bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impaired peri-olfactory cerebrospinal fluid clearance mediated cognitive decline after dyssomnia
Authors: Zhou Ying , Ran Wang , Luo Zhongyu , Wang Jianan , Fang Mengmeng , Wei Kai , Sun Jianzhong , Lou Min
Published: March 2022

Animal experiments have demonstrated the dependency of CSF clearance function on age and sleep, which partially underlay the cognitive decline in the elderly. However, evidence is lacking in humans mainly due to limited method to assess CSF clearance function. We aimed to image CSF clearance pathways in human brain by dynamic MRI with intrathecal contrast agent as a CSF tracer. We performed T1-weighted and T2-fluid attenuated inversion recovery imaging with equal sequence parameters before and at multiple time points after intrathecal injection of contrast agent to visualize the putative meningeal lymphatic pathway, peri-olfactory nerve pathway and peri-optic nerve pathway. We defined the CSF clearance function as the percentage change in signal unit ratio of critical locations in these pathways from baseline to 39 hours after intrathecal injection. CSF clearance through the putative meningeal lymphatic and peri-neural pathways were clearly visualized in all 85 patients. The CSF clearance function of meningeal lymphatic and peri-neural pathways were reduced with aging (all P < 0.05). The CSF clearance function through peri-olfactory nerve pathway was positive correlated with sleep quality and cognitive function (both P < 0.05). Moreover, the CSF clearance function through peri-olfactory nerve pathway mediated the association of sleep quality with cognitive function (percent change in β [bootstrap 95% confidence interval]: 35% [−0.220, −0.003]). The study shows promise for dynamic MRI with intrathecal injection of contrast agent as a method to assess CSF clearance function through putative peri-neural pathways, and interprets the impaired clearance through putative peri-olfactory nerve pathway may explain the cognitive decline in patients with dyssomnia.
mRNA-based vaccine candidate COReNAPCIN® induces robust humoral and cellular immunity in mice and non-human primates
Authors: Alimohammadi Reza , Porgoo Meysam , Eftekhary Mohamad , Kiaie Seyed Hossein , Dezfouli Ehsan Ansari , Dehghani Maryam , Nasrollahi Kaveh , Malekshahabi Talieh , Heidari Maryam , Pouya Sedigheh , Alimohammadi Masoumeh , Khavas Dorsa Sattari , Modaresi Mohammad Sadra , Ghasemi Mohammad Hossein , Ramyar Hamed , Mohammadipour Fatemeh , Hamzelouei Fateme , Mofayezi Ahmadreza , Mottaghi Seyed Saeed , Rahmati Amirhosein , Razzaznian Mohsen , Tirandazi Vista , Borzouee Fatemeh , Sadeghi Hossein , Mohammadi Melika Haji , Rastegar Leila , Safar Sajadi Seyed Milad , Ehsanbakhsh Hossein , Bazmbar Hamed , Nouraee Maedeh Shams , Pazooki Pouya , PahlevanNeshan Mina , Alishah Khadijeh , Nasiri Fateme , Mokhberian Neda , Mohammadi Seyedeh Shima , Akar Shima , Niknam Hamidreza , Azizi Marzyieh , Ajoudanian Mohammad , Moteallehi-Ardakani Mohammad Hossein , Mousavi Shaegh Seyed Ali , Ramezani Reihaneh , Salimi Vahid , Moazzami Reza , Hashemi Seyed Mahmoud , Dehghanizadeh Somaye , Khoddami Vahid
Published: March 2022

At the forefront of biopharmaceutical industry, the messenger RNA (mRNA) technology offers a flexible and scalable platform to address the urgent need for world-wide immunization in pandemic situations. This strategic powerful platform has recently been used to immunize millions of people proving both of safety and highest level of clinical efficacy against infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here we provide preclinical report of COReNAPCIN®; a vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2 infection. COReNAPCIN® is a nucleoside modified mRNA-based vaccine formulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for encoding the full-length prefusion stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein on the cell surface. Vaccination of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice and rhesus macaque with COReNAPCIN® induced strong humoral responses with high titers of virus-binding and neutralizing antibodies. Upon vaccination, a robust SARS-CoV-2 specific cellular immunity was also observed in both mice and non-human primate models. Additionally, vaccination protected rhesus macaques from symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathological damage to the lung upon challenging the animals with high viral loads of up to 2×108 live viral particles. Overall, our data provide supporting evidence for COReNAPCIN® as a potent vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2 infection for clinical studies.
Cell type-specific prediction of 3D chromatin organization enables high-throughputin silicogenetic screening
Authors: Tan Jimin , Shenker-Tauris Nina , Rodriguez-Hernaez Javier , Wang Eric , Sakellaropoulos Theodore , Boccalatte Francesco , Thandapani Palaniraja , Skok Jane , Aifantis Iannis , Fenyö David , Xia Bo , Tsirigos Aristotelis
Published: March 2022

