bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of the G-Protein Coupled Receptor 3-Salt Inducible Kinase 2 Pathway in Human β Cell Proliferation
Authors: Iorio Caterina , Rourke Jillian L. , Wells Lisa , Sakamaki Jun-Ichi , Moon Emily , Hu Queenie , Kin Tatsuya , Screaton Robert A.
Published: June 2021

Loss of pancreatic β cells is the hallmark of type 1 diabetes (T1D) 1, for which provision of insulin is the standard of care. While regenerative and stem cell therapies hold the promise of generating single-source or host-matched tissue to obviate immune-mediated complications2–4, these will still require surgical intervention and immunosuppression. Thus, methods that harness the innate capacity of β-cells to proliferate to increase β cell mass in vivo are considered vital for future T1D treatment5, 6. However, early in life β cells enter what appears to be a permanent state of quiescence 7–10, directed by an evolutionarily selected genetic program that establishes a β cell mass setpoint to guard against development of fatal endocrine tumours. Here we report the development of a high-throughput RNAi screening approach to identify upstream pathways that regulate adult human β cell quiescence and demonstrate in a screen of the GPCRome that silencing G-protein coupled receptor 3 (GPR3) leads to human pancreatic β cell proliferation. Loss of GPR3 leads to activation of Salt Inducible Kinase 2 (SIK2), which is necessary and sufficient to drive cell cycle entry, increase β cell mass, and enhance insulin secretion in mice. Taken together, targeting the GPR3-SIK2 pathway represents a novel avenue to stimulate the regeneration of β cells.
TORC1 and PKA activity towards ribosome biogenesis oscillates in synchrony with the budding yeast cell cycle
Authors: Guerra Paolo , Vuillemenot Luc-Alban P.E. , Been Marije , Milias-Argeitis Andreas
Published: June 2021

Recent studies have revealed that the growth rate of budding yeast and mammalian cells varies during the cell cycle. By linking a multitude of signals to cell growth, the highly conserved Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (TORC1) and Protein Kinase A (PKA) pathways are prime candidates for mediating the dynamic coupling between growth and division. However, measurements of TORC1 and PKA activity during the cell cycle are still lacking. Following the localization dynamics of two TORC1 and PKA targets via time-lapse microscopy in hundreds of yeast cells, we found that the activity of these pathways towards ribosome biogenesis fluctuates in synchrony with the cell cycle even under constant external conditions. Mutations of upstream TORC1 and PKA regulators suggested that internal metabolic signals partially mediate these activity changes. Our study reveals a new aspect of TORC1 and PKA signaling, which will be important for understanding growth regulation during the cell cycle.
Direct Energy Transfer from Allophycocyanin-Free Rod-Type CpcL-Phycobilisome to Photosystem I
Authors: Noji Tomoyasu , Watanabe Mai , Dewa Takehisa , Itoh Shigeru , Ikeuchib Masahiko
Published: June 2021

Phycobilisomes (PBSs) are photosynthetic antenna megacomplexes comprised of pigment-binding proteins (cores and rods) joined with linker proteins. A rod-type PBS that does not have a core is connected to photosystem I (PSI) by a pigment-free CpcL linker protein, which induces a red-shift of the absorption band of phycocyanobilin (PCB) in the rod (red-PCB). Herein, the isolated supercomplex of the rod-type PBS and the PSI tetramer from Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 were probed by picosecond laser spectroscopy at 77 K and by decay-associated spectral analysis to show that red-PCB mediates the fast (time constant = 90 ps) and efficient (efficiency = 95%) transfer of excitation energy from PCB in rod to chlorophyll a (Chl a) in PSI. According to the Förster energy transfer mechanism, this high efficiency corresponds to a 4-nm distance between red-PCB and Chl a, suggesting that β-84 PCB in rod acts as red-PCB.

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High-fat diet induced loss of GABAergic inhibition decouples intrinsic and synaptic excitability in AgRP neurons
Authors: Korgan Austin C. , Wei Wei , Martin Sophie L. A. , Kaczorowski Catherine C. , O’Connell Kristen M.S.
Published: June 2021

Obesity is a progressive, relapsing disease with few therapies. Diet and lifestyle interventions are effective but are often temporary and many individuals regain weight. High-fat diet increases the excitability of AgRP neurons, a critical neuronal population for the regulation of food intake and body weight. Here we investigate the plasticity of AgRP neurons and the impact of high-fat diet on modulation by synaptic input. We find that diet-induced hyperexcitability of AgRP neurons is not reversed by a lower-fat diet intervention. High-fat diet is associated with changes in the synaptic modulation of AgRP neurons, with a paradoxical increase in inhibitory input accompanied by a loss of GABA-mediated inhibition due to a depolarizing shift in the reversal potential of the GABA-evoked Cl− current. These findings reveal that high-fat diet leads to decoupling of intrinsic and synaptic excitability in AgRP neurons, such that hyperexcitability of AgRP neurons persists despite an increase in inhibitory input, revealing a mechanism for the difficulty in sustaining weight loss.
RNA surveillance controls 3D genome structure via stable cohesin-chromosome interaction
Authors: Chun Yujin , Han Sungwook , Kim Taemook , Choi Yoonjung , Lee Daeyoup
Published: June 2021

