bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Small Molecule MEIS Inhibitors that modulate HSC activity
Authors: Turan Raife Dilek , Albayrak Esra , Uslu Merve , Siyah Pinar , Alyazici Lamia Yazgi , Kalkan Batuhan Mert , Aslan Galip Servet , Yucel Dogacan , Aksoz Merve , Tuysuz Emre Can , Meric Neslihan , Durdagi Serdar , Gulbas Zafer , Kocabas Fatih
Published: February 2020

Meis1, which belongs to TALE-type class of homeobox gene family, appeared as one of the key regulators of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self-renewal and a potential therapeutical target. However, small molecule inhibitors of MEIS1 remained unknown. This led us to develop inhibitors of MEIS1 that could modulate HSC activity. To this end, we have established a library of relevant homeobox family inhibitors and developed a high-throughputin silicoscreening strategy against homeodomain of MEIS proteins using the AutoDock Vina and PaDEL-ADV platform. We have screened over a million druggable small moleculesin silicoand selected putative MEIS inhibitors (MEISi) with no predicted cytotoxicity or cardiotoxicity. This was followed byin vitrovalidation of putative MEIS inhibitors using MEIS dependent luciferase reporter assays and analysis in theex vivoHSC assays. We have shown that small molecules named MEISi-1 and MEISi-2 significantly inhibit MEIS-luciferase reportersin vitroand induce murine (LSKCD34lowcells) and human (CD34+, CD133+, and ALDHhicells) HSC self-renewalex vivo. In addition, inhibition of MEIS proteins results in downregulation ofMeis1and MEIS1 target gene expression including Hif-1α, Hif-2α and HSC quiescence modulators. MEIS inhibitors are effectivein vivoas evident by induced HSC content in the murine bone marrow and downregulation of expression of MEIS target genes. These studies warrant identification of first-in-class MEIS inhibitors as potential pharmaceuticals to be utilized in modulation of HSC activity and bone marrow transplantation studies.
Neu-p11 induces NLRP3 inflammasome-induced pyroptosis via provoking NOX4-mediated mitochondrial oxidative injury in chordoma cells
Authors: Zhang Shutian
Published: February 2020

The authors have withdrawn their manuscript as they have discovered some potential inconsistencies in their results after further experimentation. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as reference for the project.
Genomic study of oral lichen planus and oral microbiome with RNAseq
Authors: Zhong Evelyn F. , Chang Andrea , Stucky Andres , Chen Xuelian , Mundluru Tarun , Khalifeh Mohammad , Sedghizadeh Parish P.
Published: February 2020

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common chronic inflammatory disease affecting the oral mucosa. The pathogenesis of OLP is incompletely understood but is thought to be related to the immune system. As the oral cavity is a major reservoir and transmission gateway for bacteria, viruses, and fungi, the microbial composition of the oral cavity could play a role in the pathogenesis of OLP. However, due to limitations of analytic technology and incomplete knowledge of the microbial community in the oral cavity, it is not yet clear which pathogens are associated with OLP. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a powerful tool that can help to identify pathogens for many infectious diseases. In this study, we compared host cell gene expression profiles and microbial profiles from OLP patients and matched healthy individuals. We identified activation of the hepatocyte nuclear factor alpha (HNF4A) network in OLP patients and potential pathogens, includingCorynebacterium matruchotii, Fusobacterium periodonticum, Streptococcus intermedius, Streptococcus oralis, andPrevotella denticola. P. denticolais capable of activating the HNF4A gene network. Our findings shed light on the previously elusive association of OLP with various diseases like hepatitis, and indicate that OLP is a T-helper type 17 (Th17)-mediated mucosal inflammatory process. The molecular pathways and microbes identified here can inform future investigations into OLP pathogenesis and development of novel therapeutics for OLP treatment.
RootDigger: a root placement program for phylogenetic trees
Authors: Bettisworth Ben , Stamatakis Alexandros
Published: February 2020

In phylogenetic analysis, it is common to infer unrooted trees. Thus, it is unknown which node is the most recent common ancestor of all the taxa in the phylogeny. However, knowing the root location is desirable for downstream analyses and interpretation. There exist several methods to recover a root, such as midpoint rooting or rooting the tree at an outgroup. Non-reversible Markov models can also be used to compute the likelihood of a potential root position. We present a software calledRootDiggerwhich uses a non-reversible Markov model to compute the most likely root location on a given tree and to infer a confidence value for each possible root placement.