The mammalian genome is spatially organized in the nucleus to enable cell type-specific gene expression. Investigating how chromatin organization determines this specificity remains a challenge. Methods for measuring the 3D chromatin organization, such as Hi-C, are costly and bear strong technical limitations, restricting their broad application particularly in high-throughput genetic perturbations. In this study, we present C.Origami, a deep neural network model that performsde novoprediction of cell type-specific chromatin organization. The C.Origami model enablesin silicoexperiments to examine the impact of genetic perturbations on chromatin interactions in cancer genomes and beyond. In addition, we propose anin silicogenetic screening framework that enables high-throughput identification of impactful genomic regions on 3D chromatin organization. We demonstrate that cell type-specificin silicogenetic perturbation and screening, enabled by C.Origami, can be used to systematically discover novel chromatin regulatory mechanisms in both normal and disease-related biological systems.
Incorporating the image formation process into deep learning improves network performance in deconvolution applications
Authors: Li Yue , Su Yijun , Guo Min , Han Xiaofei , Liu Jiamin , Vishwasrao Harshad D. , Li Xuesong , Christensen Ryan , Sengupta Titas , Moyle Mark W. , Chen Jiji , Usdin Ted B. , Colón-Ramos Daniel , Liu Huafeng , Wu Yicong , Shroff Hari
Published: March 2022

We present ‘Richardson-Lucy Network’ (RLN), a fast and lightweight deep learning method for 3D fluorescence microscopy deconvolution. RLN combines the traditional Richardson-Lucy iteration with a fully convolutional network structure, improving network interpretability and robustness. Containing only ∼16 thousand parameters, RLN enables 4- to 50-fold faster processing than purely data-driven networks with many more parameters. By visual and quantitative analysis, we show that RLN provides better deconvolution, better generalizability, and fewer artifacts than other networks, especially along the axial dimension. RLN outperforms Richardson-Lucy deconvolution on volumes contaminated with severe out of focus fluorescence or noise and provides 4- to 6-fold faster reconstructions of large, cleared tissue datasets than classic multi-view pipelines. We demonstrate RLN’s performance on cells, tissues, and embryos imaged with widefield-, light sheet-, and structured illumination microscopy.
Key transcription factors influence the epigenetic landscape to regulate retinal cell differentiation
Authors: Ge Yichen , Chen Xushen , Nan Nan , Bard Jonathan , Wu Fuguo , Yergeau Donald , Liu Tao , Wang Jie , Mu Xiuqian
Published: March 2022

How the diverse neural cell types emerge from multipotent neural progenitor cells during central nervous system development remains poorly understood. Recent scRNA-seq studies have delineated the developmental trajectories of individual neural cell types in many neural systems including the neural retina. Further understanding of the formation of neural cell diversity requires knowledge about how the epigenetic landscape shifts along individual cell lineages and how key transcription factors regulate these changes. In this study, we dissect the changes in the epigenetic landscape during early retinal cell differentiation by scATAC-seq and identify globally the enhancers, enriched motifs, and potential interacting transcription factors underlying the cell state/type specific gene expression in individual lineages. Using CUT&Tag, we further identify the enhancers bound directly by four key transcription factors, Otx2, Atoh7, Pou4f2, and Isl1, and uncover their roles in shaping the epigenetic landscape and controlling gene expression in a sequential and combinatorial fashion along individual retinal cell lineages such as retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Our results reveal a general paradigm in which transcription factors collaborate and compete to regulate the emergence of distinct retinal cell types such as RGCs from multipotent retinal progenitor cells (RPCs).
The reliability of two prospective cortical biomarkers for pain: EEG peak alpha frequency and TMS corticomotor excitability
Authors: Chowdhury Nahian S , Skippen Patrick , Si E , Chiang Alan , Millard Samantha K , Furman Andrew J , Chen Shuo , Seminowicz David A , Schabrun Siobhan M
Published: March 2022

Many pain biomarkers fail to move from discovery to clinical application, attributed to poor reliability and feasible classifications of at-risk individuals. Preliminary evidence has shown that higher pain sensitivity is associated with slow peak alpha frequency (PAF) and depression of corticomotor excitability (CME). The present study evaluated the reliability of these measures, specifically whether, over several days of pain, a) PAF remains stable and b) individuals show two stable and distinct CME responses: facilitation and depression. Seventy-five healthy participants were given an injection of nerve growth factor (NGF) into the right masseter muscle on Day 0 and Day 2, inducing sustained pain. Electroencephalography (EEG) to assess PAF and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to assess CME were recorded on Day 0, Day 2 and Day 5. PAF reliability was in the excellent range even without standard pre-processing and ∼2 minutes recording length. Moreover, two distinct and stable CME responses were demonstrated: facilitation and depression. These findings support the notion that PAF is a stable trait characteristic, with reliability unaffected by pain, and excellent reliability achievable with minimal pre-processing and ∼2 minutes recording, making it a readily translatable biomarker. Furthermore, the study showed novel evidence of two stable corticomotor adaptations to sustained pain. Overall, the study provides support for the reliability of PAF and CME as prospective cortical biomarkers.
Increased frequencies of IgH locus suicide recombination points on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia with low rate of AID related somatic mutations, cMYC overexpression and short telomeres
Authors: Al Jamal Israa , Parquet Milène , Boutouil Hend , Guiyedi Kenza , Rizzo David , Dupont Marine , Boulin Mélanie , El Hamel Chahrazed , Lerat Justine , Aoufouchi Saïd , al Hamaoui Samar , Makdissy Nehman , Feuillard Jean , Gachard Nathalie , Peron Sophie
Published: March 2022

