bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Population Genetics Theory for piRNA-regulated Transposable Elements
Authors: Tomar Siddharth S. , Hua-Van Aurélie , Le Rouzic Arnaud
Published: July 2022

Transposable elements (TEs) are self-reproducing selfish DNA sequences that can invade the genome of virtually all living species. Population genetics models have shown that TE copy numbers generally reach a limit, either because the transposition rate decreases with the number of copies (transposition regulation) or because TE copies are deleterious, and thus purged by natural selection. Yet, recent empirical discoveries suggest that TE regulation may mostly rely on piRNAs, which require a specific mutational event (the insertion of a TE copy in a piRNA cluster) to be activated — the so-called TE regulation ”trap model”. We derived new population genetics models accounting for this trap mechanism, and showed that the resulting equilibria differ substantially from previous expectations based on a transposition-selection equilibrium. We proposed three sub-models, depending on whether or not genomic TE copies and piRNA cluster TE copies are selectively neutral or deleterious, and we provide analytical expressions for maximum and equilibrium copy numbers, as well as cluster frequencies for all of them. In the full neutral model, the equilibrium is achieved when transposition is completely silenced, and this equilibrium does not depend on the transposition rate. When genomic TE copies are deleterious but not cluster TE copies, no long-term equilibrium is possible, and active TEs are eventually eliminated after an active incomplete invasion stage. When all TE copies are deleterious, a transposition-selection equilibrium exists, but the invasion dynamics is not monotonic, and the copy number peaks before decreasing. Mathematical predictions were in good agreement with numerical simulations, except when genetic drift and/or linkage disequilibrium dominates. Overall, the trap-model dynamics appeared to be substantially more stochastic and less repeatable than traditional regulation models.
Transformation of acoustic information to sensory decision variables in the parietal cortex
Authors: Yao Justin D. , Zemlianova Klavdia O. , Hocker David L. , Savin Cristina , Constantinople Christine M. , Chung SueYeon , Sanes Dan H.
Published: July 2022

The process by which sensory evidence contributes to perceptual choices requires an understanding of its transformation into decision variables. Here, we address this issue by evaluating the neural representation of acoustic information in auditory cortex-recipient parietal cortex while gerbils either performed an auditory discrimination task or while they passively listened to identical acoustic stimuli. During task performance, decoding performance of simultaneously recorded parietal neurons reflected psychometric sensitivity. In contrast, decoding performance during passive listening was significantly reduced. Principal component and geometric analyses each revealed the emergence of decision-relevant, linearly separable manifolds, but only during task engagement. Finally, using a clustering analysis, we found subpopulations of neurons that may reflect the encoding of separate segments during task performance: stimulus integration and motor preparation or execution. Taken together, our findings demonstrate how parietal cortex neurons integrate and transform encoded auditory information to guide sound-driven perceptual decisions.
Unique features of the gut microbiome characterized in animal models of Angelman Syndrome
Authors: Beitnere Ulrika , Vilanova-Cuevas Brayan , Christian Sarah G , Taylor Clint , Berg Elizabeth L , Copping Nycole A , Dindot Scott V. , Silverman Jill L , Gareau Mélanie G , Segal David J
Published: July 2022

A large subset of patients with Angelman syndrome (AS) suffer from concurrent gastrointestinal (GI) issues, including constipation, poor feeding, and reflux. AS is caused by the loss of ubiquitin ligase E3A (UBE3A) gene expression in the brain. Clinical features of AS, which include developmental delays, intellectual disability, microcephaly, and seizures, are primarily due to the deficient expression or function of the maternally inheritedUBE3A allele. The association between neurodevelopmental delay and GI disorders is part of the increasing evidence suggesting a link between the brain and the gut microbiome via the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis. To investigate the associations between colonization of the gut microbiota in AS, we characterized the fecal microbiome in three animal models of AS containing maternal deletions ofUbe3A, including mouse, rat, and pig, using 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing. Overall changes in the microbial composition of all three animal models of AS in both the phylum and genus levels of bacterial abundance were identified. Specific bacterial groups were significantly increased across all animal models, including:Lachnospiraceae Incertae sedis, Desulfovibrios sp., andOdoribacter, which have been correlated with neuropsychiatric disorders. Taken together, these findings suggest that specific changes to the local environment in the gut are driven by aUbe3amaternal deletion, unaffected by varying housing conditions and are prominent and detectable across multiple small and large model species. These findings may begin to uncover the underlying mechanistic causes of GI disorders in AS patients and provide future therapeutic options for AS patients.

