bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A randomised control trial investigating the effect of improving the cleaning of shared medical equipment on healthcare-associated infections (The CLEEN study): Statistical Analysis Plan
Authors: White Nicole , Cheng Allen , Browne Katrina , Russo Philip , Stewardson Andrew , Amin Maham , Graham Kirsty , King Jennie , Tehan Peta , Brain David , Northcote Maria , Mitchell Brett
Published: December 2023

This document outlines the Statistical Analysis Plan for the CLEaning and Enhanced disiNfection (CLEEN) study. The CLEaning and Enhanced disiNfection (CLEEN) study is a stepped wedge cluster randomised trial evaluating the role of enhanced cleaning and disinfection of shared medical equipment as part of hospital infection prevention and control programs. The study is preregistered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12622001143718) and is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (GNT2008392). The full study protocol used to inform the Statistical Analysis Plan has been published.1A signed copy of the Statistical Analysis Plan is available on request from the corresponding author (BM).
Exploring novel risk loci for heart failure and the shared genetic etiology with blood lipids, blood pressure, and blood glucose: a large-scale multi-trait association analysis
Authors: Zhu Yanchen , Wang Yahui , Cui Zhaorui , Liu Fani , Hu Jiqiang
Published: December 2023

Background

The comprehensive exploration of genomic risk loci for heart failure (HF) remains constrained, and the genetic role of blood lipids (BL), blood pressure (BP) and blood glucose (BG) in HF has not been fully characterized.

Methods

We first assessed the global and local genetic correlations between HF and the quantitative traits of BL, BP, and BG. We then employed multi-trait association analysis and multi-trait colocalization analysis to identify novel and pleiotropic genomic risk loci for HF. Furthermore, we explored potential genes, pathways, tissues, and cells associated with HF involving BL, BP, and BG. Lastly, we investigated potential therapeutic targets for HF.

Findings

We found extensive global and local genetic correlations between HF and the traits of BL, BP, and BG. Multi-trait association analysis successfully identified 154 novel genomic risk loci for HF. Multi-trait colocalization analysis further revealed 46, 35, and 14 co-localized loci shared by HF with BL, BP, and BG, respectively. We found that the loci shared by HF with these traits rarely overlapped, indicating distinct shared mechanisms. Gene-mapping, gene-based, and transcriptome-wide association analyses prioritized noteworthy candidate genes (such as LPL, GRK5, and TNNC1) for HF. In enrichment analysis, HF exhibited comparable characteristics with cardiovascular traits and metabolic correlated to BL, BP, and BG. We provided genetic evidence for putative drugs, and highlighted 33 robust potential protein targets.

Interpretation

These findings will provide biological insights into the pathogenesis for HF, and benefit the development of preventive or therapeutic drugs for HF.
Effect of nutrition assessment, counselling and support integration on mother- infant nutritional status, practices and health in Tororo and Butaleja districts, Uganda: A comparative non equivalent quasi experimental study
Authors: Namukose Samalie , Maina Gakenia Wamuyu , Kiwanuka Suzanne N , Makumbi Fredrick Edward
Published: December 2023

Background

Malnutrition remains a health challenge for women aged 15 to 49 years and their infants. While Nutrition Assessment Counselling and Support (NACS) is considered a promising strategy, evidence on its effectiveness remains scanty. This study assessed the effect of comprehensive NACS package on the mother-infant practices, health and nutrition outcomes in two districts in Eastern Uganda.

Methods

A comparative non equivalent quasi experimental design was employed with two groups; Comprehensive NACS (Tororo) and Routine NACS (Butaleja). Pregnant mothers were enrolled spanning various trimesters and followed through the antenatal periods and post-delivery for health and nutrition status. Infants were followed for feeding practices, health and nutritional status at birth and weeks 6, 10, 14 and at month 6, 9 and 12 post-delivery. Propensity score matching ensured study group comparability. The NACS effect was estimated by nearest neighbour matching and the logistic regression methods. Statistical analysis utilised STATA version 15 and R version 4.1.1.

Results

A total of 666/784 (85%) with complete data and were analysed (routine: 412, comprehensive: 254). Both groups were comparable by mothers’ age, MUAC, prior antenatal visits, meal frequency, micronutrient supplementation and instances of maternal headache, depression and diarrhoea. However, differences existed in gestation age, income, family size, education and other living conditions. Comprehensive NACS infants exhibited higher infant birth weights, weight- for- age z-scores at the 3rd-6thvisits (p<0.001), length- for- age z scores at the 4th-7thvisits (p<0.001) and weight-for-length z-scores at the 3rd- 5th(p<=0.001) visits. Despite fewer episodes of diarrhoea and fever, upper respiration infections were higher.

