bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First dose mRNA vaccination is sufficient to reactivate immunological memory to SARS-CoV-2 in ex COVID-19 subjects
Authors: Mazzoni Alessio , Di Lauria Nicoletta , Maggi Laura , Salvati Lorenzo , Vanni Anna , Capone Manuela , Lamacchia Giulia , Mantengoli Elisabetta , Spinicci Michele , Zammarchi Lorenzo , Kiros Seble Tekle , Colao Maria Grazia , Parronchi Paola , Scaletti Cristina , Turco Lucia , Liotta Francesco , Rossolini Gian Maria , Cosmi Lorenzo , Bartoloni Alessandro , Annunziato Francesco ,   for the COVID-19 Research Group
Published: March 2021

Characterizing the adaptive immune response to COVID-19 vaccination in individuals who recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection may define current and future clinical practice. To determine the effect of two doses BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination schedule in individuals who recovered from COVID-19 (ex COVID-19) compared to naïve subjects we evaluated SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific T and B cell responses, as well as specific IgG, IgM and neutralizing antibodies titres in 22 individuals who received BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, 11 of which had a previous history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Evaluations were performed before vaccination and then weekly until 7 days post second injection. Data obtained clearly showed that one vaccine dose is sufficient to increase both cellular and humoral immune response in ex COVID-19 subjects without any additional improvement after the second dose. On the contrary, the second dose is mandatory in naïve ones to further enhance the response. These results question whether a second vaccine jab in ex COVID-19 subjects is required and indicate that millions of vaccine doses may be redirected to naïve individuals, thus shortening the time to reach herd immunity.
Anti-Spike protein assays to determine post-vaccination antibody levels: a head-to-head comparison of five quantitative assays
Authors: Perkmann Thomas , Perkmann-Nagele Nicole , Koller Thomas , Mucher Patrick , Radakovics Astrid , Marculescu Rodrig , Wolzt Michael , Wagner Oswald F. , Binder Christoph J. , Haslacher Helmuth
Published: March 2021

Background

Reliable quantification of the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is highly relevant for identifying possible vaccine failure and estimating the time of protection. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the performance of five different Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays regarding the quantification of anti-spike (S) antibodies induced after a single dose of BNT162b2.

Methods

Sera of n=69 SARS-CoV-2 naïve individuals 21±1 days after vaccination with BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) were tested using the following quantitative SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays: Roche S total antibody, DiaSorin trimeric spike IgG, DiaSorin S1/S2 IgG, Abbott II IgG, and Serion/Virion IgG. Test agreement was assessed by Passing-Bablok regression. Results were further compared to the percent inhibition calculated from a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) by correlation and ROC (receiver-operating-characteristics) analysis.

Results

Individual values were distributed over several orders of magnitude for all assays evaluated. Although the assays were in good overall agreement (ρ=0.80-0.94), Passing-Bablok regression revealed systematic and proportional differences, which could not be eliminated by converting the results to BAU/mL as suggested by the manufacturers. 7 (10%) individuals had a negative sVNT results (i.e. <30% inhibition). These samples were reliably identified by most assays and yielded low binding antibody levels (ROC-AUCs 0.84-0.93).

Conclusions

Although all assays evaluated showed good correlation, readings from different assays were not interchangeable, even when converted to BAU/mL using the WHO international standard for SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin. This highlights the need for further standardization of SARS-CoV-2 serology.
Gait-phase modulates alpha and beta oscillations in the pedunculopontine nucleus
Authors: He Shenghong , Deli Alceste , Fischer Petra , Wiest Christoph , Huang Yongzhi , Martin Sean , Khawaldeh Saed , Aziz Tipu Z. , Green Alexander L , Brown Peter , Tan Huiling
Published: March 2021

Backgroud

The pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) is a reticular collection of neurons at the junction of the midbrain and pons, playing an important role in modulating posture and locomotion. Deep brain stimulation of the PPN has been proposed as an emerging treatment for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) or multiple system atrophy (MSA) suffering gait-related atypical parkinsonian syndromes.

Objective

In this study, we investigated PPN activities during gait to better understand its functional role in locomotion. Specifically, we investigated whether PPN activity is rhythmically modulated during locomotion.

Methods

PPN local field potential (LFP) activities were recorded from PD or MSA patients suffering from gait difficulties during stepping in place or free walking. Simultaneous measurements from force plates or accelerometers were used to determine the phase within each gait cycle at each time point.

Results

Our results showed that activities in the alpha and beta frequency bands in the PPN LFPs were rhythmically modulated by the gait phase within gait cycles, with a higher modulation index when the stepping rhythm was more regular. Meanwhile, the PPN-cortical coherence was most prominent in the alpha band. Both gait-phase related modulation in the alpha/beta power and the PPN-cortical coherence in the alpha frequency band were spatially specific to the PPN and did not extend to surrounding regions.

