bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ADR-2 regulates fertility and oocyte fate inC. elegans
Authors: Erdmann Emily A. , Forbes Melanie , Becker Margaret , Perez Sarina , Hundley Heather A.
Published: November 2023

RNA binding proteins play essential roles in coordinating germline gene expression and development in all organisms. Here, we report that loss of ADR-2, a member of the Adenosine DeAminase acting on RNA (ADAR) family of RNA binding proteins and the sole adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing enzyme inC. elegans, can improve fertility in multiple genetic backgrounds. First, we show that loss of RNA editing by ADR-2 restores normal embryo production to subfertile animals that transgenically express a vitellogenin (yolk protein) fusion to green fluorescent protein. Using this phenotype, a high-throughput screen was designed to identify RNA binding proteins that when depleted yield synthetic phenotypes with loss ofadr-2. The screen uncovered a genetic interaction between ADR-2 and SQD-1, a member of the heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) family of RNA binding proteins. Microscopy, reproductive assays, and high-throughput sequencing reveal thatsqd-1is essential for the onset of oogenesis and oogenic gene expression in young adult animals, and that loss ofadr-2can counteract the effects of loss ofsqd-1on gene expression and rescue the switch from spermatogenesis to oogenesis. Together, these data demonstrate that ADR-2 can contribute to the suppression of fertility and suggest novel roles for both RNA editing-dependent and independent mechanisms in regulating embryogenesis.

Graphical Abstract:

Figure created with BioRender.

Article Summary

The molecular information that controls early development is RNA. Interactions between RNA and RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are critical for successful reproduction across species. In this study, we uncovered two roles for the RBP ADR-2 in regulating reproduction. First, we demonstrate that the RNA editing activity of ADR-2 regulates fertility. Next, we screened over 250 other RBPs revealed a genetic interaction between ADR-2 and SQD-1. Further analysis revealed thatsqd-1is essential for the onset of oogenesis, and an editing-independent function of ADR-2 influences proper germline gene expression and oocyte fate in these animals.
De novo design of allosterically switchable protein assemblies
Authors: Pillai Arvind , Idris Abbas , Philomin Annika , Weidle Connor , Skotheim Rebecca , Leung Philip J. Y. , Broerman Adam , Demakis Cullen , Borst Andrew J. , Praetorius Florian , Baker David
Published: November 2023

Allosteric modulation of protein function, wherein the binding of an effector to a protein triggers conformational changes at distant functional sites, plays a central role in the control of metabolism and cell signaling1–3. There has been considerable interest in designing allosteric systems, both to gain insight into the mechanisms underlying such “action at a distance” modulation and to create synthetic proteins whose functions can be regulated by effectors4–7. However, emulating the subtle conformational changes distributed across many residues, characteristic of natural allosteric proteins, is a significant challenge8,9. Here, inspired by the classic Monod-Changeux-Wyman model of cooperativity10, we investigate the de novo design of allostery through rigid-body coupling of designed effector-switchable hinge modules11to protein interfaces12that direct the formation of alternative oligomeric states. We find that this approach can be used to generate a wide variety of allosterically switchable systems, including cyclic rings that incorporate or eject subunits in response to effector binding and dihedral cages that undergo effector-induced disassembly. Size-exclusion chromatography, mass photometry13, and electron microscopy reveal that these designed allosteric protein assemblies closely resemble the design models in both the presence and absence of effectors and can have ligand-binding cooperativity comparable to classic natural systems such as hemoglobin14. Our results indicate that allostery can arise from global coupling of the energetics of protein substructures without optimized sidechain-sidechain allosteric communication pathways and provide a roadmap for generating allosterically triggerable delivery systems, protein nanomachines, and cellular feedback control circuitry.
Phenotypic models of drug-drug-gene interactions mediated by cytochrome drug-metabolizing enzymes
Authors: Viviani Roberto , Berres Judith , Stingl Julia C.
Published: November 2023

Genetic polymorphisms in drug metabolizing enzymes and drug-drug interactions are major sources of inadequate drug exposure and ensuing adverse effects or insufficient responses. The current challenge in assessing drug-drug gene interactions (DDGI) for the development of precise dose adjustment recommendation systems is to take into account both simultaneously. Here, we analyze the static models of DDGI fromin vivodata and focus on the concept of phenoconversion to model inhibition and genetic polymorphisms jointly. These models are applicable to datasets where pharmacokinetic information is missing and are being used in clinical support systems and consensus dose adjustment guidelines. We show that all such models can be handled by the same formal framework, and that models that differ at first sight are all versions of the same linear phenoconversion model. This model includes the linear pharmacogenetic and inhibition models as special cases. We highlight present challenges in this endeavour and the open issues for future research in developing DDGI models for recommendation systems.
Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of polygenic risk score-stratified screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm
Authors: Kelemen M. , Roychowdhury T. , Danesh J. , Di Angelantonio E. , Inouye M. , O’Sullivan J. , Pennells L. , Sweeting M.J. , Wood A.M. , Harrison S. , Kim L.G.
Published: November 2023

