bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extensive genome analysis identifies novel plasmid families in Clostridium perfringens
Authors: Gulliver Emily L. , Adams Vicki , Marcelino Vanessa Rossetto , Gould Jodee , Rutten Emily L. , Powell David R. , Young Remy B. , D’Adamo Gemma L. , Hemphill Jamia , Solari Sean M. , Revitt-Mills Sarah A. , Munn Samantha , Jirapanjawat Thanavit , Greening Chris , Boer Jennifer C. , Flanagan Katie L. , Kaldhusdal Magne , Plebanski Magdalena , Gibney Katherine B. , Moore Robert J. , Rood Julian I. , Forster Samuel C.
Published: April 2023

Globally, the anaerobic bacteriumClostridium perfringenscauses severe disease in a wide array of hosts; however,C. perfringensstrains are also carried asymptomatically. Accessory genes are responsible for much of the observed phenotypic variation and virulence within this species, with toxins frequently encoded on conjugative plasmids and many isolates carrying up to 10 plasmids. Despite this unusual biology, current genomic analyses have largely excluded isolates from healthy hosts or environmental sources. Accessory genomes, including plasmids, also have often been excluded from broader scale phylogenetic investigations. Here we interrogate a comprehensive collection of 464C.perfringensgenomes and identify the first putative non-conjugative enterotoxin (CPE)-encoding plasmids and a putative novel conjugative locus (Bcp) with sequence similarity to a locus reported fromClostridium botulinum. We sequenced and archived 102 newC. perfringensgenomes, including those from rarely sequenced toxinotype B, C, D and E isolates. Long-read sequencing of 11C.perfringensstrains representing all toxinotypes (A–G) identified 55 plasmids from nine distinct plasmid groups. Interrogation of the 464 genomes in this collection identified 1045 plasmid-like contigs from the nine plasmid families, with a wide distribution across theC. perfringensisolates. Plasmids and plasmid diversity play an essential role inC. perfringenspathogenicity and broader biology. We have expanded theC. perfringensgenome collection to include temporal, spatial and phenotypically diverse isolates including those carried asymptomatically in the gastrointestinal microbiome. This analysis has resulted in the identification of novelC. perfringensplasmids whilst providing a comprehensive understanding of species diversity.
Cardiac gene therapy with PDE2A limits remodeling and arrhythmias in mouse models of heart failure induced by catecholamines
Authors: Kamel Rima , Bourcier Aurélia , Margaria Jean Piero , Varin Audrey , Hivonnait Agnès , Mercier-Nomé Françoise , Mika Delphine , Ghigo Alessandra , Charpentier Flavien , Algalarrondo Vincent , Hirsch Emilio , Fischmeister Rodolphe , Vandecasteele Grégoire , Leroy Jérôme
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND

Constitutive cardiac PDE2 activation was shown to protect against contractile dysfunction and arrhythmia in heart failure (HF). However, it remains unknown whether an acute elevation of PDE2 is efficient to prevent maladaptive remodeling and arrhythmia. In this study we tested whether increasing acutely PDE2A activity in preclinical models of HF using cardiac PDE2 gene transfer could be of therapeutic value.

METHODS AND RESULTS

C57BL/6 male mice were injected with serotype 9 adeno-associated viruses (AAV9) encoding for PDE2A, or luciferase (LUC). Cardiac function assessed by echocardiography unveiled neither structural change nor dysfunction consecutive to PDE2A overexpression while AAV9 inoculation led to a ≈10-fold rise of PDE2A protein levels. Two weeks after AAV9 injections, mice were implanted with osmotic minipumps delivering NaCl or isoproterenol (Iso) (60 mg/kg/day) or Iso and phenylephrine (Iso+Phe, 30 mg/kg/day each) for 2 weeks. In LUC mice, chronic infusion with Iso increased left ventricular (LV) weight over body weight ratio, promoted fibrosis and decreased ejection fraction, but animals overexpressing PDE2A were protected towards these deleterious effects. Similarly, concomitant treatment with Iso+Phe promoted LV contractile dysfunction, fibrosis and apoptosis in LUC mice, while PDE2A overexpression limited these adverse outcomes. Furthermore, inotropic responses to Iso of ventricular cardiomyocytes isolated from Iso+Phe-LUC mice loaded with 1 µmol/L Fura-2AM and stimulated at 1 Hz to record calcium transients and sarcomere shortening were dampened. Chronic treatment with catecholamines favoured spontaneous calcium waves upon β-AR stimulation at the cellular level and promoted susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmiasin vivoevoked by catheter-mediated ventricular pacing after Iso and atropine injection. However, these adverse effects were blunted by the cardiac gene therapy with PDE2A.

