bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The basis of a more contagious 501Y.V1 variant of SARS-COV-2
Authors: Liu Haolin , Zhang Qianqian , Wei Pengcheng , Chen Zhongzhou , Aviszus Katja , Yang John , Downing Walter , Peterson Shelley , Jiang Chengyu , Liang Bo , Reynoso Lyndon , Downey Gregory P. , Frankel Stephen K. , Kappler John , Marrack Philippa , Zhang Gongyi 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSevere acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is causing a world-wide pandemic. A variant of SARS-COV-2 (20I/501Y.V1) recently discovered in the United Kingdom has a single mutation from N501 to Y501 within the receptor binding domain (Y501-RBD), of the Spike protein of the virus. This variant is much more contagious than the original version (N501-RBD). We found that this mutated version of RBD binds to human Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) a ~10 times more tightly than the native version (N501-RBD). Modeling analysis showed that the N501Y mutation would allow a potential aromatic ring-ring interaction and an additional hydrogen bond between the RBD and ACE2. However, sera from individuals immunized with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine still efficiently block the binding of Y501-RBD to ACE2 though with a slight compromised manner by comparison with their ability to inhibit binding to ACE2 of N501-RBD. This may raise the concern whether therapeutic anti-RBD antibodies used to treat COVID-19 patients are still efficacious. Nevertheless, a therapeutic antibody, Bamlanivimab, still binds to the Y501-RBD as efficiently as its binds to N501-RBD.
Hoplonemertean larvae are planktonic predators that capture and devour active animal prey
Authors: von Dassow George , Mendes Cecili , Robbins Kara , Andrade Sonia , Maslakova Svetlana 
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTThe superficially-simple ciliated planktonic larvae of hoplonemerteans have been assumed to be lecithotrophic direct developers, even though many develop from such small eggs that it is hard to imagine how they could give rise to a viable juvenile without some phase of larval feeding. Indeed, attempts to raise such larvae to settlement without food invariably fail. Observations that some hoplonemertean larvae are found in plankton samples at a range of sizes, and much larger than hatchlings, suggests they must indeed feed somehow. Since these “planuliform” larvae lack apparent means to concentrate suspended algae or other unicellular food, one alternative hypothesis is that they are planktonic predators that hunt large prey. Here we provide direct evidence that this is indeed the case for six distinct species of hoplonemerteans. We recorded wild-caught larvae ofParanemertes californica, Paranemertessp.,Gurjanovella littoralis, Emplectonema viride, Carcinonemertes epialti, andOtotyphlonemertes sp.attacking, subduing, and devouring pelagic crustaceans, including barnacle nauplii, cyprids, copepods and their nauplii, and others. While there is no doubt that some hoplonemerteans are genuine lecithotrophs, our evidence suggests that many species in this group both feed and grow during an extended planktonic larval period. This conclusion has important consequences for biogeographic and life-history studies in this group, because it implies enhanced potential for long-distance dispersal. More broadly, the possibility that many animal larvae are actually carnivores invites reconsideration of prevailing stereotypes about metazoan developmental modes and the trade-offs between them.
PDE9 Inhibition Activates PPARα to Stimulate Mitochondrial Fat Metabolism and Reduce Cardiometabolic Syndrome
Authors: Mishra Sumita , Hahn Virginia S. , Sadagopan Nandhini , Dunkerly-Ering Brittany , Rodriguez Susana , Sarver Dylan C. , Ceddia Ryan P. , Murphy Sean , Knutsdottir Hildur , Jani Vivek , Ashoke Deepthi , Oeing Christian U. , O’Rourke Brian , Sharma Kavita , Gangoiti Jon , Sears Dorothy D. , Wong G. William , Collins Sheila , Kass David A. 
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTCentral obesity with cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) is a major global contributor to human disease, and effective therapies are needed. Here, we show inhibiting cyclic-GMP selective phosphodiesterase-9A (PDE9-I) suppresses established diet-induced obesity and CMS in ovariectomized female and male mice. PDE9-I reduces abdominal, hepatic, and myocardial fat accumulation, stimulates mitochondrial activity in brown and white fat, and improves CMS, without altering activity or food intake. PDE9 localizes to mitochondria, and its inhibition stimulates lipolysis and mitochondrial respiration coupled to PPARα-dependent gene regulation. PPARα upregulation is required for PDE9-I metabolic efficacy and is absent in non-ovariectomized females that also display no metabolic benefits from PDE9-I. The latter is compatible with estrogen receptor-α altering PPARα chromatin binding identified by ChIPSeq. In humans with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction, myocardial expression ofPPARAand its regulated genes is reduced versus control. These findings support testing PDE9-I to treat obesity/CMS in men and postmenopausal women.SummaryOral inhibition of phosphodiesterase type 9 stimulates mitochondrial fat metabolism and lipolysis, reducing central obesity without changing appetite
What do we know about cryptocurrency? Past, present, future
Authors: Hossain Mohammed Sawkat 
Published: February 2021

