bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implicit visuomotor adaptation remains limited after several days of training
Authors: Wilterson Sarah A. , Taylor Jordan A.
Published: July 2019

Learning in sensorimotor adaptation tasks has been viewed as an implicit learning phenomenon. The implicit process affords recalibration of existing motor skills so that the system can adjust to changes in the body or environment without relearning from scratch. However, recent findings suggest that the implicit process is heavily constrained, calling into question its utility in motor learning and the theoretical framework of sensorimotor adaptation paradigms. These inferences have been based mainly on results from single bouts of training, where explicit compensation strategies, such as explicitly re-aiming the intended movement direction, contribute a significant proportion of adaptive learning. It is possible, however, that the implicit process supersedes explicit compensation strategies over repeated practice sessions. We tested this by dissociating the contributions of explicit re-aiming strategies and the implicit process over five consecutive days of training. Despite a substantially longer duration of training, the implicit process still plateaued at a value far short of complete learning and, as has been observed in previous studies, was inappropriate for a mirror reversal task. Notably, we find significant between subject differences that call into question traditional interpretation of these group-level results.

Significance Statement

In this set of studies, we find that the implicit process cannot fully account for learning in adaptation tasks, such as the visuomotor rotation and mirror reversal tasks, even following several days of training. In fact, the implicit process can be counterproductive to learning. Most notably, we find significant between subject differences that call into question traditional interpretation of these group-level results.
A Hierarchical Bayesian Mixture Model for Inferring the Expression State of Genes in Transcriptomes
Authors: Thompson Ammon , May Michael R. , Moore Brian R. , Kopp Artyom
Published: July 2019

Transcriptomes are key to understanding the relationship between genotype and phenotype. The ability to infer the expression state (active or inactive) of genes in the transcriptome offers unique benefits for addressing this issue. For example, qualitative changes in gene expression may underly the origin of novel phenotypes, and expression states are readily comparable between tissues and species. However, inferring the expression state of genes is a surprisingly difficult problem, owing to the complex biological and technical processes that give rise to observed transcriptomic datasets. Here, we develop a hierarchical Bayesian mixture model that describes this complex process, and allows us to infer expression state of genes from replicate transcriptomic libraries. We explore the statistical behavior of this method with analyses of simulated datasets—where we demonstrate its ability to correctly infer true (known) expression states—and empirical-benchmark datasets, where we demonstrate that the expression states inferred from RNA-seq datasets using our method are consistent with those based on independent evidence. The power of our method to correctly infer expression states is generally high and, remarkably, approaches the maximum possible power for this inference problem. We present an empirical analysis of primate-brain transcriptomes, which identifies genes that have a unique expression state in humans. Our method is implemented in the freely-available R package zigzag.

Significance Statement

How do the cells of an organism—each with an identical genome—give rise to tissues of incredible phenotypic diversity? Key to answering this question is the transcriptome: the set of genes expressed in a given tissue. We would clearly benefit from the ability to identify qualitative differences in expression (whether a gene is active or inactive in a given tissue/species). Inferring the expression state of genes is surprisingly difficult, owing to the complex biological processes that give rise to transcriptomes, and to the vagaries of techniques used to generate transcriptomic datasets. We develop a hierarchical Bayesian mixture model that—by describing those biological and technical processes—allows us to infer the expression state of genes from replicate transcriptomic datasets.
Hot and sick: impacts of warming and oomycete parasite infection on endemic dominant zooplankter of Lake Baikal
Authors: Ozersky Ted , Nakov Teofil , Hampton Stephanie E. , Rodenhouse Nicholas L. , Shchapov Kirill , Woo Kara H. , Wright Katie , Pislegina Helena V. , Izmest’eva Lyubov R. , Silow Eugene A. , Timofeev Maxim A. , Moore Marianne V.
Published: July 2019

Climate warming impacts ecosystems through multiple interacting pathways, including via direct thermal responses of individual taxa and the combined responses of closely interacting species. In this study we examined how warming and infection by an oomycete parasite affect the dominant zooplankter of Russia’s Lake Baikal, the endemic cold-adapted stenotherm Epischura baikalensis (Copepoda). We used a combination of laboratory experiments, long-term monitoring data and population modeling. Experiments showed large thermal mismatch between host and parasite, with strong negative effects of warm temperatures on E. baikalensis survival and reproduction and a negative synergistic effect of Saprolegnia infection. However, Saprolegnia infection had an unexpected positive effect on E. baikalensis reproductive output, which may be consistent with fecundity compensation by infected females. Long-term monitoring data showed that Saprolegnia infections were most common during the warmest periods of the year and that infected individuals tended to accumulate in deep water. Population models, parameterized with experimental and literature data, correctly predicted the timing of Saprolegnia epizootics, but overestimated the negative effect of warming on E.baikalensis populations. Models suggest that diel vertical migration may allow E. baikalensis to escape the negative effects of increasing temperatures and parasitism and enable E. baikalensis to persist as Lake Baikal warms. Our results contribute to understanding of how multiple interacting stressors affect warming pelagic ecosystems of cold lakes and oceans and show that the population-level consequences of thermal mismatch between hosts and parasites can vary seasonally, interannual and spatially.
Single-cell profiles of retinal neurons differing in resilience to injury reveal neuroprotective genes
Authors: Tran Nicholas M. , Shekhar Karthik , Whitney Irene E. , Jacobi Anne , Benhar Inbal , Hong Guosong , Yan Wenjun , Adiconis Xian , Arnold McKinzie E. , Lee Jung Min , Levin Joshua Z. , Lin Dingchang , Wang Chen , Lieber Charles M. , Regev Aviv , He Zhigang , Sanes Joshua R.
Published: July 2019

