bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brain Injury Medicine Fellowship Applicant Survey
Authors: Weppner Justin , Patel Komal
Published: October 2020

There is a lack of research regarding trends in the brain injury medicine fellowship match process. The objectives of this study were to (1) identify recent trends in the brain injury medicine fellowship application process, (2) provide meaningful information to future fellowship candidates, and (3) provide fellowship programs information on fellowship candidates’ values. A cross-sectional study was conducted, in which a survey was sent to brain injury medicine applicants involved in the match process from 2016 to 2019. A total of 69 surveys were distributed with a response rate of 72.5%. The median number of interviews attended increased from 3 (range = 1–10) in 2016 to 9 (range = 3–19) in 2019. Most interviews occurred from September to November, with a majority occurring in October. The three top factors applicants considered when evaluating fellowship programs included geographic location, Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education accreditation, and program “well-roundedness.” In 2016, brain injury medicine fellowship applicants ranked a median of 3 fellowships (range = 1–9), which increased to 8 (range = 2–18) in 2019. Although the number of brain injury medicine fellowship applicants has recently trended down, future fellowship applicants may need to consider an increasing applicant pool as fellowship becomes a prerequisite for brain injury medicine board certification.
Rufibacter latericius sp. nov., isolated from Baiyang Lake
Authors: Yang Yun-zhen , Chen Ji-feng , Huang Wan-ru , Zhang Ran-ran , Liu Shuangjiang , Wang Chao , Feng Jie
Published: October 2020

A novel Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, brick red-pigmented bacterium, designated R-22-1 c-1T, was isolated from water from Baiyang Lake, Hebei Province, PR China. The strain was able to grow at 20–30 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and pH 6–7 (optimum, pH 6) in Reasoner’s 2A medium. 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenetic analyses of R-22-1 c-1T revealed closest relationships to

Rufibacter immobilis

MCC P1T (97.8 %),

Rufibacter sediminis

H-1T (97.9 %) and

Rufibacter glacialis

MDT1-10-3T (97.0 %), with other species of the genus

Rufibacter

showing less than 97.0 % sequence similarity. The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminophospholipids and three unidentified lipids. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, C15 : 1
 ω6c, C17 : 1
 ω6c, anteiso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1
 ω7c and/or C16 : 1
 ω6c) and summed feature 4 (iso-C17 : 1I and/or anteiso-C17 : 1B). The respiratory quinone was MK-7. The draft genome of R-22-1 c-1T was 5.6 Mbp in size, with a G+C content of 50.2 mol%. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization relatedness values between strain R-22-1 c-1T and related type strains were

R. immobilis

MCC P1T (77.2 and 21.8 %),

R. sediminis

H-1T (81.6 and 21.4 %) and

R. tibetensis

1351T (78.5 and 22.9 %). Based on these phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic results, strain R-22-1 c-1T represents a novel species in the genus

Rufibacter

, for which the name Rufibacter latericius sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R-22-1 c-1T (=CGMCC 1.13570T=KCTC 62781T).
High-Throughput Analysis of Lung Immune Cells in a Murine Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Lung Disease
Authors: Gaurav Rohit , Mikuls Ted R. , Thiele Geoffrey M. , Nelson Amy J. , Niu Meng , Guda Chittibabu , Eudy James D. , Barry Austin E. , Wyatt Todd A. , Romberger Debra J. , Duryee Michael J. , England Bryant R. , Poole Jill A.
Published: October 2020

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-associated lung disease is a leading cause of mortality in RA, yet the mechanisms linking lung disease and RA remain unknown. Using an established murine model of RA-associated lung disease combining collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) with organic dust extract (ODE)-induced airway inflammation, differences among lung immune cell populations were analyzed by single cell RNA-sequencing. Additionally, four lung myeloid-derived immune cell populations including macrophages, monocytes/macrophages, monocytes, and neutrophils were isolated by fluorescence cell sorting and gene expression was determined by NanoString analysis. Unsupervised clustering revealed 14 discrete clusters among Sham, CIA, ODE, and CIA+ODE treatment groups: 3 neutrophils (inflammatory, resident/transitional, autoreactive/suppressor), 5 macrophages (airspace, differentiating/recruited, recruited, resident/interstitial, and proliferative airspace), 2 T-cells (differentiating and effector), and a single cluster each of inflammatory monocytes, dendritic cells, B-cells and natural killer cells. Inflammatory monocytes, autoreactive/suppressor neutrophils, and recruited/differentiating macrophages were predominant with arthritis induction (CIA and CIA+ODE). By specific lung cell isolation, several interferon-related and autoimmune genes were disproportionately expressed among CIA and CIA+ODE (e.g.Oasl1,Oas2,Ifit3,Gbp2,Ifi44, andZbp1), corresponding to RA and RA-associated lung disease. Monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells were reduced, while complement genes (e.g.C1s1andCfb) were uniquely increased in CIA+ODE mice across cell populations. Recruited and inflammatory macrophages/monocytes and neutrophils expressing interferon-, autoimmune-, and complement-related genes might contribute towards pro-fibrotic inflammatory lung responses following airborne biohazard exposures in setting of autoimmune arthritis and could be predictive and/or targeted to reduce disease burden.
The hearing aid dilemma: amplification, compression, and distortion of the neural code
Authors: Armstrong Alex , Lam Chi Chung , Sabesan Shievanie , Lesica Nicholas A.
Published: October 2020

