bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Loss of heterochromatin and retrotransposon silencing constitute an early phase in oocyte aging
Authors: Wasserzug-Pash Peera , Rothman Rachel , Reich Eli , Schonberger Oshrat , Weiss Yifat , Srebnik Naama , Cohen-Hadad Yaara , Weintraub Amir , Ben-Ami Ido , Holzer Hananel , Klutstein Michael
Published: October 2020

Mammalian oocyte quality reduces with female age. A well-studied aspect of this deterioration is an age-associated rise in oocyte aneuploidy. We show that prior to the occurrence of significant aneuploidy (at the age of 9 months in mouse females), epigenetic changes occur and impact oocyte quality and maturation ability. At this age- we observe a reduction in heterochromatin marks in mouse oocytes. This decrease is apparent in both constitutive heterochromatin and facultative heterochromatin marks but is absent in active euchromatic marks which remain constant. A decrease of heterochromatin marks with age is also observed in human GV oocytes from IVF treatments. Heterochromatin loss with age is associated with an elevation in retrotransposon RNA transcription and processing, an elevation in retrotransposon protein expression, elevation in DNA repair proteins nuclear localization and oocyte maturation defects. Artificial inhibition of the heterochromatin machinery in young oocytes causes an elevation in retrotransposon expression and processing and oocyte maturation defects. Collectively, our work demonstrates an early stage of oocyte aging, characterized by the loss of heterochromatin associated chromatin marks and activation of retrotransposons which cause DNA damage and impair oocyte maturation. We hypothesize that this heterochromatin loss serves as an oocyte associated “epigenetic clock” and is exploited by the cell as an oocyte QC mechanism.

One Sentence Summary

Oocyte aging includes an early pre-aneuploidy phase when loss of repressive chromatin marks occurs as well as retrotransposon activation and egg maturation defects.
Identification of genomic regions affecting production traits in pigs divergently selected for feed efficiency
Authors: Delpuech Emilie , Aliakbari Amir , Labrune Yann , Fève Katia , Billon Yvon , Gilbert Hélène , Riquet Juliette
Published: October 2020

Background

Feed efficiency is a major driver of the sustainability of pig production systems. Understanding biological mechanisms underlying these agronomic traits is an important issue whether for environment and farms economy. This study aimed at identifying genomic regions affecting residual feed intake (RFI) and other production traits in two pig lines divergently selected for RFI during 9 generations (LRFI, low RFI; HRFI, high RFI).

Results

We built a whole dataset of 570,447 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 2,426 pigs with records for 24 production traits after both imputation and prediction of genotypes using pedigree information. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed including both lines (Global-GWAS) or each line independently (LRFI-GWAS and HRFI-GWAS). A total of 54 chromosomic regions were detected with the Global-GWAS, whereas 37 and 61 regions were detected in LRFI-GWAS and HRFI-GWAS, respectively. Among those, only 15 regions were shared between at least two analyses, and only one was common between the three GWAS but affecting different traits. Among the 12 QTL detected for RFI, some were close to QTL detected for meat quality traits and 9 pinpointed novel genomic regions for some harbored candidate genes involved in cell proliferation and differentiation processes of gastrointestinal tissues or lipid metabolism-related signaling pathways. Detection of mostly different QTL regions between the three designs suggests the strong impact of the dataset on the detection power, which could be due to the changes of allelic frequencies during the line selection.

Conclusions

Besides efficiently detecting known and new QTL regions for feed efficiency, the combination of GWAS carried out per line or simultaneously using all individuals highlighted the identification of chromosomic regions under selection that affect various production traits.
Matrix-trapped viruses can protect bacterial biofilms from invasion by colonizing cells
Authors: Bond Matthew C. , Vidakovic Lucia , Singh Praveen K. , Drescher Knut , Nadell Carey D.
Published: October 2020

Bacteria often live in the context of spatially restricted groups held together by a self-secreted, adhesive extracellular matrix. These groups, termed biofilms, are likely where many phage-bacteria encounters occur. A number of recent studies have documented that phages can be trapped in the outer matrix layers of biofilms, such that the bacteria inside are protected from exposure. It is not known, however, what might happen after this: are the trapped phages still viable on the biofilm exterior? If so, do they pose a threat to newly arriving cells that might otherwise colonize the existing biofilm? Here we set out to address these questions using a biofilm-producing strain ofEscherichia coliand its lytic phage T7. Prior work has demonstrated that T7 phages are trapped in the outermost layers of curli polymers within theE. colimatrix. We show that these phages do remain viable and kill incoming colonizing cells so long as they are T7-susceptible. If colonizing cells arrive to the outside of a resident biofilm before phages do, they can still be killed by phage exposure if it occurs soon thereafter. However, if colonizing cells are present on the biofilm long enough before phage exposure, they gain phage protection via envelopment within curli-producing clusters of the resident biofilm cells. This work establishes that phages trapped in the outer matrix layers of a resident biofilm can be incidentally weaponized as a mode of protection from competition by newly arriving cells that might otherwise colonize the biofilm exterior.
Exon Junction Complex dependent mRNA localization is linked to centrosome organization during ciliogenesis
Authors: Kwon Oh Sung , Mishra Rahul , Safieddine Adham , Coleno Emeline , Alasseur Quentin , Faucourt Marion , Barbosa Isabelle , Bertrand Edouard , Spassky Nathalie , Hir Hervé Le
Published: October 2020