Neuronal types in the central nervous system differ dramatically in their resilience to injury or insults. Here we studied the selective resilience of mouse retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) following optic nerve crush (ONC), which severs their axons and leads to death of ~80% of RGCs within 2 weeks. To identify expression programs associated with differential resilience, we first used single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) to generate a comprehensive molecular atlas of 46 RGC types in adult retina. We then tracked their survival after ONC, characterized transcriptomic, physiological, and morphological changes that preceded degeneration, and identified genes selectively expressed by each type. Finally, using loss- and gain-of-function assays in vivo, we showed that manipulating some of these genes improved neuronal survival and axon regeneration following ONC. This study provides a systematic framework for parsing type-specific responses to injury, and demonstrates that differential gene expression can be used to reveal molecular targets for intervention.
Resolving genetic linkage reveals patterns of selection in HIV-1 evolution
Authors: Sohail Muhammad S. , Louie Raymond H. Y. , McKay Matthew R. , Barton John P.
Published: July 2019

Identifying the genetic drivers of adaptation is a necessary step in understanding the dynamics of rapidly evolving pathogens and cancer. However, signals of selection are obscured by the complex, stochastic nature of evolution. Pervasive effects of genetic linkage, including genetic hitchhiking and clonal interference between beneficial mutants, challenge our ability to distinguish the selective effect of individual mutations. Here we describe a method to infer selection from genetic time series data that systematically resolves the confounding effects of genetic linkage. We applied our method to investigate patterns of selection in intrahost human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 evolution, including a case in an individual who develops broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). Most variants that arise are observed to have negligible effects on inferred selection at other sites, but a small minority of highly influential variants have strong and far-reaching effects. In particular, we found that accounting for linkage is crucial for estimating selection due to clonal interference between escape mutants and other variants that sweep rapidly through the population. We observed only modest selection for antibody escape, in contrast with strong selection for escape from CD8+ T cell responses. Weak selection for escape from antibody responses may facilitate bnAb development by diversifying the viral population. Our results provide a quantitative description of the evolution of HIV-1 in response to host immunity, including selection on the viral population that accompanies bnAb development. More broadly, our analysis argues for the importance of resolving linkage effects in studies of natural selection.
Sequence alignment using machine learning for accurate template-based protein structure prediction
Authors: Makigaki Shuichiro , Ishida Takashi
Published: July 2019

Motivation

Template-based modeling, the process of predicting the tertiary structure of a protein by using homologous protein structures, is useful if good templates can be found. Although modern homology detection methods can find remote homologs with high sensitivity, the accuracy of template-based models generated from homology-detection-based alignments is often lower than that from ideal alignments.

Result

In this study, we propose a new method that generates pairwise sequence alignments for more accurate template-based modeling. The proposed method trains a machine learning model using the structural alignment of known homologs. It is difficult to directly predict sequence alignments using machine learning. Thus, when calculating sequence alignments, instead of a fixed substitution matrix, this method dynamically predicts a substitution score from the trained model. We evaluate our method by carefully splitting the training and test datasets and comparing the predicted structure’s accuracy with that of state-of-the-art methods. Our method generates more accurate tertiary structure models than those produced from alignments obtained by other methods.

Availability and Implementation

https://github.com/shuichiro-makigaki/exmachina

Contact

ishida@c.titech.ac.jp or makigaki@cb.cs.titech.ac.jp
Yellow fever virus spread in Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo, 2016-2019: Phylodynamic assessment to improve intervention strategies
Authors: Giovanetti Marta , de Mendonça Marcos Cesar Lima , Fonseca Vagner , Mares-Guia Maria Angélica , Fabri Allison , Xavier Joilson , de Jesus Jaqueline Goes , Gräf Tiago , dos Santos Rodrigues Cintia Damasceno , dos Santos Carolina Cardoso , Sampaio Simone Alves , Chalhoub Flavia Lowen Levy , de Bruycker Nogueira Fernanda , Theze Julien , Romano Alessandro Pecego Martins , Ramos Daniel Garkauskas , de Abreu Andre Luiz , Oliveira Wanderson Kleber , do Carmo Said Rodrigo Fabiano , de Alburque Carlos F. Campelo , de Oliveira Tulio , Fernandes Carlos Augusto , Aguiar Shirlei Ferreira , Chieppe Alexandre , Sequeira Patrícia Carvalho , Faria Nuno Rodrigues , Cunha Rivaldo Venâncio , Alcantara Luiz Carlos Junior , de Filippis Ana Maria Bispo
Published: July 2019