PurposeThe authors make a fundamental initial effort to conduct a systematic review analysis on “cryptocurrency,” mainly to analyze the way it has been changing the “stereotype” financial transactions, and also identify the probable unexplored research avenues on this innovative investment regime. The study aims to draw the landscape of the current state, prospects, challenges, trends and possible agendas of cryptocurrency in the global market.Design/methodology/approachUsing a quali-quantitative approach widely known as meta-literature review, the synthesis analysis on “cryptocurrency” is conducted. Methodologically, the authors review and analyze the most recent and relevant papers preferably published between 2016 and 2020 in leading business and finance journals of ISI Web of Science (ISI WOS) through bibliometric analysis particularly coupled with content analysis.FindingsThe findings of the meta-analysis summarize the relevant stylized facts of the cryptocurrency market: distinctive features of blockchain technology, decentralized payment method, low-cost facility, ensuring pseudo-anonymity, independence from central authority, double spending attack protection, organic and instantaneous nature, among others. In addition, the analysis identified several future research regimes: pricing model, prospect of investment regime, hedging properties, volatility dynamics, information asymmetry, underlying risk factors and bubble-like nature in global cryptocurrency market.Practical implicationsThis academic novelty significantly contributes to enhance our knowledge on the current state-of-the-art of digital finance, outlines the research agenda and eventually provides important investment implications for financial managers, research analysts, investors, market practitioners, regulatory compliance professionals and policymakers. Therefore, the findings shed the lights on new investment opportunity in the global market.Originality/valueCryptocurrency, virtual currency or digital asset having cryptography for idiosyncratic security features, seems to be a persistent paradigm shift in the digitalized financial system. Despite the continuing growth, the academic research on cryptocurrency is still at nascent stage, particularly because researchers did not deeply draw attention at this financial innovation. In addition, the authors argue that none of the earlier studies yet conducted a meta-analysis on this latest investment regime. Therefore, this review study is the initial attempt to fill up the gap in the finance literature.
The integration of sustainability and externalities into the “corporate DNA”: a practice-oriented approach
Authors: Walkiewicz Juliana , Lay-Kumar Jenny , Herzig Christian 
Published: February 2021

PurposeThis paper aims to present a methodology to establish and integrate formal sustainability control systems (SCS) into management control systems (MCSs). The innovative approach aims at contributing to the need for SCS integration by permeating and transforming MCSs so that positive and negative externalities can be internalized into the financial performance measurement and reporting.Design/methodology/approachIn an exploratory process, control systems were closely connected with financial accounting within four interrelated – ecologic, social, financial and knowledge-related – dimensions. Building on the action design research, multicriteria key performance indicators (KPI) for these dimensions were developed. Four value-based small and medium-sized enterprises of the food sector developed KPIs in interactive and participative workshops and interconnected their own business model with their sustainability principles. Constantly revising conformity, specific S.M.A.R.T. goals and related activities were defined, thereafter being used for KPI measures and for input in financial accounting.FindingsThe workshop series reveals the importance of including relevant stakeholders, multiple feedback loops and permanent dialogue to abolish cognitive barriers. The approach enables the development of multicriterial KPIs and identification of costs and benefits for an integrated financial accounting.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to practice and research in the field of SCS by providing insights into the process of an explorative workshop series developing multicriteria KPIs for controlling and financial accounting.
Ensuring better output in library services through work life balance: a study of librarians’ opinion
Authors: Samanta Sasmita Rani , Rautaray Bijayalaxmi , Swain Dillip K. 
Published: February 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to attempt to explore and examine work–life balance situation of employees working in reputed academic libraries in Odisha, India and to study how they make a balance of duties and assignments offered to them in their respective organizations with that of their personal lives with possible recommendations basing upon the views of the respondents.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper investigates how working librarians of the surveyed institutions maintain work–life balance. A structured questionnaire was administered among the respondents to elicit their responses. The investigators conducted specific interview sessions among some selected librarians of reputed libraries of Odisha, India to know their pragmatic views relating to the way they balance their official works with that of their personal lives. The gathered data was fed into MS Excel file for analysis and subsequent interpretation. SPSS was used for obtaining chi-square value for knowing the level of significance of result.

Findings
The study finds that majority of respondents express their job satisfaction and happiness with the working environment of their respective institutions, and they are offered annual increments and career promotion, as this has become the key aspect of every organization to retain employees. It further reveals that very few respondents express that they are desired by their respective institutions to devote extra time and very few male respondents indicated that they carry family tension in their mind to their respective work places compared to their female counterparts. Moreover, the study reveals that institutions are proactive enough to embrace modern information communication technology offering suitable digital working ambience to their employees.