The 3D architecture that the genome is folded into is regulated by CTCF, which determines domain borders, and cohesin, which generates interactions within domains. However, organisms lacking CTCF have been reported to still have cohesin-mediated 3D structures with strong borders. How this can be achieved and precisely regulated are yet unknown. Using in situ Hi-C, we found that 3’-end RNA processing factors coupled with proper transcription termination are a cis-acting determinant that regulates the localization and dynamics of cohesin on the chromosome arms. Loss of RNA processing factors, including nuclear exosome and Pfs2, destabilizes cohesin from the 3’-ends of convergent genes and results in decreased cohesin-mediated domain boundaries. We observed the co-localization between Rad21 and a wide range of 3’end RNA processing/termination factors. Further, deletion of Rrp6 leads to cohesin redistribution to facultative heterochromatin, resulting in improper domain boundaries. Importantly, we observed that knockdown of Rrp6Exosc10 caused a defect in cohesin binding and loss of local topologically associating domains (TADs) interactions in mouse embryonic stem cells. Based on these findings, we propose a novel function of the RNA surveillance pathway in 3D genome organization via cohesin complex, which provides the molecular basis underlying the dynamics of cohesin function.
Reverse engineering of a mechanistic model of gene expression using metastability and temporal dynamics
Authors: Ventre Elias
Published: June 2021

Differentiation can be modeled at the single cell level as a stochastic process resulting from the dynamical functioning of an underlying Gene Regulatory Network (GRN), driving stem or progenitor cells to one or many differentiated cell types. Metastability seems inherent to differentiation process as a consequence of the limited number of cell types. Moreover, mRNA is known to be generally produced by bursts, which can give rise to highly variable non-Gaussian behavior, making the estimation of a GRN from transcriptional profiles challenging. In this article, we present CARDAMOM (Cell type Analysis from scRna-seq Data achieved from a Mixture MOdel), a new algorithm for inferring a GRN from timestamped scRNA-seq data, which crucially exploits these notions of metastability and transcriptional bursting. We show that such inference can be seen as the successive resolution of as many regression problem as timepoints, after a preliminary clustering of the whole set of cells with regards to their associated bursts frequency. We demonstrate the ability of CARDAMOM to infer a reliable GRN from in silico expression datasets, with good computational speed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of a method which uses the concept of metastability for performing GRN inference.
Genome-wide cis-decoding for expression designing in tomato using cistrome data and explainable deep learning
Authors: Akagi Takashi , Masuda Kanae , Kuwada Eriko , Takeshita Kouki , Kawakatsu Taiji , Ariizumi Tohru , Kubo Yasutaka , Ushijima Koichiro , Uchida Seiichi
Published: June 2021

In the evolutionary paths of plants, variations of the cis-regulatory elements (CREs) resulting in expression diversification have played a central role in driving the establishment of lineage-specific traits. However, it is difficult to predict expression behaviors from the CRE patterns to properly harness them, mainly because the biological processes are complex. In this study, we used cistrome datasets and explainable convolutional neural network (CNN) frameworks to predict genome-wide expression patterns in tomato fruits from the DNA sequences in gene regulatory regions. By fixing the effects of trans-elements using single cell-type spatiotemporal transcriptome data for the response variables, we developed a prediction model of a key expression pattern for the initiation of tomato fruit ripening. Feature visualization of the CNNs identified nucleotide residues critical to the objective expression pattern in each gene and their effects, were validated experimentally in ripening tomato fruits. This cis-decoding framework will not only contribute to understanding the regulatory networks derived from CREs and transcription factor interactions, but also provide a flexible way of designing alleles with optimized expression.
CDK12 is Necessary to Promote Epidermal Differentiation through Transcription Elongation
Authors: Li Jingting , Tiwari Manisha , Chen Yifang , Sen George L.
Published: June 2021

Proper differentiation of the epidermis is essential to prevent water loss and to protect the body from the outside environment. Perturbations in this process can lead to a variety of skin diseases that impacts 1 in 5 people. While transcription factors that control epidermal differentiation have been well characterized, other aspects of transcription control such as elongation are poorly understood. Here we show that of the two cyclin dependent kinases (CDK12 and CDK13), that are known to regulate transcription elongation, only CDK12 is necessary for epidermal differentiation. Depletion of CDK12 led to loss of differentiation gene expression and absence of skin barrier formation in regenerated human epidermis. CDK12 binds to genes that code for differentiation promoting transcription factors (GRHL3, KLF4, and OVOL1) and is necessary for their elongation. CDK12 is necessary for elongation by promoting Ser2 phosphorylation on the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II and the binding of the elongation factor SPT6 to target genes. Our results suggest that control of transcription elongation by CDK12 plays a prominent role in adult cell fate decisions.
High-quality complete genome resource of plant pathogenic bacteriumPectobacterium atrosepticumstrain Green1 isolated from potato (Solanum tuberosumL.) in Greenland
Authors: Czajkowski Robert , Rabalski Lukasz , Kosinski Maciej , de Neergaard Eigil , Harding Susanne
Published: June 2021

