bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MusiteDeep: a deep-learning based webserver for protein post-translational modification site prediction and visualization
Authors: Wang Duolin , Liu Dongpeng , Yuchi Jiakang , He Fei , Jiang Yuexu , Cai Siteng , Li Jingyi , Xu Dong
Published: April 2020

MusiteDeep is an online resource providing a deep-learning framework for protein post-translational modification (PTM) site prediction and visualization. The predictor only uses protein sequences as input and no complex features are needed, which results in a real-time prediction for a large number of proteins. It takes less than three minutes to predict for 1000 sequences per PTM type. The output is presented at the amino acid level for the user-selected PTM types. The framework has been benchmarked and has demonstrated competitive performance in PTM site predictions by other researchers. In this webserver, we updated the previous framework by utilizing more advanced ensemble techniques, and providing prediction and visualization for multiple PTMs simultaneously for users to analyze potential PTM cross-talks directly. Besides prediction, users can interactively review the predicted PTM sites in the context of known PTM annotations and protein 3D structures through homology-based search. In addition, the server maintains a local database providing pre-processed PTM annotations from Uniport/Swiss-Prot for users to download. This database will be updated every three months. The MusiteDeep server is available at https://www.musite.net. The stand-alone tools for locally using MusiteDeep are available at https://github.com/duolinwang/MusiteDeep_web.
How polarized is sub-Saharan Africa? A look at the regional distribution of consumption expenditure in the 2000s
Authors: Clementi Fabio , Fabiani Michele , Molini Vasco
Published: April 2020

The resurgence of economic growth over the last two decades in sub-Saharan Africa has recently come under scrutiny by scholars, the main criticism being the lack of inclusiveness. While studies on inequality in sub-Saharan Africa are becoming numerous, less attention has been devoted so far to the growing polarization the region is undergoing. Polarization, as distinct from inequality, refers to the tendency of shifting away from the centre of a distribution to its tails, creating a hollowed-out middle. This paper, using a set of sub-Saharan African national household surveys, provides a first estimate of the regional expenditures’ polarization. This latter steadily increased throughout the 2000s and its growth was mainly driven by increasing polarization between countries, meaning sub-Saharan Africa tended to polarize spatially, with the Southern cone countries and some Western African countries performing above the average, and the rest of the region lagging behind.
Choosing Values? Williams Contra Nietzsche
Authors: Queloz Matthieu
Published: April 2020

Amplifying Bernard Williams’ critique of the Nietzschean project of a revaluation of values, this paper mounts a critique of the idea that whether values will help us to live can serve as a criterion for choosing which values to live by. I explore why it might not serve as a criterion and highlight a number of further difficulties faced by the Nietzschean project. I then come to Nietzsche's defence, arguing that if we distinguish valuations from values, there is at least one form of the project which overcomes those difficulties. Finally, however, I show that even on this reading, the project must either fall prey to ‘Saint-Just's illusion’ or fall back into the problems it was supposed to escape. This highlights important difficulties faced by the Nietzschean project and its descendants while also explaining why Williams, who was so Nietzschean in other respects, remained wary of the revaluation of values as a project.
Heads or Tails: The Impact of a Coin Toss on Major Life Decisions and Subsequent Happiness
Authors: Levitt Steven D
Published: April 2020

Little is known about whether people make good choices when facing important decisions. This article reports on a large-scale randomized field experiment in which research subjects having difficulty making a decision flipped a coin to help determine their choice. For important decisions (e.g. quitting a job or ending a relationship), individuals who are told by the coin toss to make a change are more likely to make a change, more satisfied with their decisions, and happier six months later than those whose coin toss instructed maintaining the status quo. This finding suggests that people may be excessively cautious when facing life-changing choices.
Pharmacological prevention of fractures in patients undergoing glucocorticoid therapies: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Deng Jiawen , Silver Zachary , Huang Emma , Zheng Elena , Kavanagh Kyra , Wen Aaron , Cheng Wei , Dobransky Johanna , Sanger Stephanie , Grammatopoulos George
Published: April 2020

Objective

To perform a network meta-analysis (NMA) on the efficacy of antiosteoporotic interventions in the prevention of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures in adult patients taking glucocorticoids (GCs).

Methods

We performed NMAs based on a prospectively developed protocol. A librarian-assisted database search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and Chinese databases was conducted for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing antiosteoporotic interventions in adult patients taking GCs. Outcomes were vertebral and non-vertebral fracture incidences.

Results

We included 56 RCTs containing 6479 eligible patients in our analysis. We found that alendronate and teriparatide were associated with decreased odds of both vertebral and non-vertebral fractures. Denosumab and risedronate were associated with decreased odds of vertebral fractures, while etidronate, ibandronate and alfacalcidol were associated with decreased odds of non-vertebral fractures. We observed low network heterogeneity as indicated by the I2 statistic, and we did not detect evidence of publication bias. All outcomes were based on a moderate quality of evidence according to GRADE.

