bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thinking with Ferrar Papers 1422: A c. 1681 Verse Miscellany
Authors: Smyth Adam
Published: June 2020

This article explores a late seventeenth-century manuscript verse miscellany held amongst the Ferrar Papers in Magdalene College, Cambridge, not previously discussed by critics. By attending to both the specific features of this manuscript miscellany (including poems by John Dryden, Katherine Philips. and others), and the larger Ferrar archive, the article considers broader questions about how to read and interpret manuscript miscellanies.
A Newly Discovered Edition of the English Palmerin D'oliva
Authors: Sánchez-Martí Jordi
Published: June 2020

This note examines the fragments of the English Palmerin d'Oliva discovered in the library of Christ Church, Oxford, in 2017. First, it briefly discusses the course the Castilian Palmerín de Olivia followed on the Continent until it crossed to England, where Anthony Munday's translation appeared in 1588. After explaining how the fragments were located, their placement, nature and contents are described. The text in the Christ Church fragments is collated with the other editions of the English Palmerin d'Oliva. The ESTC conjecturally states that the newly discovered edition was printed c. 1600 by Thomas Creede and Bernard Alsop. This article, however, argues that the available textual, typographical and bibliographical evidence suggests that this edition must have been printed c. 1609 by Creede, without the participation of Alsop. Finally, note is taken of the presence on the pages of the handwriting of Henry Aldrich, the seventeenth-century dean of Christ Church.
Quantifying Suspiciousness within correlated data sets
Authors: Lemos Pablo , Köhlinger Fabian , Handley Will , Joachimi Benjamin , Whiteway Lorne , Lahav Ofer
Published: June 2020

We propose a principled Bayesian method for quantifying tension between correlated data sets with wide uninformative parameter priors. This is achieved by extending the Suspiciousness statistic, which is insensitive to priors. Our method uses global summary statistics, and as such it can be used as a diagnostic for internal consistency. We show how our approach can be combined with methods that use parameter space and data space to identify the existing internal discrepancies. As an example, we use it to test the internal consistency of the KiDS-450 data in four photometric redshift bins, and to recover controlled internal discrepancies in simulated KiDS data. We propose this as a diagnostic of internal consistency for present and future cosmological surveys, and as a tension metric for data sets that have non-negligible correlation, such as Large Synoptic Spectroscopic Survey and Euclid.
K-CLASH: Strangulation and ram pressure stripping in galaxy cluster members at 0.3 < z < 0.6
Authors: Vaughan Sam P , Tiley Alfred L , Davies Roger L , Prichard Laura J , Croom Scott M , Bureau Martin , Stott John P , Bunker Andrew , Cappellari Michele , Ansarinejad Behzad , Jarvis Matt J
Published: June 2020

Galaxy clusters have long been theorized to quench the star formation of their members. This study uses integral-field unit observations from the K-band MultiObject Spectrograph (KMOS) – Cluster Lensing And Supernova survey with Hubble (CLASH) survey (K-CLASH) to search for evidence of quenching in massive galaxy clusters at redshifts 0.3 < z < 0.6. We first construct mass-matched samples of exclusively star-forming cluster and field galaxies, then investigate the spatial extent of their H α emission and study their interstellar medium conditions using emission line ratios. The average ratio of H α half-light radius to optical half-light radius ($r_{\mathrm{e}, {\rm {H}\,\alpha }}/r_{\mathrm{e}, R_{\mathrm{c} } }$) for all galaxies is 1.14 ± 0.06, showing that star formation is taking place throughout stellar discs at these redshifts. However, on average, cluster galaxies have a smaller $r_{\mathrm{e}, {\rm {H}\alpha }}/r_{\mathrm{e}, R_{\mathrm{c} } }$ ratio than field galaxies: 〈$r_{\mathrm{e}, {\rm {H}\alpha }}/r_{\mathrm{e}, R_{\mathrm{c} } }$〉 = 0.96 ± 0.09 compared to 1.22 ± 0.08 (smaller at a 98 per cent credibility level). These values are uncorrected for the wavelength difference between H α emission and Rc-band stellar light but implementing such a correction only reinforces our results. We also show that whilst the cluster and field samples follow indistinguishable mass–metallicity (MZ) relations, the residuals around the MZ relation of cluster members correlate with cluster-centric distance; galaxies residing closer to the cluster centre tend to have enhanced metallicities (significant at the 2.6σ level). Finally, in contrast to previous studies, we find no significant differences in electron number density between the cluster and field galaxies. We use simple chemical evolution models to conclude that the effects of disc strangulation and ram-pressure stripping can quantitatively explain our observations.
Taxonomic classification method for metagenomics based on core protein families with Core-Kaiju
Authors: Tovo Anna , Menzel Peter , Krogh Anders , Cosentino Lagomarsino Marco , Suweis Samir
Published: June 2020