Exon junction complexes (EJC) mark untranslated spliced mRNAs and are crucial for the mRNA lifecycle. An imbalance in EJC dosage alters mouse neural stem cell (mNSC) division and is linked to human neurodevelopmental disorders. In quiescent mNSC and immortalized human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE1) cells, centrioles form a basal body for ciliogenesis. Here, we report that EJCs accumulate at basal bodies of mNSC or RPE1 cells and decline when these cells differentiate or resume growth. A high-throughput smFISH screen identifies two transcripts accumulating at centrosomes in quiescent cells,NINandBICD2. In contrast toBICD2, the localization ofNINtranscripts is EJC-dependent.NINmRNA encodes a core component of centrosomes required for microtubule nucleation and anchoring. We find that EJC down-regulation impairs both pericentriolar material organization and ciliogenesis. An EJC-dependent mRNA trafficking towards centrosome and basal bodies might contribute to proper mNSC division and brain development.
Short-lived alpha power suppression induced by low-intensity arrhythmic rTMS
Authors: Zmeykina Elina , Mittner Matthias , Paulus Walter , Turi Zsolt
Published: October 2020

This study was conducted to provide a better understanding of the role of electric field strength in the production of aftereffects in resting state scalp electroencephalography by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in humans. We conducted two separate experiments in which we applied rTMS over the left parietal-occipital region. Prospective electric field simulation guided the choice of the individual stimulation intensities. In the main experiment, 16 participants received rhythmic and arrhythmic rTMS bursts at between ca. 20 and 50 mv/mm peak absolute electric field intensities. In the control experiment, another group of 16 participants received sham rTMS. To characterize the aftereffects, we estimated the alpha power (8-14 Hz) changes recorded in the inter-burst intervals, i.e., from 0.2 to 10 seconds after rTMS. We found aftereffects lasting up to two seconds after stimulation with ca. 35 mV/mm. Relative to baseline, alpha power was significantly reduced by the arrhythmic protocol, while there was no significant change with the rhythmic protocol. However, we found no significant long-term, i.e., up to 10-second, differences between the rhythmic and arrhythmic stimulation, or between the rhythmic and sham protocols. Weak arrhythmic rTMS induced short-lived alpha suppression during the inter-burst intervals.
Enhanced neural tracking of the fundamental frequency of the voice
Authors: Van Canneyt Jana , Wouters Jan , Francart Tom
Published: October 2020

'F0 tracking' is a novel method that investigates the neural processing of the fundamental frequency of the voice (f0) in continuous speech. Through linear modelling, a feature that reflects the stimulus f0 is predicted from the EEG data. Then, the neural response strength is evaluated through the correlation between the predicted and actual f0 feature. The aim of this study was to improve upon this 'f0 tracking' method by optimizing the f0 feature. Specifically, we aimed to design a feature that approximates the expected EEG responses to the f0. We hypothesized that this would improve neural tracking results, because the more similar the feature and the neural response are, the easier it will be to reconstruct the one from the other. Two techniques were explored: a phenomenological model to simulate neural processing in the auditory periphery and a low-pass filter to approximate the effect of more central processing on the f0 response. Since these optimizations target different aspects of the auditory system, they were also applied in a cumulative fashion. Results obtained from EEG evoked by a Flemish story in 34 subjects indicated that both the use of the auditory model and the addition of the low-pass filter significantly improved the correlations between the actual and reconstructed feature. The combination of both strategies almost doubled the mean correlation over subjects, from 0.078 to 0.13. Moreover, canonical correlation analysis with the modelled feature revealed two distinct processes contributing to the f0 response: one driven by the compound activity of auditory nerve fibers with center frequency up to 8 kHz and one driven predominantly by the auditory nerve fibers with center frequency below 1 kHz. The optimized f0 features developed in this study enhance the analysis of f0-tracking responses and facilitate future research and applications.
The role of parvalbumin interneuron GIRK signaling in regulation of affect and cognition in male and female mice
Authors: Anderson EM , Demis S , D’Acquisto H , Engelhardt A , Hearing M
Published: October 2020