Availability and implementation

RootDiggeris available under the MIT licence athttps://github.com/computations/root_digger
The effect of terminal globular domains on the response of recombinant mini-spidroins to fiber spinning triggers
Authors: Finnigan William , Roberts Aled D. , Scrutton Nigel S. , Breitling Rainer , Blaker Jonny J. , Takano Eriko
Published: February 2020

Spider silk spidroins consist of long repetitive protein strands, flanked by globular terminal domains. The globular domains are often omitted in recombinant spidroins, but are thought to be essential for the spiders’ natural spinning process. Mimicking this spinning process could be an essential step towards producing strong synthetic spider silk. Here we describe the production of a range of mini-spidroins with both terminal domains, and characterize their response to a number of biomimetic spinning triggers. Our results suggest that the inclusion of the terminal domains is needed to match the response to shear that native spidroins exhibit. Our results also suggest that a pH drop alone is insufficient to trigger assembly in a wet-spinning process, and must be combined with salting-out for effective fiber formation. With these insights, we applied these assembly triggers for relatively biomimetic wet spinning. This work adds to the foundation of literature for developing improved biomimetic spinning techniques, which ought to result in synthetic silk that more closely approximates the unique properties of native spider silk.
Unisexual flower initiation in the monoeciousQuercus suberL., a molecular approach
Authors: Sobral Rómulo , Silva Helena Gomes , Laranjeira Sara , Magalhães Joana , Andrade Luís , Alhinho Ana Teresa , Costa Maria Manuela Ribeiro
Published: February 2020

Several plant species display a temporal separation of the male and female flower organ development to enhance outbreeding, however, little is known regarding the genetic mechanisms controlling this temporal separation.Quercus suberis a monoecious oak tree with accentuated protandry: in late winter, unisexual male flowers emerge adjacent to the swollen buds, whereas unisexual female flowers emerge in the axils of newly formed leaves formed during spring (4 to 8 weeks after male flowering). Here, phylogenetic profiling lead to the identification of cork oak homologs of key floral regulatory genes. The role of these cork oak homologs during flower development was identified with functional studies inArabidopsis thaliana. The expression profile of flower regulators (inducers and repressors) throughout the year, in leaves and buds, suggests that the development of male and female flowers may be preceded by separated induction events. Female flowers are most likely induced during the vegetative flush occurring in spring, whereas male flowers may be induced in early summer, staying enclosed within the pre-dormant buds, but complete their development before the vegetative flush of the following year, displaying a long period of anthesis that spans the dormant period. Results portray a genetic mechanism that may explain similar reproductive habits in other tree species.
ROS-triggered AMPK de-SUMOylation promotes Warburg effect in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Zhang Shutian
Published: February 2020

The authors have withdrawn this manuscript as they no longer stand by the conclusions. As found in previous literature review, the regulation effect and mechanism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on the metabolism and proliferation of tumor cells are very complex. The preliminary results in the preprint may be just one front of “ROS-AMPK-tumor cell metabolism”. After further experiments, the effects of different ROS concentrations on the metabolism of tumor cells as the cell passage increased were not completely consistent with the results shared in the preprint, so the author decided to withdraw the data in this preprint. The author do not wish this version to be cited as reference for this study. Subsequent investigators should carefully evaluate the consistency of the role of ROS stimulation in cell studies in vitro.
seagull: lasso, group lasso and sparse-group lasso regularisation for linear regression models via proximal gradient descent
Authors: Klosa Jan , Simon Noah , Westermark Pål O. , Liebscher Volkmar , Wittenburg Dörte
Published: February 2020

Statistical analyses of biological problems in life sciences often lead to high-dimensional linear models. To solve the corresponding system of equations, penalisation approaches are often the methods of choice. They are especially useful in case of multicollinearity which appears if the number of explanatory variables exceeds the number of observations or for some biological reason. Then, the model goodness of fit is penalised by some suitable function of interest. Prominent examples are the lasso, group lasso and sparse-group lasso. Here, we offer a fast and numerically cheap implementation of these operators via proximal gradient descent. The grid search for the penalty parameter is realised by warm starts. The step size between consecutive iterations is determined with backtracking line search. Finally, the package produces complete regularisation paths.

Availability and implementation

seagullis an R package that is freely available on the Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN;https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=seagull; vignette included). The source code is available onhttps://github.com/jklosa/seagull.

Contact

wittenburg@fbn-dummerstorf.de
Global Dynamic Molecular Profiles of Stomatal Lineage Cell Development by Single-Cell RNA Sequencing
Authors: Liu Zhixin , Zhou Yaping , Guo Jinggong , Li Jiaoai , Tian Zixia , Zhu Zhinan , Wang Jiajing , Wu Rui , Zhang Bo , Hu Yongjian , Sun Yijing , Shangguan Yan , Li Weiqiang , Li Tao , Hu Yunhe , Guo Chenxi , Rochaix Jean-David , Miao Yuchen , Sun Xuwu
Published: February 2020

The regulation of stomatal lineage cell development has been extensively investigated. However a comprehensive characterization of this biological process based on single-cell transcriptome analysis has not yet been reported. Here, we performed RNA-seq on over 12,844 individual cells from the cotyledons of five-day-oldArabidopsis seedlings. We identified 11 cell clusters corresponding mostly to cells at specific stomatal developmental stages with a series of new marker genes. Comparative analysis of genes with the highest variable expression in these cell clusters revealed three transcriptional networks that regulate the development of mesophyll and guard cells, as well as the differentiation from protodermal to guard mother cells. We investigated the developmental dynamics of marker genes via pseudo-time analysis which revealed potential interactions between them. The identification of several novel marker genes suggests new regulatory mechanisms during development of stomatal cell lineage.
Extraembryonic endoderm cells induce neuroepithelial tissue in gastruloids
Authors: Bérenger-Currias Noémie M. L. P. , Mircea Maria , Adegeest Esmée , van den Berg Patrick R. , Feliksik Marleen , Hochane Mazène , Idema Timon , Tans Sander J. , Semrau Stefan
Published: February 2020

