bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supervised discovery of interpretable gene programs from single-cell data
Authors: Kunes Russell Z. , Walle Thomas , Nawy Tal , Pe’er Dana
Published: December 2022

Factor analysis can drive biological discovery by decomposing single-cell gene expression data into a minimal set of gene programs that correspond to processes executed by cells in a sample. However, matrix factorization methods are prone to technical artifacts and poor factor interpretability. We have developed Spectra, an algorithm that identifies user-provided gene programs, modifies them to dataset context as needed, and detects novel programs that together best explain expression covariation. Spectra overcomes the dominance of cell-type signals by modeling cell-type-specific programs, and can characterize interpretable cell states along a continuum. We show that it outperforms existing approaches in challenging tumor immune contexts; Spectra finds factors that change under immune checkpoint therapy, disentangles the highly correlated features of CD8+T-cell tumor reactivity and exhaustion, finds a novel program that explains continuous macrophage state changes under therapy, and identifies cell-type-specific immune metabolic programs.
Haplotype resolved chromosome level genome assembly ofCitrus australisreveals disease resistance and other citrus specific genes
Authors: Nakandala Upuli , Masouleh Ardashir Kharabian , Smith Malcolm W. , Furtado Agnelo , Mason Patrick , Constantin Lena , Henry Robert J.
Published: December 2022

Recent advances in genome sequencing and assembly techniques have made it possible to achieve chromosome level reference genomes for citrus. Relatively few genomes have been anchored at the chromosome level and/or are haplotype phased, with the available genomes of varying accuracy and completeness. We now report a phased high-quality chromosome level genome assembly for an Australian native citrus species;Citrus australis(round lime) using highly accurate PacBio HiFi long reads, complemented with Hi-C scaffolding. Hifiasm with Hi-C integrated assembly resulted in a 331 Mb genome ofC. australiswith two haplotypes of nine pseudochromosomes with an N50 of 36.3 Mb and 98.8% genome assembly completeness (BUSCO). Repeat analysis showed that more than 50% of the genome contained interspersed repeats. Among them, LTR elements were the predominant type (21.0%), of which LTR Gypsy (9.8 %) and LTR copia (7.7 %) elements were the most abundant repeats. A total of 29,464 genes and 32,009 transcripts were identified in the genome. Of these, 28,222 CDS (25,753 genes) had BLAST hits and 21,401 CDS (75.8%) were annotated with at least one GO term. Citrus specific genes for antimicrobial peptides, defense, volatile compounds and acidity regulation were identified. This chromosome scale, and haplotype resolvedC. australisgenome will facilitate the study of important genes for citrus breeding and will also allow the enhanced definition of the evolutionary relationships between wild and domesticated citrus species.
Hypothalamic supramammillary neurons that project to the medial septum control wakefulness
Authors: Liang Mengru , Jian Tingliang , Jin Wenjun , Chen Qianwei , Yang Xinyu , Wang Rui , Xiao Jingyu , Yang Zhiqi , Liao Xiang , Chen Xiaowei , Wang Liecheng , Qin Han
Published: December 2022

The hypothalamic supramammillary nucleus (SuM) plays a key role in controlling wakefulness, but the downstream target regions participating in this control process remain unknown. Here, using circuit-specific fiber photometry and single-neuron electrophysiology together with electroencephalogram, electromyogram and behavioral recordings, we find approximately half of SuM neurons that project to the medial septum (MS) are wake-active. Optogenetic stimulation of axonal terminals of SuM-MS projection induces a rapid and reliable transition to wakefulness from NREM or REM sleep, and chemogenetic activation of SuMMSprojecting neurons significantly increases wakefulness time and prolongs latency to sleep. Consistently, chemogenetically inhibiting these neurons significantly reduces wakefulness time and latency to sleep. Therefore, these results identify the MS as a functional downstream target of SuM and provide evidence for a causal role for this hypothalamic-septal projection in wakefulness control.
Recurrent hypoxia in a rat model of sleep apnea during pregnancy leads to microglia-dependent respiratory deficits and persistent neuroinflammation in adult male offspring
Authors: Mickelson Carly R. , Ewald Andrea C. , Gumnit Maia G. , Meza Armand L. , Radcliff Abigail B. , Johnson Stephen M. , Ouellette Jonathan N. , Kermath Bailey A. , Roopra Avtar S. , Cahill Michael E. , Watters Jyoti J. , Baker Tracy L.
Published: December 2022

