bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Regional differences in reported Covid-19 cases show genetic correlations with higher socio-economic status and better health, potentially confounding studies on the genetics of disease susceptibility
Authors: Abdellaoui Abdel 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundIn March 2020, England showed a rapid increase in Covid-19 cases. Susceptibility for infectious diseases like Covid-19 is likely to be partly genetic. Mapping the genetic susceptibility for Covid-19 outcomes may reveal biological mechanisms that could potentially aid in drug or vaccine developments. However, as the disease spreads unevenly across the country, regional allele frequency differences could become spuriously associated with disease prevalence.MethodsA regional genome-wide association study (RGWAS) was conducted in 396,042 individuals from England to investigate the association between 1.2 million genetic variants and regional differences in daily reported Covid-19 cases from March 1st to April 18th 2020.ResultsThe polygenic signal increases during the first weeks of March, peaking at March 13th with the measured genetic variants explaining ∼3% of the variance, including two genome-wide significant loci. The explained variance starts to drop at the end of March and reaches almost zero on April 18th. The majority of this temporary polygenic signal is due to genes associated with higher educational attainment and better health.ConclusionsThe temporary positive relationship between Covid-19 cases and regional socio-economic status (SES) at the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak may reflect 1) a higher degree of international travelers, 2) more social contacts, and/or 3) better testing capacities in higher SES regions. These signals are in the opposite direction of expected disease risk increasing effects, which has the potential to cancel out signals of interest. Genetic association studies should be aware of the timing and location of cases as this can introduce interfering polygenic signals that reflect regional differences in genes associated with behavior.
Repurposing Pyramax® for the Treatment of Ebola Virus Disease: Additivity of the Lysosomotropic Pyronaridine and Non-Lysosomotropic Artesunate
Authors: Lane Thomas R. , Dyall Julie , Mercer Luke , Goodin Caleb , Foil Daniel H. , Zhou Huanying , Postnikova Elena , Liang Janie Y. , Holbrook Michael R. , Madrid Peter B. , Ekins Sean 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWe have recently identified three molecules (tilorone, quinacrine and pyronaridine tetraphosphate) which all demonstrated efficacy in the mouse model of infection with mouse-adapted Ebola virus (EBOV) model of disease and had similarin vitroinhibition of an Ebola pseudovirus (VSV-EBOV-GP), suggesting they interfere with viral entry. Using a machine learning model to predict lysosomotropism these compounds were evaluated for their ability to inhibit via a lysosomotropic mechanismin vitro. We now demonstratein vitrothat pyronaridine tetraphosphate is an inhibitor of Lysotracker accumulation in lysosomes (IC50= 0.56 μM). Further, we evaluated synergy between pyronaridine and artesunate (Pyramax®), which are used in combination to treat malaria. Artesunate was not found to have lysosomotropic activityin vitroand the combination effect on EBOV inhibition was shown to be additive. Pyramax® may represent a unique example of the repurposing of a combination product for another disease.
Food waste as a resource: grinding, dilution, and storage as a pretreatment strategy to produce fermentation intermediates
Authors: Daly Sarah E. , Usack Joseph G. , Harroff Lauren A. , Booth James G. , Keleman Michael P. , Angenent Largus T. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn several states of the U.S., one measure to mitigate greenhouse-gas emissions has been to ban food wastes from landfills. As a result, U.S.-based companies are now providing decentralized food-waste management systems for supermarkets and restaurants, which include storage as a slurry. It is unclear, however, which storage conditions (factors) would affect the spontaneous microbial activity, resulting in a different fermentation product spectra, and how this would affect further post-treatment. Here, we performed two experiments to mimic: 1) storage and 2) subsequent anaerobic digestion. For the food-waste storage system, we designed a mixed-level fractional factorial analysis with 12 experimental combinations, including separating food waste into: carbohydrate-rich, lipid-rich, and protein-rich food waste. We found that all factors that we tested correlated with the fermentation product spectra, but that especially the factors: i) storage temperature; ii) food-waste composition; and iii) storage time affected the fermentation outcome. We observed that relatively low pH levels of 3-4, which were achieved due to rapid lactic acid accumulation by microbial activity during storage, coincided with greater lactate production at a maximum chemical oxygen demand (COD) selectivity of 90%. This provides an opportunity to optimize lactate production, which is ideal for subsequent methane or chemical production.TOC/Abstract graphic
BBSome regulation of LITE-1 receptor in a cilium-independent manner inC. elegans
Authors: Zhang Xinxing , Liu Jinzhi , Liu Jianfeng , Xu X.Z. Shawn 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) is a genetic disorder affecting primary cilia. BBSome, a protein complex composed of eight BBS proteins, regulates the structure and function of cilia in diverse organisms, and its malfunction causes BBS in humans. Here, we report a new function of BBSome inC. elegans. In a forward genetic screen for genes regulating the light sensitivity of the ciliated ASH sensory neurons, we isolatedbbsmutants, indicating that BBSome regulates ASH photosensitivity. Surprisingly, cilia are not required for ASH neurons to sense light, suggesting that BBSome regulates ASH photosensitivity independently of cilia. Interestingly, the light-sensing receptor LITE-1, which mediates photosensation, is a non-ciliary protein in ASH neurons. LITE-1 in ASH neurons becomes unstable inbbsmutants in an age-dependent manner, indicating that BBSome regulates the stability of LITE-1 in these neurons. These results identify a cilium-independent function of BBSome in regulating a non-ciliary protein in ciliated cells.
Structure of a single-chain H2A/H2B dimer
Authors: Warren Christopher , Bonanno Jeffrey B. , Almo Steven C. , Shechter David 
Published: April 2020