The recent re-emergence of yellow fever virus (YFV) in Brazil has raised serious concerns due to the virus’ rapid dissemination in the southeastern region. To better understand YFV genetic diversity and dynamics during the recent outbreak in southeastern Brazil we generated 18 complete and near-complete genomes from the peak of the epidemic curve from non-human primates (NHPs) and human infected cases across Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro states. Genomic sequencing of 18 YFV genomes revealed the timing, source and likely routes of yellow fever virus transmission and dispersion during the one of the largest outbreaks ever registered in Brazil. We showed that the recent YFV epidemic spillover southwards several times from Minas Gerais to Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro states in 2016 to 2019. The quick production and analysis of data from portable sequencing could identify the corridor of spread of YFV. These findings reinforce that real-time and continued genomic surveillance strategies can assist in the monitoring and public health responses of arbovirus epidemics.

IMPORTANCE

Arbovirus infections in Brazil including Yellow Fever, Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya result in considerable morbidity and mortality and are pressing public health concerns. However, our understanding of these outbreaks is hampered by limited availability of real time genomic data. In this study, we investigated the genetic diversity and spatial distribution of YFV during the current outbreak in southeastern Brazil. To gain insights into the routes of YFV introduction and dispersion, we tracked the virus by sequencing YFV genomes sampled from non-human primates and infected patients from the southeastern region. Our study provides an understanding of how YFV initiates transmission in new Brazilian regions and illustrates that near-real time genomics in the field can augment traditional approaches to infectious disease surveillance and control.
Major role of iron uptake systems in the intrinsic extra-intestinal virulence of the genusEscherichiarevealed by a genome-wide association study
Authors: Galardini Marco , Clermont Olivier , Baron Alexandra , Busby Bede , Dion Sara , Schubert Sören , Beltrao Pedro , Denamur Erick
Published: July 2019

The genusEscherichiais composed of several species and cryptic clades, includingE. coli, which behave as a vertebrate gut commensal, but also as an opportunistic pathogen involved in both diarrheic and extra-intestinal diseases. To characterize the genetic determinants of extra-intestinal virulence within the genus, we carried out an unbiased genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 370 commensal, pathogenic and environmental strains representative of theEscherichiagenus phylogenetic diversity and includingE. albertii(n=7),E. fergusonii(n=5),Escherichiaclades (n=32) andE. coli(n=326), tested in a mouse model of sepsis. We found that the high-pathogenicity island (HPI), a ∼35 kbp gene island encoding the yersiniabactin siderophore, is highly associated with death in mice, surpassing other associated genetic factors also related to iron uptake, such as the aerobactin and thesitABCDoperons. We validated the associationin vivoby deleting key components of the HPI inE. colistrains in two phylogenetic backgrounds, and found that virulence is correlated inE. coliwith growth in the presence of various stressors including several antimicrobials, which hints at collateral sensitivities associated with intrinsic virulence. This study points to the major role of iron capture systems in the extra-intestinal virulence of the genusEscherichiaand the collateral effects on cell growth of such systems.
Development and Characterization of a New Endoscopic Drug Eluting Platform with Proven Efficacy in Acute and Chronic Experimental Colitis
Authors: Bon I , Cano-Sarabia M , de la Ossa N , Bartolí R , Lorenzo-Zúñiga V
Published: July 2019

Background&Aims

Mucosal lesions refractory to biological treatments represent unmet needs in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that require new treatment modalities. We developed and characterized a new endoscopic drug-eluting hydrogel (CoverGel) with proven efficacy in acute and chronic experimental colitis (EC) in rats

Methods

CoverGel was developed based on appropriate rheological, drug release, gelation, structural and degradation properties capacities to allow endoscopic application. Experimental colitis (EC) was induced by TNBS application in rats. In acute EC 40 rats were randomized in 5 groups (8 each): sham, control, CoverGel, CoverGel+Infliximab (IFX) and CoverGel+Vedolizumab (VDZ). In chronic EC 12 rats were randomized in 2 groups (6 each): IFX s.c and CoverGel+IFX. Endoscopic, histological and blood test were performed during follow-up to evaluate clinical success. Antibodies to IFX (ATIs) were evaluated in chronic EC animal study

Results

CoverGel is a biocompatible and bioadhesive reverse thermo sensitive gelation hydrogel with macroporous structure and drug release capacity. In acute EC animals treated with CoverGel+IFX or CoverGel+VDZ showed significantly clinical success (weight recovery, mucosal restoration and bacterial translocation) as compare with controls and animals without bioactive drug. In chronic EC animal study, clinical efficacy was comparable in both groups. Levels of ATIs were significantly lower in animals treated with CoverGel+IFX vs. IFX s.c (0.90 ± 0.06 μg/mL-c vs. 1.97 ± 0.66 μg/mL-c, p=0.0025).