CONCLUSION

Gene therapy with PDE2A limits cardiac adverse left ventricle remodeling and dysfunction induced by catecholamines as well as ventricular arrhythmias, providing evidence that acutely increasing PDE2A activity could prevent progression towards HF.
Genetic risk of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease is associated with longitudinal loss of functional brain network segregation in middle-aged cognitively healthy individuals: The PREVENT-Dementia Study
Authors: Deng Feng , Ritchie Karen , Muniz-Terrera Graciela , Malhotra Paresh , Ritchie Craig W. , Lawlor Brian , Naci Lorina
Published: April 2023

It is well acknowledged that the pathological processes of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) start decades before clinical manifestations, but early indicators of AD in midlife remain unclear. Functional segregation of brain networks has recently emerged as a key indicator of brain health. In this study, we investigated the vulnerability of intrinsic brain networks to loss of functional segregation during healthy adult lifespan and in cognitively healthy midlife individuals at risk of late-onset AD, and the association between segregation loss and cognition in midlife. Network segregation was measured using the participation coefficient metric within a graph-theoretic framework. In a healthy adult lifespan cohort (18-88 years, N=652), linear relationships of network segregation with age and cortical grey matter volume (GMV) were assessed using multiple regression models. In a cognitively healthy midlife cohort (40-59 years, N=210), associations between network segregation and established risk factors for AD were examined cross-sectionally and longitudinally (over 2 years). Across the healthy adult lifespan, global network segregation was positively associated with GMV and negatively associated with age, replicating previous findings. Three high-order networks [default mode (DMN), frontal-parietal control, and salience] and two sensorimotor networks (visual and motor) showed prominent age-related changes in functional segregation throughout adulthood. At midlife, cross-sectionally, cognitively healthy apolipoprotein (APOE) ε4 carriers had higher global segregation than non-carriers. The DMN was the only individual network to show such an effect ofAPOEgenotype. Higher global and DMN segregation was associated with better episodic and relational memory. Critically,APOEε4 carriers, but not non-carriers, showed a significant longitudinal loss of segregation in the DMN over 2 years. Overall, our findings suggest that functional network segregation constitutes a novel and early substrate for the impact of the genetic AD risk on the brain in midlife and thus have implications for the early detection and intervention in AD.
Membrane-penetrating peptide from the translocation region ofBordetellaAdenylate Cyclase Toxin prevents toxin cytotoxicity on target cells
Authors: Amuategi Jone , Alonso Rocío , de la Arada Igor , Ostolaza Helena
Published: April 2023

Adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT) is one of the main virulence factors ofBordetella pertussis, with crucial role in colonization of human respiratory tract. ACT toxicity on target phagocytes results from translocation of its adenylate cyclase domain and production of high cAMP levels and from pore formation. Recently, we unveiled in ACT four cholesterol-recognition motifs involved in specific interaction with membrane cholesterol, which might stabilize membrane topology of critical helices for ACT activity. Here we explore an amphipathic peptide corresponding to ACT residues 454 to 487 containing one of such CRAC motifs. We show that P454-487 penetrates into DOPC vesicles as a long and tilted α-helix, while in cholesterol presence experiments conformational changes that critically depend on the CRAC Phe-485 residue. Moreover, P454-487 is capable of blocking ACT toxicity on cells by outcompeting with the full-length toxin for membrane binding. We anticipate P454-487 may have potential clinical applicability in controllingBordetellainfection.
Magnetic actuation of otoliths allows behavioral and brain-wide neuronal exploration of vestibulo-motor processing in larval zebrafish
Authors: Beiza-Canelo Natalia , Moulle Hippolyte , Pujol Thomas , Panier Thomas , Migault Geoffrey , Le Goc Guillaume , Tapie Pierre , Desprat Nicolas , Straka Hans , Debrégeas Georges , Bormuth Volker
Published: April 2023

The vestibular system in the inner ear plays a central role in sensorimotor control by informing the brain about the orientation and acceleration of the head. However, most experiments in neurophysiology are performed using head-fixed configurations, depriving animals of vestibular inputs. To overcome this limitation, we decorated the utricular otolith of the vestibular system in larval zebrafish with paramagnetic nanoparticles. This procedure effectively endowed the animal with magneto-sensitive capacities: applied magnetic field gradients induced forces on the otoliths resulting in robust behavioral responses comparable to that evoked by rotating the animal by up to 25°. We recorded the whole-brain neuronal response to this fictive motion stimulation using light-sheet functional imaging. Experiments performed in unilaterally injected fish revealed the activation of a commissural inhibition between the brain hemispheres. This magnetic-based stimulation technique for larval zebrafish opens new perspectives to functionally dissect the neural circuits underlying vestibular processing and to develop multisensory virtual environments, including vestibular feedback.

Highlights

After injecting a ferrofluid into the inner ear of a larval zebrafish, the ear-stones can be actuated via magnetic forces.

This method allows one to elicit vestibular-like behavioral responses without impairing physiological inner ear functions.