As the heritability of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is high and AAA partially shares genetic architecture with other cardiovascular diseases, there is interest in whether genetic information could inform AAA screening strategies. Exploiting pleiotropy and meta-analysing summary data from large AAA studies, we constructed a polygenic risk score (PRS) for AAA. Compared with the low PRS tertile, the intermediate and high PRS tertiles had hazard ratios for AAA of 2.13 (95%CI 1.61, 2.82) and 3.70 (95%CI 2.86, 4.80) respectively, after adjusting for known clinical risk factors. Using simulation modelling, we compared PRS- and smoking-stratified screening with inviting men at age 65 and not inviting women (current UK strategy). In a futuristic scenario where genomic information is available on the population, our modelling suggests inviting male current smokers with high PRS earlier than 65 and targeting screening in female smokers with high/intermediate PRS at 65 and 70 respectively, may improve cost-effectiveness.
Improving conversations about Parkinson’s dementia
Authors: Dobreva Ivelina , Thomas Joanne , Marr Anne , O’Connell Ruairiadh , Roche Moïse , Hannaway Naomi , Dore Charlotte , Rose Sian , Liu Ken , Bhome Rohan , Baldwin-Jones Sion , Roberts Janet , Archibald Neil , Alston Duncan , Amar Khaled , Edwards Emma , Foley Jennifer A. , Haunton Victoria J. , Henderson Emily J. , Jha Ashwani , Lindop Fiona , Magee Cathy , Massey Luke , Ruiz-Mendoza Eladia , Mohamed Biju , Patterson Katherine , Ramaswamy Bhanu , Schrag Anette , Silverdale Monty , Suárez-González Aida , Subramanian Indu , Foltynie Tom , Williams-Gray Caroline H. , Yarnall Alison J. , Carroll Camille , Bale Claire , Hugill Cassandra , Weil Rimona S.
Published: November 2023

Background

People with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have an increased risk of dementia, yet patients and clinicians frequently avoid talking about it due to associated stigma, and the perception that “nothing can be done about it”. However, open conversations about PD dementia mean that people with the condition can access treatment and support, and are more likely to participate in research aimed at understanding PD dementia.

Objectives

To co-produce information resources for patients and healthcare professionals to improve conversations about PD dementia.

Methods

We worked with people with PD, engagement experts, artists, and a PD charity to open up these conversations. 34 participants (16 PD; 6 PD dementia; 1 Parkinsonism, 11 caregivers) attended creative workshops to examine fears about PD dementia and develop information resources. 25 PD experts contributed to the resources.

Results

While most people with PD (70%) and caregivers (81%) shared worries about cognitive changes at the workshops, only 38% and 30% respectively had raised these concerns with a healthcare professional. 91% of people with PD and 73% of caregivers agreed that PD clinicians should ask about cognitive changes routinely through direct questions and perform cognitive tests at clinic appointments. We used insights from the creative workshops, and input from a network of PD experts to co-develop two open-access resources: one for people with PD and their families, and one for healthcare professionals.

Conclusion

Using artistic and creative workshops, co-learning and striving for diverse voices, we co-produced relevant resources for a wider audience to improve conversations about PD dementia.
The how, when, and what of odor valence communication between the olfactory bulb and piriform cortex
Authors: Nordén Frans , Iravani Behzad , Schaefer Martin , Winter Anja L. , Lundqvist Mikael , Arshamian Artin , Lundström Johan N.
Published: November 2023

A core function of the olfactory system is to determine an odor’s valence. The central processing of odor valence is initiated in the olfactory bulb, but the neural mechanisms by which this important information is communicated to, and from, the olfactory cortex (piriform cortex) in humans are not known. To assess communication between the two nodes, we simultaneously measured odor-dependent neural activity in the olfactory bulb and piriform cortex from human participants while obtaining trial-by-trial valence ratings. We determinedwhenvalence information was communicated,whatkind of information was transferred, andhowthe information was transferred (i.e., in which frequency band). Support vector machine learning on the coherence spectrum and frequency-resolved Granger causality were used to identify valence-dependent differences in functional and effective connectivity between the olfactory bulb and piriform cortex. We found that the olfactory bulb communicates odor valence to the piriform cortex in the gamma band shortly after odor onset, while the piriform cortex subsequently feeds valence-related information back to the olfactory bulb in the beta band. Decoding accuracy was better for negative than positive valence, suggesting negative valence superiority. Critically, we replicated these findings in an independent dataset using other odors across a larger perceived valence range. Combined, these results demonstrate that the olfactory bulb and piriform cortex communicate levels of odor pleasantness across multiple frequencies, at specific time-points and in a direction-dependent pattern in accordance with the two-stage model of odor processing. It also provides further evidence that odor valence should be viewed as two perceptual dimensions and not one continuous.
What is Slough? A pilot study to define the proteomic and microbial composition of wound slough and its implications for wound healing
Authors: Townsend Elizabeth C. , Cheong J. Z. Alex , Radzietza Michael , Fritz Blaine , Malone Matthew , Bjarnsholt Thomas , Ousey Karen , Swanson Terry , Schultz Gregory , Gibson Angela L.F. , Kalan Lindsay R.
Published: November 2023