Pectobacterium atrosepticumis a narrow host range pectinolytic plant pathogenic bacterium causing blackleg of potato (Solanum tuberosumL.) worldwide. Till present, severalP. atrosepticumgenomes have been sequenced and characterized in detail; all of these genomes have come, however, fromP. atrosepticumstrains isolates from plants grown in temperate zones, not from hosts cultivated under different climatic conditions. Herewith, we present the first complete, high-quality genome of theP. atrosepticumstrain Green1 isolated from potato plants grown under subarctic climate in Greenland. The genome ofP. atrosepticumstrain Green1 consists of one chromosome of 4,959,719 bp., with a GC content of 51% and no plasmids. The genome contains 4531 annotated features, including 4179 protein-coding genes (CDSs), 22 rRNA genes, 70 tRNA genes, 8 ncRNA genes, 2 CRISPRs and 126 pseudogenes. We believe that the information of this first, high-quality, complete, closed genome ofP. atrosepticumstrain isolated from host plant grown in subarctic agricultural region will provide resources for comparative genomic studies and for analyses targeting climatic adaptation and ecological fitness mechanisms present inP. atrosepticum.
Stat3 co-operates with mutantEzh2Y641Fto regulate gene expression and limit the anti-tumor immune response in melanoma
Authors: Zimmerman Sarah M. , Nixon Samantha J. , Chen Pei Yu , Raj Leela , Smith Sofia , Paolini Rachel L. , Lin Phyo Nay , Souroullas George P.
Published: June 2021

One of the most frequently genetically altered chromatin modifiers in melanoma is the Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2), the catalytic component of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2), which methylates lysine 27 on histone 3 (H3K27me3), a chromatin mark associated with transcriptional repression. Genetic alterations inEZH2in melanoma include amplifications and activating point mutations at tyrosine 641 (Y641). The oncogenic role of EZH2 in melanoma has previously been identified; however, its downstream mechanisms remain underexplored. We found that in genetically engineered mouse models,Ezh2Y641Fexpression causes upregulation of a subset of interferon-regulated genes in melanoma cells, suggesting a potential role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of these mutations. Upregulation of these interferon genes was not a result of changes in H3K27me3, but through a direct and non-canonical interaction between Ezh2 and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (Stat3). Ezh2 directly binds Stat3, and, in the presence of Ezh2Y641F, Stat3 protein is hypermethylated. Expression of Stat3 was required to maintain an anti-tumor immune response and its depletion resulted in faster melanoma progression and disease recurrence. Molecularly, Stat3 and Ezh2 bind together at many genomic loci, and can both activate and repress gene expression in association with the rest of the PRC2 complex. These results suggest that Ezh2 can mediate melanomagenesis through evasion of the anti-tumor immune response, and that the immunomodulatory properties of Stat3 are context dependent.
Detecting Fluorochrome-Labeled Cells
Authors: Rodig Scott J.
Published: June 2021

This protocol describes cell staining using fluorochrome-labeled antibodies. The resolution of subcellular structures using fluorochrome-labeled antibodies exceeds that of the transmitted light microscope because of the visualization of an expanding cone of emitted light from the excited fluorochrome in the specimen. The most commonly used fluorochromes are fluorescein and rhodamine. In recent years, a number of advances in the development of fluorochromes have resulted in brighter and longer-lasting dyes with narrow emission spectra. These are available from a number of commercial suppliers. They can be conjugated to anti-immunoglobulin antibodies, Protein A, Protein G, avidin, or streptavidin. These conjugates are available from many commercial sources. Filter sets are commonly available that will permit independent observation of these two fluorochromes in the same sample. The fluorochrome Texas Red is also used for immunofluorescence, and can be detected using the same filter sets as rhodamine.
Diaboloidal mirrors: algebraic solution and surface shape approximations
Authors: Yashchuk Valeriy V. , Goldberg Kenneth A. , Lacey Ian , McKinney Wayne R. , Sanchez del Rio Manuel , Padmore Howard A.
Published: June 2021

A new type of optical element that can focus a cylindrical wave to a point focus (or vice versa) is analytically described. Such waves are, for example, produced in a beamline where light is collimated in one direction and then doubly focused by a single optic. A classical example in X-ray optics is the collimated two-crystal monochromator, with toroidal mirror refocusing. The element here replaces the toroid, and in such a system provides completely aberration free, point-to-point imaging of rays from the on-axis source point. We present an analytic solution for the mirror shape in its laboratory coordinate system with zero slope at the centre, and approximate solutions, based on bending an oblique circular cone and a bent right circular cylinder, that may facilitate fabrication and metrology.
Design stage evaluation tools for residential dementia care environments
Authors: Quirke Martin , Ostwald Michael J. , Fleming Richard , Taylor Mark , Williams Anthony
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The independence and well-being of people with dementia can be significantly influenced by the design of the physical environments around them. Several assessment tools exist to evaluate the dementia design quality of existing residential aged care facilities but, to date, none have been formally identified as suitable for use during the design process. This paper aims to examine the feasibility of re-purposing existing post-occupancy tools for use during the design process, while mapping the influence of design stages on resulting dementia design quality.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature searches identified audit tools for residential aged care settings. After reliability screening, three tools were analysed in-depth, mapping their suitability for use during the design process.