Hearing aids are the only available treatment for mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss, but often fail to improve perception in difficult listening conditions. To identify the reasons for this failure, we studied the underlying neural code using large-scale single-neuron recordings in gerbils, a common animal model of human hearing. We found that a hearing aid restored the sensitivity of neural responses, but failed to restore their selectivity. The low selectivity of aided responses was not a direct effect of hearing loss per se, but rather a consequence of the strategies used by hearing aids to restore sensitivity: compression, which decreases the spectral and temporal contrast of incoming sounds, and amplification, which produces high intensities that distort the neural code even with normal hearing. To improve future hearing aids, new processing strategies that avoid this tradeoff between neural sensitivity and selectivity must be developed.
Benchmarking ensemble docking methods as a scientific outreach project
Authors: Gan Jessie L. , Kumar Dhruv , Chen Cynthia , Taylor Bryn C. , Jagger Benjamin R. , Amaro Rommie E. , Lee Christopher T.
Published: October 2020

The discovery of new drugs is a time consuming and expensive process. Methods such as virtual screening, which can filter out ineffective compounds from drug libraries prior to expensive experimental study, have become popular research topics. As the computational drug discovery community has grown, in order to benchmark the various advances in methodology, organizations such as the Drug Design Data Resource have begun hosting blinded grand challenges seeking to identify the best methods for ligand pose-prediction, ligand affinity ranking, and free energy calculations. Such open challenges offer a unique opportunity for researchers to partner with junior students (e.g., high school and undergraduate) to validate basic yet fundamental hypotheses considered to be uninteresting to domain experts. Here, we, a group of high school-aged students and their mentors, present the results of our participation in Grand Challenge 4 where we predicted ligand affinity rankings for the Cathepsin S protease, an important protein target for autoimmune diseases. To investigate the effect of incorporating receptor dynamics on ligand affinity rankings, we employed the Relaxed Complex Scheme, a molecular docking method paired with molecular dynamics-generated receptor conformations. We found that CatS is a difficult target for molecular docking and we explore some advanced methods such as distance-restrained docking to try to improve the correlation with experiments. This project has exemplified the capabilities of high school students when supported with a rigorous curriculum, and demonstrates the value of community-driven competitions for beginners in computational drug discovery.
Application of EGCG modified EDC/NHS cross-linked extracellular matrix to promote macrophage adhesion
Authors: Chu Chenyu , Rung Shengan , Yang Renli , Man Yi , Qu Yili
Published: October 2020

Though chemically cross-linked by EDC/NHS endows collagen membrane with promising mechanical properties, it is not conducive to modulation of foreign body reaction (FBR) after implantation or guidance of osteogenesis. In our previous research, we have found that macrophages have a strong regulatory effect on tissue and bone regeneration during FBR, and EGCG modified membranes could adjust the recruitment and phenotypes of macrophages. Accordingly, we develop the EGCG-EDC/NHS membranes, prepared with physically immersion, while the surface morphology of the membrane was observed by SEM, the biological activity of collagen was determined by FTIR, the activity and adhesion of cell culturein vitro, angiogenesis and monocyte/macrophage recruitment after subcutaneous implantation, etc. are characterized. It could be concluded that EGCG-EDC/NHS collagen membrane is hopeful to be used in implant dentistry for it not only retains the advantages of the collagen membrane itself, but also improves cell viability, adhesion and vascularization tendency. However, the mechanism that lies in the regenerative advantages of such membrane needs further exploration, but it is certain that the differences in surface morphology can have a significant impact on the reaction between the host and the implant, not to mention macrophage in bone regeneration.
The Endoplasmic Reticulum Proteostasis Regulator ATF6 is Essential for Human Cone Photoreceptor Development
Authors: Kroeger Heike , Grandjean Julia M. D. , Chiang Wei-Chieh Jerry , Bindels Daphne , Mastey Rebecca , Okalova Jennifer , Nguyen Amanda , Powers Evan T. , Kelly Jeffery W. , Grimsey Neil J. , Michaelides Michel , Carroll Joseph , Wiseman R. Luke , Lin Jonathan H.
Published: October 2020