Conclusion

The comprehensive NACS demonstrated improved mother-infant nutritional and other health outcomes suggesting the need for integrated and holistic care for better maternal, infant and child health.
Patterns of sacral dysmorphism in pelvic CT scans at a national referral hospital in Kenya
Authors: Nyang’au Valentine B , Sitati Fred , Gakuya Edward , Amunga Oline
Published: December 2023

Background

Sacral dysmorphism refers to morphological variations found in the first two sacral segments that limit the safe placement of percutaneous sacral iliac screws. The prevalence is documented in European, North American and some Asian populations. However, studies within the African population including Kenya are lacking. The aim of the study was to describe the patterns of sacral dysmorphism in pelvic computerized tomography (CT) scans at a national referral hospital in Kenya.

Methods

A cross-sectional study carried out at the Radiology Department, Kenyatta National Hospital from March 2020 to March 2021 involving the radiographic evaluation of 293 stored abdominal pelvic CT scans of patients. Sacral dysmorphism was identified based on the sacral dysmorphism score >70 and the presence of any of the six morphological features of sacral dysmorphism.

Results

A sacral dysmorphism score of more than 70 was found to in 64% of the population. The prevalence of dysmorphic sacra (based on the presence of at least one qualitative feature) was 100%. The most prevalent feature of sacral dysmorphism was the lack of recession of the S1 segment (82%) followed by an unfused sacral segment (76%). Of note is that some qualitative features of sacral dysmorphism were protective against a high sacral dysmorphism score. There was no statistical significance of gender in sacral dysmorphism.

Conclusion

There is a high prevalence of sacral dysmorphism score in this population. There is a need for further studies to revisit the concept of dysmorphic sacra based on the presence of at least one qualitative feature as all our participants had at least one feature.
Metabolic disruption impairs ribosomal protein levels, resulting in enhanced aminoglycoside tolerance
Authors: Shiraliyev Rauf , Orman Mehmet A.
Published: December 2023

Aminoglycoside antibiotics display broad-spectrum activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria by targeting their ribosomes. Herein, we have demonstrated that energy metabolism plays a crucial role in aminoglycoside tolerance, as knockout strains associated with the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) and the electron transport chain (ETC) exhibited increased tolerance to aminoglycosides in the mid-exponential growth phase ofEscherichia colicells. Given that aminoglycoside uptake relies on the energy-driven electrochemical potential across the cytoplasmic membrane, our initial expectation was that these genetic perturbations would decrease the proton motive force (PMF), subsequently affecting the uptake of aminoglycosides. However, our results did not corroborate this assumption. We found no consistent metabolic changes, ATP levels, cytoplasmic pH variations, or membrane potential differences in the mutant strains compared to the wild type. Additionally, intracellular concentrations of fluorophore-labeled gentamicin remained similar across all strains. To uncover the mechanism responsible for the observed tolerance in mutant strains, we employed untargeted mass spectrometry to quantify the proteins within these mutants and subsequently compared them to their wild-type counterparts. Our comprehensive analysis, which encompassed protein-protein association networks and functional enrichment, unveiled a noteworthy upregulation of proteins linked to the TCA cycle in the mutant strains during the mid-exponential growth phase, suggesting that these strains compensate for the perturbation in their energy metabolism by increasing TCA cycle activity to maintain their membrane potential and ATP levels. Furthermore, our pathway enrichment analysis shed light on local network clusters displaying downregulation across all mutant strains, which were associated with both large and small ribosomal binding proteins, ribosome biogenesis, translation factor activity, and the biosynthesis of ribonucleoside monophosphates. These findings offer a plausible explanation for the observed tolerance of aminoglycosides in the mutant strains. Altogether, this research has the potential to uncover mechanisms behind aminoglycoside tolerance, paving the way for novel strategies to combat such cells.
Nanodelivery of lipids to coral larvae maximises post-settlement survival: Implications for larval ecology and reef restoration
Authors: Boulotte Nadine M. , Rudd David , Harrison Peter L. , Humphrey Craig , Benkendorff Kirsten
Published: December 2023

Interest in reef restoration is increasing as coral mortality has accelerated at an unprecedented rate. However, high mortality rates of coral early-life stages represent a population bottleneck, which directly impacts the effectiveness of restoration projects. While most coral larvae are considered lecithotrophic and catabolise maternally transmitted lipids to meet metabolic demands; here we demonstrate that coral larvae can be facultative feeders. We used nanoparticles to deliver triacylglycerides to aposymbiotic larvae which resulted in a 30% increase in larval energetic lipids, and a 46% increase in survival rate, up to 16 weeks post-settlement. Changes in phospholipid molecular species in the larvae suggest phagocytosis of the nanoparticles, and an increase in free fatty acids indicates lipolysis of the phagocytosed triacylglycerides. We suggest that a continuum of nutritional strategies should be recognised in coral early-life stages, and that nanoparticles can be used by restoration practitioners to deliver nutritional resources to maximise restoration outcomes.
Converging paths: Harnessing ensemble modelling to predict human wild pig conflict risk zones in Tamil Nadu
Authors: Shameer Thekke Thumbath , Routray Priyambada , Udhayan A , Ranjan Nihar , Ganesan Mannika Govindan , Manimozhi Arulmani , Kumari Dhayanithi Vasantha
Published: December 2023

