bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Statistics associated with the lethality of COVID-19 by age group and gender in Mexico
Authors: Hernandez-Suarez Carlos , Murillo-Zamora Efren
Published: June 2020

We analyzed outcomes of 102,985 SARS-CoV-2 confirmed cases of patients attending the IMSS (Mexican Institute for National Insurance) from January 2 to August 3, 2020. We calculated relative IFR by age group and gender and introduced the concept of adjusted lethalities, that can be used to project the burden of the disease for a population with different demographic characteristics.
Endocannabinoid levels in patients with Parkinson’s disease with and without levodopa-induced dyskinesias
Authors: Marchioni Camila , Santos-Lobato Bruno Lopes , Queiroz Maria Eugênia Costa , Crippa José Alexandre S. , Tumas Vitor
Published: June 2020

Background

Levodopa-induced dyskinesias (LID) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) are frequent complications, and the endocannabinoid system has a role on its pathophysiology.

Objective

To test the hypothesis that the functioning of the endocannabinoid system would be altered in PD and in LID by measuring plasma and CSF levels of α-N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol (2-AG) in patients with PD with and without LID and in healthy controls.

Methods

Blood and CSF samples were collected from 20 healthy controls, 23 patients with PD without LID, and 24 patients with PD with LID. The levels of AEA and 2-AG were measured using a highly sensitive column switching ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method.

Results

When pooled together, patients with PD had lower plasma and CSF levels of 2-AG and higher CSF levels of AEA compared to healthy controls (Mann-Whitney statistics = 303.0, p = 0.02). Patients with PD without LID had lower CSF levels of 2-AG (Kruskal-Wallis statistics = 7.76, p = 0.02) and higher CSF levels of AEA levels than healthy controls (Kruskal-Wallis statistics = 8.81, p = 0.01).

Conclusions

The findings suggest that the endocannabinoid system participates in the pathophysiology of PD symptoms, but its role in the pathophysiology of LID is still unclear.
Evaluation of the Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Assay
Authors: Lau CS , Hoo SP , Yew SF , Ong SK , Lum LT , Heng PY , Tan JG , Wong MS , Aw TC
Published: June 2020

Background

Little is known about the performance of the Roche novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibody (anti-SARS-CoV-2) assay. We provide an extensive evaluation of this fully automated assay on the Cobas e801/e602 immunoassay analysers.

Methods

We assessed the linearity, precision, and throughput of the Roche anti-SARS-CoV-2 assay. Sensitivity was calculated from 349 SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive samples; specificity was determined from 714 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-naive samples. We examined cross-reactivity against other antibody positive samples (syphilis, RF, ANA, ds-DNA, influenza, dengue, HBV, HCV) and the anti-SARS-CoV-2 kinetics.

Results

The assay cut-off index (COI) was linear up to 90.7. The inter-assay precision was 2.9% for a negative control (COI=0.1) and 5.1% for a positive control (COI=3.0). Assay time is 18min and results are available 1 minute later; throughput for 300 samples was 76 minutes. No cross-reactivity was observed with other antibody positive samples; specificity was 100%. The assay has a sensitivity of 97.1% 14 days after PCR positivity (POS) and 100% at ≥21 days POS; 48.2% of cases had anti-SARS-CoV-2 within 6 days POS. In 11 subjects in whom serum was available prior to a positive antibody signal (COI ≥1.0) the interval between the last negative and first positive COI (time to “sero-conversion”) on average is 3 days (range 1-6 days) and 4 more days (range 1-7) for the anti-SARS-CoV-2 to plateau.

Conclusion

The Roche anti-SARS-CoV-2 assay shows excellent performance with minimal cross-reactivity from other viral and confounding antibodies. Antibody development and sero-conversion appears quite early.
Temperature and Humidity Do Not Influence Global COVID-19 Incidence as Inferred from Causal Models
Authors: Awasthi Raghav , Nagori Aditya , Singh Pradeep , Pal Ridam , Joshi Vineet , Sethi Tavpritesh
Published: June 2020

