bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eumycetoma: A Perspective for Military Primary Care
Authors: Tunnage Joshua , Vignali Jonathan , Eickhoff Christa
Published: January 2021

This is a case report of a 42-year-old woman who presented to a clinic with a history of progressive left foot and ankle swelling. She had a suspected history of myectoma, but had never been officially diagnosed despite repeated cultures and debridements over the course of decades. The inciting event occurred approximately 30 years prior in her home country of Belize. Her wound culture revealed Scedosporium apiospermum as the causative agent. Treatment included surgical debridement and oral antifungal therapy. This case represents an interesting adjunct to the differential diagnosis for military physicians, as mycetomas are prevalent in many of the areas where our forces are deployed and may only present after the service member has left active service because of its naturally indolent course.
Another layer of complexity inStaphylococcus aureusmethionine biosynthesis control: unusual RNase III-driven T-box riboswitch cleavage determinesmetoperon mRNA stability and decay
Authors: Wencker Freya D R , Marincola Gabriella , Schoenfelder Sonja M K , Maaß Sandra , Becher Dörte , Ziebuhr Wilma
Published: January 2021

In Staphylococcus aureus, de novo methionine biosynthesis is regulated by a unique hierarchical pathway involving stringent-response controlled CodY repression in combination with a T-box riboswitch and RNA decay. The T-box riboswitch residing in the 5′ untranslated region (met leader RNA) of the S. aureus metICFE-mdh operon controls downstream gene transcription upon interaction with uncharged methionyl-tRNA. met leader and metICFE-mdh (m)RNAs undergo RNase-mediated degradation in a process whose molecular details are poorly understood. Here we determined the secondary structure of the met leader RNA and found the element to harbor, beyond other conserved T-box riboswitch structural features, a terminator helix which is target for RNase III endoribonucleolytic cleavage. As the terminator is a thermodynamically highly stable structure, it also forms posttranscriptionally in met leader/ metICFE-mdh read-through transcripts. Cleavage by RNase III releases the met leader from metICFE-mdh mRNA and initiates RNase J-mediated degradation of the mRNA from the 5′-end. Of note, metICFE-mdh mRNA stability varies over the length of the transcript with a longer lifespan towards the 3′-end. The obtained data suggest that coordinated RNA decay represents another checkpoint in a complex regulatory network that adjusts costly methionine biosynthesis to current metabolic requirements.
Free p-cresyl sulfate shows the highest association with cardiovascular outcome in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Glorieux Griet , Vanholder Raymond , Van Biesen Wim , Pletinck Anneleen , Schepers Eva , Neirynck Nathalie , Speeckaert Marijn , De Bacquer Dirk , Verbeke Francis
Published: January 2021

Background

Several protein-bound uraemic toxins (PBUTs) have been associated with cardiovascular (CV) and all-cause mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD) but the degree to which this is the case per individual PBUT and the pathophysiological mechanism have only partially been unraveled.

Methods

We compared the prognostic value of both total and free concentrations of five PBUTs [p-cresyl sulfate (pCS), p-cresyl glucuronide, indoxyl sulfate, indole acetic acid and hippuric acid] in a cohort of 523 patients with non-dialysis CKD Stages G1–G5. Patients were followed prospectively for the occurrence of a fatal or non-fatal CV event as the primary endpoint and a number of other major complications as secondary endpoints. In addition, association with and the prognostic value of nine markers of endothelial activation/damage was compared.

Results

After a median follow-up of 5.5 years, 149 patients developed the primary endpoint. In multivariate Cox regression models adjusted for age, sex, systolic blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and estimated glomerular filtration rate, and corrected for multiple testing, only free pCS was associated with the primary endpoint {hazard ratio [HR]1.39 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14–1.71]; P = 0.0014}. Free pCS also correlated with a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 (r = −0.114, P < 0.05), angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT2) (r = 0.194, P < 0.001), matrix metallopeptidase 7 (MMP-7; (r = 0.238, P < 0.001) and syndecan 1 (r = 0.235, P < 0.001). Of these markers of endothelial activation/damage, ANGPT2 [HR 1.46 (95% CI 1.25–1.70); P < 0.0001] and MMP-7 [HR 1.31 (95% CI 1.08–1.59); P = 0.0056] were also predictive of the primary outcome.

Conclusions

Among PBUTs, free pCS shows the highest association with CV outcome in non-dialysed patients with CKD. Two markers of endothelial activation/damage that were significantly correlated with free pCS, ANGPT2 and MMP-7 were also associated with CV outcome. The hypothesis that free pCS exerts its CV toxic effects by an adverse effect on endothelial function deserves further exploration.
Smokers’ Regrets and the Case for Public Health Paternalism
Authors: Wilkinson T M
Published: January 2021

Paternalist policies in public health often aim to improve people’s well-being by reducing their options, regulating smoking offering a prime example. The well-being challenge is to show that people really are better off for having their options reduced. The distribution challenge is to show how the policies are justified since they produce losers as well as winners. If we start from these challenges, we can understand the importance of the empirical evidence that a very high proportion of smokers regret smoking. In short, it is important that they regret it and important that the proportion is so high. This paper explains how, philosophically, regret can relate to well-being and it considers some of the strengths and weakness in the empirical research that the explanation brings out. The regret case for regulating smoking is indeed strong, although not as strong as the empirical researchers think. It is much weaker for paternalistic intervention in other public health problems, such as obesity and binge drinking.
Visualizing protein–protein interactions in plants by rapamycin-dependent delocalization
Authors: Winkler Joanna , Mylle Evelien , De Meyer Andreas , Pavie Benjamin , Merchie Julie , Grones Peter , Van Damme Dani�l
Published: January 2021

