bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling communication and switching nonlinear dynamics in multi-region neural activity
Authors: Karniol-Tambour Orren , Zoltowski David M. , Diamanti E. Mika , Pinto Lucas , Tank David W. , Brody Carlos D. , Pillow Jonathan W.
Published: September 2022

Understanding how multiple brain regions interact to produce behavior is a major challenge in systems neuroscience, with many regions causally implicated in common tasks such as sensory processing and decision making. However, a precise description of interactions between regions remains an open problem. Moreover, neural dynamics are nonlinear, non-stationary, and can vary dramatically across sessions, days, and animals. Here, we propose multi-region, switching dynamical systems (MR-SDS), a probabilistic model of multiple latent interacting systems that evolve with switching nonlinear dynamics and communication between regions. MR-SDS includes directed interactions between brain regions, allowing for estimation of state-dependent communication signals, and accounts for sensory inputs effects, history effects, and heterogeneity across days and animals. We show that our model accurately recovers latent trajectories, vector fields underlying switching nonlinear dynamics, and cross-region communication profiles in two simulations. We then apply our method to two large-scale, multi-region neural datasets involving mouse decision making. The first includes hundreds of neurons per region, recorded simultaneously at single-cell-resolution across 3 distant cortical regions. The second is a mesoscale widefield dataset of 8 adjacent cortical regions imaged across both hemispheres. On these multi-region datasets, our model outperforms existing piece-wise linear multi-region models and reveals multiple distinct dynamical states and a rich set of cross-region communication profiles.
In vitroIsolation ofTreponema pallidumsubsp.pallidumfrom Fresh and Frozen Needle Aspirates of Primary Experimental Syphilis Lesions
Authors: Tantalo Lauren C. , Molini Barbara J. , Bose Mahashweta , Klausner Jeffrey D. , Giacani Lorenzo
Published: September 2022

Isolation ofTreponema pallidumsubsp.pallidumstrains still relies on rabbit intratesticular inoculation of clinical samples. Here, we report an alternative isolation approach based on the inoculation of fresh and frozen needle aspirates of primary experimental lesions into culture plates suitable forin vitropropagation of the syphilis agent.

We report on a rabbit-freein vitroisolation approach for syphilis strains that can be easily adapted to clinical specimens.
Simple and rapid site-specific integration of multiple heterologous DNAs into the Escherichia coli chromosome
Authors: Riley Lauren A. , Payne Irenee C. , Tumen-Velasquez Melissa , Guss Adam M.
Published: September 2022

Escherichia coli is the most studied and well understood microorganism, but research in this system can still be limited by available genetic tools, including the ability to rapidly integrate multiple DNA constructs efficiently into the chromosome. Site-specific, large serine recombinases can be useful tools, catalyzing a single, unidirectional recombination event between two specific DNA sequences, attB and attP, without requiring host proteins for functionality. Using these recombinases, we have developed a system to integrate up to twelve genetic constructs sequentially and stably into in the E. coli chromosome. A cassette of attB sites was inserted into the chromosome and the corresponding recombinases were cloned onto temperature sensitive plasmids to mediate recombination between a non-replicating, attP- containing “cargo” plasmid and the corresponding attB site on the chromosome. The efficiency of DNA insertion into the E. coli chromosome was approximately 107 cfu/μg DNA for six of the recombinases when the competent cells already contained the recombinase-expressing plasmid and approximately 105 cfu/μg DNA or higher when the recombinase-expressing plasmid and “cargo” plasmid were co-transformed. The “cargo” plasmid contains ΦC31 recombination sites flanking the antibiotic gene, allowing for resistance markers to be removed and reused following transient expression of the ΦC31 recombinase. As an example of the utility of this system, eight DNA methyltransferases from Clostridium clariflavum 4-2a were inserted into the E. coli chromosome to methylate plasmid DNA for evasion of the C. clariflavum restriction systems, enabling the first demonstration of transformation of this cellulose-degrading species.

Importance

More rapid genetic tools can help accelerate strain engineering, even in advanced hosts like Escherichia coli. Here, we adapt a suite of site-specific recombinases to enable simple, rapid, and highly efficient site-specific integration of heterologous DNA into the chromosome. This utility of this system was demonstrated by sequential insertion of eight DNA methyltransferases into the E. coli chromosome, allowing plasmid DNA to be protected from restriction in Clostridium clariflavum and enabling genetic transformation of this organism. This integration system should also be highly portable into non-model organisms.
Humoral and Cellular Immunogenicity and Safety of 3 Doses of CoronaVac and BNT162b2 in Young Children and Adolescents with Kidney Diseases
Authors: Leung Daniel , Chan Eugene Yu-hin , Mu Xiaofeng , Rosa Duque Jaime S , Cheng Samuel MS , Ho Fanny Tsz-wai , Tong Pak-chiu , Lai Wai-ming , Lee Matthew HL , Chim Stella , Tam Issan YS , Tsang Leo CH , Kwan Kelvin KH , Chung Yuet , Wong Howard HW , Lee Amos MT , Li Wing Yan , Sze Summer TK , Lam Jennifer HY , Lee Derek HL , Chan Sau Man , Tu Wenwei , Peiris Malik , Ma Alison Lap-tak , Lau Yu Lung
Published: September 2022

Background

Patients with kidney diseases are at risk of severe complications from COVID-19, yet little is known about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in children and adolescents with kidney diseases.