Stem-cell derivedin vitrosystems, such as organoids or embryoids, hold great potential for modelingin vivobiology and engineering living systems with novel functions. To unlock that potential, we need new ways to elicit higher-level organization. Here we show that adding extraembryonic endoderm (XEN) cells to mouse gastruloids leads to the formation of neural epithelia. By single-cell RNA-seq, imaging and differentiation experiments, we demonstrate the neural characteristics and spatial patterning of the epithelial tissue. We further show that the XEN cells differentiate reciprocally to a visceral endoderm-like state. Finally, we demonstrate that local inhibition of WNT signaling and production of a basement membrane by the XEN cells underlie the formation of the neuroepithelial tissue. In summary, we establish “XEN Enhanced Gastruloids” (XEGs) to explore heterotypic cellular interactions as a means to achieve complex, tissue-level organizationin vitro.
On Contamination of Symbolic Datasets
Authors: Pearson Antony , Lladser Manuel E.
Published: February 2020

Data taking values on discrete sample spaces are the embodiment of modern biological research. “Omics” experiments produce millions of symbolic outcomes in the form of reads (i.e., DNA sequences of a few dozens to a few hundred nucleotides). Unfortunately, these intrinsically non-numerical datasets are often highly contaminated, and the possible sources of contamination are usually poorly characterized. This contrasts with numerical datasets where Gaussian-type noise is often well-justified. To overcome this hurdle, we introduce the notion of latent weight, which measures the largest expected fraction of samples from a contaminated probabilistic source that conform to a model in a well-structured class of desired models. We examine various properties of latent weights, which we specialize to the class of exchangeable probability distributions. As proof of concept, we analyze DNA methylation data from the 22 human autosome pairs. Contrary to what it is usually assumed, we provide strong evidence that highly specific methylation patterns are overrepresented at some genomic locations when contamination is taken into account.
Emerging viruses in British Columbia salmon discovered via a viral immune response biomarker panel and metatranscriptomic sequencing
Authors: Mordecai Gideon J. , Di Cicco Emiliano , Günther Oliver P. , Schulze Angela D. , Kaukinen Karia H. , Li Shaorong , Tabata Amy , Ming Tobi J. , Ferguson Hugh W. , Suttle Curtis A. , Miller Kristina M.
Published: February 2020

The emergence of infectious agents poses a continual economic and environmental challenge to aquaculture production, yet the diversity, abundance and epidemiology of aquatic viruses are poorly characterised. In this study, we applied salmon host transcriptional biomarkers to identify and select fish in a viral disease state but only those that we also showed to be negative for established viruses. This was followed by metatranscriptomic sequencing to determine the viromes of dead and dying farmed Atlantic (Salmo salar) and Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) salmon in British Columbia. We found that the application of the biomarker panel increased the probability of discovering viruses in aquaculture populations. We discovered viruses that have not previously been characterized in British Columbian Atlantic salmon farms. To determine the epidemiology of the newly discovered or emerging viruses we conducted high-throughput RT-PCR to reveal their prevalence in British Columbia (BC), and detected some of the viruses we first discovered in farmed Atlantic salmon in Chinook and sockeye salmon, suggesting a broad host range. Finally, we appliedin-situhybridisation to confirm infection and explore the tissue tropism of each virus.
High temporal resolution reveals simultaneous plasma membrane recruitment of the TPLATE complex subunits
Authors: Wang Jie , Mylle Evelien , Johnson Alexander , Besbrugge Nienke , De Jaeger Geert , Friml Jiří , Pleskot Roman , Van Damme Daniel
Published: February 2020

The TPLATE complex (TPC) is a key endocytic adaptor protein complex in plants. TPC contains six evolutionary conserved subunits and two plant specific subunits, AtEH1/Pan1 and AtEH2/Pan1, which are not associated with the hexameric subcomplex in the cytoplasm. To investigate the dynamic assembly of the octameric TPC at the plasma membrane (PM), we performed state-of-the-art dual-color live cell imaging at physiological and a lowered temperature. Our data show that lowering the temperature slows down endocytosis and thereby enhances the temporal resolution of the differential recruitment of endocytic components. Under both normal and lowered temperature conditions, the core TPC subunit TPLATE, and the AtEH/Pan1 proteins, exhibited simultaneous recruitment at the PM. These results, together with our co-localization analysis of different TPC subunits, allow us to conclude that in plant cells, TPC is not recruited to the PM sequentially but as an octameric complex.