Sleep apnea (SA) during pregnancy is detrimental to the health of the pregnancy and neonate, but little is known regarding long-lasting consequences of maternal SA during pregnancy on adult offspring. SA is characterized by repeated cessations in breathing during sleep, resulting in intermittent hypoxia (IH). We show that gestational IH (GIH) in rats reprograms the male fetal neuroimmune system toward enhanced inflammation in a region- and sex-specific manner, which persists into adulthood. Male GIH offspring also had deficits in the neural control of breathing, specifically in the ability to mount compensatory responses to central apnea, an effect that was rescued by a localized anti-inflammatory or microglial depletion. Female GIH offspring appeared unaffected. These results indicate that SA during pregnancy sex- and region-dependently skews offspring microglia toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype, which leads to long-lasting deficits in the capacity to elicit important forms of respiratory neuroplasticity in response to breathing instability. These studies contribute to the growing body of recent evidence indicating that SA during pregnancy may lead to sex-specific neurological deficits in offspring that persist into adulthood.
A genome-wide screen in macrophages defines host genes regulating the uptake ofMycobacterium abscessus
Authors: Gilliland Haleigh N. , Beckman Olivia K. , Olive Andrew J.
Published: December 2022

The interactions between a host cell and a pathogen can dictate disease outcomes and are important targets for host-directed therapies.Mycobacterium abscessus(Mab) is a highly antibiotic resistant, rapidly growing non-tuberculous mycobacterium that infects patients with chronic lung diseases. Mab can infect host immune cells, such as macrophages, which contribute to its pathogenesis. However, our understanding of initial host-Mab interactions remains unclear. Here, we developed a functional genetic approach to define these host-Mab interactions by coupling a Mab fluorescent reporter with a genome-wide knockout library in murine macrophages. We used this approach to conduct a forward genetic screen to define host genes that contribute to the uptake of Mab by macrophages. We identified known regulators of phagocytosis, such as the integrin ITGB2, and uncovered a key requirement for glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) synthesis for macrophages to efficiently take up Mab. CRISPR-Cas9 targeting of three key sGAG biosynthesis regulators,Ugdh, B3gat3 and B4galt7resulted in reduced uptake of both smooth and rough Mab variants by macrophages. Mechanistic studies suggest that sGAGs function upstream of pathogen engulfment and are required for the uptake of Mab, but notEscherichia colior latex beads. Further investigation found that the loss of sGAGs reduced the surface expression, but not the mRNA expression, of key integrins suggesting an important role for sGAGs in modulating surface receptor availability. Together, these studies globally define and characterize important regulators of macrophage-Mab interactions and are a first step to understanding host genes that contribute to Mab pathogenesis and disease.

IMPORTANCE

Pathogen interactions with immune cells like macrophages contribute to pathogenesis, yet the mechanisms underlying these interactions remain largely undefined. For emerging respiratory pathogens, likeMycobacterium abscessus, understanding these host-pathogen interactions is important to fully understand disease progression. Given thatM. abscessusis broadly recalcitrant to antibiotic treatments, new therapeutic approaches are needed. Here, we leveraged a genome-wide knockout library in murine macrophages to globally define host genes required forM. abscessusuptake. We identified new macrophage uptake regulators duringM. abscessusinfection, including a subset of integrins and the glycosaminoglycan synthesis (sGAG) pathway. While ionic characteristics of sGAGs are known to drive pathogen-cell interactions, we discovered a previously unrecognized requirement for sGAGs to maintain robust surface expression of key uptake receptors. Thus, we developed a flexible forward-genetic pipeline to define important interactions duringM. abscessusinfection and more broadly identified a new mechanism by which sGAGs control pathogen uptake.
A standardized quantitative analysis strategy for stable isotope probing metagenomics
Authors: Vyshenska Dariia , Sampara Pranav , Singh Kanwar , Tomatsu Andy , Kauffman W. Berkeley , Nuccio Erin E. , Blazewicz Steven J. , Pett-Ridge Jennifer , Varghese Neha , Kellom Matthew , Clum Alicia , Riley Robert , Roux Simon , Eloe-Fadrosh Emiley A. , Ziels Ryan M. , Malmstrom Rex R.
Published: December 2022

Stable isotope probing (SIP) facilitates culture-independent identification of active microbial populations within complex ecosystems through isotopic enrichment of nucleic acids. Many SIP studies rely on 16S rRNA sequences to identify active taxa but connecting these sequences to specific bacterial genomes is often challenging. Here, we describe a standardized laboratory and analysis framework to quantify isotopic enrichment on a per-genome basis using shotgun metagenomics instead of 16S rRNA sequencing. To develop this framework, we explored various sample processing and analysis approaches using a designed microbiome where the identity of labeled genomes, and their level of isotopic enrichment, were experimentally controlled. With this ground truth dataset, we empirically assessed the accuracy of different analytic models for identifying active taxa, and examined how sequencing depth impacts the detection of isotopically labeled genomes. We also demonstrate that using synthetic DNA internal standards to measure absolute genome abundances in SIP density fractions improves estimates of isotopic enrichment. In addition, our study illustrates the utility of internal standards to reveal anomalies in sample handling that could negatively impact SIP metagenomic analyses if left undetected. Finally, we presentSIPmg, an R package to facilitate the estimation of absolute abundances and perform statistical analyses for identifying labeled genomes within SIP metagenomic data. This experimentally validated analysis framework strengthens the foundation of DNA-SIP metagenomics as a tool for accurately measuring thein situactivity of environmental microbial populations and assessing their genomic potential.

