bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COMPARISON OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ENABLED METHODS IN THE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF COVID-19 DISEASE
Authors: Kapoor Atul , Mahajan Goldaa , Kapoor Aprajita
Published: September 2020

Objectives

Comparison of three different Artificial intelligence (AI) methods of assessment for patients undergoing Computed tomography (CT) for suspected Covid-19 disease. Parameters studied were probability of diagnosis, quantification of disease severity and the time to reach the diagnosis.

Methods

107 consecutive patients of suspected Covid-19 patients were evaluated using the three AI methods labeled as Al-I,II, III alongwith visual analysis labeled as VT for predicting probability of Covid-19, determining CT severity score (CTSS) and index (CTSI), percentage opacification (PO) and high opacification (POHO). Sensitivity, specificity along with area under curves were estimated for each method and the CTSS and CTSI correlated using Friedman test.

Results

Out of 107 patients 71 patients were Covid-19 positive and 20 negative by RT-PCR while 16 did not get RT-PCR done. Al-III method showed higher sensitivity and specificity of 93% and 88% respectively to predict probability of Covid 19. It had 2 false positive patients of interstitial lung disease. Al-II method had sensitivity and specificity of 66% and 83% respectively while visual (VT) analysis showed sensitivity and specificity of 59.7% and 62% respectively. Statistically significant differences were also seen in CTSI and PO estimation between Al-I and III methods (p< 0.0001) with Al-III showing fastest time to calculate results.

Conclusions

Al-III method gave better results to make an accurate and quick diagnosis of the Covid-19 with AUC of 0.85 to predict probability of Covid-19 alongwith quantification of Covid-19 lesions in the form of PO, POHO as compared to other AI methods and also by visual analysis.

KEY POINTS

CT examinations of the chest can be more accurate and informative in detecting Covid-19 if combined with AI methods which are being designed to achieve this objective. In this study we compared three AI methods with Visual analysis and the results show.

Al-III method had a higher sensitivity and specificity of 93% and 88% compared to other methods in predicting probability of Covid-19.

Significant inter method variations were seen in quantifying Covid-19 opacities as CTSS,CTSI, PO and POHO variables (p< 0.0001). Al-III method showed no statistical difference with VT method for PO variable (p = 0.24) and was the only method which depicted all the variables..

Time to processing results was the shortest with Al-III method.
Could seasonal influenza vaccination influence COVID-19 risk?
Authors: Wals P. De , Divangahi M.
Published: September 2020

Background

With possible resurgence of the SARS-CoV-2 and low seasonal influenza virus circulation next winter, reviewing evidence on a possible interaction between influenza vaccination and COVID-19 risk is important.

Objective

To review studies on the effect of influenza vaccines on non-influenza respiratory disease (NIRD).

Methods

Using different search strategies, 18 relevant studies were identified and their strength, limitations and significance were assessed.

Results

Analysis of 4 RCT datasets did not suggest increased NIRD risk in recipients of live-attenuated vaccines (LAIV) and results of a cohort study suggested short-term protection consistent with the hypothesis of ‘trained immunity’. One RCT, four cohort studies and one test-negative case-control suggested increased NIRD risk in recipients of inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV), whereas five test-negative case-control studies did not show an increased risk associated with a specific viral pathogen. Cross-protection against COVID-19 was suggested in one cross-sectional study on IIV but major biases could not be excluded. Results of four recent ecological studies on COVID-19 were challenging to interpret.

Conclusions

Available data on LAIV are reassuring but not all those on IIV. A drastic reorientation of 2020–2021 influenza campaigns is probably not warranted but studies aiming to test COVID-19 risk modification among recipients of seasonal influenza vaccines should be planned and funded.
Inflammation mediates lung cancer-induced increase in the epidermal green autofluorescence of mice
Authors: Zhang Mingchao , Tang Wanzhi , Ying Weihai
Published: September 2020

Skin’s autofluorescence (AF) holds great promise for non-invasive diagnosis of diseases. Our previous study has indicated that keratin-based skin’s AF holds great promise to become a novel biomarker for diagnosis of multiple major diseases, including lung cancer, acute ischemic stroke, Parkinson’s diseases, stable coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction. It is critical to investigate the mechanisms underlying the increased skin’s AF of the patients. Our previous study has shown that development of lung cancer can induce increased skin’s green AF of mice, while the mechanisms underlying the increased AF have remained unclear. We hypothesized that the inflammation in the mice with lung cancer is causative to the increased AF. Our study found that the anti-inflammation drug indomethacin virtually abolished the lung cancer-induced increase in the skin’s green AF. We further found that the AF was originated from the epidermis of the mice. Our findings have provided critical information for understanding the mechanisms underlying the lung cancer-induced increase in the epidermal green AF, indicating that at least for lung cancer, the disease-induced increase in the skin’s AF mainly results from increased inflammation in the body.
Distinct clonal evolution of B-cells in HIV controllers with neutralizing antibody breadth
Authors: Cizmeci Deniz , Lofano Giuseppe , Dugast Anne-Sophie , Kim Dongkyoon , Cavet Guy , Nguyen Ngan , Tan Yann Chong , Seaman Michael S. , Alter Galit , Julg Boris
Published: September 2020

