bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acetylcholine regulates pulmonary inflammation and facilitates the transition from active immunity to tissue repair during respiratory viral infection
Authors: Horkowitz Alexander P. , Schwartz Ashley V. , Alvarez Carlos A. , Herrera Edgar B. , Thoman Marilyn L. , Chatfield Dale A. , Osborn Kent G. , Feuer Ralph , George Uduak Z. , Phillips Joy A.
Published: July 2020

Inflammatory control is critical to recovery from respiratory viral infection. Acetylcholine (ACh) secreted from non-neuronal sources, including lymphocytes, plays an important, albeit underappreciated, role in regulating immune-mediated inflammation. This study was designed to explore the role of ACh in acute viral infection and recovery. Using the murine model of influenza A, cholinergic status in the lungs and airway was examined over the course of infection and recovery. The results showed that airway ACh remained constant through the early stage of infection and increased during the peak of the acquired immune response. As the concentration of ACh increased, cholinergic lymphocytes appeared in the airway and lungs. Cholinergic capacity was found primarily in CD4 T cells, but also in B cells and CD8 T cells. The cholinergic CD4+ T cells bound to influenza-specific tetramers at the same frequency as their conventional (i.e., non-cholinergic) counterparts. In addition, they were retained in the lungs throughout the recovery phase and could still be detected in the resident memory regions of the lung up to two months after infection. Histologically, cholinergic lymphocytes were found in direct physical contact with activated macrophages throughout the lung. When ACh production was inhibited, mice exhibited increased tissue inflammation, altered lung architecture, and delayed recovery. Together, these findings point to a previously unrecognized role for ACh in the transition from active immunity to recovery and pulmonary repair following respiratory viral infection.
A fast numerical method for oxygen supply in tissue with complex blood vessel network
Authors: Lu Yuankai , Hu Dan , Ying Wenjun
Published: July 2020

Oxygen field evaluation is important in modeling and simulation of many important physiological processes of animals, such as angiogenesis. However, numerical simulation of the oxygen field in animal tissue is usually limited by the unusual coupling of different mechanisms, the nonlinearity of the model, and the complex geometry of refined blood vessel networks. In this work, a fast numerical method is designed for the simulation of oxygen supply in tissue with a large-scale complex vessel network. This method employs an implicit finite-difference scheme to compute the oxygen field. By virtue of an oxygen source distribution technique from vessel center lines to mesh points and a corresponding post-processing technique that eliminate the local numerical error induced by source distribution, square mesh with relatively large mesh sizes can be applied while sufficient numerical accuracy is maintained. The new method has computational complexity which is slightly higher than linear with respect to the number of mesh points and has a convergence order which is slightly lower than second order with respect to the mesh size. As an example, the oxygen field of a tissue irrigated by a blood vessel network with more than four thousand blood vessels can be accurately computed within one minute with our new method. The new method will definitely promote further researches based on evaluation of oxygen field, such as modeling of angiogenesis and pathogenesis of many cardiovascular diseases.
Penicillium purpurogenumexerts antitumor effects and ameliorates inflammations in Erlich mice model
Authors: Teles Amanda Mara , Pontes Leticia Prince Pereira , Guimarães Sulayne Janayna Araujo , de Araújo Butarelli Ana Luiza , Silva Gabriel Xavier , do Nascimento Flavia Raquel Fernandes , de Barros Bezerra Geusa Felipa , Tellis Carla Junqueira Moragas , da Costa Rui Miguel Gil , da Silva Marcos Antonio Custódio Neto , Almeida-Souza Fernando , de Azevedo-Santos Ana Paula Silva , Nascimento Maria do Desterro Soares Brandao
Published: July 2020

Background

The bioactive metabolites production contributes to the resistance of fungi towards adverse environmental conditions. Some metabolites often have interesting health-promoting activities. This study addressed the anti-tumoural properties ofPenicillium purpurogenumisolated from a polluted lagoon in Northeastern Brazil.

Methods

The extract obtained from the polished environment strainP. purpurogenumwas fermented, filtered, concentrated and lyophilized, giving rise to the Ethyl Acetate Extracellular Extract (EAE). The metabolites of the extracellular extract ofP. purpurogenumwere studied using direct infusion mass spectrometry. The solid Ehrlic tumor model was used to evaluate the extract antitumor activity. Female Swiss mice were divided in groups (n=10/group) as follow: Negative control (CTL-) treated with phosphate buffered solution; Positive Control (CTL+) treated with cyclophosphamide (25mg/mL); Extracts treatment at doses 4, 20 and 100mg/Kg; Animals without tumor or treatment (Sham); and animals without tumor treated with intermediate dose (EAE20). All treatments were performed intraperitoneally, daily during 15 days. After, the animals were eutanized and the tumor, lymphoid organs and serum were used for immunological, histological and biochemical parameters evaluation.

