bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Understanding the Basics of Restrictive Covenants in Employment Agreements
Authors: Alderman Amy K. , Bacon-Tinsley Anna 
Published: March 2021

Background:
Restrictive covenants are common in contractual agreements involving physicians and need careful consideration to minimize potential conflict during the term of the contract and on physician departure from a group practice or hospital system.

Methods:
A general overview of the different components of restrictive covenants is provided, including specific information related to noncompetes, nonsolicitations, and nondisclosure agreements.

Results:
In general, states will uphold restrictive covenants if the elements of the noncompete are reasonable regarding geographic distance restrictions (e.g., <20 air miles), time restrictions (e.g., <2 years), and scope of services. However, states vary considerably in the interpretation of restrictive covenants. Other components of the contract, such as alternative dispute resolution (mediation and/or arbitration) and buy-out clauses (i.e., liquidated damages provisions), should be considered at the time the agreement is negotiated.

Conclusions:
States are balancing the protection of business interests with the protection of free trade. It is important that physicians seek counsel with an experienced health care attorney with respect to restrictive covenants in his or her specific state. A simple, well-written, and reasonable restrictive covenant can often help limit legal conflict and expense.
Learning from reproducing computational results: introducing three principles and theReproduction Package
Authors: Krafczyk M. S. , Shi A. , Bhaskar A. , Marinov D. , Stodden V. 
Published: March 2021

We carry out efforts to reproduce computational results for seven published articles and identify barriers to computational reproducibility. We then derive three principles to guide the practice and dissemination of reproducible computational research: (i) Provide transparency regarding how computational results are produced; (ii) When writing and releasing research software, aim for ease of (re-)executability; (iii) Make any code upon which the results rely as deterministic as possible. We then exemplify these three principles with 12 specific guidelines for their implementation in practice. We illustrate the three principles of reproducible research with a series of vignettes from our experimental reproducibility work. We define a novelReproduction Package, a formalism that specifies a structured way to share computational research artifacts that implements the guidelines generated from our reproduction efforts to allow others to build, reproduce and extend computational science. We make our reproduction efforts in this paper publicly available as exemplarReproduction Packages.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Reliability and reproducibility in computational science: implementing verification, validation and uncertainty quantificationin silico’.
Comparative Assessment of the Prevalence, Practices and Factors Associated with Self-medication with Antibiotics in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Yeika Eugene Vernyuy , Ingelbeen Brecht , Kemah Ben-Lawrence , Wirsiy Frankline Sevidzem , Fomengia Joseph Nkeangu , van der Sande Marianne 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundSelf-medication with antibiotics (SMA) is a common practise in many parts of Africa, but its magnitude and drivers are not well-known. This systematic review evaluated and compared the prevalence, reasons, sources, and factors associated with of SMA within African sub-regions.MethodsAn electronic search of PubMed and Google Scholar databases was performed for observational studies conducted between January 2005 and February 2020. Two reviewers independently screened the abstracts and full texts using the PRISMA flowchart and equally performed quality assessment. Both quantitative and qualitative syntheses of selected studies were carried out.ResultsA total of 40 studies from 19 countries were selected for qualitative synthesis. The prevalence of SMA in Africa ranged from 12.1% to 93.9% with a median prevalence of 55.7% (IQR 41%-75%). Western Africa was the sub-region with the highest prevalence 70.1% (IQR 48.3%-82.1%), followed by Northern Africa with 48.1% (IQR 41.1-64.3%). We identified 27 different antibiotics used for self-medication from 13 different antibiotic classes. Penicillins were the most frequently used antibiotics followed by Tetracyclines and Fluoroquinolones. The most frequent indications for SMA were upper respiratory tract symptoms/infections (27 studies). Common sources of antibiotics used for self-medication were community pharmacies (31 studies), family/friends (20 studies), leftover antibiotics from previous treatments (19 studies), and patent medicine stores (18 studies). Commonly reported factors associated with SMA were no education/ low educational status (9 studies), male gender (5 studies), and low income / unemployment (2 studies).ConclusionsThe prevalence of SMA in Africa is high and varies across sub-regions with Western Africa having the highest prevalence. Drivers of SMA are complex comprising of socio-economic factors, limited access to healthcare coupled with absence or poorly implemented policies regulating antibiotic sales.
A Novel Diagnostic Test to Screen SARS-CoV-2 Variants Containing E484K and N501Y Mutations
Authors: Zhao Yanan , Lee Annie , Composto Kaelea , Cunningham Marcus H. , Mediavilla Jose R. , Fennessey Samantha , Corvelo André , Chow Kar Fai , Zody Michael , Chen Liang , Kreiswirth Barry N. , Perlin David S. 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACTSpike protein mutations E484K and N501Y carried by SARS-CoV-2 variants have been associated with concerning changes of the virus, including resistance to neutralizing antibodies and increased transmissibility. While the concerning variants are fast spreading in various geographical areas, identification and monitoring of these variants is lagging far behind, due in large part to the slow speed and insufficient capacity of viral sequencing. In response to the unmet need for a fast and efficient screening tool, we developed a single-tube duplex molecular assay for rapid and simultaneous identification of E484K and N501Y mutations from nasopharyngeal swab (NS) samples within 2.5 h from sample preparation to report. Using this tool, we screened a total of 435 clinical NS samples collected from COVID patients at 8 hospitals within the Hackensack Meridian Health network in New Jersey. While B.1.351 and P.1 variants were absent from the current study, our data revealed a dramatic increase in the frequency of E484K over time, underscoring the need for continuous epidemiological monitoring.
Continuous monitoring reveals protective effects ofN-acetylcysteine amide on an isogenic microphysiological model of the neurovascular unit
Authors: Matthiesen Isabelle , Voulgaris Dimitrios , Nikolakopoulou Polyxeni , Winkler Thomas E. , Herland Anna 
Published: March 2021