Chromatin is the complex assembly of nucleic acids and proteins that makes up the physiological form of the eukaryotic genome. The nucleosome is the fundamental repeating unit of chromatin, and is composed of ∼147 bp of DNA wrapped around a histone octamer formed by two copies of each core histone: H2A, H2B, H3 and H4. Prior to nucleosome assembly, and during histone eviction, histones are typically assembled into soluble H2A/H2B dimers and H3/H4 dimers and tetramers. A multitude of factors interact with soluble histone dimers and tetramers, including chaperones, importins, histone-modifying enzymes and chromatin-remodeling enzymes. It is still unclear how many of these proteins recognize soluble histones; therefore, there is a need for new structural tools to study non-nucleosomal histones. Here, a single-chain, tailless Xenopus H2A/H2B dimer was created by directly fusing the C-terminus of H2B to the N-terminus of H2A. It is shown that this construct (termed scH2BH2A) is readily expressed in bacteria and can be purified under non-denaturing conditions. A 1.31 Å resolution crystal structure of scH2BH2A shows that it adopts a conformation that is nearly identical to that of nucleosomal H2A/H2B. This new tool is likely to facilitate future structural studies of many H2A/H2B-interacting proteins.
Two-dimensional numerical analysis of differential concentration corrosion in seawater pipeline
Authors: Yingwei Liu , Zhang Zhongwu , Zhang Yang 
Published: April 2020

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a new two-dimensional differential concentration corrosion mathematical model based on the knowledge that oxygen distribution on the surface of the seawater pipe is two-dimensional.

Design/methodology/approach
The ionic conductive layer element near the pipeline wall is regarded as the research object, and the finite element method is adopted to obtain the oxygen distribution in the layers and the natural corrosion potential and natural corrosion current of each element. Then, these element sets are regarded as a whole circuit and each element as a node on the circuit; the equation is satisfied by the corrosion potential after polarization is derived for each element according to Kirchhoff’s second law.

Findings
Matlab is used to solve the equation sets, and the overall corrosion current is calculated. The results are quite different from those considered without the differential concentration corrosion. If the differential concentration corrosion is not considered, the location with high oxygen concentration on the pipeline wall has a large corrosion potential and current. If corrosion is considered, the potential will cause polarization and the positions with original higher corrosion potential will produce anodic polarization. Meanwhile, the speed of corrosion also decreases. At the same time, the position with original lower corrosion potential will produce cathodic polarization, and the corrosion current is also increased, namely, the corrosion current and the potential will be homogenized.

Originality/value
A two-dimensional model for the study of concentration corrosion is proposed creatively. Based on the knowledge of electricity, a discrete equation of corrosion potential after polarization is derived. The distribution of corrosion potential and corrosion current is obtained by solving the equation, and the mechanism of concentration corrosion is analyzed. The law of concentration polarization corrosion is also obtained.
The Pacific Alliance and the Belt and Road Initiative
Authors: Toro-Fernandez Juan-Felipe , Tijmes-Ihl Jaime 
Published: April 2020

