bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CENP-A overexpression drives distinct cell fates depending on p53 status
Authors: Jeffery Daniel , Podsypanina Katrina , Gatto Alberto , Landete Rebeca Ponce , Bonneville Lorraine , Dumont Marie , Fachinetti Daniele , Almouzni Geneviève
Published: July 2020

Tumour evolution is driven by both genetic and epigenetic changes. CENP-A, the centromeric histone H3 variant, is an epigenetic mark that directly perturbs genetic stability and chromatin when overexpressed. Although CENP-A overexpression is a common feature of many cancers, how this impacts cell fate and response to therapy remains unclear. Here, we established a tunable system of inducible and reversible CENP-A overexpression combined with a switch in p53 status in human cell lines. Through clonogenic survival assays and single-cell RNA-sequencing over time, we uncover the tumour suppressor p53 as a key determinant of how CENP-A impacts cell state, cell identity and therapeutic response. If p53 is functional, CENP-A overexpression promotes senescence and radiosensitivity. But, when we inactivate p53, CENP-A overexpression instead promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition, an essential precursor for tumour cell invasion and metastasis. Thus, CENP-A overexpression drives distinct cell fates depending on p53 status, with important implications for tumour evolution.
DeepTracer: Fast Cryo-EM Protein Structure Modeling and Special Studies on CoV-related Complexes
Authors: Pfab Jonas , Phan Nhut Minh , Si Dong
Published: July 2020

Information about macromolecular structure of protein complexes such as SARS-CoV-2, and related cellular and molecular mechanisms can assist the search for vaccines and drug development processes. To obtain such structural information, we present DeepTracer, a fully automatic deep learning-based method for fast de novo multi-chain protein complex structure determination from high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) density maps. We applied DeepTracer on a previously published set of 476 raw experimental density maps and compared the results with a current state of the art method. The residue coverage increased by over 30% using DeepTracer and the RMSD value improved from 1.29Å to 1.18Å. Additionally, we applied DeepTracer on a set of 62 coronavirus-related density maps, among them 10 with no deposited structure available in EMDataResource. We observed an average residue match of 84% with the deposited structures and an average RMSD of 0.93Å. Additional tests with related methods further exemplify DeepTracer’s competitive accuracy and efficiency of structure modeling. DeepTracer allows for exceptionally fast computations, making it possible to trace around 60,000 residues in 350 chains within only two hours. The web service is globally accessible athttps://deeptracer.uw.edu.
3D-Visualization of Amyloid-β Oligomer and Fibril Interactions with Lipid Membranes by Cryo-Electron Tomography
Authors: Tian Yao , Liang Ruina , Kumar Amit , Szwedziak Piotr , Viles John H.
Published: July 2020

Amyloid-β (Aβ) monomers assemble into mature fibrils via a range of metastable oligomeric and protofibrillar intermediates. These Aβ assemblies have been shown to bind to lipid bilayers. This can disrupt membrane integrity and cause a loss of cellular homeostasis, that triggers a cascade of events leading to Alzheimer’s disease. However, molecular mechanisms of Aβ cytotoxicity and how the different assembly forms interact with the membrane remain enigmatic. Here we use cryo-electron tomography (cryoET) to obtain three-dimensional nano-scale images of various Aβ assembly types and their interaction with liposomes. Aβ oligomers bind extensively to the lipid vesicles, inserting and carpeting the upper-leaflet of the bilayer. Furthermore, curvilinear protofibrils also insert into the bilayer, orthogonally to the membrane surface. Aβ oligomers concentrate at the interface of vesicles and form a network of Aβ-linked liposomes. While crucially, monomeric and fibrillar Aβ have relatively little impact on the membrane. Changes to lipid membrane composition highlights a significant role for GM1-ganglioside in promoting Aβ-membrane interactions. The different effects of Aβ assembly forms observed align with the highlighted cytotoxicity reported for Aβ oligomers. The wide-scale incorporation of Aβ oligomers and curvilinear protofibrils into the lipid bilayer suggests a mechanism by which membrane integrity is lost.
Bioactivity descriptors for uncharacterized compounds
Authors: Bertoni Martino , Duran-Frigola Miquel , Badia-i-Mompel Pau , Pauls Eduardo , Orozco-Ruiz Modesto , Guitart-Pla Oriol , Alcalde Víctor , Diaz Víctor M , Berenguer-Llergo Antoni , García de Herreros Antonio , Aloy Patrick
Published: July 2020

