bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dexpramipexole ameliorates cognitive deficits in sepsis-associated encephalopathy through suppressing mitochondria-mediated pyroptosis and apoptosis
Authors: Zhang Yibao , Fu Qun , Ruan Jiaping , Shi Changxi , Lu Wuguang , Wu Jing , Zhou Zhiqiang
Published: January 2023

Objectives

This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of dexpramipexole (DPX) – a mitochondrial protectant that sustains mitochondrial function and energy production – on cognitive function in a mouse model of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) induced by peripheral administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and examining the potential mechanisms.

Methods

C57BL/6 male mice were randomized into one of four treatment protocols: Con+Sal, Con+DPX, LPS+Sal or LPS+DPX. The mice were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with LPS or equivalent volumes of normal saline once daily for 3 consecutive days. To evaluate the protective effects of DPX, we administered DPX or normal saline i.p. to the mice once daily for 6 consecutive days. Six mice in each group were decapitated on day 7, and each brain was rapidly removed and separated into two halves for biochemical and histochemical analysis. The remaining surviving mice in each group were subjected to behavioral tests from days 7 to 10.

Results

Peripheral administration of LPS to mice led to learning and memory deficits in behavioral tests, which were associated with mitochondrial impairment and ATP depletion in the hippocampus. Repeated DPX treatment protected the mitochondria against LPS-induced morphological and functional impairment; inhibited the activation of the Nod-like receptor pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis pathway and cytochrome c (Cyt-c)-caspase-3-dependent apoptosis pathway; and attenuated LPS-induced neuroinflammation and cell death in the hippocampus in SAE mice.

Conclusions

Mitochondria-mediated pyroptosis and apoptosis are involved in the pathogenesis of cognitive deficits in a mouse model of SAE and DPX protects mitochondria and suppresses the mitochondria-medicated pyroptosis and apoptosis pathways, and ameliorates LPS-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive deficits. This study provides theoretical evidence supporting DPX for the treatment of SAE.
Occurrence of involuntary movements after prolonged misuse of zolpidem: a case report
Authors: Ricciardulli Sara , Lattanzi Lorenzo , Barbuti Margherita , Ceravolo Roberto , Perugi Giulio
Published: January 2023

Zolpidem is a non-benzodiazepine agent used for short-term treatment of insomnia. Several cases of dependence and withdrawal from zolpidem are reported in the literature. Furthermore, involuntary movements after prolonged zolpidem misuse have been described. In this case report, a 69-year-old Italian woman with no history of diagnosed psychiatric or neurologic diseases developed uncontrolled movements and a depressive-anxious syndrome after twelve-year zolpidem misuse. The underlying mechanisms of involuntary movements occurring after long-term zolpidem intake are unknown; yet, we suggest that zolpidem might induce an increase in dopamine release through inhibition of gamma-aminobutyric acid neurons tonically suppressing dopamine cells. Future studies on the occurrence of persistent disorders after long-term benzodiazepine or Z-drug abuse are needed and clinicians should pay attention to the risk of tardive syndromes related to zolpidem misuse, especially in the case of long-term intake of over-therapeutic dosages.
A case of atypical vivax malaria with a global review of reports on myriads of morpho-variations in parasitized red blood cells.
Authors: Biswal Debasish , Mirdha Bijay Ranjan
Published: January 2023

Abstract: Plasmodium vivax (P.vivax ), one of the major species of human malaria continues to be a major public health problem in many parts of the world. Numerous studies related to vivax malaria have described the quantitative haematological findings (level of haemoglobin, thrombocytopenia, haematocrit values), however, diverse morphological changes of parasite forms within  infected red blood cells (iRBCs) have been mentioned only in few studies.  Here we report a case of 13-year–old boy presented with fever, significant low platelet counts, hypovolemia that created diagnostic dilemma. Detection of microgametocytes by microscopic examinations, further confirmed by multiplex nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay  besides response to anti-malarials helped to make  the diagnosis. We present an atypical case of vivax malaria with review of morpho-variations of iRBCs and have summarized the characteristics that aid in creating increased awareness among laboratory health professionals and public health workers.
A mouse model of oral contraceptive exposure: depression, motivation, and the stress response
Authors: Schuh Kristen M. , Ahmed Jabir , Kwak Esther , Xu Cecilia X. , Davis Tronjay T. , Aronoff Chloe B. , Tronson Natalie C.
Published: January 2023

