bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer as a Precision Oncology Paradigm: Emerging Targets and Tumor Mutational Burden (TMB)
Authors: Tafe Laura J.
Published: September 2019

Non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), since the recognition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations that sensitized tumors to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, has been a poster child for precision oncology in solid tumors. The emergence of resistance to the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors led to the unveiling of multiple resistance mechanisms that are now recognized to be frequent mechanisms across multiple tumor types. Coevolution of technological advancements in testing methods available to clinical laboratories now has identified a growing number of molecularly defined subsets of NSCLC that have new therapeutic implications. In addition, identifying patients eligible for immunotherapy is another goal for precision oncology. Recently, studies suggest that TMB may be a promising biomarker for selecting patients with NSCLC for immunotherapy. This review focuses on emerging potentially targetable alterations specifically in RET,ERBB2(HER2),MET, andKRASand current evidence and controversies surrounding TMB testing.
Primary Mediastinal Nodal and Extranodal Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas: Current Concepts, Historical Evolution, and Useful Diagnostic Approach: Part 1
Authors: Piña-Oviedo Sergio , Moran Cesar A.
Published: September 2019

Primary mediastinal non-Hodgkin lymphomas (PM-NHLs) represent ~5% of all NHLs and comprise lymphomas of B-cell and T-cell origin. PM-NHLs are defined as involvement of mediastinal lymph nodes, thymus, and/or mediastinal organs (heart, lung, pleura, pericardium) by NHL without evidence of systemic disease at presentation. The clinical scenario is variable and depends on the lymphoma subtype. The radiologic presentation is also variable ranging from a mediastinal mass with or without superior vena cava syndrome, a pleural or a cardiac mass associated with an effusion, or as an effusion only. The diagnosis of PM-NHLs can only be established by microscopic evaluation, and therefore, general pathologists should be aware of these tumors and familiar with their diagnostic approach. The most common anterior mediastinal NHLs (90% to 95%) are primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma and T lymphoblastic lymphoma. Thymic marginal zone lymphoma and mediastinal gray zone lymphoma are very rare. The remainder PM-NHLs involving middle or posterior mediastinum include diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and rare cases of T-cell lymphoma, including anaplastic large cell lymphoma and breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma extending to the anterior mediastinum. Primary pleural and cardiac NHLs are mostly DLBCLs. Other rare subtypes of PM-NHLs include DLBCL associated with chronic inflammation/pyothorax-associated lymphoma, fibrin-associated DLBCL (both EBV+), and pleural and/or pericardial primary effusion lymphoma (HHV-8+/EBV+). We review the historical aspects, epidemiology, clinico-radiologic features, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, differential diagnosis, and relevant cytogenetic and molecular features of PM (thymic) LBCL, PM “nonthymic” DLBCL, BCL, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between DLBCL and classic Hodgkin lymphoma (mediastinal gray zone lymphoma), DLBCL associated with chronic inflammation (pyothorax-associated lymphoma), fibrin-associated DLBCL, and primary effusion lymphoma. This review represents the first part of 2 manuscripts covering PM-NHLs.
The Effect of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Williamson Elizabeth , Pederson Natalie , Rawson Hannah , Daniel Todd
Published: September 2019

Purpose:

This study reports the respiratory muscle training effect on strength and endurance in individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Methods:

Articles published from 1984 to 2017 were reviewed. Six articles met the inclusion criteria that included within-subject control or between-subject control group, participants with a diagnosis of only Duchenne muscular dystrophy, participation in respiratory muscle training intervention, and outcome measures of endurance and strength. Effect sizes were calculated for each study and overall, weighted mean effect sizes for strength and endurance outcome measures.

Results:

There was a large effect for improving respiratory endurance and a moderate effect for muscle strength. However, these effects were not significant.

Conclusion:

Findings justify further exploration of the potential benefits of respiratory muscle training for individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Addressing Challenges of Baseline Variability in the Clinical Setting: Lessons from an Emergency Department
Authors: Berkowitz Deena , Chamberlain James , Provost Lloyd P.
Published: September 2019

Objective:

To demonstrate methods of adjusting data in quality improvement projects for better learning about interventions over time.

Methods:

A secondary analysis of data from a quality improvement project to improve patient wait times at an urban academic pediatric emergency department using electronic medical data from 2015 to 2018. The primary outcome was the wait times for low-acuity patients. Control charts were used to determine if the interventions were effective in reducing wait times. Two different data adjustment techniques were applied to account for changes in patient volume and seasonal effects on the outcome measure.

Results:

We more effectively demonstrated improved patient wait times after adjusting for patient volume or seasonality. Patient wait times decreased from 75.2 to 72.9 minutes after the intervention; a 3% decrease sustained over 18 months. A strong correlation between patient volume and wait times was noted. Process stability was achieved on the control charts after data adjustment, with one centerline shift after data adjustment in contrast to 5 centerline shifts required before data adjustment.

