bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predator diversity and thermal niche complementarity attenuate indirect effects of warming on prey survival
Authors: Pepi Adam , McMunn Marshall
Published: October 2020

Climate warming has broad-reaching effects on communities, and although much research has focused on direct abiotic effects, indirect effects of warming meditated through biotic interactions can be of equal or greater magnitude. A body of theoretical and empirical work has developed examining the effects of climate warming on predator-prey interactions, but most studies have focused on single predator and prey species. We develop a model with multiple predator species using simulated and measured predator thermal niches from a community of ants, to examine the influence of predator diversity and other aspects of community thermal niche on the indirect effects of climate warming on prey survival probability. We find that predator diversity attenuates the indirect effect of climate warming on prey survival probability, and that sufficient variation of predator thermal optima, closer prey and mean predator thermal optima, and higher predator niche complementarity increases the attenuation effect of predator diversity. We predict therefore that more diverse and complementary communities are likely more affected by direct versus indirect effects of climate warming, and vice versa for less diverse and complementary communities. If general, these predictions could lessen the difficulty of predicting the effects of climate warming on a focal species of interest.
LY-CoV555, a rapidly isolated potent neutralizing antibody, provides protection in a non-human primate model of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Jones Bryan E. , Brown-Augsburger Patricia L. , Corbett Kizzmekia S. , Westendorf Kathryn , Davies Julian , Cujec Thomas P. , Wiethoff Christopher M. , Blackbourne Jamie L. , Heinz Beverly A. , Foster Denisa , Higgs Richard E. , Balasubramaniam Deepa , Wang Lingshu , Bidshahri Roza , Kraft Lucas , Hwang Yuri , Žentelis Stefanie , Jepson Kevin R. , Goya Rodrigo , Smith Maia A. , Collins David W. , Hinshaw Samuel J. , Tycho Sean A. , Pellacani Davide , Xiang Ping , Muthuraman Krithika , Sobhanifar Solmaz , Piper Marissa H. , Triana Franz J. , Hendle Jorg , Pustilnik Anna , Adams Andrew C. , Berens Shawn J. , Baric Ralph S. , Martinez David R. , Cross Robert W. , Geisbert Thomas W. , Borisevich Viktoriya , Abiona Olubukola , Belli Hayley M. , de Vries Maren , Mohamed Adil , Dittmann Meike , Samanovic Marie , Mulligan Mark J. , Goldsmith Jory A. , Hsieh Ching-Lin , Johnson Nicole V. , Wrapp Daniel , McLellan Jason S. , Barnhart Bryan C. , Graham Barney S. , Mascola John R. , Hansen Carl L. , Falconer Ester
Published: October 2020

SARS-CoV-2 poses a public health threat for which therapeutic agents are urgently needed. Herein, we report that high-throughput microfluidic screening of antigen-specific B-cells led to the identification of LY-CoV555, a potent anti-spike neutralizing antibody from a convalescent COVID-19 patient. Biochemical, structural, and functional characterization revealed high-affinity binding to the receptor-binding domain, ACE2 binding inhibition, and potent neutralizing activity. In a rhesus macaque challenge model, prophylaxis doses as low as 2.5 mg/kg reduced viral replication in the upper and lower respiratory tract. These data demonstrate that high-throughput screening can lead to the identification of a potent antiviral antibody that protects against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

One Sentence Summary

LY-CoV555, an anti-spike antibody derived from a convalescent COVID-19 patient, potently neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 and protects the upper and lower airways of non-human primates against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Alternative splicing tunes sodium channels to support channel- and neuron-specific effects
Authors: Lignani Gabriele , Liavas Andrianos , Kullmann Dimitri M , Schorge Stephanie
Published: October 2020

Neuronal excitability is tightly regulated, requiring rapidly activating and inactivating voltage-gated sodium channels to allow accurate temporal encoding of information. Alternative splicing greatly broadens the repertoire of channels, but the adaptive significance of this phenomenon is incompletely understood. An alternative splicing event that is conserved across vertebrates affects part of the first domain of sodium channels and modulates their availability after inactivation. Here we use this conserved splicing event to ask whether this modulation has consistent effects in different neuronal backgrounds, or whether a conserved splicing event can be exploited to produce distinct effects in different cell types. We show that the consequences of alternate splicing of human Nav1.1 and Nav1.2 for neuronal activity depend on whether they are expressed in the cell types where they normally predominate (interneurons or excitatory neurons, respectively). Splicing in the ‘adult’ isoform in both channels is sufficient to slow action potential rise times in all neurons. However, changes to both action potential half width and maximal firing rate are specific to cell type and channel, with each channel appearing tuned to mediate effects in its predominant neuronal background. Finally, we use dynamic clamp to demonstrate that alternative splicing in Nav1.1 changes how interneurons fire during epileptiform events. Our data show that, for sodium channels, despite conserved amino acid changes and similar effects on channel gating, alternative splicing has distinct impacts on neuronal properties, thus highlighting how closely sodium channels are tuned to distinct cellular backgrounds.
Keap1 binds cytokine promoters upon virus infection and moderates their induction by recruiting NFκB p50 and G9a-GLP
Authors: Burns Veronica Elizabeth , Kerppola Tom Klaus
Published: October 2020