IMPORTANCE

Angelman syndrome (AS) associated gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms significantly impact quality of life in patients. Using AS models in mouse, rat, and pig, AS animals showed impaired colonization of the gut microbiota compared to wild type (healthy) control animals. Unique changes in AS microbiomes across all three animal models may be important in causing GI symptoms and may help to identify ways to treat these comorbidities in patients in the future.
Validated Preclinical Murine Model for Therapeutic Testing against Multidrug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Warawa Jonathan M. , Duan Xiaoxian , Anderson Charles D. , Sotsky Julie B. , Cramer Daniel E. , Pfeffer Tia L. , Guo Haixun , Adcock Robert S. , Lepak Alexander J. , Andes David R. , Slone Stacey A. , Stromberg Arnold J. , Gabbard Jon D. , Severson William E. , Lawrenz Matthew B.
Published: July 2022

The rise in infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria is outpacing the development of new antibiotics. The ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) are a group of clinically important bacteria that have developed resistance to multiple antibiotics and are commonly referred to as multidrug resistant (MDR). The medical and research communities have recognized that without new antimicrobials, infections by MDR bacteria will soon become a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Therefore, there is an ever growing need to expedite the development of novel antimicrobials to combat these infections. Toward this end, we set out to refine an existing murine model of pulmonary Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection to generate a robust preclinical tool that can be used to rapidly and accurately predict novel antimicrobial efficacy. This refinement was achieved by characterizing the virulence of a panel of genetically diverse MDR P. aeruginosa strains in this model, both by LD50 analysis and natural history studies. Further, we defined two antibiotic regimens (aztreonam and amikacin) that can be used a comparators during the future evaluation of novel antimicrobials, and validated that the model can effectively differentiate between successful and unsuccessful treatment as predicted by in vitro inhibitory data. This validated model represents an important tool in our arsenal to develop new therapies to combat MDR P. aeruginosa, with the ability to provide rapid preclinical evaluation of novel antimicrobials that can also serve to support data from clinical studies during the investigational drug development process.
The mechanism of DNA sensor cGAS-STING regulating autophagy-related signal pathways
Authors: Song Wen , Sun Meng , Liu Yuchun , Zhang Yizhe , Lou Haiwei , Fang Huimin , Guo Qi
Published: July 2022

Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) serves as a DNA sensor for recognizing and binding microbial or self-DNA molecules in cells. Upon binding DNA, cGAS produces the second messenger cGAMP to activate the stimulator of interferon genes (STING), which mediates the expression of type 1 interferons (IFN-I) and other cytokines. cGAS-STING-mediated signal pathway plays an important role in innate immune reaction against microbial infections as well as autoimmunity, tumor immunology, and cellular senescence. During this process, cGAS regulates DNA damage repair and induces STING-mediated NF-κB and MAPK signal pathways in autophagy and lysosome-dependent cell apoptosis. However, the molecular mechanisms of cGAS-STING-mediated autophagy still need to be explored. Here, we found that cGAS-STING promotes autophagy by influencing multiple autophagy-related signal pathways: First, cGAS-STING promotes autophagy by inhibiting the mTOR signaling pathway; Second, cGAS-STING affects autophagy by regulating autophagy-related proteins that are also involved in cGAS-STING-mediated IFN-I and NF-κB signaling pathways; Third, the Bcl2 can interact with cGAS and STING to induce cGAS-STING-mediated up-regulation of IFN-I signaling pathway and down-regulation of NF-κB. In addition, we also found that USP19 can significantly reduce the K11-linked ubiquitination of STING in the process of autophagy. Our findings unveiled the functional role and the mechanism of cGAS-STING signaling in regulating autophagy.
Diet prevents the expansion of segmented filamentous bacteria and ileo-colonic inflammation in a model of Crohn’s disease
Authors: Metwaly Amira , Jovic Jelena , Waldschmitt Nadine , Khaloian Sevana , Heimes Helena , Häcker Deborah , Hammoudi Nassim , Bourhis Lionel Le , Mayorgas Aida , Siebert Kolja , Basic Marijana , Schwerd Tobias , Allez Matthieu , Panes Julian , Salas Azucena , Bleich André , Zeissig Sebastian , Schnupf Pamela , Cominelli Fabio , Haller Dirk
Published: July 2022