Conclusions

CoverGel is an endoscopic vehicle to locally deliver biological drugs with proven efficacy in acute and chronic EC in rats and inducing less immunogenicity reaction.
What does mitogenomics tell us about the evolutionary history of theDrosophila buzzatiicluster (repletagroup)
Authors: Moreyra Nicolás N. , Mensch Julián , Hurtado Juan , Almeida Francisca , Laprida Cecilia , Hasson Esteban
Published: July 2019

TheDrosophila repletagroup is an array of more than 100 cactophilic species endemic to the “New World”. The acquisition of the ability to utilize decaying cactus tissues as breeding and feeding sites is a key aspect that allowed the successful diversification of therepletagroup in the American deserts. Within this group, theDrosophila buzzatiicluster is a South American clade of seven cactophilic closely related species in different stages of divergence, a feature that makes it a valuable model system for evolutionary research. However, even though substantial effort has been devoted to elucidating the phylogenetic relationships among members of theD. buzzatiicluster, the issue is still controversial. In effect, molecular phylogenetic studies performed to date generated ambiguous results since tree topologies depend on the kind of molecular marker employed. Curiously, even though mitochondrial DNA has become a popular marker in evolutionary biology and population genetics, none of the more than twentyDrosophilamitogenomes assembled so far belongs to this cluster. In this work we report the assembly of six complete mitogenomes of five species:D. antonietae,D. borborema, D. buzzatii,D. seriemaand two strains ofD. koepferae, with the aim to revisit the phylogenetic relationships and divergence times by means of a mitogenomic approach. The recovered topology using complete mitogenomes gives support to the hypothesis of the monophyly of that theD. buzzatiicluster and shows two main clades, one includingD. buzzatiiandD. koepferae(both strains) and the other the remaining species. These results are in agreement with previous reports based on a few mitochondrial and/or nuclear genes but in conflict with the results of a recent large-scale nuclear phylogeny, suggesting that nuclear and mitochondrial genomes depict different evolutionary histories.
A micro-focusing and high-flux-throughput beamline design using a bending magnet for microscopic XAFS at the High Energy Photon Source
Authors: Tang Kun , Zheng Lei , Zhao Yi Dong , Liu Shu Hu , Ma Chen Yan , Dong Yu Hui
Published: July 2019

An optical design study of a bending-magnet beamline, based on multi-bend achromat storage ring lattices, at the High Energy Photon Source, to be built in Beijing, China, is described. The main purpose of the beamline design is to produce a micro-scale beam from a bending-magnet source with little flux loss through apertures. To maximize the flux of the focal spot, the synchrotron source will be 1:1 imaged to a virtual source by a toroidal mirror; a mirror pair will be used to collimate the virtual source into quasi-parallel light which will be refocused by a Kirkpatrick–Baez mirror pair. In the case presented here, a beamline for tender X-rays ranging from 2.1 keV to 7.8 keV, with a spot size of approximately 7 µm (H) × 6 µm (V) and flux up to 2 × 1012 photons s−1, can be achieved for the purpose of X-ray absorption fine-structure (XAFS)-related experiments, such as scanning micro-XAFS and full-field nano-XAFS.
2-Methyl-4-(4-nitrophenyl)but-3-yn-2-ol: crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and computational chemistry study
Authors: Caracelli Ignez , Zukerman-Schpector Julio , Schwab Ricardo S. , Silva Everton M. da , Jotani Mukesh M. , Tiekink Edward R. T.
Published: July 2019

The di-substituted acetylene residue in the title compound, C11H11NO3, is capped at either end by di-methylhydroxy and 4-nitrobenzene groups; the nitro substituent is close to co-planar with the ring to which it is attached [dihedral angle = 9.4 (3)°]. The most prominent feature of the molecular packing is the formation, via hydroxy-O—H...O(hydroxy) hydrogen bonds, of hexameric clusters about a site of symmetry \overline{3}. The aggregates are sustained by 12-membered {...OH}6 synthons and have the shape of a flattened chair. The clusters are connected into a three-dimensional architecture by benzene-C—H...O(nitro) interactions, involving both nitro-O atoms. The aforementioned interactions are readily identified in the calculated Hirshfeld surface. Computational chemistry indicates there is a significant energy, primarily electrostatic in nature, associated with the hydroxy-O—H...O(hydroxy) hydrogen bonds. Dispersion forces are more important in the other identified but, weaker intermolecular contacts.
Corporate social responsibility employment narratives: a linguistic analysis
Authors: Li Zhongtian , Haque Shamima
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, it investigates whether and to what extent “linguistic hedging”, an impression management form of linguistic expression that conveys an ambiguous level of commitment, is used in corporate social responsibility (CSR) employment narratives; and second, it explores whether there is any difference in the use of linguistic hedging between written and spoken corporate forms of language. It mobilises these objectives by examining employee-related narratives made by electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers domiciled in Taiwan, in the context of labour malpractice incidents.

