bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reservoir Computing in Epidemiological Forecasting: Predicting Chicken Pox incidence
Authors: Kumar Kaushal
Published: April 2023

We examine the applicability of time-series forecasting techniques to model and predict chickenpox incidence rates using publicly available epidemiological data from Rozemberczki et al. [1]. Analyzing data across both time and location is crucial in understanding disease dynamics, allowing for the identification of patterns such as temporal clustering, detection of high-incidence areas, characterization of disease spread, measurement of temporal synchrony, and forecasting future incidence rates. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of neural networks in addressing this problem. Reservoir Computing, ARIMA, and various types of Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) have demonstrated success in tackling complex time-series issues. We assess several models based on different RNN architectures, including Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Bidirectional LSTM (BLSTM), Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), Bidirectional GRU (BGRU), and compare their performance. We use a deep learning approach based on Reservoir Computing to predict chickenpox counts based on past incidence rates. We implement all the aforementioned neural network architectures for fore-casting chickenpox incidence rates and compare their prediction accuracy. Our results indicate that Reservoir Computing prediction models outperform all other models trained on the same data. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Reservoir Computing prediction models are more efficient and quicker to train and deploy in epidemiology.
Noise-induced damage in the zebrafish inner ear endorgans: evidence for higher acoustic sensitivity of saccular and lagenar hair cells
Authors: Lau Ieng Hou , Vasconcelos Raquel O.
Published: April 2023

The three otolithic endorgans of the inner ear are known to be involved in sound detection in different teleost fishes, yet their relative roles for auditory-vestibular functions within the same species remain unclear. In zebrafish (Danio rerio), saccule and utricle are thought to play key functions in encoding auditory and vestibular information, respectively, but the biological function of lagena is not clear. We hypothesized that the saccule is the main auditory endorgan and lagena might serve an auditory function given its connectivity to the saccule and dominant vestibular function of the utricle in this species.

We investigated the acoustic sensitivity of the three otolithic endorgans in adult zebrafish by comparing the impact of acoustic trauma (continuous white noise at 168 dB for 24 h) on their sensory epithelia.

Noise treatment caused hair cell loss in both the saccule and lagena, but not in the utricle. This effect was identified immediately after acoustic treatment and did not increase 24h post trauma. Furthermore, hair cell loss was accompanied by a reduction in presynaptic activity measured based on Ribeye b expression but mainly in the saccule, supporting its main contribution for noise-induced hearing loss.

Our findings support the hypothesis that the saccule plays a major role in hearing and that lagena is also acoustically affected but with less sensitivity most likely extending the species hearing dynamic range.

Summary statement

Noise-treated zebrafish showed higher hair cell loss and synaptopathy in the inner ear saccule and, to some extent, in the lagena, confirming their higher sensitivity and contribution for hearing loss compared to utricle.
Can Single Cell Respiration be Measured by Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM)?
Authors: Cremin Kelsey , Meloni Gabriel N. , Valavanis Dimitrios , Soyer Orkun S. , Unwin Patrick R.
Published: April 2023

Ultramicroelectrode (UME), or - equivalently - microelectrode, probes are increasingly used for single-cell measurements of cellular properties and processes, including physiological activity, such as metabolic fluxes and respiration rates. Major challenges for the sensitivity of such measurements include: (i) the relative magnitude of cellular and UME fluxes (manifested in the current); and (ii) issues around the stability of the UME response over time. To explore the extent to which these factors impact the precision of electrochemical cellular measurements, we undertake a systematic analysis of measurement conditions and experimental parameters for determining single cell respiration rates, via the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) at single HeLa cells. Using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), with a platinum UME as the probe, we employ a self-referencing measurement protocol, rarely employed in SECM, whereby the UME is repeatedly approached from bulk solution to a cell, and a short pulse to oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) potentials is performed near the cell and in bulk solution. This approach enables the periodic tracking of the bulk UME response to which the near-cell response is repeatedly compared (referenced), and also ensures that the ORR near the cell is performed only briefly, minimizing the effect of the electrochemical process on the cell. SECM experiments are combined with a finite element method (FEM) modeling framework, to simulate oxygen diffusion and the UME response. Taking a realistic range of single cell OCR to be 1×10−18to 1×10−16mol s-1, results from the combination of FEM simulations and self-referencing SECM measurements show that these OCR values are at - or below - the present detection sensitivity of the technique. We provide a set of model-based suggestions for improving these measurements in the future, but highlight that extraordinary improvements in the stability and precision of SECM measurements will be required if single cell OCR measurements are to be realized.

