bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Alphaproteobacteria transcribe genes for nitric oxide transformation at high levels in a marine oxygen deficient zone
Authors: Elbon Claire E. , Stewart Frank J. , Glass Jennifer B.
Published: November 2023

Marine oxygen deficient zones (ODZs) are portions of the ocean where intense nitrogen loss occurs primarily via denitrification and anammox. Despite many decades of study, the identity of the microbes that catalyze nitrogen loss in ODZs are still being elucidated. Intriguingly, high transcription of genes in the same family as the nitric oxide dismutase (nod) gene fromMethylomirabilotahas been reported in the anoxic core of ODZs. Here, we show that the most abundantly transcribednodgenes in the Eastern Tropical North Pacific ODZ belong to a new order (UBA11136) of Alphaproteobacteria, rather thanMethylomirabilotaas previously assumed. Gammaproteobacteria and Planctomycetia also transcribenod, but at lower relative abundance than UBA11136 in the upper ODZ. Thenod-transcribing Alphaproteobacteria likely use formaldehyde and formate as a source of electrons for aerobic respiration, with additional electrons possibly from sulfide oxidation. They also transcribe multiheme cytochrome (here namedptd) genes for a putative porin-cytochrome protein complex of unknown function, potentially involved in extracellular electron transfer. Molecular oxygen for aerobic respiration may originate from nitric oxide dismutation via cryptic oxygen cycling. Our results implicate Alphaproteobacteria order UBA11136 as a significant player in marine nitrogen loss and highlight their potential in one-carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur metabolism in ODZs.

Significance statement

In marine oxygen deficient zones, microbes transform bioavailable nitrogen to gaseous nitrogen, with nitric oxide as a key intermediate. The Eastern Tropical North Pacific contains the world’s largest oxygen deficient zone, but the identity of the microbes transforming nitric oxide remain unknown. Here, we show that highly transcribed nitric oxide dismutase(nod) genes belong to Alphaproteobacteria of the novel order UBA11136, which lacks cultivated isolates. These Alphaproteobacteria show evidence for aerobic respiration, using oxygen potentially sourced from nitric oxide dismutase, and possess a novel porin-cytochrome protein complex with unknown function. Gammaproteobacteria and Planctomycetia transcribenodat lower levels. Our results pinpoint the microbes mediating a key step in marine nitrogen loss and reveal an unexpected predicted metabolism for marine Alphaproteobacteria.
A Potent Kalihinol Analogue Disrupts Apicoplast Function and Vesicular Trafficking inP. falciparumMalaria
Authors: Chahine Z , Abel S , Hollin T , Chung JH , Barnes GL , Daub ME , Renard I , Choi JY , Pratap V , Pal A , Alba-Argomaniz M , Banks CAS , Kirkwood J , Saraf A , Camino I , Castaneda P , Cuevas MC , De Mercado-Arnanz J , Fernandez-Alvaro E , Garcia-Perez A , Ibarz N , Viera-Morilla S , Prudhomme J , Joyner CJ , Bei AK , Florens L , Ben Mamoun C , Vanderwal CD , Le Roch KG
Published: November 2023

Here we report the discovery of MED6-189, a new analogue of the kalihinol family of isocyanoterpene (ICT) natural products. MED6-189 is effective against drug-sensitive and-resistantP. falciparumstrains blocking both intraerythrocytic asexual replication and sexual differentiation. This compound was also effective againstP. knowlesiandP. cynomolgi. In vivo efficacy studies using a humanized mouse model of malaria confirms strong efficacy of the compound in animals with no apparent hemolytic activity or apparent toxicity. Complementary chemical biology, molecular biology, genomics and cell biological analyses revealed that MED6-189 primarily targets the parasite apicoplast and acts by inhibiting lipid biogenesis and cellular trafficking. Genetic analyses inP. falciparumrevealed that a mutation inPfSec13, which encodes a component of the parasite secretory machinery, reduced susceptibility to the drug. The high potency of MED6-189in vitroandin vivo, its broad range of efficacy, excellent therapeutic profile, and unique mode of action make it an excellent addition to the antimalarial drug pipeline.

Editor’s Summary

Here we report the mode of action and mechanism of resistance of a pan-antimalarial agent, MED6-189, which disrupts apicoplast function and vesicular trafficking inP. falciparum.
Insights into Intestinal P-glycoprotein Function using Talinolol: A PBPK Modeling Approach
Authors: Mallol Beatrice Stemmer , Grzegorzewski Jan , Tautenhahn Hans-Michael , König Matthias
Published: November 2023

