bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cannabinoid type-1 (CB1) receptors in glial cells promote neuromuscular junction repair following nerve injury
Authors: Piovesana Roberta , Charron Sophie , Arbour Danielle , Marsicano Giovanni , Bellocchio Luigi , Robitaille Richard
Published: January 2024

Cannabinoids are frequently used in the treatment of neuropathic pain related to nerve injury. However, despite evidence for their roles in the regulation of axonal guidance and synapse formation during development of the central nervous system (CNS), their possible involvement in response to peripheral nerve injury remains poorly defined and the knowledge of its role is mostly related to the peripheral sensory system.

Following nerve injury, contemporary to axonal repair, massive morphological and functional changes reshape synaptic elements at neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) aiming to promote their reinnervation. This process is mediated in part by Perisynaptic Schwann cells (PSCs), glial cells at the NMJ essential for its maintenance and repair.

Here we investigated the novel role of Cannabinoid type-1 receptor (CB1R) at NMJ, in particular on PSCs, during motor nerve recovery following nerve injury. Using morphological analysis, we studied the consequences of CB1R pharmacological and genetic blockade following denervation and reinnervation in adult NMJs. CB1R blockade caused an acceleration of the denervation process followed by a great delay in reinnervation as indicated by a significant percentage of denervated NMJs, accompanied by a decrease of mono- and poly-innervated NMJs. Remarkably, a similar phenomenon was observed when CB1R is selectively knocked-out in glia, indicating that the protective actions of these receptors are largely glia-dependent.

These data highlight a novel role of the endocannabinoid system at NMJs, where the CB1Rs on PSCs can control NMJ denervation and reinnervation following nerve injury. A better understanding of the functional mechanisms underlying CB1R role in NMJ repair may contribute to finding a new pharmacological treatment having a dual role in improvements of motor recovery and in pain-related relief.
Complex interspecific interactions influence the interactions between pest control and pollination in coffee agroecosystems
Authors: Vaidya Chatura , Dominguez Martine Gabriel , Vandermeer John
Published: January 2024

Ecosystem services mediated by biodiversity are essential for the well-being of human beings. While there is ample research on individual ecosystem services (such as pollination, nutrient cycling), there is now growing recognition to examine the interactions between multiple ecosystem services and their contribution to productivity in order to manage agroecosystems sustainably. In this study, we examined the interactions between pollination and pest control in coffee agroecosystems in Chiapas, Mexico. We tested how management of shade trees, particularly of nitrogen-fixing shade trees, at the farm scale mediated the outcome of the interactions between two ES. We found that there was no trade-off between pest control and pollination services despite the deterrence of pollinators by the dominant and aggressive ant species,Azteca sericeasur, which also controls the coffee berry borer, a major pest ofCoffea arabica. We found additive effects of pest-control and pollination on early fruit set and fruit weight of coffee plants. Proximity to nitrogen-fixing shade trees had indirect effects on pest-control via the reduction ofAzteca sericeasuractivity on the coffee bushes. These findings highlight that ecosystem services are a result of complex interspecific interactions and that biodiversity-friendly management practices can promote favorable outcomes of these interactions on coffee yield.
Uncovering the genetic architecture and evolutionary roots of androgenetic alopecia in African men
Authors: Janivara Rohini , Hazra Ujani , Pfennig Aaron , Harlemon Maxine , Kim Michelle S. , Eaaswarkhanth Muthukrishnan , Chen Wenlong C. , Ogunbiyi Adebola , Kachambwa Paidamoyo , Petersen Lindsay N. , Jalloh Mohamed , Mensah James E. , Adjei Andrew A. , Adusei Ben , Joffe Maureen , Gueye Serigne M. , Aisuodionoe-Shadrach Oseremen I. , Fernandez Pedro W. , Rohan Thomas E. , Andrews Caroline , Rebbeck Timothy R. , Adebiyi Akindele O. , Agalliu Ilir , Lachance Joseph
Published: January 2024

Androgenetic alopecia is a highly heritable trait. However, much of our understanding about the genetics of male pattern baldness comes from individuals of European descent. Here, we examined a novel dataset comprising 2,136 men from Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa that were genotyped using a custom array. We first tested how genetic predictions of baldness generalize from Europe to Africa, finding that polygenic scores from European GWAS yielded AUC statistics that ranged from 0.513 to 0.546, indicating that genetic predictions of baldness in African populations performed notably worse than in European populations. Subsequently, we conducted the first African GWAS of androgenetic alopecia, focusing on self-reported baldness patterns at age 45. After correcting for present age, population structure, and study site, we identified 266 moderately significant associations, 51 of which were independent (p-value < 10-5, r2< 0.2). Most baldness associations were autosomal, and the X chromosomes does not appear to have a large impact on baldness in African men. Finally, we examined the evolutionary causes of continental differences in genetic architecture. Although Neanderthal alleles have previously been associated with skin and hair phenotypes, we did not find evidence that European-ascertained baldness hits were enriched for signatures of ancient introgression. Most loci that are associated with androgenetic alopecia are evolving neutrally. However, multiple baldness-associated SNPs near theEDA2RandARgenes have large allele frequency differences between continents. Collectively, our findings illustrate how evolutionary history contributes to the limited portability of genetic predictions across ancestries.
Orthotopic injection of an established syngeneic mouse oral cancer cell line (MOC1) induces a robust draining lymph node response
Authors: Kansal Vikash , Kinney Brendan L.C. , Schmitt Nicole C.
Published: January 2024

