bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neuronal autophagy regulates presynaptic neurotransmission by controlling the axonal endoplasmic reticulum
Authors: Kuijpers Marijn , Kochlamazashvili Gaga , Stumpf Alexander , Puchkov Dmytro , Lucht Max Thomas , Krause Eberhard , Schmitz Dietmar , Haucke Volker
Published: July 2020

Information processing in the brain is encoded as electrical impulses in neurons that are relayed from the presynaptic compartment to postsynaptic neurons by regulated neurotransmitter release. Neurons are known to rely on autophagy for the removal of defective proteins or organelles to maintain synaptic neurotransmission and to counteract neurodegeneration. In spite of its importance for neuronal health, the physiological substrates of neuronal autophagy in the absence of proteotoxic challenge have remained largely elusive. We use knockout mice conditionally lacking the essential autophagy protein ATG5 and quantitative proteomics to demonstrate that loss of neuronal autophagy causes the selective accumulation of tubular endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in axons, resulting in increased excitatory neurotransmission and compromised postnatal viabilityin vivo. The gain in excitatory neurotransmission is shown to be a consequence of elevated calcium release from ER stores via ryanodine receptors accumulated in axons and at presynaptic sites. We propose a model in which neuronal autophagy controls axonal ER calcium stores to regulate neurotransmission in healthy neurons and in the brain.
A Sample Covariance-Based Approach For Spatial Binary Data
Authors: Zarmehri Sahar , Hanks Ephraim M. , Lin Lin
Published: July 2020

The field of landscape genetics enables the study of infectious disease dynamics by connecting the landscape features with evolutionary changes. Quantifying genetic correlation across space is helpful in providing insight into the rate of spread of an infectious disease. We investigate two genetic patterns in spatially referenced single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): isolation by distance and isolation by resistance. We model the data using a Generalized Linear Mixed effect Model (GLMM) with spatially referenced random effects and provide a novel approach for estimating parameters in spatial GLMMs. In this approach, we use the links between binary probit models and bivariate normal probabilities to directly compute the model-based covariance function for spatial binary data. Parameter estimation is based on minimizing sum of squared distance between the elements of sample covariance and model-based covariance matrices. We analyze data includingBrucella AbortusSNPs from spatially referenced hosts in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE).
Beta turn propensity and a model polymer scaling exponent identify disordered proteins that phase separate
Authors: Paiz Elisia A. , Allen Jeffre H. , Correia John J. , Fitzkee Nicholas C. , Hough Loren E. , Whitten Steven T.
Published: July 2020

The complex cellular milieu can spontaneously de-mix in a process controlled in part by proteins that are intrinsically disordered (ID). A protein’s propensity to de-mix is thought to be driven by the preference for protein-protein rather than protein-solvent interactions. The hydrodynamic size of monomeric proteins, as quantified by the polymer scaling exponent (v), is driven by a similar balance. We hypothesize that meanv, as predicted by the protein sequence, will be smaller for proteins with a strong propensity to de-mix. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed protein databases containing subsets that are either folded, disordered, or disordered and known to spontaneously phase separate. We find that the phase separating disordered proteins, on average, have lower calculated values ofvcompared to their non-phase separating counterparts. Moreover, these proteins have a higher sequence-predicted propensity for β-turns. Using a simple, surface areabased model, we propose a physical mechanism for this difference: transient β-turn structures reduce the desolvation penalty of forming a protein-rich phase and increase exposure of atoms involved in π/sp2electronic interactions. By this mechanism, β-turns act as energetically favored nucleation points, which may explain the increased propensity for turns in ID regions (IDRs) that are utilized biologically for phase separation. Phase separating IDRs, non-phase separating IDRs, and folded regions could be distinguished by combiningvand β-turn propensity, and we propose a new algorithm, ParSe (partitionsequence), for predicting phase separating protein regions. ParSe is able to accurately identify folded, disordered, and phase-separating protein regions from the primary sequence.
MAPK signaling links the injury response to Wnt-regulated patterning inHydraregeneration
Authors: Tursch Anja , Bartsch Natascha , Holstein Thomas W.
Published: July 2020

Hydrahas a long history as an informative model to study pattern formation and regeneration. Wnt signaling is a critical component ofHydrapatterning that must be activated during regeneration, but it is largely unknown how the injury stimulus ultimately leads to this activation. In a proteomic screen we previously identified mitogen protein kinases (MAPKs) among the earliest injury response factors inHydraregeneration, making them attractive candidates to transmit injury-response signals to the initial steps of patterning, which inHydraincludes Wnt signaling. Our data demonstrate that three MAPKs, p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), are essential to initiate regeneration inHydra. This activation occurs in response to an injury signal, which consists of calcium and reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling. Phosphorylated MAPKs exhibit cross-talk with a mutual antagonism between the ERK1/2 pathway and the stress induced MAPKs. The activation of these MAPK pathways, as well as the induction of apoptosis, occurs in all injuries regardless of the position of the wound. MAPK phosphorylation is required for the transcriptional activation of position independentWnt3andWnt9/10cligands. In summary, our data show that the activation of MAPKs is an essential component of the wound response which transmits the injury signal to induce the transcriptional activation ofWntligands, which are essential for patterning the regenerating tissue. Given the high level of evolutionary conservation of MAPKs and Wnts in the injury response, this likely represents a deeply conserved pathway in animals.
Visual intracortical and transthalamic pathways carry distinct information to cortical areas
Authors: Blot Antonin , Roth Morgane M , Gasler Ioana T , Javadzadeh Mitra , Imhof Fabia , Hofer Sonja B
Published: July 2020

