bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crop-photoperiodism model 2.0 for the panicle-initiation date of sorghum and rice that includes daily changes in sunrise and sunset times
Authors: Clerget B. , Sidibe M. , Bueno C.S. , Grenier C. , Kawakata T. , Domingo A.J. , Layaoen H.L. , Palacios N.G. , Bernal J.H. , Trouche G. , Chantereau J.
Published: November 2020

Background and Aims

Daylength determines flowering dates. However, questions remain regarding flowering dates in the natural environment, such as the synchronous flowering of plants sown simultaneously at highly contrasting latitudes. The daily change in sunrise and sunset times is the cue for the flowering of trees and for the synchronisation moulting in birds at the equator. Sunrise and sunset also synchronise the cell circadian clock, which is involved in the regulation of flowering. The goal of this study was to update the photoperiodism model with knowledge acquired since its conception.

Methods

A large dataset was gathered, including four 2-year series of monthly sowings of 28 sorghum varieties in Mali and two 1-year series of monthly sowings of eight rice varieties in the Philippines to compare with previously published monthly sowings in Japan and Malaysia, and data from sorghum breeders in France, Nicaragua, and Colombia. An additive linear model of the duration in days to panicle initiation (PI) using day length and daily changes in sunrise and sunset times was implemented.

Key Results

Simultaneous with the phyllochron, the duration to PI of field crops acclimated to the mean temperature at seedling emergence within the usual range of mean cropping temperatures. A unique additive linear model combining daylength and daily changes in sunrise and sunset hours was accurately fitted for any type of response in the duration to PI to the sowing date without any temperature input. Once calibrated on a complete and an incomplete monthly sowing series at two tropical latitudes, the model accurately predicted the duration to PI of the concerned varieties from the equatorial to the temperate zone.

Conclusions

The results of the updated photoperiodism model strongly supported the hypothesis that photoperiodism could be a combined response to day length and daily changes in sunrise and sunset times.
Design of proteins presenting discontinuous functional sites using deep learning
Authors: Tischer Doug , Lisanza Sidney , Wang Jue , Dong Runze , Anishchenko Ivan , Milles Lukas F. , Ovchinnikov Sergey , Baker David
Published: November 2020

An outstanding challenge in protein design is the design of binders against therapeutically relevant target proteins via scaffolding the discontinuous binding interfaces present in their often large and complex binding partners. There is currently no method for sampling through the almost unlimited number of possible protein structures for those capable of scaffolding a specified discontinuous functional site; instead, current approaches make the sampling problem tractable by restricting search to structures composed of pre-defined secondary structural elements. Such restriction of search has the disadvantage that considerable trial and error can be required to identify architectures capable of scaffolding an arbitrary discontinuous functional site, and only a tiny fraction of possible architectures can be explored. Here we build on recent advances in de novo protein design by deep network hallucination to develop a solution to this problem which eliminates the need to pre-specify the structure of the scaffolding in any way. We use the trRosetta residual neural network, which maps input sequences to predicted inter-residue distances and orientations, to compute a loss function which simultaneously rewards recapitulation of a desired structural motif and the ideality of the surrounding scaffold, and generate diverse structures harboring the desired binding interface by optimizing this loss function by gradient descent. We illustrate the power and versatility of the method by scaffolding binding sites from proteins involved in key signaling pathways with a wide range of secondary structure compositions and geometries. The method should be broadly useful for designing small stable proteins containing complex functional sites.
Investigating the effects of healthy cognitive aging on brain functional connectivity using 4.7 T resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Hrybouski Stanislau , Cribben Ivor , McGonigle John , Olsen Fraser , Carter Rawle , Seres Peter , Madan Christopher R. , Malykhin Nikolai V.
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Functional changes in the aging human brain have been previously reported using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Earlier resting-state fMRI studies revealed an age-associated weakening of intra-system functional connectivity (FC) and age-associated strengthening of inter-system FC. However, the majority of such FC studies did not investigate the relationship between age and network amplitude, without which correlation-based measures of FC can be challenging to interpret. Consequently, the main aim of this study was to investigate how three primary measures of resting-state fMRI signal – network amplitude, network topography, and inter-network FC – are affected by healthy cognitive aging.

Methods

We acquired resting-state fMRI data on a 4.7 T scanner for 105 healthy participants representing the entire adult lifespan (18-85 years of age). To study age differences in network structure, we combined ICA-based network decomposition with sparse graphical models.