Conclusion

Bisphosphonates, teriparatide and denosumab are associated with decreased odds of fracture in patients undergoing GC therapy. Vitamin D metabolites and analogues (e.g. alfacalcidol) may have greater anti-fracture efficacy compared with plain vitamin D.

Systematic Review Registration

The International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO)—CRD42019127073
Agronomic Factors Associated with Bacterial Leaf Streak Development Caused by Xanthomonas vasicola pv. vasculorum in Corn
Authors: Hartman T. , Harbour J. , Tharnish B. , Van Meter J. , Jackson-Ziems T. A.
Published: April 2020

In 2016, the bacterium Xanthomonas vasicola pv. vasculorum was reported causing bacterial leaf streak on Nebraska corn. Prior to this report, the pathogen was reported on corn only in South Africa. Hence, there was a lack of information about the effects of corn production practices on bacterial leaf streak development. A survey of growers, crop consultants, extension agents, and others in the field of agriculture was initiated during the 2016 and 2017 corn growing seasons to examine agronomic factors that may affect the disease. Survey respondents were asked to submit a symptomatic leaf sample for pathogen confirmation via polymerase chain reaction, along with a completed survey on corn production practices. Analyses of 325 survey responses via random forest analysis indicated that irrigation, planting date, and crop rotation were the three most important predictors of corn samples testing positive for X. vasicola pv. vasculorum. According to a classification and regression tree analysis, irrigation use, the V7-R2 range of crop stages, multiple years of corn in a crop rotation or a corn-sorghum rotation, and planting dates after 2 May, were most closely associated with corn samples testing positive for X. vasicola pv. vasculorum. χ2 tests of independence indicated that applications of nitrogen fertilizer and glyphosate herbicide use may also be related to bacterial leaf streak development.
Lack of Antiviral Activity of Darunavir against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: De Meyer Sandra , Bojkova Denisa , Cinatl Jindrich , Van Damme Ellen , Buyck Christophe , Van Loock Marnix , Woodfall Brian , Ciesek Sandra
Published: April 2020

Given the high need and the absence of specific antivirals for treatment of COVID-19 (the disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus-2 [SARS-CoV-2]), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors are being considered as therapeutic alternatives. Prezcobix/Rezolsta is a fixed-dose combination of 800 mg of the HIV protease inhibitor darunavir (DRV) and 150 mg cobicistat, a CYP3A4 inhibitor, which is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV infection. There are currently no definitive data on the safety and efficacy of DRV/cobicistat for treatment of COVID-19. The in vitro antiviral activity of darunavir against a clinical isolate from a patient infected with SARS-CoV-2 was assessed. DRV showed no activity against SARS-CoV-2 at clinically relevant concentrations (EC50 >100 μM). Remdesivir, used as a positive control, showed potent antiviral activity (EC50 = 0.38 μM). Overall, the data do not support the use of DRV for treatment of COVID-19.
Nelfinavir inhibits replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in vitro
Authors: Yamamoto Norio , Matsuyama Shutoku , Hoshino Tyuji , Yamamoto Naoki
Published: April 2020

In December 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. No specific treatment has been established against coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) so far. Therefore, it is urgently needed to identify effective antiviral agents for the treatment of this disease, and several approved drugs such as lopinavir have been evaluated. Here, we report that nelfinavir, an HIV-1 protease inhibitor, potently inhibits replication of SARS-CoV-2. The effective concentrations for 50% and 90% inhibition (EC50 and EC90) of nelfinavir were 1.13 µM and 1.76 µM respectively, the lowest of the nine HIV-1 protease inhibitors including lopinavir. The trough and peak serum concentrations of nelfinavir were three to six times higher than EC50 of this drug. These results suggest that nelfinavir is a potential candidate drug for the treatment of COVID-19 and should be assessed in patients with COVID-19.
Extraction-free COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) diagnosis by RT-PCR to increase capacity for national testing programmes during a pandemic
Authors: Grant Paul R , Turner Melanie A , Shin Gee Yen , Nastouli Eleni , Levett Lisa J
Published: April 2020

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a respiratory tract infection. The standard molecular diagnostic test is a multistep process involving viral RNA extraction and real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR). Laboratories across the globe face constraints on equipment and reagents during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have developed a simplified qRT-PCR assay that removes the need for an RNA extraction process and can be run on a real-time thermal cycler. The assay uses custom primers and probes, and maintains diagnostic sensitivity within 98.0% compared to the assay run on a high-throughput, random-access automated platform, the Panther Fusion (Hologic). This assay can be used to increase capacity for COVID-19 testing for national programmes worldwide.
Co-detection of respiratory pathogens in patients hospitalized with Coronavirus viral disease-2019 pneumonia
Authors: Blasco María Luisa , Buesa Javier , Colomina Javier , Forner María José , Galindo María José , Navarro Jorge , Noceda José , Redón Josep , Signes-Costa Jaime , Navarro David
Published: April 2020