The relationship between meteorological factors such as temperature and humidity with COVID-19 incidence is still unclear after 6 months of the beginning of the pandemic. Some literature confirms the association of temperature with disease transmission while some oppose the same. This work intends to determine whether there is a causal association between temperature, humidity and Covid-19 cases. Three different causal models were used to capture stochastic, chaotic and symbolic natured time-series data and to provide a robust & unbiased analysis by constructing networks of causal relationships between the variables. Granger-Causality method, Transfer Entropy method & Convergent Cross-Mapping (CCM) was done on data from regions with different temperatures and cases greater than 50,000 as of 13th May 2020. From the Granger-Causality test we found that in only Canada, the United Kingdom, temperature and daily new infections are causally linked. The same results were obtained from Convergent Cross Mapping for India. Again using Granger-Causality test, we found that in Russia only, relative humidity is causally linked to daily new cases. Thus, a Generalized Additive Model with a smoothing spline function was fitted for these countries to understand the directionality. Using the combined results of the said models, we were able to conclude that there is no evidence of a causal association between temperature, humidity and Covid-19 cases.
Reliability-based optimized design of hybrid tether
Authors: Agrawal Anil Kumar , Pratap Mahendra , Sati Subhash Chandra , Upadhyay Rajeev Kumar
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to optimize the design of a hybrid tether using probabilistic approach considering inherent random variation in the stress developed and the strength it has. The variation in strength is mostly because of variation in diameter of the tether and the properties of the material along the length of the tether. As a result, classical design approach for the tether may not serve the purpose. For this purpose, a reliability-based design of hybrid tether is discussed in this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review was carried out on the design of tether and its operational reliability. It has been shown that the classical design approach does not serve the purpose, as the strategic operation has to be reliable enough, often requiring a measure of reliability required. A reliability-based approach has been presented to achieve the optimum design of a hybrid tether.

Findings

The optimization problem was carried out for different values of the safety factor to investigate the effect on the optimal design of tether. An analysis is carried out to show that one should not target a very high value of reliability or factor of safety, as it causes the self-weight of the tether to increase tremendously and its cost significantly.

Research limitations/implications

The present work has been carried out considering the limited data and can further be extended to determine more accurate reliability measures by considering more number of sample test data. The measured data is collected from limited required trials for demo; do not represent the exact population data.

Originality/value

Lab strength test and flight trials were conducted to acquire data for the present analysis. In field use, it was noticed that the tether degraded from top portion attached toward the balloon end because of maximum exposure and repeated usage.
Grey literature management in Iranian medical science libraries
Authors: Doulani Abbas , Ansari Nasim , Mirezati Seyedeh Zahra , Saberi Mohammad Karim
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The aim of this study is to identify the status of managing gray literature (GL) in medical science libraries in terms of three dimensions, collection development, organization and dissemination.

Design/methodology/approach

In this survey study, a structured questionnaire was used. The questionnaire consisted of 30 questions and consisted of six sections (demographic characteristics, the use of the term GL, types of GL, collection development, organization and dissemination). In total, 50 librarians from 15 medical science libraries participated in this study. The questionnaires were distributed manually to librarians by visiting libraries. All the librarians filled in the questionnaires. It should be noted that descriptive statistics and Excel and SPSS software were used for data analysis.

Findings

The results of using the term GL showed that 68 per cent of librarians use the source name itself. Most GL in libraries were theses (94 per cent). Moreover, a review of the status of GL collection showed that 60 per cent of libraries had written instructions for providing these resources. A total of 62 per cent of librarians stated that there is a GL selection committee in their library and the librarian is the most important member of the collection department. A total of 40 per cent of libraries were weeding GL. The most common way of obtaining GL was through deposition. The analysis of the status of GL organization indicated that 80 per cent of libraries had GL organization. A total of 90 per cent of libraries had digitized GL, and that librarians played a large role in organizing such resources. Evaluation of the dissemination of GL showed that all libraries have enabled users to access GL. In most libraries, users were only allowed to use GL in the library, and it was not possible to copy GL. Students and faculty members were the most important users of GL. Informing through the library website and the parent organization was the most important way of informing about these resources.

Originality/value

GL is one of the most important resources in medical and non-medical academic libraries. In this study, for the first time, the status of GL management in Iranian libraries of medical sciences was investigated. The results of this study can be useful for policymakers and managers of medical and non-medical libraries.
Developing virtue ethics in management: a case of an interdisciplinary educational approach
Authors: Mion Giorgio , Beghini Renzo
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to present and discuss an interdisciplinary educational approach to business ethics, based on a virtue ethics framework and the common good paradigm. This approach addresses the challenges that businesses face in building legitimacy and creating shared values.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a case study of an experience of an interdisciplinary postgraduate course, discussing both the design of the program and its first results.

Findings

The paper focuses on the theoretical and practical reasons for the interdisciplinary nature of business ethics education and contributes to the literature on business ethics education as well as training and educational practices in academic and professional contexts.

Practical implications

This paper can positively influence business education practices by sharing a replicable educational model and fostering virtuous practices that contribute to renewing the perception of the purpose of firms.

Social implications

Improving business ethics education can positively affect the social performance of firms contributing to the common good.