Design/methodology/approach

Two groups of data are examined: corporate responsibility reports (written language) and interviews and speeches of corporate founders and senior executives (spoken language). The research sample is ten Taiwanese EMS firms, all of which attracted public criticism and scrutiny due to a series of employee-related incidents. The sample period is between 2009 and 2013. Linguistic hedging is measured quantitatively by the relative word frequency of hedges, using the concordance software ANTCONC, with findings interpreted through the lens of legitimacy theory and impression management.

Findings

The study found that hedging was evident in CSR narratives. The EMS providers in Taiwan appeared to use hedging in employee-related disclosures to manage legitimacy challenges due to employee-related incidents that had happened in their assembly plants. The adjustments in employee-related disclosures made by the EMS firms as a legitimation strategy can be seen as a rhetoric device of impression management or a form of symbolic legitimation to persuade society to restore their legitimacy status. Further, overall hedging was more frequently used in spoken than written language, which suggests that rhetorical hedging in written narratives is more likely to be a deliberate choice of tactics to influence stakeholder perceptions and thereby manage corporate legitimacy.

Originality/value

The study introduces a new analytical technique, linguistic hedging, into the CSR literature. This enriches research methods used in this field, providing more compelling insights into the relationship between the use of language and CSR narratives in the process of corporate legitimation of employee-related practices. This study thus provides a platform for future computational-linguistics studies in the field of CSR.
An investigation of the knowledge of intimate partner violence among clinical staff working with male substance misusers
Authors: Falcone M. Aurora , Meynen Tim
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a Service Improvement Project aimed at assessing the level of knowledge of intimate partner violence (IPV) of clinical staff working in Community Drug and Alcohol Services (CDAS) in four boroughs of South London.

Design/methodology/approach

Clinical staff (n=90) completed a survey which was based on the Capability Framework (Hughes et al., 2015), developed to describe the key capabilities required to work with men who misuse drug and alcohol and perpetrate IPV. Two separate surveys were prepared for clinical (core) staff (n=76) and for manager (senior) staff (n=14).

Findings

The Capability Framework provided a useful structure for identifying key strengths and gaps in knowledge and skills related to substance use and IPV treatment in frontline CDAS staff. Significant strengths which emerged in the “core staff” survey related to the importance of assessing IPV and being empathic. Gaps related to the confidence in working with these issues and receiving support. Significant strengths which emerged in the “senior staff” survey related to the availability of supervision, information and training on IPV. Gaps related to using the Capability Framework and discussing IPV in supervision.

Originality/value

Findings have important implications for the development of training addressing gaps in current knowledge and skills required when working with IPV in the context of drug and alcohol misuse.
Drug and alcohol workers’ view of positive psychology in the treatment of coexisting problems
Authors: Ujhelyi Gomez Katalin , Carson Jerome , Brown Gill , Holland Mark
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Positive psychology (PP) interventions have been suggested to be beneficial in the treatment of dual diagnosis (DD). The purpose of this paper is to investigate the perspective of psychosocial intervention (PSI) workers to explore the potential of a positive strengths-based approach in DD recovery.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach was employed with PSI workers who attended and observed a positive intervention delivered to DD clients. A focus group explored what these practitioners are already doing that resembles PP and their opinion regarding the utility of such interventions in recovery.

Findings

Findings revealed that practitioners were already engaging in positive practice, however, randomly and infrequently with limited impact. Although this new approach was found valuable, potential challenges were identified and a possible discrepancy between staff views of clients and clients’ views of themselves in terms of their potential was detected.

Research limitations/implications

The study involved a small and homogeneous sample. Further research is necessary to investigate staff views and ways of integrating PP with traditional treatment.

Practical implications

Rather than merely attending to the psychological problems and dealing with symptoms, it is also necessary to directly target well-being to enable people to flourish with consideration of their readiness to change.

Originality/value

Addressing a gap in the literature, the present study explored positive themes in current practice and forms part of the evaluation of a newly developed strengths-based approach for individuals with coexisting problems.
Chasing the golden fleece
Authors: MacVane Phipps Fiona
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a common theme between the six research articles submitted for IJHG 24.3.

Design/methodology/approach

All articles are read and themes extracted which are used to write a review summarising the key points in each while developing an overarching theme for the issue of IJHG. Other literature supporting the development of this theme is also reviewed and used to contribute insights.