In normal activated B-cells, Activation Induced-cytidine deaminase (AID) is absolutely required for immunoglobulin (Ig) class switch recombination (CSR) and IGHV somatic hypermutation (SHM). AID is also implicated in the Locus Suicide Recombination (LSR) of the Ig heavy (IgH) locus, resulting in the deletion of the IgH constant part. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is an indolent non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma characterized by tumor CLL B-cells that weakly express a B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface. The great majority of CLL tumor B-cells are non class-switched. Searching for abnormalities of IgH locus recombination in CLL, we investigated CSR and LSR in samples from CLL patients (N=47) with high blood tumor cell infiltration (>98%) and in healthy volunteers (HV) as controls (N=9). LSR was detectable at comparable levels in both HV and CLL groups. CSR counts were decreased in CLL samples as expected. As distribution of LSR counts was bimodal, we separated CLL patients in two groups so called LSRHigh and LSRLow. LSRHigh CLLs exhibited very weak AID expression and low mutation rate of IgHV region and of the AID off-target PIM1 gene. LSR junction diversity, evaluated using the Shannon index, was increased in LSRHigh CLLs suggesting that LSR was on-going in these cells. Also, shorter telomeres were observed in LSRHigh CLLs suggesting an increased number of past mitosis. Consistently, increased levels of cMYC expression were detected in LSRHigh CLLs and treatment free survival of these cases was markedly decreased. We hypothesized that LSR in LSRHigh CLLs is AID independent and could be due to DNA lesion and inaccurate DSB repair within the IgH locus, which could be accessible to recombination machinery due to increased IgH locus transcription. Altogether, our results indicate the accessibility of IgH locus and the proliferation increase LSR rate in LSRHigh CLLs could be related to cMYC resulting in shorter treatment free survival of patients and point on an AID independent mechanism of IgH recombination.
Hierarchical organization of spontaneous co-fluctuations in densely-sampled individuals using fMRI
Authors: Betzel Richard F. , Cutts Sarah A. , Tanner Jacob , Greenwell Sarah A. , Varley Thomas , Faskowitz Joshua , Sporns Olaf
Published: March 2022

Edge time series decompose FC into its framewise contributions. Previous studies have focused on characterizing the properties of high-amplitude frames, including their cluster structure. Less is known about middle- and low-amplitude co-fluctuations. Here, we address those questions directly, using data from two dense-sampling studies: the MyConnectome project and Midnight Scan Club. We develop a hierarchical clustering algorithm to group peak co-fluctuations of all magnitudes into nested and multi-scale clusters based on their pairwise concordance. At a coarse scale, we find evidence of three large clusters that, collectively, engage virtually all canonical brain systems. At finer scales, however, each cluster is dissolved, giving way to increasingly refined patterns of co-fluctuations involving specific sets of brain systems. We also find an increase in global co-fluctuation magnitude with hierarchical scale. Finally, we comment on the amount of data needed to estimate co-fluctuation pattern clusters and implications for brain-behavior studies. Collectively, the findings reported here fill several gaps in current knowledge concerning the heterogeneity and richness of co-fluctuation patterns as estimated with edge time series while providing some practical guidance for future studies.
Tracing Diurnal Differences in Brain Anatomy with Voxel-Based Morphometry – Associations with Sleep Characteristics
Authors: Zareba Michal Rafal , Fafrowicz Magdalena , Marek Tadeusz , Oginska Halszka , Beldzik Ewa , Domagalik Aleksandra
Published: March 2022

Multiple aspects of brain functioning, including arousal, motivation, and cognitive performance, are governed by circadian rhythmicity. Although the recent rise in the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has enabled investigations into the macroscopic correlates of the diurnal brain processes, neuroanatomical studies are scarce. The current work investigated how time-of-day (TOD) impacts white (WM) and grey matter (GM) volumes using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) in a large dataset (N = 72) divided into two equal, comparable subsamples to assess the replicability of effects. Furthermore, we aimed to assess how the magnitude of these diurnal differences was related to actigraphy-derived indices of sleep health. The results extend the current knowledge by reporting that TOD is predominantly associated with regional WM volume decreases. Additionally, alongside corroborating previously observed volumetric GM decreases, we provide the first evidence for positive TOD effects. Higher replicability was observed for WM, with the only two replicated GM clusters being volumetric increases in the amygdala and hippocampus, and decreases in the retrosplenial cortex, with the latter more pronounced in individuals with shorter sleep times. These findings implicate the existence of region-specific mechanisms behind GM effects, which might be related to cognitive processes taking place during wakefulness and homeostatic sleep pressure.
Possible Mechanism of Porosome-Mediated Exosome Release
Authors: Cho Won Jin , Formosa Brent , Zhvania Mzia G. , Taatjes Douglas J. , Ghiran Ionita , Jena Bhanu P.
Published: March 2022