Results

Older adults displayed lower blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal amplitude in all functional systems with sensorimotor networks showing the largest age differences. Our age comparisons of network topography and inter-network FC demonstrated a substantial amount of age-invariance in the brain’s functional architecture. Despite architecture similarities, old adults displayed a loss of communication efficiency in our inter-network FC comparisons, driven primarily by FC reduction in frontal and parietal association cortices. Together, our results provide a comprehensive overview of age effects on fMRI-based FC.
Variant Curation Expert Panel Recommendations for RYR1 Pathogenicity Assertions in Malignant Hyperthermia Susceptibility
Authors: Johnston Jennifer J. , Dirksen Robert T. , Girard Thierry , Gonsalves Stephen G. , Hopkins Phil M. , Riazi Sheila , Saddic Louis A. , Sambuughin Nyamkhishig , Saxena Richa , Stowell Kathryn , Weber James , Rosenberg Henry , Biesecker Leslie G.
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Prevention of malignant hyperthermia (MH) requires an understanding ofRYR1variant pathogenicity to assess the risk of exposure to triggering agents. Personalized medicine, especially secondary findings and eventually genomic screening, will contribute toward this goal.

Methods

We specified ACMG/AMP criteria for variant interpretation forRYR1and MH. Proposed rules were piloted on 84 variants. We applied quantitative evidence calibration for several criteria using likelihood ratios based on the Bayesian framework.

Results

Seven ACMG/AMP criteria were adopted without changes, ten were adopted withRYR1-specific modifications, and nine were dropped. Thein silico(PP3 and BP4) and hot spot criteria (PM1) were evaluated quantitatively. REVEL gave an OR of 23:1 for PP3 and 16:1 for BP4 using trichotomized cut-offs of >0.85 (pathogenic) and <0.5 (benign). The PM1 hotspot criterion had an OR of 24:1. PP3 and PM1 were implemented at moderate strength. Applying the revised ACMG criteria to 44 recognized MH variants, 30 were assessed as pathogenic, 12 as likely pathogenic, and two as VUS.

Conclusion

Curation of these variants will facilitate interpretation ofRYR1/MH genomic testing results, which is especially important for secondary findings analyses. Our approach to quantitatively calibrating criteria are generalizable to other variant curation expert panels.
VGLL1 drives therapy resistance in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer
Authors: Gemma Carolina , Lai Chun-Fui , Singh Anup K , Belfiore Antonino , Portman Neil , Milioli Heloisa Z , Periyasamy Manikandan , Abuelmaaty Sara , Nicholls Alyssa J. , Davies Claire M , Patel Naina R. , Simmons Georgia M. , Fan Hailing , Nguyen Van T M , Magnani Luca , Rakha Emad , Martin Lesley-Ann , Lim Elgene , Coombes R. Charles , Pruneri Giancarlo , Buluwela Lakjaya , Ali Simak
Published: November 2020

Resistance to endocrine therapies (ET) is common in estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer and most relapsed patients die with ET-resistant disease. While genetic mutations provide explanations for some relapsed patients1, mechanisms of resistance remain undefined in many cases. Drug-induced epigenetic reprogramming provides possible routes to resistance2. By analysing histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) profiles in models of ET resistance, we discovered that selective ER down-regulators (SERDs) such as fulvestrant promote epigenetic activation ofVGLL1, a co-activator for TEAD transcription factors. We show thatVGLL1, acting via TEADs, promotes expression of genes that drive growth of fulvestrant-resistant breast cancer cells. Pharmacological disruption of VGLL1/TEAD4 interaction inhibits VGLL1/TEAD transcriptional programmes to block growth of the resistant cells and prevents growth. Among the VGLL1/TEAD-regulated genes, we identifyEGFR, whereby VGLL1-directed EGFR upregulation sensitises fulvestrant-resistant breast cancer cells to EGFR inhibitors. Taken together, our findings identify VGLL1 as a transcriptional driver in ET resistance and advance new therapeutic possibilities for relapsed ER+ breast cancer patients.
Pan-primate DNA methylation clocks
Authors: Horvath Steve , Haghani Amin , Zoller Joseph A. , Lu Ake T. , Ernst Jason , Pellegrini Matteo , Jasinska Anna J. , Mattison Julie A. , Salmon Adam B. , Raj Ken , Horvath Markus , Paul Kimberly C. , Ritz Beate R. , Robeck Todd R. , Spriggs Maria , Ehmke Erin E. , Jenkins Susan , Li Cun , Nathanielsz Peter W.
Published: November 2020