Chemical descriptors encode the physicochemical and structural properties of small molecules, and they are at the core of chemoinformatics. The broad release of bioactivity data has prompted enriched representations of compounds, reaching beyond chemical structures and capturing their known biological properties. Unfortunately, ‘bioactivity descriptors’ are not available for most small molecules, which limits their applicability to a few thousand well characterized compounds. Here we present a collection of deep neural networks able to infer bioactivity signatures for any compound of interest, even when little or no experimental information is available for them. Our ‘signaturizers’ relate to bioactivities of 25 different types (including target profiles, cellular response and clinical outcomes) and can be used as drop-in replacements for chemical descriptors in day-to-day chemoinformatics tasks. Indeed, we illustrate how inferred bioactivity signatures are useful to navigate the chemical space in a biologically relevant manner, unveiling higher-order organization in natural product collections, and to enrich mostly uncharacterized chemical libraries for activity against the drug-orphan target Snail1. Moreover, we implement a battery of signature-activity relationship (SigAR) models and show a substantial improvement in performance, with respect to chemistry-based classifiers, across a series of biophysics and physiology activity prediction benchmarks.
2-Chloro-4-nitrobenzoic acid as a coformer with pharmaceutical cocrystals and molecular salts
Authors: Lemmerer Andreas
Published: July 2020

A series of five binary complexes, i.e. three cocrystals and two molecular salts, using 2-chloro-4-nitrobenzoic acid as a coformer have been produced with five commonly available compounds, some of pharmaceutical relevance, namely, 2-chloro-4-nitrobenzoic acid–isonicotinamide (1/1), C7H4ClNO4·C6H6N2O, 2-chloro-4-nitrobenzoic acid–3,3-diethylpyridine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (2/1), 2C7H4ClNO4·C9H13NO2, 2-chloro-4-nitrobenzoic acid–pyrrolidin-2-one (1/1), C7H4ClNO4·C4H7NO, 2-carboxypiperidinium 2-chloro-4-nitrobenzoate, C6H12NO2
−·C7H3ClNO4
−, and (2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium 2-chloro-4-nitrobenzoate, C2H8NO+·C7H3ClNO4
−. The coformer falls under the classification of a `generally regarded as safe' compound. All five complexes make use of a number of different heteromeric hydrogen-bonded interactions. Intermolecular potentials were evaluated using the CSD-Materials module.
Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and DFT studies of 4-methyl-2-({[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]imino}methyl)phenol
Authors: Faizi Md. Serajul Haque , Cinar Emine Berrin , Dogan Onur Erman , Aydin Alev Sema , Agar Erbil , Dege Necmi , Mashrai Ashraf
Published: July 2020

The title compound, C15H12F3NO, crystallizes with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. The configuration of the C=N bond is E and there is an intramolecular O—H...N hydrogen bond present, forming an S(6) ring motif. The dihedral angle between the mean planes of the phenol and the 4-trifluoromethylphenyl rings is 44.77 (3)°. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H...O interactions, forming polymeric chains extending along the a-axis direction. The Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from C...H/H...C (29.2%), H...H (28.6%), F...H/H...F (25.6%), O...H/H...O (5.7%) and F...F (4.6%) interactions. The density functional theory (DFT) optimized structure at the B3LYP/6-311 G(d,p) level is compared with the experimentally determined molecular structure in the solid state. The HOMO–LUMO behaviour was elucidated to determine the energy gap. The crystal studied was refined as an inversion twin.
2-[1-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-4,6-dichlorophenol
Authors: Shraddha K. N. , Begum Noor Shahina
Published: July 2020

In the title compound, C31H26Cl2N2O, the 4,6-dichlorophenol and the imidazole rings are almost coplanar, with a dihedral angle of 8.89 (6)° between them and an intramolecular O—H...N hydrogen bond occurs between the rings. The dihedral angles subtended by the tert-butylphenyl ring and the two phenyl rings with the imidazole ring are 85.18 (9), 81.22 (9) and 19.00 (8)°, respectively. The methyl groups of the tert-butyl grouping are disordered over two sets of sites in 0.589 (5):0.411 (5) ratio. In the crystal, inversion dimers linked by pairs of weak C—H...Cl interactions generate R
2
2(24) loops.
Unmanned aircraft automatic flight control algorithm in a spin maneuver
Authors: Rogalski Tomasz , Rzucidło Paweł , Prusik Jacek
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The paper aims to present an idea of automatic control algorithms dedicated to both small manned and unmanned aircraft, capable to perform spin maneuver automatically. This is a case of maneuver far away from so-called standard flight. The character of this maneuver and the range of aircraft flight parameters changes restrict application of standard control algorithms. Possibility of acquisition full information about aircraft flight parameters is limited as well in such cases. This paper analyses an alternative solution that can be applied in some specific cases.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses theoretical discussion and breakdowns to create basics for development of structures of control algorithms. Simplified analytical approach was applied to tune regulators. Results of research were verified in series of software-in-the loop, computer simulations.

Findings

The structure of the control system enabling aerobatic flight (spin flight as example selected) was found and the method how to tune regulators was presented as well.

Practical implications

It could be a fundament for autopilots working in non-conventional flight states and aircraft automatic recovery systems.