Talinolol is a cardioselective beta-blocker that was previously used to treat heart failure and myocardial infarction. Following the development of new, more effective beta-blockers with better study results, talinolol is now only used clinically for the treatment of arterial hypertension. In basic science, talinolol continues to be used as a test substance due to its pharmacokinetics. Its intestinal absorption is determined by uptake by the organic anion transporting polypeptide 2B1 (OATP2B1) and efflux via P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Talinolol can be taken up via OATP1B1 in the liver, where it enters the enterohepatic circulation. Talinolol is excreted unchanged in the urine and feces. Talinolol is widely used as a probe drug for the intestinal efflux transporter P-gp, which plays a critical role in protecting against potentially toxic substances and facilitating the elimination of xenobiotics. In this work, an extensive database of talinolol pharmacokinetics was established and used to develop and validate a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model of talinolol for P-gp phenotyping. The model was used to investigate the influence of several factors on talinolol pharmacokinetics: (i) inhibition of P-gp via drug-drug interaction; (i) genetic polymorphisms of P-gp; (iii) activity of OATP2B1 and OATP1B1; (iv) effect of comorbidity, namely hepatic and renal impairment; and (v) site-specific distribution of P-gp and OATP2B1 in the intestine. The model accurately predicts the concentration-time profile of talinolol after oral or intravenous administration of single and multiple dosing. Furthermore, the model accurately describes the effect of genetic variants of P-gp on the pharmacokinetics of talinolol, the effect of inhibition of P-gp, the effect of renal impairment, as well as site-specific infusion of talinolol in the intestine. The detailed description of the intestinal absorption of talinolol and the predictions of talinolol pharmacokinetics as a function of hepatorenal impairment provide valuable clinical insights for metabolic phenotyping with talinolol. Both the model and the database are freely available for reuse.
Systematic characterization of the local evolutionary space available to human PKR and vaccinia virus K3
Authors: Chambers Michael J. , Scobell Sophia , Sadhu Meru J.
Published: November 2023

The interfaces between host and viral proteins can be dynamic spaces in which genetic variants are continually pursued, giving rise to evolutionary arms races. One such scenario is found between the mammalian innate immunity protein PKR (protein kinase R) and the poxvirus antagonist K3. Once activated, PKR phosphorylates the natural substrate eIF2α, which halts protein synthesis within the cell and prevents viral replication. K3 acts as a pseudosubstrate antagonist against PKR by directly antagonizing this halt in protein synthesis, enabling poxviruses to replicate in the cell. Exploring the impact of genetic variants in both PKR and K3 is necessary not only to highlight residues of evolutionary constraint and opportunity but also to elucidate the mechanism by which human PKR is able to subvert a rapidly evolving viral antagonist. To systematically explore this dynamic interface, we have generated a combinatorial library of PKR and K3 missense variants to be co-expressed and characterized in a high-throughput yeast selection assay. This assay allows us to characterize hundreds of thousands of unique PKR-K3 genetic combinations in a single pooled experiment. Our results highlight specific missense variants available to PKR that subvert the K3 antagonist. We find that improved PKR variants are readily available at sites under positive selection, with limited opportunity at sites interfacing with K3 and eIF2α. Additionally, we find many variants that improve and disable K3 antagonism, suggesting a pliable interface. We reason that this approach can be leveraged to explore the evolutionary plasticity of many other host-virus interfaces.
BARtab & bartools: an integrated Nextflow pipeline and R package for the analysis of synthetic cellular barcodes in the genome and transcriptome
Authors: Holze Henrietta , Talarmain Laure , Fennell Katie A. , Lam Enid Y. , Dawson Mark A. , Vassiliadis Dane
Published: November 2023

Cellular barcoding using heritable synthetic barcodes coupled to high throughput sequencing is a powerful technique for the accurate tracing of clonal lineages in a wide variety of biological contexts. Recent studies have integrated cellular barcoding with a single-cell transcriptomics readout, extending the capabilities of these lineage tracing methods to the single-cell level. However there remains a lack of scalable and standardised open-source tools to pre-process and visualise both population-level and single-cell level cellular barcoding datasets. To address these limitations, we developedBARtab, a portable and scalable Nextflow pipeline that automates upstream barcode extraction, quality control, filtering and enumeration from high throughput sequencing data; andbartools, an open-source R package that streamlines the analysis and visualisation of population and single-cell level cellular barcoding datasets.BARtabcontains additional methods for the extraction and annotation of transcribed barcodes from single-cell RNA-seq and spatial transcriptomics experiments, thus extending this analytical toolbox to also support novel expressed cellular barcoding methodologies. We showcase the integratedBARtabandbartoolsworkflow through comparison with previously published toolsets and via the analysis of exemplar bulk, single-cell, and spatial transcriptomics cellular barcoding datasets.
CLUSTER ANALYSIS IDENTIFIES LONG COVID SUBTYPES IN BELGIAN PATIENTS
Authors: Kemajou Pamela Mfouth , Besse-Hammer Tatiana , Lebouc Claire , Coppieters Yves
Published: November 2023

SARS CoV-2 infection presents complications known as long Covid, a multisystemic organ disease which allow multidimensional analysis.

Objectives

This study aims to identify Long Covid clusters and to relate them to the clinical classification devised at the Clinical Research Unit of Brugmann University Hospital, Brussels.