Pathological impairments in the regulation of affect (i.e. emotion) and flexible decision-making are commonly observed across numerous neuropsychiatric disorders and are thought to reflect dysfunction of cortical and subcortical circuits that arise in part from imbalances in excitation and inhibition within these structures. Disruptions in GABA transmission, in particular that from parvalbumin-expressing interneurons (PVI), has been highlighted as a likely mechanism by which this imbalance arises, as they regulate excitation and synchronization of principle output neurons. G protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium ion (GIRK/Kir3) channels are known to modulate excitability and output of pyramidal neurons in areas like the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, however the role GIRK plays in PVI excitability and behavior is unknown. Male and female mice lacking GIRK1 in PVI (Girk1flox/flox:PVcre) and expressing td-tomato in PVI (Girk1flox/flox:PVCre:PVtdtom) exhibited increased open arm time in the elevated plus maze, while males showed an increase in immobile episodes during the forced swim test. Loss of GIRK1 did not alter motivated behavior for an appetitive reward or impair overall performance in an operant-based attention set-shifting model of cognitive flexibility, however it did alter types of errors committed during the visual cue test. Unexpectedly, baseline sex differences were also identified in these tasks, with females exhibiting overall poorer performance compared to males and distinct types of errors, highlighting potential differences in task-related problem solving. Interestingly, reductions in PVI GIRK signaling did not correspond to changes in membrane excitability but did increase action potential firing at higher current injections in PVI of males, but not females. This is the first investigation on the role that PVI GIRK-signaling has on membrane excitability, action potential firing, and their role on affect and cognition together increasing understanding of PVI cellular mechanisms and function.
Linking Enzyme Upregulation to Autophagic Failure: A Potential Biomarker for GM1 Gangliosidosis
Authors: Smith Sarah , Larsen Jessica
Published: October 2020

With an increasing aging population, neurodegenerative diseases are having an increased impact on society. Typically, these diseases are diagnosed significantly past symptom onset, decreasing the possibility of effective treatment. A non-invasive biomarker and specific target are needed to diagnose and treat the disease before late-stage symptoms. GM1 Gangliosidosis is a lysosomal storage disease where lysosomal enzyme β-galactosidase is missing. As a result, GM1 ganglioside is not broken down and accumulates in the cell, ultimately leading to cell death. One of the main aspects of GM1 Gangliosidosis, and other neurodegenerative diseases, is impaired autophagy: reduced fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes to degrade cellular waste.

In this paper, we show that healthy cells (NSV3) have approximately 13 times more co-localization of lysosomes and autophagosomes than GM1 Gangliosidosis-diseased cells (GM1SV3), as demonstrated via immunofluorescence. GM1SV3 fold normal enzyme activity of β-galactosidase was downregulated while mannosidase, and hexosaminidase A were both upregulated. When inducing impaired autophagy in NSV3 via starvation, co-localization gradually decreases with increased starvation time. Most notably, after 48-hour starvation, healthy cells (NSV3) showed no significant difference in co-localization compared to GM1SV3. NSV3 under starvation conditions showed a significant increase between time starved and fold normal enzyme activity, with a positive correlation being observed. Activities of mannosidase, and hexosaminidase A of starved NSV3 closely resemble, and surpass, GM1SV3 after 12-hour starvation.

These observations have the potential to expand the conversation regarding impaired autophagy as a potential biomarker for disease progression and diagnostics and as a treatment target.
Academic excellence as a determinant of self-confidence among graduates of ODL programs
Authors: Sembiring Maximus Gorky
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study envisioned plausible influential factors on service quality and academic excellence relatable to graduate self-confidence in an open distance learning (ODL) outlook. The objective was to expose the moderating role of academic excellence (graduate satisfaction) between service quality and self-confidence (engagement, achievement, loyalty and opportunity, EALO). It was also of interest to explore how, in what routines factors involved interrelated.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilized exploratory design. Qualitatively, service quality included acclimation, advising, module, tutorial, assessment, feedback and referral factors. Service quality led to academic excellence (GPA, study length, relevance and recognition). Besides, academic excellence influenced self-confidence. Quantitatively, service quality, academic excellence and self-confidence were the independent, moderating and dependent variables. Respondents were randomly selected through a survey of eligible Universitas Terbuka alumni.

Findings

11 hypotheses were assessed under structural-equation modeling (SEM). Responses from 122 out of 500 graduates were completed. Eight hypotheses were validated by the analysis. The tutorial was the most influential factor followed by module, assessment and acclimation; advising, feedback and referral were excluded. Academic excellence also led to self-confidence. The study was able to visualize a substantial role of academic excellence in moderating service quality to EALO. Besides, important-performance analysis and customer-satisfaction index (IPA-CSI) recognized 21 out of 32 attributes as the pillars of academic excellence.