Originality/value

The paper presents author’s original approach to aircraft automatic control when high control precision is not the priority, and not all flight parameters can be precisely measured.
Authorial voice(s): the writing styles of Francis X. Carty
Authors: McGrath Conor
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The paper aims to analyse the published work of Ireland's pre-eminent public relations (PR) educator, across a number of literary genres in which he has written. More broadly, it considers the writing life of academics.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper examines Carty's writings about his own history, Irish history, the development of church-state relations in Ireland and PR. It seeks to make connections between Carty's subjects and his writing styles.

Findings

Through detailed analysis of a number of key texts, the paper explores the writing styles used by Carty to discern the nature of his distinctive “voice(s)”.

Research limitations/implications

There is considerable research into a handful of (mostly American) “great men” in PR' history and development. But every nation has its own PR pioneers about whom little is known outside that country and who deserve to be more widely recognised.

Originality/value

This paper hopes to stimulate future work by other colleagues in other nations, reflecting on the contribution of their own PR educators and practitioners.
Development of assembly techniques for connection of AlGaN/GaN/Si chips to DBC substrate
Authors: Kisiel Ryszard , Guziewicz Marek , Taube Andrzej , Kaminski Maciej , Sochacki Mariusz
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the sintering and solid liquid interdiffusion bonding (SLID) techniques to attach AlGaN/GaN-on-Si chips to direct bond copper (DBC) substrate. The influence of metal layers deposited on the backside of AlGaN/GaN-on-Si dies on the assembly process is also investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors assumed the value of the shear strength to be a basic parameter for evaluation of mechanical properties. Additionally, the surface condition after shearing was assessed by SEM photographs and the shear surface was studied by X-ray diffraction method. The SLID requires Sn-plated DBC substrate and can be carried out at temperature slightly higher than 250°C and pressure reduced to 4 MPa, while the sintering requires process temperature of 350°C and the pressure at least 7.5 MPa.

Findings

Ag-, Au-backside covered high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) chips can be assembled on Sn-plated DBC substrates by SLID technology. In case of sintering technology, Cu- or Ag-backside covered HEMT chips can be assembled on Ag- or Ni/Au-plated DBC substrates. The SLID process can be realized at lower temperature and decreased pressure than sintering process.

Research limitations/implications

For SLID technology, the adhesion between Cu-backside covered HEMT die and DBC with Sn layer loses its operational properties after short-term ageing in air at temperature of 300°C.

Originality/value

In the SLID process, Sn-Cu and Sn-Ag intermetallic compounds and alloys are responsible for creation of the joint between Sn-plated DBC and micropowder Ag layer, while the sintered joint between the chip and Ag-based micropowder is formed in diffusion process.
Computational design of resonant phononic crystal for aperiodic stress wave attenuation
Authors: Luo Chengcheng , Ning Shaowu , Liu Zhanli , Li Xiang , Zhuang Zhuo
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a design method for attenuating stress waves pressure using soft matrix embedded with particles.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the phononic crystal theory, the particle composed of hard core and soft coating can form a spring oscillator structure. When the frequency of the wave is close to the resonance frequency of the spring oscillator, it can cause the resonance of the particle and absorb a lot of energy. In this paper, the resonant phononic crystal with three phases, namely, matrix, particle core and coating, is computationally designed to effectively mitigate the stress wave with aperiodic waveform.

Findings

The relationship between the center frequency and width of the bandgap and the geometric and physical parameters of particle core are discussed in detail, and the trend of influence is analyzed and explained by a spring oscillator model. Increasing the radius of hard core could effectively enhance the bandgap width, thus enhancing the effect of stress wave attenuation. In addition, it is found that when the wave is in the bandgap, adding viscosity into the matrix will not further enhance the stress attenuation effect, but will make the stress attenuation effect of the material worse because of the competition between viscous dissipation mechanism and resonance mechanism.

Research limitations/implications

This study will provide a reference for the design of stress wave protection materials with general stress waves.

Originality/value

This study proposes a design method for attenuating stress waves pressure using soft matrix embedded with particles.
Chemical characteristics of groundwater in Ardabil region, Iran
Authors: Pazand Kamran , Pazand Kaveh
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The chemical analysis of wells in the Ardabil area, Ardabil Province NW of Iran, was evaluated to determine the hydrogeochemical processes and ion concentration background in the region. The purpose of this study is to analyze the hydrochemical quality of groundwater in Ardabil aquifer in order to assess the suitability of the waters for different uses.

Design/methodology/approach

The chemical analysis of 75 water wells in the Ardabil area, was evaluated. Over the entire area, the dominated hydrochemical types are: Na-Cl, Na-HCO3-Cl-Mg, Ca-SO4, Ca-Mg-SO4-Cl and Ca-Mg-HCO3. The abundance of the major ions is as follows: Na+>Ca2+>Mg2+>K+ and SO42–> Cl–>HCO3– and major ion concentrations are below the acceptable level for drinking water. Most of groundwater samples fell in the soft water category. All of groundwaters belong to the excellent category and can be used safely for irrigation.