Background

Preclinical models are invaluable for studies on the pathogenesis and treatment of head and neck cancer. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the use of orthotopic syngeneic models, wherein head and neck cancer cell lines are injected into the oral cavity of immunocompetent mice. However, few such orthotopic models have been described in detail. In this brief report, we describe techniques for injection of mouse oral cancer 1 (MOC1) cells into the buccal mucosa and illustrate the tumor growth pattern, lymph node response, and changes in the tumor immune microenvironment over time.

Methods

MOC1 cells were injected into the buccal mucosa of C57BL6 mice. Animals were sacrificed at 7, 14, 21, or 27 days. Tumors and lymph nodes were harvested and analyzed for immune cell subsets by flow cytometry.

Results

All inoculated mice developed palpable buccal tumors by day 7 and required euthanasia for tumor burden and/or weight loss by day 27. Lymph node mapping showed that these tumors reliably drain to a submandibular lymph node, which enlarges considerably over time. As in MOC1 tumors in the flank, the proportion of intratumoral CD8+ T cells decreased over time, while neutrophilic myeloid cells increased dramatically. However, the pattern and time course of immune changes in the TME were slightly different in the orthotopic buccal model.

Conclusions

When used orthotopically in the buccal mucosa, the MOC1 model induces a robust lymph node response and distinct pattern of immune cell infiltration, with peak immune infiltration by day 14.
Potent Estrogen Receptor β Agonists with Inhibitory ActivityIn Vitro, Fail to Suppress Xenografts of Endocrine-Resistant Cyclin-dependent Kinase 4/6 inhibitor-Resistant Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Marcho Lynn M. , Coss Christopher C. , Xu Menglin , Datta Jharna , Manouchehri Jasmine M. , Cherian Mathew A.
Published: January 2024

Objective

Seventy percent of newly diagnosed breast cancers are estrogen receptor-α positive and HER2/neu negative [1]. First-line treatments incorporate endocrine therapy and cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors [2]. However, therapy resistance occurs in most patients [3-5]. Hence, there is an urgent need for effective second-line treatments. We previously showed that the potent estrogen receptor-β agonists, OSU-ERb-12 and LY500307, synergized with the selective estrogen receptor modulator, tamoxifen, in vitro. Furthermore, we showed that these compounds inhibited endocrine-resistant and cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6-inhibitor-resistant estrogen receptor α-positive cell lines in vitro [6]. Here, we used fulvestrant- and abemaciclib-resistant T47D-derived cell line xenografts to determine the efficacy of the combination of OSU-ERb-12 and LY500307 with tamoxifen in vivo.

Results

Despite efficacy in vitro, treatments failed to reduce xenograft tumor volumes. Hence, we conclude that this treatment strategy lacks direct cancer cell-intrinsic cytotoxic efficacy in vivo.
Compositional pretraining improves computational efficiency and matches animal behavior on complex tasks
Authors: Hocker David , Constantinople Christine M. , Savin Cristina
Published: January 2024

1

Recurrent neural networks (RNN) are ubiquitously used in neuroscience to capture both neural dynamics and behaviors of living systems. However, when it comes to complex cognitive tasks, training RNNs with traditional methods can prove difficult and fall short of capturing crucial aspects of animal behavior. Here we propose a principled approach for identifying and incorporating compositional tasks as part of RNN training. Taking as target a temporal wagering task previously studied in rats, we design a pretraining curriculum of simpler cognitive tasks that reflect relevant sub-computations. We show that this pretraining substantially improves learning efficacy and is critical for RNNs to adopt similar strategies as rats, including long-timescale inference of latent states, which conventional pretraining approaches fail to capture. Mechanistically, our pretraining supports the development of slow dynamical systems features needed for implementing both inference and value-based decision making. Overall, our approach is an important step for endowing RNNs with relevant inductive biases, which is important when modeling complex behaviors that rely on multiple cognitive computations.
The role of m6A methyltransferase WTAP in inflammatory response of atherosclerosis through NF-κB/NLRP3 mediated pyroptosis
Authors: Hu Bing , He Mei , Sha Yanhua , Guo Fengxia
Published: January 2024

Background

Pyroptosis is a new form of pro-inflammatory programmed cell death that has been linked to the development of atherosclerosis (AS). However, its exact mechanisms are not known. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation is the commonest and most abundant epigenetic modification of eukaryotic mRNAs. m6A methylation modulates pathological and physiological processes involved in cardiovascular diseases. However, the exact mechanism by which it regulates inflammation in AS is unclear.