Conclusion:

Adjusting for seasonality or patient volume created process stability and improved learning from control charts. After adjustment, we sustained decreased patient wait times more than a year out from the original intervention Adjusting by patient volume seems to be a preferred method of adjustment. Our findings support the importance of adjusting for baseline variability affected by seasonality or patient volumes, especially in flow projects, as a high yield method for process improvement.
Lampropedia aestuarii sp. nov., isolated from the estuary of a freshwater river
Authors: Zhao Yi-Ting , Li Ya-Ping , Xiao Wei , Liu Wei-Hong , Cui Xiao-Long , Wang Yong-Xia
Published: September 2019

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, catalase-positive and oxidase-positive bacterium, designated strain YIM MLB12T, was isolated from estuary sediment sampled at Maliao River where it flows into a plateau lake (Dianchi) in Yunnan, south-west PR China. Cells were non-motile and rod-shaped. Growth was observed at 15–35 °C (optimum, 25–30 °C), pH 6.0–10.0 (optimum, pH 7.0–8.0) and in the presence of 0–7 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0.5–2 %). Results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain YIM MLB12T formed a tight phylogenic lineage with members of the genus

Lampropedia

and was closely related to ‘

Lampropedia puyangensis

’ 2-bin with 98.3 % sequence similarity and had low similarities to the type strains of Lampropediahyalina ATCC 11041T (96 %) and

Lampropedia cohaerens

CT6T (95.5 %). Average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain YIM MLB12T and ‘

L. puyangensis

’ KCTC 32235 were 76.5 and 22.6 %, respectively. Strain YIM MLB12T contained ubiquinone-8 as the major quinone. The predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), C16 : 0, C10 : 0 3-OH, summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω6c and/or C18 : 1 ω7c), C12 : 0 3-OH and C14 : 0. The polar lipid profile of strain YIM MLB12T was composed predominantly of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The major polyamine was spermidine. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain YIM MLB12T was 56.8 mol%. Based on its genotypic and chemotaxonomic features and results of phenotypic analyses, strain YIM MLB12T represents a novel species of the genus

Lampropedia

, for which the name

Lampropedia
aestuarii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM MLB12T (=KCTC 42886T=CGMCC 1.17071T).
Improved quadruplex real-time PCR assay for the diagnosis of diphtheria
Authors: Badell Edgar , Guillot Sophie , Tulliez Marie , Pascal Marine , Panunzi Leonardo Gabriel , Rose Samuel , Litt David , Fry Norman K. , Brisse Sylvain
Published: September 2019

Introduction. Diphtheria is caused by toxigenic strains of

Corynebacterium diphtheriae

,

Corynebacterium ulcerans

and

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis

. For diagnostic purposes, species identification and detection of toxigenic strains (diphtheria toxin (tox)-positive strains) is typically performed using end-point PCR. A faster quadruplex real-time PCR (qPCR) was recently developed (De Zoysa et al. J
.
Med
.
Microbiol. 2016;65(12):1521–1527).

Aims. We aimed to improve the quadruplex method by adding a 16S rRNA gene target as an internal processing control, providing confirmation of the presence of bacterial DNA in the assays, thus avoiding the possibility of false-negative reporting.

Methodology. Universal 16S rRNA gene primers and a probe were defined. The novel method was tested using 36 bacterial isolates and 17 clinical samples. Experimental robustness to temperature and reagent concentration variations was assessed.

Results. The method allows detection of the tox gene and distinguishing

C. diphtheriae

(including the newly described species Corynebacterium belfantii) from

C. ulcerans

and

C. pseudotuberculosis

. Complete diagnostic specificity, sensitivity and experimental robustness were demonstrated. The lower limit of detection for

C. diphtheriae

,

C. ulcerans

and tox targets was 1.86 genome copies per 5 µl reaction volume. The method was successfully used on two distinct qPCR technologies (LightCycler 480, Roche Diagnostics and Rotor-Gene Q, Qiagen) and in two laboratories (Institut Pasteur, Paris, France and Public Health England – National Infection Service, London, UK).

Conclusion. This work describes validation of the improved qPCR quadruplex method and supports its implementation for the biological diagnosis of diphtheria.
An analysis of the IS6/IS26 family of insertion sequences: is it a single family?
Authors: Harmer Christopher J. , Hall Ruth M.
Published: September 2019

The relationships within a curated set of 112 insertion sequences (ISs) currently assigned to the IS6 family, here re-named the IS6/IS26 family, in the ISFinder database were examined. The encoded DDE transposases include a helix-helix-turn-helix (H-HTH) potential DNA binding domain N-terminal to the catalytic (DDE) domain, but 10 from