Growing human populations and human activity intensify human-wildlife conflicts, particularly with wild pigs (Sus scrofa), necessitating consideration of both human and wildlife requirements. This complexity demands a comprehensive assessment of causes, impacts, and mitigation strategies for such conflicts. In order to address these issues, we conducted studies across the forest divisions of Tamil Nadu by collecting secondary data on conflicts from 2016 to 2021. Out of the 3301 incidents we collected, 94.4% were specifically related to crop damage and occurred mostly during the month of December, followed by November. Dharmapuri Forest Division was found to be the highest contributor to overall conflicts. Temporal analysis revealed conflict peaks in December, followed by November and September. Using ensemble modelling we predicted a conflict risk zone of approximately 49,223 km2, which represents 37.8% of the total area of Tamil Nadu. Variables like human modification index and mean annual temperature had the highest contribution to model performance. Our model’s projections indicate that areas with cultivated lands in close proximity to the fringes of forests, especially in regions where there is a greater degree of human modification, are associated with heightened levels of conflict risk. This study provides a concise overview of a comprehensive study on human-wild pig conflict, encompassing an exploration of conflict triggers and ecological impacts in the state of Tamil Nadu. The study offers a comprehensive roadmap for managing human-wild pig conflicts in Tamil Nadu, highlighting key triggers, ecological impacts, and conflict risk factors.
Multimodal Large Language Models are Generalist Medical Image Interpreters
Authors: Han Tianyu , Adams Lisa C. , Nebelung Sven , Kather Jakob Nikolas , Bressem Keno K. , Truhn Daniel
Published: December 2023

Medicine is undergoing a transformation with the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Traditional AI models, though clinically useful and often matching or surpassing expert clinicians in specific tasks, face a scalability challenge due to the necessity of developing individual models for each task. Therefore, there is a push towards foundation models that are applicable to a wider set of tasks. Our study showcases how non-domain-specific, publicly available vision-language models can be employed as general foundation models for medical applications. We test our paradigm across four medical disciplines - pathology, dermatology, ophthalmology, and radiology - focusing on two use-cases within each discipline. We find that our approach beats existing pre-training methods and is competitive to domain-specific foundation models that require vast amounts of domain-specific training images. We also find that large vision-language models are data efficient and do not require large annotated datasets to reach competitive performance. This allows for the development of new or improved AI models in areas of medicine where data is scarce and will accelerate medical progress towards true multimodal foundation models.
Mitochondria alterations in fibroblasts from sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients correlate with AD-related clinical hallmarks
Authors: Eysert Fanny , Kinoshita Paula-Fernanda , Lagarde Julien , Lacas-Gervais Sandra , Xicota Laura , Dorothée Guillaume , Bottlaender Michel , Checler Frédéric , Potier Marie-Claude , Sarazin Marie , Chami Mounia
Published: December 2023

INTRODUCTION

Mitochondria dysfunctions are key features in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The occurrence of these disturbances in AD patient’s peripheral cells and their potential correlation with disease progression are under investigated.

METHODS

We studied mitochondrial structure, function and mitophagy in fibroblasts including healthy volunteers and AD patients at the prodromal (AD-MCI) or demented (AD-D) stages. We carried out correlation studies with clinical cognitive scores, Aβ plaques burden and the accumulation of peripheral amyloid precursor protein C-terminal fragments (APP-CTFs).

RESULTS

We unveiled progressive alteration of mitochondria structure as well as specific mitochondrial dysfunctions signatures in AD-MCI and AD-D fibroblasts and show defective mitophagy and autophagy linked to impaired lysosomal activity in AD-D fibroblasts. We reported on significant correlations of a subset of these dysfunctions with cognitive decline, AD-related clinical hallmarks and peripheral APP-CTFs accumulation.

DISCUSSION

This study emphasizes the potential use of peripheral cells for investigating AD pathophysiology and likely diagnosis.
Dynamic conformational changes of acid-sensing ion channels in different desensitizing conditions
Authors: Marcher Holm Caroline , Topaktas Asli B. , Dannesboe Johs , Pless Stephan A. , Heusser Stephanie A.
Published: December 2023

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are proton-gated cation channels that contribute to fast synaptic transmission and have roles in fear conditioning and nociception. Apart from activation at low pH, ASIC1a also undergoes several types of desensitization, including ‘acute desensitization’ that terminates activation, ‘steady-stated desensitization’ that occurs at sub-activating proton concentrations and limits subsequent activation, and ‘tachyphylaxis’ that results in a progressive decrease in response during a series of activations. Structural insights from a desensitized state of ASIC1 have provided great spatial detail, but dynamic insights into conformational changes in different desensitizing conditions are largely missing. Here, we use electrophysiology and voltage-clamp fluorometry to follow the functional changes of the pore along with conformational changes at several positions in the extracellular and upper transmembrane domain via cysteine-labeled fluorophores. Acute desensitization terminates activation in wild-type but introducing an N414K mutation in the β11-12 linker of mouse ASIC1a interfered with this process. The mutation also affected steady-state desensitization and led to pronounced tachyphylaxis.

