bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid and cost-effective development of stable clones for the production of anti-Ebola monoclonal antibodies in HEK293T cells
Authors: González-González Everardo , Palestino-Díaz Iñaki , López-Pacheco Felipe , Márquez-Ipiña Alan Roberto , Lara-Mayorga Itzel Montserrat , Trujillo-de Santiago Grissel , Alvarez Mario Moisés
Published: April 2020

The Ebola virus (EBOV) disease has caused serious and recurrent epidemics in recent years, resulting in a fatality rate of nearly 50%. The most effective experimental therapy against the EBOV is the use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). In this work, we describe the development of HEK293T cells engineered for the transient and stable expression of mAb13C6, a neutralizing anti-EBOV monoclonal antibody. We transfected the HEK293T cells with a tricistronic vector to produce the heavy and the light chain of the antibody 13C6 and intracellular Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) using Lipofectamine 3000. We then selected the transfected cells using puromycin pressure, dilution cloning, and cloning disks. This integrated strategy generated mAb-producing cells in 7 days with a transient expression of ∼1 mg/L. Stable pools were produced after 4 weeks, with expression levels of ∼0.8 mg/L. Stable clones with expression levels of ∼1.8 mg/L were obtained within 10 weeks. The produced antibodies exhibited the expected functionality; they recognized the GP glycoprotein of the Ebola virus in both ELISA assays and cell binding experiments using HEK293T cells engineered to express the EBOV GP at their membrane surface. By the combined use of GFP and the set of selection techniques here described, we drastically reduced the time from transfection to stable clone generation without resorting to costly equipment. In outbreaks or emergencies, this platform can significantly shorten the development of new biopharmaceuticals and vaccines.
Changing color and intensity of LED lighting across the day impacts on human circadian physiology, sleep, visual comfort and cognitive performance
Authors: Stefani O. , Freyburger M. , Veitz S. , Basishvili T. , Meyer M. , Weibel J. , Kobayashi K. , Shirakawa Y. , Cajochen C.
Published: April 2020

We examined whether dynamic light across a scheduled 16-h waking day influences cognitive performance, visual comfort, melatonin secretion, sleepiness and sleep under strictly controlled laboratory conditions of 49-h duration.

Participants spent the first 5-h in the evening under standard lighting, followed by an 8-h nocturnal sleep episode at habitual bedtimes. Thereafter volunteers either woke up with static daylight LED (100 lux and 4000 Kelvin) or with a dynamic daylight LED that changed color (2700 – 5000 Kelvin) and intensity (0 - 100 lux) across the scheduled 16-h waking day. This was followed by an 8-h nocturnal treatment sleep episode at habitual bedtimes. Thereafter, volunteers spent another 12-h either under static or dynamic light during scheduled wakefulness.

Under dynamic light, evening melatonin levels were less suppressed 1.5hours prior to usual bedtime, and participants felt less vigilant in the evening compared to static light. Sleep latency was significantly shorter in both the baseline and treatment night compared to the static light condition while sleep structure, sleep quality, cognitive performance and visual comfort did not significantly change. Our results support the recommendation of using blue-depleted light and low illuminances in the late evening, which can be achieved by a dynamically changing daylight LED solution.
Targeted delivery of acid alpha-glucosidase corrects skeletal muscle phenotypes in Pompe disease mice
Authors: Baik Andrew D. , Calafati Philip T. , Aaron Nina A. , Mehra Antonia , Moller-Tank Sven , Miloscio Lawrence , Wang Lili , Praggastis Maria , Birnbaum Matthew S. , Pan Cheryl , Brydges Susannah , Mujica Alejandro , Barbounis Peter , Gale Nicholas W. , Li Ning , Kyratsous Christos A. , Schoenherr Christopher J. , Murphy Andrew J. , Economides Aris N. , Cygnar Katherine D.
Published: April 2020

Lysosomal diseases are a class of genetic disorders predominantly caused by loss of lysosomal hydrolases, leading to lysosomal and cellular dysfunction. Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT), where recombinant enzyme is given intravenously, internalized by cells, and trafficked to the lysosome, has been applied to treat several lysosomal diseases. However, current ERT regimens do not correct disease phenotypes in all affected organs because the biodistribution of enzyme uptake does not match that of the affected cells and tissues that require the enzyme. We present here targeted ERT, an approach that utilizes antibody-enzyme fusion proteins to target the enzyme to specific tissues. The antibody moiety recognizes transmembrane proteins involved in lysosomal trafficking and that are also preferentially expressed in those cells most affected in disease. Using Pompe disease (PD) as an example, we show that targeted ERT is superior to ERT in treating the skeletal muscle phenotypes of PD mice.
Heritability estimates of antler and body traits in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from genomic-relatedness matrices
Authors: Jamieson Aidan , Anderson Spencer J , Fuller Jérémie , Côté Steeve D , Northrup Joseph M , Shafer Aaron BA
Published: April 2020

