bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Partner military deployment and war conditions increase perinatal depression and decrease postpartum mother-infant bonding
Authors: Allouche-Kam Hadas , Chan Sabrina J , Arora Isha Hemant , Pham Christina T. , Reuveni Inbal , Sheiner Eyal , Dekel Sharon
Published: January 2025

The pregnancy and postpartum period represents a time of potentially heightened psychological vulnerability with implications for the offspring. Knowledge of the mental health of perinatal women exposed to armed conflict when their partner is in military deployment is scarce. This matched-control, survey-based study included a sample of 429 women recruited during the first months of the Israel-Hamas War who were pregnant or within six months postpartum. Women reporting partner in military deployment (n=250) were matched on background factors to women whose partner was no longer deployed (n=179). We found that nearly 44% of pregnant women with partner deployed endorsed depression symptoms at a clinical level. This group was more than two times as likely to endorse depression symptoms than matched controls. Postpartum women with partner deployed had significantly lower levels of mother-infant bonding than the matched group of partners not deployed. Mediation models revealed that social support mediated the relationship between study group and these maternal outcomes. Our findings suggest that war-exposed spouses of partners who are deployed are at increased risk for psychiatric morbidity and problems with attachment to the infant. Attention to optimizing social support in perinatal population is warranted during times of war and other large-scale traumas.
Immune and Mutational Profile of Gene-Edited Low-Immunogenic Human Primary Cholangiocyte Organoids
Authors: Petrus-Reurer Sandra , Baez-Ortega Adrian , Lei Winnie , Kumaran Girishkumar , Williamson James , Jones Julia , Trajkovski Daniel , Lawson Andrew R.J. , Mahbubani Krishnaa T. , Brodie Cara , Lehner Paul , Bottomley Matthew J. , Martincorena Inigo , Saeb-Parsy Kourosh
Published: January 2025

Primary human cells cultured in organoid format have great promise as potential regenerative cellular therapies. However, their immunogenicity and mutational profile remain unresolved, impeding effective long-term translation to the clinic. In this study we report, for the first time, the generation of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-I and HLA-II knock-out expandable human primary cholangiocyte organoids (PCOs) using CRISPR-Cas9 as a potential ‘universal’ low-immunogenic therapy for bile duct disorders. HLA-edited PCOs (ePCOs) displayed the same phenotypical and functional characteristics as parental un-edited PCOs. Despite minimal off-target edits, single-molecule DNA-sequencing demonstrated that ePCOs and PCOs acquire substantial mutations in culture at similar rates but without evident selection for cancer-driver mutations. ePCOs induced reduced T cell-mediated immunity and a donor-dependent NK cell cytotoxicityin vitroand evaded cytotoxic responses with increased graft survival in humanized micein vivo. Our findings have important implications for assessment of safety and immunogenicity of organoid cellular therapies.
Unravelling termite evolution with 47 high-resolution genome assemblies
Authors: Liu Cong , Aumont Cédric , Mikhailova Alina A. , Audisio Tracy , Hellemans Simon , Weng Yi Ming , He Shulin , Clitheroe Crystal , Wang Zongqing , Haifig Ives , Sillam-Dussès David , Buček Aleš , Tokuda Gaku , Šobotník Jan , Harrison Mark C. , McMahon Dino P. , Bourguignon Thomas
Published: January 2025

Termites are a lineage of social cockroaches abundant in tropical ecosystems where they are key decomposers of organic matter from wood to soil. Despite their ecological significance, only a handful of reference-quality termite genomes have been sequenced, which is insufficient to unravel the genetic mechanisms that have contributed to their ecological success. Here, we performed sequencing and hybrid assembly of 45 taxonomically and ecologically diverse termites and two cockroaches, resulting in haplotype-merged genome assemblies of 47 species, 22 of which were near-chromosome level. Next, we examined the link between termite dietary evolution and major genomic events. We found that Termitidae, which include ∼80% of described termite species, have larger genomes with more genes and a higher proportion of transposons than other termites. Our analyses identified a gene number expansion early in the evolution of Termitidae, including an expansion of the repertoire of CAZymes, the genes involved in lignocellulose degradation. Notably, this expansion of genomes and gene repertoires coincided with the origin of soil-feeding in Termitidae and remained unchanged in lineages that secondarily reverted to a wood-based diet. Overall, our sequencing effort multiplied the number of available termite genomes by six and provided unprecedented insights into the genome evolution of the most ancient lineage of social insects.
Molecular mechanisms underlying the early steps of floral initiation in seasonal flowering genotypes of cultivated strawberry
Authors: Ziegler Freya MR , Gaston Amèlia , Guy Karine , Devers Marie , Krüger Erika , Brauksiepe Bastienne , Eimert Klaus , Osorio Sonia , Denoyes Béatrice , Usadel Björn
Published: January 2025

