bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
SARS-CoV-2 Fusion Peptide has a Greater Membrane Perturbating Effect than SARS-CoV with Highly Specific Dependence on Ca2+
Authors: Lai Alex L. , Freed Jack H. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCoronaviruses are a major infectious disease threat, and include the zoonotic-origin human pathogens SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV (SARS-2, SARS-1, and MERS). Entry of coronaviruses into host cells is mediated by the spike (S) protein. In our previous ESR studies, the local membrane ordering effect of the fusion peptide (FP) of various viral glycoproteins including the S of SARS-1 and MERS has been consistently observed. We previously determined that the sequence immediately downstream from the S2’ cleavage site is the bona fide SARS-1 FP. In this study, we used sequence alignment to identify the SARS-2 FP, and studied its membrane ordering effect. Although there are only three residue difference, SARS-2 FP induces even greater membrane ordering than SARS-1 FP, possibly due to its greater hydrophobicity. This may be a reason that SARS-2 is better able to infect host cells. In addition, the membrane binding enthalpy for SARS-2 is greater. Both the membrane ordering of SARS-2 and SARS-1 FPs are dependent on Ca2+, but that of SARS-2 shows a greater response to the presence of Ca2+. Both FPs bind two Ca2+ ions as does SARS-1 FP, but the two Ca2+ binding sites of SARS-2 exhibit greater cooperativity. This Ca2+ dependence by the SARS-2 FP is very ion-specific. These results show that Ca2+ is an important regulator that interacts with the SARS-2 FP and thus plays a significant role in SARS-2 viral entry. This could lead to therapeutic solutions that either target the FP-calcium interaction or block the Ca2+ channel.
Myogenesis defects in a patient-derived iPSC model of hereditary GNE myopathy
Authors: Schmitt Rebecca E , Smith Douglas Y , Cho Dong Seong , Kirkeby Lindsey A , Resch Zachary T , Liewluck Teerin , Niu Zhiyv , Milone Margherita , Doles Jason D 
Published: January 2021

ABSTRACTHereditary muscle diseases are disabling disorders lacking effective treatments. UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase (GNE) myopathy is an autosomal recessive distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles that typically manifests in late adolescence/early adulthood. GNE encodes an enzyme that is the rate-limiting step in sialic acid biosynthesis which is necessary for proper function of numerous biological processes. Outside of the causative gene, very little is known about the mechanisms contributing to the development of GNE myopathy. In the present study we aimed to address this knowledge gap by querying underlying mechanisms of GNE myopathy using a patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) model. Muscle and skin biopsies were acquired from two patients with GNE myopathy that presented with distinct histopathological features. Control and patient-specific iPSCs were derived from skin fibroblasts and differentiated down a skeletal muscle lineage in a three-stage process analogous to muscle development and muscle regeneration. Initial studies revealed: 1) the ability of patient-derived GNE iPSC clones to recapitulate key characteristics of the human pathology including TDP-43 accumulation and evidence of dysregulated autophagy, and 2) a striking defect in myogenic progression of the more severe GNE iPSC clone. Single-cell RNA sequencing time course studies were then performed to more rigorously explore myogenesis defects. Cluster-based bioinformatics analyses revealed clear differences between control and GNE iPSC-derived muscle precursor cells (iMPCs). On a transcriptional level, late stage GNE iMPCs resembled that of early stage control iMPCs, confirming stalled myogenic progression on a molecular level. Comparative expression and pathway studies revealed EIF2 signaling as a top signaling pathway altered in GNE iMPCs. In summary, we report a novelin vitro, iPSC-based model of GNE myopathy and implicate defective myogenesis as a likely novel contributing mechanism to the etiology of GNE myopathy.SUMMARY STATEMENTDevelopment of a novel cell-based model of GNE myopathy, utilizing GNE patient-derived samples, which recapitulates human disease characteristics, uncovered myogenic differentiation defects, and can elucidate possible mechanistic contributors to the disease.
Dentate Gyrus and CA3 GABAergic Interneurons Bidirectionally Modulate Signatures of Internal and External Drive to CA1
Authors: Aery Jones Emily A. , Rao Antara , Zilberter Misha , Djukic Biljana , Gillespie Anna K. , Koutsodendris Nicole , Nelson Maxine , Yoon Seo Yeon , Huang Kylie , Yuan Heidi , Gill Theodore M. , Huang Yadong , Frank Loren M. 
Published: January 2021