DNA methylation data have been successfully used to develop highly accurate estimators of age (“epigenetic clocks”) in many mammalian species. With a view of extending such epigenetic clocks to all primate species, we analyzed DNA methylation profiles of 2400 tissues derived from 37 primate species including 11 haplorhine species (baboons, marmosets, vervets, rhesus macaque, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutan, humans) and 26 strepsirrhine species (suborders Lemuriformes and Lorisiformes). From these we present here, pan-primate epigenetic clocks which are highly accurate for all primates including humans (age correlation R=0.98). We also carried out in-depth analysis of baboon DNA methylation profiles and generated five epigenetic clocks for baboons (Olive-yellow baboon hybrid), one of which, the pan-tissue epigenetic clock, was trained on seven tissue types (fetal cerebral cortex, adult cerebral cortex, cerebellum, adipose, heart, liver, and skeletal muscle) with ages ranging from late fetal life to 22.8 years of age. To facilitate translation of findings in baboons to humans, we further constructed two dual-species, human-baboon clocks. We also identified and present here, epigenetic predictors of sex that apply to all primate species. Low overlap can be observed between age- and sex-related CpGs. Overall, this study advances our understanding of conserved age- and sex-related epigenetic changes in primates, and provides biomarkers to study the aging of all primate species with the facility to readily translate any findings between primate species.
Temperature but not ocean acidification affects energy metabolism and enzyme activities in the blue mussel,Mytilus edulis
Authors: Matoo Omera B. , Lannig Gisela , Bock Christian , Sokolova Inna M.
Published: November 2020

In mosaic marine habitats such as intertidal zones ocean acidification (OA) is exacerbated by high variability of pH, temperature, and biological CO2production. The non-linear interactions among these drivers can be context-specific and their effect on organisms in these habitats remains largely unknown, warranting further investigation.

We were particularly interested inMytilus edulis(the blue mussel) from intertidal zones of Gulf of Maine (GOM), USA for this study. GOM is a hot spot of global climate change (average SST increasing by > 0.2 °C y-1) with > 60% decline in mussel population over the past 40 years.

Here, we utilize bioenergetic underpinnings to identify limits of stress tolerance inM. edulisfrom GOM exposed to warming and OA. We have measured whole-organism oxygen consumption rates and metabolic biomarkers in mussels exposed to control and elevated temperatures (10 vs. 15 °C) and moderate PCO2levels (~ 400 vs. 800 μatm).

Our study demonstrates that adultM. edulisfrom GOM are metabolically resilient to the moderate OA scenario but responsive to warming as seen in changes in metabolic rate, energy reserves, metabolite profiles and enzyme activities.

Our results are in agreement with recent literature that OA scenarios for the next 100-300 years do not affect this species, possibly as a consequence of maintaining itsin vivoacid-base balance.
Description of the updated nutrition calculation of the Oxford WebQ questionnaire and comparison with the previous version among 207,144 participants in UK Biobank
Authors: Perez-Cornago Aurora , Pollard Zoe , Young Heather , van Uden Marloes , Andrews Colm , Piernas Carmen , Key Tim J , Mulligan Angela , Lentjes Marleen
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The Oxford WebQ is a web-based 24-hour dietary assessment method which has been used in UK Biobank and other large prospective studies. The food composition table used to calculate nutrient intakes has recently been replaced with the UK Nutrient Databank, which has food composition data closer in time to when participants completed the questionnaire, and new dietary variables were incorporated. Here we describe the updated version of the Oxford WebQ questionnaire nutrient calculation, and compare nutrient intakes with the previous version used.

Methods

207,144 UK Biobank participants completed ≥1 Oxford WebQs, and means and standard deviations of nutrient intakes were averaged for all completed 24-h dietary assessments. Spearman correlations and weighted kappa statistics were used to compare the re-classification and agreement of nutrient intakes between the two versions.

Results

35 new nutrients were incorporated in the updated version. Compared to the previous version, most nutrients were very similar in the updated version except for a few nutrients which showed a difference of >10%: lower with the new version for trans-fat (−20%), and vitamin C (−15%), but higher for retinol (+42%), vitamin D (+26%) and vitamin E (+20%). Most participants were in the same (>60%) or adjacent (>90%) quintile of intake for the two versions. Except for trans-fat (r=0.58, κ=0.42), very high correlations were found between the nutrients calculated using the two versions (r>0.79 and κ>0.60).

Conclusion

Small absolute differences in nutrient intakes were observed between the two versions, and the ranking of individuals was minimally affected, except for trans-fat.
Remote working in mental health services: a rapid umbrella review of pre-COVID-19 literature
Authors: Barnett Phoebe , Goulding Lucy , Casetta Cecilia , Jordan Harriet , Sheridan-Rains Luke , Steare Thomas , Williams Julie , Wood Lisa , Gaughran Fiona , Johnson Sonia
Published: November 2020

Background

Tele-mental health care has been rapidly adopted to maintain services during the pandemic, and there is now substantial interest in its future role. Service planning and policy making for recovery from the pandemic and beyond should draw not only on COVID-19 experiences, but also on the substantial research evidence accumulated prior to this.

Aims

to conduct an umbrella review of systematic reviews of research literature and evidence-based guidance on remote working in mental health, including both qualitative and quantitative literature.