Hormonal contraceptives, including oral contraceptives (OCs), regulate hormonal cycles and broadly affect physiological processes, including stress responsivity. Whereas many users describe overall improved mood, up to 10% of OC users experience adverse effects, including depression and anxiety. Given the link between regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, stress exposure, and risk for depression, it is likely that OC-effects on stress mediate increased risk or increased resilience to these disorders. In this study, we developed and characterized a tractable mouse model of OC exposure with which to identify the mechanisms underlying OC modulation of brain, behavior, and mood. Specifically, we aimed to determine whether translationally relevant doses of OC-hormones in mice mimic changes in stress responsivity observed in humans taking OCs and describe behavioral changes during OC exposure. Young adult female C57Bl/6N mice received daily ethinyl estradiol (EE) and levonorgestrel (LVNG) in 10% sucrose, EE and drospirenone (DRSP) in 10% sucrose, or 10% sucrose alone. Translationally relevant doses of EE+LVNG-exposure, but not EE+DRSP, suppressed the acute stress response, consistent with effects observed in human OC users. EE+LVNG caused a specific anhedonia-like effect, without broad changes in stress-coping behavior, other depression-like behaviors, or anxiety-like behaviors. The suppression of regular estrous cycling, together with the blunting of the corticosterone response to acute stress, demonstrate the utility of this model for future studies to identify the mechanisms underlying OC interactions with stress, motivation, and risk for depression.
Tackling hysteresis in conformational sampling — how to be forgetful with MEMENTO
Authors: Lichtinger Simon M. , Biggin Philip C.
Published: January 2023

The structure of proteins has long been recognised to hold the key to understanding and engineering their function, and rapid advances in structural biology (and protein structure prediction) are now supplying researchers with an ever-increasing wealth of structural information. Most of the time, however, structures can only be determined in free energy minima, one at a time. While conformational flexibility may thus be inferred from static end-state structures, their interconversion mechanisms — a central ambition of structural biology — are often beyond the scope of direct experimentation. Given the dynamical nature of the processes in question, many studies have attempted to explore conformational transitions using molecular dynamics (MD). However, ensuring proper convergence and reversibility in the predicted transitions is extremely challenging. In particular, a commonly used technique to map out a path from a starting to a target conformation called targeted MD (tMD) can suffer from starting-state dependence (hysteresis) when combined with techniques such as umbrella sampling (US) to compute the free energy profile of a transition.

Here, we study this problem in detail on conformational changes of increasing complexity. We also present a new, history-independent approach that we term “MEMENTO” (Morphing End states by Modelling Ensembles with iNdependent TOpologies) to generate paths that alleviate hysteresis in the construction of conformational free energy profiles. MEMENTO utilises template-based structure modelling to restore physically reasonable protein conformations based on coordinate interpolation (morphing) as an ensemble of plausible intermediates, from which a smooth path is picked. We compare tMD and MEMENTO on well-characterized test cases (the toy peptide deca-alanine and the enzyme adenylate kinase) before discussing its use in more complicated systems (the kinase P38αand the bacterial leucine transporter LeuT). Our work shows that for all but the simplest systems tMD paths should not in general be used to seed umbrella sampling or related techniques, unless the paths are validated by consistent results from biased runs in opposite directions. MEMENTO, on the other hand performs well as a flexible tool to generate intermediate structures for umbrella sampling. We also demonstrate that extended end-state sampling combined with MEMENTO can aid the discovery of collective variables on a case-by-case basis.

TOC Graphic
Examining Horizontal Transmission ofNippostrongylus brasiliensisin Mice to Assess Biosecurity Risks
Authors: Floyd Rebecca J , Ricart Arbona Rodolfo J , Carrasco Sebastian E , Lipman Neil S
Published: January 2023

Nippostrongylus brasiliensis(Nb) infected mice are commonly used to study immune responses. There is no consensus regarding the biosecurity measures that should be employed when housing Nb-infected mice and rats. Transmission is reported to not occur when infected mice are co-housed with naive mice. We sought to determine what conditions, if any, favor horizontal transmission. Female NOD.Cg-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1Wjl/Sz (NSG; n=12) and C57BL/6J (B6; n=12) mice inoculated with 750 Nb L3larvae were cohoused with naïve NSG (n=24) and B6 (n=24) mice at a ratio of 1 infected:2 naïve mice per cage for 28 days within static microsiolator (MI) cages changed on a 14-day interval. We also assessed whether larval development to the L3stage could occur when Nb egg-containing fecal pellets are maintained under 4 different environmental conditions (dry, moist, soiled bedding, and control) and whether infection results when naïve NSG mice (n=9) are housed in MI cages with infective L3larvae-spiked (10,000/cage) soiled bedding. NSG mice (n=3) were also gavaged with Nb eggs to model the potential for infection to occur following coprophagy. Both naïve NSG (9 of 24) and B6 (10 of 24) mice cohoused with an infected cagemate passed Nb eggs in feces as early as 1 day and intermittently for varying periods following cohousing, presumably a result of coprophagy as adult worms were not detected at euthanasia. While eggs were able to develop into L3larvae under 2 environmental conditions (moist and control), none of the NSG mice housed in cages with L3-spiked bedding or gavaged with eggs became infected with Nb. Findings demonstrate that horizontal transmission does not occur when mice are housed with Nb-shedding cagemates in static MI cages with a 14-day cage changing interval. Results from this study can be used to inform biosecurity practices when working with the Nb-infected mouse model.
Short- and longer-term all-cause mortality among SARS-CoV-2-infected persons and the pull-forward phenomenon in Qatar
Authors: Chemaitelly Hiam , Faust Jeremy Samuel , Krumholz Harlan M. , Ayoub Houssein H. , Tang Patrick , Coyle Peter , Yassine Hadi M. , Thani Asmaa A. Al , Al-Khatib Hebah A. , Hasan Mohammad R. , Al-Kanaani Zaina , Al-Kuwari Einas , Jeremijenko Andrew , Kaleeckal Anvar Hassan , Latif Ali Nizar , Shaik Riyazuddin Mohammad , Abdul-Rahim Hanan F. , Nasrallah Gheyath K. , Al-Kuwari Mohamed Ghaith , Butt Adeel A. , Al-Romaihi Hamad Eid , Al-Thani Mohamed H. , Al-Khal Abdullatif , Bertollini Roberto , Abu-Raddad Laith J.
Published: January 2023