Findings

The findings consist of the common themes developed. In this issue, the common theme was improving care while saving costs in healthcare and the theme was explored in each article in relation to a lean healthcare management/governance philosophy.

Practical implications

The review section of IJHG allows readers to gain a quick overview of the content and then select the articles they wish to read in full.

Originality/value

IJHG is the only journal in the Emerald portfolio with a review section of this kind. Thus it provides added value.
Mechanisms enabling knowledge production in learning study
Authors: Kullberg Angelika , Vikström Anna , Runesson Ulla
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to add to the discussion about practitioner research in schools – by addressing mechanisms and systematic strategies based on theory in a research model, which enables the creation of knowledge products that enhance student learning and are sharable between teachers.

Design/methodology/approach

The research question is the following: Can a specific form of teachers’ research produce practice-based knowledge relevant beyond the borders of the local school context? This question is addressed through empirical examples from previously published papers on learning studies in natural sciences, mathematics and language.

Findings

This paper promotes the view that teachers in learning studies can create practical public knowledge relevant beyond their local context. The authors suggest that learning studies and variation theory can offer teachers mechanisms to create such public knowledge.

Originality/value

The paper proposes that teachers’ collaboration in professional learning communities, as in a learning study, not only has the capacity to increase students’ and teachers’ learning, but it can also be used to create practical public knowledge.
Leadership and the rule of law in conflict and post-conflict societies
Authors: Jean Stéphane
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the leadership dimensions in developing the rule of law. The paper considers the perspective from the United Nations, with the leadership tension is primarily seen from the prism of the rule of law.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explores the leadership challenges in specific recent case studies.

Findings

The paper concludes that the most difficult challenge is a culture shift toward respect for the rule of law is required. The paper notes the importance of political leadership in developing consensus.

Originality/value

The challenge is that the implementation of rule of law reform is primarily a political endeavor that affects the balance of powers within the State. This need for leaders to develop the space for institutions advancing the rule of law is most certainly the case in, and exacerbated by, conflict and post-conflict situations.
A strategic approach to sports crisis management
Authors: LaGree Danielle , Wilbur Douglas , Cameron Glen T.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Using the National Football League (NFL) concussion crisis context, the purpose of this paper is to provide sports marketers with a strategic approach to sports crisis management through consideration of crisis media coverage and organizational reputation.

Design/methodology/approach

An online experiment assessed the impact of two crisis response strategies, fan involvement and exposure to crisis media coverage on emotional response, corporate message credibility, crisis perception and perceived corporate reputation.

Findings

The accident response strategy was associated with more favorable perceptions of the NFL and corporate message credibility. Sports fan involvement facilitated more favorable perceptions of the NFL’s reputation, while exposure to media coverage of the NFL’s crisis created negative perceptions of the NFL’s reputation. Exposure to media coverage of the NFL concussion crisis increased feelings of anger, which in turn decreased perceptions of corporate message credibility.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation for this study is the specific crisis scenario that was used. The NFL concussion crisis is different from other crisis types in that it does not directly impact the audience’s well-being, but instead affects their perceptions of an iconic institution.

Practical implications

In light of study findings, it is suggested that sports marketers consider the following when dealing with crises: carefully determine proper framing methods when crafting a crisis response as different response types affect consumers in different ways; leverage public relations (PR) practices by engaging in media monitoring to inform an appropriate crisis response to control the narrative; and examine forces exernal of the organization that influence consumer emotions, paying special attention to feelings of anger as anger negatively impacts consumer perceptions of corporate credibility.

Originality/value

This paper addresses sports crisis strategy from both marketing and public relations perspectives. It describes how strategic efforts protect a sports organization’s reputation, thus increasing marketing effectiveness.
Social workers’ perceptions of restorative approaches with families in cases of elder abuse: a qualitative study
Authors: Kirk Carole Anne , Killick Campbell , McAllister Anne , Taylor Brian
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore professional perspectives on restorative approaches with families in elder abuse cases.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered from 37 social workers in statutory and voluntary organisations through nine focus group sessions in one region of Northern Ireland. A thematic analysis was undertaken and themes were derived from the data using NVivo software.

Findings

This paper reports main findings under the themes of engaging families and service users; managing risk in working with families in adult safeguarding; and challenges for professionals in practice. A key finding was that professionals felt challenged personally and professionally in managing the risks and working with families in these highly complex cases.

