95 496-897,025). At the six days period, the number without nowcasting was 19 and 104 (95% UI 60-142) with. The underdiagnosis was 37.29% in the entire period and 81.73% at the six days period.

Conclusions

The underdiagnosis was more critical in six days from the date of onset of symptoms to diagnosis before the data collection than in the entire period. The use of nowcasting with machine learning techniques can help to estimate the number of new cases of the disease.
“Injury-Prone”: Peripheral nerve injuries associated with prone positioning for COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome
Authors: Malik George R. , Wolfe Alexis R. , Soriano Rachna , Rydberg Leslie , Wolfe Lisa F. , Deshmukh Swati , Ko Jason H. , Nussbaum Ryan P. , Jayabalan Prakash , Walter James M. , Franz Colin K.
Published: July 2020

Patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who require invasive mechanical ventilation frequently meet the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) diagnostic criteria. Hospitals based in the United States have been incorporating prone positioning (PP) into the COVID-19-related ARDS treatment plan at a higher rate than normal. Here, we describe 11 patients admitted to a single inpatient rehabilitation hospital who were subsequently diagnosed with acquired focal/multifocal peripheral nerve injury (PNI) in association with the use of PP for COVID-19-related ARDS. The reason for the high rate of PNI associated with PP in COVID-19 ARDS is likely multifactorial, but may include an underlying state of hyperinflammation and hypercoagulability already linked to other the neurological sequelae of COVID-19. Physicians must be aware of this elevated susceptibility to PNI in severe COVID-19 and refined standard PP protocols in order to reduce the risk.
Investigating consumer acceptance of autonomous technologies: the case of self-driving automobiles
Authors: Baccarella Christian V. , Wagner Timm F. , Scheiner Christian W. , Maier Lukas , Voigt Kai-Ingo
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Autonomous technologies represent an increasingly important, but at the same time controversial technological field with enormous potential. From a consumer perspective, however, the growing autonomy of technologies might result in a perceived loss of control, which can lead to consumer resistance. Given the practical and theoretical relevance, this research examines antecedents to consumer adoption of autonomous technologies in the context of self-driving cars.

Design/methodology/approach

This article looks through the lens of the technology acceptance model and conducts structural equation modeling.

Findings

The study validates the positive effect of perceived usefulness on behavioral intention to adopt self-driving cars. The results further suggest that individuals with a generally negative attitude toward technologies are afraid that they might not be capable of handling the new technology. Moreover, further mediation analyses reveal that perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness help us to explain the indirect effects of novelty seeking and technology anxiety on adoption intention.

Practical implications

The results imply that users' perceptions of an autonomous technology's usefulness are an important determinant of technology adoption. Adoption barriers could be overcome by emphasizing the usability of the new technology. On the other hand, individuals who enjoy using the old technology may be persuaded by arguments that focus on the usefulness of the new technology rather than its ease of use.

Originality/value

Self-driving automobiles will change our perception of mobility. It is important to understand the mechanisms that drive the adoption of such innovations.
Women on board: the disregarded issue of board interlocks
Authors: Öberg Christina
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Gender diversity is extensively debated and researched in relation to corporate boards. The focus on the gender composition on single boards neglects an important issue: that of how the power of board members is impacted by their representation on other boards. Board interlocks refer to how a board member is also represented on other companies’ boards, and such representation expectedly makes the individual board member more influential in the boardroom than non-connected board members. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether and how female board interlocks are considered in previous research on gender diversity on boards.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review was conducted. It comprised 71 highly cited articles. The articles were analyzed to grasp their content, and specifically, female influence in the boardroom related to power.

Findings

The literature review reveals that the interlock perspective is rare in studies on women’s board representation. This is so, even while evidence is provided that females often need companions to get their meanings across on the boards, despite how interlocks would create one link of such power, and although the literature points to how female board representation plays a part to explain performance, social responsibilities and overall strategic directions of firms.

Originality/value

Contributions are made to previous research by indicating the potential of further research in a largely neglected area of research while also summarizing the previous reporting on women on boards.
An evaluation of an education abroad program on the intercultural learning and cross-cultural adaptability skills of university undergraduates
Authors: Fong Jennifer
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this case study is to explore to what extent US university undergraduates participating in a research abroad program through US–Taiwan Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) developed intercultural awareness and cross-cultural adaptability skills. It also suggests additional program design features to enhance students' international experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

To better understand participants' experiences in the PIRE program, this study adopts a mixed-methods approach. Demographic questionnaires, pre- and postsurveys, observational field notes and individual interviews were conducted for data collection and analysis.