Methods

We investigated the immunogenicity and safety of an accelerated, 3-dose primary series of COVID-19 vaccines among 64 pediatric chronic kidney disease patients (mean age 12.2; 32 male) with or without immunosuppression, dialysis, or kidney transplant. CoronaVac was given to those aged <5 years, 0.1ml BNT162b2 to those aged 5-11 years, and 0.3ml BNT162b2 to those aged 11-18 years.

Results

Antibody responses including S-RBD IgG (90.9-100% seropositive) and surrogate virus neutralization (geometric mean sVNT% level, 78.6-94.0%) were significantly elicited by 3 doses of any vaccine. T cell responses were also elicited. Weaker neutralization responses were observed among kidney transplant recipients and non-dialysis children receiving rituximab for glomerular diseases. Neutralization was reduced against Omicron BA.1 compared to wild-type (post-dose 3 sVNT% level; 84% vs 27.2%; p<0.0001). However, T cell response against Omicron BA.1 was preserved, which likely confer protection against severe COVID-19. Hybrid immunity was observed after vaccination in infected patients, as evidenced by higher Omicron BA.1 neutralization response among infected patients receiving 2 doses than those uninfected. Generally mild or moderate adverse reactions following vaccines were reported.

Conclusions

Our findings support that an accelerated 3-dose primary series with CoronaVac and BNT162b2 is safe and immunogenic in young children and adolescents with kidney diseases.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.govNCT04800133

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Little is known about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in children and adolescents with kidney diseases. This paper describes the antibody and T cell responses of 3 doses of CoronaVac or BNT162b2, the top 2 COVID-19 vaccines distributed worldwide, by an accelerated regimen in patients with kidney diseases aged 1-18 years. Antibody and T cell responses were significantly elicited by either vaccine. Neutralization was reduced against Omicron while T cell response was preserved, which likely confer protection against severe COVID-19. Rate of severe adverse reactions was low in the study. Results confirm that accelerated 3-dose primary series with CoronaVac and BNT162b2 is safe and immunogenic in young children and adolescents with kidney diseases.
Polymer physics of structural evolution in synthetic yeast chromosomes
Authors: Stracquadanio Giovanni , Yang Kun , Boeke Jef D. , Koszul Romain , Bader Joel S.
Published: September 2022

Yeast SCRaMbLE is an experimental method using designed synthetic yeast chromosomes to generate combinatorial diversity through genome rearrangements. These events occur at designed loxPsym recombination sites through the activity of Cre recombinase. While the synthetic SCRaMbLE system was designed to explore minimal genomes and permit rapid genome evolution, the pattern of recombinations also reflects inherent properties of DNA looping required to coalesce pairs of loxPsym sites.

Genomes of yeast strains generated by SCRaMbLE are analyzed here using a new statistical mechanics model, called the SCRaMbLE Polymer Interaction (SPI) model. SPI uses polymer physics to model recombinations, and implements efficient rejection sampling and histogram reweighting algorithms to conduct SCRaMbLE experiments in silico.

Using SPI, we found that recombination events observed experimentally are consistent with a random walk scaling exponent ranging between 0.45 and 0.6, which spans values of 0.5 for a Gaussian polymer and 0.588 for a self-avoiding walk. SPI provides a highly accurate tool to study SCRaMbLE recombinations and massively parallel genome recombination experiments.
Functional interpretation, cataloging, and analysis of 1,341 known and new glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase variants
Authors: Geck Renee C. , Powell Nicholas R. , Dunham Maitreya J.
Published: September 2022

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency affects over 500 million individuals who can experience anemia in response to oxidative stressors such as certain foods and drugs. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for revisiting G6PD variant classification as a priority to implement genetic medicine in low- and middle-income countries. Towards this goal, we sought to collect reports of G6PD variants and provide interpretations. We identified 1,341 G6PD variants in population and clinical databases. Using the ACMG standards and guidelines for the interpretation of sequence variants, we provided interpretations for 268 variants, including 186 variants that were not reported or of uncertain significance in ClinVar, bringing the total number of variants with non-conflicting interpretations to 400. For 414 variants with functional or clinical data, we analyzed associations between activity, stability, and current classification systems, including the new 2022 WHO Classification. We corroborated known challenges with classification systems, including phenotypic variation, emphasizing the importance of comparing variant effects across patients and studies. Biobank data made available by All of Us illustrate the benefit of large-scale sequencing and phenotyping by adding additional support connecting variants to G6PD-deficient anemia. By leveraging available data and interpretation guidelines, we created a repository for information on G6PD variants and nearly doubled the number of variants with clinical interpretations. These tools enable better interpretation of G6PD variants for the implementation of genetic medicine.
Molecular determinants of Karyopherin-β2 chaperone and disaggregation activity
Authors: Fare Charlotte M. , Rhine Kevin , Lam Andrew , Myong Sua , Shorter James
Published: September 2022