Estimating heritability (h2) is required to predict the response to selection and is useful in species that are managed or farmed using trait information. Estimatingh2in free-ranging populations is challenging due to the need for pedigrees; genomic-relatedness matrices (GRMs) circumvent this need and can be implemented in nearly any system where phenotypic and SNP data are available. We estimated the heritability of five body and three antler traits in a free-ranging population of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on Anticosti Island, Quebec, Canada. We generated GRMs from >10,000 SNPs: dressed body mass and peroneus muscle mass had moderateh2values of 0.49 and 0.56, respectively. Heritability in male-only antler features ranged from 0.00 to 0.51 and had high standard errors. We explored the influence of minor allele frequency and data completion filters onh2: GRMs derived from fewer SNPs had reducedh2estimates and the relatedness coefficients significantly deviated from those generated with more SNPs. As a corollary, we discussed limitations to the application of GRMs in the wild, notably how skewed GRMs increase variance aroundh2estimates. This is the first study to estimateh2on a free-ranging population of white-tailed deer and should be informative for breeding designs and management.
Insights into the role of C3d dimers in B cell activation and Staphylococcal immune evasion
Authors: Wahid A.A. , Dunphy R.W. , Macpherson A. , Gibson B.G. , Kulik L. , Whale K. , Back C.R. , Hallam T.M. , Alkhawaja B. , Martin R.L. , Meschede I.P. , Lawson A.D.G. , Holers V.M. , Watts A.G. , Crennell S.J. , Harris C.L. , Marchbank K.J. , van den Elsen J.M.H.
Published: April 2020

Cleavage of C3 to C3a and C3b plays a central role in the generation of complement-mediated defences. Although the thioester-mediated surface deposition of C3b has been well-studied, fluid-phase dimers of C3 fragments remain largely unexplored. Here we present the first X-ray crystal structures of disulphide-linked human C3d dimers and show they undergo structurally-stabilising N-terminal domain swapping when in complex with theStaphylococcus aureusimmunomodulator Sbi. Through binding studies and flow cytometric analyses we uncover the physiologically-relevant roles of these dimers in crosslinking complement receptor 2 and modulating B cell activation to potentially promote anergy. This potential induction of cellular tolerance by C3d dimers could contribute to Sbi-mediatedS. aureusimmune evasion as well as limit autoreactive immune responses under physiological conditions. Thus, insights gained from our findings could inform the design of novel therapies for autoimmune disorders and enhance our understanding surrounding the importance of complement in the fluid phase.
The anticoagulant nafamostat potently inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infectionin vitro: an existing drug with multiple possible therapeutic effects
Authors: Yamamoto Mizuki , Kiso Maki , Sakai-Tagawa Yuko , Iwatsuki-Horimoto Kiyoko , Imai Masaki , Takeda Makoto , Kinoshita Noriko , Ohmagari Norio , Gohda Jin , Semba Kentaro , Matsuda Zene , Kawaguchi Yasushi , Kawaoka Yoshihiro , Inoue Jun-ichiro
Published: April 2020

Although infection by SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, is spreading rapidly worldwide, no drug has been shown to be sufficiently effective for treating COVID-19. We previously found that nafamostat mesylate, an existing drug used for disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), effectively blocked MERS-CoV S protein-initiated cell fusion by targeting TMPRSS2, and inhibited MERS-CoV infection of human lung epithelium-derived Calu-3 cells. Here we established a quantitative fusion assay dependent on SARS-CoV-2 S protein, ACE2 and TMPRSS2, and found that nafamostat mesylate potently inhibited the fusion while camostat mesylate was about 10-fold less active. Furthermore, nafamostat mesylate blocked SARS-CoV-2 infection of Calu-3 cells with an EC50around 10 nM, which is below its average blood concentration after intravenous administration through continuous infusion. These findings, together with accumulated clinical data regarding its safety, make nafamostat a likely candidate drug to treat COVID-19.
Microbiological safety of industrially reared insects for food: Identification of bacterial endospores and targeted detection of foodborne viruses
Authors: Vandeweyer D. , Lievens B. , Van Campenhout L.
Published: April 2020

Edible insects are characterised by high microbial numbers of which the bacterial endospores fraction can survive (thermal) processing. It is unknown, however, which bacterial species occur as endospore in edible insects and what impact they have on food safety. Additionally, edible insects have never been explored for the presence of foodborne viruses so far. In this study, we found that the bacterial endospore fraction in a collection of mealworm and cricket samples obtained from commercial insect producers can comprise a large amount ofBacillus cereusgroup members that can pose insect or human health risks. Monitoring and effective mitigation of these risks are urged. By contrast, none of the foodborne viruses hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus and norovirus genogroup II were detected in the sample collection. Therefore, food safety risks originating from these viral pathogens can be concluded to be low.
Ribosome profiling inMycobacterium tuberculosisreveals robust leaderless translation
Authors: Sawyer Elizabeth B. , Phelan Jody E. , Clark Taane G. , Cortes Teresa
Published: April 2020