Floral initiation is required for sexual reproduction in angiosperm plants, and has a significant impact on crop yields. In cultivated strawberry, the molecular basis of floral initiation is poorly understood and most studies have focused on a single genotype grown under controlled conditions. To gain more insight into this process, we conducted a study under natural conditions in two countries using two seasonal flowering cultivars. We focused on the early steps of floral initiation by using samples spanning key developmental stages of the shoot apical meristem. The analysis of differential gene expression in leaf and terminal bud tissues revealed enrichment for genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and phytohormone pathways in leaves. Other protein classes that were enriched during early floral initiation were associated with cytoskeleton organization, cell cycle regulation, and chromatin structure. We also identified genes associated with the photoperiodic pathway, well-characterized floral integrators such as TFL1 and SOC1, and several linked to phytohormone regulation, such asXTH23,PP2andEIN3.
Identifying transcription factors driving cell differentiation
Authors: Martini Paul , Hartebrodt Anne , Zehn Dietmar , Blumenthal David B.
Published: January 2025

Cellular differentiation is a fundamental biological process at the core of development and growth in multicellular organisms. Understanding it at the level of transcriptomic regulation opens the possibility for novel biological insights, for steering cell development for therapeutic purposes, and for developing targeted therapies for diseases. While many methods exist that infer developmental trajectories from single-cell RNA sequencing data, only few can effectively determine which biological mechanisms drive differentiation along such trajectories. To close this gap, we developed SwitchTFI (switch transcriptionfactoridentification), a method to identify differentiation-driving regulatory mechanisms and the transcription factors (TFs) that play a key role in them. SwitchTFI infers a cell state transition-specific gene regulatory network (GRN) from a user-provided baseline GRN via decision stump learning and permutation-based significance tests. Key TFs are then extracted by ranking them according to their centralities in the transition GRN. We show that SwitchTFI can identify TFs known to be involved in pancreatic endocrinogenesis and in erythrocyte differentiation and that it outperforms competitor methods with respect to the functional coherence of the predicted driver TFs. SwitchTFI is available as a Python package athttps://github.com/bionetslab/SwitchTFI.
Social and news media in mapping the endangered Mediterranean Monk seal: exceptional data gains but persistent bias
Authors: Castro Andry , Capinha César
Published: January 2025

Social and news media are increasingly recognised as valuable sources of species distribution data, particularly for rare and endangered species. However, these data sources are prone to biases arising from uneven observation efforts, which pose challenges for their effective use. Despite this, the drivers and extent of such biases remain understudied. Here we investigate the contribution of social and news media to improving the availability of distribution data for a rare and endangered species, the Mediterranean Monk seal (Monachus monachus), in the Madeira and Porto Santo Islands. We also assess the relationship between the distribution data collected and socio-human factors likely to determine spatial and temporal variation in observation effort. We found that media sources provide a remarkable number of observation records for the species (n=302), which compared to the GBIF, iNaturalist andObservation.orgcombined (n=11), represent a 27.5-fold increase. The number of observations exhibited seasonal variation, with annual peaks occurring in the summer months. A generalised linear model assessing the spatial distribution of observation data also revealed a strong positive association with areas of high human concentration. Significant variables included population density, hotel density, and proximity to coastal recreational hotspots such as diving sites and bathing areas/non-open beaches. Our results underscore the potential of social and news media in documenting species distributions, but they also emphasise the importance of accounting for observational biases. Doing so is essential to ensure the reliable and effective application of social and news media sourced data in supporting species conservation efforts and management strategies.
PDP-Miner: an AI/ML tool to detect prophage tail proteins with depolymerase domains across thousands of bacterial genomes
Authors: Gauthier Jeff , Kukavica-Ibrulj Irena , Levesque Roger C.
Published: January 2025

Motivation

Antibiotic resistance is predicted to become the leading cause of human mortality by 2050. Despite this, no other major antibiotic class has been approved for medical use since 1987. Nevertheless, phage tail proteins offer a promising alternative, given their depolymerase activity toward outer membrane polysaccharides. Several pathogenic bacteria harbor prophages, thus making these prophages’ molecular target already known.

Results

We therefore developed a wrapper for an existing machine learning-based phage depolymerase prediction tool (Depolymerase-Predictor), called PDP-Miner, which annotates phage tail proteinsab initio, detects depolymerase activity within this candidate protein subset, and then performs post-hoc validation by annotating protein domains thereby allowing the user to investigate for protein domains indicative of depolymerase activity. This tool allowed identification of 10 high confidence phage depolymerase gene candidates across all 1,294Pseudomonasgenomes available on the International Pseudomonas Consortium Database and could likely help detecting other candidates across other genome databases as well.