Originality/value

Three of the hypotheses were invalidated by the quantitative analysis. Further inquiry with much broader coverage is then required to diminish the variance to finally find the ideal framework.
A qualitative longitudinal study of the first UK Dual Diagnosis Anonymous (DDA), an integrated peer-support programme for concurrent disorders
Authors: Milani Raffaella Margherita , Nahar Keisha , Ware Daniel , Butler Alan , Roush Sean , Smith Doyal , Perrino Luisa , O’Donnell John
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Dual Diagnosis Anonymous (DDA) is a peer-led programme developed in the USA, which aims to address mental and addictive disorders in an integrated manner. This study is part of a mixed-methods evaluation of the first DDA pilot in the UK, and the purpose of this study is to explore the impact and mechanism of change of the programme through the perspective of DDA attendees, facilitators and the funding commissioners.

Design/methodology/approach

Six DDA members were interviewed three times over a period of 12 months, the facilitators were interviewed twice and the commissioner was interviewed once. The qualitative longitudinal data were analysed using a trajectory thematic analysis.

Findings

DDA attendance was perceived to have had a positive impact on five main areas: acceptance of self, of others and from others; social functioning; self-development; recovery progression; and feeling of hope. The possibility of addressing both mental health and addiction at the same time was a key factor in the recovery process. The facilitators observed that DDA had contributed to integrate members into employment and education, while the commissioner stressed the importance of joint commissioning and sustainability.

Originality/value

The longitudinal approach provided a unique insight into the recovery process of DDA members. Being able to address the mental health as well as the substance use problems was considered to be a fundamental strength of DDA in comparison to the single purpose peer-support fellowships.
Person-organization fit and organization citizenship behavior: modeling the work engagement as a mediator
Authors: Ashfaq Bilal , Hamid Aatir
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of person-organization (PO) fit on work engagement (WE). The paper also explores the relationships among WE, organization citizenship behavior-individual (OCBI) and organization citizenship behavior-organization (OCBO). Lastly, the study analyzes the mediating effect of WE between PO fit and OCBI/OCBO.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, a questionnaire has been designed and survey data has been collected from 280 frontline employees of private banks in Pakistan. The partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique has been employed to analyze the data and for testing the study hypotheses.

Findings

Findings show the positive relationship of PO fit with WE, and the positive relationship of WE with OCBI/OCBO. It is also seen that WE mediate the relationship between PO fit and OCBI/OCBO.

Originality/value

No prior study tests the mediation of WE between PO fit and OCBI/OCBO. Further, organization citizenship behavior (OCB) has mostly been studied as a single construct; however, the current study discussed the individual and organizational aspects of OCB with PO fit and WE.
Effect of R&D subsidies and tax credits on the innovative processes of Chilean firms
Authors: Mardones Cristian , Ávila Florencia
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of research and development (R&D) subsidies and tax credits on the innovative processes of Chilean firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Probit and tobit models for pseudo-panel with instrumental variables are estimated using data from different versions of the Innovation Survey covering the period 2007–2016.

Findings

The results show that R&D subsidies and tax credits have a statistically significant and positive effect on the probability of performing internal and external R&D, but do not affect the intensity of R&D spending, reflecting a crowding-out effect on private funds of both instruments. On the other hand, firms that simultaneously receive R&D subsidies and tax credits have a lower percentage of innovative sales. Furthermore, there are not effects statistically significant of the R&D subsidies and/or tax credits on the number of intellectual property rights applications.

Originality/value

It is concluded that both instruments have not been effective to encourage innovative outputs in Chilean firms.
"Workplace learning in the IT sector: building a case for investment”
Authors: Dave Priyanka , Sinha Anamika , Varkkey Biju
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The paper attempts to establish cause and effect between an individual's motivation to learn, workplace learning and the in-role job performance of IT professionals

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses descriptive design, with a convenience sample of 531 respondents and uses Sobel's test to test for the mediating effect of Workplace learning on an individual’s motivation to learn and in-role job performance

Findings

It is found that individuals negotiate their own learning and development strategies. If HR designs on workplace learning are well designed, an individual's own motivation may have very little impact on job performance. However, workplace learning initiatives impact job performance very significantly. 10; 10;It was found that Workplace learning interventions significantly impact the relation between an individual’s motivation to learn and in-role performance. Independently, motivation to learn has very little predictability on job performance, but facilitated through workplace learning, it explains 23% of job performance. Work place learning on its own predicts 45% of job performance. An individual's motivation to learn predicts workplace learning by 36%. 10.