TOC
Genomic Correlates of Tailocin Sensitivity inPseudomonas syringae
Authors: Baltrus David A. , Weaver Savannah , Krings Laura , Nguyen Anh Evy
Published: April 2023

Phage derived bacteriocins, also referred to as tailocins, are structures encoded by bacterial genomes and deployed into the extracellular environment to target and kill sensitive cells. Tailocins display great potential as agricultural antimicrobials due to their durability, efficiency, and specificity of killing with prophylactic application of these molecules having been shown to prevent infection by multiple phytopathogens. Although previous reports have strongly suggested that tailocins ofPseudomonas syringaebind sugar moieties in the LipoPolySaccharide (LPS) of target cells, the molecular mechanisms and binding interactions that enable tailocins fromP. syringaeto kill sensitive targets remain unclear. We therefore carried out a genome-wide association study investigating tailocin sensitivity across a diverse set ofP. syringaegenomes. Our results demonstrate that genes strongly correlated with tailocin sensitivity are localized to one contiguous region on theP. syringaechromosome encoding LPS structures similar to the Common Polysaccharide Antigen ofP. aeruginosa. We further find that enzymes involved in the biosynthesis and transport of D-rhamnose and L-rhamnose are associated with tailocin sensitivity classes A and B, respectively, with large-scale recombination of the O-antigen biosynthesis region likely underlying rapid and fundamental changes in LPS structure between strains. We identify therfbDgene as an additional genomic indicator to predict tailocin sensitivity and use this information to test tailocin interactions with unscreened strains from across phylogroups, including some in which LPS chains have been previously characterized. Overall, our results strongly support that tailocin sensitivity acrossP. syringaestrains is largely determined by recombination events across strains that lead to differential production of either D or L-rhamnose moieties in the main LPS chain.
Quantitative prediction of right ventricular and size and function from the electrocardiogram
Authors: Duong Son Q. , Vaid Akhil , Vy Ha My Thi , Butler Liam R. , Lampert Joshua , Pass Robert H. , Charney Alexander W. , Narula Jagat , Khera Rohan , Greenspan Hayit , Gelb Bruce D. , Do Ron , Nadkarni Girish
Published: April 2023

Background

Right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) and end-diastolic volume (RVEDV) are not readily assessed through traditional modalities. Deep-learning enabled 12-lead electrocardiogram analysis (DL-ECG) for estimation of RV size or function is unexplored.

Methods

We trained a DL-ECG model to predict RV dilation (RVEDV>120 mL/m2), RV dysfunction (RVEF<40%), and numerical RVEDV/RVEF from 12-lead ECG paired with reference-standard cardiac MRI (cMRI) volumetric measurements in UK biobank (UKBB; n=42,938). We fine-tuned in a multi-center health system (MSHoriginal; n=3,019) with prospective validation over 4 months (MSHvalidation; n=115). We evaluated performance using area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) for categorical and mean absolute error (MAE) for continuous measures overall and in key subgroups. We assessed association of RVEF prediction with transplant-free survival with Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

Prevalence of RV dysfunction for UKBB/MSHoriginal/MSHvalidationcohorts was 1.0%/18.0%/15.7%, respectively. RV dysfunction model AUROC for UKBB/MSHoriginal/MSHvalidationcohorts was 0.86/0.81/0.77, respectively. Prevalence of RV dilation for UKBB/MSHoriginal/MSHvalidationcohorts was 1.6%/10.6%/4.3%. RV dilation model AUROC for UKBB/MSHoriginal/MSHvalidationcohorts 0.91/0.81/0.92, respectively. MSHoriginalMAE was RVEF=7.8% and RVEDV=17.6 ml/m2. Performance was similar in key subgroups including with and without left ventricular dysfunction. Over median follow-up of 2.3 years, predicted RVEF was independently associated with composite outcome (HR 1.37 for each 10% decrease, p=0.046).

Conclusions

DL-ECG analysis can accurately identify significant RV dysfunction and dilation both overall and in key subgroups. Predicted RVEF is independently associated with clinical outcome.
VirtualFlow 2.0 - The Next Generation Drug Discovery Platform Enabling Adaptive Screens of 69 Billion Molecules
Authors: Gorgulla Christoph , Nigam AkshatKumar , Koop Matt , Selim Çınaroğlu Süleyman , Secker Christopher , Haddadnia Mohammad , Kumar Abhishek , Malets Yehor , Hasson Alexander , Li Minkai , Tang Ming , Levin-Konigsberg Roni , Radchenko Dmitry , Kumar Aditya , Gehev Minko , Aquilanti Pierre-Yves , Gabb Henry , Alhossary Amr , Wagner Gerhard , Aspuru-Guzik Alán , Moroz Yurii S. , Fackeldey Konstantin , Arthanari Haribabu
Published: April 2023