Availability and Implementation

Source code is freely available for download athttp:///www.github.com/jeffgauthier/pdpminer. Implemented in Bash, supported on native Linux or WSL and supports submitting subtasks to a SLURM workload queue. Requires Miniconda3 to install dependencies. This software is free and open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0.

Contact

jeff.gauthier.1@ulaval.ca;rclevesq@ibis.ulaval.ca

Supplementary information

[add Supp. Mat. URL here when available]
Evaluating the Efficacy of a Hybrid Physical Therapy Technology: A Pilot Study on Wearable Sleeves within a Veteran Patient Population
Authors: Truntzer Jeremy , Gorman Shannon
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Traditional musculoskeletal rehabilitation presents a range of challenges that can hinder patient recovery. Cost, access and travel place a significant burden on many health care systems. We completed a pilot study using a wearable biosleeve to determine if such technology might help address many of the current challenges.

Methods

Patients were enrolled following knee arthroscopy to receive hybrid physical therapy utilizing a wearable sleeve that tracks joint angles and biometrics in conjunction with a web-based platform that allows provider visibility to patient completion data for assigned protocols.

Results

Ten patients, who completed a three-month rehabilitation program, experienced successful outcomes with no adverse events. No difference in adverse outcomes or failure to achieve acceptable motion was found in patients that completed hybrid therapy (in-person and digital) or digital-based therapy alone.

Conclusion

While larger studies are required, this study serves as an important launching point for the potential benefits of integrating wearable technology in musculoskeletal rehabilitation.
General practice workforce retention strategies: an umbrella review
Authors: Jefferson L. , Golder S. , Castro A. , Webster E. , Anderson H. , Dale V.
Published: January 2025

Objective

We summarise international evidence of interventions to support retention of the general practice workforce, mapping evidence by country, method and workforce group.

Design

Umbrella overview of reviews. We mapped evidence according to occupational group, intervention type and outcome to identify trends and gaps.

Setting

International primary care and general practice.

Participants

General practice workforce, with studies grouped by general practitioners, nurse practitioners and mixed health professional.

Main outcome measures

Workforce retention, including length of employment, stability rates, settlement rates, vacancy rates, unfilled positions, turnover numbers or rates, attrition rates, intentions to stay, leave and return.

Results

Of the 3449 articles identified through database searching and citation tracking, we included 12 reviews. There was a general lack of policy evaluations in some fields and low geographical spread beyond Australia and the US. While stronger evidence exists for interventions such as professional development and fostering supportive environments, mixed findings were reported on financial incentives and limited formal evaluations were found for some intervention types, and professional groups.

Conclusion

This overview of research underscores the need for more research evaluating interventions to support the general practice workforce, particularly across wider international settings.
Breaking the Growth Barrier: Stunting Among Afghan Children (6–59 Months) – Insights from the 2023 UNICEF MICS Survey
Authors: Ashor Mokhtar , Haque MD. Sajid Sultan , Baig Shagufta
Published: January 2025

Stunting has emerged as a significant health problem in South Asia. Afghanistan was hit the hardest with the highest prevalence of stunting in 2018 in the region. With the recent education ban for women and girls, Afghanistan has become prone to even worse satiation. Additionally, with respect to the country’s social and economic profile after the COVID-19 pandemic, the country and its population, specifically women and children, faced challenges in receiving essential living services. The objective of this study was to determine the current prevalence of stunting and the factors that are significantly associated with this disease among children.

The study uses the MICS nationally representative dataset in which the survey was conducted from 2022--2023 in Afghanistan by UNICEF. The results revealed a high prevalence rate of stunting among children aged 6--59 months (48%), and several factors (mother and caregiver education, household wealth, children’s age and infectious diseases) were associated with stunted children in the country. The major part of the country in western Afghanistan has more children suffering from stunting than the other parts of the country do.

Our findings highlight the importance of mothers’ education in preventing their children from stunting, and our research recommends that the government focus on interventions in the community to increase awareness and make nutritional services available to people in hard-to-reach areas of the country.
Within-country heterogeneity in patterns of social contact relevant for tuberculosis infection transmission, prevention, and care
Authors: LeGrand Kate E. , Edwards Anita , Mohlamonyane Mbali , Dayi Njabulo , Olivier Stephen , Gareta Dickman , Wood Robin , Grant Alison D. , White Richard G. , Middelkoop Keren , Khan Palwasha , McCreesh Nicky
Published: January 2025

Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) transmission is driven by variable social, environmental, and biological factors, including the number and duration of indoor contacts. Social contact data can provide information on potential transmission patterns, but is underutilised outside the field of mathematical modelling. We explore three contexts where contact data can provide valuable insights: 1) household contact tracing; 2) infection prevention and control measures (IPC) in congregate settings; and 3) contamination in cluster randomised trials (CRTs).