PurposeThrough the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has built bilateral relations with Latin American states. The purpose of this article is to explore the potential for using the Pacific Alliance (PA) as a negotiating frame as regards the Belt and Road Initiative.Design/methodology/approachWe use a descriptive and analytical methodology to recapitulate and analyze the factual and normative background of Latin American economic integration during the last three decades, a process that so far has culminated in the Pacific Alliance (PA) and an emphasis on the Asia–Pacific region.FindingsWe contend that the PA has been a learning process in terms of economic cooperation. In addition, it is a Latin American economic integration project that emphasizes its focus on the Asia–Pacific region. Considering the nature of BRI projects, as well as Latin American states’ and China’s interests, we contend that it would be beneficial if Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru, the members of the PA, and China channeled their BRI relations through the PA. Thus, the PA should be China’s negotiating partner.Originality/valueSo far, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Latin America has been built upon bilateral relations. This article explores the possibility of developing the BRI through the Pacific Alliance (PA).
Social media in government offices: usage and strategies
Authors: Yavetz Gal , Aharony Noa 
Published: April 2020

PurposeThe current study seeks to present and examine the strategies, management and dissemination of information on social media platforms by Israeli government organizations and agencies.Design/methodology/approachThe article uses the “Case Study” approach, through semi-structured, in-depth interviews conducted with directors in charge of the use of social media in government departments.FindingsThe findings indicate that government agencies tend to favor Facebook over other social network platforms, in order to reach the widest possible audience. They do this by adhering to the platform's limitations, such as regularly using sponsored advertising to increase reach and visibility, and also by publishing visual content, such as videos and images, at the expense of text. In addition, the impact of respondents to adopt social media outweighs the use and importance awarded to traditional government websites. A clear preference is evident toward cultivating and strengthening existing information on social media at the expense of further developing official websites.Originality/valueFindings and conclusions from this type of research can help digital media directors and content editors in government agencies, to improve the quality of their content and improve the accessibility of the information they share online. In addition, the findings of the study strengthen the growing body of knowledge focused on the relationship between government ministries and social media.
Stakeholder management in prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction projects: benchmarking the key result areas
Authors: Wuni Ibrahim Yahaya , Shen Geoffrey Qiping 
Published: April 2020

PurposePrefabricated prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC) projects are industrialized building systems that are co-created. Thus, effective management of the involved stakeholders is required to ensure project success. However, knowledge of how best to manage the diverse stakeholders in PPVC projects is limited. This research identified and prioritized the success factors or key result areas (KRAs) for the effective stakeholder management (SM) in PPVC projects.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative research design was implemented involving a literature review and structured questionnaire survey with international PPVC experts. The research identified and statistically analysed 12 KRAs for SM in PPVC projects.FindingsAnalysis showed that the top three KRAs for SM in PPVC projects include: effective working collaboration, communication and information sharing among participants; effective coordination of the PPVC supply chain segments; and early involvement of relevant stakeholders in the PPVC project. A factor analysis clustered the 12 KRAs into stakeholder analysis and early involvement, effective communication and information sharing and stakeholder interest integration and conflict management.Practical implicationsThe paper identified and prioritized the KRAs required for the effective SM in PPVC projects. To practitioners, the results may serve as decision support on the key areas to focus to ensure effective SM in PPVC projects and may guide the efficient allocation of limited resources.Originality/valueThis research constitutes the first exclusive attempt at identifying and benchmarking the generic KRAs required for effective SM in PPVC projects and contributes to the SM body of knowledge in industrialized construction.
Organic wheat products and consumer choice: a market segmentation analysis
Authors: Drugova Tatiana , Curtis Kynda R. , Akhundjanov Sherzod B. 
Published: April 2020

PurposeThis paper examines determinants of consumer interest in organic versions of wheat products by analyzing differences in selected factors among groups of consumers, distinguished by their likelihood of purchasing organic wheat products. The analysis is performed for bread and cookies to examine whether the findings are different for virtue and vice food categories.Design/methodology/approachA consumer survey was conducted across the western United States in 2017. Latent class modeling is used to identify groups of “very likely,” “likely” and “unlikely” consumers of organic wheat products, based on preferences for organic wheat products and attitudes toward organics in general.FindingsConsumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for organic foods depend on product type. Additionally, significant differences are found across consumer groups—regardless of product type—in the importance they place on labels and product characteristics, WTP, reasons for (not) purchasing organic products and consumption limitations.Research limitations/implicationsThe group of organic consumers may be underrepresented in the sample. In addition, since actual behavior was not observed—respondents provided only stated preferences or responses to hypothetical questions—the results should be interpreted carefully.Originality/valueFew studies have examined preferences for organic wheat products across consumer groups. This study is also the first to examine the connection between wheat/gluten intolerance/avoidance and preference for organic versions of wheat products. Finally, this study adds to the limited literature on consumer preferences for organic virtue and vice food products.
Ethical consumers: an exploratory investigation of the ethical food consumption behaviour of young adults in the North East of Scotland
Authors: Oke Adekunle , Ladas Jasmina , Bailey Moira 
Published: April 2020

