bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Re-evaluation of protein neutron crystallography with and without X-ray/neutron joint refinement
Authors: Murakawa Takeshi , Kurihara Kazuo , Adachi Motoyasu , Kusaka Katsuhiro , Tanizawa Katsuyuki , Okajima Toshihide
Published: April 2022

Protein neutron crystallography is a powerful technique to determine the positions of H atoms, providing crucial biochemical information such as the protonation states of catalytic groups and the geometry of hydrogen bonds. Recently, the crystal structure of a bacterial copper amine oxidase was determined by joint refinement using X-ray and neutron diffraction data sets at resolutions of 1.14 and 1.72 Å, respectively [Murakawa et al. (2020). Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 117, 10818–10824]. While joint refinement is effective for the determination of the accurate positions of heavy atoms on the basis of the electron density, the structural information on light atoms (hydrogen and deuterium) derived from the neutron diffraction data might be affected by the X-ray data. To unravel the information included in the neutron diffraction data, the structure determination was conducted again using only the neutron diffraction data at 1.72 Å resolution and the results were compared with those obtained in the previous study. Most H and D atoms were identified at essentially the same positions in both the neutron-only and the X-ray/neutron joint refinements. Nevertheless, neutron-only refinement was found to be less effective than joint refinement in providing very accurate heavy-atom coordinates that lead to significant improvement of the neutron scattering length density map, especially for the active-site cofactor. Consequently, it was confirmed that X-ray/neutron joint refinement is crucial for determination of the real chemical structure of the catalytic site of the enzyme.
Crystal structure of the middle and C-terminal domains of Hsp90α labeled with a coumarin derivative reveals a potential allosteric binding site as a drug target
Authors: Peng Shuxia , Woodruff Jeff , Pathak Prabhat Kumar , Matts Robert L. , Deng Junpeng
Published: April 2022

The 90 kDa heat-shock protein (Hsp90) is an abundant molecular chaperone that is essential to activate, stabilize and regulate the function of a plethora of client proteins. As drug targets for the treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, Hsp90 inhibitors that bind to the N-terminal ATP-binding site of Hsp90 have shown disappointing efficacy in clinical trials. Thus, allosteric regulation of the function of Hsp90 by compounds that interact with its middle and C-terminal (MC) domains is now being pursued as a mechanism to inhibit the ATPase activity and client protein-binding activity of Hsp90 without concomitant induction of the heat-shock response. Here, the crystal structure of the Hsp90αMC protein covalently linked to a coumarin derivative, MDCC {7-diethylamino-3-[N-(2-maleimidoethyl)carbamoyl]coumarin}, which is located in a hydrophobic pocket that is formed at the Hsp90αMC hexamer interface, is reported. MDCC binding leads to the hexamerization of Hsp90, and the stabilization and conformational changes of three loops that are critical for its function. A fluorescence competition assay demonstrated that other characterized coumarin and isoflavone-containing Hsp90 inhibitors compete with MDCC binding, suggesting that they could bind at a common site or that they might allosterically alter the structure of the MDCC binding site. This study provides insights into the mechanism by which the coumarin class of allosteric inhibitors potentially disrupt the function of Hsp90 by regulating its oligomerization and the burial of interaction sites involved in the ATP-dependent folding of Hsp90 clients. The hydrophobic binding pocket characterized here will provide new structural information for future drug design.
Structural studies of a novel auxiliary-domain-containing phenylalanine hydroxylase from Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579
Authors: Park Jiyoung , Hong Jiyeon , Seok Jihye , Hong Hwaseok , Seo Hogyun , Kim Kyung-Jin
Published: April 2022

Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH), which belongs to the aromatic amino-acid hydroxylase family, is involved in protein synthesis and pyomelanine production through the hydroxylation of phenylalanine to tyrosine. In this study, the crystal structure of PAH from Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 (BcPAH) with an additional 280 amino acids in the C-terminal region was determined. The structure of BcPAH consists of three distinct domains: a core domain with two additional inserted α-helices and two novel auxiliary domains: BcPAH-AD1 and BcPAH-AD2. Structural homologues of BcPAH-AD1 and BcPAH-AD2 are known to be involved in mRNA regulation and protein–protein interactions, and thus it was speculated that BcPAH might utilize the auxiliary domains for interaction with its partner proteins. Furthermore, phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the three-domain PAHs, including BcPAH, are completely distinctive from both conventional prokaryotic PAHs and eukaryotic PAHs. Finally, biochemical studies of BcPAH showed that BcPAH-AD1 might be important for the structural integrity of the enzyme and that BcPAH-AD2 is related to enzyme stability and/or activity. Investigations into the intracellular functions of the two auxiliary domains and the relationship between these functions and the activity of PAH are required.
Crystal structure of the domain-swapped dimeric maltodextrin-binding protein MalE from Salmonella enterica
Authors: Wang Lulu , Bu Tingting , Bai Xue , He Shanru , Zhang Jie , Jin Liming , Liu Baoquan , Dong Yuesheng , Ha Nam-Chul , Quan Chunshan , Nam Ki Hyun , Xu Yongbin
Published: April 2022