Findings

The chemical analysis of 75 water wells in the Ardabil area, Ardabil Province NW of Iran, was evaluated to determine the hydrogeochemical processes and ion concentration background in the region. Over the entire area, the dominated hydrochemical types are: Na-Cl, Na-HCO3-Cl-Mg, Ca-SO4, Ca-Mg-SO4-Cl and Ca-Mg-HCO3. The abundance of the major ions is as follows: Na+>Ca2+>Mg2+>K+ and SO42–> Cl–>HCO3– and major ion concentrations are below the acceptable level for drinking water. Most of groundwater samples fell in the soft water category. All of groundwaters belong to the excellent category and can be used safely for irrigation.

Originality/value

The chemical analysis of 75 water wells in the Ardabil area, Ardabil Province NW of Iran, was evaluated to determine the hydrogeochemical processes and ion concentration background in the region. Over the entire area, the dominated hydrochemical types are: Na-Cl, Na-HCO3-Cl-Mg, Ca-SO4, Ca-Mg-SO4-Cl and Ca-Mg-HCO3. The abundance of the major ions is as follows: Na+>Ca2+>Mg2+>K+ and SO42–> Cl–>HCO3– and major ion concentrations are below the acceptable level for drinking water. Most of groundwater samples fell in the soft water category. All of groundwaters belong to the excellent category and can be used safely for irrigation.
Workplace learning and foreign workers' commitment to host cultural organization: the effects of cross-cultural adjustment and supervisor trust
Authors: Dang Van Thac , Vu Thinh Truong , Nguyen Phuoc-Thien
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between workplace learning and organizational commitment with the mediating role of cross-cultural adjustment and the moderating role of supervisor trust for the case of foreign workers in a new cultural setting.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses structural equation modeling to analyze a sample data of 367 Vietnamese and Philippine workers in Taiwan.

Findings

Results show that workplace learning enhances foreign workers' organizational commitment. Cross-cultural adjustment is found to have a mediating effect in the link between workplace learning and organizational commitment. Furthermore, supervisor trust moderates the link between cross-cultural adjustment and organizational commitment. In addition, supervisor trust moderates the indirect effect of workplace learning on organizational commitment through cross-cultural adjustment.

Originality/value

Prior literature often focuses on expatriates who are high-skilled employees. This study investigates low-skilled workers who come from less-developed country working in a more developed economy. This study is one of the first researches examining the issue of foreign workers' commitment in new cultural environment. Our findings shed a new light to the effect of workplace learning on organizational commitment. Our findings also help to clarify the roles of cross-cultural adjustment and supervisor trust into the workplace learning–organizational commitment relationship. This study provides implications for researchers and managers regarding to management and development of foreign workers for local organizations.
Ambiguity and its coping mechanisms in supply chains lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters
Authors: Gunessee Saileshsingh , Subramanian Nachiappan
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The first purpose of this paper is to situate and conceptualise ambiguity in the operations management (OM) literature, as connected to supply chain decision-making (SCDM). The second purpose is to study the role of ambiguity-coping mechanisms in that context.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses the behavioural decision theory (BDT) to better embed ambiguity in a generic SCDM framework. The framework explicates both behavioural and non-behavioural antecedents of ambiguity and enables us to also ground the “coping” mechanisms as individual and organisational level strategies. Properties of the framework are illustrated through two “ambiguous” events – the 2011 Thai flood and Covid-19 pandemic.

Findings

Three key findings are documented. First, ambiguity is shown to distinctively affect supply chain decisions and having correspondence with specific coping mechanisms. Second, the conceptual framework shows how individual coping mechanisms can undermine rational-based organisational coping mechanisms, leading to “sub-optimal” (poor) supply chain decisions. Third, this study highlights the positive role of visibility but surprisingly organisational “experiential” learning is imperfect, due to the focus on “similar” past experience and what is known.

Originality/value

The paper is novel in two ways. First, it introduces ambiguity – an often neglected concept in operations management – into the supply chain lexicon, by developing a typology of ambiguity. Second, ambiguity-coping mechanisms are also introduced as both individual and organisational strategies. This enables the study to draw distinctive theoretical and practical implications.
A multicommodity unpaired pickup and delivery vehicle routing problem with split loads and unloads
Authors: Dongyang Xu , Kunpeng Li , Jiehui Yang , Ligang Cui
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the commodity transshipment planning among customers, which is commonly observed in production/sales enterprises to save the operational costs.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed integer programming (MIP) model is built and five types of valid inequalities for tightening the solution space are derived. An improved variable neighborhood search (IVNS) algorithm is presented combining the developed multistart initial solution strategy and modified neighborhood local search procedure.