Clostridia

include one or two additional N-terminal domains. The transposase phylogeny clearly separated 75 derived from bacteria from 37 from archaea. The longer bacterial transposases also clustered separately. The 65 shorter bacterial transposases, including Tnp26 from IS26, formed six clades but share significant conservation in the H-HTH domain and in a short extension at the N-terminus, and several amino acids in the catalytic domain are completely or highly conserved. At the outer ends of these ISs, 14 bp were strongly conserved as terminal inverted repeats (TIRs) with the first two bases (GG) and the seventh base (G) present in all except one IS. The longer bacterial transposases are only distantly related to the short bacterial transposases, with only some amino acids conserved. The TIR consensus was longer and only one IS started with GG. The 37 archaeal transposases are only distantly related to either the short or the long bacterial transposases and different residues were conserved. Their TIRs are loosely related to the bacterial TIR consensus but are longer and many do not begin with GG. As they do not fit well with most bacterial ISs, the inclusion of the archaeal ISs and the longer bacterial ISs in the IS6/IS26 family is not appropriate.
Loss of microbial diversity and pathogen domination of the gut microbiota in critically ill patients
Authors: Ravi Anuradha , Halstead Fenella D , Bamford Amy , Casey Anna , Thomson Nicholas M. , van Schaik Willem , Snelson Catherine , Goulden Robert , Foster-Nyarko Ebenezer , Savva George M. , Whitehouse Tony , Pallen Mark J. , Oppenheim Beryl A.
Published: September 2019

Among long-stay critically ill patients in the adult intensive care unit (ICU), there are often marked changes in the complexity of the gut microbiota. However, it remains unclear whether such patients might benefit from enhanced surveillance or from interventions targeting the gut microbiota or the pathogens therein. We therefore undertook a prospective observational study of 24 ICU patients, in which serial faecal samples were subjected to shotgun metagenomic sequencing, phylogenetic profiling and microbial genome analyses. Two-thirds of the patients experienced a marked drop in gut microbial diversity (to an inverse Simpson’s index of <4) at some stage during their stay in the ICU, often accompanied by the absence or loss of potentially beneficial bacteria. Intravenous administration of the broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent meropenem was significantly associated with loss of gut microbial diversity, but the administration of other antibiotics, including piperacillin/tazobactam, failed to trigger statistically detectable changes in microbial diversity. In three-quarters of ICU patients, we documented episodes of gut domination by pathogenic strains, with evidence of cryptic nosocomial transmission of

Enterococcus faecium

. In some patients, we also saw an increase in the relative abundance of apparent commensal organisms in the gut microbiome, including the archaeal species

Methanobrevibacter smithii

. In conclusion, we have documented a dramatic absence of microbial diversity and pathogen domination of the gut microbiota in a high proportion of critically ill patients using shotgun metagenomics.
Influence of human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein O polymorphism on the inhibitory effect of soluble forms of trimer- and pentamer-specific entry receptors
Authors: Brait Nadja , Stögerer Tanja , Kalser Julia , Adler Barbara , Kunz Ines , Benesch Max , Kropff Barbara , Mach Michael , Puchhammer-Stöckl Elisabeth , Görzer Irene
Published: September 2019

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) envelope glycoprotein complexes, gH/gL/gO-trimer and gH/gL/UL128L-pentamer, are important for cell-free HCMV entry. While soluble Nrp2-Fc (sNrp2-Fc) interferes with epithelial/endothelial cell entry through UL128, soluble PDGFRα-Fc (sPDGFRα-Fc) interacts with gO thereby inhibiting infection of all cell types. Since gO is the most variable subunit we investigated the influence of gO polymorphism on the inhibitory capacities of sPDGFRα-Fc and sNRP2-Fc.

Accordingly, gO genotype 1c (GT1c) sequence was fully or partially replaced by gO GT2b, GT3, GT5 sequences in TB40-BAC4-luc background. All mutants were tested for fibroblast and epithelial cell infectivity, for virions’ gO and gH content, and for infection inhibition by sPDGFRα-Fc and sNrp2-Fc.

Full-length and partial gO GT swapping may strongly alter the virions’ gO and gH levels associated with enhanced epithelial cell infectivity. All gO GT mutants except recombinant gO GT1c/3 displayed a near-complete inhibition at 1.25 μg/ml sPDGFRα-Fc on epithelial cells (98% versus 91%) and all on fibroblasts (≥ 99%). While gO GT replacement did not influence sNrp2-Fc inhibition at 1.25 μg/ml on epithelial cells (96%-98%), it rendered mutants with low gO levels moderately accessible to fibroblasts inhibition (20%-40%). In contrast to the steep sPDGFRα-Fc inhibition curves (slope >1.0), sNrp2-Fc dose-response curves on epithelial cells displayed slopes of ~1.0 suggesting functional differences between these entry inhibitors.

Our findings suggest that targeting of gO-trimer rather than UL128-pentamer might be a promising target to inhibit infectivity independent of the cell type, gO polymorphism, and gO/gH content. However, intragenic gO recombination may lead to moderate resistence to sPDGFRα-Fc inhibition.