MalE is a maltose/maltodextrin-binding protein (MBP) that plays a critical role in most bacterial maltose/maltodextrin-transport systems. Previously reported wild-type MBPs are monomers comprising an N-terminal domain (NTD) and a C-terminal domain (CTD), and maltose-like molecules are recognized between the NTD and CTD and transported to the cell system. Because MBP does not undergo artificial dimerization, it is widely used as a tag for protein expression and purification. Here, the crystal structure of a domain-swapped dimeric MalE from Salmonella enterica (named SeMalE) in complex with maltopentaose is reported for the first time, and its structure is distinct from typical monomeric MalE family members. In the domain-swapped dimer, SeMalE comprises two subdomains: the NTD and CTD. The NTD and CTD of one molecule of SeMalE interact with the CTD and NTD of the partner molecule, respectively. The domain-swapped dimeric conformation was stabilized by interactions between the NTDs, CTDs and linkers from two SeMalE molecules. Additionally, a maltopentaose molecule was found to be located at the interface between the NTD and CTD of different SeMalE molecules. These results provide new insights that will improve the understanding of maltodextrin-binding MalE proteins.
Analysis of the influence factors of VSC–HVDC on AC three-phase short-circuit current level
Authors: Zhao Jingbo , Tao Yan , Sun Zhiming
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to clarify voltage sourced converter’s (VSC’s) influence rules on the alternating current (AC) short-circuit current and identify the key factors, so as to propose the short-circuit current suppression strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper investigates the key factors which impact the short-circuit current supplied by the VSC based on the equivalent current source model. This study shows that the phase of the VSC equivalent current source is mainly affected by the type of fault, whereas the amplitude is mainly decided by the control mode, the amplitude limiter and the electrical distance. Based on the above influence mechanism, the dynamic limiter with short-circuit current limiting function is designed. The theoretical analysis is verified by simulations on PSCAD.

Findings

The short-circuit current feeding from VSC is closely related to the control mode and control parameters of the VSC, fault type at AC side and the electrical distance of the fault point. The proposed dynamic limiter can make VSC absorb more reactive power to suppress the short-circuit current.

Research limitations/implications

The dynamic limiter proposed in this paper is limited to suppress three-phase short-circuit fault current. The future work will focus more on improving and extending the dynamic limiter to the fault current suppression application in other fault scenarios.

Practical implications

The research results provide a reference for the design of protection system.

Originality/value

The key influence factors are conducive to put forward the measures to suppress the fault current, eliminate the risk of short-circuit current exceeding the standard and reduce the difficulty of protection design.
Under domination of oil and gas: future scenarios of renewable energy development in Iran
Authors: Fartash Kiarash , Ghorbani Amir
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Scenario planning is a useful approach that helps policymakers to better understand the complexity and uncertainties that lie in the future and to choose the right policy mix to support the development of renewable and affordable energy sources. In this regard, this paper aims to present renewable energy (RE) development scenarios in Iran in the horizon of 2030.

Design/methodology/approach

Following the intuitive logic school and the Global Business Network model, the authors identified seven driving forces, according to the expert’s judgment, by brainstorming techniques which influence REs development in the horizon of 2030. By prioritizing driving forces based on their importance and uncertainty, “sustainable and green economy” and “emerging technology development” are the most instrumental uncertainties and the authors formed a two-axis scenario matrix with each representing an axis.

Findings

The results suggest four main scenarios of “Transition to Sustainability with Green Gold,” “Towards Sustainability with Green Gold,” “Productivity with Black Gold” and “Desperation with Black Gold.” They include a wide range of possible situations of energy basket in the future ranging from dominance of fossil fuels to dominance of REs. The “Productivity with Black Gold” and the “Towards Sustainability with Green Gold” are the most probable scenarios of RE development by 2030 in Iran.

Originality/value

This paper indicates that the dominance of oil and gas resources would impede or at least slow down the development of renewable and affordable energy sources. Although the economic and environmental potentials and the inevitability of REs are well-understood, path dependence created by fossil fuels in Iran’s energy regime, either partially or fully, hinders the widespread development of REs which is the case in other resource-based countries as well.
A conceptualization of the privacy concerns of cloud users
Authors: Peras Dijana , Mekovec Renata
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve the understanding of cloud service users’ privacy concerns, which are anticipated to considerably hinder cloud service market growth. The researchers have explored privacy concerns from dimensions that were identified as relevant in the cloud context.