Dysregulation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) is implicated in the pathology of many human diseases associated with ER stress. Inactivating genetic variants in the UPR regulatorActivating Transcription Factor 6 (ATF6)cause severe congenital heritable vision loss in patients by an unknown pathomechanism. To investigate this, we generated retinal organoids from patient iPSCs carryingATF6disease-causing variants andATF6null hESCs generated by CRISPR. Interestingly, we found that cone photoreceptor cells inATF6mutant retinal organoids lacked inner and outer segments concomitant with absence of cone phototransduction gene expression; while rod photoreceptors developed normally. Adaptive optics retinal imaging of patients with disease-causing variants inATF6also showed absence of cone inner/outer segment structures but preserved rod structures, mirroring the phenotypes observed in our retinal organoids. These results reveal thatATF6is essential for the formation of human cone photoreceptors, and associated absence of cone phototransduction components explains the severe visual impairment in patients withATF6-associated retinopathy. Moreover, we show that a selective small molecule ATF6 activator compound restores the transcriptional activity ofATF6disease-causing variants and stimulates the growth of cone photoreceptors in patient retinal organoids, demonstrating that pharmacologic targeting of ATF6 signaling is a therapeutic strategy that needs to be further explored for blinding retinal diseases.
The timing of human adaptation from Neanderthal introgression
Authors: Yair Sivan , Lee Kristin M. , Coop Graham
Published: October 2020

Admixture has the potential to facilitate adaptation by providing alleles that are immediately adaptive in a new environment or by simply increasing the long term reservoir of genetic diversity for future adaptation. A growing number of cases of adaptive introgression are being identified in species across the tree of life, however the timing of selection, and therefore the importance of the different evolutionary roles of admixture, is typically unknown. Here, we investigate the spatio-temporal history of selection favoring Neanderthal-introgressed alleles in modern human populations. Using both ancient and present-day samples of modern humans, we integrate the known demographic history of populations, namely population divergence and migration, with tests for selection. We model how a sweep placed along different branches of an admixture graph acts to modify the variance and covariance in neutral allele frequencies among populations at linked loci. Using a method based on this model of allele frequencies, we study previously identified cases of Neanderthal adaptive introgression. From these, we identify cases in which Neanderthal introgressed alleles were quickly beneficial and other cases in which they persisted at low frequency for some time. For some of the alleles that persisted at low frequency, we show that selection likely independently favored them later on in geographically separated populations. Our work highlights how admixture with ancient hominins has contributed to modern human adaptation and contextualizes observed levels of Neanderthal ancestry in present-day and ancient samples.
Discovery of tREP-18, a novel class oftRNA encoded peptide with potent leishmanicidal activity
Authors: Chakrabarti Amrita , Kaushik Monika , Khan Juveria , Soota Deepanshu , Kalairasan P , Saini Sunil , Manvati Siddharth , Singhal Jhalak , Ranganathan Anand , Pati Soumya , Dhar Pawan K. , Singh Shailja
Published: October 2020

In the post genomic era, tRNA-derived fragments have emerged as a new class of non-coding gene regulators, those play crucial roles both at the transcriptional and translational levels, in different cellular biogenesis. However, none of the studies has ever asked whether tRNAs can also be translated into peptides with any biological significance. Thus, we present a novel hypothesis which suggested that; design and synthesis of tRNA-derived peptides from prokaryotic genome can be exploited for developing unique chemotherapeutics against neglected tropical diseases, like Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and its aggressive form known as post kalazar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL). To achieve this aim, we have used a novel system biology-based strategy, which involved; i)mining of unique tRNAs from E. coli genome and their translation into peptide in silico, ii)designing of theoretical 3D models to evaluate their stability, iii)prediction of their biological activity by screening against anti-parasitic database to filter the lead peptide. Based on this strategy, a unique tRNA-derived peptide (tREP-18) was selected, chemically synthesized, and usedin vitrofor elucidating its therapeutic significance againstL. donovani, a causative agent of VL and PKDL. Our findings demonstrated that,tREP-18can impose high level toxicity toL. donovanipromastigotes, by disrupting the ultrastructural cellular architect, destabilizing the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), thus leading to drastic reduction in cell viability and proliferation. It also imparted high level of toxicity to BS12 a clinical isolate of PKDL. Conceivably, we for the first time reports a novel tRNA-derived peptide “tREP18” with excellent anti-leishmanial property, which can be further utilized for developing it as antileishmanial drug.