It is compatible with brain-scale functional imaging and thus offers a promising avenue to investigate the neural underpinnings of vestibular-driven behaviors.

eTOC

Ferrofluid injection into zebrafish inner ear allows magnetic manipulation of ear-stones to evoke vestibular responses in static animals. This in vivo method is compatible with brain-scale imaging, offering a promising approach to investigate neural mechanisms underlying vestibular-driven behaviors.
Persistent Nav1.6 current drives spinal locomotor functions through nonlinear dynamics
Authors: Drouillas Benoit , Brocard Cécile , Zanella Sébastien , Bos Rémi , Brocard Frédéric
Published: April 2023

Persistent sodium current (INaP) in the spinal locomotor network promotes two distinct nonlinear firing patterns: a self-sustained spiking triggered by a brief excitation in bistable motoneurons and bursting oscillations in interneurons of the central pattern generator (CPG). Here, we identified the NaV channels responsible forINaPand their role in motor behaviors. We report the axonalNav1.6as the main molecular player forINaPin lumbar motoneurons. The motoneuronal inhibition ofNav1.6, but not ofNav1.1, impairsINaP, bistability, postural tone and locomotor performance. In interneurons of the CPG region,Nav1.6withNav1.1equally mediateINaPand the inhibition of both channels is required to abolish oscillatory bursting activities and the locomotor rhythm. Overall,Nav1.6plays a significant role both in posture and locomotion by governingINaP-dependent bistability in motoneurons and working in tandem withNav1.1to provideINaP-dependent rhythmogenic properties of the CPG.
Pyro: A Comprehensive Pipeline for Eukaryotic Genome Assembly
Authors: Southwood Dean , Rane Rahul V. , Lee Siu Fai , Oakeshott John G. , Ranganathan Shoba
Published: April 2023

1

The assembly of reference-quality, chromosome-level genomes for both model and novel eukaryotic organisms is an increasingly achievable task for single research teams. However, the broad variety of sequencing technologies, assembly algorithms, and post-assembly processing tools currently available means that there is no clear consensus on a best-practice computational protocol for eukaryoticde novogenome assembly. An ever-increasing field of algorithms and packages with unique parameters, setup requirements, and environments makes it difficult for groups to pick up and test new tools, despite potential benefits. Here, we present a comprehensive Snakemake-based pipeline for eukaryotic genome assembly,Pyro, to further assist futurede novoassembly and benchmarking projects.Pyrocombines 20 assembly and eight polishing packages, comprising 30 different assembly approaches and up to 48 different polishing approaches in combination. These are available across Illumina short-read, Nanopore and PacBio CLR long-read technologies in one container, complete with data preparation, quality metric calculation and result reporting. We demonstratePyroeffectiveness by runningPyroon publicly available Illumina, Nanopore and PacBio CLR read sets forArabidopsis thaliana, producing 12 candidate assembly options with minimal initial input or configuration, each with extremely high contiguity and completeness.Pyrois highly customizable to expert needs, while also providing an accessible suggested set of tools for more casual users based on simple inputs.Pyrois available as a Singularity container suitable for execution on any Unix-compatible OS, and is freely available on GitHub (https://github.com/genomeassembler/pyro). This pipeline provides a one-stop solution for a variety ofde novoeukaryotic genome assembly needs, and will also assist in the assessment of new tools as a convenient benchmark-generating platform.
Enhancing the efficacy of neonicotinoids against mosquitoes and overcoming resistance issues
Authors: Ashu Fred A. , Fouet Caroline , Ambadiang Marilene M. , Penlap-Beng Véronique , Kamdem Colince
Published: April 2023

Background

Neonicotinoids are potential alternatives for targeting pyrethroid-resistant mosquitoes, but their efficacy against malaria vector populations of Sub-Saharan Africa has yet to be investigated. Here we tested and compared the efficacy of four neonicotinoids alone or in combination with a synergist against two major vectors ofPlasmodium.

Results

Using standard bioassays, we first assessed the lethal toxicity of three active ingredients against adults of two susceptibleAnophelesstrains and we determined discriminating doses for monitoring susceptibility in wild populations. We then tested the susceptibility of 5532Anophelesmosquitoes collected from urban and rural areas of Yaoundé, Cameroon, to discriminating doses of acetamiprid, imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam. We found that in comparison with some public health insecticides, neonicotinoids have high lethal concentration, LC99, reflecting their low toxicity toAnophelesmosquitoes. In addition to this reduced toxicity, resistance to the four neonicotinoids tested was detected inAn. gambiaepopulations collected from agricultural areas where larvae are intensively exposed to crop-protection neonicotinoids. However, adults of another major vector that occurred in urbanized settings,An. coluzzii, were fully susceptible to neonicotinoids except acetamiprid for which 80% mortality was obtained within 72 h of insecticide exposure. Importantly, the cytochrome inhibitor, piperonyl butoxide (PBO), was very effective in enhancing the activity of clothianidin and acetamiprid providing opportunities to create potent neonicotinoid formulations againstAnopheles.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that to successfully repurpose agricultural neonicotinoids for malaria vector control, it is essential to use formulations containing synergists such as PBO or surfactants to ensure optimal efficacy.
Mortality among persons with HIV in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-level analysis
Authors: Viguerie Alex , Song Ruiguang , Bosh Karin , Lyles Cynthia M. , Farnham Paul G.
Published: April 2023

Background

Whether COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on mortality among persons with diagnosed HIV (PWDH) in United States is unclear. Through our macro-scale analysis, we seek to better understand how COVID-19 and subsequent behavioral changes affected mortality among PWDH.

