bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic DNA methylation turnover at the exit of pluripotency epigenetically primes gene regulatory elements for hematopoietic lineage specification
Authors: Parry Aled , Krueger Christel , Lohoff Tim , Wingett Steven , Schoenfelder Stefan , Reik Wolf
Published: January 2023

Epigenetic mechanisms govern developmental cell fate decisions, but how DNA methylation coordinates with chromatin structure and three-dimensional DNA folding to enact cell-type specific gene expression programmes remains poorly understood. Here, we use mouse embryonic stem and epiblast-like cells deficient for 5-methyl cytosine or its oxidative derivatives (5-hydroxy-, 5-formyl- and 5-carboxy-cytosine) to dissect the gene regulatory mechanisms that control cell lineage specification at the exit of pluripotency. Genetic ablation of either DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt) or Ten-eleven-translocation (Tet) activity yielded largely distinct sets of dysregulated genes, revealing divergent transcriptional defects upon perturbation of individual branches of the DNA cytosine methylation cycle. Unexpectedly, we found that disrupting DNA methylation or oxidation interferes with key enhancer features, including chromatin accessibility, enhancer-characteristic histone modifications, and long-range chromatin interactions with putative target genes. In addition to affecting transcription of select genes in pluripotent stem cells, we observe impaired enhancer priming, including a loss of three-dimensional interactions, at regulatory elements associated with key lineage-specifying genes that are required later in development, as we demonstrate for the key hematopoietic genesKlf1andLyl1. Consistently, we observe impaired transcriptional activation of blood genes during embryoid body differentiation of knockout cells. Our findings identify a novel role for the dynamic turnover of DNA methylation at the exit of pluripotency to establish and maintain chromatin states that epigenetically prime enhancers for later activation during developmental cell diversification.

Highlights

We perform a detailed epigenetic characterisation of the mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) to epiblast-like cell (EpiLC) transition in wild type,Tettriple-knockout (TKO) andDnmtTKO lines and develop a novel clustering approach to interrogate the data.

TetTKO reduces H3K4me1 and H3K27ac levels across enhancer elements upon pluripotency exit whilstDnmtTKO affects only H3K4me1 levels, suggesting a novel role for oxidative derivatives in H3K4me1 deposition.

TetTKO andDnmtTKO affect enhancer priming in EpiLCs which is associated with failure to upregulate hematopoietic genes upon differentiation.

Long-range chromosomal interactions between primed enhancers and their target genes are weakened in bothDnmtandTetTKO.
Online abstraction during statistical learning revealed by neural entrainment from intracranial recordings
Authors: Sherman Brynn E. , Aljishi Ayman , Graves Kathryn N. , Quraishi Imran H. , Sivaraju Adithya , Damisah Eyiyemisi C. , Turk-Browne Nicholas B.
Published: January 2023

We encounter the same people, places, and objects in predictable sequences and configurations. These regularities are learned efficiently by humans via statistical learning. Importantly, statistical learning creates knowledge not only of specific regularities, but also of more abstract, generalizable regularities. However, prior evidence of such abstract learning comes from post-learning behavioral tests, leaving open the question of whether abstraction occurs online during initial exposure. We address this question by measuring neural entrainment during statistical learning with intracranial recordings. Neurosurgical patients viewed a stream of scene photographs with regularities at one of two levels: In the Exemplar-level Structured condition, the same photographs appeared repeatedly in pairs. In the Category-level Structured condition, the photographs were trial-unique but their categories were paired across repetitions. In a baseline Random condition, the same photographs repeated but in a scrambled order. We measured entrainment at the frequency of individual photographs, which was expected in all conditions, but critically also at half of that frequency — the rate at which to-be-learned pairs appeared in the two structured conditions (but not the random condition). Neural entrainment to both exemplar and category pairs emerged within minutes throughout visual cortex and in frontal and temporal brain regions. Many electrode contacts were sensitive to only one level of structure, but a significant number encoded both exemplar and category regularities. These findings suggest that abstraction occurs spontaneously during statistical learning, providing insight into the brain’s unsupervised mechanisms for building flexible and robust knowledge that generalizes across input variation and conceptual hierarchies.
Characterization of the REC114-MEI4-IHO1 complex regulating meiotic DNA double-strand break formation
Authors: Laroussi Hamida , Juarez-Martinez Ariadna B. , Roy Aline Le , Erba Elisabetta Boeri , de Massy Bernard , Kadlec Jan
Published: January 2023