Identifying protein–protein interactions (PPIs) is crucial for understanding biological processes. Many PPI tools are available, yet only some function within the context of a plant cell. Narrowing down even further, only a few tools allow complex multi-protein interactions to be visualized. Here, we present a conditional in vivo PPI tool for plant research that meets these criteria. Knocksideways in plants (KSP) is based on the ability of rapamycin to alter the localization of a bait protein and its interactors via the heterodimerization of FKBP and FRB domains. KSP is inherently free from many limitations of other PPI systems. This in vivo tool does not require spatial proximity of the bait and prey fluorophores and it is compatible with a broad range of fluorophores. KSP is also a conditional tool and therefore the visualization of the proteins in the absence of rapamycin acts as an internal control. We used KSP to confirm previously identified interactions in Nicotiana benthamiana leaf epidermal cells. Furthermore, the scripts that we generated allow the interactions to be quantified at high throughput. Finally, we demonstrate that KSP can easily be used to visualize complex multi-protein interactions. KSP is therefore a versatile tool with unique characteristics and applications that complements other plant PPI methods.
The production of scientific and societal value in research evaluation: a review of societal impact assessment methods
Authors: Smit Jorrit P , Hessels Laurens K
Published: January 2021

Over the past two decades, several methods have been developed to evaluate the societal impact of research. Compared to the practical development of the field, the conceptual development is relatively weak. This review article contributes to the latter by elucidating the theoretical aspects of the dominant methods for evaluating societal impact of research, in particular, their presuppositions about the relationship between scientific and societal value of research. We analyse 10 approaches to the assessment of the societal impact of research from a constructivist perspective. The methods represent different understandings of knowledge exchange, which can be understood in terms of linear, cyclical, and co-production models. In addition, the evaluation methods use a variety of concepts for the societal value of research, which suggest different relationships with scientific value. While some methods rely on a clear and explicit distinction between the two types of value, other methods, in particular Evaluative Inquiry, ASIRPA, Contribution Mapping, Public Value Mapping, and SIAMPI, consider the mechanisms for producing societal value integral to the research process. We conclude that evaluation methods must balance between demarcating societal value as a separate performance indicator for practical purposes and doing justice to the (constructivist) science studies’ findings about the integration of scientific and societal value of research. Our analytic comparison of assessment methods can assist research evaluators in the conscious and responsible selection of an approach that fits with the object under evaluation. As evaluation actively shapes knowledge production, it is important not to use oversimplified concepts of societal value.
Effect of ultrasound-detected synovitis on therapeutic efficacy of hyaluronic acid injection for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Wang Chien-Chih , Wang Chin-Tien , Tsai Kun-Ling , Chou Chen-Liang , Chao Jian-Kang , Huang Hsin-Yi , Kao Chung-Lan
Published: January 2021

Objective

To determine whether ultrasound (US)-detected synovitis affects the therapeutic efficacy of hyaluronic acid (HA) injection for treating knee OA.

Methods

Patients with symptomatic knee OA were recruited. All the patients received HA injection two times at 2-week intervals. Clinical assessments were performed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA Index (WOMAC) at baseline and 1 and 6 months after treatment. Imaging evaluation was based on complete knee US examination and the Kellgren–Lawrence grading. Suprapatellar synovial fluid (SF) depth, synovial hypertrophy (SH) and vascularity were measured through US.

Results

In total, 137 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in the analysis. All patients demonstrated improvement in VAS and WOMAC scores at 1 and 6 months after treatment (P < 0.001). Moreover, regression model-based analysis revealed significant associations of SF depth with the VAS and WOMAC scores in all patients. Each centimetre increase in the effusion diameter was associated with a decrease in the 1-month post-treatment VAS improvement percentage (15.26; 95% CI: 0.05, 29.5; P = 0.042) and 6-month post-treatment WOMAC improvement (37.43; 95% CI: 37.68, 50.69; P < 0.01). However, SH and vascularity were not significantly associated with VAS or WOMAC scores.

Conclusion

Ultrasound detected suprapatellar effusion predicts reduced efficacy of HA injection in knee OA
Characteristics and risk factors of relapses in patients with adult-onset Still's disease: a long-term cohort study
Authors: Meng Jianfen , Chi Huihui , Wang Zhihong , Zhang Hao , Sun Yue , Teng Jialin , Hu Qiongyi , Liu Honglei , Cheng Xiaobing , Ye Junna , Shi Hui , Wu Xinyao , Jia Jincao , Wang Mengyan , Ma Yuning , Zhou Zhuochao , Wang Fan , Liu Tingting , Wan Liyan , Qiao Xin , Chen Xia , Yang Chengde , Su Yutong
Published: January 2021

Objectives

To describe the detailed characteristics and explore the potential risk factors of relapses in patients with adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD).

