bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microstructural Brain Correlates of Inter-individual Differences in Respiratory Interoception
Authors: Nikolova Niia , Fischer Ehmsen Jesper , Banellis Leah , Brændholt Malthe , Vejlø Melina , Fardo Francesca , Allen Micah
Published: April 2024

Interoception, the perception and integration of physiological signals, is a fundamental aspect of self-awareness and homeostasis. While previous work has explored interoceptive processing in relation to the cardiac system, research in the respiratory domain, particularly in relation to brain structure and function, is limited. To address this gap, we utilised a Bayesian psychophysical model to quantify perceptual, metacognitive, and affective dimensions of respiratory interoception in a sample of 207 healthy participants. We also measured individual whole-brain microstructural indices of myelination, myeloarchitecture, and cortical iron using quantitative brain imaging. Voxel-based quantification analyses revealed distinct patterns of cortical microstructure in the insular, cingulate, and primary sensory cortices, which underpin interoceptive perceptual sensitivity and precision. In addition, metacognitive bias was associated with increased myelination of the cingulate cortex and periaqueductal grey, while metacognitive sensitivity correlated with myelination of the midline prefrontal cortex. At an affective level, sensitivity to respiratory resistance was related to the myelination of the primary somatosensory cortex. By revealing specific histological brain patterns tied to individual differences in respiratory interoception, our results uncover the neural pathways that govern perceptual, metacognitive, and emotional facets of interoceptive processing.
Nor-LAAM loaded PLGA Microparticles for Treating Opioid Use Disorder
Authors: Ingabire Diane , Qin Chaolong , Meng Tuo , Raynold Aji Alex Moothendathu , Sudarjat Hadi , Townsend E. Andrew , Pangeni Rudra , Poudel Sagun , Arriaga Michelle , Zhao Long , Chow Woon. N , Banks Matthew , Xu Qingguo
Published: April 2024

The treatment landscape for opioid use disorder (OUD) faces challenges stemming from the limited efficacy of existing medications, poor adherence to prescribed regimens, and a heightened risk of fatal overdose post-treatment cessation. Therefore, there is a pressing need for innovative therapeutic strategies that enhance the effectiveness of interventions and the overall well-being of individuals with OUD. This study explored the therapeutic potential of nor-Levo-α-acetylmethadol (nor-LAAM) to treat OUD. We developed sustained release nor-LAAM-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles (MP) using a hydrophobic ion pairing (HIP) approach. The nor-LAAM-MP prepared using HIP with pamoic acid had high drug loading and exhibited minimal initial burst release and sustained release. The nor-LAAM-MP was further optimized for desirable particle size, drug loading, and release kinetics. The lead nor-LAAM-MP (F4) had a relatively high drug loading (11 wt.%) and an average diameter (19 µm) and maintained a sustained drug release for 4 weeks. A single subcutaneous injection of nor-LAAM-MP (F4) provided detectable nor-LAAM levels in rabbit plasma for at least 15 days. We further evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of nor-LAAM-MP (F4) in a well-established fentanyl-addiction rat model, and revealed a marked reduction in fentanyl choice and withdrawal symptoms in fentanyl-dependent rats. These findings provide insights into further developing long-acting nor-LAAM-MP for treating OUD. It has the potential to offer a new effective medication to the existing sparse armamentarium of products available to treat OUD.
DNA aptamers that modulate biological activity of model neurons
Authors: Rolli Jenelle , Pearson Keenan , Wilbanks Brandon , Hrstka Sybil C. L. , Warrington Arthur E. , Staff Nathan P. , Maher L. James
Published: April 2024

There is an urgent need for agents that promote health and regeneration of cells and tissues, specifically to treat diseases of the aging nervous system. Age-associated nervous system degeneration and various diseases are driven by many different biochemical stresses, often making it difficult to target any one disease cause. Our laboratory has previously identified DNA aptamers with apparent regenerative properties in murine models of multiple sclerosis by selecting aptamers that bind oligodendrocyte membrane preparations. Here, we screened vast libraries of molecules (∼1014unique DNAs) for the ability to bind cultured human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells as model neurons to demonstrate the feasibility of identifying biologically active aptamers by cycles of cell selection. Many of these DNA aptamers bind undifferentiated and differentiated cultured SH-SY5Y cells. Several of these aptamers modulate the biological activity of SH-SY5Y cells upon treatment in culture.
Integrated number sense tutoring remediates aberrant neural representations in children with mathematical disabilities
Authors: Park Yunji , Zhang Yuan , Schwartz Flora , Iuculano Teresa , Chang Hyesang , Menon Vinod
Published: April 2024

Number sense is essential for early mathematical development but it is compromised in children with mathematical disabilities (MD). Here we investigate the impact of a personalized 4-week Integrated Number Sense (INS) tutoring program aimed at improving the connection between nonsymbolic (sets of objects) and symbolic (Arabic numerals) representations in children with MD. Utilizing neural pattern analysis, we found that INS tutoring not only improved cross-format mapping but also significantly boosted arithmetic fluency in children with MD. Critically, the tutoring normalized previously low levels of cross-format neural representations in these children to pre-tutoring levels observed in typically developing, especially in key brain regions associated with numerical cognition. Moreover, we identified distinct, ‘inverted U-shaped’ neurodevelopmental changes in the MD group, suggesting unique neural plasticity during mathematical skill development. Our findings highlight the effectiveness of targeted INS tutoring for remediating numerical deficits in MD, and offer a foundation for developing evidence-based educational interventions.