SUMMARYSpecific classes of GABAergic neurons are thought to play specific roles in regulating information processing in the brain. In the hippocampus, two major classes – parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) and somatostatin-expressing (SST+) neurons – differentially regulate endogenous firing patterns and target different subcellular compartments of principal cells, but how these classes regulate the flow of information throughout the hippocampus is poorly understood. We hypothesized that PV+and SST+interneurons in the dentate gyrus (DG) and CA3 might differentially modulate CA3 patterns of output, thereby altering the influence of CA3 on CA1. We found that while suppressing either interneuron type increased DG and CA3 output, the effects on CA1 were very different. Suppressing PV+interneurons increased local field potential signatures of coupling from CA3 to CA1 and decreased signatures of coupling from entorhinal cortex to CA1; suppressing SST+interneurons had the opposite effect. Thus, DG and CA3 PV+and SST+interneurons bidirectionally modulate the flow of information through the hippocampal circuit.
Beyond the pandemic: the role of the built environment in supporting people with disabilities work life
Authors: Martel Andrew , Day Kirsten , Jackson Mary Ann , Kaushik Saumya 
Published: January 2021

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic has engendered changes in previously unimaginable timeframes, leading to new ways of working, which can quickly become the “ordinary” way of working. Many traditional workplace and educational practices and environments, however, are disadvantageous to people with disability and consequently are under-represented in the workforce and higher education.Design/methodology/approachContributing factors include exclusionary societal and employer attitudes and inaccessible built environments including lack of attention to paths of travel, amenities, acoustics, lighting and temperature. Social exclusion resulting from lack of access to meaningful work is also problematic. COVID-19 has accelerated the incidence of working and studying from home, but the home environment of many people with disability may not be suitable in terms of space, privacy, technology access and connection to the wider community.FindingsHowever, remote and flexible working arrangements may hold opportunities for enhancing work participation of people with disabilities. Instigating systemic conditions that will empower people with disability to take full advantage of ordinary working trajectories is key. As the current global experiment in modified work and study practices has shown, structural, organisational and design norms need to change. The future of work and study is almost certainly more work and study from home. An expanded understanding of people with disabilities lived experience of the built environment encompassing opportunities for work, study and socialisation from home and the neighbourhood would more closely align with the UNCRPD's emphasis on full citizenship.Originality/valueThis paper examines what is currently missing in the development of a distributed work and study place continuum that includes traditional workplaces and campuses, local neighbourhood hubs and homes.
Specialty coffee in Brazil: transition among consumers' constructs using structural equation modeling
Authors: Santos Patricia Mendes dos , Cirillo Marcelo Ângelo , Guimarães Elisa Reis 
Published: January 2021

PurposeBuilding on Guimarães et al. (2019) study and using the modeling of structural equations, the objective of this paper was to elaborate constructs whose variables would enable the characterization and distinction of individuals among these different groups of consumers and to provide insights into their transition between them.Design/methodology/approachThe constructs were validated by the average variance extracted adaptive (AVEADP) index. The transition between consumer groups is explained and encouraged by advances in their conceptual and perceptual knowledge. Thus, regular consumers should be addressed with messages aimed primarily for the social aspect of consumption; enthusiasts, by reinforcing simple to moderate aspects commonly used as product purchase criteria and experts, attracted by the emphasis on complex criteria related to specialty coffee's conceptual and perceptual knowledge, highlighting their influence on the beverage's sensory profile.FindingsThose results enabled a better understanding of these consumers and can guide the marketing strategies of different actors in this market.Originality/valueImportant attempts to understand and characterize Brazilian specialty coffee consumers were conducted by Guimarães et al. (2019) and Ramírez-Correa et al. (2020). However, further studies are needed to differentiate different specialty coffee consumer groups and enhance the market applicability of those studies results. In addition, despite its importance, there is a paucity of public domain studies about the national consumption of specialty coffees, being the results of this work important for the wide dissemination of such information.
Application of robust H-infinity controller in transition flight modeling of autonomous VTOL convertible Quad Tiltrotor UAV
Authors: Hegde Navya Thirumaleshwar , George V. I. , Nayak C. Gurudas , Vaz Aldrin Claytus 
Published: January 2021