Originality

The paper presents an innovative interdisciplinary educational program that, to the best of our knowledge of the current literature, can be consider an original contribution.
A signaling theory approach to relationship recovery
Authors: Kharouf Husni , Lund Donald J. , Krallman Alexandra , Pullig Chris
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Drawing on signaling theory, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the strength and framing of firm signals sent to repair relationships following relationship violations.

Design/methodology/approach

Three 2 × 2 scenario-based experiments (totaln= 527) manipulate signal strength × violation type (Study 1); signal frame × violation type (Study 2); and signal strength × brand familiarity (Study 3) to examine their dynamic impacts on relationship recovery efforts.

Findings

Stronger signals are more effective at relationship repair and are especially important following integrity (vs competence) violations. Signals framed as customer gains (vs firm costs) lead to more favorable relationship outcomes. Finally, brands that are less (vs more) familiar see greater benefits from strong signals.

Research limitations/implications

The three experiments were scenario-based, which may not replicate real-life behavior or capture participants’ actual emotions following a violation, thus future research should extend into real-world recovery efforts.

Practical implications

Managers should send strong signals (communicating the level of resources invested in the recovery efforts) framed as benefits to the customer, rather than costs to the firm. Strong signals are especially important when brand familiarity is low or an integrity violation has occurred.

Originality/value

This is the first research to directly apply signaling theory to the relationship recovery process and contributes to theory by examining the role of signal strength; framing of the signal as a customer gain vs firm cost; and the interplay of signal strength and brand familiarity on the relationship recovery effort.
Ten years later: changes in the meaning of work among Polish managers
Authors: Różański Andrzej , Ardichvili Alexandre , Byun Sang Won
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the indices of the meaning of work (MOW) change over time. The study sample included mid-level managers, with measurements taken twice, in 2006/2007 and in 2017/2018.

Design/methodology/approach

This survey-based study was conducted in Poland, a country that went through significant socio-economic transformations in the past decade. The MOW instrument, developed by the MOW international research group, was used to measure absolute and relative work centrality, societal norms regarding work, valued work outcomes and the importance of various work goals. The hierarchical regression analysis method was used for hypotheses testing.

Findings

The study results show that there were no statistically significant changes in either absolute or relative work centrality over the studied decade. The family remained the highest-ranked value, ahead of work and leisure held the third place. The role of religion and community has remained largely unchanged, with these domains ranked significantly lower compared to work, family and leisure. An important finding was that the preference for job stability has significantly increased in the studied decade. At the same time, there was a marked growth in preference for flexible and convenient work hours. The study concludes with implications for future research and for human resource development (HRD) practice.

Originality/value

The study makes an important contribution to the MOW and HRD literature by demonstrating that the main indices of MOW, as measured by the MOW instrument, tend to remain unchanged despite socio-economic changes in the society.
From sensation to cognition: a perception-based training intervention for the development of relational competences in young Italian apprentices
Authors: Sartori Riccardo , Costantini Arianna
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aims to test the effectiveness of a training intervention based on the psychology of perception, delivered to young Italian workers and employees, with low education, hired with an apprenticeship contract and involved in a compulsory training course (duration 32 h; the training intervention reported in the paper covers the first 8 h) whose aim was to let them develop such relational competencies as communication and cooperation with others.

Design/methodology/approach

By making use of optical-geometric illusions and ambiguous figures, participants were accompanied through a training intervention with the dual purpose of undermining their naive certainties about why they see what they see and increasing their awareness of how the perceptual processes work. At the beginning of the intervention, at the end of the 32 h (that is, after about a month) and after about one year from the end of the course, participants were administered a questionnaire to monitor the results of the training course by measuring their “perception awareness”.

Findings

“Perception awareness” increased from the beginning to the end of the course and still scored higher after one year. “Perception awareness” was positively related to communication and cooperation.

Originality/value

Although the literature is full of training courses delivered to improve communication and cooperation with others, little research has been carried out on perception-based training interventions delivered to young adults with low education hired with an apprenticeship contract for which this kind of training is compulsory.
Effects of family-supportive supervisor behaviors and organizational climate on employees
Authors: Han Soo Jeoung , McLean Gary N.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of family-supportive supervisor behaviors and organizational climate on employees’ work–family conflict, job satisfaction and turnover intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine the causal relationship, the longitudinal panel data of the work, family and health study were used, using the data of 664 respondents who participated in surveys from all four time-points at two Fortune 500 information technology (IT) companies.

Findings

The results of the data analysis suggested that family-supportive supervisor behaviors have a minimal, but statistically significant, impact on work-to-family conflict and organizational work-family climate. Moreover, work-to-family conflict minimally mediated the relationship between family-supportive supervisor behaviors and employees’ turnover intentions. An organizational work-family climate had a small, but statistically significant, mediating effect between family-supportive supervisor behaviors and job satisfaction/turnover intentions.