One sentence summary

Lowering the temperature increases spatiotemporal resolution of protein recruitment at the plasma membrane.
Microbiota-Independent Antiviral Effects of Antibiotics on Enteric Viruses
Authors: Woods Acevedo Mikal A. , Pfeiffer Julie K.
Published: February 2020

Coxsackieviruses primarily infect the gastrointestinal tract of humans, but they can disseminate systemically and cause severe disease. Using antibiotic treatment regimens to deplete intestinal microbes in mice, several groups have shown that bacteria promote oral infection with a variety of enteric viruses. However, it is unknown whether antibiotics have microbiota-independent antiviral effects for enteric viruses or whether antibiotics influence extra-intestinal, systemic infection. Here, we examined the effects of antibiotics on systemic enteric virus infection by performing intraperitoneal injections of either coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) or poliovirus followed by quantification of viral titers. We found that antibiotic treatment reduced systemic infection for both viruses. Interestingly, antibiotics reduced CVB3 titers in germ-free mice, suggesting that antibiotic treatment alters CVB3 infection through a microbiota-independent mechanism. Overall, these data provide further evidence that antibiotics can have noncanonical effects on viral infection.
RNA sequencing profiles and diagnostic signatures linked with response to ramucirumab in gastric cancer
Authors: Sorokin Maxim , Poddubskaya Elena , Baranova Madina , Glusker Alex , Kogoniya Lali , Markarova Ekaterina , Allina Daria , Suntsova Maria , Tkachev Victor , Garazha Andrew , Sekacheva Marina , Buzdin Anton
Published: February 2020

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth-ranked cancer type by associated mortality. The proportion of early diagnosis is low, and most patients are diagnosed at the advanced stages. First-line therapy standardly includes fluoropyrimidines and platinum compounds with trastuzumab for HER2-positive cases. For recurrent disease, there are several alternative options including ramucirumab, a monoclonal therapeutic antibody that inhibits VEGF-mediated tumor angiogenesis by binding with VEGFR2, alone or in combination with other cancer drugs. However, overall response rate following ramucirumab or its combinations is 30%–80% of the patients, suggesting that personalization of drug prescription is needed to increase efficacy of treatment. We report here original tumor RNA sequencing profiles for 15 advanced GC patients linked with data on clinical response to ramucirumab or its combinations. Three genes showed differential expression in the tumors for responders versus nonresponders: CHRM3, LRFN1, and TEX15. Of them, CHRM3 was up-regulated in the responders. Using the bioinformatic platform Oncobox we simulated ramucirumab efficiency and compared output model results with actual tumor response data. An agreement was observed between predicted and real clinical outcomes (AUC ≥ 0.7). These results suggest that RNA sequencing may be used to personalize the prescription of ramucirumab for GC and indicate potential molecular mechanisms underlying ramucirumab resistance. The RNA sequencing profiles obtained here are fully compatible with the previously published Oncobox Atlas of Normal Tissue Expression (ANTE) data.
Comparative single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) reveals liver metastasis–specific targets in a patient with small intestinal neuroendocrine cancer
Authors: Rao Manisha , Oh Ki , Moffitt Richard , Thompson Patricia , Li Jinyu , Liu Jingxuan , Sasson Aaron , Georgakis George , Kim Joseph , Choi Minsig , Powers Scott
Published: February 2020

Genomic analysis of a patient's tumor is the cornerstone of precision oncology, but it does not address whether metastases should be treated differently. Here we tested whether comparative single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of a primary small intestinal neuroendocrine tumor to a matched liver metastasis could guide the treatment of a patient's metastatic disease. Following surgery, the patient was put on maintenance treatment with a somatostatin analog. However, the scRNA-seq analysis revealed that the neuroendocrine epithelial cells in the liver metastasis were less differentiated and expressed relatively little SSTR2, the predominant somatostatin receptor. There were also differences in the tumor microenvironments. RNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factors was higher in the primary tumor cells, reflected by an increased number of endothelial cells. Interestingly, vascular expression of the major VEGF receptors was considerably higher in the liver metastasis, indicating that the metastatic vasculature may be primed for expansion and susceptible to treatment with angiogenesis inhibitors. The patient eventually progressed on Sandostatin, and although consideration was given to adding an angiogenesis inhibitor to her regimen, her disease progression involved non-liver metastases that had not been characterized. Although in this specific case comparative scRNA-seq did not alter treatment, its potential to help guide therapy of metastatic disease was clearly demonstrated.
5-Nitro-2,3-bis(thiophen-2-yl)quinoxaline
Authors: Freitas Jorge F. de , Brown Shayne , Oberndorfer James S. , Crundwell Guy
Published: February 2020

The title compound, C16H9N3O2S2, was synthesized via a condensation reaction in refluxing acetic acid. The dihedral angles between the mean plane of the quinoxaline unit and the thienyl rings are 35.16 (5)° and 24.94 (3)°.
Eyring–Powell fluid flow through a circular pipe and heat transfer: full solutions
Authors: Mustafa Turkyilmazoglu
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the non-Newtonian physical model of Eyring–Powell fluid for the rheology inside a long circular pipe.

