bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘Stop, Revive, Survive’
Authors: Zuckermann Ghil'ad
Published: June 2020

This chapter introduces revivalistics, a new trans-disciplinary field of enquiry, and explores lessons from Israeli that are applicable to the reclamation and empowerment of Aboriginal languages in Australia and elsewhere. Any language reawakening should involve a long period of thoroughly observing, carefully listening to the language custodians, and learning, mapping and characterizing the specific Indigenous community. Only then can one inspire and assist. That said, this chapter proposes that there are linguistic constraints (as seen in the Hebrew reclamation) applicable to all revival attempts. Mastering them would be useful to endangered languages, particularly to Indigenous linguistic revival. The chapter introduces a practical tool: the quadrilateral Language Revival Diamond (LARD), featuring language owners, linguistics, education, and the public sphere. Each of these four core quadrants is necessary in reviving any language.
Increased generalized anxiety, depression and distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in Germany
Authors: Bäuerle Alexander , Teufel Martin , Musche Venja , Weismüller Benjamin , Kohler Hannah , Hetkamp Madeleine , Dörrie Nora , Schweda Adam , Skoda Eva-Maria
Published: June 2020

Background

Since the first cases of the novel coronavirus disease SARS-CoV-2 were reported in December 2019 in China, the virus has spread in most countries. The aim of the present study was to assess initial data on the mental health burden of the German public during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Germany and collected complete datasets from 15 704 German residents aged 18 years and over. Besides demographics, generalized anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-2) and psychological distress (DT) were assessed. Furthermore, COVID-19-related fear, trust in governmental actions to face COVID-19 and the subjective level of information regarding COVID-19 were covered.

Results

Significantly increased symptoms were highly prevalent in all dimensions: generalized anxiety (44.9%), depression (14.3%), psychological distress (65.2%) and COVID-19-related fear (59%). Females and younger people reported higher mental burden. Trust in governmental actions to face COVID-19 and the subjective level of information regarding COVID-19 are negatively associated with mental health burden. However, the subjective level of information regarding COVID-19 is positively associated with increased COVID-19-related fear.

Conclusions

The provision of appropriate psychological interventions for those in need and the provision of transparency and comprehensible information are crucial during the current pandemic.
Does conventional early life academic excellence predict later life scientific discovery? An assessment of the lives of great medical innovators
Authors: Jenkins D J A , Jayalath V H , Choo V L , Viguiliouk E , Kendall C W C , Srichaikul K , Mirrahimi A , Bernstein C N , Chang T M , Gold P , Haynes R B , Hollenberg M D , Lozano A M , Posner B I , Ronald A R , Vranic M , Wang Y T , Chiavaroli L , de Souza R J , Nishi S , Pichika S C , Gillett C , Tsirakis T , Sievenpiper J L
Published: June 2020

Background

Perhaps, as never before, we need innovators. With our growing population numbers, and with increasing pressures on our education systems, are we in danger of becoming more rigid and formulaic and increasingly inhibiting innovation? When young can we predict who will become the great innovators? For example, in medicine, who will change clinical practice?

Aims

We therefore determined to assess whether the current academic excellence approach to medical school entrance would have captured previous great innovators in medicine, assuming that they should all have well fulfilled current entrance requirements.

Methods

The authors assembled a list of 100 great medical innovators which was then approved, rejected or added to by a jury of 12 MD fellows of the Royal Society of Canada. Two reviewers, who had taken both the past and present Medical College Admission Test as part of North American medical school entrance requirements, independently assessed each innovator’s early life educational history in order to predict the innovator’s likely success at medical school entry, assuming excellence in all entrance requirements.

Results

Thirty-one percent of the great medical innovators possessed no medical degree and 24% would likely be denied entry to medical school by today’s standards (e.g. had a history of poor performance, failure, dropout or expulsion) with only 24% being guaranteed entry. Even if excellence in only one topic was required, the figure would only rise to 41% certain of medical school entry.

Conclusion

These data show that today’s medical school entry standards would have barred many great innovators and raise questions about whether we are losing medical innovators as a consequence. Our findings have important implications for promoting flexibility and innovation for medical education, and for promoting an environment for innovation in general.
Carbon Tail Risk
Authors: Ilhan Emirhan , Sautner Zacharias , Vilkov Grigory
Published: June 2020

Strong regulatory actions are needed to combat climate change, but climate policy uncertainty makes it difficult for investors to quantify the impact of future climate regulation. We show that such uncertainty is priced in the option market. The cost of option protection against downside tail risks is larger for firms with more carbon-intense business models. For carbon-intense firms, the cost of protection against downside tail risk is magnified at times when the public’s attention to climate change spikes, and it decreased after the election of climate change skeptic President Trump.
Hand-held dynamometry for assessment of muscle strength in patients with inflammatory myopathies
Authors: Saygin Didem , Oddis Chester V , Moghadam-Kia Siamak , Rockette-Wagner Bonny , Neiman Nicole , Koontz Diane , Aggarwal Rohit
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Muscle weakness in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) is conventionally assessed using manual muscle testing (MMT). However, more objective tools must be developed to accurately and reliably quantify muscle strength in myositis patients. Hand-held dynamometry (HHD) is a quantitative, portable device with reported reliability in neuromuscular disorders. Our aim was to assess the reliability, validity and responsiveness of HHD in myositis.