One Sentence Summary

Here we report a novel first-in-class tRNA encoded peptide and its super anti-leishmanial characteristics.
CEP78 functions downstream of CEP350 to control biogenesis of primary cilia by negatively regulating CP110 levels
Authors: Gonçalves André Brás , Hasselbalch Sarah Kirstine , Joensen Beinta Biskopstø , Patzke Sebastian , Martens Pernille , Ohlsen Signe Krogh , Quinodoz Mathieu , Nikopoulos Konstantinos , Suleiman Reem , Jeppesen Magnus Per Damsø , Weiss Catja , Christensen Søren Tvorup , Rivolta Carlo , Andersen Jens S. , Farinelli Pietro , Pedersen Lotte Bang
Published: October 2020

CEP78 is a centrosomal protein implicated in ciliogenesis and ciliary length control, and mutations in theCEP78gene cause retinal cone-rod dystrophy associated with hearing loss. However, the mechanism by which CEP78 affects cilia formation is unknown. Based on a recently discovered disease-causingCEP78p.L150S mutation, we identified the disease-relevant interactome of CEP78. We confirmed that CEP78 interacts with the EDD1-DYRK2-DDB1VPRBPE3 ubiquitin ligase complex, which is involved in CP110 ubiquitination and degradation, and identified a novel interaction between CEP78 and CEP350 that is weakened by the CEP78L150Smutation. We show that CEP350 promotes centrosomal recruitment and stability of CEP78, which in turn leads to centrosomal recruitment of EDD1. Consistently, cells lacking CEP78 display significantly increased cellular and centrosomal levels of CP110, and depletion of CP110 in CEP78-deficient cells restored ciliation frequency to normal. We propose that CEP78 functions downstream of CEP350 to promote ciliogenesis by negatively regulating CP110 levels via an EDD1-dependent mechanism.
An optogenetic switch for the Set2 methyltransferase provides evidence for transcription-dependent and -independent dynamics of H3K36 methylation
Authors: Lerner Andrew M. , Hepperla Austin J. , Keele Gregory R. , Meriesh Hashem A. , Yumerefendi Hayretin , Restrepo David , Zimmerman Seth , Bear James E. , Kuhlman Brian , Davis Ian J. , Strahl Brian D.
Published: October 2020

Histone H3 lysine 36 methylation (H3K36me) is a conserved histone modification associated with transcription and DNA repair. Although the effects of H3K36 methylation have been studied, the genome-wide dynamics of H3K36me deposition and removal are not known. We established rapid and reversible optogenetic control for Set2, the sole H3K36 methyltransferase in yeast, by fusing the enzyme with the light-activated nuclear shuttle (LANS) domain. Light activation resulted in efficient Set2-LANS nuclear localization followed by H3K36me3 deposition in vivo, with total H3K36me3 levels correlating with RNA abundance. Although genes showed disparate levels of H3K36 methylation, relative rates of H3K36me3 accumulation were largely linear and consistent across genes, suggesting that H3K36me3 deposition occurs in a directed fashion on all transcribed genes regardless of their overall transcription frequency. Removal of H3K36me3 was highly dependent on the demethylase Rph1. However, the per-gene rate of H3K36me3 loss weakly correlated with RNA abundance and followed exponential decay, suggesting H3K36 demethylases act in a global, stochastic manner. Altogether, these data provide a detailed temporal view of H3K36 methylation and demethylation that suggests transcription-dependent and -independent mechanisms for H3K36me deposition and removal, respectively.
Dilemmas of empowering families of children with autism spectrum disorders: a qualitative case study
Authors: Khara Rouhallah , Kalankesh Leila R. , Shahrokhi Hassan , Dastgiri Saeed , Gholipour Kamal , Feizi-Derakhshi Mohammad-Reza
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify the challenges and solutions in the empowerment of families of children with autism in Tabriz located in the North West of Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

In this exploratory and qualitative study, which was conducted from January to March 2019, 14 in-depth face-to-face interviews and 1 focus group (n = 5) were conducted with family empowerment experts. Data analysis was performed based on a content analysis approach via MAXQDA v 10.

Findings

Results revealed that empowerment challenges can be classified into six main themes including shortage of facilities and specialists, family-related problems, administrative and organizational, cultural and societal, financial and other problems. The most important empowerment solutions were divided into three main themes including informing and training skills by holding empowerment programs, governmental and insurance companies support, and organizational and administrative solutions.

Research limitations/implications

Limitation of this study is that families are not included; as families may also provide or challenge other solutions for empowerment based on their needs, ignoring their views may be losing part of vital information in this field. It is recommended that this research be conducted in the future from the perspective of families of people with autism and other stakeholders.

Practical implications

Based on the results of this study, stakeholders in the field of autism and the family empowerment can address the identified challenges and utilize solutions to improve the process of family empowerment and make more effective decisions in this regard.

Originality/value

Literature searches revealed a lack of any completed research in Iran specific to identifying empowerment challenges and related solutions. Efforts must be taken on root challenges which have been identified scientifically.
Customer perspectives on the acquisition of local artisanal companies
Authors: Legendre Tiffany Shin , Bowen John Thomas
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to provide insight into customers’ psychological processes and behavioral responses after merger and acquisition (M&A) of an artisanal brand.

Design/methodology/approach

Study 1 adopts a qualitative approach to understand how craft-beer customers perceive M&A decisions. In Study 2, a two-conditioned (M&A types: local and local company M&A vs local and national company M&A) between-subjects design experiment was executed.