Characterizing species diversity and composition of bacteria hosted by biota is revolutionizing our understanding of the role of symbiotic interactions in ecosystems. Determining microbiomes diversity implies the assignment of individual reads to taxa by comparison to reference databases. Although computational methods aimed at identifying the microbe(s) taxa are available, it is well known that inferences using different methods can vary widely depending on various biases. In this study, we first apply and compare different bioinformatics methods based on 16S ribosomal RNA gene and shotgun sequencing to three mock communities of bacteria, of which the compositions are known. We show that none of these methods can infer both the true number of taxa and their abundances. We thus propose a novel approach, named Core-Kaiju, which combines the power of shotgun metagenomics data with a more focused marker gene classification method similar to 16S, but based on emergent statistics of core protein domain families. We thus test the proposed method on various mock communities and we show that Core-Kaiju reliably predicts both number of taxa and abundances. Finally, we apply our method on human gut samples, showing how Core-Kaiju may give more accurate ecological characterization and a fresh view on real microbiomes.
Anti-MDA5 autoantibodies associated with juvenile dermatomyositis constitute a distinct phenotype in North America
Authors: Mamyrova Gulnara , Kishi Takayuki , Shi Min , Targoff Ira N , Huber Adam M , Curiel Rodolfo V , Miller Frederick W , Rider Lisa G ,   for the Childhood Myositis Heterogeneity Collaborative Study Group
Published: June 2020

Objective

Myositis-specific autoantibodies have defined distinct phenotypes of patients with juvenile myositis (JIIM). We assessed the frequency and clinical significance of anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) autoantibody-associated JIIM in a North American registry.

Methods

Retrospective examination of the characteristics of 35 JIIM patients with anti-MDA5 autoantibodies was performed, and differences from other myositis-specific autoantibody groups were evaluated.

Results

Anti-MDA5 autoantibodies were present in 35/453 (7.7%) of JIIM patients and associated with older age at diagnosis, and lower serum creatine kinase and aldolase levels. Patients with anti-MDA5 autoantibodies had more frequent weight loss, adenopathy, arthritis, interstitial lung disease (ILD), and less frequent falling compared with anti-transcriptional intermediary factor 1 (TIF1), anti-nuclear matrix protein 2 (NXP2) and myositis-specific autoantibody/myositis-associated autoantibody-negative patients. They had a different season of diagnosis and less frequent mechanic’s hands and ILD compared with those with anti-synthetase autoantibodies. Anti-MDA5 patients received fewer medications compared with anti-TIF1, and corticosteroid treatment was shorter compared with anti-TIF1 and anti-nuclear matrix protein 2 autoantibody groups. The frequency of remission was higher in anti-MDA5 than anti-synthetase autoantibody-positive JIIM. In multivariable analyses, weight loss, arthritis and arthralgia were most strongly associated with anti-MDA5 autoantibody-positive JIIM.

Conclusion

Anti-MDA5 JIIM is a distinct subset, with frequent arthritis, weight loss, adenopathy and less severe myositis, and is also associated with ILD. Anti-MDA5 is distinguished from anti-synthetase autoantibody-positive JIIM by less frequent ILD, lower creatine kinase levels and differing seasons of diagnosis. Anti-MDA5 has comparable outcomes, but with the ability to discontinue steroids more rapidly and less frequent flares compared with anti-TIF1 autoantibodies, and more frequent remission compared with anti-synthetase JIIM patients.
Trustee decision-making: the substratum fallacy and the exercise of discretionary powers
Authors: Machell John
Published: June 2020

The Court of Appeal for Bermuda (Clarke P, Smellie JA and Subair Williams JA) recently handed down judgment in Grand View Private Trust Company Limited v Wong 20 April 2020, overturning the decision by Kawaley AJ at first instance and rejecting his use of the so-called substratum principle to limit the scope of widely drawn powers. The trust and wealth management industry should breath a collective sigh of relief. The industry is able to sell modern discretionary trusts to wealthy clients precisely because of their flexibility and the extent of the powers they contain, particularly discretionary powers of amendment, powers to add and remove beneficiaries and powers to distribute and resettle assets. The decision at first instance threatened to undermine that flexibility and to hamper the way in which trustees operate trusts of this kind. It is suggested that the Court of Appeal was right to reject the argument based on the supposed substratum rule. The argument gives inappropriate and independent life to what (if it is useful at all in this context) should only be a conclusionary metaphor; the argument involves what philosophers might describe as “unjustified reification”, or what the rest of us may think of as the tail wagging the dog. Use of the substratum metaphor risks distraction from the true task, that is, the proper construction of the words used in the relevant instrument in the light of the admissible factual matrix. The purpose of this article is to examine the Court of Appeal’s decision in Grand View, and tentatively to offer some thoughts on the analytical framework within which the validity of the exercise of powers is assessed.
Effect of oscillating feeding time and corn processing on performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers
Authors: Relling Alejandro E , Clevenger David Douglas , Fluharty Francis L
Published: June 2020