Practical implications

This study has practical implications by noting that relying on only individual managers’ roles or training managers to be family-supportive may not be enough to improve family-oriented organizational culture, work–life balance and job-related outcomes.

Originality/value

Using a longitudinal mediation model, the authors examined the effects of family-supportive supervisor behaviors and how those behaviors impact other variables over time. Despite the expectation of such an impact, the authors found minimal effects among variables. This study is valuable because it can stimulate future research to advance the theoretical and practical understanding of family-supportive supervisor behaviors to help determine why the study found that it had very little impact on both work–family conflict and a family-friendly organizational climate to increase employees’ satisfaction to continue to work.
Rethinking traditional approaches of parties' autonomy in construction contracts: decennial liability as a case study
Authors: Haloush Haitham
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Employers, contractors, subcontractors and engineers often believe that they have a “common language”, which consists of drawings and specifications, notwithstanding that drawings and specifications must be interpreted and understood in their legal context. Accordingly, due to the legal-technical aspects of construction, it is essential that construction contracts should strike the right balance between the interests of all stakeholders. The purpose of this paper is to examine this issue in depth.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine this issue in depth, this paper is divided into four sections. First, general background on Jordanian construction law. Second, the conformity between the Jordanian law and international federation of consulting engineers (FIDIC) rules. Third, crystallisation of parties autonomy in construction contracts. Fourth, per defects liability in construction contracts as a case study.

Findings

Construction disputes are not only a legal issue. It is also a technical challenge to which an interdisciplinary body of legal scholars, contractors, engineers and construction experts should respond by setting flexible standards as practices could change faster than rules. Judges in particular are bound to understand the peculiar technical-legal nature of construction disputes. This should be a good starting point for developing case law in the field of construction which is rather limited. In this way, construction case law can be established gradually and cumulatively on a case by case basis.

Originality/value

As far as the author is aware, the issue of construction contracts in Jordan has not been researched comprehensively before from technical and legal standpoints. This paper represents a first attempt to examine the issues arising in this difficult and important subject.
Successful business models for service centres: an empirical analysis
Authors: Gaiardelli Paolo , Songini Lucrezia
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the fit between the strategy of service centres and their business model (BM) and to identify the BM components' characteristics and links that allow it to stand out in terms of service delivery and business performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies an inductive qualitative multiple case study approach through the empirical analysis of top-performing Italian service centres operating in the Medium–Heavy Commercial Vehicle sector.

Findings

Research findings underline that the BM components of top performers are consistent amongst each other and with the adopted strategy and make a positive impact on the firm's performance. In particular, top performers are characterised by a solid financial structure based on equity, formalised and flexible organisational structures and processes, clarity in strategic direction and long-term orientation, grounded capabilities, competences and skills, trustful relationships with main service partners and a comprehensive set of managerial mechanisms.

Research limitations/implications

This paper presents some limitations, typical of qualitative research based on case studies. Future works may include other dimensions of performance for identifying top performers, and extend the empirical analysis to different sectors and national contexts.

Originality/value

This paper supports the relevance of contingency theory – particularly the strategy-structure-performance paradigm – in the analysis of the role of a BM in successful servitization strategies of service centres. It highlights that the BMs of the top-performing companies are characterised by some common elements. From a practical perspective, the authors provide insights that can be useful for designing successful service-based BMs for service networks.
Maintaining rich dialogic interactions in the transition to synchronous online learning
Authors: Jung Hyunyi , Brady Corey
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The authors present the first author’s recent experience as a design case, capturing approach and principles to transitioning a course from in-person to remote modality while maintaining its collaborative, synchronous and dialogic nature.

Design/methodology/approach

A mathematical content course for preservice teachers at a mid-Western university was used as a site for this case study. Data include video recordings of synchronous online sessions, students’ written work and their reflections. Using a design case approach, the authors identified new social norms, which were interactively established from the mutual constitution of expectations and commitments between the instructor and students and which gradually became important aspects of the culture of online, whole-class discussions.

Findings

Dialogic discussions revealed a variety of student-generated methods to solve problems that enabled student-led interactions to become the center of each session. Opportunities for students to reflect on their own ideas and reasoning about mathematics often occurred in the synchronous settings in which they were allowed to express provisional ideas and clarify their thinking to others. Making connections between relevant educational theories and pragmatic instructional decisions of course instructors and designers in the crisis, this study aims to identify principles of instructional design and implementation that became salient in this case, backing them up with evidence from student voices.