Design/methodology/approach

Content analysis was used to identify privacy problems that were most often raised in previous cloud research. Multidimensional developmental theory (MDT) was used to build a conceptual model of cloud privacy concerns. Literature review was made to identify the privacy-related constructs used to measure privacy concerns in previous cloud research.

Findings

The paper provides systematization of recent cloud privacy research, proposal of a conceptual model of cloud privacy concerns, identification of measuring instruments that were used to measure privacy concerns in previous cloud research and identification of categories of problems that need to be addressed in future cloud research.

Originality/value

This paper has identified the categories of privacy problems and dimensions that have not yet been measured in the cloud context, to the best of the authors’ knowledge. Their simultaneous examination could clarify the effects of different dimensions on the privacy concerns of cloud users. The conceptual model of cloud privacy concerns will allow cloud service providers to focus on key cloud problems affecting users’ privacy concerns and use the most appropriate privacy protection communication and preservation approaches.
Gatekeeper perceptions on adopting environmentally sound information and communication technology-enhanced live performances to improve the sustainability of music festivals
Authors: Bossey Adrian
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider perceptions of sustainability, information communication technologies (ICTs)-enhanced performances, authenticity, COVID-19 and performance futures in relation to digital content for use on-site and off-site at music festivals/events. It responds to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 9 – Industries, Innovation and Infrastructure. The research analyses existing literature to inform a dialogue among music festival organisers, consultants and performers. It addresses the thesis that: industry gatekeepers’ opinions on the authenticity of environmentally sound ICT-generated live content will influence its adoption at music festivals.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary research was carried out using purposive sampling of 50 live music industry professionals to collect and interpret expert empirical evidence through informed narrative. Using a mixed-methods approach, respondents completed a structured e-mail questionnaire comprising closed questions, a five-point Likert scale and additional qualitative open questions.

Findings

Predominantly positive quantitative responses relating to the live music industry's role in advocating sustainability contrasted with negative responses to virtual festivals. Responses adopting and rejecting environmentally sound ICT for live content were evident in qualitative results, with significant proportions of undecided or uncertain respondents. The prevalence of postponement and rejection responses around authenticity may prevent adoption at some music festivals.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of this research include the relatively small sample size and limited scope in terms of the artform.

Originality/value

The “snapshot” of digital aspects of sustainability at music festivals within this research is of particular value due to the paucity of research in this area, rapid change in virtual music festival provision prompted by COVID-19 and its narrative from varied industry professionals. The paper makes recommendations to artists, music festival organisers, consultants, academics and public funders to attempt to advance sustainability.
Drivers of showrooming behaviour: insights from integrated perspectives
Authors: Arora Sourabh , Sahney Sangeeta , Parida Rashmi Ranjan
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The paper investigates shoppers' justification behind the showrooming behaviour and proposes an integrated SOR-MOA framework and a SAP-LAP model for a better understanding of the showrooming phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopts a qualitative approach. A narrative-based examination followed by an inductive thematic analysis was employed to discover consumers' reasoning behind showrooming.

Findings

The results of the study affirmed the distinction between situational and intentional showrooming conduct. Situational factors have been classified across two categories: store-related (mismanagement at the store, assortment issues) and sales-personal related factors (disrespectful, rude, poor response and dishonest behaviour of the sales staff). However, factors corresponding to intentional showrooming conduct have been characterized as motivational (perceived value, past experience and perceived relative advantage), opportunity (retailer's support and services, channel availability and consumer empowerment) and ability (consumer skills)-related factors in aggregation with the stimulus organism response ideology. In addition, the study also highlights the consequences associated with the showrooming conduct of the shoppers.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of the study need further exploration and examination through the adoption of a quantitative approach on a large sample size.

Practical implications

The findings of the study can be utilized by offline retailers for devising strategies to counter showrooming customers and retain them as buyers.

Originality/value

The study emerges as the first piece of research to account for the ability and opportunity perspectives for better understanding of showrooming.
Examining the nexus between food retailers certification and its impacts
Authors: Bannor Richard Kwasi , Amfo Bismark , Oppong-Kyeremeh Helena
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The authors assessed the certification of street food retailers in Ghana in terms of awareness, training, willingness to be certified, determinants, agreement with certification requirements and impacts on performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data was sourced from 200 street food retailers. Descriptive statistics, Likert scale, mean comparison test, heteroskedastic probit, inverse-probability-weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA), inverse probability weights (IPW) and augmented inverse-probability weighting (AIPW) were applied.