Crohn’s disease (CD) is associated with changes in the microbiota, and murine models of CD-like ileo-colonic inflammation depend on the presence of microbial triggers. Increased abundance of unknown Clostridiales and the microscopic detection of filamentous structures close to the epithelium of TnfΔARE mice pointed towards segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB), a commensal well-known to induce the maturation of Th17 cell-derived immune responses that is highly implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD. We show that the abundance of SFB strongly correlates with the severity of CD-like ileal inflammation in TnfΔARE and SAMP/Yit mice. SFB mono-colonization of germ-free TnfΔARE mice confirmed the causal link and resulted in severe ileo-colonic inflammation, characterized by elevated tissue levels of Tnf and Il-17, neutrophil infiltration and loss of Paneth and goblet cell function. Co-colonization of SFB in human-microbiota associated TnfΔARE mice confirmed that SFB presence is indispensable for disease development. Screening of 412 ileal and colonic mucosal biopsies from IBD patients using previously published and newly designed human SFB-specific primer sets showed no presence of SFB in human tissue samples. Simulating the protective effect of exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) by feeding SFB mono-colonized TnfΔARE mice EEN-like purified diet antagonized SFB colonization and prevented disease development in TnfΔARE mice, clearly demonstrating the important role of diet in modulating this IBD-related but murine pathobiont.
Faecal virome of the Australian grey-headed flying fox from urban/suburban environments contains novel coronaviruses, retroviruses and sapoviruses
Authors: Van Brussel Kate , Mahar Jackie E. , Ortiz-Baez Ayda Susana , Carrai Maura , Spielman Derek , Boardman Wayne S. J. , Baker Michelle L. , Beatty Julia A. , Geoghegan Jemma L. , Barrs Vanessa R. , Holmes Edward C.
Published: July 2022

Bats are important reservoirs for viruses of public health and veterinary concern. Virus studies in Australian bats usually target the familiesParamyxoviridae, CoronaviridaeandRhabdoviridae, with little known about their overall virome composition. We used metatranscriptomic sequencing to characterise the faecal virome of grey-headed flying foxes from three colonies in urban/suburban locations from two Australian states. We identified viruses from three mammalian-infecting (Coronaviridae, Caliciviridae, Retroviridae) and one possible mammalian-infecting (Birnaviridae) family. Of particular interest were a novel bat betacoronavirus (subgenusNobecovirus) and a novel bat sapovirus (Caliciviridae), the first identified in Australian bats, as well as a potentially exogenous retrovirus. The novel betacoronavirus was detected in two sampling locations 1,375 km apart and falls in a viral lineage likely with a long association with bats. This study highlights the utility of unbiased sequencing of faecal samples for identifying novel viruses and revealing broad-scale patterns of virus ecology and evolution.
Improved feature point extraction method of ORB-SLAM2 dense map
Authors: Zhang Lin , Zhang Yingjie
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to quickly obtain an accurate and complete dense three-dimensional map of indoor environment with lower cost, which can be directly used in navigation.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes an improved ORB-SLAM2 dense map optimization algorithm. This algorithm consists of three parts: ORB feature extraction based on improved FAST-12, feature point extraction with progressive sample consensus (PROSAC) and the dense ORB-SLAM2 algorithm for mapping. Here, the dense ORB-SLAM2 algorithm adds LoopClose optimization thread and dense point cloud map and octree map construction thread. The dense map is computationally expensive and occupies a large amount of memory. Therefore, the proposed method takes higher efficiency, voxel filtering can reduce the memory while ensuring the density of the map and then use the octree format to store the map to further reduce memory.

Findings

The improved ORB-SLAM2 algorithm is compared with the original ORB-SLAM2 algorithm, and the experimental results show that the map through improved ORB-SLAM2 can be directly used in navigation process with higher accuracy, shorter tracking time and smaller memory.

Originality/value

The improved ORB-SLAM2 algorithm can obtain a dense environment map, which ensures the integrity of data. The comparisons of FAST-12 and improved FAST-12, RANSAC and PROSAC prove that the improved FAST-12 and PROSAC both make the feature point extraction process faster and more accurate. Voxel filter helps to take small storage memory and low computation cost, and octree map construction on the dense map can be directly used in navigation.
Corrosion and conductivity properties of Ni–P/Ti4O7 coating on carbon steel as bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Authors: Yu Haiqiang , Guo Quanzhong , Du Keqin , Li Dongyun , Wang Chuan , Wang Yong
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the interfacial conductivity and corrosion resistance of the Ni–P/Ti4O7 composite coating that is deposited on a carbon steel substrate as bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

Design/methodology/approach

The Ni–P/Ti4O7 coating was prepared by electroless plating. Scanning electron microscopy, white light interference, energy dispersive spectrometry and X-ray diffraction were used, respectively, to study the surface morphology, chemical composition and phase composition of coated samples. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic and potentiostatic polarization were used to test the electrochemical performance and corrosion behavior. The interfacial contact resistance (ICR) was measured via the standard method.

Findings

The surface of the Ni–P/Ti4O7 coating is complete and dense and without obvious defects. The electrochemical test results show that the Ni–P/Ti4O7 coating provides better corrosion resistance than the Ni–P coating and substrate. Compared with the Ni–P coating, the ICR of the Ni–P/Ti4O7 coating is lower by about 82.7%. This is because the coating has more conductive contact points. The more exciting thing is that the ICR of the Ni–P/Ti4O7 coating only increases to 12.38 mΩ·cm2 after 5 h of polarization.