Conclusions

These results raise the possibility that alternating PPN stimulation in tandem with the gait rhythm may be more beneficial for gait control than continuous stimulation, although this remains to be established in future studies.
cinaR: A comprehensive R package for the differential analyses and functional interpretation of ATAC-seq data
Authors: Karakaslar E Onur , Ucar Duygu
Published: March 2021

ATAC-seq is a frequently used assay to study chromatin accessibility levels. Differential chromatin accessibility analyses between biological groups and functional interpretation of these differential regions are essential in ATAC-seq data analyses. Although distinct methods and analyses pipelines are developed for this purpose, a stand-alone R package that combines state-of-the art differential and functional enrichment analyses pipelines is missing. To fill this gap, we developedcinaR (Chromatin Analyses inR), which is a single wrapper function and provides users with various data analyses and visualization options, including functional enrichment analyses with gene sets curated from multiple sources.

Availability and implementation

cinaRis an R/CRAN package which is under GPL-3 License and its source code is freely accessible athttps://CRAN.R-project.org/package=cinaR.

Gene sets are available athttps://CRAN.R-project.org/package=cinaRgenesets.

Bone marrow ATAC-seq data is available athttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE165120
Novel regulators of growth identified in the evolution of fin proportion in flying fish
Authors: Daane Jacob M. , Blum Nicola , Lanni Jennifer , Boldt Helena , Iovine M. Kathryn , Higdon Charles W. , Johnson Stephen L. , Lovejoy Nathan R. , Harris Matthew P.
Published: March 2021

Identifying the genetic foundations of trait variation and evolution is challenging as it is often difficult to parse meaningful signals from confounding signatures such as drift and epistasis. However, identification of the genetic loci underlying morphological and physiological traits can be honed through the use of comparative and complementary genetic approaches, whereby shared sets of genes that are repeatedly implicated across large evolutionary time periods as under selection can illuminate important pathways and epistatic relationships that function as novel regulators of trait development. Here we intersect comparative genomic analyses with unbiased mutagenesis screens in distantly related species to define the control of proportional growth, as changes in the size and relative proportions of tissues underlie a large degree of the variant forms seen in nature. Through a phylogenomic analysis of genome-wide variation in 35 species of flying fishes and relatives, we identify genetic signatures in both coding and regulatory regions underlying the convergent evolution of increased paired fin size and aerial gliding behaviors, key innovations for flying fishes and flying halfbeaks. To refine our analysis, we intersected convergent phylogenomic signatures with mutants identified in distantly related zebrafish with altered fin size. Through these paired approaches, we identify a surprising role for an L-type amino acid transporter,lat4a, and the potassium channel,kcnh2a, in the regulation of fin proportion. We show that specific epistatic interaction between these genetic loci in zebrafish closely phenocopies the observed fin proportions of flying fishes. The congruence of experimental and phylogenomic findings point to a conserved, non-canonical signaling interaction that integrates bioelectric cues and amino acid transport in the establishment of relative size in development and evolution.
Meta-Analysis and Structural Dynamics of the Emergence of Genetic Variants of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Castonguay Nicolas , Zhang Wandong , Langlois Marc-Andre
Published: March 2021

The novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in late December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and is the causative agent for the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the betacoronavirus genus. Due to the error-prone nature of the viral RNA-dependent polymerase complex, coronaviruses are known to acquire new mutations at each cycle of genome replication. This constitutes one of the main factors driving the evolution of its relatively large genome and the emergence of new genetic variants. In the past few months, the identification of new B.1.1.7 (UK), B.1.351 (South Africa) and P.1 (Brazil) variants of concern (VOC) have highlighted the importance of tracking the emergence of mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome that impact transmissibility, virulence, and immune and neutralizing antibody escape. Here we analyzed the appearance and prevalence trajectory over time of mutations that appeared in all SARS-CoV-2 genes from December, 2019 to April, 2021. The goal of the study was to identify which genetic modifications are the most frequent and study the dynamics of their propagation, their incorporation into the consensus sequence, and their impact on virus biology. We also analyzed the structural properties of the spike glycoprotein of the B.1.1.7, B.1.351 and P.1 variants for its binding to the host receptor ACE2. This study offers an integrative view of the emergence, disappearance, and consensus sequence integration of successful mutations that constitute new SARS-CoV-2 variants and their impact on neutralizing antibody therapeutics and vaccines.