Findings

Most uncertified retailers were willing to be certified. Awareness about certification was high. Most of the certified retailers had been trained on certification, while most uncertified retailers had not been trained. Being a female, being educated, being a migrant vendor, possessing experience in retailing, training in certification, trust in the local certification process, the amount spent in preparing food and the number of customers are crucial variables that increase the probability of being certified among street food vendors. Street food retailers agreed to all the requirements for certification. Certification boosts the performance of street food retailers in terms of the number of customers and contracts received. Training on certification is recommended for street food retailers.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this study is mainly due to the type of food retailers selected. Street food vending in Ghana is done among those who cook food for selling, those who sell processed products such as drinks and those who sell vegetables and other uncooked agriproducts. Meanwhile, the authors selected unorganised retailers who primarily cook local and regional dishes for sale in this study. Thus, the study did not include organised food retailers such as restaurants. Therefore, generalising the study results for street food vendors should be made with caution.

Originality/value

Several studies have been conducted on street food retailing across the globe on knowledge of food-safety practices, risk practices, bacterial contamination of street retailing food, toxicological hazards of street foods and compliance with technical and hygienic requirements by street food retailers, among others. However, empirical studies on the certification/licensing of street food retailers and its impact have been given little attention. As a result, this study investigates the certification of street food retailers and its impacts on retailers' performance in Ghana.
Merging control strategies of connected and autonomous vehicles at freeway on-ramps: a comprehensive review
Authors: Zhu Jie , Easa Said , Gao Kun
Published: April 2022

Purpose

On-ramp merging areas are typical bottlenecks in the freeway network since merging on-ramp vehicles may cause intensive disturbances on the mainline traffic flow and lead to various negative impacts on traffic efficiency and safety. The connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs), with their capabilities of real-time communication and precise motion control, hold a great potential to facilitate ramp merging operation through enhanced coordination strategies. This paper aims to present a comprehensive review of the existing ramp merging strategies leveraging CAVs, focusing on the latest trends and developments in the research field.

Design/methodology/approach

The review comprehensively covers 44 papers recently published in leading transportation journals. Based on the application context, control strategies are categorized into three categories: merging into sing-lane freeways with total CAVs, merging into sing-lane freeways with mixed traffic flows and merging into multilane freeways.

Findings

Relevant literature is reviewed regarding the required technologies, control decision level, applied methods and impacts on traffic performance. More importantly, the authors identify the existing research gaps and provide insightful discussions on the potential and promising directions for future research based on the review, which facilitates further advancement in this research topic.

Originality/value

Many strategies based on the communication and automation capabilities of CAVs have been developed over the past decades, devoted to facilitating the merging/lane-changing maneuvers at freeway on-ramps. Despite the significant progress made, an up-to-date review covering these latest developments is missing to the authors’ best knowledge. This paper conducts a thorough review of the cooperation/coordination strategies that facilitate freeway on-ramp merging using CAVs, focusing on the latest developments in this field. Based on the review, the authors identify the existing research gaps in CAV ramp merging and discuss the potential and promising future research directions to address the gaps.
Goal orientations and workplace informal learning strategies: the mediating role of intrinsic motivation
Authors: Santoro Sergio
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to innovate by investigating the effects of goal orientations on informal learning strategies and whether intrinsic motivation mediates the relation between those two constructs.

Design/methodology/approach

To address these aims, the author relied on a quantitative study and on structural equation modeling to evaluate the relationships prescribed by the research model. The hypotheses were tested on a sample of 244 bank managers from Brazilian banks.

Findings

Results show that mastery goal orientation positively relate with both informal cognitive and behavioral learning strategies in the workplace.

Originality/value

This paper has contributed to the discussion concerning the effects of goal orientations on managers’ informal learning strategies, complementing previous research on the antecedents of informal learning.
Exploring the knowledge structure of the relationship between value co-creation and customer satisfaction
Authors: Nájera-Sánchez Juan-José , Martinez-Cañas Ricardo , García-Haro María-Ángeles , Martínez-Ruiz María Pilar
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Given the growing importance of the relationship between customer value co-creation and customer satisfaction, it is essential to assess the implications of this connection from both a managerial and an academic perspective. The literature on this link has grown enormously in recent years. However, there lacks an integrative framework to improve its understanding. Based on the use of bibliometric techniques, the purpose of this article is threefold: firstly, to shed light on the relationship's knowledge structure by identifying the main clusters of topics; secondly, to propose an integrative conceptual framework and finally, to identify future avenues of research.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyze a database of 133 recent documents dealing with this pairing to address this gap. A bibliometric coupling methodology was used. Additionally, an in-depth analysis of centrality, density and citations for the different clusters identified in the last years was performed. The authors characterize each group in the knowledge map of the relationship.