Practical implications

These findings can be used as a guide for HR professionals to negotiate training and learning designs, including informal and incidental learning initiatives in a holistic design. It can be used as a secondary source to build a case for training and learning investment.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies that has used Sobel's test for studying the mediation effects of Workplace learning on motivation to learn and in-role job performance of professionals in the Indian IT industry. The statistically significant results are an indication for industry leaders to take an action toward improving the learning architecture of firms using a blended approach to formal, informal and incidental learning interventions.
The interplay effects of skill-enhancing human resources practices, customer orientation and tourism SMEs performance
Authors: Domi Shpresim , Domi Fabjola
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the interplay of skill-enhancing human resources practices, customer orientation (CO) and tourism small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) performance indicators.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for 194 valid cases are gathered through face-to-face techniques in Albanian tourism SMEs. Structural equation modeling is implemented to analyze data and test the hypothesis proposed.

Findings

Overall, both skill-enhancing human resources (HR) practices (i.e. recruitment/selection and training) are not associated with SMEs performance. Results suggest that using HR selection/recruitment practices are not associated to SME’s CO. Contrary, implementing skill-enhancing HR training practices is significant for SMEs strategy to focus and address customers’ wants and needs. Finally, it was found that the CO mediates the relationship between skill-enhancing HR training practices and performance, but this was not true on the skill-enhancing HR recruitment/selection practices-performance relationship.

Originality/value

This study makes contributions by further informing the debate about the direct and indirect link between skill-enhancing HR practices and performance. Additionally, it examines the precise role of the skill-enhancing HR practice on SMEs’ culture and or strategy to create value for customers.
Board's characteristics, ownership's nature and corporate tax aggressiveness: new evidence from the Tunisian context
Authors: Boussaidi Ahmed , Hamed-Sidhom Mounira
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study sheds light on the determinants related to the corporate board of directors and the firms’ ownership nature of tax aggressiveness strategies of Tunisian listed firms and what could be their effect on its level in a postrevolution context.

Design/methodology/approach

Our research considers only nonfinancial firms listed in the Tunisian stock exchange during the 2011–2017 period. It is based on unbalanced panel data.

Findings

Findings suggest that women presence on the corporate board, CEO duality, the managerial and institutional ownership regularize significantly the level and the management's behavior of engagement in tax aggressiveness practices and reduce the firm’s overall risks of its consequences in terms of tax positions stability.

Research limitations/implications

Our investigation considers only nonfinancial firms to avoid noisy results and for the significant differences between accounting standards within financial and nonfinancial firms, besides sample homogeneity and comparability considerations.

Practical implications

This study provides evidence that some governance mechanisms, even reasonably dedicated to consider the risk of tax aggressiveness and to prevent its consequences, have a paradoxical effect and amplify the tax aggressiveness’ level rather than defending the firm’s viability and its financial stability. It offers signals to managers about specific governance attributes that strengthen and/or control the extent of tax aggressive strategies.

Social implications

This research gives a particular road map for society, investors and practitioners to depict the firms’ level of tax aggressiveness and especially to understand its attributes related to the corporate board of directors and the ownership's nature through evidences from a postrevolution context.

Originality/value

Our research contributes to prior literature by examining the effect of corporate board characteristics and different ownership natures on the extent of tax aggressiveness during and after the revolution period in Tunisia and confirms and infers some prior findings of tax aggressive determinants in underdevelopment context.
Examination of instructors' experiences for the use of learning analytics
Authors: Erdemci Hüsamettin , Karal Hasan
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Learning analytics enable learning to be reorganized through collecting, analyzing and reporting the stored data in online learning environment. One of the important agents of education process is the instructors. How the use of learning analytics within education process is evaluated by the instructors is important. The purpose of this study is to determine the experiences of instructors in relation to the use of learning analytics.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, data were collected from instructors through interviews to determine the reflections of learning analytics on the education process. While qualitative study method was adopted, phenomenological design was used.

Findings

As a result of analysis of findings, it was concluded that the use of learning analytics in the education process was beneficial. It was established that learning analytics were helpful in the self-assessment of instructors' performances, making early intervention to risky students and creating a lesson plan.

Research limitations/implications

This study was carried out in a foreign language course and with five academicians during one semester.

Practical implications

This study aims to reveal the experiences of the instructors on the use of learning analytics and present scientific findings on a subject on which a limited number of studies have been conducted. With the start of learning analytics' use in the educational process, some concerns have been raised. This study tries to respond to the various concerns of instructors who intend to use learning analytics in the process.

