bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Persistent broken chromosome inheritance drives genome instability
Authors: Pai Chen-Chun , Durley Samuel C. , Cheng Wei-Chen , Chiang Nien-Yi , Wee Boon-Yu , Walker Carol , Kearsey Stephen E. , Buffa Francesca , Murray Johanne M. , Humphrey Timothy C.
Published: August 2020

Persistent DNA damage arising from unrepaired broken chromosomes or telomere loss can promote DNA damage checkpoint adaptation, and cell cycle progression, thereby increasing cell survival but also genome instability. However, the nature and extent of such instability is unclear. We show, usingSchizosaccharomyces pombe, that inherited broken chromosomes, arising from failed homologous recombination repair, are subject to cycles ofsegregation, DNAreplication and extensive end-processing, termed here SERPent cycles, by daughter cells, over multiple generations. Following Chk1 loss these post-adaptive cycles continue until extensive processing through inverted repeats promotes annealing, fold-back inversion and a spectrum of chromosomal rearrangements, typically isochromosomes, or chromosome loss, in the resultant population. These findings explain how persistent DNA damage drives widespread genome instability, with implications for punctuated evolution, genetic disease and tumorigenesis.

One Sentence Summary

Replication and processing of inherited broken chromosomes drives chromosomal instability.
Rethinking Remdesivir: Synthesis, Antiviral Activity and Pharmacokinetics of Oral Lipid Prodrugs
Authors: Schooley Robert T. , Carlin Aaron F. , Beadle James R. , Valiaeva Nadejda , Zhang Xing-Quan , Clark Alex E. , McMillan Rachel E. , Leibel Sandra L. , McVicar Rachael N. , Xie Jialei , Garretson Aaron F. , Smith Victoria I. , Murphy Joyce , Hostetler Karl Y.
Published: August 2020

Remdesivir (RDV, GS-5734) is currently the only FDA-approved antiviral drug for the treatment of SARS CoV-2 infection. The drug is approved for use in adults or children 12-years or older who are hospitalized for the treatment of COVID-19 on the basis of an acceleration of clinical recovery for inpatients with this disease. Unfortunately, the drug must be administered intravenously, restricting its use to those requiring hospitalization for relatively advanced disease. RDV is also unstable in plasma and has a complex activation pathway which may contribute to its highly variable antiviral efficacy in SARS-CoV-2 infected cells. Potent orally bioavailable antiviral drugs for early treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection are urgently needed and several including molnupiravir and PF-07321332 are currently in clinical development. We focused on making simple, orally bioavailable lipid analogs of Remdesivir nucleoside (RVn, GS-441524) that are processed to RVn-monophosphate, the precursor of the active RVn-triphosphate, by a single-step intracellular cleavage. In addition to high oral bioavailability, stability in plasma and simpler metabolic activation, new oral lipid prodrugs of RVn had submicromolar anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in a variety of cell types including Vero E6, Calu-3, Caco-2, human pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived lung cells and Huh7.5 cells. In Syrian hamsters oral treatment with ODBG-P-RVn was well tolerated and achieved therapeutic levels in plasma above the EC90for SARS-CoV-2. The results suggest further evaluation as an early oral treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infection to minimize severe disease and reduce hospitalizations.
Innate IFNγ is essential for systemicChlamydiacontrol while CD4 T cell-dependent IFNγ production is highly redundant in the female reproductive tract
Authors: Mercado Miguel A.B. , Du Wuying , Malaviarachchi Priyangi A. , Gann Jessica I. , Li Lin-Xi
Published: August 2020

Protective immunity to the obligate intracellular bacteriumChlamydiais thought to rely on CD4 T cell-dependent IFNγ production. Nevertheless, whether IFNγ is produced by other cellular source duringChlamydiainfection and how CD4 T cell-dependent and -independent IFNγ contribute differently to host resistance has not been carefully evaluated. In this study, we dissect the requirements of IFNγ produced by innate immune cells and CD4 T cells for resolution ofChlamydia muridarumfemale reproductive tract (FRT) infection. AfterC. muridarumintravaginal inoculation, IFNγ-deficient and T cell-deficient mice exhibited opposite phenotypes for survival and bacterial shedding at the FRT mucosa, demonstrating the distinct requirements for IFNγ and CD4 T cells in host defense againstChlamydia. InRag-deficient mice, IFNγ produced by innate lymphocytes (ILCs) accounted for early bacterial containment and prolonged survival in the absence of adaptive immunity. Although group I ILCs are potent IFNγ producers, we found that mature NK cells and ILC1 were not the sole source for innate IFNγ in response toChlamydia. T cell adoptive transfer experiments revealed that WT and IFNγ-deficient CD4 T cells were equally capable of mediating effective bacterial killing in the FRT during the early stage ofChlamydiainfection. Together, our results revealed that innate IFNγ is essential for preventing systemicChlamydiadissemination, whereas IFNγ produced by CD4 T cells is largely dispensable at the FRT mucosa.
Susceptibility of rabbits to SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Mykytyn Anna Z. , Lamers Mart M. , Okba Nisreen M.A. , Breugem Tim I. , Schipper Debby , van den Doel Petra B. , van Run Peter , van Amerongen Geert , Waal Leon de , Koopmans Marion P.G. , Stittelaar Koert J. , van den Brand Judith M.A. , Haagmans Bart L.
Published: August 2020