Findings

The findings of this study show M&A’s of artisanal brands cause identity stigmatization, resulting in customers’ identity dissonance and coping strategies. Which coping strategies a customer uses depends on their brand identity, product-category identity and M&A partner types.

Research limitations/implications

This was an exploratory study that serves as a starting point for future research. Future research could investigate the model proposed in this study by testing the effects of potential moderators and mediators.

Practical implications

The findings of the study enable companies to better anticipate post-M&A customer behavior, thereby enabling them to enhance their brand positioning when a competitor is acquired by a large company.

Originality/value

The popularity of locally produced and craft hospitality products has attracted the attention of large companies that acquire artisanal brands. There is a paucity of research investigating post- M&A customer reactions of locally owned artisanal companies by large companies.
The effect of corporate social responsibility transparency on corporate payout policies
Authors: Hendijani Zadeh Mohammad
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study explores whether a firm's environmental and social (E&S) transparency affects corporate payout policies having two forms of dividend payout and stock repurchase payout.

Design/methodology/approach

Focusing on a large sample of S&P 500 firms, and utilizing Tobit estimators, the author examines whether a firm's environmental transparency and social transparency affect the levels of each dividend payout and stock repurchase payout. Transparency reflects comprehensive scores compiled by Bloomberg, capturing both the quantity (in terms of the number of data points) and the quality (with respect to objective and industry-relevant data points) of verified E&S information attributed to a firm's E&S practices.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that transparency, both environmental and social, relates to higher corporate payouts (i.e. higher dividend payout and higher stock repurchase payout). These positive relationships are magnified for firms suffering from high information asymmetry, low financial reporting quality and for those with weak governance. Moreover, the author finds that dividend payout is more stable in high E&S transparent firms than in low E&S transparent firms. The study findings continue to hold after a battery of robustness and sensitivity checks such as alternative measures, specifications, estimators, use of the instrumental variable regression approach and mitigation of omitted variable bias

Research limitations/implications

The study findings suggest that investors' interests (demanding for high corporate payouts) and other stakeholders' interests (demanding for high E&S transparency) are not necessarily in conflict, and investors' demands can be met while maintaining commitment to high E&S transparency. In addition, the study results imply that higher E&S transparency complements higher corporate payouts and signals to the market both a firm's commitment to E&S transparency and its ability to have high corporate payouts. In this line, the study findings clarify the high value of E&S transparency screening in investors' decision-making process as such transparency leads to higher corporate payouts for investors (i.e. facilitating wealth transfer to shareholders). Finally, the study findings are relevant to standard setters and regulators who emphasize the importance of E&S transparency.

Originality/value

By integrating two distinct streams of literature on corporate finance and corporate social responsibility (CSR), the author introduces E&S transparency as a novel nonfinancial driver of corporate payout policies. Finally, the study findings are in line with the notion that firm transparency (reflected in E&S transparency) can be a crucial element in justifying a firm's corporate payout policies and, in an overall view, firm policies.
Performance measurement and management in the public sector: state of the art and research opportunities
Authors: Garengo Patrizia , Sardi Alberto
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Since the 1980s, performance measurement and management (PMM) has been described as an essential element of new public management (NPM) reforms. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the current state of the art and future research opportunities for PMM in public sector management.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper carried out a bibliometric literature review using two main techniques named (1) performance analysis and (2) science mapping techniques. It investigated the academic research area describing the main publications' trend, the conceptual structure and its evolution from 1996 to 2019.

Findings

The results highlighted the growing relevance of PMM research in public organisations and confirmed a great interest of the business, management and accounting literature on PMM in public sector management. Furthermore, the results also described a conceptual structure of the public PMM literature analysed and its evolution being too generic to answer public organisations' needs. The results identified five main research gaps and research opportunities.

Originality/value

Although the adoption of rigorous bibliometric techniques was recognised as being useful for assessing the academic research study, the paper describes the business, management and accounting literature contributing to new theoretical and practical future opportunities.
Changes in the social work profession as responses to institutional multiplicity
Authors: Lyneborg Anna Olejasz
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Adopting the perspective of “institutional work” within neoinstitutionalism and “organizational professionalism” from the sociology of professions, this article contributes to current theoretical discussions on agency in settings of institutional multiplicity.

Design/methodology/approach

This article investigates how social workers in Danish child protection services respond to the implementation of technologies of government targeted at shaping the conduct of conduct to achieve certain results. The article draws on a qualitative case study in a child protection agency and centers on the use of assessment committees as a case of technologies of government.

Findings

The article identifies divergent ways that social workers manage and make sense of contradiction, e.g. by means of detachment of accountability, expansion of practice and internalization of logics in professionalism. Thus, the article sheds light on how social workers cope with discrepant requirements fostered by technologies of government.