Originality/value

The use of learning analytics is gradually increasing. In the studies conducted, it is seen that the studies have focused on the effect of learning analytics on the learning outputs of students. It is important to determine how instructors, who are the other important elements of the process, make use of learning analytics and how their experiences regarding the use of learning analytics are. The focal point of this study is to reveal the impact of learning analytics on the education process from the perspective of instructors.
Family-supportive organizational environment and turnover intention
Authors: Taheri Fatemeh
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test a model in which family-supportive organizational environment is associated with lower levels of turnover intention through higher levels of work-family enrichment and job satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a sample of 300 employees, the bootstrap procedure for estimating indirect correlations in multiple mediator models was used to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The results suggest that employees experiencing high levels of family-supportive organizational environment are likely to report lower intention to leave their profession by virtue of their higher levels of job satisfaction and work-life enrichment.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to public organization and sample size. Further research is needed to make comparison between large/state-owned and small/private organizations.

Practical implications

In the Iran context, work-family enrichment and job satisfaction are effective in reducing the employees' turnover intention. Organizations should show concerns for the employees' work-life enrichment and job satisfaction to reduce their turnover intention.

Social implications

Turnover is one of the problems of organizations in many countries throughout the world including Iran, which has negative consequences through increasing the cost of organizations. The results of this study suggest ways in which staff retention could be improved.

Originality/value

The present study contributes to supportive organizational environment literature by addressing the relationship between family-supportive organizational environment and employee-related outcomes. Given some commonalities between Iran and other developing countries, the findings might be of potential interest in comparative studies dealing with the employees' turnover issue.
Contextualizing “traditional crafts” in historic urban areas
Authors: Jigyasu Niyati
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Traditional crafts, practised by local communities, contribute significantly towards intangible heritage. The study situates traditional crafts in historic urban areas, establishes its relevance and deliberates on the factors affecting it.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology included questionnaire survey followed by semi-structured interviews. On-site observations were also taken as part of the methodology.

Findings

The study contextualizes traditional crafts in historic areas and throws light on the transformation processes in these crafts due to socio-cultural, economic, political and other factors. Through studies at three different historic settlements, it provides a wider understanding of the dynamics of the same craft in different setting.

Practical implications

The study would help in formulating guidelines for heritage management with respect to traditional crafts in historic urban areas.

Social implications

The study brings out the role of intangible cultural heritage that is inherent to the local communities in historic urban areas.

Originality/value

Traditional crafts have been largely studied in their independent context. This study looks at the context specific to the place of creation of these crafts within the larger ecosystem of raw material-production-sale in historic urban areas. Also, with discussions on intangible heritage in context of the historic urban areas being largely an unexplored territory till recent times, this study will add to the earlier dialogue.
Processes of value co-creation in networks: an empirical study of local business networks in Denmark
Authors: Rasmussen Mette Apollo
Published: October 2020

Purpose

There is no agreement in the network literature about how participating in networks is of value. This article aims to explore the underlying dynamics that form and support the process of value co-creation in networks.

Design/methodology/approach

The article draws together symbolic interactionism and organizational ethnography to outline a research approach illustrating how participation in networks becomes valuable. The empirical data were collected through fieldwork over two in two local business networks in Denmark.

Findings

The case study illustrates how participants in local business networks struggle to make participation valuable. The article shows how networks can be considered joint spheres for value co-creation. Three main arguments supporting value in networks stands out from the research: (1) Leadership as a collective achievement supports processes of value co-creation; (2) Develop a shared but dynamic focus and (3) Participation is valuable when supporting participants' daily worklife.

Originality/value

The article builds up a creative analytical framework based on symbolic interactionism making an important contribution about how participants experience value in networks.
An exploratory study of teacher buoyancy
Authors: Wong Angel Kit Yi , Tang Sylvia Yee Fan , Li Dora Dong Yu , Cheng May May Hung
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is threefold. Firstly, a new concept, teacher buoyancy, is introduced. Based on the significance to study how teachers bounce back from minor and frequent setbacks (vs. major adversities emphasized in resilience) in their daily work and the research on buoyancy by Martin and Marsh, a dual-component framework to conceptualize this new concept is introduced. Secondly, the development of a new instrument, the Teacher Buoyancy Scale (TBS), to measure it is presented. Thirdly, results of a study using the TBS are reported, which provide insights into how teacher buoyancy can be fostered.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a quantitative design. A total of 258 teachers taking a part-time initial teacher education (ITE) program completed the TBS. Their responses were analyzed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA). In addition to descriptive statistics and reliability coefficients, Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to examine the relationship among the factors.

Findings

The data analysis indicated five factors, namely, Coping with difficulties, Bouncing back cognitively and emotionally, Working hard and appraising difficulties positively, Caring for one's well-being and Striving for professional growth. These factors can be readily interpreted by the dual-component framework. Correlations among the factors further revealed that enabling factors can be subdivided into more proximal personal strengths relating to direct coping, and more distal personal assets pertaining to personal well-being. It is the latter that correlates most highly with perceived teacher buoyancy.