Transmission of severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) between livestock and humans is a potential public health concern. We demonstrate the susceptibility of rabbits to SARS-CoV-2, which excrete infectious virus from the nose and throat upon experimental inoculation. Therefore, investigations on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in farmed rabbits should be considered.
Designing of epitope-based vaccine from the conserved region of spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Agarwal Vidhu , Varadwaj Pritish , Tiwari Akhilesh
Published: August 2020

The emergence of COVID-19 as a pandemic with a high morbidity rate is posing serious global concern. There is an urgent need to design a suitable therapy or vaccine that could fight against SARS-CoV-2 infection. As spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 plays a crucial role in receptor binding and membrane fusion inside the host, it could be a suitable target for designing of an epitope-based vaccine. SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus and thus has a property to mutate. So, a conserved peptide region of spike glycoprotein was used for predicting suitable B cell and T cell epitopes. 4 T cell epitopes were selected based on stability, antigenicity, allergenicity and toxicity. Further, MHC-I were found from the immune database that could best interact with the selected epitopes. Population coverage analysis was also done to check the presence of identified MHC-I, in the human population of the affected countries. The T cell epitope that binds with the respective MHC-I with highest affinity was chosen. Molecular dynamic simulation results show that the epitope is well selected. This is an in-silico based study that predicts a novel T cell epitope from the conserved spike glycoprotein that could act as a target for designing of the epitope-based vaccine. Further, B cell epitopes have also been found but the main work focuses on T cell epitope as the immunity generated by it is long lasting as compared to B cell epitope.
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing induces neurological recovery in an A53T-SNCA overexpression rat model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Yoon Hyung Ho , Ye Sunghyeok , Lim Sunhwa , Lee Seung Eun , Oh Soo-Jin , Jo Ara , Lee Hawon , Kim Na-Rae , Kim Kyoungmi , Kim Bum-Joon , Lee C. Justin , Nam Min-Ho , Hur Junseok W. , Jeon Sang Ryong
Published: August 2020

To date, no publicly available disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson’s disease has been developed. This can be partly attributed to the absence of techniques forin vivodeletion of the SNCA gene (encoding α-synuclein), which is one of the key players in Parkinson’s disease pathology. In particular, A53T-mutated SNCA (A53T-SNCA) is one of the most studied familial pathologic mutations in Parkinson’s disease. Here we utilized a recently discovered genome editing technique, CRISPR/Cas9, to delete A53T-SNCAin vitroandin vivo. Among various CRISPR/Cas9 systems, SaCas9-KKH with a single guide RNA (sgRNA) targeting A53T-SNCA was packaged into adeno-associated virus. Adeno-associated virus carrying SaCas9-KKH significantly reduced A53T-SNCA levels in A53T-SNCA-overexpressed HEK293T cells, without off-target effects on wild-type SNCA. Furthermore, we tested the technique’sin vivotherapeutic potential in a viral A53T-SNCA overexpression rat model of Parkinson’s disease. Gene deletion of A53T-SNCA significantly prevented the overexpression of α-synuclein, dopaminergic neurodegeneration, and parkinsonian motor symptoms, whereas a negative control without sgRNA did not. Our findings propose CRISPR/Cas9 system as a potential therapeutic tool for A53T-SNCA familial Parkinson’s disease.
MicroRNA-224 Promotes Cell Migration and Invasion by Targeting HOXA5 expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Liu Yuwu , Lin Chen , Wang Dongmei , Wen Sailan , Wang Junpu , Chen Zhihong , Du Jing , Ning Chao , Feng Deyun
Published: August 2020

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the regulation of multiple cellular pathways and play a key role in the development and progression of tumor. Based on the cellular function of their targets, miRNAs play the role of oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Multiple studies have shown that abnormal expression of miRNAs has close relation with the incidence of HCC, but the mechanism of miRNAs in HCC still needs further research. In the present study, we showed that the overexpression of miR-224 can reduce the mRNA and protein expression of ADAM17 and HOXA5, the silencing of miR-224 can increase the protein expression of ADAM17 and HOXA5. Dual luciferase reporter assays showed that miR-224 can directly regulate the expression of ADAM17 and HOXA5. Importantly, we found that miR-224 positively regulates cell migration and invasion in HCC, miR-224 overexpression can promote the migration and invasion of BEL-7402 cell, and miR-224 silencing can suppress the migration and invasion of BEL-7402 cell. miR-224 overexpression can result in the redistribution of cell cycle, the cell percentage of S phase was increased significantly, the cell percentage of G1 phase was decreased significantly, and there is no noticeable change for the cell percentage of G2 phase. These results demonstrated that it may be exert the function of oncogenes in a particular link of cancer cell growth. In conclusion, these results suggest that miR-224 will become a promising biological target in the treatment strategy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Feasibility of phosphoproteomics on leftover samples after RNA extraction with guanidinium thiocyanate
Authors: Rolfs Frank , Piersma Sander R. , Dias Mariana Paes , Jonkers Jos , Jimenez Connie R.
Published: August 2020

