bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Trajectory of COVID-19 epidemic in Europe
Authors: Colombo Marco , Mellor Joseph , Colhoun Helen M , M Gomes M Gabriela , McKeigue Paul M 
Published: September 2020

SummaryThe classic Susceptible-Infected-Recovered model formulated by Kermack and McKendrick [1] assumes that all individuals in the population are equally susceptible to infection. From fitting such a model to the trajectory of mortality from COVID-19 in 11 European countries up to 4 May 2020 Flaxman et al. concluded that “major non-pharmaceutical interventions – and lockdowns in particular – have had a large effect on reducing transmission” [2]. We show that relaxing the assumption of homogeneity to allow for individual variation in susceptibility or connectivity gives a model that has better fit to the data and more accurate 14-day forward prediction of mortality. Allowing for heterogeneity reduces the estimate of “counterfactual” deaths that would have occurred if there had been no interventions from 3.2 million to 262,000, implying that most of the slowing and reversal of COVID-19 mortality is explained by the build-up of herd immunity. The estimate of the herd immunity threshold depends on the value specified for the infection fatality ratio (IFR): a value of 0.3% for the IFR gives 15% for the average herd immunity threshold.
Strong impact of closing schools, closing bars and wearing masks during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from a simple and revealing analysis
Authors: Matzinger Polly , Skinner Jeff 
Published: September 2020

AbstractMany complex mathematical and epidemiological methods have been used to model the Covid-19 pandemic. We took a different approach. Making no assumptions, we simply plotted cases, hospitalizations and deaths, on a log2 Y axis and a linear date-based X axis, and analyzed them using segmented regression. The data fit straight lines with correlation coefficients ranging from 92% - 99%, and these lines broke at interesting intervals, revealing that school closings dropped infection rates in half, lockdowns dropped the rates 3 to 4 fold, and other actions (such as closing bars and mandating masks) brought the rates even further down. Hospitalizations and deaths lagged, but paralleled cases. The graphs, which are easy to read, have several implications for modeling and policy development during this and future pandemics. Overall three interventions had the most impact: closing schools, closing bars and wearing masks: a message easily understood by the public.One Sentence SummaryRegression analysis showed that closing schools, closing bars, and wearing masks had major effects on infections, hospitalizations and death rates in the US during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A novel haemocytometric COVID-19 prognostic score developed and validated in an observational multicentre European hospital-based study
Authors: Linssen Joachim , Ermens Anthony , Berrevoets Marvin , Seghezzi Michela , Previtali Giulia , Sar-van der Brugge Simone van der , Russcher Henk , Verbon Annelies , Gillis Judith , Riedl Jürgen , de Jongh Eva , Saker Jarob , Münster Marion , Munnix Imke CA , Dofferhoff Anthonius , Scharnhorst Volkher , Ammerlaan Heidi , Deiteren Kathleen , Bakker Stephan JL , van Pelt Lucas Joost , Hingh Yvette Kluiters-de , Leers Mathie PG , van der Ven André 
Published: September 2020

AbstractCOVID-19 induces haemocytometric changes. Complete blood count changes, including new cell activation parameters, from 982 confirmed COVID-19 adult patients from 11 European hospitals were retrospectively analysed for distinctive patterns based on age, gender, clinical severity, symptom duration and hospital days. The observed haemocytometric patterns formed the basis to develop a multi-haemocytometric-parameter prognostic score to predict, during the first three days after presentation, which patients will recover without ventilation or deteriorate within a two-week timeframe, needing intensive care or with fatal outcome. The prognostic score, with ROC curve AUC at baseline of 0.753 (95% CI 0.723-0.781) increasing to 0.875 (95% CI 0.806-0.926) on day 3, was superior to any individual parameter at distinguishing between clinical severity. Findings were confirmed in a validation cohort. Aim is that the score and haemocytometry results are simultaneously provided by analyser software, enabling wide applicability of the score as haemocytometry is commonly requested in COVID-19 patients.
A psychological model of transparent communication effectiveness
Authors: Hopp Toby , Fisher Jolene 
Published: September 2020