A minor subset of individuals infected with HIV-1 develop antibody neutralization breadth during the natural course of the infection, often linked to chronic, high level viremia. Despite significant efforts, vaccination strategies have been unable to induce similar neutralization breadth and the mechanisms underlying neutralizing antibody induction remain largely elusive. Broadly neutralizing antibody responses can also be found in individuals who control HIV to low and even undetectable plasma levels in the absence of antiretroviral therapy, suggesting that high antigen exposure is not a strict requirement for neutralization breadth. We therefore performed an analysis of paired heavy and light chain B-cell receptor repertoires in 12,591 HIV-1 Envelope-specific single memory B-cells to determine alterations in the BCR immunoglobulin gene repertoire and B-cell clonal expansions that associate with neutralizing antibody breadth in 22 HIV controllers. We found that the frequency of genomic mutations in IGHV and IGLV was directly correlated with serum neutralization breadth. The repertoire of the most mutated antibodies was dominated by a small number of large clones with evolutionary signatures suggesting that these clones had reached peak affinity maturation. These data demonstrate that even in the setting of low plasma HIV antigenemia, similar to what a vaccine can potentially achieve, BCR selection for extended somatic hypermutation and clonal evolution can occur in some individuals suggesting that host-specific factors might be involved that could be targeted with future vaccine strategies.
Synthetic mammalian signaling circuits for robust cell population control
Authors: Ma Yitong , Budde Mark W. , Mayalu Michaëlle N. , Zhu Junqin , Lu Andrew C. , Murray Richard M. , Elowitz Michael B.
Published: September 2020

In multicellular organisms, cells actively sense and control their own population density. Synthetic mammalian quorum sensing circuits could provide insight into principles of population control and extend cell therapies. However, a key challenge is reducing their inherent sensitivity to “cheater” mutations that evade control. Here, we repurposed the plant hormone auxin to enable orthogonal mammalian cell-cell communication and quorum sensing. We designed a paradoxical population control circuit, termedParadaux,in which auxin stimulates and inhibits net cell growth at different concentrations. This circuit limited population size over extended timescales, of up to 42 days of continuous culture. By contrast, when operating in a non-paradoxical regime, the same cells limited population growth, but were more susceptible to mutational escape. These results establish auxin as a versatile “private” communication system, and demonstrate that paradoxical circuit architectures can provide robust population control.
Fine-scale population structure and demographic history of British Pakistanis
Authors: Arciero Elena , Dogra Sufyan A. , Mezzavilla Massimo , Tsismentzoglou Theofanis , Huang Qin Qin , Hunt Karen A. , Mason Dan , van Heel David A. , Sheridan Eamonn , Wright John , Small Neil , Carmi Shai , Iles Mark M. , Martin Hilary C.
Published: September 2020

Previous genetic and public health research in the Pakistani population has focused on the role of consanguinity in increasing recessive disease risk, but little is known about its recent population history or the effects of endogamy. Here, we investigate fine-scale population structure, history and consanguinity patterns using genetic and questionnaire data from >4,000 British Pakistani individuals, mostly with roots in Azad Kashmir and Punjab. We reveal strong recent population structure driven by thebiraderisocial stratification system. We find that all subgroups have had low effective population sizes (Ne) over the last 50 generations, with some showing a decrease in Ne15-20 generations ago that has resulted in extensive identity-by-descent sharing and increased homozygosity. Using new theory, we show that the footprint of regions of homozygosity in the two largest subgroups is about twice that expected naively based on the self-reported consanguinity rates and the inferred historical Netrajectory. These results demonstrate the impact of the cultural practices of endogamy and consanguinity on population structure and genomic diversity in British Pakistanis, and have important implications for medical genetic studies.
Iodoacetic acid disrupts mouse oocyte maturation by inducing oxidative stress and spindle abnormalities
Authors: Jiao Xiaofei , Gonsioroski Andressa , Flaws Jodi A , Qiao Huanyu
Published: September 2020