Background

Risk of short- and long-term all-cause mortality after a primary SARS-CoV-2 infection is inadequately understood.

Methods

A national, matched, retrospective cohort study was conducted in Qatar to assess the risk of all-cause mortality in the national cohort of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 compared with a reference national control cohort of uninfected persons. Associations were estimated using Cox proportional-hazards regression models.

Results

Among unvaccinated persons, within 90 days after primary infection, adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) comparing incidence of death in the primary-infection cohort with the infection-naïve cohort was 1.19 (95% CI: 1.02-1.39). The aHR was 1.34 (95% CI: 1.11-1.63) in persons more clinically vulnerable to severe COVID-19 and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.72-1.24) in those less clinically vulnerable to severe COVID-19. In subsequent follow-up, the aHR was 0.50 (95% CI: 0.37-0.68). The aHR was 0.41 (95% CI: 0.28-0.58) in months 3-7 after the primary infection and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.46-1.26) in subsequent months. The aHR was 0.37 (95% CI: 0.25-0.54) in persons more clinically vulnerable to severe COVID-19 and 0.77 (95% CI: 0.48-1.24) in those less clinically vulnerable to severe COVID-19. Among vaccinated persons, no evidence was found for differences in incidence of death in the primary-infection versus infection-naïve cohorts, even among persons more clinically vulnerable to severe COVID-19.

Conclusions

COVID-19 mortality in Qatar appears primarily driven by forward displacement of deaths of individuals with relatively short life expectancy and more clinically vulnerable to severe COVID-19. Vaccination negated the mortality displacement by preventing early deaths.
Free-Cog reformulated: analyses as independent or stepwise tests of cognitive and executive function
Authors: Larner Andrew J , Burns Alistair
Published: January 2023

Free-Cog is a recently described, hybrid screening instrument incorporating tests of cognitive and executive function. In this study, Free-Cog was reformulated as separate tests of cognitive function and executive function to examine whether this might improve screening accuracy for cognitive impairment (dementia and mild cognitive impairment) compared to the standard, unitary Free-Cog. The two separate tests, designated “Free-Cog-Cog” and “Free-Cog-Exec,” were either combined using the Boolean logical “AND” and “OR” operators (serial and parallel combination) or used to construct a stepwise decision tree. Serial combination improved specificity and positive predictive value whereas parallel combination improved sensitivity, findings typically observed when applying these operators. Stepwise application identified groups with high and low probability of cognitive impairment but failed to adequately differentiate those in the intermediate uncertain diagnosis group. Although the dataset used was relatively small, the findings of this study suggest little benefit for reformulations of Free-Cog compared to the standard, unitary instrument.
Do medical marijuana laws increase prescription stimulant use?
Authors: Alexander Garrett D. , Cavanah Luke R. , Goldhirsh Jessica L. , Huey Leighton Y. , Piper Brian J.
Published: January 2023

Background

Chronic cannabis use can present with cognitive impairments that resemble ADHD. Our objective was to determine if medical cannabis (MC) legalization increased prescription stimulant distribution.

Methods

We extracted distribution of methylphenidate, amphetamine, and lisdexamfetamine from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s comprehensive database for 2006 to 2021 and compared the three-year population-corrected slopes of stimulant distribution before and after MC program implementation.

Results

We found a very large main effect of time (p≤0.001), but, contrary to the hypothesis not states’ MC sales status, on slopes of distribution (p=0.391). There was a significant and large interaction effect of time and MC sales status on slopes of distribution (p≤0.001).