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis, expresses a large proportion of leaderless transcripts lacking the canonical bacterial translation initiation signals. The role leaderless genes play in the physiology of this pathogen, which can undergo prolonged periods of non-replicating persistence in the host, is currently unknown. We have previously demonstrated that levels of leaderless transcription increase under conditions of nutrient starvation. However, little is known about the implications of this for persistent infection. Here, we performed ribosome profiling to characterise the translational landscape ofM. tuberculosis in vitro. Our data reveals robust leaderless translation in the pathogen and points towards different mechanisms for their initiation of translation compared to canonical Shine-Dalgarno genes. Furthermore, under conditions of nutrient starvation, we found a significant global up-regulation of leaderless genes in the translatome. Our data represents a rich resource for others seeking to understand translational regulation not only inM. tuberculosisbut in bacterial pathogens.
Structure of the N-terminal domain of ClpC1 in complex with the antituberculosis natural product ecumicin reveals unique binding interactions
Authors: Wolf Nina M. , Lee Hyun , Zagal Daniel , Nam Joo-Won , Oh Dong-Chan , Lee Hanki , Suh Joo-Won , Pauli Guido F. , Cho Sanghyun , Abad-Zapatero Celerino
Published: April 2020

The biological processes related to protein homeostasis inMycobacterium tuberculosis, the etiologic agent of tuberculosis, have recently been established as critical pathways for therapeutic intervention. Proteins of particular interest are ClpC1 and the ClpC1–ClpP1–ClpP2 proteasome complex. The structure of the potent antituberculosis macrocyclic depsipeptide ecumicin complexed with the N-terminal domain of ClpC1 (ClpC1-NTD) is presented here. Crystals of the ClpC1-NTD–ecumicin complex were monoclinic (unit-cell parametersa= 80.0,b= 130.0,c= 112.0 Å, β = 90.07°; space groupP21; 12 complexes per asymmetric unit) and diffracted to 2.5 Å resolution. The structure was solved by molecular replacement using the self-rotation function to resolve space-group ambiguities. The new structure of the ecumicin complex showed a unique 1:2 (target:ligand) stoichiometry exploiting the intramolecular dyad in the α-helical fold of the target N-terminal domain. The structure of the ecumicin complex unveiled extensive interactions in the uniquely extended N-terminus, a critical binding site for the known cyclopeptide complexes. This structure, in comparison with the previously reported rufomycin I complex, revealed unique features that could be relevant for understanding the mechanism of action of these potential antituberculosis drug leads. Comparison of the ecumicin complex and the ClpC1-NTD-L92S/L96P double-mutant structure with the available structures of rufomycin I and cyclomarin A complexes revealed a range of conformational changes available to this small N-terminal helical domain and the minor helical alterations involved in the antibiotic-resistance mechanism. The different modes of binding and structural alterations could be related to distinct modes of action.
Structural basis of carbohydrate binding in domain C of a type I pullulanase fromPaenibacillus barengoltzii
Authors: Huang Ping , Wu Shiwang , Yang Shaoqing , Yan Qiaojuan , Jiang Zhengqiang
Published: April 2020

Pullulanase (EC 3.2.1.41) is a well known starch-debranching enzyme that catalyzes the cleavage of α-1,6-glycosidic linkages in α-glucans such as starch and pullulan. Crystal structures of a type I pullulanase fromPaenibacillus barengoltzii(PbPulA) and ofPbPulA in complex with maltopentaose (G5), maltohexaose (G6)/α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) were determined in order to better understand substrate binding to this enzyme.PbPulA belongs to glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 13 subfamily 14 and is composed of three domains (CBM48, A and C). Three carbohydrate-binding sites identified inPbPulA were located in CBM48, near the active site and in domain C, respectively. The binding site in CBM48 was specific for β-CD, while that in domain C has not been reported for other pullulanases. The domain C binding site had higher affinity for α-CD than for G6; a small motif (FGGEH) seemed to be one of the major determinants for carbohydrate binding in this domain. Structure-based mutations of several surface-exposed aromatic residues in CBM48 and domain C had a debilitating effect on the activity of the enzyme. These results suggest that both CBM48 and domain C play a role in binding substrates. The crystal forms described contribute to the understanding of pullulanase domain–carbohydrate interactions.
Are all Asian tourists the same? Chinese versus Japanese dining satisfaction
Authors: Choi Juwon , Jeon Hyeongjin “Harry”
Published: April 2020

Purpose

With a focus on tourists' dining experiences, this study aimed to identify food neophobic tendencies and dining attributes that affect dining satisfaction and to compare these factors between two nationality groups – Chinese and Japanese.

Design/methodology/approach

From a paper-based survey, 380 usable responses were collected from inbound Chinese and Japanese tourists at an international airport in Korea. Bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses were employed.

