bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A chloroplast sulfate transporter modulates glutathione-mediated redox cycling to regulate cell division
Authors: Huang Pin-jui , Chen Chun-Han , Lin Yen-Ling , Lin Hsiang-Yin , Fang Su-Chiung
Published: December 2023

Glutathione redox cycling is important for cell cycle regulation. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We previously identified a cell-size mutant,suppressor of mat3 15-1(smt15-1), that has elevated cellular glutathione, increased number of cell divisions, and small daughter cells. Here, we demonstrated that SMT15 is a chloroplast-associated membrane protein that is capable of transporting sulfate. Reducing expression ofγ-GLUTAMYLCYSTEINE SYNTHETASE, which encodes the rate-limiting enzyme required for glutathione biosynthesis, corrected the size defect ofsmt15-1cells. Moreover, overexpressingGLUTATHIONE SYNTHETASErecapitulated the small-size phenotype ofsmt15-1mutant, confirming the role of glutathione in modulation of the cell division. Hence, SMT15 may regulate chloroplast sulfate concentration to modulate cellular glutathione levels. Interestingly, glutathione was found to accumulate in the cytosol at the G1 phase and its level decreased substantially as cells entered the S/M phase in wild-type cells. Even though cytosolic glutathione of the small-sized mutants,smt15-1andGSH2overexpressors, followed the pattern of wild-type cells being accumulated at G1 and declined at the S/M phase, the basal body-specific accumulation of glutathione was associated with only the small-sized mutants. Therefore, we propose that glutathione-mediated redox in the basal bodies may regulate mitotic division number inChlamydomonas reinhardtii. Our results support the link between glutathione-mediated redox regulation and mitotic cell division and suggest a new mechanism through which glutathione regulates the cell cycle.

One sentence summary

Glutathione-mediated redox regulation in basal bodies is important for cell division control
Revisitingbicoidfunction: complete inactivation reveals an additional fundamental role inDrosophilaegg geometry specification
Authors: Baumgartner Stefan
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Thebicoid(bcd) gene inDrosophilahas served as a paradigm for a morphogen in textbooks for decades. Discovered in 1986 as a mutation affecting anterior development in the embryo, its expression pattern as a protein gradient later confirmed the prediction from transplantation experiments. These experiments suggested that the protein fulfills the criteria of a true morphogen, with the existence of a homeodomain crucial for activation of genes along the anterior-posterior axis, based on the concentration of the morphogen. Thebcdgene undergoes alternative splicing, resulting in, among other isoforms, a small and often neglected isoform with low abundance, which lacks the homeodomain, termedsmall bicoid(smbcd). Most importantly, all known classical strongbcdalleles used in the past to determinebcdfunction apparently do not affect the function of this isoform.

Results

To overcome the uncertainty regarding which isoform regulates what, I removed thebcdlocus entirely using CRISPR technology.bcdCRISPReggs exhibited a short and round appearance. The phenotype could be ascribed tosmbcdbecause allbcdalleles affecting the function of the major transcript, termedlarge bicoid(lgbcd) showed normally sized eggs. Several patterning genes for the embryo showed expression in the oocyte, and their expression patterns were altered inbcdCRISPRoocytes. InbcdCRISPRembryos, all downstream segmentation genes showed altered expression patterns, consistent with the expression patterns in “classical” alleles; however, due to the altered egg geometry resulting in fewer blastoderm nuclei, additional constraints came into play, further affecting their expression patterns.

Conclusions

This study unveils a novel and fundamental role ofbcdin shaping the egg’s geometry. This discovery demands a comprehensive revision of our understanding of this important patterning gene and prompts a reevaluation of past experiments conducted under the assumption thatbcdmutants werebcdnull-mutants.
Single-Molecule FRET at 10 MHz Count Rates
Authors: Grabenhorst Lennart , Sturzenegger Flurin , Hasler Moa , Schuler Benjamin , Tinnefeld Philip
Published: December 2023

A bottleneck in many studies utilizing single-molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (smFRET) is the attainable photon count rate as it determines the temporal resolution of the experiment. As many biologically relevant processes occur on timescales that are hardly accessible with currently achievable photon count rates, there has been considerable effort to find strategies to increase the stability and brightness of fluorescent dyes. Here, we use DNA nanoantennas to drastically increase the achievable photon count rates and to observe fast biomolecular dynamics in the small volume between two plasmonic nanoparticles. As a proof of concept, we observe the coupled folding and binding of two intrinsically disordered proteins which form transient encounter complexes with lifetimes on the order of 100 μs. To test the limits of our approach, we also investigated the hybridization of a short single-stranded DNA to its complementary counterpart, revealing a transition path time of 17 μs at photon count rates of around 10 MHz, which is an order-of-magnitude improvement when compared to the state of the art. Concomitantly, the photostability was increased, enabling many seconds long megahertz fluorescence time traces. Due to the modular nature of the DNA origami method, this platform can be adapted to a broad range of biomolecules, providing a promising approach to study previously unobservable ultrafast biophysical processes.
Recovery of fibroblasts from membrane attack byS. aureusα-toxin does not depend on acid sphingomyelinase but involves macropinocytosis
Authors: von Hoven Gisela , Neukirch Claudia , Neukirch Carolin , Meyenburg Martina , Ritz Sandra , Husmann Matthias
Published: December 2023