Sensory processing involves information flow between neocortical areas, assumed to rely on direct intracortical projections. However, cortical areas may also communicate indirectly via higher-order nuclei in the thalamus, such as the pulvinar or lateral posterior nucleus (LP) in the visual system. The fine-scale organization and function of these cortico-thalamo-cortical pathways remains unclear. We find that responses of mouse LP neurons projecting to higher visual areas likely derive from feedforward input from primary visual cortex (V1) combined with information from many cortical and subcortical areas, including superior colliculus. Signals from LP projections to different higher visual areas are tuned to specific features of visual stimuli and their locomotor context, distinct from the signals carried by direct intracortical projections from V1. Thus, visual transthalamic pathways are functionally specific to their cortical target, different from feedforward cortical pathways and combine information from multiple brain regions, linking sensory signals with behavioral context.
Dual mechanism estrogen receptor inhibitors
Authors: Min Jian , Nwachukwu Jerome C. , Srinivasan Sathish , Rangarajan Erumbi S. , Nettles Charles C. , Guillen Valeria Sanabria , Ziegler Yvonne , Yan Shunchao , Carlson Kathryn E. , Hou Yingwei , Kim Sung Hoon , Novick Scott , Pascal Bruce D. , Houtman Rene , Griffin Patrick R. , Izard Tina , Katzenellenbogen Benita S. , Katzenellenbogen John A. , Nettles Kendall W.
Published: July 2020

Efforts to improve estrogen receptor-a (ER)-targeted therapies in breast cancer have relied upon a single mechanism, with ligands having a single side chain on the ligand core that extends outward to determine antagonism of breast cancer growth. Here, we describe inhibitors with two ER-targeting moieties, one of which uses an alternate structural mechanism to generate full antagonism, freeing the side chain to independently determine other critical properties of the ligands. By combining two molecular targeting approaches into a single ER ligand, we have generated antiestrogens that function through new mechanisms and structural paradigms to achieve antagonism. These dual-mechanism ER inhibitors (DMERIs) cause alternate, non-canonical structural perturbations of the receptor ligand-binding domain (LBD) to drive antagonism of proliferation in ER-positive breast cancer cells and in allele-specific resistance models. Solution structural and coregulator peptide binding analyses with DMERIs highlight marked differences from current standard-of-care, single-mechanism antiestrogens. These findings uncover an enhanced flexibility of the ER LBD through which it can access non-consensus conformational modes in response to DMERI binding, broadly and effectively suppressing ER activity.

Significance Statement

To address the unmet clinical need for effectively suppressing estrogen receptor (ER) activity with both de novo resistance and in advanced ER-positive breast cancers that are resistant to standard-of-care antiestrogens, we have developed dual-mechanism ER inhibitors (DMERIs) that employ two distinct ER targeting moieties. These DMERI elicited non-canonical structural perturbations of the receptor ligand-binding domain and stabilized multiple antagonist sub-states within the dimer to generate highly efficacious antagonism of proliferation in ER-positive breast cancer cells and in allele-specific resistance models. This work reveals new conformational modes by which the activity of ER can be effectively suppressed to block breast cancer proliferation.
Proteomic profiling of mitochondrial-derived vesicles in brain reveals enrichment of respiratory complex sub-assemblies and small TIM chaperones
Authors: Roberts Rosalind F. , Bayne Andrew N. , Goiran Thomas , Lévesque Dominique , Boisvert François-Michel , Trempe Jean-François , Fon Edward A.
Published: July 2020