Originality/value

This paper provides a method for achieving surface modification of metal bipolar plates. Introducing Ti4O7 particles in the Ni–P layer reduces the contact resistance before and after polarization while ensuring good corrosion resistance.
Investigating the impact of restaurants' sustainable practices on consumers' satisfaction and revisit intentions: a study on leading green restaurants
Authors: Chaturvedi Pallavi , Kulshreshtha Kushagra , Tripathi Vikas , Agnihotri Durgesh
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This study aims at analyzing the impact of green restaurants' sustainable practices (food safety, food sustainability practices, food quality, and environmental sensitivity) on consumer satisfaction and revisit intention.

Design/methodology/approach

A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 417 participants who had recently experienced the services of leading green restaurants. The study draws upon the prevailing literature to test a series of research hypotheses through structural equation modeling.

Findings

The findings of the study have confirmed that sustainable practices such as food safety, food sustainability practices, environmental sensitivity, and food quality significantly influence consumers' satisfaction and revisit intentions. The willingness to pay has been found as a sensitive issue as it moderates the relationship between consumer satisfaction and revisit intention.

Practical implications

This study provides important insights for the businesses operating in foodservice industry. The study suggests important strategies to the restaurant business owners for improving their consumers' satisfaction and revisit intentions. These strategies may help foodservice businesses in building strong brand reputation and a competitive edge over others.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the food service literature by examining the restaurants' environmental legitimacy (food safety, food sustainability practices, food quality, and environmental sensitivity) from consumers' perspective. Moreover, the current study also fills the gap in literature by expanding the knowledge of consumers' pro-environmental behavior in the context of developing nations. Besides, to the best of the authors' knowledge, this is among very few studies, which have emphasized on analyzing consumer satisfaction and revisit intention based on their experience in a green restaurant on particular sustainable parameters.
Impact of banking relationships and ownership concentration on corporate cash holdings in India
Authors: Saxena Vedika , Sahoo Seshadev
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of banking relationships and ownership concentration on corporate cash holdings (CCH) in 333 Indian micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) for nine years (2011–2020).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use system generalized method of moments approach to examine the impact of banking relationships and ownership concentration on CCH.

Findings

The paper finds that the firm's number of banking relationships share a concave (inverted U-shaped) relationship with the cash holding levels. Initially, the positive relationship may signal weak creditworthiness of MSMEs or be a consequence of bank free-rider monitoring issues. The negative effect after a certain level shows that the competition among banks reduces the firm's financial constraints and therefore makes the firms hoard less cash. The authors also document an inverse relationship between ownership concentration and cash holdings. The authors' results suggest that the presence of large shareholders acts as efficient monitors, reducing the risk of potential agency conflicts and thereby managerial entrenchment resulting in lower cash levels. This association remains unchanged for MSMEs in the service sector. However, the quadratic association between banking relationships and CCH vanishes in the presence of a service sector dummy in the regression model. The authors find a significant positive linear relationship in this regard.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper that studies banking relationships and ownership concentration as determinants of Indian MSMEs.
Assessing the influence of COVID-19 protocol on online health information seeking intention of athletes in India
Authors: Behera Rajat Kumar , Bala Pradip Kumar , Rana Nripendra P. , Dwivedi Yogesh K.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The Internet is used as a tool to seek health information by individuals. Mental health concerns are the high prevalence of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and preventive steps are required to curb the illness. Therefore, to gain more insight into health concerns, it is now a common practice to seek health information on the Internet. This study propose an integrated theoretical model to explore the relationship between COVID-19 protocols and perceived online trust with online health information seeking intention (OHISI) and a moderating effect of perceived severity and perceived urgency.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected from 325 athletes in the category of individual and team sports through an online survey in a Likert-scale questionnaire. The analysis is performed with a quantitative methodology.

Findings

The study reveals the bright side of online health information (OHI), which brings athletes together and has played out with virtual happy hours, meetings and events. The bright side of OHI reflects social, cultural, technological and economic benefits. An OHI chatbot offers bright personalised side information to the individual seeker, which is more convenient and efficient than human capabilities.

Originality/value

The pivotal contribution is the integrated theoretical framework that is derived from multidisciplinary literature to capture the complexity of OHI. Also, it conceptualises the constructs in the context of OHI and COVID-19.
A maturity model for the effective digital transformation of laboratories
Authors: Kammerlohr Valentin , Paradice David , Uckelmann Dieter
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This paper presents a maturity model for digital transformation effectiveness in laboratories (labs) with education and research purposes.

Design/methodology/approach

The model was developed using design science research methodology, expert interviews and case studies.