Supramolecular cup-shaped lipoprotein structures called porosomes embedded in the cell plasma membrane mediate fractional release of intra-vesicular contents from cells during secretion. The presence of porosomes, have been documented in many cell types including neurons, acinar cells of the exocrine pancreas, growth hormone secreting cells of the pituitary, and mouse insulin-secreting beta cell insulinomas called Min6. Electron micrographs of the nerve terminal in rat brain and of Min6 cells, suggest that besides the docking, fusion and content release of neurotransmitter containing synaptic vesicles and insulin containing granules, multi-vesicular bodies and exosome-like vesicles are released at the porosome complex. To test this hypothesis, the porosome-associated calcium transporting ATPase 1 [SPCA1] encoded by the ATP2C1 gene, was knocked-out in Min6 cells using CRISPR, to study glucose-stimulated insulin and exosome release. In agreement with electron micrographs, results from the study demonstrate a loss of both glucose-stimulated insulin and exosome release in the ATP2C1 knockout Min6 cells. These results further confirm the role of the porosome complex in insulin secretion and establishes a new paradigm in porosome-mediated exosome release in beta cells of the endocrine pancreas.
Effect of paclitaxel treatment on cellular mechanics and morphology of human oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma in 2D and 3D environments
Authors: Kiwanuka Martin , Higgins Ghodeejah , Ngcobo Silindile , Nagawa Juliet , Lang Dirk M. , Zaman Muhammad H. , Davies Neil H. , Franz Thomas
Published: March 2022

During chemotherapy, structural and mechanical changes in malignant cells have been observed in several cancers, including leukaemia and pancreatic and prostate cancer. Such cellular changes may act as physical biomarkers for chemoresistance and cancer recurrence. This study aimed to determine how exposure to paclitaxel affects the intracellular stiffness of human oesophageal cancer of South African originin vitro. A human oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell line WHCO1 was cultured on glass substrates (2D) and in collagen gels (3D) and exposed to paclitaxel for up to 48 hours. Cellular morphology and stiffness were assessed with confocal microscopy, visually aided morpho-phenotyping image recognition, and mitochondrial particle tracking microrheology at 24 and 48 hours. In the 2D environment, the intracellular stiffness was higher for the paclitaxel-treated than for untreated cells at 24 and 48 hours. In the 3D environment, the paclitaxel-treated cells were stiffer than the untreated cells at 24 hours, but no statistically significant differences in stiffness were observed at 48 hours. In 2D, paclitaxel-treated cells were significantly larger at 24 and 48 hours and more circular at 24 but not at 48 hours than the untreated controls. In 3D, there were no significant morphological differences between treated and untreated cells. The distribution of cell shapes was not statistically significant different across the different treatment conditions in 2D and 3D environments. Future studies with patient-derived primary cancer cells and prolonged drug exposure will help identify physical cellular biomarkers to detect chemoresistance onset and assess therapy effectiveness in oesophageal cancer patients.

Insight

Mechanical changes in cancer cells by chemotherapeutic drugs exposure offer possible physical biomarkers for chemoresistance and cancer recurrence. This study on human oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma indicated thatin vitropaclitaxel treatment induced stiffening and enlarging of malignant cells in two-dimensional environments at 24 and 48 hours. In physiologically more relevant three-dimensional collagen matrices the paclitaxel treatment led to cellular stiffening at 24 hours but softening thereafter, without significant changes in cellular size at any time. The outcomes need to be confirmed in future studies with prolonged drug exposure and patient-derived primary cancer cells.
Systematic analysis uncovers SYK dependency in NF1LoF melanoma cells
Authors: Abecunas Cara , Whitehead Christopher , Ziemke Elizabeth , Baumann Douglas G. , Frankowski-McGregor Christy , Sebolt-Leopold Judith , Fallahi-Sichani Mohammad
Published: March 2022

The loss of function (LoF) of NF1 is the third most frequent mutation that drives hyperactivated RAS and tumor growth in >10% of melanomas. NF1LoF melanoma cells, however, do not show consistent sensitivity to individual MEK, ERK, or PI3K/mTOR inhibitors. Here, we perform a targeted kinase inhibitor screen and identify a tool compound, named MTX-216, to be highly effective in blocking NF1LoF melanoma cells. Single-cell analysis links drug-induced cytotoxicity to effective co-suppression of proliferation marker Ki-67 and the ribosomal S6 phosphorylation, an integrator of multiple RAS-mediated signaling pathways. Using a combination of kinome selectivity assay, transcriptomic analysis, and genetic experiments, we find the anti-tumor efficacy of MTX-216 to be dependent on its ability to inhibit not only PI3K (its nominal target) but also SYK, and suppression of a group of genes that regulate mitochondrial electron transport chain and whose expression is associated with poor survival in NF1LoF melanoma patients. Furthermore, combinations of inhibitors targeting either MEK or PI3K/mTOR with an independent SYK kinase inhibitor or SYK knockdown show favorable effects. These studies provide a path to exploit SYK dependency to selectively block NF1LoF melanoma cells.