Findings

Experimental results demonstrate that: with less decision variables considered, the proposed model can solve more instances compared to the existing model in previous literature. The valid inequalities utilized to tighten the searching space can efficiently help the model to obtain optimal solutions or high-quality lower bounds. The improved algorithm is efficient to obtain optimal or near-optimal solutions and superior to the compared algorithm in terms of solution quality, computational time and robustness.

ractical implications

This research not only can help reduce operational costs and improve logistics efficiency for relevant enterprises, but also can provide guidance for constructing the decision support system of logistics intelligent scheduling platform to cater for centralized management and control.

Originality/value

This paper develops a more compact model and some stronger valid inequalities. Moreover, the proposed algorithm is easy to implement and performs well.
How does coopetition affect radical innovation? The roles of internal knowledge structure and external knowledge integration
Authors: Chen Huanhuan , Yao Yanhong , Zan Ao , Carayannis Elias G.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Building on the resource- and knowledge-based views, this paper aims to explore how coopetition affects radical innovation and the roles of knowledge structure and external knowledge integration in the relationship between coopetition and radical innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposes a research model to examine the mediating role of external knowledge integration on the coopetition-radical innovation link, where the mediation is moderated by the firm’s knowledge structure (including component knowledge and architectural knowledge). The authors use regression and bootstrapping to test the proposed model with survey data from 241 Chinese technology firms.

Findings

This study finds that coopetition positively affects radical innovation and the effect is fully mediated by external knowledge integration. Additionally, component knowledge negatively moderates the coopetition-external knowledge integration link and architectural knowledge positively moderates this relationship. Further, the mediating effect of external knowledge integration is also moderated by component knowledge and architectural knowledge.

Practical implications

Firms should engage in coopetition to promote radical innovation. Further, it is necessary for firms to appropriately manage coopetition according to their internal knowledge structure.

Originality/value

This study explains why scholars have different ideas about the relationship between coopetition and radical innovation by exploring the mediating role of external knowledge integration and the moderating effect of knowledge structure. Firms possess increased possibilities for knowledge leakage and partner opportunism with high levels of component knowledge, which will reduce the positive effect coopetition on external knowledge integration; thus, they are less likely to realize radical innovation. Instead, firms possess increased opportunities for resource sharing with high levels of architectural knowledge, thus improving the positive effect coopetition on external knowledge integration and they are more likely to achieve radical innovation.
Quo vadis, ethnic entrepreneurship? A bibliometric analysis of ethnic entrepreneurship in growing markets
Authors: Indarti Nurul , Hapsari Naya , Lukito-Budi Andy Susilo , Virgosita Risa
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the trends in existing studies in the field of ethnic entrepreneurship in the context of growing markets in terms of definitions, theories, themes, methodologies and settings.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used bibliometric analysis and used Publish or Perish software with Google Scholar as the database. A total of 183 articles published in 122 journals from 1988 to 2018 were selected. This study used systematic data to reveal trends in growing markets and qualitative inductive analysis to define relevant themes within the topic.

Findings

The results show that ethnic entrepreneurship is defined as involving immigrants from developing countries. From a theoretical point of view, socio-cultural theories, socio-economic theories and combinations of both have been used to explain the phenomenon. Six research themes have been developed indicating potential explorative and exploitative research themes. This study identified the dominance of the qualitative approach in ethnic entrepreneurship research and found that the typical research subjects are Asian immigrants, especially Chinese, in developed countries. The articles reviewed were mainly conducted in developed countries (68.85%) and a lesser portion in developing countries (13.66%), particularly Asian countries.

Practical implications

This study provides future directions for research on ethnic entrepreneurship, such as gender studies of ethnic entrepreneurs and factors affecting the opening of new businesses in new locations.

Originality/value

This study reveals trends in the ethnic entrepreneurship field based on the country in which the study was conducted, the definition of ethnic entrepreneurship, the theories, the research themes, the methodologies, the research setting and the ethnicity studied. It also used the framework of input–process–output to establish a generic road map of the ethnic entrepreneurship research area.
An evaluation of social media advertising for Muslim millennial parents
Authors: Sari Dessy Kurnia , Suziana Suziana , Games Donard
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the effects of informativeness, entertainment and credibility of social media on the perceived value of advertising for Muslim millennial parents. It evaluates the impact of these variables on brand awareness and purchase intention.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a mixed-method analysis with two stages. In the first stage, information from social media was collected. The second stage involved an online survey of 210 Muslim millennial parents. Structural equation modeling-partial least squares was used to test the study’s prediction.

Findings

The results showed that informativeness, entertainment and credibility of the message significantly influence Muslim millennial parents’ perceived value of social media advertising. These aspects also have a significant effect on brand awareness and purchase intention. The parents appreciate entertainment most, followed by the informativeness and credibility of the message.