Methods

In this study, the level of m6A and WTAP in CHD was explored. To determine the effect of WTAP on the release of pyrolysis-related proteins and pro-inflammatory cytokines, the expression of WTAP in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated endothelial cells was silenced. Pyroptosis-related proteins and pro-inflammatory cytokines were quantified in the presence of NLRP3 shRNA (shNLRP3) and NF-kB shRNA (shNF-kB(p50)). The interaction of NF-kB and NLRP3 was examined through immunoprecipitation (CO-IP), immunofluorescence (IF) and GST-pull down assays.

Result

It was observed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)-mediated pyroptosis and inflammation, both of which were abolished through the knockdown of WTAP. Interestingly, our results indicated that WTAP enhanced the function of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p50 (an NF-κB subunit) and that p50 could interact with NLRP3 in endothelial cells.

Conclusion

In conclusion, these results suggested that WTAP in the formation of pyroptosis and inflammation in endothelial cells exposed to LPS stress by activating the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway. These findings demonstrate the mechanism of WTAP regulation during the progression of AS.
A germline heterozygousPOLQnonsense mutation causes hereditary colorectal cancer
Authors: Xu Ning , Zhang Deng-Feng , Yang Kexin , Fan Yu , Huang Fengchang , Ren Junyu , Bi Rui , Li Yu , Ye Maosen , Xu Min , Zhou Yongchun , Li Wenhui , Shi Xiaoxiao , Wei Yubo , Zhang Chao , Yao Yong-Gang , Li Wen-Liang
Published: January 2024

The causal genes for a large proportion of hereditary colorectal adenomas and early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) remain to be identified. Here, we identified a germline heterozygous stop-gain mutation p.Arg1953X (rs150312701) of thePOLQ(DNA Polymerase Theta) gene, which is co-segregated with disease status, by whole-exome sequencing of twelve hereditary CRC pedigrees. The mutation was validated in an independent pedigree, resulting in ten p.Arg1953X carriers from two CRC families. Mechanically, the heterozygous nonsense mutation led to compensated overexpression of the mRNA with wild-typePOLQallele under DNA damage stress, resulting in hyperactivation of the error-prone theta mediated end-joining (TMEJ) DNA repair pathway, which enables the survival of mutation-enriched cells. Concordantly, tumor tissues from p.Arg1953X mutation carriers showed microsatellite instability and hypermutation, and were resistant to radiotherapy. We found that an FDA-approved antibiotic Novobiocin inhibits thePOLQ-mediated TMEJ pathway, eliminates the p.Arg1953X mutation-related resistance to DNA damage, finally benefits tumor radiotherapy. Collectively, we defined a POLQ-mutated CRC type and suggested for a mutation-based potential target therapeutic strategy.
Kidney Replacement Therapy in COVID-19-Related Acute Kidney Injury: the Importance of Timing
Authors: Almeida Carlos Augusto , Oliveira Marcia Fernanda , Teixeira Alexandre Macedo , Cabrera Carla Paulina , Smolentzov Igor , Reichert Bernardo Vergara , Lins Paulo Ricardo , Rodrigues Camila Eleuterio , Seabra Victor Faria , Andrade Lucia Conceicao
Published: January 2024

The objective of this study was to evaluate two different criteria for deciding when KRT should be initiated in patients with COVID-19-related AKI, as well as to determine the impact of the timing of KRT, as defined by each criterion, on in-hospital mortality among such patients. This was a retrospective study involving 512 adult patients admitted to the ICU. All participants had laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and a confirmed diagnosis of AKI. The potential predictors were the determination of the timing of KRT based on a temporal criterion (days since hospital admission) and that based on a serum creatinine cutoff criterion. Covariates included age, sex, and the SOFA score, as well as the need for mechanical ventilation and vasopressors. The main outcome measure was in-hospital mortality. We evaluated 512 patients, of whom 69.1% were men. The median age was 64 years. Of the 512 patients, 76.6% required dialysis after admission. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 72.5%. When the timing of KRT was determined by the temporal criterion, the risk of in-hospital mortality was significantly higher for delayed KRT than for timely KRT, 84% higher in the univariate analysis (OR=1.84, 95%, [CI]: 1.10-3.09) and 140% higher after adjustment for age, sex, and SOFA score (OR=2.40, 95% CI: 1.36-4.24). When it was determined by the creatinine cutoff criterion, there was no such difference between high and low creatinine at KRT initiation. In patients with COVID-19-related AKI, earlier KRT appears to be associated with lower in-hospital mortality.
Association of “Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Pancreas Disease” (MASPD) with Insulin Resistance
Authors: de Oliveira Andrade Luís Jesuino , Matos de Oliveira Gabriela Correia , Vinhaes Bittencourt Alcina Maria , Peixoto Nascimento Guilherme , Magno Baptista Gustavo , Peixoto Silva Catharina , Matos de Oliveira Luís
Published: January 2024

Introduction

“Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Pancreas Disease” (MASPD) is not yet a term or condition described in the medical literature. The MASPD is a relatively new and emerging condition that has garnered significant attention in the field of metabolic disorders.