In daily practice, different types of biomolecules are usually extracted for large-scale ‘omics’ analysis with tailored protocols. However, when sample material is limited, an all-in-one strategy is preferable. While lysis of cells and tissues with urea is the accepted standard for phosphoproteomic applications, DNA, RNA and proteins can be simultaneously extracted from small samples using acid guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform (AGPC). Use of AGPC for mass spectrometry (MS)-based phosphoproteomics has been reported, but not benchmarked. Here we compared urea-with AGPC-based protein extraction, profiling phosphorylations in the DNA damage response pathway after ionizing irradiation of U2OS cells as proof of principle. On average we identified circa 9000 phosphosites per sample with both extraction methods. Moreover, we observed high similarity of phosphosite characteristics (e.g. 94% shared class 1 identifications) and deduced kinase activities (e.g. ATM, ATR, CHEK1/2, PRKDC). AGPC-based sample extraction can thus replace standard cell lysates for phosphoproteomic workflows and may thus be an attractive way to obtain input material for multiple omics workflows, yielding several data types from a single sample.
Dynamics of neural microstates in the VTA-striatal-prefrontal loop during novelty exploration in the rat
Authors: Mishra A. , Marzban N. , Cohen M. X , Englitz B.
Published: August 2020

EEG microstates refer to quasi-stable spatial patterns of scalp potentials, and their dynamics have been linked to cognitive and behavioral states. Neural activity at single and multiunit levels also exhibit spatiotemporal coordination, but this spatial scale is difficult to relate to EEG. Here, we translated EEG microstate analysis to triple-area local field potential (LFP) recordings from up to 192 electrodes in rats to investigate the mesoscopic dynamics of neural microstates within and across brain regions.

We performed simultaneous recordings from the prefrontal cortex (PFC), striatum (STR), and ventral tegmental area (VTA) during awake behavior (object novelty and exploration). We found that the LFP data can be accounted for by multiple, recurring, quasi-stable spatial activity patterns with an average period of stability of ~60-100 ms. The top four maps accounted for 60-80% of the total variance, compared to ~25% for shuffled data. Cross-correlation of the microstate time-series across brain regions revealed rhythmic patterns of microstate activations, which we interpret as a novel indicator of inter-regional, mesoscale synchronization. Furthermore, microstate features, and patterns of temporal correlations across microstates, were modulated by behavioural states such as movement and novel object exploration. These results support the existence of a functional mesoscopic organization across multiple brain areas, and open up the opportunity to investigate their relation to EEG microstates, of particular interest to the human research community.

Significance Statement

The coordination of neural activity across the entire brain has remained elusive. Here we combine large-scale neural recordings at fine spatial resolution with the analysis of microstates, i.e. short-lived, recurring spatial patterns of neural activity. We demonstrate that the local activity in different brain areas can be accounted for by only a few microstates per region. These microstates exhibited temporal dynamics that were correlated across regions in rhythmic patterns. We demonstrate that these microstates are linked to behavior and exhibit different properties in the frequency domain during different behavioural states. In summary, LFP microstates provide an insightful approach to studying both mesoscopic and large-scale brain activation within and across regions.
Dual contributions of cerebellar-thalamic networks to learning and offline consolidation of a complex motor task
Authors: Varani Andres P , Sala Romain W , Mailhes-Hamon Caroline , Frontera Jimena L , Léna Clément , Popa Daniela
Published: August 2020

The contribution of cerebellum to motor learning is often considered to be limited to adaptation, a short-timescale tuning of reflexes and previous learned skills. Yet, the cerebellum is reciprocally connected to two main players of motor learning, the motor cortex and the basal ganglia, via the ventral and midline thalamus respectively. Here, we evaluated the contribution of cerebellar neurons projecting to these thalamic nuclei in a skilled locomotion task in mice. In the cerebellar nuclei, we found task-specific neuronal activities during the task, and lasting changes after the task suggesting an offline processing of task-related information. Using pathway-specific inhibition, we found that dentate neurons projecting to the midline thalamus contribute to learning and retrieval, while interposed neurons projecting to the ventral thalamus contribute to the offline consolidation of savings. Our results thus show that two parallel cerebello-thalamic pathways perform distinct computations operating on distinct timescales in motor learning.
A dissemination-prone morphotype enhances extrapulmonary organ entry by the fungusCryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Denham Steven T. , Brammer Brianna , Chung Krystal Y. , Wambaugh Morgan A. , Bednarek Joseph M. , Guo Li , Brown Jessica C.S.
Published: August 2020