Disinfection by-products (DBPs) are compounds produced during the water disinfection process. Iodoacetic acid (IAA) is one of the unregulated DBPs in drinking water, with potent cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in animals. However, whether IAA has toxic effects on oocyte maturation remains unclear. Here, we show that IAA exposure resulted in metaphase I (MI) arrest and polar-body-extrusion failure in mouse oocytes, indicating that IAA had adverse effects on mouse oocyte maturationin vitro. Particularly, IAA treatment caused abnormal spindle assembly and chromosome misalignment. Previous studies reported that IAA is a known inducer of oxidative stress in non-germline cells. Correspondingly, we found that IAA exposure increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in oocytes in a dose-dependent manner, indicating IAA exposure could induce oxidative stress in oocytes. Simultaneously, DNA damage was also elevated in the nuclei of these IAA-exposed mouse oocytes, evidenced by increased γ-H2AX focus number. In addition, the un-arrested oocytes entered metaphase II (MII) with severe defects in spindle morphologies and chromosome alignment after 14-hour IAA treatment. An antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), reduced the elevated ROS level and restored the meiotic maturation in the IAA. exposed oocytes, which indicates that IAA-induced maturation failure in oocytes was mainly mediated by oxidative stress. Collectively, our results indicate that IAA exposure interfered with mouse oocyte maturation by elevating ROS levels, disrupting spindle assembly, inducing DNA damage, and causing MI arrest.
A high-throughput CRISPR interference screen for dissecting functional regulators of GPCR/cAMP signaling
Authors: Semesta Khairunnisa Mentari , Tian Ruilin , Kampmann Martin , von Zastrow Mark , Tsvetanova Nikoleta G.
Published: September 2020

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) allow cells to respond to chemical and sensory stimuli through generation of second messengers, such as cyclic AMP (cAMP), which in turn mediate a myriad of processes, including cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. In order to gain deeper insights into the complex biology and physiology of these key cellular pathways, it is critical to be able to globally map the molecular factors that shape cascade function. Yet, to this date, efforts to systematically identify regulators of GPCR/cAMP signaling have been lacking. Here, we combined genome-wide screening based on CRISPR interference with a novel sortable transcriptional reporter that provides robust readout for cAMP signaling, and carried out a functional screen for regulators of the pathway. Due to the sortable nature of the platform, we were able to assay regulators with strong and weaker phenotypes by analyzing sgRNA distribution among three fractions with distinct reporter expression. We identified 45 regulators with strong and 50 regulators with weaker phenotypes not previously known to be involved in cAMP signaling. In follow-up experiments, we validated the functional effects of seven newly discovered mediators (NUP93, PRIM1, RUVBL1, PKMYT1, TP53, SF3A2, andHRAS), and showed that they control distinct steps of the pathway. Thus, our study provides proof of principle that the screening platform can be applied successfully to identify bona fide regulators of GPCR/second messenger cascades in an unbiased and high-throughput manner, and illuminates the remarkable functional diversity among GPCR regulators.

Author summary

Cells sense and respond to changes in their surrounding environment through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their associated cascades. The proper function of these pathways is essential to human physiology, and GPCRs have become a prime target for drug development for a range of human diseases. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to be able to map how these pathways operate to enable cells to fine-tune their responsiveness. Here, we describe a screening approach that we have devised to systematically identify regulators of GPCR function. We have developed a sortable reporter system and coupled that with silencing of genes across the entire human genome in order to uncover a range of novel mediators of GPCR activity. We characterize a few of these new regulators and show that they function at different steps of the cascade. Therefore, this study serves as proof of principle for the new screening platform. We envision that the approach can be used to dissect additional dimensions of GPCR function, including regulators of drug-specific responses, functional characterization of receptor features, and identification of novel drugs, and thus advance a genome-scale understanding of these critical pathways.
Unravelling resilience mechanisms in forests: role of non-structural carbohydrates in responding to extreme weather events
Authors: D’Andrea Ettore , Scartazza Andrea , Battistelli Alberto , Collalti Alessio , Proietti Simona , Rezaie Negar , Matteucci Giorgio , Moscatello Stefano
Published: September 2020

Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and intensity due to global climate change. We hypothesized that these have a strong impact on the stem radial growth and the dynamic of non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs).

In order to assess the effects on mature trees of a late frost occurred in spring 2016 and a drought event characterizing the summer 2017, we monitored the phenology, the radial growth and the dynamic of starch and soluble sugars in a Mediterranean beech forest.

Growth was much more reduced by spring late frost than by summer drought, while NSCs dynamic was deeply involved in counteracting the negative effects of both events, supporting plant survival and buffering source-sink imbalances under such stressful conditions, resulting in a strong trade-off between growth and NSCs dynamic in trees.

Overall, our results highlight the key role of NSCs on trees resilience to extreme weather events, confirming the relevant adaptability to stressful conditions. Such an insight is useful to assess how forests may respond to the potential impacts of climate change on ecosystem processes and to define how future management strategies can help adaptation of beech forests in the Mediterranean area.
Single generation allele introgression into pure chicken breeds using Sire Dam Surrogate (SDS) mating
Authors: Ballantyne Maeve , Woodcock Mark , Doddamani Dadakhalandar , Hu Tuanjun , Taylor Lorna , Hawken Rachel , McGrew Mike J.
Published: September 2020