Method

Three databases were searched between January 2010 and August 2020 for systematic reviews meeting pre-defined criteria. Reviews retrieved were independently screened and those meeting inclusion criteria were synthesised and assessed for risk of bias. Narrative synthesis was used to report findings

Results

Nineteen systematic reviews met inclusion criteria. Fifteen examined clinical effectiveness, eight reported on aspects of tele-mental health implementation, ten reported on acceptability to service users and clinicians, two on cost-effectiveness and one on guidance. Most reviews were assessed as low quality. Findings suggested that video-based communication could be as effective and acceptable as face-face formats, at least in the short-term. Evidence was lacking on extent of digital exclusion and how it can be overcome, or on significant context such as children and young people and inpatient settings.

Conclusions

This umbrella review suggests that tele-mental health has potential to be an effective and acceptable form of service delivery. However, we found limited evidence on impacts of large-scale implementation across catchment areas. Combining previous evidence and COVID-19 experiences may allow realistic planning for future tele-mental health implementation.
Comparative analysis of variation in the quality and completeness of local outbreak control plans for SARS-CoV-2 in English local authorities
Authors: Yu Xinming , Li Mengye , Lawson-Portuphy Laurie , Chowdhury Avirup , Badrinath Padmanabhan
Published: November 2020

Background

Local outbreak control plans (LOCPs) are statutory documents produced by local authorities (LAs) across England. LOCPs outlines LAs’ response to COVID-19 outbreaks and the coordination of local resources, data, and communication to support outbreak response. LOCPs are therefore crucial in the nation’s response to COVID-19. However, there has been no previous systematic assessment of these documents. We performed this study to systematically assess the quality of LOCPs and offer recommendations of good practice.

Methods

All published LOCPs were assessed for basic characteristics. A framework based on Department of Health and Social Care guidelines was used to assess a random sample of LOCPs. Qualitative analysis was undertaken for LOCPs with highest completeness.

Results

137 of 150 LAs publicly published a full LOCP; nine were drafts. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant difference between reporting of mainstream schools, care homes, and the homeless population and other educational settings, high-risk settings, and other vulnerable groups. LOCPs varied in approach when structuring outbreak response information and focussed on different areas of outbreak management.

Conclusions

The majority of LAs are publicly accessible. There is significant variation between the reporting of high-risk settings and groups. Suggested recommendations may help to improve future LOCP updates.
Triangulating molecular evidence to prioritise candidate causal genes at established atopic dermatitis loci
Authors: Sobczyk Maria K , Richardson Tom G , Zuber Verena , Min Josine L ,   eQTLGen Consortium,   BIOS Consortium,   GoDMC, Gaunt Tom R , Paternoster Lavinia
Published: November 2020

Background

Genome-wide association studies for atopic dermatitis (AD, eczema) have identified 25 reproducible loci associated in populations of European descent. We attempt to prioritise candidate causal genes at these loci using a multifaceted bioinformatic approach and extensive molecular resources compiled into a novel pipeline: ADGAPP (Atopic Dermatitis GWAS Annotation & Prioritisation Pipeline).

Methods

We identified a comprehensive list of 103 accessible molecular resources for AD aetiology, including expression, protein and DNA methylation QTL datasets in skin or immune-relevant tissues. These were used to test for overlap with GWAS signals (including colocalisation testing where possible). This was combined with functional annotation based on regulatory variant prediction, and independent genomic features such as chromatin accessibility, promoter-enhancer interactions, splicing sites, non-coding RNA regions, differential expression studies involving eczema patients and fine-mapping of causal variants. For each gene at each locus, we condensed the evidence into a prioritisation score.

Results

Across the 25 AD loci investigated, we detected significant enrichment of genes with adaptive immune regulatory function and epidermal barrier formation among the top prioritised genes. At 8 loci, we were able to prioritise a single candidate gene (IL6R, ADO, PRR5L, IL7R, ETS1, INPP5D, MDM1, TRAF3). At a further 2 loci, 2 candidate genes emerge (IL18R1/IL18RAP, LRRC32/EMSY). For the majority of these, the prioritised gene has been previously proposed as a plausible candidate, but the evidence we combine here, strengthens the case for many of these. In addition, at 6 of the 25 loci, our ADGAPP analysis prioritises novel alternative candidates (SLC22A5, IL2RA, MDM1, DEXI, ADO, STMN3), highlighting the importance of this comprehensive approach.

Conclusions

Our ADGAPP analysis provides additional support for previously implicated genes at several AD GWAS loci, as well as evidence for plausible novel candidates at others. We highlight several genes with good/converging evidence of involvement in AD that represent potential new targets for drug discovery.
Market microstructure and the historical relationship between the US farm credit system, farm service agency and commercial bank lending
Authors: Turvey Calum G. , Carduner Amy , Ifft Jennifer
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the market microstructure related to the Farm Credit System (FCS), Commercial Banks (CB) and Farm Services Administration (FSA). The commercial banks frequently call out the FCS as having an unfair advantage in the agricultural finance market place due to tax exempt bonds, and an implied guarantee of those bonds. This paper addresses the issue by examining the interrelationships since 1939, while addressing the historically distinctive roles that the FCS, CB and FSA have played in the US agricultural credit market.