Practical implications

This study offers new insights on Muslim millennial parents as a new segment in the market. Social media advertising is the most appropriate strategy for approaching this segment, and therefore, should be given much attention by marketers. The message created needs to be informative, entertaining and credible. It should consider culture, Islamic values and tradition.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the evaluation of a new trend for Muslim millennials as young parents. The tendency to spend more time using social media as the primary source of information is evaluated. Additionally, this study gives marketers a better understanding of Muslim millennial parents, especially in a collective society.
“I” seek differentiation and “we” seek assimilation: the impact of self-expressive customization on consumers’ willingness to pay a premium
Authors: Lei Shaohui , Wang Xianqing , Peng Leiqing , Guo Yulang
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Customization, as a crucial way to meet the heterogeneous demand of individuals, exists two fundamental and competing motivations, namely, assimilation and uniqueness. Based on optimal distinctiveness theory, this paper aims to validate the interactive effect of self-expressive customization types (i.e. customization to express individual identity and customization to express a shared identity) and self-construal on consumers’ willingness to pay a premium (WPP).

Design/methodology/approach

Two studies were conducted to provide empirical support for all proposed hypotheses. The first study (n= 151) uses a hypothetical scenario of a basketball game to test the interaction effect of self-expressive customization and self-construal. The second study (n= 184) assumes a scenario of designing a t-shirt or a uniform to examined the moderated mediating role of consumer-product identification.

Findings

The results reveal that independent (vs interdependent) self-construal will have stronger consumer-product identification for customization to express an individual identity (vs customization to express a shared identity), thus generating a higher WPP. Also, perceived task difficulty is the boundary condition of the research model.

Research limitations/implications

This paper makes insightful contributions to the customization literature by strengthening the identity signals of customization and exploring the psychological mechanism and the boundary conditions.

Originality/value

This research is one of the first few empirical studies to examine the impact of self-expressive customization on consumers’ WPP via the identification with the focal object. This paper not only expands the literature of self-expressive customization but also provides a new research direction for the research of person-object interaction in marketing.
CDS-based implied probability of default estimation
Authors: Abid Amira , Abid Fathi , Kaffel Bilel
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to shed more light on the relationship between probability of default, investment horizons and rating classes to make decision-making processes more efficient.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on credit default swaps (CDS) spreads, a methodology is implemented to determine the implied default probability and the implied rating, and then to estimate the term structure of the market-implied default probability and the transition matrix of implied rating. The term structure estimation in discrete time is conducted with the Nelson and Siegel model and in continuous time with the Vasicek model. The assessment of the transition matrix is performed using the homogeneous Markov model.

Findings

The results show that the CDS-based implied ratings are lower than those based on Thomson Reuters approach, which can partially be explained by the fact that the real-world probabilities are smaller than those founded on a risk-neutral framework. Moreover, investment and sub-investment grade companies exhibit different risk profiles with respect of the investment horizons.

Originality/value

The originality of this study consists in determining the implied rating based on CDS spreads and to detect the difference between implied market rating and the Thomson Reuters StarMine rating. The results can be used to analyze credit risk assessments and examine issues related to the Thomson Reuters StarMine credit risk model.
Assessment of dietary selenium intake of Jordanian adults in Madaba: a cross sectional study
Authors: Hammouh Fadwa , Zein Sima , Amr Rula , Ghazzawi Hadeel , Muharib Dina , Al Saad Dalya , Subih Hadil
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper aims to assess the intake of dietary selenium among Jordanian adults in Madaba Governorate.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a cross-sectional study in Madaba Governorate. Convenience sampling was done at Madaba Governorate for this study. The subjects comprised 500 subjects (325 women and 175 men) aged from 18 to 60 years. A 24-h recall (24-HR) and Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) were used to estimate the selenium intake in the studied population.

Findings

Mean of dietary selenium was more than the recommended amount by at least 2.5-fold in both methods FFQ and 24-HR (p = 0.004), while no significant difference was observed in selenium consumption per day for women and men respectively using FFQ. The results indicated that selenium consumption is higher than the RDA among Madaba population. A moderate correlation was found between both methods for all subjects, women and men, respectively (p < 0.05).

Originality/value

The authors conclude that the selenium intake in Jordanian population is significantly above the RDA. However, future studies are required to correlate this high intake with health benefits and exclude toxic effects of Selenium.
Equitable student success via library support for textbooks
Authors: Wimberley Laura , Cheney Elizabeth , Ding Yi
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The cost of course materials to the individual student has increased over the past decade, contributing to educational inequity. Open educational resources (OERs) may be a solution and research validates their positive impact on student success outcomes (Colvardet al., 2018; Feldsteinet al., 2012). Few studies, however, examine the role that library collections play in addressing course materials cost and student success. This paper aims to investigate whether materials costs are a significant factor in course pass rate and whether the library has a positive impact on pass rates.

Design/methodology/approach

Using required texts listed in syllabi for select undergraduate courses at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), the authors compare course materials costs for each course to the pass rate. The authors then measure the impact of course materials cost on the achievement gap between Pell Grant eligible and non-eligible students.

Findings

This study confirms previous research indicating that reduced course materials costs have a measurable impact on student success, in that the total minimum cost of required materials has a statistically significant effect on the percentage of students who pass a course. However, course reserves slightly increase the disparity between high-income and low-income students, suggesting that course reserves are a less effective way of supporting the latter compared to OERs.