Common to all types of desensitization was that the extracellular domain remained sensitive to pH and underwent pH-dependent conformational changes. These conformational changes did, however, not necessarily lead to desensitization. N414K-containing channels remained sensitive to known peptide modulators that increased steady-state desensitization, indicating that the mutation only reduced, but not precluded, desensitization. Together, this study contributes to understanding the fundamental properties of ASIC1a desensitization, emphasizing the complex interplay between the conformational changes of the ECD and the pore during channel activation and desensitization.

Statement of significance

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are proton-gated ion channels that contribute to synaptic activity and play roles in acidosis-related diseases. Prolonged acidosis can lead to desensitization in ASIC1a, and modulators that affect this desensitization have shown beneficial effects in pain and stroke. In this study, we investigated the functional and conformational changes during acute desensitization, steady-state desensitization, and tachyphylaxis through a mutation in the β11-12 linker of ASIC1a. We found that the mutation retained pH-dependent conformational changes of the extracellular domain (ECD) but largely disconnected these movements from the channel pore. Collectively, our work emphasizes the critical role of the β11-12 linker for the pH-dependent conformational interplay between the ECD and the channel pore.
Iron depletion has different consequences on the growth and survival ofToxoplasma gondiistrains
Authors: Renaud Eléa A. , Maupin Ambre J.M. , Bordat Yann , Graindorge Arnault , Berry Laurence , Besteiro Sébastien
Published: December 2023

Toxoplasma gondiiis an obligate intracellular parasite that is responsible for a pathology called toxoplasmosis which is primarily affecting immunocompromised individuals and developing fetuses. The parasite is able to scavenge essential nutrients from its host to support its own growth and survival. Among them, iron is one of the most important elements needed to sustain basic cellular functions, as it is involved in a number of key metabolic processes, including oxygen transport, redox balance and electron transport. We have evaluated the effects of an iron chelator on the development of several parasite strains and found that they differed in their ability to tolerate iron depletion. The growth of parasites usually associated with a model of acute toxoplasmosis was strongly impacted by iron depletion, while cystogenic strains were less sensitive as they were able to convert into persisting developmental forms which are associated with the chronic form of the disease. Ultrastructural and biochemical characterization of the impact of iron depletion on the parasites also highlighted striking changes in both in their metabolism and the one of the host, with a marked accumulation of lipid droplets and perturbation of lipid homeostasis. Overall, our study demonstrates that although acute iron depletion has an important effect on the growth ofT. gondii, it has a more profound impact on actively dividing parasites, while less metabolically-active parasite forms may be able to avoid some of the most detrimental consequences.
Cyclin A/Cdk1 promotes chromosome alignment and timely mitotic progression
Authors: Valles Sarah Y. , Godek Kristina M. , Compton Duane A.
Published: December 2023

To ensure genomic fidelity a series of spatially and temporally coordinated events are executed during prometaphase of mitosis, including bipolar spindle formation, chromosome attachment to spindle microtubules at kinetochores, the correction of erroneous kinetochore-microtubule (k-MT) attachments, and chromosome congression to the spindle equator. Cyclin A/Cdk1 kinase plays a key role in destabilizing k-MT attachments during prometaphase to promote correction of erroneous k-MT attachments. However, it is unknown if Cyclin A/Cdk1 kinase regulates other events during prometaphase. Here, we investigate additional roles of Cyclin A/Cdk1 in prometaphase by using an siRNA knockdown strategy to deplete endogenous Cyclin A from human cells. We find that depleting Cyclin A significantly extends mitotic duration, specifically prometaphase, because chromosome alignment is delayed. Unaligned chromosomes display erroneous monotelic, syntelic, or lateral k-MT attachments suggesting that bioriented k-MT attachment formation is delayed in the absence of Cyclin A. Mechanistically, chromosome alignment is likely impaired because the localization of the kinetochore proteins BUB1 kinase, KNL1, and MPS1 kinase are reduced in Cyclin A-depleted cells. Moreover, we find that Cyclin A promotes BUB1 kinetochore localization independently of its role in destabilizing k-MT attachments. Thus, Cyclin A/Cdk1 facilitates chromosome alignment during prometaphase to support timely mitotic progression.
Dissecting an ancient stress resistance trait syndrome in the compost yeastKluyveromyces marxianus
Authors: Christensen Kaylee E. , Duarte Abel , Ma Zhenzhen , Edwards Judith L. , Brem Rachel B.
Published: December 2023