The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate the effect of oscillating feeding time (OFT) and corn processing (CoP) on performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot cattle. One hundred sixty-five steers (initial body weight [BW] 277.2 ± 27.80 kg) were blocked by initial BW and allotted to 24 pens. Pens within each block were randomly assigned based on a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The two factors were CoP (whole shelled corn vs. ground corn [GC]) and feeding time (FT) (constant FT vs. 2 hours OFT). Animals were fed the same diet, only changing the CoP method depending on the treatment. Feed offered and feed refusals were collected daily. Body weight was collected at starting day of the experiment (d1) and every 28 d until the end of the experiment. At the end of the experiment, animals were harvested in a commercial slaughter facility, and carcass data were collected by a USDA grader. Animal growth performance and carcass characteristics data were analyzed with the PROC Mixed procedure (SAS) using CoP, FT, and their interaction as fixed variables; and treatments × pen within each block and block were considered random variables. There was no CoP by FT interaction differences (P > 0.10) on animal growth performance variables, nor on hot carcass weight, back fat, rib eye area, or the percentage of kidney, pelvic, and heart fat. There was a tendency for an interaction (P = 0.08) for marbling score, where the steers from the GC processing fed on the oscillating time had a lesser marbling score than the other three treatments. Oscillating feeding time improved (P = 0.05) average daily gain; but did not affect (P ≥ 0.11) dry matter intake (DMI), nor carcass characteristics compared with feeding at a similar time every day. There were no effects (P ≥ 0.11) of CoP on growth performance, nor carcass characteristics. In conclusion, a 2-hour oscillation in FT might not decrease steer feedlot performance. This may be due to the high degree of control of DMI with feed bunk management.
When a Specialty Becomes “Women’s Work”: Trends in and Implications of Specialty Gender Segregation in Medicine
Authors: Pelley Elaine , Carnes Molly
Published: June 2020

The gender composition of physician specialties varies dramatically with some becoming increasingly female predominant while others remain overwhelmingly male. In their analysis of physician workforce data, the authors demonstrate that despite large increases in the number of female physicians over 4 decades, the degree of gender segregation between specialties has not declined. The authors describe lessons from the highly gender-segregated U.S. workforce as a whole to understand these demographic patterns in the physician workforce. Echoing U.S. workforce findings, women physicians are becoming overrepresented in certain specialties, and this appears to be associated with a relative decline in earnings for physicians in these specialties over time. The authors found a strong negative relationship between the proportion of female physicians in a specialty and its mean salary, with gender composition explaining 64% of the variation in salaries among the medical specialties.

Female physicians face biases in the workplace and fall behind male peers in leadership attainment, academic advancement, and earnings. Tenacious gender stereotypes and the conflation of gender and status contribute to these biases and reinforce occupational gender segregation. The clustering of women in certain specialties means these specialties will be disproportionately affected by gender bias. Recognizing the consequences of gender demographics within physician specialties is important to maintain the strong and diverse physician workforce needed to support the health care needs of the populations who depend on these specialties for care.
Reconsidering Systems-Based Practice: Advancing Structural Competency, Health Equity, and Social Responsibility in Graduate Medical Education
Authors: Castillo Enrico G. , Isom Jessica , DeBonis Katrina L. , Jordan Ayana , Braslow Joel T. , Rohrbaugh Robert
Published: June 2020

Health inequities stem from systematic, pervasive social and structural forces. These forces marginalize populations and create the circumstances that disadvantage these groups, as reflected in differences in outcomes like life expectancy and infant mortality and in inequitable access to and delivery of health care resources. To help eradicate these inequities, physicians must understand racism, sexism, oppression, historical marginalization, power, privilege, and other sociopolitical and economic forces that sustain and create inequities. A new educational paradigm emphasizing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to achieve health equity is needed.

Systems-based practice is the graduate medical education core competency that focuses on complex systems and physicians’ roles within them; it includes topics like multidisciplinary team-based care, patient safety, cost containment, end-of-life goals, and quality improvement. This competency, however, is largely health care centric and does not train physicians to engage with the complexities of the social and structural determinants of health or to partner with systems and communities that are outside health care.

The authors propose a new core competency centered on health equity, social responsibility, and structural competency to address this gap in graduate medical education. For the development of this new competency, the authors draw on existing, innovative undergraduate and graduate medical pedagogy and public health, health services research, and social medicine frameworks. They describe how this new competency would inform graduate medical education and clinical care and encourage future physicians to engage in the work of health equity.
New views on benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
Authors: Wang Wei , Lin Peng , Han Xi , Mao Xiang , Li Shanshan , Wen Chao , Liu Qiang , Ni Guangjian , Chen Taisheng
Published: June 2020

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common vestibular peripheral disease, and has increasingly become the focus of research on vertigo diseases in recent years. In particular, otolaryngology and neurology societies worldwide have placed a greater focus on the study of BPPV. This article reviews the current diagnosis and treatment status and research progress of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in China from the aspects of disease etiology, pathology, and pathophysiology. We will also consider potential future research in this field.
Model-Based Approach for Establishing the Predicted Clinical Response of a Delayed-Release and Extended-Release Methylphenidate for the Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Gomeni Roberto , Komolova Marina , Incledon Bev , Faraone Stephen V.
Published: June 2020

Purpose/Background

HLD200 is an evening-dosed, delayed-release and extended-release methylphenidate (DR/ER-MPH) that provides a consistent delay in initial drug release to target onset of therapeutic effect from awakening and maintain it into the evening. Building on a modeling framework established with other extended-release methylphenidate formulations, pharmacokinetic (PK) and PK/pharmacodynamic (PD) models for DR/ER-MPH were developed to describe the time course of effect in response to a range of doses and administration times.