AbstractMicrophysiological systems mimic the in-vivo cellular ensemble and microenvironment with the goal of providing more human-like models for biopharmaceutical research. We report the first such model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB-on-chip) featuring both isogenic human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cells and continuous barrier integrity monitoring with <2-minute temporal resolution. We showcase its capabilities in the first microphysiological study of nitrosative stress and antioxidant prophylaxis. Relying on off-stoichiometry thiol-ene epoxy (OSTE+) for fabrication greatly facilitates assembly and sensor integration compared to the prevalent polydimethylsiloxane devices. The integrated cell-substrate endothelial resistance monitoring allows us to capture formation and breakdown of our blood-brain barrier model, consisting of co-cultured hiPSC-derived endothelial-like and astrocyte-like cells. We observe clear cellular disruption when exposing the BBB-on-chip to the nitrosative stressor linsidomine, and report on the barrier permeability and barrier-protective effects of the antioxidantN-acetylcysteine amide. Using metabolomic network analysis, we further find drug-induced changes consistent with prior literature regarding, e.g., cysteine and glutathione involvement. A model like ours opens new possibilities for drug screening studies and personalized medicine, relying solely on isogenic human-derived cells and providing high-resolution temporal readouts that can help in pharmacodynamic studies.
Decoding Object Weight from Electromyography during Human Grasping
Authors: Lashgari Elnaz , Pouya Atabak , Maoz Uri 
Published: March 2021