Poultry is the most abundant livestock species with over 60 billion chickens raised globally per year. While most chicken are produced from highly selected commercial flocks the many indigenous chicken breeds, which have low productivity and have not been highly selected, play an important role in rural economies across the world as they are well adapted to local environmental and scavenging conditions. The ability to rapidly transfer genetic changes between breeds of chicken will permit the transfer of beneficial alleles between poultry breeds as well as allow validation of genetic variants responsible for different phenotypic traits. Here, we generate a novel inducibly sterile surrogate host chicken. Introducing donor genome edited primordial cells into the sterile male and female host embryos produces chicken carrying only exogenous germ cells. Subsequent direct mating of the surrogate hosts, Sire Dam Surrogate (SDS) mating, recreates pure chicken breeds carrying the edited allele in heterozygous or homozygous states. We demonstrate the transfer and validation of two feather trait alleles, Dominant white and Frizzle traits into two pure chicken breeds using the SDS surrogate hosts. This technology will allow the rapid reconstitution of chicken breeds carrying desired genetic changes to investigate climate adaptation and disease resilience traits.
Influence of weather on dragonfly migration and flight behaviour along the Baltic coast
Authors: Knoblauch Aline , Thoma Marco , Menz Myles H. M.
Published: September 2020

Despite mass movements of dragonflies being documented for decades, the influence of weather on the movement decisions and movement intensity of dragonflies has rarely been studied. Here, we investigate the influence of local weather conditions on flight behaviour of dragonflies in Europe, taking advantage of large movements of dragonflies occurring along the Baltic Sea coast of Latvia. Firstly, we performed orientation tests with individual dragonflies of two commonly captured species,Aeshna mixtaandSympetrum vulgatum, in order to determine if dragonflies showed directed flight and whether flight direction was independent from wind direction.Aeshna mixtadisplayed a uniform mean southward orientation (166.7°), independent from prevailing wind directions, whereasS. vulgatumdid not show a uniform orientation. Secondly, we investigated the influence of weather conditions on the abundance of dragonflies captured. Behavioural differences in relation to weather conditions were observed betweenA. mixtaand the two smallerSympetrumspecies (S. vulgatumandS. sanguineum). Generally, temperature, cloud cover and wind direction were the most important predictors for migration intensity, with temperature positively influencing abundance and cloud cover negatively influencing abundance.Aeshna mixtaappeared to select favourable tailwinds (northerlies), whereas hourly abundance ofSympetrumincreased with more easterly winds. Our results provide important information on the influence of local weather conditions on the flight behaviour of dragonflies, as well as evidence of migration forA. mixtaand most likely someSympetrumspecies along the Baltic coast.
Structural basis for bacterial ribosome quality control
Authors: Crowe-McAuliffe Caillan , Takada Hiraku , Murina Victoriia , Polte Christine , Kasvandik Sergo , Tenson Tanel , Ignatova Zoya , Atkinson Gemma C. , Wilson Daniel N. , Hauryliuk Vasili
Published: September 2020

In all branches of life, stalled translation intermediates are recognized and processed by ribosome-associated quality-control (RQC) pathways. RQC begins with splitting of stalled ribosomes, leaving an unfinished polypeptide still attached to the large subunit. Ancient and conserved NEMF family RQC proteins target these incomplete proteins for degradation by the addition of C-terminal ‘tails.’ How such tailing can occur without the regular suite of translational components is, however, unclear. Using ex vivo single-particle cryo-EM, we show that C-terminal tailing in Bacillus subtilis is mediated by NEMF protein RqcH in concert with YabO, a protein homologous to, yet distinct from, Hsp15. Our structures reveal how these factors mediate tRNA movement across the ribosomal 50S subunit to synthesize polypeptides in the absence of mRNA or the small subunit.
Entrepreneurship resilience and Iranian organizations: application of the fuzzy DANP technique
Authors: Hamedi Hemad , Mehdiabadi Amir
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find and prioritize human factors affecting entrepreneurial resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

The statistical population consists of prominent Iranian university professors in this field, and the statistical sample is ten of them randomly. A researcher-made questionnaire was used for data collection. After a comprehensive review of the theoretical foundations, the research model was formed with 5 main indices and 21 sub-indices. Fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL)-based (DANP) technique and MATLAB software was used for analysis.

Findings

Indicators of Values and Beliefs (A3) and Motivation Index (E5) as Influential Indicators and indicators of personal attributes (S1), formal and informal relationships (R2) and human capital (C4) are effective indicators of entrepreneurial resilience. In the final rankings, formal and informal relationships had the highest weight with 0.263 and the lowest with priority and motivation index with 0.080. In addition to the final rankings of the sub-indices, the indicators of first-hand experience, recognition of opportunities and consulting services were given the highest weight.

Practical implications

This study proposes that resilience is a real-life process and not just a list of each characteristic. All human beings have an innate ability to be resilient, but resilience is a learned and learned behavior, and the emphasis of experts is on the learning of various resilience skills.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the field of entrepreneurship by examining the institutional backgrounds of entrepreneurship resilience.
Managing technology transfer between coopetitive firms: the roles of coopetition, asset specificity and justice
Authors: Liu Ruijia , Yang Jianjun , Zhang Feng
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Prior studies have demonstrated the important role of coopetition in firms’ innovation. Based on the paradox perspective, this study aims to focus on technology transfer, the pre-innovation stage, to provide a supplementary understanding of the complementarity and contradictoriness of paradoxical coopetition, with the formal and informal governance mechanisms which are suitable with this understanding in coopetition.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted an original, multisource survey of 280 Chinese manufacturing firms. Hypotheses were tested through multiple regressions.