Methods

We obtained mortality and population size data for the years 2018-2020 from the National HIV Surveillance System (NHSS) for the PWDH population aged ≥13 years in the United States, and from publicly available data for the general population. We computed mortality rates and excess mortality for both the general and PWDH populations. Stratifications by age, race/ethnicity, and sex-at birth were considered. For each group, we determined whether the 2020 mortality rates and mortality risk ratio showed a statistically significant change from 2018-2019.

Results

Mortality rates increased in 2020 from 2018-2019 across the general population in all groups. Among PWDH, mortality rates either increased, or showed no statistically significant change. The mortality risk ratio between PWDH and the general population decreased 7.7% in 2020. Approximately 1550 excess deaths occurred among PWDH in 2020, with Black, Hispanic/Latino and PWDH above 55 and older representing the majority of excess deaths.

Conclusions

While mortality rates among PWDH increased in 2020 relative to 2018-2019, the increases were smaller than those observed in the general population. This suggests that COVID-19 and resulting behavioral changes among PWDH did not result in disproportionate mortality among PWDH. These findings suggest that COVID-19, and any associated indirect effects, do not represent a proportionally greater risk for PWDH compared to the general population.
How clean is clean? In-vitro comparison of biofilm removal efficacy and cleaning characteristics of three debridement pads
Authors: Liepins B. , Tauscher C. , Panhölzl C. , Leeb T. , Häusler C. , Rohrer C.
Published: April 2023

Aim

The aim of this study was to elucidate the effectiveness of soft debridement in cleaning wounds varying in size and type of exudate and in creating/maintaining a window of opportunity for the wound to be able to heal.

Methods

This study presents a standardised in-vitro comparison of three different debridement pads based on the defined composition of exudate and standardised cleaning protocol followed by an robotic cleaning arm. Three important cleaning characteristics (fluid holding capacity, cleaning efficacy/capacity) and the biofilm removal efficacy of wounds varying in size and composition and viscosity of exudate were assessed.

Results

All three debridement pads tested showed the ability to clean small to large wounds with different types of exudate (serous/fibrinous) as well as to remove biofilm cells to some extent. Long and dense fibres are favourable when it comes to taking up and holding onto exudate while shorter fibres help to break open harder to clean wounds.

Conclusion

A balance between fluid holding capacity and cleaning efficacy/capacity is important in order to achieve the best overall results and successfully remove exudate as well as biofilm cells from small to large wounds with different types of exudate. This in turn has a potential influence on the microenvironment of the wound.

Key points

The right balance between the parameters tested in this study is crucial for a successful biofilm removal.

The type of exudate (serous, fibrinous) has an influence on the cleaning efficacy/capacity of debridement pads.

Soft debridement is able to remove biofilm cells and devitalized tissue as well as dead cells, exudate, proteins etc.

Good cleaning efficacies without the ability to take up and hold onto exudate, protein and cells are not sufficient for the successful removal of biofilm.
A parabrachial-hypothalamic parallel circuit governs cold defense in mice
Authors: Yang Wen Z. , Xie Hengchang , Du Xiaosa , Zhou Qian , Xiao Yan , Zhao Zhengdong , Jia Xiaoning , Xu Jianhui , Zhang Wen , Cai Shuang , Li Zhangjie , Fu Xin , Hua Rong , Cai Junhao , Chang Shuang , Sun Jing , Sun Hongbin , Xu Qingqing , Ni Xinyan , Tu Hongqing , Zheng Ruimao , Xu Xiaohong , Wang Hong , Fu Yu , Wang Liming , Li Xi , Yang Haitao , Yao Qiyuan , Yu Tian , Shen Qiwei , Shen Wei L.
Published: April 2023

Thermal homeostasis is vital for mammals and is controlled by brain neurocircuits. Remarkable advances have been made in understanding how neurocircuits centered in the hypothalamic preoptic area (POA), the brain’s thermoregulation center, control warm defense, whereas mechanisms by which the POA regulates cold defense remain unclear. Here, we confirmed that the pathway from the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB) to the POA, is critical for cold defense. Parallel to this pathway, we uncovered that a pathway from the LPB to the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH), namely the LPB→DMH pathway, is also essential for cold defense. Projection-specific blockings revealed that both pathways provide an equivalent and cumulative contribution to cold defense, forming a parallel circuit. Specifically, activation of the LPB→DMH pathway induced strong cold-defense responses, including increases in thermogenesis of brown adipose tissue (BAT), muscle shivering, heart rate, and physical activity. Further, we identified a subpopulation of somatostatin+neurons in the LPB that target the DMH to promote BAT thermogenesis. Therefore, we reveal a parabrachial-hypothalamic parallel circuit in governing cold defense in mice. This not only enables resilience to hypothermia but also provides a scalable and robust network in heat production, reshaping our understanding of how neural circuits regulate essential homeostatic behaviors.
The influence of axonal beading and undulation on axonal diameter mapping
Authors: Lee Hong-Hsi , Tian Qiyuan , Sheft Maxina , Coronado-Leija Ricardo , Ramos-Llorden Gabriel , Abdollahzadeh Ali , Fieremans Els , Novikov Dmitry S. , Huang Susie Y.
Published: April 2023