Methods

Myositis patients [DM, necrotizing myopathy (NM), PM and anti-synthetase syndrome] evaluated at the University of Pittsburgh myositis centre were prospectively enrolled. Each patient was assessed at 0, 3 and 6 months for validated outcome measures of myositis disease activity and physical function. At each visit, muscle strength was assessed using both MMT and HHD (Micro FET2, Hoggan Health Industries, Draper, UT, USA). The reliability, validity and responsiveness of the HHD was assessed using standard statistical methods.

Results

Fifty IIM patients (60% female; mean age 51.6 years; 6 PM, 9 NM, 24 DM and 11 anti-synthetase syndrome) were enrolled. HHD showed strong test–retest intrarater reliability (r = 0.96) and interrater reliability (r = 0.98). HHD correlated significantly with the MMT score (r = 0.48, P = 0.0006) and myositis disease activity and functional measures. Longitudinal analysis showed a significant and strong association between the HHD and MMT as well as 2016 ACR/EULAR myositis response criteria (r = 0.8, P < 0.0001) demonstrating responsiveness. The mean effect size and standardized response mean of HHD was large: 0.95 and 1.03, respectively. MMT had a high ceiling effect compared with HHD.

Conclusion

HHD demonstrated strong reliability, construct validity and responsiveness in myositis patients. External validation studies are required to confirm these findings.
A deep learning-based algorithm for detection of cortical arousal during sleep
Authors: Li Ao , Chen Siteng , Quan Stuart F , Powers Linda S , Roveda Janet M
Published: June 2020

Study Objectives

The frequency of cortical arousals is an indicator of sleep quality. Additionally, cortical arousals are used to identify hypopneic events. However, it is inconvenient to record electroencephalogram (EEG) data during home sleep testing. Fortunately, most cortical arousal events are associated with autonomic nervous system activity that could be observed on an electrocardiography (ECG) signal. ECG data have lower noise and are easier to record at home than EEG. In this study, we developed a deep learning-based cortical arousal detection algorithm that uses a single-lead ECG to detect arousal during sleep.

Methods

This study included 1,547 polysomnography records that met study inclusion criteria and were selected from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis database. We developed an end-to-end deep learning model consisting of convolutional neural networks and recurrent neural networks which: (1) accepted varying length physiological data; (2) directly extracted features from the raw ECG signal; (3) captured long-range dependencies in the physiological data; and (4) produced arousal probability in 1-s resolution.

Results

We evaluated the model on a test set (n = 311). The model achieved a gross area under precision-recall curve score of 0.62 and a gross area under receiver operating characteristic curve score of 0.93.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated the end-to-end deep learning approach with a single-lead ECG has the potential to be used to accurately detect arousals in home sleep tests.
The Sound of Constitutional Silences: Interpretive Holism and Free Speech under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution
Authors: Kohli Raghav
Published: June 2020

Unlike the US First Amendment, Article 19 of the Indian Constitution expressly enumerates eight grounds on which free speech may be restricted. Despite being a fundamental issue of constitutional interpretation, the question of whether Article 19 provides for an exhaustive list of restrictions has largely been neglected in academic literature and Indian jurisprudence. The latest site of contestations on the scope of the free speech clause has been the case of Kaushal Kishor, where the Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments on whether speech can be restricted by invoking fundamental rights beyond Article 19. This Article seeks to develop a principled answer by excavating the meaning of constitutional silences on the relationships between fundamental rights under the Indian Constitution. It argues that a strict textualist approach leads to a distinct form of rights absolutism that is both doctrinally incoherent and inconsistent with Indian jurisprudence. Examining the shift in the Supreme Court’s interpretive outlook from strict textualism to interpretive holism, it finds that the Court’s rich fundamental rights jurisprudence allows importing restrictions on speech from beyond Article 19. Such an approach also provides a meaningful framework for resolving intra-right, inter-right, and right-interest conflicts in the constitutional adjudication of free speech issues.
An apple long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 2 gene enhances plant resistance to abiotic stress by regulating the accumulation of cuticular wax
Authors: Zhang Chun-Ling , Hu Xing , Zhang Ya-Li , Liu Yang , Wang Gui-Luan , You Chun-Xiang , Li Yuan-Yuan , Hao Yu-Jin
Published: June 2020