Importance

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is known for its broad cell tropism as reflected by the different organs and tissues affected by HCMV infection. Hence, inhibition of HCMV entry into distinct cell types could be considered as a promising therapeutic option to limit cell-free HCMV infection. Soluble forms of cellular entry receptor PDGFRα rather than those of entry receptor neuropilin-2 inhibit infection of multiple cell types. sPDGFRα specifically interacts with gO of the trimeric gH/gL/gO envelope glycoprotein complex. HCMV strains may differ with respect to the virions’ amount of trimer and the highly polymorphic gO sequence. In this study, we show that gO polymorphism rather than gO levels may affect the inhibitory capacity of sPDGFRα. The finding that gO intragenic recombination may lead to moderate evasion from sPDGFRα inhibition is of major value to the development of potential anti-HCMV therapeutic compounds based on sPDGFRα.
PCH-2 collaborates with CMT-1 to proofread meiotic homolog interactions
Authors: Giacopazzi Stefani , Vong Daniel , Devigne Alice , Bhalla Needhi
Published: September 2019

The conserved ATPase, PCH-2/TRIP13, is required during both the spindle checkpoint and meiotic prophase. However, it’s specific role in regulating meiotic homolog pairing, synapsis and recombination has been enigmatic. Here, we report that this enzyme is required to proofread meiotic homolog interactions. We generated a mutant version of PCH-2 in C. elegans that binds ATP but cannot hydrolyze it: pch-2E253Q. In vitro, this mutant binds its substrates but is unable to remodel them. This mutation results in non-homologous synapsis and loss of crossover assurance. Surprisingly, worms with a null mutation in PCH-2’s adapter protein, CMT-1, the ortholog of p31comet, localize PCH-2 to meiotic chromosomes, exhibit non-homologous synapsis and lose crossover assurance. The similarity in phenotypes between cmt-1 and pch-2E253Q mutants indicate that PCH-2 can bind its meiotic substrates in the absence of CMT-1, in contrast to its role during the spindle checkpoint, but requires its adapter to hydrolyze ATP and remodel them.
Gender gaps and female labour participation in agriculture in Nigeria
Authors: Obayelu Abiodun Elijah , Ogbe Agatha Osivweneta , Edewor Sarah E.
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is threefold: to assess the gender gaps and the patterns of female workforce in agriculture; to examine the level of household decision making among the principal males and females in the household; and to estimate the time spent by the principal males and females in the household by activities in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The study made use of secondary data obtained from various sources such as published articles, research reports, unpublished discussion paper, policy documents, national and international databases (World Bank World Development Indicators, United Nations Development Programme and the ECOWAS-RAAF-PASANAO survey conducted in Nigeria in 2017), and position papers. The information gathered covers a range of empirical and conceptual issues relating to labour, share of women contributing to agriculture and other gender-related issues. The study covered 1,747 maize and/or rice producing households spread across 141 farming communities in 16 states in Nigeria using a multi-stage sampling technique.

Findings

It was interesting to note that an average male was older and had more educational qualification than their female counterparts. In the same vein, he owned more assets (virgin lands, other plots and buildings) when compared with their female counterparts and earned higher incomes from farming and other labour activities with the exception of trading. Furthermore, the result revealed females spent more time taking care of children, cooking and schooling than their male counterparts. It can therefore be concluded that a gender gap exists in agricultural labour participation with the males playing dominant roles as compared with their female counterparts. Analysis of women’s agricultural should not neglect the structural bases of their inequality.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited by lack of enough data base on women’s and men’s engagement in labour force and on agricultural activities which can be analysed for policy formulation and implementation.

Social implications

The paper elucidates some of the possible social, economic and biological implications of changes in women’s work and their participation in agriculture in Nigeria.

Originality/value

The paper is original in nature and will add value to the integration of women into the development process in Nigeria.
We recovered food heritage, and then? Value enhancement and promotion of local agri-food products in Argentina and Spain
Authors: Barrionuevo Cintia Analía , Bernat Elena Espeitx , Velarde Irene Julia
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the initiatives of value enhancement and the promotion of local agri-food products in Argentina and Spain to address some of their limitations and contradictions.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on processes of participatory action research, data and knowledge were produced dialectically with the actors, linking the research process to rural development processes.

Findings

Value enhancement and promotion of local agri-food products is a complex system where values, preferences and availability of resources converge, allowing to consume products of higher quality, “heritage” products or products differentiated by the production mode. This consumption is not only aimed at tourists who are willing to pay something more for a “certified” local product, but also for the estrategic allies who appreciate the taste of the food of their territory: local consumers. These processes develop strategies such as the “fairs” of each product, or the classic “quality seals.” In the comparison between experiences of both countries, the controversies raise with the high prices of the products as a synonym of value enhancement instead of the right to quality food and the seeking of food sovereignty.