Importance

Answering the question of ‘who is eating what?’within complex microbial communities is paramount for our ability to model, predict, and modulate microbiomes for improved human and planetary health. This question is often pursued using stable isotope probing to track the incorporation of labeled compounds into cellular DNA during microbial growth. However, with traditional stable isotope methods, it is challenging to establish links between an active microorganism’s taxonomic identity and genome composition, while providing quantitative estimates of the microorganism’s isotope incorporation rate. Here, we report an experimental and analytical workflow that lays the foundation for improved detection of metabolically active microorganisms and better quantitative estimates of genome-resolved isotope incorporation, which can be used to further refine ecosystem-scale models for carbon and nutrient fluxes within microbiomes.
The processing of stress in a foreign language modulates functional antagonism between default mode and attention network regions
Authors: Rogenmoser Lars , Mouthon Michael , Etter Faustine , Kamber Julie , Annoni Jean-Marie , Schwab Sandra
Published: December 2022

Lexical stress is an essential element of prosody. Mastering this prosodic feature is challenging, especially in a stress-free foreign language for individuals native to a stress-fixed language, a phenomenon referred to as stress deafness. By using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we elucidated the neuronal underpinnings of stress processing in a stress-free foreign language, and determined the underlying mechanism of stress deafness. Here, we contrasted behavioral and hemodynamic responses revealed by native speakers of a stress-free (German;N= 38) and a stress-fixed (French;N= 47) language while discriminating pairs of words in a stress-free foreign language (Spanish). Consistent with the stress deafness phenomenon, French speakers performed worse than German speakers in discriminating Spanish words based on cues of stress but not of vowel. Whole-brain analyses revealed widespread bilateral networks (cerebral regions including frontal, temporal and parietal areas as well as insular, subcortical and cerebellar structures), overlapping with the ones previously associated with stress processing within native languages. Moreover, our results provide evidence that the structures pertaining to a right-lateralized attention system (i.e., middle frontal gyrus, anterior insula) and the Default Mode Network modulate stress processing as a function of the proficiency level. In comparison to the German speakers, the French speakers activated the attention system and deactivated the Default Mode Network to a stronger degree, reflecting attentive engagement, likely a compensatory mechanism underlying the “stress-deaf” brain. The mechanism modulating stress processing argues for a rightward lateralization, indeed overlapping with the location covered by the dorsal stream but remaining unspecific to speech.
Chronic modulation of human memory and thalamic-hippocampal theta activities
Authors: Marks Victoria S. , Lech Michal , Gregg Nicholas M. , Sladky Vladimir , Mivalt Filip , Crepeau Dan P. , Dolezal Jaromir , Alden Eva , Lundstrom Brian N. , Klassen Bryan , Messina Steven A. , Brinkmann Benjamin H. , Miller Kai J. , Van Gompel Jamie J. , Kremen Vaclav , Worrell Gregory A. , Kucewicz Michal T.
Published: December 2022

Electrical stimulation is a powerful therapeutic tool for treating neurologic and neuropsychiatric disorders. Sensing and modulating electrophysiological biomarkers of memory over extended timescales is necessary for tracking and improving memory in humans. Here, we describe results from humans in their natural home environments using a novel, investigational system enabling chronic stimulation and multi-channel recording of anterior thalamic and hippocampal local field potentials during memory tasks. Four people with focal epilepsy performed a free recall verbal memory task repeatedly for up to fifty months on a touch-screen device with wireless signal acquisition with electrophysiology and behavioral data streaming to a cloud environment. Anterior thalamic-hippocampal spectral activities in the theta frequency range were found to correlate with memory processing, to predict task performance, and to be modulated by deep brain stimulation. Our results provide a new biomarker-based technology for chronic remote tracking of memory performance and modulation of the associated neural activities.