We consider the effect of non-cylindrical axonal shape on axonal diameter mapping with diffusion MRI. Practical sensitivity to axon diameter is attained at strong diffusion weightingsb, where the deviation from thescaling yields the finite transverse diffusivity, which is then translated into axon diameter. While axons are usually modeled as perfectly straight, impermeable cylinders, the local variations in diameter (caliber variation or beading) and direction (undulation) have been observed in microscopy data of human axons. Here we quantify the influence of cellular-level features such as caliber variation and undulation on axon diameter estimation. For that, we simulate the diffusion MRI signal in realistic axons segmented from 3-dimensional electron microscopy of a human brain sample. We then create artificial fibers with the same features and tune the amplitude of their caliber variations and undulations. Numerical simulations of diffusion in fibers with such tunable features show that caliber variations and undulations result in under- and over-estimation of axon diameters, correspondingly; this bias can be as large as 100%. Given that increased axonal beading and undulations have been observed in pathological tissues, such as traumatic brain injury and ischemia, the interpretation of axon diameter alterations in pathology may be significantly confounded.
SARS-CoV-2 utilization of ACE2 from different bat species allows for virus entry and replicationin vitro
Authors: Briggs Kelsey , Sweeney Ryan , Blehert David S. , Spackman Erica , Suarez David L. , Kapczynski Darrell R.
Published: April 2023

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) is believed to have a zoonotic origin. Bats are a suspected natural host of SARS-CoV-2 because of sequence homology with other bat coronaviruses. Understanding the origin of the virus and determining species susceptibility is essential for managing the transmission potential during a pandemic. In a previous study, we established anin vitroanimal model of SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and replication in a non-permissive avian fibroblast cell line (DF1) based on expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) from different animal species. In this work, we express the ACE2 of seven bat species in DF1 cells and determine their ability to support attachment and replication of the original SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan lineage virus, as well as two variants, Delta and Lambda. We demonstrate that the ACE2 receptor of all seven species: little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), great roundleaf bat (Hipposideros armiger), Pearson’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus pearsonii), greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum), Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis), Egyptian rousette (Rousettus aegyptiacus), and Chinese rufous horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus sinicus), made the DF1 cells permissible to the three isolates of SARS-CoV-2. However, the level of virus replication differed between bat species and variant tested. In addition, the Wuhan lineage SARS-CoV-2 virus replicated to higher titers (104.5-105.5TCID50) than either variant virus (103.5-104.5TCID50) on pass 1. Interestingly, all viruses tested grew to higher titers (approximately 106TCID50) when cells expressed the human ACE2 gene compared to bat ACE2. This study provides a practicalin vitromethod for further testing of animal species for potential susceptibility to current and emerging SARS-CoV-2 viruses.
Impaired H19 lncRNA expression contributes to the compromised developmental angiogenesis in EVL-deficient mice
Authors: Zink Joana , Frömel Timo , Boon Reinier A. , Fleming Ingrid , Benz Peter M.
Published: April 2023

Endothelial tip cells are essential for VEGF-induced angiogenesis, but underlying mechanisms are elusive. Endothelial-specific deletion of EVL, a member of the mammalian Ena/VASP protein family, reduced the expression of the tip cell marker protein endothelial cell specific molecule-1 (Esm1) and compromised the radial sprouting of the vascular plexus in the postnatal mouse retina. The latter effects could at least partly be attributed to reduced VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) internalization and signaling but the underlying mechanisms(s) are not fully understood. In the present study, we revealed that the expression of the long non-coding RNA H19 was significantly reduced in endothelial cells from postnatal EVL-/-mice and in siRNA-transfected human endothelial cells under hypoxic conditions. H19 was recently shown to promote VEGF expression and bioavailability via Esm1 and hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α). Similar to EVL-/-mice, the radial outgrowth of the vascular plexus was significantly delayed in the postnatal retina of H19-/-mice. In summary, our data suggests that loss of EVL not only impairs VEGFR2 internalization and downstream signaling, but also impairs VEGF expression and bioavailability in the hypoxic retina via downregulation of lncRNA H19.
Adoption of food delivery apps during a crisis: exploring an extended technology adoption model
Authors: Arora Meenal , Gupta Jaya , Mittal Amit
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to provide insight into consumer behavior regarding the use of food delivery apps when making purchases. To investigate the primary elements affecting users' intentions to use meal delivery applications, this study suggests an extension to the technology acceptance model through some contextual variable such as “various food choices (VFC),” “trust (TRR),” “perception of COVID-19-related risks (PCR)” and “convenience (CONV)” during the pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional data of 407 was collected in the Indian context. This research adopts the covariance-based structural modeling approach to test the hypotheses along with hierarchical regression to predict the efficiency of constructs.