Environmental pathogens, which move from ecological niches to mammalian hosts, must adapt to dramatically different environments. Microbes that disseminate farther, including the fungal meningitis pathogenCryptococcus neoformans, require additional adaptation to diverse tissues. WhenC. neoformansenters the lungs, infecting cells (<10 μm diameter) enlarge (>30 μm diameter), then form a heterogeneous population. The brain contains uniformly small cells (∼7 μm). We demonstrate that formation of a smallC. neoformansmorphotype – called “seed” cells due to their disseminating ability – is critical for extrapulmonary organ entry. Seed cell formation is triggered by environmental factors, includingC. neoformans’ environmental niche, pigeon guano. The underlying trigger, phosphate, can be released by tissue damage, potentially establishing a feed-forward loop of seed cell formation and dissemination. We demonstrate thatC. neoformans’ size variation is not just a continuum but inducible subpopulations that change host interactions to facilitate microbe survival and spread.
Cryo-EM structure of the MgtE Mg2+channel pore domain in Mg2+-free conditions reveals cytoplasmic pore opening
Authors: Jin Fei , Sun Minxuan , Fujii Takashi , Yamada Yurika , Wang Jin , Maturana Andrés D. , Wada Miki , Su Shichen , Ma Jinbiao , Takeda Hironori , Kusakizako Tsukasa , Tomita Atsuhiro , Nakada-Nakura Yoshiko , Liu Kehong , Uemura Tomoko , Nomura Yayoi , Nomura Norimichi , Ito Koichi , Nureki Osamu , Namba Keiichi , Iwata So , Yu Ye , Hattori Motoyuki
Published: August 2020

MgtE is a Mg2+channel conserved in organisms ranging from prokaryotes to eukaryotes, including humans, and plays an important role in Mg2+homeostasis. The previously determined MgtE structures in the Mg2+-bound, closed state and structure-based functional analyses of MgtE revealed that the binding of Mg2+ions to the MgtE cytoplasmic domain induces channel inactivation to maintain Mg2+homeostasis. However, due to the lack of a structure of the MgtE channel, including its transmembrane domain in Mg2+-free conditions, the pore-opening mechanism of MgtE has remained unclear.

Here, we determined the cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the MgtE-Fab complex in the absence of Mg2+ions. The Mg2+-free MgtE transmembrane domain structure and its comparison with the Mg2+-bound, closed-state structure, together with functional analyses, showed the Mg2+-dependent pore opening of MgtE on the cytoplasmic side and revealed the kink motions of the TM2 and TM5 helices at the glycine residues, which are important for channel activity. Overall, our work provides structure-based mechanistic insights into the channel gating of MgtE.
Crystal structure of bis[(R,R)-1,2-(binaphthylphosphonito)ethane]dichloridoiron(II) dichloromethane disolvate
Authors: Rennie Benjamin E. , Lough Alan J. , Morris Robert H.
Published: August 2020

In the title compound (systematic name: bis{1,2-bis[12,14-dioxa-13-phosphapentacyclo[13.8.0.02,11.03,8.018,23]tricosa-1(15),2(11),3(8),4,6,9,16,18(23),19,21-decaen-13-yl]ethane}dichloridoiron(II) dichloromethane disolvate), [FeCl2(C42H28O4P2)2]·2CH2Cl2, the FeII ion lies on a crystallographic twofold rotation axis and is coordinated by four P atoms from two (R,R)-1,2-bis(binaphthylphosphonito)ethane (BPE) ligands and two Cl ligands in a distorted cis-FeCl2P4 octahedral coordination geometry. In the crystal, weak C—H...O and C—H...π interactions link the molecules into layers lying parallel to (001). A weak intramolecular C—H...O hydrogen bond is also observed. The asymmetric unit contains one CH2Cl2 solvent molecule, which is disordered over two sets of site with refined occupancies in the ratio 0.700 (6):0.300 (6).
Crowding out agricultural insurance and the subsidy system in Italy: empirical evidence of the charity hazard phenomenon
Authors: Miglietta Pier Paolo , Porrini Donatella , Fusco Giulio , Capitanio Fabian
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The term “charity hazard” refers to the issue of the crowding out of insurance by co-existing relief programs in the context of different institutional governmental disaster schemes. In this context, the aim of this paper is to verify if the charity hazard phenomenon exists in the Italian agricultural insurance scheme.

Design/methodology/approach

Annual data regarding crop insurance, subsidies and farm structure were extracted from ISMEA, ISTAT and FADN databases. A SYS-GMM dynamic panel model was estimated, considering the 2010–2017 time period and the Italian Regions as units of the analysis.

Findings

The empirical results highlight a negative relation between crop subsidies and the farmers' policies and total premium paid. The disincentive and crowd-out effects of public aid and subsidies on the choice of whether or not to take out an agricultural insurance policy ends up being one of the key factors for the low level of penetration of the agricultural insurance in Italy.

Practical implications

Since the diffusion of agricultural insurance can contribute to the general objective of sustainability and resilience, the implementation of alternative solutions to subsidies could be needed (e.g. the introduction of mandatory insurance against adversities or financial support for a geographically specific insurance tool).