Findings

Chinese tourists' level of dining satisfaction was related to their food neophobic tendencies as well as to the food, environment and service quality. Japanese tourists perceived quality of food and service only as important, and environment quality and food neophobic tendencies were not related to their dining satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this cross-cultural study can be used to improve understanding of international tourists' perceptions and food-related personality traits and have implications for increasing favorable attitudes toward local food at tourist destinations. Destination marketing organizations and local restaurateurs can use the results to develop marketing strategies tailored to each tourist segment.

Originality/value

Successful marketing strategies for promoting a tourist destination must consider how tourists view the local food as an aspect of the destination attraction. Many studies have considered all Asians as a single homogeneous entity, specifically in comparison with Westerners. This study attempted to debunk the myth of homogeneity by comparing two Asian countries, which may differ in regard to their dining satisfaction.
Can outside CEO successors bring innovation to firms? Evidence from China
Authors: Liu Xin , Xue Youzhi
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the effect of outside chief executive officer (CEO) succession on firm innovation in Chinese companies and to explore the mechanism behind the process. By analyzing the motivation of CEO successors of different origins in the context of selection, this paper identifies the factors affecting outside CEO successors’ decision-making on post-succession firm innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

A Poisson regression model is used on a sample of 1,084 firm-year observations taken from Chinese listed companies that endured CEO succession during the period of 2009–2016. Fixed-effect Poisson regression modeling was performed after likelihood ratio and Hausman testing to assess the robustness of the findings.

Findings

The results show that outside CEO successions are significantly and negatively associated with post-succession firm innovation. Moreover, the authors found a negative effect of outside CEO succession on post-succession firm innovation when the predecessor has a long tenure or the successor is older.

Originality/value

.This study contributes to the literature on CEO succession, CEO–board relationships and firm innovation by shedding light on how agency, human capital and career-concerning theories in the CEO selection context apply to corporate governance and strategy. Moreover, by exploring the factors influencing CEO successors’ decision-making in terms of firm innovation in the Chinese social and cultural context, this paper identifies ways to promote firm innovation for Chinese companies from the concept of leadership succession.
Foundation of nature reserves after disasters and different modes of remembrance
Authors: Johansson Magnus
Published: April 2020

Purpose

A nature reserve set up in a disaster-stricken area can have various functions, e.g. as a place where biodiversity is favored and sometimes as a memory of a traumatic event. This study presents four different record-breaking disasters during 1992–2014 in Sweden, where the idea of setting up reserves has been advanced in the aftermath, but with slightly different results in relation to attitudes about nature conservation and modes of remembering. The phenomenon is primarily discussed against theory formation around disaster memorials and window of opportunity for change.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a comparative case study approach. The cases are described through narratives on the basis of “grey” literature, i.e. documents from Swedish authorities in the form of evaluations, summaries from experience seminars, political decisions on the establishment of nature conservation or information material addressed to the public, and also media reporting.

Findings

The nature reserves will be reminiscent of the disasters since the natural regrowth will take decades but may also be accompanied by exhibitions in visitor centers, arts and plays, monuments and bureaucratic documents, all of which contribute to the memory. In all but one case, such artifacts are secondary in relation to the explicit goal of forest conservation. The local population's attitude to the reserve formation plays a big role for the plans to be implemented.

Originality/value

Foundation of nature reserves in the immediate aftermath of a disaster may have different functions for actors, affected people and interested public; some are exemplified and discussed here.
Person-environment fit as a parsimonious framework to explain workplace bullying
Authors: Vandevelde Katrien , Baillien Elfi , Notelaers Guy
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This study tested whether person-job fit (PJ-fit), person-group fit (PG-fit) and person-organization fit (PO-fit) relate to exposure to and enactment of workplace bullying (WB), mediated by strain and conflict.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 1,077 employees were analysed using multiple mediator structural equation modelling (Mplus 8.0).

Findings

PJ-fit, PG-fit and PO-fit all related to WB. PG-fit accounted for most explained variance. PJ-fit, PG-fit and PO-fit related to bullying through strain; only PG-fit also related to bullying through conflict.

Research limitations/implications

PE-fit is valuable to parsimoniously investigate WB's multi-causal nature; and strain and conflict partially explain the associations. Future research may shed more light on the direction of these effects.

Practical implications

So far, scholars assumed that job design prevents WB (work-environment hypothesis). This study revealed that prevention should also focus on the fit between employee and group/organization.

Social implications

WB has high societal costs. The authors introduce a new angle to WB prevention. To counteract WB, practitioners should also look at PJ-fit, PG-fit and PO-fit. This is not only important for recruitment, but also for tenured employees (e.g. because of changes in employees' needs, the job, the group or the organization).