Originality/value

The authors discuss how these principles of instructional design and implementation could make synchronous online instruction manageable for more instructors in future where entire semesters may occur through a virtual medium.
The effect of temporal landmarks on positive illusions and consumer preference for new products with functional risks
Authors: Shang Ziqi , Pang Jun , Liu Xiaomei
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to examine the effect of temporal landmarks on positive illusions and the downstream implications of this effect on consumer preference for new products with functional risks.

Design/methodology/approach

Study 1 adopted a single factor (temporal landmarks: beginning vs ending) between-subjects design. Study 2 adopted a 2 (temporal landmarks: beginning vs. ending) × 2 (salience of the temporal landmark: salient vs not salient) between-subjects design. Study 3 used a single factor (temporal landmarks: beginning vs ending) between-subjects design.

Findings

Through three studies, we show that the ending temporal landmarks reduce positive illusions (Studies 1 and 2). The underlying process is enhanced perceptions of psychological resource depletion (Study 3). The authors further show that decreased positive illusions lead consumers to less prefer new products with functional risks (Study 3).

Originality/value

Existing studies on temporal landmarks have exclusively focused on the beginning landmarks and account for its effects from a motive perspective. In contrast, the authors take a look at the ending landmarks and identify perceptions of psychological resource depletion as the underlying process, which suggests a new angel understand how temporal landmarks influence individuals' cognitions and behavior.
Social facilitation or social loafing – threshold effect of group size on customer's complaint intention
Authors: Xu Xing'an , Wang Lilei , Wang Luqi
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the threshold effect of group size on customer's complaining intention under group service failures.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on two main laboratory experiments, through two 10×2 scenario simulation experiments, the authors examine the role of group size in customer's complaining intention.

Findings

Results show that: (1) the relationship between group size and customer's complaining intention follows an inverted “U” type trend; (2) evaluation apprehension mediates the relationship between group size and customer's complaining intention; (3) relational distance can change threshold values and (4) relational distance moderates the relationship between group size and customer's complaining intention.

Practical implications

Managers should judge the threshold of group size through experience so as to have a preliminary understanding of customer evaluation concerns and complaint intention. In the face of service failure groups smaller than the threshold range, managers should divided the group into several small groups. For service failure groups larger than the threshold range, the opinion leaders in the group should be given more attention, so as to control the whole group.

Social implications

This paper is helpful to deeply understand the key role of group size in the process of customer complaints, and also provides decision-making basis for service enterprises to deal with group customer complaints.

Originality/value

There has been little research about the threshold effect of group size on customer's complaining intention. The previous studies on customer's complaining intention focus on its influences on group size, and draw a single common conclusion that the customer's intention to complain will increase with the growing number of groups increases. However, few studies are explored on the threshold of group size. Therefore, this paper will focus on the threshold effect of group size on customer's complaining intention to fill the gap.
Intertwined paths of globalization and international investment law
Authors: Ferreira Agata
Published: June 2020

Purpose

International investment law has become a powerful tool of global economic governance. With its global network of international investment treaties and effective arbitration mechanism, it has made an extraordinary leap from a relatively niche and underrated area of international law to one of the most prominent legal regimes. This paper aims to illustrate how the evolutionary trajectories of globalization and international investment law have been intertwined.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper follows the historical unfolding of international investment law against the background of the globalization phenomenon, tracing the history of globalization processes since the expansion of European interests and export of capital and the onset of the international investment legal framework.

Findings

The evolution of globalization and international investment law has always been intertwined and co-dependent, experiencing similar phases of acceleration, transformation, adjustment and progress. This paper finds that the current era of globalization is characterized by an increasing complexity and diversity of transnational interests and global connections; this is also true for international investment law, which is undergoing changes aimed at including wider contexts and interests in international investment relations.

Originality/value

The analysis contributes to a more holistic understanding of the interdependence of these two phenomena, helping to explain how international investment law has become such a powerful, globally recognized and applied legal regime.
The spirit of sauna: legitimating the Finnish place brand
Authors: Tillotson Jack S. , Tassiello Vito , Rome Alexandra S. , Helaniemi Katariina
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate inhabitants of Finland and their continuing efforts to narrate a national identity within the constraints imposed by discursive meanings of Finnish culture through the experience of sauna.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collection comprised semi-structured interviews with Finnish local residents and entrepreneurs; these were supplemented with secondary data including books, articles, advertisements and documents referencing sauna in the context of Finland.

Findings

The analysis and interpretation by the authors show that the symbolic resource of sauna constitutes the legitimation of Finnish nation branding discourses at three levels: regulative, normative and cultural-cognitive; we label these sauna governance, communal identity creation and mythmaking, respectively.