Innate immunity requires a balance of positive and negative regulators of cytokine transcription. Keap1 deletion in mice alters innate immunity and inflammation. We investigated the influence of Keap1 on cytokine gene induction by Sendai virus infection in mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs). Keap1 bound to theIfnb1, TnfandIl6promoters upon virus infection, and moderated viral induction of their transcription. Keap1 was required for viral induction of NFκB p50 and G9a-GLP lysine methyltransferase binding to these genes. Keap1 formed BiFC complexes with NFκB p50 that were localized to the nuclei in a subset of cells. Nrf2 counteracted viral induction of Keap1 binding to the promoters, and the effects of Keap1 on NFκB p50 and on G9a-GLP recruitment. Lysine methyltransferase inhibitors enhanced viral induction of transcription of the genes that were bound by Keap1 only in MEFs with intact Keap1, and not inKeap1-/-MEFs. They also enhanced NFκB p50 and NFκB p65 recruitment to these genes only in MEFs with intact Keap1, whereas they inhibited G9a-GLP recruitment. The reciprocal effects of Keap1 and of G9a-GLP lysine methyltransferase activity on chromatin binding by each other constitute a feedback circuit that moderates viral induction of cytokine transcription.

Virus infection induces Keap1 binding to cytokine promoters, which recruits NFκB p50 and G9a-GLP and moderates their transcription.
Whole brain wiring diagram of oxytocin system in adult mice
Authors: Son Seoyoung , Manjila Steffy B. , Newmaster Kyra T. , Wu Yuan-ting , Vanselow Daniel J. , Ciarletta Matt , Anthony Todd E. , Cheng Keith C. , Kim Yongsoo
Published: October 2020

Oxytocin (OT) neurons regulate diverse physiological responses via direct connections with different neural circuits. However, the lack of comprehensive input-output wiring diagrams of OT neurons and their quantitative relationship with OT receptor (OTR) expression presents challenges to understanding circuit specific OT functions. Here, we establish a whole-brain distribution and anatomical connectivity map of OT neurons, and their relationship with OTR expression using cell type specific viral tools and high-resolution 3D mapping methods. We utilize a flatmap to describe OT neuronal expression in four hypothalamic domains including under-characterized OT neurons in the tuberal nucleus. OT neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamus (PVH) broadly project to nine functional circuits that control cognition, brain state, and somatic visceral response. In contrast, OT neurons in the supraoptic (SO) and accessory nuclei have limited central projection to a small subset of the nine circuits. Surprisingly, quantitative comparison between OT output and OTR expression showed no significant correlation across the whole brain, suggesting abundant indirect OT signaling in OTR expressing areas. Unlike output, OT neurons in both the PVH and SO receive similar mono-synaptic inputs from a subset of the nine circuits mainly in the thalamic, hypothalamic, and cerebral nuclei areas. Our results suggest that PVH-OT neurons serve as a central modulator to integrate external and internal information via largely reciprocal connection with the nine circuits while the SO-OT neurons act mainly as unidirectional OT hormonal output. In summary, our OT wiring diagram provides anatomical insights about distinct behavioral functions of OT signaling in the brain.

Significance Statement

Oxytocin (OT) neurons regulate diverse physiological functions from pro-social behavior to pain sensation via central projection in the brain. Thus, understanding detailed anatomical connectivity of OT neurons can provide insight on circuit specific roles of OT signaling in regulating different physiological functions. Here, we utilize high resolution mapping methods to describe the 3D distribution, mono-synaptic input and long-range output of OT neurons, and their relationship with OT receptor (OTR) expression across the entire mouse brain. We found OT connections with nine functional circuits controlling cognition, brain state, and somatic visceral response. Furthermore, we identified a quantitatively unmatched OT-OTR relationship, suggesting broad indirect OT signaling. Together, our comprehensive OT wiring diagram advances our understanding of circuit specific roles of OT neurons.
Chicken cGAS senses fowlpox virus infection and regulates macrophage effector functions
Authors: Oliveira Marisa , Rodrigues Damaris Ribeiro , Guillory Vanaique , Kut Emmanuel , Giotis Efstathios S. , Skinner Michael A. , Guabiraba Rodrigo , Bryant Clare E , Ferguson Brian J
Published: October 2020