Findings

Students perceived the experience abroad to improve their intercultural awareness and skills such as openness to cultural differences, coping with challenges abroad and effectively working in diverse teams. Specifically, quantitative findings reflected group gains in the areas of flexibility/openness and perceptual acuity, whereas qualitative findings indicated growth in students' emotional resilience and personal autonomy.

Research limitations/implications

Additional data collection methods, such as pre-/postinstruments or a longitudinal study would provide a more comprehensive assessment of the impact of education abroad on students' intercultural learning.

Social implications

Evaluation of programs and outcomes can help identify areas to maximize student learning and assess the value of education abroad.

Originality/value

This is original research and makes a contribution to education abroad programs in postsecondary education.
Development of a dress design knowledge base (DDKB) based on sensory evaluation and fuzzy logic
Authors: Ling Xue , Hong Yan , Pan Zhijuan
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a dress design knowledge base (DDKB), which is expected to be further applied to a personalized dress recommendation system.

Design/methodology/approach

Dress design knowledge can be expressed as the relationship between designer's fashion perceptions of different dress elements. In order to extract dress design knowledge, a dress shape ontology (DSO) is firstly developed, which can be further used to form a dress element matrix (DEM). A perceptual descriptive space of the dress (DPDS) is developed for the description of the designer's fashion perception of dress. Through a standard sensory evaluation procedure performed by experienced experts (designers), the expected relationship can be obtained. This relationship is then mathematically simulated by fuzzy logic tools for the expected DDKB.

Findings

In this paper, a DDKB has been developed. The established knowledge base has been validated, and it can be further applied to dress recommendation system for a specific consumer.

Originality/value

This study introduces the concept of knowledge base to the area of dress individualized design. The knowledge-based design process based on sensory evaluation and fuzzy logic can efficiently solve the individualization of dress design in traditional design processes, which can provide a novel way to dress design individualization.
Near-peer video-based feedback: a useful activity for aspiring school leaders?
Authors: Kearney Wowek Sean , Jurica James , Entzi Theresa
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study examined the value of using near-peer video-based feedback to help train aspiring school leaders in coaching strategies. This research is part of a larger study in which feedback was solicited from both aspiring teachers and aspiring school leaders. The current study focused on the responses provided by the aspiring school leaders.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilized a phenomenological design. Undergraduate students enrolled in a public university in the Southwestern United States were recorded delivering instruction during their final semester of student teaching. These videos were uploaded to a secure website using EdPuzzle. Graduate students aspiring to be principals who were enrolled in a supervision course at the same university observed these classroom videos and provided feedback.

Findings

In regard to what participants learned about using video recordings, responses of aspiring principals fell into three themes as follows: establishing trust, providing critical feedback and broadening perspectives.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited by it being a small-scale study conducted at one public university in the Southwestern United States. Accordingly, the findings of this study are limited in their generalizability.

Practical implications

This study highlights the usefulness of collaborations between educator preparation programs and principal preparation programs to enhance the learning of both student groups.

Originality/value

This research adds to the small but growing body of literature regarding near-peer video-based feedback and its potential value in helping aspiring principals practice coaching skills using written feedback.
Bank supply chain efficiency analysis based on regional heterogeneity: a data-driven empirical study
Authors: Jiang Yu , Li Mingjun , Xia Panpan
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Banking is the key industry to guarantee the core leading role of finance in the process of economic development. It is important to study the bank efficiency and optimal allocation of bank’s resources. The purpose of our paper is to study the optimal allocation of resources between the bank savings system and loan system under the premise of environmental heterogeneity.

Design/methodology/approach

We use a two-stage meta-frontier Data Envelopment Analysis model to solve the relative efficiency of each city branch and use the multivariate statistical tools to analyze the empirical results.

Findings

This paper measures the relative efficiency of 16 Bank Branches of a state-owned bank in Anhui province considering regional heterogeneity. Based on the optimal resource allocation, we get the two-stage operation performance of all banks under group-frontier and meta-frontier and analyze the impact of the technical differences between the branches.

Originality/value

This study has a positive guiding significance for the banking industry to improve its operational efficiency in various business practices in the new era of big data. It will also provide practical suggestions and support for the government and relevant departments in the process of formulating macro-policies to ensure the healthy and stable development of the banking industry.
Exploring information avoidance intention of social media users: a cognition–affect–conation perspective
Authors: Dai Bao , Ali Ahsan , Wang Hongwei
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Grounded on the cognition–affect–conation (C–A–C) framework, this study aims to explore how perceived information overload affects the information avoidance intention of social media users through fatigue, frustration and dissatisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach/methodology/approach

A quantitative research design is adopted. The data collected from 254 respondents in China are analyzed via structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

Perceived information overload directly affects fatigue, frustration and dissatisfaction among social media users, thereby affecting their information avoidance intention. In addition, frustration significantly affects social media fatigue and dissatisfaction. Consequently, social media fatigue influences dissatisfaction among users.