Originality/value

Problematizing the recovery and valorization of local products reveals the necessity, awareness and inclusion of consumers as actors in the innovation processes and not simply as buyers of luxury products. The originality is also based on specific intervention experiences with territorial actors (social, economic, scientific and political) that shape new forms of intervention, based on strategies that link patrimonialization, knowledge systems and territorial development.
Memory-dependent derivative effect on wave propagation of micropolar thermoelastic medium under pulsed laser heating with three theories
Authors: Othman Mohamed I.A. , Mondal Sudip
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the phase-lag models (Lord-Shulman, dual-phase-lag and three-phase-lag) to study the effect of memory-dependent derivative and the influence of thermal loading due to laser pulse on the wave propagation of generalized micropolar thermoelasticity. The bounding plane surface is heated by a non-Gaussian laser beam with a pulse duration of 10 nanoseconds.

Design/methodology/approach

The normal mode analysis technique is used to obtain the exact expressions for the displacement components, the force stresses, the temperature, the couple stresses and the micro-rotation. Comparisons are made with the results predicted by three theories of the authors’ interest. Excellent predictive capability is demonstrated at a different time also.

Findings

The effect of memory-dependent derivative and the heat laser pulse on the displacement, the temperature distribution, the components of stress, the couple stress and the microrotation vector have been depicted graphically.

Research limitations/implications

Some particular cases are also deduced from the present investigation.

Originality/value

The numerical results are presented graphically and are compared with different three theories for both in the presence and absence of memory-dependent effect and with the results predicted under three theories for two different values of the time.
Examining interconnectivity of entrepreneurship, innovation and sports policy framework
Authors: Pounder Paul
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the existing literature in entrepreneurship and innovation and its linkages to sport.

Design/methodology/approach

This research involved four main stages: definition of the key aspects of innovation and entrepreneurship; synthesis of the typologies purporting the interplay between entrepreneurship and innovation in sport; showcasing entrepreneurship and innovation in-practice in a sports context; and identifying steps toward the development of an overall sports policy framework.

Findings

It was observed that through entrepreneurship, innovation plays a crucial role in contributing to the sports industry through research, and technology adaptation. The wide variation in the adaptation techniques of innovation in the entrepreneurship realm for sports can be supported by three aspects: a strong culture of innovation, the adaptation of technology from other sectors for sports entrepreneurship and network support.

Research limitations/implications

This study highlights the critical role that entrepreneurship and innovation can have on the sports sector. Those in the sports’ field can use this research to continue to push the development of products and services that can improve the field.

Originality/value

There is little emphasis on sports in mainstream entrepreneurship or innovation research. Therefore, this research is one of the few in this area to look at the interconnectivity between entrepreneurship, innovation and sports.
Archetypes of incumbents’ strategic responses to digital innovation
Authors: D’Ippolito Beatrice , Messeni Petruzzelli Antonio , Panniello Umberto
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how incumbents adapt their business models in response to digital innovation whose impact is either incremental or radical and source industry is either their own industry or other industries. The authors propose a conceptual matrix that is built on these two dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors build examples of four multinational incumbents operating in different sectors and known for their forefront approach to digital innovation to populate the matrix. Cases were chosen because of their polar nature that could provide variation in the two dimensions. The authors draw on a variety of qualitative secondary data sources to build the cases.

Findings

The study reveals how incumbents’ response to digital technologies (DTs) may differ depending on the resources or assets (including knowledge-based ones) that need mobilising. Business model changes and innovations may require full reconfiguration of a firm’s activity system; hence, one business model may be preferred to others depending on how burdensome the reconfiguration process will be.

Research limitations/implications

As the study is exploratory in nature, the anecdotal evidence provided in the paper are only some of the possible strategic responses of firms. Future studies may further into the dimensions the authors identified by empirically testing their validity with primary data.

Practical implications

The research offers managers and executives of incumbent firms a clear indication as to which elements of their business model ought to be adapted given the opportunities as well as the challenges brought about by DTs.

Originality/value

This research has explored incumbents’ response to DTs by primarily focusing on the nature and source industry of the underpinning innovation, besides any consideration of the drivers or processes that may lead to business model change.
Talent management practices: perceptions of academics in Egyptian public business schools
Authors: Mousa Mohamed , Ayoubi Rami M.
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on 3 out of 24 business schools in Egypt in order to investigate their talent management practices of academics.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 350 academics were contacted and 245 of them were interviewed in 49 face-to-face focus groups. The interview length for each focus group is about 45 min and is conducted in Arabic, the mother tongue of all respondents. Upon conducting the interviews, the authors used thematic analysis to determine the main ideas in the transcripts.