Findings

Coopetition has a positive impact on technology transfer between firms. Along with the increasing specificity of assets invested ex ante as a kind of formal governance mechanism, the relationship between coopetition and technology transfer becomes stronger. Meanwhile, inter-firm justice as an informal governance mechanism in the technology transfer process can be positively affected by coopetition between partners.

Originality/value

The study adds to the business-to-business coopetition literature on how to properly treat and use coopetition in technology transfer. Using the paradox perspective in the Chinese context, the findings emphasize the positive role of coopetition in the inter-firm technological exchange process, enriching the understanding of the complementary and contradictory features of paradoxical coopetition. To govern coopetitive relationships, the firms should also implement two fundamental governance mechanisms, that is, specialty asset and inter-firm justice.
When bike-sharing crashed in China: a bumpy ride
Authors: Zhao Shuyan , Xiong Jie , Kim Seong-Young , Xu Lu , Yan Jie
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Buoyed by the desire to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and develop sustainable urban transportation, the dockless bike-sharing industry boomed in China during 2017–2018. To the surprise of the stakeholders, this industry dramatically ebbed in 2019. The dockless bike-sharing system deviated from a problem-solver to a troublemaker in a very short period. The oversupplied and excessively discarded shared bikes caused a big waste of resources and serious pollution to the environment. In this paper, the decision-making of the key players of the industry, i.e. business operators, investors, customers and government, is analyzed through the lens of the cognitive bias. This paper aims to illuminate the process of how this innovative transport solution turned to a disastrous ending, which caused damage to urban environment and financial loss to investors.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a qualitative analysis based on the rich secondary data sources is conducted. A rich amount of qualitative data including news reports, government policies, consulting reports and companies’ annual reports etc. were collected.

Findings

The study shows, in the product introduction period, the government, business operators, investors and consumers fell into the cognitive bias. They over focused on the positive side such as high-tech, eco-friendly, convenient image of the dockless bike-sharing solution. Thereby, the key stakeholders made irrational decisions in product adoption and management. This study moves toward increasing key stakeholders’ awareness of the imperative to reduce these biases when promoting eco-innovations. This study also recommends a prudent attitude with a rational and comprehensive thinking style in dealing with eco-innovation and the emerging sharing economy.

Originality/value

To solve the cognitive biases, this study recommends that people use rational decision-making style to examine and adopt the dockless bike-sharing solutions. Practical recommendations to tackle the existing recycling crisis of the dockless bike-sharing industry are also discussed.
Family entrepreneurship and banking support in Kuwait: conventional vs Islamic banks
Authors: Abdullah Nour Mahdi
Published: September 2020

Purpose

In this paper family entrepreneurship and its banking support in Kuwait is discussed, as one of the wealthiest countries in the world. In the beginning is provided an overview of the Kuwaiti context of entrepreneurship and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), followed by discussion of family businesses' profile and benefits to the economy and society. The paper discusses the banking sector in Kuwait and its contribution to the development of family entrepreneurship and the small business sector in Kuwait.

Design/methodology/approach

For purposes of this study a multiple case study approach and a snowballing sample was used.

Findings

Even that, Kuwait is considered as an Islamic country, from the answers and comments that were received from our research, we concluded that most of the family businesses cooperate with conventional banks, instead of Islamic banks.

Practical implications

Several supporting products are described and analysed in this paper, which can help family business and SMEs' owners where to address when a support is needed. Also are provided information on similarities and differences between Islamic and conventional banking.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first papers that discusses family businesses and entrepreneurship in Kuwait and the support they receive from Islamic and conventional banks. It provides original quotes from family business owners regarding this topic.
Analysis of the South African construction industry business environment
Authors: Oyewobi Luqman Oyekunle , Windapo Abimbola , Rotimi James Olabode Bamidele , Jimoh Richard
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The study aims to identify and examine the construction organisational environments and its dimensions that have an impact on the performance of contracting companies in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

The study reports the result of quantitative research that obtained data from 72 construction organisations registered with the South African construction industry development board via a questionnaire survey. Descriptive statistics, non-parametric and exploratory principal component analysis were used to summarise forms of correlations among observed variables and to reduce a large number of observed variables to a smaller number of factors that provide an operational definition for the underlying dimension.

Findings

This study identified six exogenous and three endogenous environmental factors that have a varying degree of impact on construction organisation performance. Four dimensions of the environment were also examined, and environmental complexity has the highest variance explained which implies that the complexity of the construction business environment significantly influences the performance of construction firms.

Research limitations/implications

This paper studies the environment of the South African construction industry using cross-sectional data in exploratory research. A confirmatory study should be conducted using a longitudinal panel design with a larger sample in similar future research.