Findings

The study confirmed that existing tools can be re-purposed for design stage use and identified that early design stages have a larger influence on overall dementia design quality than previously thought.

Research limitations/implications

Non-English language publications were not reviewed. Searches may not have identified other existing audit tools for residential care environments.

Practical implications

The ability to assess proposals at key stages of design may help improve the dementia design quality of future residential aged care environments – potentially enhancing the lives of ever-larger numbers of people with dementia.

Originality/value

According to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first known paper to consider formal design-stage evaluation of dementia design quality and the first to identify the relative influence of key stages of design on the resulting dementia design quality.
Loyalty programs: the vital safety feature for airlines to survive COVID-19
Authors: Pascual Manuel E. , Cain Lisa Nicole
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The airline industry has been severely impacted by COVID-19 due to widespread travel restrictions. Its current response is crucial to ensure continued operations after the global pandemic is resolved. One resource the airlines are leveraging is loyalty programs. This study aims to examine the viability of leveraging loyalty programs in times of crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a case study methodology to examine how one company, American Airlines, has used its loyalty program to survive a pandemic and alleviate the financial costs associated with limited and restricted travel.

Findings

American Airlines' AAdvantage loyalty program structure may be used as a benchmark to understand how airlines can anchor their loyalty base to reinvigorate travel interest and use these programs as safeguards in critical instances that may arise in the future.

Research limitations/implications

The case was bound by the fact that the pandemic was still a threat during the time of analysis. The findings of this case study go beyond the airline industry and may inform other hospitality and tourism organizations on the benefits of loyalty programs in times of financial distress.

Originality/value

This is the first known case study examining the strengths and opportunities of the structure of the American Airlines' AAdvantage program as a means for surviving in a time of crisis. Moreover, understanding how to mitigate the long-term effects of crises may help to inform future short-term strategies of airlines and other hospitality and tourism organizations for navigating unexpected shocks to their ecosystem.
An intelligence optimization method based on crowd intelligence for IoT devices
Authors: Wang Ke , Yang Zheming , Liang Bing , Ji Wen
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The rapid development of 5G technology brings the expansion of the internet of things (IoT). A large number of devices in the IoT work independently, leading to difficulties in management. This study aims to optimize the member structure of the IoT so the members in it can work more efficiently.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors consider from the perspective of crowd science, combining genetic algorithms and crowd intelligence together to optimize the total intelligence of the IoT. Computing, caching and communication capacity are used as the basis of the intelligence according to the related work, and the device correlation and distance factors are used to measure the improvement level of the intelligence. Finally, they use genetic algorithm to select a collaborative state for the IoT devices.

Findings

Experimental results demonstrate that the intelligence optimization method in this paper can improve the IoT intelligence level up to ten times than original level.

Originality/value

This paper is the first study that solves the problem of device collaboration in the IoT scenario based on the scientific background of crowd intelligence. The intelligence optimization method works well in the IoT scenario, and it also has potential in other scenarios of crowd network.
Managerial competencies and business performance: innovation as a mediator in Rwandan SMEs
Authors: Byukusenge Eugenie , Munene John C. , Orobia Laura A.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating effect of innovation on the relationship between managerial competencies and business performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Rwanda.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey and quantitative methodological approach were used to collect the data. The bootstrap method was used to test mediation effects.

Findings

The findings revealed that innovation is a significant mediator in the association between managerial competencies and business performance. This study, therefore, adds new knowledge by stating that innovation toward business performance is a partial mediator in the relationship between managerial competencies and business performance of SMEs in Rwanda.

Research limitations/implications

Only a single research methodological approach was used. Qualitative studies through interviews could be undertaken to triangulate. Furthermore, the findings from the present study are cross-sectional. Longitudinal studies ought to be undertaken to examine the mediation effects studied to investigate any possibility of variations in the results.

Practical implications

The results may help owners-managers of SMEs to develop policies and strategies that could enable them to take advantage of new opportunities in relation to updated technology and cope with changes that may take place in the business environment to boost their business performance level.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, no research has ever been carried out on the mediating role of innovation in the relationship between managerial competencies and business performance of SMEs in Rwanda.
Unbanked to banked: reintermediation role of banks in e-government services for financial inclusion in an Indian context
Authors: Nair Jessy , Jain Mohith Kumar
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is twofold: first, to develop a framework to implement electronic delivery systems for connecting federal government with rural citizens using banking infrastructure as a reintermediation platform; and second, to understand the challenges faced by banks in reintermediation for financial inclusion (FI).