Design/methodology/approach

There are two components to our model. The first is the estimation of short and long run credit demand elasticities, as well as land elasticities. These are estimated from a dynamic duality model using seemingly unrelated regression. The point elasticity measures are then used as independent variables in least square regressions, combined with farm specific and related macro variables, for the Cornbelt states. The dependent variable is the year-over-year changes in paired FCS, CB and FSA loans.

Findings

The genesis of the FCS was to provide credit to farmers in good and bad years. Therefore, we expected to see a countercyclical relationship between FCS and CB. This is found for the farm crisis years in the 1980s but is not a continuous characteristic of FCS lending. In good times the FCS and CB appear to compete, albeit with differentiated market segmentation into short- and long-term credit. The FSA, which was established to provide tertiary support to both the FCS and CB, appears to be responding as designed, with greater activity in bad years. The authors find the elasticity measures to be economically significant.

Research limitations/implications

The authors conclude that the market microstructure of the agricultural credit market in the US is important. Our analysis applies a broader definition of market microstructure for institutions and intermediaries and reveals that further research examining the economic frictions caused by comparative bond vs deposit funding of agricultural credit is important.

Originality/value

The authors believe that this is the first paper to examine agricultural finance through the market microstructure lens. In addition our long-term data measures allow us to examine the economics through various sub-periods. Finally, we believe that our introduction of credit and land demand elasticities into a comparative credit model is also a first.
Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO): Towards consumer centricity
Authors: Ravichandran N. , Sundaravalli N.
Published: November 2020

The Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), established by the Government of India is one of the World's Largest Social Security Organizations. The purpose of EPFO is to ensure social security for Industrial workers and their dependents. EPFO maintains more than 15 crore accounts of its members. Traditionally EPFO had been functioning as a legacy organization, administered and managed by Indian bureaucracy. Operational processes were riddled with over emphasis on rules and regulations, but were weak on transparency, accountability, effectiveness and efficiency. The 120 EPFO offices established all over the country operated in silos. Consequently, the very purpose of social security and welfare of the industrial employees suffered, while all other stake holders enjoyed significant controlling power. Recent interventions at EPFO were focused on process reengineering and ICT enablement to make EPFO more customer-centric. The case documents the transformation of EPFO from a bureaucratic, opaque organization to a customer centric, stakeholder friendly, transparent and accountable organization through IT enabled operations.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana Rural Road Construction Project Road No 216 (A)
Authors: Dutta Goutam
Published: November 2020

S. R. Pandey, Superintending Engineer (SE), Rural Roads Department, Bihar wanted to have a meeting of all the agencies involved, including his other engineers, the contractors to discuss his village road-making project in Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojona (PMGSY). This case discusses how the concept of work breakdown is used to subdivide all the activities of road-making into different sub activities (earthwork, bridgework, roadwork and other miscellaneous activities) in different levels.
The Soil Health Card Project
Authors: Chand Vijaya Sherry , Ravi Jayanti S.
Published: November 2020

The Commissionerate of Higher Education had motivated 55 science colleges to take up the Soil Health Card Project, a project of the Agriculture Department, under which 740,000 soil samples were tested in 2010. In 2011, there was a delay in obtaining approvals. The Commissionerate took some remedial steps and is about to obtain an extension of the project. The Commissioner is wondering what lessons could be drawn from the first year's experience, so that the management of the innovation could be improved.
State Innovation & Research Foundation, Solapur
Authors: Chand Vijaya Sherry
Published: November 2020

The State Innovation & Research Foundation, Solapur (SIRF) was a voluntary network of 300 government primary school teachers, established in 2006 as a platform for innovative teachers. In 2012, after organizing a successful conference, the Secretary felt that the time had come to expand and scale up operations. However, funding was a major constraint, there was no infrastructure and the reliance on conferences to spread SIRF's message seemed inadequate. What should be the strategy for scaling up?
Social computing applications as a resource for newly arrived refugees in Kronoberg, Sweden
Authors: García Alonso Roberto , Thoene Ulf , Dávila Benavides Diego
Published: November 2020

Purpose

European countries face the crucial challenge of integrating newly arrived refugees into society. The purpose of this paper is to explore the feasibility of using e-government services developed by local authorities, as well as NGOs, to support integration processes by analyzing migrants’ perceptions of the utility, usability and efficacy of social computing applications and their impact on integration.

Design/methodology/approach

A random sample of 67 newly arrived refugees in Kronoberg County, Sweden, responded to a questionnaire in English, Swedish and Arabic comprising 26 questions covering six central domains (employment, housing, education, health, citizenship and m-government/information and communication technology for refugees).

Findings

The successful design and implementation of digital solutions to address social issues or organizational needs are best achieved through collaboration among public, private and academic institutions. The potential use of social computing applications and online services as a resource to support refugee integration processes is determined by people’s preferences and skills when using digital devices. Moreover, newcomers have negative perceptions of online services and sharing personal information because of a lack of confidence and mistrust of social computing applications.