Slough is a well-known feature of non-healing wounds. This study aims to determine the proteomic and microbiologic components of slough as well as interrogate the associations between wound slough components and wound healing. Twenty-three subjects with slow-to-heal wounds and visible slough were enrolled. Etiologies included venous stasis ulcers, post-surgical site infections, and pressure ulcers. Patient co-morbidities and wound healing outcome at 3-months post-sample collection was recorded. Debrided slough was analyzed microscopically, through untargeted proteomics, and high-throughput bacterial 16S-ribosomal gene sequencing. Microscopic imaging revealed wound slough to be amorphous in structure and highly variable. 16S-profiling found slough microbial communities to associate with wound etiology and location on the body. Across all subjects, slough largely consisted of proteins involved in skin structure and formation, blood-clot formation, and immune processes. To predict variables associated with wound healing, protein, microbial, and clinical datasets were integrated into a supervised discriminant analysis. This analysis revealed that healing wounds were enriched for proteins involved in skin barrier development and negative regulation of immune responses. While wounds that deteriorated over time started off with a higher baseline Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Score and were enriched for anerobic bacterial taxa and chronic inflammatory proteins. To our knowledge, this is the first study to integrate clinical, microbiome, and proteomic data to systematically characterize wound slough and integrate it into a single assessment to predict wound healing outcome. Collectively, our findings underscore how slough components can help identify wounds at risk of continued impaired healing and serves as an underutilized biomarker.
Small molecule positive allosteric modulation of homomeric kainate receptors GluK1-3: Development of screening assays and insight into GluK3 structure
Authors: Bay Yasmin , Venskutonytė Raminta , Frantsen Stine M. , Thorsen Thor S. , Musgaard Maria , Frydenvang Karla , Francotte Pierre , Pirotte Bernard , Biggin Philip C. , Kristensen Anders S. , Boesen Thomas , Pickering Darryl S. , Gajhede Michael , Kastrup Jette S.
Published: November 2023

The kainate receptors GluK1-3 belong to the family of ionotropic glutamate receptors and are essential for fast excitatory neurotransmission in the brain and associated with neurological and psychiatric diseases. How these receptors can be modulated by small molecule agents is not well-understood, especially for GluK3. We show that the positive allosteric modulator BPAM344 can be used to establish robust calcium-sensitive fluorescence-based assays at GluK1-3 for testing agonists, antagonists, and positive allosteric modulators. The EC50of BPAM344 for potentiating the response of 100 µM kainate was determined to 26.3 µM at GluK1, 75.4 µM at GluK2, and 639 µM at GluK3. In the presence of 150 µM BPAM344, domoate was found to be a potent agonist at GluK1 and GluK2 with EC50of 0.77 µM and 1.33 µM, respectively. At GluK3, domoate acts as a very weak agonist or antagonist with IC50of 14.5 µM, in the presence of 500 µM BPAM344 and 100 µM kainate. Using H523A mutated GluK3, we determined the first dimeric structure of the ligand-binding domain by X-ray crystallography, allowing location of BPAM344, zinc, sodium, and chloride ion binding sites at the dimer interface. Molecular dynamics simulations support the stability of the ion sites as well as the involvement of Asp761, Asp790, and Glu797 in binding of zinc ions. Using electron microscopy, we show that in the presence of glutamate and BPAM344, full-length GluK3 adopts a dimer-of-dimers arrangement. This study may contribute to unravelling the potential of kainate receptors as targets for treatment of brain diseases.
Functional integration and segregation during semantic cognition: Evidence across age groups
Authors: Wu Wei , Hoffman Paul
Published: November 2023

Semantic cognition is underpinned by ventral anterior temporal lobe (vATL) which encodes knowledge representations and inferior frontal gyri (IFG), which controls activation of knowledge based on the needs of the current context. This core semantic network has been validated in substantial empirical findings in the past. However, it remains unclear how these core semantic areas dynamically communicate with each other to achieve successful semantic processing. Here, we investigated this question by testing functional connectivity in the core semantic network during semantic tasks and whether these connections were affected by cognitive ageing. Compared to a non-semantic executive task, semantic tasks increased the connectivity between left and right IFGs, indicating a bilateral semantic control system. Strengthened connectivity was also found between left IFG and left vATL, and this effect was stronger in the young group. At a whole-brain scale, IFG and vATL increased their coupling with multiple-demand regions during semantic tasks, even though these areas were deactivated relative to non-semantic tasks. This suggests that the domain- general executive network contributes to semantic processing. In contrast, IFG and vATL decreased their interaction with default mode network (DMN) areas during semantic tasks, even though these areas were positively activated by the task. This suggests that DMN areas do not contribute to all semantic tasks: their activation may sometimes reflect automatic retrieval of task-irrelevant memories and associations. Taken together, our study characterized a dynamic connectivity mechanism supporting semantic cognition within and beyond core semantic regions.
BRN1/2 Function in Neocortical Size Determination and Microcephaly
Authors: Barão Soraia , Xu Yijun , Llongueras José P. , Vistein Rachel , Goff Loyal , Nielsen Kristina , Bae Byoung-Il , Smith Richard S. , Walsh Christopher A. , Stein-O’Brien Genevieve , Müller Ulrich
Published: November 2023