Early-stage drug discovery has been limited by initial hit identification and lead optimization and their associated costs (1). Ultra-large virtual screens (ULVSs), which involve the virtual evaluation of massive numbers of molecules to engage a macromolec-ular target, have the ability to significantly alleviate these problems, as was recently demonstrated in multiple studies (2–7). Despite their potential, ULVSs have so far only explored a tiny fraction of the chemical space and of available docking programs. Here, we present VirtualFlow 2.0, the next generation of the first open-source drug discovery platform dedicated to ultra-large virtual screen ings. VirtualFlow 2.0 provides the REAL Space from Enamine containing 69 billion drug-like molecules in a "ready-to-dock" format, the largest library of its kind available to date. We provide an 18-dimensional matrix for intuitive exploration of the library through a web interface, where each dimension corresponds to a molecular property of the ligands. Additionally, VirtualFlow 2.0 supports multiple techniques that dramatically reduce computational costs, including a new method called Adaptive Target-Guided Virtual Screening (ATG-VS). By sampling a representative sparse version of the library, ATG-VS identifies the sections of the ultra-large chemical space that harbors the highest potential to engage the target site, leading to substantially reduced computational costs by up to a factor of 1000. In addition, VirtualFlow 2.0 supports the latest deep learning and GPU-based docking methods, allowing further speed-ups by up to two orders of magnitude. VirtualFlow 2.0 supports 1500 unique docking methods providing target-specific and consensus docking options to increase accuracy and has the ability to screen new types of ligands (such as peptides) and target receptors (including RNA and DNA). Moreover, VirtualFlow 2.0 has many advanced new features, such as enhanced AI and cloud support. We demonstrate a perfectly linear scaling behavior up to 5.6 million CPUs in the AWS Cloud, a new global record for parallel cloud computing. Due to its open-source nature and versatility, we expect that VirtualFlow 2.0 will play a key role in the future of early-stage drug discovery.
Characterization of Pro-Fibrotic Signaling Pathways using Human Hepatic Organoids
Authors: Guan Yuan , Fang Zhuoqing , Hu Angelina , Roberts Sarah , Wang Meiyue , Ren Wenlong , Johansson Patrik K. , Heilshorn Sarah C. , Enejder Annika , Peltz Gary
Published: April 2023

Due to the limitations of availablein vitrosystems and animal models, we lack a detailed understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms and have minimal treatment options for liver fibrosis. To overcome this barrier, we engineered a live cell imaging system that identifies collagen producing cells in a human multi-lineage hepatic organoid. This system was adapted for use as a microwell-based platform (i.e., microHOs) where exposure to PDGF or TGFβ1 induced the formation of thick collagen fibers. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that TGFβ1 exposure converted mesenchymal cells into myofibroblast-like cells that contribute to the development of liver fibrosis. When pro-fibrotic intracellular signaling pathways were examined using pharmacological probes, the anti-fibrotic effect of receptor-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors was limited to the fibrosis induced by the corresponding growth factor, which indicates that their anti-fibrotic efficacy would be limited to fibrotic diseases that were solely mediated by that growth factor. Transcriptomic and transcription factor activation analyses were used to identify pathways that were jointly activated by PDGF and TGFβ1. GSK3β or p38 MAPK inhibitors could prevent TGFβ1- or PDGF-induced fibrosis in microHOs because they block intracellular signaling pathways that are commonly utilized by the TGFβ1 and PDGF receptors. Hence, these studies identified GSK3β and p38 MAPK inhibitors as potential new broad-spectrum therapies for liver fibrosis, and it is likely that other new therapies could subsequently be identified using this microHO system.
Emotional information facilitates or disrupts memory integration through distinct hippocampal processes of reactivation and connectivity
Authors: Zhu Yannan , Liu Wei , Kohn Nils , Fernández Guillén
Published: April 2023

Emotion has a significant impact on how related experiences are organized into integrated memories. However, the neurobiological mechanisms of how emotion modulates memory integration for related information with different valences remain unclear. In this between-subject functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we investigated different emotional modulations of memory integration by manipulating the valence of stimuli used in an associative memory paradigm. Three groups of participants were tested: one group integrated emotional (i.e., negative) information with neutral information, one group integrated two emotional pieces of information, and one control group integrated two neutral pieces of information. Behaviorally, emotional information facilitated its integration with neutral information but interfered with the other emotional information. Neurally, the emotion-induced facilitation effect, occurring on memory integration of neutral and emotional information, was associated with increased trial-specific reactivation in the hippocampus during both encoding and retrieval. This facilitated integration was also supported by strengthened hippocampal connectivity with the amygdala, as well as a set of neocortical areas related to emotion regulation and the default mode network (DMN). In contrast, the emotion-induced interference effect, occurring on memory integration of two emotional pieces of information, was associated with impaired hippocampal trial-specific reactivation during retrieval that appeared to offset the facilitating effect of increased reactivation during encoding. Similar but relatively weak hippocampal connectivity was found underlying this interfered integration. Taken together, emotional information facilitates memory integration with neutral information, while disrupting the integration with other emotional information, through distinct dynamical processes of hippocampal trial-specific reactivation and connectivity.
Biochemical and genetic dissection of the RNA-binding surface of the FinO domain ofEscherichia coliProQ
Authors: Stein Ewa M. , Wang Suxuan , Dailey Katherine , Gravel Chandra M , Wang Shiying , Olejniczak Mikołaj , Berry Katherine E
Published: April 2023