Design/methodology/approach

Although many research studies are available now on this topic, none gives full solutions explicitly accessible.

Findings

It is proven here that the hydrodynamically fully developed fluid flow acknowledges the exact solution, influenced by a non-Newtonian parameter as well as the adverse pressure gradient parameter prevailing the flow domain. These parameters are unified under a new parameter known as the generalized Eyring–Powell parameter. Without the presented analytical data, it is impossible to detect the validity range of such physical non-Newtonian solutions, which is shown to be restricted.

Originality/value

Full solution of the energy equation for the thermally fully developed laminar regime is also presented under the assumption of uniform wall temperature at the pipe wall. The physical impacts of pertinent parameters on the rheology of the non-Newtonian fluid with regard to the Reynolds number, Darcy friction factor and pressure drop are easy to interpret from the derived formulae. Particularly, a decrease in the centerline velocity and an increase in the rate of heat transfer are clarified for the considered flow configuration.
Access to health-care policies for refugees and asylum-seekers
Authors: El-Gamal Salma , Hanefeld Johanna
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The influx of refugees and asylum-seekers over the past decade into the European Union creates challenges to the health systems of receiving countries in the preparedness and requisite adjustments to policy addressing the new needs of the migrant population. This study aims to examine and compare policies for access to health care and the related health outcomes for refugees and asylum-seekers settling both in the UK and Germany as host countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper conducted a scoping review of academic databases and grey literature for studies within the period 2010-2017, seeking to identify evidence from current policies and service provision for refugees and asylum-seekers in Germany and the UK, distilling the best practice and clarifying gaps in knowledge, to determine implications for policy.

Findings

Analysis reveals that legal entitlements for refugees and asylum-seekers allow access to primary and secondary health care free of charge in the UK versus a more restrictive policy of access limited to acute and emergency care during the first 15 months of resettlements in Germany. In both countries, many factors hinder the access of this group to normal health care from legal status, procedural hurdles and lingual and cultural barriers. Refugees and asylum-seeker populations were reported with poor general health condition, lower rates of utilization of health services and noticeable reliance on non-governmental organizations.

Originality/value

This paper helps to fulfill the need for an extensive research required to help decision makers in host countries to adjust health systems towards reducing health disparities and inequalities among refugees and asylum-seekers.
Health-seeking cultural patterns in the use of available healthcare services among refugee groups in south-central Kentucky
Authors: Ejike Chika , Lartey Grace , Capps Randy , Ciochetty David
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Refugees resettle in the USA every year to escape genocide, famine, civil wars and crises in their countries. The diverse cultural identities of the refugee population in south-central Kentucky make it essential to research into their health-care usage patterns. The purpose of this study is to examine the health-seeking patterns of refugees in relation to their culture and the usage of available health services.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a descriptive correlational study that culled 110 refugees who completed self-administered or interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaires. Questionnaires were translated into four different languages. T-tests and ANOVA assessed differences between variables.

Findings

Findings indicate that a demographic factor such as refugees’ nationality plays a role in both the access and use of health services [F (5, 98) = 4.29, p < 0.001]. Refugees’ beliefs and social factors such as acculturation (t = −2.03, p < 0.04) and having health insurance (t = −3.35, p <0.001) also affect the use of health services. The level of cultural competency of the health-care facility or provider as depicted by the presence of interpreters (t = 1.92, p < 0.05) was associated with increased use of the health services provided.

Research limitations/implications

The sample of refugees is only representative of the general refugee population in south-central Kentucky; hence, there is inadequate generalization.

Originality/value

Cultural diversity should be included in the health and policymaking debates that surround the refugee population of south-central Kentucky to ensure their well-being.
New digital tourism ecosystem: understanding the relationship between information sources and sharing economy platforms
Authors: Almeida-Santana Arminda , David-Negre Tatiana , Moreno-Gil Sergio
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study resides in a better understanding of the relationship between the use of traditional operators, online travel agencies, such as Booking.com and Expedia, comparators, tour operators and traditional travel agencies, airlines, new non-tourist companies like Google and the use of sharing economy platforms to obtain information about a travel destination.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying an analysis to 13,243 tourists from 19 European countries, a binomial logit analysis was carried out with the latest version of the SPSS statistical analysis program.

Findings

The use of Expedia and Booking.com has a positive effect on the use of sharing economy platforms to obtain information about travel destinations. However, it can also be observed how the use of Google, Facebook, tour operators and travel agencies, airlines and Twitter can have a negative effect.

Practical implications

The study provides interesting recommendations for destinations to be able to design better marketing strategies which focus on cognitive components of the destination image in different information sources.