The mammalian neocortex differs vastly in size and complexity between mammalian species, yet the mechanisms that lead to an increase in brain size during evolution are not known. We show here that two transcription factors coordinate gene expression programs in progenitor cells of the neocortex to regulate their proliferative capacity and neuronal output in order to determine brain size. Comparative studies in mice, ferrets and macaques demonstrate an evolutionary conserved function for these transcription factors to regulate progenitor behaviors across the mammalian clade. Strikingly, the two transcriptional regulators control the expression of large numbers of genes linked to microcephaly suggesting that transcriptional deregulation as an important determinant of the molecular pathogenesis of microcephaly, which is consistent with the finding that genetic manipulation of the two transcription factors leads to severe microcephaly.
CG-SLENP: A chemical genetics strategy to selectively label existing proteins and newly synthesized proteins
Authors: Wang Jian , Chao Bo , Piesner Jake , Kelly Felice , Petrie Stefanie Kaech , Xiao Xiangshu , Li Bingbing X.
Published: November 2023

Protein synthesis and subsequent delivery to the target locations in cells are essential for their proper functions. Methods to label and distinguish newly synthesized proteins from existing ones are critical to assess their differential properties, but such methods are lacking. We describe the first chemical genetics-based approach for selective labeling of existing and newly synthesized proteins that we termed asCG-SLENP. Using HaloTag in-frame fusion with lamin A (LA), we demonstrate that the two pools of proteins can be selectively labeled usingCG-SLENP in living cells. We further employ our recently developed selective small molecule ligandLBL1for LA to probe the potential differences between newly synthesized and existing LA. Our results show thatLBL1can differentially modulate these two pools of LA. These results indicate that the assembly states of newly synthesized LA are distinct from existing LA in living cells. TheCG-SLENP method is potentially generalizable to study any cellular proteins.
Genome evolution following an ecological shift in nectar-dwellingAcinetobacter
Authors: Sanchez Vivianna A. , Renner Tanya , Baker Lydia J. , Hendry Tory A.
Published: November 2023

The bacterial genusAcinetobacterincludes species found in environmental habitats like soil and water, as well as species adapted to be host-associated or pathogenic. High genetic diversity may allow for this habitat flexibility, but the specific genes underlying switches between habitats are poorly understood. One lineage ofAcinetobacterhas undergone a substantial habitat change by evolving from a presumed soil-dwelling ancestral state to thrive in floral nectar. Here we compared the genomes of floral-dwelling and pollinator-associatedAcinetobacter, including newly described species, with genomes from relatives found in other environments to determine the genomic changes associated with this ecological shift. Following one evolutionary origin of floral nectar adaptation, nectar-dwellingAcinetobacterspecies have undergone reduction in genome size compared to relatives and have experienced dynamic gene gains and losses as they diversified. We found changes in gene content underlying carbohydrate metabolism and nitrogen metabolism, which we predict to be beneficial in nectar environments. Gene losses follow a pattern consistent with genome streamlining, whereas gains appear to result from both evolutionary divergence and horizontal gene transfer. Most notably, nectar-dwellingAcinetobacteracquired the ability to degrade pectin from plant pathogens and the genes underlying this ability have duplicated and are under selection within the clade. We hypothesize that this ability was a key trait for adaptation to floral nectar, as it could improve access to nutrients in the nutritionally unbalanced habitat of nectar. These results identify the genomic changes and traits coinciding with a dramatic habitat switch from soil to floral nectar.
Metabolites and lipoproteins may predict the severity of early Acute Pancreatitis in a South African cohort
Authors: Mazibuko Jeanet , Elebo Nnenna , Williams Aurelia A. , Omoshoro-Jones Jones , Devar John W. , Smith Martin , Cacciatore Stefano , Fru Pascaline N.
Published: November 2023

Background

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common clinical disease with varying severity. The Revised Atlanta Classification (RAC) categorises AP into mild, moderately severe, and severe (MAP, MSAP and SAP) respectively. Despite the availability of different scoring systems to triage patients, these are not always suitable for predicting the course and outcome of certain patients during admission. In this study, untargeted metabolomics was used to identify metabolic parameters that can potentially be used as prognostic markers for stratifying the risk profiles of patients for improved management and treatment.