Findings

The authors did not detect any systematic approach for the management of academic talent in the chosen public business schools. Instead, there were irresponsible unorderly procedures undertaken by these business schools in staffing, empowering, motivating, evaluating and retaining those talents. Furthermore, the authors realized an absence of many cultural and technical dimensions like adaptability, consistency and knowledge sharing which may hurdle academic staff desires to do their best effort in teaching and conducting research. Moreover, these addressed academic members narrow perception of the concept “talent” that includes only musical and sports figures – the matter that reflects their lack of understanding for one of the hottest concepts in HR academic and practical arenas nowadays.

Research limitations/ implications

The focus is only on a single perspective (academics) and a single area (Upper Egypt) – a matter that neglects a variety of views (e.g. minister of Egyptian higher education and schools’ deans). Additionally, the results/findings of this study cannot be generalized to academic settings in other countries because the data are collected only from public business schools in Upper Egypt.

Originality/value

This paper contributes by filling a gap in HR management, in which empirical studies on the practices of managing talents have been limited so far.
Predicting the wear rate of AA6082 aluminum surface composites produced by friction stir processing via artificial neural network
Authors: Dinaharan Isaac , Palanivel Ramaswamy , Murugan Natarajan , Laubscher Rudolf Frans
Published: September 2019

Purpose

Friction stir processing (FSP) as a solid-state process has the potential for the production of effective aluminum matrix composites (AMCs). In this investigation, various ceramic particles including B4C, TiC, SiC, Al2O3 and WC were incorporated as the dispersed phase within AA6082 aluminum alloy by FSP. The wear rate of the composite is then investigated experimentally by making use of a design of experiments technique where wear rate is evaluated as the output parameter. The input parameters considered include tool rotational speed, traverse speed, groove width and ceramic particle type. An artificial neural network (ANN) simulation was then used to describe the wear rate of the surface composites. The weights of the network were adjusted to minimize the mean squared error using a feed forward back propagation technique. The effect of the individual input parameters on wear rate was then inferred from the ANN models. Trends are presented and related to the associated microstructures observed. The TiC infused AMC displayed the lowest wear rate whereas the Al2O3 infused AMC displayed the highest, within the scope of the current investigation. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper used ANN for the research study.

Findings

The finding of this paper is that the wear rate of AA6063 aluminum surface composites is influenced remarkably by FSP parameters.

Originality/value

Original work of authors.
The compliant environment
Authors: Andrews Penny
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the concept of institutions as compliant environments, using data to monitor and enforce compliance with a range of external policies and initiatives, using the particular example of UK higher education (HE) institutions. The paper differs from previous studies by bringing together a range of policies and uses of data covering different areas of HE and demonstrating how they contribute to the common goal of compliance.

Design/methodology/approach

The compliant environment is defined in this context and the author has applied the preliminary model to a range of policies and cases that use and reuse data from staff and students in HE.

Findings

The findings show that the focus on compliance with these policies and initiatives has resulted in a high level of surveillance of staff and students and a lack of resistance towards policies that work against the goals of education and academia.

Research limitations/implications

This is the first study to bring together the range of areas in which policy compliance and data processing are entwined in HE. The study contributes to the academic literature on data and surveillance and on academic institutions as organisations.

Practical implications

The paper offers suggestions for resistance to compliance and data processing initiatives in HE.

Originality/value

This is the first study to bring together the range of areas in which policy compliance and data processing are entwined in HE. The study contributes to the academic literature on data and surveillance and on academic institutions as organisations.
Automatic identification and autonomous sorting of cylindrical parts in cluttered scene based on monocular vision 3D reconstruction
Authors: Wei Kun , Dai Yong , Ren Bingyin
Published: September 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to propose an identification method based on monocular vision for cylindrical parts in cluttered scene, which solves the issue that iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm fails to obtain global optimal solution, as the deviation from scene point cloud to target CAD model is huge in nature.

Design/methodology/approach

The images of the parts are captured at three locations by a camera amounted on a robotic end effector to reconstruct initial scene point cloud. Color signatures of histogram of orientations (C-SHOT) local feature descriptors are extracted from the model and scene point cloud. Random sample consensus (RANSAC) algorithm is used to perform the first initial matching of point sets. Then, the second initial matching is conducted by proposed remote closest point (RCP) algorithm to make the model get close to the scene point cloud. Levenberg Marquardt (LM)-ICP is used to complete fine registration to obtain accurate pose estimation.

Findings

The experimental results in bolt-cluttered scene demonstrate that the accuracy of pose estimation obtained by the proposed method is higher than that obtained by two other methods. The position error is less than 0.92 mm and the orientation error is less than 0.86°. The average recognition rate is 96.67 per cent and the identification time of the single bolt does not exceed 3.5 s.

Practical implications

The presented approach can be applied or integrated into automatic sorting production lines in the factories.