RNA-binding proteins play important roles in bacterial gene regulation through interactions with both coding and non-coding RNAs. ProQ is a FinO-domain protein that binds a large set of RNAs inEscherichia coli, though the details of how ProQ binds these RNAs remain unclear. In this study, we used a combination ofin vivoandin vitrobinding assays to confirm key structural features ofE. coliProQ’s FinO domain and explore its mechanism of RNA interactions. Using a bacterial three-hybrid assay, we performed forward genetic screens to confirm the importance of the concave face of ProQ in RNA binding. Using gel shift assays, we directly probed the contributions of ten amino acids on ProQ binding to seven RNA targets. Certain residues (R58, Y70, and R80) were found to be essential for binding of all seven RNAs, while substitutions of other residues (K54 and R62) caused more moderate binding defects. Interestingly, substitutions of two amino acids (K35, R69), which are evolutionarily variable but adjacent to conserved residues, showed varied effects on the binding of different RNAs; these may arise from the differing sequence context around each RNA’s terminator hairpin. Together, this work confirms many of the essential RNA-binding residues in ProQ initially identifiedin vivoand supports a model in which residues on the conserved concave face of the FinO domain such as R58, Y70 and R80 form the main RNA-binding site ofE. coliProQ, while additional contacts contribute to the binding of certain RNAs.
Ts65Dn synaptic proteome partially recapitulates AD biochemical signature
Authors: Gómez de Salazar Macarena
Published: April 2023

Down syndrome (DS), caused by human chromosome 21 trisomy, is one of the most common genetic causes of intellectual disabilities. Moreover, approximately 60-80% of individuals with Down Syndrome develop early onset Alzheimer’s disease symptoms and neuropathology characterized by the deposition of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Spine loss and synaptic deficits are the main alterations present in both pathologies. The synaptic proteins that are altered in both pathologies have also been studied. However, a proteomic study comparing synaptic fractions from DS and AD patients is lacking. To address this aim, we optimized a biochemical subfractioning method to isolate postsynaptic fractions from the cortex of Ts65Dn Down syndrome murine model and the entorhinal cortex from AD subjects’ samples. These samples were used for further proteomic analysis to observe potential alterations in postsynaptic protein expression and protein-protein interaction networks. This study compared the Ts65Dn animal model and entorhinal cortex of AD subjects and revealed a common altered postsynaptic composition of the adult Ts65Dn mouse cortex and entorhinal cortex of AD subjects. These postsynaptic protein alterations might functionally underlie Ts65Dn-associated and AD-associated dendritic deterioration, microtubule organization, glutamatergic transmission, and phosphorylation alterations. They provide insight into the possible common pathological synaptic mechanisms of both diseases and the earliest stages of AD disease progression. Moreover, our proteomic data suggest potential drug targets for modulating the commonly altered postsynaptic mechanisms in DS and AD.
A machine vision guided robot for fully automated embryonic microinjection
Authors: Alegria Andrew D. , Joshi Amey S. , Mendana Jorge Blanco , Khosla Kanav , Smith Kieran T. , Auch Benjamin , Donovan Margaret , Bischof John , Gohl Daryl M. , Kodandaramaiah Suhasa B.
Published: April 2023

Microinjection is a widely used technique for transgenesis, mutagenesis, cell labeling, cryopreservation, andin vitrofertilization in multiple single and multicellular organisms. Microinjection requires specialized skills acquired for each target organism and involves rate limiting and labor-intensive preparatory steps. Here we constructed a machine vision (MV) guided generalized robot that fully automates the process of microinjection in fruit fly(Drosophila melanogaster)and zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. The robot uses machine learning (ML) models trained to detect individual embryos in images of agar plates, and models trained to identify specific anatomical locations within each embryo in 3D space using dual view microscopes. The robot uses this information to serially perform microinjection in each detected embryo without any human intervention. We constructed and used three such robots to automatically microinject tens of thousands of Drosophila and zebrafish embryos. We systematically optimized robotic microinjection for each species and validated the use of the robot by performing routine transgenesis with proficiency comparable to highly skilled human practitioners while achieving up to 4x increases in microinjection throughput in Drosophila. The automated microinjection robot was utilized to microinject pools of over 20,000 uniquely barcoded plasmids into 1,713 embryos in two days to rapidly generate more than 400 unique transgenic Drosophila lines. This high throughput microinjection experiment enabled a novel measurement of the number of independent germline integration events per successfully injected embryo. Finally, we showed that robotic microinjection of cryoprotective agents in zebrafish embryos significantly improves vitrification rates and survival of cryopreserved embryos post-thaw as compared to manual microinjection, opening the tantalizing possibility of large-scale cryobanking of aquatic species at an industrial scale. We anticipate that this versatile automated microinjection system can be applied to carry out microinjection for genome-wide manipulation and cryopreservation at scale in a wide range of other organisms.
Superior Efficacy of Combination Antibiotic Therapy versus Monotherapy in a Mouse Model of Lyme Disease
Authors: Alruwaili Yasir , Jacobs Mary B. , Hasenkampf Nicole R. , Tardo Amanda C. , McDaniel Celine E. , Embers Monica E.
Published: April 2023