One Sentence Summary

Electrical stimulation in the anterior thalamic nuclei modulates theta frequency activities and improves human verbal memory performance chronically.
A novel performance scoring quantification framework for stress test set-ups
Authors: Kozlovski Tal , Hausdorff Jeffrey M. , Davidov Ori , Giladi Nir , Mirelman Anat , Benjamini Yoav
Published: December 2022

Stress tests, e.g., the cardiac stress test, are standard clinical screening tools aimed to unmask clinical pathology. As such stress tests indirectly measurephysiological reserves. The term reserve has been developed to account for the dis-junction, often observed, between pathology and clinical manifestation. It describes a physiological capacity that is utilized in demanding situations. However, developing a new and reliable stress test based screening tool is complex, prolonged, and relies extensively on domain knowledge. We propose a novel model-free machine–learning framework, the Stress Test Performance Scoring (STEPS) framework, to model expected performance in a stress test. A performance scoring function is trained with measures taken during the performance in a given task while exploiting information regarding the stress test set-up and subjects’ medical state. Multiple ways of aggregating performance scores at different stress levels are suggested and are examined with an extensive simulation study. When applied to a real-world data example, an AUC of 84.35[95%CI: 70.68 −95.13] was obtained for the STEPS framework to distinguish subjects with neurodegeneration from controls. In summary, STEPS improved screening by exploiting existing domain knowledge and state-of-the-art clinical measures. The STEPS framework can ease and speed up the production of new stress tests.
Male and female impairments in odor span are observed in a rat model of PTSD
Authors: McGonigle Colleen E. , Lapish Christopher C. , Logrip Marian L.
Published: December 2022

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with neural and behavioral alterations in response to trauma exposure, including working memory impairments. Rodent models of PTSD have not fully investigated chronic or reactive working memory deficits, despite clinical relevance. The present study uses footshock to induce a posttraumatic stress state in male and female rats and evaluates the effect of footshock and trauma-paired odor cues on working memory performance in the odor span task. Results demonstrate the emergence of chronic deficits in working memory among animals exposed to footshock by 3 wk after traumatic stress. The presentation of a trauma-paired odor cue was associated with further decrement in working memory performance for male animals. Furthermore, anxiety-like behaviors associated with the PTSD-like phenotype could predict the degree of working memory impairment in response to the trauma-paired odor cue. This study enhances validation of an existing rodent model of PTSD through replication of the clinical observations of working memory deficits associated with PTSD and provides novel insight into effects in female rodents. This will facilitate work to probe underlying mechanistic dysregulation of working memory following footshock trauma exposure and future development of novel treatment strategies.
Directors' and officers' liability insurance and digital transformation – the mediating role of explorative innovation
Authors: Huang Jing , Ling Zixi , Lu Ren
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relations between the directors' and officers' (D&O) insurance and digital transformation of Chinese-listed companies to provide insights into triggers of digital transformation from the perspective of D&Os' incentive plan.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a panel dataset of 2,590 listed manufacturing companies in China from 2017 to 2020, and using a textual analysis of annual reports, this paper empirically examines the impact of D&O insurance on digital transformation. The authors investigate the mechanism through a mediating model and apply a series of robustness tests including firm fixed effect model, propensity score matching and changing key measures.

Findings

The research shows that the digital transformation has been negatively influenced by D&O insurance. The long coverage duration of D&O insurance significantly lowers the level of digital transformation. The moral hazard problem caused by D&O insurance has hampered digital transformation through reducing explorative innovation, while there has been no significant change in innovation quantity. Under the coverage of D&O insurance, firms with worse internal governance and state-owned firms are more reluctant to invest in risky transformation than their counterparts.

Originality/value

Based on a textual analysis of annual reports, this paper empirically tests the influential mechanism of D&O insurance coverage on digital transformation. The authors provide insights into non-tech triggers of digital transformation and uncover how incentive plans influences D&Os' behaviors. This paper provides a new angle to the debate on governance-strengthening and governance-weakening role of D&O insurance.
A fuzzy QFD approach to prioritize capabilities and enablers of organizational agility based on its drivers: a case study
Authors: Abbaszadeh Marzieh , Shirouyehzad Hadi , Asadpour Milad
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a fuzzy Quality Function Deployment (QFD)-based approach for identifying and prioritizing organizational agility (OA) capabilities and enablers based on its drivers.

Design/methodology/approach

First, several models for agility drivers (ADs), agility capabilities (ACs) and agility enablers (AEs) are reviewed and ranked, and the best for each one is selected. Second, ADs’ indexes are weighted by using experts’ comments and fuzzy numbers. Finally, by using a proposed fuzzy QFD approach, ACs and AEs are prioritized. In addition, the proposed approach has been examined within a real case study, Golnoor Company in Esfahan, Iran.

Findings

Results reveal that among ADs’ criteria, “Changes in competition criteria” have the highest weights for the case study. In addition, “Leadership in the use of current technology” and “Knowledge management” have been ranked as the first place among ACs and AEs, respectively.

Originality/value

After conducting a comprehensive literature review, the authors did not find any particular framework, which consider AEs and ACs based on ADs simultaneously. Accordingly, the authors’ main novelty is proposing a fuzzy QFD to prioritize the OA capabilities and enablers based on its drivers.
Double standard policy: why are immigrants still at the tail of welfare?
Authors: Krutova Oxana
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This research considers the question of whether unemployment insurance benefit and labour-market activation measures induce the likelihood of re-employment and whether this effect differs for natives and immigrants.