Method

A two-stage multidimensional exploratory analysis was performed on a cohort of 205 long Covid patients, involving a Factorial Analysis of Mixed Data (FAMD), and then Hierarchical Clustering Post Component Analysis (HCPC).

Results

The study’s sample comprised 76% women, with an average age of 44.5 years. Three clinical forms were identified: long, persistent, and post-viral syndrome. Multidimensional analysis identified three clusters: cluster 1 (myalgia-like pain) associated with the persistent clinical form; cluster 2 (neurocognitive disorders) linked to the long clinical form; cluster 3 (neurocognitive disorders, anxio-depressive syndrome, joint pain and myalgia, peripheral nervous system disorders with dysautonomia, including Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, along with digestive system disorders). However, biological data did not provide sufficient differentiation between the clusters.

Conclusion

Long Covid phenotypes, as well as clinical forms, appear to be associated with distinct pathophysiological mechanisms or genetic predisposition, warranting further investigation.
Uncovering the Shared Genetic Components of Thyroid Disorders and Reproductive Health
Authors: Figuerêdo Jéssica , Krebs Kristi , Pujol-Gualdo Natàlia , Haller Toomas , Võsa Urmo , Volke Vallo ,   Estonian Biobank research team,   Health Informatics research team, Laisk Triin , Mägi Reedik
Published: November 2023

Thyroid disorders are complex and polygenic, and thus result from the interaction of many genetic variants. Due to a central role of the thyroid hormones in the body, their dysfunction can have a significant impact on the reproductive health in men and women. Mapping the shared genetic component and relationships between thyroid and reproductive health traits will improve the understanding about the interplay between those domains. Here, a large-scale genetic analysis of thyroid traits (hyper- and hypothyroidism, and thyroid stimulating hormone levels) was conducted in up to 743,088 individuals of European ancestry from various cohorts. We evaluated genetic and phenotypic associations using genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis, gene prioritisation, genetic correlation analysis, and phenotype vs phenome-wide-association analysis. The results showed that 32% of thyroid-associated genes also had an impact on reproductive phenotypes, with the most affected functions being related to genitourinary tract issues. The study highlights the shared genetic determinants between thyroid function and reproductive health, providing evidence for the genetic pleiotropy between these traits in both men and women.
Comparison of the audiological knowledge of three chatbots – ChatGPT, Bing Chat, and Bard
Authors: Jedrzejczak W. Wiktor , Kochanek Krzysztof
Published: November 2023

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate three chatbots – OpenAI ChatGPT, Microsoft Bing Chat, and Google Bard – in terms of their responses to a defined set of audiological questions.

Design

Each chatbot was presented with the same 10 questions. The authors rated the responses on a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5. Additional features, such as the number of inaccuracies or errors and the provision of references, were also examined.

Results

Most responses given by all three chatbots were rated as satisfactory or better. However all chatbots generated at least a few errors or inaccuracies. ChatGPT achieved the highest overall score, while Bard was the worst. Bard was also the only chatbot unable to provide a response to one of the questions. ChatGPT was the only chatbot that did not provide information about its sources.

Conclusions

Chatbots are an intriguing tool that can be used to access basic information in a specialized area like audiology. Nevertheless, one needs to be careful, as correct information is not infrequently mixed in with errors that are hard to pick up unless the user is well versed in the field.
Modulation of Extracellular Matrix Composition and Chronic Inflammation by Pirfenidone Promotes Scar Reduction in Retinal Wound Repair
Authors: Jahnke Laura , Perrenoud Virginie , Zandi Souska , Li Yuebing , Conedera Federica Maria , Enzmann Volker
Published: November 2023

Wound repair in the retina is a complex mechanism and a deeper understanding of it is necessary for the development of effective treatments to slow down or even prevent degenerative processes leading to photoreceptor loss. In this study, we harnessed a laser-induced retinal degeneration model, enabling a profound molecular elucidation and a comprehensive, prolonged observation of the wound healing sequence in a murine laser-induced degeneration model until day 49 post laser. Our observations included the expression of specific extracellular matrix proteins and myofibroblast activity, along with an analysis of gene expression related to extracellular matrix and adhesion molecules through RNA measurements. Furthermore, the administration of pirfenidone, an anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic compound, was used to modulate the scar formation after laser treatment. Our data revealed upregulated collagen expression in late regenerative phases and sustained inflammation in the damaged tissue. Notably, treatment with pirfenidone was found to mitigate scar tissue formation, effectively downregulating collagen production and diminishing the presence of inflammatory markers. However, it did not lead to the regeneration of the photoreceptor layer.
Hepatitis C virus cell culture adaptive mutations enhance cell culture propagation by multiple mechanisms but boost antiviral responses in primary human hepatocytes
Authors: Frericks Nicola , Brown Richard J.P. , Reinecke Birthe M. , Herrmann Maike , Brüggemann Yannick , Todt Daniel , Miskey Csaba , Vondran Florian W. R. , Steinmann Eike , Pietschmann Thomas , Sheldon Julie
Published: November 2023