The generation of mitochondrial-derived vesicles (MDVs) is implicated in a plethora of vital cell functions, from mitochondrial quality control to peroxisomal biogenesis. The discovery of distinct subtypes of MDVs has revealed the selective inclusion of mitochondrial cargo in response to varying stimuli. However, the true scope and variety of MDVs is currently unclear, and unbiased approaches have yet to be used to understand their biology. Furthermore, as mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases, it is essential to understand MDV pathways in the nervous system. To address this, we sought to identify the cargo in brain MDVs. We used an in vitro budding assay and proteomic approach to identify proteins selectively enriched in MDVs. 72 proteins were identified as MDV enriched, of which 31% were OXPHOS proteins. Interestingly, the OXPHOS proteins localized to specific modules of the respiratory complexes, hinting at the inclusion of sub-assemblies in MDVs. Small TIM chaperones were also highly enriched in MDVs, linking mitochondrial chaperone-mediated protein transport to MDV formation. As the two Parkinson’s disease genes PINK1 and Parkin have been previously implicated in MDV biogenesis in response to oxidative stress, we compared the MDV proteomes from the brains of wild-type mice with those of PINK1-/-and Parkin-/-mice. No significant difference was found, suggesting that PINK1- and Parkin-dependent MDVs make up a small proportion of all MDVs in the brain. Our findings demonstrate a previously uncovered landscape of MDV complexity and provide a foundation from which to discover further novel MDV functions.
Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors and COVID-19 infection or hospitalization: a cohort study
Authors: Dublin Sascha , Walker Rod , Floyd James S. , Shortreed Susan M. , Fuller Sharon , Albertson-Junkans Ladia , Harrington Laura B. , Greenwood-Hickman Mikael Anne , Green Beverly B. , Psaty Bruce M.
Published: July 2020

There are plausible mechanisms by which angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) may increase the risk of COVID-19 infection or affect disease severity. To examine the association between these medications and COVID-19 infection or hospitalization, we conducted a retrospective cohort study within a US integrated healthcare system. Among people aged ≥18 years enrolled in the health plan for at least 4 months as of 2/29/2020, current ACEI and ARB use was identified from pharmacy data, and the estimated daily dose was calculated and standardized across medications. COVID-19 infections were identified through 6/14/2020 from laboratory and hospitalization data. We used logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals. Among 322,044 individuals, 720 developed COVID-19 infection. Among people using ACEI/ARBs, 183/56,105 developed COVID-19 (3.3 per 1000 individuals) compared with 537/265,939 without ACEI/ARB use (2.0 per 1000), yielding an adjusted OR of 0.94 (95% CI 0.75-1.16). For use of < 1 defined daily dose vs. nonuse, the adjusted OR for infection was 0.89 (95% CI 0.62-1.26); for 1 to < 2 defined daily doses, 0.97 (95% CI 0.71-1.31); and for ≥2 defined daily doses, 0.94 (95% CI 0.72-1.23). The OR was similar for ACEIs and ARBs and in subgroups by age and sex. 29% of people with COVID-19 infection were hospitalized; the adjusted OR for hospitalization in relation to ACEI/ARB use was 0.92 (95% CI 0.54-1.57), and there was no association with dose. These findings support current recommendations that individuals on these medications continue their use.
Multi-Omics integration analysis of respiratory specimen characterizes baseline molecular determinants associated with COVID-19 diagnosis
Authors: Maras Jaswinder Singh , Sharma Shvetank , Bhat Adil , aggrawal Reshu , Gupta Ekta , Sarin Shiv K
Published: July 2020

Rapid diagnosis and precise prognostication of SARS-CoV-2 infection remains a major challenge. A multi-omic approach was adopted, and in the discovery phase, global proteome/metaproteome/metabolome were analysed in the respiratory specimens of SARS-CoV-2 positive [n=20], negative [n=20], and H1N1 positive [n=5] cases. We identified MX1 (MX Dynamin Like GTPase 1) and WARS (Tryptophan--tRNA ligase) as clues to viral diagnosis and validated in 200 SARS-CoV-2 suspects. MX1 >30pg/ml and WARS >25ng/ml segregated virus positives patients [(AUC=94%CI(0.91-0.97)]. Distinct increase in SARS-CoV-2 induced immune activation, metabolic reprograming and a decrease in oxygen transport, wound healing, fluid regulation, vitamin and steroid metabolism was seen (p<0.05). Multi-omics profiling correlated with viraemia and segregated asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. Additionally, the multiomics approach identified increased respiratory pathogens [Burkholderiales, Klebsiella pneumonia] and decreased lactobacillus salivarius (FDR<0.05, p<0.05) in COVID-19 specimens.

Conclusion

Novel proteins [MX1 and WARS] can rapidly and reliably diagnose SARS-CoV-2 infection and identify asymptomatic and mild disease.
Characterisation of alcohol polygenic risk scores in the context of mental health outcomes: Within-individual and intergenerational analyses in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children
Authors: Easey Kayleigh E , Wootton Robyn E , Sallis Hannah M , Haan Elis , Schellhas Laura , Munafò Marcus R , Timpson Nicholas , Zuccolo Luisa
Published: July 2020

Background

Heavy alcohol consumption often co-occurs with mental health problems; this could be due to confounding, shared biological mechanisms, or causal effects. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) for alcohol use can be used to explore this association at critical life stages.