IMPORTANCE

SARS-CoV-2 is the etiological agent of COVID-19, which has caused > 3.4 million deaths worldwide as of April, 2021. Mutations occur in the genome of SARS-CoV-2 during viral replication and affect viral infectivity, transmissibility, and virulence. In early March 2020, the D614G mutation in the spike protein emerged, which increased viral transmissibility and is now found in over 90% of all SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences in GISAID database. Between October and December 2020, B.1.1.7 (UK), B.1.351 (South Africa) and P.1 (Brazil) variants of concern (VOCs) emerged, which have increased neutralizing antibody escape capabilities because of mutations in the receptor binding domain of the spike protein. Characterizing mutations in these variants is crucial because of their effect on adaptive immune responses, neutralizing antibody therapy, and their impact on vaccine efficacy. Here we tracked and analyzed mutations in SARS-CoV-2 genes since the beginning of the pandemic and investigated their functional impact on the spike of these three VOCs.

Graphical Abstract
Public Awareness of Mask Usage in 29 Countries
Authors: Annaka Susumu
Published: March 2021

This study analyzed the determinants of people wearing masks in 29 countries in 2020 using over 400,000 survey responses. The results showed that there is considerable variance in the awareness of mask usage across countries. People in Asian countries tend to wear masks whereas citizens in Scandinavian countries are less likely to wear them. This study also found that citizens in more democratic and more prosperous countries are less likely to wear masks. Furthermore, females are more likely to wear them. This paper contributes to the literature as it re-examines anecdotes and previous research by using statistical methods to analyze over 400,000 survey responses.
Innovating Pathology Learning via Kahoot! Game-based Tool: A Quantitative Study of Students’ Perceptions and Academic Performance
Authors: Abdelsalam Elkhamisy Fatma Alzahraa , Wassef Rita Maher
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Pathology teaching for medical undergraduate students linking basic and clinical sciences together is a challenging task. Kahoot! is a game-based online digital formative assessment tool that can engage students in its learning. This study analyzed the effect of Kahoot! use on studentś learning of Pathology.

Methods

The study was carried out on the first-year Pathology students at Helwan University, Faculty of Medicine, after ending a basic Pathology course. The study is a retrospective quasi-experimental quantitative study. Academic performance of students in Pathology was compared between Kahoot! and non-Kahoot! users (55 students each). In addition, an online survey was introduced to the 55 Kahoot! user students to investigate their perceptions on Kahoot!. Survey and test score data were analyzed by appropriate tests using IBM-SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) Version 21.0. The level of significance was P <0.05.

Results

Kahoot! enhanced Pathology understanding (83.6%), retaining knowledge (87.3%), made learning fun and motivating (89.1%). Other mentioned advantages of Kahoot! were practicing for the exam (40%), simple and easy to use (36.4%), competitive (18.2%), self-confidence booster (10.9%), forming a comprehensive image of the lecture (9%), quick (9%), and imagining skills booster (5.5%). Mentioned disadvantages included no explanation for the answers to the questions (20%). A quarter of the students stated that the time limit for the questions was short (27.3%). Kahoot! use was significantly associated with better Pathology academic performance (P=0.001), and it was not related to the general academic performance of the students (P=0.06). The majority of users (85.4%) recommended its continuous future use.

Conclusions

The study offers an endorsement to the use of Kahoot! for gamifying formative assessment of Pathology and can provide a basis for the design of an online Kahoot!-based continuous formative assessment plans implemented outside-classroom in the Pathology curricula.
SEROPREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION AMONG HIV INFECTED INDIVIDUALS IN UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA
Authors: Innocent-Adiele Hope C. , Michael Baah B. T. , Okonko Iheanyi O. , Ogbu Ogbonnaya
Published: March 2021

Aim

Hepatitis B and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are highly endemic in Nigeria and are important causes of death and disability. Co-infection between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) commonly occur as both viruses share a common mode of transmission. This leads to fulminant hepatitis and liver cirrhosis depending on the stages of infection which are acute and chronic stages respectively. This study was carried to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) among HIV-infected individuals in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Methods

In this study 176 HIV-infected individuals were recruited comprising 67 males and 109 females. These subjects were screened for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

From those tested, 11 were positive for HBsAg giving an overall prevalence rate of 6.3%. Co-infection rate of males (8.5%) did not differ significantly (p>0.05) from that of females (6.4%). Co-infection was highest in age group 6-30 years (28.2%). In relation to marital status, singles had the higher co-infection rates (10.5%) than married subjects (4.7%). Among the different occupational groups, students had the highest co-infection rate (22.2%) and was closely followed by business (16.7%). Higher HIV/HBV co-infection was observed among those with CD4 cell count <200 cells/μl (15.4%) and those with plasma viral loads (PVL)>5001 copies/mL (13.6%).