In the search to understand how evolution builds new traits, ancient events are often the hardest to dissect. Species-unique traits pose a particular challenge for geneticists—cases in which a character arose long ago and, in the modern day, is conserved within a species, distinguishing it from reproductively isolated relatives. In this work, we have developed the budding yeast genusKluyveromycesas a model for mechanistic dissection of trait variation across species boundaries. Phenotypic profiling revealed robust heat and chemical-stress tolerance phenotypes that distinguished the compost yeastK. marxianusfrom the rest of the clade. We used culture-based, transcriptomic, and genetic approaches to characterize the metabolic requirements of theK. marxianustrait syndrome. We then generated a population-genomic resource forK. marxianusand harnessed it in molecular-evolution analyses, which found hundreds of housekeeping genes with evidence for adaptive protein variation unique to this species. Our data support a model in which, in the distant past,K. marxianusunderwent a vastly complex remodeling of its proteome to achieve stress resistance. Such a polygenic architecture, involving nucleotide-level allelic variation on a massive scale, is consistent with theoretical models of the mechanisms of long-term adaptation, and suggests principles of broad relevance for interspecies trait genetics.
Reversible assembly and disassembly of V-ATPase during the lysosome regeneration cycle
Authors: Sava Ioana , Davis Luther J. , Gray Sally R. , Bright Nicholas A. , Luzio J. Paul
Published: December 2023

Regulation of the luminal pH of late endocytic compartments in continuously fed mammalian cells is poorly understood. Using normal rat kidney fibroblasts, we investigated the reversible assembly/disassembly of the proton pumping V-ATPase when endolysosomes are formed by kissing and fusion of late endosomes with lysosomes and during the subsequent reformation of lysosomes. We took advantage of previous work showing that sucrosomes formed by the uptake of sucrose are swollen endolysosomes from which lysosomes are reformed after uptake of invertase. Using confocal microscopy and subcellular fractionation of NRK cells stably expressing fluorescently tagged proteins, we found net recruitment of the V1 subcomplex during sucrosome formation and loss during lysosome reformation, with a similar time course to RAB7a loss. Addition of invertase did not alter mTORC1 signalling, suggesting that the regulation of reversible V-ATPase assembly/disassembly in continuously fed cells differs from that in cells subject to amino acid depletion/re-feeding. Using live cell microscopy, we demonstrated recruitment of a fluorescently tagged V1 subunit during endolysosome formation and a dynamic equilibrium and rapid exchange between the cytosolic and membrane bound pools of this subunit. We conclude that reversible V-ATPase assembly/disassembly plays a key role in regulating endolysosomal/lysosomal pH in continuously fed cells.

Significance statement

In continuously fed cells there is net recruitment of the V1 subcomplex of the proton pumping V-ATPase to endolysosomes as they are formed by kissing and fusion of late endosomes with lysosomes, reducing the luminal pH to promote the activity of lysosomal hydrolases.

During lysosome reformation, alterations in mTORC1 signalling are not required for the net disassembly of the V-ATPase subcomplex, which occurs with a similar time course to loss of RAB7a.

Alteration of the dynamic equilibrium and rapid exchange between the cytosolic and endolysosome-bound pools of the V1 subcomplex likely underlies the mechanism of V-ATPase assembly/disassembly.
Fast Radon transforms for high-precision EBSD orientation determination using PyEBSDIndex
Authors: Rowenhorst David J. , Callahan Patrick G. , Ånes Håkon W.
Published: December 2023

The automated indexing and orientation determination of backscattered Kikuchi patterns is an essential step in electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis. Here a new Radon-transform-based algorithm is developed within the software package PyEBSDIndex, which features a number of key improvements over what has been traditionally available. The Radon convolutions use derivatives of Gaussian kernels that more closely match EBSD band profiles, which is combined with sub-pixel localization of the peaks in the Radon transform. Additionally, the weighted quaternion estimator algorithm (QUEST) is leveraged to provide the final estimation of the crystal orientation. The combination of these techniques allows for high-accuracy indexing and precise orientation determination, with tests on simulated patterns showing mean orientation errors as low as 0.037° and a 95% confidence level of 0.073°. Additional testing of the effect of pattern noise shows that PyEBSDIndex performs similarly to the spherical harmonic transform indexing methods except in the most extreme levels of low pattern quality. A test case of indexing a dual-phase Ti-6Al-4V EBSD map finds that PyEBSDIndex differentiates phases equivalently to the commercial Hough indexing solution, with orientation noise 75% lower than the commercial solution. Finally, it is shown that PyEBSDIndex, by performing the image processing calculations on the GPU, is able to analyze patterns at unprecedented speeds, in some cases at over 45 000 patterns s−1, thereby providing sufficient speed for newer, high-speed detectors. PyEBSD
Index is open source and available at https://github.com/USNavalResearchLaboratory/PyEBSDIndex.
ProLEED Studio: software for modeling low-energy electron diffraction patterns
Authors: Procházka Pavel , Čechal Jan
Published: December 2023