Objective

to investigate the association between MASPD and IR and explore the potential mechanisms that may contribute to this relationship.

Materials and Methods

This cross-sectional study involved 157 participants diagnosed with MASPD based on ultrasonography criteria. Baseline demographic data were collected, including age, gender, and body mass index. Serum levels of fasting glucose, insulin, lipid profile (including total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), glycated hemoglobin and insulin were measured using standardized laboratory techniques. Abdominal ultrasonography was performed on all participants using convex transducer (frequency range, 3,5 MHz) by experienced radiologist blinded to the clinical data. The association between MASPD and IR was assessed using logistic regression analysis, adjusting for potential confounders. Statistical significance was set at a p-value of less than 0.05.

Results

The logistic regression analysis was performed to verify whether IR was a risk factor for MASPD. After adjusting for gender and age, the results demonstrate a significant correlation between MDASPD and markers of IR. TyG index: OR (95% IC) 5.72 (1.90 – 16.00),P0.021, and HOMA –IR: OR (95% IC) 6.20 (2.1 – 22.00)P0.037.

Conclusion

This study presents the first description of MDASPD and its association with IR indices. Our findings demonstrate a significant correlation between MDASPD and markers of IR. These results suggest that MDASPD may contribute to the development of insulin resistance and further highlight the importance of pancreatic health in metabolic disorders.
Mitigating reactive oxygen species production and increasing gel porosity improves lymphocyte motility and fibroblast spreading in photocrosslinked gelatin-thiol hydrogels
Authors: Ozulumba Tochukwu , Zatorski Jonathan M. , Arneja Abhinav , Hammel Jennifer H. , Braciale Thomas J. , Luckey Chance J. , Munson Jennifer M. , Pompano Rebecca R.
Published: January 2024

On-chip 3D culture systems that incorporate immune cells such as lymphocytes and stromal cells are needed to model immune organs in engineered systems such as organs-on-chip. Photocrosslinking is a useful tool for creating such immune-competent hydrogel cultures with spatial cell organization. However, loss of viability and motility in photocrosslinked gels can limit its utility, especially when working with fragile primary cells. We hypothesized that optimizing photoexposure-induced ROS production, hydrogel porosity or a combination of both factors was necessary to sustain cell viability and motility during culture in photocrosslinked gelatin-thiol (GelSH) hydrogels. Jurkat T cells, primary human CD4+ T cells and human lymphatic fibroblasts were selected as representative lymphoid immune cells to test this hypothesis. Direct exposure of these cells to 385 nm light and LAP photoinitiator dramatically increased ROS levels. Pretreatment with an antioxidant, ascorbic acid (AA), protected the cells from light + LAP-induced ROS and was non-toxic at optimized doses. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy showed that native GelSH hydrogels had limited porosity, and that adding collagen to GelSH precursor before crosslinking markedly increased gel porosity. Next, we tested the impact of AA pretreatment and increasing gel porosity, alone or in combination, on cell viability and function in 3D GelSH hydrogel cultures. Increasing gel porosity, rather than AA pretreatment, was more critical for rescuing viability of Jurkat T cells and spreading of human lymphatic fibroblasts in GelSH-based gels, but both factors improved the motility of primary human CD4+ T cells. Increased porosity enabled formation of spatially organized co-cultures of primary human CD4+ T cells and human lymphatic fibroblasts in photo-crosslinked gels in a multi-lane microfluidic chip, towards modeling the lymphoid organ microenvironment. Some optimization is still needed to improve homogeneity between regions on the chip. These findings will enable researchers utilizing photocrosslinking methods to develop immunocompetent 3D culture models that support viability and function of sensitive lymphoid cells.
Cell-free expression with a quartz crystal microbalance enables rapid, dynamic, and label-free characterization of membrane-interacting proteins
Authors: Khakimzhan Aset , Izri Ziane , Thompson Seth , Dmytrenko Oleg , Fischer Patrick , Beisel Chase , Noireaux Vincent
Published: January 2024

Integral and interacting membrane proteins (IIMPs) constitute a vast family of biomolecules that perform essential functions in all forms of life. However, characterizing their interactions with lipid bilayers remains limited due to challenges in purifying and reconstituting IIMPsin vitroor labeling IIMPs without disrupting their functionin vivo. Here, we report TXTL-QCMD to dynamically characterize interactions between diverse IIMPs and membranes without protein purification or labeling. As part of TXTL-QCMD, IIMPs are synthesized using cell-free transcription-translation (TXTL), and their interactions with supported lipid bilayers are measured using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCMD). TXTL-QCMD reconstitutes known IIMP-membrane dependencies, including specific association with prokaryotic or eukaryotic membranes or oscillating interactions by theE. coliMin system. Applying TXTL-QCMD to the recently discovered Zorya anti-phage system unamenable to labeling, we discovered that ZorA and ZorB integrate together within the lipids found at the poles of bacteria while ZorE diffuses freely on the non-pole membrane. These efforts establish the potential of TXTL-QCMD to broadly characterize the large diversity of IIMPs.
A method to identify high consensus predictions of single-cell metabolic flux
Authors: Amiss Michael , Lum Julian J. , Jabbari Hosna
Published: January 2024