Karyopherin-β2 (Kapβ2) is a nuclear-import receptor that recognizes proline-tyrosine nuclear localization signals (PY-NLSs) of diverse cytoplasmic cargo for transport to the nucleus. Kapβ2 cargo include several disease-linked RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) with prion-like domains (PrLDs), such as FUS, TAF15, EWSR1, hnRNPA1, and hnRNPA2. These RBPs with PrLDs are linked via pathology and genetics to debilitating degenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and multisystem proteinopathy (MSP). Remarkably, Kapβ2 prevents and reverses aberrant phase transitions of these cargo, which is cytoprotective. However, the molecular determinants of Kapβ2 that enable these activities remain poorly understood, particularly from the standpoint of nuclear-import receptor architecture. Kapβ2 is a superhelical protein comprised of 20 HEAT repeats. Here, we design truncated variants of Kapβ2 and assess their ability to antagonize FUS aggregation and toxicity in yeast and FUS condensation at the pure protein level and in human cells. We find that HEAT repeats 8-20 of Kapβ2 recapitulate all salient features of Kapβ2 activity. By contrast, Kapβ2 truncations lacking even a single cargo-binding HEAT repeat display reduced activity. Thus, we define a minimal Kapβ2 construct for delivery in adeno-associated viruses as a potential therapeutic for ALS/FTD, MSP, and related disorders.
Identification of genes required for long term survival of L. pneumophila in water
Authors: Aurass Philipp , Kim Seongok , Pinedo Victor , Cava Felipe , Isberg Ralph R.
Published: September 2022

Long-term survival of Legionella pneumophila in aquatic environments is thought to be important for establishing an ecological niche necessary for epidemic outbreaks in humans. Eliminating bacterial colonization in plumbing systems is the primary strategy that depletes this reservoir and prevents disease. To uncover L. pneumophila determinants facilitating survival in water, a Tn-seq strategy was used to identify survival-defective mutants during 50-day starvation in tap water at 42°C. The mutants with most drastic survival defects carried insertions in electron transport chain genes, indicating that membrane energy charge and/or ATP synthesis requires the generation of a proton gradient by the respiratory chain to maintain survival in the presence of water stress. In addition, periplasmically-localized proteins that are known (EnhC) or hypothesized (lpg1697) to stabilize the cell wall against turnover were essential for water survival. To test that the identified mutations disrupted water survival, candidate genes were knocked down by CRISPRi. The vast majority of knockdown strains with verified transcript depletion showed remarkably low viability after 50-day incubations. To demonstrate that maintenance of cell wall integrity was an important survival determinant, a deletion mutation in lpg1697, in a gene encoding a predicted L,D-transpeptidase domain, was analyzed. The loss of this gene resulted in increased osmolar sensitivity and carbenicillin hypersensitivity relative to the WT, as predicted for loss of an L,D-transpeptidase. These results indicate that the L. pneumophila envelope has been evolutionarily selected to allow survival under conditions in which the bacteria are subjected to long-term exposure to starvation and low osmolar conditions.

Importance

Water is the primary vector for transmission of L. pneumophila to humans and the pathogen is adapted to persist in this environment for extended periods of time. Preventing survival of L. pneumophila in water is therefore critical for prevention of Legionnaire’s disease. We analyzed dense transposon mutation pools for strains with severe survival defects during a 50-day water incubation at 42°C. By tracking the associated transposon insertion sites in the genome, we defined a distinct essential gene set for water survival and demonstrate that a predicted peptidoglycan crosslinking enzyme, lpg1697, and components of the electron transport chain are required to ensure survival of the pathogen. Our results indicate that select characteristics of the cell wall and components of the respiratory chain of L. pneumophila are primary evolutionary targets being shaped to promote its survival in water.
Synaptic Competition Enhances the Discrimination of Interfering Memories
Authors: Fung Chi Chung Alan , Fukai Tomoki
Published: September 2022

Long-term plasticity is the primary mode of synaptic weight updating. However, other updating modes include modification of synaptic connections across neurons. The synaptic competition found during adult neurogenesis is an example. In this process, adult-born neurons are integrated into the existing neuronal pool by competing with mature neurons for synaptic connections from the entorhinal cortex. Evidence suggests that adult neurogenesis is critical for discriminating similar memories, i.e., memories with considerable interferences. This computational study aims to link synaptic competition with pattern separation. We show that synaptic competition and neuronal maturation are crucial for separating considerably overlapping memory patterns. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a feed-forward neural network trained by a competition-based learning rule can outperform a multi-layer perceptron trained by the backpropagation algorithm, especially when the sample size is small. These results unveil the functional implications and potential applications of synaptic competition in neural computation.
Structural study of UFL1-UFC1 interaction uncovers the importance of UFL1 N-terminal helix for ufmylation
Authors: Banerjee Sayanika , Varga Julia K , Kumar Manoj , Zoltsman Guy , Isupov Michail N , Rosenzweig Rina , Schueler-Furman Ora , Wiener Reuven
Published: September 2022