Originality/value

Tourists search for information that helps them make better decisions when it comes to choosing a travel destination and they do so using different channels that have evolved over time. The proliferation of internet platforms has transformed the way tourists search for information and consequently the way the secondary image of destination is formed. The sharing economy plays an important role in this new tourism ecosystem. These new business models, based on platforms, coexist with other traditional information sources, tour operators and travel agencies and airlines. However, previous studies have not inquired about the relationship between them all.
The effect of plasma nitriding on the synergism between wear and corrosion of SAF 2205 duplex stainless steel
Authors: Núñez Yamid , Mafra Marcio , Morales Rigoberto E. , Borges Paulo César , Pintaude Giuseppe
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This study aims to assess the performance of SAF 2205 duplex stainless steel against pure wear, tribo-corrosion, corrosion and the synergism between wear and corrosion. The effect of plasma nitriding conducted at low temperature (380°C) on SAF 2205 steel was analyzed.

Design/methodology/approach

Three systems were used for assessing the synergism between wear and corrosion: tribo-corrosion – wear tests conducted using the micro-scale abrasion test, performed under a slurry of alumina particles containing 3.5% NaCl; pure wear – tests conducted using the previous system but isolated in a glovebox with a 99% N2 atmosphere; and cyclic polarization under 3.5% NaCl solution. A hard nitrided layer of 3 µm thickness was characterized using X-ray diffraction, presenting expanded austenite.

Findings

The wear mode after micro-scale abrasion tests changed in the absence of an oxygen atmosphere. During pure wear, a mixed mode was identified (rolling + grooving), with the grooving mode more intense for the untreated steel. For tribo-corrosion tests, only rolling wear was identified. For all cases, the nitrided samples presented less wear. The corrosion results indicated a higher repassivation potential for the nitrided condition.

Practical implications

The synergism was more positive for the nitrided sample than for the untreated one, which can be considered for surface treatments of duplex stainless steels in practical applications.

Originality/value

A detailed description of wear mechanisms showed a significant change in the presence of oxygen atmosphere, a new approach for isolating pure wear.
Unveiling the corporate brand: the role of portfolio composition
Authors: Gabrielli Veronica , Baghi Ilaria
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the effects on corporate brand equity when a company moves from a house of brand strategy to a branded house. In fact, recently, most of large companies (Procter & Gamble, Unilever) are managing this swift in order to simplify and optimize their efforts.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 433 consumers participated in a between-subject experimental design completing a questionnaire. Each respondent was exposed to one of eight hypothetical scenarios with real-existing brands. A moderated-mediation model was tested.

Findings

The number of individual brands interacts with the variety of product categories within the portfolio to define its internal consistency which, in turn, exerts a significant mediation effect on corporate brand equity.

Research limitations/implications

The study supports the mental accounting process (subtyping vs bookkeeping), demonstrating how this psychological framework is applicable within brand management.

Practical implications

The study unveils a strong dichotomy: consumers award very small portfolios focused on a single product category or, conversely, they appreciate a wide and highly diversified brand portfolio. No chances for intermediate and hybrid solutions. Findings demonstrate that a brand architecture shift might be a flexible opportunity to manage an on-going diversification strategy.

Originality/value

The study is the first to analyse the importance of internal consistency within a brand portfolio in case of a shift in the portfolio strategy. Moreover, it investigates the effects since the first announcement of a linkage between the individual brands and the corporate one.
Communication and leadership in healthcare quality governance
Authors: Brown Alison
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The importance of hospital board engagement in the work of governing healthcare quality has been demonstrated in the literature. Research into influences on effective corporate governance has traditionally focused on board architecture. Emerging research is bringing to light the importance of governance dynamics. This paper contributes to emerging research through highlighting how communication and leadership underpin effective engagement in governing healthcare quality.

Design/methodology/approach

A comparative case study of eight Australian public hospitals was undertaken involving document review, interviews and observations. Case studies were allocated into high- or low-engagement categories based on evidence of governance processes being undertaken, in order to compare and contrast influencing factors. Thematic analysis was undertaken to explore how communication and leadership influence healthcare governance.

Findings

Several key components of communication and leadership are shown to influence healthcare quality governance. Clear logical narratives in reporting, open communication, effective questioning and challenge from board members are important elements of communication found to influence engagement. Leadership that has a focus on healthcare excellence and quality improvement are aligned and promote effective meeting processes is also found to foster governance engagement. Effective engagement in these communication and leadership processes facilitate valuable reflexivity at the governance level.

Practical implications

The findings highlight the way in which boards and senior managers can strengthen governance effectiveness through attention to key aspects of communication and leadership.

Originality/value

The case study approach allows the exploration of communication and leadership in greater depth than previously undertaken at the corporate governance level in the healthcare setting.
Social media hospital ratings and HCAHPS survey scores
Authors: Chakraborty Subhajit , Church E. Mitchell
Published: February 2020

Purpose

To empirically verify whether patient hospital satisfaction ratings on social media such as Yelp provide similar information as the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) surveys.

Design/methodology/approach

OLS and ordinal regressions performed on secondary data obtained from Yelp.com and 2016 Hospital Compare database disclosed by CMS.

Findings

Results show that the patient hospital satisfaction ratings from Yelp can predict the patient experience of care domain scores obtained through the annual HCAHPS surveys and are also positively and significantly correlated to the overall hospital quality performance scores given by CMS.