Methods

We enrolled patients with AOSD admitted to the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Ruijin Hospital from August 2016 to September 2019. Kaplan–Meier curves and the log rank test were used to estimate the cumulative relapse probability and persistent remission rate before the first occurrence of relapse. The multivariate Cox proportional hazard method was utilized to identify risk factors associated with relapses of AOSD.

Results

A total of 122 patients with AOSD were enrolled with a median follow-up of 12.6 months. Among them, 26 (21.3%) patients had at least one relapse. The cumulative relapse rates of AOSD patients were 14.42%, 21.79%, 24.81% and 28.57% at 6, 12, 18 and 36 months, respectively. According to the multivariate analysis, intensive treatment (odds ratio: 6.848; 95% CI: 2.441, 19.211) and macrophage activation syndrome (odds ratio: 4.020, 95% CI: 1.564, 10.322) were associated with increased risk of relapse.

Conclusion

Our study indicated that relapses occurred in at least one-fifth of patients with AOSD, and patients with high disease severity at initial attack may have an increased risk of relapse, which needs more intensive therapy and close follow-up.
Policies to Support Businesses through the COVID-19 Shock: A Firm Level Perspective
Authors: Cirera Xavier , Cruz Marcio , Davies Elwyn , Grover Arti , Iacovone Leonardo , Cordova Jose Ernesto Lopez , Medvedev Denis , Maduko Franklin Okechukwu , Nayyar Gaurav , Reyes Ortega Santiago , Torres Jesica
Published: January 2021

Relying on a novel dataset covering more than 120,000 firms in 60 countries, this paper contributes to the debate about policies to support businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic. While governments around the world have implemented a wide range of policy support measures, evidence on the reach of these policies, the alignment of measures with firm needs, and their targeting and effectiveness remains scarce. This paper provides the most comprehensive assessment to date of these issues, focusing primarily on developing economies. It shows that policy reach has been limited, especially for more vulnerable firms and countries, and identifies mismatches between policies provided and policies most sought. It also provides some indicative evidence regarding mistargeting of policies and their effectiveness in addressing liquidity constraints and preventing layoffs. This assessment provides some early guidance to policymakers on tailoring their COVID-19 business support packages and points to new directions in data and research efforts needed to guide policy responses to the current pandemic and future crises.
Characterization of PmHHXM, a New Broad-Spectrum Powdery Mildew Resistance Gene in Chinese Wheat Landrace Honghuaxiaomai
Authors: Xue Shulin , Lu Mingxue , Hu Shanshan , Xu Hongxing , Ma Yuyu , Lu Nan , Bai Shenglong , Gu Aoyang , Wan Hongshen , Li Suoping
Published: January 2021

Powdery mildew, caused by fungal pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, is an agronomically important and widespread wheat disease causing severe yield losses. Deployment of broad‐spectrum disease resistance genes is the preferred strategy to prevent this pathogen. Chinese wheat landrace Honghuaxiaomai (HHXM) was resistant to all 23 tested B. graminis f. sp. tritici isolates at the seedling stage. The F1, F2, and F2:3 progenies derived from the cross HHXM × Yangmai 158 were used in this study, and genetic analysis revealed that a single dominant gene, designated PmHHXM, conferred resistance to B. graminis f. sp. tritici isolate E09. Bulked segregant analysis and molecular mapping initially located PmHHXM to the distal region of chromosome 4AL. To fine map PmHHXM, we identified two critical recombinants from 592 F2 plants and delimited PmHHXM to a 0.18-cM Xkasp475200 to Xhnu552 interval covering 1.77 Mb, in which a number of disease resistance–related gene clusters were annotated. Comparative mapping of this interval revealed a perturbed synteny among Triticeae species. This study reports the new powdery mildew resistance gene PmHHXM, which seems different from three known quantitative trait loci/genes identified on chromosome 4AL and has significant values for further genetic improvement. Analysis of the polymorphisms of 13 cosegregating markers between HHXM and 170 modern wheat cultivars indicates that Xhnu227 and Xsts478700 developed here are ideal for marker-assisted introgression of this locus in wheat breeding.
Cholera dynamics: lessons from an epidemic
Authors: Balasubramanian Deepak , Murcia Sebastian , Ogbunugafor C. Brandon , Gavilan Ronnie , Almagro-Moreno Salvador
Published: January 2021

Cholera is a severe diarrhoeal disease that spreads rapidly and affects millions of people each year, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. The disease is caused byVibrio choleraeO1 and is characterized by watery diarrhoea that can be lethal if not properly treated. Cholera had not been reported in South America from the late 1800s until 1991, when it was introduced in Peru, wreaking havoc in one of the biggest epidemics reported to date. Within a year, the disease had spread to most of the Latin American region, resulting in millions of cases and thousands of deaths in all affected countries. Despite its aggressive entry, cholera virtually disappeared from the continent after 1999. The progression of the entire epidemic was well documented, making it an ideal model to understand cholera dynamics. In this review, we highlight how the synergy of socioeconomic, political and ecological factors led to the emergence, rapid spread and eventual disappearance of cholera in Latin America. We discuss how measures implemented during the cholera epidemic drastically changed its course and continental dynamics. Finally, we synthesize our findings and highlight potential lessons that can be learned for efficient and standardized cholera management programmes during future outbreaks in non-endemic areas.
Improving variant calling using population data and deep learning
Authors: Chen Nae-Chyun , Kolesnikov Alexey , Goel Sidharth , Yun Taedong , Chang Pi-Chuan , Carroll Andrew
Published: January 2021