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection progresses to chronicity in the majority of infected individuals. Its high intra-host genetic variability enables HCV to evade the continuous selection pressure exerted by the host, contributing to persistent infection. Utilizing a cell culture adapted HCV population (p100pop) which exhibits increased replicative capacity in various liver cell lines, this study investigated virus and host determinants which underlie enhanced viral fitness. Characterization of a panel of molecular p100 clones revealed that cell culture adaptive mutations optimize a range of virus-host interactions, resulting in expanded cell tropism, altered dependence on the cellular co-factor micro-RNA 122 and increased rates of virus spread. On the host side, comparative transcriptional profiling of hepatoma cells infected either with p100pop or its progenitor virus revealed that enhanced replicative fitness correlated with activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling and the unfolded protein response. In contrast, infection of primary human hepatocytes with p100pop led to a mild attenuation of virion production which correlated with a greater induction of cell-intrinsic antiviral defense responses. In summary, long-term passage experiments in cells where selective pressure from innate immunity is lacking improves multiple virus-host interactions, enhancing HCV replicative fitness. However, this study further indicates that HCV has evolved to replicate at low levels in primary human hepatocytes to minimize innate immune activation, highlighting that an optimal balance between replicative fitness and innate immune induction is key to establishing persistence.

Author Summary

HCV infection remains a global health burden with 58 million people currently chronically infected. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms which underly persistence are incompletely defined. We utilized a long-term cell culture adapted HCV, exhibiting enhanced replicative fitness in different human liver cell lines, in order to identify molecular principles by which HCV optimizes its replication fitness. Our experimental data revealed that cell culture adaptive mutations confer changes in the host response and usage of various host factors. The latter allows functional flexibility at different stages of the viral replication cycle. However, increased replicative fitness resulted in an increased activation of the innate immune system, which likely poses boundary for functional variation in authentic hepatocytes, explaining the observed attenuation of the adapted virus population in primary hepatocytes.
The impact of reference price effect on pricing decisions
Authors: Wang Chen-hao , Liu Yong , Pan Zi-yi
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The paper attempts to discuss the impact of reference price effect on pricing decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

With the growth of the Internet and e-commerce, more and more customers purchase products in through online channels and choose products by comparing different prices and services, and the reference price effect has an impact on pricing decisions. To investigate the impact of consumers' reference price effect on the dual-channel supply chain, the authors establish a basic model consisting of a single dominant manufacturer and a single downstream retailer, and analyze the optional decisions under different situations and discuss the influence of reference price effect. Finally, a number case verifies the validity and rationality of the proposed model.

Findings

The results show that (1) the reference price effect has varying effects on the price, channel demand and income of manufacturers and retailers in the channel depending on the role of customers' channel preferences. (2) The manufacturer's online channel demand and profits always increase with the reference pricing effect, whereas the retailer's offline demand and profits always decline. (3) When the proportion of consumers preferring offline is higher, the manufacturer's network price and wholesale price increase with the reference price effect, while the retailer's retail price decreases with the reference price effect; when the proportion of consumers preferring offline is lower, the opposite is true, and the centralized decision results are consistent with the decentralized decision results.

Practical implications

This paper can clarify the impact of consumer reference price effects on the operation of dual-channel supply chains, and help inform pricing decisions of manufacturers and retailers in dual-channel supply chains.

Originality/value

The proposed approach can well analyze the impact of consumer reference price effect and give channel their optional decisions.
Curvilinear effects of corporate philanthropy on stakeholders and financial performance
Authors: Lee Jungwon , Kim Ohsung , Park Cheol
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the nonlinear effects of corporate philanthropy on the responses of both internal and external stakeholders as well as its impact on corporate financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the stakeholder theory, the authors developed a conceptual model to examine the nonlinear effects of corporate philanthropy on company performance. For the empirical analysis, data from 397 company-years was analyzed using a using a Heckman two-stage model. The robustness of the findings was also confirmed through panel regression analysis.

Findings

The study revealed a linear relationship between corporate reputation and corporate philanthropy, whereas job satisfaction exhibited a nonlinear relationship with corporate philanthropy.

Originality/value

This research bridges the gap in extant literature by scrutinizing the nonlinear associations between corporate philanthropy and financial performance. Additionally, it addresses an emerging scholarly demand to uncover the “dark side” of corporate philanthropy through an investigation into its adverse impacts on employee satisfaction. Moreover, the study augments existing understandings of stakeholder theory and corporate philanthropy, positing that the influence of corporate philanthropy, as conceptualized through stakeholder theory, hinges on perceived fairness in multilateral relationships.
Time-averaged flow field reconstruction based on a multifidelity model using physics-informed neural network (PINN) and nonlinear information fusion
Authors: Rui En-Ze , Zeng Guang-Zhi , Ni Yi-Qing , Chen Zheng-Wei , Hao Shuo
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Current methods for flow field reconstruction mainly rely on data-driven algorithms which require an immense amount of experimental or field-measured data. Physics-informed neural network (PINN), which was proposed to encode physical laws into neural networks, is a less data-demanding approach for flow field reconstruction. However, when the fluid physics is complex, it is tricky to obtain accurate solutions under the PINN framework. This study aims to propose a physics-based data-driven approach for time-averaged flow field reconstruction which can overcome the hurdles of the above methods.