Originality/value

Investigating empirically the determinants of the agricultural insurance policy diffusion among the Italian Regions, this study ensures an original contribution to the scientific progress in the field, demonstrating the existence of charity hazard caused by the public subsidies provision.
Optimizing the scheduling of crew deployments in repetitive construction projects under uncertainty
Authors: Hassan Abbas , El-Rayes Khaled , Attalla Mohamed
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper presents the development of a novel model for optimizing the scheduling of crew deployments in repetitive construction projects while considering uncertainty in crew production rates.

Design/methodology/approach

The model computations are performed in two modules: (1) simulation module that integrates Monte Carlo simulation and a resource-driven scheduling technique to calculate the earliest crew deployment dates for all activities that fully comply with crew work continuity while considering uncertainty; and (2) optimization module that utilizes genetic algorithms to search for and identify optimal crew deployment plans that provide optimal trade-offs between project duration and crew deployment plan cost.

Findings

A real-life example of street renovation is analyzed to illustrate the use of the model and demonstrate its capabilities in optimizing the stochastic scheduling of crew deployments in repetitive construction projects.

Originality/value

The original contribution of this research is creating a novel multiobjective stochastic scheduling optimization model for both serial and nonserial repetitive construction projects that is capable of identifying an optimal crew deployment plan that simultaneously minimizes project duration and crew deployment cost.
Linking improvisational behavior, adaptive selling behavior and sales performance
Authors: Charoensukmongkol Peerayuth , Suthatorn Pornprom
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This research examined the relationships between improvisational behavior, adaptive selling behavior and sales performance of direct sellers in Thailand. This research also investigated whether these relationships are moderated by the degree of challenge orientation and sellers' knowledge about the products.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected through a survey with sellers from a subsidiary of a multinational corporation located in Bangkok, Thailand (n = 172). Partial least squares–structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.

Findings

Results from data analysis revealed positive relationships between improvisational behavior, adaptive selling behavior and sales performance. The relationship between improvisational behavior and adaptive selling behavior, as well as the relationship between adaptive selling behavior and sales performance, significantly depended on the degree of challenge orientation and the sellers' knowledge about the products.

Research limitations/implications

The data were collected using self-report measures; the sample was sellers from a single sales organization, and cross-sectional data were used for the analysis. Overall, this study is the exploratory research that does not intend to prove the causal effect of improvisational behavior, but rather to provide new insight on some conditional factors that influence its effectiveness.

Practical implications

It is essential for sales organizations to ensure that their sales force has adequate improvisational skills to handle sales adaptations effectively during unexpected sales situations. Some training may be offered to the sales force to develop these imperative improvisational skills.

Originality/value

The results regarding the moderating effect of challenge orientation and product knowledge provided additional insight to prior research about the potential conditions that influence the effectiveness of improvisational behavior and adaptive selling behaviors.
Benchmarking the efficiency model for working capital management: data envelopment analysis approach
Authors: Seth Himanshu , Chadha Saurabh , Sharma Satyendra
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper evaluates the working capital management (WCM) efficiency of the Indian manufacturing industries through data envelopment analysis (DEA) and empirically investigates the influence of several exogenous variables on the WCM efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

WCM efficiency was calculated using BCC input-oriented DEA model. Further, the panel data fixed effect model was used on a sample of 1391 Indian manufacturing firms spread across nine industries, covering the period from 2008 to 2019.

Findings

Firstly, the WCM efficiency of Indian manufacturing industries has been stable over the analysis period. Secondly, the capacity to generate internal resources, size, age, productivity, gross domestic product and interest rate significantly influence WCM efficiency.

Research limitations/implications

First, the selected study period has observed various economic uncertainties including demonetization and recession, so the scenario might differ in normal conditions or country-wise. Second, the findings might not be generalizable to the developed economies, since the current study sample belongs to a developing economy, which further provides scope for comparative study.

Practical implications

An efficient model for managing the working capital comprising most vital determinants could enhance the firms' valuation and goodwill. Also, this study would be helpful for financial executives, manufacturers, policymakers, investors, researchers and other stakeholders.

Originality/value

This study estimates the industry-wise WCM efficiency of the Indian manufacturing sector and suggests measures to the concerned parties on areas to focus on and provide evidence on the estimated relationships of firm-level and macroeconomic determinants with WCM efficiency.
Improving research labs’ performance through project management guidelines: a case study analysis
Authors: Pacheco Junior Marco Antonio , Anholon Rosley , Rampasso Izabela Simon , Leal Filho Walter
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The article aims to critically analyze the project management developed by research laboratories of a Brazilian university in order to enhance their performance. For this, a critical analysis was performed to identify existing opportunities about the management of schedules and resources. Additionally, a software was developed to enable performance improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodological procedures used were literature review, for a theoretical foundation, and case study conducted with semi-structured interviews, documentary research and on-site visits. Through a detailed critical analysis of the laboratories' management, it was possible to understand the activities developed and map the main difficulties observed.

Findings

A total of five plausible points of improvement were identified, namely reduced teams and accumulation of activities; team seasonality; centralized management; deviations from projects and schedule control. Based on the theoretical foundation, it has been proposed adjustments to minimize the mentioned difficulties that can greatly contribute for better management efficiency of multiple research projects. In addition, a software was structured based on the proposed improvements. The laboratories' performance was monitored for a month and significant improvements were observed.