Large-scale population variant data is often used to filter and aid interpretation of variant calls in a single sample. These approaches do not incorporate population information directly into the process of variant calling, and are often limited to filtering which trades recall for precision. In this study, we develop population-aware DeepVariant models with a new channel encoding allele frequencies from the 1000 Genomes Project. This model reduces variant calling errors, improving both precision and recall in single samples, and reduces rare homozygous and pathogenic clinvar calls cohort-wide. We assess the use of population-specific or diverse reference panels, finding the greatest accuracy with diverse panels, suggesting that large, diverse panels are preferable to individual populations, even when the population matches sample ancestry. Finally, we show that this benefit generalizes to samples with different ancestry from the training data even when the ancestry is also excluded from the reference panel.
Interleukin-6 Receptor Antagonists in Critically Ill Patients with Covid-19 – Preliminary report
Authors:   The REMAP-CAP Investigators, Gordon Anthony C. , Mouncey Paul R. , Al-Beidh Farah , Rowan Kathryn M. , Nichol Alistair D. , Arabi Yaseen M. , Annane Djillali , Beane Abi , van Bentum-Puijk Wilma , Berry Lindsay R. , Bhimani Zahra , Bonten Marc J.M. , Bradbury Charlotte A. , Brunkhorst Frank M. , Buzgau Adrian , Cheng Allen C. , Detry Michelle A. , Duffy Eamon J. , Estcourt Lise J. , Fitzgerald Mark , Goossens Herman , Haniffa Rashan , Higgins Alisa M. , Hills Thomas E. , Horvat Christopher M. , Lamontagne Francois , Lawler Patrick R. , Leavis Helen L. , Linstrum Kelsey M. , Litton Edward , Lorenzi Elizabeth , Marshall John C. , Mayr Florian B. , McAuley Danny , McGlothlin Anna , McGuinness Shay P , McVerry Bryan J. , Montgomery Stephanie K. , Morpeth Susan C. , Murthy Srinivas , Orr Katrina , Parke Rachael L. , Parker Jane C. , Patanwala Asad E. , Pettilä Ville , Rademaker Emma , Santos Marlene S. , Saunders Christina T. , Seymour Christopher W. , Shankar-Hari Manu , Sligl Wendy I. , Turgeon Alexis F. , Turner Anne M. , van de Veerdonk Frank L. , Zarychanski Ryan , Green Cameron , Lewis Roger J. , Angus Derek C. , McArthur Colin J. , Berry Scott , Webb Steve A. , Derde Lennie P.G.
Published: January 2021

Background

The efficacy of interleukin-6 receptor antagonists in critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is unclear.

Methods

We evaluated tocilizumab and sarilumab in an ongoing international, multifactorial, adaptive platform trial. Adult patients with Covid-19, within 24 hours of commencing organ support in an intensive care unit, were randomized to receive either tocilizumab (8mg/kg) or sarilumab (400mg) or standard care (control). The primary outcome was an ordinal scale combining in-hospital mortality (assigned −1) and days free of organ support to day 21. The trial uses a Bayesian statistical model with pre-defined triggers to declare superiority, efficacy, equivalence or futility.

Results

Tocilizumab and sarilumab both met the pre-defined triggers for efficacy. At the time of full analysis 353 patients had been assigned to tocilizumab, 48 to sarilumab and 402 to control. Median organ support-free days were 10 (interquartile range [IQR] −1, 16), 11 (IQR 0, 16) and 0 (IQR −1, 15) for tocilizumab, sarilumab and control, respectively. Relative to control, median adjusted odds ratios were 1.64 (95% credible intervals [CrI] 1.25, 2.14) for tocilizumab and 1.76 (95%CrI 1.17, 2.91) for sarilumab, yielding >99.9% and 99.5% posterior probabilities of superiority compared with control. Hospital mortality was 28.0% (98/350) for tocilizumab, 22.2% (10/45) for sarilumab and 35.8% (142/397) for control. All secondary outcomes and analyses supported efficacy of these IL-6 receptor antagonists.

Conclusions

In critically ill patients with Covid-19 receiving organ support in intensive care, treatment with the IL-6 receptor antagonists, tocilizumab and sarilumab, improved outcome, including survival. (ClinicalTrials.govnumber:NCT02735707)
Conformational analysis of two new organotin(IV) structures completed with a CSD survey
Authors: Sabbaghi Fahimeh , As'habi Azam , Saneei Anahid , Pourayoubi Mehrdad , Abdul Salam Abdul Ajees , Nečas Marek , Dušek Michal , Kučeráková Monika , Acharya Sudarshan
Published: January 2021