There is scarce information on the frequency of co-detection of respiratory pathogens (RP) in patients with Covid-19. Documentation of coinfections in Covid-19 pneumonia patients may be relevant for appropriate clinical and therapeutic management of patients. Between March 4th and March 28th, 2020, a total of 183 adult patients testing positive by SARS CoV-2 RT-PCR on respiratory specimens were hospitalized with interstitial pneumonia at our center, of whom 103 were tested for other RP by a multiplexed PCR assay. Three patients had a positive result for either one (n=2; Coronavirus HKU1 or Mycoplasma pneumoniae) or two targets (n=1; Influenza virus A (H3) and Respiratory syncytial virus B). Twenty-three patients testing negative by SARS CoV-2 RT-PCR and presentig with clinical, laboratory findings and imaging compatibe with Covid-19 pneumonia underwent RP screening. Of these, 6 (26%) had a positive result for a single RP. Our data indicate that despite the apparent rarity of coinfections in patients with Covid-19 pneumonia, routine testing for RP should be advised, since agents for which specific therapy can be prescribed may be detected.
Acute kidney injury in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: A single-center retrospective observational study
Authors: Xiao Guanhua , Hu Hongbin , Wu Feng , Sha Tong , Huang Qiaobing , Li Haijun , Han Jiafa , Song Wenhong , Chen Zhongqing , Zeng Zhenhua
Published: April 2020

Background

The kidney may be affected in coronavirus-2019 disease (COVID-19). This study assessed the predictors and outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) among individuals with COVID-19.

Methods

This observational study, included data on all patients with clinically confirmed COVID-19 admitted to Hankou Hospital, Wuhan, China from January 5 to March 8, 2020. Data were extracted from clinical and laboratory records. Follow-up was censored on March 8, 2020.

This is a single-center, retrospective, observational study. Patients clinically confirmed COVID-19 and admitted to Hankou Hospital, Wuhan, China from January 5 to March 8, 2020 were enrolled. We evaluated the association between changes in the incidence of AKI and COVID-19 disease and clinical outcomes by using logistic regression models.

Results

A total of 287 patients, 55 with AKI and 232 without AKI, were included in the analysis. Compared to patients without AKI, AKI patients were older, predominantly male, and were more likely to present with hypoxia and have pre-existing hypertension and cerebrovascular disease. Moreover, AKI patients had higher levels of white blood cells, D-dimer, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, a higher prevalence of hyperkalemia, lower lymphocyte counts, and higher chest computed tomographic scores. The incidence of stage 1 AKI was 14.3%, and the incidence of stage 2 or 3 AKI was 4.9%. Patients with AKI had substantially higher mortality.

Conclusions

AKI is an important complication of COVID-19. Older age, male, multiple pre-existing comorbidities, lymphopenia, increased infection indicators, elevated D-dimer, and impaired heart and liver functions were the risk factors of AKI. AKI patients who progressed to stages 2 or 3 AKI had a higher mortality rate. Prevention of AKI and monitoring of kidney function is very important for COVID-19 patients.

Trial registration

NCT04316299(03/19/2020)
Genetic reduction of PERK-eIF2α signaling in dopaminergic neurons drives cognitive and age-dependent motor dysfunction
Authors: Longo Francesco , Mancini Maria , Ibraheem Pierre L. , Aryal Sameer , Mesini Caterina , Patel Jyoti C. , Penhos Elena , Rahman Nazia , Donohue Maggie , Santini Emanuela , Rice Margaret E. , Klann Eric
Published: April 2020

An array of phenotypes in animal models of neurodegenerative disease have been shown to be reversed by neuronal inhibition of PERK, an eIF2α kinase that modulates the unfolded protein response (UPR). This suggests that targeting PERK therapeutically could be beneficial for treatment of human disease. Herein, using multiple genetic approaches we show that selective deletion of the PERK in mouse midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons results in multiple cognitive and age-dependent motor phenotypes. Conditional expression of phospho-mutant eIF2α in DA neurons recapitulated the phenotypes caused by deletion of PERK, consistent with a causal role of decreased eIF2α phosphorylation. In addition, deletion of PERK in DA neurons resulted in alteredde novotranslation, as well as age-dependent changes in axonal DA release and uptake in the striatum that mirror the pattern of motor changes observed. Taken together, our findings show that proper regulation of PERK-eIF2α signaling in DA neurons is required for normal cognitive and motor function across lifespan, and also highlight the need for caution in the proposed use of sustained PERK inhibition in neurons as a therapeutic strategy in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
PremPS: Predicting the Effects of Single Mutations on Protein Stability
Authors: Chen Yuting , Lu Haoyu , Zhang Ning , Zhu Zefeng , Wang Shuqin , Li Minghui
Published: April 2020

Protein stability is related to its functional activities, and effect on stability or misfolding could be one of the major disease-causing mechanisms of missense mutations. Here we developed a novel machine learning computational method PremPS, which predicts the effects of single mutations on protein stability by calculating the changes in unfolding Gibbs free energy. PremPS uses only ten evolutionary- and structure-based features and is parameterized on five thousand mutations. Our approach outperforms previous methods and shows a considerable improvement in estimating the effects of mutations increasing protein stability. In addition, PremPS presents an outstanding performance in predicting the pathogenicity of missense mutations using an experimental dataset composed of two thousand non-neutral and neutral mutations. PremPS can be applied to many tasks, including finding functionally important variants, revealing the molecular mechanisms of functional influences and protein design. It is freely available athttps://lilab.jysw.suda.edu.cn/research/PremPS/.