Practical implications

The information presented here may be of great value to other researchers interested in enhancing research laboratory performance.

Originality/value

The academic literature presents several examples of project management guidelines application in different organizations; however, there are few studies about the application of them in research laboratories and how to improve their performance.
Development of a multi-criteria decision-making model for comparing the performance of Turkish commercial banks
Authors: Ic Yusuf Tansel , Celik Beril , Kavak Sevcan , Baki Busra
Published: August 2020

Purpose

In this study, financial performance evaluation model is developed for banks aims to measure and compare the performances of banks based on their financial ratios.

Design/methodology/approach

Regression-AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process)-VIKOR (Vise Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje) integrated methodology is used. First, a literature review is done to find various bank performance measurement models with their financial metrics being compared. Then, pair-wise comparison matrices are used to find the relative weights of criteria (financial ratios) and finally VIKOR method is used to rank the banks.

Findings

It is believed that an AHP-based VIKOR framework helps to take up the explicit account of multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methodologies in decision making and for selecting the best bank in the Turkish economy.

Research limitations/implications

In this paper, only selected financial ratios are used and analyzed for the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method.

Originality/value

The systematic solution procedure of performance evaluating the banks helps the decision-makers to carry out performance evaluation studies for improving economic and managerial performance. This comparative study and analysis of bank performance using the regression-AHP-VIKOR combined model is presented for the first time. The authors have not become aware of any such studies in their literature review. This paper is an original framework of the application of the regression-AHP-VIKOR on the various financial performance metrics.
This time was different: the budgetary responses to the pandemic-induced crisis in Estonia
Authors: Raudla Ringa , Douglas James W.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Since regaining its independence, the Estonian government has followed policies of fiscal consolidation when responding to economic crises. Its response to the COVID-19-crisis has been quite different – it has authorized additional expenditures, cut taxes and incurred considerable debt. This paper gives an overview of the budgetary measures adopted and explores the question: why was it different this time?

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw upon policy documents to zoom in on the main political, institutional and economic factors that help to explain Estonia's departure from extreme fiscal conservatism in the midst of the global pandemic.

Findings

The authors found the key political factors to be the party composition of the government, policy diffusion and policy learning. Key economic factors included Estonia's very low level of debt prior to the crisis and credit market advantages gained from Eurozone membership.

Originality/value

Estonia presents an interesting case because in all previous crises it responded with fiscal consolidation, whereas it is now responding with extensive fiscal stimulus.
Three‐dimensional electrical structure of the northwestern margin of the Karamay region, China, revealed by magnetotelluric data
Authors: Ye Yixin , Gong Shengping , Yu Hui , Feng Zhibing , Liu Wenyu
Published: August 2020

In order to investigate the three‐dimensional structures of intrusive granite and the deep structure of the Darbut fault in the northwestern margin of the Karamay region, western Junggar Basin, China, new magnetotelluric data were collected along six profiles across the Darbut fault. The magnetotelluric data were processed using a robust estimation technique to obtain the magnetotelluric impedance. Then the off‐diagonal components of the impedance tensor were inverted using a three‐dimensional nonlinear conjugate gradient inversion technique, which was performed using open‐source three‐dimensional electromagnetic inversion software. The final three‐dimensional model includes two major low‐resistivity anomalies and two major high‐resistivity anomalies. The first low‐resistivity anomaly corresponds to the location of the Darbut fault, which indicates that metallic elements are abnormally enriched there. The second one is located beneath the Darbut fault, and it is most likely a magma channel in the middle crust. The two major high‐resistivity anomalies are distributed on either side of the Darbut fault. We interpret them as Karamay rocks and Akebasitao rocks and suggest that they were formed in an extensional setting. The cross sections of three‐dimensional magnetotelluric inversion result reveal that the Darbut fault has been reformed by the later magmatism, leading to the variation of its downward extent along its strike. Moreover, our inversion result also indicates that a magma channel exists in the middle crust of the region.
Seismic signal enhancement based on the low‐rank methods
Authors: Bai Min , Huang Guangtan , Wang Hang , Chen Yangkang
Published: August 2020

Based on the fact that the Hankel matrix constructed by noise‐free seismic data is low‐rank, low‐rank approximation (or rank‐reduction) methods have been widely used for removing noise from seismic data. Due to the linear‐event assumption of the traditional low‐rank approximation method, it is difficult to define a rank that optimally separates the data subspace into signal and noise subspaces. For preserving the most useful signal energy, a relatively large rank threshold is often chosen, which inevitably leaves residual noise. To reduce the energy of residual noise, we propose an optimally damped rank‐reduction method. The optimal damping is applied via two steps. In the first step, a set of optimal damping weights is derived. In the second step, we derive an optimal singular value damping operator. We review several traditional low‐rank methods and compare their performance with the new one. We also compare these low‐rank methods with two sparsity‐promoting transform methods. Examples demonstrate that the proposed optimally damped rank‐reduction method could get significantly cleaner denoised images compared with the state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Survivorship after flowering and flowering synchronicity of three cultivated Strobilanthes flexicaulis individuals from Iriomote Island, Japan
Authors: Furumoto Ryo
Published: August 2020