Damage of the plasma membrane by mechanical stress or pore forming proteins, like streptolysin O, may trigger Ca2+influx-dependent repair mechanisms. Ca2+influx-dependent lysosomal exocytosis, leading to release of acid sphingomyelinase, remodeling of the plasma membrane and caveolar endocytosis of membrane lesions, is reportedly involved in membrane repair after both mechanical damage or perforation by streptolysin O. Although the small β-barrel pore formingS. aureusα-toxin may also increase cytosolic Ca2+concentration in certain cell types, and reportedly lead to release of acid sphingomyelinase from endothelial cells, evidence for a role of this response for membrane repair after attack by α-toxin is lacking. We exploited fibroblasts expressing dysfunctional acid sphingomyelinase to investigate whether this enzyme is required for membrane repair afterS. aureusα-toxin attack. Because α-toxin-dependent loss of cellular ATP and externalization of phosphatidylserine were reversible, membrane damage by this pore former triggered an effective repair response in these cells. Although α-toxin depolarized the plasma membrane, it did not cause a simultaneous increase of [Ca2+]i. Consistently, there was no release of β-hexosaminidase, a marker of lysosomal exocytosis. Acid sphingomyelinase-deficient fibroblasts internalized α-toxin, which however did not co-localize with caveolin-1, but with FITC-dextran 70kDa, a cargo of macropinosomes. Inhibition of actin polymerization or sterol synthesis prevented recovery from α-toxin-dependent membrane damage. Therefore, we conclude that defense of fibroblasts against α-toxin does not depend on rapid calcium-influx, lysosomal exocytosis, and functional acid sphingomyelinase, but involves ongoing cholesterol synthesis and macropinocytosis.
Depletion of tropomyosin 1.6 promotes matrix-degrading phenotype in TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast
Authors: Wu Ching Lung , Lee Gang Hui , Chen Bo Yu , Kuo Cheng Hsiang , Chan Ting Ting , Wang Yang Kao , Wong Tzyy Yue , Tang Ming Jer
Published: December 2023

Fibroblasts can be transformed into myofibroblasts under pro-fibrotic conditions, which is characterized by increased contractility and reduced matrix degradation. The relationship between contractile activity and matrix degradation is not fully understood. We found that TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast activation occurs on a culture dish, favoring stress fiber formation and inhibiting podosome structures due to high matrix stiffness. To mimic physiological conditions, we cultured fibroblasts on collagen gel. Blocking actomyosin signaling significantly reduced TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast activation. Tpm1.6, an actomyosin-associated contractile unit, was specifically upregulated by TGF-β1 on soft collagen substrates. Depletion of Tpm1.6 attenuated TGF-β1-induced increase of α-SMA, N-cadherin, and β1-integrin, indicating its crucial role in early myofibroblast activation during fibrosis progression. Tpm1.6 depletion reduced TGF-β1-induced cell contractility and enhanced collagen degradation. Notably, in Tpm1.6-depleted fibroblasts, TGF-β1 triggered formation of distinct α-SMA dot structures enriched with MMP9, promoting collagen degradation. Our study highlights the pivotal role of Tpm1.6 in TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast activation and collagen degradation. Depletion of Tpm1.6 triggers robust collagen degradation through distinct α-SMA dots, presenting a potential therapeutic approach for chronic kidney disease.
Multiple modes of DNA compaction by protamine
Authors: Ahlawat Vikhyaat , Zhou Huan-Xiang
Published: December 2023

In sperm cells, protamine replaces histones to compact DNA 10-20 times more than in somatic cells. To characterize the extreme compaction, we employed confocal microscopy and optical tweezers to determine the conformations and stability of protamine-bound λ-DNA. Confocal images show increasing compaction of λ-DNA at increasing protamine concentration. In the presence of protamine, single λ-DNA molecules form bends and loops that unravel at 10-40 pN forces as well as coils that shorten the contour length by up to 40% and withstand forces strong enough (∼55 pN) for strand separation. Strand separation nucleates coils, indicating protamine insertion into DNA bases. Protamine may participate in both local and higher-order chromatin organization, leading to extreme compaction and global transcription silencing.