Results

The extract was rich in meroterpenoids. All doses of the extract significantly reduced tumor size compared to CLT- and were associated with 100% survival. Histologically, the 20 and 100mg/kg doses reduced tumour-associated inflammation and tumour necrosis. The extract also reduced cellular infiltration of lymphoid organs and circulating TNF-α levels when compared with CLT-. The extract did not induce weight loss and renal or hepatic toxic changes.

Conclusions

These results indicate thatP. purpurogenumfrom a polluted marine environment produce hybrid natural products of the terpenoid pathway that exhibits immunomodulatory and antitumor propertiesin vivo. Thus, fungal fermentation is a biotechnological approach for the production of antitumour agents.
Hydrophobicity drives receptor-mediated uptake of heat-processed proteins by THP-1 macrophages and dendritic cells, but not cytokine responses
Authors: Deng Ying , Govers Coen , Teodorowicz Malgorzata , Liobyte Ieva , De Simone Ilaria , Hettinga Kasper , Wichers Harry J.
Published: July 2020

Impact of processing on immunogenicity of food proteins has clearly been demonstrated, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. In our previous study, the uptake of the cow’s milk protein β-lactoglobulin (BLG) by THP-1 macrophages varied after applying different processing methods and was positively correlated with hydrophobicity and aggregation. Here we applied the same 3 processing methods: wet heating (60 °C) and low- or high-temperature (50 °C or 130 °C, respectively) dry heating in absence or presence of reducing sugars (i.e. glucose, lactose or galacto-oligosaccharide) to lysozyme and thyroglobulin, which have different pI or molecular weight compared to BLG, respectively. Uptake of the soluble fraction was tested in two types of, genetically homogeneous, antigen-presenting cells (macrophages and dendritic cells derived from THP-1 monocytes). This revealed a strong correlation between the uptake of the different protein samples by macrophages and dendritic cells, and confirmed the key role of hydrophobicity, over aggregation, in determining the uptake. Several uptake routes were shown to contribute to the uptake of BLG by macrophages. However, cytokine responses following exposure of macrophages to BLG samples were not related to the levels of uptake. Heat-treatment-mediated increases in uptake did thus not induce a response in our read-out systems. Together, our results demonstrate that heat-treatment-induced increased hydrophobicity is the prime driving factor in uptake, but not in cytokine production, by THP-1 macrophages.
Contact with the CsrA core is required for allosteric inhibition by FliW inBacillus subtilis
Authors: Oshiro Reid T. , Kearns Daniel B.
Published: July 2020

The RNA-binding protein CsrA is a post-transcriptional regulator that is encoded in genomes throughout the bacterial phylogeny. In the gamma-proteobacteria, the activity of CsrA is inhibited by small RNAs that competitively sequester CsrA binding. In contrast, the firmicuteBacillus subtilisencodes a protein inhibitor of CsrA called FliW, that non-competitively inhibits CsrA activity but the precise mechanism of antagonism is unclear. Here we take an unbiased genetic approach to identify residues of FliW important for CsrA inhibition that fall into two distinct spatial and functional classes. Most loss-of-function alleles mutated FliW residues that surround the critical regulatory CsrA residue N55 and abolished CsrA interaction. Two loss-of-function alleles however mutated FliW residues near the CsrA core dimerization domain and maintained interaction with CsrA. One of these two alleles reversed charge at what appeared to be a salt bridge with the CsrA core region, charge reversal of the CsrA partner residue phenocopied the FliW allele, and charge reversal of both residues simultaneously restored antagonism. We propose a model in which initial interaction between FliW and CsrA is necessary but not sufficient for antagonism which also requires salt bridge formation with, and deformation of, the CsrA core domain to allosterically abolish RNA binding activity.

CsrA is a small dimeric protein that binds RNA and is one of the few known examples of transcript-specific translational regulators in bacteria. A protein called FliW binds to and antagonizes CsrA; despite having a high-resolution three-dimensional structure of the FliW-CsrA complex, the mechanism of non-competitive inhibition remains unresolved. Here we identify FliW residues required for antagonism and we find that the residues make a linear connection in the complex from initial binding interaction with CsrA to a critical salt bridge near the core of the CsrA dimer. We propose that the salt bridge represents an allosteric contact that distorts the CsrA core to prevent RNA binding.
Exploring metal resistance genes and mechanisms in copper enriched metal ore metagenome
Authors: Forouzan Esmaeil , Karkhane Ali Asghar , Yakhchali Bagher
Published: July 2020