The anti-viral immune response is dependent on the ability of infected cells to sense foreign nucleic acids. In multiple species, the pattern recognition receptor (PRR) cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) senses viral DNA as an essential component of the innate response. cGAS initiates a range of signalling outputs that are dependent on generation of the second messenger cGAMP that binds to the adaptor protein stimulator of interferon genes (STING). Here we show that in chicken macrophages, the cGAS/STING pathway is essential not only for the production of type-I interferons in response to intracellular DNA stimulation, but also for regulation of macrophage effector functions including the expression of MHC-II and co-stimulatory molecules. In the context of fowlpox, an avian DNA virus infection, the cGAS/STING pathway was found to be responsible for type-I interferon production and MHC-II transcription. The sensing of fowlpox virus DNA is therefore essential for mounting an anti-viral response in chicken cells and for regulation of a specific set of macrophage effector functions.
The restricted nature of protein glycosylation in the mammalian brain
Authors: Williams Sarah E. , Noel Maxence , Lehoux Sylvain , Cetinbas Murat , Xavier Ramnik J. , Sadreyev Ruslan , Scolnick Edward M. , Smoller Jordan W. , Cummings Richard D. , Mealer Robert G.
Published: October 2020

Glycosylation is essential to brain development and function, though prior studies have often been limited to a single analytical technique. Using several methodologies, we analyzed Asn-linked (N-glycans) and Ser/Thr/Tyr-linked (O-glycans) protein glycosylation between brain regions and sexes in mice. Brain N-glycans were surprisingly less complex in sequence and variety compared to other tissues, consisting predominantly of high-mannose precursors and fucosylated/bisected structures. Most brain O-glycans were unbranched, sialylated O-GalNAc and O-mannose structures. A consistent pattern was observed between regions, and sex differences were minimal compared to those observed in plasma. Brain glycans correlate with RNA expression of their synthetic enzymes, and analysis of all glycosylation genes in humans showed a global downregulation in the brain compared to other tissues. We hypothesize that the restricted repertoire of protein glycans arises from their tight regulation in the brain. These results provide a roadmap for future studies of glycosylation in neurodevelopment and disease.
Deletion ofGremlin-2alters estrous cyclicity and disrupts female fertility in mice
Authors: Rydze Robert T. , Patton Bethany , Salazar-Torralba Hannia , Briley Shawn , Gipson Gregory , James Rebecca , Rajkovic Aleksandar , Thompson Thomas , Pangas Stephanie A.
Published: October 2020

Members of the differential screening-selected gene aberrative in neuroblastoma (DAN) protein family are developmentally conserved extracellular binding proteins that antagonize bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling. This protein family includes the Gremlin proteins, GREM1 and GREM2, which are known to have key functions during embryogenesis and adult physiology. While BMPs play essential roles in adult female reproductive physiology, the role of the DAN family in ovarian function is less understood. We generated mice null forGrem2to study its role in female fertility in addition to screening patients with primary ovarian insufficiency for variants in GREM2.Grem2-/-mice are viable and femaleGrem2-/-mice have diminished fecundity and irregular estrous cycles. This is accompanied by reduced serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone, a marker of the ovarian reserve, in adult mice. Alterations in ovarian expression of inhibin and activin subunit genes, which are required for regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis, were identified. WhileGrem2mRNA transcript was not detected in the pituitary,Grem2was expressed in the hypothalami of wild type female mice. Additionally, screening 106 women with primary ovarian insufficiency identified one individual with a heterozygous variant in GREM2 that lies within the predicted BMP-GREM2 interface. In total, these data suggest thatGrem2is necessary for female fecundity by playing a novel role in regulating the HPO axis and possibly contributing to female reproductive disease.
Megasphaerain the stool microbiota is negatively associated with diarrheal cryptosporidiosis
Authors: Carey Maureen A. , Medlock Gregory L. , Alam Masud , Kabir Mamun , Uddin Md Jashim , Nayak Uma , Papin Jason , Faruque A.S.G , Haque Rashidul , Petri William A. , Gilchrist Carol A.
Published: October 2020

Background

The protozoan parasites in theCryptosporidiumgenus cause both acute diarrheal disease and subclinical (i.e. non-diarrheal) disease. It is unclear if the microbiota can influence the manifestation of diarrhea during aCryptosporidiuminfection.

Methods

To characterize the role of the gut microbiota in diarrheal cryptosporidiosis, the microbiome composition of both diarrheal and surveillanceCryptosporidium-positive fecal samples was evaluated using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Additionally, the microbiome composition prior to infection was examined to test whether a preexisting microbiome profile could influence theCryptosporidiuminfection phenotype.

Results

Fecal microbiome composition was associated with diarrheal symptoms at two timepoints.Megasphaerawas significantly less abundant in diarrheal samples when compared to subclinical samples at the time ofCryptosporidiumdetection (log2(fold change) = -4.3,p=10−10) and prior to infection (log2(fold change) = -2.0,p=10−4). Random forest classification also identifiedMegasphaeraabundance in the pre- and post-exposure microbiota.as predictive of a subclinical infection.

Conclusions

Microbiome composition broadly, and specifically lowMegasphaeraabundance, was associated with diarrheal symptoms prior to and at the time ofCryptosporidiumdetection. This observation suggests that the gut microenvironment may play a role in determining the severity of aCryptosporidiuminfection.