One-Sentence Summary

Protamine compacts sperm DNA in multiple modes, producing bends and loops but also coils that may block transcription.
Kinetics and dynamics of single-molecule multivalent interactions revealed by plasmon-enhanced fluorescence
Authors: Okholm Kasper R. , Nooteboom Sjoerd W. , Lamberti Vincenzo , Dey Swayandipta , Zijlstra Peter , Sutherland Duncan S.
Published: December 2023

Multivalency as an interaction principle is widely utilized in nature. It enables specific and strong binding by multiple weak interactions through enhanced avidity and is a core process in immune recognition and cellular signaling and a current concept in drug design. Rapid binding and unbinding of monovalent constituent interactions during multivalent binding creates dynamics that require a single-molecule approach to be studied. Here, we use the high signals from plasmon enhanced fluorescence of nanoparticles to extract binding kinetics and dynamics of multivalent interactions on the single-molecule level and in real-time. We study mono-, bi-and trivalent binding interactions using a DNA Holliday Junction as a model construct with programmable valency. Furthermore, we introduce a model framework for binding kinetics that involves the binding restriction during multivalent interactions to take into account the structural conformation of multivalent molecules allowing quantitative comparison. We used this approach to explore how length and flexibility of the DNA ligands affect binding restriction and binding strength, where overall binding strength decreased with spacer length. For trivalent systems increasing spacer length was found to activate binding in the trivalent state giving insight into the design of multivalent drug or targeting moieties. Interestingly we could exploit the rapidly decaying near fields of the plasmon that induce a strong dependence of the signal to position of the fluorophore to observe binding dynamics during single multivalent binding events.
Entrepreneurial orientation, social media and SME performance: an emerging economy perspective
Authors: Anim Patrick Amfo , Arthur Emmanuel , Amoako George Kofi
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study examines the role of social media adoption (SMA), opportunity recognition (OR) and opportunity exploitation (OE) in mediating the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and the performance of newly established small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies, with a particular emphasis on Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a post-positivist philosophical stance and uses a quantitative approach and a survey design. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 336 SME owners and managers from Ghana’s manufacturing, trading and service sectors. Questionnaires were administered to source the empirical data for this study. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to analyse the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The results reveal that EO positively and significantly influences the performance of new-born SMEs. SMA, OR and OE partially mediated this relationship.

Practical implications

This study is a wakeup call to policymakers, practitioners, managers and owners of recently established businesses. Policymakers should provide support and resources for newly established SMEs to adopt effective social media marketing strategies, bolstering their online presence and customer engagement. Simultaneously, they should invest in entrepreneurship education and create an environment conducive to innovation to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among fresh SMEs. Business owners and managers should proactively monitor market trends and consumer preferences, adapting their strategies to identifying and seizing emerging opportunities.

Originality/value

This study introduces a significant novelty to previous literature and one of the first to employ the dynamic capability theory to examine the interplay between EO, SMA, OR and OE in influencing the performance of new SMEs in the context of emerging markets. Furthermore, it extends the scope of understanding of the mechanisms through which SMEs can prosper in these dynamic environments. This unique combination of theoretical framework, comprehensive variables and contextual focus sets this study apart from existing research, enriching the literature on SME performance in emerging markets.
Crisis leadership in Sigmoid Group: proactiveness for business continuity
Authors: Vijayaraghavan Padhmanabhan , Correa Frederick Sidney
Published: December 2023

Learning outcomes

After completion of the case study, students will be able to describe the crisis types and the various phases in mapping a crisis and outline appropriate actions during each phase; identify stakeholders in the context of change management initiatives and map them through their power, influence and interest needs; identify the needs and resistance present in change management initiatives through the systems-thinking perspective; recognize the leadership competencies for an effective crisis management approach; and identify the way to conduct challenging conversations with important stakeholders whose support and influence are required.

Case overview/synopsis

Stella Fernandez, the vice president of human resources management in a family-managed business organization, was disturbed by the media reports on rising number of cases of COVID-19 infection in India during the first week of March 2020. She thought that a continued rise in the number of infection cases could affect the business continuity as well as the safety of the employees. In her opinion, a faster introduction of a work-from-home policy could help to reduce the impact of the potential crisis. Fernandez understood that without the senior management team’s consent, she could not drive the information technology team to implement the work-from-home measure. However, she felt that there could be challenges in convincing the senior management team, who did not treat this outbreak to be of grave importance. Anticipating the unfavourable reaction, Fernandez planned her approach carefully by identifying and convincing influential members to support this change management initiative; nevertheless, to her dismay, her meticulous plan failed to convince the powerful members of the team, who continued to resist the change proposed by her. Disappointed and surprised by their reaction, Fernandez wondered what she could have done to make the senior management team to accept her proposal.

Complexity academic level

This case study is designed for use in undergraduate- or graduate-level programmes.