Design/methodology/approach

Statistical processing was carried out on the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions cross-sectional data for Finland for the period 2004 to 2016. Propensity score matching analysis was undertaken to investigate whether a treatment effect (unemployment insurance benefit) was a predictor of success in increasing re-employment rates, when controlling for participation in labour-market policy measures, subsidized employment and personal background characteristics.

Findings

We find that the probability of re-employment for recipients of unemployment benefits is half that of non-recipients of benefits. Due to the influence of subsidized employment, subsequent employment income decreases for recipients of unemployment benefits and especially for immigrants. Finally, we find that due to the influence of subsidized employment, time spent as a full-time employee decreases for recipients of unemployment benefits and especially for immigrants.

Originality/value

Although our results indicate that benefit determination has a marked impact on re-employment probabilities, unobserved variables turn to play a significant role in selection of labour-market activation measures. In this respect, we find the treatment assignment to activation policy measures depends on influence of unobserved variables and this effect is more important for the re-employment rates of natives than it is for immigrants.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at:https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-11-2019-0668.
Art-of-living at work: interventions to reduce stress and increase well-being
Authors: Schwarz Mira , Feldmann Franziska , Schmitz Bernhard
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Due to the increasing burden of stress in the workplace, it is necessary to develop interventions to prevent long-term overload. The present study is based on the concept of art-of-living, which promotes a more reflective and conscious approach to life. In study 1, an online training designed to increase well-being was administered. Study 2 investigated the impact of an art-of-living training in a workplace environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Study 1 employed a two-factorial design, crossing time of testing (pre-test, post-test and follow-up-test) with group (three experimental groups; one control group); 67 participants received art-of-living training on their individual weaknesses and/or strengths or alternative control training. Study 2 used repeated measures and a waiting-list control group; 20 employees of a pharmaceutical company took part in the two-day intervention with a two-week learning phase in between.

Findings

The results of Study 1 indicated that even brief online art-of-living interventions can be effective. Significant differences between pre-, post- and follow-up-tests were observed in art-of-living and well-being scores among participants who had undergone training in art-of-living components identified as representing their strengths or a combination of their strengths and their weaknesses. The results of Study 2 also indicated positive outcomes in the experimental group, with significant increases between pre- and post-test in art-of-living, flourishing, positive affect and occupational self-efficacy, and significant decreases in negative affect.

Originality/value

The results demonstrate that art-of-living training can be used to increase art-of-living, well-being and occupational self-efficacy. Therefore, this type of intervention should attract further attention in future studies especially in the context of the workplace.
Impact of government support on users' participation in emerging green crowdsourcing logistics model: evidence from digital freight platform in China
Authors: Xiao Liang , Ke Tongping , Yu Fumao , Guo Peihua
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Digital freight platform is an innovation practice of green concept, sharing economy and crowdsourcing concept in China's logistics field. It has many advantages, such as improving the utilization rate of logistics resources, reducing carbon emissions, etc., so it has been highly regarded by the government. This paper systematically studies what types of government supports are available and explores the influence mechanism of these government supports on users' participation intention in digital freight platform.

Design/methodology/approach

In total 191 valid questionnaires were collected through a questionnaire survey in China. Then SmartPLS is used to analyze the collected data.

Findings

The empirical results show that user subsidies, standardization of tax administration and financial resource support have a significant impact on actual carriers' participation intention in digital freight platform. The impact of standardization of tax administration on actual carriers' participation intention is the most substantial, followed by that of financial resource support, while the user subsidies exert a minimum impact. Moreover, the impact of standardization of tax administration and user subsidies on legitimacy perception is related to enterprise scale.

Originality/value

This study enriches the field of crowdsourcing logistics research and provides referential suggestions for the formulation and implementation of government supports to promote the sustainable development of green crowdsourcing logistics platforms represented by digital freight platform. In addition, in the growth process of new models with strong social benefits, the government can promote its development through a variety of policy tools to improve the accuracy of government policies.
A moderated mediation model of situational context and brand image for online purchases using eWOM
Authors: Hoang Le Nguyen , Tung Le Thanh
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The moderating role of situational context in the effects of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) on online purchase intention through brand image has found sparse empirical support. This study thus aims to examine whether situational context affects the direction and strength of the relationships between aspects of eWOM and brand image that lead to online purchase intention.

Design/methodology/approach

To extend the existing research, the authors tested the model using a sample of 546 online shoppers during the fourth wave of COVID-19 in Ho Chi Minh City. Specifically, the testing of the direct relationships and the mediating role of brand image occurred using measurement and structural models. The authors then created a moderated mediation model to examine the moderating role of situational context. Furthermore, the authors probed the interactions by identifying changes in the relationships from eWOM to online purchase intention through a brand image at different levels of situational context.