Meiotic recombination is initiated by the formation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), essential for fertility and genetic diversity. In the mouse, DSBs are formed by the catalytic TOPOVIL complex consisting of SPO11 and TOPOVIBL. To preserve genome integrity, the activity of the TOPOVIL complex is finely controlled by several meiotic factors including REC114, MEI4 and IHO1, but the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we report that mouse REC114 forms homodimers, that it associates with MEI4 as a 2:1 heterotrimer that further dimerizes, and that IHO1 forms coiled-coil based tetramers. Using AlphaFold2 modelling combined with biochemical characterization we uncovered the molecular details of these assemblies. Finally, we show that IHO1 directly interacts with the PH domain of REC114 by recognizing the same surface as TOPOVIBL and another meiotic factor ANKRD31. These results provide strong evidence for the existence of a ternary IHO1-REC114-MEI4 complex and show that REC114 is a potential regulatory platform mediating mutually exclusive interactions with several partners.
A role for the proteasome alpha2 subunit N-tail in substrate processing
Authors: Sahu Indrajit , Bajorek Monika , Xiaolin Tan , Srividya Madabhushi , Krutauz Daria , Reis Noa , Osmulski Pawel A , Gaczynska Maria E , Glickman Michael H
Published: January 2023

The proteolytic active sites of the 26S proteasome are sequestered within the catalytic chamber of its 20S core particle (CP). Access to this chamber is through a narrow channel defined by the outer α subunits. Free 20S CP is found in a latent state in which the N-termini of neighboring α subunits form a gate blocking access to the channel. Entry of substrates can be facilitated by the attachment of the activators or regulatory particles, which can rearrange the blocking α subunit N-terminal residues. In order to determine the specific physiological role of individual elements working in concert within the gate, we constructed a set of truncations or single-site mutations in each of the participating α N-terminal tails. We report herein that whereas only a few N-termini are important for maintaining a closed gate, all seven N-termini participate in the open gate. Specifically, an invariant tyrosine (Y) in each subunit forms a hydrogen bond with a conserved aspartate (D) in the N-terminal tail of its counterclockwise neighbor, with the exception of the α1-α2 pair leaving a gap in the ring circumference. A third residue (X) of this YD(X) motif aligns the open channel; specifically, the phenylalanine (F) at this position of the α2 subunit comes in direct contact with the translocating substrate. Consequently, deletion of this α2 N-terminal tail slows down proteolysis despite the appearance of an open gate state. We conclude that the YD(X) motif in N-terminal tail of α subunits plays an important role in gating the proteasome and in processing the substrate.
Senescent cells deposit intracellular contents through adhesion-dependent fragmentation
Authors: Durik Matej , Gonçalves Daniel Sampaio , Spiegelhalter Coralie , Messaddeq Nadia , Keyes William M.
Published: January 2023

Cellular senescence is a complex cell state with roles in tumor suppression, embryonic development and wound repair. However, when misregulated, senescence contributes to aging and disease. Here we identify that senescent cells generate/break off large membranebound fragments of themselves through cell-to-cell adhesion. We designate these as senescent-cell adhesion fragments (SCAFs) which were present in all types of senescent cell examined. We show they contain many organelles from the original cell, but without nuclear material. Quantitative and dynamic profiling shows that SCAFs are large, may persist for a number of days, but rupture and release their contents onto neighboring cells. Protein profiling identifies that SCAFs contain a complex proteome including immune recruitment factors and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Functional studies reveal that SCAFs activate signatures related to wound healing and cancer, and promote invasion and migration. Altogether, we uncover an additional cellular feature of senescent cells, by which they deposit intracellular contents on other cells. We speculate this may aid in boosting immune responses, but in chronic situations, may contribute to debris buildup, inflammaging and age-associated changes.
High qualityde novogenome assembly of non-conventional yeastKazachstania bulderia new potential low pH production host for biorefineries
Authors: Balarezo-Cisneros L. N. , Timouma S. , Hanak A. , Currin A. , Valle F. , Delneri D
Published: January 2023

Kazachstania bulderiis a yeast species belonging to a ubiquitous group of non-conventional yeasts which has the ability to grow efficiently on glucose and δ-gluconolactone at low pH. This unique trait makesK. bulderian ideal candidate as a new host for low pH fermentation processes for sustainable production of green chemicals such as organic acids. To accelerate strain development with this species, detailed information of its genetics is needed. Here, by employing high accuracy long read sequencing we report a high-quality phased genome assembly for three strains belonging toK. bulderispecies, including the type strain. The sequences were assembled into 12 chromosomes with a total length of 14Mb, and the genome was fully annotated at structural and functional levels, including allelic and structural variants, ribosomal array, centromeres and mating type locus. This high-quality reference genome provides an essential resource to advance our fundamental knowledge of biotechno-logically relevant non-conventional yeasts and to support the development of genetic tools for manipulating such strains towards their use as production hosts biotechnological processes.
Transcriptional signatures of heroin intake and seeking throughout the brain reward circuit
Authors: Browne Caleb J , Futamura Rita , Minier-Toribio Angélica , Hicks Emily M , Ramakrishnan Aarthi , Martínez-Rivera Freddyson , Estill Molly , Godino Arthur , Parise Eric M , Torres-Berrío Angélica , Cunningham Ashley M , Hamilton Peter J , Walker Deena M , Huckins Laura M. , Hurd Yasmin L , Shen Li , Nestler Eric J
Published: January 2023