Statement of significance

NF1LoF melanomas represent a subtype with hyperactivated RAS signaling, for which currently no targeted therapies are clinically available. Our systems pharmacology studies identify SYK as a new vulnerability in NF1LoF melanoma cells.
Molecular mechanism for strengthening E-cadherin adhesion using a monoclonal antibody
Authors: Xie Bin , Maker Allison , Priest Andrew V. , Dranow David M. , Phan Jenny N. , Edwards Thomas E. , Staker Bart , Myler Peter J , Gumbiner Barry M. , Sivasankar Sanjeevi
Published: March 2022

E-cadherin (Ecad) is an essential cell-cell adhesion protein with tumor suppression properties. The adhesive state of Ecad can be modified by the monoclonal antibody 19A11, which has potential applications in reducing cancer metastasis. Using x-ray crystallography, we determine the structure of 19A11 Fab bound to Ecad and show that the antibody binds to the first extracellular domain of Ecad near its primary adhesive motif - the strand-swap dimer interface. Molecular dynamics simulations and single molecule atomic force microscopy demonstrate that 19A11 interacts with Ecad in two distinct modes, one that strengthens the strand-swap dimer and one that does not alter adhesion. We show that adhesion is strengthened by the formation of a salt bridge between 19A11 and Ecad, which in turn stabilizes the swapped β-strand and its complimentary binding pocket. Our results identify mechanistic principles for engineering antibodies to enhance Ecad adhesion.
vissE: A versatile tool to identify and visualise higher-order molecular phenotypes from functional enrichment analysis
Authors: Bhuva Dharmesh D. , Tan Chin Wee , Liu Ning , Whitfield Holly J. , Papachristos Nicholas , Lee Sam , Kharbanda Malvika , Mohamed Ahmed , Davis Melissa J.
Published: March 2022

Functional analysis of high throughput experiments using pathway analysis is now ubiquitous. Though powerful, these methods often produce thousands of redundant results owing to knowledgebase redundancies upstream. This scale of results hinders extensive exploration by biologists and often leads to investigator biases due to previous knowledge and expectations. To address this issue, we present vissE, a flexible network-based analysis method that summarises redundancies into biological themes and provides various analytical modules to characterise and visualise them with respect to the underlying data, thus providing a comprehensive view of the biological system. We demonstrate vissE’s versatility by applying it to three different technologies: bulk, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics. Applying vissE to a factor analysis of a breast cancer spatial transcriptomic data, we identified stromal phenotypes that support tumour dissemination. Its adaptability allows vissE to enhance all existing gene-set enrichment and pathway analysis workflows, removing investigator bias from molecular discovery.

Abstract Figure
Mycobacterium tuberculosisPhoP integrates stress response to intracellular survival by regulating cAMP level
Authors: Khan Hina , Paul Partha , Goar Harsh , Bamniya Bhanwar , Baid Navin , Sarkar Dibyendu
Published: March 2022

Survival ofM. tuberculosiswithin the host macrophages requires the bacterial virulence regulator PhoP, but the underlying reason remains unknown. cAMP is one of the most widely used second messengers, which impacts on a wide range of cellular responses in microbial pathogens includingM. tuberculosis. Herein, we hypothesized that intra-bacterial cAMP level could be controlled by PhoP since this major regulator plays a key role in bacterial responses against numerous stress conditions. A transcriptomic analysis reveals that PhoP functions as a repressor of cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE) Rv0805, which hydrolyses cAMP. In keeping with these results, we find specific recruitment of the regulator within the promoter region ofrv0805PDE, and absence ofphoPor ectopic expression ofrv0805independently accounts for elevated PDE synthesis leading to depletion of intra-bacterial cAMP level. Thus, genetic manipulation to inactivate PhoP-rv0805-cAMP pathway decreases cAMP level, stress tolerance and intracellular survival of the bacillus.
The Spanish home care workers between job vulnerability and happiness in times of crisis
Authors: Minguela-Recover Mª Ángeles , López-Fernández Consuelo , López-Sánchez José Antonio , Picardo-García Juan Manuel
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the well-being experience of home care workers regardless of the service management model. It also aims to analyze their emotional experiences of their activity and working conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study, using a mixed qualitative and quantitative analysis, allows a combined analysis for a better understanding of the well-being experience of home care workers.

Findings

Home care workers experience intrinsic job satisfaction and demonstrate this with positive emotions regardless of their work situation.

Practical implications

Caring for the carer should be a business value. Measures oriented toward workers’ comfort generate greater happiness and commitment, which is automatically transferred to the quality of the care provided and reduces the psychosocial risks of their professional activity.

Social implications

Visualizing the social reality of an essential profession through research generates verifiable evidence that will help to improve the working conditions of home care workers in Spain.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this pioneering study in Spain introduces a greater understanding of how home care workers in Spain experience their work reality.
Leverage strategies of Indian telecom sector: a dynamic panel data approach
Authors: Khan Tasneem , Shamim Mohd , Khan Mohammad Azeem
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the optimal leverage ratio, speed of adjustment, and which factors contribute to achieving the target of selected telecom companies in a partial adjustment framework from 2008 to 2017. Further is to analyze the likelihood of bankruptcy of sample companies by Altman Z-Score model and to suggest which theory of capitals structure is better in explaining leverage strategies and judicious mix of debt and equity structure of the selected telecom companies.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper chooses a partial adjustment model and uses the generalized method of moments technique to identify the variables that influence the target leverage ratio and the factors that influence the speed at which the target leverage is adjusted. Second, the Altman Z-score model is used in this paper to research the financial status of telecom companies using financial instruments and techniques.