Originality/value

As research has focused on the potential constraining effects of technologies of government and discrepancy of logics, limited attention has been given to how the potential discrepancy is nevertheless reconciled, negotiated and handled in the everyday run-of-the-mill practice. Adopting the perspective of “institutional work” within neoinstitutionalism and “organizational professionalism” from the sociology of professions, this article contributes to current theoretical discussions on agency in settings of institutional multiplicity. Additionally, the article sheds light on how social workers manage and make sense of discrepant requirements fostered by technologies of government, reflecting empirical examples of a profession in transition.
Technological innovations in the work environment and the career of the millennium generation
Authors: Veloso Elza , Silva Rodrigo Cunha da , Trevisan Leonardo , Dutra Joel
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the relationship of career anchors with three aspects: the millennials’ professional skills, the millennials’ awareness of the replacement of jobs with new technologies and the technological stress in the millennials’ working environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The responses of 200 questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive and variance analysis techniques.

Findings

Among the three hypotheses raised, two were confirmed, showing that these young people recognize the development of professional skills through new technologies, but are not highly sensitive to the stress associated with technological innovations.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to a recent debate, which emphasizes the impact of the application of new technologies on the nature of study and employment levels.
Exploring challenges and opportunities of the new social entrepreneurs: the case of indigenous musicpreneurs in KP Pakistan
Authors: Muhammad Ali , Khan Jehangir Zeb , Shah Syed Imad , Ali Murad
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the struggle of and explore opportunity structure for a special class of social entrepreneurs, known as musicpreneurs, in the context of a war-ridden conflict region of Pakistan. A unique case of Pashtun musicians is undertaken, who are confronted with multiple challenges and barriers while commercializing their musical skills. It provides a holistic account of a journey towards self-sustenance from the perspective of real-life musicpreneurs living in harsh socio-economic conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is guided by constructionism and interpretive methodology, where semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted from 28 entrepreneurs in Peshawar, capital city of the Khyber Pakhtunkwa Province and its surroundings. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to analyze transcribed data.

Findings

This research categorizes all findings into seven unified themes. A common Pashtun shows profound love for music, yet surprisingly, does not extend the same intensity of love to musicians. Till recently, Pashtun musicpreneurs are confronted by multiple challenges and barriers such as copyright violations, socio-cultural resistance and discrimination. However, they have devised new opportunity structures to commercialize their skills and adopt music as a sustainable career.

Research limitations/implications

This research explored multiple aspects of Pashtun musicpreneurs’ lives, compromising minute details on some aspects, for example, limited opportunity structure for musicpreneurs. It bears implications not only for Pakistan but other similar hostile environments for musicpreneurship. For lasting sustainability, overall tranquility and for the promotion of musicpreneurship, challenges surrounding musicpreneurs need to be addressed.

Originality/value

It is the first study of its kind to explore the struggle of musicpreneurs in hostile socio-economic conditions. From theoretical standpoint, a new theory of musicpreneurship is substantiated by paving ways to resolve barriers experienced in the most unfavourable conditions.
Strength of auditing and reporting standards, corruption and money laundering: a cross-country investigation
Authors: Amara Ines , Khlif Hichem , El Ammari Anis
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between the strength of auditing and reporting standards (SARS) and money laundering, and test whether the SARS moderates the association between corruption and money laundering.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consists of 348 country-year observations over the period 2015–2017. Data on money laundering are collected from Basel Anti-Money Laundering Reports for 2015–2017, while data on SARS and corruption are collected from the Global Competiveness Reports for the same years.

Findings

The findings of this study suggest that the SARS is negatively associated with money laundering, while corruption has an insignificant effect on the same variable. The effect of corruption on money laundering becomes positive and significant after removing the SARS. This result implies that the SARS and corruption represent two concurrent forces influencing money laundering phenomenon with a prevailing negative effect for the SARS. When testing for the moderating effect of SARS on the positive association between corruption and money laundering, findings show that the positive association remains stable under low SARS environments, while it is mitigated under high SARS. This moderating effect is further confirmed when using an interaction variable between the SARS dummy variable and corruption as this interaction variable has a negative effect on money laundering.

Originality/value

The findings emphasize the role played by the SARS in reducing money laundering and mitigating the positive association between corruption and money laundering. These results may have policy implications for governments aiming to combat this phenomenon.
Exodus at home: a narrative introspection on what matters
Authors: Steinberg Shirley R.
Published: October 2020

Purpose

To exemplify how narrative leads us to question and continue question in a capitalized academic world which continually demands answers.

Design/methodology/approach

This viewpoint/editorialized piece uses narrative voice as a gestalt for our times.

Findings

To ask more questions, to engage in dialogue, to become equitable. To get woke.

Research limitations/implications

That empiricists will not get an answer.