Heavy metal pollution is a major global health challenge. In order to develop bioremediation solution for decontamination of environment from heavy metals one appropriate step is to investigate heavy metal resistance strategies used by microbial communities in the metal contaminated environments. The aim of the present study was to understand detailed mechanisms by which long time heavy metal (HM) exposed microbial community use to cope with excess of HMs. We exploited the Illumina high throughput metagenomic approach to examine taxonomical and functional diversity of copper enriched soil metagenome. Three enriched metagenomes were compared against 94 metagenomes derived from non-contaminated soils. Taxonomic composition analysis showed that phylogenetic profile of metal contaminated soils were enriched withγ-Proteobacteria. Comparison of functional profile of the two group reveled significant difference with potential role in HM resistance (HMR). Enriched SEED categories were “Membrane Transport”, “Cell Wall and Capsule”, “Stress Response”, “Iron acquisition and metabolism” and “virulence and defense mechanisms”. Raw metagenomic reads were assembled into scaffolds and predicted Open Reading Frames (ORFs) were searched against metal resistance gene database (BacMet). Based on enriched genes and gene categories and search of known HMR genes we concluded the microbial community cope with HM using at least 10 different mechanisms. Copper resistance genes were more abundant in the metagenome relative to other metals and pumping metals out of the cell were more abundant relative to other HMR mechanism. Results of the present study could be very helpful in understanding of HMR mechanism used by microbial communities.
Length of Mucin-Like Domains Enhance Cell-Ebola Virus Adhesion by Increasing Binding Probability
Authors: Cui X. , Lapinski N. , Zhang X. , Jagota A.
Published: July 2020

The Ebola virus (EBOV) hijacks normal physiological processes by apoptotic mimicry in order to be taken up by the cell it infects. The initial adhesion of the virus to the cell is based on the interaction between T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain protein, TIM, on the cell-surface and phosphatidylserine (PS) on the viral outer surface. Therefore, it is important to understand the interaction between EBOV/PS and TIM, with selective blocking of the interaction as a potential therapy. Recent experimental studies have shown that for TIM-dependent EBOV entry, a Mucin-like Domain (MLD) with a length of at least 120 amino acids is required, possibly due to the increase of area of the PS-coated surface sampled. We examine this hypothesis by modeling the process of TIM-PS adhesion using a coarse-grained molecular model. We find that the strength of bound PS−TIM pairs is essentially independent of TIM length. TIMs with longer MLDs have higher average binding strengths because of an increase in the probability of binding between EBOV and TIM proteins. Similarly, we find that for larger persistence length (less flexible) the average binding force decreases, again because of a reduction in the probability of binding.

Statement of Significance

This work studies the mechanism of TIM-dependent adhesion of the Ebola virus to a cell. Through coarse grained modeling we show that longer TIM stalks adhere more easily as they can sample a larger area, thus offering a mechanistic interpretation of an experimental finding. Better mechanistic understanding can lead to therapeutic ideas for blocking adhesion.
Functional and LC-MS/MS analysis ofin vitrotranscribed mRNAs carrying phosphorothioate or boranophosphate moieties reveal polyA tail modifications that prevent deadenylation without compromising protein expression
Authors: Strzelecka Dominika , Smietanski Miroslaw , Sikorski Pawel J. , Warminski Marcin , Kowalska Joanna , Jemielity Jacek
Published: July 2020

Chemical modifications enable preparation of mRNAs with augmented stability and translational activity. In this study, we explored how chemical modifications of 5’,3’-phosphodiester bonds in the mRNA body and polyA tail influence the biological properties of eukaryotic mRNA. To obtain modified and unmodifiedin vitrotranscribed mRNAs, we used ATP and ATP analogues modified at the α-phosphate (containing either O-to-S or O-to-BH3substitutions) and three different RNA polymerases—SP6, T7 and polyA polymerase. To verify the efficiency of incorporation of ATP analogues in the presence of ATP, we developed a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for quantitative assessment of modification frequency based on exhaustive degradation of the transcripts to 5’-mononucleotides. The method also estimated the average polyA tail lengths, thereby providing a versatile tool for establishing a structure-biological property relationship for mRNA. We found that mRNAs containing phosphorothioate groups within the polyA tail were substantially less susceptible to degradation by 3’-deadenylase than unmodified mRNA and were efficiently expressed in cultured cells, which makes them useful research tools and potential candidates for future development of mRNA-based therapeutics.
TheBacillusVirulome in Endophthalmitis
Authors: Coburn Phillip S. , Miller Frederick C. , Enty Morgan A. , Land Craig , LaGrow Austin L. , Mursalin Md Huzzatul , Callegan Michelle C.
Published: July 2020

Bacillus cereusis recognized as a causative agent of gastrointestinal syndromes, but can also cause a devastating form of intraocular infection known as endophthalmitis. We have previously reported that the PlcR/PapR master virulence factor regulator system regulates intraocular virulence, and that the S-layer protein (SlpA) contributes to the severity ofB. cereusendophthalmitis. To begin to better understand the role of otherB. cereusvirulence genes in endophthalmitis, expression levels of a subset of factors was measured at the midpoint of disease progression in a murine model of experimental endophthalmitis by RNA-Seq. Several cytolytic toxins were expressed at significantly higher levelsin vivothan in BHI. The virulence regulatorscodY, gntR,andnprRwere also expressedin vivo.However, at this timepoint,plcR/papRwas not detectable, we previously reported that aB. cereusmutant deficient in PlcR was attenuated in the eye. The motility-related genesfla, fliF,andmotB,and the chemotaxis-related genecheAwere detected during infection. We have shown previously that motility and chemotaxis phenotypes are important inB. cereusendophthalmitis. ThesodA2variant of manganese superoxide dismutase was the most highly expression genein vivo, suggesting that this gene is criticial for intraocular survival, potentially through inhibition of neutrophil activity. Expression of the surface layer protein gene,slpA,an activator of Toll-like receptors (TLR) −2 and −4, and a potent contributor to intraocular inflammation and disease severvity, was also detected during infection, albeit at low levels. In summary, genes expressed in a mouse model ofBacillusendophthalmitis might prove to play crucial roles in the unique virulence ofB. cereusendophthalmitis, and serve as candidates for novel therapies designed attenuate the severity of this often blinding infection.