Originality/value

This study was the first to investigate the multi-causal nature of both WB exposure and enactment, by applying the lens of PE-fit, and testing explanatory mechanisms.
Flattening the infection curve – understanding the role of telehealth in managing COVID-19
Authors: Leite Higor , Gruber Thorsten , Hodgkinson Ian R.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the strategic role of telehealth technologies in managing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a viewpoint paper, based on opportune information published and discussed by scholars and managers from different sources; the authors gathered this information to discuss the implications of telehealth during the outbreak.

Findings

Based on examples and benchmarking, the authors found that it is possible to lean on telehealth technologies as a frontline ally to avoid the spread of the virus by tracking, testing and treating (3T’s model).

Research limitations/implications

Together with information published on COVID-19, the authors present their critical observations on the use of telehealth. However, the authors acknowledge that there are restrictions on the use of new technologies in health-care practices that were not addressed by this paper, and they suggest further research to address this limitation.

Practical implications

Governments, health-care organizations and managers are encouraged to take advantage of the information published in this paper. One of the benefits of telehealth is the possibility of bringing patients and physicians together virtually, without the need for physical contact. Henceforth, the authors suggest a more comprehensive implementation of best practices from telehealth to relieve congested health-care facilities and to avoid the risk of further infection.

Social implications

The economic and social impacts of the virus are considered unprecedented by governments worldwide. Therefore, the authors advocate that telehealth practices embedded in health-care practices relieve the pressure that naturally arise during this type of critical event.

Originality/value

In this timely paper, the authors provide invaluable information related to the impact of telehealth technologies on flattening the infection curve of COVID-19.
Brand trust and brand loyalty in mall shoppers
Authors: Atulkar Sunil
Published: April 2020

Purpose

In today's competitive business environment the success of an organisation depends on its ability to create brand trust and loyalty in the customers. Therefore, the present study focusses on some major constructs of emotional attachment that help in creating brand trust and brand loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modelling using SmartPLS 2.0 software has been utilised to analyse 332 mall shoppers' data from the age group between 16 and 30 years, as they are highly brand conscious and willing to purchase branded products.

Findings

This study findings show that brand loyalty is not only directly or indirectly influenced by emotional attachment antecedents such as perceived quality, perceived value, customer satisfaction and perceived differentiation but also directly affected by brand trust. Moderating analysis on different income group structures shows that the high-income group customer moderates the result findings, as he/she is highly brand conscious and loyal towards a particular brand.

Research limitations/implications

Research outcome provides some valuable insights to the retailers for further expansion of consumer market by using various promotional programmes and strategies that focus on the emotional factors of the customer and generate strong brand attachment. This study also suggests some useful factors such as buying pattern, paying capacity and lifestyle, which the future researchers can focus.

Practical implications

This study suggested that shopping mall retailers should try to increase customer involvement and perception towards the brand during shopping process and clearly differentiate their brand from competitive brands by showing why and how it is better than alternative brands.

Originality/value

Major contribution of this study is the empirical analysis of emotional attachment antecedents such as perceived quality, perceived value, customer satisfaction and perceived differentiation on brand trust and loyalty especially in emerging organised retail markets.
Community perceptions: procedural justice, legitimacy and body-worn cameras
Authors: Thompson Paige S. , Peterson Bryce E. , Lawrence Daniel S.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper explores community members' perceptions of the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD)'s body-worn camera (BWC) program, examining knowledge and support of the program and its impact on views of procedural justice and legitimacy.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-wave, online survey was administered to Milwaukee-area residents in the fall of 2017 and summer of 2018, yielding 1,527 respondents. Multivariate regression analyses focus on overall relationships between sociodemographic characteristics, community member knowledge of the program, procedural justice and legitimacy and support for BWCs.

Findings

Community members are supportive of BWCs and view officers as procedurally just and legitimate; however, perceptions were significantly lower among Black respondents. Respondents with knowledge of the BWC program were more likely to view officers as procedurally just, but program knowledge did not increase support for it.

Research limitations/implications

Police agencies may benefit from improving community awareness of their BWC program as knowledge of the program is positively linked to the views of departmental procedural justice and legitimacy. However, education efforts alone are not sufficient in improving police–community relations. Future research should examine how policing stakeholders can engage the community to build views of legitimacy associated with BWC policies.

Originality/value

Findings provide insight into community member perceptions of a large BWC program in a major US city. Results demonstrate the relationship between knowledge of a department's BWC program and views of procedural justice and legitimacy and support for BWCs.
Do momentum and reversal strategies work in commodity futures? A comprehensive study
Authors: Zhang Hanxiong , Urquhart Andrew
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Motivated by the debate on the patterns and sources of commodity futures returns, this paper investigates the performance of three investment trading strategies, namely, the momentum strategy of Jegadeesh and Titman (1993), the 52-week high momentum strategy of George and Hwang (2004) and the pairs trading strategy of Gatev et al. (2006) in the commodity futures market.

Design/methodology/approach

The three strategies are those given by Jegadeesh and Titman (1993), George and Hwang (2004) and Gatev et al. (2006), respectively.