Originality/value

The research contribution reveals that nation branding discourses are also forms of legitimation work. Finnish nation branding discourses are interwoven with sauna as the symbolic resource of “Finnishness” and become conduits for the expression of discursive meanings. This demonstrates that institutional legitimacy is an intrinsic aspect of the ways place branding discourses can be used as a mode of governance (i.e. a policy instrument).
Surviving the stigma: lessons learnt for the prevention of COVID-19 stigma and its mental health impact
Authors: Singh Shweta , Bhutani Saniya , Fatima Huma
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The spread of novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has affected more than four million lives worldwide. Unfortunately, incidents of stigmatisation associated with COVID-19 are being reported worldwide. Studies conducted during and after public health emergencies because of communicable diseases have highlighted the development of stigmatisation and associated mental health consequences. This study aims to explore the past pandemics and current incidents of stigmatisation to understand COVID-19 stigma, its mental health impact and how they can be prevented by using primary and secondary prevention methods.

Design/methodology/approach

Researches were shortlisted using keywords such as “infectious diseases and mental health”, “COVID 19 stigma and mental health”, “Contagious disease stigma” and “mental health of survivors”.

Findings

Studies conducted during and after public health emergencies because of communicable diseases have highlighted the development of stigmatisation and associated mental health consequences. The emphasis is on universal prevention of stigmatization. Early psychological intervention may reduce the long-term psychological effects of the illness and reduction of stigma may contribute to treatment.

Originality/value

This paper predicts the chances of stigmatisation that COVID-19 survivors may face and possible strategies to prevent it.
Limited biomass recovery from gold mining in Amazonian forests
Authors: Kalamandeen Michelle , Gloor Emanuel , Johnson Isaac , Agard Shenelle , Katow Martin , Vanbrooke Ashmore , Ashley David , Batterman Sarah A. , Ziv Guy , Holder‐Collins Kaslyn , Phillips Oliver L. , Brondizio Eduardo S. , Vieira Ima , Galbraith David
Published: June 2020

Gold mining has rapidly increased across the Amazon Basin in recent years, especially in the Guiana shield, where it is responsible for >90% of total deforestation. However, the ability of forests to recover from gold mining activities remains largely unquantified.

Forest inventory plots were installed on recently abandoned mines in two major mining regions in Guyana, and re‐censused 18 months later, to provide the first ground‐based quantification of gold mining impacts on Amazon forest biomass recovery.

We found that woody biomass recovery rates on abandoned mining pits and tailing ponds are among the lowest ever recorded for tropical forests, with close to no woody biomass recovery after 3–4 years.

On the overburden sites (i.e. areas not mined but where excavated soil is deposited), however, above‐ground biomass recovery rates (0.4–5.4 Mg ha−1 year−1) were within the range of those recorded in other secondary forests across the Neotropics following abandonment of pastures and agricultural lands.

Our results suggest that forest recovery is more strongly limited by severe mining‐induced depletion of soil nutrients, especially nitrogen, than by mercury contamination, due to slowing of growth in nutrient‐stripped soils.

We estimate that the slow recovery rates in mining pits and ponds currently reduce carbon sequestration across Amazonian secondary forests by ~21,000 t C/year, compared to the carbon that would have accumulated following more traditional land uses such as agriculture or pasture.

Synthesis and applications. To achieve large‐scale restoration targets, Guyana and other Amazonian countries will be challenged to remediate previously mined lands. The recovery process is highly dependent on nitrogen availability rather than mercury contamination, affecting woody biomass regrowth. The significant recovery in overburden zones indicates that one potential active remediation strategy to promote biomass recovery may be to backfill mining pits and ponds with excavated soil.
Spatial correlation effect of China's outward foreign direct investment in countries along the One Belt and One Road
Authors: Ma Shuzhong , Liu Mengheng
Published: June 2020

Promoted by both the “going out” policy and the “One Belt and One Road” (OBOR) Initiative, China's outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) has grown rapidly in the past two decades. A spatial network has gradually formed that facilitates global production, sales, and innovation. This paper studies the spatial correlation of China's OFDI network along the OBOR and its determinants. The block model analysis suggests that China's OFDI spatial network comprises four gradient sections. In addition, the analyses of quadratic assignment procedure and exponential random graph models demonstrate a tendency of agglomeration of China's OFDI, which may hinder the further development of its spatial correlation networks. Finally, we present some policy suggestions stemming from the study in the hope of helping both the government and firms to optimize their OFDI spatial layout strategy along the OBOR.
Aphid population abundance and pestiferous effect on various bean plant species
Authors: Amin Md Ruhul , Sharmin Mohsen Ara , Miah Md Ramiz Uddin , Akanda Abdul Mannan , Suh Sang Jae , Kwon Yong Jung , Kwon Ohseok
Published: June 2020