Discussion

These findings suggest that medical cannabis program legalization may have contributed to some states having more rapid increases in Schedule II stimulant distribution rates over time.
Probiotics supplementation to adult human small intestinal stoma microbiota causes dynamic increase in the community resistance to perturbations and nutrient utilization
Authors: Jansma Jack , Thome Nicola U. , Schwalbe Markus , Chatziioannou Anastasia Chrysovalantou , Elsayed Somayah S. , van Wezel Gilles P. , van den Abbeele Pieter , van Hemert Saskia , Aidy Sahar El
Published: January 2023

The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in health and disease. The use of probiotics as microbiota-targeted therapies is a promising strategy to improve host health. However, dynamic molecular mechanisms are often not elucidated, especially when targeting the small intestinal microbiota. Here, we show that supplementation of a probiotic formula (Ecologic®825) to the adult human small intestinal ileostoma microbiota counteracts the growth ofEnterococcaceaeandEnterobacteriaceaeand reduces ethanol production, leading to major changes in nutrient utilization and resistance to perturbations. The observed alterations coincided with an initial increase in lactate production and decrease in pH by the probiotics, followed by a sharp increase in the levels of butyrate and propionate. Additionally, increased production of multipleN-acyl amino acids was detected in the stoma samples supplemented with the probiotic formula. Overall, this study shows how network theory can be used to improve the current or identify novel microbiota-targeted therapies. The outcome may help further understand the reported effects of these probiotic formula on the host.
Sex differences, asymmetry and age-related white matter development in infants and 5-year-olds as assessed with Tract-Based Spatial Statistics
Authors: Kumpulainen Venla , Merisaari Harri , Silver Eero , Copeland Anni , Pulli Elmo P. , Lewis John D , Saukko Ekaterina , Shulist Satu J. , Saunavaara Jani , Parkkola Riitta , Lähdesmäki Tuire , Karlsson Linnea , Karlsson Hasse , Tuulari Jetro J.
Published: January 2023

The rapid white matter (WM) maturation of first years of life is followed by slower yet long-lasting development, accompanied by learning of more elaborate skills. By the age of five years, behavioural and cognitive differences between females and males, and functions associated with brain lateralization such as language skills are appearing. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can be used to quantify fractional anisotropy (FA) within the WM and increasing values correspond to advancing brain development. To investigate the normal features of WM development during early childhood, we gathered a DTI data set of 166 healthy infants (mean 3.8 wk, range 2-5wk; 89 males; born on gestational week 36 or later) and 144 healthy children (mean 5.4 years, range 5.1-5.8 years; 76 males). The sex differences, lateralization patterns and age-dependent changes were examined using tractbased spatial statistics (TBSS). In 5-year-olds, females showed higher FA in wide-spread regions in the posterior and the temporal WM and more so in the right hemisphere, while sex differences were not detected in infants. Gestational age showed stronger association with FA values compared to age after birth in infants. Additionally, child age at scan associated positively with FA around the age of 5 years in the body of corpus callosum, the connections of which are important especially for sensory and motor functions. Lastly, asymmetry of WM microstructure was detected already in infants, yet significant changes in lateralization pattern seems to occur during early childhood, and in 5-year-olds the pattern already resembles adult-like WM asymmetry.

Highlights

White matter tract integrity shows widespread sex differences at the age of 5 years.

White matter structure is highly lateralized during early childhood, and changes in asymmetry occur between the birth and 5 years of age.

The white matter lateralization pattern of 5-year-olds, unlike of infants, resembles asymmetry observed in adults.
Invasive Californian death caps develop mushrooms unisexually and bisexually
Authors: Wang Yen-Wen , McKeon Megan C. , Elmore Holly , Hess Jaqueline , Golan Jacob , Gage Hunter , Mao William , Harrow Lynn , Gonçalves Susana C. , Hull Christina M. , Pringle Anne
Published: January 2023

Canonical sexual reproduction among basidiomycete fungi involves the fusion of two haploid individuals of different sexes, resulting in a heterokaryotic mycelial body made up of genetically different nuclei1. Using population genomics data, we discovered mushrooms of the deadly invasiveAmanita phalloidesare also homokaryotic, evidence of sexual reproduction by single individuals. In California, genotypes of homokaryotic mushrooms are also found in heterokaryotic mushrooms, implying nuclei of homokaryotic mycelia also promote outcrossing. We discovered death cap mating is controlled by a single mating-type locus (A. phalloidesis bipolar), but the development of homokaryotic mushrooms appears to bypass mating-type gene control. Ultimately, sporulation is enabled by nuclei able to reproduce alone as well as with others, and nuclei competent for both unisexuality and bisexuality have persisted in invaded habitats for at least 17 but potentially as long as 30 years. The diverse reproductive strategies of invasive death caps are likely facilitating its rapid spread, revealing a profound similarity between plant, animal and fungal invasions2,3.
Meta Learning Improves Robustness and Performance in Machine Learning-Guided Protein Engineering
Authors: Minot Mason , Reddy Sai T.
Published: January 2023

Machine learning-guided protein engineering continues to rapidly progress, however, collecting large, well-labeled data sets remains time and resource intensive. Directed evolution and protein engineering studies often require extensive experimental processes to eliminate noise and fully label high-throughput protein sequence-function data. Meta learning methods established in other fields (e.g. computer vision and natural language processing) have proven effective in learning from noisy data, given the availability of a small data set with trusted labels and thus could be applied for protein engineering. Here, we generate yeast display antibody mutagenesis libraries and screen them for target antigen binding followed by deep sequencing. Meta learning approaches are able to learn under high synthetic and experimental noise as well as in under labeled data settings, typically outperforming baselines significantly and often requiring a fraction of the training data. Thus, we demonstrate meta learning may expedite and improve machine learning-guided protein engineering.