Findings

The authors find that there is no significant reversal profit across 189 formation-holding windows for all the three strategies. However, there are statistical and economically significant momentum profits, and the profitability increases with the rising of formation-holding periods. Momentum returns are quite sensitive to market conditions but the crash of momentum returns is partly predictable. Return seasonality, risk and herding also provide partial explanation of the momentum profits.

Originality/value

The authors are the first to compare the performances of the pairs trading strategy of Gatev et al. (2006), the conventional momentum of Jegadeesh and Titman (1993), and the 52-week high momentum of George and Hwang (2004) under 189 formation-holding windows. Also, the authors are the first to investigate the association between herding behaviour and momentum returns in the commodity futures market.
Prey colonization in freshwater landscapes can be stimulated or inhibited by the proximity of remote predators
Authors: Turner Beth , Trekels Hendrik , Vandromme Mathil , Vanschoenwinkel Bram
Published: April 2020

Recent findings suggest that the colonization of habitat patches may be affected by the quality of surrounding patches. For instance, patches that lack predators may be avoided when located near others with predators, a pattern known as risk contagion. Alternatively, predator avoidance might also redirect dispersal towards nearby predator‐free patches resulting in so‐called habitat compression. However, it is largely unknown how predators continue to influence these habitat selection behaviours at increasing distances from outside of their own habitat patch. In addition, current information is derived from artificial mesocosm experiments, while support from natural ecosystems is lacking.

This study used bromeliad landscapes as a natural model system to study how oviposition habitat selection of Diptera responds to the cues of a distant predator, the carnivorous elephant mosquito larva.

We established landscapes containing predator‐free bromeliad habitat patches placed at increasing distances from a predator‐containing patch, along with replicate control landscapes. These patches were then left to be colonized by ovipositing bromeliad insects.

We found that distance to predators modulates habitat selection decisions. Moreover, different dipteran families had different responses suggesting different habitat selection strategies. In some families, predator‐free patches at certain distances from the predator patch were avoided, confirming risk contagion. In other families, these patches received higher numbers of colonists providing evidence of predator‐induced habitat compression.

We confirm that effects of predators in a natural ecosystem can extend beyond the patch in which the predator is present and that the presence or absence of remote predator effects on habitat selection depends on the distance to predators. The notion that perceived habitat quality can depend on conditions in neighbouring patches forces habitat selection studies to adopt a landscape perspective and account for the effects of both present and remote predators when explaining community assembly in metacommunities.
Predicting heterosis and inbreeding depression from population size and density to inform management efforts
Authors: Söderquist Linus , Broberg Anna , Rosenberg Viktor , Sletvold Nina
Published: April 2020

Effective population size should be positively related to census size and density, and it is expected to influence the strength of genetic drift, inbreeding and response to selection, and thus the distribution of the genetic load across populations.

We examined whether census population size and density predict the strength of inbreeding depression, heterosis and population mean fitness at the seed stage in the terrestrial orchid Gymnadenia conopsea by conducting controlled crosses (self, outcross within and between populations) in 20 populations of varying size (7–30,000 individuals) and density (1–12.8 individuals/m2). In the largest population, we also examined how local density affects the occurrence of self‐pollination with a pollen staining experiment.

The majority of populations expressed strong inbreeding depression at the seed stage (mean δID: min–max = 0.26: −0.53 to 0.51), consistent with a mainly outcrossing mating system and substantial genetic load. The effect of between‐population crosses varied from strong outbreeding depression to heterosis (mean δOD: min–max = 0.05: −0.22 to 0.92), indicating varying influence of drift and selection among populations.

Census population size did not significantly predict the strength of inbreeding depression, heterosis or population mean fitness. However, inbreeding depression was positively and heterosis negatively correlated with population density. The proportion of self‐massulae deposition was three times higher in sparse patches compared to dense ones (41% vs. 14%).

Combined effects of density‐dependent pollinator behaviour and limited seed dispersal may cause stronger genetic sub‐structuring in sparse populations and reduce the strength of the correlation between census and effective population size. The results point to the importance of considering population density in addition to size when evaluating the distribution of recessive deleterious alleles across populations.

Synthesis and applications. Management plans for threatened species often involve crosses between populations to restore genetic variation, a process termed genetic rescue. This study indicates that such conservation efforts should be more successful if designed on the basis of population density in addition to population size, because we found population density predicted both the strength of heterosis and inbreeding depression across populations of Gymnadenia conopsea.
Changes in problematic activities of daily living in persons with COPD during 1 year of usual care
Authors: Nakken Nienke , Janssen Daisy J. A. , Wouters Emiel F. M. , van den Bogaart Esther H. A. , Muris Jean W. M. , de Vries Geeuwke J. , Bootsma Gerben P. , Gronenschild Michiel H. M. , Delbressine Jeannet M. L. , van Vliet Monique , Spruit Martijn A.
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are often limited in performing their activities of daily living (ADLs). However, it remains unknown whether and to what extent problematic ADLs change over time and whether exacerbation‐related hospitalisations affect problematic ADLs. Therefore, we investigated self‐reported problematic ADLs of persons with COPD during 1 year of usual care (i.e. without a specific experimental intervention).