Supplementary material

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 6: Human resource management.
Foresight study about the use of blockchain to prevent employees’ psychological distress: research avenues and insights for HRM practitioners
Authors: Hamouche Salima , Chabani Zakariya , Shamout Mohamed Dawood
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The prevention of mental health issues at work represents a significant challenge for organizations. The transformation of workplaces whose future promises to be virtual or hybrid can make the anticipation and prevention of these health issues more challenging, considering the potential distance that it may create between employees and their employers. The recent health crisis undermined individual mental health but also highlighted the importance of new technologies which greatly paved the way for the future of workplaces. This paper aims to examine these new technologies, specifically the use of blockchain technologies in organizations to predict and prevent mental health issues at work, specifically psychological distress, in times of crisis, and beyond. It addresses the main challenges and opportunities and presents research avenues as well as insights for human resource management (HRM) practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a viewpoint that addresses the use of blockchain technology in the prevention of employees’ mental health at work in times of crisis and beyond. Literature was used to support this viewpoint and highlight the importance of addressing mental health issues at work and preventing their occurrence in the future.

Findings

Blockchain is one of the disruptive new technologies that can be used as a strategic tool for organizations to prevent mental health issues among employees in the workplace in times of crisis, and beyond. It facilitates the collaboration between employees, their organization, healthcare and employee assistance program (EPA) providers, as well as insurance companies. In this context, a specific type of blockchain should be used to support this type of collaboration.

Practical implications

Blockchain can generate both opportunities and challenges for the prevention of mental issues at work. It can transform the future of workplaces and help organizations as well as healthcare and EPA providers to anticipate potential employees’ mental health issues in 2019. Organizations need to address their readiness to implement this new technology and the possible reluctance of their employees to use it. This paper presents insights for managers and HRM practitioners.

Originality/value

The studies that have addressed the use of blockchain in organizations to prevent employees’ mental health issues are sparse. This paper is an attempt to address this gap and examine the challenges as well as the opportunities associated with the use of this disruptive new technology that can significantly reshape the future of workplaces.
Corporate ethical values disclosure: evidence from Malaysian and Indonesian top companies
Authors: Joseph Corina , Cahaya Fitra Roman , Yusuf Sharifah Norzehan Syed , Probohudono Agung Nur , Kurniawati Estetika Mutiaranisa
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the extent of ethical values information disclosure on the top 100 Malaysian and Indonesian companies’ annual reports using coercive isomorphism under the institutional theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the content analysis, the presence or exclusion of ethical values information disclosed on 100 Malaysian and Indonesian companies’ annual reports using a newly developed Ethical Values Disclosure Index is carried out.

Findings

The results of the analysis found that Indonesian companies on average disclosed 31 items under study compared to 27 items disclosed by the companies in Malaysia. The results suggest that Indonesian companies are more vigilant in the code of ethics, companies policy on ethical issues, monitoring program and accountability, ethical performance, ethical infrastructure and organizational responsibility aspects, whereas their Malaysian counterparts are better in reporting governance and integrity committee or board of directors.

Research limitations/implications

The findings may not be applicable to other countries in the same region, nevertheless, revealed the importance of adequate ethical values disclosure in determining the level of ethical behavior.

Practical implications

Companies in Indonesia are coercively pressed by various influential stakeholder groups to address ethical issues. The less disclosure regarding corporate ethical behavior may indicate that unethical practices continue to be a problem in the Malaysian corporate sector.

Originality/value

This paper adds to the literature by examining the elements of ethical values adapted mainly from the professional bodies that regulate the accounting profession and other organizations using the institutional theory, particularly in two countries.
Consumer patronage intention: role of multi-sensory and atmospheric experiences in retail
Authors: Pal Divyanshi , Srivastava Kavita
Published: December 2023

Purpose

In a consumer-driven world, captivating experiences are increasingly vital and retailers prioritise them for consumers. This study aims to develop a comprehensive theoretical framework that explores the impact of a consumer's multi-sensory and atmospheric experiences on their intention and commitment to a mall, with perceived value acting as a mediating factor.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a descriptive quantitative research approach and utilised a self-administered mall-intercept survey. A total of 380 shoppers participated in and responded to the survey administered at the mall. The collected responses are analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

Study findings show that experiences significantly influence consumers' intentions to patronise shopping malls, leading to their commitment. The study reveals a strong impact of atmospheric experience on multi-sensory experiences. Furthermore, perceived value mediates the relationship between consumers' experiences and their mall patronage intention.

Originality/value

The research sheds light on the significance of atmospheric elements in creating sensory experiences for consumers. Additionally, the study introduces the concept of “props” as essential components of the atmospheric experiences in retail stores and malls. Furthermore, the study advances inference theory by exploring the effects of these sensory and atmospheric experiences within the shopping mall environment.
The art of the possible? Supporting a patient safety culture in mental healthcare to maximise safety
Authors: Wood David P. , Nathan Rajan , Robinson Catherine A. , McPhillips Rebecca
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The current national patient safety strategy for the National Health Service (NHS) in England states that actions need to be taken to support the development of a patient safety culture. This includes that local systems should seek to understand staff perceptions of the fairness and effectiveness of serious incident management. This study aims to explore the perspectives of patient safety professionals about what works well and what could be done better to support a patient safety culture at the level of Trust strategy and serious incident governance.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 15 professionals with a role in serious incident management, from five mental health trusts in England, were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Thematic analysis and qualitative description were used to analyse the data.