Impact statement

B. cereuscauses a potent and rapid infection of the eye that usually results in blindness or enucleation, even with the utilization of current treatment modalities. This necessitates the development of new treatment modalities based on new targets. To begin to better define thoseB. cereusfactors with roles in intraocular infection, we analyzed the expression of genes with both known and hypothesized roles in intraocular infection at the midpoint of infection using a murine model of Bacillus endophthalmitis. Potentially targetable candidate genes were demonstrated to be expressedin vivo, which suggests that these genes might contribute to the unique virulence ofB. cereusendophthalmitis. Importantly, our results begin to define the virulome ofB. cereusin intraocular infections and identify previously uncharacterized factors with potential roles in the severity and outcome ofBacillusendophthalmitis.
Restrained activation of CYFIP2-containing WAVE complexes controls membrane protrusions and cell migration
Authors: Polesskaya Anna , Boutillon Arthur , Yang Sheng , Wang Yanan , Romero Stéphane , Liu Yijun , Lavielle Marc , Molinie Nicolas , Rocques Nathalie , Fokin Artem , Guérois Raphaël , Chen Baoyu , David Nicolas B. , Gautreau Alexis M.
Published: July 2020

Branched actin networks polymerized by the Arp2/3 complex are critical for cell migration. The WAVE complex is the machinery that activates Arp2/3 in a RAC1-dependent manner at the leading edge of migrating cells. Multiple WAVE complexes are assembled in a cell through various combinations of paralogous subunits. Here we report the surprising phenotype associated with loss-of-function of CYFIP2, a subunit of the WAVE complex. In three different human mammary cell lines and in prechordal plate cells of gastrulating zebrafish embryos, CYFIP2 depletion promoted, rather than impaired, membrane protrusions and migration persistence. CYFIP2, however, assembled WAVE complexes that polymerize branched actin at the cell cortex and rescued membrane protrusions ofCYFIP1/2double knock-out cells, although less efficiently than CYFIP1. Point mutations of CYFIP2 associated with intellectual disability in children were gain-of-function, as they made CYFIP2 as active as CYFIP1 in this rescue experiment. Biochemical reconstitutions of CYFIP2-containing WAVE complexes showed that they bound equally well to active RAC1 as CYFIP1-containing WAVE complexes, yet they were poorly activated in response to RAC1 binding. Together these results suggest that CYFIP2-containing WAVE complexes titrate active RAC1 and thereby prevent efficient CYFIP1-containing complexes from being activated. In this context, where cell migration is governed by the balance of CYFIP1/2 expression, releasing the restrained activity of CYFIP2-containing WAVE complexes leads to pathology.
Family Analysis with Mendelian Imputations
Authors: Kong Augustine , Benonisdottir Stefania , Young Alexander I.
Published: July 2020

Genotype-phenotype associations can be results of direct effects, genetic nurturing effects and population stratification confounding. Genotypes from parents and siblings of the proband can be used to statistically disentangle these effects. To maximize power, a comprehensive framework for utilizing various combinations of parents’ and siblings’ genotypes is introduced. Central to the approach ismendelian imputation, a method that utilizes identity by descent (IBD) information to non-linearly impute genotypes into untyped relatives using genotypes of typed individuals. Applying the method to UK Biobank probands with at least one parent or sibling genotyped, for an educational attainment (EA) polygenic score that has anR2of 5.7% with EA, its predictive power based on direct genetic effect alone is demonstrated to be only about 1.4%. For women, the EA polygenic score has a bigger estimated direct effect on age-at-first-birth than EA itself.
A novel RyR1 inhibitor prevents and rescues sudden death in a mouse model of malignant hyperthermia and heat stroke
Authors: Yamazawa Toshiko , Kobayashi Takuya , Kurebayashi Nagomi , Konishi Masato , Noguchi Satoru , Inoue Takayoshi , Inoue Yukiko U. , Nishino Ichizo , Mori Shuichi , Iinuma Hiroto , Manaka Noriaki , Kagechika Hiroyuki , Uryas Arkady , Adams Jose , Lopez Jose R. , Liu Xiaochen , Diggle Christine , Allen Paul D. , Kakizawa Sho , Ikeda Keigo , Lin Bangzhong , Ikemi Yui , Nunomura Kazuto , Nakagawa Shinsaku , Sakurai Takashi , Murayama Takashi
Published: July 2020