Design/methodology/approach

A multifidelity strategy leveraging PINN and a nonlinear information fusion (NIF) algorithm is proposed. Plentiful low-fidelity data are generated from the predictions of a PINN which is constructed purely using Reynold-averaged Navier–Stokes equations, while sparse high-fidelity data are obtained by field or experimental measurements. The NIF algorithm is performed to elicit a multifidelity model, which blends the nonlinear cross-correlation information between low- and high-fidelity data.

Findings

Two experimental cases are used to verify the capability and efficacy of the proposed strategy through comparison with other widely used strategies. It is revealed that the missing flow information within the whole computational domain can be favorably recovered by the proposed multifidelity strategy with use of sparse measurement/experimental data. The elicited multifidelity model inherits the underlying physics inherent in low-fidelity PINN predictions and rectifies the low-fidelity predictions over the whole computational domain. The proposed strategy is much superior to other contrastive strategies in terms of the accuracy of reconstruction.

Originality/value

In this study, a physics-informed data-driven strategy for time-averaged flow field reconstruction is proposed which extends the applicability of the PINN framework. In addition, embedding physical laws when training the multifidelity model leads to less data demand for model development compared to purely data-driven methods for flow field reconstruction.
The impact of corporate culture on stock price crash risk: a firm-level analysis
Authors: Chen Mengjiao , Ren Jinjuan , Zhao Jingying
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impact of corporate culture on stock price crash risk and explore the underlying mechanisms.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a novel firm-level culture measure of Li et al. (2020), which evaluates corporate culture from the perspectives of integrity, teamwork, innovation, respect and quality. Using a sample of 4,017 US firms from 2001 to 2018, this paper uses panel data regressions to explore the impact of corporate culture on stock price crash risk.

Findings

This paper finds that among five cultural dimensions, integrity reduces crash risk and quality increases crash risk. The mitigating effect of integrity culture on crash risk is concentrated among firms with a strong incentive or ability to hoard bad news. The exacerbating effect of quality culture on crash risk is concentrated among firms with low managerial flexibility.

Social implications

This paper helps investors and regulators to understand the determinants of stock price crash risk, which facilitates investors’ wealth management and stabilizes social welfare.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that uses time-varying firm-level measure of corporate culture to investigate its impact on stock price crash risk, contributing to the literature on the determinants of crash risk. Besides, this is the first study that explores the possible mechanism of managerial flexibility in influencing stock price crash risk.
Investigating online shopping intention and customer participation with risk understanding and evidence available on the site: a study of digikala store
Authors: Noei Atousa , Akbari Mohammad
Published: November 2023

Purpose

In online shopping, there is often a risk due to the inability to check the products. As a result, it can reduce the impact of factors affecting the intention to buy online, which is a significant point in e-commerce. The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of the evidence and the perceived usefulness of a store site on the existing risk and online participation of customers for online shopping.

Design/methodology/approach

The statistical population of this research is people who have had the experience of online shopping at the Digikala store. The research method was descriptive-survey and the samples were randomly selected. A questionnaire was also used to collect information. Structural and statistical analysis of the model was done by SmartPLS3 software.

Findings

In this research, the authors found that the perceived usefulness (benefits of the site) has a favorable effect on the online participation of customers. It can also reduce the risk of online shopping. This research suggests good ways to increase sales to those who have a store site. The present research provides useful findings for those who sell their products online.

Originality/value

This research specifically examines the interaction of customers with sellers and can be a help for progress in e-commerce. In this study, perceived risk and participation as mediating variables, information and perceived usefulness on the site as independent variables and online shopping intention a dependent variables. This research was done about Digikala's online store. The results were obtained with the participation of customers in completing the questionnaire. Then the theoretical model and the background of the research are examined and then the hypotheses are evaluated according to the statistical results and finally, the research results and limitations are stated.
The drivers of seniors’ entrepreneurial intentions: a conceptual framework
Authors: Al Hosni Nawal , Palalić Ramo , Razzak Mohammad Rezaur
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to reveal the role of two theories that impact seniors’ entrepreneurial intentions. Both the socioemotional selectivity theory (SST) and the self-determination theory (SDT) re-shape seniors’ intentions to create entrepreneurial opportunities and activities after they retire.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses secondary data resources for developing the research concept, which might leverage seniors’ ultimate goal of creating entrepreneurial activities. A comprehensive past-paper analysis was performed. One hundred papers were initially considered for inclusion in this research. However, after a rigorous synthesisation process, 80 publications were selected for further analysis.