Apple cuticular wax can protect plants from environmental stress, determine fruit luster and improve postharvest fruit storage quality. In recent years, dry weather, soil salinization and adverse environmental conditions have led to declines in apple fruit quality. However, few studies have reported the molecular mechanisms of apple cuticular wax biosynthesis. In this study, we identified a long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase MdLACS2 gene from apple. The MdLACS2 protein contained an AMP-binding domain and demonstrated long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase activity. MdLACS2 transgenic Arabidopsis exhibited reductions in epidermal permeability and water loss; change in the expression of genes related to cuticular wax biosynthesis, transport and transcriptional regulation; and differences in the composition and ultrastructure of cuticular wax. Moreover, the accumulation of cuticular wax enhanced the resistance of MdLACS2 transgenic plants to drought and salt stress. The main protein functional interaction networks of LACS2 were predicted, revealing a preliminary molecular regulation pathway for MdLACS2-mediated wax biosynthesis in apple. Our study provides candidate genes for breeding apple varieties and rootstocks with better fruit quality and higher stress resistance.
Challenges in pain assessment and management among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Authors: Barney Chantel C. , Andersen Randi D. , Defrin Ruth , Genik Lara M. , McGuire Brian E. , Symons Frank J.
Published: June 2020

Introduction:

Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) include conditions associated with physical, learning, language, behavioural, and/or intellectual impairment. Pain is a common and debilitating secondary condition compromising functional abilities and quality of life.

Objectives:

This article addresses scientific and clinical challenges in pain assessment and management in individuals with severe IDD.

Methods:

This Clinical Update aligns with the 2019 IASP Global Year Against Pain in the Vulnerable and selectively reviews recurring issues as well as the best available evidence and practice.

Results:

The past decade of pain research has involved the development of standardized assessment tools appropriate for individuals with severe IDD; however, there is little empirical evidence that pain is being better assessed or managed clinically. There is limited evidence available to inform effective pain management practices; therefore, treatment approaches are largely empiric and highly variable. This is problematic because individuals with IDD are at risk of developing drug-related side effects, and treatment approaches effective for other populations may exacerbate pain in IDD populations. Scientifically, we are especially challenged by biases in self-reported and proxy-reported pain scores, identifying valid outcome measures for treatment trials, being able to adequately power studies due to small sample sizes, and our inability to easily explore the underlying pain mechanisms due to compromised ability to self-report.

Conclusion:

Despite the critical challenges, new developments in research and knowledge translation activities in pain and IDD continue to emerge, and there are ongoing international collaborations.
Pseudomonas izuensis sp. nov., a novel species isolated from Izu Oshima, Japan
Authors: Lu Yu Jie , Morimoto Yuh , Tohya Mari , Hishinuma Tomomi , Hiramatsu Keiichi , Kirikae Teruo , Baba Tadashi
Published: June 2020

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterial strain, IzPS43_3003T, was isolated from Izu Oshima, an active volcanic island located 22 km east of the Izu Peninsula, Japan. The sequence of its 16S rRNA gene indicated that IzPS43_3003T belongs to the

Pseudomonas fluorescens

lineage, with its sequence being most similar to that of

Pseudomonas vancouverensis

DhA-51T (99.79 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on whole genome sequences showed that IzPS43_3003T was a member of the

Pseudomonas jessenii

subgroup. The average nucleotide identity values and genome-to genome distances between the whole genome sequences of IzPS43_3003T and other type strains showed that the highest correlations were with

Pseudomonas moorei

DSM 12647T (87.3 and 33.5% respectively). These genotypic and phenotypic analyses indicated that IzPS43_3003T belongs to a novel species, Pseudomonas izuensis sp. nov. Its type strain is IzPS43_3003T (=LMG 31527T,=CECT 9963T).
A thermostable, closed, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein trimer
Authors: Xiong Xiaoli , Qu Kun , Ciazynska Katarzyna A. , Hosmillo Myra , Carter Andrew P. , Ebrahimi Soraya , Ke Zunlong , Scheres Sjors H.W. , Bergamaschi Laura , Grice Guinevere L. , Zhang Ying ,   The CITIID-NIHR COVID-19 BioResource Collaboration, Nathan James A. , Baker Stephen , James Leo C. , Baxendale Helen E. , Goodfellow Ian , Doffinger Rainer , Briggs John A.G.
Published: June 2020

The spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 mediates receptor binding and cell entry and is the dominant target of the immune system. S exhibits substantial conformational flexibility. It transitions from closed to open conformations to expose its receptor binding site, and subsequently from prefusion to postfusion conformations to mediate fusion of viral and cellular membranes. S protein derivatives are components of vaccine candidates and diagnostic assays, as well as tools for research into the biology and immunology of SARS-CoV-2. Here we have designed mutations in S which allow production of thermostable, crosslinked, S protein trimers that are trapped in the closed, pre-fusion, state. We have determined the structures of crosslinked and non-crosslinked proteins, identifying two distinct closed conformations of the S trimer. We demonstrate that the designed, thermostable, closed S trimer can be used in serological assays. This protein has potential applications as a reagent for serology, virology and as an immunogen.
Identifying persistent structures in multiscale ‘omics data
Authors: Zheng Fan , Zhang She , Churas Christopher , Pratt Dexter , Bahar Ivet , Ideker Trey
Published: June 2020