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory research adopts case study method to gain insights of the challenges faced by banks in e-government services for FI. In-depth structured interviews are conducted with key respondents: branch managers heading banks in rural areas.

Findings

Preliminary results based on in-depth interviews with branch managers of banks suggest that banks leverage facilitators called Bank Mitras (BM) (friends from bank as per the local language) to disseminate services offered by the banks to rural customers at each village. However, a key challenge faced by banks is the increased dependency on bank employees to complete the process of e-government transactions by the beneficiaries because of trust factor.

Research limitations/implications

This exploratory research builds on the case study approach using in-depth interviews with the branch managers of five banks as key respondents to develop the preliminary research framework for FI.

Practical implications

Policymakers can design banking systems to enhance transparency by implementing technologies and decentralizing routine transactions to citizens by enhancing the role of facilitators (BM).

Social implications

FI aims to reach out and empower citizens with banking facilities for disbursing e-government services. This process needs to be refined for the rural population of India to understand and better use the e-government services and schemes.

Originality/value

Insights from in-depth interviews with key respondents of the banks were collated and augmented with literature to enhance the rigor of the exploratory research.
The impact of resiliency on mental health and quality of life among older adults in Thailand
Authors: Ratanasiripong Paul , Ratanasiripong Nop , Khamwong Monpanee , Jingmark Sarinya , Thaniwattananon Ploenpit , Pisaipan Pennapa , Sanseeha Ladda , Rungnoei Nongnaphat , Songprakun Wallapa , Tonkuriman Asawinee , Bunyapakorn Suchart
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of resiliency and associated factors on the mental health and quality of life among older adults in Thailand.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,800 older adults (M = 69.3, SD = 7.2) from nine provinces across all regions of Thailand. Each participant completed an anonymous paper-based survey that included demographic data, work activities, health behaviors, social support, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment for Older Adults (WHOQOL-OLD).

Findings

Through hierarchical multiple regression, resiliency, social support, exercise and work hours per week were found to be significant predictors of mental health: depression (F (6, 520) = 19.38, p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.17); anxiety (F (6, 520) = 18.64, p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.17); stress (F (6, 521) = 12.91, p < .001, adjusted R2 = 0.12). Five predictors of quality of life were identified through hierarchical multiple regression: resiliency, social support, exercise, age and family economic status. These predictors explained 35% of the variance, F (5, 1655) = 178.44, p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.35.

Originality/value

Based on the results of this study, a comprehensive Wellness Program was designed to improve the mental health and quality of life of older adults in Thailand. This Wellness Program included five components: Volunteer Program, Resiliency Building Program, Social Support Program, Exercise Program, and Financial Education Program.
Evaluation of fog warning system on driving under heavy fog condition based on driving simulator
Authors: Zhao Xiaohua , Li Xuewei , Chen Yufei , Li Haijian , Ding Yang
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Heavy fog results in low visibility, which increases the probability and severity of traffic crashes, and fog warning system is conducive to the reduction of crashes by conveying warning messages to drivers. This paper aims at exploring the effects of dynamic message sign (DMS) of fog warning system on driver performance.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a testing platform was established based on driving simulator and driver performance data under DMS were collected. The experiment route was consisted of three different zones (i.e. warning zone, transition zone and heavy fog zone), and mean speed, mean acceleration, mean jerk in the whole zone, ending speed in the warning zone and transition zone, maximum deceleration rate and mean speed reduction proportion in the transition zone and heavy fog zone were selected. Next, the one-way analysis of variance was applied to test the significant difference between the metrics. Besides, drivers’ subjective perception was also considered.

Findings

The results indicated that DMS is beneficial to reduce speed before drivers enter the heavy fog zone. Besides, when drivers enter a heavy fog zone, DMS can reduce the tension of drivers and make drivers operate more smoothly.

Originality/value

This paper provides a comprehensive approach for evaluating the effectiveness of the warning system in adverse conditions based on the driving simulation test platform. The method can be extended to the evaluation of vehicle-to-infrastructure technology in other special scenarios.
Past, present and future of empirical research on employee-owned firms: a structured literature review over 1970–2019
Authors: Mirabel Thibault
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper reviews the evolution, current state and ongoing trends of the empirical literature on employee-owned firms (EOFs).

Design/methodology/approach

Using a structured literature review methodology, I analyze 280 empirical publications on EOFs published in English peer-reviewed academic journals over the 1970–2019 period.

Findings

Two generations (before and after 2001) of the EOF empirical literature are identified and characterized in terms of authors, journals, topics, methods, targets, relations to theoretical modeling and countries studied. Two research trends are structuring the current generation: one investigating diverse research questions engaging EOFs as emblematic forms of social economy, and the other comparing EOFs to conventional firms to offer insights mainly into the seminal question of the EOF relative rarity.

Research limitations/implications

The sample studied does not take into account articles written in languages other than English and does not include books.