Methods

Serum isolated from blood samples collected from 30 AP patients (8 MAP, 14 MSAP, and 8 SAP) and 9 healthy control (HC) individuals was analysed using1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Wilcoxon and Kruskal–Walli’s rank-sum tests were used to compare differences in numerical covariates. A liposcale test was used for lipoprotein characterization and the Spearman rank test was conducted for correlation of the data. P-values < 0.05 were considered significant.

Results

Elevated levels of lactate, (rho = 0.67; p-value < 0.001, FDR = 0.001), 3-hydroxybutyrate (rho = 0.46; p-value < 0.003, FDR = 0.013), acetoacetate (rho = 0.63; p-value < 0.001, FDR < 0.001) and lipid alpha-CH2 (rho = 0.45; p-value = 0.004, FDR = 0.013) were associated with AP severity as was decreased levels of ascorbate (rho = 0.46; p-value < 0.003, FDR = 0.013), methanol (rho = 0.46; p-value < 0.003, FDR = 0.013), glutamine (rho = -0.55; p-value < 0.001, FDR = 0.002), ethanol (rho = 0.64; p-value < 0.001, FDR< 0.001), protein-NH (rho= -0.75; p-value < 0.001, FDR<0.001) among others. HDL-C decreased while IDL-C and VLDL-C increased across all the AP metabolic phenotypes compared to the HC.

Conclusion

Dysregulated metabolites and lipids can potentially add to the understanding of the pathophysiological conditions of AP and can aid in the early prognosis and stratification of patients for specialist care.
Coping techniques and strategies for pursuing anti-racism within academe: a collective autoethnographic account from minoritised academics in the UK
Authors: Garvey Anita , Talhouk Reem , Ajibade Benjamin
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Drawing upon the authors’ experiences as minoritised academic scholars within leadership roles of a Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) Network in the United Kingdom (UK) academe, the authors explored the research question “In what ways do racially minoritised academics use coping techniques and strategies to counter racism and inequality in the higher education environment”.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a collective autoethnography approach accompanied by storytelling, underpinned by a qualitative interpretative process, supported by inductive, data-driven theorising. The authors’ approach is supplemented by the usage of content analysis (Schrieier, 2012) to analyse the data and generate findings.

Findings

The research findings specifically highlight (1) collectivism, solidarity and belonging, (2) knowledge expansion and critical consciousness, (3) disarming approaches and emotional labour, (4) resistance through setting boundaries and (5) intersectionality and BAME men allyship, as specific approaches for taking forward anti-racism.

Research limitations/implications

Autoethnographic research has encountered challenges around verification, transparency and veracity of data, and issues have been debated due to its subjective nature (see Jones, 2010; Keeler, 2019; Méndez, 2013). Additional complications arise regarding neutrality and objectivity associated with the researchers' identities and experiences being represented in autoethnographic accounts. The authors acknowledge that the accounts provided are subjective, and have influenced the research process and product.

Originality/value

Research on the experiences of minoritised academics leading staff equality networks constitutes a research gap. This article offers an original analysis through outlining the authors’ lived experiences in leadership positions of a BAME Network and hope to other minoritised employees undertaking anti-racist work.
Organizational fashion and trend setting in the hospitality industry
Authors: Fong Veronica Hoi In , Lin Xueying (Linda) , Wong IpKin Anthony , Liu Matthew Tingchi
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This study aims to use organizational fashion to underscore a novel phenomenon in which products, services and practices fade in and out of the tourism/hospitality setting within a specific time frame. Drawing from the fashion theoretical strands in organization research, this paper studies how fashion has been conceptualized, operationalized and then diffused among tourism/hospitality enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case design was used. A total of 37 semistructured in-depth interviews with executives of innovative tourism/hospitality companies (e.g. restaurants, hotels, theme parks and travel agencies) were conducted. This paper focuses on the organizational fashion phenomenon in which organizational trendsetters with creative, “hot” products/services have emerged prominently in the marketplace.

Findings

This inquiry illustrates a social phenomenon concerning the organizational fashion setting process by integrating existing production practices among different organizational suppliers in the hospitality sector. Different cases in the study show that fashion consists of a series of hybrid, paradoxical processes. These include conceptualization (conventionalization vs novelty, and personalization vs conformity), operationalization (bundling vs unbundling, and learning vs relearning) and diffusion (framing vs co-framing, and adaptation vs alteration).

Research limitations/implications

Throughout the three continuous processes, service design and identity development for consumption, as well as value creation and knowledge transformation for production, are carried out according to the decision of what is “hot” and what is “out” at a particular time. In essence, fashion helps to explain why hospitality institutions imitate specific innovations to take advantage of popular trends in the consumer market, as well as how such trends vanish eventually.

Originality/value

This research contributes the insight that organizations use fashion as a managerial initiative to translate their organizational goals and improvise nascent products and services. The fashion processes can be triggered by microlevel individual organizations and are spread through a series of social interactions to become macrolevel phenomena in a recurring manner.
Wine experience scale: validating the behavior and motivations of Spanish wine tourists
Authors: Margaça Clara , Calderon-Monge Esther , Sánchez Garcia José Carlos
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Understanding the role of emotion, landscape, involvement and storytelling related to wine is the basis for understanding the wine tourist experience. The purpose of this study is to analyze the validity and reliability of the wine experience scale in Spain.