In any ‘omics study, the scale of analysis can dramatically affect the outcome. For instance, when clustering single-cell transcriptomes, is the analysis tuned to discover broad or specific cell types? Likewise, protein communities revealed from protein networks can vary widely in sizes depending on the method. Here we use the concept of “persistent homology”, drawn from mathematical topology, to identify robust structures in data at all scales simultaneously. Application to mouse single-cell transcriptomes significantly expands the catalog of identified cell types, while analysis of SARS-COV-2 protein interactions suggests hijacking of WNT. The method, HiDeF, is available via Python and Cytoscape.
Transposable element mobilization in interspecific yeast hybrids
Authors: Heil Caiti Smukowski , Patterson Kira , Hickey Angela Shang-Mei , Alcantara Erica , Dunham Maitreya J.
Published: June 2020

Barbara McClintock first hypothesized that interspecific hybridization could provide a “genomic shock” that leads to the mobilization of transposable elements. This hypothesis is based on the idea that regulation of transposable element movement is potentially disrupted in hybrids. However, the handful of studies testing this hypothesis have yielded mixed results. Here, we set out to identify if hybridization can increase transposition rate and facilitate colonization of transposable elements inSaccharomyces cerevisiae x Saccharomyces uvaruminterspecific yeast hybrids.S. cerevisiaehave a small number of active long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons (Ty elements), while their distant relativeS. uvarumhave lost the Ty elements active inS. cerevisiae. While the regulation system of Ty elements is known inS. cerevisiae, it is unclear how Ty elements are regulated in otherSaccharomycesspecies, and what mechanisms contributed to the loss of most classes of Ty elements inS. uvarum. Therefore, we first assessed whether transposable elements could insert in theS. uvarumsub-genome of aS. cerevisiaexS. uvarumhybrid. We induced transposition to occur in these hybrids and developed a sequencing technique to show that Ty elements insert readily and non-randomly in theS. uvarumgenome. We then used anin vivoreporter construct to directly measure transposition rate in hybrids, demonstrating that hybridization itself does not alter rate of mobilization. However, we surprisingly show that species-specific mitochondrial inheritance can change transposition rate by an order of magnitude. Overall, our results provide evidence that hybridization can facilitate the introduction of transposable elements across species boundaries and alter transposition via mitochondrial transmission, but that this does not lead to unrestrained proliferation of transposable elements suggested by the genomic shock theory.
Modulation of inhibitory communication coordinates looking and reaching
Authors: Hagan Maureen A. , Pesaran Bijan
Published: June 2020

Looking and reaching are controlled by different brain regions and coordinated during natural behaviour1–3. Understanding how flexible, natural behaviours like coordinated looking-and-reaching are controlled depends on understanding how neurons in different regions of the brain communicate4. Excitatory multiregional communication recruits neural coherence in a gamma-frequency (40-90 Hz) band5. Inhibitory control mechanisms are also required to flexibly control behaviour6, but little is known about how neurons in one region transiently suppress individual neurons in another to support behaviour. How does neuronal firing in a sender-region transiently suppress firing in a receiver-region? Here, we study inhibitory communication during a flexible, natural behaviour, termed gaze-anchoring, in which saccades are transiently inhibited by coordinated reaches. During gaze-anchoring, we find that neurons in the reach region of the posterior parietal cortex can inhibit neuronal firing in the parietal saccade region to suppress eye movements and improve reach accuracy. Importantly, suppression is transient, only present around the coordinated reach, and greatest when reach neurons fire spikes at a particular phase of beta-frequency (15-25 Hz) activity, not gamma-frequency activity. Our work provides evidence in the activity of single neurons for a novel mechanism of inhibitory communication in which beta-frequency neural coherence transiently inhibits multiregional communication to flexibly coordinate our natural behaviour.
Environmental and physiological factors affecting high-throughput measurements of bacterial growth
Authors: Atolia Esha , Cesar Spencer , Arjes Heidi A. , Rajendram Manohary , Shi Handuo , Knapp Benjamin D. , Khare Somya , Aranda-Díaz Andrés , Lenski Richard E. , Huang Kerwyn Casey
Published: June 2020

Bacterial growth in nutrient-rich and starvation conditions is intrinsically tied to the environmental history and physiological state of the population. While high-throughput technologies have enabled rapid analyses of mutant libraries, technical and biological challenges complicate data collection and interpretation. Here, we present a framework for the execution and analysis of growth measurements with improved accuracy over standard approaches. Using this framework, we demonstrate key biological insights that emerge from consideration of culturing conditions and history. We determined that quantification of the background absorbance in each well of a multi-well plate is critical for accurate measurements of maximal growth rate. Using mathematical modeling, we demonstrated that maximal growth rate is dependent on initial cell density, which distorts comparisons across strains with variable lag properties. We established a multiple-passage protocol that alleviates the substantial effects of glycerol on growth in carbon-poor media, and we tracked growth rate-mediated fitness increases observed during a long-term evolution ofEscherichia coliin low glucose concentrations. Finally, we showed that growth ofBacillus subtilisin the presence of glycerol induces a long lag in the next passage due to inhibition of a large fraction of the population. Transposon mutagenesis linked this phenotype to the incorporation of glycerol into lipoteichoic acids, revealing a new role for these envelope components in resuming growth after starvation. Together, our investigations underscore the complex physiology of bacteria during bulk passaging and the importance of robust strategies to understand and quantify growth.