Key Points

Considerable improvement in estimating the effects of mutations increasing protein stability;

Comprehensive comparison with other 25 computational methods on different test sets;

An outstanding performance in predicting the pathogenicity of missense mutations;

PremPS employs only ten distinct features belonging to six categories, and the most important feature describes evolutionary conservation of the site;

The webserver allows to do large-scale mutational scanning and takes about ten minutes to perform calculations for one thousand mutations from a normal size protein.
Ancestral absence of electron transport chains in Patescibacteria and DPANN
Authors: Beam Jacob P. , Becraft Eric D. , Brown Julia M. , Schulz Frederik , Jarett Jessica K. , Bezuidt Oliver , Poulton Nicole J. , Clark Kayla , Dunfield Peter F. , Ravin Nikolai V. , Spear John R. , Hedlund Brian P. , Kormas Konstantinos A. , Sievert Stefan M. , Elshahed Mostafa S. , Barton Hazel A. , Stott Matthew B. , Eisen Jonathan A. , Moser Duane P. , Onstott Tullis C. , Woyke Tanja , Stepanauskas Ramunas
Published: April 2020

Recent discoveries suggest that the candidate superphyla Patescibacteria and DPANN constitute a large fraction of the phylogenetic diversity of Bacteria and Archaea. Their small genomes and limited coding potential have been hypothesized to be ancestral adaptations to obligate symbiotic lifestyles. To test this hypothesis, we performed cell-cell association, genomic, and phylogenetic analyses on 4,829 individual cells of Bacteria and Archaea from 46 globally distributed surface and subsurface field samples. This confirmed the ubiquity and abundance of Patescibacteria and DPANN in subsurface environments, the small size of their genomes and cells, and the divergence of their gene content from other Bacteria and Archaea. Our analyses suggest that most Patescibacteria and DPANN in the studied subsurface environments do not form specific physical associations with other microorganisms. These data also suggest that their unusual genomic features and prevalent auxotrophies may be a result of minimal cellular energy transduction mechanisms that potentially precede the evolution of respiration, thus relying solely on fermentation for energy conservation.
Noncoding regions underpin avian bill shape diversification at macroevolutionary scales
Authors: Yusuf Leeban , Heatley Matthew C. , Palmer Joseph P.G. , Barton Henry J. , Cooney Christopher R. , Gossmann Toni I.
Published: April 2020

Recent progress has been made in identifying genomic regions implicated in trait evolution on a microevolutionary scale in many species, but whether these are relevant over macroevolutionary time remains unclear. Here, we directly address this fundamental question using bird beak shape, a key evolutionary innovation linked to patterns of resource use, divergence, and speciation, as a model trait. We integrate class-wide geometric-morphometric analyses with evolutionary sequence analyses of 10,322 protein-coding genes as well as 229,001 genomic regions spanning 72 species. We identify 1434 protein-coding genes and 39,806 noncoding regions for which molecular rates were significantly related to rates of bill shape evolution. We show that homologs of the identified protein-coding genes as well as genes in close proximity to the identified noncoding regions are involved in craniofacial embryo development in mammals. They are associated with embryonic stem cell pathways, including BMP and Wnt signaling, both of which have repeatedly been implicated in the morphological development of avian beaks. This suggests that identifying genotype-phenotype association on a genome-wide scale over macroevolutionary time is feasible. Although the coding and noncoding gene sets are associated with similar pathways, the actual genes are highly distinct, with significantly reduced overlap between them and bill-related phenotype associations specific to noncoding loci. Evidence for signatures of recent diversifying selection on our identified noncoding loci in Darwin finch populations further suggests that regulatory rather than coding changes are major drivers of morphological diversification over macroevolutionary times.
Testing mediating effects of individual entrepreneurial orientation on the relation between close environmental factors and entrepreneurial intention
Authors: Martins Izaias , Perez Juan Pablo
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Drawing on the literature on entrepreneurial intention (EI), this paper develops and tests a model that aims to explain student EI by considering the valuation of entrepreneurship and the venture failure stigmatization in the closer environment of the respondent and the role of individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) through direct and indirect effects.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a survey method for data collection. As such, this study was conducted by considering a sample of 1,155 undergraduate students from different majors. Structural equation modeling is used to validate the theoretical model.