Lyme disease (LD) results from the most prevalent tick-borne infection in North America, with over 476,000 estimated cases annually. The disease is caused byBorrelia burgdorferi (Bb)which transmits through the bite of Ixodid ticks. Most cases treated soon after infection are resolved by a short course of oral antibiotics. However, 10-20% of patients experience chronic symptoms because of delayed or incomplete treatment, a condition called Post-Treatment Lyme Disease (PTLD). SomeBbpersists in PTLD patients after the initial course of antibiotics and an effective treatment to eradicate the persistentBbis needed. Other organisms that cause persistent infections, such asM. tuberculosis, are cleared using a combination of therapies rather than monotherapy. A group of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs efficacious againstBbwere used in monotherapy or in combination in mice infected withBb. Different methods of detection were used to assess the efficacy of the treatments in the infected mice including culture, xenodiagnosis, and molecular techniques. None of the monotherapies eradicated persistentBb. However, 4 dual combinations (doxycycline + ceftriaxone, dapsone + rifampicin, dapsone + clofazimine, doxycycline + cefotaxime) and 3 triple combinations (doxycycline + ceftriaxone+ carbomycin, doxycycline + cefotaxime+ loratadine, dapsone+ rifampicin+ clofazimine) eradicated persistentBbinfections. These results suggest that combination therapy should be investigated in preclinical studies for treating human Lyme disease.
Large Data on the Small Brain: Population-wide Cerebellar Growth Models of Children and Adolescents
Authors: Gaiser Carolin , van der Vliet Rick , de Boer Augustijn A. A. , Donchin Opher , Berthet Pierre , Devenyi Gabriel A. , Chakravarty M. Mallar , Diedrichsen Jörn , Marquand Andre F. , Frens Maarten A. , Muetzel Ryan L.
Published: April 2023

In the past, the cerebellum has been best known for its crucial role in motor function. However, increasingly more findings highlight the importance of cerebellar contributions in cognitive functions and neurodevelopment. Using large scale, population-wide neuroimaging data, we describe and provide detailed, openly available models of cerebellar development in childhood and adolescence, an important time period for brain development and onset of neuropsychiatric disorders. Next to a traditionally used anatomical parcellation of the cerebellum, we generated growth models based on a recently proposed functional parcellation. In both, we find an anterior-posterior growth gradient mirroring the age-related improvements of underlying behavior and function, which is analogous to cerebral maturation patterns and offers new evidence for directly related cerebello-cortical developmental trajectories. Finally, we illustrate how the current approach can be used to detect cerebellar abnormalities in clinical samples.
Functional archaic DNA regulates molecular variation and is associated with disease risk across global populations
Authors: Kang Jianning , Ramgolam Aimee S , Vot Louise Le , Young Robert S.
Published: April 2023

The human genome contains many remnants of its evolutionary history, including a large number of evolutionarily volatile loci which have been introduced since our divergence from primates. One particularly intriguing source of novel DNA sequences is introgression events with archaic species which co-existed with modern humans. Both Neanderthals, who were common in Europe, and Denisovans, who have been observed only in Asia, have contributed genetic variants to the modern human genome but the functional consequences of these introgressed variants have yet to be investigated systematically. In this work, we show that Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA is most enriched for genetic variants which regulate gene expression in Europe and East Asia respectively, i.e. the populations in which the introgression event(s) most contributed to contemporary genetic variation. Neanderthal eQTLs, in particular, frequently upregulate gene expression. Archaic eQTLs from these two species regulate target genes with similar molecular functions which are distinct in each contemporary population, with the only common enrichment being for Neanderthal eQTLs to regulate taste receptor genes in both Europe and East Asia. We observed a correlated pattern of enrichment and depletion of medical phenotypes across Neanderthal and Denisovan eQTLs, including a shared enrichment for CNVs associated with developmental delay. Our results demonstrate the role of functional archaic DNA in regulating molecular phenotypes and disease risk across global populations and confirm the relevance of recently acquired DNA to contemporary human genetic variation.