Availability and implementation

The code used in this study is publicly available athttps://github.com/LSSI-ETH/meta-learning-for-protein-engineering.

Graphical Abstract
(Z)-4,5-Dibromo-3,3,6,6-tetramethyl-2,3,6,7-tetrahydrothiepine-1,1-dione
Authors: Schollmeyer Dieter , Detert Heiner
Published: January 2023

The crystal of the title compound, C10H16Br2O2S, is formed from layers built from centrosymmetric pairs of molecules. The molecule adopts a twist conformation with the carbon atoms next to sulfur above or below the mean plane.
2-[(4-Chlorophenyl)imino]-1,2-diphenylethanone
Authors: Ziani Nouara , Ouarda Brihi , Kadri Soumia , Jeanneau Erwann , Warad Ismail , Djedouani Amel
Published: January 2023

The title Schiff base, C20H14ClNO, obtained from the reaction of 4-chloro aniline with benzil, has an approximate T shape. The dihedral angle between the phenyl rings of the benzil unit is 74.14 (15)°. The extended structure features C—H...O hydrogen bonds.
How to build responsive service processes in German banks: the role of process documentation and the myth of automation
Authors: Oberle Laura Johanna
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This multi-method paper investigates the impact factors of process responsiveness, operationalized as process duration, in the bread-and-butter business of German banks, i.e. the private mortgage loan application evaluation process. The tested predictors refer to process design, process execution, business process management (BPM)'s relevance and information technology (IT) support.

Design/methodology/approach

In a sequential research design, a total of 296 useable responses of 1,228 contacted German banks are collected using a questionnaire built from both industry insights gained through 43 expert interviews and theoretical knowledge. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression is used to determine the relevant impact factors and moderation effects, and a theoretical framework is proposed.

Findings

Proper process documentation moderated by bank size is most influential for process speed, and smaller banks benefit more from it. Automation appears to have a prolonging effect on the process. Although surprising, this finding may be explained through correlation analysis of the data and studies on the Solow’ paradox in the literature.

Research limitations/implications

The models only partially explain process responsiveness. A moderate adjusted R² and several interaction effects indicate the complexity of the presented research question. Still, several hypotheses can be confirmed, leading back to the roots of process improvement and the long-lasting question of the binary impact nature of automation.

Originality/value

Valuable insights for both researchers in service operations and bank practitioners are outlined, shedding light onto responsiveness as still empirically under-researched operational capability. Thereby, the authors also contribute to the superior question of strategic fit.
Coolly provocative: a microfoundational framework of interorganizational cultural distance and exploratory innovation
Authors: Hui Pamsy P. , Fu Jeanne Ho-Ying , Tong Yuk-yue
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Interorganizational collaboration has been a major source of exploratory innovation. Despite much research, the authors’ understanding about how partner cultural distance is harnessed for exploratory innovation is limited. The authors’ conceptual framework aims to address this gap by explaining the social-psychological processes between perceived partner cultural distance and exploratory innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on research in organizational learning and culture mixing, the authors propose a multilevel model with two parallel processes – cultural brokering and cultural defense. If managers are engaged in the former and are protected from the latter, then the partnership will produce more exploratory innovation. Cultural brokering is encouraged by prompting a learning mindset, while cultural defense is preempted by dampening social categorization across organizational boundaries.

Findings

Cultural brokering can be encouraged by building operational-level managers' (OLMs') collaborative strength through developing a learning orientation, allowing them delivery for exploration, cultivating mutual trust with partners. Cultural defense can be preempted by protecting OLMs from intergroup anxieties through providing organizational support to the OLMs, bridging social categorization faultlines and setting shared collaborative goals. Whether an alliance can unleash its potential depends on not just how cultural brokering is enabled but also how cultural defense is curtailed.

Originality/value

This paper takes a microfoundational approach and considers micro-level processes in a partnership. Furthermore, the model takes the operational managers' perspective and defines culture at the organizational level. All these differences allow us to provide a nuanced picture of how diverse partnerships can be harnessed for exploratory innovation through a few easily-implementable measures.
How does deviance tolerance enhance innovative behavior? The mediating role of cognitive crafting and the moderating role of regulatory focus
Authors: Yu Shengxian , Liu Shanshi , Gong Xiaoxiao , Lu Wenzhu , Liu Chang-e
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Drawing on the social information processing theory, this study aims to adopt a moderated mediation model to investigate the mediation role of cognitive crafting and the moderation role of regulatory focus in the relationship between perceived deviance tolerance and employee innovative behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire study with 181 employees from a state-owned communications technology company in China was conducted through a two-wave survey, with a one-month lagged design. The model is tested through confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis and PROCESS bootstrapping program in SPSS24.0 and AMOS22.0 software.