Findings

Without situational context’s moderating effect, brand image positively partially mediated the influence of either eWOM credibility or quantity on intention. Situational context’s moderating effect then explains why high- versus low-level disease-avoidance customers seek less eWOM credibility and more eWOM quantity to develop brand images and shape their intentions.

Originality/value

The findings have theoretical implications for understanding the pressure of disease avoidance on customers’ online purchase intentions. Among the practical implications of the research are tactics for profit and non-profit purposes.
Dark personality triad and cyberentrepreneurial intentions: the mediation of cyberentrepreneurial self-efficacy and moderation of positive thinking
Authors: Ahmed Ishfaq , Islam Talat
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Advancement and disruptions in technologies have attracted cyberentrepreneurs globally, but what factors influence their intentions is an area that requires in-depth investigation. In order to dig down the phenomenon of cyberentrepreneurial intentions (CEIs), this study entails investigation of both direct and indirect effects (through cyberentrepreneurial self-efficacy; CESE) of the dark personality traits (e.g. Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy). It also aims to investigate the moderating role of positive thinking (PT) on the association between CESE and CEIs.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected, using personally administrated questionnaires, from students enrolled in business and information technology (IT) programs in large public sector universities in three waves to tackle common method bias. A total of 641 useful responses were considered for analysis purposes.

Findings

The results reveal that not all dark triad dimensions influence CEIs and CESE. Narcissism is the only positive predictor of both the outcome variables (CESE and CEIs). Specifically, psychopathy positively influences CEIs, while its effects on CESE are negative; whereas Machiavellianism does not predict CESE, however, it negatively influences CEIs. In addition, CESE mediates the association between narcissism and CEIs; however, PT strengthens the relationship between CESE and CEIs.

Research limitations/implications

The study collected data from a country with low entrepreneurs; therefore, results may vary for countries with a large number of entrepreneurs. The findings of the study offer both theoretical and practical implications, while it highlights the role of dark personality traits and their link with the CESE and CEIs.

Originality/value

There is a dearth of literature on CEIs, which this study extends through the dark personality traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy). This study also explored the mediating mechanism of CESE and the conditional role of PT between dark personality traits and CEIs.
Politics-based knowledge legitimation model: power exercise in organizational learning
Authors: Nakanishi Yoshinobu
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose a model of knowledge legitimation in organizational learning focusing on the relationship between power politics and legitimacy.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts the approach of a conceptual discussion.

Findings

This study developed an organizational learning model that explains how actors exercise their power and how knowledge is legitimated through politics. The author identified various factors that shape the politics; these factors trigger, enhance, facilitate and inhibit power exercise. This study also identified which type of power (influence, force, domination and discipline) leads to which type of legitimacy (pragmatic, moral and cognitive). Furthermore, this study found that power politics and organizational learning are interrelated; actors’ powers bestow legitimacy on knowledge, and knowledge enhances the power of related actors.

Originality/value

This study identified the set of factors that shape actors’ power exercise in organizational learning as well as their associated mechanism and illustrated how they lead to knowledge legitimation. The author also revealed the relationships between actors’ power and legitimacy of knowledge. Finally, this study elaborated on the findings of prior studies concerning politics of organizational learning.
Three cases of refractory bullous pemphigoid in the elderly treated successfully with ultra‐low‐dose rituximab
Authors: Chen Qiang , Hu Bin , Wan Li , Hu Lei , Zhou Xiaoyong , Chen Liuqing , Chen Jinbo
Published: December 2022

Rituximab has proven effective for the treatment of steroid‐refractory bullous pemphigoid (BP), but there is controversy over the dosing protocol. We report three cases of refractory BP treated successfully with ultra‐low‐dose rituximab (100 mg weekly for 4 weeks). Our cases confirmed the efficacy and good follow‐up outcomes of this treatment strategy for refractory BP. The ultra‐low‐dose rituximab regimen (100 mg weekly for 4 weeks) may be a useful alternative therapy in patients with refractory BP.
Effectiveness of brodalumab in improving itching and skin pain in Japanese patients with psoriasis: The ProLOGUE study
Authors: Honma Masaru , Kanai Yasumasa , Murotani Kenta , Ito Kei , Ohata Chika , Yamazaki Fumikazu , Saeki Hidehisa , Seishima Mariko , Mizutani Yoko , Kitabayashi Hiroki , Imafuku Shinichi
Published: December 2022