Altered metabolism is a key contributor to pathology in numerous disease states, including cancer. These changes can occur within certain pathological cells, or within a population of cells. Two recently developed single-cell flux prediction tools, Single-cell Flux Estimation Analysis (“scFEA”) and Compass, have shown success in predicting cellular metabolism using readily available transcriptome data. By adapting the outputs of these tools, we sought to determine if they can work in concert to identify higher confidence consensus flux predictions. We created a set of reaction modules for the two systems. By testing multiple function composites with sets of modularized Compass outputs, we identified a method that showed the highest global similarity to the outputs of scFEA. Our analysis showed broad biological areas of agreement between the results of the two systems when applied to single-cell data arising from both pathological and healthy samples, with pathological samples increasing system consensus. Consensus testing on matched transcriptome and metabolomics data suggested that agreement between the two systems could indicate at least a minimal degree of coherence between both systems and direct metabolite measurements. Overall, we demonstrated that automated Comparisons between the outputs of Compass and scFEA are possible, applicable to data arising from pathological samples, and that such a consensus approach can reveal strongly correlated predictions between these two systems.

Author summary

Studying the metabolism of individual cells allows us to understand the mechanisms behind a myriad of diseases. However, single-cell metabolism cannot readily be measured. Computational tools exist to predict metabolism, but validating their outputs requires metabolic measurements. To address this circular shortcoming, we created a method to automatically adapt and compare the outputs of two popular systems used to predict single-cell metabolism from genetic data. In other fields, using predictive methods in an ensemble has provided superior accuracy, and we speculated that the same may hold true for computational predictions of single-cell metabolism. Our work demonstrated that these two systems can be used together to find agreement on a broad range of metabolic processes related to disease. Further, our results, although early, suggest that system agreement may indicate genuine shifts in the underlying biology of a cell population. Owing to the methodologies used by the two systems, such changes could be studied at both a broad or granular level. As our comparison tools provide rapid readouts of such system agreement, they could potentially be used as part of an exploratory pipeline to aid in identification of candidate metabolic mechanisms as drug targets.
Sustainability drivers and national culture in buyer-supplier environmental practices: an institutional perspective
Authors: Ahmadi-Gh Zahra , Bello-Pintado Alejandro , Bortolotti Thomas , Boscari Stefania
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore how sustainability drivers interact with national culture to explain the adoption of buyer–supplier environmental sustainability practices.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on Institutional Theory, this study proposes three sets of hypotheses focused on the role of key cultural dimensions: uncertainty avoidance, power distance and institutional collectivism. It uses a sample of 284 manufacturing plants across three industries and 14 countries to test these hypotheses, using regression analysis.

Findings

Findings suggest that national culture matters in the adoption of buyer–supplier environmental practices; however, its effect is contingent upon the particular combination of cultural dimensions and drivers analyzed.

Originality/value

This study enhances the understanding of the drivers behind buyer–supplier environmental practices by offering a novel examination of their interaction with national culture. This helps explain the heterogeneity in environmental sustainability adoption across countries.
Identification of novel antecedents towards generating positive electronic word of mouth: evidence from the hospitality and tourism industry
Authors: Khan Mehmood , Ajmal Mian M. , Jan Amin , Rahman Haseeb Ur , Zahid Muhammad
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Literature shows that the antecedents of eWoM have received limited attention and the present scales used for measuring eWoM in the hospitality and tourism industry are outdated. Therefore, this study aims to construct a new scale for the generation of positive eWoM in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This study developed a novel scale on eWoM based on the four dimensions of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology.

Findings

The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis confirms the factorial structure of the new scale. The exploratory factor analysis shows that “performance expectancy” has the highest impact on the constitution of positive eWoM with 8 items, followed by “social influence” and “facilitation condition” with 5 items each. The factor “effort expectancy” is found to have the lowest impact on the constitution of positive eWoM in the hospitality and tourism industry with 3 items. The confirmatory factor analysis in terms of the construct reliability, average variance extracted and maximum shared variance tests confirmed the model validity of the new scale.