Findings

Considering the outcomes, “perceived usefulness (PU)” was positively influenced by “perceived ease of use (PEOU),” “VFC” and “CONV.” In addition, the attitude (ATT) was positively impacted by “PU,” “TRR” and “PEOU.” Nevertheless, “PCR” negatively influenced ATT. In additional, this research illustrates the positive impact of ATT and PU on behavioral intention to use.

Originality/value

By confirming the technology acceptance model's capacity for explanation in relation to food delivery apps, this study adds to the body of knowledge. The primary focus of this study is on determining the direct impact of the identified determinants on the adoption of food delivery applications within the context of a pandemic situation in developing countries.
Prostitution in America’s industrial and progressive eras: a “dirty work” perspective on creating positive self-identities
Authors: Day Nancy Evelyn
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Dirty workers occupy jobs and perform tasks that are unpleasant and considered distasteful or “tainted” to other members of society. However, while they experience challenges in managing stigma, they are generally successful in creating positive self-identities. Among these dirty jobs is prostitution. As dirty workers, women sex workers in American history have been treated with humor, ridicule and derision. This study aims to explain the social contexts and the limited economic choices these women faced and examine how they may have managed their dirty work’s stigma to create positive self-identities.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses primary and secondary sources to examine a 53-year period of American history and to frame these women’s stigma management within a “dirty work” perspective.

Findings

The author suggests that sex workers in riskier roles (e.g. street walkers, crib workers or “upstairs girls” in saloons) would have been less able to effectively manage stigma and create positive self-identities as compared to brothels workers, due to the brothel’s strong social support, healthier work culture and richer resources.

Social implications

While sex work has changed significantly in the past century, the principles of identity management in this difficult and dirty work remain. Understanding the economic, social and individual challenges faced by these dirty workers will aid our understanding of the difficulties confronted by today’s sex workers.

Originality/value

Sex work is nearly absent from scholarly management literature. The lack of historical perspective and knowledge in this field limits a full understanding of how various types of dirty workers manage stigma.
A new theory of employee turnover: from the perspective of psychological goal system
Authors: Zhang Kai , Yang Na
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to construct a new turnover theory to explain and predict employee voluntary turnover in a more in-depth and comprehensive way.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the literature review and theoretical analysis, this paper constructs a new turnover theory called the psychological goal system driving theory of employee turnover.

Findings

The psychological goal system driving theory of employee turnover advocates that there are psychological goals in the individual psychological world that point to the future and seek self-realization, and that there is a synergistic or competitive relationship among different psychological goals, and thus forming a psychological goal system and the dominant goals (including single goal or goal group) that exist in it; the individual’s dominant goals are the source of motivation, which initiate and organize the individual’s cognition and behavior; when the dominant psychological goals are difficult to achieve or destroyed in the original organization, they will produce continuous negative emotions and drive the individual to choose new and suitable job opportunities to realize themselves. Therefore, the dominant psychological goal is the organizer and driver of the employee turnover behavior, and when they are threatened, they will drive individuals to actively terminate the employment relationship with the current organization to better promote or protect their own realization process and sustainable growth.

Originality/value

This paper constructs a new turnover theory based on the self-organization goal system theory of motivation and personality.
Technology-oriented M&A, market reaction and innovation output
Authors: Yao Yi , Ling Yue , Xu Yafei
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The purpose of technology mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is to achieve innovation. The authors use the data from the China Patent Research System of China National Intellectual Property Administration to classify technical correlations into three types: similar, complementary and nonrelatedness (cross-sectoral category). And the authors explore three issues: the market reaction to technology-oriented M&A, the impact of technology-oriented M&A on goodwill and how technology-oriented M&A affects innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use data from China Patent Research System of China National Intellectual Property Administration to classify technical correlations into three types: similar, complementary and nonrelatedness (cross-sectoral category). And the authors explore three issues: the market reaction of technology-oriented M&A, the impact of technology-oriented M&A on goodwill and how technology-oriented M&A affects innovation. The empirical research shows that the cross-sectoral M&A is popular in the market and is positively correlated with cumulative abnormal return (CAR) and premium rate of M&A. However, the technology-similarity M&A, which is committed to in-depth exploration of original technology, is negatively correlated with CAR and goodwill.

Findings

The empirical research shows that cross-sectoral M&A is popular in the market and is positively correlated with CAR and premium rate of M&A. However, the technology-similarity M&A, which is committed to in-depth exploration of original technology, is negatively correlated with CAR and goodwill. In addition, empirical results show that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between technology-oriented M&A and innovation output, and the inflection points are 41.8%, 48.9% and 38.8%, respectively.