Findings

For Indian telecom firms, firm-specific variables such as profitability, NDTS and Z-score lead to greater debt adjustment towards optimal level target leverage. The paper also highlights new paradigms in the Indian telecom sector, stating that top market leaders such as Bharti Airtel, BSNL, Idea, Vodafone and R.com, among others, should focus on debt reduction and interest payments, as well as implement new strategies to solve the crisis and change financial policies.

Research limitations/implications

It mainly focuses on firm-specific variables because the firm-specific variables affect the leverage framework. The country-specific variables are not taken into the study. These results may be unique to telecom companies due to some peculiarities existing in the telecom sector in India. Although other sectors, both national and international level, can be taken into consideration.

Practical implications

This paper has ramifications for corporate executives, investors and policymakers in India, for example, in terms of considering different transition costs while changing a telecom company’s financing decisions.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper of its kind to look at both financial and econometric tools to assess financial performance using the Altman Z-Score model, as well as decide leverage strategies and the pace with which they can be adjusted to target leverage in the context of Indian telecom companies.
Preferences for service bundles in the energy sector – a survey of German private households
Authors: Hackbarth André , Tremml Timo , Löbbe Sabine
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine private households’ preferences for service bundles in the German energy market.

Design/methodology/approach

This investigation is based on survey data collected from 3,663 customers of seven mainly municipal energy suppliers in the German energy market. The data set was analyzed via a binary logistic regression model to identify the most prospective customers and their preferences regarding bundles of energy services.

Findings

The results indicate that potential adopters of energy-related service bundles have greater prior knowledge about service bundles; place higher importance on simplified handling, flat rates and long price guarantees; prefer to purchase a service bundle from an energy supplier; live in urban areas and have a gas tariff; are both less likely to have a green electricity tariff and to support the German energy transition; have a greater intention to purchase a smart home product; are less likely to already be prosumers; and prefer customer centers and social media as communication channels with energy providers.

Practical implications

This paper offers several implications for decision-makers in developing marketing strategies for bundled offerings in a highly competitive energy market.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the sparse research on service bundles in the energy sector, despite the growing interest of energy suppliers and consumers in this topic. It expands the research focusing on the telecommunications sector.
Data as assemblage
Authors: Boyd Ceilyn
Published: March 2022

Purpose

A definition of data calleddata as assemblageis presented. The definition accommodates different forms and meanings of data; emphasizes data subjects and data workers; and reflects the sociotechnical aspects of data throughout its lifecycle of creation and use. A scalable assemblage model describing the anatomy and behavior of data, datasets and data infrastructures is also introduced.

Design/methodology/approach

Data as assemblage is compared to common meanings of data. The assemblage model's elements and relationships also are defined, mapped to the anatomy of a US Census dataset and used to describe the structure of research data repositories.

Findings

Replacing common data definitions with data as assemblage enriches information science and research data management (RDM) frameworks. Also, the assemblage model is shown to describe datasets and data infrastructures despite their differences in scale, composition and outward appearance.

Originality/value

Data as assemblage contributes a definition of data as mutable, portable, sociotechnical arrangements of material and symbolic components that serve as evidence. The definition is useful in information science and research data management contexts. The assemblage model contributes a scale-independent way to describe the structure and behavior of data, datasets and data infrastructures and supports analyses and comparisons involving them.
Moral communication observed with social systems theory. An introduction
Authors: Laursen Klaus Brønd , Harste Gorm , Roth Steffen
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The present article pertains to recent advances in social systems theoretical analyses of moral communication.

Design/methodology/approach

An introduction to basic concepts and requirements for systems-theoretical approaches to morality and communication is provided, as is an introduction to 14 contributions to a pertinent special issue of Kybernetes.

Findings

The review of these 14 cases suggests that social systems theory enables researchers to study moral communication without necessarily performing it.

Originality/value

This article reappraises and challenges Niklas Luhmann's occasionally distanced attitude to morality, which has occasionally been understood as a form of moral communication itself.
A single-valued neutrosophic decision framework for the assessment of sustainable transport investment projects based on discrimination measure
Authors: Hezam Ibrahim M. , Mishra Arunodaya Raj , Krishankumar R. , Ravichandran K.S. , Kar Samarjit , Pamucar Dragan Stevan
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The study aims at evaluating the most appropriate transport project which is one of the critical concerns of transport infrastructure scheduling. This process will be applied considering a set of criteria and discussed alternatives with sustainable perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a complex proportional assessment (COPRAS) framework is discussed to handle the sustainable transport investment project (STIP) assessment problem within a single-valued neutrosophic set (SVNSs). To form the procedure more useful in handling with uncertain features, a SVNS is applied as a valuable procedure to handle uncertainty. First, a new discrimination measure for SVNSs is introduced and discussed some elegant properties to determine the significance degree or weight values of criteria with the sustainabality perspectives. Second, an integrated approach is introduced based on the discrimination measure and the COPRAS method on SVNSs and named as SVN-COPRAS.

Findings

A case study of an STIP evaluation problem is used to confirm the practicality and effectiveness of the SVN-COPRAS framework. Lastly, comparative discussion and sensitivity investigation are illustrated to prove the strength and solidity of the proposed framework.