Itching and skin pain are bothersome symptoms of psoriasis, but evidence is limited regarding the treatment effectiveness on these symptoms in daily clinical settings. We assessed the changes in the levels of itching and skin pain after brodalumab treatment in Japanese patients with psoriasis using patient‐reported outcomes (PROs). Patients with psoriasis who have inadequate response to existing treatments were enrolled in the single‐arm, open‐label, multicenter, prospective ProLOGUE study and received brodalumab 210 mg subcutaneously in daily clinical practice. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and PRO assessments were performed at baseline and weeks 12 and 48. Seventy‐three patients (men, 82.2%; median age, 54.0 years) were enrolled. The Itch Numeric Rating Scale (NRS; p < 0.0001 at weeks 12 and 48) and Skin Pain NRS (week 12, p = 0.0004; week 48, p < 0.0001) scores significantly decreased from baseline. The Itch NRS score was significantly higher in patients with a Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score of ≥2 (vs. 0/1; p < 0.0001 at weeks 12 and 48) and in patients with a Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication‐9 (TSQM‐9) global satisfaction domain score of ≤70% (vs. >70%; week 12, p = 0.0120; week 48, p = 0.0348). The Itch NRS score cutoff value for achieving a PASI score of ≤2, DLQI score of 0/1, and TSQM‐9 global satisfaction domain score of >70% was 1 at week 12 and 0 at week 48. Brodalumab treatment was associated with improvement in itching and skin pain in Japanese patients with psoriasis. An Itch NRS score of 0 can be a long‐term treatment goal for psoriasis (Japan Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: jRCTs031180037).
Leadership matters in democratic education: Calibrating the role of Principal in one democratic school
Authors: McCutcheon Fintan , Haynes Joanna
Published: December 2022

Through a series of conversations, Fintan McCutcheon and Joanna Haynes explore McCutcheon's reflections on school leadership in the contexts of the Educate Together movement (in the Republic of Ireland) and, specifically, in his aspiration to build an optimally democratic school in Balbriggan. Much of the academic and professional literature on school leadership depicts the role of school leaders as expressing a strong vision for the school, with charismatic communication and strategic skills, and putting explicit emphasis on high educational standards. On the ground, the school leader is required to maintain executive governance standards, is accountable to a range of hierarchies and audiences and is in a custodian role to traditions of school culture and human resource relationships. Taken together, these academic, professional and contractual obligations can corral the school leader into practice of limited scope, obstructed by protocol, risk-averse and curtailed in creativity and, in relation to developing a democratic school, lacking in the necessary room for innovation. The conversation focuses on the rough ground of incident and messiness, identified through critical moments of school life when the aspirations to be democratic, to lead democratically, to teach democracy and to create a sustaining democratic school culture are lived-out. Through this dialogue, the conversants observe a practice of school leadership grounded in practical reason. The dialogue touches on and threads congruence between the on-the-ground risk-taking, rule-breaking, action orientation, nuanced dialogue, passionate engagement and deep reflection that characterise day-to-day school leadership practice. It concludes with ideas concerning the dynamics of forms of democracy that can prevail.
De novo design of the global transcriptional factor Cra‐regulated promoters enables highly sensitive glycolysis flux biosensor for dynamic metabolic control
Authors: Zhu Yuan , Gao Huaxiao , Zhang Jian , Zhao Jingyu , Qi Qingsheng , Wang Qian
Published: December 2022

Glycolytic flux is a fundamental index in microbial cell factories. A glycolytic flux biosensor that can monitor glucose metabolism efficiency is a promising strategy in rewiring metabolic flux to balance growth and biosynthesis. A key design feature of the glycolytic flux biosensors is the interaction between the global transcriptional factor Cra and its regulated promoters. However, overexpression and mutation of Cra has unpredictable effects on global metabolism in Escherichia coli. Therefore, new orthogonal biosensor design strategies should be developed to circumvent metabolic issues. In this report, the promoters in glycolytic flux biosensor were replaced with synthetic promoters of varying strengths or phage‐derived promoters, and the Cra DNA‐binding sites were deployed into promoters at different positions and distances to yield biosensors. The de nova biosensors that depended on Cra could sense Fructose‐1,6‐diphosphate (FBP) with broad dynamic ranges and low basal leakage. Then the negative‐response biosensors were applied to fine‐tune the target ATP synthesis gene, leading to the desired increase in pyruvate production (the highest 9.66 g/L) and cell growth. Moreover, the membrane synthesis gene plsC was also dynamically activated by the positive‐response biosensor, leading to effective accumulation of lycopene in the cell membrane and a 50‐fold increase in lycopene titre (100.3 mg/L) when compared with the control strain, demonstrating the effective and broader usages of our biosensors.
Banking's Climate Conundrum
Authors: Kress Jeremy C.
Published: December 2022