Findings

The findings suggest that a positive closer valuation of entrepreneurship facilitates students' EI. In turn, a closer stigma of entrepreneurial failure hinders students' EI. More importantly, IEO has a significant mediating role in both of these relationships. The findings offer important theoretical and practical implications for the field of entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial behavior.

Originality/value

The paper offers a new insight relating environmental cognitive elements and their impact on EI, besides how IEO represents a determinant role shaping these relations. The proposed model is original and makes a connection between two widely validated constructs and evidences the relationship that may exist between the orientation and the real intention of setting up a business. Moreover, IEO has rarely been addressed for verifying interaction effects. This paper is one of the very first studies that applies the IEO (individual-level of entrepreneurial orientation) as a mediating variable.
Lean manufacturing alignment with respect to performance metrics multinational corporations case study
Authors: El-Khalil Raed
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate lean tools correlation, interactions and implementation in manufacturing industry at multinational corporation and its impact on operational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper used a survey questionnaire based on previous work done in the US industry. The questionnaire was distributed to 340 firms in 11 countries in the MENA region. These firms are multinational companies operating in this region post-2001, i.e. Greenfield manufacturing facilities. Total usable responses were 139 from 340 contacted by emails and phone, whereas 15 were face-to-face. The survey included 139 companies of which 66 companies were from North America, 40 from Europe and the rest were from South-East Asia (mainly Japan and South Korea).

Findings

Multinational manufacturing companies in MENA region are at an advanced level of lean implementation. Results present a detailed analysis of the top 16 lean practices and their impact on 15 operational performance metrics. In addition, the results also reveal a correlation and grouping/bundling of the 16 lean tools and their direct influence on the top 8 operational metrics.

Research limitations/implications

Because the sample size only includes multinational companies operating in MENA region, the countries’ social, economic and political issues will directly influence them. For example, some of the countries have no or very weak unions, whereas other countries give the power to the organizations to force restrictions and guidelines that cannot be followed by other organizations. Therefore, the results need to be considered with caution.

Originality/value

Research about lean implementation in MENA region is rare, although few companies implemented lean since day one of their establishment. This research paper provides operations managers and practitioners with a guide that links lean tools implementation to operational performance metrics objectives with more depth and breadth in comparison with previous empirical studies on the topic.
An integrated fuzzy framework for analyzing barriers to the implementation of continuous improvement in manufacturing
Authors: Tavana Madjid , Shaabani Akram , Valaei Naser
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Delivering premium services and quality products are critical strategies for success in manufacturing. Continuous improvement (CI), as an underlying foundation for quality management, is an ongoing effort allowing manufacturing companies to see beyond the present to create a bright future. We propose a novel integrated fuzzy framework for analyzing the barriers to the implementation of CI in manufacturing companies.

Design/methodology/approach

We use the fuzzy failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) and a fuzzy Shannon's entropy to identify and weigh the most significant barriers. We then use fuzzy multi-objective optimization based on ratio analysis (MOORA), the fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and fuzzy simple additive weighting (SAW) methods for prioritizing and ranking the barriers with each method. Finally, we aggregate these results with Copeland's method and extract the main CI implementation barriers in manufacturing.

Findings

We show “low cooperation and integration of the team in CI activities” is the most important barrier in CI implementation. Other important barriers are “limited management support in CI activities,” “low employee involvement in CI activities,” “weak communication system in the organization,” and “lack of knowledge in the organization to implement CI projects.”

Originality/value

We initially identify the barriers to the implementation of CI through rigorous literature review and then apply a unique integrated fuzzy approach to identify the most important barriers based on the opinions of industry experts and academics.
Supplier-initiated ingredient/component branding
Authors: Aljafari Abdullah M. , Brown Tom J.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to understand the process of initiating ingredient/component (IC) branding from the supplier's perspective. It proposes modeling entrepreneurial orientation (EO) as an antecedent factor and differentiation abilities (functional and reputational) as mediators. Investigating IC branding from the supplier's perspective is critical given the cost and risk associated with implementing such a strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 5,254 manufacturing companies were screened to identify IC supplier firms that meet certain criteria. Survey data were collected from 77 top managers (Chief Executive Officers or Chief Marketing Officers) of IC supplier firms. The paper uses partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and SPSS in analyzing data.

Findings

The results indicate that IC branding is a complex strategy – one involving a number of steps that need to be taken in a specific order. More specifically, results indicate that IC branding starts with EO exerting a positive influence on IC functional differentiation ability (FDA). FDA facilitates reputational differentiation ability (RDA), which in turn encourages the supplier to initiate IC branding.

Originality/value

This paper addresses an important gap by studying the process through, which suppliers initiate IC branding.
Rate of uncontrolled blood pressure and its associated factors in patients with predialysis chronic kidney disease in Bali, Indonesia
Authors: Dharmapatni Ni Wayan Kesari , Sriyuktasuth Aurawamon , Pongthavornkamol Kanaungnit
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Hypertension is a key determinant for the development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The purpose of this study is to assess the rate of uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) and identify its associated factors in patients with predialysis CKD in Bali, Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 165 patients who attended the nephrology clinic in a central public hospital in Bali. Data were obtained by measuring BP at threshold 130/80 mmHg, as well as collected through standardized questionnaires. Univariate analysis was done using Chi-square test, and multivariate analyses were carried out using multiple logistic regression.