Ufmylation, a protein modification by Ubiquitin-like (UBL) protein UFM1, plays a crucial role in several cellular processes including DNA damage response, protein translation and ER homeostasis. To date, little is known how the enzymes responsible for this modification coordinate their action. Here we have studied the details of UFL1 (E3) activity, its binding to UFC1 (E2), and its relation to UBA5 (E1), using a combination of structural modeling with Alphafold2, X-ray crystallography, NMR, andin vitrobiochemical activity assays. Guided by an Alphafold2 model, we generated an active UFL1 fusion construct that includes its cofactor DDRGK1, and solved the first crystal structure of this critical interaction. This fusion construct also unveiled the importance of the N-terminal helix of UFL1 for its binding to UFC1, which was validated by ITC and NMR experiments. Importantly, the binding site suggested by our structural model of the UFL1-UFC1 interaction reveals a conserved interface, and suggests a competition for binding to UFC1 between UFL1 and UBA5, which we reconfirmed by NMR. Altogether, our study reveals a novel, terminal helix-mediated regulatory mechanism which coordinates the cascade of E1-E2-E3 mediated transfer of UFM1 to its substrate, and provides new leads to target this important modification.

Significance statement

Ufmylation is an important post-translational modification, but little is known about the mechanistic details of its machinery, and in particular how the UFM1 E3 ligase (UFL1) binds and functions together with the E2 conjugating enzyme (UFC1). We combined AlphaFold2 modeling, X-ray crystallography, NMR and biochemical experiments to reveal crucial elements that govern UFL1 activity and ufmylation. We discover a crucial role for the UFL1 N-terminal helix in binding to UFC1 and productive ufmylation. This helix competes with the E1 (UBA5) C-terminal helix for binding to UFC1. Altogether, our findings uncover a new, helix-mediated regulatory mechanism in ufmylation.
O-antigen diversification masks identification of highly pathogenic STEC O104:H4-like strains
Authors: Lang Christina , Fruth Angelika , Campbell Ian W. , Jenkins Claire , Smith Peyton , Strockbine Nancy , Weill François-Xavier , Nübel Ulrich , Grad Yonatan H. , Waldor Matthew K. , Flieger Antje
Published: September 2022

Shiga toxin-producingE. coli(STEC) can give rise to a range of clinical outcomes from diarrhea to the life-threatening systemic condition, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Although STEC O157:H7 is the serotype most frequently associated with HUS, a major outbreak of HUS occurred in 2011 in Germany, and was caused by a rare serotype, STEC O104:H4. Prior to 2011 and since the outbreak, STEC O104:H4 strains have only rarely been associated with human infections. From 2012 to 2020 intensified STEC surveillance was performed in Germany where subtyping of ∼8,000 clinical isolates by molecular methods including whole genome sequencing was carried out. A rare STEC serotype O181:H4 associated with HUS was identified and, like the STEC O104:H4 outbreak strain, this strain belongs to sequence type (ST) 678. Genomic and virulence comparisons revealed that the two strains are phylogenetically related and differ principally in the gene cluster encoding their respective lipopolysaccharide O-antigens but exhibit similar virulence phenotypes. In addition, five other serotypes belonging to ST678 from human clinical infection, such as OX13:H4, O127:H4, OgN-RKI9:H4, O131:H4, and O69:H4, were identified from diverse locations worldwide.

Importance

Our data suggest the high virulence ensemble of the STEC O104:H4 outbreak strain remains a global threat because genomically similar strains cause disease worldwide, but that horizontal acquisition of O-antigen gene clusters has diversified the O-antigens of strains belonging to ST678. Thus, identification of these highly pathogenic strains is masked by diverse and rare O-antigens, thereby confounding the interpretation of their potential risk.
Dentate gyrus morphogenesis is regulated by β-CATENIN function in hem-derived fimbrial glia
Authors: Parichha Arpan , Datta Debarpita , Suresh Varun , Chatterjee Mallika , Holtzman Michael J. , Tole Shubha
Published: September 2022