Research limitations/implications

Study suggests that social media patient review information could be used to supplement the information obtained from HCAHPS surveys, thereby providing hospitals more accurate information about their patient experiences.

Practical implications

Hospital leaders need not wait an entire year to receive their HCHAPS scores to know about the issues related to their patient experience that need improvement and can periodically refer to free Yelp patient review scores on Yelp.com to obtain similar information.

Originality/value

To the best of knowledge, this research is the first to empirically demonstrate that patient reviews freely obtained from social media sites like Yelp can provide similar information as obtained from HCAHPS surveys and can thus be used to supplement HCAHPS.
Tracing healthcare organisation integration in the UK using actor–network theory
Authors: Altabaibeh Abdelhakim , Caldwell Kay Ann , Volante Margaret A
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The study presents the findings from a study over a four-year period of the emergence of an integrated healthcare organisation in response to policy changes within the United Kingdom (UK). The aim of the research was to understand the process of healthcare organisation integration through the lens of actor–network theory (ANT).

Design/methodology/approach

An instrumental case study approach to data collection was selected. Three methods of data collection were used to trace the healthcare organisation integration process: in depth semistructured interviews using a virtual patient journey across services with 36 purposefully selected informants, document analysis and field observations and notes.

Findings

The findings of this study suggest that neither the context nor the actors were the sole determinants of the outcome of the integration. Rather it was the dynamic interplay between the actors, their context, the shared agency and the resources available to them as the change emerged shaped the end result.

Research implications

The findings denote that organisations need to attend to frontline workers as key contributors to change and development that is meaningful for service users. Methodologically, combining the ANT and constructive case study to understand the integration process provided us with new perspective to understand the trajectory of change process.

Originality/value

This original case study fills a gap in information about the role of healthcare professionals in healthcare policy process and the interactive relationship between all stakeholders of policy process including nonhuman actors.
If kids ruled the world, how would they stop the non-medical use of prescription drugs?
Authors: Serdarevic Mirsada , Osborne Vicki , Elliott Amy , Striley Catherine W , Cottler Linda B
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This study examined how youth would mitigate non-medical use of prescription medication among their peers.

Design/methodology/approach

The National Monitoring of Adolescent Prescription Stimulants Study (N-MAPSS) was conducted as an interview comprising 11,048 youth of 10–18 years of age between 2008 and 2011 from entertainment venues of 10 US urban, suburban, and rural areas. Using a mixed-methods approach, participants completed a survey culminating in open-ended questions asking: (1) How should kids your age be informed about prescription drugs and their effects? (2) If you ran the world, how would you stop kids from taking other people’s prescription medicines? (3) Why do people use prescription stimulants without a prescription? Responses from a random sample of 900 children were analyzed using qualitative thematic analyses.

Findings

The random sample of 900 youth (52 percent female, 40 percent white, with a mean age of 15.1 years) believed they should be educated about prescription drugs and their negative effects at schools, at home by parents, through the media, and health professionals. Youth would stop kids from using other people’s prescription drugs through more stringent laws that restricted use, and providing education about negative consequences of use. Peer pressure was the most common reason the youth gave for using other’s pills, though some reported taking them out of curiosity.

Originality/value

The importance of considering youth’s opinions on non-medical use of prescription medications is often overlooked. This evidence, from a peer perspective, could end the illicit use of prescription drugs among today’s youth.
Cutaneous adverse events induced by azacitidine in myelodysplastic syndrome patients: Case reports and a lesson from published work review
Authors: Shimoda‐Komatsu Yurie , Mizukawa Yoshiko , Takayama Nobuyuki , Ohyama Manabu
Published: February 2020

Subcutaneous injection of azacitidine (AZA) is an important treatment option for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), which improves overall survival. In hematology, the incidence of AZA‐induced cutaneous adverse events (AE) has been known to be relatively high, which has not been well recognized by dermatologists. Discontinuation of AZA can result in the deterioration of MDS disease activity. Therefore, on dermatological consultation, precise evaluation of AE severity and careful consideration is required for post‐AE medication management. To enhance our understanding of AZA‐induced cutaneous AE, we report four cases with two representative cutaneous AE subtypes and summarize the clinicopathological phenotypes and courses of the cases in the published work. Case 1, a 71‐year‐old man, developed neutrophilic dermatosis involving the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. The other three cases, a 75‐year‐old man, a 78‐year‐old woman and a 68‐year‐old man, presented injection‐site erythema associated with flare‐up reaction. Discontinuation of AZA was necessary for case 1 alone. The published work review delineated three major subtypes of AZA‐induced cutaneous AE: systemic cutaneous reaction, neutrophilic dermatosis type and erythematous type injection‐site reaction. Histologically, the first two subtypes are mostly characterized by neutrophil infiltration, while the third subtype presents lymphocytic cell infiltration. Neither AZA discontinuation nor intensive interventions were required for the erythematous type injection‐site reaction, while AZA termination or systemic treatments, represented by corticosteroid administration, were preferentially conducted for the systemic cutaneous reaction or the neutrophilic dermatosis type injection‐site reaction subgroup. These observations support the necessity of subtype‐dependent treatment strategies for the management of AZA‐induced cutaneous AE.
Gender specialization and factors affecting fruit set of the wind‐pollinated heterodichogamous Juglans regia
Authors: Cao Guo‐Xing , Li Rui‐Ting , Li Lin , Zeng Hong , Wang Jing‐Yan
Published: February 2020