Mutations in the type 1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1), a Ca2+release channel in skeletal muscle, hyperactivate the channel to cause malignant hyperthermia (MH) and are implicated in severe heat stroke. Dantrolene, the only approved drug for MH, has the disadvantages of having very poor water solubility and long plasma half-life. We show here that a novel RyR1-selective inhibitor, 6,7-(methylenedioxy)-1-octyl-4-quinolone-3-carboxylic acid (Compound 1, Cpd1), effectively prevents and treats MH and heat stroke in several mouse models relevant to MH. Cpd1 reduced resting intracellular Ca2+, inhibited halothane- and isoflurane-induced Ca2+release, suppressed caffeine-induced contracture in skeletal muscle, reduced sarcolemmal cation influx, and prevented or reversed the fulminant MH crisis induced by isoflurane anesthesia and rescued animals from heat stroke caused by environmental heat stress. Notably, Cpd1 has great advantages of better water solubility and rapid clearancein vivoover dantrolene. Cpd1 has the potential to be a promising new candidate for effective treatment of patients carrying RyR1 mutations.
Navigating hospitals safely through the COVID-19 epidemic tide: predicting case load for adjusting bed capacity
Authors: Donker Tjibbe , Bürkin Fabian , Wolkewitz Martin , Haverkamp Christian , Christoffel Dominic , Kappert Oliver , Hammer Thorsten , Busch Hans-Jörg , Biever Paul , Kalbhenn Johannes , Bürkle Hartmut , Kern Winfried , Wenz Frederik , Grundmann Hajo
Published: July 2020

Background

The pressures exerted by the pandemic of COVID-19 pose an unprecedented demand on health care services. Hospitals become rapidly overwhelmed when patients requiring life-saving support outpace available capacities. We here describe methods used by a university hospital to forecast caseloads and time to peak incidence.

Methods

We developed a set of models to forecast incidence among the hospital catchment population and describe the COVID-19 patient hospital care-path. The first forecast utilized data from antecedent allopatric epidemics and parameterized the care path model according to expert opinion (static model). Once sufficient local data were available, trends for the time dependent effective reproduction number were fitted and the care-path was parameterized using hazards for real patient admission, referrals, and discharge (dynamic model).

Results

The static model, deployed before the epidemic, exaggerated the bed occupancy (general wards 116 forecasted vs 66 observed, ICU 47 forecasted vs 34 observed) and predicted the peak too late (general ward forecast April 9, observed April 8, ICU forecast April 19, observed April 8). After April 5, the dynamic model could be run daily and precision improved with increasing availability of empirical local data.

Conclusions

The models provided data-based guidance in the preparation and allocation of critical resources of a university hospital well in advance of the epidemic surge, despite overestimating the service demand. Overestimates should resolve when population contact pattern before and during restrictions can be taken into account, but for now they may provide an acceptable safety margin for preparing during times of uncertainty.
Scalable Analysis of Authentic Viral Envelopes on FRONTERA
Authors: González-Arias Fabio , Reddy Tyler , Stone John E. , Hadden-Perilla Jodi A. , Perilla Juan R.
Published: July 2020

Enveloped viruses infect host cells via fusion of their viral envelope with the plasma membrane. Upon cell entry, viruses gain access to all the macromolecular machinery necessary to replicate, assemble, and bud their progeny from the infected cell. By employing molecular dynamics simulations to characterize the dynamical and chemical-physical properties of viral envelopes, researchers can gain insights into key determinants of viral infection and propagation. Here, the Frontera supercomputer is leveraged for large-scale analysis of authentic viral envelopes, whose lipid compositions are complex and realistic. VMD with support for MPI is employed on the massive parallel computer to overcome previous computational limitations and enable investigation into virus biology at an unprecedented scale. The modeling and analysis techniques applied to authentic viral envelopes at two levels of particle resolution are broadly applicable to the study of other viruses, including the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. A framework for carrying out scalable analysis of multi-million particle MD simulation trajectories on Frontera is presented, expanding the the utility of the machine in humanity’s ongoing fight against infectious disease.
Two monosodium salt hydrates of Colour Index Pigment Red 48
Authors: Tapmeyer Lukas , Hill Steven , Bolte Michael , Hützler Wilhelm Maximilian
Published: July 2020

We report herein the crystal structures of a monohydrate of Colour Index Pigment Red 48 (P.R.48) (systematic name: monosodium 2-{2-[3-carboxy-2-oxo-1,2-dihydronaphthalen-1-ylidene]hydrazin-1-yl}-4-chloro-5-methylbenzenesulfonate monohydrate), Na+·C18H12ClO6S−·H2O, and a dihydrate, Na+·C18H12ClO6S−·2H2O. The two monosodium salt hydrates of P.R.48 were obtained from in-house synthesized P.R.48. Both have monoclinic (P21/c) symmetry at 173 K. The crystal packing of both crystal structures shows a layer arrangement whereby N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds are formed.
Evaluation of sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal problems and eating behaviors in Turkish children with autistic disorder and PDD-NOS
Authors: Gok Sebahat , Ozturk Serife Nur , Karaca Rabia , İlbars Serhat , Nogay Nalan Hakime
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal (GI) problems and eating behaviors in children who are diagnosed with autistic disorder (AD) and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).