The dentate gyrus, a gateway for input to the hippocampal formation, arises from progenitors in the medial telencephalic neuroepithelium adjacent to the cortical hem. Dentate progenitors navigate a complex migratory path guided by two cell populations that arise from the hem, the fimbrial glia, and Cajal-Retzius (CR) cells. Since the hem expresses multiple Wnt genes, we examined whether β-CATENIN, which mediates canonical Wnt signaling and also participates in cell adhesion, is necessary for the development of hem-derived lineages. We report that the fimbrial glial scaffold is disorganized and CR cells are mispositioned upon hem-specific disruption of β-CATENIN. Consequently, the dentate migratory stream is severely affected, and the dentate gyrus fails to form. Using selective Cre drivers, we further determined that β-CATENIN function is required in the fimbrial glial scaffold, but not in the CR cells, for guiding the dentate migration. Our findings highlight a primary requirement for β-CATENIN for the organization of the fimbrial scaffold and a secondary role for this factor in dentate gyrus morphogenesis.
Chromosome-scale assemblies of Acanthamoeba castellanii genomes provide insights into Legionella pneumophila infection–related chromatin reorganization
Authors: Matthey-Doret Cyril , Colp Morgan J. , Escoll Pedro , Thierry Agnès , Moreau Pierrick , Curtis Bruce , Sahr Tobias , Sarrasin Matt , Gray Michael W. , Lang B. Franz , Archibald John M. , Buchrieser Carmen , Koszul Romain
Published: September 2022

The unicellular amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii is ubiquitous in aquatic environments, where it preys on bacteria. The organism also hosts bacterial endosymbionts, some of which are parasitic, including human pathogens such as Chlamydia and Legionella spp. Here we report complete, high-quality genome sequences for two extensively studied A. castellanii strains, Neff and C3. Combining long- and short-read data with Hi-C, we generated near chromosome-level assemblies for both strains with 90% of the genome contained in 29 scaffolds for the Neff strain and 31 for the C3 strain. Comparative genomics revealed strain-specific functional enrichment, most notably genes related to signal transduction in the C3 strain and to viral replication in Neff. Furthermore, we characterized the spatial organization of the A. castellanii genome and showed that it is reorganized during infection by Legionella pneumophila. Infection-dependent chromatin loops were found to be enriched in genes for signal transduction and phosphorylation processes. In genomic regions where chromatin organization changed during Legionella infection, we found functional enrichment for genes associated with metabolism, organelle assembly, and cytoskeleton organization. Given Legionella infection is known to alter its host's cell cycle, to exploit the host's organelles, and to modulate the host's metabolism in its favor, these changes in chromatin organization may partly be related to mechanisms of host control during Legionella infection.
Influencing factors of Chinese consumers' purchase intention towards sustainable luxury
Authors: Yang Huaxia , Cheng Jinlong , Schaefer Allen D. , Kojo Shion
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The authors examined the influence of perceived value on consumer attitude and purchase intention (PI) and the relationship between attitude and PI towards sustainable luxury products (SLP) in China.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was conducted with 935 consumers of luxury fashion in mainland China. Structural equation modelling was applied to measure and analyse the relationship between values (i.e. hedonic values, social values, and value for money) and consumer attitude and PI.

Findings

Consumers' multidimensional values positively affected their attitude. Social values and value for money had a significant positive effect on PI towards SLP. However, hedonic values had no effect on PI.

Research limitations/implications

The sample was drawn from first-tier cities in China, and the results cannot be generalised. The authors examined three dimensions of consumption values. Future research should consider additional markets, values, and influencing factors.

Practical implications

Luxury companies should understand Chinese consumers' diverse values and develop sustainable products that meet consumers' principles. These principles increase the perceived value of the products and thereby guide luxury brands to make marketing strategies to increase sales.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical study to use the theory of perceived value scale (PERVAL) to understand consumer behaviour regarding SLP in China.
Analysts’ long-term growth forecasts and the post-earnings-announcement drift
Authors: He Shuoyuan
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study examines the relation between the presence of analysts’ long-term growth (LTG) forecasts and the post-earnings-announcement drift (PEAD).

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of firm-quarters from 1995 to 2013, the author conducts various regression analyses.

Findings

The author finds that the magnitude of PEAD is significantly smaller for firms with LTG forecasts. The relationship holds after controlling for a wide range of explanatory variables for PEAD returns or for the presence of LTG forecasts. The author further investigates three nonexclusive hypotheses to explain this relationship. First, LTG forecasts may convey incremental value-relevant information that facilitates investors’ processing of short-term earnings information. Second, the presence of LTG forecasts may indicate superiority in analysts’ short-term forecast ability and identify firms with more efficient short-term forecasts. Third, the presence of LTG forecasts may be associated with cross-sectional differences in the persistence of earnings surprises. The author finds that none of these fully accounts for the negative relationship between the presence of LTG forecasts and PEAD returns. Instead, the relationship may be a result of the presence of LTG forecasts capturing some unobservable firm characteristics beyond those identified in prior studies.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the PEAD literature by identifying a novel analyst-based predictor of the cross-sectional variation in PEAD returns.
Determinants of smallholder farmers' membership in co-operative societies: evidence from rural Kenya
Authors: Miroro Obadia Okinda , Anyona Douglas Nyambane , Nyamongo Isaac , Bukachi Salome A. , Chemuliti Judith , Waweru Kennedy , Kiganane Lucy
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Despite the potential for co-operatives to improve smallholder farmers' livelihoods, membership in the co-operatives is low. This study examines factors that influence smallholder farmers' decisions to join agricultural co-operatives.