PurposeWhen it comes to tactics that organizational communicators can undertake to elicit positive gains with stakeholders, transparent communication ranks high on lists proposed by both the scholarly and trade literatures. However, little is known about why such communication tactics are effective on a psychological level. Thus, this study aims to propose and test a psychological model of transparent communication effectiveness in the context of proactive, socially responsible brand communication. The model was based on three propositions: (1) transparent communication offers audiences an important opportunity to learn more about organizational functioning, (2) learning elicits an organizationally relevant positive affective state and (3) positive affect facilitates a robust relationship between perceived learning outcomes and positive evaluation of the organization.Design/methodology/approachThis study used an experiment to test the hypothesized model.FindingsSupport was found for the proposed model. Specifically, the data indicated that the use of transparent massaging elicited higher levels of perceived learning. Perceived learning was associated with positive brand-relevant affect. Finally, positive brand relevant-affect predicted positive summary brand evaluation.Originality/valueTaken as a whole, the current findings inform theorizing on transparent organizational and brand communication by describing the foundational roles played by perceived knowledge gain and positive affect in encouraging positive message-related outcomes.
CO2emissions, agricultural productivity and welfare in Ethiopia
Authors: Eshete Zerayehu Sime , Mulatu Dawit Woubishet , Gatiso Tsegaye Ginbo 
Published: September 2020

PurposeClimate change has become one of the most important development challenges worldwide. It affects various sectors, with agriculture the most vulnerable. In Ethiopia, climate change impacts are exacerbated due to the economy’s heavy dependence on agriculture. The Ethiopian Government has started to implement its climate-resilient green economy (CRGE) strategy and reduce CO2emissions. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the impact of CO2emission on agricultural productivity and household welfare.Design/methodology/approachThis study aims to fill these significant research and knowledge gaps using a recursive dynamic computable general equilibrium model to investigate CO2emissions’ impact on agricultural performance and household welfare.FindingsThe results indicate that CO2emissions negatively affect agricultural productivity and household welfare. Compared to the baseline, real agricultural gross domestic product is projected to be 4.5% lower in the 2020s under a no-CRGE scenario. Specifically, CO2emissions lead to a decrease in the production of traded and non-traded crops, but not livestock. Emissions also worsen the welfare of all segments of households, where the most vulnerable groups are the rural-poor households.Originality/valueThe debate in the area is not derived from a rigorous analysis and holistic economy-wide approach. Therefore, the paper fills this gap and is original by value and examines these issues methodically.
Investigating the determinants of behavioral intentions of generation Z for recycled clothing: an evidence from a developing economy
Authors: Chaturvedi Pallavi , Kulshreshtha Kushagra , Tripathi Vikas 
Published: September 2020

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of environmental concern, perceived value, personal norms and willingness to pay on generation Z’s purchase intention for recycled clothing.

Design/methodology/approach
The data were collected from five Indian universities. A total of 497 usable responses were analyzed. Confirmatory factor analysis was used for examining the validity and reliability of the scales. Further, the structural equation modeling was used to assess the relationship among the constructs.

Findings
Findings suggested that willingness to pay, environmental concern, perceived value and personal norms influence generation Z’s purchase intention for recycled clothing. Willingness to pay, environmental concern and perceived value were major predictors of purchase intention for recycled clothing.

Practical implications
This study holds much importance to the marketers of recycled clothing as it provides useful insights for formulating the appropriate promotional strategies. The study also contributes to the consumer behavior literature by addressing the existing research gap.