Abstract Importance

How starved bacteria adapt to and multiply in replete nutrient conditions is intimately linked to their history of previous growth, their physiological state, and the surrounding environment. While automated equipment has enabled high-throughput growth measurements, data interpretation and knowledge gaps regarding the determinants of growth kinetics complicate comparisons between strains. Here, we present a framework for growth measurements that improves accuracy and attenuates the effects of growth history. We determined that background absorbance quantification and multiple passaging cycles allows for accurate growth-rate measurements even in carbon-poor media, which we used to reveal growth-rate increases during long-term laboratory evolution ofEscherichia coli. Using mathematical modeling, we showed that maximum growth rate depends on initial cell density. Finally, we demonstrated that growth ofBacillus subtiliswith glycerol inhibits the future growth of most of the population, due to lipoteichoic-acid synthesis. These studies highlight the challenges of accurate quantification of bacterial growth behaviors.
Haplotype of RNASE 3 polymorphisms is associated with severe malaria in an Indian population
Authors: Mukhi Benudhar , Gupta Himanshu , Wassmer Samuel C. , Anvikar Anupkumar R. , Ghosh Susanta Kumar
Published: June 2020

Severe malaria (SM) caused by Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) infection has been associated with life-threatening anemia, metabolic acidosis, cerebral malaria and multiorgan dysfunction. It may lead to death if not treated promptly. RNASE 3 has been linked to Pf growth inhibition and its polymorphisms found associated with SM and cerebral malaria in African populations. This study aimed to assess the association of RNASE 3 polymorphisms with SM in an Indian population. RNASE 3 gene and flanking regions were amplified followed by direct DNA sequencing in 151 Indian patients who visited Wenlock District Government Hospital, Mangalore, Karnataka, India. Allele, genotype and haplotype frequencies were compared between patients with SM (n=47) and uncomplicated malaria (UM; n=104). Homozygous mutant genotype was only found for rs2233860 polymorphism (<1% frequency). No significant genetic associations were found for RNASE 3 polymorphism genotypes and alleles in Indian SM patients. C-G-G haplotype of rs2233859, rs2073342 and rs2233860 polymorphisms was correlated significantly with SM patients (OR=3.03; p<0.001). Overall, these results suggest that RNASE 3 gene plays a role in susceptibility to severe malaria.
Protein sequence optimization with a pairwise decomposable penalty for buried unsatisfied hydrogen bonds
Authors: Coventry Brian , Baker David
Published: June 2020

In aqueous solution, polar groups make hydrogen bonds with water, and hence burial of such groups in the interior of a protein is unfavorable unless the loss of hydrogen bonds with water is compensated by formation of new ones with other protein groups. Hence, buried “unsatisfied” polar groups making no hydrogen bonds are very rare in proteins. Efficiently representing the energetic cost of unsatisfied hydrogen bonds with a pairwise-decomposable energy term during protein design is challenging since whether or not a group is satisfied depends on all of its neighbors. Here we describe a method for assigning a pairwise-decomposable energy to sidechain rotamers such that following combinatorial sidechain packing, buried unsaturated polar atoms are penalized. The penalty can be any quadratic function of the number of unsatisfied polar groups, and can be computed very rapidly. We show that inclusion of this term in Rosetta sidechain packing calculations substantially reduces the number of buried unsatisfied polar groups.
A critical role for MSR1 in vesicular stomatitis virus infection of the central nervous system
Authors: Yang Duomeng , Lin Tao , Harrison Andrew G. , Geng Tingting , Wang Huadong , Wang Penghua
Published: June 2020

Macrophage scavenger receptor 1 (MSR1) plays an important role in host defense to bacterial infections, M2 macrophage polarization and lipid homeostasis. However, its physiological function in viral pathogenesis remains poorly defined. Herein, we report that MSR1 facilitates vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection in the spinal cord. Msr1-deficient (Msr1-/-) mice presented reduced morbidity and mortality following lethal VSV infection, along with normal viremia and antiviral innate immune responses, compared toMsr1+/-littermates and wild-type mice. Msr1 expression was selectively upregulated in the spinal cord, which was the predominant target of VSV infection. The viral load in the spinal cord was positively correlated with Msr1 expression level and was reduced inMsr1-/-mice. Through its extracellular domain, MSR1 interacted with VSV surface glycoprotein and facilitated its cellular entry. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that MSR1 serves as a cellular entry receptor for VSV and facilitates its infection specifically in the spinal cord.
A multiplex CRISPR interference tool for virulence gene interrogation in an intracellular pathogen
Authors: Ellis Nicole A. , Kim Byoungkwan , Machner Matthias P.
Published: June 2020