Methods

Stable persons with moderate to very severe COPD (n = 137) were included in this longitudinal study (registered in the Dutch Trial Register [NTR 3941]). Participants were visited at home at baseline and after 1 year. Participants with an exacerbation‐related hospitalisation during follow‐up were visited additionally within 2 weeks after hospital discharge. During all visits, participants’ personalised problematic ADLs were assessed using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), and perceived performance and satisfaction of important problematic ADLs were rated on a 10‐point scale.

Results

In total, 90% of the participants reported at least one new important problematic ADL after 1 year. In the subgroup of participants with an exacerbation‐related hospitalisation (n = 31), 92% of the participants reported new problematic ADLs 2 weeks after discharge and 90% reported new problematic ADLs again after 1 year. Only the satisfaction score of problematic ADLs as mentioned during baseline improved after 1‐year follow‐up in all participants (p = .002) and in participants without an exacerbation‐related hospitalisation (n = 106; p = .014).

Conclusion

Problematic ADLs changed during 1 year of usual care, which underlines the need for regular assessment of problematic ADLs and referral to treatment options like monodisciplinary occupational therapy and/or a comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation programme.
Gathering the views of children and young people with ASD: a systematic literature review
Authors: Tyrrell Beverley , Woods Kevin
Published: April 2020

According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, children have a right to have their views listened to, and studies have shown that doing so can improve their motivation and self‐esteem. Accordingly, this systematic literature review sought to investigate how the views of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who have difficulties with social communication, may be gathered. Searches of electronic databases yielded 20 studies which met the criteria for inclusion. Semi‐structured interviews (SSIs) were popular, but there is tentative evidence that these are better suited to older, or more academically able, participants. Some of the evidence suggests adaptations to make SSIs more accessible to young people with ASD. Initial evidence has also emerged regarding the suitability of focus groups and electronic diaries. More focused evaluation by researchers of the suitability of their chosen data‐gathering methods for participants with ASD would allow broader conclusions to be drawn.
Does non‐destructive earthquake experience affect risk perception and motivate preparedness?
Authors: Sun Lei , Xue Lan
Published: April 2020

There are thousands of earthquakes every year, but most of them are small and are not disasters. This study explored whether non‐destructive earthquake experience affects public risk perception and motivates preparedness. The study respondents were from the Jiaodong Peninsula, China, where more than 20 small earthquakes have occurred during the past decade. The results show that non‐destructive earthquake experience positively affected public perception of the probability of an earthquake but not the perception of consequences. The relationship between non‐destructive earthquake experience and preparedness intention was not statistically significant. In addition, this study revealed that the perception of consequences was a positive predictor of earthquake preparedness intention, that is people with higher levels of perceived consequences of an earthquake were more likely to be motivated to prepare. However, non‐destructive earthquake experience moderated this relationship, that is weakened the strength of this relationship between perceived consequences and skill preparedness intention. These findings permit the identification of potential pathways to increase levels of disaster preparedness and potential barriers to enhancing disaster resilience in regions experiencing small hazards.
Friction Marks of Stabbing Tools in Tires
Authors: Finkelstein Nir S. , Silchenko Alexander , Cohen Yaron
Published: April 2020

When receiving a stabbed tire for examination, forensic toolmark examiners can determine whether a suspect tool was used in a specific crime based on class‐characteristics and individual‐characteristics marks that have been left by the tool on the tire. This study discusses friction marks and their forensic value during the examination of a punctured tire. The term friction mark refers to the noticeable mark around the penetration area on a tire's surface. Tires designed to create high friction when contacting a road. Due to this design, friction is created between the stabbing tool shank and the sides of the hole. As a result of this friction, the shank of the stabbing tool wears the outer layer of tire around the hole. This leaves a friction mark whose general shape reflects the cross‐sectional shape of the stabbing tool’s shank. This phenomenon was observed and named by Locke (7) in his evaluation of tire puncture marks with knives. This article demonstrates the same phenomenon with other types of stabbing tools. Test stabs were produced with different tools representing a variety of cross‐sectional shapes of shanks, and the resulting friction marks were photo‐documented and discussed. Correlations between the various cross‐sectional shapes and their corresponding friction marks are shown. Based on friction mark examination, the examiner: (i) can infer suspect tool shank cross‐sectional shape with the evaluation of the friction mark shape and (ii) can deduce the maximum dimensions of the shank. This examination simplifies and accelerates the forensic comparison procedure and the investigation time.
The use of combination biological or small molecule therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Glassner Kerri , Oglat Ayah , Duran Antonio , Koduru Pramoda , Perry Caroline , Wilhite Amanda , Abraham Bincy P.
Published: April 2020

Objective

There are limited data on using more than one biologic or small molecule drug combined to treat patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of our study was to determine the effectiveness and safety of combination biologic use in inflammatory bowel disease.