Originality/value

This study ensures measuring eWoM with the latest norms that will assist in prudent policy formulation. These results insights into policymakers from the hospitality and tourism industry for the generation of positive eWoM towards their business which will help them achieve better customer loyalty.
Romanian transnational families: insights from a qualitative study on care workers
Authors: Salaris Luisa , Tedesco Nicola
Published: January 2024

Purpose

An increasing number of international immigrant workers enter the EU labour market to fill the gap in many key economic sectors. Labour migration often implies a process of family adaptation and, in some cases, a breakdown in the community structure and networks. This study aims to provide insights into the dynamics of transnational families, focusing on changes in the redefinition of roles within family members and children care arrangements.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was based on the analysis of 12 biographical interviews conducted using semi-structured interviews between November 2018 and December 2019 among Romanian women who worked as caregivers in families in an Italian metropolitan city and the surrounding urban area.

Findings

Despite the economic dimension being essential, psychological well-being increasingly burdens workers’ migratory experience and that of their family members. Findings suggest including employers and children among the actively involved actors of the family decision-making process; working and contractual conditions as factors that significantly impact the opportunities and capability of workers to provide and receive care, mainly if the latter are employed in the informal market.

Originality/value

The study makes it possible to highlight that the dynamics in decision-making processes in transnational families change in the different phases of the migration project and involve numerous actors. These processes are not always rational and are strongly influenced by the labour market structure in which migrants are employed.
The role of psychological contract in enhancing safety climate and safety behavior in the construction industry
Authors: M.G. Soundarya Priya , K.S. Anandh , Rajendran Sathyanarayanan , Sen Krishna Nirmalya
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the “psychological contract of safety” (PCS), a key factor in the safety climate (SC), which relies on the behavioral safety actions of workers at construction sites. While numerous factors have been identified in various sectors across different countries, there is a consensus among researchers that there is a dearth of common assessment factors specifically for the Indian construction industry (ICI). Therefore, this study undertakes a systematic review of existing literature to identify the factors that determine PCS in construction and to ascertain the relative importance index (RII) of these variables and their interrelationships using structural equation modelling (SEM).

Design/methodology/approach

A structured survey was conducted among 420 professionals in the ICI to collect data. This data was then analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods to derive results.

Findings

The findings of the study indicate that PCS factors have a significant impact on the construction industry (CI). The inferential analysis ranks “Safety System” as the top factor with the highest RII value. The chi-square results highlight two key SC factors that enhance and regulate an organization’s safety performance. The SEM results reveal that SC factors contribute to the improvement of PCS and influence worker safety behavior.

Originality/value

The outcomes of this study will be beneficial for stakeholders aiming to improve safety at construction sites and enhance safety performance by fulfilling the mutual safety obligations of employers and employees and by improving safety norms, procedures and policy-making. This paper also provides a theoretical framework for scholars to reassess the results in various contexts.
The brain gain of corporate boards and green commitment: evidence from China
Authors: Hussain Muhammad Jameel , Nie Dongfang , Ashraf Adnan
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Foreign directors from developed nations are significant brain gains for Chinese firms because they improve board competency and board diversity. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between foreign directors from developed countries on Chinese listed firms and firms’ green commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

For the empirical analysis, first, this study applies ordinary least square regression and firm fixed model to explore the relationship between foreign directors and green commitment. For the endogeneity concerns, this study first added more control variable in the main model, then applied instrumental variable approach and propensity score matching technique.

Findings

This study predicts and finds that percentage of foreign directors from developed countries on Chinese listed firms’ board positively enhances the firms’ green commitment. Furthermore, this study also finds that the positive relationship between foreign directors and firms’ green commitment is more significant when firms are in a low competitive industry, have no financial constraints and are overseas-listed. This study’s findings are robust after controlling for endogeneity concerns.

Originality/value

This is new research on the impact of foreign directors on corporate green commitment.
Linking job crafting to work engagement: the mediating role of organizational happiness
Authors: Yasin Ghadi Mohammed
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between job crafting and work engagement and the potential mediating effect of organizational happiness on this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 256 full-time employees from various industries such as automobiles, retail, real estate, petrochemicals, investment, industrial and education, working at top 50 Forbes Middle East companies in UAE, were surveyed to gather data on job crafting, organizational happiness and work engagement. The study used an empirical research design, with data collected through surveys.

Findings

The results of this study, obtained through a two-step structural equation modelling approach, indicate that job crafting has a positive and direct influence on both organizational happiness and work engagement. The findings also suggest that the relationship between job crafting and work engagement is partially mediated by organizational happiness.

Practical implications

The findings emphasize the need for human resources (HR) professionals to develop programmes and training workshops focused on cultivating these concepts, particularly as remote and blended working arrangements become more prevalent. In addition, the study highlights the global impact of employee disengagement on financial losses and stresses the importance of revising HR policies in the UAE to mitigate potential risks. Lastly, the study suggests that enhancing happiness and reducing disengagement can be achieved through training managers and employees in task structuring techniques, emphasizing the teachability of job crafting skills through interventions that align tasks with employees’ interests.

Originality/value

To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study to theoretically explore and empirically test a proposed model on the relationships between job crafting, organizational happiness and work engagement in the context of the UAE.
Impact of terrorism on financial inclusion: evidence from the most terrorized countries in the world
Authors: Ozili Peterson K.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of terrorism on financial inclusion that is achieved through automated teller machine penetration and bank branch expansion.