In the absence of target cleavage, catalytically inactive dCas9 imposes transcriptional gene repression by sterically precluding RNA polymerase activity at a given gene to which it was directed by CRISPR (cr)RNAs. This gene silencing technology, referred to as CRISPRinterference (CRISPRi), has been employed in various bacterial species to interrogate genes, mostly individually or in pairs. Here, we developed a multiplex CRISPRi platform in the pathogenLegionella pneumophilacapable of silencing up to ten genes simultaneously. Constraints on precursor-crRNA expression by Rho-dependent transcription termination were overcome by combining a strong processive promoter with aboxAelement upstream of a repeat/spacer array. Using crRNAs directed against virulence protein-encoding genes, we demonstrated that CRISPRi is fully functional not only during growth in axenic media, but also during macrophage infection, and that gene depletion by CRISPRi fully recapitulated the growth defect of deletion strains. Importantly, by altering the position of crRNA-encoding spacers within the repeat/spacer array, our platform achieved the gradual depletion of targets that was mirrored by the severity in phenotypes. Multiplex CRISPRi thus holds great promise for probing large sets of genes in bulk in order to decipher virulence strategies ofL. pneumophilaand other bacterial pathogens.
Persistence of alternative reproductive tactics: a test of game theoretic predictions
Authors: Garrison Courtney R. , Sakaluk Scott K. , Dochtermann Ned A.
Published: June 2020

In many species, males produce signals to attract females. However, in some species and populations, only some males produce these signals with other males competing for and intercepting reproductive opportunities. In these systems, at least three tactics are expected:always signal, signal only when others are not (assessors), andnever signal. The expected representation of these tactics within a population is frequently unknown in part because the costs of signaling (C) and the fitness value of a single reproductive bout (V) are difficult to quantify. Using a game-theoretic model, we predicted that thealways signalstrategy should only be present in a population if the fitness value of calling is greater than twice the cost (2C < V). We found thatalways signalmales are apparently absent in decorated crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus), at least in our sampling of a laboratory housed population. Moreover, males were not strict assessors and instead signaled infrequently (30% of the time) when signaling by others was constant. Males also exhibited substantial among-individual variation in the propensity to call when other males were not signaling (τ = 0.3). Our results indicate a high relative cost of signaling (2C > V). The presence of among-individual variation in propensity to call is also suggestive of underlying genetic variation and a mixed evolutionary stable strategy. More generally, the apparent high cost of signaling and presence of variation in calling propensity suggests that reduced-cost strategies should spread quickly in populations.
Introduction to and spread of COVID-19 in care homes in Norfolk, UK
Authors: Brainard Julii Suzanne , Rushton Steven , Winters Tim , Hunter Paul R
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND: Residential care homes for the elderly have been important settings for transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 disease. METHODS: We undertook a secondary analysis of a dataset about 248 care homes in the county of Norfolk, eastern England. The dataset recorded categories of staff (nurses, care workers and non-care workers), their status (available, absent due to leave or sickness and extra staff needed to address the coronavirus pandemic) in the period 6 April -6 May 2020. Counts of residents (if any) at each care home with COVID-19 were also available, as well as descriptions of access by the home to personal protection equipment (PPE: gloves, masks, eye protection, aprons and Sanitiser). PPE access was categorised as (most to least) green, amber or red. We undertook two stage modelling, first for any detection of COVID-19 in the homes, and a second model to relate any increases in case counts after introduction to staffing or PPE levels. RESULTS: We found that the counts of non-care workers had strongest relationships (and only link significant at p < 0.05) to any introduction of SARS-CoV-2 to the homes. After a home had at least one detected case, higher staff levels and more severe PPE shortages were most linked to higher case counts (p < 0.05) during the monitoring period. CONCLUSION: Better managing aspects of staff interaction with residents and some working practices should help reduce ingression to and spread of COVID-19 within residential homes for the elderly.
In situ monitoring of hydrothermal reactions by X-ray diffraction with Bragg–Brentano geometry
Authors: Mesecke Karsten , Malorny Winfried , Warr Laurence N.
Published: June 2020

This note describes an autoclave chamber developed and constructed by Anton Paar and its application for in situ experiments under hydrothermal conditions. Reactions of crystalline phases can be studied by successive in situ measurements on a conventional laboratory X-ray diffractometer with Bragg–Brentano geometry at temperatures <483 K and saturated vapour pressure <2 MPa. Variations in the intensity of X-ray diffraction reflections of both reactants and products provide quantitative information for studying the reaction kinetics of both dissolution and crystal growth. Feasibility is demonstrated by studying a cementitious mixture used for autoclaved aerated concrete production. During a period of 5.7 h at 466 K and 1.35 MPa, the crystallization of torbermorite and the partial consumption of quartz were monitored.
Employee performance management: charting the field from 1998 to 2018
Authors: Maley Jane Frances , Dabic Marina , Moeller Miriam
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the development and consider the future of one of the most controversial areas of human resource development – employee performance management (PM).