Significance Statement

Focusing on neural mechanisms, our study advances understanding of how numerical problem-solving can be enhanced in children with mathematical disabilities (MD). We evaluated an integrated number sense tutoring program designed to enhance connections between concrete (e.g. 2 dots) and symbolic (e.g. “2”) numerical representations. Remarkably, the tutoring program not only improved these children’s ability to process numbers similarly across formats but also enhanced their arithmetic skills, indicating transfer of learning to related domains. Importantly, tutoring normalized brain processing patterns in children with MD to resemble those of typically developing peers. These insights highlight the neural bases of successful interventions for MD, offering a foundation for developing targeted educational strategies that could markedly improve learning outcomes for children facing these challenges.
Microgliosis, astrogliosis and loss of aquaporin-4 polarity in frontal cortex of COVID-19 patients
Authors: Beiersdorfer Antonia , Rotermund Natalie , Schulz Kristina , Busch Miriam , Hirnet Daniela , Henne Stephan , Schwarzenberg Florian L. , Dottermusch Matthias , Ondruschka Benjamin , Matschke Jakob , Wülfing Clemens , Glatzel Markus , Lohr Christian
Published: April 2024

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing human coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), not only affects the respiratory tract, but also impacts other organs including the brain. A considerable number of COVID-19 patients develop neuropsychiatric symptoms that may linger for weeks and months and contribute to “long-COVID”. While the neurological symptoms of COVID-19 are well described, the cellular mechanisms of neurologic disorders attributed to the infection are still enigmatic. Here, we studied the effect of an infection with SARS-CoV-2 on the structure and expression of marker proteins of astrocytes and microglial cells in the frontal cortex of patients who died from COVID-19 in comparison to non-COVID-19 controls. Most of COVID-19 patients had microglial cells with retracted processes and rounded and enlarged cell bodies in both gray and white matter, as visualized by anti-Iba1 staining and confocal fluorescence microscopy. In addition, gray matter astrocytes in COVID-19 patients were frequently labeled by intense anti-GFAP staining, whereas in non-COVID-19 controls, most gray matter astrocytes expressed little GFAP. The most striking difference between astrocytes in COVID-19 patients and controls was found by anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) staining. In COVID-19 patients, a large number of gray matter astrocytes showed an increase in AQP4. In addition, AQP4 polarity was lost and AQP4 covered the entire cell, including the cell body and all cell processes, while in controls, AQP4 immunostaining was mainly detected in endfeet around blood vessels and did not visualize the cell body. In summary, our data suggest neuroinflammation upon SARS-CoV-2 infection including microgliosis and astrogliosis, including loss of AQP4 polarity.
Inhibition of Cyp1a Protects Mice against Anthracycline Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Liu Jing , Curtin Casie , Lall Rahul , Lane Sarah , Wieke Jakob , Ariza Abul , Sejour Leinal , Vlachos Ioannis , Zordoky Beshay N. , Peterson Randall T , Asnani Aarti
Published: April 2024

Background

Anthracyclines such as doxorubicin (Dox) are highly effective anti-tumor agents, but their use is limited by dose-dependent cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Our laboratory previously reported that induction of cytochrome P450 family 1 (Cyp1) enzymes contributes to acute Dox cardiotoxicity in zebrafish and in mice, and that potent Cyp1 inhibitors prevent cardiotoxicity. However, the role of Cyp1 enzymes in chronic Dox cardiomyopathy, as well as the mechanisms underlying cardioprotection associated with Cyp1 inhibition, have not been fully elucidated.

Methods

The Cyp1 pathway was evaluated using a small molecule Cyp1 inhibitor in wild-type (WT) mice, or Cyp1-null mice (Cyp1a1/1a2-/-,Cyp1b1-/-, andCyp1a1/1a2/1b1-/-). Low-dose Dox was administered by serial intraperitoneal or intravenous injections, respectively. Expression ofCyp1isoforms was measured by RT-qPCR, and myocardial tissue was isolated from the left ventricle for RNA sequencing. Cardiac function was evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography.

Results

In WT mice, Dox treatment was associated with a decrease inCyp1a2and increase inCyp1b1expression in the heart and in the liver. Co-treatment of WT mice with Dox and the novel Cyp1 inhibitor YW-130 protected against cardiac dysfunction compared to Dox treatment alone.Cyp1a1/1a2-/-andCyp1a1/1a2/1b1-/-mice were protected from Dox cardiomyopathy compared to WT mice. Male, but not female,Cyp1b1-/-mice had increased cardiac dysfunction following Dox treatment compared to WT mice. RNA sequencing of myocardial tissue showed upregulation ofFundc1and downregulation ofCcl21cinCyp1a1/1a2-/-mice treated with Dox, implicating changes in mitophagy and chemokine-mediated inflammation as possible mechanisms of Cyp1a-mediated cardioprotection.