Strobilanthes flexicaulis in Iriomote Island, Japan, is a monocarpic perennial plant, which is thought to be an intermediate evolutionary state from a polycarpic perennial plant to a periodical mass‐flowering plant. It remains unclear whether the intermediate reproductive traits are altered by cutting propagation or disbudding treatment (flower bud removal). To evaluate whether these traits are affected by such treatments, three individuals of S. flexicaulis from Iriomote Island were cultivated, and their flowering patterns and survivorship were observed. The monocarpic trait seemed to have been altered into a polycarpic trait by cultivation. The disbudding treatment was not related to the survivorship. The initiation of flowering was synchronized, but the termination of the second flowering period was variable among the three individuals and between the treatments. S. flexicaulis on Iriomote Island seemed to have individual variation in reproductive traits. This variation may result in their intermediate evolutionary state.
Using Fact Checking to Improve Information Systems in Argentina
Authors: Riera Ariel , Zommer Laura
Published: August 2020

Chequeado is an NGO that was the first fact‐checking initiative in Latin America. It began its work in 2010 and aims to improve the quality of public discourse and to raise the cost of lying and spreading misinformation, with a main focus on Argentina. It also leads the Latam Chequea network in the region. The organisation produces regular fact checking articles and explainers, partners with key actors to stop the spread of misinformation on social media, develops state of the art applications and software, and teaches media literacy and data journalism, among other activities. This article outlines anecdotal evidence for the impact of this work, which it is seeking to build on with more research to measure its impact and understand how fact checking can be more effective.
Situating the Continuum of Overdose Risk in the Social Determinants of Health: A New Conceptual Framework
Authors: PARK JU NYEONG , ROUHANI SABA , BELETSKY LEO , VINCENT LOUISE , SALONER BRENDAN , SHERMAN SUSAN G.
Published: August 2020

Policy Points

This article reconceptualizes our understanding of the opioid epidemic and proposes six strategies that address the epidemic's social roots.

In order to successfully reduce drug‐related mortality over the long term, policymakers and public health leaders should develop partnerships with people who use drugs, incorporate harm reduction interventions, and reverse decades of drug criminalization policies.

Context

Drug overdose is the leading cause of injury‐related death in the United States. Synthetic opioids, predominantly illicit fentanyl and its analogs, surpassed prescription opioids and heroin in associated mortality rates in 2016. Unfortunately, interventions fail to fully address the current wave of the opioid epidemic and often omit the voices of people with lived experiences regarding drug use. Every overdose death is a culmination of a long series of policy failures and lost opportunities for harm reduction.

Methods

In this article, we conducted a scoping review of the opioid literature to propose a novel framework designed to foreground social determinants more directly into our understanding of this national emergency. The “continuum of overdose risk” framework is our synthesis of the global evidence base and is grounded in contemporary theories, models, and policies that have been successfully applied both domestically and internationally.

Findings

De‐escalating overdose risk in the long term will require scaling up innovative and comprehensive solutions that have been designed through partnerships with people who use drugs and are rooted in harm reduction.

Conclusions

Without recognizing the full drug‐use continuum and the role of social determinants, the current responses to drug overdose will continue to aggravate the problem they are trying to solve.
Continuity of care and health care cost among community‐dwelling older adult veterans living with dementia
Authors: Lei Lianlian , Intrator Orna , Conwell Yeates , Fortinsky Richard H. , Cai Shubing
Published: August 2020

Objectives

To estimate the causal impact of continuity of care (COC) on total, institutional, and noninstitutional cost among community‐dwelling older veterans with dementia.

Data Sources

Combined Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and Medicare data in Fiscal Years (FYs) 2014‐2015.

Study Design

FY 2014 COC was measured by the Bice‐Boxerman Continuity of Care (BBC) index on a 0‐1 scale. FY 2015 total combined VHA and Medicare cost, institutional cost of acute inpatient, emergency department [ED], long‐/short‐stay nursing home, and noninstitutional long‐term care (LTC) cost for medical (like skilled‐) and social (like unskilled‐) services were assessed controlling for covariates. An instrumental variable for COC (change of residence by more than 10 miles) was used to account for unobserved health confounders.

Data Collection

Community‐dwelling veterans with dementia aged 66 and older, enrolled in Traditional Medicare (N = 102 073).

Principal Findings

Mean BBC in FY 2014 was 0.32; mean total cost in FY 2015 was $35 425. A 0.1 higher BBC resulted in (a) $4045 lower total cost; (b) $1597 lower acute inpatient cost, $119 lower ED cost, $4368 lower long‐stay nursing home cost; (c) $402 higher noninstitutional medical LTC and $764 higher noninstitutional social LTC cost. BBC had no impact on short‐stay nursing home cost.