Design/methodology/approach

Through bibliometrics, a multiple correspondence analysis identifies the main research directions of PM studies and provides a map of descriptors and a list of authors, along with a framework to track PM literature over 20 years (1998–2018).

Findings

Scholars have attempted to address some of the questions raised by earlier researchers. However, critical questions remain unanswered, and there is increasing dissatisfaction with the process. The most glaring yet unaddressed problem with PM is poor employee acceptability of the process.

Practical implications

If the research gaps are addressed, the lack of acceptability of the PM could be resolved and more effectively managed in the future.

Originality/value

The study particularly addresses poor employee “acceptability” of the PM process, a subject that has received limited attention by scholars.
Corporate payout policy: does product market competition matter? Evidence from Australia
Authors: Pham Hai-yen , Chung Richard , Bao Ben-Hsien , Min Byung-Seong
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of product market competition on dividend payout and share repurchases in Australia in which a full dividend imputation system has been in place since 1987.

Design/methodology/approach

Panel data estimation with industry and year-fixed effects is employed to examine the role of industry competition on dividend payout and share repurchases. The paper uses a sample of ASX200 non-financial firms, including 4,272 observations over the period 1992–2015. To address the endogeneity problem, the authors utilize the event of Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA), which became effective on 01 January 2005, and perform a difference-in-difference analysis.

Findings

The authors find that firms operating in competitive markets are likely to pay more dividends and repurchase more shares to reduce agency costs. The positive relation between industry competition and dividends is stronger among firms where the CEO and the Chairman of the Board are the same person and among firms with higher market-to-book ratio and higher standard deviation of stock returns. The study results are robust when the authors account for the impact of franking credit on dividend payment. In the difference-in-difference analysis, the authors find strong evidence of a casual relation that product competition drives changes in dividend policy.

Practical implications

The findings are consistent with the notion that intense product market competition can mitigate agency conflicts between managers and shareholders and with the information signalling explanation of market competition. As such, regulators may want to introduce policies that encourage more market competition (e.g. market deregulation) to enhance market efficiency.

Originality/value

This study incorporates product market competition in explaining the firm payout policy.
The impact of Shari’ah and corporate governance on Islamic banks performance: evidence from Asia
Authors: Khan Imran , Zahid Syeda Nitasha
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of Shari’ah and corporate governance on Islamic banks performance in Asia.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses hand collected data set on Shari’ah and corporate governance variables of 79 Islamic banks of 19 countries of Asia, for the period of 2011-2016. Augmented Mollah et al. (2017) composite corporate governance index into Islamic corporate governance (ICG) index by incorporate Shari’ah board’s (SBs) attributes. Two types of statistical analysis were performed; descriptive statistics, sample t-test and panel random effects regression. The analysis was further sub-sampled by considering the supervisory vs advisory, GCC vs non-GCC and large vs small effects of Shari’ah and corporate boards on Islamic banks performance.

Findings

The results of the baseline model reveal that Shari’ah governance-related variables are more influential in determining the financial performance of the Islamic banks. The sub-sampled data findings illustrated some interesting facts. Shari’ah supervisory vs advisory boards regression results show that the ICG index was found significant in both the models. However, when SBs are weak the general board dominates in determining the performance. GCC vs non-GCC results show a relatively good governance in non-GCC countries. While, in case of large vs small Islamic banks, banks having high total assets demonstrates sound governance characteristics.

Research limitations/implications

Independent, large and educated SB can play a significant role in removing the hurdles facing the Islamic banking industry and can also enhance stakeholders’ value.

Originality/value

This study enriches the understanding on Shari’ah governance, corporate governance and financial performance of Islamic banks in Asia.
Connect, engage, transform: how B2B researchers can engage in impactful industry collaboration
Authors: Mooi Erik , Mani Sudha , Kleinaltenkamp Michael , Lilien Gary , Wilkinson Ian
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to argue that engagement with industry in research, while costly in terms of time and effort, can provide benefits in terms of measurable research impact, particularly in the business-to-business (B2B) domain.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws joint experiences about how best to connect with an industry organization, how to engage with that organization and how to provide and document impact by transforming some aspect of that organization.

Findings

The findings of this study provide practical and implementable suggestions on how to engage in impactful B2B research.

Originality/value

This study discusses the special nature of the B2B domain and why engagement with industry is especially important and beneficial. Though such research may not be appropriate for all academics, this study argues that its high rewards more than compensate for its high costs.
Conflating scholarly and science communication practices: the production of open letters on climate change
Authors: Graminius Carin
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore and analyse interfaces between scholarly and science communication practices by using the production of open letters on climate change as a point of departure. Furthermore, the paper highlights an understudied form of science communication – open letters.