Author Summary

Modern humans co-existed and interbred with two archaic human species (Neanderthals and Denisovans). The results of these events can still be detected as introgressed, archaic DNA sequences within the modern human genome. Here, we surveyed the contribution of functional archaic DNA across European and Asian populations by assessing their contribution to genetic variants which regulate gene expression in these two populations. We found that both species make a disproportionate functional contribution to the population with which they shared the most overlap (i.e. Neanderthals in Europe and Denisovans in East Asia). Although only Neanderthal DNA drives a higher level of gene expression compared to modern genetic variants, the DNA from both archaic species frequently regulates genes involved in many different biological processes and risk of disease, including a shared contribution to developmental delay. These results confirm the relevance of our recent evolutionary past in generating functional variation across global populations and the importance these recently introduced genetic sequences play in regulating current biological variation, such as disease risk.
A farnesyl-dependent structural role for CENP-E in expansion of the fibrous corona
Authors: Wu Jingchao , Raas Maximilian W.D. , Alcaraz Paula Sobrevals , Vos Harmjan R. , Tromer Eelco C. , Snel Berend , Kops Geert J.P.L.
Published: April 2023

Correct chromosome segregation during cell division depends on proper connections between spindle microtubules and kinetochores. During prometaphase, kinetochores are temporarily covered with a dense protein meshwork known as the fibrous corona. Formed by oligomerization of ROD/ZW10/ZWILCH-SPINDLY (RZZ-S) complexes, the fibrous corona promotes spindle assembly, chromosome orientation and spindle checkpoint signaling. The molecular requirements for formation of the fibrous corona are not fully understood. Here we show that the fibrous corona depends on the mitotic kinesin CENP-E, and that poorly expanded fibrous coronas after CENP-E depletion are functionally compromised. This previously unrecognized role for CENP-E does not require its motor activity but instead is driven by farnesyl modification of its C-terminal kinetochore-and microtubule-binding domain. We show that in cells CENP-E interacts with RZZ-S complexes in a farnesyl-dependent manner. CENP-E is recruited to kinetochores following RZZ-S, and - while not required for RZZ-S oligomerization per se - promotes subsequent fibrous corona expansion. Our comparative genomics analyses suggest that the farnesylation motif in CENP-E orthologs emerged alongside the full RZZ-S module in an ancestral lineage close to the fungi-animal split (Obazoa), revealing potential conservation of the mechanisms for fibrous corona formation. Our results show that proper spindle assembly has a potentially conserved non-motor contribution from the kinesin CENP-E through stabilization of the fibrous corona meshwork during its formation.
Tackling stress of project management practitioners in the Australian construction industry: the causes, effects and alleviation
Authors: Jin Xiao-Hua , Senaratne Sepani , Fu Ye , Tijani Bashir
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The problem of stress is increasingly gaining attention in the construction industry in recent years. This study is aimed at examining the causes, effects and possible alleviation of stress of project management (PM) practitioners so that their stress could be appropriately managed and reduced, which would contribute to improved mental health.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data were collected in an online questionnaire survey via Qualtrics. Questions ranged from PM practitioners’ stressors, stress and performance under stress to stress alleviation tools and techniques. One hundred and five PM practitioners completed the questionnaire. Their responses were compiled and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation and regression.

Findings

The results confirmed that the identified stressors tended to increase stress of PM practitioners. All stressors tested in this study were found to have negative impact on the performance of PM practitioners. In particular, the burnout stressors were seen as the key stressors that influence the performance of PM practitioners and have a strong correlation with all the other stressors. It was also found that a number of tools and techniques can reduce the impact of stressors on PM practitioners.

Originality/value

This study has taken a specific focus on stress-related issues of PM practitioners in the construction industry due to their critical role in this project-dominated industry. Using the Job Demand-Resource theory, a holistic examination was not only conducted on stress and stressors but also on alleviation tools and techniques. This study has thus made significant contribution to the ongoing research aimed at finding solutions to mental health-related problems in the project-dominated construction industry, thereby achieving the United Nations’ social sustainability development goals.
Educating the educators to be a driving force in higher education towards sustainable development
Authors: Persson Christel , Einarson Daniel , Melén Maria
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to address how a higher education pedagogical course in sustainable development (SD) for university educators affects their teaching efforts in providing sustainability matters for students.

Design/methodology/approach

With the aim of improving that course, a case study approach was used to understand how the educators made use of the course in their teaching practice. Data were collected as written and oral feedback reflections and as semi-structured interviews at course completion.

Findings

Educators clearly express that they understand the concept “about” SD, but there are only vague expressions of a developed teaching repertoire to address education “for” SD in their teaching practice.

Research limitations/implications

When it comes to the purposes of developing sustainability literacy among students, implications from the study furthermore address the needs for further clarifications on both structure and intent on the course presented in this contribution.

Practical implications

The educators as well as their students will be exposed to, and trained in concepts, to prepare them to act in alignment with SD. This, in turn, meets requirements from higher education authorities concerning SD at higher education institutions.