A social contact survey was conducted in three communities with comparable population sizes in South Africa: an urban township and peri-urban and rural clinic catchment areas. Participants reported congregate settings visited over 24-hours, visit durations, and estimated numbers of people present. To correspond with the three contexts, we estimated the proportion of contact hours occurring 1) within the home; 2) in congregate settings outside the home; and 3) outside the participants’ communities.

Participants reported a mean of 27.0 (rural), 55.2 (peri-urban), and 73.0 (urban) contact hours. The proportion within the home was similar among rural and peri-urban participants (76.8% and 71.7%), compared to urban (48.6%). Congregate settings visited varied; urban participants spent the most contact hours in retail/office settings (19.9%), peri-urban participants in community-service buildings (20.4%), and rural participants in other peoples’ homes (25.5%). Urban participants reported the highest proportion of contact outside the community (67.0%) compared to rural (38.8%) and peri-urban (21.5%) participants.

The heterogeneity in contact patterns has implications for TB interventions. Household contact tracing may be most effective in the rural community where household contact was highest. The diverse range of congregate settings visited suggests that prioritising IPC measures in these locations may enhance their overall efficacy. Considering contact patterns when designing clusters may reduce contamination risk in CRTs. Tailored interventions, informed by local contexts, are essential to reduce TB burden.
Influence of neural network bursts on functional development
Authors: Ramstad Ola Huse , Sandvig Axel , Nichele Stefano , Sandvig Ioanna
Published: January 2025

1

Network bursts or synchronized burst events are a typical activity seen in most in vitro neural networks. Network bursts arise early in development and as networks mature, activity becomes dominated by bursts propagating across the entirety of the network. The reason for this developmental plateau in vitro is unknown, but to bypass it would confer a significant advantage in the use of in vitro networks for computation. As most neurons in a network participate in network bursts, burst onset supersedes any ongoing activity thereby placing a limit on short term computations equal to the recovery period between bursts. By assessing 521 multielectrode array recordings from day 4-39 in vitro we find that network bursts influence the connectivity, but this change is only weakly associated with the origin of the network bursts. The impacts of bursts on functional integration and segregation in neural networks are discussed along with approaches to mitigate the development and propagation of network bursts in vitro. Additionally, we hypothesize that burst initiation zones or pacemakers are viable targets for stimulation for computation in the context of control and reservoir computing.
Weak evidence for heritable changes in response to selection by aphids inArabidopsisaccessions
Authors: Schmid Marc W. , Kropivšek Klara , Wuest Samuel E. , Schmid Bernhard , Grossniklaus Ueli
Published: January 2025

In plants, transgenerational inheritance of certain epialleles has been observed but experimental evidence for selection of epigenetic variation independent of genetic variation is scarce. We extended an experiment simulating selection in response to herbivory inArabidopsis thalianato assess a potential contribution of epigenetic variation to the selected phenotypes within three accessions. To minimize maternal effects, we grew offspring from replicate populations and their ancestors for two generations in a common environment and assessed the phenotypes in the second generation. We found weak evidence for the selection of epigenetic variation: bolting time differed significantly in one accession. Significant differences between populations and maternal lines suggested random residual or novel genetic and/or epigenetic variation. Our results are in conflict with those of a recent study reporting that environment-induced heritable variation is common inArabidopsis. Reanalyzing the data from that study showed that the reported findings resulted from a mix-up of accessions and thus reflected genetic rather than epigenetic variation between accessions. To avoid future misinterpretations of studies investigating epigenetic inheritance, we provide guidelines to design experiments that differentiate between epigenetic and genetic variation and distinguish standing variation fromde novovariation acquired during an experiment.
Nose-to-Brain Healing: Hypoxia-Preconditioned Mesenchymal Stem Cells Prompt Recovery in Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Rats
Authors: Serrenho Inês , Carvalho Alexandre M. , Caramelo Inês , Araújo Beatriz , Cardoso Carla M.P. , Manadas Bruno , Baltazar Graça
Published: January 2025