Design

We characterised a PRS reliably associated with patterns of adult alcohol consumption by 1) validating whether it predicts own alcohol use at different life-stages (pregnancy, adolescence) of interest for mental health impact. Additionally, we explored associations of alcohol PRS on mental health phenotypes 2) within-individuals (using own alcohol PRS on own phenotypes) and 3) intergenerationally (using maternal alcohol PRS on offspring phenotypes). We used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) (n=960 to 7841). Additional substance abuse behaviours and mental health/behavioural outcomes were investigated (alcohol phenotypesn=22; health phenotypesn=91).Findings:Maternal alcohol PRS was associated with consumption during pregnancy (strongest signal: alcohol frequency at 18 weeks’ gestation:β=0.041, 95% CI=1.02 to 1.8),p=1.01×10−5, adjusted R2=1.16%), offspring alcohol PRS did not predict offspring alcohol consumption. We found evidence for an association of maternal alcohol PRS with own perinatal depression (OR=1.10, 95% CI=0.02 to 0.06,p=0.02) and decreased offspring intellectual ability (β=−0.209, 95% CI −0.38 to 0.04,p=0.016).Conclusions: These alcohol PRS are a valid proxy for maternal alcohol use in pregnancy. Offspring alcohol PRS was not associated with drinking in adolescence.

Consistently with results from different study designs, we found evidence that maternal alcohol PRS are associated with both prenatal depression and decreased offspring intellectual ability.
Can antiepileptic drug efficacy be studied from electronic health records? A review of current approaches
Authors: Decker Barbara M , Hill Chloé E , Baldassano Steven N , Khankhanian Pouya
Published: July 2020

As automated data extraction and natural language processing (NLP) are rapidly evolving, applicability to harness large data to improve healthcare delivery is garnering great interest. Assessing antiepileptic drug (AED) efficacy remains a barrier to improving epilepsy care. In this review, we examined automatic electronic health record (EHR) extraction methodologies pertinent to epilepsy examining AED efficacy. We also reviewed more generalizable NLP pipelines to extract other critical patient variables.

Our review found varying reports of performance measures. Whereas automated data extraction pipelines are a crucial advancement, this review calls attention to standardizing NLP methodology and accuracy reporting for greater generalizability. Moreover, the use of crowdsourcing competitions to spur innovative NLP pipelines would further advance this field.

HIGHLIGHTS

Automated data extraction is rapidly evolving and can be harnessed to efficiently mine the electronic health record.

Natural language processing (NLP) of unstructured text improves data extraction accuracy when added to ICD coding and structured fields.

We review these techniques specific to epilepsy and highlight strengths as well as areas of further improvement.
Application of Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) in Adult Intensive Care Units: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Alqahtani Abdullah S. , Evley Rachel
Published: July 2020

Purpose

To achieve a positive safety culture, staff perception of safety must be frequently measured. There are several active and reactive methods to use to measure safety cultures such as near-miss occurrence, accidental data collection, measuring behavior, self-report method, and safety questionnaires. The safety attitudes questionnaire (SAQ) tool was used to measure safety culture. This tool is widely used in literature and among researchers and has been used and validated in middle eastern cultures. In addition, it has a validated Arabic version.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted using anonymous and random sampling. I surveyed all ICU staff working in all the adult ICUs in two of the major hospitals in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. The short version of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire was used to assess participants’ attitudes towards safety culture. The study involved all healthcare providers working in Adult ICU.

Results

The study occurred over a three-week period in March 2019. A total of 82 completed questionnaires were returned which represented a response rate of 82%. On average, the domain that scored the highest number of positive responses was Job satisfaction with 68.5%, followed by teamwork climate 67.8%, then working conditions 60.1%, 57.1% safety climate, then preparation of management with 53.4%, and finally 46% in Stress recognition. A statistically significant difference was found between the mean SAQ score and the educational level of the participants. Participants with bachelor’s degrees scored a mean of 50.17 compared to participants hold diploma degrees who scored a mean of 68.81 (P=0.02). Moreover, a significant difference was found between the mean SAQ score and participants’ specialties. Attending/Staff Physician mean score was 36.40, Nurse Manager/Charge Nurse scored 39.78, and Respiratory therapist mean score was 47.88, compared to mean score of 62.27 for Registered Nurse, and Respiratory supervisor 67.0 (P=0.04). In addition, 79.2% of the respondents did not report any incidents in the last 12 months.

Conclusions

The result of the study shows an unsatisfying level of safety culture among healthcare staff in ICUs. The importance of this study is to establish a baseline for safety climate in these hospitals and specifically ICUs. In addition, by exposing the system weaknesses it helps the administration to strengthen and improve patient care. By decreasing workload and job stress, studies show they have a positive association with increasing job performance.
Examining the association between family status and depression in the UK Biobank
Authors: Giannelis Alexandros , Palmos Alish , Hagenaars Saskia P. , Breen Gerome , Lewis Cathryn M. , Mutz Julian
Published: July 2020

Background

We examined associations between family status (living with a spouse or partner, number of children) and lifetime depression.

Methods

We used data from the UK Biobank, a large prospective study of middle-aged and older adults. Lifetime depression was assessed as part of a follow-up mental health questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to estimate associations between family status and depression. We included extensive adjustment for social, demographic and other potential confounders, including depression polygenic risk scores.