Gender expression, flowering phenology, reproductive performance and factors affecting fruit set (i.e., flowering synchrony, size and distance to the nearest pollen donor) were investigated in a cultivated population of a wind‐pollinated self‐compatible heterodichogamous Juglans regia (Juglandaceae). Four flowering morphs, (i.e., protandrous, protogynous, male and female) were observed. The sexual functions of the protandrous and protogynous morphs were almost synchronous; however, they were not reciprocal, and the separation of male and female flowering within most monoecious individuals was not complete. Thus, within‐morph mating and geitonogamous pollination may be common. The ratio of protandrous versus protogynous morphs was biased towards the protandrous morph, but the fruit set did not differ between the morphs, suggesting that the fruit set of the protandrous morph could be partly compensated by within‐morph pollination. The ratio of the female flower number or fruit number to the total male catkin length was higher in the protogynous morph than in the protandrous morph and did not vary with plant size, suggesting that gender variation was not size dependent and that the sexual function of protandrous morphs was more male biased. Fruit set depended on plant size only for protandrous morphs. The fruit set of individual plants decreased with increasing distance to the nearest pollen donor regardless of morph, possibly because of pollen limitation. The fruit set of individual plants increased with flowering synchrony, indicating that flowering synchrony could affect reproductive success.
A core outcome set for hyperemesis gravidarum research: an international consensus study
Authors: Jansen LAW , Koot MH , van‘t Hooft J , Dean CR , Duffy JMN , Ganzevoort W , Gauw N , Goes BY , Rodenburg J , Roseboom TJ , Painter RC , Grooten IJ
Published: February 2020

Objective

To develop a core outcome set for trials on the treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).

Design

Identification of outcomes is followed by a modified Delphi survey combined with a consensus development meeting and a consultation round.

Setting

An international web‐based survey combined with a consensus development meeting.

Population

Stakeholders including researchers; women with lived experience of HG and their families; obstetric health professionals; and other health professionals.

Methods

We used systematic review, semi‐structured patient interviews, closed group sessions and Steering Committee input to identify potential core outcomes. We conducted two web‐based survey rounds, followed by a face‐to‐face consensus development meeting and a web‐based consultation round.

Main outcome measures

A core outcome set for research on HG.

Results

Fifty‐six potential outcomes were identified. The modified Delphi process was completed by 125 stakeholders, the consensus development meeting by 20 stakeholders and the consultation round by 96 stakeholders. Consensus was reached in ten domains on 24 outcomes: nausea; vomiting; inability to tolerate oral fluids or food; dehydration; weight difference; electrolyte imbalance; intravenous fluid treatment; use of medication for hyperemesis gravidarum; hospital treatment; treatment compliance; patient satisfaction; daily functioning; maternal physical or mental or emotional wellbeing; short‐ and long‐term adverse effects of treatment; maternal death; pregnancy complications; considering or actually terminating a wanted pregnancy; preterm birth; small for gestational age; congenital anomalies; neonatal morbidity and offspring death).

Conclusions

This core outcome set will help standardise outcome reporting in HG trials.

Tweetable abstract

A core outcome set for treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum in order to create high‐quality evidence.
Specific pathogens and microbial abundance within liver and kidney tissues of wild marine fish from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Meron Dalit , Davidovich Nadav , Ofek‐Lalzar Maya , Berzak Ran , Scheinin Aviad , Regev Yael , Diga Rei , Tchernov Dan , Morick Danny
Published: February 2020

This study is an initial description and discussion of the kidney and liver microbial communities of five common fish species sampled from four sites along the Eastern Mediterranean Sea shoreline. The goals of the present study were to establish a baseline dataset of microbial communities associated with the tissues of wild marine fish, in order to examine species‐specific microbial characteristics and to screen for candidate pathogens. This issue is especially relevant due to the development of mariculture farms and the possible transmission of pathogens from wild to farmed fish and vice versa. Although fish were apparently healthy, 16S rRNA NGS screening identified three potential fish bacterial pathogens: Photobacterium damselae, Vibrio harveyi and Streptococcus iniae. Based on the distribution patterns and relative abundance, 16 samples were classified as potential pathogenic bacteria‐infected samples (PPBIS). Hence, PPBIS prevalence was significantly higher in kidneys than in liver samples and variation was found between the fish species. Significant differences were observed between fish species, organs and sites, indicating the importance of the environmental conditions on the fish microbiome. We applied a consistent sampling and analytical method for monitoring in long‐term surveys which may be incorporated within other marine fish pathogens surveys around the world.