Findings

This study confirms that perceived deviance tolerance is positively related to innovative behavior, while cognitive crafting mediates the relationship between perceived deviance tolerance and innovative behavior. Furthermore, the promotion focus positively moderates the relationship between perceived deviance tolerance and cognitive crafting, and higher promotion focus enhances the mediating effect of cognitive crafting on the relationship between perceived deviance tolerance and innovative behavior. The prevention focus negatively moderates the relationship between perceived deviance tolerance and cognitive crafting, and higher prevention focus weakens the mediating effect of cognitive crafting on the relationship between perceived deviance tolerance and innovative behavior.

Practical implications

Organizations need to establish a tolerant and inclusive management system and create a harmonious working atmosphere to provide a platform basis to inspire the innovative behavior of employees. Also, regulatory focus variables are suggested to be considered in organizational human resource management processes (e.g. recruitment and training) to improve organizational person–job fit.

Originality/value

The primary contribution of this study is to confirm that perceived deviance tolerance has a positive impact on innovation behavior and thereby providing a new perspective to understand the impact effect of perceived deviance tolerance. Another contribution the study explores the mechanisms and boundary conditions of perceived deviance tolerance on innovative behavior fills the theoretical gap of perceived deviance tolerance.
How does a hotel’s hygiene protocol quality trigger guests’ revisit intention during the pandemic? Evidence from Chinese guests
Authors: Islam Md. Tariqul , Pandey Uma , Sinha Satyajit , Hussin Siti Rahayu
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Based on the Stimulus-Organism-Response Model, this study aims to investigate how the intention of Chinese guests to revisit a hotel (response) is triggered by the quality of the hotel’s hygiene protocols (stimulus) during the pandemic. Brand image, perceived guest satisfaction and perceived customer trust were examined as the organism factors in this model.

Design/methodology/approach

The quantitative method was adopted to collect data via a structured online survey of 385 Chinese hotel guests. Their responses were analyzed using SPSS (v.26) and SmartPLS (3.3.2) software.

Findings

The quality of hotel hygiene protocols was found to have a significant impact on hotel brand image, perceived guest satisfaction and perceived guest trust. Hotel brand image, perceived guest satisfaction and perceived guest trust, in turn, demonstrated significant relationships with guests’ revisit intention.

Research limitations/implications

Theoretically, the present study offers a framework to understand the impact of hotel hygiene protocols on guest revisit intention. Practically, the findings of the study encourage industry practitioners to implement proper safety protocols and standard operating procedures related to COVID-19.

Originality/value

Since the beginning of the pandemic, hotel hygiene standards have become a key concern for guests. The current study provides important and meaningful insights into whether and how hotel hygiene quality promotes guest revisit intention.
An iterative path-following method for hyper-redundant snake-like manipulator with joint limits
Authors: Wang Cheng , Xie Haibo , Yang Huayong
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to present an iterative path-following method with joint limits to solve the problem of large computation cost, movement exceeding joint limits and poor path-following accuracy for the path planning of hyper-redundant snake-like manipulator.

Design/methodology/approach

When a desired path is given, new configuration of the snake-like manipulator is obtained through a geometrical approach, then the joints are repositioned through iterations until all the rotation angles satisfy the imposed joint limits. Finally, a new arrangement is obtained through the analytic solution of the inverse kinematics of hyper-redundant manipulator. Finally, simulations and experiments are carried out to analyze the performance of the proposed path-following method.

Findings

Simulation results show that the average computation time is 0.1 ms per step for a hyper-redundant manipulator with 12 degrees of freedom, and the deviation in tip position can be kept below 0.02 mm. Experiments show that all the rotation angles are within joint limits.

Research limitations/implications

Currently , the manipulator is working in open-loop, the elasticity of the driving cable will cause positioning error. In future, close-loop control based on real-time attitude detection will be used in in combination with the path-following method to achieve high-precision trajectory tracking.

Originality/value

Through a series of iterative processes, the proposed method can make the manipulator approach the desired path as much as possible within the joint constraints with high precision and less computation time.
Augmented reality-assisted gesture-based teleoperated system for robot motion planning
Authors: Salman Ahmed Eslam , Roman Magdy Raouf
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The study proposed a human–robot interaction (HRI) framework to enable operators to communicate remotely with robots in a simple and intuitive way. The study focused on the situation when operators with no programming skills have to accomplish teleoperated tasks dealing with randomly localized different-sized objects in an unstructured environment. The purpose of this study is to reduce stress on operators, increase accuracy and reduce the time of task accomplishment. The special application of the proposed system is in the radioactive isotope production factories. The following approach combined the reactivity of the operator’s direct control with the powerful tools of vision-based object classification and localization.