Findings

This paper presents an investigation of seniors’ entrepreneurship, with a specific emphasis on the SST and the SDT. It suggests potential models that could gauge senior entrepreneurs’ propensity to engage in entrepreneurial endeavours to support the socioeconomic advancement of society. Furthermore, this research discussed the limitations of the enlightening concepts presented to scholars and decision-makers.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper is illuminated by its idea of integrating two theories (the SST and the SDT), suggesting that these theories can possibly better observe senior entrepreneurs’ intentions in creating an entrepreneurial venture after they retire.
Frontline service employee research: integration of systematic literature reviews and recommendations for future scholarship
Authors: Subramony Mahesh , van Jaarsveld Danielle , Nguyen Helena , Groth Markus , Solnet David
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This paper integrates the findings of the articles included in the special issue (SI) on frontline employee (FLE) research. Articles included in this SI systematically review multiple research domains, including employee and customer engagement, FLE vulnerability, customer mistreatment, service teamwork and service encounters; provide instructions on effectively conducting meta-analyses and discuss the practical applications of FLE research. This paper also provides future directions for FLE scholarship with a focus on theoretical/methodological rigor and relevance.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper that integrates and critically evaluates extant research and provides directions for future scholarship.

Findings

An integrative framework of extant FLE research is proposed consisting of situational predictors, psychological mechanisms, attitudinal/behavioral outcomes and boundary conditions/moderators. Further, three main areas for future scholarship are recommended including examining the transformative effects of technology on FLE work, focusing on decent work for FLEs and conducting practically relevant and impactful research.

Originality/value

This paper provides reflections, integration and future directions for scholarship based on systematic reviews of key domains of FLE research, a primer for conducting systematic reviews (specifically – meta-analysis) and practitioner perspectives on extant research.
Brand-driven identity development of places: application, evaluation and improvement suggestions of the BIDP-framework
Authors: Maffei Davide
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the suitability of Botschen et al.’s (2017) Brand-driven Identity Development of Places (BIDP) framework to support places in developing their brand-driven identity and offering sustainable tourism models.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper applies design science research (DSR) to evaluate the BIDP-framework. A qualitative methodology is used, bringing together findings from four different case studies and from existing academic literature to make relevant suggestions for the improvement of the framework.

Findings

The findings indicate that the BIDP-model represents a valid artifact for the development of a brand-driven place identity, but that there is room for improvement.

Originality/value

This paper adopts a DSR approach in a managerial context and shows its validity for evaluating a place branding framework. Moreover, it provides implications not only for managers directly involved in place branding, who can benefit from the model assessment and its suggestions for improvement, but also for tourists and local communities, who will take advantage of more sustainable branding models that better integrate the needs of local actors.
Judicial Biography in the National Security Constitution: Lord Diplock and a ‘Rather Silly Little Secret Racket’
Authors: Scott Paul F.
Published: November 2023

This article considers the extra‐judicial work of Lord Diplock in the domain of national security in the context of his life and judicial work. It first considers briefly the role of judicial biography in understanding the work of judges and then the particular considerations which apply to such biography in the context of national security law and practice. The following sections consider Lord Diplock's role in national security oversight, emphasising the wide range of issues with a national security dimension which Diplock was called upon to consider. It then seeks to shed light on the reasons for which he was repeatedly entrusted by the government to consider matters of the utmost sensitivity by turning back to his early life, his service during the second world war, and his work thereafter.
Codification and description of phenological growth stages of taro (Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum) according to the extended BBCH Scale
Authors: Chauhan Vijay Bahadur Singh , Mallick Samarendra Narayan , Mohapatra Pinki , Pati Kalidas , Gowda Hanume , Arutselvan Rameshkumar , Verma Arvind Kumar , Nedunchezhiyan Maniyam
Published: November 2023

Taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott var. antiquorum] is an important tuber crop widely cultivated in tropical and sub‐tropical regions, for its corms, leaves, and petioles. Millions of people living in developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Central America, utilise taro as a staple or subsistence food and it plays a very crucial role there for food security, nutritional security, livelihood improvement, and employment generation. It exhibits a capacious range of diversity worldwide regarding plant characteristics. However, its phenology has not yet been described systematically. The present study defines codes and phenological growth stages of taro according to the extended Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamnt, and Chemische Industrie (BBCH) scale using a three‐digit numerical coding system for its description. A total of nine principal growth stages were described such as germination (0), leaf development (1), elongation of shoot/stem (2), tuber formation (3), development of inflorescence/spadix (5), flowering (6), development of berries/fruiting (7), ripening of berries and seed development (8) and senescence and beginning of dormancy (9) and further, each of the principal development stages has been partitioned into optional developmental growth stages. Under remarkable circumstances, it is valuable to use mesostages with three‐digit codes for description. The study of extended BBCH scale for taro has immense importance in crop management, crop improvement, germplasm characterisation, and assessment of impact of the climate on phenology under different agro‐climatic conditions for the selection of suitable genotypes.
Novel endomorphin analogues CEMR‐1 and CEMR‐2 produce potent and long‐lasting antinociception with a favourable side effect profile at the spinal level
Authors: Zhang Yu‐zhe , Wang Si‐yu , Guo Xue‐ci , Liu Xiao‐han , Wang Xiao‐fang , Wang Meng‐meng , Qiu Ting‐ting , Han Feng‐tong , Zhang Yao , Wang Chang‐lin
Published: November 2023