Practical implications

The study offers practical implications to construction organisation owners operating in the South African construction industry to understand the need to acquire market and environmental data and process them in a way that will reduce its uncertainty when making strategic decisions.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the current discourse on organisations’ business environments to better understand their influences on organisational performance.
Revisiting the spatial form of traditional villages in Chaoshan, China
Authors: Huang Xu , Gu Yuanyuan
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Compared to other areas in China, Chaoshan region in Guangdong province has a more developed clan system set within a rural landscape. This paper aims to explore the relationship between the social structure (family–clan) and spatial form (housing settlement) of clan-organized rural China to understand the spatial form represented by “family and clan.”

Design/methodology/approach

By examining Dongli village and Huayao village, this paper outlines the typical path of spatial representation: dwelling of individual’s core family → mansion of the big family → settlement of a single clan → co-settlement of several clans. Moreover, it identifies three critical elements of the spatial representation: prototype (the spatial representation of the etiquette system); order (a hierarchical space set by the patriarchal system); and boundary (constructed on both physical and mental facts).

Findings

All elements indicate that descendants of migrants from the North maintain their self-identity and discipline clan members by planning the ideal space.

Research limitations/implications

The findings contribute to the ongoing discussions regarding how local cultural and historical experiences can influence renewed designs of traditional settlement areas (Aksulu and Eryildiz, 2003) and how digital means can facilitate updating designs of traditional buildings (Han et al., 2017). Such planning and design should involve greater public participation, considering the impact on residents’ daily lives (Pandya, 2005).

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the understanding of the relationship between cultural values and the spatial form of residential settlements in Chinese history.
Fermented beverage obtained from hydroSOStainable pistachios
Authors: Sánchez‐Bravo Paola , Noguera‐Artiaga Luis , Carbonell‐Barrachina Ángel A. , Sendra Esther
Published: September 2020

Currently, consumers increasingly demand healthy foods, such as “vegetable drinks” made from nuts and cereals. In this scenario, the potential use of pistachios, grown under conventional and regulated deficit irrigation conditions (hydroSOStainable), to prepare fermented beverages was evaluated. This work addressed three important aspects: (i) water savings, (ii) use of noncommercial products, and (iii) expansion of the offer of vegetable drinks. Two commercial cultures of lactic acid bacteria (MA400 and MY800) and two sugars (glucose and fructose) were tested. Fermented drinks were evaluated by analyzing the following parameters: microbial counts, pH, titratable acidity, CIE (L*, a*, and b*) color, and total fatty acid, volatile and sensory profiles; all parameters were evaluated at 1, 15, and 30 days of cold storage (4 °C). Pistachio‐based beverages proved to be excellent substrates for the growth and survival of lactic acid bacteria. The fatty acid profile was not affected by the studied factors. However, the volatile profile was more complex for the treatments conventional‐MY800 (80 µg/L) and hydroSOS‐MA400 (72 µg/L). HydroSOS beverages fermented with MA400 culture were less sour and had higher intensity of umami and pistachio flavor; however, hydroSOS pistachios fermented with MY800 culture had lower pistachio odor intensity. All tested factors can be considered suitable for the preparation of fermented pistachios‐based beverages, considering both technological and quality aspects.
Banlieues to the Suburbs: World Language Education and Linguistic Gentrification
Authors: Tebaldi Catherine
Published: September 2020

In this “reflection on the field,” I use critical auto‐ethnography to reflect on the process of bringing urban French vernacular to New England suburbs. I analyze teaching vernacular language as linguistic gentrification, using other people’s words for the construction and continual performance of cosmopolitan whiteness. As I reflect on moving from cosmopolitan desires to critical awareness I share how my own identity is entangled in this process.
Intranodal pressure of a metastatic lymph node reflects the response to lymphatic drug delivery system
Authors: Kato Shigeki , Takeda Kazu , Sukhbaatar Ariunbuyan , Sakamoto Maya , Mori Shiro , Shiga Kiyoto , Kodama Tetsuya
Published: September 2020

Cancer metastasis to lymph nodes (LNs) almost certainly contributes to distant metastasis. Elevation of LN internal pressure (intranodal pressure, INP) during tumor proliferation is associated with a poor prognosis for patients. We have previously reported that a lymphatic drug delivery system (LDDS) allows the direct delivery of anticancer drugs into the lymphatic system and is a promising treatment strategy for early‐stage LN metastasis. However, methods for evaluating the treatment effects have not been established. Here, we used a mouse model of MXH10/Mo‐lpr/lpr, which develops a systemic swelling of LNs, and murine malignant fibrous histiocytoma‐like (KM‐Luc/GFP) cells or murine breast cancer (FM3A‐Luc) cells inoculated into the subiliac LN of mice to produce a tumor‐bearing LN model. The changes in INP during intranodal tumor progression and after treatment with cis‐dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) (CDDP) using an LDDS were measured. We found that tumor progression was associated with an increase in INP that occurred independently of LN volume changes. The elevation in INP was suppressed by CDDP treatment with the LDDS when intranodal tumor progression was significantly inhibited. These findings indicate that INP is a useful parameter for monitoring the therapeutic effect in patients with LN metastasis who have been given drugs using an LDDS, which will serve to manage cancer metastasis treatment and contribute to an improved quality of life for cancer patients.
A systematic review and in‐depth analysis of outcome reporting in early phase studies of colorectal cancer surgical innovation
Authors: Hoffmann C. , Macefield R. C. , Wilson N. , Blazeby J. M. , Avery K. N. L. , Potter S. , McNair A. G. K.
Published: September 2020

Aim

Early phase studies are essential to evaluate new technologies prior to randomized evaluation. Evaluation is limited, however, by inconsistent measurement and reporting of outcomes. This study examines outcome reporting in studies of innovative colorectal cancer surgery.