Design/methodology/approach

Eight countries that are the most terrorized countries in the world were analysed using the panel fixed effect regression model and the generalized linear model.

Findings

The results provide evidence that terrorism reduces the level of financial inclusion in countries experiencing terrorism, but the presence of strong legal institutions, accountability governance institutions and political stability governance institutions mitigate the adverse effect of terrorism on financial inclusion.

Originality/value

A growing literature has shown that terrorism affects the economy, yet little is known about its impact on financial inclusion.
Experimental study on the behavior of pre-loaded reinforced concrete (RC) deep beams with openings strengthened with FRP sheets
Authors: Osman Bashir H.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Recently, the repairing of reinforced concrete (RC) structures attracted great research attentions, but the research interests were mainly concentrated on common repairing types. To this end, in this paper, a repairing of pre-loaded RC beams strengthened by aramid reinforcement polymers (AFRP) is presented. Furthermore, the purpose of this paper is to study the behavior of pre-loaded RC Deep beams under sustained load. The AFRP has many advantages such as controlling stresses distribution around the openings, controlling failure modes, and enhancing the structural capacity of pre-cracked RC beams.

Design/methodology/approach

Four specimens were experimentally tested: one specimen without strengthening, which is considered as control specimen, one strengthened specimen using AFRP without pre-cracking and two specimens subjected to pre-cracking load before prior to AFRP application. Furthermore, after validation of experimental data by using ANSYS software, a parametric study was conducted to investigate the effect of pre-damage level on shear capacity of RC beams. For pre-cracked beams, loading was first applied until the cracking stage, followed by specimen repairing with epoxy injection, and then the specimens were loaded again until failure point.

Findings

The result showed that pre-damage level and AFRP strengthening have great influence on the ultimate strength and failure mode. In addition, the results obtained from experimental tests were compared with those from numerical validation with ANSYS and showed good agreement.

Originality/value

Based on ACI guidelines, an analytical equation for calculating the shear strength of strengthened RC beams with openings subjected to pre-damage was then proposed, and the calculated results were compared with those from the tests, with differences not exceeding 10%.
Occupational therapy in maternal health: Exploring the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning as a potential tool
Authors: Baker Hanna , Cuomo Belinda , Femia Ciarn , Lin Daniel , Stobbie Claire , McLean Belinda , Hatfield Megan
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Transitioning into the role of a mother encompasses many physical and psychosocial changes, affecting the way a woman may function. Maternal health is an emerging area of practice for occupational therapists, and therefore, screening and assessment tools to support work in this area are needed. The Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning (BIMF) is a quantitative outcome measure that is used by health professionals to assess maternal functioning. Currently, its ability to measure occupational performance is unclear.

Methods

Utilising a mixed methods design, this study analysed the extent to which the BIMF assesses maternal function from an occupational perspective. Thirteen first‐time mothers with a baby 12 months of age or younger participated in the study. Results from the BIMF were compared with themes developed from semi‐structured qualitative interviews that explored the occupational experiences of first‐time mothers.

Findings

Seven themes were developed from the interviews. The BIMF addressed three themes, including changes to engagement in basic activities of daily living and leisure, transitioning into motherhood, emotions, self‐efficacy, and social support. However, four themes were not captured by the BIMF, including changes to partner relationships, identity shift, influence of ‘person’ factors, and changes to social experiences in early motherhood.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that a new tool with a holistic perspective of mothers as occupational beings is needed to be able to identify occupational performance issues and the potential need for occupational therapy support. This study identified key experiences of occupational performance for new mothers.
Declining salinity and increasing temperature reduce the diversity and resilience of benthic diatoms
Authors: Virta Leena , Hedberg Per
Published: January 2024

Climate change will modify the marine ecosystem in several ways, but the effects of changing climate on benthic diatoms, which are one of the most important photosynthesizing organism groups in benthic habitats, are poorly studied. We conducted a mesocosm experiment to investigate the effects of increasing temperature and decreasing salinity on the taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic diatoms. We showed that decreasing salinity affects the taxonomic and functional composition of communities, and the threshold salinity for community composition is ~5. This indicates that when climate change leads to decreasing salinity in brackish systems, the most pronounced changes in communities occur in areas where salinity decreases from >5 to <5. We also showed that both increasing temperature and decreasing salinity exert stress on communities and, hence, lead to the decrease of the alpha and beta diversity of communities. This indicates that climate change reduces the size of the species pool of diatoms. Our results show that, along with the changing climate, we can expect benthic diatom communities to become less diverse and less resilient.
Hybrid governance and welfare standards for broiler chickens raised for human consumption
Authors: Chen Peter John , O'Sullivan Siobhan , Pyke Susan
Published: January 2024