Findings

This bibliometric analysis identified seven thematic clusters. Three of these, with a more transversal nature, have fostered the growth of this literature. The subsequent clusters used theoretical frameworks present in the first three clusters, adapting them to the specific circumstances analyzed, following different patterns of evolution. The authors present the behavior of the citations in each cluster over recent years, analyzing their intellectual base, trends and development potential.

Originality/value

Derived from their findings, an integrative conceptual framework for explaining the knowledge structure of research in value co-creation and the customer satisfaction literature is proposed. The authors identify main topics by clusters and then detect research gaps and propose new research avenues for the future.
Elimination of the reserve requirement: impact on liquidity at community banks versus non-community banks
Authors: Fayman Alex , Chen Su-Jane , Mayes Timothy R.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to better understand the differences between community and non-community banks (CBs and Non-CBs) in the US. As the former have been declining in numbers, previous literature shows inherent differences between the business models of CBs and Non-CBs. This study attempts to gauge whether the impact of the reserve elimination during the Covid pandemic affected all banks similarly or whether community banks showed a differentiated response.

Design/methodology/approach

On March 26, 2020, the Federal Reserve, at the onset of the Covid pandemic, altered the depository institution reserve requirement for the first time since 1992. This significant change in policy led to the reserve requirement reduction from 10% to 0%. This study examines the impact of the 2020 reserve elimination on all community banks and non-community banks in the US and finds that although the level of cash to assets increased at both types of depository institutions post reserve elimination, the impact on liquidity-focused ratios was more pervasive at community banks in the first quarter post the regulatory shift. Among community banks, the largest depository institutions experienced the biggest balance sheet adjustments in the June 2020 quarter that followed the change in Federal Reserve’s policy. Further, the study finds that over two-quarters post reserve elimination, the non-community banks demonstrate a greater increase in balance sheet liquidity. Past literature shows that community banks tend to carry more liquidity than non-community banks and small community banks tend to carry more liquidity than their larger counterparts. These previous findings may provide some explanation for the different speed documented in this study at which various banks have reacted to the reserve elimination in 2020.

Findings

This research finds that community banks had a quicker response to the change in the reserve elimination, showing quick increases across liquidity ratios. The larger non-community banks tended to play catch up, increasing their liquidity in the subsequent quarter. The study also shows that the changes in liquidity were initially driven by the segment of large community banks.

Originality/value

This study looks at how the reserve elimination enacted by the Federal Reserve in March 2020 in response to the Covid pandemic affected community versus non-community banks. Currently, as far as the authors know, there are no other published papers that look at this issue.
Numerical simulation of a viscoelastic pipeline vibration under pulsating fluid flow
Authors: Khudayarov Bakhtiyar , Turaev Fozilzhon
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to create a mathematical model, a numerical algorithm and a computer program for studying the vibration of composite pipelines based on the theory of beams used in the oil and gas industry, agriculture and water management, housing and communal services and other areas.

Design/methodology/approach

A mathematical model of vibration of a viscoelastic pipeline based on the theory of beams with a pulsating fluid flowing through it was developed. Using the Bubnov-Galerkin method, based on the polynomial approximation of deflections, the problem is reduced to the study of systems of ordinary integro-differential equations, the solution of which is found by a numerical method. A computational algorithm was developed for solving problems of vibrations of composite pipelines conveying pulsating liquid.

Findings

The stability and amplitude-time characteristics of vibration of composite pipelines with a pulsating fluid flowing in it are studied for wide range of changes in the parameters of deformable systems and fluid flow. The critical velocities of fluid flow at which the viscoelastic pipe loses its rectilinear equilibrium shape are found. The effect of singularity in the kernels of heredity on the vibrations of structures with viscoelastic properties was numerically studied. It is shown that with an increase in the viscosity parameter of the pipeline material, the critical flow velocity decreases. It was determined that an increase in the value of the fluid pulsation frequency and the excitation coefficient leads to a decrease in the critical velocity of the fluid flow. It was established that an increase in the parameters of the Winkler foundation and the rigidity parameter of the continuous layer leads to an increase in the critical flow velocity.