Methods/Procedures

Using available PK data from healthy adults, a population PK model was developed using a 1-compartment model with a time-varying absorption rate described by a single Weibull function. A PK/PD model was then developed using Swanson, Kotkin, Agler, M-Flynn, and Pelham combined scores from a phase 3 trial of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and simulated plasma concentration-time data. Simulations using the PK/PD model were performed for doses of 60, 80, and 100 mg of DR/ER-MPH, administered 4 to 14 hours before the classroom day.

Findings/Results

The PK/PD model predicts that DR/ER-MPH produces a clinical response from early morning into the late afternoon or evening, with increased duration of response occurring with increasing doses. Furthermore, the PK/PD model predicts that maximal clinical effect is achieved with DR/ER-MPH administered 12 hours before the start of the classroom day.

Implications/Conclusions

Model-predicted duration of benefit with DR/ER-MPH is consistent with trial data documenting improvements in functional impairment during the early morning and evening. This model may facilitate dosage optimization by predicting changes in clinical benefit with dose and administration time adjustment.
Tepidiphilus olei sp. nov., isolated from the production water of a water-flooded oil reservoir in PR China
Authors: Wang Xiao-Tong , Shan Jian-Jie , Li Xi-Zhe , Lin Wei , Xiu Jian-Long , Li Dong-An , Zhang Yun-Zeng , Wang Lei
Published: June 2020

A novel, moderately thermophilic, Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated strain J18T, was isolated from a water-flooded oil reservoir. Cells were aerobic, oxidase- and catalase-positive, with a polar flagellum. Growth occurred at 35–60 °C and at pH 6–8.5. The respiratory quinones were ubiquinone 8 and ubiquinone 9. The dominant cellular fatty acids were C16 : 0, C17 : 0cyclo, C19 : 0cycloω8cand summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c/C18 : 1 ω6c). The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified aminolipid, an unidentified phospholipid and an unidentified aminophospholipid. The strain showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities toTepidiphilus margaritiferDSM 15129T(98.6 %),Tepidiphilus succinatimandensDSM 15512T(98.4 %) andTepidiphilus thermophilusDSM 27220T(98.1 %), respectively, and the similarity to other species was lower than 93 %. In the phylogenetic trees, it constituted a unique sub-cluster within the genusTepidiphilus. The DNA G+C content of strain J18Twas 64.44 mol%. As compared with the type strains, the genome-to-genome distances of strain J18Twere 34.7–40 %. These results confirmed the separate species status of J18Twith its close relatives. On the basis of physiological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses along with the low levels of identity at the whole-genome level, it can be concluded that strain J18Trepresents a new species of the genusTepidiphilus, for which the nameTepidiphilus oleisp. nov. is proposed. The type strain ofT. oleiis J18T(=CGMCC 1.16800T=LMG 31400T).
Human bocavirus (HBoV) in Kuwait: molecular epidemiology and clinical outcome of the virus among patients with respiratory diseases
Authors: Madi Nada M. , Al-Adwani Anfal
Published: June 2020

Introduction. Globally, human bocavirus (HBoV) has been detected in respiratory samples from patients suffering from upper and lower respiratory diseases. In Kuwait, little is known about the epidemiological and clinical characterization of the virus and genetic characterization of the virus as a respiratory pathogen is unknown.

Aim. This study aims to explore the molecular epidemiology and clinical features of HBoV isolates in patients with respiratory diseases.

Methodology. Retrospectively, between 2018 and 2020, 5941 respiratory samples from patients with respiratory diseases were screened for respiratory viruses using multiplex real-time PCR. Samples that were positive for HBoV were then subjected to NP1 and VP1/PV2 phylogenetic analysis.

Results. HBoV was detected in 1.9 % of the patients, with a peak incidence of infection among children <1 year old. Co-infection with other respiratory viruses was observed in 56.8 % of HBoV-positive patients. Fever, cough and respiratory distress were the most common clinical features of HBoV infection. Phylogenetic analysis of the Kuwaiti HBoV isolates revealed that all the isolates were of the HBoV-1 genotype, with slight sequence variations among the isolates.