Results

52,078 participants (mean age=63.6, SD=7.6; 52% female) were included in our analyses. Living with a spouse or partner was associated with substantially lower odds of lifetime depression (OR=0.67, 95%CI 0.62-0.74). Compared to individuals without children, we found higher odds of lifetime depression for parents of one child (OR=1.17, 95%CI 1.07-1.27), and parents of three (OR=1.11, 95%CI 1.03-1.20) or four or more children (OR=1.27, 95%CI 1.14-1.42). Amongst those not cohabiting, having any number of children was associated with higher odds of lifetime depression. Our results were consistent across age groups, the sexes, neighbourhood deprivation and genetic risk for depression. Exploratory Mendelian randomisation analyses suggested a causal effect of number of children on lifetime depression.

Limitations

Our data did not allow distinguishing between non-marital and marital cohabitation. Results may not generalise to all ages or populations.

Conclusions

Living with a spouse or partner was strongly associated with reduced odds of depression. Having one or three or more children was associated with increased odds of depression, especially in individuals not living with a spouse or partner.
Why we like Google Scholar: postgraduate students' perceptions of factors influencing their intention to use
Authors: Alotaibi Faiz , Johnson Frances
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study examines the use of the search engine, Google Scholar, from the perspective of a specific study group, that of international postgraduate students. Based on the theory of task perceived performance and effort expectancy influencing intention to use, further factors of system, individual, social and organisational, in the postgraduate student context are explored.

Design/methodology/approach

The questionnaire for the measurement of 11 factors was developed from related studies of e-library use, and data were collected from 200 international postgraduate students studying in the UK. Analysis using confirmatory factor analysis established the contextual influencing factors, and structural equation modeling examined the predicted model.

Findings

The findings confirmed the influence of the task-based factors of performance and expectancy and revealed that these were based on the perception of the visibility, accessibility and relevance of the system, and on perceived self-efficacy. The perception postgraduates held of themselves as competent users of Google Scholar was further borne out in the participants' own words when asked for the reason for their preference.

Originality/value

The approach taken enables research into use of search tools to go beyond ease of use as a main driver and to explore the relationship held among the internal and external influences of use. Recommendations for further user research are suggested as well as possible impact on the university library provision and support of services for students.
Overeducation, persistence and unemployment in Spanish labour market
Authors: Sánchez-Sánchez Nuria , Fernández Puente Adolfo Cosme
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The phenomenon of overeducation and the magnitude and persistence of the imbalance impact are analysed for the Spanish labour market from 2006 to 2013.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors present random-effects probit estimations comparing individuals and their short-term and long-term labour mismatches.

Findings

The results support the existence of long-term persistence (status in the previous year) and short-term persistence (status at the beginning of the observed period) in overeducation. Precariousness in the labour market, measured by temporality or by the strong destruction of employment, could force individuals to choose a job below their qualification. Additionally, the phenomenon of overeducation is shown to have increased in the period 2010–2013 in relation to the period 2006–2009 independently of the region considered, though those regions with higher unemployment rates display greater imbalances.

Research limitations/implications

Although the results come from two different samples, it is possible to conclude that overeducation is a phenomenon that tends to perpetuate over time in Spain.

Practical implications

One of the issues of greatest interest that is crucial to assess the relevance of the spreading of overeducation is whether overeducation can be considered as a temporal mismatch, in which case the seriousness of the problem would not be so important, or, on the contrary, as a persistent one, in which case, governments should take it into account in their education reform programmes.

Originality/value

Overeducation persistence has been studied in countries such as the United States, Canada, Switzerland or Germany; however, in Spain, there are hardly any studies. Spanish labour market has certain specificities that make the analyses relevant: the high unemployment rates and high elasticity of employment with respect to the economic cycles. Under these circumstances, workers could opt for more stable positions that require a lower qualification than the one they have. This option could be even more convenient during crisis. Additionally, the article includes a disaggregated analysis by Spanish regions. The differences in the unemployment rates within and between regions are significant (some of them had at the beginning of the crisis an unemployment rate close to 7%, while in others it exceeded 12%) which allows the authors to study the phenomenon in different contexts.
Human-wildlife interactions for tourism: a systematic review
Authors: Dou Xueting , Day Jonathon
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to synthesize the key findings of prior research on the topic of human-wildlife interactions (HWI) in natural places for tourism.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology of systematic review was used to search for, appraise and analyze the relevant research evidence. A total of 47 English-language academic journal articles, published between 2003 and 2018, with free online access to full texts in the database of Hospitality and Tourism Complete have been reviewed. Thematic analysis was adopted to synthesize the textual data.

Findings

The reviewed articles cover a wide geographical spread, diverse wildlife species and interaction types, and various research focuses including ecological impacts, human dimensions and management issues of wildlife tourism. The interactions between wildlife and human systems in the context of tourism constitute a complicated social-ecological system, in which both the humans and animals can be affected positively and negatively. Management and scientific research provide the nexus between the ecological and human dimensions of wildlife tourism. While opportunities for sustainable development abound, challenges are not to be neglected.