Originality/value

Investigative approaches have their limitations in relation to adult abuse situations. This study adds to the existing knowledge base, identifies potential practice developments and discusses the challenges in adopting restorative approaches with families in elder abuse cases. The study highlights the need for further specialist training. Managers should consider the creation of specialist teams with a focus on alternative or restorative approaches with families.
Transforming scholarship in the archives through handwritten text recognition
Authors: Muehlberger Guenter , Seaward Louise , Terras Melissa , Ares Oliveira Sofia , Bosch Vicente , Bryan Maximilian , Colutto Sebastian , Déjean Hervé , Diem Markus , Fiel Stefan , Gatos Basilis , Greinoecker Albert , Grüning Tobias , Hackl Guenter , Haukkovaara Vili , Heyer Gerhard , Hirvonen Lauri , Hodel Tobias , Jokinen Matti , Kahle Philip , Kallio Mario , Kaplan Frederic , Kleber Florian , Labahn Roger , Lang Eva Maria , Laube Sören , Leifert Gundram , Louloudis Georgios , McNicholl Rory , Meunier Jean-Luc , Michael Johannes , Mühlbauer Elena , Philipp Nathanael , Pratikakis Ioannis , Puigcerver Pérez Joan , Putz Hannelore , Retsinas George , Romero Verónica , Sablatnig Robert , Sánchez Joan Andreu , Schofield Philip , Sfikas Giorgos , Sieber Christian , Stamatopoulos Nikolaos , Strauß Tobias , Terbul Tamara , Toselli Alejandro Héctor , Ulreich Berthold , Villegas Mauricio , Vidal Enrique , Walcher Johanna , Weidemann Max , Wurster Herbert , Zagoris Konstantinos
Published: July 2019

Purpose

An overview of the current use of handwritten text recognition (HTR) on archival manuscript material, as provided by the EU H2020 funded Transkribus platform. It explains HTR, demonstrates Transkribus, gives examples of use cases, highlights the affect HTR may have on scholarship, and evidences this turning point of the advanced use of digitised heritage content. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts a case study approach, using the development and delivery of the one openly available HTR platform for manuscript material.

Findings

Transkribus has demonstrated that HTR is now a useable technology that can be employed in conjunction with mass digitisation to generate accurate transcripts of archival material. Use cases are demonstrated, and a cooperative model is suggested as a way to ensure sustainability and scaling of the platform. However, funding and resourcing issues are identified.

Research limitations/implications

The paper presents results from projects: further user studies could be undertaken involving interviews, surveys, etc.

Practical implications

Only HTR provided via Transkribus is covered: however, this is the only publicly available platform for HTR on individual collections of historical documents at time of writing and it represents the current state-of-the-art in this field.

Social implications

The increased access to information contained within historical texts has the potential to be transformational for both institutions and individuals.

Originality/value

This is the first published overview of how HTR is used by a wide archival studies community, reporting and showcasing current application of handwriting technology in the cultural heritage sector.
Toward circular economy of fashion
Authors: Kant Hvass Kerli , Pedersen Esben Rahbek Gjerdrum
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges and solutions emerging when fashion brands develop and test circular economy solutions within their existing business models.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a 34-month case study in a global fashion brand, which launched a new in-store product take-back initiative.

Findings

The results indicate that fashion brands need to cope with multiple challenges in the process of developing circular business models in the organization, including: diverging perspectives of value and unclear success criteria, poor alignment with existing strategy, limited internal skills and competences, and limited consumer interest.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this paper are grounded in a single case study and thus limitations associated with broad generalizations apply. In addition, the paper only investigated one aspect of circularity, namely, product take-back and did not investigate design for circularity, product reuse, recycle and other circularity related issues.

Originality/value

The findings derive from practical experiences of a fashion brand implementing an in-store product take-back system in the existing business model. The study reveals new insights into the actual process of making circular fashion operable.
Trust in humanoid robots: implications for services marketing
Authors: van Pinxteren Michelle M.E. , Wetzels Ruud W.H. , Rüger Jessica , Pluymaekers Mark , Wetzels Martin
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Service robots can offer benefits to consumers (e.g. convenience, flexibility, availability, efficiency) and service providers (e.g. cost savings), but a lack of trust hinders consumer adoption. To enhance trust, firms add human-like features to robots; yet, anthropomorphism theory is ambiguous about their appropriate implementation. This study therefore aims to investigate what is more effective for fostering trust: appearance features that are more human-like or social functioning features that are more human-like.

Design/methodology/approach

In an experimental field study, a humanoid service robot displayed gaze cues in the form of changing eye colour in one condition and static eye colour in the other. Thus, the robot was more human-like in its social functioning in one condition (displaying gaze cues, but not in the way that humans do) and more human-like in its appearance in the other (static eye colour, but no gaze cues). Self-reported data from 114 participants revealing their perceptions of trust, anthropomorphism, interaction comfort, enjoyment and intention to use were analysed using partial least squares path modelling.

Findings

Interaction comfort moderates the effect of gaze cues on anthropomorphism, insofar as gaze cues increase anthropomorphism when comfort is low and decrease it when comfort is high. Anthropomorphism drives trust, intention to use and enjoyment.

Research limitations/implications

To extend human–robot interaction literature, the findings provide novel theoretical understanding of anthropomorphism directed towards humanoid robots.