Conclusion. This study illustrated the predominance of the HBoV-1 genotype in patients with respiratory diseases in Kuwait with minimal genetic variability. It also highlighted the clinical features of HBoV-1 infection, verifying its role in respiratory diseases.
Comparative evaluation of IS6110 and protein antigen b PCR in cerebrospinal fluid for rapid diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in children
Authors: Agarwal Sikha , Saini Arushi Gahlot , Dhawan Sumeet , Khadwal Alka , Sharma Kusum , Singhi Pratibha
Published: June 2020

Introduction. Childhood tuberculosis meningitis is a severe form of tuberculosis with high morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis is frequently missed and delayed due to lack of sensitive tests like acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear and delayed results by culture.

Aims. To compare the role of IS6110 and protein antigen b PCR in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for rapid diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in children.

Methodology. Forty-five cases of TBM and 20 controls were enrolled in this prospective study.

Results. The mean ages of cases and controls were 4.2±0.5 years and 4.5±0.7 years, respectively. In the TBM group, two-thirds of the children were <4 years of age, and 62 % were males. Sensitivities of AFB smear examination, Löwenstein–Jensen (LJ) medium and bactenecin (BACTEC) culture in cases were 4.4, 0 and 2.2%, respectively. The protein antigen b PCR was most sensitive as it was positive in 35 (77.8 %) of TBM patients; IS6110 PCR was positive in 27 (60 %) patients. Both PCR-based tests had higher positivity than conventional tests and BACTEC culture. No significant difference was seen between the PCR tests. Excellent agreement was observed between both PCR-based tests as they were concordant for 26 positive samples and 35 negative samples.

Conclusion. Protein b PCR is a sensitive and rapid method for the diagnosis of TBM (sensitivity 77.8 %). Both PCRs were more sensitive than smear, LJ and BACTEC. The specificity of both PCR was 100 %.
Test sensitivity is secondary to frequency and turnaround time for COVID-19 surveillance
Authors: Larremore Daniel B. , Wilder Bryan , Lester Evan , Shehata Soraya , Burke James M. , Hay James A. , Tambe Milind , Mina Michael J. , Parker Roy
Published: June 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a public health crisis. Because SARS-CoV-2 can spread from individuals with pre-symptomatic, symptomatic, and asymptomatic infections, the re-opening of societies and the control of virus spread will be facilitated by robust surveillance, for which virus testing will often be central. After infection, individuals undergo a period of incubation during which viral titers are usually too low to detect, followed by an exponential viral growth, leading to a peak viral load and infectiousness, and ending with declining viral levels and clearance. Given the pattern of viral load kinetics, we model surveillance effectiveness considering test sensitivities, frequency, and sample-to-answer reporting time. These results demonstrate that effective surveillance depends largely on frequency of testing and the speed of reporting, and is only marginally improved by high test sensitivity. We therefore conclude that surveillance should prioritize accessibility, frequency, and sample-to-answer time; analytical limits of detection should be secondary.
OCCURRENCE OF THE BRACHIOPODTICHOSINAIN DEEP-SEA CORAL BOTTOMS OF THE CARIBBEAN SEA AND ITS PALEOENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS
Authors: Rojas Alexis , Gracia Adriana , Hernández-Ávila Ivan , Patarroyo Pedro , Kowalewski Michał
Published: June 2020

Despite its importance as the larger component of the modern and Cenozoic brachiopod faunas in the Caribbean region, the ecology and habitat preferences of the terebratulidTichosinaremain poorly understood. We compiled field observations from multiple sites in the Caribbean of Colombia (i.e., San Bernado Bank, Bahia Honda-Guajira, Puerto Escondido, Joint Regime Area Jamaica-Colombia) and data from the R/V Pillsbury program, indicating thatTichosinamay have close ecological ties with deep-water corals. In addition, we reviewed literature sources on Cenozoic sediments in the Dominican Republic and found tentative evidence that such ecological ties could have existed since at least the Pliocene. These observations are reminiscent of theGryphus-anthozoan association observed in the modern Mediterranean continental margin. Understanding to what extent the brachiopodTichosinais linked to deep-water habitats has implications for the recognition of deep-water macrobenthic communities in the Cenozoic rock record of the Caribbean.
Heterogeneity of murine periosteum progenitors involved in fracture healing
Authors: Matthews Brya G , Novak Sanja , Sbrana Francesca V , Funnell Jessica L. , Cao Ye , Buckels Emma J. , Grcevic Danka , Kalajzic Ivo
Published: June 2020

The periosteum is the major source of cells involved in fracture healing. We sought to characterize progenitor cells and their contribution to bone fracture healing. The periosteum is highly enriched for progenitor cells, including Sca1+ cells, CFU-F and label-retaining cells compared to the endosteum and bone marrow. Using lineage tracing, we demonstrate that αSMA identifies long-term, slow-cycling, self-renewing osteochondroprogenitors in the adult periosteum that are functionally important for bone formation during fracture healing. In addition, Col2.3CreER-labeled osteoblast cells contribute around 10% of osteoblasts, but no chondrocytes in fracture calluses. Most periosteal osteochondroprogenitors following fracture, can be targeted by αSMACreER. Previously identified skeletal stem cell populations were common in periosteum, but contained high proportions of mature osteoblasts. We have demonstrated that the periosteum is highly enriched for skeletal progenitor cells and there is heterogeneity in the populations of cells that contribute to mature lineages during periosteal fracture healing.
Development of a fluorescence based, high-throughput SARS-CoV-2 3CLproreporter assay
Authors: Froggatt Heather M. , Heaton Brook E. , Heaton Nicholas S.
Published: June 2020