Megasphaeraabundance in the stool of Bangladeshi infants is associated with the development of diarrhea upon infection with theCryptosporidiumparasite.
Crystal forms in pharmaceutical applications: olanzapine, a gift to crystal chemistry that keeps on giving
Authors: Reutzel-Edens Susan M. , Bhardwaj Rajni M.
Published: October 2020

This contribution reviews the efforts of many scientists around the world to discover and structurally characterize olanzapine crystal forms, clearing up inconsistencies in the scientific and patent literature and highlighting the challenges in identifying new forms amidst 60+ known polymorphs and solvates. Owing to its remarkable solid-state chemistry, olanzapine has emerged over the last three decades as a popular tool compound for developing new experimental and computational methods for enhanced molecular level understanding of solid-state structure, form diversity and crystallization outcomes. This article highlights the role of olanzapine in advancing the fundamental understanding of crystal forms, interactions within crystal structures, and growth units in molecular crystallization, as well as influencing the way in which drugs are developed today.
Fruitzone India Limited (A): Designing the Research Questions
Authors: Tripathi Sanjeev
Published: October 2020

Fruitzone India Limited was the Indian subsidiary of the multinational company Gypsy Inc., the global leader in the beverages industry. The company was contemplating the launch of a new flavour of fruit juice and decided to conduct a feasibility study. It hired an external market research agency, India Monitor International (IMI) to conduct the market research. This case discusses the exploratory phase of the research conducted by IMI. This case is useful for participants in the Business Research Methods, Market Research and Qualitative Research courses.
The impact of supply chain relationship quality on knowledge sharing and innovation performance: evidence from Chinese manufacturing industry
Authors: Li Gang
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact mechanism of supply chain relationship quality on knowledge sharing and firms’ innovation performance during supply chain collaborative innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model linking supply chain relationship quality, knowledge sharing and firms’ innovation performance is developed, and the hypotheses of the relationships among them are proposed. To test these hypotheses with structural equation modeling, this study conducts a survey of 287 Chinese manufacturing firms that carried out collaborative innovation with supply chain partners.

Findings

Supply chain relationship quality has a significant positive effect on tacit knowledge sharing but its positive effect on explicit knowledge sharing is not significant. Both explicit and tacit knowledge sharing across supply chain enterprises positively influence firms’ innovation performance. Supply chain relationship quality influences firms’ innovation performance directly as well as indirectly through the mediating roles of explicit and tacit knowledge sharing.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence of supply chain relationship quality’s direct and indirect effects through explicit and tacit knowledge sharing on firms’ innovation performance. This study also provides supply chain practitioners with better understanding of the importance of developing relationship quality and knowledge sharing across supply chain as they are positively associated with firms’ innovation performance.
CPEC: a route for outflow of illegal wealth from Pakistan
Authors: Khan Wahaj Ahmed , Jawaid Syed Tehseen , Siddiqui Danish Ahmed
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study examines the new venue of moving illegal wealth from Pakistan under the umbrella of China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The study first discussed the features of CPEC in short and how it may bring stability and a new phase of development in the region and also in Pakistan. The review of related literature has suggested that previous studies are more focused on the advantages of CPEC and are almost neglecting the cons of the said project. Later, the research puts light on the problem of money laundering from Pakistan through CPEC and related trade transactions; Walker’s Gravity model has been used to calculate the attractiveness of money laundering. It has highlighted that China’s attractiveness for moving illegal wealth from Pakistan is increased in recent years; the risk of an increase in the amount of money laundered is also analyzed through the Fan Chart technique. Attributes which are making China more attractive for Pakistani wrongdoers are also discussed. The study aims to conclude that if the problem of money laundering will be addressed properly, the CPEC will play a vital role in bringing stability in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a descriptive and quantitative approach. This study uses the Walker’s Gravity Model updated by Unger et al. (2006) to measure money laundering in Pakistan. A newly developed technique for forecasting that is Fan Chart has been used to predict the trend of China’s attractiveness for money laundering as a preferred destination from Pakistan.

Findings

The study finds out that China is already increasing its ranking as a favorite destination for money laundering from Pakistan. Fan Chart analysis suggests that the attractiveness score will be increased.

Practical implications

The study helps in highlighting the problem of increase in money laundering from Pakistan through China under the umbrella of CPEC.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no study found on the topic of the problem of money laundering linked with CPEC, and this is the first effort to point out the problem.
De-risking or recontracting – the risk dilemma of EU money laundering regulation
Authors: Rose Kalle Johannes
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Recent research and market effects within the European Union (EU) show a rising concern toward the de-risking of certain sectors/actors owing to the increased anti-money laundering regulation. Because of the enhanced due diligence and monitoring costs related to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regulation by the AMLD4 and AMLD5, several financial institutions now turn to de-risking their corporate client base to minimize not only costs from monitoring and onboarding but also the risks of sanctions and reputation. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the incentives behind de-risking and the relevant solution models to the de-risking “crisis.” Overall, to find, to what extend de-risking is efficient and when it is not and how to mitigate the concept.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper applies a functional approach to law and economics with the aim of reaching a higher level of efficiency in combatting money laundering through analyzing present regulatory and economic conditions.