Design/methodology/approach

Perceptive real-time gesture control predicated on a Kinect sensor is formulated by information fusion between human intuitiveness and an augmented reality-based vision algorithm. Objects are localized using a developed feature-based vision algorithm, where the homography is estimated and Perspective-n-Point problem is solved. The 3D object position and orientation are stored in the robot end-effector memory for the last mission adjusting and waiting for a gesture control signal to autonomously pick/place an object. Object classification process is done using a one-shot Siamese neural network (NN) to train a proposed deep NN; other well-known models are also used in a comparison. The system was contextualized in one of the nuclear industry applications: radioactive isotope production and its validation were performed through a user study where 10 participants of different backgrounds are involved.

Findings

The system was contextualized in one of the nuclear industry applications: radioactive isotope production and its validation were performed through a user study where 10 participants of different backgrounds are involved. The results revealed the effectiveness of the proposed teleoperation system and demonstrate its potential for use by robotics non-experienced users to effectively accomplish remote robot tasks.

Social implications

The proposed system reduces risk and increases level of safety when applied in hazardous environment such as the nuclear one.

Originality/value

The contribution and uniqueness of the presented study are represented in the development of a well-integrated HRI system that can tackle the four aforementioned circumstances in an effective and user-friendly way. High operator–robot reactivity is kept by using the direct control method, while a lot of cognitive stress is removed using elective/flapped autonomous mode to manipulate randomly localized different configuration objects. This necessitates building an effective deep learning algorithm (in comparison to well-known methods) to recognize objects in different conditions: illumination levels, shadows and different postures.
Managing inpatient bed setup: an action-research approach using lean technical practices and lean social practices
Authors: Reis Luciana Paula , Fernandes June Marques , Silva Sergio Evangelista , Andreosi Carlos Augusto de Carvalho
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This article aims to introduce a guide to improving hospital bed setup by combining lean technical practices (LTPs), such as kaizen and value stream mapping (VSM) and lean social practices (LSPs), such as employee empowerment.

Design/methodology/approach

Action research approach was employed to analyze the process of reconfiguration of bed setup management in a Brazilian public hospital.

Findings

The study introduces three contributions: (1) presents the use of VSM focused specifically on bed setup, while the current literature presents studies mainly focused on patient flow management, (2) combines the use of LSPs and LTPs in the context of bed management, expanding current studies that are focused either on mathematical models or on social and human aspects of work, (3) introduces a practical guide based on six steps that combine LSPs and LSPs to improve bed setup management.

Research limitations/implications

The research focused on the analysis of patient beds. Surgical beds, delivery, emergency care and intensive care unit (ICU) were not considered in this study. In addition, the process indicators analyzed after the implementation of the improvements did not contemplate the moment of the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, this research focused on the implementation of the improvement in the context of only one Brazilian public hospital.

Practical implications

The combined use of LSPs and LTPs can generate considerable gains in bed setup efficiency and consequently increase the capacity of a hospital to admit new patients, without the ampliation of the physical space and workforce.

Social implications

The improvement of bed setup has an important social character, whereas it can generate important social benefits such as the improvement of the admission service to patients, reducing the waiting time, reducing hospitalization costs and improving the hospital capacity without additional physical resources. All these results are crucial for populations, their countries and regions.

Originality/value

While the current literature on bed management is more focused on formal models or pure human and social perspectives, this article brings these two perspectives together in a single, holistic framework. As a result, this article points out that the complex bed management problem can be efficiently solved by combining LSPs and LTPs to present theoretical and practical contributions to the important social problem of hospital bed management.
Distribution of strong input energy in base-isolated structures with complex nonlinearity: a parametric assessment
Authors: Habib Ahed , Yildirim Umut
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Over the past few decades, several base isolation systems have been developed to enhance the performance of structures under extreme earthquake shaking intensities. Recently, to achieve high energy dissipation capabilities, a new generation of multi-stage friction pendulum (FP) bearings known as the “Quintuple Friction Pendulum (QFP)” was introduced in the literature. With the help of its five effective pendula and nine operational regimes, this bearing's major benefits stem from its ability to accomplish complicated multi-stage adaptive behavior with smoothed loading and unloading when subjected to lateral forces.

Design/methodology/approach

Within the assessment context, five finite element models of reinforced concrete frames supported on QFP isolators with different properties will be developed in OpenSees. Thereafter, a set of 60 earthquakes will be analyzed using the nonlinear time history analysis approach, and the impact of each ground motion record's properties will be evaluated.

Findings

Overall, the study's findings have demonstrated that the characteristics of the isolator, combined with the type of earthquake being applied, have a substantial impact on the isolator's behavior.