In late 2019 a human coronavirus, now known as SARS-CoV-2, emerged, likely from a zoonotic reservoir. This virus causes COVID-19 disease, has infected millions of people, and has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths across the globe. While the best interventions to control and ultimately stop the pandemic are prophylactic vaccines, antiviral therapeutics are important to limit morbidity and mortality in those already infected. At this time, only one FDA approved anti-SARS-CoV-2 antiviral drug, remdesivir, is available and unfortunately, its efficacy appears to be limited. Thus, the identification of new and efficacious antivirals is of highest importance. In order to facilitate rapid drug discovery, flexible, sensitive, and high-throughput screening methods are required. With respect to drug targets, most attention is focused on either the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase or the main viral protease, 3CLpro. 3CLprois an attractive target for antiviral therapeutics as it is essential for processing newly translated viral proteins, and the viral lifecycle cannot be completed without protease activity. In this work, we present a new assay to identify inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, 3CLpro. Our reporter is based on a GFP-derived protein that only fluoresces after cleavage by 3CLpro. This experimentally optimized reporter assay allows for antiviral drug screening in human cell culture at biosafety level-2 (BSL2) with high-throughput compatible protocols. Using this screening approach in combination with existing drug libraries may lead to the rapid identification of novel antivirals to suppress SARS-CoV-2 replication and spread.

IMPORTANCE

The COVID-19 pandemic has already led to more than 400,000 deaths and innumerable changes to daily life worldwide. Along with development of a vaccine, identification of effective antivirals to treat infected patients is of the highest importance. However, rapid drug discovery requires efficient methods to identify novel compounds that can inhibit the virus. In this work, we present a method for identifying inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, 3CLpro. This reporter-based assay allows for antiviral drug screening in human cell culture at biosafety level-2 (BSL2) with high-throughput compatible sample processing and analysis. This assay may help identify novel antivirals to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
Associations of ambient air pollutants and meteorological factors with COVID-19 transmission in 31 Chinese provinces: A time-series study
Authors: Cao Han , Li Bingxiao , Gu Tianlun , Liu Xiaohui , Meng Kai , Zhang Ling
Published: June 2020

Background

Evidence regarding the effects of ambient air pollutants and meteorological factors on COVID-19 transmission is limited.

Objectives

To explore the associations of air pollutants and meteorological factors with COVID-19 confirmed cases across 31 Chinese provinces during the outbreak period.

Methods

The number of COVID-19 confirmed cases, air pollutant concentrations and meteorological factors in 31 Chinese provinces from January 25 to February 29, 2020 were extracted from authoritative electronic databases. The associations were estimated for a single-day lag (lag0-lag6) as well as moving averages lag (lag01-lag05) using generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs), adjusted for time trends, day of the week, holidays and meteorological variables. Region-specific analyses and meta-analysis were conducted in five selected regions with diverse air pollution levels and weather conditions. Nonlinear exposure-response analyses were performed.

Results

We examined 77,578 COVID-19 confirmed cases across 31 Chinese provinces during the study period. An increase of each interquartile range in PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, O3 and CO at lag4 corresponded to 1.40 (1.37-1.43), 1.35 (1.32-1.37), 1.01 (1.00-1.02), 1.08 (1.07-1.10), 1.28 (1.27-1.29) and 1.26 (1.24-1.28) odds ratios (ORs) of daily COVID-19 confirmed new cases, respectively. For 1 °C, 1% and 1 m/s increase in temperature, relative humidity and wind velocity, the ORs were 0.97 (0.97-0.98), 0.96 (0.96-0.97), and 0.94 (0.92-0.95), respectively. The estimates of PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and all meteorological factors remained statistically significant after meta-analysis for the five selected regions. The exposure-response relationships showed that higher concentrations of air pollutants and lower meteorological factors were associated with daily COVID-19 confirmed new cases increasing.

Conclusions

Higher air pollutant concentrations and lower temperature, relative humidity and wind velocity may favor COVID-19 transmission. As summer months are arriving in the Northern Hemisphere, the environmental factors and implementation of public health control measures may play an optimistic role in controlling COVID-19 epidemic.
Deployment of whistleblowing as an accountability mechanism to curb corruption and fraud in a developing democracy
Authors: Okafor Oliver Nnamdi , Adebisi Festus A. , Opara Michael , Okafor Chidinma Blessing
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper investigates the challenges and opportunities for the deployment of whistleblowing as an accountability mechanism to curb corruption and fraud in a developing country. Nigeria is the institutional setting for the study.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting an institutional theory perspective and a survey protocol of urban residents in the country, the study presents evidence on the whistleblowing program introduced in 2016. Nigeria’s whistleblowing initiative targets all types of corruption, including corporate fraud.