AbstractHuman urges, desires, and intentions manifest themselves in voluntary action. The final stages of such voluntary action are the muscle contractions that bring it about. Electromyography (EMG) signals measure such muscle contractions. Decoding action contents from EMG require advanced methods for detection, decomposition, processing, and classification and remains a challenge in neuroscience. This study presents a new, time-domain method of classifying EMG for grasping different types of objects. Our proposed method can classify objects with different weights with an accuracy of up to 90%. This progress in neuroscience affects other fields like physiology, brain-computer interfaces, robotics, and so on.
SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 caused HLA-A2+CD8+T cell epitope mutations for impaired cellular immune response
Authors: Xiao Chanchan , Mao Lipeng , Wang Zhigang , Zhu Guodong , Gao Lijuan , Su Jun , Chen Xiongfei , Yuan Jun , Hu Yutian , Yin Zhinan , Xie Jun , Ji Weiqing , Niu Haitao , Gao Feng , Luo Oscar Junhong , Xiao Lianbo , Wang Pengcheng , Chen Guobing 
Published: March 2021

SUMMARYThe rapid spreading of the newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 variant, B.1.1.7, highlighted the requirements to better understand adaptive immune responses to this virus. Since CD8+T cell responses play an important role in disease resolution and modulation in COVID-19 patients, it is essential to address whether these newly emerged mutations would result in altered immune responses. Here we evaluated the immune properties of the HLA-A2 restricted CD8+T cell epitopes containing mutations from B.1.1.7, and furthermore performed a comprehensive analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 specific CD8+T cell responses from COVID-19 convalescent patients and SARS-CoV-2 vaccinees recognizing the ancestral Wuhan strain compared to B.1.1.7. First, most of the predicted CD8+T cell epitopes showed proper binding with HLA-A2, while epitopes from B.1.1.7 had lower binding capability than those from the ancestral strain. In addition, these peptides could effectively induced the activation and cytotoxicity of CD8+T cells. Our results further showed that at least two site mutations in B.1.1.7 resulted in a decrease in CD8+T cell activation and a possible immune evasion, namely A1708D mutation in ORF1ab1707-1716and I2230T mutation in ORF1ab2230-2238. Our current analysis provides information that contributes to the understanding of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+T cell responses elicited by infection of mutated strains or vaccination.Graphical Abstract
Energy Landscape of Ubiquitin is Weakly Multidimensional
Authors: Mondal Balaka , Thirumalai D. , Reddy Govardhan 
Published: March 2021

AbstractSingle molecule pulling experiments report time-dependent changes in the extension (X) of a biomolecule as a function of the applied force (f). By fitting the data to one-dimensional analytical models of the energy landscape, the hopping rates between the folded and unfolded states in two-state folders, the height and the location of the transition state (TS) can be extracted. Although this approach is remarkably insightful, there are cases for which the energy landscape is multidimensional (catch bonds being the most prominent). To assess if the unfolding energy landscape in small single domain proteins could be one dimensional, we simulated force-induced unfolding of Ubiquitin (Ub) using the coarse-grained Self-Organized Polymer-Side Chain (SOP-SC) model. Brownian dynamics simulations using the SOP-SC model reveal that the Ub energy landscape is weakly multidimensional (WMD) governed predominantly by a single barrier. The unfolding pathway is confined to a narrow reaction pathway that could be described as diffusion in a quasi 1D X-dependent free energy profile. However, a granular analysis using the Pfold analysis, which does not assume any form for the reaction coordinate, shows that X alone does not account for the height, and more importantly, the location of the TS. The f-dependent TS location moves towards the folded state as f increases, in accord with the Hammond postulate. Our study shows that, in addition to analyzing the f-dependent hopping rates, the transition state ensemble must also be determined without resorting to X as a reaction coordinate in order to describe the unfolding energy landscapes of single domain proteins, especially if they are only WMD.TOC Graphic
Deep learning for early warning signals of regime shifts
Authors: Bury Thomas M. , Sujith R. I. , Pavithran Induja , Scheffer Marten , Lenton Timothy M. , Anand Madhur , Bauch Chris T. 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACTMany natural systems exhibit regime shifts where slowly changing environmental conditions suddenly shift the system to a new and sometimes very different state. As the tipping point is approached, the dynamics of complex and varied systems all simplify down to a small number of possible ‘normal forms’ that determine how the new regime will look. Indicators such as increasing lag-1 autocorrelation and variance provide generic early warning signals (EWS) by detecting how dynamics slow down near the tipping point. But they do not indicate what type of new regime will emerge. Here we develop a deep learning algorithm that can detect EWS in systems it was not explicitly trained on, by exploiting information about normal forms and scaling behaviour of dynamics near tipping points that are common to many dynamical systems. The algorithm detects EWS in 268 empirical and model time series from ecology, thermoacoustics, climatology, and epidemiology with much greater sensitivity and specificity than generic EWS. It can also predict the normal form that will characterize the oncoming regime shift. Such approaches can help humans better manage regime shifts. The algorithm also illustrates how a universe of possible models can be mined to recognize naturally-occurring tipping points.
Exploring the structure and mechanics of thin supported inverse bicontinuous cubic phase lipid films
Authors: Ridolfi Andrea , Humphreys Ben , Caselli Lucrezia , Montis Costanza , Nylander Tommy , Berti Debora , Brucale Marco , Valle Francesco 
Published: March 2021