Originality/value

The study of the vibration of pipelines made of composite materials is of great theoretical and applied interest. The solution to this problem is an effective application of the theory of viscoelasticity to real processes. Therefore, the methods and problems of pipeline vibrations attract much attention from researchers. This study is devoted to solving the above problems and therefore its subject is relevant. The paper considers the results of numerical simulation of the processes of vibration of a composite pipeline based on the theory of shells during the flow of a pulsating liquid through it. A mathematical model of vibration of a composite pipeline was developed. A computational algorithm was developed for solving problems of vibrations of composite pipelines conveying pulsating liquid.
Ketogenic vs plantogenic diets for health: a review article
Authors: Dos Santos Hildemar , Han Diane , Perez Mayabel , Johnson Summer , Shaheen Razaz
Published: April 2022

Purpose

To gain a better and more comprehensive understanding, this study aims to investigate the literature to explore the two popular diets’ health benefits and concerns. Google Scholar and PubMed were used to search for available and relevant nutrition and health articles that pertain to the benefits and concerns of plantogenic and ketogenic diets. Search terms like low carbohydrate, diet, ketogenic, vegetarian and chronic diseases were used. Information was obtained from review articles and original research articles and checked for accuracy. Ketogenic diets have been used for a long time for convulsion in children and now reappeared for weight loss purposes.

Design/methodology/approach

Ketogenic and plantogenic (plant-based) diets have been adopted today by many professionals and the public.

Findings

Ketogenic diets have been used for a long time for convulsion in children and now reappeared for weight loss purposes. Plantogenic diets also have been practiced for many years for religious, health and environmental reasons. Compared to plantogenic diets, ketogenic diets lack long-term evidence of its potential benefits and harm.

Research limitations/implications

Maybe Lacto-ovo vegetarian and pesco-vegetarian (eat fish but not meats) diets are OK. However, for strict plantogenic diets (total plantogenic/vegan diet), the risk of mineral or vitamin deficiency is present (Melinaet al., 2016). Of particular concern is dietary vitamin B12, which is obtained mostly from animal sources (Melinaet al., 2016). A long-term deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to macrocytic anemia and cause neuro and psychological effects (Obeidet al., 2019). Also, omega-3 fatty acids may be deficient in such a diet and probably need to be supplemented on those who follow the total plantogenic diet (Melinaet al., 2016). Other deficiencies of concern would be zinc, iron, calcium, vitamin D and iodine (Melinaet al., 2016). Another disadvantage is that many junk foods could be easily classified within the plantogenic diet, such as sugar, cakes, French fries, white bread and rice, sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets in general. These items are related to higher weight gain and, consequently, to a higher incidence of diabetes and other chronic diseases (Schulzeet al., 2004; Maliket al., 2006; Funget al., 2009).

Originality/value

Plantogenic diets were concluded to have sustainable health benefits for humans and the environment over ketogenic diets, which could be used but under professional follow-up only.
Workplace diversity and individual-level outcomes: the role of gender as moderator
Authors: Kaur Itinpreet , Mishra Geeta , Farooqi Rahela
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Although existing literature abounds with actual diversity research, there is scant work on perceived diversity. This research aims to investigate the impact of employees' perception of workplace diversity on job satisfaction and turnover intentions. Further, the research analyses the gender-moderating effect between the hypothesized connection.

Design/methodology/approach

Current research work uses a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach to analyze the hypothesized connection with 222 full-time employees working in the Indian service sector.

Findings

Study results showed that employees' perception of workplace diversity has a significant negative impact on job satisfaction, while having a significant positive effect on employees' turnover intentions. Moreover, employees' perception of workplace diversity does not vary across gender.

Originality/value

Though research work on perceived diversity is scant and growing at a slow pace, the current study adds to the diversity studies by assessing diversity through employees' perceptions instead of gleaning the actual diversity index.
Study of transmission characteristics for a long-period grating on plastic optical fibers and its refractive index sensing
Authors: Xue Peng , Zheng Jie , Xu Yue , Bao Haiyang , Zhang Rui
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the transmission characteristics of a long-period grating (LPG) fabricated on plastic optical fibers (POFs) and its refractive index (RI) sensing.

Design/methodology/approach

The geometric optic method is used to analyze the factors affecting the transmission characteristics of an LPG on POFs. The RI sensing performances of unbent LPGs and U-bent LPGs fabricated on POFs with different diameters are evaluated experimentally.

Findings

This study shows that the transmission loss caused by LPG strongly depends on the structural parameters of LPG and the environmental RI. For the unbent LPG, the highest RI sensitivity of 1,015%/RI unit (RIU) was obtained in the RI range of 1.33–1.45. For the U-bent LPG without cladding, the highest RI sensitivities of 1,007 and 559%/RIU are obtained in the RI ranges of 1.33–1.40 and 1.40–1.45, respectively.