Conclusion

This study confirms the high HIV/HBV co-infection rate (6.3%) and thus, there is a need to screen all HIV-positive individuals for HBV infection. A high seroprevalence of HBV among this cohort of HIV-infected individuals contributes to the calls for pre-ART screening for HBV and the necessary paradigm shift in the ART nucleoside backbone to include agent(s) more dually effective against HIV and HBV.
Single-cell RNA-seq revealed the role of Alkbh5 in reproduction
Authors: Shen Xiaozhong , Xie Gangcai
Published: March 2021

This manuscript has been withdrawn by the authors as it was submitted and made public without the full consent of all the authors. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as reference for the project. If you have any questions, please contact the corresponding author
Development of potency, breadth and resilience to viral escape mutations in SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies
Authors: Muecksch Frauke , Weisblum Yiska , Barnes Christopher O. , Schmidt Fabian , Schaefer-Babajew Dennis , Lorenzi Julio C C , Flyak Andrew I , DeLaitsch Andrew T , Huey-Tubman Kathryn E , Hou Shurong , Schiffer Celia A. , Gaebler Christian , Wang Zijun , Da Silva Justin , Poston Daniel , Finkin Shlomo , Cho Alice , Cipolla Melissa , Oliveira Thiago Y. , Millard Katrina G. , Ramos Victor , Gazumyan Anna , Rutkowska Magdalena , Caskey Marina , Nussenzweig Michel C. , Bjorkman Pamela J. , Hatziioannou Theodora , Bieniasz Paul D.
Published: March 2021

Antibodies elicited in response to infection undergo somatic mutation in germinal centers that can result in higher affinity for the cognate antigen. To determine the effects of somatic mutation on the properties of SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain (RBD)-specific antibodies, we analyzed six independent antibody lineages. As well as increased neutralization potency, antibody evolution changed pathways for acquisition of resistance and, in some cases, restricted the range of neutralization escape options. For some antibodies, maturation apparently imposed a requirement for multiple spike mutations to enable escape. For certain antibody lineages, maturation enabled neutralization of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and heterologous sarbecoviruses. Antibody-antigen structures revealed that these properties resulted from substitutions that allowed additional variability at the interface with the RBD. These findings suggest that increasing antibody diversity through prolonged or repeated antigen exposure may improve protection against diversifying SARS-CoV-2 populations, and perhaps against other pandemic threat coronaviruses.
Medulla glutamatergic neurons control wake-sleep transitions
Authors: Teng Sasa , Zhen Fenghua , Schalchli Jose Canovas , Chen Xinyue , Jin Hao , Wang Li , Peng Yueqing
Published: March 2021

Sleep is a ubiquitous behavior in animal species. Yet, brain circuits controlling sleep remain poorly understood. Previous studies have identified several brain structures that promote sleep, but whether these structures are involved in sleep initiation or sleep maintenance remains largely unknown. Here we identified a population of glutamatergic neurons in the medulla that project to the preoptic area (POA), a prominent sleep-promoting region. Chemogenetic silencing of POA-projecting medulla neurons disrupts the transitions from wakefulness to Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep, whereas chemogenetic activation of these neurons promotes NREM sleep. Moreover, we show that optogenetic activation of medulla glutamatergic neurons or their projections in the POA reliably initiates long-lasting NREM sleep in awake mice. Together, our findings uncover a novel excitatory brainstem-hypothalamic circuit that controls the wake-sleep transitions.
Alternating lysis and lysogeny is a winning strategy in bacteriophages due to Parrondo’s Paradox
Authors: Cheong Kang Hao , Wen Tao , Benler Sean , Koonin Eugene V.
Published: March 2021

Temperate bacteriophages lyse or lysogenize the host cells depending on various parameters of infection, a key one being the host population density. However, the effect of different propensities of phages for lysis and lysogeny on phage fitness is an open problem. We explore a nonlinear dynamic evolution model of competition between two phages, one of which is disadvantaged in both the lytic and lysogenic phases. We show that the disadvantaged phage can win the competition by alternating between the lytic and lysogenic phases, each of which individually is a “loser”. This counter-intuitive result recapitulates Parrondo’s paradox in game theory, whereby individually losing strategies can combine to produce a winning outcome. The results suggest that evolution of phages optimizes the ratio between the lysis and lysogeny propensities rather than the phage reproduction rate in any individual phase. These findings are expected to broadly apply to the evolution of host-parasite interactions.
Diet’s impact dictated by synonymous mitochondrial SNP interacting with nucleotype
Authors: Dobson Adam J. , Voigt Susanne , Kumpitsch Luisa , Langer Lucas , Voigt Emmely , Ibrahim Rita , Dowling Damian K. , Reinhardt Klaus
Published: March 2021

Epistasis between mitochondrial and nuclear genomes can modulate fitness effects of nutrition. Are these “mitonuclear” effects deterministic with regard to optimal nutrition? Which nutrients and genetic loci participate? Here, in fruitflies, we show that mitonuclear epistasis repeatably dictates fitness effects of dietary lipids and amino acids, with a tripartite interaction emerging as an unprecedented source of quantitative variation. We also observed diet-dependent developmental lethality and parental effects, but only in specific mitonucleotypes. Associating phenotype to mtDNA variation implicated a non-coding RNA (mt:lrRNA), suggesting a novel mechanism, with epistasis between mitochondria-derived regulatory factors and the nuclear genome producing qualitative differences in how diet impacts fitness.