Findings

The model fulfills three practical goals: (1) to establish comparability of the effectiveness of the digital transformation of labs, (2) to provide lab operators from academia and industry with a guide for (further) transformation and (3) to build initial trust among lab users. In addition, the maturity model contributes to the literature on digital lab transformation by capturing, describing, structuring and evaluating relevant dimensions, items and levels. Model strengths and weaknesses, areas for improvement, international applicability and practical and reusable recommendations are presented as well as the added value in assessing lab functionalities and lab sustainability.

Practical implications

Although originally developed as a maturity model driven by lab education, the model is also suitable for the transformation of research labs in manufacturing technology management. Digital labs can efficiently support industry training and research and development activities as well as simulate the development of new processes prior to their implementation.

Originality/value

Especially for these use cases, the authors see application potentials for the use of online labs from an organizational perspective and from the perspective of stakeholders such as industry users and operators with a manufacturing background, who use and develop transformed labs for teaching and research.
Lessons from COVID-19 for the future: destination crisis management, tourist behaviour and tourism industry trends
Authors: Aldao Carolina , Blasco Dani , Poch Espallargas Manel
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This research aims at arriving at a broad scope of the lessons learnt after two years of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak by analysing the catalyst and inhibiting factors within three aspects of the tourism sector: destination crisis management, tourist behaviour and tourism industry trends.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology of this paper involves semi-structured interviews with high-ranking European travel agents as the agents represent the intermediates between the tourism offer and demand.

Findings

Data obtained from travel agents disclosed the factors that catalysed and inhibited the destination, the behaviour of tourists and the tourism industry trends. By contrasting data with previous literature, constructing an overview of the positive and negative outcomes of the pandemic in the tourism sector is possible.

Practical implications

Governments, destination marketing and management organisations and tourism and hospitality organisations could learn from the lessons of COVID-19 outbreak to cope better with future disruptive events affecting the tourism industry.

Originality/value

The paper is novel as it is the first overview that attempts to synthesise the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic in the tourism sector by analysing tourism sector's three dimensions: the destination, the tourists and the industry.
Adaptive step-size numerical vibration correlation technique for buckling prediction of thin-walled shells under axial compression and thermal loads
Authors: Huang Lei , Xia Qiushi , Gao Tianhe , Wang Bo , Tian Kuo
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a numerical prediction method of buckling loads for shell structures under axial compression and thermal loads based on vibration correlation technique (VCT).

Design/methodology/approach

VCT is a non-destructive test method, and the numerical realization of its experimental process can become a promising buckling load prediction method, namely numerical VCT (NVCT). First, the derivation of the VCT formula for thin-walled structures under combined axial compression and thermal loads is presented. Then, on the basis of typical NVCT, an adaptive step-size NVCT (AS-NVCT) calculation scheme based on an adaptive increment control strategy is proposed. Finally, according to the independence of repeated frequency analysis, a concurrent computing framework of AS-NVCT is established to improve efficiency.

Findings

Four analytical examples and one optimization example for imperfect conical-cylindrical shells are carried out. The buckling prediction results for AS-NVCT agree well with the test results, and the efficiency is significantly higher than that of typical numerical buckling methods.

Originality/value

The derivation of the VCT formula for thin-walled shells provides a theoretical basis for NVCT. The adaptive incremental control strategy realizes the adaptive adjustment of the loading step size and the maximum applied load of NVCT with Python script, thus establishing AS-NVCT.
Factors associated with job commitment among Chinese police cadets: a longitudinal study
Authors: Wang Xinting , Zhao Jihong , Qu Jia
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore factors correlated with police cadets' perceived commitment to the police profession – whether or not personal attitudes and demographic characteristics can make a difference.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used two-year longitudinal data collected from a population of 207 Chinese police cadets. Survey research based on pre-designed instruments was employed to collect the data.

Findings

The results from panel data analysis found that personal interest in adolescence and attitudes toward styles of policing were significant predictors. Specifically, attitudes toward community policing were positively related to the cadets' commitment to the police profession.

Originality/value

Police occupational commitment is essential since the commitment is closely linked to voluntary retention and organizational effectiveness. However, limited empirical research has been available regarding the factors associated with officers' identification and commitment to the occupation. This study provides insight into police officer training and recruitment and offers suggestions for future research.
Full of energy – The relationship between supervisor developmental feedback and task performance: a conservation of resources perspective
Authors: Li Zhongqiu , Ma Chao , Zhang Xue , Guo Qiming
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Meaningful feedback at work signals effective performance management. Drawing on a new perspective of the conservation of resources (COR) theory, this paper aims to examine the mediating effect of relational energy in the relationship between supervisor developmental feedback and subordinates' task performance with the moderating role of learning demands.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 230 supervisor-subordinate dyads were collected at two time points of four enterprises in China.

Findings

The results support the proposed mediation effect that supervisor developmental feedback positively predicts subordinates' task performance via boosting subordinates' relational energy. Furthermore, the results highlighted the moderating role of learning demands in the relationship between supervisor developmental feedback and subordinates' relational energy. The moderated–mediated relationship for subordinates' task performance was also supported.