Findings

Participants felt that actions to support a patient safety culture were challenging and required long-term and clinical commitment. Broadening the scope of serious incident investigations was felt to be one way to better understand patient safety culture issues. Organisational influences during the serious incident management process were highlighted, informing approaches to maximise the fairness and objectivity of investigation findings.

Originality/value

The findings of this study offer original insights that the NHS safety system can use to facilitate progression of the patient safety culture agenda. In particular, local mental health trusts could consider the findings in the context of their current strategic objectives related to patient safety culture and operational delivery of serious incident management frameworks.
Effect of recycled powder and gear profile into the functionality of additive manufacturing polymer gears
Authors: Calignano Flaviana , Bove Alessandro , Mercurio Vincenza , Marchiandi Giovanni
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Polymer laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB/P) is an additive manufacturing technology that is sustainable due to the possibility of recycling the powder multiple times and allowing the fabrication of gears without the aid of support structures and subsequent assembly. However, there are constraints in the process that negatively affect its adoption compared to other additive technologies such as material extrusion to produce gears. This study aims to demonstrate that it is possible to overcome the problems due to the physics of the process to produce accurate mechanism.

Design/methodology/approach

Technological aspects such as orientation, wheel-shaft thicknesses and degree of powder recycling were examined. Furthermore, the evolving tooth profile was considered as a design parameter to provide a manufacturability map of gear-based mechanisms.

Findings

Results show that there are some differences in the functioning of the gear depending on the type of powder used, 100% virgin or 50% virgin and 50% recycled for five cycles. The application of a groove on a gear produced with 100% virgin powder allows the mechanism to be easily unlocked regardless of the orientation and wheel-shaft thicknesses. The application of a specific evolutionary profile independent of the diameter of the reference circle on vertically oriented gears guarantees rotation continuity while preserving the functionality of the assembled mechanism.

Originality/value

In the literature, there are various studies on material aging and reuse in the PBF-LB/P process, mainly focused on the powder deterioration mechanism, powder fluidity, microstructure and mechanical properties of the parts and process parameters. This study, instead, was focused on the functioning of gears, which represent one of the applications in which this technology can have great success, by analyzing the two main effects that can compromise it: recycled powder and vertical orientation during construction.
Stability response assessment of steel thin-walled open-top tanks subjected to local support edge settlement
Authors: Naseri Hamid , Zirakian Tadeh , Showkati Hossein
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Vertical cylindrical welded steel tanks are typical thin-walled structures that are very susceptible to buckling under settlement. The major concern in the design of these thin-walled structures is buckling failure. On this basis and by considering the findings of the previously reported research works, the stability performance of open-top steel tanks with various industrial applications under local support edge settlement is further investigated in this paper. This study aims to contribute to the current state-of-the-art in the design and retrofit of such thin-walled structures.

Design/methodology/approach

The buckling behaviors of numerous cylindrical shell models with various height-to-radius, radius-to-thickness and settlement span ratios are investigated through linear and nonlinear buckling analyses. The effects of addition of a top stiffening ring on the buckling behavior of cylindrical steel tanks are studied as well.

Findings

This parametric study demonstrates that the choice of the height-to-radius, radius-to-thickness and settlement span ratios as well as addition of the top stiffening ring can be quite effective on the stiffness and strength performances, deformations and stress distribution as well as intensity of vertical cylindrical welded steel tanks subjected to local support edge settlement.

Originality/value

This research endeavor was formulated on the basis of a comprehensive literature survey and demonstrates the relationship between geometrical as well as stiffening features and buckling stability performance of open-top tanks subjected to local support edge settlement and also provides practical recommendations for design and retrofit purposes.
Recruitment limitation of early‐ and late‐flowering grassland forbs can be overcome with transplanting in prairie restorations
Authors: Deever Daniel T. , Soley Nathan M. , Fullin Katy , Wilsey Brian J.
Published: December 2023

One important goal in prairie restorations is to have forb species that flower throughout the growing season (i.e. a range of flowering phenology). We conducted an experiment to test whether three early‐ and three late‐flowering forb species are seed or recruitment limited, if mowing can influence this limitation, and if forb additions will impact overall plant diversity in ongoing restorations.

The experiment was conducted at two restorations in northern Iowa and one in southern Minnesota, USA, using a split‐plot design. Whole plots tested the effect of mowing, and subplots tested the effect of target forbs being added as seeds or small transplants at varied richness levels (0, 1, 3 or 6 species added). Control plots received no forb additions. To compare establishment success, we estimated target species biomass, survivorship and per cent cover of target species across 3 years (2019–2021). Plant diversity measures (richness, inverse Simpson's diversity) were estimated within subplots to determine whether forb additions impacted diversity.