Opioid use disorder (OUD) looms as one of the most severe medical crises currently facing society. More effective therapeutics for OUD requires in-depth understanding of molecular changes supporting drug-taking and relapse. Recent efforts have helped advance these aims, but studies have been limited in number and scope. Here, we develop a brain reward circuit-wide atlas of opioid-induced transcriptional regulation by combining RNA sequencing (RNAseq) and heroin self-administration in male mice modeling multiple OUD-relevant conditions: acute heroin exposure, chronic heroin intake, context-induced drug-seeking following prolonged abstinence, and heroin-primed drug-seeking (i.e., “relapse”). Bioinformatics analysis of this rich dataset identified numerous patterns of molecular changes, transcriptional regulation, brain-region-specific involvement in various aspects of OUD, and both region-specific and pan-circuit biological domains affected by heroin. Integrating RNAseq data with behavioral outcomes using factor analysis to generate an “addiction index” uncovered novel roles for particular brain regions in promoting addiction-relevant behavior, and implicated multi-regional changes in affected genes and biological processes. Comparisons with RNAseq and genome-wide association studies from humans with OUD reveal convergent molecular regulation that are implicated in drug-taking and relapse, and point to novel gene candidates with high therapeutic potential for OUD. These results outline broad molecular reprogramming that may directly promote the development and maintenance of OUD, and provide a foundational resource to the field for future research into OUD mechanisms and treatment strategies.
Trophoblast organoids with physiological polarity model placental structure and function
Authors: Yang Liheng , Liang Pengfei , Yang Huanghe , Coyne Carolyn B.
Published: January 2023

Human trophoblast organoids (TOs) are a three-dimensionalex vivoculture model that can be used to study various aspects of placental development, physiology, and pathology. Previously, we showed that TOs derived from full-term human placental tissue could be used as models of trophoblast innate immune signaling and teratogenic virus infections. Here, we developed a method to culture TOs under conditions that recapitulate the cellular orientation of chorionic villiin vivo, with the multi-nucleated syncytiotrophoblast (STB) localized to the outer surface of organoids and the proliferative cytotrophoblasts (CTBs) located on the inner surface. We show that standard TOs containing the STB layer inside the organoid (STBin) develop into organoids containing the STB on the outer surface (STBout) when cultured in suspension with gentle agitation. STBoutorganoids secrete higher levels of select STB-associated hormones and cytokines, including human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and interferon (IFN)-λ2. Using membrane capacitance measurements, we also show that the outermost surface of STBoutorganoids contain large syncytia comprised of >50 nuclei compared to STBinorganoids that contain small syncytia (<10 nuclei) and mononuclear cells. The growth of TOs under conditions that mimic the cellular orientation of chorionic villiin vivothus allows for the study of a variety of aspects of placental biology under physiological conditions.
The psychosis risk factorRBM12encodes a novel repressor of GPCR/cAMP signal transduction
Authors: Semesta Khairunnisa M. , Garces Angelica , Tsvetanova Nikoleta G.
Published: January 2023

RBM12is a high-penetrance risk factor for familial schizophrenia and psychosis, yet its precise cellular functions and the pathways to which it belongs are not known. We utilize two complementary models, HEK293 cells and human iPSC-derived neurons, and delineate RBM12 as a novel repressor of the G protein-coupled receptor/cyclic AMP/protein kinase A (GPCR/cAMP/PKA) signaling axis. We establish that loss of RBM12 leads to hyperactive cAMP production and increased PKA activity as well as altered neuronal transcriptional responses to GPCR stimulation. Notably, the cAMP and transcriptional signaling steps are subject to discrete RBM12-dependent regulation. We further demonstrate that the twoRBM12truncating variants linked to familial psychosis impact this interplay, as the mutants fail to rescue GPCR/cAMP signaling hyperactivity in cells depleted of RBM12. Lastly, we present a mechanism underlying the impaired signaling phenotypes. In agreement with its activity as an RNA-binding protein, loss of RBM12 leads to altered gene expression, including that of multiple effectors of established significance within the receptor pathway. Specifically, the abundance of adenylyl cyclases, phosphodiesterase isoforms, and PKA regulatory and catalytic subunits is impacted by RBM12 depletion. We note that these expression changes are fully consistent with the entire gamut of hyperactive signaling outputs. In summary, the current study identifies a previously unappreciated role for RBM12 in the context of the GPCR/cAMP pathway that could be explored further as a tentative molecular mechanism underlying the functions of this factor in neuronal physiology and pathophysiology.
(Na,Li)3(Cl,OH)[Cu3OAl(PO4)3]: a first salt-inclusion aluminophosphate oxocuprate with a new type of crystal structure
Authors: Yakubovich Olga V. , Kiriukhina Galina V. , Simonov Sergey V. , Volkov Anatoly S. , Dimitrova Olga V.
Published: January 2023