Originality/value

This study is unique in examining the effect of the cost of course materials on students, regardless of the source of cost reductions. Most literature focuses on the qualitative efficacy of OERs instead of measured impact or the relationship between the cost of course materials and student success. The authors investigate the connection between OERs, library engagement and student success.
Self‐fulfilling patience
Authors: Gong Liutang , Wang Wei
Published: July 2020

This paper explores macroeconomic implications of investment in patience in a standard neoclassical growth model with Becker‐Mulligan endogenous time preferences. The endogenous discount rate acts as a new margin for inter‐temporal decisions, in addition to the standard margin that hinges on the marginal return of capital. This time preference margin alters the equilibrium dynamics and stability of the neoclassical growth model substantially. When the discount rate is positive, there may exist multiple steady states that are either saddle‐point stable or unstable. When the discount rate is negative, the unique steady state is locally indeterminate due to self‐fulfilling patience investment. Interestingly, the existence of the local indeterminacy does not need any externality. When the discount rate is zero, various types of bifurcations can happen, leading to rich equilibrium dynamics such as limit cycles and chaos. We show that opening up the closed economy can cause aggregate instability.
Formal versus Informal System to Mitigate Non‐point Source Pollution: An Experimental Investigation
Authors: Nguyen Kiet T.
Published: July 2020

Water pollution caused by aquaculture or agricultural activities negatively affects both the activity and downstream areas. A number of other upstream‐downstream problems (e.g. water use, industrial/municipal water source pollution, salinity zoning problems) are examples of similar negative externalities. Non‐point source pollution, which is either prohibitively costly or impossible to observe, is more feasible to identify, and hence mitigate at the aggregate level. We study experimentally the efficacy of two possible management systems: a centralised external, formal government‐led monitoring and control system; a self‐governing communication and informal system, both designed to manage shrimp farming, which generates a non‐point source pollution with upstream‐downstream externalities. Our results suggest that local communication and control outperforms the external monitoring and certification agency. These results, in conjunction with other relevant research, suggest that informal regulation and self‐governance among shrimp farmers can be highly successful in tackling the pollution problem.
Mitigation effect of sodium alginate on acrylamide formation in fried potato chips system based on response surface methodology
Authors: Liu Hui , Li Xuenan , Yuan Yuan
Published: July 2020

Acrylamide is a known neurotoxin and probable carcinogen in humans. Researchers reported that foods rich in carbohydrates could generate high amounts of acrylamide at high temperatures. In recent years, hydrocolloids are applied to reduce acrylamide in thermally processed foods and the effect has been well proved. The present work was to investigate the effect of sodium alginate as the coating agent on acrylamide formation in fried potato chips by a Box‐Behnken design. The optimized processing conditions were: sodium alginate at the concentration of 1.34%, frying time at 4.38 min, and frying temperature at 179 °C. The corresponding inhibition rate of acrylamide was 76.59%. Compared to the control group, the oil absorption of coating chips decreased significantly, whereas the addition of sodium alginate did not affect the quality of potato chips. Scanning electron microscope analysis revealed that coating with sodium alginate could effectively prevent oil uptake, which might contribute to acrylamide mitigation. Overall, sodium alginate significantly mitigated acrylamide formation in fried potato chips.

Practical Application

Sodium alginate could significantly reduce acrylamide formation in fried potato chips systems. Sodium alginate may therefore be a new mitigation strategy for acrylamide formation in commercial fried foods without prejudice to main quality properties valued by consumers.
Electron availability in CO2, CO and H2 mixtures constrains flux distribution, energy management and product formation in Clostridium ljungdahlii
Authors: Hermann Maria , Teleki Attila , Weitz Sandra , Niess Alexander , Freund Andreas , Bengelsdorf Frank R. , Takors Ralf
Published: July 2020

Acetogens such as Clostridium ljungdahlii can play a crucial role reducing the human CO2 footprint by converting industrial emissions containing CO2, CO and H2 into valuable products such as organic acids or alcohols. The quantitative understanding of cellular metabolism is a prerequisite to exploit the bacterial endowments and to fine‐tune the cells by applying metabolic engineering tools. Studying the three gas mixtures CO2 + H2, CO and CO + CO2 + H2 (syngas) by continuously gassed batch cultivation experiments and applying flux balance analysis, we identified CO as the preferred carbon and electron source for growth and producing alcohols. However, the total yield of moles of carbon (mol‐C) per electrons consumed was almost identical in all setups which underlines electron availability as the main factor influencing product formation. The Wood–Ljungdahl pathway (WLP) showed high flexibility by serving as the key NAD+ provider for CO2 + H2, whereas this function was strongly compensated by the transhydrogenase‐like Nfn complex when CO was metabolized. Availability of reduced ferredoxin (Fdred) can be considered as a key determinant of metabolic control. Oxidation of CO via carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH) is the main route of Fdred formation when CO is used as substrate, whereas Fdred is mainly regenerated via the methyl branch of WLP and the Nfn complex utilizing CO2 + H2. Consequently, doubled growth rates, highest ATP formation rates and highest amounts of reduced products (ethanol, 2,3‐butanediol) were observed when CO was the sole carbon and electron source.
Value of labial salivary gland histopathology for diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome in patients with anti‐centromere antibody positivity
Authors: Tsukamoto Masako , Suzuki Katsuya , Tsunoda Kazuyuki , Ikeura Kazuhiro , Kameyama Kaori , Takeuchi Tsutomu
Published: July 2020