Neonatal HIE poses a significant risk factor for neurodevelopment impairment. Therapeutic hypothermia, the current standard of care for this condition, has several constraints and reduced effectivity, especially in more severe cases. Thus, it is necessary to explore novel therapeutics, like MSCs. Although previous studies report that administration of MSCs (from different sources) prompted the recovery of HIE-lesioned animals, high doses are currently used. First, this study compared the efficacy of IN versus IV administration of 50,000 UC-MSCs in a rat model of neonatal HI brain injury. For this cell dose, only IN-UC-MSC therapy reduced infarct volume, an effect accompanied by improvements of motor skills and recognition memory. Also, IN-UC-MSC administration restored myelination in the corpus callosum and mitigated glial reactivity more effectively than IV administration. In a second part of the study, to potentiate the effect of UC-MSCs administration, postnatal rats that underwent HI injury received 25,000 hypoxia-preconditioned UC-MSCs or its secretome two days later, via IN route. The administration of a low-dose of hypoxia-preconditioned UC-MSCs was sufficient to induce neurological recovery and modulation of glial response. Moreover, the administration of the secretome of these cells was enough to induce the same extent of recovery. These findings support the higher potential of IN-UC-MSC administration, compared to IV administration, while enhancing our understanding of hypoxia-preconditioning and the role of the MSC’s secretome in driving a positive therapeutic response, contributing to the development of more effective and feasible treatments for neonatal HIE.
Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using SudaneseCandida parapsilosis: A Sustainable Approach to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance
Authors: Ibrahim Nesreen A. A. , Saeed Humodi A , Saeed Samar M. , Mohamed Osama , Ibrahim Sabah A. E. , Mohamed Sofia B.
Published: January 2025

Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health threat, particularly in Sudan, where the overuse and misuse of antibiotics have led to the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Traditional methods to address AMR often fail to provide sustainable solutions. Nanotechnology offers promising alternatives, with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) demonstrating broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties. This study aims to develop an eco-friendly synthesis of AgNPs usingCandida parapsilosisisolated from Sudanese soil, leveraging untapped fungal biodiversity to combat AMR.

Results

TheCandida parapsilosis-mediated synthesis of AgNPs was successfully characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), confirming the formation of well-defined nanoparticles. The biosynthesized AgNPs exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative MDR pathogens. Medium concentrations of AgNPs demonstrated optimal activity, with inhibition zones up to 29 mm forPseudomonas aeruginosa(ATCC27853). MIC and MBC assays revealed AgNPs’ bactericidal efficacy, particularly againstEscherichia coliandKlebsiella pneumoniaeat 0.3125 mg/mL. Synergistic effects with antibiotics, such as ceftazidime and colistin, significantly enhanced antimicrobial activity, with fold increases up to 9.46. AgNPs disrupted bacterial membranes, as evidenced by increased permeability and leakage of nucleic acids.

Conclusions

This study presents a novel and sustainable approach to combating AMR by utilizing Sudanese fungal strains for the green synthesis of AgNPs. The findings highlight the potential of AgNPs as an effective antibacterial agent, particularly in combination with conventional antibiotics, to combat multidrug-resistant pathogens. This research not only offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution to AMR but also underscores the significant potential of integrating microbiology and nanotechnology to address global health challenges. The results could pave the way for future applications in both public health and environmental sustainability.
Cisternostomy facilitates clearance of metabolic waste from cerebrospinal fluid in patients with traumatic brain injury
Authors: He Weiwei , Gao Shuai , Du Lulu , Han Tangrui , Yao Di , Wu Hao , Li Qiang , Wang Yonghong , Ge Woo-ping
Published: January 2025

Decompressive craniotomy, a common intervention for traumatic brain injury (TBI), can fail to effectively alleviate patient symptoms. Cisternostomy, reported for cistern drainage in TBI patients, has shown efficacy in reducing intracranial pressure and clearing detritus resulting from brain hemorrhage. However, the mechanisms underlying its effectiveness remain largely unknown. Here, we utilized non-targeted metabolomics to analyze cerebrospinal fluid from cisterns alongside peripheral blood samples from TBI patients undergoing cisternostomy. Through a systematic comparison of the cisternal cerebrospinal fluid and blood plasma metabolomes, we identified multiple blood-enriched metabolites, including betaine, triethanolamine, and proline, that were efficiently cleared during the acute stage of TBI. Notably, two metabolites linked to arginine metabolism and the urea cycle, N8-acetylspermidine and N-acetylputrescine, showed significant reductions that correlated with improvements in the Glasgow Coma Scale. Our findings indicate that cisternostomy effectively removes blood-derived substances and aids the recovery of patients with acute-stage TBI.
Dual symmetries of dense three- and two-color QCD and some QCD-like NJL models
Authors: Khunjua T. G. , Klimenko K. G. , Zhokhov R. N.
Published: January 2025