Biomass and relative abundance of early‐ and late‐flowering forbs was much higher when they were added as transplants than when added as seeds. Survivorship across life stages indicated that the transition from seed to adult had lower survivorship probabilities (0.6%) than the transition from transplant (juvenile) to adult (75%).

Plant diversity of these ongoing restorations was higher when target forbs were added compared to controls. Diversity was higher when target forbs were transplanted (8.4 species/plot and inverse Simpson's diversity of 4.0) than when they were seeded (7.6 species/plot and inverse Simpson's diversity of 3.8). Early‐flowering treatments increased diversity more than late‐flowering treatments, and diversity increased linearly with the number of forb species added.

Mowed and unmowed plots had similar levels of target species establishment and plant diversity.

Synthesis and applications: Our results indicate that early‐ and late‐flowering species are more recruitment limited than seed limited and that diversity is lower when these species are missing in restorations. We recommend transplanting a rich mix of early‐ and late‐flowering forbs to increase their biomass and ensure that flowering occurs throughout the growing season.
Ecosystem service trade‐offs resulting from woody plant removal vary with biome, encroachment stage and removal method
Authors: Ding Jingyi , Eldridge David J.
Published: December 2023

Plant removal is used widely to restore systems encroached by woody plants and to improve ecosystem health and human well‐being. However, the effects of removal are rarely consistent, with a mixture of positive and negative outcomes for ecosystems, making it difficult to develop consistent prescriptions for achieving sustainable management of woody dominated systems.

We complied a global database of 5086 records on the impacts of woody plant removal from 204 studies to explore where (biome; grassland, savanna, shrubland, woodland), when (encroachment stage; low, medium, high encroachment) and how (removal method; physical, chemical, browsing, burning, multiple removal techniques) woody plant removal would affect eight ecosystem services (forage value, soil stability, hydrological regulation, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, animal diversity, plant diversity and primary productivity).

Removing woody plants in grasslands enhanced forage value, but woody removal in shrublands reduced hydrological regulation. Conversely, chemical removal enhanced hydrological regulation and forage value, but at the expense of plant diversity. In grasslands, interactions between encroachment stage and removal method also regulated service responses, with burning enhancing nutrient cycling under low encroachment, but reducing it in heavily encroached stands. The effectiveness of removal in promoting ecosystem services varied with removal method, with burning suppressing the long‐term effectiveness on carbon sequestration, but browsing exacerbating the negative effect on soil stability.

Synthesis and applications. Our study demonstrates that, overall, different conditions of woody plant removal (biome, encroachment stage, removal method) result in different outcomes and trade‐offs in ecosystem services, with no condition maximising all services. The results highlights the importance of designing a specific management plan for promoting target ecosystem services. It provides a basis for making sound decisions about how to optimise the benefits of woody removal programmes on critical ecosystem services.
Investment Policy Impacts on the Australian Aboriginal Art Market
Authors: Lye Jenny , Hirschberg Joe
Published: December 2023

Legislation designed for one purpose may have unrelated side effects. In this article we examine the impact of recent changes in the application of the sole purpose test for artworks to be used as assets in retirement funds on the Australian Aboriginal art market. This is important since art sales represent a significant source of non‐government income for remote Australian Aboriginal communities. In this article we estimate the impact of this change and others on the price index based on the hammer prices paid for 13,555 works by 187 artists at art auctions from 1994 to 2019.
Stillbirth and post‐pregnancy women's mortality
Authors: Chien Patrick
Published: December 2023

Deputy Editor‐in‐Chief, Dr Patrick Chien, discusses his top articles from this issue in an audio podcast available at: https://soundcloud.com/bjog/bjog-january-2024-editorial
The early determinants of career choices for medical students following an obstetrics and gynaecology placement: Mixed methods study
Authors: Sein Eleanor , Belsi Athina , Morgenstern Christian , Terzidou Vasso , Patel Roshni R.
Published: December 2023

Objective

To explore the impact of attending a clinical placement in considering a career in obstetrics and gynaecology.

Design

Mixed methods study.

Setting

London Medical School.

Population

Fifth year medical students attending a clinical placement in obstetrics and gynaecology.

Methods

Between January 2021 and January 2022, questionnaires were used and semi‐structured focus groups conducted, which were audio‐recorded. Descriptive statistics were conducted and a framework analysis on transcribed focus groups.

Main outcome measure

The impact of the clinical placement on career choice.

Results

Six main themes were identified from the analysis; three contributing to considering a career in obstetrics and gynaecology; pregnancy is not an illness, extraordinary experience of observing childbirth and variable specialty and three themes emerged contributing to not considering a career; lack of work–life balance, high stakes specialty and the emotional toll. Even at an undergraduate level, medical students exhibited concerns about the long‐term feasibility of achieving work–life balance and avoiding professional burnout, which was partly attributed to the responsibility of looking after both the woman and their baby.