Research limitations/implications

Findings cannot necessarily be extrapolated to Sweden as a whole, or to other European countries, owing to the Swedish government’s determination to devolve decision-making over certain refugee-related issues to the county and municipal levels, and to various European digital ecosystems.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the analysis of the utility and efficacy of e-government services to integrate newly arrived refugees. This paper points to future improvements in social computing applications and shows the potential of public and third-sector institutions to facilitate the integration of new refugee communities and improve their quality of life.
Application of a collocation method based on linear barycentric interpolation for solving 2D and 3D Klein-Gordon-Schrödinger (KGS) equations numerically
Authors: Oruç Ömer
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to obtain accurate numerical solutions of two-dimensional (2-D) and 3-dimensional (3-D) Klein–Gordon–Schrödinger (KGS) equations.

Design/methodology/approach

The use of linear barycentric interpolation differentiation matrices facilitates the computation of numerical solutions both in 2-D and 3-D space within reasonable central processing unit times.

Findings

Numerical simulations corroborate the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method.

Originality/value

Linear barycentric interpolation method is applied to 2-D and 3-D KGS equations for the first time, and good results are obtained.
Seeking authenticity in school leadership: the interplay between personal values and leadership styles
Authors: Kafa Antonios , Pashiardis Petros
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This paper is derived from a thorough and systematic study, contributing to further understanding of the perception of authentic leadership in the context of Cyprus, by involving school principals' both espoused values and values in action coupled with their leadership styles.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were drawn from a combination of methods, both quantitative (235 questionnaires) and qualitative (5 case studies), thus facilitating a more reliable and valid exploration of school principals' espoused values and values in action coupled with their leadership styles.

Findings

School principals' values in action may be filtered by particular factors, which affect them, when they try to promote their espoused values during their leadership practice. In general, the findings indicated that practicing authentic leadership might be, in fact, impeded by specific factors connected to the broader context in which school principals operate.

Research limitations/implications

It is not possible to draw concrete conclusions on relation between the espoused values and values in action, as only five school principals took part during the second research phase. However, in this study, the quantitative (first phase) and qualitative (second phase) research were combined in order to produce a general picture, with regards to the practice of authentic leadership.

Originality/value

The study of values has received an extensive research interest lately. In this study, it was approached collectively and cohesively by taking into consideration the differentiation between espoused values and values in action.
Barriers to technological innovations of SMEs: how to solve them?
Authors: Indrawati Henny , Caska  , Suarman
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the inhibiting factors of small and medium enterprises (SMEs’) technology innovation, supporting institutions for SMEs technology innovation development, SMEs’ technology innovation development model and strategies for developing SMEs in technology innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a mixed-method research project conducted through a survey of SMEs in Riau Province, Sumatera Indonesia (primarily in the districts of Siak, Kampar and Pelalawan) from April to July 2019. SMEs that have been operating for at least five years were chosen purposively as samples. Based on the requirement, there are 277 entities used in this study. A focus group discussion (FGD) was also conducted to formulate SME models and development strategies in technological innovation. In addition, in-depth interviews and observations were also carried out on technological innovations undertaken by respondents.

Findings

It was found that there are five inhibiting factors of SMEs’ technology innovation: government support, quality of human resources, funding of technological innovation, economic conditions and business partners. The biggest inhibiting factor remains to be the funding of technological innovation. Therefore SMEs provide independent technological innovation costs to develop technological innovations for business sustainability. Supporting institutions for developing SME technology innovation consist of government institutions, private institutions, financial institutions (banks) and nonbank financial institutions. To survive and excel amid competition, SMEs need to pay attention to technological innovation. The business strategy that needs to be done is to improve services to consumers and improve their attitude toward innovation in the implementation and development of SMEs’ businesses.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited to research on the inhibiting factors for SME technology innovation from the aspect of the production sector. This research has not studied various business fields in the trade, service and digital SME sectors. Future studies can reveal factors inhibiting SME technological innovation, except production aspects and various SME business fields. In addition, this study has not analyzed the cost of technological innovation provided by SMEs. Therefore, future studies could also reveal the large costs of technological innovation provided by SMEs.

Originality/value

This research investigates barriers hindering the SMEs’ technological innovations in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia as a maritime country. It also formulates strategies to reduce the barriers to SME’s technological innovation and contributes to the development of knowledge of technological innovations in SMEs. Moreover, this paper involves investigating government support from a nonfinancial aspect. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this aspect has not been much discussed by studies on innovation at SMEs till now.
Solution business fitness: measuring and managing across business logics
Authors: Kleinaltenkamp Michael , Nenonen Suvi , Raithel Sascha , Storbacka Kaj
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Firms transforming from a product supplier into a solution provider need to develop entirely new organizational capabilities or re-configure existing ones. This paper aims to conceptualize solution business fitness (SBF) as a construct that captures comprehensively the capabilities necessary for a firm to operate successfully in solution business and investigates how the construct can be measured.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a conceptualization of solution-specific capabilities and SBF, the development of the SBF measurement model followed a three-step procedure: domain specification and conceptual development, qualitative pre-study and quantitative pre-study. The SBF measurement model and its relevance were studied in a large scale longitudinal study using survey data from firm representatives, as well as archival data about the turnover and profitability development of the respective solution providers.