Originality/value

This article displays the first structured literature review of the EOF empirical literature.
Mobile phone library service: seat management system based on WeChat
Authors: Liu Yan , Ye Hui , Sun Hua
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper proposes a systematic method to manage students to use limited seat resources in Chinese university libraries, with the aid of mobile phone app, at the same time, its use is being investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

Use mixed research methods, quantitative and qualitative research. Through observation, questionnaire and interview to achieve research purpose. The survey was conducted in the library of Nanjing agricultural university.

Findings

The result shows system can offer convenient, accurate, more personalized, mobility service to each user. Actual average seat usage rate is over 51.7% in a day, most of users are satisfied with the seat management system, students' satisfaction degree are 94.8%. It is also an extension of mobile phone library service.

Originality/value

Seat management system innovate traditional people-oriented service mode of study room into smart, readers can browse usage information of seats anytime and anywhere, get what they want, service become fast and convenient. In period of COVID-19, the seat system also plays an important role, it is easy for librarians to control the number of students to enter, the trajectory of readers in the library can be tracked and the possible epidemic risk can be accurately prevented and controlled.
Visual disclosure through integrated reporting
Authors: Nicolò Giuseppe , Ricciardelli Alessandra , Raimo Nicola , Vitolla Filippo
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study, based on stakeholder theory, aims to analyse the factors that can affect the level of visual disclosure in the context of integrated reporting (IR), which represents the last frontier of corporate disclosure.

Design/methodology/approach

This study develops an innovative measure to measure the level of visual disclosure of integrated reports that takes into account the use and degree of integration of images and graphs. Furthermore, to test the hypotheses, this study uses a regression model on a sample of 134 international companies that published an integrated report in 2018.

Findings

The results show that firm size, firm profitability and industry environmental sensitivity positively affect the level of visual disclosure of the integrated reports.

Originality/value

To our knowledge, this is the first study that examines visual disclosure in the IR context. It also extends the field of application of the stakeholder theory, still little used to explain visual disclosure strategies, and increases knowledge on the determinants of IR.
Reconciling the effects of positive and negative electronic word of mouth: roles of confirmation bias and involvement
Authors: Tang Muh-Chyun , Wu Pei-Min
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The study explored users' tendency of confirmation bias when processing congenial vs. uncongenial electronic-word-of-mouth (e-WOM) about mystery fictions, a hedonic product category with strong experience and hedonic characters.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-stage judgment approach was employed where the participants were asked to judge a set of mystery novels twice: one before, and another after they were exposed to positive and negative e-WOM. The first-stage judgment established two favored and two disfavored titles by each participant. They were then asked to read six consumer reviews – three positive and three negative – for each of the four titles. The procedures created four review evaluation situations: two congruent and two incongruent, which allowed the authors to assess the participants' perceptions of congenial and uncongenial reviews and their rating adjustments of the titles. Participants' involvement in mystery novels was also measured to test its moderating effect on confirmation bias.

Findings

Confirmation bias in the evaluation of e-WOM was observed and reinforced by the user's involvement in the genre. Congenial reviews were perceived to be significantly more credible, better reflect the intrinsic value of a title and less subjectively motivated than uncongenial reviews. Furthermore, after exposure to equal amount of positive and negative e-WOM, an asymmetrical adjustment of final rating of the titles was observed. A significantly greater downward adjustment was observed for disfavored than favored titles. Stronger positive confirmation bias was also observed in the evaluation of WOM.

Research limitations/implications

Previous studies on e-WOM have shown conflicting findings on the relative efficacy of positive vs. negative reviews. By introducing the factor of prior attitudes, the study demonstrated that whether WOM is consistent with an individual's prior attitude, rather than the valences of WOM in itself, determines its persuasiveness. Thus, it established the confirmation bias in users' processing of e-WOM. The finding highlights the importance for marketers to establish a positive initial impression, which, as the findings demonstrated, helps alleviate the damages caused by negative WOM.

Originality/value

This is the first study that has ever attempted to study the effect of confirmation bias during the users' processing of e-WOM in an experimental setting. By having the participants judge the books before and after exposure to congenial and uncongenial e-WOM, the authors were able to establish the link between the users' prior commitment to a book and their subsequent judgment of both the titles and the e-WOM.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at:https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-01-2020-0026
A strategy to assess the sieving time of curd sampled during cheese manufacture to separate curd from whey
Authors: Delorme Émilien , Paysant Benoît , Trossat Philippe , Gaüzère Yves , Pochet Sylvie , Beuvier Éric , Achilleos Christine
Published: June 2021

Sampling from the vat during cheesemaking may be necessary to study the impact of curd washing, which affects both whey composition and the curd’s aqueous phase. The objective of this work was to develop a sieving protocol of curd–whey samples, ensuring enough time for drainage of the free whey, while limiting the loss of the aqueous phase entrapped in the curd grains. We studied the flow rate and lactose content of whey during sieving. Both measurements showed a two‐stage dynamic representation of both aqueous phases, the intersection indicating the transition point between the flow of free and entrapped whey.
Trauma by‐pass guideline: A data‐driven conformance analysis for road trauma cases in Queensland
Authors: Andrews Robert , Wynn Moe T , Vallmuur Kirsten , Elcock Mark , Rashford Stephen , Bosley Emma , ter Hofstede Arthur HM
Published: June 2021