Social implications

A core aim of the covered approach is to support student readiness in SD, and for those to become future agents of positive change.

Originality/value

This study has a focus on presenting how educators change the structures of courses and learning elements to approach SD in their teachings.
AR and VR-based travel: a responsible practice towards sustainable tourism
Authors: Samaddar Kaushik , Mondal Sanjana
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Drawing on the UTAUT-2 model, the study attempts to accentuate the role of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) based tourism products and services in enhancing responsible travel behaviour (RTB). This paper aims to examine the emergence of AR- and VR-based tourism in emerging economies, outlines the issues and contributing factors and discusses possible mitigation measures.

Design/methodology/approach

Following the triangulation method of research, a dual study involving both focus group discussions and questionnaire-based surveys were undertaken. The grounded theory approach was adopted to develop a structural framework followed by an empirical validation process.

Findings

Critical dimensions such as performance anticipation, effort anticipation, referent power, facilitating factors, perceived value and perceived risk were found as antecedents of behavioural intentions (BIs) towards adopting AR- and VR-based tourism products. Moreover, cultural involvement and marketing stimuli emerged as moderating factors driving the BI towards RTB.

Practical implications

This paper outlines key elements that contribute to the adoption of AR- and VR-based tourism products and services in emerging economies, which would enable marketers and practitioners to strategize their tourism offerings.

Originality/value

The study takes a dual perspective of both tourists and tour operators and presents a critical overview of the AR- and VR-based tourism industry, taking an emerging economies’ perspective. The study further attempted both the triangulation method and grounded study approach for establishing a hypothetical framework, which is a unique attempt in itself.
Student motivations for social media use and their effects on academic performance- a meditational approach in emerging market
Authors: Kalam Abul , Goi Chai Lee , Tiong Ying Ying
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Due to the incredible criticisms by scholars of the excessive use of social media networks, this study aims to explore students’ motivation for social media use (SMU) and its effects on academic performance (AP) in the light of uses and gratification theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the simple random and snowball sampling techniques, this study has considered 299 responses and critically analyzed them using structural equation modeling through the AMOS version 24. The mediation analysis has been done to explore the effective use of social media networks.

Findings

The results reveal that video clip watching and nonacademic learning intentions significantly influence SMU and AP. Besides, socialization through friends and family connections has tremendously fostered SMU intention, while it could not benefit AP. This study found an exceptional result that the entertainment intention of the students did not influence SMU but dramatically impacted their AP. Again, SMU has robust effects on enhancing students’ academic achievement. This study also concluded the results of the mediation analysis.

Practical implications

The learners, professionals, higher education policymakers, etc. may benefit from following this study's guidelines for using social media networks.

Social implications

This study may tremendously contribute to changing the mindset of youth from addiction to SMU and improving AP.

Originality/value

The prime novelty of this study is to justify the mediation analysis for SMU to explore whether it can truly influence students’ AP and critically examine the deep insight of certain factors associated with SMU.
Telecommunications regulation, mobile money innovations and financial inclusion
Authors: Asongu Simplice
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to assess how corporate telecommunication (telecom) policies follow telecom sector regulation in mobile money innovation for financial inclusion in developing countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Telecom policies are understood in terms of mobile subscriptions, mobile connectivity coverage and mobile connectivity performance, whereas mobile money innovations represent mobile money accounts, the mobile used to send money and the mobile used to receive money. The empirical evidence is based on Tobit regressions.

Findings

Telecom sector regulation positively influences mobile money innovations. From net influences, mobile subscriptions and connectivity policies moderate telecom sector regulation to positively influence mobile money innovations, exclusively within the remit of mobile money accounts because the corresponding net influences on the mobile used to send money and the mobile used to receive money are negative. The interactive influences are consistently negative, and hence, thresholds for complementary policies are provided to maintain the positive influence of telecom sector regulation on mobile money innovations.

Originality/value

This study has complemented the extant literature by assessing how corporate telecommunication policies follow telecommunication sector regulation in mobile money innovations for financial inclusion.
Role of fintech in credit risk management: an analysis of Islamic banks in Indonesia, Malaysia, UAE and Pakistan
Authors: Shah Syed Alamdar Ali , Fianto Bayu Arie , Sheikh Asad Ejaz , Sukmana Raditya , Kayani Umar Nawaz , Bin Ridzuan Abdul Rahim
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study aims to examine the effect of fintech on pre- and post-financing credit risks faced by the Islamic banks.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses primary data for fintech awareness and adoption and secondary data of various financial and economic variables from 2009 to 2021. It uses baseline regression to identify moderation of fintech controlling gross domestic products, size, return on assets and leverage. The findings are confirmed using robustness against key variable bias. It also uses a dynamic panel two-stage generalized method of moments for endogeneity.