Findings

The study empirically validates solution-business-specific capabilities as antecedents of firm performance and shows how different business logics applied by firms give capabilities different importance and impact.

Practical implications

Managerially, firms can use the developed measurement tool to assess their current SBF and define the desired target status. When improving the SBF, managers should pay special attention to the business logic of their firm, as the required capabilities are context-dependent.

Originality/value

The study is the first to conceptualize and measure SBF and to empirically investigate the moderating role of business logic on the importance of the concept and its elements.
Listening to women: relational approaches to female offender management
Authors: O’Meara Aisling , Edwards Meinir , Davies Jason
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore women’s experiences of criminal justice systems to inform the development of guidance on working with women.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-part, independent samples and qualitative study using semi-structured interviews incorporating both interpretive phenomenological analysis and thematic analysis was conducted. In Study 1, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six women on probation in the community and data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Interviews in Study 2 were conducted with seven women in custody with data analysed using inductive-deductive thematic analysis. The applicability and expansion of Study 1 themes was then explored.

Findings

Seven emergent themes indicated relational approaches to offender management may improve experiences of judicial systems for female offenders and for their probation officers. This approach may help prevent common systemic issues from perpetuating negative interactions between these groups. Specific suggestions for developing relational security and consistency of care within these relationships are provided.

Practical implications

Taking a relational approach to female offender management may help remedy some of the systemic difficulties faced by female offenders and their probation officers.

Originality/value

By focussing on the experiences of women screened in to the offender personality disorder pathway this study provides insight as to how this service can assist in the development of relational security between probation staff and their clients.
The nexus of information sharing, technology capability and inventory efficiency
Authors: Fernando Yudi , Zainul Abideen Ahmed , Shaharudin Muhammad Shabir
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the effect of inventory information sharing on inventory efficiency and its intervening effect of information technology (IT) capability in manufacturing firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Stratified random sampling and filter questions selected targeted respondents, and an online survey collected 124 completed questionnaires from Malaysian manufacturing firms. partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) examined the structural model and hypothesis statement. An analysis of importance-performance map analysis (IPMA) test identified the relative importance drivers of inventory efficiency.

Findings

The findings showed that enhanced IT capabilities in manufacturing firms mediate a positive relationship between inventory sharing and inventory efficiency.

Research limitations/implications

This study portrays the relationship between inventory level, demand and information sharing. The research was carried out only within Malaysian manufacturing firms.

Practical implications

These findings will enable the management of manufacturing firms to design and visualise their inventory levels and share best practices across supply chain networks to achieve effective and optimised inventory planning.

Social implications

This study illustrates an intervention model that offers a direct and indirect impact of IT capabilities that allow scholars to close inventories productivity gaps in research.

Originality/value

This paper extends the limited literature on the sharing of inventory information and inventory productivity, notably from a strategic management perspective. The findings help scholars clearly understand the information systems capability and its mediating impact on information sharing and inventory efficiency’s relationship in the manufacturing sector. Moreover, demand information sharing affected the dynamic supply chain.
A freight train dispatching approach for handling perturbations: a real case for the longest heavy-haul railway in China
Authors: Zhang Yaqin , Wang Mingming , Wang Ruimin , Li Zhipeng , Zhang Nan
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to reschedule the freight train timetable in case of disturbance to restore the train services as soon as possible.

Design/methodology/approach

Hence, an integer linear programming model for the real-time freight heavy-haul railway traffic management is developed in case of large primary delays caused by the delayed cargos loading. The proposed model based on the alternative graph at the microscopic level depicts the freight train movements in detail. Multiple dispatching measures such as re-timing and re-ordering are taken into account. Moreover, two objective functions, namely, the total final delays and the consecutive delays, are minimized in the freight trains dispatching problem.

Findings

Finally, a real-world computational experiment based on the Haolebaoji-Ji’an freight heavy-haul railway is implemented. The results of all disrupted cases are obtained within 10 s. The results give insight into that the consecutive delays are more than the total final delays when the same disrupted situation and the consecutive or total final delays increase as the primary delays increase.