Originality/value

Drawing on COR theory, this paper contributes to a complete understanding of how supervisor developmental feedback may support or build employees' relational energy, facilitating task performance and further exploring learning demands as a boundary condition of this indirect relationship.
Evaluation of officer and service performance pertaining to patient's family satisfaction in the ICU RSUP. Dr. M. Djamil Padang
Authors: Taslim Emilzon , Afrizal Afrizal , Maskoen Tinni Trihartini , Yusuf Yusirwan
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Patient and family satisfaction is very important for improving the quality of health services, especially in hospitals. This study aims to evaluate the performance of officers and services and their effects on the satisfaction of patients in intensive care unit (ICU) at RSUP Dr. M. Djamil Padang.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a quantitative method with a cross-sectional approach. A sample of 80 respondents was obtained using a random sampling technique (simple random). Data were collected using a questionnaire, and the analysis used was univariate.

Findings

The results showed that the evaluation of staff and service performance on ICU patient satisfaction considered from the aspects of the ease of service procedures, service requirements, clarity of serving officers, officer discipline, officer responsibilities, ability of officers to provide services, speed of service, fairness in getting services, courtesy and friendliness of officers in providing services, reasonableness of costs, clarity of cost details, accuracy of implementation of the service time schedule, comfort in the service room environment and security of services in the ICU room in 2020 was rather good.

Originality/value

This study indicates that the evaluation of the performance of officers and services on ICU patient satisfaction was good and satisfying for patients’ families.
Design and analysis of modular moving magnet linear oscillating actuator for compressor in refrigeration system
Authors: Khan Mehtab , Khan Adnan Daud , Jawad Muhammad , Ahmad Zahoor , Rehman Naveed Ur , Israr Muhammad
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigates a novel design of a modular moving magnet linear oscillating actuator (MMM-LOA) with the capability of coupling modules, based on their application and space requirements.

Design/methodology/approach

Proposed design comprised of modules, and modules are separated by using nonmagnetic materials. Movable part of the proposed design of LOA is composed of permanent magnets (PMs) having axial magnetization direction and tubular structure. Stator of the proposed design is composed of one coil individually in a module. Dimensions of the design parameters are optimized through parametric analysis using COMSOL Multi Physics software. This design is analyzed up to three modules and their response in term of electromagnetic (EM) force and stroke are presented. Influence of adding modules is analyzed for both directions of direct current (DC) and alternating input loadings.

Findings

Proposed LOA shows linear increase in magnitude of EM force by adding modules. Motor constant of the investigated LOA is 264 N/A and EM force per PM mass is 452.389 N/kg, that shows significant improvement. Moreover, proposed LOA operates in feasible region of stroke for compressor application. Furthermore, this design uses axially magnetized PMs which are low cost and available in compact tubular structure.

Originality/value

Proposed LOA shows the influence of adding modules and its effect in term of EM force is analyzed for DC and alternating current (AC). Moreover, overall performance and structural topology is compared with state-of-the-art designs of LOA. Improvement with regard of motor constant and EM force per PM mass shows originality and scope of this paper.
Protecting biodiversity to support ecosystem services: An analysis of trade‐offs and synergies in southwestern China
Authors: Lin Ziyan , Wu Tong , Xiao Yi , Rao Enming , Shi Xuewei , Ouyang Zhiyun
Published: July 2022

Biodiversity plays a key role in supporting ecosystem services. Understanding this relationship sheds light on the linkages between ecological structure and functioning, thereby increasing the capacity for effective strategies of ecosystem conservation and restoration.

Focusing on southwestern China, a global biodiversity hotspot, we evaluated the spatial correlations between biodiversity and four regulating services and one cultural service. We calculated critical points of change in the relationship between biodiversity and each of these ecosystem services and categorized the region into ‘threshold’, ‘sensitive’, ‘saturation’, ‘recession’ and ‘low‐value’ areas.

The results show that the spatial correlation between biodiversity and regulating services was mainly positive in the Nujiang River and Lancang River basins and the Dayao Mountains, while biodiversity was negatively correlated with provisioning and cultural services in the Qionglai and Hengduan Mountains. The slope value of the curve fitted for the biodiversity–ecosystem service relationships was approximately 1 when species richness was approximately 50; the corresponding areas were termed threshold areas and were pivotal zones of change in the biodiversity–ecosystem service relationships. These areas were mainly distributed in the Qionglai Mountains, Hengduan Mountains and Nujiang River Basin, and should be prioritized for monitoring and biodiversity protection.