Combined action of nuclear genotype and regulatory loci on mtDNA produces major differences in fitness impacts of nutrition.
The effects of insecticide seed treatments on green peach aphidMyzus persicae(Sulzer) (Homoptera: Aphididae) parasitism byAphidius colemaniViereck (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) and predation byMallada signatus(Schneider) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)
Authors: Ward Samantha , Hoffmann Ary A. , Van Helden Maarten , Umina Paul A.
Published: March 2021

The green peach aphid,Myzus persicae(Sulzer) (Homoptera: Aphididae), is a major pest ofBrassicaL. species in Australia, where it can transmit >100 viruses. Globally, this species has evolved resistance to 74 insecticides from numerous chemical groups. Although Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies are being implemented, chemical treatment remains the predominant method used to control aphids. Insecticide seed treatments are viewed as a softer alternative to chemical sprays and are widely used in Australian canola fields. The effects of imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and a mixture of thiamethoxam & lambda-cyhalothrin canola seed treatments were investigated on the parasitoid,Aphidius colemaniViereck (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) and the predator, the green lacewingMallada signatus(Schneider) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae); both important natural enemies ofM. persicae. The number of mummies formed byA. colemanion the untreated plants was lower than those formed on the thiamethoxam & lambda-cyhalothrin and imidacloprid treated plants. The number ofA. colemanireared from mummies on thiamethoxam & lambda-cyhalothrin plants was higher than those reared from thiamethoxam and untreated plants. Significant effects of insecticide seed treatments were only noted for mummies produced while the parent parasitoids were on the plants, not for those mummies produced after their removal. This suggests seed treatment effects were immediate but not long lasting. Based on cumulative parasitoid survival days for two generations,A. colemaniexposed to thiamethoxam & lambda-cyhalothrin and imidacloprid treatments had a greater fitness than those exposed to the thiamethoxam and untreated controls, possibly due to the phenomenon of insecticide hormoligosis. Despite the treatment effects observed, we did not detect any behavioural differences inM. persicaeorA. colemani. Mallada signatuswere not negatively affected by feeding onM. persicaeon insecticide seed treated plants, suggesting they are more tolerant of seed treatments thanA. colemani. The findings from this study provide a useful platform for further experimentation on the effects of seed treatments on natural enemies ofM. persicae.
In search of an honest butterfly: sexually selected wing coloration and reproductive traits from wild populations of the cabbage white butterfly
Authors: Espeset Anne E. , Forister Matthew L.
Published: March 2021

Sexual selection is central to many theories on mate selection and individual behavior. Relatively little is known, however, about the impacts that human-induced rapid environmental change are having on secondary sexually selected characteristics. Honest signals function as an indicator of mate quality when there are differences in nutrient acquisition and are thus potentially sensitive to anthropogenically-altered nutrient inputs. We used the cabbage white butterfly,Pieris rapae(L.), to investigate differences in color and testes size in a system that is often exposed to agricultural landscapes with nitrogen addition. We collected individuals from four sites in California and Nevada to investigate variation in key traits and the possibility that any relationship between wing color and a reproductive trait (testes size) could vary among locations in the focal butterfly. Coloration variables and testes size were positively albeit weakly associated across sites, consistent with the hypothesis that females could use nitrogen-based coloration in the cabbage white as an indicator for a male mating trait that has the potential to confer elevated mating success in progeny. However, variation in testes size and in the relationship between testes size and wing color suggest complexities that need exploration, including the possibility that the signal is not of equal value in all populations. Thus these results advance our understanding of complex relationships among environmental change and sexual selection in the wild.
Accounting for modern slavery risk in the time of COVID-19: challenges and opportunities
Authors: Christ Katherine Leanne , Burritt Roger Leonard
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affects corporate modern slavery accounting, auditing and accountability, and how a business can take advantage of this situation to ensure a more robust and effective modern slavery response in the long-term.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on recent literature and available statistics about modern slavery in the context of COVID-19 comment is provided on the challenges and opportunities for researchers and business.