The conformational flexibilities are studied in two new organotin(IV) complexes, namely,trans-dichloridodimethylbis[N,N′,N′′-tris(2-chlorobenzyl)phosphoric triamide]tin(IV), [Sn(CH3)2(C21H21Cl3N3OP)2Cl2] or Sn(CH3)2Cl2{OP[NHCH2C6H4(2-Cl)]3}2, (I), and bis(dipropylammonium) tetrachloridodimethylstannate(IV), [(CH3CH2CH2)2NH2]2[Sn(CH3)2Cl4], (II), and their analogous structures from the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD). The conformations are considered based on the N—P=O—Sn torsion angles for (I) and the C—C—C—N, C—C—N—C, C—N—C—C and N—C—C—C torsion angles for the two symmetry-independent [CH3CH2CH2NH2CH2CH2CH3]+cations in (II), and the ±ac±sp±ac (ac = anticlinal and sp = synperiplanar) and ±ap±ap±ap±ap (ap = antiperiplanar) conformations are observed, respectively. In both structures, the four atoms in the corners of the square-planar segment of the octahedral shape around the Sn atom participate in normal hydrogen-bonding interactions as acceptors, which include two O and two Cl atoms for (I), and four Cl atoms for (II). However, the phosphoric triamide ligands block the environment around the Sn atom and limit the hydrogen-bond pattern to form a supramolecular ribbon assembly, while in the presence of small organic cations in (II), a two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded architecture is achieved. The weak interactions π–π, C—H...π and C—Cl...π in (I), and C—H...Cl in (II) do not change the dimensionality of the hydrogen-bond pattern. The 62 CSD structures analogous to (I),i.e.with an SnOPN3segment (including 83 entries) fall into four categories of conformations based on the N—P=O—Sn torsion angles. The 132 [(CH3CH2CH2)2NH2]+cations from 85 CSD structures are classified into seven groups based on the torsion angles noted for (II). Most of the CSD structures adopt the same associated conformations noted for (I) and (II). 15 [Sn(CH3)2Cl4]2−anions extracted from the CSD are compared with the structure of (II).
Crystal structure of 2,2′-{[(2-nitrobenzyl)azanediyl]bis(propane-3,1-diyl)}bis[1H-isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione]
Authors: Holmberg Ryne , Franz Vanessa , Moser Kristen M. , Solano Ricardo , Moore Curtis , Rheingold Arnold L. , Smith Gary L. N.
Published: January 2021

The structure of the title compound, C29H26N4O6, exhibits a folded conformation with the three arms all on the same side of the tertiary N atom. The two phthalimide units make a dihedral angle of 12.18 (12)° and the dihedral angles between the benzyl plane and the phthalimide units are 68.08 (7) and 67.71 (7)°. The crystal packing features π–π interactions.
Psilacetin derivatives: fumarate salts of the methyl–ethyl, methyl–allyl and diallyl variants of the psilocin prodrug
Authors: Pham Duyen N. K. , Chadeayne Andrew R. , Golen James A. , Manke David R.
Published: January 2021

The solid-state structures of the salts of three psilacetin derivatives, namely, 4-acetoxy-N-ethyl-N-methyltryptammonium (4-AcO-MET) hydrofumarate {systematic name: [2-(4-acetyloxy-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl](methyl)ethylazanium 3-carboxyprop-2-enoate}, C15H21N2O2
+·C4H3O4
−, 4-acetoxy-N-allyl-N-methyltryptammonium (4-AcO-MALT) hydrofumarate {systematic name: [2-(4-acetyloxy-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl](methyl)prop-2-enylazanium 3-carboxyprop-2-enoate}, C16H21N2O2
+·C4H3O4
−, and 4-acetoxy-N,N-diallyltryptammonium (4-AcO-DALT) fumarate–fumaric acid (1/1) (systematic name: bis{[2-(4-acetyloxy-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]diprop-2-enylazanium} but-2-enedioate–(E)-butenedioic acid (1/1)), 2C18H23N2O2
+·C4H2O4
2−·C4H4O4, are reported. All three salts possess a protonated tryptammonium cation. The 4-AcO-MET and 4-AcO-MALT compounds are charge-balanced by 3-carboxyacrylate (hydrofumarate) anions. The 4-AcO-DALT complex crystallizes as a two-to-one tryptammonium-to-fumarate salt, which co-crystallizes with a fumaric acid molecule. Each structure is consolidated by N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds.
Synthesis, crystal structure and photophysical properties of chlorido[2-(2′,6′-difluoro-2,3′-bipyridin-6-yl-κN
1)-6-(pyridin-2-yloxy-κN)phenyl-κC
1]platinum(II)
Authors: Park Ki-Min , Moon Cheol Joo , Paek Sanghyun , Kang Youngjin
Published: January 2021

The title compound, [Pt(C21H12F2N3O)Cl], crystallizes with two crystallographically independent molecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit, which adopt similar conformations. The PtII atoms in both molecules adopt distorted square-planar geometries, coordinated by one C and two N atoms from the tridentate 2′,6′-difluoro-6-[3-(pyridin-2-yloxy)phenyl]-2,3′-bipyridine ligand and a chloride anion: the C and Cl atoms are trans. In the crystal, C—H...Cl/F hydrogen bonds, F...π and weak π–π stacking interactions between adjacent A and B molecules and between pairs of inversion-related B molecules lead to the formation of a two-dimensional supramolecular network lying parallel to the ab plane. The sheets are stacked along the c-axis direction and linked by F...π and weak π–π stacking interactions between pairs of inversion-related A molecules, forming a three-dimensional supramolecular network. The photoluminescence quantum efficiency of the title compound in the blue–green region of the visible region (λmax = 517 and 544 nm) is estimated to be ∼0.2–0.3, indicating that the title compound could be a suitable candidate as the emitting material in organic light-emitting diode (OLED) applications.
Synthesis and comparative structural study of 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-perimidine and its mono- and di-N-methylated analogues
Authors: Kalle Paulina , Tatarin Sergei V. , Zakharov Alexander Yu. , Kiseleva Marina A. , Bezzubov Stanislav I.
Published: January 2021