Aim/Introduction

Although anti‐centromere antibody (ACA)+ Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is considered a subtype of SS, it was not included in the recent American College of Rheumatology/ European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) SS classification criteria. ACA+ patients without anti‐SS‐A/Ro antibodies require salivary gland histopathology to fulfill the ACR/EULAR criteria for diagnosis of SS. We reviewed salivary gland histology among ACA+ patients referred for the diagnosis of SS using the ACR/EULAR and Japanese criteria which does not require biopsy.

Method

Data from 147 ACA+ patients with dry eyes and/or mouth who visited our department were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical, immunological, and histological data were collected and statistically analyzed.

Result

Sixty‐five patients (44%) had undergone labial salivary gland biopsy. The frequency of dry mouth was higher in ACA+ patients who had undergone labial salivary gland biopsy than in those who had not (P = .046), while there were no differences in biopsy rates between patients with and without sclerodactyly (P = .51). According to the current ACR/EULAR classification criteria, Greenspan grade of 3 or 4 for labial salivary gland histopathology is required in patients without anti‐SS‐A/Ro antibody for the diagnosis of SS. Four patients with Greenspan grades <3 and anti‐SS‐A/Ro antibody met the criteria for SS. In 54 patients in which the ACR/EULAR criteria were met, 53 patients were diagnosed with SS using the Japanese criteria.

Conclusion

In ACA+/anti‐SS‐A/Ro– antibody patients, agreement between ACR/EULAR and Japanese criteria sets was excellent. For easily classifying ACA+ patients as SS cases, salivary gland biopsy should be performed in ACA+ patients with dry symptoms to identify ACA+ patients.
Vascular dysfunction in aged mice contributes to persistent lung fibrosis
Authors: Caporarello Nunzia , Meridew Jeffrey A. , Aravamudhan Aja , Jones Dakota L. , Austin Susan A. , Pham Tho X. , Haak Andrew J. , Moo Choi Kyoung , Tan Qi , Haresi Adil , Huang Steven K. , Katusic Zvonimir S. , Tschumperlin Daniel J. , Ligresti Giovanni
Published: July 2020

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease thought to result from impaired lung repair following injury and is strongly associated with aging. While vascular alterations have been associated with IPF previously, the contribution of lung vasculature during injury resolution and fibrosis is not well understood. To compare the role of endothelial cells (ECs) in resolving and non‐resolving models of lung fibrosis, we applied bleomycin intratracheally to young and aged mice. We found that injury in aged mice elicited capillary rarefaction, while injury in young mice resulted in increased capillary density. ECs from the lungs of injured aged mice relative to young mice demonstrated elevated pro‐fibrotic and reduced vascular homeostasis gene expression. Among the latter, Nos3 (encoding the enzyme endothelial nitric oxide synthase, eNOS) was transiently upregulated in lung ECs from young but not aged mice following injury. Young mice deficient in eNOS recapitulated the non‐resolving lung fibrosis observed in aged animals following injury, suggesting that eNOS directly participates in lung fibrosis resolution. Activation of the NO receptor soluble guanylate cyclase in human lung fibroblasts reduced TGFβ‐induced pro‐fibrotic gene and protein expression. Additionally, loss of eNOS in human lung ECs reduced the suppression of TGFβ‐induced lung fibroblast activation in 2D and 3D co‐cultures. Altogether, our results demonstrate that persistent lung fibrosis in aged mice is accompanied by capillary rarefaction, loss of EC identity, and impaired eNOS expression. Targeting vascular function may thus be critical to promote lung repair and fibrosis resolution in aging and IPF.
Maternal activity restriction to reduce preterm birth: Time to put this fallacy to bed
Authors: Walsh Colin A.
Published: July 2020

Activity restriction has traditionally been recommended to pregnant women, especially high‐risk patients, to reduce preterm birth. However, there is no scientific evidence that bed‐rest reduces preterm birth and, in many studies, women on bed‐rest had higher rates of delivering preterm. Bed‐rest in pregnancy is associated with significant physiological and psychosocial sequelae and reduced neonatal birth weight and be cannot be endorsed, even in women with a short cervix. The practice of prescribing bed‐rest in pregnancy is outdated and should be abandoned.