PurposeThis paper aims to provide a mathematical modeling and design of H-infinity controller for an autonomous vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) Quad Tiltrotor hybrid unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The variation in the aerodynamics and model dynamics of these aerial vehicles due to its tilting rotors are the key issues and challenges, which attracts the attention of many researchers. They carry parametric uncertainties (such as non-linear friction force, backlash, etc.), which drives the designed controller based on the nominal model to instability or performance degradation. The controller needs to take these factors into consideration and still give good stability and performance. Hence, a robust H-infinity controller is proposed that can handle these uncertainties.Design/methodology/approachA unique VTOL Quad Tiltrotor hybrid UAV, which operates in three flight modes, is mathematically modeled using Newton–Euler equations of motion. The contribution of the model is its ability to combine high-speed level flight, VTOL and transition between these two phases. The transition involves the tilting of the proprotors from 90° to 0° and vice-versa in 15° intervals. A robust H-infinity control strategy is proposed, evaluated and analyzed through simulation to control the flight dynamics for different modes of operation.FindingsThe main contribution of this research is the mathematical modeling of three flight modes (vertical takeoff–forward, transition–cruise-back, transition-vertical landing) of operation by controlling the revolutions per minute and tilt angles, which are independent of each other. An autonomous flight control system using a robust H-infinity controller to stabilize the mode of transition is designed for the Quad Tiltrotor UAV in the presence of uncertainties, noise and disturbances using MATLAB/SIMULINK. This paper focused on improving the disturbance rejection properties of the proposed UAV by designing a robust H-infinity controller for position and orientation trajectory regulation in the presence of uncertainty. The simulation results show that the Tiltrotor achieves transition successfully with disturbances, noise and uncertainties being present.Originality/valueA novel VTOL Quad Tiltrotor UAV mathematical model is developed with a special tilting rotor mechanism, which combines both aircraft and helicopter flight modes with the transition taking place in between phases using robust H-infinity controller for attitude, altitude and trajectory regulation in the presence of uncertainty.
Can configurations of motivation and extraversion attenuate job demands-job burnout bond?
Authors: Farivar Sadegh , Esmaeelinezhad Osveh 
Published: January 2021

PurposeRecent research highlights the necessity to critically examine the factors that can reduce the relationship between job stressors, such as job demand and burnout, to create healthier workplaces. This study aims to explore how five types of motivations (extrinsic motivation-social, extrinsic motivation- material, introjected, identified and intrinsic motivation), in combination with extraversion trait influence the impact of job demands on job burnout.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted a set-theoretic approach named fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to analyze the data collected from 84 employees working in an research and development department of a public organization.FindingsFindings revealed two distinct configurations. First, the absence of intrinsic and identified motivations lead to job burnout if extraverted participants suffer from high job demands. Second, non-extraverted participants reported high job burnout in the presence of high job demands, although all five types of motivations drove them.Practical implicationsThis study suggests managers need to consider personalized preventive actions, depending on the level of extraversion trait when they try to motivate their employees who are dealing with high levels of job demands.Originality/valueThe emerging trend in social science suggests adopting linearity assumptions to study social phenomena is inconsistent with the reality of human behavior. Thus, this study used fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to examine the complex interplay among all five types of motivations, extraversion trait, job demands, which contribute to burnout.
Digital touchpoints and multichannel segmentation approach in the life insurance industry
Authors: Alt Mónika Anetta , Săplăcan Zsuzsa , Benedek Botond , Nagy Bálint Zsolt 
Published: January 2021

PurposeDigital technology is revolutionizing insurance distribution allowing the insurer companies to reach customers via multichannel. The aim of this study is to segment potential customers of life insurance based on their information search, purchasing channels and personal characteristics in the digital environment.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses cross-sectional research survey. In total, 422 questionnaires were collected through a convenience sample of the Romanian population. The data was segmented based on consumer information touchpoints (online vs offline), purchase channel preference (offline by a professional vs online by a standardized platform) and personal characteristics (age, marital status and children).FindingsThe channel segmentation analysis revealed that information channel preferences are the most important clustering variables, followed by purchase channel preferences, marital status, having children and age. Four distinct segments were identified: young fully offliners (23.7%), mature fully offliners (31.5%), committed online searchers (23.2%) and cross-channel onliners (21.6%).Practical implicationsInsurance companies should adapt their communication and distribution strategy based on multichannel segmentation and should focus on digital touchpoints with costumers.Originality/valueFirstly, the paper reveals multichannel and hybrid segmentation for life insurance. Secondly, it extends the already studied retail channels with search engines and companies' websites. Thirdly, it extends the behavioural variables for channel segmentation with technology acceptance behaviour, attitude towards life insurance, knowledge about life insurance, attitude towards personal selling and quality appraisal of online information sources.
Optimal pricing and ordering policies with different patience levels of consumers
Authors: Tang Yuewu , Song Yang , Xu Chang , Fan Tijun 
Published: January 2021