The title compounds, 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-perimidine (C16H11N3; 1), 1-methyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-perimidine (C17H13N3; 2), and 1,3-dimethyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-perimidinium iodide (C18H16N3
+·I−; 3) were synthesized under mild conditions and their structures were determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray analysis. The N-methylation of the nitrogen atom(s) at the perimidine moiety results in a significant increase of the interplane angle between the pyridin-2-yl ring and the perimidine system. The unsubstituted perimidine (1) forms a weak intramolecular N—H...N bond that consolidates the molecular conformation. In the crystal structures of 1–3, the molecular entities all are assembled through π–π and C—H...π interactions.
Deciphering the motives, barriers and integration of Syrian refugee entrepreneurs into Turkish society: a SEM approach
Authors: Almohammad Dawoud , Durrah Omar , Ahmed Faisal
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This study/paper aims to explore the effect of motives and barriers of Syrian refugee entrepreneurs on social and economic integration into Turkish society.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a convenience sampling technique, data was collected using a questionnaire from 300 Syrian entrepreneurs who have entrepreneurial ventures in Turkey. The collected data was analyzed using structural equation modeling through an AMOS software.

Findings

The results of this study indicate a significant influence of both individual and contextual motives on integration into Turkish society. However, the individual and contextual barriers do not appear to affect integration.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the literature investigating the motives and barriers in relation to social and economic integration into Turkish society.
Unit pricing for multiple product sizes: identifying moderators and mediators of consumer evaluations
Authors: Shirai Miyuri , Satomura Takuya
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the underlying process by which a brand’s unit pricing for multiple package sizes influences consumer evaluations by incorporating several mediators and moderators. Two-unit pricing tactics were examined: quantity discounts and surcharges.

Design/methodology/approach

Two online experiments were conducted to test the hypotheses. Study 1 examined the mediating role of consumers’ inferred motive for sellers in setting quantity discounts or surcharges in the relationship between the pricing tactics and consumer evaluations. Study 2 incorporated affect as a mediator, and price consciousness and unit price usage as moderators in this relationship.

Findings

The mediating role of inferred motive is supported. Motive is related to the sales volume. Furthermore, this mediation effect is more potent when consumers have stronger quantity discount belief. Further, the mediating role of affect is supported. It is more salient when consumers are frequent users of unit prices.

Research limitations/implications

This study compared two pricing tactics and did not include a control condition. The first digit of the unit price for the small package size was different between the pricing tactics.

Practical implications

When applying quantity surcharges to products, it is essential to provide additional information to consumers to preclude the possibility of negative evaluations.

Originality/value

This study makes a significant contribution by offering a deeper understanding of consumer responses to the pricing tactics. In particular, it reveals that pricing tactics trigger both cognitive and affective responses, which then influence evaluations of the pricing tactics. This elicited cognition is associated with deduction about sellers’ brand-size pricing behavior.
The impact of gratitude (vs pride) on the effectiveness of cause-related marketing
Authors: Septianto Felix , Garg Nitika
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how gratitude, as compared to pride, can leverage the effectiveness of cause-related marketing, particularly a donation-based promotion. Drawing upon the appraisal tendency framework, this study establishes the underlying process driving these emotion effects. It also examines the moderating role of product type (hedonic vs utilitarian).

Design/methodology/approach

Five studies are conducted to test the predictions. Importantly, this study examines the predicted emotion effects across different sources of affect (dispositional, incidental and integral), different subject populations (students and Amazon Mechanical Turk panel) and different product categories (water bottle, chocolate and printer), leading to robust and generalizable findings.

Findings

Results show that gratitude (vs pride) increases the likelihood of purchasing a product with a donation-based promotion. This effect is mediated by gratitude’s other-responsibility appraisal and, in turn, increased reciprocity concerns (a serial mediation). Further, this study finds that how the gratitude (vs pride) effect is attenuated when the product is hedonic (but not utilitarian) in nature.

Research limitations implications

Past study on emotion and cause-related marketing has emphasized the role of negative emotions such as guilt. This study provides empirical evidence on the potential benefit of using positive emotions such as gratitude in cause-related marketing.

Practical implications

The implications of this study can benefit marketers by highlighting the use of gratitude appeals in their cause-related marketing campaigns.

Originality/value

The findings of the present research are significant because they highlight the potential role of a discrete positive emotion – gratitude – in leveraging the effectiveness of cause-related marketing and establish the underlying process driving this effect.
“Simple rules” as an approach to corporate selection of CSR strategies
Authors: Goby Valerie Priscilla , Karimova Gulnara Z.
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to adopt the “simple rules” approach developed by Sull and Eisenhardt (2016) and apply it to explain how corporate social responsibility (CSR) manifests in myriad ways depending on the particular socio-economic and geopolitical context.