Findings

Given the additional invisibility of modern slavery in a COVID-19 environment as victims move into unemployment and back into vulnerable positions where they are exploited the challenge is how accounting, auditing and accountability can help business break this cycle. Capabilities for business to track and trace victims of modern slavery will be reduced because of the pandemic. Opportunities exist for gathering data and building internal awareness about the problem of modern slavery in supply chains and to reassess operational risk and investment in modern slavery reduction. With the pause in external reporting opportunity exists to obtain views of external stakeholders.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the relatively short period of the COVID-19 pandemic to date, numeric data on impacts are largely unavailable.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to consider the challenges and opportunities of COVID-19 on accounting for modern slavery in business. Directions for future research are also considered.
Mathematical framework for three cross-over memristor and its realization employing OTAs
Authors: Bhardwaj Kapil , Srivastava Mayank
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to report an emulation configuration of a three pinch-off memristor (TPM), whose transient characteristics consist three cross-over points on the voltage-current plane, which is dissimilar to a conventional memristor. These characteristics can be very useful in memristor-based multi-bit memory devices and hyperchaotic oscillators.

Design/methodology/approach

The work describes the Mathematical framework for TPM and a circuit emulator based on the derived conditions. The configuration is based on five operational transconductance amplifier (OTAs) and four grounded passive elements. After which, we have verified its operation using personal simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis simulation environment. Finally, the implementation of OTA-based TPM using commercial integrated circuit (IC) LM13700 has also been presented.

Findings

It has been shown that a flux-dependent memductance expression of cubic order can show three intersections on the VI contour under certain parameter related constraints. Moreover, the OTA-based emulator reported in the work is very compact in nature because of the no use of external multiplier IC/circuitry, which has been popular in previous emulators.

Originality/value

For the first time, a multiple cross-over memristor emulator has been reported which can operate under practical operating conditions such as at practical operating frequencies and sinusoidal excitation.
Exploring the relations between the physiological factors and the likelihood of accidents on construction sites
Authors: Kazar Gökhan , Comu Semra
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Construction work involves high-risk activities and requires intense focus and physical exertion. Accordingly, working conditions at construction sites contribute to physical fatigue and mental stress in workers, which is the primary cause of accidents. This study aims to examine the relation between construction accidents and physiological variables, indicative of physical fatigue and mental stress.

Design/methodology/approach

Four different real-time physiological values of the construction workers were measured including blood sugar level (BSL), electrodermal activity (EDA), heart rate (HR) and skin temperature (ST). The data were collected from 21 different workers during the summer and winter seasons. Both seasonal and hourly correlation analyses were performed between the construction accidents and the four physiological variables gathered.

Findings

The analysis results demonstrate that BSL values of the workers are correlated inversely with construction accidents taking place before lunch break. In addition, except BSL a significant seasonal association between the physiological variables and construction accidents was found.

Originality/value

It is disclosed that variations in physiological risk factors at certain working periods pose a high risk for construction workers. Therefore, efficient work-cycle rests can be arranged to provide frequent but short breaks for workers to overcome such issues. Besides, an early warning system could be introduced to monitor the real-time physiological values of the workers.
Career aspirations of generation Z: a systematic literature review
Authors: Barhate Bhagyashree , Dirani Khalil M.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the career aspirations of individuals belonging to the Gen Z cohort, i.e. born between 1995 and 2012.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a systematic review of the literature. The authors accessed four databases to collect literature for review. The databases included were Academic Search Ultimate, Business Source Ultimate, ERIC and Google Scholar. Keywords used to conduct the search process were as follows: career development, career aspiration, generation Z, Gen Z and iGen. The authors imported all articles to RefWorks, read article abstracts and decided on whether to include or exclude the article in the review.

Findings

Based on this systematic review, the authors found that intrinsic and extrinsic factors determine Gen Z's career aspirations. Further, based on past studies' predictions, the authors concluded that Gen Z has well-defined career expectations and career development plans.

Research limitations/implications

Gen Z is the newest generation to enter the workforce. With limited research on this cohort, this study synthesized the existing knowledge of Gen Z students' career aspirations and their future employers' expectations. All research around Gen Z is currently focused on students, and hence, it is challenging to predict their workplace behavior. In this work, the authors provided organizations and practitioners guidelines to be prepared with Gen Z's expectations as they enter the workplace.