Originality/value

Due to the complexity of wildlife encounters for tourist purposes, the extant literature indicates a diverse and fragmented view from which integrated implications are difficult to obtain. This paper presents the first overarching review in English of the literature on human-wildlife interactions for tourism and provides a big picture understanding of what has been and what is needed to be done in terms of both wildlife tourism research and practices.
Social capital, knowledge sharing, work meaningfulness and creativity: evidence from the Pakistani pharmaceutical industry
Authors: Bhatti Sabeen Hussain , Vorobyev Dmitriy , Zakariya Ramsha , Christofi Michael
Published: July 2020

Purpose

As an integral part of intellectual capital (IC), social capital (SC) has been studied as an asset crucial to social relationships among individuals and groups of individuals, which in turn have a significant impact on organizational performance outcomes. This study investigates the impact of organizational social capital (OSC) on employee creativity through the mediation role of knowledge sharing (KS) and moderation of work meaningfulness (WM).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors base the analysis on employee-level data gathered via a cross-sectional survey designed for this study. The authors surveyed 217 employees of the pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan. The authors run a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and use structural equation modeling (SEM) and Hayes method to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The authors find that OSC positively affects employees’ willingness to share their knowledge with colleagues, which in turn has a positive effect on employee creativity (EC). The results also show that the relationship between social capital and knowledge sharing is moderated by work meaningfulness.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the IC in general and the SC literature in particular, by providing empirical evidence that shows how creativity could be a focal and pivotal performance outcome of organizational social capital through the moderated mediation roles of work meaningfulness and knowledge sharing.

Originality/value

The authors adopt the concept of SC from the organizational level to the individual level, examining how an individual's perception of organizational capital influences his or her creative behavior and exploring the role of KS and job meaningfulness (JM) in this relationship.
After the revolution – new chances for service research in a digital world
Authors: Kunz Werner H. , Walsh Gianfranco
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Digital media has revolutionized societies and changed forever how we do business. This paper aims to determine the current scope of service research in the area of digital media, identifying research gaps and introducing new research contributions to complement our knowledge of digital media.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on all service articles of the SERVSIG literature alert system from 2016 to 2019, a subset of digital media articles was identified and latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) text-mining methods were used on the abstracts and titles of the articles for topic modeling of the field. Dominant research topics were identified and depicted in a two-dimensional space.

Findings

The study identifies eight distinct topic areas of digital media in service research and shows their relationship to each other in a two-dimensional space. A clear tendency in service research towards taking primarily a customer (versus business perspective) of digital media can be observed. Further, for some journals, a trend towards specialization on particular topics could be detected.

Research limitations/implications

This article advocates for more digital media research with a stronger business perspective. Further, although particular new technologies are exciting to discuss, it seems that the importance of customer relationship topics in digital media is not reflected in the current digital media research as needed.

Originality/value

The article uses a quantitative–explorative approach to determine the current state of research in regard to digital media in services. The authors introduce 11 new studies that aim to close the knowledge gap in critical areas of digital media.
Connecting formal and informal workplace learning with teacher proactivity: a proactive motivation perspective
Authors: Huang Xianhan , Lai Chun
Published: July 2020

Purpose

It is vital in today’s society that teachers are proactively involved in educational change. Given that proactive motivation is a critical driver of proactivity, this study aims to investigate how teachers’ formal and informal workplace-learning experiences were connected with their proactive motivations to implement educational change.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a qualitative case study approach to describe the relationships between teachers’ formal and informal learning activities and their different proactive motivations. The authors collected data from 17 teachers via individual interviews and open-ended questionnaire and performed analyses using a continuous inductive and deductive coding process.

Findings

The authors found that informal teacher learning can trigger three types of proactive motivation, whereas formal teacher learning is mainly connected with the can do and energised to motivations. The authors also found that formal and informal learning complement and compete with each other in shaping the can do motivation. Moreover, the authors found that informal learning played the dominant role in the reason to motivation, whereas informal and formal learning were separately connected to the energised to motivation.

Practical implications

These findings indicate that greater attention must be paid to teachers’ informal workplace-learning experiences. Specifically, teachers’ informal learning experiences should be actively integrated into their formal workplace training to enhance their proactive motivation to educational change. Moreover, teachers’ learning preferences and teaching experience should be considered in the design of teacher-training programmes.

Originality/value

Based on the proactive motivation model of Parker et al. (2010), the authors have uncovered the mechanisms of workplace learning that drive teacher proactivity. The authors have examined the relationship between teachers’ formal and informal workplace-learning and proactive teaching. The findings will assist policymakers and administrators to identify effective means of motivating teachers to engage in workplace learning.
Trade policy space and foreign direct investment inflows
Authors: Gnangnon Sena Kimm
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to use a quantitative measure of trade policy space to investigate empirically whether trade policy space influences foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis covers an unbalanced panel data set of 158 countries, over the period 1995–2015 and uses the two-step system generalized methods of moments approach.