Design/methodology/approach

It illustrates the implicit principle of “simple rules” through the case of a major petroleum company in the United Arab Emirates (Emirates National Oil Company [ENOC]) using content analysis to trace its interpretation and practice of CSR as transmitted via its social media platforms and stakeholder response.

Findings

ENOC’s CSR is primarily associated with two government objectives. One relates to human resource initiatives, most especially to the development of local talent in response to the government’s priority of reducing the country’s excessive reliance on expatriate labor. The second is that of preserving local heritage which is reflected in the prominence of local religious values in its posts. The prioritization of these two key themes is a manifestation of how, from the vast range of activities that can be considered as constituting CSR, an individual company chooses those that serve local and immediate intentions.

Social implications

A tight scoping of CSR within cherished national objectives appears to enhance the co-creation of shared value between company and stakeholders.

Originality/value

This study’s contribution does not so much problematize the many classifications and theories developed to account for diverse conceptualizations and implementations of CSR; rather, it proposes a “simple rules” approach as a parallel and potentially efficient, economical means to explain diversity within CSR interpretation and execution according to the specific geopolitical and socio-economic context in which it is implemented.
How does abusive supervision hurt employees? The role of positive psychological capital
Authors: Avey James B. , Agarwal Upasna , Gill Jadvir K.
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this research was to understand the mediating role of employee positive psychological capital on the negative relationship between abusive supervision and employee outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design consisted of a multi-wave study with a heterogeneous sample of working adults in the United States. Study variables included the independent variable of abusive supervision, the mediating variable of positive psychological capital and the dependent variables of psychological well-being, job satisfaction and general health.

Findings

Results from 293 working adults in the United States suggest employee positive psychological capital is an explanatory mechanism as a mediator in the relationship between abusive supervision and outcomes. In other words, abusive supervisors reduce employee psychological capital leading to sub-optimal outcomes.

Practical implications

Results of this study suggest several practical implications, however one is primary. In sum, we found the deleterious effects of abusive supervisors occur through positive psychological capital. While it is often difficult to immediately terminate manager employment for abusive supervision, results here suggest firms can use psychological capital interventions to buffer the negative impact of abusive supervisors.

Originality/value

It is well understood that abusive supervision has a negative impact on employees. However, the underlying mechanisms of how and why this occurs is not well understood. While much research has speculated on why this happens prior to this study, few explanatory mechanisms have been subjected to empirical tests.
On-line self-calibration method for unattended manipulators based on Gaussian motion model and visual system
Authors: Qi Ruolong , Tang Yuangui , Zhang Ke
Published: January 2021

Purpose

For some special manipulators such as the ones work at the space station, nuclear or some other unmanned environments, the overload, collision, vibration, temperature change or release of the internal stress would affect the structural parameters. And thus the operation precision might constantly decrease in long-term use. In these unmanned environments, the unattended manipulators should calibrate itself when they execute high precision operations or proceed self-maintenances. The purpose of this paper is to propose an automatic visual assistant on-line calibration (AVOC) method based on multi-markers.

Design/methodology/approach

A camera fixed on the end of the manipulator is used to measure one to three identification points, which forms an unstable multi-sensor eye-in-hand system. A Gaussian motion method which combines the linear quadratic regulator control and extended Kalman filter together is proposed to make the manipulator track the planned trajectories when its inaccurate structural parameters form uncertain motion errors. And a Monte-Carlo method is proposed to form a high precision and stable signal acquisition when the visual system has measurement errors and intermittent signal feedback. An automatic sampling process is adopted to select the optimal measurement points basing on their variances.

Findings

Data analysis and experiment results prove the efficiency and feasibility of the method proposed in this paper. With this method, the positioning accuracy is largely promoted from about 2 mm to 0.04–0.05 mm.

Originality/value

Experiments were carried out successfully on a manipulator in a life sciences glove box that will work at the Chinese space station. It is a low cost and efficient manipulator calibration method. The whole autonomic calibration process takes less than 10 min and requires no human intervention. In addition, this method not only can be used in the calibration of other unmanned articulated manipulator that works in deep ocean, nuclear industry or space but also be useful for the maintenance work in modern factories owing a lot of industrial robots.
Psychometric properties of global mental health literacy measures
Authors: Fulcher Emily , Pote Helen
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Since its initial development, numerous mental health literacy (MHL) definitions and associated measures have been created which have yet to be adequately evaluated. This paper aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of global MHL measures with the aim of identifying the most valid, reliable, responsive and interpretable measure.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review was conducted of studies that evaluated global MHL measures against at least one of the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) taxonomy properties; validity, reliability, responsivity or interpretability.

Findings

In total, 13 studies were identified which examined the psychometric properties of 7 MHL measures. Two of these seven measures were vignette format and the remaining five measures were questionnaires. The mental health promoting knowledge-10 and the multicomponent mental health literacy measure were the most psychometrically robust global MHL measures as they had the most psychometric properties rated as adequate. Both were shown to have adequate structural validity, internal consistency and construct validity. The two vignette measures, the MHL tool for the workplace and the vignette MHL measure, were both shown to only have adequate evidence for construct validity.