Originality/value

The literature review indicates that social media overload and fatigue yield negative behavioral outcomes, including discontinuance. However, rather than completely abstaining or escaping, social media users adopt moderate strategies, including information avoidance, to cope with overload and fatigue owing to their high dependence on social media. Unfortunately, merely few studies are available on the information avoidance behavior of social media users. Focusing on this line of research, the current study develops a model to investigate the antecedents of information avoidance in social media.
Supply chain management and market responsiveness: a simulation study
Authors: Aljanabi Abdulqadir Rahomee Ahmed , Ghafour Karzan Mahdi
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to provide a practical solution to the relationship between supply chain (SC) integration and market responsiveness (MR). A method is proposed to integrate SC and MR parameters, namely, product supply and demand in the context of low-value commodities (e.g. cement).

Design/methodology/approach

Simulation and forecasting approaches are adopted to develop a potential procedure for addressing demand during lead time. To establish inventory measurements (safety stock and reorder level) and increase MR and the satisfaction of customer’s needs, this study considers a downstream SC including manufacturers, depots and central distribution centers that satisfies an unbounded number of customers, which, in turn, transport the cement from the industrialist.

Findings

The demand during lead time is shown to follow a gamma distribution, a rare probability distribution that has not been considered in previous studies. Moreover, inventory measurements, such as the safety stock, depending on the safety factor under a certain service level (SL), which enables the SC to handle different responsiveness levels in accordance with customer requests. In addition, the quantities of the safety stock and reorder point represent an optimal value at each position to avoid over- or understocking. The role of SC characteristics in MR has largely been ignored in existing research.

Originality/value

This study applies SC flexibility analyzes to overcome the obstacles of analytical methods, especially when the production process involves probabilistic variables such as product availability and demand. The use of an efficient method for analyzing the forecasting results is an unprecedented idea that is proven efficacious in investigating non-dominated solutions. This approach provides near-optimal solutions to the trade-off between different levels of demand and the SC responsiveness (SLs) with minimal experimentation times.
The systematization knowledge of articles adherent to familiness, entrepreneurial orientation and absorptive capacity
Authors: Santos Ismael Luiz dos , Vieira Marinho Sidnei , Santos Ruan Carlos dos
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Family businesses gain notoriety in academic research because they have peculiarities found only in this type of organization, and it is because of these attributes that this work aims to analyze, through an epistemological look, the results of a systematization that sought for works that use the unique characteristics of family businesses, called familiness, as well as two other constructs that showed attractive adherents and little researched in parities with familiness, organizational entrepreneurship, better known as entrepreneurial orientation and the ability to adapt, called absorption capacity.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve this goal, an investigation of national and international academic production was carried out through a systematization called Proknow-C, being possible to identify the main categorical groups of authors in the area, main journals, besides identifying and analyzing the main objectives and contributions of selected scientific articles.

Findings

Among the results obtained, it was possible to consolidate some research intentions inherent to the junction of such constructs, besides directing, which can be the best and most promising fields of research for the application of these constructs and the most indicated methods, based on the three epistemological positions, subjectivism, objectivism and constructivism.

Originality/value

This study adds value to the literature on familiness, pointing to a relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and absorption capacity, in contrast to studies focused on other dimensions of social capital, which obtained divergent results. In addition, this study reinforces the unique characteristics of family enterprises, in which this work intends to consolidate a methodological proposal with arguments linked to positivism or interpretativism in the midst of epistemology. The study provides a valuable theoretical framework of familiness determinants connecting the cognitive perspective of the entrepreneur theory to a view of the absorptive capacity.
Towards a confluence: disability inclusion and organizational change
Authors: Suresh Vasanthi , Dyaram Lata
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Despite increased attention towards workplace disability in global and local development agenda, mainstream inclusion of persons with disability continues to be a challenge for most organizations. This paper aims to explore how organizations can be facilitated for adapting to the need and responsibility for change, towards evolving into disability inclusive workplaces.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses an inter-domain approach by linking organization change and development models to Indian indigenous disability management literature.

Findings

This review indicates that in comparison with the other dimensions of diversity, disability brings unique challenges that need a differentiated management approach. Further, it finds a strong base for organizations to approach disability management as a strategic and transformative change initiative, aligning with some of the proven change and organization development (OD) interventions.

Research limitations/implications

This paper draws implications for disability management and highlights the need for a practice perspective towards disability management and OD.

Originality/value

This paper provides an integrated view of critical factors influencing workplace disability management and OD.