Findings

A total of 165 patients (111 males and 54 females) with predialysis CKD participated in this study. About 64% of the participants had uncontrolled BP. In multiple logistic regression, all selected variables significantly explained 63.2% of the variance in uncontrolled BP. However, low physical activity (odds ratio [OR] = 24.287, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.114–189.445), unhealthy dietary pattern (OR = 10.153, 95% CI: 2.770–37.210), as well as perceived moderate stress (OR = 4.365, 95% CI: 1.024-18.609) and high stress (OR = 10.978, 95% CI: 2.602–46.312) were significantly associated with uncontrolled BP.

Research limitations/implications

The study findings provide evidence for health care providers to improve BP control among patients with predialysis CKD.

Originality/value

Controlling BP among patients with predialysis CKD was poor. Lifestyle modification and stress management are keys to improving BP control.
STEM academic achievement and perceptions of family support: a gender analysis
Authors: Smith Daniella LaShaun , Tyler–Wood Tandra L.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This study examines the results of a STEM unit taught in an elementary school library, with 26 fourth-grade students as the participants.

Design/methodology/approach

A quasi-experimental design was used. The relationships between the independent variable gender and the perceptions of familial support structures and academic achievement were examined.

Findings

For the entire group, the average academic achievement scores of the participants increased. The increase was not statistically significant. The male students had a statistically significant improvement in their academic achievement scores, and there was a statistically significant decrease in the academic achievement scores of the female students. An increase in the female students' belief that their family was interested in their science classes was correlated with a decrease in their academic achievement scores.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size for this study is small, and the results are not generalizable. Open-ended questions were not included in the data collection instruments. Therefore, it cannot be determined why the overall academic scores may have decreased for female students. Further research is encouraged.

Practical implications

The results of this study show the potential for STEM activities in school libraries. School librarians can provide students with low-risk, informal learning environments to practice new skills.

Social implications

Libraries equalize the availability of resources that otherwise may not be available to populations underrepresented in STEM careers. School librarians have the potential to serve as much needed STEM role models. The availability of STEM activities in school libraries can make it possible for more students to understand what STEM careers are interesting to them.

Originality/value

There are very few studies to examine the results of STEM activities implemented in school libraries that use quasi-experimental or experimental research designs. This study adds to the corpus of research that can be used to support the preparation of students for STEM careers with activities in school libraries.
The effects of responsible leadership and knowledge sharing on job performance among knowledge workers
Authors: Lin Chieh-Peng , Huang Her-Ting , Huang Tse Yao
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Drawing upon social exchange theory, this study justified the indirect effects of responsible leadership and knowledge sharing on job performance through the mediation of work engagement and helping initiatives. Job tenure was examined as a moderator.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses of this study were empirically tested with structural equation modeling (SEM) and moderated regression analyses. This study conducted a field survey on 512 knowledge workers who employed a high portion of or highly specialized tacit knowledge to do their job.

Findings

This research presented that both work engagement and helping initiatives mediated the indirect effects of responsible leadership and knowledge sharing on job performance. The empirical results revealed that job tenure moderated the relationships between responsible leadership and work engagement, and between responsible leadership and helping initiatives. However, job tenure did not moderate the relationships between knowledge sharing and work engagement, and between knowledge sharing and helping initiatives.

Originality/value

This research is one of the few to verify the key role of responsible leadership from the theoretical aspect of social exchange, complementing the leadership literature based on stakeholder theory. This research is a pioneer by taking into account the simultaneous influences of responsible leadership and knowledge sharing on job performance in a single model setting.
Deep exploration using long‐offset transient electromagnetics: interpretation of field data in time and frequency domain
Authors: Mörbe Wiebke , Yogeshwar Pritam , Tezkan Bülent , Hanstein Tilman
Published: April 2020