In this paper, the symmetry properties of the phase diagram of dense quark matter composed of u and d quarks with two or three colors has been investigated in the framework of massless (3+1)-dimensional Nambu–Jona-Lasinio (NJL) and QCD models. It turns out that in the presence of baryon μB, isospin μI, chiral μ5, and chiral isospin μI5 chemical potentials the Lagrangians of these models are invariant under the so-called dual transformations. Consequently, the entire NJL model (or QCD) thermodynamic potentials are dually symmetric. In particular, it means that in the total (μB,μI,μ5,μI5)-phase portraits of these models the chiral symmetry-breaking (CSB) and charged pion condensation (PC) phases are arranged dually conjugated (or symmetrical) to each other (in the case of three-color models), whereas in the case of two-color quark matter, these models predict the entire phase structure in which there are dual symmetries between CSB, charged PC, and baryon superfluid phases.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Strangeness
+1
light multiquark baryons
Authors: Malabarba Brenda B. , Khemchandani K. P. , Torres A. Martínez , Nam Seung-il
Published: January 2025

In view of the renewing experimental interest for searching strangeness +1 baryons at J-PARC, we study the existence of light baryon resonances with strangeness +1 generated in the K−(N*/Δ*) system, where N* represents either N*(1535)/N*(1650)/N*(1700), and Δ* corresponds to Δ(1620). The description of the properties of the aforementioned states requires considering the dynamics involved in the coupled pseudoscalar-baryon (PB) and vector-baryon (VB) systems with strangeness S=0 in the s wave. For the purpose of our current study, we consider the PB and VB channels to which the mentioned N* and Δ* resonances couple and solve the Faddeev equations for the coupled channel system K-PB, K-VB, with all interactions being in the s wave. Despite some strong attraction present in two of the subsystems, we do not find clear evidence supporting the formation of strangeness +1 states, with spin-parity JP=1/2+, in the energy region 2000–2200 MeV. However, the case of spin-parity JP=3/2+ seems more promising, showing the formation of a resonance with a mass around 2167 MeV, with a width of 90–100 MeV. We suggest that a signal of such a state could be found in processes with final states like KN, K*(892)N.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Voluntary cybersecurity risk disclosures and firms’ characteristics: the moderating role of the knowledge-intensive industry
Authors: Singh Harmandeep
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study examines voluntary cybersecurity risk disclosures (VCRD) by listed Indian companies. It also investigates how it relates to firm-specific characteristics such as size, leverage, profitability, liquidity, beta, market growth and industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The extent of VCRD was measured by assessing the cumulative occurrence of cybersecurity risk keywords in the annual report of 100 listed Indian non-financial companies. Keyword extraction and occurrence counts were performed using Python software. A multiple regression analysis was applied to predict the characteristics of VCRD.

Findings

The results showed that the theoretical frameworks underpinned by agency and signalling theories continued to provide a valid explanation of VCRD by Indian companies. Specifically, the findings emphasized the importance of firm size, leverage, and beta as significant VCRD determinants. Additionally, the study found that knowledge-intensive industries had a favourable impact on the extent of VCRD.

Research limitations/implications

This study is relevant because it informs company management, regulators and investors about the nature and characteristics of companies that satisfy stakeholder demands to prevent cyber breaches.

Originality/value

Understanding disclosure characteristics is crucial from policy and regulatory perspectives. Studies on cybersecurity disclosures are related to developed economies such as the United States of America and Canada. This is the first study to explore this issue in a developing nation, in general, and in India, in particular, where cybersecurity risk disclosure has yet to be recognized.
Perceived effects of Brexit and the COVID-19 epidemic on the UK lamb value chain: a qualitative interview-based study
Authors: Lindsey Gael , O'Brien Gerard , Clark Beth
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The study aims to investigate how stakeholders in the UK farm-to-retail lamb value chain fared in the wake of Britain’s formal exit from the European Union, along with the worldwide COVID-19 epidemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Eight interviews were conducted with members of three separate stakeholder groups within the UK lamb value chain (farmers, meat processors and retail buyers) to ascertain the benefits and challenges faced. Interviews were transcribed and thematically coded, revealing three key “themes”: economic consequences, supply chain impacts and policy changes.

Findings

Farmers were positively affected by an increase in the lamb sale price, but meat processors and retail buyers were more negatively affected by changes to the export process (increased paperwork, bureaucracy challenges and border control checks) and labour shortages. All three groups complained of a perceived lack of support from Government, and of a sense of uncertainty in relation to the new UK Agricultural Policy and future international trade deals.

Research limitations/implications

The study relates to a limited time-envelope (November 2021–March 2022), and interview sample (2–3 members of each group). Follow-up research will be required to ascertain whether these findings prevail across the UK lamb value chain, and to help inform Government with a view to protecting vulnerable stakeholders in the sector and securing British lamb for consumers.

Originality/value

The research provides novel insights into the UK lamb value chain at a time of market uncertainty.
Revealing the intellectual foundations of healthcare supply chain risk: a bibliometric mapping and research agenda
Authors: Yun Gawon , An Jiyoon
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Supply chain risks and disruptions pose a significant threat to the healthcare industry. This paper aims to synthesize the research streams in the intersection of healthcare supply chain management and risk management to identify the research gaps and future research directions.