The synthesis and characterization of a first salt-inclusion aluminophosphate oxocuprate, (Na,Li)3(Cl,OH)[Cu3OAl(PO4)3], obtained as single crystals, is reported. A novel phase, with a strongly pseudo-orthorhombic structure, is described as a monoclinic crystal structure established by the study of a pseudomerohedric microtwin. It was investigated using scanning electron microscopy, microprobe analysis and low-temperature X-ray diffraction. The composite crystal structure represents an original framework assembled from Cu-centered polyhedra, AlO6 octahedra and PO4 tetrahedra with channels, which incorporate the Na/Li salt component [(Na,Li)3(Cl,OH)]2+ that ensures electroneutrality of the compound. Layers of strongly corrugated chains of Cu-centered octahedra with shared edges and linked by PO4 tetrahedra are shown to be topologically identical with the layers also built from Cu-centered polyhedra and AsO4/VO4 tetrahedra forming the crystal structure of a fumarolic mineral aleutite, (M
0.5Cl)[Cu5O2(AsO4)(VO4)] [Siidra et al. (2019). MinMag, 83, 847–853]. `Sawtooth chains' and pairs of Cu-centered octahedra inherent in the title structure may be of interest in solid-state physics, engaging studies in the field of low-dimensional and frustrated magnetism.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of two organic salts based on 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives
Authors: Izotova Lidiya , Shakirzyanova Gulnara , Xolbekov Omankul , Turageldiyev Shukhrat , Babaev Bahrom , Ibragimov Bahtiyar
Published: January 2023

During attempts to achieve interaction between 2-amino-5-ethyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole with oxalyl chloride and 5-mercapto-3-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-thione with various diacid anhydrides, we obtained two co-crystals (organic salts), namely, 2-amino-5-ethyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-3-ium hemioxalate, C4H8N3S+·0.5C2O4
2−, (I), and 4-(dimethylamino)pyridin-1-ium 4-phenyl-5-sulfanylidene-4,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiolate, C7H11N2
+·C8H5N2S3
−, (II). Both solids were investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and by Hirshfeld surface analysis. An infinite one-dimensional chain along [100] is generated through O—H...O interactions between the oxalate anion and two 2-amino-5-ethyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-3-ium cations in compound (I), and a three-dimensional supramolecular framework is generated through C—H...O and π–π interactions. In compound (II), an organic salt is formed by a 4-phenyl-5-sulfanylidene-4,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiolate anion and a 4-(dimethylamino)pyridin-1-ium cation, which are combined by an N—H...S hydrogen-bonding interaction, forming a zero-dimensional structural unit. As a result of intermolecular π–π interactions, the structural units are combined into a one-dimensional chain running along the a-axis direction.
Synthesis, crystal structure and properties of bis(isoselenocyanato-κN)tetrakis(pyridine-κN)nickel(II)
Authors: Näther Christian , Boeckmann Jan
Published: January 2023

The reaction of nickel chloride hexahydrate with potassium selenocyanate and pyridine in water leads to the formation of crystals of the title complex, [Ni(NCSe)2(C5H5N)4], which were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Its crystal structure consists of discrete complexes, located on centers of inversion, in which the Ni cations are sixfold coordinated by two terminal N-bonded selenocyanate anions and four pyridine ligands within a slightly distorted octahedral coordination. In the crystal, the complexes are connected by weak C—H...Se interactions. PXRD investigations revealed that a pure crystalline phase has formed. In the IR and Raman spectra, the C—N stretching vibrations are observed at 2083 and 2079 cm−1, respectively, in agreement with the presence of only terminally bonded anionic ligands. Upon heating, one well-resolved mass loss is observed, in which two of the four pyridine ligands are removed, leading to a compound with the composition Ni(NCSe)2(C5H5N)2. In this compound, the C—N stretching vibration is shifted to 2108 cm−1 (Raman) and 2115 cm−1 (IR), indicating the presence of μ-1,3-bridging anionic ligands. In its PXRD pattern, very broad reflections are observed, indicating for poor crystallinity and/or very small particle size. This crystalline phase is not isotypic to its Co and Fe analogs.
Effect of innovation practices of banks on customer loyalty: an SEM-ANN approach
Authors: Tiwari Pankaj
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of banking innovations (INNs) on customer experience (EXP), satisfaction (SAT) and loyalty (LOY).

Design/methodology/approach

The author evaluated the data using a structural equation method-artificial neural network (SEM-ANN) method. The author’s results show the presence of relationship between INN, EXP, SAT and LOY. In this study, the node layers of ANNs add an input layer, hidden layers and an output layer. Each “node” acts as an artificial neuron that communicates with others. The ANN model takes the variables from the SEM analysis as input neurons.

Findings

The author observed the significant effects between INN, EXP, SAT and LOY using the normalised importance generated by the multilayer perceptron used in the feed-forward back propagation of the ANN methodology. In this study, the ANN model can predict LOY through service innovation, with a forecast accuracy of 77.6%.