Findings

The results suggest that the impact of trade policy space on FDI inflows is positive and increases as countries enjoy greater trade policy space. Furthermore, advanced economies tend to experience a higher positive impact of trade policy space on FDI inflows than less advanced economies.

Research limitations/implications

These findings highlight the relevance of trade policy space for countries’ FDI inflows.

Practical implications

The analysis shows that non-trade related constraints to trade policy could reduce trade policy space and adversely influence FDI inflows, which are critical for countries’ economic growth and development.

Originality/value

To the best of the knowledge, this topic has not been addressed in the literature.
Association between periodontitis and hyperlipidaemia: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Xu Jing , Duan Xiaoqi
Published: July 2020

To date, it has been reported that periodontitis (PD) may be associated with hyperlipidaemia in clinical practice. However, data on this issue are inconsistent and controversial. The purpose of this meta‐analysis was to identify the association between PD and hyperlipidaemia. Here, 21 case‐control and eight cross‐sectional studies on PD and hyperlipidaemia were included in the random‐effects meta‐analysis, involving 2060 patients with PD and 2776 healthy controls (HC). Meta‐analysis showed that serum triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels in the PD group were significantly higher than those in the HC group [TG, weighted mean difference (WMD) = 19.4 mg/dL, 95% confidence interval (CI) 13.3–25.5 mg/dL, P = .000; TC, WMD = 15.4 mg/dL, 95%CI 10.2–20.6 mg/dL, P = .000]. Subgroup analysis stratified by study design validated that PD was associated with higher serum TG and TC levels. In addition, compared with the HC group, serum low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) in patients with PD showed a markedly higher level (WMD = 11.7 mg/dL, 95% CI 8.3–15.0 mg/dL, P = .000), whereas serum high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) in PD group exhibited a significantly lower level (WMD = −4.5 mg/dL, 95%CI −6.4 – −2.7 mg/dL, P = .000). Finally, no significant publication bias was observed and sensitivity analysis also confirmed the stability of our meta‐analyses. In conclusion, the accumulated evidence suggests that PD is indeed associated with hyperlipidaemia in humans. More interventions for lowering lipids or increasing HDL may benefit the patients with PD, which need be further investigated in prospective clinical trials.
Development of a single nucleotide polymorphism array for population genomic studies in four European pine species
Authors: Perry Annika , Wachowiak Witold , Downing Alison , Talbot Richard , Cavers Stephen
Published: July 2020

Pines are some of the most ecologically and economically important tree species in the world, and many have enormous natural distributions or have been extensively planted. However, a lack of rapid genotyping capability is hampering progress in understanding the molecular basis of genetic variation in these species. Here, we deliver an efficient tool for genotyping thousands of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers across the genome that can be applied to genetic studies in pines. Polymorphisms from resequenced candidate genes and transcriptome sequences of P. sylvestris, P. mugo, P. uncinata, P. uliginosa and P. radiata were used to design a 49,829 SNP array (Axiom_PineGAP, Thermo Fisher). Over a third (34.68%) of the unigenes identified from the P. sylvestris transcriptome were represented on the array, which was used to screen samples of four pine species. The conversion rate for the array on all samples was 42% (N = 20,795 SNPs) and was similar for SNPs sourced from resequenced candidate gene and transcriptome sequences. The broad representation of gene ontology terms by unigenes containing converted SNPs reflected their coverage across the full transcriptome. Over a quarter of successfully converted SNPs were polymorphic among all species, and the data were successful in discriminating among the species and some individual populations. The SNP array provides a valuable new tool to advance genetic studies in these species and demonstrates the effectiveness of the technology for rapid genotyping in species with large and complex genomes.
Soil seedbank: Old methods for new challenges in agroecology?
Authors: Mahé Inès , Cordeau Stéphane , Bohan David A. , Derrouch Damien , Dessaint Fabrice , Millot Dominique , Chauvel Bruno
Published: July 2020

The weed soil seedbank is of interest in agroecosystems as a major source of weed infestation in fields and as a reservoir of plant and seed‐feeder diversity. A seedbank is a characteristic of annual plants and has been the focus of numerous studies, as it reflects the past aboveground vegetation and is the reservoir of the future vegetation. Therefore, it potentially can be used to evaluate the past, present and future annual weed communities. The goal of this paper was to provide guidelines to help researchers to do a weed seedbank survey. Through a qualitative review of 60 weed seedbank articles, we investigate why and how the seedbank has been studied in agronomy. It shows that seedbank studies have been performed to address the following four major objectives: (a) the assessment of weed management practices on weed communities; (b) the relationship between seedbank and aboveground vegetation; (c) the study of composition and diversity of seedbank in a given area; and, (d) the quantification of seedbank as a food resource for wildlife. Because the analysis highlighted a wide range of methodologies to estimate the seedbank, we critically reviewed them. We show that the selected methodology strongly affects the seedbank estimate. Nevertheless, in our sample of research articles, the analysis revealed that the choice of the methodology was not always justified in terms of achieving a particular scientific goal, but was often determined by the resources available for the experiment (e.g., workload). While studying the soil seedbank remains of interest for scientists (proved by the amount of recent publications), it is time consuming and requires considerable botanical skill. Innovative methods of estimation are scarce and novel methodological developments are needed to increase the quality and reliability of the data obtained.
Heightened Exploratory Behavior Following Chronic Excessive Ethanol Drinking: Mediation by Neurotensin Receptor Type 2 in the Anterior Paraventricular Thalamus
Authors: Pandey Surya , Barson Jessica R.
Published: July 2020