Findings

This study finds that, even in the context of a developing country, whistleblowing is supported as an accountability mechanism, but the intervention lacks awareness, presents a high risk to whistleblowers and regulators, including the risk of physical elimination, and is fraught with institutional and operational challenges. In effect, awareness of whistleblowing laws, operational challenges and an institutional environment conducive to venality undermine the efficacy of whistleblowing in Nigeria.

Originality/value

The study presents a model of challenges and opportunities for whistleblowing in a developing democracy. The authors argue that the existence of a weak and complex institutional environment and the failure of program institutionalization explain those challenges and opportunities. The authors also argue that a culturally anchored and institutionalized whistleblowing program encourages positive civic behavior by incentivizing citizens to act as custodians of their resources, and it gives voice to the voiceless who have endured decades of severe hardship and loss of dignity due to corruption.
A thermal extension and loss model for Tellinen’s hysteresis model
Authors: Kühn Jan , Bartel Andreas , Putek Piotr
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The thermally extended Tellinen model (Kühn et al., to appear) is here investigated and equipped with a hysteresis loss model, while preserving its simple structure.

Design/methodology/approach

As in the original model, these approaches are based upon phenomenal observations and measured saturation curves. The authors start with the original model and step-by-step add their extensions, such that in the end they can apply the extended model in a finite element method (FEM) simulation. During the process, care is taken to ensure that the applicability in a FEM simulation is not impaired, in terms of memory requirements and computing power.

Findings

In comparison to the original model, this extended model needs some further requirements and so is a little bit more limited in its application. It is in itself coherent and well defined. The authors provide an on-the-fly algorithm computation of hysteresis losses. First numerical results for a coupled field/thermal system show expected behavior.

Originality/value

The original model (Tellinen, 1998) does not take temperature into account. It includes a model for calculating hysteresis losses, but it differs largely from the approach presented here. The thermal extension is now also equipped with an on-the-fly method for hysteresis losses. Furthermore, the authors provide some analysis of simple, stable loops.
A tale of two continents: the internationalisation of Millicom in Africa and Latin America
Authors: Whalley Jason , Curwen Peter
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to chart the growth of Millicom, a Luxembourg based but international operator of cable and mobile telecommunication networks.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal case study approach is adopted covering the period 1990–2019 (inclusive). Data are drawn from multiple sources, including annual reports of Millicom and the trade press.

Findings

The analysis of this study highlights the changing geographical focus of Millicom. When founded, it was present in three regions – Africa, Asia and Latin America – but over time, it has concentrated its operations on the latter region. Secondly, Millicom has widened its operational remit to include more lines of business. This reflects the converged strategy that has been adopted in Latin America, where it is now active in cable and mobile telecommunication markets.

Research limitations/implications

The paper illustrates the difficulties of research into privately owned companies and especially those active in the telecommunications industry in the early 1990s.

Practical implications

The analysis of this study highlights the challenges of researching companies active, as the telecommunications sector began to be liberalised. There is limited data in the public domain covering the early 1990s, not least because the Internet as understood today had not yet emerged.

Originality/value

To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first academic paper to analyse the internationalisation of Millicom.
Navigating the tensions in environmental innovation: a paradox perspective
Authors: Di Paola Nadia , Russo Spena Tiziana
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the hybrid nature and scope of environmental innovation (EI) by assuming a paradox perspective and developing it empirically. Specifically, the authors raise the questions of how the opposite elements of EI characteristics can be arranged and combined to generate benefits for companies and markets.

Design/methodology/approach

A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) is conducted to analyse European companies operating in telecommunications and in information and communication technology (ICT). This method helps us interpret the complexity occurring in the real world, in which the contribution of a specific attribute to the outcome might change according to other interacting and concurring aspects.

Findings

By recognising the conflicting aspects inherent to the complexity of EI, this study addresses how these tensions can be embraced. Specifically, the paradox logic is proposed to open EI strategy to a “both-and” perspective, with the purpose of making EI goals concretely feasible and integrated into a holistic view.

Practical implications

Paradoxical resolution denotes purposeful iterations between alternatives to ensure simultaneous attention to them over time. A paradox logic can support managers in making the EI strategy more workable and reconciling the extremes as well as possible.

Originality/value

This study unpacks the multiple enactments of EI by exploring the factors enabling integrated EI benefits. By adopting a paradox approach, the EI strategy may be interpreted in a “both-and” perspective, allowing firms to concretely achieve integrated EI benefits.
The past, present and future of open innovation
Authors: Bigliardi Barbara , Ferraro Giovanna , Filippelli Serena , Galati Francesco
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Through a comprehensive review of the literature on open innovation (OI), this study aimed to achieve two objectives: (1) to identify the main thematic areas discussed in the past and track their evolution over time; and (2) to provide recommendations for future research avenues.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the first objective, a method based on text mining was implemented, with the analysis focusing on 1,772 journal articles published between 2003 and 2018. For the second objective, a review based on recent and relevant papers was conducted for each thematic area.