Design/methodology/approach

This study was conducted with 102 children who were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Sleeping and GI (abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing) problems in children were obtained by asking their parents using a questionnaire. The feeding assessment survey (FAS), brief autism mealtime behavior inventory (BAMBI) and food consumption frequency were used to obtain information about the children’s eating habits.

Findings

The BAMBI total score, food refusal and features of autism subscale scores of those with AD were higher than those in the PDD-NOS group (p < 0.05). Sleeping, GI and eating problems are seen in those with AD more commonly than in those diagnosed with PDD-NOS.

Originality/value

To the knowledge, this is the first study that compares GI, sleeping and eating problems in children with AD and PDD-NOS. Sleeping, GI and eating problems may be more frequent in children with AD than in those with PDD-NOS. The GI problem rate is higher in children with autism with sleeping problems than without sleeping problems.
A life cycle assessment of a ‘minus carbon’ refugee house: global warming potential and sensitivity analysis
Authors: Dabaieh Marwa , Emami Nargessadat , Heinonen Jukka Taneli , Marteinsson Björn
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Over the last eight years, the Middle East has experienced a series of high profile conflicts which have resulted in over 5.6 million Syrians forced to migrate to neighbouring countries within the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region or to Europe. That have exerted huge pressure on hosting countries trying to accommodate refugees in decent shelters and in quick manner. Temporary shelters normally carry a high environmental burden due to their short lifespan, and the majority are fabricated from industrialised materials. This study assesses the carbon impact for a minus carbon experimental refugee house in Sweden using life cycle assessment (LCA) as tool. SimaPro and GaBi software were used for the calculations and the ReCiPe midpoint method for impact assessment. The results show that using local plant-based materials such as straw, reeds and wood, together with clay dug from close to the construction site, can drastically reduce the carbon footprint of temporary shelters and even attain a negative carbon impact of 226.2 kg CO2 eq/m2. Based on the results of the uncertainty importance analysis, the overall global warming potential impact without and with sequestration potential are mostly sensitive to the variability of the GWP impact of wood fibre insulation.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is designed to calculate the GWP impact of the refugee house over its entire life cycle (production, operation and maintenance and end of life). Then, the sensitivity analysis was performed to explore the impact of input uncertainties (selection of material from the database and the method) on the total GWP impact of the refugee house with and without sequestration. The ISO standards (International Standard 14040 2006; International Standard 14044 2006) divide the LCA framework into four steps of Goal and scope, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation.

Findings

This study has shown an example for proof of concept for a low impact refugee house prototype using straw, reeds, clay, lime and wood as the principle raw materials for building construction. Using natural materials, especially plant-based fibres, as the main construction materials, proved to achieve a minus carbon outcome over the life cycle of the building. The GWP of the shelter house without and with sequestration are found to be 254.7 kg CO2 eq/m2 and -226.2 kg CO2 eq/m2, respectively.

Originality/value

As there are still very few studies concerned with the environmental impact of temporary refugee housing, this study contributes to the pool of knowledge by introducing a complete LCA calculation for a physical house prototype as a proof of concept on how using low impact raw materials for construction combined with passive solutions for heating and cooling can reach a minus carbon outcome. The GWP of the shelter house without and with sequestration are found to be 254.7 kg CO2 eq/m2 and -226.2 kg CO2 eq/m2.
A systems thinking approach for incremental reduction of non-physical waste
Authors: Omotayo Temitope , Olanipekun Ayokunle , Obi Lovelin , Boateng Prince
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Continual cost reduction of overhead costs of building projects can realign the concept of post-contract cost control towards value-driven construction projects and stakeholders’ satisfaction. This study synthesised and analysed the viable continuous improvement measures critical for waste reduction during the execution phase of a building project.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of existing literature facilitated a list of continuous improvement measures. This literature review findings enabled a Likert-scale questionnaire which was administered to two-hundred and fifty (250) small- and medium-scale construction companies (SMSCC) in Nigeria. Multiple linear regression statistical tests deduced the significant cost reduction measure from which a causal loop diagram was designed to indicate continuous improvement measures during the execution phase of a building project.

Findings

Cogent construction activities associated with overhead costs were deduced from the statistical tests as being payment of suppliers and sub-contractors and purchase orders. An all-inclusive casual loop model for cost reduction through waste minimisation in construction projects as a viable oriented mechanism for meeting clients' requirements was developed.

Practical implications

The causal loop continuous improvement model recognised external and internal factors which are crucial for SMSCC to focus on for their organisational growth and performance enhancement.