Practical implications

That all who read has the possibility of identifying with this global issue

Social implications

To make a change

Originality/value

Narrative voice is original
Tailoring physico-mechanical properties and rheological behavior of ABS filaments for FDM via blending with SEBS TPE
Authors: Sayanjali Mozhgan , Rezadoust Amir Masood , Abbassi Sourki Foroud
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the development of the three-dimensional (3D) printing filaments based on acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) copolymer and styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) block copolymer, with tailored viscoelastic properties and controlled flow during the 3D printing process.

Design/methodology/approach

In this investigation, ABS was blended with various amounts of SEBS via a melt mixing process. Then the ABS/SEBS filaments were prepared by a single-screw extruder and printed by the FDM method. The rheological properties were determined using an MCR 501 from Anton-Paar. The melt flow behavior of ABS/SEBS filaments was determined. The morphology of the filaments was studied by scanning electron microscope and the mechanical (tensile and impact) properties, surface roughness and void content of printed samples were investigated.

Findings

The rheological results can accurately interpret what drives the morphology and mechanical properties’ changes in the blends. The impact strength, toughness, elongation-at-break and anisotropy in mechanical properties of ABS samples were improved concurrently by adding 40 Wt.% of SEBS. The optimal tensile properties of blend containing 40 Wt.% SEBS samples were obtained at −45°/+45° raster angle, 0.05 mm layer thickness and XYZ build orientation. Optimized samples showed an 890% increase in elongation compared to neat ABS. Also, the impact strength of ABS samples showed a 60% improvement by adding 40 Wt.% SEBS.

Originality/value

The paper simultaneously evaluates the effects of material composition and 3D printing parameters (layer thickness, raster angle and build orientation) on the rheology, morphology, mechanical properties and surface roughness. Also, a mechanical properties comparison between printed samples and their compression-molded counterpart was conducted.
Customized design and additive manufacturing of kids’ ankle foot orthosis
Authors: Banga Harish Kumar , Kalra Parveen , Belokar Rajendra M. , Kumar Rajesh
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is improvement of human gait by customized design of ankle foot orthosis (AFO). An has been the most frequently used orthosis in children with cerebral palsy. AFOs are designed to boost existing features or to avoid depression or traumatize muscle contractures. The advantages of AFO’s utilized for advancement in human walk attributes for the improvement in foot deformities patients or youngsters with spastic loss of motion. In this research on the customized design of AFO's to improve gait, there are limitations during walking of foot drop patients. In children with foot drops, specific AFOs were explicitly altered to improve parity and strength which are beneficial to walking positions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposes the customized design of AFOs using computerized and additive manufacturing for producing advances to alter the design and increase comfort for foot drop patients. Structuring the proposed design fabricated by using additive manufacturing and restricted material, the investigation was finalized at the Design Analysis Software (ANSYS). The system that performs best under investigation can additionally be printed using additive manufacturing.

Findings

The results show that the customized design of AFOs meets the patient’s requirements and could also be an alternative solution to the existing AFO design. The biomechanical consequences and mechanical properties of additive manufactured AFOs have been comparable to historically synthetic AFOs. While developing the novel AFO designs, the use of 3D printing has many benefits, including stiffness and weight optimization, to improve biomechanical function and comfort. To defeat the issues of foot drop patients, a customized AFO is used to improve the human gait cycle with new material and having better mechanical properties.

Originality/value

This research work focuses on the biomechanical impacts and mechanical properties of customized 3D-printed AFOs and compares them to traditionally made AFOs. Customized AFO design using 3D printing has numerous potential advantages, including new material with lightweight advancement, to improve biomechanical function and comfort. Normally, new applications mean an incremental collection of learning approximately the behavior of such gadgets and blending the new design, composite speculation and delivered substance production. The test results aim to overcome the new AFO structure issues and display the limited components and stress examination. The outcome of the research is the improved gait cycle of foot drop patients.
Oil and risk premia in equity markets
Authors: Kumar Satish , Demirer Riza , Tiwari Aviral Kumar
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study aims to explore the oil–stock market nexus from a novel angle by examining the predictive role of oil prices over the excess returns associated with the market, size, book-to-market and momentum factors via bivariate cross-quantilograms.

Design/methodology/approach

This study makes use of the bivariate cross-quantilogram methodology recently developed by Han et al. (2016) to analyze the predictability patterns across the oil and stock markets by focusing on various quantiles that formally distinguish between normal, bull and bear as well as extreme market states.

Findings

The study analysis of systematic risk premia across the four regions shows that crude oil returns indeed capture predictive information regarding excess factor returns in stock markets, particularly those associated with market, size and momentum factors. However, the predictive power of oil return over excess factor returns is asymmetric and primarily concentrated on extreme quantiles, suggesting that large fluctuations in oil prices capture markedly different predictive information over stock market risk premia during up and down states of the oil market.