Originality/value
Most of the studies existing in this area have focused on the manufacturing side only except few which explored the consumption side of recycled clothing. Hence, the current study is an attempt to fill this research gap.
Artificial night light helps account for observer bias in citizen science monitoring of an expanding large mammal population
Authors: Ditmer Mark A. , Iannarilli Fabiola , Tri Andrew N. , Garshelis David L. , Carter Neil H. 
Published: September 2020

Abstract

The integration of citizen scientists into ecological research is transforming how, where, and when data are collected, and expanding the potential scales of ecological studies. Citizen‐science projects can provide numerous benefits for participants while educating and connecting professionals with lay audiences, potentially increasing the acceptance of conservation and management actions. However, for all the benefits, collection of citizen‐science data is often biased towards areas that are easily accessible (e.g. developments and roadways), and thus data are usually affected by issues typical of opportunistic surveys (e.g. uneven sampling effort). These areas are usually illuminated by artificial light at night (ALAN), a dynamic sensory stimulus that alters the perceptual world for both humans and wildlife.

Our goal was to test whether satellite‐based measures of ALAN could improve our understanding of the detection process of citizen‐scientist‐reported sightings of a large mammal.

We collected observations of American black bears Ursus americanus (n = 1,315) outside their primary range in Minnesota, USA, as part of a study to gauge population expansion. Participants from the public provided sighting locations of bears on a website. We used an occupancy modelling framework to determine how well ALAN accounted for observer metrics compared to other commonly used metrics (e.g. housing density).

Citizen scientists reported 17% of bear sightings were under artificially lit conditions and monthly ALAN estimates did the best job accounting for spatial bias in detection of all observations, based on AIC values and effect sizes ( = 0.81, 0.71–0.90 95% CI). Bear detection increased with elevated illuminance; relative abundance was positively associated with natural cover, proximity to primary bear range and lower road density. Although the highest counts of bear sightings occurred in the highly illuminated suburbs of the Minneapolis‐St. Paul metropolitan region, we estimated substantially higher bear abundance in another region with plentiful natural cover and low ALAN (up to ~375% increased predicted relative abundance) where observations were sparse.

We demonstrate the importance of considering ALAN radiance when analysing citizen‐scientist‐collected data, and we highlight the ways that ALAN data provide a dynamic snapshot of human activity.
Novel in vivo and in vitro mechanisms of positive inotropic effect of atractylodin
Authors: Gao Li , Wang Yuwei , Zhang Wenhui , Zhu Xiaojia , Gao Qianwen , Xiao Yujie , Chen Kesu , Liu Fuming , Chen Long 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThis study was to investigate the inotropic effect of atractylodin and its underlying mechanism. The cardiac pressure–volume loop (P–V loop), Langendroff‐perfused isolated rat heart, patch‐clamp, Ca2+ transient and western blot techniques were used. The results demonstrated that atractylodin (3 mg/kg, ip) remarkably increased the left ventricular stroke work, cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, ejection fraction, end‐systolic pressure, peak rates of rise and fall of left ventricular pressures (+dP/dtmax, −dP/dtmax), the slopes of end‐systolic pressure–volume relationship (also named as end‐systolic elastance, Ees) and reducing end‐systolic volume and end‐diastolic volume in the in vivo rat study. Also, atractylodin (3 mg/kg, ip) significantly decreased diastolic blood pressure and the arterial elastance (Ea) without significant systolic blood pressure change. In addition, atractylodin (0.1, 1, 10 µmol/L) also increased the isolated rat heart left ventricular developed pressure which is the difference between the systolic and diastolic pressure in non‐pacing and pacing modes. Furthermore, JMV‐2959 (1 μmol/L), a ghrelin receptor unbiased antagonist, blocked the increased left ventricular developed pressure of atractylodin in isolated rat hearts. Finally, atractylodin (5 µmol/L) increased the amplitude of Ca2+ transient by enhancing SERCA2a activity, the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content and the phosphorylation of phospholamban at 16‐serine. These results demonstrated that atractylodin had a positive inotropic effect by enhancing SERCA2a activity which might be mediated by acting ghrelin receptor in myocardium. In conclusion, atractylodin which had the positive inotropic effect and decreased diastolic blood pressure might serve as an agent for the treatment of heart failure in clinical settings.
Occasional loss of fecundity in peripheral coral populations
Authors: Suzuki Go , Kadota Tatsuru , Yatsuya Kousuke , Muko Soyoka , Arakaki Seiji , Kiyomoto Setuo , Yoshimura Taku 
Published: September 2020