Objective

Study objectives were to (i) develop and test a whole‐of‐system method for identifying patients who meet a major trauma by‐pass guideline definition; (ii) apply this method to assess conformance to the current 2006 guideline for a road trauma cohort; and (iii) leverage relevant findings to propose improvements to the guideline.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of existing, routinely collected data relating to Queensland road trauma patients July 2015 to June 2017. Data from ambulance, aero‐medical retrievals, ED, hospital and death registers were linked and used for analysis. Processes of care measured included: frequency of pre‐hospital triage criteria, distribution of destination (trauma service level), compliance with guideline (recommended vs actual destination), trauma service level by threat to life (injury severity) (all modes of transport and aero‐medical in particular), proportion of patients requiring only ED, transport pathway (direct vs inter‐hospital transfer).

Results

3847 cases were identified from data as meeting criteria for major trauma by‐pass. The top five most frequently used criteria for qualifying patients as meeting the major trauma by‐pass guideline were pulse rate, vehicle rollover, possible spinal cord injury, respiration rate and entrapment. The study demonstrates a 65% conformance to the clinical guideline. Overtriaged patients (transported to higher trauma service than recommended) generally reveal International Classification of Disease Injury Severity Score representing a high threat to life.

Conclusion

Overall, the present study found good conformance, with overtriage rate as expected by clinicians. It is recommended to include data values to capture paramedics assessment of trauma level to enable more accurate assessment of conformance to guideline and future revision of the thresholds.
The effects of latent withdrawal profiles on employee turnover, destinations and job performance
Authors: Liu Xiangmin , Raghuram Sumita
Published: June 2021

Drawing on the theory of proximal withdrawal states (Hom et al., 2012), we propose and examine the presence and effects of latent withdrawal profiles (LWPs) that characterize employees’ participation in, or withdrawal from, an employing organization. Drawing upon survey and archival data of IT employees over a 30‐month period, we found evidence of four distinct LWPs: enthusiastic stayers, reluctant stayers, reluctant leavers, and enthusiastic leavers. We examined the differential effects of LWPs on an expanded set of turnover outcomes, including actual turnover of all participants, post‐exit destinations among those who left, and more importantly, on job performance of those who did not act upon their desire to leave. We found that among those who stayed, performance outcomes of enthusiastic stayers and enthusiastic leavers were higher than those of reluctant stayers and reluctant leavers.
Can the CT by‐product Time to threshold be a prognostic factor in patients with acute pulmonary embolism?
Authors: Meyer Hans‐Jonas , Bailis Nikolaos , Surov Alexey
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Bolus tracking is applied in computed tomography pulmonary angiography. The time that it takes for contrast to reach a predefined threshold in the pulmonary artery is called time to threshold (TTT). Our purpose was to analyse possible associations between TTT and circulatory state and prognosis in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods

In a single‐centre, retrospective study 138 patients with PE and contrast administration via peripheral venous line were included. Clinical parameters of circulatory state were arterial pH, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, sPESI score, Wells score and GENEVA score. Survival was defined as surviving the following 30 days after the PE diagnosis.

Results

Time to threshold was only weakly correlated with Fi02 (r = 0.26, P = 0.04), pH (r = −0.22, P = 0.009), venous base excess (r = −0.18, P = 0.04) and venous lactate (r = 0.21, P = 0.01). TTT did not correlate with clinical parameters/scores and mortality. There were weak associations between TTT and blood gas analysis parameters. There were no associations with clinically relevant prognosis scores and overall survival.

Conclusion

Therefore, albeit TTT is an easily assessable parameter of CTPA, the potential use in clinical routine is limited for prognosis stratification in patients with PE.
Divergent and overlapping hippocampal and cerebellar transcriptome responses following developmental ethanol exposure during the secondary neurogenic period
Authors: Pinson Marisa R. , Holloway Kalee N. , Douglas James C. , Kane Cynthia J. M. , Miranda Rajesh C. , Drew Paul D.
Published: June 2021

Background

The developing hippocampus and cerebellum, unique among brain regions, exhibit a secondary surge in neurogenesis during the third trimester of pregnancy. Ethanol (EtOH) exposure during this period is results in a loss of tissue volume and associated neurobehavioral deficits. However, mechanisms that link EtOH exposure to teratology in these regions are not well understood. We therefore analyzed transcriptomic adaptations to EtOH exposure to identify mechanistic linkages.

Methods

Hippocampi and cerebella were microdissected at postnatal day (P)10, from control C57BL/6J mouse pups, and pups treated with 4 g/kg of EtOH from P4 to P9. RNA was isolated and RNA‐seq analysis was performed. We compared gene expression in EtOH‐ and vehicle‐treated control neonates and performed biological pathway‐overrepresentation analysis.