In the framework of the Deep Electromagnetic Soundings for Mineral Exploration project, we conducted ground‐based long‐offset transient‐electromagnetic measurements in a former mining area in eastern Thuringia, Germany. The large‐scale survey resulted in an extensive dataset acquired with multiple high‐power transmitters and a high number of electric and magnetic field receivers. The recorded data exhibit a high data quality over several decades of time and orders of magnitude. Although the obtained subsurface models indicate a strong multi‐dimensional subsurface with variations in resistivity over three orders of magnitude, the electrical field step‐on transients are well fitted using a conventional one‐dimensional inversion. Due to superimposed induced polarization effects, the transient step‐off data are not interpretable with conventional electromagnetic inversion. For further interpretation in one and two dimensions, a new approach to evaluate the long‐offset transient‐electromagnetic data in frequency domain is realized. We present a detailed workflow for data processing in both domains and give an overview of technical obstructions that can occur in one domain or the other. The derived one‐dimensional inversion models of frequency‐domain data show strong multi‐dimensional effects and are well comparable with the conventional time domain inversion results. To adequately interpret the data, a 2.5D frequency‐domain inversion using the open source algorithm MARE2DEM (Modeling with Adaptively Refined Elements for 2‐D EM) is carried out. The inversion leads to a consistent subsurface model with shallow and deep conductive structures, which are confirmed by geology and additional geophysical surveys.
Timing is everything: Survival of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar postsmolts during events of high salmon lice densities
Authors: Bøhn Thomas , Gjelland Karl Øystein , Serra‐Llinares Rosa M. , Finstad Bengt , Primicerio Raul , Nilsen Rune , Karlsen Ørjan , Sandvik Anne D. , Skilbrei Ove T. , Elvik Kristine Marit S. , Skaala Øystein , Bjørn Pål A.
Published: April 2020

Atlantic salmon in aquaculture act as reservoir hosts and vectors of parasites like salmon lice and this parasite is shown to harm wild salmonid populations.

In this study, n = 29,817 tagged Atlantic salmon were studied in four release trials. Half of the released fish were given prophylactic treatment against lice, the other half represented sham control fish. We used a nested design comparing years with low and high lice density and seasonal dynamics in infestation pressure. The released Atlantic salmon thus experienced highly variable lice infestation pressures, which we linked to survival and growth in returning fish. The fish were released in a protected ‘National Salmon Fjord’ and n = 559 Atlantic salmon were recaptured after spending 1–4 years at sea.

In most experimental groups 1%–2.5% of the fish were recaptured at return. However, survival of unprotected fish was extremely low for the trial released at the highest density of lice: only 0.03% of these Atlantic salmon returned to the river, compared to 1.86% in the protected group.

Synthesis and applications. We document that high lice density can cause more than 50 times higher mortality risk in Atlantic salmon on their sea migration, even in a fjord with protected status. Fine‐tuned and hard‐to‐predict year‐to‐year differences in timing, both for the wild smolt migration and the population build‐up of lice released from aquaculture, means life or death to wild salmon. Management actions such as spatial segregation of farmed fish and lice (e.g. closed farm pens), and/or moving farms away from vulnerable habitats for wild salmonids (fjords and coastal areas), may be needed to ensure sustainable coexistence of wild and farmed Atlantic salmon.
Therapeutic apheresis in ABO‐incompatible kidney and liver transplantation: A single‐center experience of 50 patients
Authors: Pandey Prashant , Setya Divya , Sinha Vijay , Bhatt Anil , Devra Amit , Chaudhary Abhideep , Ranjan Shweta , Srivastava Roli , Kumar Praveen , Singh Mukesh Kumar
Published: April 2020

ABO antigens play an important role in solid organ transplantation. Desensitization for ABO incompatibility offers patients awaiting transplant a larger donor pool. The aim of this study was to assess outcome of desensitization using the institutional preconditioning protocol in ABO‐incompatible solid organ transplants. A retrospective analysis of ABO‐incompatible solid organ transplants between October 2015 and June 2018, at a tertiary healthcare center was performed. The preconditioning regimen consisted of immunosuppression and therapeutic apheresis (TA). Pre‐ and post‐TA titers were performed, until a target titer of 8 or below was achieved, at which transplant was performed. Follow‐up data till 1 year was analyzed. A total of 50 ABO‐incompatible solid organ transplantations, including 14 liver transplants and 36 renal transplants were analyzed. The median baseline anti‐A and anti‐B titers were 192 and 256, respectively. A total of 150 therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) procedures were performed for renal transplant recipients; 19 TPE and eight immunoadsorption procedures (five preoperative and three intraoperative) were performed for liver transplant recipients. Five (10%) patients experienced minor adverse events. Biopsy revealed antibody‐mediated rejection was observed in three cases in the immediate posttransplant phase and in three (6.67%) cases over 1 year. There was one death due to transplant‐associated thrombotic microangiopathy. Graft survival for renal transplant was 100% and death‐censored graft survival for liver transplant was 100%. Despite difficulties, ABO‐incompatible transplants can be performed without antibody‐mediated rejection with the use of an appropriate protocol.
Bayesian weighted inference from surveys
Authors: Gunawan David , Panagiotelis Anastasios , Griffiths William , Chotikapanich Duangkamon
Published: April 2020

Data from large surveys are often supplemented with sampling weights that are designed to reflect unequal probabilities of response and selection inherent in complex survey sampling methods. We propose two methods for Bayesian estimation of parametric models in a setting where the survey data and the weights are available, but where information on how the weights were constructed is unavailable. The first approach is to simply replace the likelihood with the pseudo likelihood in the formulation of Bayes theorem. This is proven to lead to a consistent estimator but also leads to credible intervals that suffer from systematic undercoverage. Our second approach involves using the weights to generate a representative sample which is integrated into a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) or other simulation algorithms designed to estimate the parameters of the model. In the extensive simulation studies, the latter methodology is shown to achieve performance comparable to the standard frequentist solution of pseudo maximum likelihood, with the added advantage of being applicable to models that require inference via MCMC. The methodology is demonstrated further by fitting a mixture of gamma densities to a sample of Australian household income.
Care experienced young people: Agency and empowerment
Authors: Priestley Andrea
Published: April 2020