Research limitations/implications
The paper primarily deals with work-life balance of employees in the field of library and information science of the state of Odisha (India) as the respondents in its scope of discussion.

Originality/value
The paper aims to contribute new knowledge to the corpus of existing literature on work–life balance with some constructive outcomes for effective generalization.
A new weighted fraction Monte Carlo method for particle coagulation
Authors: Jiang Xiao , Chan Tat Leung 
Published: February 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the aerosol dynamics of the particle coagulation process using a newly developed weighted fraction Monte Carlo (WFMC) method.

Design/methodology/approach
The weighted numerical particles are adopted in a similar manner to the multi-Monte Carlo (MMC) method, with the addition of a new fraction function (α). Probabilistic removal is also introduced to maintain a constant number scheme.

Findings
Three typical cases with constant kernel, free-molecular coagulation kernel and different initial distributions for particle coagulation are simulated and validated. The results show an excellent agreement between the Monte Carlo (MC) method and the corresponding analytical solutions or sectional method results. Further numerical results show that the critical stochastic error in the newly proposed WFMC method is significantly reduced when compared with the traditional MMC method for higher-order moments with only a slight increase in computational cost. The particle size distribution is also found to extend for the larger size regime with the WFMC method, which is traditionally insufficient in the classical direct simulation MC and MMC methods. The effects of different fraction functions on the weight function are also investigated.

Originality Value
Stochastic error is inevitable in MC simulations of aerosol dynamics. To minimize this critical stochastic error, many algorithms, such as MMC method, have been proposed. However, the weight of the numerical particles is not adjustable. This newly developed algorithm with an adjustable weight of the numerical particles can provide improved stochastic error reduction.
Bank-appointed directors and idiosyncratic volatility: evidence from India
Authors: Jadiyappa Nemiraja , Joseph Anto , Sisodia Garima 
Published: February 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the impact of the bank-appointed directors on the agency costs of debt by using the idiosyncratic risk of stock returns as a measure of agency costs of debt.Design/methodology/approachWe use multivariate panel regression, event study and finally, propensity score matching approaches to test our hypothesis. The robustness of the results is tested for possible endogeneity issues by employing instrumental variable two-stage least square (IV-2SLS) technique.FindingsConsistent with the efficient monitoring hypothesis, we find a negative relationship between the presence of the bank-appointed director and the idiosyncratic volatility of stock returns among Indian firms. This implies that such firms take up less risky investment projects.Originality/valueWe contribute to the literature from two aspects. First, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that examines the monitoring efficiency of creditors' governance. Hitherto, such examinations are done from the shareholders' perspective. Second, we examine the role of the bank-appointed directors on the board of non-financial firms in an emerging world context and find, contrary to the existing evidence in the US context, active monitoring role played by such directors.
A case study of Ao Nagas of Nagaland on the issues toward gender justice
Authors: Longkumer Purlemla , Bokth Humayun 
Published: February 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the various cultural practices and social relations, which mediates and position men and women among the Ao Nagas of Nagaland and highlight the various barriers and challenges faced by the Ao Naga women by examining the traditional practices.Design/methodology/approachThe various data used in this paper incorporate both primary and secondary data. The information gathered through secondary data includes books and journals and reports. On the other hand, the primary data include unstructured interview, case studies and oral history on the basis of field experiences.FindingsFindings suggest that, Ao Naga women's subordinate position to men can be traced back not only to the prevailing customary laws and tradition but also include a number of factors in their societal affairs which include village formation, where men played a prominent role and thereby, the traditional political seat in the village is denied to women till today. Further, women were kept out of the institution of morung known as Ariju in Ao dialect, where men acquired leadership skills. The strong prevalence of inheritance rules, clanship, succession is held very much intact which seems to affect women's lives to a great extent, along with strong ideologies whereby Naga men are given more honor due to the contributions in safeguarding of village during head hunting days. This high status is enjoyed till today and widely accepted among the people. A deep unequal power sharing among man and woman thus seems to exist in the Ao Naga society.Originality/valueThis research article gives a detailed insight of the Ao Naga women bounded in the domains of customary laws and traditional beliefs.
Are competition and performance friends or foes? Evidence from the Middle East banking sector
Authors: Khattak Mudeer Ahmed , Ali Mohsin 
Published: February 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the impact of banking market competition on banks’ profitability and banks’ risk using a sample of six countries from the Middle East from 2006 to 2017.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses the system generalized method of moments estimator to tackle potential omitted variable bias, endogeneity and simultaneity issues.