Low-energy electron diffraction patterns contain precise information about the structure of the surface studied. However, retrieving the real space lattice periodicity from complex diffraction patterns is challenging, especially when the modeled patterns originate from superlattices with large unit cells composed of several symmetry-equivalent domains without a simple relation to the substrate. This work presents ProLEED Studio software, built to provide simple, intuitive and precise modeling of low-energy electron diffraction patterns. The interactive graphical user interface allows real-time modeling of experimental diffraction patterns, change of depicted diffraction spot intensities, visualization of different diffraction domains, and manipulation of any lattice points or diffraction spots. The visualization of unit cells, lattice vectors, grids and scale bars as well as the possibility of exporting ready-to-publish models in bitmap and vector formats significantly simplifies the modeling process and publishing of results.
Orientational analysis of atomic pair correlations in nanocrystalline indium oxide thin films
Authors: Hoffman Justin M. , Thompson Niklas B. , Borkiewicz Olaf , He Xiang , Amsterdam Samuel , Xie Zhu-lin , Taggart Aaron , Mulfort Karen L. , Martinson Alex B. F. , Chen Lin X. , Ruett Uta , Tiede David M.
Published: December 2023

The application of grazing-incidence total X-ray scattering (GITXS) for pair distribution function (PDF) analysis using >50 keV X-rays from synchrotron light sources has created new opportunities for structural characterization of supported thin films with high resolution. Compared with grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering, which is only useful for highly ordered materials, GITXS/PDFs expand such analysis to largely disordered or nanostructured materials by examining the atomic pair correlations dependent on the direction relative to the surface of the supporting substrate. A characterization of nanocrystalline In2O3-derived thin films is presented here with in-plane-isotropic and out-of-plane-anisotropic orientational ordering of the atomic structure, each synthesized using different techniques. The atomic orientations of such films are known to vary based on the synthetic conditions. Here, an azimuthal orientational analysis of these films using GITXS with a single incident angle is shown to resolve the markedly different orientations of the atomic structures with respect to the planar support and the different degrees of long-range order, and hence, the terminal surface chemistries. It is anticipated that orientational analysis of GITXS/PDF data will offer opportunities to extend structural analyses of thin films by providing a means to qualitatively determine the major atomic orientation within nanocrystalline and, eventually, non-crystalline films.
Synthesis, crystal structure and properties of poly[(μ-2-methylpyridine N-oxide-κ2
O:O)bis(μ-thiocyanato-κ2
N:S)cobalt(II)]
Authors: Näther Christian , Jess Inke
Published: December 2023

The title compound, [Co(NCS)2(C6H7NO)]
n
or Co(NCS)2(2-methylpyridine N-oxide), was prepared by the reaction of Co(NCS)2 and 2-methylpyridine N-oxide in methanol. All crystals obtained by this procedure show reticular pseudo-merohedric twinning, but after recrystallization, one crystal was found that had a minor component with only a very few overlapping reflections. The asymmetric unit consists of one CoII cation, two thiocyanate anions and one 2-methylpyridine N-oxide coligand in general positions. The CoII cations are octahedrally coordinated by two O-bonding 2-methylpyridine N-oxide ligands, as well as two S- and two N-bonding thiocyanate anions, and are connected via μ-1,3(N,S)-bridging thiocyanate anions into chains that are linked by μ-1,1(O,O) bridging coligands into layers. No pronounced directional intermolecular interactions are observed between the layers. The 2-methylpyridine coligand is disordered over two orientations and was refined using a split model with restraints. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) indicates that a pure sample was obtained and IR spectroscopy confirms that bridging thiocyanate anions are present. Thermogravimetry and differential thermoanalysis (TG-DTA) shows one poorly resolved mass loss in the TG curve that is accompanied by an exothermic and an endothermic signal in the DTA curve, which indicate the decomposition of the 2-methylpyridine N-oxide coligands.
Accounting, ESG dynamics and the pandemic: when the quality of disclosure becomes crucial to sustainable success
Authors: Murgolo Michael , Tettamanzi Patrizia , Minutiello Valentina
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the quality of disclosure of a cutting-edge reporting tool – integrated reporting () – in terms of its effectiveness to report on COVID-19 pandemic information, its ability to provide forward-looking information and risk impact implications, and its quality determinants in challenging times.