Originality/value

By applying neural network modelling, this research helps us understand how service innovation affects customer behaviour. For the first time, the author examined service innovations' direct and indirect impact on loyalty through EXP and SAT. The author made a significant conceptual contribution by using a non-compensatory model of ANNs to circumvent the limitations of linear models.
Does board diversity affect the cost of debt financing? Empirical evidence from Turkey
Authors: Aksoy Mine , Yilmaz Mustafa Kemal
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effects of board characteristics on the cost of debt for non-financial companies in the Turkish capital markets.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 211 non-financial companies listed on Borsa Istanbul, this study examines how chairperson gender and board characteristics affect the cost of debt by using panel data analysis over the period of 2016–2020. A system generalized method of moments model is also applied to test the endogeneity issue.

Findings

The findings show that the presence of female chairperson and female directors on board reduces the cost of debt and the perceptions of default risk by fund providers, while board independence and board size do not have a significant impact on the cost of debt. The results provide insightful information for companies and policymakers. Companies can alter board composition through gender diversity, while policymakers can introduce new policies in encouraging the presence of female directors on boards.

Originality/value

This study primarily enriches the literature on the effect of board diversity on debt financing cost in a leading emerging market, enabling companies in emerging markets to better mitigate agency costs and finance their investment through effective board composition. Second, it provides evidence that financial institutions consider companies with chairwomen and women directors on the boards less risky and charge them less for debt financing than they do for companies with man chairperson. Finally, the results support policymakers to take actions to increase female presence on board.
Determinants of ESG disclosure among listed firms under voluntary and mandatory ESG disclosure regimes in Hong Kong
Authors: Chung Ricky , Bayne Lyndie , Birt Jacqueline Louise
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The authors examine the determinants of ESG disclosure and differentiate between voluntary and mandatory disclosure regimes in Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyse both Bloomberg ESG scores and a disclosure index score, manually constructed according to the 2019 Hong Kong Exchange ESG Guide using regression tests.

Findings

The results indicate that the level of concentrated ownership is negatively associated with the quantity of ESG disclosure only in the voluntary disclosure period, suggesting that agency problems are alleviated when ESG reporting is mandatory. The findings also show that larger firms significantly disclose higher levels of ESG information in both voluntary and mandatory disclosure periods. Furthermore, the extent of ESG disclosure significantly increases when firms' sustainability reports are audited by Big 4 accounting firms only in the voluntary disclosure period. Finally, the control variables are significantly related to the level of ESG disclosure showing that ESG disclosure increased over time and is significantly different among industries.

Originality

The authors make contributions to the literature on non-financial disclosure in relation to ESG reporting by examining the relationship between firm characteristics and ESG disclosure in the Hong Kong context under both voluntary and mandatory disclosure regimes. This study also provides important implications for other stock markets and relevant stakeholders including preparers, users and the sustainability profession.
Work engagement and job performance among nurses in the public healthcare sector in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Al Badi Faitma Mohammed , Cherian Jacob , Farouk Sherine , Al Nahyan Moza
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Nurses who are more engaged in their work, and have the right job characteristics and positive organizational factors, are expected to perform better. The purpose of this study is to improve the performance in the healthcare sector in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), thus this study explored the job characteristics and organizational factors that affect work engagement and job performance of nurses.

Design/methodology/approach

Nurses (N = 2,369) working in the public healthcare sector in the UAE were asked to provide their perceptions on work engagement and its antecedents, their performance and how they perceive justice in their workplace.

Findings

Regardless of job demands, nurses’ job performance remained unaffected by demographic factors, which was a striking finding: nurses provide quality services and manage to accomplish their tasks, at any level of demand. Justice acted as a moderator of the relationship between job resources and work engagement, which was a new addition to the literature. Nurses with low overall perceptions of justice had stronger links between job resources and work engagement. Even if the level of justice was perceived as low, work engagement remained unaffected.

Originality/value

Work engagement is a critical issue, but has received little attention, with most focusing on its relationship with performance as the outcome variable. This paper has therefore enriched the literature and is significant in both country and sector.
Evaluation of risks affecting international construction joint venture (ICJV) projects in Ghana
Authors: Akunyumu Stephen , Fugar Frank , Adinyira Emmanuel
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The failure rate of international construction joint venture (ICJV) projects has been noted to be high in developing countries due to the complexity and risky nature of construction projects in the international market. The purpose of this study is to identify and evaluate the risks facing ICJV projects in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

A risk register was developed through a comprehensive literature review. The identified risks were then used in a questionnaire survey involving local and foreign partners in ICJV projects in Ghana.

Findings

From a total of 74 risks identified, categorized into country-level risks, market-level risks and project-level risks, the “top ten” risks found to be the most critical risks facing ICJV projects in Ghana include unstable currency exchange rates, inflation, design changes, high-interest rate, budget overrun, cash flow problems of the client, economy fluctuation, difficulty in obtaining approval of projects from host government authorities/bureaucracy, potential financial distress of JV partner and bribery and corruption.