Originality/value

A focus on non-physical waste in construction organisations potentially addresses behavioural challenges for continuous improvement.
Dietary supplement usage during pregnancy and lactation: role of online social capital and health information-seeking behaviour
Authors: Limbu Yam B. , Giovannetti Marta , Cardinali Silvio
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The main objective of this study is to assess the applicability and robustness of the information motivation behavioural skills (IMB) model in determining dietary supplement usage of pregnant and breastfeeding women. More specifically, we examine the indirect effects of online social capital and internet use for health information on dietary supplement usage through self-efficacy and the moderating role of educational attainment.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from 415 pregnant and breastfeeding Italian women using a self-administered questionnaire. Hypotheses were tested using Hayes's (2013) PROCESS macro for SPSS.

Findings

Internet use for health information is directly associated with dietary supplement usage. Online social capital and internet use for health information positively influence dietary supplement usage through self-efficacy. However, the results from moderated mediation analyses show that the mediation effects are moderated by educational attainment so that indirect relationships were stronger among women with a lower level of education than among those with a higher level of education.

Practical implications

Dietary supplement marketers and public health agencies can develop and implement dietary supplement promotional materials and interventions by disseminating information through the internet and social media and by strengthening social ties on online networking sites.

Originality/value

The originality of this study lies in the use of the IMB model as a theoretical framework to examine the mediating role of self-efficacy and the moderating role of education in explaining the mechanism of how online social capital and internet use for health information influence dietary supplement usage.
Innovation education programs: a review of definitions, pedagogy, frameworks and evaluation measures
Authors: Chandra Praveena , Tomitsch Martin , Large Maryanne
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The capability to create and manage innovations is recognized as an important skill not only for entrepreneurial activities but also for the survival of organizations. The last few decades have seen a noticeable growth in innovation education programs across the world. Innovation education is on the cusp of moving from being an optional subject to becoming a part of the core curricula. Given these recent developments, it is timely to review scholarship on innovation education carried out to date. The purpose of this paper is to present a review of the literature on innovation education programs.

Design/methodology/approach

This article employs a systematic and reproducible thematic analysis of the literature.

Findings

The review finds innovation education to be an emerging field with multiple concepts and frameworks in need of consolidation. Additionally, there is a marked dominance of this subject in traditional domains such as engineering, business, medicine and little or no presence in nontraditional domains such as humanities or social sciences. Challenges remain in the field for the development of standardized effectiveness measurement techniques.

Originality/value

This article puts forward a case for considering scholarship on innovation education as a unique field on its own and examines previous work in this domain to understand the emerging frameworks, pedagogy, evaluations and definitions. By doing so, the article aims to offer guidance for the adoption of innovation education, as well as creating a foundation for further research in this area by highlighting the gaps in the existing literature.
Internationalization barriers of SMEs from developing countries: a review and research agenda
Authors: Chandra Ashna , Paul Justin , Chavan Meena
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper reviews the literature on internationalization barriers of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from developing countries. The purposes of the study are: (1) to explicitly point out specific factors influencing the growth and internationalization of SMEs from developing countries and (2) to identify the research gaps to provide lucid and succinct directions for future research in this area.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors selected relevant papers from journals listed on Web of Science and Scopus databases.

Findings

It was found that there are large number of questions remain unanswered regarding the internationalization of SMEs from developing countries regarding the factors determining their growth and internationalization.

Originality/value

This review distinctively accentuates previous studies on such barriers influencing the growth of SMEs from developing countries and systematically synthesize the issues faced by those SMEs. Thus, the authors seek to provide a comprehensible platform for researchers working in this area.
Creativity potential management in a higher education context
Authors: Burayeva Zhanat , Berkimbayev Kamalbek , Kerimbayeva Botagoz , Semiz Kenan , Atikol Burhan Umur
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Considering the urgency of creativity development in the higher education system, this article justifies an effective model of creativity management for students and teachers at universities. The model is based on an empirical assessment of the difference between the creativity potential and its actual level. The data was taken from the managing factors playing an important role in the development of creative potential. The study was carried out in Kazakhstan.

Design/methodology/approach

The method of surveying 872 teachers and 944 students in Kazakhstan quantified the levels of actual creativity of students and their potential, as well as the gap between the two parameters. The authors identified the nature of the influence of the creativity development factors, contributing to the achievement of the creativity potential of teachers/students.

Findings

The gap between the levels of actual and potential creativity at universities for both teachers and students was found to be one of the main factors governing the creativity management in the education system. The main problems hindering the efficient management of actual and potential creativity at education institutions are personal and institutional factors.

Research limitations/implications

The results are based on a limited sample of respondents, taking into account the higher education system in Kazakhstan.

Practical implications

Assessment and justification can be useful in determining the unused creative abilities of students and teachers in the process of developing creativity within the educational process.