Methods

Systematic searches identified studies of invasive procedures treating primary colorectal adenocarcinoma. Included were a random sample of studies which authors reported as ‘new’ or ‘modified’. Outcomes were extracted verbatim and categorized using an existing framework of 32 domains relevant to early phase studies. Outcomes were classified as ‘measured’ (where there was an explicit statement to that effect or evidence that data collection had occurred) or ‘mentioned but not measured’ (where outcomes were discussed but data collection was not evident). Patterns of identified outcomes are described.

Results

Of 8373 records, 816 were potentially eligible. Full‐text review of a random sample of 218 studies identified 51 for inclusion of which 34 (66%) were ‘new’ and 17 (33%) were ‘modified’. Some 2073 outcomes were identified, and all mapped to domains. ‘Anticipated disadvantages’ were most frequently identified [660 (32%) outcomes identified across 50 (98%) studies]. No domain was represented in all studies. Under half (944, 46%) of outcomes were ‘measured’. ‘Surgeon’s/operator's experience of the innovation’ was more frequently ‘mentioned but not measured’ [207 (18%) outcomes across 46 (90%) studies] than ‘measured’ [17 (2%) outcomes, 11 (22%) studies].

Conclusion

There is outcome reporting heterogeneity in studies of early phase colorectal cancer surgery. The adoption of core outcome sets may help to resolve these inconsistencies and enable efficient evaluation of surgical innovations.
Understanding patterns of distribution shifts and range expansion/contraction for small yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis) in the Yellow Sea
Authors: Han Qingpeng , Grüss Arnaud , Shan Xiujuan , Jin Xianshi , Thorson James T.
Published: September 2020

Detecting and analyzing patterns of distribution shifts and range expansion/contraction is important to understand population dynamics and changes in stock status. Here, we develop a spatio‐temporal model for yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis), which was fitted to bottom trawl survey biomass data collected in the Yellow Sea in the winter of 2001–2017. The model accounts for both spatial and spatio‐temporal structure and can potentially include the effects of surface temperature and of an annual index, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, represented using a recently developed spatially varying coefficient model. We selected a spatio‐temporal model with no covariates based on Akaike's information criterion. The center of gravity for yellow croaker was found to move northwest between 2001 and 2010, and then southwest over the period 2010–2017. These results reflected the predicted progressive disappearance of yellow croaker density hotspots (i.e., highest density areas) in the north and southeast areas of the Yellow Sea, which resulted in the central area of the Yellow Sea becoming the only yellow croaker density hotspot in 2017. This finding has important implications for fisheries management in the context of the China–South Korea fisheries agreement, as it indicates a measurable displacement of yellow croaker biomass toward China. The exclusion of covariates from the spatio‐temporal model was not expected a priori and may be due to the facts that environmental variations are not pronounced in winter in the Yellow Sea and that the representation of spatial and spatio‐temporal structure in spatio‐temporal models accounts for a large proportion of the variability in the data.
Acromelic dysplasias: how rare musculoskeletal disorders reveal biological functions of extracellular matrix proteins
Authors: Stanley Sarah , Balic Zerina , Hubmacher Dirk
Published: September 2020

Acromelic dysplasias are a group of rare musculoskeletal disorders that collectively present with short stature, pseudomuscular build, stiff joints, and tight skin. Acromelic dysplasias are caused by mutations in genes (FBN1, ADAMTSL2, ADAMTS10, ADAMTS17, LTBP2, and LTBP3) that encode secreted extracellular matrix proteins, and in SMAD4, an intracellular coregulator of transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) signaling. The shared musculoskeletal presentations in acromelic dysplasias suggest that these proteins cooperate in a biological pathway, but also fulfill distinct roles in specific tissues that are affected in individual disorders of the acromelic dysplasia group. In addition, most of the affected proteins directly interact with fibrillin microfibrils in the extracellular matrix and have been linked to the regulation of TGF‐β signaling. Together with recently developed knockout mouse models targeting the affected genes, novel insights into molecular mechanisms of how these proteins regulate musculoskeletal development and homeostasis have emerged. Here, we summarize the current knowledge highlighting pathogenic mechanisms of the different disorders that compose acromelic dysplasias and provide an overview of the emerging biological roles of the individual proteins that are compromised. Finally, we develop a conceptual model of how these proteins may interact and form an “acromelic dysplasia complex” on fibrillin microfibrils in connective tissues of the musculoskeletal system.
Occupational COVID‐19 risk to dental staff working in a public dental unit in the outbreak epicenter
Authors: Nardone Michele , Cordone Angelo , Petti Stefano
Published: September 2020

Objective

The management of the COVID‐19 outbreak occurred in Lombardy (Italy) implied that non‐COVID‐19 health care was remodeled, limiting adequate resources in non‐hospital public dental healthcare settings. This situation offered the opportunity to investigate the occupational COVID‐19 risk to dental staff in public non‐hospital dental units.