Originality/value

This study provides a comprehensive list of risks ICJV partners are likely to encounter on their projects in developing countries. Furthermore, this study improves on one of the major limitations of previous ICJV studies by collecting data from both partners of the ICJV, appropriate for cross-cultural examination and comparison.
How contemptuous leaders might harm their organization by putting high-performing followers in their place
Authors: De Clercq Dirk , Azeem Muhammad Umer , Haq Inam Ul
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study investigates how leaders react when they perceive a threat to their hierarchical position, such as by engaging in abusive supervision in ways that diminish followers’ organizational citizenship behavior. It also tests for a dual harmful role of leaders’ dispositional contempt in this process.

Design/methodology/approach

Three-wave survey data were collected among 231 leader–follower dyads across different industry sectors.

Findings

Leaders’ beliefs that their authority is being threatened by high-performing followers can lead followers to halt their voluntary work behaviors, because leaders engage in verbal abuse. The harmful role of leaders’ dispositional contempt in this process is twofold: It enhances abusive supervision directly, and it operates as an indirect catalyst of the mediating role of abusive supervision.

Practical implications

Organizations would be better placed to decrease the risk that disruptions of the hierarchical order, as perceived by leaders, escalate into diminished work-related voluntarism among employee bases by promoting leadership approaches that consider employees deserving of respect instead of disdain.

Originality/value

This study details how and when leaders who fear they may lose authority, evoked by the strong performance of their followers, actually discourage followers from doing anything more than their formal job duties.
Practice Briefing Analysis of the emergence and initial performance of REITs in India
Authors: Walia Siddhant , Sarkar Sankersan , Mohanty Birajit , Pal Subhabaha
Published: January 2023

Purpose

In 2014, real estate investment trust (REIT) emerged as a new alternative investment option in India. This research aims to give an empirical authentication of the Indian REITs performance from April 2019 to July 2022 across a range of investment variables.

Design/methodology/approach

Using monthly total returns in Indian Rupee, risk-adjusted Indian REIT performance and investment portfolio characteristics are examined. Indian REITs' potential in a diversified multi-asset portfolio is analysed using the mean-variance analysis, asset allocation diagram and efficient frontier.

Findings

During April 2019–July 2022, Indian REITs provided a lower return than stocks but outperformed bonds despite coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdowns, which hurt the traditional working from office concept. The study also examined REIT allocation to an Indian mixed-asset portfolio and the benefits of a diversified portfolio.

Practical implications

Indian REITs provide a liquid, transparent alternative to direct property for investors seeking exposure to Indian real estate markets. Indian REITs gave real estate companies an extra funding source and investors an alternate asset. This paper explores Indian REITs' potential opportunities, given that domestic and foreign investors' demand for transparent property investment in India. The analysis found a positive early performance despite a challenging environment.

Originality/value

This paper offers the first empirical performance validation of Indian REITs as a way to obtain exposure to commercial property in India and the REITs' role in a diversified asset portfolio. The authors' study improves investors' decision-making abilities by providing empirically validated, valuable and practicable property investing insights.
Helping the helpers: the role of organizational support and peer influence on police officer receptivity to employee assistance programs
Authors: Quick Kenneth M.
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate critical differences between police officer willingness to use and recommend an employee assistance program (EAP) to a peer, including the relationship between officer perceptions of macro-level organizational support and micro-level EAP support.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of 213 police officers from a large, urban police department in the Northeast United States of America is used to evaluate the relationship between officer perceptions of the EAP and the officers' willingness to use and recommend the EAP to peers. Generalized linear regression models are used to evaluate the moderating effect of perceived organizational support (POS) on perceived EAP support.

Findings

The findings of this study suggest that POS strongly predicts willingness to use the EAP, but POS has no significant relationship with willingness to recommend the EAP. There is evidence that POS moderates the relationship of EAP support on willingness to recommend the EAP to a peer. When POS decreases, the relationship of EAP support with willingness to recommend the EAP to peers becomes stronger.

Research limitations/implications

The current study is limited by the study's focus on only one police department and the department's use of cross-sectional data, which may limit the generalizability of the results to agencies that differ in size and type.

Practical implications

This research has practical implications for those who seek to improve officer receptivity to mental health support and improve the quality of police services provided to the public. The findings demonstrate that improving officer willingness to recommend the EAP to peers may be a more sustainable pathway to addressing officer mental health than willingness to use the EAP considering the current movement toward police reform.

Originality/value

The research unveils significant differences in police officer decision-making between using the EAP and recommending it to a peer. The research also adds empirical evidence to existing research on the role of POS in policing and the altruistic, peer-focused nature of the police subculture.
Experiential peers cultivate a participation culture in youth justice
Authors: Brierley Andi
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this viewpoint paper is to explore the concept of experiential peer support, which involves individuals who have lived experiences of using care and justice services. This paper discusses whether experiential peer support can contribute to developing a participatory culture in youth justice practice.