AbstractReproductive ecology of scleractinian corals remains poorly known, particularly at the periphery of their distribution in temperate regions. However, understanding the reproductive mechanisms of these peripheral populations is important for assessing distributional changes such as poleward expansion in corals. Here, the reproductive status of two dominant Acropora coral species (Acropora cf. glauca and A. solitaryensis) was recorded over 8 years (2012–2019) to clarify annual changes in the fecundity of colonies and the timing of maturation at the periphery of their distribution. In addition, the hypothesis that the subsurface seawater temperature (S3T) affects the fecundity of Acropora corals was tested by examining the changes in ambient S3T and its effect on fecundity. As a result, the significant positive correlation between the average winter S3T (December–March) and fecundity was identified using a generalized linear model. The findings showed that temperate Acropora corals refrained from gametogenesis in the summer if average S3T during the previous winter was approximately 1°C lower than the long‐term average during 2006–2019 (i.e., <15°C), potentially limiting the distribution of coral populations.
MmbR, a master transcription regulator that controls fatty acid β‐oxidation genes in Mycolicibacterium smegmatis
Authors: Xu Hui , Su Zhi , Li Weihui , Deng Yimin , He Zheng‐Guo 
Published: September 2020

SummaryAn unusually high lipid content and a complex lipid profile are the most distinctive features of the mycobacterial cell envelope. However, our understanding of the regulatory mechanism underlying mycobacterial lipid metabolism is limited, and the major regulators responsible for lipid homeostasis remain to be characterized. Here, we identified MmbR as a novel master regulator that is essential for maintaining lipid homeostasis in Mycolicibacterium smegmatis. We found that MmbR controls fatty acid β‐oxidation and modulates biofilm formation in Mycolicibacterium smegmatis. Although MmbR possesses the properties of nucleoid‐associated proteins, it acts as a TetR‐like transcription factor, directly regulating and intensively repressing the expression of a group of core genes involved in fatty acid β‐oxidation. Furthermore, both long‐chain acyl‐Coenzyme A and fatty acids appear to regulate the signal molecules modulated by MmbR. The deletion of mmbR led to a significant reduction in intracellular fatty acid content and a decrease in the relative lipid composition of the biofilm. The lack of mmbR led to morphological changes in the mycobacterial colony, defects in biofilm formation and enhanced sensitivity to anti‐tuberculosis drugs. Our study is the first to establish a link between the transcriptional regulation of fatty acid β‐oxidation genes and lipid homeostasis in mycobacteria.
The Australian Labour Market and the Early Impact of COVID‐19: An Assessment
Authors: Borland Jeff , Charlton Andrew 
Published: September 2020

AbstractFrom March to June 2020 was the most dramatic four months in the history of the Australian labour market. Never before has a such a substantial decrease in labour demand (and partial reversal) occurred so quickly. In this article, we present an overview of the early impact of COVID‐19: the main drivers it brought into play and the consequent labour market developments. Aggregate effects and how impacts differed by type of job and worker are described. We conclude with a brief review of the main government response to COVID‐19, the JobKeeper program.
Evidence‐Based Management Competency Model for Managers in Hospital Settings
Authors: Daouk‐Öyry Lina , Sahakian Tina , van de Vijver Fons 
Published: September 2020