Findings

It is found that de-risking within the EU opposes the aim of the present regulatory scheme regarding anti-money laundering. The paper finds that it is needed to divide the analysis of de-risking to a national and regional/union level. In addition, this paper establishes that the present strategy of de-risking at national level eventually will result in enhanced regulation to fulfill the aim of the present regulatory framework, which is why a proactive approach by recontracting the client base is recommended. At a regional level, it is found that de-risking is valid, why a solution needs to come from the EU enhancing control, monitoring and sanctions to establish trust and the possibility for financial inclusion.

Originality/value

Most of the recent research within the field highlights the problem of de-risking and therefore presents a range of initiatives to regulators and financial institutions at a global level. This paper solely focuses on the EU and shows that the de-risking dilemma demands financial institutions to take a proactive approach to contracting if unnecessary regulation is to be hindered. Furthermore, this paper shows that the concept of de-risking cannot be analyzed nor mitigated as one singular concept, but it needs to be addressed according to different levels of activity and geography.
Transforming technology-mediated health-care services through strategic sense-giving
Authors: Daskalopoulou Athanasia , Go Jefferies Josephine , Skandalis Alexandros
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Service research has previously documented service providers’ role in addressing the barriers of technology mediation, mostly at the service delivery level. The purpose of this study is to enhance our understanding about the role of service providers who hold strategic and operational roles, as well as investigate the impact of coordinated, organization-wide initiatives in dealing with the demands and associated emotional ambivalence of technology-mediated services.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative study draws from a series of in-depth interviews with health-care service providers who hold strategic and operational roles in health-care organizations along with participant observation to develop an understanding of the broader organizational context of telehealth services.

Findings

This paper outlines the strategic sense-giving process and highlights how health-care service providers who hold strategic and operational roles enact the sense-giver role. This study illustrates that strategic sense-giving involves the recognition of sense-making gaps; identification of sense-giving opportunities; and provision of templates of action.

Originality/value

This study illustrates that sense-giving can be performed by a number of organizational members in a more formalized way which extends informal sense-giving efforts at the peer-to-peer level. The importance of strategic sense-giving in providing templates of action for service providers and consumers is highlighted. This study also shows how strategic sense-giving safeguards against confusion and errors by communicating appropriate ways of using technology. Finally, the role of strategic sense-giving in helping service providers and consumers cope with the emotional ambivalence of technology-mediated service interactions are demonstarted.
Analyzing the performance of health technologies distribution models in primary care services
Authors: Garagiola Elisabetta , Creazza Alessandro , Porazzi Emanuele
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Due to the evolution of the health-care scenario and the growing role of the primary care setting, the distribution processes of health technologies will be more and more in demand in the near future. This paper aims to investigate this theme, analyzing the performance, strengths and weaknesses of the current distribution practices, with the ultimate overarching aim to improve the provision of the primary care services.

Design/methodology/approach

The research framework is twofold. First, a tool to monitor the economic/quantitative performance of the distribution models was designed; second, the tool was applied to measure the performance of distribution models of absorbent devices for incontinence adopted by Local Health Authorities (LHA) in Lombardy Region (Italy). Quantitative data were collected by LHAs (from 2012 to 2016) and compared through data-benchmarking. Qualitative data from interviews and focus groups complemented the outcomes.

Findings

Two main distribution models were investigated: distribution through pharmacies and home delivery. Results show that there is no winning/preferable model in terms of economic/quantitative performance and service quality level, but a counterbalanced combination of strengths and weaknesses exists. Moving from the highlighted weaknesses and building on the strengths, an alternate distribution model is proposed for testing.

Originality/value

The present study approaches the theme of primary care services with a holistic approach, filling a literature gap. It also provides practitioners with a tool of performance analysis and management and real data, applicable also in international contexts. The collected real-world data also gives insights on the area of the quality of care, with particular reference to the patients’ experience. As a lesson learned, policymakers and the National Healthcare Service should re-think their current distribution models/practices in the light of the highlighted criticisms and opportunities for improvement.
Brand loyalty among low-income consumers?
Authors: Costa Filho Murilo Carrazedo , Falcao Roberto P.Q. , Motta Paulo Cesar de Mendonça
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Low-income consumers (LICs) have gained more attention from marketers after Prahalad and Hart (2004) called attention to untapped opportunities among the world’s poorest. Once neglected and seen as price-driven, more recent research has depicted LICs as brand-conscious consumers who are willing to pay a premium for quality. However, because LICs must balance their tight budgets with aspirations for branded items, this perspective may be too optimistic. To address this issue, the purpose of this paper is to investigate brand consideration and loyalty among LICs across a wide range of products.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a qualitative-inductive approach to assess LICs’ brand considerations across ten fast-moving consumer goods. In-depth interviews with 20 Brazilian LICs were conducted.

Findings

The authors found that brand loyalty among LICs is both context- and category-dependent. Patterns of loyalty are influenced by five factors: perceived differentiation, perceived risk, contextual usage, proportion of the category expenditure to household income and hedonic vs functional consumption. It seems that the interplay of these factors ultimately shapes differently the attitudes and repeated patronage of brands within each category among LICs.