Background and Purpose

Endomorphins have shown great promise as pharmaceutics for the treatment of pain. We have previously confirmed that novel endomorphin analogues CEMR‐1 and CEMR‐2 behaved as potent μ agonists and displayed potent antinociceptive activities at the supraspinal and peripheral levels. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antinociceptive properties of CEMR‐1 and CEMR‐2 following intrathecal (i.t.) administration. Furthermore, their antinociceptive tolerance and opioid‐like side effects were also determined.

Experimental Approach

The spinal antinociceptive effects of CEMR‐1 and CEMR‐2 were determined in a series of pain models, including acute radiant heat paw withdrawal test, spared nerve injury‐induced neuropathic pain, complete Freund's adjuvant‐induced inflammatory pain, visceral pain and formalin pain. Antinociceptive tolerance was evaluated in radiant heat paw withdrawal test.

Key Results

Spinal administration of CEMR‐1 and CEMR‐2 produced potent and prolonged antinociceptive effects in acute pain. CEMR‐1 and CEMR‐2 may produce their antinociception through distinct μ receptor subtypes. These two analogues also exhibited significant analgesic activities in neuropathic, inflammatory, visceral and formalin pain at the spinal level. It is noteworthy that CEMR‐1 showed non‐tolerance‐forming analgesic properties, while CEMR‐2 exhibited substantially reduced antinociceptive tolerance. Furthermore, both analogues displayed no or reduced side effects on conditioned place preference response, physical dependence, locomotor activity and gastrointestinal transit.

Conclusions and Implications

The present investigation demonstrated that CEMR‐1 and CEMR‐2 displayed potent and long‐lasting antinociception with a favourable side effect profile at the spinal level. Therefore, CEMR‐1 and CEMR‐2 might serve as promising analgesic compounds with minimal opioid‐like side effects.
Preservers, Transformers & Vanguards: Measuring the Profitability of Customer Experience Strategies
Authors: Klaus Phil
Published: November 2023

Customer experience (CX) may be “the next competitive battleground,” but we're still struggling to define it. More to the point, we have to figure out a way to measure CX. Otherwise, how can we become better at managing it?

Preservers, Transformers, and Vanguards: How we measure the quality of customer experience.
Mutual Growth: Social Innovation and Environmental Sustainability
Authors: Dilley Maura
Published: November 2023

Once we agree on what a healthy planet looks like, we can collaborate on repairing ours. The Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development is easy to understand and offers a roadmap for responsible design and sustainable innovation.

Avoiding the take‐make‐waste ethos with a collaboration between environmental sustainability and social innovation—and a framework for making it happen.
Spatial asynchrony and cross‐scale climate interactions in populations of a coldwater stream fish
Authors: Valentine George P. , Lu Xinyi , Childress Evan S. , Dolloff C. Andrew , Hitt Nathaniel P. , Kulp Matthew A. , Letcher Benjamin H. , Pregler Kasey C. , Rash Jacob M. , Hooten Mevin B. , Kanno Yoichiro
Published: November 2023

Climate change affects populations over broad geographic ranges due to spatially autocorrelated abiotic conditions known as the Moran effect. However, populations do not always respond to broad‐scale environmental changes synchronously across a landscape. We combined multiple datasets for a retrospective analysis of time‐series count data (5–28 annual samples per segment) at 144 stream segments dispersed over nearly 1,000 linear kilometers of range to characterize the population structure and scale of spatial synchrony across the southern native range of a coldwater stream fish (brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis), which is sensitive to stream temperature and flow variations. Spatial synchrony differed by life stage and geographic region: it was stronger in the juvenile life stage than in the adult life stage and in the northern sub‐region than in the southern sub‐region. Spatial synchrony of trout populations extended to 100–200 km but was much weaker than that of climate variables such as temperature, precipitation, and stream flow. Early life stage abundance changed over time due to annual variation in summer temperature and winter and spring stream flow conditions. Climate effects on abundance differed between sub‐regions and among local populations within sub‐regions, indicating multiple cross‐scale interactions where climate interacted with local habitat to generate only a modest pattern of population synchrony over space. Overall, our analysis showed higher degrees of response heterogeneity of local populations to climate variation and consequently population asynchrony than previously shown based on analysis of individual, geographically restricted datasets. This response heterogeneity indicates that certain local segments characterized by population asynchrony and resistance to climate variation could represent unique populations of this iconic native coldwater fish that warrant targeted conservation. Advancing the conservation of this species can include actions that identify such priority populations and incorporate them into landscape‐level conservation planning. Our approach is applicable to other widespread aquatic species sensitive to climate change.
Angioimmunoblastic T‐cell lymphoma and Kaposi sarcoma: A fortuitous collision?
Authors: Poullot Elsa , Milowich Dina , Lemonnier François , Bisig Bettina , Robe Cyrielle , Pelletier Laura , Letourneau Audrey , Dupuy Aurélie , Sako Nouhoum , Ketterer Nicolas , Carde Patrice , Dartigues Peggy , Delfau‐Larue Marie‐Hélène , de Leval Laurence , Gaulard Philippe
Published: November 2023