PurposeThis study aims to explore the motivation as well as barriers for ethical food consumption behaviour by focussing on the food consumption pattern of young adults in the North East of Scotland. Considering the recent involvement of young adults in environmental activism, consumption behaviour of young adults in the North East of Scotland, an oil-based community, presents essential research interest to understand whether young adults often contemplate the consequences of their lifestyle.Design/methodology/approachThe authors explored the perceptions of ten purposive recruited young adults using semi-structured interviews to understand factors underpinning consumer's decision-making towards ethical food products.FindingsThe study reveals three key factors influencing ethical food consumption behaviour among young adults. The findings show that personal health and well-being are the main reasons why consumers engage in ethical food consumption. Also, it is observed that information facilitates decision-making by raising awareness regarding the social, environmental and health consequences of food production and consumption. Further, the findings show that situational attributes, such as product price and product availability, are creating dissonance when engaging in ethical food consumption.Originality/valueThis study contributes to sustainability research and the ongoing debate on consumerism by exploring ethical food consumption behaviour and highlights the need to address situational challenges, such as product price and availability. The study suggests that interventions to address current consumption patterns should also emphasise the social and personal benefits of food consumption rather than the environmental benefits that have been the focus of prior research.
Psychosocial perception of the effects of harmattan dust on the environment and health of building occupants in Maiduguri, Nigeria
Authors: Mohammed Mohammed Alhaji , Bulama Kyari , Usman Audu Alhaji , Modu Mala Ali , Bukar Alhaji Modu , Lawan Alhaji Kasir , Habib Garba Abba 
Published: April 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the psychosocial perception of harmattan dust on building openings, health and housekeeping to determine the influence of the dust on building occupants.Design/methodology/approachPopulation-representative survey data were collected from Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria, through physical administration of questionnaires by assessing several variables. Statistical package SPSS 16.0 was used for the data analysis, which is mainly descriptive analysis in frequencies, percentages and means together with a repeated Pearson’s chi-square analysis to identify the relationship between the factors and the significance testing.FindingsThe results show that majority (94.3%) experienced dust problem in harmattan season, and a larger part (76.6%) confirmed that the dust penetrates through doors and windows. Higher percentage (91.2%) noticed that the dust particles on their floor/furniture surfaces, and on an average, people clean their houses three times daily in harmattan season. Majority (80.5%) of the respondents smell dust in the harmattan season, and greater part (77.9%) experienced health challenges in this season, of which 12.8% confirmed harmattan dust aggravates their asthma, 13.6% confirmed it causes headache, 3.1% confirmed it exacerbated pneumonia, 58.5% confirmed it causes coughing, 3.5% confirmed catarrh, 2.3% confirmed nasal/respiratory congestion, sneezing and bronchitis and 6.2% experienced eye problems. Moreover, the results indicate that number/types of openings in a building are significantly associated with factors including smelling dust in the harmattan season and health problem experienced because of dust indoors. The number of times people clean their homes/workplaces is significantly related to important variables such as experiencing dust problem in harmattan season and number/type of openings in a building. The results further established that the health problem experienced by people is significantly related to important variables including dust problem experienced in the harmattan season and type of openings in a room.Originality/valueHarmattan dust is a serious challenge to health and well-being of building occupants in the study area. The built environment professionals need to optimize building openings for effective dust control indoors.
Understanding landlord perspectives on applicants with sex offenses
Authors: Kunstler Naomi , Tsai Jack 
Published: April 2020

Purpose
This paper aims to understand landlords’ attitudes toward applicants with histories of sex offenses and landlords’ willingness to broaden eligibility criteria for tenancy.

Design/methodology/approach
A convenience sample of 50 landlords in Connecticut were interviewed. The content of interviews was analyzed to examine how often a landlord would be open to renting to individuals on the sex offender registry and what conditions affect their decisions.

Findings
In total, 44% of landlords would not rent to adults with histories of sex offenses under any circumstance, but 8% of landlords reported they would rent to such individuals and an additional 36% of landlords were open to it with a high threshold for other indicators of good tenancy such as stable housing history, good credit and timely rental payments.

Practical implications
These findings not only illustrate the real-world challenges in finding housing for adults with histories of sex offenses but also highlight opportunities in working with landlords.

Originality/value
There has been little examination of housing adults with sex offenders from the perspective of landlords, which is important to understand to address this difficult and sensitive issue.