Originality/value

The proposed method improves the efficiency and accuracy of the identification and classification of cylindrical parts using a robotic arm.
Obligate intracellular bacteria diversity in unfed Leptotrombidium scutellare larvae highlights novel bacterial endosymbionts of mites
Authors: Ogawa Motohiko , Takahashi Mamoru , Matsutani Minenosuke , Takada Nobuhiro , Noda Shinichi , Saijo Masayuki
Published: September 2019

It is well known that the mite Leptotrombidium scutellare carries the pathogen of scrub typhus, Orientia tsutsugamushi. However, our understanding of other bacterial endosymbionts of mites is limited. This study investigated the diversity of the obligate intracellular bacteria carried by L. scutellare using 16S rRNA gene amplicon analysis with next‐generation sequencing. The results showed that the detected bacteria were classified into the genera Rickettsia, Wolbachia, and Rickettsiella and an unknown genus of the order Rickettsiales. For further classification of the detected bacteria, a representative read that was most closely related to the assigned taxonomic classification was subjected to homology search and phylogenic analysis. The results showed that some bacteria of the genus Rickettsia were identical or very close to the human pathogens Rickettsia akari, Rickettsia aeschlimannii, Rickettsia felis, and Rickettsia australis. The genetic distance between the genus Wolbachia bacteria in the present study and in previous reports is highly indicative that the bacteria in the present study can be classified as a new taxon of Wolbachia. This study detected obligate intracellular bacteria from unfed mites; thus, the mites did not acquire bacteria from infected animals or any other infectious sources. Finally, the present study demonstrated that various and novel bacterial endosymbionts of mites, in addition to O. tsutsugamushi, might uniquely evolve with the host mites throughout overlapping generations of the mite life cycle. The roles of the bacteria in mites and their pathogenicity should be further examined in studies based on bacterial isolation.
Political Conflict over Time
Authors: Howell William , Krasa Stefan , Polborn Mattias
Published: September 2019

We study a model of electoral competition in which politicians must decide whether to initiate the provision of some public good and, afterward, how much of the public good to supply. The model illuminates how a project's implementation affects elections and, conversely, how electoral considerations influence decisions about implementation. Under well‐defined conditions, politicians will either implement projects that they do not like or delay projects that, absent electoral concerns, they would support. The model further reveals how the perceived benefits of holding office can impede the production of public goods about which there is broad consensus. And depending on facts about the program's structure and the electoral landscape, a policy's implementation can either mitigate or exacerbate political conflict.
When Preventing Absenteeism Fuels Long‐Sickness Leave: The Case of a Leading Operator for Local Transport Services
Authors: Askenazy Philippe , Cartron Damien
Published: September 2019

We examine the strategy to reduce sickness absences of transit drivers in one of the leading Multinational Operators for Local Transport Services in France. Absenteeism dramatically rose as a result of this strategy. Using observations and interviews at the corporate and field levels, and company data, we disentangle the mechanisms that led to this failure. In a context of strong constraints especially from local communities, the strategy based on underlining the costs of absences pushed local units to change their management practices. They focused on chasing short absences, promoted presenteeism and intensified pressure on workers rather than boosting prevention. Eventually, long‐duration sickness leaves massively expanded.
Can image‐enhanced endoscopy improve the diagnosis of Kyoto classification of gastritis in the clinical setting?
Authors: Dohi Osamu , Majima Atsushi , Naito Yuji , Yoshida Takuma , Ishida Tsugitaka , Azuma Yuka , Kitae Hiroaki , Matsumura Shinya , Mizuno Naoki , Yoshida Naohisa , Kamada Kazuhiro , Itoh Yoshito
Published: September 2019

Endoscopic diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, the most common cause of gastric cancer, is very important to clarify high‐risk patients of gastric cancer for reducing morbidity and mortality of gastric cancer. Recently, the Kyoto classification of gastritis was developed based on the endoscopic characteristics of H. pylori infection‐associated gastritis for clarifying H. pylori infection status and evaluating risk factors of gastric cancer. Recently, magnifying endoscopy with narrow‐band imaging (NBI) has reported benefits of the accuracy and reproducibility of endoscopic diagnosis for H. pylori‐related premalignant lesions. In addition to NBI, various types of image‐enhanced endoscopies (IEEs) are available including autofluorescence imaging, blue laser imaging, and linked color imaging. This review focuses on understanding the clinical applications and the corresponding evidences shown to improve the diagnosis of gastritis based on Kyoto classification using currently available advanced technologies of IEEs.
The circular economy of agro and post‐consumer residues as raw materials for sustainable ceramics
Authors: Andreola Fernanda , Lancellotti Isabella , Manfredini Tiziano , Barbieri Luisa
Published: September 2019

The circular economy in the area of waste management implies their re‐use as a raw material in different production cycles. Both the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the residues from the agro sector and those of the products of the ceramics sector make possible to think of a feasible application. This review will illustrate some examples of recycling of residues deriving from animal and vegetable sectors (and two post consume products, spent coffee grounds, and packaging glass cullet), studied by the authors, falling within the concept of urban and agricultural sustainable development. Not only the most traditional products such as glass‐ceramics, glazes, bricks, but also the most innovative lightweight aggregates for plant structures or in and out soil cultivation, as well as additives such as deflocculants for ceramic suspensions, which will be illustrated from the design/production, characterization, and comparison with commercial products.
Properties of hyoid muscle contraction during tongue lift measurement
Authors: Koshi Naomi , Magara Jin , Sakai Shogo , Tsujimura Takanori , Ono Kazuhiro , Inoue Makoto
Published: September 2019

Background

Tongue lift movement (TLM) task is considered a treatment strategy in dysphagic patients. However, there is no evidence of effect of sustained tongue movements on the related muscle contraction.