Aims

Follicular helper T‐cell (TFH) lymphoma of the angioimmunoblastic‐type (AITL), one of the most prevalent T‐cell lymphomas, typically encompasses proliferation of high endothelial venules and Epstein–Barr virus‐positive immunoblasts, but neither infection with HHV8 nor association with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) have been described. The aims of this study are to characterise the association between AITL and HHV8 infection or KS.

Methods and results

Three male patients aged 49–76 years, HIV‐negative, with concurrent nodal involvement by AITL and KS, were identified from our files and carefully studied. Two patients originated from countries where endemic KS occurs, including one with cutaneous KS. The lymphomas featured abundant vessels, expanded follicular dendritic cells and neoplastic TFH cells [PD1+ (three of three), ICOS+ (three of three), CXCL13+ (three of three), CD10+ (two of three), BCL6 (two of three)] but lacked EBV+ immunoblasts. The foci of KS consisted of subcapsular proliferations of ERG+, CD31+ and/or CD34+, HHV8+ spindle cells. High‐throughput sequencing showed AITL‐associated mutations in TET2 (three of three), RHOA (G17V) (three of three) and IDH2 (R172) (two of three), which were absent in the microdissected KS component in two cases. Relapses in two patients consisted of AITL, without evidence of KS. No evidence of HHV8 infection was found in a control group of 23 AITL cases.

Conclusion

Concurrent nodal involvement by AITL and KS is rare and identification of both neoplastic components may pose diagnostic challenges. The question of whether the association between AITL and KS may be fortuitous or could reflect the underlying immune dysfunction in AITL remains open.
Renal function as risk factor for diabetic foot ulcers: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Jin Long , Xu Wenwen
Published: November 2023

The meta‐analysis aimed to assess renal function (RF) as a risk factor for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Using dichotomous or contentious random or fixed effect models, the outcomes of this meta‐analysis were examined, and the odds Ratio (OR) and the mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed. 16 examinations from 2004 to 2023 were enrolled for the present meta‐analysis, including 808 914 individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM). DFU had significantly higher chronic renal failure (OR, 3.17; 95% CI, 1.97–5.09, p < 0.001), higher serum Creatinine (MD, 29.30; 95% CI, 9.68–48.92, p = 0.003), and a low estimated glomerular filtration rate (MD, −15.31; 95% CI, −19.36 to −11.26, p < 0.001) compared to non‐DFU patients with DM. The examined data revealed that DFU had significantly higher chronic renal failure, higher serum Creatinine, and a low estimated glomerular filtration rate compared to non‐DFU patients with DM. Yet, attention should be paid to its values since some comparisons had a low number of selected studies.
RETRACTED: Effects of comprehensive nursing intervention on pressure ulcer after traumatic brain injury surgery: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Huang Dong‐Hua , Xie Yan‐Cai , Zhang Cui‐Lian
Published: November 2023

Pressure ulcers (PUs) are a common complication in postoperative patients with traumatic brain injury, and this study used a meta‐analysis to assess the effects of comprehensive nursing applied in PUs intervention in postoperative patients with traumatic brain injury. A computerised systematic search of the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), VIP and Wanfang databases was performed to collect publicly available articles on randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the effects of comprehensive nursing interventions in postoperative patients with traumatic brain injury published up to August 2023. Two researchers independently completed the search and screening of the literature, extraction of data and quality assessment of the included literature based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Meta‐analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. Twenty‐eight articles were finally included, for a cumulative count of 2641 patients, of which 1324 were in the intervention group and 1317 in the control group. The results of the meta‐analysis showed that, compared with conventional nursing, comprehensive nursing intervention helped to reduce the incidence of PUs in postoperative patients with traumatic brain injury (5.14% vs. 19.67%, odds ratio [OR]: 0.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.16–0.29, p < 0.00001) and reduced the incidence of postoperative complications (7.87% vs. 25.84%, OR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.11–0.43, p < 0.0001), while increasing patient satisfaction (96.67% vs. 75.33%, OR: 9.5, 95% CI: 3.63–24.88, p < 0.00001). This study concludes that a comprehensive nursing intervention applied to postoperative patients with traumatic brain injury can significantly reduce the incidence of PUs and postoperative complications as well as improve nursing satisfaction, and it is recommended for clinical promotion. However, due to the limitations of the studies' number and quality, more high‐quality, large‐sample RCTs are needed to further validate the conclusions of this study.