Design/methodology/approach

The scale validation comprised translation, cultural adaptation and validity, in which 250 wine tourists (45.6% male and 54.4% female) from 17 Spanish wineries participated. Data was collected on different days during three consecutive months. To carry out the analyses, IBM SPSS and JASP software were used.

Findings

The statistical procedures used allowed the verification of psychometric properties as well as adjustment indices and reliability measures. The analyses carried out retained 16 items and ensured grouping into four factors: wine storytelling, wine involvement, winescape and wine tasting excitement.

Originality/value

By providing this instrument, it will be possible to create a promising path of commercial knowledge. Its application will contribute to establishing a more accurate profile of wine tourists and, simultaneously, to adapting a sustainable tourist offer.
Study on the thermal decay mechanism of basalt fiber reinforced resin based friction materials
Authors: Fang Shanglong , Xiao Wei , Chen Kewen , Song Xuding
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Resin-based friction materials are the most widely used key materials in industry for braking and transmission. However, the friction coefficient of resin-based friction materials significantly decreases at temperatures above 300°C, which reduces their friction performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study combines elevated-temperature mechanical experiments with friction and wear experiments to explain the thermal degradation resistance performance and temperature recovery performance of resin-based friction materials. It also investigates the influence of friction material strength and worn morphology on the friction coefficient of materials at elevated temperature.

Findings

The experimental results show that the increase in friction coefficient of friction materials below 300°C is mainly due to the increase in worn morphology characterization parameters, and the thermal degradation phenomenon above 300°C is mainly due to the decrease of shear strength of friction film. Basalt fiber can significantly improve the thermal degradation resistance of friction materials. The friction coefficient of basalt fiber-reinforced specimens after thermal degradation reaches 0.421–0.443, which is 19–25% higher than the original. The thermal decay rate is 9.03–11.0%, which is 7.9–9.87% lower than the original. Moreover, the friction coefficient has good cooling recovery performance.

Originality/value

Revealed the thermal degradation mechanism of resin-based friction materials, verified that basalt fibers can improve the thermal degradation resistance of friction materials and provided reference for the development of new friction materials.
Work connectivity behavior after-hours spills over to cyberloafing: the roles of motivation and workaholism
Authors: Wang Rong , Li Zijun , Bu Chunyu , Zhu Wenbo
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The authors investigated how and when work connectivity behavior after-hours (WCBA) spilled over to cyberloafing, considering ego depletion as a mediator and motivations and workaholism as moderators. This paper aims to discuss the aforementioned objective.

Design/methodology/approach

In Study 1, 380 employees participated in a scenario experiment with a 2 × 2 between-subjects design. Studies 2 and 3 involved 483 and 406 employees, respectively in two two-wave surveys.

Findings

WCBA was indirectly linked to cyberloafing via ego depletion. However, when WCBA was driven by high autonomous and low controlled motivation, it exerted less influence on ego depletion, thus weakening the mediating effect of ego depletion. Moreover, the association between WCBA and ego depletion was not significant among employees accustomed to excessive work. The indirect effect of ego depletion also operated contingently on the level of excessive work.

Originality/value

The findings shed light on the spillover effects of WCBA, suggesting that WCBA may lead to cyberloafing by depleting resources. However, the influence of WCBA on ego depletion is concealed when employees engage in WCBA autonomously or are habituated to excessive work.
Development of smart academic library services with Internet of Things technology: a qualitative study in Hong Kong
Authors: Cheung Hoi Ching , Lo Yan Yin Marco , Chiu Dickson K.W. , Kong Elaine W.S.
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This study examines academic librarians' perceptions and attitudes toward Internet of Things (IoT) applications in Hong Kong academic libraries and the problems and possible improvements in using IoT technologies to strengthen library services.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative research used video conferencing software for semi-structured, one-on-one interviews. Participants were given introductory material about the IoT and asked to complete an interview. The data were analyzed using inductive theme clustering for this study.

Findings

The analysis identified three themes: perception about applying IoT technology to the library, problems and improvements in using IoT. Participants were generally optimistic about the potential benefits of IoT for improving library operations and providing personalized services. However, they also expressed concerns about privacy and security, errors and extra efforts for information literacy training. They suggested improvements such as incorporating facial recognition technology, advanced RFID technology and collections identification technology to enhance user experience.