Design/methodology/approach

Thanks to a content analysis of 247  for FY20, an integrated reporting disclosure score was developed to assess the disclosure quality provided by the sampled companies. Three research questions were tested through logistic regressions.

Findings

Non-financial disclosure activities struggle to provide adequate information in terms of potential future scenarios, risk assessment and forward-looking analyses. However, companies incorporated in “Anglo-Saxon” territories drafted integrated reports of higher quality. More recently, incorporated companies have made a greater effort to measure and report COVID-19 pandemic impacts on environmental, social and governance and business activities, also increasing their risk assessment and mitigation efforts. Concerning the determinants of disclosure quality, leverage, corporate governance structures, country of incorporation and belonging to “high impact” industries all lead to a higher quality of  disclosure.

Originality/value

Examining in detail corporate social responsibility activities and corporate governance integrity is pivotal to orienting strategy towards sustainable trajectories: to do so, corporate reporting and disclosure practices are essential tools. In this context, corporate governance systems that emphasize board diversity are proven, even in disruptive circumstances, to play a crucial role in providing corporate reports of higher quality. High disclosure quality that goes beyond mere financial results is considered to be necessary to remain competitive strategically, socially and environmentally.
A systematic review of artificial intelligence in managing climate risks of PPP infrastructure projects
Authors: Akomea-Frimpong Isaac , Dzagli Jacinta Rejoice Ama Delali , Eluerkeh Kenneth , Bonsu Franklina Boakyewaa , Opoku-Brafi Sabastina , Gyimah Samuel , Asuming Nana Ama Sika , Atibila David Wireko , Kukah Augustine Senanu
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Recent United Nations Climate Change Conferences recognise extreme climate change of heatwaves, floods and droughts as threatening risks to the resilience and success of public–private partnership (PPP) infrastructure projects. Such conferences together with available project reports and empirical studies recommend project managers and practitioners to adopt smart technologies and develop robust measures to tackle climate risk exposure. Comparatively, artificial intelligence (AI) risk management tools are better to mitigate climate risk, but it has been inadequately explored in the PPP sector. Thus, this study aims to explore the tools and roles of AI in climate risk management of PPP infrastructure projects.

Design/methodology/approach

Systematically, this study compiles and analyses 36 peer-reviewed journal articles sourced from Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and PubMed.

Findings

The results demonstrate deep learning, building information modelling, robotic automations, remote sensors and fuzzy logic as major key AI-based risk models (tools) for PPP infrastructures. The roles of AI in climate risk management of PPPs include risk detection, analysis, controls and prediction.

Research limitations/implications

For researchers, the findings provide relevant guide for further investigations into AI and climate risks within the PPP research domain.

Practical implications

This article highlights the AI tools in mitigating climate crisis in PPP infrastructure management.

Originality/value

This article provides strong arguments for the utilisation of AI in understanding and managing numerous challenges related to climate change in PPP infrastructure projects.
Thinking fast and slow: a revised SOR model for an empirical examination of impulse buying at a luxury fashion outlet
Authors: Cao Dongmei , Meadows Maureen , Ma Xiao
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Despite the extensive stimulus–organism–response (SOR) literature, little attention has been paid to the role of marketing activity as a key environmental stimulus, and there is a dearth of research examining the interplay between emotions and cognition on consumer behaviour, as well as the sequential effects of emotions on cognition. To address these gaps, this study aims to develop a revised SOR model by incorporating Kahneman’s fast and slow thinking theory to investigate the impulse buying of affordable luxury fashion (ALF).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use outlet stores at Bicester village (BV) in England as the research context for ALF shopping. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was used to analyse a survey sample of 633 consumers with a BV shopping experience.

Findings

The authors find that impulse buying of ALF arises from the interplay of emotional and cognitive factors, as well as a sequential and dual process involving in-store stimuli affecting on-site emotion and in-store browsing.

Research limitations/implications

This study reveals that brand connection has a significant and negative influence on the relationship between on-site emotion and in-store browsing, advancing the SOR paradigm and reflecting the interactive effect of human emotion and reasoning on the impulse buying of ALF items.

Practical implications

Insights into consumers’ impulse buying offer practical implications for luxury brand management, specifically for ALF outlet retailers and store managers.

Originality/value

The results suggest a robust sequential effect of on-site emotion towards in-store browsing on impulse buying, providing updated empirical support for Kahneman’s theory of System 1 and System 2 thinking.
Time to imagine an escape: investigating the consumer timework at play in augmented reality
Authors: Preece Chloe , Skandalis Alexandros
Published: December 2023

Purpose

While the spatial dimensions of augmented reality (AR) have received significant attention in the marketing literature, to date, there has been less consideration of its temporal dimensions. This paper aims to theorise digital timework through AR to understand a new form of consumption experience that offers short-lived, immersive forms of mundane, marketer-led escape from everyday life.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw upon Casey’s phenomenological work to explore the emergence of new dynamics of temporalisation through digitised play. An illustrative case study using AR shows how consumers use this temporalisation to find stability and comfort through projecting backwards (remembering) and forwards (imagining) in their lives.