Results

While EtOH exposure resulted in the general induction of genes associated with the S‐phase of mitosis in both cerebellum and hippocampus, overall there was little overlap in differentially regulated genes and associated biological pathways between these regions. In cerebellum, EtOH additionally induced gene expression associated with the G2/M‐phases of the cell cycle and sonic hedgehog signaling, while in hippocampus, EtOH‐induced the pathways for ribosome biogenesis and protein translation. Moreover, EtOH inhibited the transcriptomic identities associated with inhibitory interneuron subpopulations in the hippocampus, while in the cerebellum there was a more pronounced inhibition of transcripts across multiple oligodendrocyte maturation stages.

Conclusions

These data indicate that during the delayed neurogenic period, EtOH may stimulate the cell cycle, but it otherwise results in widely divergent molecular effects in the hippocampus and cerebellum. Moreover, these data provide evidence for region‐ and cell‐type‐specific vulnerability, which may contribute to the pathogenic effects of developmental EtOH exposure.
Predictive factors of the need to morcellate in total laparoscopic hysterectomy
Authors: Asgari Zahra , Enzevaei Anahita , Hosseini Reihaneh , Behnia‐Willison Fariba
Published: June 2021

Background

Specimen extraction is a major challenge in total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) and tissue morcellation may be needed to extract a large uterus.

Aims

The study aims to determine preoperative factors that could predict the need for uterine morcellation in TLH, and also find the best cut‐off values of each measured parameter leading to optimum sensitivity and specificity.

Materials and Methods

This was a cross‐sectional study of women from August 2019 to May 2020 who underwent TLH, with or without salpingo‐oophorectomy in our department. We performed bimanual exams preoperatively to estimate the uterine size and recorded the uterine ultrasonographic dimensions and myoma size in myomatous uteri. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were used to establish cut‐offs that maximised the sensitivity and specificity of each factor in predicting the need for morcellation. Poisson regression was used to calculate the relative risks (RR) of each cut‐off.

Results

One hundred and sixty‐two women were recruited in the study. ROC curves demonstrated maximum sensitivities and specificities with a cross‐sectional area of 36.5 cm2, the largest leiomyoma dimension of 40 mm, uterine length of 10 cm, and bimanual uterine size of 13 weeks. Multiple modified Poisson regression revealed that the strongest predictors of morcellation were the largest leiomyoma diameter of >40 mm (RR: 3.58), the uterine cross‐sectional area of >36.5 cm2 (RR: 6.38), and uterine size in the bimanual exam of >13 weeks pregnancy (RR: 3.57).

Conclusion

The largest leiomyoma diameter, uterine cross‐sectional area, and size on a bimanual exam can all be used to predict needing morcellation preoperatively in TLH.
Time to reconsider: Have the 2015 FIGO and 2017 Swedish intrapartum cardiotocogram classifications led us from Charybdis to Scylla?
Authors: Olofsson Per , Ekengård Frida , Herbst Andreas
Published: June 2021

In 2015, FIGO revised the 1987 intrapartum cardiotocography (CTG) classification (FIGO1987). A less radical FIGO2015 version was introduced in Sweden 2017 (SWE2017). Now, post hoc simulation studies show that FIGO2015 and SWE2017 are less reliable than (a modified) FIGO1987. FIGO2015 shows significantly better interobserver agreement for normal CTG traces than FIGO1987, but significantly worse for pathological traces. Agreements between templates are moderate to good, but different classifications of mainly variable decelerations and tachycardia cause significant heterogeneities. FIGO2015 shows insufficient sensitivity to identify fetal acidemia compared with FIGO1987. In connection with fetal electrocardiogram ST analysis, one study showed no template was superior in identifying fetal acidemia, but in a series of only academia, FIGO1987 had significantly higher sensitivity than FIGO2015 (73% vs. 43%) and set of an alarm for fetal acidemia considerably earlier. With SWE2017, operative interventions declined significantly in Sweden but several adverse neonatal outcomes increased significantly. It remains to investigate the development with FIGO2015.
Therapeutic potential of megadose vitamin C to reverse organ dysfunction in sepsis and COVID‐19
Authors: May Clive N. , Bellomo Rinaldo , Lankadeva Yugeesh R.
Published: June 2021

Sepsis induced by bacteria or viruses can result in multiorgan dysfunction, which is a major cause of death in intensive care units. Current treatments are only supportive, and there are no treatments that reverse the pathophysiological effects of sepsis. Vitamin C has antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, anticoagulant and immune modulatory actions, so it is a rational treatment for sepsis. Here, we summarise data that support the use of megadose vitamin C as a treatment for sepsis and COVID‐19. Megadose intravenous sodium ascorbate (150 g per 40 kg over 7 h) dramatically improved the clinical state and cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic and renal function and decreased body temperature, in a clinically relevant ovine model of Gram‐negative bacteria‐induced sepsis. In a critically ill COVID‐19 patient, intravenous sodium ascorbate (60 g) restored arterial pressure, improved renal function and increased arterial blood oxygen levels. These findings suggest that megadose vitamin C should be trialled as a treatment for sepsis and COVID‐19.