Conclusions

Obstetrics and gynaecology is perceived as an exciting and variable speciality by medical students. Students’ experiences on the labour ward during a clinical placement appear to contribute to the consideration of a career in obstetrics and gynaecology. Students should be given opportunities to discuss their concerns about obstetrics, particularly over the potential psychological impact of adverse/traumatic birth events. It is crucial to provide a realistic introduction to obstetrics, to recruit enthusiastic junior doctors who will be resilient to the pressures of the speciality, to avoid burnout and minimise attrition rates.
Recent updates on pyroptosis in tumors of the digestive tract
Authors: Wang Ruo Han , Shang Bing Bing , Wu Shi Xi , Wang Liang , Sui Shao Guang
Published: December 2023

Pyroptosis is an inflammasome‐dependent form of programmed cell death that is mediated by caspases‐1, ‐4, ‐5, and ‐11, and the gasdermin protein family. It is characterized by the rupture of cell membrane and the subsequent release of cell contents and interleukins, leading to inflammatory reaction and activation of the immune system. Recent studies have suggested that pyroptosis plays a role in the development of gastrointestinal tumors, impeding tumor generation and progression as well as providing a favorable microenvironment for tumor growth. In this review we outlined the current knowledge regarding the implications of pyroptosis in gastrointestinal cancers.
Association of methylation risk score with incident type 2 diabetes mellitus: A nested case–control study
Authors: Huo Weifeng , Hu Huifang , Li Tianze , Yuan Lijun , Zhang Jinli , Feng Yifei , Wu Yuying , Fu Xueru , Ke Yamin , Wang Mengmeng , Zhang Wenkai , Wang Longkang , Chen Yaobing , Gao Yajuan , Li Xi , Liu Jiong , Huang Zelin , Hu Fulan , Zhang Ming , Sun Liang , Hu Dongsheng , Zhao Yang
Published: December 2023

Aims

To investigate the association of methylation risk score (MRS) and its interactions with environmental factors with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk.

Methods

We conducted a nested case–control study with 241 onset cases and 241 matched controls. Conditional logistic regression models were employed to identify risk CpG sites. Simple and weighted MRSs were constructed based on the methylation levels of ATP‐binding cassette G1 gene, fat mass and obesity associated gene, potassium voltage‐gated channel member 1 gene, and thioredoxin‐interacting protein gene previously associated with T2DM to estimate the association of MRS with T2DM risk. Stratified analyses were used to investigate interactions between MRS and environmental factors.

Results

A total of 10 CpG loci were identified from the aforementioned genes to calculate MRS. After controlling for potential confounding factors, taking tertile 1 as reference, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for T2DM of tertile 3 was 2.39 (1.36–4.20) for simple MRS and 2.59 (1.45–4.63) for weighted MRS. With per SD score increment in MRS, the OR (95% CI) was 1.66 (1.29–2.14) and 1.60 (1.24–2.08) for simple and weighted MRSs, respectively. J‐curved associations were observed between both simple and weighted MRSs and T2DM risks. Additionally, multiplication interactions for smoking and hypertension with simple MRS on the risk of T2DM were found, similarly for smoking and obesity with weighted MRS on the risk of T2DM (all Pinteraction < .05).

Conclusion

Elevated simple and weighted MRSs were associated with increased risk of T2DM. Environmental risk factors may influence the association between MRS and T2DM.

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Information content of credit rating affirmations
Authors: Jung Boochun , Kausar Asad , Kim Byungki , Park You‐il , Zhou Jian
Published: December 2023

We examine the economic determinants and informational effects of credit rating affirmations (i.e., the reiteration of past credit ratings) for a sample of US public firms from 1995 to 2020. We find that credit rating affirmations typically follow major corporate events and changes in firm fundamentals that increase information uncertainty about a firm's creditworthiness, suggesting that affirmations reduce uncertainty. We further document that rating affirmations provide value‐relevant information to equity and debt investors. Using a short‐window event study method, we show that equity investors react positively to rating affirmations and that information uncertainty around affirmations diminishes. These findings are more pronounced for firms with non‐investment‐grade ratings. We further show that our results strengthen for firms with greater pre‐affirmation information uncertainty. Finally, consistent with our information uncertainty reduction results from the stock market, we report that bond yield spreads decrease for affirmed firms. Again, the effect is more pronounced for firms with non‐investment‐grade ratings. In summary, we highlight the significant capital markets' effects of credit rating affirmations, an area that the literature has largely ignored.
Does corporate ESG disclosure enhance investor relationship management? Evidence from China
Authors: Liang Xinye , Cao Peng
Published: December 2023

This study investigates the enhancing effect of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure on investor relations management (IRM). The better the ESG disclosure, the higher the level of IRM. furthermore, this enhancement is achieved by reducing information asymmetry, improving information dissemination efficiency, and attracting investors attention, and it is more prominent in a sound institutional environment and a concentrated shareholding structure. Moreover, institutional investors show greater receptivity to ESG‐driven IRM compared to individual investors. Finally, we indicate that IRM is enhanced by ESG disclosure, ultimately fostering high‐quality corporate development. These findings provide valuable insights for promoting the standardisation of ESG disclosure and optimising IRM practices.
Detection of the separated endodontic instrument on periapical radiographs using a deep learning‐based convolutional neural network algorithm
Authors: Özbay Yağız , Kazangirler Buse Yaren , Özcan Caner , Pekince Adem
Published: December 2023