Findings

The proliferation of novel digital technologies and platforms has radically transformed consumption experiences as the boundaries between the physical and the virtual, fantasy and reality and play and work have become increasingly blurred. The findings show how temporary escape is carved out within digital space and time, where controlled imaginings provide consumers with an illusion of control over their lives as they re-establish cohesion in a ruptured sense of time.

Research limitations/implications

The authors consider the more critical implications of the offloading capacity of AR, which they show does not prevent cognitive processes such as imagination and remembering but rather puts limits on them. The authors show that these more short-lived, everyday types of digitised escape do not allow for an escape from the structures of everyday life within the market, as much of the previous literature suggests.

Practical implications

The authors argue that corporations need to reflect upon the potential threats of immersive technologies such as AR in harming consumer escapism and take these into serious consideration as part of their strategic experiential design strategies to avoid leading to detrimental effects upon consumer well-being. More nuanced conceptualisations are required to unpack the antecedents of limiting people’s imagination and potentially limiting the fully fledged escape that consumers might desire.

Originality/value

Prior work has conceptualised AR as offloading the need for imagination by making the absent present. The authors critically unpack the implications of this for a more fluid understanding of the temporal logics and limits of consumer escapism.
Grey angle cosine relational degree model based on generalized greyness of interval grey number
Authors: Zhang Li , Li Xican
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Aim to the limitations of grey relational analysis of interval grey number, based on the generalized greyness of interval grey number, this paper tries to construct a grey angle cosine relational degree model from the perspective of proximity and similarity.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, the algorithms of the generalized greyness of interval grey number and interval grey number vector are given, and its properties are analyzed. Then, based on the grey relational theory, the grey angle cosine relational model is proposed based on the generalized greyness of interval grey number, and the relationship between the classical cosine similarity model and the grey angle cosine relational model is analyzed. Finally, the validity of the model in this paper is illustrated by the calculation examples and an application example of related factor analysis of maize yield.

Findings

The results show that the grey angle cosine relational degree model has strict theoretical basis, convenient calculation and is easy to program, which can not only fully utilize the information of interval grey numbers but also overcome the shortcomings of greyness relational degree model. The grey angle cosine relational degree is an extended form of cosine similarity degree of real numbers. The calculation examples and the related factor analysis of maize yield show that the model proposed in this paper is feasible and valid.

Practical implications

The research results not only further enrich the grey system theory and method but also provide a basis for the grey relational analysis of the sequences in which the interval grey numbers coexist with the real numbers.

Originality/value

The paper succeeds in realizing the algorithms of the generalized greyness of interval grey number and interval grey number vector, and the grey angle cosine relational degree, which provide a new method for grey relational analysis.
Functional view and technological progress of a sociotechnical system: illustrated with an interventionist state
Authors: Kompella Lakshminarayana
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Organizations use innovations and respond to external pressures, creating a transition to the sociotechnical system. In their transitions, they interact with the environment and undergo adaptation-selection. The extant literature used a multilevel perspective (MLP) with a structural view and examined dynamics and transitions (phenomena) in a noninterventionistic setting. This study aims to examine the dynamics and phenomena with a microstructural or functional view and expand the MLP; this paper uses neo-institutionalism and human values as part of the functional view. Moreover, when the authors examine the phenomena in an interventionistic setting, they can obtain certain unique dynamics and their influence on the phenomena.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors need to examine the phenomena in its setting, so this paper selected a case study, Indian electricity generation. For diverse heuristic and analytic views, it selected two Indian states.

Findings

The findings from the functional view showed that organizations exhibit certain traits of neo-institutionalism and human values, which mediate their responses (behavior) to external pressures. Additionally, due to the interventionist state, their dynamics use shaping instead of selection logic for innovations, which decides the transition pathway selection (technology adoption). It further decided the extent to which innovations cumulate as stable designs. As a result, the responses and the transition provide benefits in the short term while invariably failing in the long term.

Research limitations/implications

By selecting cases with higher investments in renewable energies and combustible fuels, the authors can expand the functional view to include user typologies such as producers, intermediaries and citizen groups and obtain further insights into transitions.

Practical implications

The study highlights the generation dynamics specific to Indian electricity generation and its transition pathways. The study’s outcome provides insights to researchers and practitioners in formulating policy changes and transforming electricity generation.

Originality/value

The study uses a functional view comprising neo-institutionalism and human values and expands the sociotechnical transition theory. In addition, selecting an interventionist setting provided insights into dynamics specific to organizational behavior and associated services. Finally, the obtained insights offer suggestions for technology development to better manage transitions with adaptation-selection.