Practical implications

By investigating which features influence trust, this study gives managers insights into reasons for selecting or optimizing humanoid robots for service interactions.

Originality/value

This study examines the difference between appearance and social functioning features as drivers of anthropomorphism and trust, which can benefit research on self-service technology adoption.
Marijuana use in young mothers and adverse pregnancy outcomes: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Rodriguez CE , Sheeder J , Allshouse AA , Scott S , Wymore E , Hopfer C , Hermesch A , Metz TD
Published: July 2019

Objective

To evaluate the association between marijuana use and a composite adverse pregnancy outcome using biological sampling.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Single tertiary center.

Population

Young women (13–22 years old) with singleton, non‐anomalous pregnancies delivered from September 2011 to May 2017.

Methods

Exposure was defined as marijuana detected on universal urine toxicology testing or by self‐report. Multivariable logistic regression modelling was used to estimate the effect of any marijuana use on the primary composite outcome. The effect of marijuana exposure was also estimated for self‐reported use, toxicology‐detected use, and multiple use detected by toxicology.

Main outcome measure

The primary composite outcome included spontaneous preterm birth, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, stillbirth, or small for gestational age.

Results

Of 1206 pregnant young women, 17.5% (n = 211) used marijuana. Among the women who used marijuana, 8.5% (n = 18) were identified by self‐report alone, 63% (n = 133) by urine toxicology alone, and 28.4% (n = 60) by both. Urine toxicology testing results were available for 1092 (90.5%) births. The composite outcome occurred more frequently in pregnancies exposed to marijuana (46 versus 34%, P < 0.001). This remained significant after adjusting for race/ethnicity and tobacco in the multivariable model (adjusted OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.09–2.05). When marijuana exposure was defined by self‐report only, the association with adverse pregnancy outcome became non‐significant (adjusted OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.62–1.64).

Conclusion

In a population of young women with nearly universal biological sampling, marijuana exposure was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The heterogeneity of findings in existing studies evaluating the impact of marijuana on mothers and neonates may result from the incomplete ascertainment of exposure.

Tweetable abstract

Marijuana use, as detected by universal urine testing, was associated with a composite adverse pregnancy outcome among young mothers.
Resolving Reflection and Resolution in 3D Imaging of Fresh Bone
Authors: Imran Rabbia , Rogers Tracy L.
Published: July 2019

Structured light scanning is a noninvasive, accurate, and cost‐effective 3D imaging technique, but due to reflection issues is yet to be utilized for tool mark analysis on fresh bone. During imaging, reflection from shiny surfaces, such as greasy bone, disrupts image formation. This study tested the David SLS‐1 scanner's ability to image saw marks and explored six strategies to reduce reflection by [1] dulling the surface or [2] altering the projected light. The surface was dulled by freezing, talcum powder, dulling spray, or compressed air. The projected light was altered with a diffuser or limited to single pattern‐coded. Results demonstrated that the resolution was insufficient for capturing minute details of striae. All six tests failed to reduce reflection sufficiently to produce complete images, but projecting vertical pattern‐coded light showed the most promise. Future research is required concentrating on enhancing resolution and exploring the role of pattern‐coded light in reducing reflection.
The risk of herpes zoster among patients with ankylosing spondylitis: A population‐based cohort study in Taiwan
Authors: Wang Shuya , Wei James Cheng‐Chung , Huang Jing‐Yang , Perng Wuu‐Tsun , Zhang Zhiyi
Published: July 2019

Objectives

The incident rate of herpes zoster (HZ) is higher in some autoimmune diseases; however the relationship of HZ and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is still unclear. This research aims to determine the incidence of HZ in Taiwan AS patients.

Methods

This study included 2819 AS patients and 11 276 non‐AS controls between 2003 and 2013. All participants were selected from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 Taiwan. The endpoint was diagnosis of HZ by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification coding for at least 3 outpatient visits or one admission until the end of 2013. We used Chi‐square test, Cox proportional hazard models and a Kaplan‐Meier analysis to calculate the hazards ratio (HR), disease‐free survival and incidental density of HZ. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity tests were also done.

Results

Comorbidities such as chronic urticaria, inflammatory bowel disease, thyroid disorders, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular accident, were higher in patients with AS than that in controls. Patients age ≥60 or comorbid disease such as thyroid disorders or cancer had a higher HR of HZ; the adjusted HRs were 2.273 (95% CI 1.314‐3.931), 1.577 (95% CI 1.008‐2.466) and 1.855 (95% CI 1.248‐2.758) respectively, on multivariable modeling. The crude HR for HZ among AS patient was 1.178 (95% CI 0.953‐1.455, P > 0.05), and the adjust HZ was 1.070 (95% CI 0.835‐1.371, P > 0.05), compared to non‐AS controls.

Conclusions

There is no difference in incidence rate of HZ between Taiwan AS patients and non‐AS controls. Among AS patients, age and cancer were major risk factors for incidental HZ.