Design/methodology/approach

This viewpoint paper will critically evaluate the relational power of experiential peers. Particular attention will be paid to the key components of relational practices by reflecting on ways to enhance the voice of the child within participatory and child first approaches. The paper draws on a range of evidence and research to explore whether inclusion of a lived experience perspective can foster participatory cultures.

Findings

Experiential peers can create a participatory youth justice culture, which can positively impact on desistance for justice involved children.

Research limitations/implications

Further research needs to be undertaken to extrapolate the key characteristics of effective experiential peer support. This includes discussion on whether recruitment of wounded healers into professional youth justice roles can enhance participation in youth justice settings and construct conditions for social growth to develop in youth justice practice.

Originality/value

The author of this viewpoint paper has personal experience of care, youth incarceration and professional experience of youth justice participation practice, providing a unique vantage point and contribution to the desistance and rehabilitation literature.
Intangible cultural heritage souvenirs: image congruity and brand influence on tourists’ purchase intention
Authors: Guo Yanbing , Zhu Zhuanfa
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Based on object–object congruity, this study aims to clarify the driving factors and antecedent mechanism of tourists’ willingness to purchase intangible cultural heritage (ICH)-souvenirs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a five-point Likert scale to collect data and proposed a structural equation model to explore this issue.

Findings

ICH-inheritor/souvenir-congruity is positively related to tourists’ purchase intention for ICH-souvenirs and perceived authenticity; perceived authenticity and brand identity play a chain mediating effect between ICH-inheritor/souvenir-congruity and the purchase intention for ICH-souvenirs.

Research limitations/implications

This paper excludes individual, situational and cultural factors, ignoring the possible moderating roles of these factors. This treatment simplifies the feasibility of the present study but might lead to the deviation between the results of the current research and the actual outcomes.

Practical implications

The retailers of ICH-souvenirs should encourage the ICH-inheritors to endorse and promote their products while creating. They could tell a good story about their experience or create entertainment experiences for tourists through hand-in-hand teaching.

Originality/value

This study explores the driving factors and antecedent mechanism of tourists’ purchase intention for ICH-souvenirs from the third perspective of image congruity theory, namely, object–object congruity.

Visual Abstract
Characteristics of low‐fat whipped cream containing protein‐based fat replacers
Authors: Han Ya‐Meng , Zhu Ling , Qi Xi‐Guang , Zhang Hui , Wu Gang‐Cheng
Published: January 2023

Fat replacers are used to alleviate functional and sensory deficits in whipped cream caused by fat reduction. Of all known fat replacers, proteins have shown the most effective ability to replace fat due to their nutritional attributes and functional properties. Recently, several protein‐based fat replacers were investigated, but among all of them, the use of milk proteins and modified proteins, especially their complex with polysaccharides presented promising results. Therefore, due to the growing interest in this field, this review focussed on the mechanism for fat replacement with proteins and their complexes, and the characteristics of low‐fat whipped cream affected by these proteins, and finally considered the challenges and perspectives in the future.
Evaluation of the Amazonian fruit Ambelania acida: Chemical and nutritional studies
Authors: Corrêa Pollyane Gomes , Moura Leonardo Gomes Sanders , Amaral Ana Claudia Fernandes , Almeida Maíra Martins H. de , Souza Francisca das Chagas do Amaral , Aguiar Jaime Paiva Lopes , Aleluia Renê Lemos , Silva Jefferson Rocha de Andrade
Published: January 2023

Ambelania acida is native to the Amazon region, with few published studies of its fruits. We examined the proximate composition of its fruits, including minerals, fatty acids, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as well as its antioxidant capacity. The protein contents (2.61%) of the pulp and seeds (13.6%) were higher than observed in other taxa of the family or in other tropical fruits. Peel and pulp showed high contents of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, and the potassium content in the pulp was 1125 mg/100 g. The peel had higher contents of total phenolics, tannins, and ortho‐diphenols than the pulp, as well as better antioxidant activity as evidenced by 2,2′‐azinobis‐(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), and Fe2+ chelating activity assays. GC‐MS analyses identified 42 VOCs in the peel and pulp, with more than 90% being classified as terpenes. Eleven types of fatty acids were identified in the lipid fractions of the peel, pulp, and seeds. Linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid for humans, was the principal fatty acid in the edible portion of the fruit, therefore, evidencing its nutritionally significant profile for the fruits when considering the relationship among polyunsaturated, saturated, and monounsaturated fatty acids. The information gathered here indicates that this native fruit is a healthy food source and its cultivation and consumption should be stimulated.
Ideological Competition
Authors: Izzo Federica , Martin Gregory J. , Callander Steven
Published: January 2023