Background

Chronic, excessive alcohol drinkers, even without dependence, can exhibit changes in behavior and neurochemical systems. Identifying these changes and their relationship with one another could provide novel avenues for the prevention and treatment of alcohol use disorder. We recently demonstrated, in rats, that neurotensin (NTS) in the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) regulates excessive ethanol (EtOH) drinking. Here, we investigate the effects of chronic EtOH drinking on the PVT‐NTS system and its contribution to EtOH‐induced behavioral changes.

Methods

We gave adult male Long‐Evans rats 20% EtOH under the intermittent access 2‐bottle‐choice paradigm or maintained them on chow and water for up to 11 weeks. Prior to EtOH exposure and following several weeks of access, during acute abstinence, we tested these groups for multiple behaviors. In the 12th week, during acute abstinence, we examined gene expression and peptide levels of NTS and its receptors in the anterior and posterior subregions of the PVT. Finally, in chronic EtOH drinkers, during acute abstinence, we microinjected the NTS receptor type 2 (NTS2R) agonist, JMV‐431, in the anterior PVT (aPVT) and examined subsequent EtOH intake and behavior.

Results

Following chronic intermittent EtOH access, rats were classified by cluster analysis as high or low EtOH drinkers. High EtOH drinkers spent more time in the light chamber of a light–dark box and open arms of an elevated plus maze and entered fewer familiar holes in a hole‐board apparatus. These differences were absent prior to EtOH exposure but were detectable as early as 4 weeks into drinking. Time in the light chamber following chronic drinking also predicted level of subsequent drinking. High EtOH drinkers also showed elevated protein levels of NTS2R in the aPVT, and pharmacological stimulation of aPVT NTS2R in low drinkers mimicked the increased time spent in the light chamber that was observed in high drinkers.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that chronic, excessive, but not lower level, EtOH drinking induces heightened or flexible exploratory behavior, which predicts future EtOH drinking and is partly mediated by elevated NTS2R signaling in the aPVT. These EtOH‐induced alterations represent adaptations that could perpetuate excessive drinking and lead to the development of EtOH dependence.
The Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption With Vascular Structure and Arterial Stiffness in the Spanish Population: EVA Study
Authors: Gonzalez‐Sanchez Jesus , Garcia‐Ortiz Luis , Rodriguez‐Sanchez Emiliano , Maderuelo‐Fernandez Jose A , Tamayo‐Morales Olaya , Lugones‐Sanchez Cristina , Recio‐Rodriguez Jose I. , Gomez‐Marcos Manuel A. ,   EVA Investigators
Published: July 2020

Background

Controversy exists regarding the way alcohol use is associated with vascular structure and arterial stiffness parameters. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between alcohol consumption with vascular structure and arterial stiffness in an adult population.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional study. Five hundred and one participants were recruited by random sampling from an urban population of 43,946 individuals aged 35 to 75 years, assigned from 5 healthcare centers located in Salamanca, Spain. This was a subanalysis of the EVA study. Arterial stiffness was assessed by measuring cardio‐ankle vascular index (CAVI) and brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (ba‐PWV) with the VaSera VS‐1500® device, and carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (cf‐PWV) with the Sphygmocor®. Vascular structure was evaluated by measuring the carotid intima–media thickness (c‐IMT) with a Sonosite Micromax® ultrasound. Alcohol consumption was calculated using a standardized questionnaire and quantified in g/wk.

Results

In the multiple regression analysis adjusted for sex, age, smoking status, and systolic blood pressure, the c‐IMT and cf‐PWV values of individuals drinking > 70 g/wk were higher than those of the reference group (nondrinkers) by 0.02 mm (p = 0.030) and 0.42 m/s (p = 0.021), respectively. The association between alcohol consumption with vascular structure and arterial stiffness only attains statistical significance for cf‐PWV (p = 0.039) and c‐IMT (p = 0.019), showing an association which suggests a J‐shaped association. This association was not statistically significant for ba‐PWV and CAVI (p = 0.446 and p = 0.141, respectively), although a similar trend was observed with ba‐PWV.

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that heavy alcohol consumption (>70 g/wk) is associated with increased c‐IMT and cf‐PWV. Moreover, we found a J‐shaped association between alcohol consumption and c‐IMT and cf‐PWV values as markers of vascular structure and arterial stiffness, with no association with ba‐PWV and CAVI being observed.