Methods

We identified patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis who received treatment with a combination of two biologics or a biologic and a small molecule drug from 2015 to 2019 for persistent disease activity or concomitant rheumatological or dermatological disease. The primary end‐point was effectiveness, based on improvements in inflammatory markers, clinical, and endoscopic remission. The secondary end‐point was safety.

Results

Of the 50 patients treated with combination therapy there were significantly more patients in clinical and endoscopic remission at follow‐up compared to baseline (50% vs 14%, P = 0.0018, delta 36%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.13‐0.53; and 34% vs 6%, P = 0.0039, delta 28%, 95% CI 0.09‐0.47), respectively. Median erythrocyte sedimentation rate (17 mm/h vs 13 mm/h, P = 0.002) and C‐reactive protein (5.00 mg/dL vs 2.35 mg/dL, P = 0.002) also decreased posttreatment. There were eight serious adverse events and no deaths

Conclusions

Combination biologic therapy appears to be an effective option for patients with refractory inflammatory bowel disease or concomitant autoimmune disease that is inadequately controlled by biologic monotherapy. There was an increased risk of serious infection compared with biologic monotherapy; however, this risk might be minimized by discontinuing immunomodulators prior to initiating combination therapy. Large prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Evaluation of model fit of inferred admixture proportions
Authors: Garcia‐Erill Genís , Albrechtsen Anders
Published: April 2020

Model based methods for genetic clustering of individuals, such as those implemented in structure or ADMIXTURE, allow the user to infer individual ancestries and study population structure. The underlying model makes several assumptions about the demographic history that shaped the analysed genetic data. One assumption is that all individuals are a result of K homogeneous ancestral populations that are all well represented in the data, while another assumption is that no drift happened after the admixture event. The histories of many real world populations do not conform to that model, and in that case taking the inferred admixture proportions at face value might be misleading. We propose a method to evaluate the fit of admixture models based on estimating the correlation of the residual difference between the true genotypes and the genotypes predicted by the model. When the model assumptions are not violated, the residuals from a pair of individuals are not correlated. In the case of a bad fitting admixture model, individuals with similar demographic histories have a positive correlation of their residuals. Using simulated and real data, we show how the method is able to detect a bad fit of inferred admixture proportions due to using an insufficient number of clusters K or to demographic histories that deviate significantly from the admixture model assumptions, such as admixture from ghost populations, drift after admixture events and nondiscrete ancestral populations. We have implemented the method as an open source software that can be applied to both unphased genotypes and low depth sequencing data.
Placebo effects in allergen immunotherapy—An EAACI Task Force Position Paper
Authors: Pfaar Oliver , Agache Ioana , Bergmann Karl‐Christian , Bindslev‐Jensen Carsten , Bousquet Jean , Creticos Peter S. , Devillier Philippe , Durham Stephen R. , Hellings Peter , Kaul Susanne , Kleine‐Tebbe Jörg , Klimek Ludger , Jacobsen Lars , Jutel Marek , Muraro Antonella , Papadopoulos Nikolaos G. , Rief Winfried , Scadding Glenis K. , Schedlowski Manfred , Shamji Mohamed H. , Sturm Gunter , van Ree Ronald , Vidal Carmen , Vieths Stefan , Wedi Bettina , Gerth van Wijk Roy , Frew Anthony J.
Published: April 2020

The placebo (Latin “I will please”) effect commonly occurs in clinical trials. The psychological and physiological factors associated with patients’ expectations about a treatment's positive and negative effects have yet to be well characterized, although a functional prefrontal cortex and intense bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and the immune system appear to be prerequisites for a placebo effect. The use of placebo raises certain ethical issues, especially if patients in a placebo group are denied an effective treatment for a long period of time. The placebo effect appears to be relatively large (up to 77%, relative to pretreatment scores) in controlled clinical trials of allergen immunotherapy (AIT), such as the pivotal, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled (DBPC) randomized clinical trials currently required by regulatory authorities worldwide. The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) therefore initiated a Task Force, in order to better understand the placebo effect in AIT and its specific role in comorbidities, blinding issues, adherence, measurement time points, variability and the natural course of the disease. In this Position Paper, the EAACI Task Force highlights several important topics regarding the placebo effect in AIT such as a) regulatory aspects, b) neuroimmunological and psychological mechanisms, c) placebo effect sizes in AIT trials, d) methodological limitations in AIT trial design and e) potential solutions in future AIT trial design. In conclusion, this Position Paper aims to examine the methodological problem of placebo in AIT from different aspects and also to highlight unmet needs and possible solutions for future trials.