Methods

An infection control protocol was designed for dental health care in the Territorial Health and Social Services Authority (ASST) “Melegnano and Martesana” (Milan). Since specific guidance from central authorities was lacking, information was gathered from international public health organizations. The probability to visit asymptomatic COVID‐19‐infected patients was estimated, and the occupational risk to dental staff was calculated.

Results

The probability to visit asymptomatic patients passed from 1.2% (95% confidence interval −95 CI, 0.6%–2.5%) in the first period (20 February–15 March 2020) to 11.1% (95 CI, 5.8%–23.6%) in the second period (16 March–30 April). Dentists and dental assistants did not develop COVID‐19, while one nurse did, the nature of her occupational risk was unclear, as nurses provided prevalently non‐dental health care. The probabilities of developing COVID‐19 per worked hour per person excluding and including this uncertain situation were 0.0% (95 CI, 0.0%–3.2%) and 0.9% (95 CI, 0.1%–4.7%).

Conclusion

Relatively simple infection control procedures were enough to control occupational COVID‐19 risk during the outbreak.
Functional characterization of a defense‐responsive bulnesol/elemol synthase from potato
Authors: Dwivedi Varun , Rao Srinivas , Bomzan Dikki P. , Kumar Sarma R. , Shanmugam Pragadheesh V. , Olsson Shannon B. , Nagegowda Dinesh A.
Published: September 2020

Terpene synthases (TPSs) produce a variety of terpenoids that play numerous functional roles in primary and secondary metabolism, as well as in ecological interactions. Here, we report the functional characterization of an inducible potato TPS gene encoding bulnesol/elemol synthase (StBUS/ELS). The expression of StBUS/ELS in potato leaves was significantly induced in response to both bacterial (Pseudomonas syringae) and fungal (Alternaria solani) infection as well as methyl jasmonate treatment, indicating its role in defense. The leaves exhibited the highest StBUS/ELS expression followed by the stem with least and similar expression in tuber, sprout and root. Recombinant StBUS/ELS catalyzed the formation of different sesquiterpenes by utilizing farnesyl diphosphate as substrate, and the monoterpene geraniol from geranyl diphosphate. Among the sesquiterpenes formed by StBUS/ELS, elemol was the predominant product followed by α‐bulnesene, bulnesol and β‐elemene. Further gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of StBUS/ELS assay products at different injection temperatures revealed elemol and bulnesol as the major products at 275 and 200/150°C, respectively, without much change in the levels of minor products. This indicated thermal rearrangement of bulnesol into elemol at higher temperatures. Transient overexpression of StBUS/ELS in potato leaves conferred tolerance against the growth of bacteria P. syringae and Ralstonia solanacearum, and the fungus A. solani. Further, expression analysis of pathogenesis‐related (PR) genes in StBUS/ELS overexpressing leaves showed no significant change in comparison to control, indicating a direct involvement of StBUS/ELS enzymatic products against pathogens. Overall, our study suggested that StBUS/ELS is a pathogen‐inducible TPS encoding bulnesol/elemol synthase and could provide a direct role in defense against biotic stress in potato.
Oral mucosal lesions in patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Report of four cases. Are they a true sign of COVID‐19 disease?
Authors: Cruz Tapia Roberto Onner , Peraza Labrador Alberto Jose , Guimaraes Douglas Magno , Matos Valdez Luciano Hermios
Published: September 2020

Background

Vesiculobullous and macular lesions in the oral mucosa have been reported in patients positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Nonetheless, the significance and physiopathology of oral manifestations have not been clearly established in the clinical progression or outcome of the infection.

Aim

To describe the clinico‐pathological oral mucosal lesions in four patients with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.

Methods and Results

Four patients with COVID‐19 disease and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) presented angina bullosa hemorragica‐like lesion, vascular disorder, and nonspecific stomatitis, one patient with histological analysis demonstrated perivascular reactive lymphocitic infliltrate, focal capillary thrombosis, and hemorrhage. According to the discrimination of other local and systemic conditions and the synchronous onset of oral and systemic symptoms, the diagnosis of oral lesions probably associated with COVID‐19 was established.

Conclusion

Infection with SARS‐CoV‐2 may result in oral manifestations with various clinical presentations, which presumably support the hypothesis of thrombi formation and vasculitis; nevertheless, these findings need more evidence and a long‐term follow up of patients to accurately establish the significance of the oral mucosa affection in the COVID‐19 disease.