Originality/value

A geometric optic method is used to analyze the transmission characteristics for an LPG on POFs, and the RI sensing of the LPGs are studied experimentally. The results show the LPG has a good RI sensing performances and is with the features of low-cost, simple structure and easy fabrication.
Impact of knowledge oriented leadership on sustainable service quality of higher education institutes
Authors: Mansoor Talha , Hussain Saddam
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The potential role of higher education institutes is indispensable for realizing the dream of a sustainable future. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of knowledge-oriented leadership on the sustainable service quality of higher education institutes. Furthermore, it also investigates the mediating role of organizational innovation and psychological empowerment.

Design/methodology/approach

Data of this study is collected from 306 faculty members of the public and private universities of Pakistan. Structural equation modeling technique was used for data analysis and testing of hypotheses.

Findings

The results demonstrate the positive impact of knowledge-oriented leadership on sustainable service quality. Organizational innovation and psychological empowerment partially mediate the relationship of knowledge-oriented leadership and sustainable service quality.

Practical implications

The policymakers including the higher education commission of Pakistan and university administration are highly recommended to promote a knowledge-oriented leadership style in the higher education institutes to improve innovation and psychological empowerment at the workplace which leads to foster sustainable service quality.

Originality/value

The concept of sustainable service quality in higher education institutes is in the infancy stages in developing countries. There is a dearth of studies that explore the relationship between knowledge management enabler and sustainable service quality. This study attempts to explore the unexplored relationship and extends the literature of higher education institutes and sustainable service quality.
Clinical utility of botulinum toxin type A local injection therapy for head and forehead hyperhidrosis
Authors: Ando Yoriko , Ohshima Yuichiro , Yanagishita Takeshi , Watanabe Hitomi , Tamada Yasuhiko , Akiyama Masashi , Watanabe Daisuke
Published: April 2022

Head and forehead hyperhidrosis (HFH) is a disease that causes a large amount of sweating from the head region, and it significantly reduces patients' quality of life. Only a few reports have shown the effectiveness of botulinum toxin type A (BTX‐A) local injection therapy (BTX‐A therapy) for HFH. To clarify the benefits of BTX‐A for HFH, BTX‐A therapy was performed in 15 patients, and its efficacy was evaluated. The amount of sweating was measured by the ventilation capsule method and Minor's iodine‐starch test. Evaluation was also performed using the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). In most cases, a remarkable antiperspirant effect was observed from 2 weeks after the injection, and the effect lasted for approximately 30 weeks. HDSS and DLQI improved along with the decrease in sweating. Two patients (13.3%) complained of transient mild ptosis. There were no serious side‐effects. This study showed that BTX‐A therapy is a safe and effective treatment for HFH.
A deep neural network for high‐throughput measurement of functional traits on museum skeletal specimens
Authors: Weeks Brian C. , Zhou Zhizhuo , O'Brien Bruce K. , Darling Rachel , Dean Morgan , Dias Tiffany , Hassena Gemmechu , Zhang Mingyu , Fouhey David F.
Published: April 2022

Increasingly, natural history museum collections are being used to generate large‐scale morphological datasets to address a range of macroecological and macroevolutionary questions. One challenge to this approach is that large numbers of individuals either from a single species or from taxonomically broad sets of species may be necessary to characterize morphology at the relevant spatial, phylogenetic or temporal scales.

We present ‘Skelevision’, a method for rapidly handling, photographing and measuring skeletal specimens with a computer vision approach that uses a deep neural network to segment the photographs of specimens into individual bones, and identify and measure functional aspects of those bones.

We demonstrate the scale of what is feasible with Skelevision by estimating 11 functional traits from 11 different bones for 12,450 bird skeletal specimens spanning 1,882 species of passerines (~32% of all passerine diversity). We quantify the accuracy of Skelevision estimates by comparing them to handmade measurements for 174 specimens from 115 species across 79 genera that span 59 families. Skelevision is precise, with a mean standard deviation of 0.86 mm for repeated independent measurements of individual bones, and is extremely accurate, with a mean RMSE of 0.89 mm across all traits when compared to handmade measurements. There is minimal phylogenetic signal in the measurement error (mean Pagel's λ across traits = 0.13), and Skelevision estimates are robust to variation in the degree to which specimens remain articulated.