The study evaluated the diagnostic performance of an artificial intelligence system to detect separated endodontic instruments on periapical radiograph radiographs. Three hundred seven periapical radiographs were collected and divided into 222 for training and 85 for testing to be fed to the Mask R‐CNN model. Periapical radiographs were assigned to the training and test set and labelled on the DentiAssist labeling platform. Labelled polygonal objects had their bounding boxes automatically generated by the DentiAssist system. Fractured instruments were classified and segmented. As a result of the proposed method, the mean average precision (mAP) metric was 98.809%, the precision value was 95.238, while the recall reached 98.765 and the f1 score 96.969%. The threshold value of 80% was chosen for the bounding boxes working with the Intersection over Union (IoU) technique. The Mask R‐CNN distinguished separated endodontic instruments on periapical radiographs.
Brief report: The influence of childhood trauma on the effects of delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol in persons with opioid use disorder
Authors: Rogan Michael , Nunes Julio C. , Xie Catherine Z. , Sofuoglu Mehmet , Pittman Brian , De Aquino Joao P.
Published: December 2023

Background and Objectives

Childhood trauma (CT) increases addiction vulnerability. We examined CT's impact on delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) effects.

Methods

This is a post‐hoc analysis of a randomized, placebo‐controlled, crossover trial investigating the effects of oral THC (10, 20 mg) among 25 persons receiving methadone for opioid use disorder (OUD).

Results

Greater CT was associated with lower aversive effects from higher THC doses (20 mg) (p = .006).

Discussion and Conclusions

CT may reduce the subjective aversive effects of THC, potentially leading to greater cannabis use in individuals with OUD.

Scientific Significance

These findings offer insights into THC's risks versus benefits in OUD subgroups and emphasize assessing CT in OUD treatment and research.
Improving Retirement Coverage Durability with Target Volatility Strategy for Changing Interest Rate Environment
Authors: Bai Zefeng , Steblovskaya Victoria , Wallbaum Kai
Published: December 2023

Motivated by the recent market turbulence triggered by the COVID‐19 pandemic and the changing interest rate environment, we propose an improved investment strategy for extending retirement coverage in the pension decumulation stage. The newly proposed strategy with interest rate dependent volatility targets can significantly improve the durability of conventional retirement portfolios with constant risky and risk‐free asset allocations. This conclusion follows from our analysis in the simulated financial market with stochastic interest rate and stochastic volatility, based on the Hybrid Heston‐Vasicek model. Consequently, the proposed target volatility strategy could be a suitable option for more reliable retirement coverage after retirement.
An underutilised resource: The evolving role of clinical nurses contributing to rural health research
Authors: Clayden Suzanne , Beks Hannah , Alston Laura , Versace Vincent
Published: December 2023

Aim

We aim to discuss the advantages of supporting clinical nurses' involvement in place‐based research in rural health services.

Context

Australian health services are currently struggling with increased demand in services from an aging population, chronic diseases and nursing workforce shortages. This impact is amplified in rural and remote regions of Australia.

Approach

Investment in place‐based clinical nursing research provides opportunity for nursing recruitment, career and leadership development, and retention, while addressing local health issues and creating pathways for implementation of evidence‐based practice.

Conclusion

Collaboration between rural health services, universities, policy makers and the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training program will enable the opportunity for establishment and ongoing development of strong research programs in rural health services to address local health issues and workforce needs.
Effect of seaweed feeding before calving on colostral IgA concentration in Japanese Black cows
Authors: Yamanaka Maho , Sanada Ayuka , Nakagawa Toshinori , Sato Katsuyoshi , Watanabe Jun , Yokoo Masaki , Hirayama Takuji
Published: December 2023

In this study, we investigated the effect of feeding seaweed to Japanese Black cows before calving on IgA concentrations in colostrum. Seven Japanese Black breeding cows were used as test animals, with three cows in the seaweed‐fed group (seaweed group) and four in the seaweed‐non‐fed group (control group). Each cow was fed 6 kg of sudangrass hay and 2.5 kg of compound feed twice daily (09:00 a.m. and 04:00 p.m.) as basal diets. Both groups had free access to water. In the seaweed group, commercially available seaweed feed was fed from 2 months before calving until the day of calving. The seaweed of 150 g/head/day was added to the basal diet at the morning feeding. Colostrum collected immediately after calving was used to measure IgA concentrations by ELISA. The IgA concentration in colostrum was significantly higher in the seaweed group than in the control group (P < 0.05). This suggested that feeding seaweed to Japanese Black cows before calving may increase IgA concentration in colostrum.