Practical implications

The findings have significant implications for the profitability of factor- or style-based active portfolio strategies and suggest that the predictive information contained in oil market fluctuations could be used to enhance returns via conditional strategies based on these predictability patterns.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the vast literature on the oil–stock market nexus from a novel perspective by exploring the effect of oil price fluctuations on the risk premia associated with the systematic risk factors including market, size, value and momentum.
Interactions between bacteria and fungi in macrophyte leaf litter decomposition
Authors: Zhao Biying , Xing Peng , Wu Qinglong L.
Published: October 2020

Microbes play an important role in decomposition of macrophytes in shallow lakes, and the process can be greatly affected by bacteria–fungi interactions in response to material composition and environmental conditions. In this study, microbes involved in the decomposition of leaf litter from three macrophyte species, Zizania latifolia, Hydrilla verticillata and Nymphoides peltata, were analysed at temperatures of 5, 15 and 25 °C. Results indicate that the decomposition rate was affected by temperature. Bacterial alpha diversity increased significantly along the time, while both temperature and plant species had a significant impact on the bacterial community, and plant type was shown to be the most important driving factor for the fungal community. The cosmopolitan bacterial taxa affiliated with Gammaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Deltaproteobacteria, Firmicutes and Spirochaetes were key species in the investigated ecological networks, demonstrating significant co‐occurrence or co‐exclusion relationships with Basidiomycota and Ascomycota, according to different macrophyte species. This study indicates that bacteria involved in the decomposition of macrophyte leaf litter are more sensitive to temperature variance, and that fungi have a higher specificity to the composition of plant materials. The nutrient content of Hydrilla verticillata promoted a positive bacteria–fungi interaction, thereby accelerating the decomposition and re‐circulation of leaf litter.
Increased risk of fatal intoxication and polypharmacy among psychiatric patients at death
Authors: Reuss Christian Fyhn , Hasselstrøm Jørgen Bo , Linnet Kristian , Christoffersen Dorte Jensen , Leth Peter Mygind , Boel Lene Warner Thorup , Banner Jytte
Published: October 2020

Patients suffering from psychiatric disorders have an excess mortality and a shorter life span expectancy compared to the general population. Furthermore, they are treated with multiple drugs and are known to have an increased risk of drug abuse. In this study, we aimed at investigating the pharmaceutical drug and drug of abuse profiles of the deceased included in the Danish prospective autopsy‐based forensic study on psychiatric patients, SURVIVE. Using the postmortem systematic toxicological analysis results, we identified 129 different consumed compounds in our population (n = 443). Polypharmacy (≥5 compounds) was detected in 39.5% of the deceased. Deceased with a psychiatric diagnosis or who died from a fatal intoxication had significantly more compounds at the time of their death compared to having either no psychiatric diagnosis or another cause of death, respectively. Evidence of drug abuse was present, as 29.8% of our total population had consumed either methadone or illicit drugs of abuse, excluding tetrahydrocannabinol. Of those deceased with a psychiatric diagnosis, 33.6% had either consumed methadone or illicit drugs of abuse, a greater number than those without a psychiatric diagnosis. Fatal intoxication was the most frequent cause of death (40.6%) with methadone as the major intoxicant. Here, we found that those without a psychiatric diagnosis had fewer fatal pharmaceutical drug intoxications compared to the psychiatric diagnosis groups. Our findings add further context to understanding the excess mortality of psychiatric patents, since there is an increased occurrence of fatal intoxication, polypharmacy, and drug abuse in this population.
What aspects of their child's primary care do mothers value? A qualitative analysis of perspectives of women in treatment for opioid use disorder
Authors: Short Vanessa L. , Alexander Karen , Gannon Meghan , Abatemarco Diane J. , Goyal Neera K.
Published: October 2020

Background

Preventive paediatric healthcare is essential for infant and child health. Current research, however, suggests that the delivery of routine well child care (WCC) for children affected by maternal opioid use disorder (OUD) could be improved. How mothers perceive interactions with healthcare providers may help identify ways to modify the experience of WCC, which could ultimately improve healthcare utilization, patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. The objective of this qualitative study was to assess perceptions of WCC among mothers in treatment for OUD.

Methods

Four focus group sessions of 4–8 participants each (N = 22) were conducted. All study participants were receiving comprehensive behavioural and physical health support and care plus pharmacotherapy for OUD from a single outpatient treatment centre. Focus groups were semi‐structured, with a standardized set of open‐ended questions and follow‐up prompts to engage participants in a fluid discussion. Participants were asked to identify and discuss important aspects of their youngest child's WCC and what they liked and disliked about their child's WCC. Grounded theory analysis was used to identify themes.

Results

Several aspects of WCC were identified as important to the mothers. Main themes identified included (1) mother–provider relationship, (2) communication with healthcare team and (3) support for mother's OUD treatment. Participants discussed their desire to be heard and understood and wanted the entire healthcare team and clinic staff to see them as mothers first and foremost, not merely as individuals with OUD.

Conclusion

Future attempts to refine care may consider healthcare models that highlight open communication and personalized care and offer strong support and ongoing encouragement for the mother's OUD treatment and recovery process.