Originality/value

This systematic literature review synthesizes empirical research from around the world on career aspirations related to Gen Z.
Trust, efficacy and ethicacy when testing prisoners for COVID-19
Authors: Lambert Steve , Wilkinson Dean
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus and subsequent COVID-19 illness has had a major impact on all levels of society internationally. The extent of the impact of COVID-19 on prison staff and prisoners in England and Wales is unknown. Testing for COVID-19 both asymptomatic and symptomatic, as well as for antibodies, to date, has been minimal. The purpose of this paper is to explore the widespread testing of COVID-19 in prisons poses philosophical and ethical questions around trust, efficacy and ethicacy.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is both descriptive, providing an overview of the widespread testing of COVID-19 in prisoners in England and Wales, and conceptual in that it discusses and argues the issues associated with large-scale testing. This paper provides a discussion, using comparative studies, of the issues associated with large-scale testing of prisoners across the prison estate in England and Wales (120 prisons). The issues identified in this paper are contextualised through the lens of COVID-19, but they are equally transferrable to epidemiological studies of any pandemic. Given the prevalence of COVID-19 globally and the lack of information about its spread in prisons, at the time of writing this paper, there is a programme of asymptomatic testing of prisoners. However, there remains a paucity of data on the spread of COVID-19 in prisons because of the progress with the ongoing testing programme.

Findings

The authors argue that the widespread testing of prisoners requires careful consideration of the details regarding who is included in testing, how consent is gained and how tests are administered. This paper outlines and argues the importance of considering the complex nuance of power relationships within the prison system, among prisoner officers, medical staff and prisoners and the detrimental consequences.

Practical implications

The widespread testing of COVID-19 presents ethical and practical challenges. Careful planning is required when considering the ethics of who should be included in COVID-19 testing, how consent will be gained, who and how tests will be administered and very practical challenges around the recording and assigning of COVID-19 test kits inside the prison. The current system for the general population requires scanning of barcodes and registration using a mobile number; these facilities are not permitted inside a prison.

Originality/value

This paper looks at the issues associated with mass testing of prisoners for COVID-19. According to the authors’ knowledge, there has not been any research that looks at the issues of testing either in the UK or internationally. The literature available details countries’ responses to the pandemic rather and scientific papers on the development of vaccines. Therefore, this paper is an original review of some of the practicalities that need to be addressed to ensure that testing can be as successful as possible.
Evaluating the performance of primary schools in India: evidence from West Bengal
Authors: Adhikari Arnab , Bhattacharyya Samadrita , Basu Sumanta , Bhattacharya Rajesh
Published: March 2021

Purpose

In the context of India, this article proposes an integrated multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) regression-based methodology to evaluate input-level performance of the schools and investigate the impact of this performance along with contextual factors, i.e. medium of instruction and location of the school, on the school's output level performance, i.e. student pass rate.

Design/methodology/approach

First, Shannon entropy-based approach is applied for the weight assignment to different parameters. Then, integrated VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS)-based methodology is devised to measure the input-level performance of a school. Finally, multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis is incorporated to study the effect of input-level performance and above-mentioned contextual factors on the school's output-level performance.

Findings

Proposed methodology is applied to assess the input-level performance of 82,930 primary and secondary schools of West Bengal, India. All the factors have a significant impact on boys' pass rate, whereas only input-level performance and location of the school have a significant influence on the girls' pass rate.

Practical implications

The entropy-based approach highlights the importance of scientific weight assignment. Integrated MCDM demonstrates the significance of aggregation due to the variation in scores related to input-level performance across the methods. Regression analysis facilitates the exploration of determinants influencing the output-level performance of the schools.

Originality/value

This work depicts a holistic picture of the performance measurement system of the schools. It encompasses scientific weight assignment to the evaluation criteria, integrated input-level performance assessment of the schools and investigation into the effect of this performance, as well as other contextual factors on the output level performance.
Collaboration among public organizations: a systematic literature review on determinants of interinstitutional performance
Authors: Costumato Lorenzo
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The concept of collaboration has received increased attention from scholars in public management, as it has been seen as a viable solution to address “wicked” problems. Solving such problems may require a horizontal collaboration within the same governmental jurisdiction or, vertically, between different levels of government. Despite broad interest from the field of public management, the dynamics of public interinstitutional collaboration have received little attention within the literature. This paper aims to provide a systematic overview of the most significant academic contributions on the topic, highlighting the features of this collaborative context and identifying determinants those can foster its performance.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, two main literature streams have occasionally dealt with public interinstitutional collaboration and related performance management: the “collaborative governance” stream and “public network performance”. Through a systematic literature review (SLR), this paper answers the following research question: what has been done and what is missing in order to assess performance in the context of public interinstitutional collaboration?

Findings

The findings of this study suggest that the most relevant papers are those dealing with public interagency collaboration, as this form of collaboration presents several similarities with public interinstitutional circumstances. Furthermore, the authors provide an analysis of the main determinants of public interinstitutional performance, which highlight the effects of trust, power sharing, leadership style, management strategies and formalization on the achievement of efficient and effective collaboration between public entities.