Design/methodology/approach

This study involved a survey of 1,274 smallholder chicken farmers. The data were analysed through a two-sample t-test of association, Pearson's Chi-square test and binary probit regression model.

Findings

The results suggest that farming as the main source of income, owning a chicken house, education attainment, attending training or accessing information, vaccination of goats and keeping a larger herd of goats are the key factors which significantly influence co-operative membership. However, gender, age, household size, distance to the nearest agrovet, vaccinating chicken and the number of chickens kept do not influence co-operative membership.

Research limitations/implications

The survey did not capture data on some variables which have been shown to influence co-operative membership. Nevertheless, the results show key explanatory variables which influence membership in co-operatives.

Practical implications

These findings have implications for development agencies that seek to use co-operatives for agricultural development and improvement of smallholder farmers' livelihoods. The agencies can use the results to initiate interventions relevant for different types of smallholder farmers through co-operatives.

Originality/value

This study highlights the influence of smallholder farmers' financial investments in farming and the extent of commercialisation on co-operative membership. Due to low membership in co-operatives, recognising the heterogeneity of smallholder farmers is the key in agricultural development interventions through co-operative membership.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-03-2022-0165.
They do what they must: caseworkers at the public employment service in Vienna
Authors: Leibetseder Bettina
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Concerning the decision-making of frontline bureaucrats, research has suggested that caseworkers take into account a broader range of legal, organisational, professional and personal aspects. Their decision-making can offset social rights, when it neglects policy goals, but it can support social rights if the decisions consider clients' perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a factorial survey experiment with 197 Viennese caseworkers of the employment service, the caseworkers were asked how likely they would be to refer nine different typical clients to the introductory session for the programme “Women into Technical and Craft Professions”, whereby different dimensions were altered to grasp regulations and clients' perspective.

Findings

In the multilevel analysis, the interest of the clients in a technical-educational programme demonstrates the strongest positive effect, which complies with the programme's political intention. Other pertinent criteria may support clients' interests and the organizational performance goals, but neglect clients' position, when they counteract performance goals. Primarily, caseworkers do what they must and follow mandatory and performance criteria.

Research limitations/implications

On the caseworker's level, further research should aim to reach larger samples. Furthermore, the impact of performance goals on caseworker's decision making has to regard different professional groups beside personnel and labour market experts.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that a focus on the micro-level is needed to evaluate the impact of social policies. The practitioner's position is crucial to juggling legal goals and client's need.

Social implications

Performance goals ought to better reflect social rights on a broader scale.

Originality/value

This article provides new evidence on the level of discretion caseworkers execute.
Conflicts between expatriates and host country nationals during the acculturation process
Authors: Dong Longzhu , Ren Hong , He Tingting
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Conflict is one of the important aspects of the expatriate-host country nationals (HCNs) dyad. The purpose of this study is to understand how the level of conflict between assigned expatriates and HCNs emerges and evolves during acculturation over time.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on expatriate literature, diversity literature, and acculturation literature, the authors adopted a longitudinal lens and developed a conceptual model to describe the dynamic process of conflict emergence and evolvement between assigned expatriates and HCNs.

Findings

This study offers a dynamic multi-stage conceptual model with the authors' novel propositions to explain how conflicts between assigned expatriates and HCNs emerge and evolve through the acculturation process.

Originality/value

This study provided a theoretical framework demonstrating when and how conflicts between HCNs and expatriates emerge and evolve during acculturation. In doing so, the authors integrate the conflict and diversity literature with the expatriate literature and offer a theoretical foundation to enrich the authors' understanding of the conflict between expatriates and HCNs.
Adoption of social media-based knowledge-sharing behaviour and authentic leadership development: evidence from the educational sector of Pakistan during COVID-19
Authors: Asghar Muhammad Zaheer , Barbera Elena , Rasool Samma Faiz , Seitamaa-Hakkarainen Pirita , Mohelská Hana
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This research paper aims to explore the influence of social media–based knowledge-sharing intentions (SMKI) on prospective authentic leadership development (ALD) to deal with the future crisis. In the existing literature, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no significant empirical evidence to test the relationship between SMKI and ALD. Thus, this study contributes to the growing literature regarding the role of SMKIs, ALD, social media–based knowledge-sharing behavior (SMKB) and facilitating conditions (FCs). However, in this study, the authors developed a conceptual framework based on technology adoption and leadership theory. It was used to identify preservice educational leaders’ SMKIs and their effect on ALD to deal with an educational crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, SMKIs are strengthening ALD, directly and indirectly, using SMKB and FCs.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the higher education students are considered preservice leaders who were enrolled in educational leadership and management programs. However, this study’s target population and sample are students enrolled in educational leadership and management programs. Therefore, higher education students are considered preservice educational leaders. Therefore, a multilevel questionnaire survey approach was adopted to collect data from preservice educational leaders (n = 451 at Time 1 and n = 398 at Time 2) enrolled in education departments in the selected universities in Pakistan. A total of 398 survey questionnaires were finalized with a return ratio of 89%. The partial least square structural equation modeling with SmartPLS 3.2.8 was used for the data analysis.