Originality/value

The research contributions of this paper are as follows: first, most domestic studies simply and roughly measure the degree of technical relevance based on whether the firms belong to the same industry and whether there is common knowledge between them, but the authors provide a more accurate measure of technology-oriented M&A. Second, in the research on the economic consequences of technology-oriented M&As, a large number of literatures have mainly focused on the innovation performance of the acquirer after deals, including the number of patent applications, the number of patent citations, innovation output, etc., and they pay less attention to its impact on the market reaction and goodwill.
Does the “big tent” include non-academics? Social media content creators conducting critical scholarship
Authors: Sankofa Nicole
Published: April 2023

Purpose

LeftTube – a loosely connected community of left-leaning content creators on YouTube – includes a subsection of video essayists that conduct scholarly work seemingly adjacent to critical research. Exploring this digital community of critical scholars may precipate opportunities for collaboration and reciprocal learning to better academic qualitative research approaches. Therefore, the purpose of this exploratory study is to (1) examine if and how this digital community engages in critical scholarship, and (2) initiate a call for academic qualitative scholars to watch this digital space as a potential source of collaboration, an opportunity for co-learning and consideration for inclusion in the qualitative “big tent”.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an algorithm-based sampling procedure, 143 videos were sampled across 23 Black women content creators. Videos were analyzed for characteristics of critical research using multimodal-ethnographic semiotic analysis.

Findings

Findings suggest that 11 strategies of critical scholarship were used with themes of knowledge production and ethical framework. Such results indicate that this subsection of LeftTube video essayists are conducting critical scholarship.

Originality/value

The most significant implication is the expansion of the qualitative “big tent” to include international social media content creators who conduct social science research. This would have many benefits to academic qualitative researchers, including learning how the studied community (1) makes critical scholarship impactful and influential in civil discourse, (2) mobilizes critical language, and (3) resists neoliberal and capitalist systems attempting to marginalize critical research.
Full‐cost accounting and redefining the cost of food: Implications for agricultural economics research
Authors: von Braun Joachim , Hendriks Sheryl L.
Published: April 2023

Food systems have significant externalities that are not reflected in market prices. A first step to correct parts of these externalities is to make them transparent through “true‐” or full‐cost accounting. Estimates of the external health and environmental costs of food systems at a global level suggest that they may be about two times larger than food valued at market prices, that is, about 20 trillion US$ of externalities versus 9 trillion US$ of food value in the markets. The agricultural economics profession is challenged to move the true cost research agenda forward by identifying realistic pathways for internalizing some of the large food system externalities. Moving from true cost accounting (TCA) to policy action needs to involve citizens and policy‐making bodies because internalizing externalities requires buy‐in. This relates for instance, to policy instruments such as product labeling, nudging, and differential taxes and subsidies to incentivize healthy diets and disincentivize food waste. Agricultural economics will need to accompany the implementation of any true cost approaches with scrutiny in terms of the efficiency, welfare, ecological, and distributional effects of such policies.
Using the Cardiff model to reduce late‐night alcohol‐related presentations in regional Australia
Authors: Baker Tim , Taylor Nicholas , Kloot Kate , Miller Peter , Egerton‐Warburton Diana , Shepherd Jonathan
Published: April 2023

Introduction

The Cardiff model is a data sharing approach that aims to reduce the volume of intoxicated patients in emergency departments (EDs). This approach has not been tested in a rural setting.

Objective

This study assessed whether this approach would reduce the number of alcohol‐associated presentations during high‐alcohol hours (HAH) in a regional ED.

Design

From July 2017, people over the age of 18 attending the ED were asked by the triage nurse (1) whether they had consumed alcohol in the past 12 h, (2) their typical alcohol consumption level, (3) the location where most alcohol was purchased and (4) the location of the last drink. From April 2018, quarterly letters were sent to the top five venues reported within the ED. Deidentified, aggregated data were shared with local police, licensing authorities and local government, identifying the top five venues reported in the ED and providing a summary of alcohol‐related attendances to the ED. Interrupted time series analyses were used to estimate the influence of the intervention on monthly injury and alcohol‐related ED presentations.

Findings

ITS models found that there was a significant gradual decrease in the monthly rate of injury attendances during HAH (Coefficient = −0.004, p = 0.044). No other significant results were found.

Discussion

Our study found that sharing last drinks data collected in the ED with a local violence prevention committee was associated with a small, but significant reduction in the rate of injury presentations compared with all ED presentations.

Conclusion

This intervention continues to have promise for reducing alcohol‐related harm.
Propensity score‐matched analysis of the short‐term outcomes of robotic versus laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer
Authors: Obatake Masayoshi , Hotchi Masanori , Ishimura Naho , Kanzaki Masayuki , Yoshikawa Masato , Tokuda Kazunori , Watanabe Miya , Kotegawa Hiroshi , Yoshiyama Hirotsugu , Ohtani Hiromi , Harada Masamitsu
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The advantages of robot‐assisted rectal surgery (RARS) over conventional laparoscope‐assisted rectal surgery (LARS) remain controversial. This study was performed to compare the short‐term outcomes of RARS and LARS.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data of 207 patients who had undergone either RARS (n = 97) or LARS (n = 110) for rectal cancer (RC) from 2018 to 2020. A 1:1 matched propensity score‐matched analysis was performed and the surgical outcomes of the two groups compared.