Originality/value

The value of this study lies in an empirical assessment of the difference between actual creativity and creativity potential in the higher education system as an object of pedagogical management, as well as a deterministic hierarchy of causal factors of this gap. These results are valuable in the aspect that, when developing an effective management strategy, influencing these factors, in particular the institutional factor of the educational process, it is possible to increase the potential for the development of creativity of students and professors of higher educational establishments. Besides, a very useful scientific result in the framework of the development of this topic is the establishment of the primacy of ensuring the development of the creativity potential of teachers in the process of managing the development of students' creativity.
Satisfaction matters: the relationships between HRM practices, work engagement and turnover intention
Authors: Memon Mumtaz Ali , Salleh Rohani , Mirza Muhammad Zeeshan , Cheah Jun-Hwa , Ting Hiram , Ahmad Muhammad Shakil , Tariq Adeel
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of employees' satisfaction with human resource management (HRM) practices (i.e. training satisfaction, performance appraisal satisfaction and pay satisfaction) on work engagement and subsequently employee turnover intentions. The mediating role of work engagement between employee satisfaction with HRM practices and turnover intentions is also assessed.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from Malaysian oil and gas (O&G) professionals. A total of 442 useable questionnaires were obtained for the final data analysis. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was performed to test the hypothesised relationships.

Findings

The findings indicate that training satisfaction and performance appraisal satisfaction are the key drivers of employee engagement at work. Work engagement in turn has a negative impact on employee turnover intentions. Furthermore, work engagement mediates the relationship between employees' satisfaction with HRM practices (i.e. training satisfaction and performance appraisal satisfaction) and turnover intentions. Nevertheless, it did not have any mediating effect on pay satisfaction and turnover intention.

Practical implications

Training plans should be designed to make the relevant jobs more attractive and fulfilling, thus increasing employees' level of work engagement. Besides, ensuring that the appraisal system is fair is pivotal to work engagement. Work engagement will cultivate a strong sense of emotional attachment between employees and employers, thus reducing the turnover intention of Malaysian O&G professionals.

Originality/value

To date, little has been done on employees' satisfaction with HRM practices with respect to their attitudinal and behavioural outcomes. The present study enhances our understanding of the importance of employees' satisfaction with HRM practices and its relation to employees' work engagement and turnover intentions.
Returns and volatility spillovers among cryptocurrency portfolios
Authors: Fasanya Ismail Olaleke , Oyewole Oluwatomisin , Odudu Temitope
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper examines the return and volatility spillovers among major cryptocurrency using daily data from 10/08/2015 to 15/04/2018.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ the Dielbold and Yilmaz (2012) spillover approach and rolling sample analysis to capture the inherent secular and cyclical movements in the cryptocurrency market.

Findings

The authors show that there is substantial difference between the behaviour of the cryptocurrency portfolios return and volatility spillover indices over time. The authors find evidence of interdependence among cryptocurrency portfolios given the spillover indices. While the return spillover index reveals increased integration among the currency portfolios, the volatility spillover index experiences significant bursts during major market crises. Interestingly, return and volatility spillovers exhibit both trends and bursts respectively.

Originality/value

This study makes a methodological contribution by adopting Dielbold and Yilmaz (2012) approach to quantify the returns and volatility transmissions among cryptocurrencies. To the best of our knowledge, little or no study has adopted the Dielbold and Yilmaz (2012) methodology to investigate this dynamic relationship in the cryptocurrencies market. The Dielbold and Yilmaz (2012) approach provides a simple and intuitive measure of interdependence of asset returns and volatilities by exploiting the generalized vector autoregressive framework, which produces variance decompositions that are unaffected by ordering.
Tourists' explicit and implicit attitudes towards conservation messages
Authors: Sukaatmaja I. Putu Gede
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to comparatively analyse explicit and implicit attitudes of visitors from sun and beach destinations towards two types of visual conservation messages: persuasive and prohibitive.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative empirical investigation of transversal section was carried out using a structured questionnaire. The geographic area of study is located in the Mexican Riviera Maya. The data was collected between the months of September 2016 to January 2017 from a total of 129 actual visitors of 12 different nationalities. Student t tests analyses were conducted to measure difference between explicit and implicit attitudes towards both types of messages.

Findings

Persuasive visual messages of conservation shown to be effective at both, explicit and implicit, levels, while prohibitive ones were less effective than persuasive ones ay implicit level, corroborating that the persuasive messages are more effective than prohibitive ones, and that the implicit measurements tend to offer information that is not always revealed by explicit means.

Practical implications

Results can be exploited by those who are tasked with maintaining a delicate balance between tourism and the environment to achieve greater impact in developing the attitudes they need to show to their tourists, through the design and creation of persuasive conservation, even barrier, visual messages that are able to draw well to the visitors' subconscious and unconscious.

Originality/value

Persuasive visual messages of conservation are produced to be effective at both explicit and implicit levels. However, inhibiting messages prove to be less effective with regard to persuasive messages at the implicit level, which reinforces that persuasive messages are more effective. Effective than the prohibitive ones and that the Implicit measurements offer information that is not always disclosed by explicit means. Persuasive messages aim at persuading and the recipient is not interested on the message. There is a possibility that the recipient will react negatively. Therefore, messages should be prepared using an indirect approach.