Originality/value

Most studies examined users' views rather than librarians' on IoT applications, which few studies cover, especially in East Asia.
Applying knowledge-based human resource management to drive innovation: the roles of knowledge sharing and competitive intensity
Authors: Le Phong Ba
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Given the increasingly important role of knowledge capital on key outcomes and innovation capabilities of organizations, this paper aims to investigate the influences of knowledge-based human resource management (KHRM) practices on innovation capability of firms via mediating role of knowledge sharing (KS). This study also examines whether competitive intensity moderates the effects of KS behaviors on specific aspects of innovation capability, namely, product and process innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper used structural equation modeling to examine the level of how KHRM practices and KS impact on two types of innovation capability, namely, product innovation and process innovation using data collected from 265 participants in 112 manufacturing and service firms in Vietnam.

Findings

The research findings confirm the mediating roles of KS behaviors between KHRM practices and two specific types of innovation. Besides, the paper first reveals the moderating role of competitive intensity in the relationships between KS and product innovation. The results underline the necessity of building a climate of KHRM practices to stimulate employees sharing knowledge, which, in turn, positively promotes innovation capabilities in an organization.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should investigate the impact of different forms of human resource management (HRM) practices on innovation via the mediating effects of certain aspects of KS to bring better understanding on the importance of HRM practices and knowledge resources in pursuing innovation competence.

Practical implications

This paper offers leaders a deeper understanding of potential effects of competitive intensity and environmental factors to promote innovation capabilities in their firms.

Originality/value

This paper has significant contributed to theoretical and practical initiatives on theory of HRM practices and knowledge management by showing different moderating and mediating mechanism thereby firms can follow to enhance innovation capability of firms in developing and emerging markets.
Flawed charts in pension fund popular reports
Authors: Garrett Nathan
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate how pension funds use charts in popular reports. Popular reports communicate a fund’s financial health to non-technical audiences, and often contain charts, tables, and other graphical elements. Do these graphics meet audiences’ information needs and align with chart best practices?

Design/methodology/approach

This study focused on the 60 retirement funds receiving a 2021 popular report award from the Government Finance Officers Association. The author analyzed each graphic’s topic and design.

Findings

Most funds presented key topics (such as funding rate and portfolio return), but they generally lacked helpful benchmarks or peer comparisons. A total of 30% of reports had one or more broken charts, where their visual elements did not match the underlying data. A total of 70% of the reports contained at least one badly designed chart. These design flaws included non-zero (truncated) axes, hidden non-zero axes and misleading 3D perspectives.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to examine chart quality in pension fund popular reports.
What triggers tourists’ anxiety? The differential impacts of crisis information source types in social media on tourists’ cross-border travel anxiety
Authors: Cheng Zi-Chin , Ruan Wen-Qi , Zhang Shu-Ning , Deng Fang
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This study aims to reveal the triggering mechanism and boundary conditions of tourists’ cross-border travel anxiety (CBTA) from different crisis information sources.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the heuristic-systematic model (HSM), this study constructs a theoretical formation path of tourists’ CBTA. Based on competence-based and moral-based crises, hypotheses were examined through three situational experiments, targeting Chinese and Malaysian potential tourists.

Findings

Organization-released crisis information triggers higher tourists’ CBTA than government ones, with perceived uncertainty mediating it. Crisis communication message appeals (CCMAs) (rational vs emotional) negatively moderate the above relationships. Rational CCMAs work for governmental crisis communication, while emotional CCMAs work for organizational ones.

Practical implications

This study proposes a heuristic cross-border tourism crisis information dissemination strategy for destination management organizations and highlights the advantages of CCMAs in preventing secondary crises.

Originality/value

This study reexamines the cause-and-effect and the intervention mechanisms of tourists’ reactions to crisis information, which expands the cross-border tourism crisis management research and the application of the HSM in such a context.
Hemorrhagic stroke caused by xylometazoline poisoning
Authors: Banaś Barbara Potocka , Brzeźniakiewicz‐Janus Katarzyna , Majdanik Sławomir , Parafiniuk Mirosław , Łużny Sylwester , Stachowicz Agnieszka , Janus Tomasz
Published: November 2023

An increase in the use of over‐the‐counter medications has been observed in recent years. This also concerns xylometazoline, approved for the treatment of allergic rhinitis or upper respiratory tract infections. We present the fatal case of a 40 year‐old‐woman with a massive hemorrhagic stroke. Initial toxicology tests of biological material collected during autopsy revealed the presence of xylometazoline. No other significant toxicology findings were noted. LC‐MS/MS method has been developed to determine xylometazoline concentration, which was 18.6 ng/mL in blood and 498.9 ng/mL in urine. The macroscopically detected hemorrhagic focus was confirmed by histopathological which confirmed hemorrhagic infarcts in the brain tissue, especially in the subarachnoid area. No other pathological changes were found. Based on findings from autopsy and toxicological analyses, the direct cause of death was concluded to be hemorrhagic stroke resulting from xylometazoline intoxication. Although xylometazoline products are regarded as relatively safe and are available over the counter, the risk of adverse effects, in particular stroke leading to death, should be considered. If adverse effects are observed, it is reasonable to measure the concentration of the drug in blood and urine. With such data, it will be possible to assess the actual exposure to this xenobiotic and draw firmer conclusions.
Acute kidney injury is more common in hospitalised children with sickle cell anaemia in Africa
Authors: Joacquim Adetokunbo Olayinka , Akinsete Adeseye Micheal , Esezobor Christopher Imokhuede
Published: November 2023

Aim

To document the prevalence, severity, hospital outcome and factors associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) in hospitalised children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA).