AbstractInverse bicontinuous cubic phase membranes are ubiquitous in nature but their properties and functions are still not fully understood. To shed light on this topic, we herein realize thin supported cubic phase lipid films, characterize their structure and provide the first study of the mechanical properties of these non-lamellar architectures.
Plant phenology influences rhizosphere microbial community and is accelerated by serpentine microorganisms inPlantago erecta
Authors: Igwe Alexandria N. , Quasem Bibi , Liu Naomi , Vannette Rachel L. 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACTSerpentine soils are drought-prone and rich in heavy metals, and plants growing on serpentine soils host distinct microbial communities that may affect plant survival and phenotype. However, whether the rhizosphere communities of plants from different soil chemistries are initially distinct or diverge over time may help us understand drivers of microbial community structure and function in stressful soils. Here, we test the hypothesis that rhizosphere microbial communities will converge over time (plant development), independent of soil chemistry and microbial source. We grewPlantago erectain serpentine or nonserpentine soil, with serpentine or nonserpentine microbes and tracked plant growth and root phenotypes. We used 16S rRNA barcoding to compare bacterial species composition at seedling, vegetative, early-, and late-flowering phases. Plant phenotype and rhizosphere bacterial communities were mainly structured by soil type, with minor contributions by plant development, microbe source and their interactions. Serpentine microorganisms promoted early flowering in plants on non-serpentine soils. Despite strong effects of soil chemistry, the convergence in bacterial community composition across development demonstrates the importance of the plant-microbe interactions in shaping microbial assembly processes across soil types.
Goal clarity as a link between humble leadership and project success: the interactive effects of organizational culture
Authors: Ali Mudassar , Li Zhang , Durrani Dilawar Khan , Shah Adnan Muhammad , Khuram Waqas 
Published: March 2021

PurposeUsing the lens of conservation of resources (COR) theory, the purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of humble leadership on project success by integrating the mediating role of goal clarity. The authors also argue that organizational culture moderates these direct and indirect relationships through goal clarity.Design/methodology/approachTime-lagged data were collected from 329 employees in the civil construction sector of Pakistan.FindingsThe results indicate that humble leadership enhances project success through mediating and moderating mechanisms.Research limitations/implicationsThe present research ends with an argument, managerial consequences, limits and guidance for future research.Practical implicationsThe results influence a project-based organization on the selection and promotion of humility among project managers.Originality/valueThis research answers the following research question, which has been ignored in the literature: What are the suggested mechanisms for humble leadership in promoting project success?
Learning in municipalities after disasters
Authors: Betten Tore , Vian Pettersen Kristian , Albrechtsen Eirik 
Published: March 2021