Conclusions

Taken together, this study highlights the potential therapeutic value of Cyp1a inhibition in mitigating anthracycline cardiomyopathy.
Targeted DamID detects cell-type specific histone modificationsin vivo
Authors: van den Ameele Jelle , Trauner Manuel , Hörmanseder Eva , Donovan Alex P. A. , Llora Battle Oriol , Cheetham Seth W. , Krautz Robert , Yakob Rebecca , Gurdon John B. , Brand Andrea H.
Published: April 2024

Histone modifications play a key role in regulating gene expression and cell fate during development and disease. Current methods for cell-type specific genome-wide profiling of histone modifications require dissociation and isolation of cells and are not compatible with all tissue types. Here we adapt Targeted DamID to recognise specific histone marks, by fusing chromatin binding proteins or single-chain antibodies to Dam, anE. coliDNA adenine methylase. When combined with Targeted DamID (TaDa), this enables cell-type specific chromatin profiling in intact tissues or organisms. We first profiled H3K4me3, H3K9ac, H3K27me3 and H4K20me1in vivoin neural stem cells of the developingDrosophilabrain. Next, we mapped cell-type specific H3K4me3 distribution in neural stem cells of the developing mouse brain. Finally, we injected RNA encoding DamID constructs into 1-cell stageXenopusembryos to profile H3K4me3 distribution during gastrulation and neurulation. These results illustrate the versatility of Targeted DamID to profile cell-type specific histone marks throughout the genome in diverse model systems.

Summary statement

Targeted DamID enables genome-wide cell-type specific detection of histone modificationsin vivoinDrosophila, mouse andXenopus.
Supercurrent-carrying supersolid in spin-orbit-coupled Bose-Einstein condensates
Authors: Lyu Hao , Chen Yuanyuan , Zhu Qizhong , Zhang Yongping
Published: April 2024

One of brilliant achievements in spin-orbit-coupled Bose-Einstein condensates is the discovery and observation of the supersolid stripe states. So far, all studied supersolid stripe states do not carry supercurrent. In this paper, we reveal the existence of supercurrent-carrying supersolids in spin-orbit-coupled Bose-Einstein condensates. The supersolid family has a parabolic-like dispersion and carries supercurrent, which is proportional to the quasimomentum. Energetic and dynamical instabilities can break supercurrent-carrying ability of this supersolid family. An insightful interpretation of the dynamical instability of supercurrent-carrying supersolids from the pure plane-wave phase is provided.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Lifting Topological Codes: Three-Dimensional Subsystem Codes from Two-Dimensional Anyon Models
Authors: Bridgeman Jacob C. , Kubica Aleksander , Vasmer Michael
Published: April 2024

Topological subsystem codes in three spatial dimensions allow for quantum error correction with no time overhead, even in the presence of measurement noise. The physical origins of this single-shot property remain elusive, in part due to the scarcity of known models. To address this challenge, we provide a systematic construction of a class of topological subsystem codes in three dimensions built from Abelian quantum double models in one fewer dimension. Our construction not only generalizes the recently introduced subsystem toric code [Kubica and Vasmer, Nat. Commun. , 6272 (2022)] but also provides a new perspective on several aspects of the original model, including the origin of the Gauss law for gauge flux, and boundary conditions for the code family. We then numerically study the performance of the first few codes in this class against phenomenological noise to verify their single-shot property. Lastly, we discuss Hamiltonians naturally associated with these codes, and argue that they may be gapless.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
HEIDI: an experiment-management platform enabling high-throughput fragment and compound screening
Authors: Metz A. , Stegmann D. P. , Panepucci E. H. , Buehlmann S. , Huang C.-Y. , McAuley K. E. , Wang M. , Wojdyla J. A. , Sharpe M. E. , Smith K. M. L.
Published: April 2024

The Swiss Light Source facilitates fragment-based drug-discovery campaigns for academic and industrial users through the Fast Fragment and Compound Screening (FFCS) software suite. This framework is further enriched by the option to utilize the Smart Digital User (SDU) software for automated data collection across the PXI, PXII and PXIII beamlines. In this work, the newly developed HEIDI webpage (https://heidi.psi.ch) is introduced: a platform crafted using state-of-the-art software architecture and web technologies for sample management of rotational data experiments. The HEIDI webpage features a data-review tab for enhanced result visualization and provides programmatic access through a representational state transfer application programming interface (REST API). The migration of the local FFCS MongoDB instance to the cloud is highlighted and detailed. This transition ensures secure, encrypted and consistently accessible data through a robust and reliable REST API tailored for the FFCS software suite. Collectively, these advancements not only significantly elevate the user experience, but also pave the way for future expansions and improvements in the capabilities of the system.
Situational leadership during the post-pandemic crisis: a case of Amanah Institute
Authors: Saleem Irfan , Ashfaq Muhammad , Ul-Durar Shajara
Published: April 2024

Learning outcomes

After completion of the case study, students will be able to learn, understand, examine and customize leadership styles per organizational culture; understand the conflict management styles of a female leader; and comprehend the organizational change process to devise an effective communication strategy.