We propose a model of political competition not over policy programs, but over ideologies: models of the world that organize voters' experiences and guide the inferences they draw from observed outcomes. Policy‐motivated political parties develop ideologies, and voters choose the ideology that best explains their observations. Preferences over policies are then induced by the adopted ideology. Parties thus care about winning the ideological battle as it confers an advantage in the electoral arena. We show that in equilibrium political parties always propose different models of the world. This divergence extends to all features of the environment, not just policy dimensions. A lower degree of policy extremism in the past increases the divergence on the policy dimension, thus leading to higher ideological polarization.
Viral infections in critical care: a narrative review
Authors: Conway Morris A. , Smielewska A.
Published: January 2023

Viral infections form a substantial part of the intensive care workload, even before the recent and ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic. The growing availability of molecular diagnostics for viral infections has led to increased recognition of these pathogens. This additional information, however, provides new challenges for interpretation and management. As the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic has amply demonstrated, the emergence and global spread of novel viruses are likely to provide continued challenges for critical care physicians into the future. This article will provide an overview of viral infections relevant to the critical care physician, discussing the diagnosis and management of respiratory viral infections, blood borne and enteric viruses. We will also discuss herpesviridae complications, commonly seen due to reactivation of latent infections. Further, we explore some rarer and emerging viruses, including recognition of viral haemorrhagic fevers, and briefly discuss post‐viral syndromes which may present to the intensive care unit. Finally, we will discuss infection control and its importance in preventing nosocomial viral transmission.
Current perspectives on maternity critical care
Authors: Cranfield K. , Horner D. , Vasco M. , Victory G. , Lucas D. N.
Published: January 2023

Maternal critical care is a developing area of clinical practice. Looking after a critically ill woman requires a multidisciplinary team that must endeavour to maintain the relative normality of pregnancy. Whilst consideration of the fetus should be taken when making clinical decisions regarding maternal care, unfounded concerns for the fetus can contribute to therapeutic inertia such that potentially life‐saving therapies are denied to pregnant women. The management of a critically ill obstetric patient must reflect, as closely as possible, the management of critical illness outside pregnancy. We will discuss some of the current evidence and concepts around this emerging area in obstetrics, including enhanced maternity care, maternal medicine networks and clinical care.
Predictors and impact of postoperative atrial fibrillation following thoracic surgery: a state‐of‐the‐art review
Authors: Diallo E.‐H. , Brouillard P. , Raymond J.‐M. , Liberman M. , Duceppe E. , Potter B. J.
Published: January 2023

This review of 19 studies (39,783 patients) of atrial fibrillation after thoracic surgery addresses the pathophysiology, incidence, and consequences of atrial fibrillation in this population, as well as its prevention and management. Interestingly, atrial fibrillation was most often identified in patients not previously known to have the disease. Rhythm control with amiodarone was the most commonly used treatment and nearly all patients were discharged in sinus rhythm. Major predictors were age; male sex; history of atrial fibrillation; congestive heart failure; left atrial enlargement; elevated brain natriuretic peptide level; and the invasiveness of procedures. Overall, patients with atrial fibrillation stayed 3 days longer in hospital. We also discuss the importance of standardising research on this subject and provide recommendations that might mitigate the impact postoperative atrial fibrillation on hospital resources.
Brain development after intrauterine exposure to lithium: A magnetic resonance imaging study in school‐age children
Authors: Poels Eline M. P. , Kamperman Astrid M. , Bijma Hilmar H. , Honig Adriaan , van Kamp Inge L. , Kushner Steven A. , Hoogendijk Witte J. G. , Bergink Veerle , White Tonya
Published: January 2023

Objective

Lithium is often continued during pregnancy to reduce the risk of perinatal mood episodes for women with bipolar disorder. However, little is known about the effect of intrauterine lithium exposure on brain development. The aim of this study was to investigate brain structure in children after intrauterine exposure to lithium.

Methods

Participants were offspring, aged 8–14 years, of women with a diagnosis of bipolar spectrum disorder. In total, 63 children participated in the study: 30 with and 33 without intrauterine exposure to lithium. Global brain volume outcomes and white matter integrity were assessed using structural MRI and diffusion tensor imaging, respectively. Primary outcomes were total brain, cortical and subcortical gray matter, cortical white matter, lateral ventricles, cerebellum, hippocampus and amygdala volumes, cortical thickness, cortical surface area and global fractional anisotropy, and mean diffusivity. To assess how our data compared to the general population, global brain volumes were compared to data from the Generation R study (N = 3243).

Results

In our primary analyses, we found no statistically significant associations between intrauterine exposure to lithium and structural brain measures. There was a non‐significant trend toward reduced subcortical gray matter volume. Compared to the general population, lithium‐exposed children showed reduced subcortical gray and cortical white matter volumes.

Conclusion

We found no differences in brain structure between lithium‐exposed and non‐lithium‐exposed children aged 8–14 years following correction for multiple testing. While a rare population to study, future and likely multi‐site studies with larger datasets are required to validate and extend these initial findings.