Results

After matching, a well‐balanced cohort of 136 patients was analyzed (n = 68 in each group), and there was no significant difference in the median operative time. The RARS group had less intraoperative blood loss than the LARS group. There were no significant differences in length of postoperative hospital stay or complication rate between the two groups. In the subgroup of lower RC, defined as the inferior edge of the tumor being within the rectum distal to the peritoneal reflection, the rate of sphincter preservation was higher in the RARS group (81.8% vs. 44.4%, p = 0.021).

Conclusion

This study shows that RARS is a safe and feasible approach for RC compared with LARS, RARS having the advantage of more often preserving the sphincter.
High salt induces cognitive impairment via the interaction of the angiotensin II‐AT1 and prostaglandin E2‐EP1 systems
Authors: Kubota Hisayoshi , Kunisawa Kazuo , Wulaer Bolati , Hasegawa Masaya , Kurahashi Hitomi , Sakata Takatoshi , Tezuka Hiroyuki , Kugita Masanori , Nagao Shizuko , Nagai Taku , Furuyashiki Tomoyuki , Narumiya Shuh , Saito Kuniaki , Nabeshima Toshitaka , Mouri Akihiro
Published: April 2023

Background and Purpose

High salt (HS) intake has been associated with hypertension and cognitive impairment. It is well known that the angiotensin II (Ang II)‐AT1 receptor and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)‐EP1 receptor systems are involved in hypertension and neurotoxicity. However, the involvement of these systems in HS‐mediated hypertension and emotional and cognitive impairments remains unclear.

Experimental Approach

Mice were loaded with HS solution (2% NaCl drinking water) for 12 weeks, and blood pressure was monitored. Subsequently, effects of HS intake on emotional and cognitive function and tau phosphorylation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HIP) were investigated. The involvement of Ang II‐AT1 and PGE2‐EP1 systems in HS‐induced hypertension and neuronal and behavioural impairments was examined by treatment with losartan, an AT1 receptor blocker (ARB), or EP1 gene knockout.

Key Results

We demonstrate that hypertension and impaired social behaviour and object recognition memory following HS intake may be associated with tau hyperphosphorylation, decreased phosphorylation of Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) expression in the PFC and HIP of mice. These changes were blocked by pharmacological treatment with losartan or EP1 receptor gene knockout.

Conclusions and Implications

Our findings suggest that the interaction of Ang II‐AT1 receptor and PGE2‐EP1 receptor systems could be novel therapeutic targets for hypertension‐induced cognitive impairment.
Investigating the disease‐modifying properties of sclerotiorin in Alzheimer's therapy using acetylcholinesterase inhibition
Authors: Ayyolath Aravind , Kallingal Anoop , Kundil Varun Thachan , Suresh Akshay Maniyeri , Jayadevi Variyar E.
Published: April 2023

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused due to the damage and loss of neurons in specific brain regions. It is the most common form of dementia observed in older people. The symptoms start with memory loss and gradually cause the inability to speak and do day‐to‐day activities. The cost of caring for those affected individuals is huge and is probably beyond most developing countries capability. Current pharmacotherapy for AD includes compounds that aim to increase neurotransmitters at nerve endings. This can be achieved by cholinergic neurotransmission through inhibition of the cholinesterase enzyme. The current research aims to find natural substances that can be used as drugs to treat AD. The present work identifies and explains compounds with considerable Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities. The pigment was extracted from thePenicillium mallochiiARA1 (MT373688.1) strain using ethyl acetate, and the active compound was identified using chromatographic techniques followed by structural confirmation with NMR. AChE inhibition experiments, enzyme kinetics, and molecular dynamics simulation studies were done to explain the pharmacological and pharmacodynamic properties. We identified that the compound sclerotiorin in the pigment has AChE inhibitory activity. The compound is stable and can bind to the enzyme non‐competitively. Sclerotiorin obeys all the drug‐likeliness parameters and can be developed as a promising drug in treating AD.
Machinic assemblages—The role of school policies in producing children's sense of agency
Authors: Kokko Anna Kristiina , Paananen Maiju , Hirsto Laura
Published: April 2023

This paper presents an account of how children's sense of agency is produced in machinic assemblages. The ethnographic data used in this study originated in one elementary school classroom. By utilising children's own expressions of their agency and by examining the machinic assemblages in which these expressions were produced, we demonstrate that school policies are not merely a background for schools' mundane practices. Rather, when combined with other elements in a school setting, policies have heterogeneous consequences for children's sense of agency.
Reframing Cognitive Science as a Complexity Science
Authors: Favela Luis H. , Amon Mary Jean
Published: April 2023

Complexity science is an investigative framework that stems from a number of tried and tested disciplines—including systems theory, nonlinear dynamical systems theory, and synergetics—and extends a common set of concepts, methods, and principles to understand how natural systems operate. By quantitatively employing concepts, such as emergence, nonlinearity, and self‐organization, complexity science offers a way to understand the structures and operations of natural cognitive systems in a manner that is conceptually compelling and mathematically rigorous. Thus, complexity science both transforms understandings of cognition and reframes more traditional approaches. Consequently, if cognitive systems are indeed complex systems, then cognitive science ought to consider complexity science as a centerpiece of the discipline.