Case overview/synopsis

Ever-changing business demands managers adopt organizational change in leadership styles, business processes, updated skill sets and minds. One must be ready to understand influential nurtured corporate culture and human resource resistance towards the inevitable change. This case study attempted to discuss the female protagonist dealing with an organizational conflict. The case study introduces one such protagonist from a century-old woman’s educational institution. Subsequently, this case study presents organizational change under the leadership of a female protagonist. This teaching case study gives the reader an insight into situational leadership, conflict management styles and the corporate change process by implementing an appropriate communication strategy. This case study describes the change process through the various decision-making scenarios that an academic institute over a century old faced during the post-pandemic crisis after adding a crucial protagonist. The employee union, followed by students and administrative employees, has challenged the dominating leadership position held by the college principal. Protests occurred due to the college administrator’s refusal to adjust her approach to leadership. This teaching case then provided different leadership styles of the current and old leaders. Finally, the case study lists the challenges a leader faces during turbulent times and the lessons a leader should learn from such situations while transforming the institute.

Complexity academic level

The teaching case benefits undergraduate students in business management subjects such as conflict management, leadership and organizational behaviour. Nevertheless, trainers can use this case study to teach seasoned managers and emerging leaders the significance of adopting and implementing change while understanding situational leadership.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 10: Public Sector Management.
Performance measurement of factors affecting consumer experience in healthcare services using fuzzy and grey techniques
Authors: Senapati Shubham , Panda Rajeev Kumar
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The importance of consumer experience in service industries, particularly healthcare, is widely acknowledged as it captures the intricacies of quality management. In tandem with the emerging research trends that evaluate service excellence through user experience, this study renders a performance analysis of the dimensions of consumer experience that individually or collectively shape healthcare consumers’ perceptions of service quality.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was conducted across 13 mid-tier corporate hospitals to collect data from 438 patients. The data was processed through factor analysis in SPSS to confirm sample adequacy and factor extractability. Further, two independent multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) tools, Fuzzy Technique for Order Performance by Similarity to Ideal Solution (F-TOPSIS) and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA), were executed to render performance analysis of identified factors.

Findings

Using F-TOPSIS, factors such as “information” and “hospital environment” received higher performance ratings, while items related to “communication with doctors” and “humanistic care” received lower rankings. Minor yet anticipated deviations were observed while verifying performance scores using GRA. Nonetheless, both outcomes exhibited a strong correlation coefficient of 97.14%, confirming analytical consistency.

Originality/value

Hitherto, such usages of hybrid MCDM techniques have rarely been executed to convey a clear understanding of consumers’ experiences in healthcare services. Moreover, the findings provide a clear insight into consumers’ key response areas, which can further be translated to maximize consumer gratification, thus assisting healthcare managers in improving service performance and clinical decision-making.
The effect of supply chain digitalisation on a firm’s performance
Authors: Wang Michael , Prajogo Daniel
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Based on the resource-based view (RBV) theory, this study examines how supply chain digitalisation affects firms’ performance by enabling firms to build supply chain agility and innovation capability.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from the dataset of 271 firms in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), we used structural equation modelling to validate the models. Mediation and moderation analyses were performed to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The results suggest a positive correlation between supply chain digitalisation and a company’s performance, fully mediated by both supply chain agility and innovation capability. The interplay between supply chain agility and innovation capability has the potential to result in unfavourable outcomes for a firm’s performance. These results provide valuable insights into supply chain management during digital transformation.

Originality/value

The study advances the extant research on the antecedents of a firm’s performance by incorporating supply chain digitalisation and mediating mechanisms of supply chain agility and innovation capability that serve as a conduit between supply chain digitalisation and a firm’s performance based on RBV.
Does mandatory IFRS adoption improve risk disclosure quality? Evidence from the European insurance industry
Authors: Torchani Rahma , Damak-Ayadi Salma , Haj-Salem Issal
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effect of mandatory international financial reporting standards (IFRS) adoption on the risk disclosure quality by listed European insurers.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a content analysis of the annual reports and consolidated accounts of 13 insurance companies listed in the European market between 2002 and 2007 based on two regulatory frameworks, Solvency and IFRS.

Findings

The results showed a significant effect of the mandatory adoption of IFRS and a clear improvement in the quality of risk disclosure. Moreover, risk disclosure is positively associated with the size of the company.

Research limitations/implications

The authors can consider the relatively limited size of the sample as a limitation of this study. Moreover, the manual content analysis used to be considered subjective.

Practical implications

The findings of this study provide useful insights to professional and regulatory bodies about the consequences of IFRS adoption to enhance transparency and particularly risk disclosure.