Findings
After controlling for bank market and country-specific characteristics, this study reports strong and robust evidence that competition in the banking market is conducive to lower financial performance. This research further finds that intense banking competition leads to lower profitability and increased risk regardless of bank type. As the relationship is not different for Islamic banks, one can argue that activities of Islamic banks are based on the basic traditional banking operations and products, and banks need to diversify their business activities to reduce failure risk and preserve the banking sector’s stability.

Originality/value
This paper tries to bridge the gap by studying the impact of competition on bank performance in high-income dual banking Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economies. Earlier studies have either covered all the dual banking economies or the Middle East and North African region. The authors suggest that the GCC banking market is required to be studied separately because of its idiosyncrasies. Second, unlike earlier studies, the authors have not only examined the impact of competition on bank return but also on bank risk.
Evaluating the critical success criteria for prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction projects
Authors: Wuni Ibrahim Yahaya , Shen Geoffrey Qiping , Osei-Kyei Robert 
Published: February 2021

Purpose
Prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC) is a game-changing construction method that transforms the fragmented site-based construction of buildings into an integrated production, integration and assembly of value-added volumetric building components. Where circumstances merit, the effective implementation of PPVC leverages significant gains in time, cost, quality, productivity and sustainability performance of construction projects. As PPVC is increasingly becoming mainstream, it is imperative to identify the critical success criteria (CSC) for measuring PPVC project success. The purpose of this study is to identify, rank and benchmark the CSC for measuring PPVC project success.

Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted a quantitative research design where the potential CSC for PPVC projects were evaluated. A comprehensive literature and pilot expert review identified 18 CSC for measuring PPVC project success. Based on a questionnaire survey of international PPVC experts, the 18 CSC were analyzed and prioritized using mean score analysis and weighting function.

Findings
Based on mean index assessment, the top five CSC for PPVC projects were identified as adherence to project schedules, meeting project quality specification, meeting safety requirements, client and owner satisfaction and cost savings and profitability. Further analysis grouped the 18 CSC into six principal success criteria (PSC), comprising time performance, cost performance, quality performance, environmental and safety performance, stakeholder satisfaction and supply chain performance. Based on weighted analysis of the six PSCs, quality performance, time performance and environmental and safety performance obtained the highest weights.

Research limitations/implications
The research results are limited by the following limitations. First, although adequate, the sample size was relatively smaller. Second, the generalized analysis overlooked the geospatial sensitivities of the CSC.

Originality/value
The results constitute the first exclusive quantitative ranking and prioritization of the CSC for PPVC projects. The outputs of this study will enable practitioners to reliably and accurately evaluate the performance levels of PPVC projects. A framework of the CSC for measuring the success of PPVC projects was developed.
Analyzing business-failure-process risk: evidence from Finland
Authors: Laitinen Erkki K. 
Published: February 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to analyze the business-failure-process risk from two perspectives. First, a simplified model of the loss-generation process in a failing firm is developed to show that the linear system embedded in accounting makes financial ratios to depend linearly on each other. Second, a simplified model of the development of the risk during the failure process is developed to introduce a new concept of failure-process-risk line (FPRL) to assess the systematic failure risk of a firm. Empirical evidence from Finnish firms is used to test two hypotheses.Design/methodology/approachThis study makes use of simple mathematical modeling to depict the loss-generation process and the development of failure risk during the failure process. Hypotheses are extracted from the mathematical results for empirical testing. Time-series data originally from 13,082 non-failing and 515 failing Finnish are used to test the hypotheses. Analysis of varianceFstatistics and Mann–WhitneyUtest are used in testing of the hypotheses.FindingsThe findings show that the linear time-series correlations are generally higher in failing than in non-failing firms because of the loss-generation process. The FPRL depicted efficiently the systematic failure-process risk through the beta coefficient. Beta coefficient efficiently discriminated between failing and non-failing firms. The difference between the last-period risk estimate and FPRL was largely determined by the approximated growth rate of the periodic failure risk.Research limitations/implicationsThe loss-generation process is based on a simple cash-based approach ignoring the growth of the firm. In future research, the model could be generalized to a growing firm in an accrual-based framework. The failure-process risk is assumed to grow at a constant rate. In further studies, more general models could be applied. Empirical analyses are based on simple statistical methods and tests. More advanced methods could be used to analyze the data.Practical implicationsThis study shows that failure process makes the time-series correlation between financial ratios to increase making their signals of failure consistent and allowing the use of static classification models to assess failure risk. The beta coefficient is a useful tool to reflect systematic failure-process risk. In addition, it can be used in practice to warn a firm about ongoing failure process.Originality/valueTo the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study analyzing systematically business-failure-process risk. It is first in introducing a mathematical loss-generation process and the FPRL based on the beta coefficient assessing the systematic failure risk.