Originality/value

An integer linear programming model based on the alternative graph for the real-time freight heavy-haul railway traffic management is developed in case of large primary delays caused by the delayed cargos loading. The method can be developed as the computer-aided tool for freight train dispatchers.
Furloughing*
Authors: Adams‐Prassl Abi , Boneva Teodora , Golin Marta , Rauh Christopher
Published: November 2020

Over nine million jobs were furloughed in the United Kingdom during the coronavirus pandemic. Using real‐time survey evidence from the UK in April and May 2020, we document which workers were most likely to be furloughed and we analyse variation in the terms on which they furloughed. We find that women were significantly more likely to be furloughed. Inequality in care responsibilities seems to have played a key role: mothers were 10 percentage points more likely than fathers to initiate the decision to be furloughed (as opposed to it being fully or mostly the employer's decision) but we find no such gender gap amongst childless workers. The prohibition of working whilst furloughed was routinely ignored, especially by men who can do a large percentage of their work tasks from home. Women were less likely to have their salary topped up beyond the 80 per cent subsidy paid for by the government. Considering the future, furloughed workers without employer‐provided sick pay have a lower willingness to pay to return to work, as do those in sales and food preparation occupations. Compared with non‐furloughed employees, furloughed workers are more pessimistic about keeping their job in the short to medium run and are more likely to be actively searching for a new job, even when controlling for detailed job characteristics. These results have important implications for the design of short‐time work schemes and the strategy for effectively reopening the economy.
COVID‐19 and the US Safety Net*
Authors: Moffitt Robert A. , Ziliak James P.
Published: November 2020

We examine trends in employment, earnings and incomes over the last two decades in the United States, and how the safety net has responded to changing fortunes, including the shutdown of the economy in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic. The US safety net is a patchwork of different programmes providing in‐kind as well as cash benefits, and it had many holes prior to the pandemic. In addition, few of the programmes are designed explicitly as automatic stabilisers. We show that the safety net response to employment losses in the COVID‐19 pandemic largely consists only of increased support from unemployment insurance and food assistance programmes, an inadequate response compared with the magnitude of the downturn. We discuss options to reform social assistance in the United States to provide more robust income floors in times of economic downturns.
Nutrient conditions determine the localization of Bacillus thuringiensis Vip3Aa protein in the mother cell compartment
Authors: Wang Zeyu , Gan Chunxia , Wang Jian , Bravo Alejandra , Soberón Mario , Yang Qing , Zhang Jie
Published: November 2020

Vip3Aa was first identified as a protein secreted during the vegetative growth phase of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacteria and which shows high insecticidal toxicity against lepidopteran insect pests (Estruch et al., 1996). Bt strains formulated as bio‐insecticides only had low amounts of Vip3Aa secreted to the medium. Here, we report that Vip3Aa proteins produced by three different Bt strains, including an industrial strain, were indeed not secreted to the culture solution when grown in sporulation medium, but were retained in the mother cell compartment. In order to further investigate the Vip3Aa secretion and location, we grew the strains in rich medium. We found that in rich medium, a fraction of Vip3Aa was secreted, suggesting that Vip3Aa secretion is nutrient‐dependent. Regardless of the growth conditions, we found that Vip3Aa retained in cell pellets exhibited high toxicity against Spodoptera frugiperda larvae. Hence, we speculate that the accumulation of Vip3Aa protein in the mother cell compartment under sporulation conditions could still be used as an efficient strategy for industrial production in commercial Bt strains.
Cancer diagnosis and mortality in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: A Western Australian retrospective cohort study
Authors: Kelty Erin , Raymond Warren , Inderjeeth Charles , Keen Helen , Nossent Johannes , Preen David B.
Published: November 2020

Aim

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) has been associated with a modest increase in the risk of cancer. However, little is known as to how AS influences risk of mortality following cancer diagnosis. This study compared the risk of cancer and subsequent mortality in patients with AS compared with a non‐AS population group.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with AS in Western Australia (WA) between 1980 and 2014 were identified from the WA Rheumatic Disease Epidemiological Register (N = 2152; 31 099 patient‐years). A non‐AS comparison group (N = 10 760; 165 609 patient‐years) was selected from hospital records, matched 1:5 on age, Aboriginality, and gender. Data on cancer diagnosis, comorbidities and mortality were extracted from state cancer, hospital, and mortality registers. The relative risk of cancer (overall and by type) and mortality following cancer diagnosis between AS and non‐AS comparators was compared using Cox proportional hazard models, adjusting for risk factors and comorbidities.

Results

Ankylosing spondylitis patients had a 15% increase in the crude risk of cancer (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.02‐1.30). However, this association was attenuated following adjustment for smoking and common comorbidities (adjusted HR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.95‐1.22). Following a cancer diagnosis, patients with AS had an increased risk of 5‐year mortality in the unadjusted (HR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.03‐1.49) and the adjusted models (adjusted HR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.13‐1.66).

Conclusion

Ankylosing spondylitis was not associated with an increased risk of cancer diagnosis. Following a cancer diagnosis, AS was associated with an increased risk of 5‐year mortality.