Originality/value

The current study is the first to systematically review research that evaluated the psychometric properties of global measures of MHL.
Management of risks associated with the disclosure of future-oriented information in integrated reports
Authors: Lakshan A.M.I. , Low Mary , de Villiers Charl
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Integrated reporting (IR) promotes the disclosure of future-oriented information to enable financial stakeholders to make better-informed decisions. However, the downside to this type of disclosure is the risk to management of disclosing such future-oriented information. This paper aims to explore how IR preparers manage the risk of disclosing future-oriented information in companies’ integrated reports.

Design/methodology/approach

This study represents an exploratory interpretative thematic analysis of 33 semi-structured interviews with managers involved in IR in eight Sri Lankan companies representing various industries. The thematic analysis is informed by the research literature and prior studies on IR.

Findings

This paper provides evidence of various strategies to manage the risk associated with the disclosure of future-oriented information in integrated reports. These strategies include making non-specific predictions; increasing the accuracy of the predictions; linking performance management to disclosed targets, thus ensuring individual responsibility for target achievement; disclosingex postexplanations for not achieving previously disclosed targets; and linking disclosed targets to the company’s risk management procedures. However, these strategies can cause managers to provide conservative future-oriented information, rather than “best estimate” future-oriented information.

Practical implications

The study describes the strategies that managers use to mitigate the risks involved in disclosing future-oriented information. These strategies can provide support or raise concerns, for managers in deciding how to deal with such risks. Regulators tasked with investor protection, as well as stock exchanges interested in the transparency and accountability of listed companies’ activities should be aware of these strategies. Furthermore, the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) should be interested in the implications of this study because some of the identified strategies could undermine the usefulness of integrated reports to stakeholders. This is a significant concern given that the IIRC envisages integrated reporting and thinking as vehicles that could align capital allocation and corporate behaviour with wider sustainable development goals.

Social implications

The trend of future-oriented information moving from being used only in organisations’ internal management systems to being externally reported in integrated reports has implications for stakeholder groups interested in the reported targets. This study reveals management strategies that could affect future-oriented information reliability and reduce their usefulness for users of integrated reports.

Originality/value

This study provides unique insights into the emerging area of how managers deal with the risks involved in disclosing future-oriented IR information.
The EU in Search of Autonomy in the Era of Chinese Expansionism and COVID‐19 Pandemic
Authors: Santander Sebastian , Vlassis Antonios
Published: January 2021

Given the global changes created by China's expanding international influence, increasingly intense Sino–American competition and the growing multi‐polarisation of the international political economy, is there any specific place that the European Union can hope to occupy? For tentative answers to this question, this analysis of Chinese economic expansionism aims to highlight the rationale behind the EU's foreign policy action and to explore how this expansionism has impacted on the preservation of the European unity and whether Chinese economic power has undermined integration and triggered disunity within the EU. We look at the period starting in 2013, the year when China launched its ‘New Silk Road’ initiative, right up to the global lockdown due to the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Joint effects of alcohol use, smoking and body mass index as an explanation for the alcohol harm paradox: causal mediation analysis of eight cohort studies
Authors: Peña Sebastián , Mäkelä Pia , Laatikainen Tiina , Härkänen Tommi , Männistö Satu , Heliövaara Markku , Koskinen Seppo
Published: January 2021

Background and aims

Lower socio‐economic status (SES) is associated with higher alcohol‐related harm despite lower levels of alcohol use. Differential vulnerability due to joint effects of behavioural risk factors is one potential explanation for this ‘alcohol harm paradox’. We analysed to what extent socio‐economic inequalities in alcohol‐mortality are mediated by alcohol, smoking and body mass index (BMI), and their joint effects with each other and with SES.

Design

Cohort study of eight health examination surveys (1978–2007) linked to mortality data.

Setting

Finland.

Participants

A total of 53 632 Finnish residents aged 25+ years.

Measurements

The primary outcome was alcohol‐attributable mortality. We used income as an indicator of SES. We assessed the joint effects between income and mediators (alcohol use, smoking and BMI) and between the mediators, adjusting for socio‐demographic indicators. We used causal mediation analysis to calculate the total, direct, indirect and mediated interactive effects using Aalen's additive hazards models.

Findings

During 1 085 839 person‐years of follow‐up, we identified 865 alcohol‐attributable deaths. We found joint effects for income and alcohol use and income and smoking, resulting in 46.8 and 11.4 extra deaths due to the interaction per 10 000 person‐years. No interactions were observed for income and BMI or between alcohol and other mediators. The lowest compared with the highest income quintile was associated with 5.5 additional alcohol deaths per 10 000 person‐years (95% confidence interval = 3.7, 7.3) after adjusting for confounders. The proportion mediated by alcohol use was negative (−69.3%), consistent with the alcohol harm paradox. The proportion mediated by smoking and BMI and their additive interactions with income explained 18.1% of the total effect of income on alcohol‐attributable mortality.

Conclusions

People of lower socio‐economic status appear to be more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol use and smoking on alcohol‐attributable mortality. Behavioural risk factors and their joint effects with income may explain part of the alcohol harm paradox.