Design/methodology/approach

We collected 205 papers published between 2006 and 2023 for the bibliometric analysis for the keyword co-occurrence and co-citation analysis, generating backward- and forward-looking perspectives on the scholarship in healthcare supply chain risk management (HSCRM).

Findings

This study finds a growing scholarly interest in HSCRM. Using bibliometric tools and mapping, this study presents the overall research trends in HSCRM literature and identifies seven research, namely, clusters, cost analysis, allocation, performance management, patient safety, quality, risk assessment and logistics and four research themes, namely, resilience, risk management strategy, healthcare supply chain disruption and data analytics, through the keyword co-occurrence and co-citation analyses. A future research agenda is provided based on these clusters for further investigation in this field.

Originality/value

This study conducted bibliometric analysis to identify clusters and associated themes for insights for further research. This approach helps advance the scholarship and proactively apply the implications in practice beyond the reactive strategy to risk management in healthcare supply chain management.
Toxic workplaces, tarnished outcomes: understanding the effects of bullying on job outcomes
Authors: Iqbal Junaid , Parray Zahoor Ahmad , Bharadwaj Shubhangi
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study examines the impact of workplace bullying on workers’ innovative behavior, organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and affective commitment while taking burnout into account as a potential mediator.

Design/methodology/approach

We hypothesize that workplace bullying will have a detrimental effect on employees’ capacity for innovative behavior and OCB, as well as impair their affective commitment to the company, based on the Conservation of Resource theory. We used cluster sampling to gather data from 249 bank employees, using structural equation modeling to evaluate our assumptions.

Findings

According to our research, there is a strong negative correlation between workplace bullying and innovative behavior, OCB and a reduction in affective commitment. Additionally, burnout was found to be a key mediator between these outcomes and workplace bullying, indicating a critical role for burnout in spreading the negative impacts of bullying on employees’ attitudes and behaviors.

Originality/value

The results of this study show how bullying at work harms employees’ innovative behavior, OCB and affective commitment, which might eventually lower organizational productivity and performance. It is important to develop a culture of creativity, increase employee engagement and strengthen organizational commitment by building a friendly and courteous work environment. Collectively addressing burnout and workplace bullying will increase employee well-being, job happiness and overall organizational success.
Between diversity and meritocracy: employer and skilled immigrant perspectives from the Canadian context
Authors: Banerjee Rupa , Zhang Tingting , Amarshi Aliya
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to empirically investigate and extend the diversity-meritocracy paradox outlined by Konrad et al. (2021) using skilled immigrants in Canada as a case study. Despite their significance in knowledge-based economies, immigrant voices are often marginalized in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) literature and management research. By focusing on skilled immigrants, who embody both diversity and meritocratic principles, this research addresses this gap. Through semi-structured interviews, we examine whether diversity and meritocracy are perceived as contradictory or complementary for skilled immigrants. Our findings not only contribute to theoretical understanding but also offer practical insights into the complexities of diversity and meritocracy in contemporary organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilizes qualitative, semi-structured, interviews and focus groups to gather data from both employers and skilled immigrants. Thematic analysis, guided by Braun and Clarke (2006), is employed to analyze the data. Participants include skilled immigrants and human resource (HR) professionals/managers. Data are collected through interviews and focus groups conducted between December 2018 and February 2020 in person and via video-conferencing.

Findings

This study unveils a discrepancy in perceptions between employers and skilled immigrants on DEI in Canada’s labor market. While employers prioritize meritocracy, emphasizing Canadian qualifications and experience, immigrants feel undervalued, encountering barriers due to cultural differences. Employers focus on past work experience over credentials, using behavioral interviews and proficiency tests for assessment. However, immigrants often perceive the selection process as opaque, and encounter explicit preferences for Canadian education and experience, which they view as discriminatory. Challenges in onboarding, training and workplace culture further exacerbate their experiences. These findings highlight the nuanced dynamics between meritocracy and diversity, underscoring the need for systemic change.