Over the past decade, a consensus has emerged among academics and policy makers that climate change could threaten the stability of banks, insurers, and the broader financial system. In response, regulators from around the world have begun implementing policies to mitigate emerging climate risks in the financial sector. The United States, however, lags significantly behind other countries in addressing such risks. This article argues that the United States' sluggishness in responding to climate‐related financial risk is problematic because the U.S. banking system is uniquely susceptible to climate change. The United States' vulnerability stems, in part, from a little‐known statutory provision that prohibits U.S. regulators from relying on external credit ratings in bank capital requirements. Because of this deviation from internationally accepted capital standards, when a credit rating agency downgrades a “dirty” company, U.S. banks that lend to that company need not compensate by maintaining a bigger capital cushion. Over time, this dynamic will likely incentivize “dirty” companies to borrow more from U.S. banks, intensifying the U.S. banking system's exposure to climate risks. This article contends that the United States must overcome this unusual weakness by taking bold steps to safeguard the domestic financial system from the climate crisis.
Associations among maternal characteristics, labour interventions, delivery mode and maternal antenatal complications in a NSW large rural town, and comparison to NSW state data
Authors: Noonan Sarah Helen Joy , Larkin Theresa Anne
Published: December 2022

Objective

To determine associations between maternal characteristics, labour interventions, delivery mode and maternal antenatal complications in a NSW rural hospital, and compare these to state data.

Methods

Data (maternal characteristics, labour type, delivery mode and maternal antenatal complications) pertaining to women who had delivered a singleton birth at Griffith Base hospital were analysed.

Design

Retrospective data analysis of Griffith Base Hospital ‘eMaternity’ database

Setting

Single large rural town in NSW.

Participants

Women who delivered a singleton birth between July 2018 and June 2019 inclusive at Griffith Base Hospital.

Main outcome measures

1. Comparison of maternal characteristics of age, BMI, gravida, parity and gestation data between labour type (spontaneous, augmented, induced and planned caesarean section) and delivery modes (vaginal, instrumental vaginal and caesarean section). 2. Associations between labour type, augmentation or induction method, delivery mode and maternal antenatal complications. 3. Multiple regression analysis for influence of age, BMI, parity and labour type on emergency caesarean section outcome. 4. Comparison of maternal, labour and delivery data with NSW state data.

Results

Among 457 women, there were higher rates of obesity and spontaneous labour, lower rates of planned caesarean section and augmented labour, and similar rates of induction of labour and emergency caesarean section, compared with NSW. Emergency caesarean section was significantly associated with older age (β = 0.163), and labour augmentation (β = 0.114) and induction (β = 0.169). Labour augmentation with synthetic oxytocin, and induction with balloon catheter, were associated with the highest rates of emergency caesarean section.

Conclusion

This large rural town had fewer labour and delivery medical interventions compared with NSW overall. Augmentation and induction of labour contribute to increasing caesarean section rates: directly via associations with emergency caesarean section, and indirectly because previous caesarean section was the most common reason for elective caesarean section.
Identifying potential cross‐talk signatures for the occurrence of atherosclerosis in diabetic erectile dysfunction
Authors: Yuan Penghui , Sun Taotao , Han Zhengyang , Chen Yinwei
Published: December 2022

Background

Erectile dysfunction and atherosclerosis are common cardiovascular complications in diseases. Clinical associations between erectile dysfunction and atherosclerosis have been noticed, but the specific mechanisms are not illustrated adequately.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to further mine associated pathological mechanisms and genetic alterations of atherosclerosis in diabetes mellitus‐related erectile dysfunction.

Materials and methods

Significant atherosclerosis‐related genes were identified from transcriptome data of diabetes mellitus‐related erectile dysfunction and atherosclerosis‐related gene sets from DisGeNET and GeneCard databases. Functional enrichment and immune infiltration analyses were performed to clarify the biological roles and pathways as well as immune responses of significant atherosclerosis‐related gene sets. A protein–protein interaction network was constructed, and gene clusters were performed. Then, data of diabetic plaques and high‐glucose cavernosum endothelial cells were analyzed for validation. And hub atherosclerosis‐related gene sets were identified. Finally, expressed pattern of hub atherosclerosis‐related gene sets were explored by single‐cell profiling and immune analysis.

Results

In total, 202 significant atherosclerosis‐related gene sets including 100 upregulated and 102 downregulated genes were identified. These genes were related to endothelial cell migration, inflammatory response, regulation of oxidative stress, and immune response. In immune infiltration, immature dendritic cells and monocytes showed differential expression between the diabetes mellitus‐related erectile dysfunction and control groups, A protein–protein interaction network containing 135 nodes was constructed. A hub atherosclerosis‐related gene set signature consisting of HBEGF, LOX, NQO1, and VLDLR was obtained by multi‐omics validation. In addition, Functional enrichment analysis revealed that hub atherosclerosis‐related gene sets were involved in oxidoreductase activity and extracellular matrix organization.

Discussion and conclusion

We explored atherosclerosis‐related genetic changes and signaling pathways in diabetes mellitus‐related erectile dysfunction. HBEGF, LOX, NQO1, and VLDLR were identified as hub atherosclerosis‐related gene sets. These may serve as potential biomarkers for the clinical management of atherosclerosis and preventing further cardiovascular risks in diabetes mellitus‐related erectile dysfunction.