PurposeLearning at the local level is an important contributor to safe and resilient communities. The purpose of this article is therefore to explore what motivates municipalities in Norway to learn from disasters and how they learn from them. This purpose has been fulfilled by (1) addressing the process of learning from disasters occurring within municipalities, and (2) learning from disasters in other municipalities, in particular from the terrorist incidents that occurred in Oslo on 22 July 2011.Design/methodology/approachAn interview study was conducted of individuals responsible for municipal emergency preparedness.FindingsUnwanted events that occur outside municipal borders only trigger learning processes if they are geographically proximate. Events occurring within the geographical borders of the municipality represent greater potential for learning than those occurring outside its borders. Availability of resources for municipal civil protection activities is another factor that has an impact on learning.Originality/valueThe local level plays a key role in generating and maintaining adequate civil protection and emergency preparedness in society. Although the literature on learning from disasters is extensive, learning processes at the local level have been given little attention. This article thus contributes to the existing body of knowledge by studying learning processes following disasters at the local level.
Active management, value investing and pension fund performance
Authors: Otero-González Luis , Durán-Santomil Pablo , Lado-Sestayo Rubén , Vivel-Búa Milagros 
Published: March 2021

PurposeThis paper analyses whether the active management and the fundamentals of the pension fund allow products that beat their peers to be identified in terms of risk-adjusted performance.Design/methodology/approachThe sample is composed of all the pension funds active in the period 2000 to 2017 investing in the Eurozone. What this means is that a greater similarity is guaranteed in terms of benchmark, assets available for investment and currency. All the data have been retrieved from the Morningstar Direct database.FindingsThe paper reveals that the degree of concentration and value for money are important determinants of performance. In this sense, the strategies of investing in concentrated portfolios that differ from the benchmark and with undervalued assets in terms of price earnings ratio (PER)-return on assets (ROA) achieve better results.Originality/valueThis is one of the few papers that shows the effect of active management and value investing strategies’ on the performance of pension funds.研究目的本文旨在分析、我們能否根據退休基金的積極管理及其基本原理, 找到就風險調整表現而言之最優勝產品.研究設計/方法我們的樣本包括於2000年至2017年期間活躍於歐元區內投資活動的所有退休基金。這意味著、樣本確保了相關之退休基金就基準、可供投資的資產及貨幣而言、均擁有較大的相似性。所有數據均從晨星基金資料庫檢索得來的。.研究結果本文顯示、集中程度和價值比率是決定表現的重要因素。在這個意義上說，如投資在與基準不同的及附有就本益比 – 資產收益率 (PER - ROA) 而言被低估的資產的那些集中投資組合上, 這會是效果較佳的策略.研究的原創性探討積極管理和價值投資策略如何影響退休基金表現的學術研究為數不多, 本文乃屬這類研究。.
Reflecting or ruminating: listening to the regrets of life science leaders
Authors: Meldrum Helen Mary 
Published: March 2021

PurposeThe overwhelming frequency of failure in trying to bring a safe and effective biotech, pharmaceutical or medical device product to market is truly astounding. This research synthesizes industry leaders' insights on lessons learned from reflecting on professional disappointments.Design/methodology/approachThis research used a qualitative approach to learning from the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Chief Scientific Officers (CSOs) and Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) of the most successful life science firms in the USA. A total of 45 industry leaders were interviewed regarding their lingering regrets about their career misadventures.FindingsRegrets were unavoidable because there were opportunity costs for every choice each leader made. Commentary about wisdom gained comprised themes regarding valuable time lost, strategies that could have been enacted, products that failed and essential personnel who were not managed optimally. Contrary to expectations, there was little mention of money that was squandered.Originality/valueNot felt as a solely negative emotion, regrets were recognized by these leaders as a potentially positive influence on their future decisions. Not felt as a solely negative emotion, regret was recognized by these leaders as a potentially positive influence on their future decisions. This exploratory study suggests that learning from retrospective and anticipated regrets benefits life science leaders in gaining clarity of thought regarding their current business challenges. Because prior research on the value of psychological regrets has mostly relied on limited samples, this inquiry contributes a new vantage point by examining a unique population of senior business leaders, thus providing broader applicability to the organizational literature.