Originality/value

The research contributes to the existing literature. First, the authors have shown that companies are improving in the quality of risk disclosure even before 2005. Second, the authors have shown that the year 2005 is distinguished by a marked improvement in disclosure trends, with companies aligning themselves with coercive and mimetic regulatory forces. Third, the authors highlight the significant effect of mandatory IFRS adoption even in highly regulated industries, such as the insurance industry.
Physician assistants in the German inpatient care: barriers and enablers of integration
Authors: Ringel Laura , Fouda Ayman
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Various health systems are challenged by a multifaceted crisis of increased service demand and workforce shortages. The effects are devastating and may end up in decreased access to care, poor quality of patient care and extreme demands on the workforce. The introduction of the physician assistant (PA) profession provided an avenue to address such challenges in several countries. In Germany, the integration of PAs has been proceeding slowly.

Design/methodology/approach

To understand the integration of the profession in Germany, we conducted 15 expert interviews to reveal how the PA profession is perceived among healthcare experts as well as the barriers and facilitators of integration in inpatient care.

Findings

Our results highlight a generally positive perception of PAs, particularly in terms of workload relief and bridging the gap between healthcare professionals. Nonetheless, barriers include resistance from healthcare workers unfamiliar with the PA role, while workforce shortages and collaborative teamwork facilitate integration.

Originality/value

These findings lay the groundwork for potential integration-enhancing strategies in Germany.
An integrated structural model for supply chain vulnerability influencing factors in manufacturing enterprises
Authors: Sharma Satyendra Kr , Sharma Rajkumar , Jindal Anil
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Supply chain vulnerability (SCV) analysis is vital for manufacturers globally because it creates a pathway for building resilient supply chains in uncertain environments. This study aims to identify drivers of SCV in the Indian manufacturing sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Sixteen drivers were identified from the literature review and followed by expert interviews. Interpretive structural modeling was used to determine the hierarchical structural relationship among identified SCV factors.

Findings

It was found that risk is not a board room agenda. Misaligned performance measures with incentives and lack of risk dashboard are the causal factors of SCV. Supply chain security, centralized production and distribution and lack of trust in the supply chain were driven factors.

Originality/value

This provides new insights to assess and prioritize initiatives for supply chain sustainability in terms of continuing business operations. The structural model provides a systemic view of SCV and helps reduce vulnerability.
An axiomatic model towards understanding value creation and appropriation in demand-driven markets
Authors: Diderich Claude
Published: April 2024

Purpose

In demand-driven markets, customer value, sometimes called perceived use value or consumer surplus, is defined by the customer rather than the firm. The value a firm can appropriate, its profits, is driven by the customer’s willingness to pay for the value they receive, adjusted by costs. This paper introduces a conceptual framework that helps understand value creation and appropriation in demand-driven markets and shows how to influence them through strategic decision-making.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses an axiomatic approach combined with an extended analytical formulation of the jobs-to-be-done framework to contextualise demand-driven markets. It mathematically derives implications for managerial decision-making concerning selecting customer segments, optimising customer value creation and maximising firm value appropriation in a competitive environment.

Findings

Rooting strategic decision-making in the jobs-to-be-done framework allows distinguishing between what customers want to achieve (goal), what product attributes need to be satisfied (opportunity space/constraints) and what value creation criteria related to features are important (utility function). This paper shows that starting from a job-to-be-done, the problem of identifying which customer segments to serve, what product to offer and what price to charge, can be formulated as an optimisation problem that simultaneously (rather than sequentially) solves for the three decision variables, customer segments, product features and price, by maximising the value that a firm can appropriate, subject to maximising customer value creation and constrained by the competitive environment.

Practical implications

Applying the derived results to simultaneously deciding which customer segments to target, what product features to offer and what price to charge, given a set of competing products, allows managers to increase their chances of winning the competitive game.

Originality/value

This paper shows that starting from a job-to-be-done and simultaneously focusing on customers, product features, price and competitors enhances firm profitability. Strategic decision-making is formulated as an optimisation problem based on an axiomatic approach contextualising demand-driven markets.
An analysis of the effects of value cocreation and tech enjoyment on customer satisfaction in tourism virtual reality
Authors: Escandon-Barbosa Diana , Salas-Paramo Jairo , Caicedo Luis Fernando
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The main objective of our study is to shed light on how perceived enjoyment influences the intricate relationship between value cocreation and consumer satisfaction, with a specific focus on the realms of tourist services.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the objective outlined in this research, an information survey was carried out on 400 consumers of tourist services who have participated in virtual cocreation processes through digital platforms. As a data analysis technique, the dynamic structural equation modeling (DSEM) analyzes the causal relationships between the elements under study.

Findings

Our extensive analysis draws upon the data collected through a survey spanning from 2018 to 2023, encompassing 400 participants who actively engaged in value cocreation processes in both physical and virtual settings. Our investigation considers two competing models to elucidate the role of perceived enjoyment. Our findings, established through DSEM illuminates that perceived enjoyment predominantly functions as a mediator, exerting a more pronounced influence on the connection between value cocreation and consumer satisfaction. Contrary to a moderating role, perceived enjoyment emerges as a significant mediator in our study.