Originality/value

The most original contribution of this paper is the proposal of the new concept of teacher buoyancy which is teachers' capacity to deal with the everyday challenges that most teachers face in their teaching. The delineation between buoyancy and resilience sharpens the focus of the problem domain that is most relevant to teachers. The development of the TBS provides a useful and reliable instrument to examine teacher buoyancy in future studies.
Communicating influence: positioning the trainer as an organizational leader
Authors: Mathis Robin Smith
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine participants’ perspectives in organization-sponsored training and provides support for further research positioning the trainer as an organizational leader.

Design/methodology/approach

The interactions described in the trainees’ experiences were examined through a social constructivist lens. Interviews were conducted to collect data. Narratives were analyzed to reach interpretation.

Findings

Interview results identified four themes, namely, relevance and applicability of training received, the formation of attitudes and preferences among the trainee participants, immediacy in the use of the training received and relational and organizational influence that furthers leader-member exchange in the workplace.

Research limitations/implications

This study examined participants’ perspectives in workplace training and provides support for further research: examining communication’s role in workplace learning; exploring the training process; and positioning the trainer as an organizational leader.

Practical implications

This study provides empirical data to support changes in instructional communication models and exploring the process of training. Trainers’ relational building with trainees could impact many outcomes in their training efforts that are detailed in this study.

Originality/value

This study uses a collection of methods to address the trainees’ experience in formal workplace learning. It demonstrates the power of trainers to influence what the trainees think of training content, format and relational learning.
Research at home: Being creative in running an undergraduate final research project in Food Science amidst the COVID‐19 crisis
Authors: Surya Reggie
Published: October 2020

The pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) in early 2020 has led to tremendous disruptions in education systems worldwide, including the closure of majority of education institutions and the shifting from face‐to‐face learning toward remote learning. More than 70% of the world's student population were affected by such a disruptive event, inclusive of undergraduate students in their final year preparing their research project. Senior students in Food Science generally perform laboratory‐oriented research project, which can be problematic due to the closure of laboratories and universities. I wrote this article to give an insight into conducting final year research projects from home amidst the COVID‐19 crisis based on my personal experience as a research supervisor. The research methods discussed include literature review, analysis of secondary data, survey research, simple food processing, remote sensory evaluation, and glycemic index analysis. Regardless of the type of research chosen, consistent guidance and support from a research supervisor toward the student, both academic and moral, appears to be a fundamental factor determining the success of the student in completing his/her final research project, particularly during these difficult times.
Evaluation of cognitive function in adult patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Authors: Mena‐Vázquez Natalia , Cabezudo‐García Pablo , Ortiz‐Márquez Fernando , Díaz‐Cordovés Rego Gisela , Muñoz‐Becerra Luis , Manrique‐Arija Sara , Fernández‐Nebro Antonio
Published: October 2020

Objective

To evaluate cognitive function in adult patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and associated factors.

Patients and methods

We performed a cross‐sectional observational study of adult patients with JIA and a healthy control group (no inflammatory diseases) matched for age, gender, and educational level. Cognitive function was assessed using Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale‐III. The cognitive domains measured were attention/concentration, verbal function, visuospatial organization, working memory, and problem solving (Similarities). Other measures included clinical‐epidemiological characteristics, comorbid conditions, and treatment. We performed a descriptive bivariate analysis and logistic regression to identify factors associated with visuospatial involvement.

Results

The study population comprised 104 subjects (52 with JIA and 52 healthy controls). Patients with JIA had poorer results for visuospatial function, with a lower median scaled score on the Block Design test (5.0 [4.0‐8.0] vs 8.0 [5.0‐10.0]; P = .014). The number of patients with scaled scores below the average range (<8) in visuospatial organization was significantly greater in the JIA group (67.3% vs 40.4%; P = .006). The multivariate analysis revealed time since diagnosis (odds ratio [95% CI], 1.03 [1.01‐1.06]), inflammatory activity according to Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score 27‐joint count (1.94 [1.01‐3.75]), and educational level (0.28 [0.08‐0.94]) to be factors associated with visuospatial function.

Conclusion

Cognitive function in adult patients with JIA is poorer than in healthy controls at the expense of visuospatial function. Visuospatial function in JIA patients was inversely associated with disease duration, inflammatory activity, and lower educational level.
Remarkable response to dacomitinib in a patient with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis due to EGFR‐mutant non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Mizusaki Shun , Otsubo Kohei , Ninomiya Toshifumi , Arimura Hidenobu , Tsuchiya‐Kawano Yuko , Inoue Koji
Published: October 2020

Dacomitinib, a second‐generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is a standard therapeutic option for patients with EGFR‐mutant non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its efficacy in patients with central nervous system lesions is unclear. Here, we describe a case of EGFR‐mutant NSCLC whose neurological symptoms were due to leptomeningeal carcinomatosis that was successfully treated with dacomitinib. After initiation of dacomitinib, the neurological symptoms of the patient were remarkably improved and leptomeningeal dissemination and brain metastases were shown to have regressed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing the efficacy of dacomitinib in a patient with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis due to EGFR‐mutant NSCLC. The current case suggests that dacomitinib is a novel treatment option for patients with EGFR‐mutant NSCLC accompanied by central nervous system lesions, even those with symptomatic leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.