Findings

This research found that SMKIs are positively and significantly connected with ALD. This study also confirms that SMKB significantly and positively mediates the relationship between SMKIs and ALD. Therefore, this study concludes that preservice educational leaders were ready to adopt SMKB.

Practical implications

Social media–based knowledge sharing can be helpful to develop authentic leadership among preservice educational leaders during a crisis. Preservice educational leaders as authentic leaders can prove to be an asset in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

Originality/value

This research integrated the technology adoption model and leadership theory to provide empirical evidence of SMKIs’ direct and indirect influence on ALD through social media–based knowledge-sharing actual use behavior by preservice educational leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the moderated mediating effect of the FCs was also studied in the relationship between SMKIs and actual user behavior as well as ALD.
Hear me, see me, trust you – job burnout and disengagement of Australian aged care workers
Authors: Olley Richard
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The themes that emerged from the qualitative data of a mixed methods study that explored the effects of leadership style on the job satisfaction of aged care workers.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is a mixed methods study with the qualitative approach informing the interpretative phenomenological analysis from the transcripts of semi-structured interviews.

Findings

Three themes related to the effects of leadership style on job satisfaction of aged care employees emerged from the IPA. These themes were, The Context of Aged Care, Employee Engagement and Voice and Leader Behaviour. Job burnout and organisational disengagement were prevalent in participants of the qualitative study.

Research limitations/implications

The research deployed quantitative measurements to determine the differences between aged care leaders and their followers and used these to explore participants’ lived experiences and how they made sense of their personal and social worlds at work. In the quantitative study, there may be an overstatement of the strength of the relationship between variables among those motivated to participate in the study. The qualitative study requires the researcher to be thorough in describing the research context, and it may be that those who wish to transfer the results of this study to a different one are responsible for making the judgement on the suitability of the transferability of findings.

Practical implications

Decreasing job disengagement and burnout will positively impact reducing attrition and turnover and, thus, the availability of the aged care workforce. It will inform leadership development programs and training in aged care and other health and social care sectors.

Social implications

The workforce is a primary consideration for aged care in Australia and globally. Reducing burnout and disengagement will reduce workforce attrition, thus, improving the care for some of the most vulnerable in the population.

Originality/value

This report is from original research with ethical clearance from a university human research ethics committee contributing to the knowledge of leadership practice in aged care in Australia.
Exploring dialogic analysis and thematic analysis of place conversations with older adults
Authors: Weil Joyce
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Although thematic analysis is a commonly used technique, this paper aims to explore the potential advantages (and drawbacks) of both thematic analysis and a dialogic approach to qualitative data analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

Initially, the epistemology and application of each design, thematic analysis and dialogic analysis are compared. Then, examples of coding segments of narrative data from 85 open-ended interviews with older adults exploring the meaning of place and place-attachment are presented through both thematic and dialogic analyses.

Findings

The conclusion offers suggestions about how dialogic analysis can add additional context and more participant inclusion and agency to thematic analysis.

Originality/value

The blending of these two qualitative analysis approaches offers better emphasis on fully presenting older individuals’ narratives.
The influence of H2 partial pressure on biogenic palladium nanoparticle production assessed by single‐cell ICP‐mass spectrometry
Authors: Law Cindy Ka Y. , Bolea‐Fernandez Eduardo , Liu Tong , Bonin Luiza , Wallaert Elien , Verbeken Kim , De Gusseme Bart , Vanhaecke Frank , Boon Nico
Published: September 2022

The production of biogenic palladium nanoparticles (bio‐Pd NPs) is widely studied due to their high catalytic activity, which depends on the size of nanoparticles (NPs). Smaller NPs (here defined as <100 nm) are more efficient due to their higher surface/volume ratio. In this work, inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS), flow cytometry (FCM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were combined to obtain insight into the formation of these bio‐Pd NPs. The precipitation of bio‐Pd NPs was evaluated on a cell‐per‐cell basis using single‐cell ICP‐MS (SC‐ICP‐MS) combined with TEM images to assess how homogenously the particles were distributed over the cells. The results provided by SC‐ICP‐MS were consistent with those provided by “bulk” ICP‐MS analysis and FCM. It was observed that heterogeneity in the distribution of palladium over an entire cell population is strongly dependent on the Pd2+ concentration, biomass and partial H2 pressure. The latter three parameters affected the particle size, ranging from 15.6 to 560 nm, and exerted a significant impact on the production of the bio‐Pd NPs. The TEM combined with SC‐ICP‐MS revealed that the mass distribution for bacteria with high Pd content (144 fg Pd cell−1) indicated the presence of a large number of very small NPs (D50 = 15.6 nm). These results were obtained at high cell density (1 × 105 ± 3 × 104 cells μl−1) and H2 partial pressure (180 ml H2). In contrast, very large particles (D50 = 560 nm) were observed at low cell density (3 × 104 ± 10 × 102 cells μl−1) and H2 partial pressure (10–100 ml H2). The influence of the H2 partial pressure on the nanoparticle size and the possibility of size‐tuned nanoparticles are presented.
Evaluation of Select Velocity Measurement Techniques for Estimating Discharge in Small Streams across the United States
Authors: King Tyler , Hundt Stephen , Simonson Amy , Blasch Kyle
Published: September 2022