Findings

The study finds that the fintech awareness and adoption are not the same across all Islamic countries. The Asia Pacific region is far ahead of the other two regions where Indonesia is ahead in terms of fintech awareness and adoption, and Malaysia is ahead in terms of reaping its benefits in credit risk management. Fintech affects prefinancing credit risk significantly more than postfinancing credit risk. Also, the study finds that Islamic banks suffer from the problem of “Adverse selection under Shariah compliance.”

Practical implications

This research invites regulators to introduce fintech in Islamic banks on war footing. Similar studies can be conducted on the role of other risks such as operational and market risks. Fintech will also help in improving the risk profile and stability of Islamic banks against systemic risks and financial crises.

Originality/value

This research has variety of originalities. First, it is the pioneering study that addresses the effect of fintech pre- and post-financing credit risks in Islamic banks. Second, it identifies “Adverse selection under Shariah compliance” for Islamic banks. Third, it helps identify how fintech can be useful in reducing credit risk that will help in reducing capital charge for regulatory capital.
The impact of the physical environment on the quality of distance education
Authors: Al-Tkhayneh Khawlah M. , Altakhaineh Abdel Rahman Mitib , Nser Khaled Khamis
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to discuss the impact of the physical environment on the quality of distance education from the viewpoint of a number of teaching staff in Jordanian universities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 308 lecturers were selected using a snowball sampling method from different social media websites. The researcher used a descriptive analysis method by conducting social surveys.

Findings

The results reveal that there is a negative impact of the physical environment on the quality of distance education from the perspective of the teaching staff in Jordanian universities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results also show that there are statistically significant differences between males and females in terms of the quality of distance education in favor of males. In addition, there are no statistically significant differences in the quality of distance education based on the place from which the lecture is given and the faculty type.

Practical implications

The study recommends improving teaching staff’s performance in the teaching process, boosting their comfort level and reducing stress and anxiety which may be caused by the surrounding physical environment during distance education.

Originality/value

The topic of the study is of great significance to quality assurance in education, i.e. online learning and teaching.
Effective creativity: how to manage it to achieve extraordinary business value
Authors: Marshall Anthony , Dencik Jacob , Anderson Cindy
Published: April 2023

Purpose

To better understand the role of creativity and its impact on business, IBM Institute for Business Value (IBM IBV) surveyed 400 United States-based CEOs across 11 industries in 2022.

Design/methodology/approach

Average organization size of these businesses was a little over $26 billion in annual revenue. The survey covered a range of questions on the role and impact of creativity in their organization. Then survey data was analyzed to reveal the key drivers and success factors of creativity.

Findings

When the CEOs were asked to describe an organizational structure most conducive to perpetuating creativity, as many as one quarter of them identified a hierarchical structure – a structure typically considered antithetical to free-flowing creativity, and one highly susceptible to micro-management and bureaucracy.

Practical implications

CEOs identify fear of failure as the most significant barrier to creativity.

Originality/value

Tapping into ingenuity and creativity has been critical to navigating recent market disruption – and going forward, effective creativity is becoming even more central to business success. Study identifies best practices of leading organizations that believe that. creativity is not a skill solely for a few selected innovators and makers, it’s a quality required across the workforce.
Case analysis: Johnson & Johnson and the COVID-19 vaccine
Authors: Jia Huining , Jin Justin Y. , Lindsay Benjamin
Published: April 2023

Research methodology

This paper uses financial report information to analyze the accounting results of the COVID-19 vaccine development for Johnson & Johnson (J&J). This paper also uses stock price information to analyze the market reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine development and the state of clinical trials for J&J.

Case overview/synopsis

This instructional case investigates the interaction between J&J and the COVID-19 vaccine. This paper uses information from financial reports to analyze the accounting results of the COVID-19 vaccine development for J&J. This paper also uses stock price information to analyze the market’s reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine development and the state of clinical trials for J&J.

Complexity academic level

This case has been used in both undergraduate and graduate levels to highlight the application of accounting theories to practice and improve the understanding of financial statements, especially when Covid-19 has affected the global economy. Under this new context, students could explore new ideas from accounting aspect.

Learning objectives

The case aims to investigate the interaction between J&J as a pharmaceutical company and COVID-19. It provides a context in which to discuss the consequences of COVID-19 vaccines from several financial perspectives, such as stock prices, accounting policies, earnings and cash flows:

LO1: Understand the responses of stakeholders to J&J’s COVID-19 vaccines.

LO2: Understand the accounting policies that J&J and its competitors follow regarding COVID-19 vaccines related to revenues, R&D expenditures and government funds.

LO3: Apply Ball and Brown’s theory to the impact of COVID-19 vaccine development on earnings quality of J&J and its competitors.

LO4: Assess the importance of COVID-19 vaccines in management decision-making through dividend policy and management compensation structure.