Objectives

The present study aimed to characterise the properties and time‐dependent changes of the electromyographic (EMG) features of suprahyoid muscles during TLM.

Methods

Twenty young healthy volunteers were instructed to perform TLM at maximum effort in either the anterior or the posterior position, during measurement of tongue pressure for 7 s. Supra‐ (S‐hyo) and infra‐hyoid (I‐hyo) EMGs were recorded. The area and power frequency of EMG burst and the area under the curve of tongue pressure were compared among the conditions: trials (1st, 2nd vs 3rd trials); anterior vs posterior TLM; and early vs late 3 s of each trial.

Results

There was no difference in the tongue pressure among trials or between the early and late 3 s. Anterior tongue pressure was significantly higher than posterior tongue pressure (P < .001). The area of I‐hyo EMG burst was significantly larger (P = .044), and the power frequency of I‐hyo EMG burst was significantly smaller (P = .042) during posterior TLM than anterior TLM. A significant difference in the power frequency of both EMG bursts was observed between early and late stages during both anterior (P < .05) and posterior (P < .01) TLM.

Conclusion

Hyoid muscles may compensate for rapid fatigue of the tongue muscle to maintain tongue pressure by changing their activity pattern during tongue pressure generation.
Differential introgression across newt hybrid zones: Evidence from replicated transects
Authors: Zieliński Piotr , Dudek Katarzyna , Arntzen Jan W. , Palomar Gemma , Niedzicka Marta , Fijarczyk Anna , Liana Marcin , Cogǎlniceanu Dan , Babik Wiesław
Published: September 2019

Genomic heterogeneity of divergence between hybridizing species may reflect heterogeneity of introgression, but also processes unrelated to hybridization. Heterogeneous introgression and its repeatability can be directly tested in natural hybrid zones by examining multiple transects. Here, we studied hybrid zones between the European newtsLissotriton montandoniand two lineages ofLissotriton vulgaris, with replicate transects within each zone. Over 1,000 nuclear genes located on a linkage map and mitochondrial DNA were investigated using geographical and genomic clines. Overall, the five transects were all similar, showing hallmarks of strong reproductive isolation: bimodal distribution of genotypes in central populations and narrow allele frequency clines. However, the extent of introgression differed between the zones, possibly as a consequence of their different ages, as suggested by the analysis of heterozygosity runs in diagnostic markers. In three transects genomic signatures of small‐scale (~2 km) zone movements were detected. We found limited overlap of cline outliers between transects, and only weak evidence of stronger differentiation of introgression between zones than between transects within zones. Introgression was heterogeneous across linkage groups, with patterns of heterogeneity similar between transects and zones. Predefined candidates for increased or reduced introgression exhibited only a subtle tendency in the expected direction, suggesting that interspecific differentiation is not a reliable indicator for the strength of introgression. These hierarchically sampled hybrid zones of apparently different ages show how introgression unfolds with time and offer an excellent opportunity to dissect the dynamics of hybridization and architecture of reproductive isolation at advanced stages of speciation.
Stacks 2: Analytical methods for paired‐end sequencing improve RADseq‐based population genomics
Authors: Rochette Nicolas C. , Rivera‐Colón Angel G. , Catchen Julian M.
Published: September 2019

For half a century population genetics studies have put type II restriction endonucleases to work. Now, coupled with massively‐parallel, short‐read sequencing, the family of RAD protocols that wields these enzymes has generated vast genetic knowledge from the natural world. Here, we describe the first software natively capable of using paired‐end sequencing to derive short contigs from de novo RAD data. Stacks version 2 employs a de Bruijn graph assembler to build and connect contigs from forward and reverse reads for each de novo RAD locus, which it then uses as a reference for read alignments. The new architecture allows all the individuals in a metapopulation to be considered at the same time as each RAD locus is processed. This enables a Bayesian genotype caller to provide precise SNPs, and a robust algorithm to phase those SNPs into long haplotypes, generating RAD loci that are 400–800 bp in length. To prove its recall and precision, we tested the software with simulated data and compared reference‐aligned and de novo analyses of three empirical data sets. Our study shows that the latest version of Stacks is highly accurate and outperforms other software in assembling and genotyping paired‐end de novo data sets.