Key points

Significant findings of the study

This is the first report showing the efficacy of dacomitinib in a patient with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis due to EGFR‐mutant NSCLC.

What this study adds

The current case suggests that dacomitinib is a novel treatment option for patients with EGFR‐mutant NSCLC accompanied by CNS lesions, even in those with symptomatic leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.
Activation of the cannabinoid receptor type 2 by the agonist JWH133 promotes the first wave of in vitro spermatogenesis
Authors: Dumont Ludovic , Rives‐Feraille Aurélie , Delessard Marion , Saulnier Justine , Rondanino Christine , Rives Nathalie
Published: October 2020

Background

Oncological procedures have irreversible side effects on germ cells for childhood cancer survival boys. In vitro culture of prepubertal testicular tissue has been proposed to restore fertility; however, recent data on animal models showed that meiotic and post‐meiotic progression was impaired.

Objectives

As potential key inducers of the mitosis‐meiosis switch, type 2 cannabinoid receptor (CB2) has been proposed to play a central role in the meiotic entry of male germ cells. Herein, the in vitro first spermatogenesis wave in mice was used to understand the impact of CB2 activation on the differentiation of spermatogonia until elongated spermatids.

Materials and methods

A first set of cultured testicular explants of 6.5 days post‐partum (dpp) mice was performed to assess the impact of a range of JWH133 supplementation (10 nm, 100 nm, 1 µm, 10 µm). Then, the progressive development of germ cells at key timepoints of spermatogenesis was evaluated throughout (i) in vitro culture (day 2 [D2], D3, D6, D10, D18, and D30) coupled with (ii) in vivo counterparts (8.5, 9.5, 12.5, 16.5, 24.5, and 36.5 dpp).

Results

CB2 was detected at the plasma membrane of cells, and a successful completion of spermatogenesis was obtained in vitro. One day after the activation of CB2 by 1 μm of the agonist JWH133, percentage of zygotene spermatocyte I increased.

Conclusion

After 30 days of culture, (i) an enrichment of haploid germ cells detected by flow cytometry, (ii) a reduced necrotic area, and (iii) an increase in the density of post‐meiotic germ cells were observed. We showed that the activation of CB2 improves in vitro entry into meiosis and differentiation of spermatogonia, mimicking physiological meiotic transition.
Impact of obesity on short‐term outcomes of laparoscopic colorectal surgery for Japanese patients with colorectal cancer: A multicenter study
Authors: Yamashita Mariko , Tominaga Tetsuro , Nonaka Takashi , Fukda Akiko , Moriyama Masaaki , Oyama Syosaburo , Tanaka Kenji , Hamada Kiyoaki , Araki Masato , Sumida Yorihisa , Takeshita Hiroaki , Hisanaga Makoto , Fukuoka Hidetoshi , Wada Hideo , Tou Kazuo , Sawai Terumitsu , Nagayasu Takeshi
Published: October 2020

Introduction

The impact of obesity on short‐term outcomes after laparoscopic colorectal surgery (LAC) in Asian patients is unclear. The purpose of the present multicenter study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of LAC in obese Japanese patients.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 1705 patients who underwent LAC between April 2016 and February 2019. Patients were classified according to body mass index (BMI): non‐obese (BMI < 25 kg/m2, n = 1335), obese I (BMI 25‐29.9 kg/m2, n = 313), and obese II (BMI ≥30 kg/m2, n = 57). Clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes were compared among the three groups.

Results

The proportion of patients with comorbidities (non‐obese, 58.1%; obese I, 69.6%; obese II, 75.4%; P < .001) and median operation time (non‐obese, 224 minutes; obese I, 235 minutes; obese II, 258 minutes; P = .004) increased significantly as BMI increased. The conversion rate was similar among the groups (P = .715). Infectious complications were significantly high in obese II patients (non‐obese, 10.4%; obese I, 8.3%; obese II, 28.1%; P < .001). Multivariate analysis revealed that in obese II patients, BMI was an independent predictive factor of infectious postoperative complications (odds ratio 2.648; 95% confidence interval, 1.421‐4.934; P = .002).

Conclusion: LAC has an increased risk of postoperative infectious complications in obese II patients, despite improvements in surgical technique. Management of obese II colorectal cancer patients requires meticulous perioperative management.