Originality/value

The most significant addition is recognizing virtual value cocreation behaviors in tourist sector activities over time, primarily because it indicates the likelihood of negative repercussions of its usage. Furthermore, it must be capable of designing surroundings according to the characteristics of customers in terms of immersion and technology usage, preventing a rise in stress situations that might result in more negative consequences than planned. Another important insight is that virtual value cocreation initiatives have detrimental long-term implications, particularly in tourism.
Enhancing employee sustainability through employee quality of life: the role of top management support
Authors: Sharari Hakem , Qawasmeh Rasha , Helalat Abdullah , Jahmani Ashraf
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study aims to focus on how the design of an organization influences employee sustainability. It also highlights how top management support can mediate this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to examine the role of employee quality of life on performance sustainability, a quantitative survey approach was adopted. A questionnaire was distributed using simple random sampling to the employees working in the hotel sector.

Findings

Results suggest that organizations can enhance employee sustainability, including performance, commitment, motivation and retention, by investing in values that align with their employees, providing suitable health and wellness initiatives, and adopting in career growth policies. In that, values, health and wellness and human development are confirmed to be core determinants of employee sustainability, with a negligible role of fair compensation and physical artifacts. Top management support is found to mediate the relationship between employee quality of life and sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to a better understanding of how organizational design for quality of life can assist employee sustainability with the mediation role of top management support. The study recommends that the hotel organizations should consider designing their work environments to promote their employee quality of life, which affects their sustainability within the hotel industry.

Practical implications

This study contributes to a better understanding of how organizational design for quality of life can assist employee sustainability with the mediation role of top management support. The study recommends that the hotel organizations should consider designing their work environments to promote their employees’ quality of life, which affects their sustainability within the hotel industry.

Originality/value

While there is ample research in business and management literature on the economic and environmental factors of sustainability, social sustainability has received less concentration. This study gives more attention to how employee social sustainability can be affected by the managerial and organizational factors of ensuring work life balance and top management support.
Hymenopteran‐specific TRPA channel from the Texas leaf cutter ant (Atta texana) is heat and cold activated and expression correlates with environmental temperature
Authors: York Julia M. , Taylor Timothy N. , LaPotin Sarah , Lu Ying , Mueller Ulrich
Published: April 2024

Leaf cutting ants of the genus Atta cultivate fungal gardens, carefully modifying environmental conditions to maintain optimal temperature for fungal growth. Antennal nerves from Atta are highly temperature sensitive, but the underlying molecular sensor is unknown. Here, we utilize Atta texana (Texas leaf cutter ant) to investigate the molecular basis of ant temperature sensation and how it might have evolved as the range expanded northeast across Texas from ancestral populations in Mexico. We focus on transient receptor potential (TRP) channel genes, the best characterized temperature sensor proteins in animals. Atta texana antennae express 6 of 13 Hymenopteran TRP channel genes and sequences are under a mix of relaxed and intensified selection. In a behavioral assay, we find A. texana workers prefer 24 °C (range 21−26 °C) for fungal growth. There was no evidence of regulatory evolution across a temperature transect in Texas, but instead Hymenoptera‐specific TRPA (HsTRPA) expression highly correlated with ambient temperature. When expressed in vitro, HsTRPA from A. texana is temperature activated with Q10 values exceeding 100 on initial exposure to temperatures above 33 °C. Surprisingly, HsTRPA also appears to be activated by cooling, and therefore to our knowledge, the first non‐TRPA1 ortholog to be described with dual heat/cold activation and the first in any invertebrate.
Investigating causal relationships between extensive peripheral immune cell phenotypes and preeclampsia: A bi‐directional Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Liao Chung‐Chih , Ku Ju‐Chun , Lin Cheng‐Li , Li Ju‐Wan , Tsai Fuu‐Jen , Li Jung‐Miao
Published: April 2024

Problem

Preeclampsia, a multifaceted condition during pregnancy characterized by hypertension and organ dysfunction, poses significant risks to both maternal and fetal health. This study aims to investigate the bidirectional causal relationship between peripheral immune cell phenotypes and preeclampsia using a two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.

Method of study

Genetic data from two sizable cohorts were utilized: 3757 individuals from Sardinia, providing information on 731 immune traits, and 200 929 Finnish adult females, encompassing 6663 preeclampsia cases. Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms served as instrumental variables. The MR analyses employed the inverse variance‐weighted (IVW) method as the primary tool, supplemented by MR‐Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode methods to enhance reliability and address potential heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy.

Results

Among the 731 immune cell phenotypes studied, 18 displayed a suggestive positive association (IVW p < .05) with heightened preeclampsia risk, while 20 exhibited a suggestive negative association linked to reduced risk. Following false discovery rate (FDR) adjustment, four immune phenotypes showed significant associations with decreased preeclampsia risk: CD27 on CD24+ CD27+ B cells (B‐cell panel) (odds ratio [OR] = 0.927, PFDR = 0.061), CD33+ HLA DR+ CD14− absolute count (OR = 0.963, PFDR = 0.061), CD80 on plasmacytoid dendritic cells (OR = 0.923, PFDR = 0.061); and CD80 on CD62L+ plasmacytoid dendritic cells (OR = 0.923, PFDR = 0.061). In the reverse‐direction MR analysis, no significant causal effects of preeclampsia on immune cell phenotypes were observed.