Originality/value

Currently, no studies have examined the energy distribution of structural systems equipped with this type of isolation system while considering the influence of earthquake characteristics. Thus, this study is intended to extend the findings available in the literature by discussing and illustrating the distribution of strong ground motions input energy into highly nonlinear base-isolated systems that account for the bearing and superstructural materials' nonlinearity, geometric nonlinearity and leakage-prevented viscous damping nonlinearity. Besides, it investigates the influence of various earthquake characteristics on the energy dissipation of such buildings.
Using an optimization model to support small sewing companies: a case study in a Brazilian textile cluster
Authors: Leão José , de Sousa Pereira Leydiana , Cavalcanti Maria Luiza Xavier De Holanda
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Textile manufacturers worldwide are reformulating their networks, often outsourcing them to maintain a competitive advantage and increase market share. From this perspective, the purpose of this study is support the partnership selection process to develop a sustainable chain that effectively meets customer needs. Brazil has the largest textile and apparel chain in the West and is distinguished by its completeness, from fiber production, spinning, weaving, knitting, finishing and sewing to fashion shows. However, a firm’s relationship, especially in the production stage, is based on informal contracts, which result in a negative operational impact.

Design/methodology/approach

A methodological framework was developed based on a stable matching process to determine the optimal supplier network structure. This study presents a model application for the denim apparel chain in northeast Brazil.

Findings

In these environments, providing choices and recommending suppliers can be beneficial for effectively attending to demand requests, reducing production costs and improving quality through collaboration with sense relationships in a network. Thus, this study presents a better match from the negotiators’ perspective.

Originality/value

The findings of this research are of primary interest for guiding collaborative network composition in the textile and apparel chain. In particular, apparel domain companies can improve their effectiveness in decision-making by measuring the characteristics and potential of all companies involved in networks.
Laser subtractive and laser powder bed fusion of metals: review of process and production features
Authors: Khorasani Mahyar , Gibson Ian , Ghasemi Amir Hossein , Hadavi Elahe , Rolfe Bernard
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is, to compare laser-based additive manufacturing and subtractive methods. Laser-based manufacturing is a widely used, noncontact, advanced manufacturing technique, which can be applied to a very wide range of materials, with particular emphasis on metals. In this paper, the governing principles of both laser-based subtractive of metals (LB-SM) and laser-based powder bed fusion (LB-PBF) of metallic materials are discussed and evaluated in terms of performance and capabilities. Using the principles of both laser-based methods, some new potential hybrid additive manufacturing options are discussed.

Design methodology approach

Production characteristics, such as surface quality, dimensional accuracy, material range, mechanical properties and applications, are reviewed and discussed. The process parameters for both LB-PBF and LB-SM were identified, and different factors that caused defects in both processes are explored. Advantages, disadvantages and limitations are explained and analyzed to shed light on the process selection for both additive and subtractive processes.

Findings

The performance of subtractive and additive processes is highly related to the material properties, such as diffusivity, reflectivity, thermal conductivity as well as laser parameters. LB-PBF has more influential factors affecting the quality of produced parts and is a more complex process. Both LB-SM and LB-PBF are flexible manufacturing methods that can be applied to a wide range of materials; however, they both suffer from low energy efficiency and production rate. These may be useful when producing highly innovative parts detailed, hollow products, such as medical implants.

Originality value

This paper reviews the literature for both LB-PBF and LB-SM; nevertheless, the main contributions of this paper are twofold. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is one of the first to discuss the effect of the production process (both additive and subtractive) on the quality of the produced components. Also, some options for the hybrid capability of both LB-PBF and LB-SM are suggested to produce complex components with the desired macro- and microscale features.
Does board gender diversity impact financial performance? Evidence from the Indian IT sector
Authors: Singh Jagvinder , Singhania Shubham , Aggrawal Deepti
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the impact of gender diversity on corporate boards on firms’ financial performance in the context of the Indian information and technology (IT) sector. The Companies Act 2013 brought forth mandatory provisions for the appointment of women directors for a certain class of companies. This study explores the case of board gender diversity in the Indian IT sector’s unique setting.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a fixed effect panel data regression model to achieve its objectives. Two widely used diversity measures, Blau Index and Shannon Index, have been used to enhance the robustness of the results.

Findings

The results of the study indicate an insignificant relationship between gender diversity and firms’ financial performance. Even the diversity indices portray insignificant results confirming the outcomes of the study. The study indicates that IT sector firms have not been able to leverage the benefits of board gender diversity.

Research limitations/implications

The results of the study have important policy implications for the government, regulatory bodies and corporates. The outcomes point out that the benefits that could have accrued based on the diversity aspect could not be harnessed, as the women’s representation on corporate boards is extremely low. Policymakers and government shall focus on devising stringent laws so that better representation of women directors can be used for the interests of the firms.

Originality/value

The study is an attempt to fill the gap in the extant literature which has a scarce number of studies conducted in the unique setting of the IT sector (both in developed and developing economies). To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study on the influence of board gender diversity in the IT sector of a developing economy, backed by socio-cultural reasons.