Research limitations/implications

Generalizability of findings is limited owing to the qualitative method used.

Practical implications

The authors provide practical insights to managers concerning key attributes that influence brand consideration and loyalty among LICs.

Originality/value

This paper adds to the yet limited knowledge on LICs and provides a deeper and more holistic understanding of the relation of LICs with brands.
Soft adventure motivation: an exploratory study of hiking tourism
Authors: Bichler Bernhard Fabian , Peters Mike
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Adventure activities have become the core products of many tourism destinations. Hiking, which is known to be a soft adventure activity, represents an especially important product for many tourism destinations around the globe and in the European Alps. However, little research has explored hikers’ underlying motivation and experiences, which are expected to differ from the hard adventure context, as mountain hiking provides a low risk, but high immersion. This paper aims to determine and explore the underlying dimensions and dynamics of mountain hikers’ soft adventure motivation (SAM).

Design/methodology/approach

A concurrent mixed-method design that builds on a quantitative survey (N = 379) and qualitative interviews (N = 14) was used to explore SAM factors. This study combined exploratory factor analysis and regression analysis with semi-structured interviews and template analysis.

Findings

The quantitative results provide six SAM factors and emphasize that “relaxation,” “socializing” and “discovery” contribute to hiking satisfaction, while “recognition” has adverse effects. By triangulating these findings with hikers’ experiences, this study underlines the associated recreational meaning of hiking and provides an in-depth qualitative discussion of SAM factors and the subordinate role of “recognition.”

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper is a refined understanding of SAM in the hiking context by emphasizing the recreational meaning of mountain hiking. As a result, this study adds an important missing link to previous outdoor tourism and leisure studies by showing the special composition and dynamics of SAM. The findings also support the creation of tailor-made touristic products.
Quantification of airfield pavement condition using soft-computing technique
Authors: Vyas Vidhi , Singh Ajit Pratap , Srivastava Anshuman
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is the development of an objective approach to prioritize and rank airfield pavement sections based on their condition and justify their funding requirements using a soft-computing technique.

Design/methodology/approach

The airfield pavement condition is evaluated by collecting data through field tests and visual surveys. The performance indicators are selected as deflection, structural index, subgrade modulus and pavement condition index, by taking the help of field experts. The condition of pavement sections is analyzed by obtaining scores for each sections using Buckley’s fuzzy analytic hierarchy process. The sections are finally ranked for performing their maintenance and repair activities.

Findings

The condition of pavements is represented using a single score that takes an account of cumulative impact of various parameters as well as any subjectivity associated with human perceptions.

Practical implications

The developed methodology is very useful for its practical implications, and it is explained using a case study of an international airport.

Originality/value

Decision-making for maintenance and repair practices is often based on subjective decisions and lacks a robust and judicious approach. Thus, obtaining sufficient budget for repair and maintenance becomes one of the primary challenges. This study adds a value to prevailing practices by developing an objective decision-making methodology. Additionally, the use of non-destructive testing techniques, which pose little or no necessity to destructive coring and boring, eases this task.
Optimized experimental design for seismic full waveform inversion: A computationally efficient method including a flexible implementation of acquisition costs
Authors: Krampe Valérie , Edme Pascal , Maurer Hansruedi
Published: October 2020

Optimized experimental design aims at reducing the cost of a seismic survey by identifying the optimal locations and amounts of sources and receivers. While the acquisition design in the context of seismic imaging applies criteria like fold, offset and spatial sampling, different attributes such as the sensitivity kernels are more relevant for seismic full waveform inversion. An ideal measure to quantify the goodness of an acquisition design relies on the eigenvalue spectrum of the approximate Hessian matrix, but this technique is computationally too expensive for practical use. A more affordable goodness measure has been proposed in the past, but we demonstrate that this measure is inappropriate for target‐oriented optimized experimental design. To address those issues, we derived a sequential receiver‐based procedure using a goodness measure based on the determinant of the approximate Hessian matrix. We show with numerical tests that it efficiently provides an optimized design for target‐oriented as well as for extensive full waveform inversion. This design allows a better reconstruction of the subsurface than an evenly spaced acquisition geometry. Furthermore, the optimization algorithm itself can easily be parallelized, therefore making it attractive for applications to large‐scale three‐dimensional surveys. In addition, our algorithm is able to incorporate variable costs, representing any kind of acquisition‐related costs, for every individual source location. The combined optimization with respect to the information content of sources and to the true cost will allow a more comprehensive and realistic survey planning and has a high potential for further applications.
Dependence of borehole shear‐horizontal‐wave seismoelectric response on soil textures
Authors: Wang Weihao , Cui Zhiwen , Liu Jinxia , Kundu Tribikram
Published: October 2020