Conclusions

This study provides quantifiable evidence linking specific immune cell phenotypes to the risk of developing preeclampsia. This novel understanding of the immunological aspects underlying preeclampsia's pathogenesis could lead to innovative therapeutic strategies centered on immune modulation.
Efficiency of CONTRAfluran™ in reducing sevoflurane pollution from maintenance anaesthesia in minimal flow end‐tidal control mode for laparoscopic surgery
Authors: Mulier Harold , Struys Michel M. R. F , Vereecke Hugo , Rex Steffen , Teunkens An , Kalmar Alain F.
Published: April 2024

Background

Recommendations exist that aim to mitigate the substantial ecological impact of anaesthesia. One option is to use anaesthetic gas capturing technology at anaesthesia workstation exhausts to harvest and recycle volatile agents. However, the efficiency of such technology is mainly unverified in vivo.

Methods

The efficiency of CONTRAfluran™ in capturing sevoflurane from an anaesthesia workstation exhaust (when set to minimal flow and end‐tidal control mode) was evaluated in 70 adult patients scheduled for general or bariatric laparoscopic surgery. The weight of the sevoflurane vaporiser and CONTRAfluran canister was measured before and after each case, to calculate total sevoflurane consumption and retention. Retention was measured after the minimal flow maintenance phase and after the high flow washout phase. The total retention efficiency was the fraction of all consumed sevoflurane captured by the CONTRAfluran canister. The primary objective was to examine the retention efficiency of CONTRAfluran in a clinical surgical setting, where all feasible strategies to minimise sevoflurane consumption and optimise the efficacy of CONTRAfluran were utilised. The secondary objective was to analyse the correlation between mass transfer and the duration of the case.

Results

Mean (SD) volume of sevoflurane captured using CONTRAfluran was 4.82 (1.41) ml, representing 45% (95%CI 42–48%) of all sevoflurane administered. The highest amount of retention was found during the washout phase. Retention efficiency did not correlate with the duration of the case.

Conclusions

Over half of the sevoflurane administered was not captured by the CONTRAfluran canister when minimal flow techniques were used, likely due to residual accumulation of sevoflurane in the patient after tracheal extubation or, to a lesser extent, due to ventilation system leakage. However, as every prevented emission is commendable, CONTRAfluran may be a potentially valuable tool for reducing the environmental footprint of sevoflurane‐based anaesthesia.
Is more always better? Effectiveness of constraint‐induced movement therapy in children with high‐risk or unilateral cerebral palsy (0–6 years): Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Merino‐Andrés Javier , López‐Muñoz Purificación , Carrión Rocío Palomo , Martín‐Casas Patricia , Ruiz‐Becerro Irene , Hidalgo‐Robles Álvaro
Published: April 2024

Background

While constraint‐induced movement therapy is strongly recommended as an intervention for infants with unilateral cerebral palsy, the optimal dosage remains undefined. This systematic review aims to identify the most effective level of intensity of constraint‐induced movement therapy to enhance manual function in infants at high risk of asymmetric brain lesions or unilateral cerebral palsy diagnosis.

Methods

This systematic review with meta‐analysis encompassed a comprehensive search across four electronic databases to identify articles that met the following criteria: randomised controlled trials, children aged 0–6 with at high risk or with unilateral cerebral palsy, and treatment involving constraint‐induced movement therapy for upper limb function. Studies with similar outcomes were pooled by calculating the standardised mean difference score for each subgroup, and subgroups were stratified every 30 h of total intervention dosage (30–60, 61–90, >90 h). Risk of bias was assessed with Cochrane Collaboration's tool.

Results

Seventeen studies were included. Meta‐analyses revealed significant differences among subgroups. The 30–60 h subgroup showed a weak effect for spontaneous use of the affected upper limb during bimanual performance, grasp function, and parents' perception of how often children use their affected upper limb. Additionally, this subgroup demonstrated a moderate effect for the parents' perception of how effectively children use their affected upper limb.

Conclusions

Using a dosage ranging from 30 to 60 h when applying a constraint‐induced movement therapy protocol holds promise as the most age‐appropriate and cost‐effectiveness approach for improving upper limb functional outcomes and parent's perception.
Use of empirical medical therapies for idiopathic male infertility in Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Catford Sarah R. , Katz Darren , McLachlan Robert I.
Published: April 2024

Objective

Idiopathic male infertility is common, yet there is no approved treatment. This study aimed to understand practice patterns towards empirical medical therapy (EMT) for idiopathic male infertility in Australia and New Zealand (NZ).