Synthesis and applications: Our findings can help improve understanding of the spatially complex interactions between biodiversity and multiple ecosystem services, as well as identifying areas that should be prioritized for protection and restoration; they also contribute towards a scientific framework for integrated management and policy in general.
Parallel local adaptation to an alpine environment in Arabidopsis arenosa
Authors: Wos Guillaume , Arc Erwann , Hülber Karl , Konečná Veronika , Knotek Adam , Požárová Doubravka , Bertel Clara , Kaplenig Dominik , Mandáková Terezie , Neuner Gilbert , Schönswetter Peter , Kranner Ilse , Kolář Filip
Published: July 2022

Parallel local adaptation, that is, when distinct genetic lineages independently adapt to the same selective environment, provides strong evidence for the action of natural selection. A few cases of parallel local adaptation were reported in plants but underlying mechanisms promoting or preventing the parallel response, such as the balance between migration and selection, were rarely quantified. Here, we conducted a transplant experiment to test whether distinct foothill–alpine population pairs of Arabidopsis arenosa exhibited similar adaptive responses to a contrasting alpine environment. We further investigated selection and migration patterns in these populations.

Seedlings of 16 foothill and alpine populations of A. arenosa from four distinct mountain regions (one occupied by diploid and three by tetraploid populations) were transplanted into one low‐ and one high‐elevation site. We recorded fitness proxies over two growing seasons to test whether the elevation‐of‐origin advantage was manifested in the same way across the four regions of origin. Then, we quantified the strength of selection on the traits at each transplantation site and used coalescent simulations to estimate past gene flow intensity between each pair of foothill and alpine populations in each region.

We demonstrated that the four pairs of populations exhibited similar adaptive responses to elevation difference in terms of survival, number of flowering plants, stem height and accumulation of above‐ground dry biomass; the other traits (rosette size, number of leaves, stems and flowers) exhibited rather regional‐specific patterns. In addition, we found minor effects of ploidy level on the fitness proxies recorded. Our selection and migration analysis revealed that parallel local adaptation was probably achieved by differential selective pressure at low versus high elevation in combination with lack or limited gene flow between foothill and alpine populations.

Synthesis. We show that the previously documented strong morphological and genetic distinctness of alpine A. arenosa compared to their foothill counterparts, which has been hypothesized to be driven by natural selection, is indeed mirrored in fitness differences consistent with parallel local adaptation. Our results provide experimental support for the repeatability of adaptive evolution and highlight the prominent role of divergent selection.
Climate and mycorrhizae mediate the relationship of tree species diversity and carbon stocks in subtropical forests
Authors: Yan Guoyong , Bongers Franca J. , Trogisch Stefan , Li Yin , Chen Guoke , Yan Haoru , Deng Xianglu , Ma Keping , Liu Xiaojuan
Published: July 2022

It is increasingly being recognized that tree species diversity has positive effects on forest ecosystem carbon (C) stock. However, at broad spatial scales, this relationship may depend on climate conditions and species mycorrhizal associations.

Here, observations from 667 forest plots in subtropical China were used to investigate the effects of species diversity, mean annual precipitation (MAP), mean annual temperature (MAT) and mycorrhizal type (arbuscular or ectomycorrhizal) on the forest C stock and its components (tree C stock, shrub layer C stock, herb layer C stock, litter layer C stock, root C stock and soil C stock).

We found positive effect of tree species diversity on total forest C stock. MAP had positive effects on total forest C stock and its components, while MAT had consistently negative effects on total forest C stock and most of its components. Different levels of MAP and MAT did modulate the strength of effect of species diversity on forest C stock and its components. In addition, species diversity, MAT and MAP showed a significant positive relationship with arbuscular mycorrhiza‐associated tree C stock but had no or negative relationship with ectomycorrhiza‐associated tree C stock.

Synthesis. Our results indicate that maintaining high level of species diversity may support the buffering of negative effects resulting from climate warming. Furthermore, under climate warming the specific C stock of AM trees can increase, which can potentially promote forest C stock. Taken together, our study suggests that afforestation policies should consider not only tree species diversity to increase forest C stock but also the effects of different tree mycorrhizal types.
Environmental DNA methods for detecting two invasive alien species (American bullfrog and red swamp crayfish) in Japanese ponds
Authors: Ogata Shigeki , Doi Hideyuki , Igawa Takeshi , Komaki Shohei , Takahara Teruhiko
Published: July 2022

Species invasion in conventional ecosystems is an impedance to ecosystem management. The extensive invasion of American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeiana) and red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) is seriously harmful to aquatic systems worldwide, including Japan. In recent years, the methods involving environmental DNA (eDNA) have significantly contributed to the detection of invasive alien species. These methods for the above two species had already been developed in previous studies overseas, but could be unsuitable for detection of the species in Japan due to matching of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers with the sequence of the co‐existing species. The present study developed two eDNA detection methods for L. catesbeiana and P. clarkii in Japanese habitats. The eDNA of both invasive alien species was detected in all ponds where they had been captured and observed. A positive relationship was elucidated between the traditional survey (i.e., frog male calling detection or direct catch) and the presence or concentration of eDNA. The eDNA method applied in this study could be useful for monitoring the distribution of L. catesbeiana and P. clarkii in Japan.
When Does Competitive Learning Occur? The Impact of Alliance Network Embeddedness on Technological Invasion
Authors: Tang Liqing , Wang Tienan , Fan Qianqian , Liu Linlin
Published: July 2022