Design/methodology/approach

The material consists of nine open letters on climate change, written and signed by academics and published in 2018–2019, as well as 13 semi-structured interviews with the initiators and co-authors of the letters. The interviews were analysed by qualitative thematic analysis and grouped into thematic clusters.

Findings

The study finds that three practices used in scholarly communication – more specifically: peer review, professional community building and, to a certain extent, communication as “merit-making” – are central in the making of the open letters, illustrating an integration of scholarly communication practices in academic science communication activities.

Social implications

The study suggests that the conflation of communication practices needs to be seen in relation to larger structural changes in the academic working environment, as well as in relation to the specific environment in which communication about climate change occurs.

Originality/value

This study contends that the proposed conflation between scholarly and science communication concerns not only texts and genres but also practices integral to contemporary science, thereby conflating the forms of communication at a practical level.
A brave new world: embracing sexuality in advertising for apparel
Authors: Kordrostami Elika , Kordrostami Melika
Published: June 2020

Purpose

In light of the recent shift in the US culture, this paper investigates the effectiveness of female sexual empowerment as ad appeal in the apparel industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Study 1 aimed to understand consumers' reactions to female sexual empowerment in ads in terms of their attitudes toward the ad, attitudes toward the brand and purchase intention. Study 2 investigated the role of gender in perceptions of female sexual empowerment in ads.

Findings

This research establishes that consumers display positive attitudes toward female sexual empowerment in the apparel advertisement. These attitudes positively influence attitudes toward the brand, which in turn improve purchase intention. These effects are stronger for women than men.

Research limitations/implications

This research borrows from social power theory to reveal the impact of female sexual empowerment in ads in the apparel industry. Based on the theory of planned behavior, the findings also show that female sexual empowerment can have a positive impact on purchase intention through a serial mediation of attitude toward the ad and brand.

Practical implications

Marketers need to be aware of the impact of female sexual empowerment as ad appeal. Specifically, firms in the apparel industry could benefit from the positive effects of incorporating female sexual empowerment in their campaigns.

Originality/value

This research is the first to investigate the role of female sexual empowerment as ad appeal in improving consumers' responses to ads.
No matter what you do, I still love you: an examination of consumer reaction to brand transgressions
Authors: Kennedy Eric , Guzmán Francisco
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the impact that brand transgressions, and the effect of an apology or lack thereof, have on consumers’ intentions to co-create with a brand, perceived brand equity and brand love, and compares these effects on brands that are viewed positively versus brands that are viewed negatively.

Design/methodology/approach

Two studies were deployed. In the first study, a 2 × 2 between subjects factorial design using fictitious brands is used to test the hypotheses. The second study seeks to replicate the findings of the first study by using a brand connected to a real retailer.

Findings

Regardless of a brand issuing an apology or not, co-creation, higher perceived brand equity and increased levels of brand love, are more likely to occur when a consumer views a brand as being positive versus negative. However, the results vary when the consumer has a prior level of knowledge and a stronger relationship with a brand.

Research limitations/implications

This paper focuses on consumers between the ages of 18 and 29 years. While the findings of Study 1 are mostly replicated in Study 2, a more generalizable sample could create additional insights into the impact of brand transgressions and issuing or not an apology.

Originality/value

The findings of this paper add to the current literature on co-creation, brand equity, brand love and theory of reasoned action, in terms of the impact of an apology, or lack thereof, on brand transgressions and consequent consumer responses.
Cyclic shear response of additively manufactured Inconel 718
Authors: Siddiqui Sanna F. , Gordon Ali P.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Additive manufacturing (AM) studies on Inconel 718 (IN718) have focused on exploring its tensile and fatigue response. As IN718 is used in the propulsion and energy sector, the impact of shearing is also critical to ensuring the durability of these components. As such, this study aims to explore the relation between build orientation on the shear cyclic response of direct metal laser sintered (DMLS) IN718.

Design/methodology/approach

IN718 torsion specimens were manufactured along six build orientations: (100)-X, (010)-Y, (001)-Z, (110)-XY45, (101)-XZ45 and (011)-YZ45, using the DMLS process. Torsional fatigue testing was performed on as-built specimens, from which fracture behavior, surface roughness, softening/hardening response and monotonic/cyclic shear torsional properties were assessed.

Findings

DMLS IN718 was found to exhibit transversely isotropic behavior. In terms of shear stress range and shear modulus, Z > (X, XY45, Y) > (XZ45, YZ45). Specimens cyclically hardened to stabilization and softened to fracture. In terms of torsional fatigue fracture response, the Z, XZ45 and YZ45 specimens exhibited crack initiation and propagation from internal defects, whereas cracks were found to initiate at the surface and propagate between and through build layers for the X, Y and XY45 specimens.

Originality/value

This study reports the torsional cyclic response and shear moduli exhibited by as-built DMLS IN718 manufactured along varying build orientations. The findings are applicable for researchers because of the wide use of IN718 in the gas turbine industry, and the current trend to replace conventional manufacturing with AM.