The phenomenon of acoustic waves inducing electric fields in porous media is called the seismoelectric effect. Earlier investigators proposed the usage of seismoelectric effect for well logging. Soil texture has a strong influence on the coupled wave fields during shallow surface explorations. In this article, we study the borehole pure shear‐horizontal wave and the coupling transverse‐electric field (acoustic–electrical coupling wave fields) in the partially saturated soil. Combined with related theories, we expand the formation parameters to partially saturated forms and discuss the influence of soil texture conditions on the seismoelectric wave fields. The results show that the elastic and electrical properties of porous media are sensitive to water saturation. The compositions of the acoustic and electric fields for different soil textures do not change, but the waveforms differ. We also use the secant integral method to simulate the interface‐converted electromagnetic waves. The results show that interface response strength is greatly influenced by soil texture. In addition, considering the sensitivity of the inducing electric field to fluid salinity, we also simulate the time‐domain waveforms of electric field for different pore fluid salinity levels. The results show that as the salinity increases, the electric field amplitude decreases monotonically. The above conclusions have certain significance for the application of borehole shear wave and its coupled electric fields for resource exploration, saturation assessment and groundwater pollution monitoring.
Environmental filtering both indirectly and directly drives the Dry Tropical Forest species composition and functional composition
Authors: Gianasi Fernanda Moreira , de Souza Cléber Rodrigo , Fagundes Nathalle Cristine Alencar , Maia Vinícius Andrade , Morel Jean Daniel , Ferreira Santos Paola , dos Santos Rubens Manoel
Published: October 2020

Soil is a relevant driver of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic composition at local scales. However, the mechanisms by which the soil act in these components or how these components interact with each other are not elucidated. Herein, we propose to understand the role of soil (environmental filtering) on the turnover of taxonomic and phylogenetic components and their role in determining the functional composition of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest (SDTF) communities. We sampled all the arboreal individuals with Diameter at Breast Height equal to or higher than 3 cm and collected soil variables of 25 units from five SDTF fragments located in the Brazilian Caatinga Domain. These data enabled us to obtain the taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic composition of each plot, which were then analyzed by Structural Equation Models jointly with the soil variables. Our results suggest that the soil conditions select specific phylogenetic lineages from a regional species pool according to the adaptive potential, which affects the distribution and abundance of species (taxonomic composition). However, it was not possible to establish a direct relationship between the phylogenetic composition and the taxonomic composition, possibly due to the use of labile functional traits in the analysis. We also found that soil acts directly on the functional composition, leading to a differential success of individuals which would represent a direct and indirect effect of taxonomic composition on the functional composition. Thus, we found community aspects result from different ecological mechanisms which act in a continuous and progressive way between functional, phylogenetic and taxonomic composition.
Low‐dose alcohol: Interoceptive and molecular effects and the role of dentate gyrus in rats
Authors: Randall Patrick A. , Lovelock Dennis F. , VanVoorhies Kalynn , Agan Verda E. , Kash Thomas L. , Besheer Joyce
Published: October 2020

Alcohol abuse and dependence are world‐wide health problems. Most research on alcohol use focuses on the consequences of moderate to high levels of alcohol. However, even at low concentrations, alcohol is capable of producing effects in the brain that can ultimately affect behavior. The current studies seek to understand the effects of low‐dose alcohol (blood alcohol levels of ≤10mM). To do so, these experiments utilize a combination of behavioral and molecular techniques to (1) assess the ability of the interoceptive effects of a low dose of alcohol to gain control over goal‐tracking behavior in a Pavlovian discrimination task, (2) determine brain regional differences in cellular activity via expression of immediate early genes (IEGs), and (3) assess the role of the dentate gyrus in modulating sensitivity to the interoceptive effects of a low dose of alcohol. Here, we show that intragastric administration of a dose of 0.8 g/kg alcohol produces blood alcohol levels ≤10mM in both male and female Long‐Evans rats and can readily be trained as a Pavlovian interoceptive drug cue. In rats trained on this procedure, this dose of alcohol also modulates expression of the IEGs c‐Fos and Arc in brain regions known to modulate expression of alcohol interoceptive effects. Finally, pharmacological inactivation of the dentate gyrus with GABA agonists baclofen and muscimol disrupted the ability of a low dose of alcohol to serve as an interoceptive cue. Together, these findings demonstrate behavioral and molecular consequences of low‐dose alcohol.
Discovering lethal alleles across the turkey genome using a transmission ratio distortion approach
Authors: Abdalla E. A. , Id‐Lahoucine S. , Cánovas A. , Casellas J. , Schenkel F. S. , Wood B. J. , Baes C. F.
Published: October 2020