Firms participate in an alliance network to collaborate for specific goals and common values; however, the network situation and the interaction between partnering firms enable them to appropriate their partners’ proprietary knowledge and adopt competitive actions. Little is known about whether and when the focal firm would invade its partner's technological domains in alliance networks. We examined how relational embeddedness and positional embeddedness influence the focal firm's technological invasion behaviour against its partner, and the moderating role of relative alliance experience. Although previous studies have emphasized that a central position would enhance firms’ competitive aggression, we argue that this central position imposes more constraints on firms’ competitive behaviour. The empirical results show a U‐shaped relationship between relational embeddedness and technological invasion, while relative centrality negatively affects technological invasion behaviour and negatively moderates the U‐shaped relationship. Furthermore, the results indicate that relative alliance experience attenuates the U‐shaped relationship between relational embeddedness and technological invasion, while it enhances the negative effect of relative centrality on technological invasion. These findings provide new insights and perspectives to study the coopetition phenomenon in alliance networks.
Global prevalence of prediabetes in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Han Chengyi , Song Qing , Ren Yongcheng , Chen Xinyu , Jiang Xuesong , Hu Dongsheng
Published: July 2022

Background

Prediabetes is a pivotal risk factor for developing diabetes. This meta‐analysis was performed to assess the global prevalence of childhood prediabetes.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted for studies of prediabetes prevalence in the general pediatric population from inception until December 2021. Random‐effects meta‐analysis was used to combine the data. Variations in the prevalence estimates in different subgroups (age group, sex, setting, investigation period, body mass index [BMI] group, family history of diabetes, diagnosis criteria, World Health Organization [WHO] and World Bank [WB] regions) were examined by subgroup meta‐analysis.

Results

A total of 48 studies were included in the meta‐analysis. The pooled prevalence was 8.84% (95% CI, 6.74%‐10.95%) for prediabetes in childhood. Subgroup meta‐analyses showed that the prevalence was higher in males than females (8.98% vs 8.74%, P < .01), in older compared to younger children (7.56% vs. 2.51%, p < 0.01), in urban compared to rural areas (6.78% vs. 2.47, p < 0.01), and higher in children with a family history of diabetes than in those without such a history (7.59% vs. 6.80%, p < 0.01). We observed an upward trend in prediabetes prevalence from 0.93% to 10.66% over past decades (p < 0.01). The pooled prevalence increased from 7.64% to 14.27% with increased BMI (p < 0.01). Pooled prevalence was the lowest for criterion A among different diagnosis criteria (p < 0.01). For WHO and WB regions, the European Region and high‐income countries yielded the lowest pooled prevalence (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Elevated prediabetes prevalence in childhood reaches an alarming level. Intensive lifestyle modification is needed to improve the prediabetes epidemic.
“Spiritual distress (00066)” in patients under fertility treatment: Clinical validation study
Authors: Romeiro Joana , Caldeira Sílvia , Lopes Marcos Venicios
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This study aimed to clinically validate the NANDA‐I nursing diagnosis of “Spiritual distress (00066)” in people under assisted reproductive technologies, and to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of the defining characteristics.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study that was conducted between September 2019 and June 2020. Recruitment happened by invitation posted in fertility‐related websites. Those who accepted to participate were asked to fill the consent form and the online questionnaire. Statistical analysis was based on Rasch's model. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee.

Findings

The sample comprised 104 Portuguese individuals undergoing assisted reproductive techniques. The “Spiritual distress (00066)” was validated and 22 defining characteristics were confirmed as representative. No item showed differential item functioning. “Perceived suffering” was the most sensitive defining characteristic and had the highest negative predictive value. “Insufficient courage” had the highest positive predictive value, and “Anger toward power greater than self” was the most specific.

Conclusions

Results validated the presence of the NANDA‐I nursing diagnosis of “Spiritual distress (00066)” in a sample going through assisted reproductive technologies, improving accuracy of this nursing diagnosis in such population.

Implications for nursing practice

This is a crucial step to raise the level of evidence of such nursing diagnosis and to increase the level of evidence on NANDA‐I terminology. Furthermore, this study has contributed to raising the quality of nurse's critical judgement and clinical reasoning and allow an early spiritual and a more holistic and personalized patient‐centered intervention in the reproductive field.