Originality/value

Despite employers’ claims of valuing diversity, our findings reveal a preference for “Canadian-ness” over immigrants' international expertise, perpetuating systemic barriers. Employers prioritize meritocracy but often conflate it with cultural conformity, hindering immigrant integration. Our analysis underscores the disconnection between organizational rhetoric and practices, urging a reconceptualization of diversity and inclusion policies. To foster truly inclusive workplaces, both surface-level and deep-level diversity must be considered. Policy interventions and enhanced intercultural competence are essential for leveraging the talents of skilled immigrants and promoting equitable employment practices.
Study on friction characteristics of MXene nano-lubricated rolling bearing based on Taguchi method
Authors: Bai Mengsha , Li Junning , Zhao Long , Wang Yuan
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to reveal the significant contribution of MXene on enhancing tribological properties and to obtain the influence mechanism of various factors on friction characteristics of rolling bearing under extreme conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

Under extreme working conditions, the friction characteristics of rolling bearings directly determine the safety and reliability of the transmission system. In this study, MXene is added to the origin lubricating grease (OLG) of rolling bearing to enhance their friction characteristics. Then, the effects of inner ring speed, radial load, grease filling volume and other factors on the friction coefficient of rolling bearing are analyzed using the Taguchi method.

Findings

The results indicate that the ranking of various factors affecting the friction coefficient is: radial load, inner ring speed, MXene additive content in grease and grease filling volume. Especially, the radial load and inner ring speed exhibit extremely significant effects, while the MXene additive content in grease (P < 0.05) has a significant influence on the friction coefficient of rolling bearing. The optimal condition for rolling bearing lubricated with MXene additives lubricating grease (MALG) achieves the lowest friction coefficient of 0.0049 under 1,000 rpm, 9 kN and 35% grease filling volume.

Originality/value

This study could offer reference solution for utilizing MXene nano-lubrication to fufill the demands of precision, heavy-load, or long-lifespan bearings. Furthermore, the lubrication approach has the potential to be expanded into aerospace, defense, and various industrial fields, thereby significantly promoting its practial engineering applications.
Umbrella review of systematic reviews of peer support in substance use settings
Authors: Mahon Daryl
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this umbrella review is to synthesise existing evidence on the effectiveness and implementation of peer support in substance use settings, providing insights into its benefits, challenges and implications for practice and research.

Design/methodology/approach

The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses were used to guide an umbrella review. Three databases were searched: Academic Search Complete, Scopus and the Web of Science, supplemented with bibliography searches. Articles were included if they were peer reviewed in the English language from inception to 2024 and reported on peer support in substance use contexts. The Joanne Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses was used to assess the quality of the included reviews. Findings are reported using a narrative synthesis.

Findings

The search yielded 4,062 articles, of which 8 systematic reviews were included, encompassing 177 (N = 177) primary studies with a combined sample size of 38,659 (N = 38,659) participants. Peer support in substance use settings was linked to improved outcomes, including reduced substance use severity, enhanced treatment engagement and better social supports. Challenges identified included inconsistent training, role definitions and organisational barriers, such as stigmatising attitudes and limited structural support. Most reviews used a narrative synthesis to report results, with no meta-analyses. Critical appraisal categorised the reviews as 25% high quality, 25% moderate quality, 25% low quality and 25% critically low quality. The findings further highlighted the need for clearer implementation strategies, standardised training and recovery-oriented care models to optimise peer support effectiveness. In addition, the role of the randomised control trial as a method for evaluating peer support is considered.

Originality/value

This umbrella review uniquely synthesises evidence from diverse systematic reviews on peer support in substance use settings, highlighting the multidimensional benefits and challenges while addressing critical gaps in implementation strategies and methodological approaches. It offers a novel perspective on optimising peer roles within recovery-oriented care models.
Mental health law in Philippines: health policy issues governing mental health promotion among Filipino older adults with serious mental illnesses
Authors: Aldalaeen Muamar O. , Haddad Rabia H. , Bani Ahmad Talal , Dao-ayen Noreen
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to discuss the mental health in the Philippines and the existing laws and health policies governing mental health care among Filipino older adults with serious mental illnesses.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used health policy research to understand the issues and gaps in the Philippine mental health-care system among older adults. The study used deductive methods (based on testing specific hypotheses) and inductive methods of inquiry (based on the formation of general inferences), which are necessary but insufficient for theory development without retroductive reasoning. The researcher believes that critical realism provides a philosophically grounded theoretical framework that can be used to underpin research into causal mechanisms such as in health policy analysis.

Findings

Mental health is integral to holistic health. The commitment to improve mental health services is highlighted in the recent legislative actions of policymakers. Mental health professionals and experts suggest that failure to address mental health and psycho-social problems in a population will hinder attempts to increase social capital, promote human development and reduce poverty.

Originality/value

A disregard for mental health is still apparent. The norm in the Philippines continues to include a chronic shortage of mental health professionals, an inadequate number of mental health facilities and hospitals, a lack of accessible and equitable mental health-care services and treatment, especially for marginalized sectors, and stigma, discrimination and social exclusion against people with mental health conditions are still very widespread. Some people refuse even to get help and treatment for their mental disorders not because of the high cost of treatment but because of the stigma attached to mental disorders.