The population abundance, infestation, and harmful effects of the aphid Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae) were studied on four bean plant species, namely the country bean (Lablab purpureus var. BARI Seem 1), the yard‐long bean (Vigna sesquipedalis var. BARI Borboti 1), the hyacinth bean (Dolichos lablab var. BARI Seem 6), and the bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris var. BARI Jar Seem 3). Aphid abundance and infestation on the leaves, inflorescences, flowers, and pods differed significantly among the bean plant species, with P. vulgaris and V. sesquipedalis having the lowest and highest results, respectively. Aphid severity grade and the number of trichomes of the bean plant species were negatively correlated. The duration of the growth stages among the bean plant species were significantly different, with V. sesquipedalis having the shortest durations. Aphid abundance and infestation significantly affected the physical and phytochemical characteristics of the bean plant species. The highest reduction of number of leaves, flower inflorescences, and pod inflorescences per plant, and moisture and chlorophyll content in the leaves was found in L. purpureus. The results for V. sesquipedalis revealed the highest reduction in plant height, seed weight, and pH, while those of D. lablab showed the highest reduction in leaf area.
Antioxidant status and ultrastructural defects in the ovaries of red palm weevils (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) intoxicated with spinosad
Authors: Abdelsalam Salaheldin , Alzahrani Abdullah M. , Elmenshawy Omar M. , Abdel‐Moneim Ashraf M.
Published: June 2020

Red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, destroys palms almost all over the world, especially in the Middle East, where dates are a strategic crop in arid places. In view of the urgent need to combat this destructive pest, effective pesticides with high environmental safety should be sought. Spinosad is a pesticide of bacterial origin that is presumed to have a high degree of environmental safety and is effective in combating a wide range of insect pests. In this study, the efficacy of spinosad was evaluated in females of R. ferrugineus. The lethal concentration for 50% of the treated females was calculated at 44.3 ppm. The effects of spinosad concentrations of 10, 50 and 200 ppm on the activity of catalase (CAT), glutathione S‐transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the ovaries were assessed. In addition, the pathological effects of these concentrations were documented on the ultrastructure of the follicle cells and ooplasm. The results showed a significant increase in CAT activity only in response to treatment with 200 ppm. Treating the females with different spinosad concentrations resulted in varying intensity changes in cell organelles, where the most pronounced sign of programmed cell death was at the concentration 200 ppm. This study demonstrates the possibility of using spinosad as an insecticide against females of R. ferrugineus.
Evaluation of primer pairs for microbiome profiling from soils to humans within the One Health framework
Authors: Wasimuddin  , Schlaeppi Klaus , Ronchi Francesca , Leib Stephen L. , Erb Matthias , Ramette Alban
Published: June 2020

The ‘One Health’ framework emphasizes the ecological relationships between soil, plant, animal and human health. Microbiomes play important roles in these relationships, as they modify the health and performance of the different compartments and influence the transfer of energy, matter and chemicals between them. Standardized methods to characterize microbiomes along food chains are, however, currently lacking. To address this methodological gap, we evaluated the performance of DNA extraction kits and commonly recommended primer pairs targeting different hypervariable regions (V3‐V4, V4, V5‐V6, V5‐V6‐V7) of the 16S rRNA gene, on microbiome samples along a model food chain, including soils, maize roots, cattle rumen, and cattle and human faeces. We also included faeces from gnotobiotic mice colonized with defined bacterial taxa and mock communities to confirm the robustness of our molecular and bioinformatic approaches on these defined low microbial diversity samples. Based on Amplicon Sequence Variants, the primer pair 515F‐806R led to the highest estimates of species richness and diversity in all sample types and offered maximum diversity coverage of reference databases in in silico primer analysis. The influence of the DNA extraction kits was negligible compared to the influence of the choice of primer pairs. Comparing microbiomes using 515F‐806R revealed that soil and root samples have the highest estimates of species richness, while lowest richness was observed in human faeces. Primer pair choice directly influenced the estimation of community changes within and across compartments and may give rise to preferential detection of specific taxa. This work demonstrates why a standardized approach is necessary to analyse microbiomes within and between source compartments along food chains in the context of the One Health framework.
Progress and trends in the development of therapies for Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome
Authors: Lai Wing‐Fu , Wong Wing‐Tak
Published: June 2020

Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is an autosomal‐dominant genetic disease that leads to accelerated aging and often premature death caused by cardiovascular complications. Till now clinical management of HGPS has largely relied on the treatment of manifestations and on the prevention of secondary complications, cure for the disease has not yet been established. Addressing this need cannot only benefit progeria patients but may also provide insights into intervention design for combating physiological aging. By using the systematic review approach, this article revisits the overall progress in the development of strategies for HGPS treatment over the last ten years, from 2010 to 2019. In total, 1,906 articles have been retrieved, of which 56 studies have been included for further analysis. Based on the articles analyzed, the trends in the use of different HGPS models, along with the prevalence, efficiency, and limitations of different reported treatment strategies, have been examined. Emerging strategies for preclinical studies, and possible targets for intervention development, have also been presented as avenues for future research.
Re‐pigmentation of hair after prolonged cholinesterase inhibitor therapy in a Chinese population
Authors: Chan Luke Kar Man , Braidy Nady , Ng Wyatt , Xu Ying Hua , Chen Jack , McDonald Robert , Chan Daniel Kam Yin
Published: June 2020

Eighty consecutive Chinese patients diagnosed with Alzheimer disease were assessed for darkening of grey hair. Of the 62 eligible patients (mean age = 79.3 ± 7.9 years; male: female = 1:1.48), 24/62 (38.7%, 95%CI: 26.6 – 51.9) reported hair darkening after prolonged usage of cholinesterase inhibitor for at least 6 months. Of the 24 patients with hair darkening, 17 (70.9%) experienced hair darkening in the occipital region, 3 (12.5%) in the parietal region, 2 (8.3%) patients in the frontal region and 2 (8.3%) patients experienced hair darkening in multiple regions. Analysis of melanin concentration showed no significant difference between darkened hair of patients after prolonged drug use and the dark hair of controls (P = 0.381).
Absence of SARS‐CoV‐2 in semen of a COVID‐19 patient cohort
Authors: Guo Liqiang , Zhao Shengtian , Li Weiguang , Wang Yong , Li Leping , Jiang Shujuan , Ren Wanhua , Yuan Qun , Zhang Fubin , Kong Feng , Lei Jie , Yuan Mingzhen
Published: June 2020

Background

Since SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was first identified in December 2019, the novel coronavirus‐induced pneumonia COVID‐19 spread rapidly and triggered a global pandemic. Recent bioinformatics evidence suggested that angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2—the main cell entry target of SARS‐CoV‐2—was predominantly enriched in spermatogonia, Leydig and Sertoli cells, which suggests the potential vulnerability of the male reproductive system to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.

Objectives

To identify SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA in seminal plasma and to determine semen characteristics from male patients in the acute and recovery phases of infection.

Methods

From February 26 to April 2, 2020, 23 male patients with COVID‐19 were recruited. The clinical characteristics, laboratory findings and chest computed tomography scans of all patients were recorded in detail. We also investigated semen characteristics and the viral RNA load in semen from these patients in the acute and recovery phases of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection using approved methods.

Results

The age range of the 23 patients was 20‐62 years. All patients tested negative for SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA in semen specimens. Among them, the virus had been cleared in 11 patients, as they tested negative. The remaining 12 patients tested negative for SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA in semen samples, but were positive in sputum and fecal specimens. The median interval from diagnosis to providing semen samples was 32 days, when total sperm counts, total motile sperm counts, and sperm morphology of the patients were within normal ranges.

Discussion and Conclusion

In this cohort of patients with a recent infection or recovering from COVID‐19, there was no SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA detected in semen samples, which indicates the unlikely possibility of sexual transmission through semen at about 1 month after first detection.
Nano‐CT evaluation of totally corroded coins: A demonstration study to determine if detail might still be discernible despite the lack of internal, non‐corroded, metal
Authors: Bude R. O. , Bigelow E. M. R.
Published: June 2020

Five unidentifiable, completely corroded ancient coins (three of which were large fragments), proven to lack any residual internal metal, were scanned by nano‐computed tomography (CT) to see if discernible detail might still be present. One fragment could be identified as an early fourth‐century Urbs Roma commemorative AE 3/4. Another fragment was a coin of either Valerian or of the joint rule of Valerian and Gallienus, which could be dated to the period 254–56 ce. The other three lacked discernible detail. This proof‐of‐concept study shows that nano‐CT scanning has the potential to allow non‐invasive identification of at least some totally corroded coins.
Debate: COVID‐19 and children in India
Authors: Kumar Anant , Nayar K. Rajasekharan , Bhat Lekha D.
Published: June 2020

The COVID‐19 pandemic impact on children is a growing concern. The United Nations and its agencies (the World Health Organization and UNICEF), Indian Association For Child and Adolescent Mental Health and National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience in India warn about the broader impacts on children and call for urgent action to support the world’s children amidst the pandemic which may have lasting consequences. The COVID‐19 pandemic and unprecedented control measures to prevent its spread have disrupted nearly every aspect of children’s lives – their health, development, learning, behaviour and their families’ economic security, including protection from violence and abuse. Given this background, there is an urgent need for action through screening to minimize the mental health issues of children in India who constitute a substantial proportion of the population.