Empowerment discourses have become fashionable in current policy and practice relating to young people, including those with care experience. Empowerment, however, is a slippery and contested concept, associated with neo‐liberal discourses. An ecological understanding of agency offers more theoretically nuanced understandings of empowerment, taking account of the complex, temporal and relational factors, upon which empowerment is contingent. This paper utilises data generated through an ‘empowerment group’ for care‐experienced young people; it illustrates how an ecological understanding of agency, as a heuristic, might further understanding of the lives of care‐experienced young people.
Restoring shellfish reefs: Global guidelines for practitioners and scientists
Authors: Fitzsimons James A. , Branigan Simon , Gillies Chris L. , Brumbaugh Robert D. , Cheng Jun , DeAngelis Bryan M. , Geselbracht Laura , Hancock Boze , Jeffs Andrew , McDonald Tein , McLeod Ian M. , Pogoda Bernadette , Theuerkauf Seth J. , Thomas Marine , Westby Stephanie , zu Ermgassen Philine S.E.
Published: April 2020

Widespread global declines in shellfish reefs (ecosystem‐forming bivalves such as oysters and mussels) have led to growing interest in their restoration and protection. With restoration projects now occurring on four continents and in at least seven countries, global restoration guidelines for these ecosystems have been developed based on experience over the past two decades. The following key elements of the guidelines are outlined: (a) the case for shellfish reef restoration and securing financial resources; (b) planning, feasibility, and goal setting; (c) biosecurity and permitting; (d) restoration in practice; (e) scaling up from pilot to larger scale restoration, (f) monitoring, (g) restoration beyond oyster reefs (specifically mussels), and (h) successful communication for shellfish reef restoration projects.
Genetic mosaicism in haemophilia: A practical review to help evaluate the risk of transmitting the disease
Authors: Lannoy Nathalie , Hermans Cedric
Published: April 2020

Approximately 70% of patients with haemophilia exhibit a clear inheritance pattern, while for the remaining 30%, patients are the first to be diagnosed in their family and are considered sporadic cases. In such a setting, the determination of carrier status and the risk estimation of disease transmission to another child are major challenges for genetic counselling. Large studies have suggested that genetic testing reveals 70% of sporadic patients’ mothers are carriers. In the remaining 30%, in some apparently non‐carrier mothers, the pathogenic variant can be detected as low somatic and gonosomal mosaicism. The significance of mosaic pathogenic variants has thus far been underestimated, since conventional Sanger sequencing and other technology are not sufficiently sensitive. The study of various tissue samples and recent extra‐sensitive molecular methods have now made it easier to detect both single‐nucleotide variants (SNVs) and copy‐number variants (CNVs), at a mosaic level in parents, and to predict the probability of disease recurrence. This review seeks to examine various kinds of mosaicism in haemophilia, including the mechanisms by which they arise and the risk of passing these variants on to the next generation. In addition, we focus on the selection of cell tissues and methods to detect these mosaic variants in the haemophilia setting. Taking into account the high rate of mosaicism in mothers of sporadic cases, we propose a diagnostic flow chart that could facilitate better evaluation of the risk of transmitting haemophilia in genetic and prenatal counselling.
Phase stability and microstructure evolution of MgO‐ZrO2 and MgO‐6YSZ ceramic fibers
Authors: Yuan Kangkang , Jin Xiaotong , Wang Xinqiang
Published: April 2020

In this work, MgO‐ZrO2 and MgO‐6YSZ ceramic fibers were prepared with sol‐gel method via electrospinning. Polymorph stability and microstructure evolution of zirconia fibers were fully characterized by X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectra, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Scanning electron microscope. The results indicated that tetragonal zirconia for MgO‐ZrO2 was obtained and cubic zirconia could be fully stabilized for MgO‐6YSZ with MgO molar fractions varying from 0.1 to 0.5 at 800°C. Monoclinic phase appeared with MgO molar fractions even up to 0.5 for MgO‐ZrO2 system and partially or fully stabilized zirconia could be achieved for MgO‐6YSZ at 1000°C and 1200°C. Grain size was gradually decreased with increasing of MgO content at 800°C both for MgO‐ZrO2 and MgO‐6YSZ ceramic fibers. The grain size of both systems increased with MgO molar fractions varying from 0.1 to 0.2 and then decreased at higher contents at 1000°C and 1200°C. A discussion on relationship among MgO state and the phase stability and grain size was presented. This work shows surface excess and solid solution of MgO predominantly controlled the phase stability and microstructure evolution of zirconia fibers.