This article examines the welfare standards that govern the lives of chickens raised for meat in Australia and the United Kingdom. While ‘meat chickens’ are subject to a wide range of welfare interventions, we focus on the development and implications of the ‘private’ standards which are the most significant determinants of meat chicken welfare in these jurisdictions: the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme in Australia and the Red Tractor Chicken Assurance Scheme in the United Kingdom. While the jurisdictions appear to have a similar regime that favours private regulation, differences in the origins and governance of these systems can be identified, offering insights into the use of hybrid regulation in areas associated with the welfare of non‐human animals. The similarities and differences in these countries point to the importance of individual relationships, as well as supply chain power in the adoption of private standards as a response to comparatively unstructured community concerns about welfare (Australia) and welfare and food safety (United Kingdom). While hybridity as a form of new public governance can be seen to facilitate innovative and varied responses to state devolution, the article concludes the overarching anthropocentrism of policymakers and the policy sciences explains a closed, incremental, and conservative form of practice in this area. Observations of the wider ‘animal turn’ in the social sciences are recommended to consider future systems of hybrid regulation that are not centred on anthropocentrism and more fully expand hybridity's participatory promise.

Points for practitioners

Hybrid governance can focus on the use of hybrid organisational design and/or hybrid regulatory practice; each has very different characteristics and their respective use is often a function of local conditions and situations.

Hybrid standards‐making systems need to be open to public participation in development and implementation (oversight), or risk capture and moral hazard.

Public policy is largely predicated on strong anthropocentrism, which can be addressed through the use of critical rather than simple pluralism to expand the number of interests captured in regulatory practices.
Antenatal corticosteroids and newborn respiratory outcomes in twins: A regression discontinuity study
Authors: Socha Peter M. , Harper Sam , Strumpf Erin , Murphy Kellie E. , Hutcheon Jennifer A.
Published: January 2024

Objective

To estimate the effect of antenatal corticosteroids on newborn respiratory morbidity in twins.

Design

Regression discontinuity applied to population‐based birth registry data.

Setting

British Columbia, Canada, 2008–2018.

Population

Twin pregnancies admitted for birth between 31+0 and 36+6 weeks of gestation.

Methods

During our study period, Canadian clinical practice guidelines recommended antenatal corticosteroid administration for imminent preterm birth up to 33+6 weeks. We used a logistic model to compare the predicted risks of our outcomes among pregnancies admitted for birth immediately before this clinical cut‐point (higher probability of exposure to antenatal corticosteroids) versus immediately after it (lower probability).

Main outcome measures

Our primary outcome was a composite of newborn respiratory distress or in‐hospital death. Our secondary outcome was a composite of newborn respiratory intervention or in‐hospital death.

Results

Among 2524 pregnancies (5035 liveborn twins), 47% of admissions before 34+0 weeks of gestation were exposed to antenatal corticosteroids but only 4.2% of admissions after this cut‐point were exposed. The risk of newborn respiratory distress or in‐hospital mortality increased abruptly at 34+0 weeks, corresponding to a protective effect of treatment (risk ratio [RR] 0.69, 95% CI 0.53–0.90; risk difference [RD] −12 cases per 100 births, 95% CI −20 to −4.1). There was no clear evidence for or against an effect on newborn respiratory intervention or in‐hospital death (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.70–1.13; RD −4.2 per 100, 95% CI −13 to +4.2).

Conclusions

Our findings provide evidence for the effectiveness of antenatal corticosteroids in preventing adverse newborn respiratory outcomes in twins.
Nanoscale Pickering emulsion food preservative films/coatings: Compositions, preparations, influencing factors, and applications
Authors: Zhang Quanyu , Kong Baohua , Liu Haotian , Du Xin , Sun Fangda , Xia Xiufang
Published: January 2024

Pickering emulsion (PE) technology effectively addresses the issues of poor compatibility and low retention of hydrophobic active ingredients in food packaging. Nonetheless, it is important to recognize that each stage of the preparation process for PE films/coatings (PEFCs) can significantly influence their functional properties. With the fundamental considerations of environmental friendliness and human safety, this review extensively explores the potential of raw materials for PEFC and introduces the preparation methods of nanoparticles, emulsification technology, and film‐forming techniques. The critical factors that impact the performance of PEFC during the preparation process are analyzed to enhance food preservation effectiveness. Moreover, the latest advancements in PE packaging across diverse food applications are summarized, along with prospects for innovative food packaging materials. Finally, the preservation mechanism and application safety have been systematically elucidated. The study revealed that the PEFCs provide structural flexibility, where designable nanoparticles offer unique functional properties for intelligent control over active ingredient release. The selection of the dispersed and continuous phases, along with component proportions, can be customized for specific food characteristics and storage conditions. By employing suitable preparation and emulsification techniques, the stability of the emulsion can be improved, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the films/coatings in preserving food. Including additional substances broadens the functionality of degradable materials. The PE packaging technology provides a safe and innovative solution for extending the shelf life and enhancing the quality of food products by protecting and releasing active components.