PurposeUsing information systems via data mining and cluster analysis technologies, consumers' strategic behaviour can be measured, and their patience levels can be accurately described. This paper investigates the retailer's pricing and ordering policies when facing strategic consumers with different levels of patience and discusses the impacts of consumers' patience levels and proportions on retailers' maximum expected profits.Design/methodology/approachBy cluster analysing transaction data on the number of websites visited, browsing time and purchase decision time, consumers' patience levels can be obtained. The authors formulate a newsvendor model considering customers' different patience levels. Three scenarios are investigated: two segments of consumers with two different levels of patience (Scenario I), multiple segments of consumers with different levels of patience (Scenario II) and a continuum of consumers whose levels of patience follow a continuous distribution (Scenario III). Then, general formulas are deduced for retailers' optimal prices, ordering quantities and profits.FindingsUnder Scenario I, if the proportion of less patient consumers is greater (less) than a threshold, the retailer's optimal price is equal to the less (more) patient consumers' reserve price. Under Scenario II, once the proportion of fully strategic consumers exceeds a certain threshold, the retailers' optimal price is equal to the fully strategic consumers' reserve price regardless of consumers' patience levels and proportions. Under Scenario III, the retailer's pricing and ordering policies depend on the distribution of their patience level.Originality/valueFew studies have considered consumers' different levels of patience when making retailer pricing and ordering decisions. In this paper, strategic consumer behaviour is measured, and consumers' patience levels and proportions are obtained by cluster analysing consumer transaction data recorded by an information system. Three scenarios in which strategic consumers may be heterogeneous and have different patience levels are investigated. The results can guide retailer decision-making.
Constituting an Islamic social welfare function: an exploration through Islamic moral economy
Authors: Asutay Mehmet , Yilmaz Isa 
Published: January 2021

Purpose
This study aims to theoretically explore and examine the possibility of developing an Islamic social welfare function (ISWF) within the Islamic moral economy (IME) frame by going beyond the traditional fiqhī approach. It focuses on issues of preference ordering and utility through the normative dimension of Islamic ontology, as expressed and articulated within the IME.

Design/methodology/approach
Being a theoretical paper, a conceptual and critical discursive approach is used in this paper.

Findings
To establish an ISWF, a narrow juristic approach remains inadequate; there is a need to integrate the substantive morality to complement the juristic approach to achieve the ihsani process as the ultimate individual objective, which makes an ISWF possible. As the scattered debate on the topic concentrates mainly on the juristic approach, the main contribution of this study is to present a model in which juristic and moralist positions endogenized and augmented to constitute ISWF.

Originality/value
As there is a limited amount of research available on the subject matter, this paper will be an important theoretical contribution. In addition, this study develops an IME approach rather than fiqh-based approach used in the available research, which makes it novel.
Sub-grade characteristics of clayey soil incorporating municipal solid waste incineration ash and marble dust
Authors: Singh Preetpal , Boora Amardeep , Gupta Ashok Kumar 
Published: January 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to use the waste materials in soil stabilization and low traffic volume roads so as to minimize the cost of subgrades for road construction along with solving disposal problems of waste materials thus protecting the environment.

Design/methodology/approach
An extensive laboratory study has been carried out on various samples of soil alone and along with waste materials such as municipal solid waste incineration ash and marble dust by adding cement to evaluate their effect on geotechnical characteristics of clayey soils.

Findings
The experimental study revealed that mixture of soil:Municipal solid waste incineration ash (MSWIA):Cement and soil:Marble dust (MD):Cement can be successfully used for the construction of low traffic volume roads. The differential free swell of the clayey soil is nil on adding MSWIA: cement and MD: cement to clayey soil in optimum amounts.

Research limitations/implications
The research needs further experimentation on combining both MSWIA and MD together to stabilize clayey soil.

Practical implications
The research can be successfully used by government agencies in subgrades of low traffic roads.

Social implications
The utilization of waste materials in the study solved the disposal problem of both waste materials, thus protecting the environment and giving quality living standards to people.

Originality/value
The use of MSWIA along with cement and use of MD along with cement for evaluating geotechnical properties has not been studied in the past. The present study is focussed on the use of both these materials along with cement in soil stabilization.