Originality/value

By drawing on two autonomous literature streams, this paper describes the main features of public interinstitutional collaboration. It contributes to the field by offering a systematic overview of how specific performance determinants, which are widely recognized as relevant for collaboration in general, work in the specificity of public–public contexts.
Online sustainability disclosure by Spanish hospitals: an institutionalist approach
Authors: Andrades Javier , Larrán Manuel , Muriel María José , Calzado Maria Yolanda , Lechuga Sancho María Paula
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This paper examines the level of sustainability disclosures provided by Spanish hospitals using exclusively the information revealed in their institutional websites. Based on different levels of disclosure, the authors try to find the possible reasons why some Spanish hospitals reveal more sustainability information than others.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve this goal, the authors conducted a content analysis of the official websites of all Spanish hospitals identified by the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality.

Findings

The results reveal that Spanish hospitals seem to use sustainability disclosures for different legitimizing purposes. In general, the results indicate that Spanish hospitals may be driven by symbolic rather than substantive actions to achieve legitimacy from stakeholders.

Originality/value

Due to the lack of empirical research on the hospital sector, more research is required to improve understanding of why hospitals disclose sustainability information or not.
Consumption patterns and demand in households headed by the elderly: evidence from Brazil
Authors: Travassos Guilherme Fonseca , Coelho Alexandre Bragança , Arends-Kuenning Mary Paula
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The main objective of this paper is to analyze patterns of consumption expenditure and the effects of income, prices and socioeconomic and demographic factors on demand among elderly- and young-adult-headed households in Brazil.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors estimated a Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System demand system using the main household consumption good groups – food, housing, clothing, transportation, health care and other expenses – with data from three Brazilian Household Budget surveys.

Findings

The study results showed that elderly- and young-adult-headed households have different consumption patterns. The consumption of food, transportation and health care was more price-sensitive for households headed by the elderly, while higher income increases health care expenses in elderly-headed households to a greater extent than it does in younger-headed households.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations are due to the structure of the data used, such as the effects of seasonality and individualized demand analyses, and sample design in the estimates. However, due to the structure of the demand models, which when estimating by seemingly unrelated regressions do not allow to take into account the sample design.

Practical implications

As a consequence of population aging, the Brazilian economy will experience changes in the composition of household consumption, mainly for food, housing, transportation and health-care-related products.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills the lack of studies that analyze the consumption patterns and how demand varies across different types of elderly-headed households in a developing country, such as Brazil.
Recent development and regional disparity of the rural industries in China
Authors: Chen Yufu , Han Yue , Guo Liankai
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Rapid development of China's rural industry since 1980s has a massive ripple effect on rural China. However, recent rural industrial development in China has received little scholarly attention. The study aims to investigate the development process and spatial differences of China's rural industry as well as its driving forces.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on the panel data constituting 30 provinces of China during 1984–2011. The factor analysis is used to identify the most significant factors affecting the growth of China's rural industry. The multiple regression analysis is applied to distinguish the driving forces affecting spatiotemporal variations in China's rural industry.

Findings

China's rural industry developed rapidly at an average rate of 26% per year during the period 1984–2011. The period 1990–2011 was characterized by remarkable increased spatial disparities in China's rural industrial development. Specifically, such development was markedly better in the east coast areas than in the inland areas in the west. Five driving forces of rural industrial development were recognized representing regional economic fundamentals of market, industry foundation, transportation, communication and degree of opening-up.

Originality/value

This paper explores the trajectory of the development of China's rural industry and the related regional economic factors. It suggests that the development of rural enterprises across the regions should be valued by Chinese government as a driving force for reducing regional disparities and future rural revitalization.
Predicting the factors of employee agility using enterprise social media: moderating effects of enterprise social media-related strain
Authors: Pitafi Abdul Hameed , Ren Minglun
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of enterprise social media (ESM) usage on employee agility through communication quality and visibility. Theory of communication visibility is used to explore the moderating role of ESM-related strain in the relationship among communication quality, visibility and employee agility.

Design/methodology/approach

The research model is analyzed using data from 240 Chinese employees of different companies. The proposed hypotheses are tested using structural equation modeling, hierarchical regression and mediation analysis.

Findings

Findings suggest that ESM usage is positively related to communication quality and visibility. Communication visibility mediates the relationship between ESM usage and employee agility. ESM-related strain reduces the relationship between communication visibility and employee agility. However, ESM-related strain has an insignificant moderating effect on the relationship between communication quality and employee agility.

Originality/value

The present study examines how employee agility is associated with ESM usage in the workplace. The mediating effects of communication quality and visibility are explored using a theoretical foundation. This study provides empirical evidence on how the impact of ESM on employee agility is transmitted through communication visibility. Lastly, the current study quantifies the advantages of ESM for organizations and may motivate managers to confidently deploy ESM in the workplace.