Originality/value

The SVNSs enrich the essence of linguistic information when a decision expert (DE) vacillates among different linguistic values (LVs) to measure a sustainable transport project alternative problem. The utilization of SVNSs provides a more stable procedure to describe DEs' evaluations. So, an elegant methodology is developed to incorporate the DEs' awareness and experience for electing the desired STIPs. The introduced methodology has higher operability than the single-valued neutrosophic set technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (SVN-TOPSIS) procedure during the larger numbers of attribute(s) or option(s). For the SVN-COPRAS methodology, there is no need to estimate the single-valued neutrosophic ideal solution (SVN-IS) and single-valued neutrosophic anti-ideal solution (SVNA-IS). The outcomes are calculated with handling the realistic data, which elucidates that the introduced model can tackle more intricate and realistic multi-criteria decision-making issues.
Surfactant-assisted sol-gel synthesis of zinc ferrite magnetic nanoparticles for oil spills cleanup from seawater and antibacterial activity applications
Authors: Amar Ibrahim A. , Kanah Sarah S. , Hijaz Hibah A. , Abdulqadir Mabroukah A. , Shamsi Shamsi A. , Abdalsamed Ihssin A. , Samba Mohammed A.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to assess the removal of oil spills from the seawater surface as well as the antibacterial activity of ZnFe2O4-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB, cationic surfactant) magnetic nanoparticles (ZFO-CTAB MNPs).

Design/methodology/approach

A CTAB-assisted sol–gel method was used to synthesize ZFO-CTAB MNPs. X-ray powder diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used for ZFO-CTAB MNPs characterization. Also, the magnetic force and apparent density of ZFO-CTAB MNPs were determined. The oil spill cleanup was investigated by using the gravimetric oil removal (GOR) technique, which used ZFO-CTAB MNPs as oil absorbent material and four oil samples (crude, diesel, gasoline and used oil) as oil spill models. The antibacterial activity of ZFO-CTAB MNPs against Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi) was investigated by using the optical density method.

Findings

The results revealed that, when the amount of ZFO-CTAB was 0.01 g, gasoline oil had the highest GOR (51.80 ± 0.88 g/g) and crude oil had the lowest (11.29 ± 0.82 g/g). Furthermore, for Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, ZFO-CTAB MNPs inhibited bacterial growth with a higher percentage (94.24%–95.63%).

Originality/value

The applications of ZFO-CTAB MNPs in the cleanup of oil spills from aqueous solutions, as well as their antibacterial activity. The results showed that ZFO-CTAB MNPs are a promising material for removing oil spills from bodies of water as well as an antibacterial agent against Gram-negative bacterial strains.
Quantitative matching of forensic evidence fragments utilizing 3D microscopy analysis of fracture surface replicas
Authors: Dawood Bishoy , Llosa‐Vite Carlos , Thompson Geoffrey Z. , Lograsso Barbara K. , Claytor Lauren K. , Vanderkolk John , Meeker William , Maitra Ranjan , Bastawros Ashraf
Published: March 2022

Silicone casts are widely used by practitioners in the comparative analysis of forensic items. Fractured surfaces carry unique details that can provide accurate quantitative comparisons of forensic fragments. In this study, a statistical analysis comparison protocol was applied to a set of 3D topological images of fractured surface pairs and their replicas to provide confidence in the quantitative statistical comparison between fractured items and their silicone cast replicas. A set of 10 fractured stainless steel samples were fractured from the same metal rod under controlled conditions and were replicated using a standard forensic casting technique. Six 3D topological maps with 50% overlap were acquired for each fractured pair. Spectral analyses were utilized to identify the correlation between topological surface features at different length scales of the surface topology. We selected two frequency bands over the critical wavelength (greater than two‐grain diameters) for statistical comparison. Our statistical model utilized a matrix‐variate t‐distribution that accounts for overlap between images to model match and non‐match population densities. A decision rule identified the probability of matched and unmatched pairs of surfaces. The proposed methodology correctly classified the fractured steel surfaces and their replicas with a posterior probability of match exceeding 99.96%. Moreover, the replication technique shows potential in accurately replicating fracture surface topological details with a wavelength greater than 20 μm, which far exceeds the feature comparison range on most metallic alloy surfaces. Our framework establishes the basis and limits for forensic comparison of fractured articles and their replicas while providing a reliable fracture mechanics‐based quantitative statistical forensic comparison.
Attitude toward heavy drinking as a key longitudinal predictor of alcohol consumption and problems
Authors: DiBello Angelo M. , Hatch Melissa R. , Miller Mary Beth , Mastroleo Nadine R. , Carey Kate B.
Published: March 2022

Background

Little research has considered the importance of a person's attitude toward heavy drinking when evaluated against other well‐known predictors of alcohol use and related harm including drinking motives and drinker identity. The current study aimed to evaluate whether one's favorable attitude toward heavy drinking is a unique predictor of prospectively assessed drinking‐related outcomes when considered against descriptive and injunctive norms, drinking intentions, drinking motives, and drinker identity.