Findings

The paper identified nine thematic areas explored in existing research: (1) context-dependency of OI, (2) collaborative frameworks, (3) organizational dimensions of OI, (4) performance and OI, (5) external search for OI, (6) OI in small and medium-sized enterprises, (7) OI in the pharmaceutical industry, (8) OI and intellectual property rights, and (9) technology. The analysis of the most recent papers belonging to the more investigated areas offers suitable suggestions for future research avenues.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no review has yet been undertaken to reorganize the OI literature.
Consumer preferences for gender typicality in front-line services staff in the United States vis-à-vis South Korea: an experimental approach
Authors: Timming Andrew , Baumann Chris , Gollan Paul
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine how variations in the perceived gender (a)typicality of front-line staff impact on consumer spending. Gender typicality is defined here as traditionally masculine-looking men and feminine-looking women, whereas gender atypicality, in contrast, refers to feminine-looking men and masculine-looking women.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an experimental design, the authors use simulated consumption scenarios across two separate studies, one in the USA and the other in South Korea. In each study, the authors investigate main and interaction effects in relation to front-line employees’ race (whitevis-à-visAsian) and baseline gender (originally malevis-à-visoriginally female).

Findings

Across the two studies, consumers spent more money with gender-typical female front-line staff or, alternatively stated, less money with more masculine-looking female front-line staff. The effect of the male service staff was more complicated. In both countries, the authors found a significant consumer preference for gender-atypical (i.e. more feminine-looking), Asian male employees, compared to more masculine-looking Asian men.

Research limitations/implications

The experimental design strengthens claims of not only good internal validity but also weakens the generalizability of the findings. Field research is needed to explore these effects in various workplaces and sectors. The authors also acknowledge the limitations of operationalizing the gender (a)typicality of front-line staff by manipulating facial structures. Future research should manipulate gender (a)typicality using sociological and performative indicators.

Practical implications

The authors contribute to ongoing debates surrounding the legality and ethics of regulating employee appearance in the workplace. Employers must consider whether this type of “lookism” is legally and morally defensible.

Originality/value

This is, to the knowledge, the first-ever study to examine the effect of front-line employee gender non-conformity on consumer behavior and decision-making. The authors show how variations in perceived gender (a)typicality can, variously, promote or retard consumer spending. The study is original in that it shifts the debate from traditional studies of between-gender differences to a focus on within-gender differences. The key value of the research is that it shines a much-needed light on the changing role of gender in the workplace.
Psychological contract violation and turnover intention: the role of job dissatisfaction and work disengagement
Authors: Azeem Muhammad Umer , Bajwa Sami Ullah , Shahzad Khuram , Aslam Haris
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper investigates the role of psychological contract violation (PCV) as the antecedent of employee turnover intention. It also explores the role of job dissatisfaction and work disengagement as the sequential underlying mechanism of a positive effect of PCV on employee turnover intention.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on social exchange theory (SET), the authors postulate that PCV triggers negative reciprocity behaviour in employees, which leads to job dissatisfaction and work disengagement, which in turn develop into turnover intentions. The authors tested the research model on time-lagged data from 200 managers working in the banking sector of Pakistan.

Findings

The findings confirmed the hypothesis that employees experiencing PCV raise their turnover intentions because of a feeling of organisational betrayal which makes them dissatisfied and detached from their work.

Originality/value

This research advances the body of knowledge in the area of psychological contracts by identifying the mechanisms through which PCVs translate into employee turnover intentions.
Is it worth for bachelor graduates to diversify study programme for master level?
Authors: Balogh Gábor , Sipos Norbert
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to add supplement to the theory of human capital with a less researched aspect: diversification possibilities of the professional profile. Our empirical analysis tested the research question, whether there is a significant difference between diversificational and specialist career strategies in the BA-MA transition based on labour market data on salaries and time of getting employment.

Design/methodology/approach

Present study analyses data from the Graduate Career Tracking System from 2011 to 2015 and the Integrated Administrative Databases from 2017. Graduates of master's courses were divided and compared in three groups: generalists, specialists and field changers. To evaluate career strategies the measurement of success was based on salaries and the time taken to get jobs.

Findings

The analysis showed that there are visible differences between the results of the three groups regarding factors of employment, so at the time of reaching the absolutorium a lower rate of major subject changers are employed, while field changers get jobs significantly faster. Based on net salaries we could not reveal a difference between major subject retainers and changers, while field changers earn significantly more.

Practical implications

Specialists (major subject retainers) have jobs that match with their degree and specialty outstandingly, field changers have notably weaker matches, while major subject changers differ only minimally. Considering this it may be due to distorted perception that specialists think the least that their master's studies are essential for the proper execution of their jobs.

Originality/value

In the literature review we found a research gap: Although there is a large number of excellent works analysing the effects of education on wages (salary curve) and career, but only a few of them investigates the impact of the professional portfolio (diversification or specialisation). The novelty of our research is that we developed a new methodology to test this question on example of the Hungarian students of business and economics focused.