Methods

In this prospective observational study involving children aged 0.5–17 years with SCA requiring hospitalisation, we used serum creatinine level at 0 and 48 h of hospitalisation to determine the presence of AKI.

Results

The study involved 155 children with SCA aged 0.5–17 years with a median (interquartile range) age of 7.8 (4.3–11.0) years. Acute kidney injury occurred in 27 (17.4%) children with 33.3% reaching stage 3. Hepatomegaly (81.5% vs. 55.4%; p = 0.015), splenomegaly (33.3% vs. 10.9%; p = 0.003), dipstick proteinuria (22.2% vs. 5.4%; p = 0.004), and hematuria (29.6% vs. 3.1%; p = <0.001) were more common in those with AKI. In contrast, children with AKI had lower haematocrit (16.9% vs. 22.2%; p = <0.001) and serum bicarbonate (16.7 vs. 19.1 mmoL/L; p = 0.010) compared with those without AKI. Those with AKI had longer hospital stay (median [interquartile range]: 7 [4–12] days vs. 4 [3–6] days; p = 0.008).

Conclusion

AKI is common among hospitalised children with AKI and is associated with longer hospital stay.
“Things changed very quickly”: Maternal intentions and decision‐making about infant sleep surface, location, and position
Authors: Salm Ward Trina C.
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Approximately 3400 infants die suddenly and unexpectedly each year in the United States; many of these deaths include modifiable risk factors (such as a non‐supine position, sleeping on a soft surface, or loose bedding or items in the environment). Interventions have been successful at improving parental knowledge about recommendations to reduce risk of sleep‐related infant deaths, as well as improving intention to adopt recommendations. However, follow‐up studies have found a disconnect between knowledge/intentions to adhere to recommendations and actual practices. Exploring maternal decision‐making about infant sleep practices can better elucidate the disconnect between knowledge of infant sleep recommendations and the practice of it, and thus, inform more effective safe sleep interventions. The purpose of this study was to gain a more in‐depth understanding of decision‐making around infant sleep practices, and barriers and facilitators to adopting safe infant sleep recommendations.

Methods

Semi‐structured in‐home interviews were conducted with 22 families (20 mothers and 2 mother–father dyads) of infants up to 6 months of age.

Results

Thematic analysis of the transcripts revealed six themes: Plans changed when baby came, Trying things to figure out what works (infant preferences), Safety concerns, What's comfortable for me (maternal preferences), They say…(advice), and Trying to be careful.

Conclusion

These results suggest that knowledge of infant sleep recommendations alone is not enough to ensure adherence and that decision‐making is a dynamic and ongoing process affected by multiple factors. Findings have implications for timing and content of risk reduction efforts, as well as for data collection in research studies.
Early elevated donor‐derived cell‐free DNA levels in heart transplant recipients following precision‐controlled cardiac transport system or ice‐cooled organ transport
Authors: Alam Amit , van Zyl Johanna S. , Afzal Aasim , Felius Joost , Hall Shelley A. , Meyer Dan M. , Carey Sandra A.
Published: November 2023

Background

Recent innovations in temperature‐controlled cardiac transportation allow for static hypothermic preservation of transplant organs during transportation. We assessed differences in donor‐derived cell‐free DNA (dd‐cfDNA) using the SherpaPak cardiac transport system (SCTS) and traditional ice transportation.

Methods

Single‐organ heart transplant recipients between January 2020 and January 2022 were included if they had dd‐cfDNA measures ≤6 weeks post‐transplant along with the baseline biopsy at 6 weeks as part of the surveillance protocol and no biopsy‐confirmed rejection ≤90 days. Elevated dd‐cfDNA ≥.20% were compared between groups using logistic regression including a subject effect.

Results

Of 65 hearts transplanted, 30 were transported with SCTS and 35 on ice. Recipient characteristics were similar between groups. Donors in the SCTS group were older (34 vs. 40 years, p = .04) with a longer total ischemic time (171 vs. 212 min, p = .002). Recipients in the SCTS group had a greater risk of elevated dd‐cfDNA unadjusted and adjusted for donor age, and prolonged ischemic times > 3.5 h (Unadjusted odds ratio: 4.9, 95%‐CI: 1.08–22.5, p = .039 and Adjusted odds ratio: 5.5, 95%‐CI: 1.03–29.6, p = .046). Primary graft dysfunction rates and 1‐year mortality were comparable between groups.

Conclusion

Elevated dd‐cfDNA in patients procured with SCTS may indicate that graft injury was not negated relative to ice transport. However, there were no clinical differences noted in short or long‐term outcomes including mortality despite a longer ischemic time in the SCTS group.