Methods

Participants in the current study comprised mandated students (n = 374; 54% male) who violated a campus alcohol policy and received a brief intervention (eCHECKUP TO GO). Analyses included the use of negative binomial regression to examine baseline predictors— attitude toward heavy drinking, perceived descriptive and injunctive norms, drinking intentions, drinking motives, and drinker identity—of prospective alcohol use outcomes and alcohol‐related problems 1 month later.

Results

We found that one's attitude toward heavy drinking remains a significant predictor of binge frequency, peak drinking, and alcohol‐related problems when accounting for norms, intentions, motives, and identity.

Conclusions

This study has important theoretical and intervention implications. Indeed, the finding that one's attitude toward heavy drinking remains a significant predictor of alcohol‐related outcomes when intentions are included in the model has implications within the theory of planned behavior. Furthermore, attitude toward heavy drinking has predictive utility when considered against descriptive and injunctive norms, drinking motives, and drinker identity. These findings contribute to a growing literature suggesting that attitudes could be an important intervention target when the goal is to change drinking behavior.
Camera traps reveal a large population of brown hyaena on a fenced reserve in southern Zimbabwe
Authors: Gush Wesley G. , Wijers Matthew C. , Comley Jessica , Sousa Lara L. , O'Donnell Holly , Svensson Laurence M. , Macdonald David W. , Loveridge Andrew J.
Published: March 2022

Investigations into the demographics of cryptic carnivores such as the near‐threatened brown hyaena Parahyaena brunnea have been improved by recent developments in camera trap technology and survey methods. Here, we assess the population density and abundance of this species on the Bubye Valley Conservancy (BVC) in south‐west Zimbabwe, a largely unsurveyed portion of the brown hyaena's range. We estimated brown hyaena density from a camera trap survey across two sections of the BVC (namely Main Conservancy and Ripple Creek) using a spatially explicit capture‐recapture method from individually identifiable images. This resulted in population density estimates of 14.72 ± 0.99 per 100 km2 for the Main Conservancy and 6.39 ± 1.74 for the Ripple Creek. While similar results have been found in recent studies of small, fenced reserves in Southern Africa, to our knowledge, these high‐density findings are the first for a large (>1000 km2) fenced reserve. We estimated the brown hyaena population on the BVC to be in excess of 400 individuals. This considerable population size is likely due to the well‐protected nature of the reserve and the scavenging opportunities provided by the sympatric large carnivores on the BVC, suggesting that this is a key locale for the species' conservation.
Microtopographic variations in soil physico‐chemical properties in oldfield targeted for ecological restoration
Authors: Ruwanza Sheunesu
Published: March 2022

Microtopographic conditions affect patterns of soil physico‐chemical properties in oldfields targeted for passive ecological restoration. This study sampled soil at a microtopographic level in three oldfield sites targeted for ecological restoration to better understand changes in soil physico‐chemical properties of pH, P, N, C, K, Na, Ca, Mg, moisture, penetration resistance and water repellency. The study was conducted in oldfields located at Nanaga farm in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Topsoil samples were collected over 3 months in two oldfield locations, namely furrows and ridges, and were compared to soils from adjacent reference sites. Results indicate that soil P, C and N were significantly higher in oldfield ridges and reference sites than in oldfield furrows. Throughout the three sampling months, soils from oldfield ridges were less compact and repellent as compared to soils from the oldfield furrows which were compact and wettable. The study concludes that the observed soil physico‐chemical differences between oldfield furrows and ridges were influenced by vegetation availability and microtopographic conditions between oldfield ridges and furrows. The study recommends that soil restoration initiatives (e.g. soil nutrient manipulation) in these oldfields should concentrate on improving the nutrient‐poor and compact furrows than ridges.
Preoperative functional capacity and postoperative outcomes following abdominal and pelvic cancer surgery: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Makker Preet G. S. , Koh Cherry E. , Solomon Michael J , Steffens Daniel
Published: March 2022

Background

There is clinical uncertainty regarding an association between preoperative functional capacity of cancer patients, and postoperative outcomes. The aim of this systematic review and meta‐analysis is to investigate whether poor performance on preoperative six‐minute walk test (6MWT) or five‐times sit to stand test (5STS) is associated with worse postoperative complication rates and prolonged length of hospital stay (LOS) in cancer patients.

Methods

An electronic search was performed from earliest available record to 26th February 2021 in MEDLINE, Embase and AMED. Studies investigating the association between preoperative physical function (measured using either 6MWT or 5STS) and postoperative outcomes (complications and LOS) in patients with gastrointestinal, abdominal and pelvic cancers were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool. Where possible, summary odds ratios (OR) or mean differences (MD), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random‐effect models.

Results

Five studies (379 patients) were included, of which none utilized the 5STS. Overall, studies were rated as having low to moderate risk of bias. Higher preoperative performance on the 6MWT (≥400 m) was associated with low grade postoperative complications (OR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.15–0.95) but was not associated with a shorter LOS (MD = 3.29; 95%CI = −1.07–7.66).

Conclusion

The available evidence suggests that in cancer patients, a higher preoperative functional capacity may be associated with reduced postoperative complications. Conversely, there is no significant association between preoperative function and LOS. Further high‐quality studies are needed in this area, including studies involving 5STS.