Design

Clinical members of the Endocrine Society of Australia, Fertility Society of Australia & NZ, and Urological Society of Australia & NZ were invited to complete a survey. Questions included demographics, EMT practice habits, and thoughts regarding infertility case scenarios. Unadjusted group differences between specialists, those with and without additional training in male infertility, and frequency of managing it were evaluated.

Results

Overall, 147 of 2340 members participated (6.3%); majority were endocrinologists and gynaecologists. Participants were experienced; 35% had completed additional training in male infertility and 36.2% reported they frequently manage male infertility. Gynaecologists were more likely to manage male infertility and attend education courses than endocrinologists and urologists. Beliefs about the effect of EMT on sperm concentration and pregnancy did not differ between speciality types. Many respondents considered all patient scenarios suitable for EMT. Of medications, hCG and clomiphene were selected most. Two respondents indicated they would use testosterone to treat male infertility.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates common use of EMT in Australia and NZ for idiopathic male infertility. The breadth of responses reflects a lack of consensus within the current literature, highlighting the need for further research to clarify their role in the management of idiopathic male infertility.
Expanding the understanding of telomere biology disorder with reports from two families harboring variants in ZCCHC8 and TERC
Authors: Nitschke Nikolaj Juul , Jelsig Anne Marie , Lautrup Charlotte , Lundsgaard Malene , Severinsen Marianne Tang , Cowland Jack Bernard , Maroun Lisa Leth , Andersen Mette Klarskov , Grønbæk Kirsten
Published: April 2024

Telomere biology disorder (TBD) can present within a wide spectrum of symptoms ranging from severe congenital malformations to isolated organ dysfunction in adulthood. Diagnosing TBD can be challenging given the substantial variation in symptoms and age of onset across generations. In this report, we present two families, one with a pathogenic variant in ZCCHC8 and another with a novel variant in TERC. In the literature, only one family has previously been reported with a ZCCHC8 variant and TBD symptoms. This family had multiple occurrences of pulmonary fibrosis and one case of bone marrow failure. In this paper, we present a second family with the same ZCCHC8 variant (p.Pro186Leu) and symptoms of TBD including pulmonary fibrosis, hematological disease, and elevated liver enzymes. The suspicion of TBD was confirmed with the measurement of short telomeres in the proband. In another family, we report a novel likely pathogenic variant in TERC. Our comprehensive description encompasses hematological manifestations, as well as pulmonary and hepatic fibrosis. Notably, there are no other reports which associate this variant to disease. The families expand our understanding of the clinical implications and genetic causes of TBD.
GATAD2B is required for pre‐implantation embryonic development by regulating zygotic genome activation
Authors: Lin Yuling , Yu Lina , Xu Qian , Qiu Panpan , Zhang Yang , Dong Xiaohan , Yan Guijun , Sun Haixiang , Cao Guangyi
Published: April 2024

Major zygotic genome activation (ZGA) occurs at the late 2‐cell stage and involves the activation of thousands of genes, supporting early embryonic development. The reasons underlying the regulation of ZGA are not clear. Acetylation modifications of histone tails promote transcriptional activation, and the maternal deletion of H4K16ac leads to failure in ZGA. GATAD2B is one of the core subunits of the nucleosome remodelling and histone deacetylation (NuRD) complex. Our research has shown that GATAD2B exhibits specific nucleus localization and high protein expression from the late 2‐cell stage to the 8‐cell stage. This intriguing phenomenon prompted us to investigate the relationship between GATAD2B and the ZGA. We discovered a distinctive pattern of GATAD2B, starting from the late 2‐cell stage with nuclear localization. GATAD2B depletion resulted in defective embryonic development, including increased DNA damage at morula, decreased blastocyst formation rate, and abnormal differentiation of ICM/TE lineages. Consistent with the delay during the cleavage stage, the transcriptome analysis of the 2‐cell embryo revealed inhibition of the cell cycle G2/M phase transition pathway. Furthermore, the GATAD2B proteomic data provided clear evidence of a certain association between GATAD2B and molecules involved in the cell cycle pathway. As hypothesized, GATAD2B‐deficient 2‐cell embryos exhibited abnormalities in ZGA during the maternal‐to‐embryonic transition, with lower expression of the major ZGA marker MERVL. Overall, our results demonstrate that GATAD2B is essential for early embryonic development, in part through facilitating ZGA.
From paralyzing to actionable futures: Facilitating farmer participation in water conservation through a multiscalar horizoning work approach
Authors: Brause Holly
Published: April 2024

In the Mesilla and Rincon Valleys of southern New Mexico, prolonged drought, climate change, increased competition for water, and an ongoing lawsuit with Texas over groundwater pumping create precarity in regard to long‐term water resources for agricultural production. As the sector that uses the most water in New Mexico, agricultural participation in water conservation is critical. Using ethnographic data, along with the key concepts of horizons of the future and scale, I examine barriers to addressing water‐scarce futures in the present. Ultimately, I argue that adding a multiscalar approach to the established framework of “horizoning work” can generate collaborative water conservation efforts with localized, temporally limited scopes to facilitate farmer participation in efforts to address water‐scarce futures.