AbstractEvidence‐based management (EBMgt), which refers to using the best‐quality evidence from different sources in decision‐making, is becoming an imperative for managers in both profit and non‐profit sectors. Yet, the competencies underlying EBMgt have not yet received much attention. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify the foundational and functional competencies of evidence‐driven managers working in hospital settings and develop an empirically based competency model for evidence‐driven managers. We collected qualitative data using semi‐structured interviews and the critical incident technique from 36 executive managers from 11 hospitals in Lebanon about the competencies of managers who use EBMgt when approaching problems and making decisions. Using inductive coding, we identified 13 competencies that we grouped into four dimensions: technical, cognitive, interpersonal and intrapersonal. We further classified the specific competencies underlying each of the dimensions into foundational and functional, and highlighted those that are critical for the practice of EBMgt in hospital settings, including open mindedness, research knowledge and skills, ethicality in research, resourcefulness and relationship management.
A comparison of embodied methods to improve Chinese children's reading comprehension: observed and participant performed manipulations
Authors: Xu Zhengye , Liu Duo 
Published: September 2020

BackgroundPhysically manipulating objects according to texts can improve reading performance. This study examined whether these benefits can also be achieved via observing these manipulations or whether, because of an additional involvement of an action system, the physical manipulation might induce larger effects.MethodsIn total, 134 second graders and 140 fourth graders completed tasks measuring reading comprehension, nonverbal intelligence, rapid automatised naming, working memory, morphological awareness and phonological awareness. Each child was assigned to one of three groups: rereading, observed manipulation and participant‐performed manipulation. Those in the observed manipulation group were asked to reread the story while simultaneously watching a video of corresponding manipulations. Those in the participant‐performed manipulation group were instructed to manipulate objects to represent the story's content. The next period was concerned with the practice effects of the manipulations. The children in the observed manipulation group were instructed to read a new story using the participant‐performed manipulation approach. Those in the other two groups were asked to read the new story using the same strategies they had used in the former period.ResultsThe results for the acute improvement showed that, for the fourth graders, the participant‐performed manipulation led to a greater improvement than the observed one, and both of the manipulations provided greater improvements than the rereading. Our examination of the practice effect indicated that the participant‐performed manipulation group only had an advantage over the rereading group, not the observed manipulation group, in text comprehension as a result of experience with object manipulation.ConclusionsThe current results suggest that the observed and physical manipulations make unique contributions to reading comprehension. In addition, these two manipulations lead to similar facilitating effects of subsequent object manipulation on text comprehension.
Relationship between nutritional status on admission to the intensive care unit and clinical outcomes
Authors: Kaddoura Ranim , Shanks Alison , Chapman Marianne , O'Connor Stephanie , Lange Kylie , Yandell Rosalie 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAimTo determine the prevalence of malnutrition on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and the relationship between nutritional status on admission and clinical outcomes in adult critically ill patients.MethodsThis was a prospective study in an adult ICU. Patients with expected length of stay (LOS) >48 hours in ICU were assessed for nutritional status using the patient generated‐subjective global assessment (PG‐SGA) within 48 hours of admission to ICU.ResultsPrimary outcomes were ICU and hospital mortality, ICU and hospital LOS and length of mechanical ventilation. A total of 166 patients were enrolled in this study. Patients were aged 59 ± 17 years on average with a mean BMI of 29 ± 7 kg/m2 and a mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score of 19 ± 7. The prevalence of malnutrition in critically ill patients was 36% (n = 60).Mortality rate of malnourished patients was 9% (n = 15) compared to 7.8% (n = 13) in well‐nourished patients (adjusted odds ratio, 2.17; 95% confidence interval, 0.9‐5.03, P = .069). There was no difference in hospital mortality between malnourished patients and well‐nourished patients (10.2% vs 10.2% adjusted odds ratio, 1.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.89‐4.19, P = .096). There was no relationship between nutritional status and length of mechanical ventilation (3.0 vs 1.0 days, P = .382)or ICU LOS (4.7 vs 4.8 days, P = .59). Malnourished patients had a longer LOS in hospital than well‐nourished patients (24 vs 17 days, P = .03).ConclusionMalnutrition is an independent risk factor for increased hospital LOS.