Conclusions

COC is an effective approach to reducing total health care cost by supporting noninstitutional care and reducing institutional care.
The role of parents on the home ownership experience of their children: Evidence from the health and retirement study
Authors: Bond Shaun A. , Eriksen Michael D.
Published: August 2020

We construct matched panel data sets of adult children with their parents to study the role of lagged parental attributes on subsequent home ownership decisions between 2000 and 2012. Earlier research has demonstrated intergenerational wealth transfers from parents to children are an important source of upfront equity used to purchase a first home, although parental attributes are often omitted as determinants of tenure due to data limitations. A significant role is found for lagged parental wealth on the ability of adult children to become and remain home owners over this period. Endowed differences in parental wealth are estimated to account for the largest explainable share of the white/non‐white gap in becoming a homeowner, and maintaining home ownership once attained.
Sulfites in meat: Occurrence, activity, toxicity, regulation, and detection. A comprehensive review
Authors: D'Amore Teresa , Di Taranto Aurelia , Berardi Giovanna , Vita Valeria , Marchesani Giuliana , Chiaravalle Antonio Eugenio , Iammarino Marco
Published: August 2020

Sulfites are a class of chemical compounds, SO2 releasers, widely used as additives in food industry, due to their antimicrobial, color stabilizing, antibrowning, and antioxidant properties. As the results of these pleiotropic functions they can be added to a broad range of products including dried fruits and vegetables, seafood, juices, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverage, and in few meat products. Sulfites ingestion has been correlated with several adverse and toxic reactions, such as hypersensitivity, allergic diseases, vitamin deficiency, and may lead to dysbiotic events of gut and oral microbiota. In many countries, these additives are closely regulated and in meat products the legislation restricts their usage. Several studies have been conducted to investigate the sulfites contents in meat and meat products, and many of them have revealed that some meat preparations represent one of the main sources of SO2 exposure, especially in adults and young people. This review discusses properties, technological functions, regulation, and health implications of sulfites in meat‐based foods, and lays a special emphasis on the chemical mechanisms involved in their interactions with organic and inorganic meat components.
The Use of Liquid Latex to Recover Latent Fingerprints that are Covered in Debris from Exterior Glass Surfaces of Vehicles
Authors: Kapsa Cassandra , Ho Michael , Libby Meadow
Published: August 2020

The purpose of this research is to determine if latent fingerprints deposited on the exterior glass surfaces of vehicles, then covered in debris, can be recovered. Past research used liquid latex to lift soot to recover trace evidence. Recently, liquid latex has been used to recover latent fingerprints along the bottom of vehicles. In this study, a total of 216 latent fingerprints were deposited on the exterior windows of three vehicles. Three control and three experimental latent fingerprints were placed on each side window. The vehicles collected debris for either 2, 3, or 4 weeks. After debris collection, liquid latex was applied to the experimental sections. The underlying fingerprints were developed with white granular powder. Control fingerprints were developed directly with white granular powder. A chi‐square test revealed a significant difference in fingerprint recovery between the control and liquid latex method (X2 = 9.026, d.f. = 1, p = 0.003). An odds ratio determined that the control method increases the probability of latent fingerprint recovery by 2.68. Fisher's exact test indicated that there is no statistically significant difference between the detail of the recovered control and experimental fingerprints (p = 0.065). This study demonstrates that recovery of fingerprints is possible using the liquid latex method; however, the control method recovers more fingerprints on the glass exterior of vehicles. If latent fingerprints are thought to be present on the exterior glass surfaces of vehicles, the control method should be used to improve vehicle processing by investigators.
Identifying Counterfeit Cigarettes Using Environmental Pollen Analysis: An Improved Procedure*
Authors: Chan Tiffany , Robinson Guy , Liu Jonathan , Kurti Marin , He Yi , von Lampe Klaus
Published: August 2020

Traditional pollen preparation techniques provide clear residues for pollen identification; however, such methods are time‐consuming, requiring repeated centrifugation, heating, and digestion with high‐concentration hazardous chemicals. Tobacco leaves can effectively trap environmental pollen due to hairy surface and terpene‐rich exudates. A new tobacco sample processing method was developed by using different extraction chemistry with surfactant. Marlboro Gold cigarettes were employed as model samples for method development. Parameters critical for pollen extraction, which include number of cigarette sticks used, extraction solution, and extraction temperature, were optimized. By using 1% dishwashing detergent to treat three cigarettes at room temperature, the improved method was able to recover sufficient pollen for microscopic analysis in three repeated centrifuge‐washing steps and omit hazardous chemicals involved in traditional methods. We focused on the pollen of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), a plant native to North America, as an indicator to differentiate genuine and counterfeit U.S. brand cigarettes. Results from analyzing randomly purchased genuine (authenticated by forensic examination) and known counterfeit Marlboro Gold provided by law enforcement revealed that a significant amount (39%) of Ambrosia were consistently present in all genuine samples, while counterfeit contained none or only trace count. Similar results were found in other counterfeit U.S. brand cigarettes (all seized in the U.S.) involved in this study as well. Lack of Ambrosia in cigarette strongly indicates the product was not originated in the United States.