Deviation from Mendelian inheritance expectations (transmission ratio distortion, TRD) has been observed in several species, including the mouse and humans. In this study, TRD was characterized in the turkey genome using both allelic (specific‐ and unspecific‐parent TRD) and genotypic (additive‐ and dominance‐TRD) parameterizations within a Bayesian framework. In this study, we evaluated TRD for 23 243 genotyped Turkeys across 56 393 autosomal SNPs. The analyses included 500 sires, 2013 dams and 11 047 offspring (trios). Three different haplotype sliding windows of 4, 10 and 20 SNPs were used across the autosomal chromosomes. Based on the genotypic parameterizations, 14 haplotypes showed additive and dominance TRD effects highlighting regions with a recessive TRD pattern. In contrast, the allelic model uncovered 12 haplotype alleles with the allelic TRD pattern which showed an underrepresentation of heterozygous offspring in addition to the absence of homozygous animals. For regions with the allelic pattern, only one particular region showed a parent‐specific TRD where the penetrance was high via the dam, but low via the sire. The gene set analysis uncovered several gene ontology functional terms, Reactome pathways and several Medical Subject Headings that showed significant enrichment of genes associated with TRD. Many of these gene ontology functional terms (e.g. mitotic spindle assembly checkpoint, DRM complex and Aneuploidy), Reactome pathways (e.g. Mismatch repair) and Medical Subject Headings (e.g. Adenosine monophosphate) are known to be related to fertility, embryo development and lethality. The results of this study revealed potential novel candidate lethal haplotypes, functional terms and pathways that may enhance breeding programs in Turkeys through reducing mortality and improving reproduction rate.
Collective Security and a New World Order: Justifying Australia's Participation in the Persian Gulf Crisis, 1990‐91
Authors: Barritt‐Eyles Lisa
Published: October 2020

In response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on 2 August 1990, Australia's Labor government committed a naval task force to participate in the enforcement of sanctions, and subsequently, the Gulf War to expel Iraq from Kuwait. The Australian government justified its response to the Persian Gulf crisis in various ways, including the threat it posed to national and international security, and by employing representations of Australian identity and the radical Otherness of Saddam Hussein. The paper considers these aspects, then focuses on two ostensibly complementary justifications. Firstly, the rapid commitment was represented as a necessary act of collective security connected to revitalisation of the United Nations. Secondly, it was justified as contributing to the development of a post‐Cold War new world order (NWO), framed within Australian regional security interests and shaped by the US alliance. The paper argues that the Australian discourse melds the justifications, despite collective security, based on UN leadership, sitting uneasily with a NWO premised on US leadership, without having to attend to the tensions between the two justifications.
Lung ultrasound compared with bedside chest radiography in a paediatric cardiac intensive care unit
Authors: Hasan Tammam , Bonetti Simone , Gioachin Anna , Bulgarelli Ambra , Bartolacelli Ylenia , Ragni Luca , Gargiulo Gaetano D. , Donti Andrea
Published: October 2020

Aim

Postoperative recovery of children with heart disease is encumbered by pulmonary complications like pneumothorax (PNX), pleural effusion (PLE), interstitial oedema and pulmonary consolidation (PC). Recently, lung ultrasound (LUS) has become an important diagnostic tool for evaluation of pulmonary diseases in the paediatric context. LUS is accurate in diagnosing pleural and parenchymal diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of LUS in the identification of PNX, PLE and PC in a paediatric population of patients with congenital heart disease after heart surgery.

Methods

Fifty‐three patients aged 0‐17 years who underwent cardiac surgery were evaluated in the postoperative period by chest X‐ray (CXR) and LUS at the same time. The methods where compared for recognition of PNX, PLE and PC.

Results

LUS showed a good agreement for PNX and a moderate agreement for both PLE and PC. LUS also showed a significantly superior relative sensitivity than CXR for PC and PLE and a significantly inferior relative sensitivity for PNX.

Conclusion

This study confirms that LUS has a sufficient agreement rate with the current clinical standard (CXR). Non‐inferiority in diagnosis together with the easiness of bedside performance makes LUS a very attractive tool for the paediatric cardiac intensive care unit.
Molecular characterization of human adenoviruses associated with respiratory infection in Turkey
Authors: Bastug Aliye , Altas Ayse Basak , Koc Bahattin Taylan , Bayrakdar Fatma , Korukluoglu Gülay , Bodur Hurrem , Oguzoglu Tuba Cigdem
Published: October 2020

Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) are responsible for various clinical diseases. Molecular epidemiological studies of respiratory HAdVs are limited in Turkey. To determine the main genotypes and epidemiological characteristics of HAdVs in patients with respiratory symptoms. HAdV PCR‐positive extracts of nasal/nasopharyngeal specimens sent to the Turkish Public Health Institution from various cities of Turkey in 2015–2016 were investigated by seminested PCR. Partial sequence analysis of the hexon gene of HAdVs was performed. SPSSv.24.0 was used. A total of 23/68 (33.82%) HAdV‐positive samples were amplified. Mastadenovirus B, C, D, and F were detected and mastadenovirus B (10/23; 43.5%) and C (10/23; 43.5%) were predominant strains. Interestingly, HAdV‐F known to have gastrointestinal system tropism was detected in two patients with respiratory symptoms. HAdV‐B3 was the most prevalent genotype (9/23; 39.1%). Also, HAdV‐B7 is defined as a reemerging pathogen. It is noteworthy that there is a cluster of four HAdV‐C strains showing a close paraphyletic relationship with HAdV‐2/6 intertypic recombination. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing that HAdV‐B7 reemerging pathogen circulating in patients with respiratory infections in our country. It is also necessary to emphasize that HAdV‐2/6 recombinant strains were detected in this study for the first time in Turkey.