Multiple instruments and methods exist for collecting discrete streamflow measurements in small streams with low flows, defined here as less than 5.7 m3/s (200 ft3/s). Included in the available methods are low‐cost approaches that are infrequently used, in part, because their uncertainty is not well known. In this work, we evaluated the accuracy and suitability of three low‐cost velocity measurement methods (surface float [SF], velocity head rod [VR], and rising body [RB]) and three conventional current meters (acoustic Doppler velocimeter, and mechanical Price type AA and Price Pygmy meters) relative to discharge calculated from stable artificial hydraulic controls. A total of 231 measurements were made by 20 individuals during 88 site visits to 24 sites in eight states. Accuracies were assessed for all methods and precision was evaluated for the low‐cost methods. The median percent error was below 5% for conventional methods, and below 20% for the low‐cost methods. The SF was the most accurate (median absolute percent error 14%) and precise (mean percent precision of 11%) low‐cost method. The RB and VR, respectively, had 15% and 20% median absolute percent error and 29% and 12% mean percent precision. Results suggest that low‐cost methods, when used appropriately, can be used to estimate discharge data under low flow conditions when measurements with conventional methods are not feasible and the associated accuracies meet end‐user measurement objectives.
Disparities in emergency department prioritization and rooming of patients with similar triage acuity score
Authors: Lin Peter , Argon Nilay T. , Cheng Qian , Evans Christopher S. , Linthicum Benjamin , Liu Yufeng , Mehrotra Abhishek , Patel Mehul D. , Ziya Serhan
Published: September 2022

Background

We identify patient demographic and emergency department (ED) characteristics associated with rooming prioritization decisions among ED patients who are assigned the same triage acuity score.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of adult ED patients with similar triage acuity, as defined as an Emergency Severity Index (ESI) of 3, at a large academic medical center, during 2019. Violations of a first‐come‐first‐served (FCFS) policy for rooming are identified and used to create weighted multiple logistic regression models and 1:M matched case–control conditional logistic regression models to determine how rooming prioritization is affected by individual patient age, sex, race, and ethnicity after adjusting for patient clinical and time‐varying ED operational characteristics.

Results

A total of 15,781 ED encounters were analyzed, with 1612 (10.2%) ED encounters having a rooming prioritization in violation of a FCFS policy. Patient age and race were found to be significantly associated with being prioritized in violation of FCFS in both logistic regression models. The 1:M matched model showed a statistically significant relationship between violation of rooming prioritization with increasing age in years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.009, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.005–1.013) and among African American patients compared to Caucasians (aOR 0.636, 95% CI 0.545–0.743).

Conclusions

Among ED patients with a similar triage acuity (ESI 3), we identified patient age and patient race as characteristics that were associated with deviation from a FCFS prioritization in ED rooming decisions. These findings suggest that there may be patient demographic disparities in ED rooming decisions after adjusting for clinical and ED operational characteristics.
Identification of a missense variant in the porcine AGPAT gene family associated with intramuscular fat content through whole‐genome sequencing
Authors: Molinero Eduard , Pena Ramona N. , Estany Joan , Ros‐Freixedes Roger
Published: September 2022

The 1‐acylglycerol‐3‐phosphate O‐acyltransferases (AGPATs) are enzymes that catalyze the conversion of lysophosphatidic acid to phosphatidic acid, which is a precursor of triacylglycerol, the main fat reservoir in mammals. We used whole‐genome sequencing of 205 pigs to identify 6639 genetic variants in the porcine AGPAT gene family. Of these, 166 common variants in the AGPAT5 gene had significant associations with fat content and composition traits. We preselected a missense single nucleotide polymorphism in exon 6 of AGPAT5 (rs196952262, A>G) for validation of its associations in 1034 pigs from the same Duroc line. The A allele showed a positive additive effect for intramuscular fat content (+1.12% ± 0.21, p < 0.001, for gluteus medius and +0.89% ± 0.33, p < 0.01, for longissimus). We also observed significant associations with fatty acid composition that were, at least in part, independent of the increased intramuscular fat. The A allele resulted in more monounsaturated fatty acids (+0.34% ± 0.15, p < 0.05, for longissimus) and a greater monounsaturated/polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio (+0.11 ± 0.04, p < 0.01, for gluteus medius and +0.13 ± 0.05, p < 0.05, for longissimus). The effect of the AGPAT5 variant on intramuscular fat was more noticeable in fatter pigs, and AGPAT5 interacts with other genes that affect overall fatness such as LEPR. AGPAT5 was the most expressed gene of the AGPAT family in pig skeletal muscle. This variant can be used as a marker in assisted selection for modulating pig fat deposition and fatty acid content.