This approach has several important advantages over traditional methods for building large‐scale morphological datasets (e.g. measurements from long‐term field‐based operations or handmade measurements of museum specimens). First, measuring new specimens only requires the collection of photographs, which can then be measured automatically, and effectively instantaneously, with the neural network. This is a significant departure from the time and skill required to measure skeletal specimens by hand. Second, the measurements are repeatable. Third, even as the dataset of photographed specimens expands, the amount of annotation data needed to measure new traits on all of the photographed specimens using the neural network will remain fixed and can be done without re‐capturing images.
A comparison of multistep commodity price forecasts using direct and iterated smooth transition autoregressive methods
Authors: Ubilava David
Published: April 2022

The smooth transition autoregressive (STAR) modeling framework has gained popularity in commodity price analysis due to its ability to capture essential features of complex dynamics. This study addresses the questions of whether the improved in‐sample fit of STAR models results in more accurate forecasts compared to linear autoregressive models, and whether direct or iterated multistep STAR methods yield more accurate multistep forecasts. In the STAR framework, either a bootstrap simulation is necessary to numerically approximate iterated multistep forecasts, or a range of horizon‐specific STAR models needs to be estimated to generate direct multistep forecasts. The associated computational trade‐off underscores the need for a better understanding of advantages one method may have over another. Based on the analysis of 25 agricultural and nonagricultural commodity prices, this study finds that even when the STAR models appear to well approximate complex commodity price dynamics, they offer little advantage, and indeed, in most instances present as inferior alternatives to the basic autoregressive framework for multistep commodity price forecasting.
Exosome miR‐3184‐5p inhibits gastric cancer growth by targeting XBP1 to regulate the AKT, STAT3, and IRE1 signalling pathways
Authors: Lin Shuangming , Que Yonggu , Que Changrong , Li Fudi , Deng Maoqing , Xu Dongbo
Published: April 2022

MicroRNAs can regulate the transcription of protein‐coding genes associated with the development and progression of cancer. In this study, we explored the potential diagnostic function of exosome miR‐3184‐5p in gastric cancer. This exosome was isolated from the blood samples of 150 patients with gastric cancer and 60 healthy participants. The mean particle size and concentration of serum exosome in the patients with gastric cancer were 104.6 nm (93.97–115.84) and 6.21e+009 particles/ml (5.15e+009–7.12e+009), respectively. miR‐3184‐5p expression was substantially downregulated in the patients with gastric cancer compared with that in the healthy participants. The gastric cancer cell line HGC‐27 was cultured and transfected with the mimic and an inhibitor to overexpress and inhibit miR‐3184‐5p expression. miR‐3184‐5p strongly suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion but induced cell apoptosis. Luciferase reporter assay revealed that XBP1 was the target of miR‐3184‐5p. miR‐3184‐5p substantially downregulated the expression of CD44, cyclin D1, MMP2, p65, p‐AKT, and p‐STAT3 but upregulated that of GRP78, IRE1, p‐JNK, and CHOP. Moreover, miR‐3184‐5p cleaved caspase‐12 and inhibited BCL‐2 expression. These results suggested that the downregulation of miR‐3184‐5p in patients with gastric cancer might regulate the AKT, STAT3, and IRE1 pathways to promote the vitality of gastric cancer cells.
Clinical outcomes of treatment with idebenone in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy in the Netherlands: A national cohort study
Authors: van Everdingen Judith A. M. , Pott Jan Willem R. , Bauer Noël J. C. , Krijnen Anna M. , Lushchyk Tanya , Wubbels René J.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to present results from a national Dutch cohort of patients with Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) treated with idebenone.

Methods

The multicentre, open‐label, retrospective evaluation of the long‐term outcome of idebenone treatment of Dutch LHON patients on visual function and on thickness of the retinal ganglion cell layer. Patients included in the analysis had a confirmed mutation in their mitochondrial DNA encoding either of the seven subunits of complex I, had a reported loss of vision in at least one eye and had a follow‐up of more than 6 months after their treatment was started. Control visits involved routine clinical examinations of visual function and retinal structure at (1) the start of treatment, (2) nadir (time of lowest visual acuity), (3) the time of recovery (if any), (4) the time of termination of treatment and (5) more than 6 months after termination of the treatment.

Results

Data from 72 patients were analysed. Treatment duration was 23.8 ± 14.4 (mean ± SD) months. A positive response, that is either a clinically relevant recovery (CRR) or a clinically relevant stabilization (CRS), occurred in 53% and 11% of the patients, respectively. The magnitude of CRR was 0.41 ± 1.54 logMAR. CRR of visual acuity is associated with recovery of colour discrimination. The thickness of both the ganglion cell complex (GCC) and the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) is irreversibly reduced.

Conclusion

Our results confirm that idebenone may help to restore or maintain visual function. Whether this effect will persist is still unknown. Thinning of retinal neural tissue appears to be permanent.
National cohort of infants born before 24 gestational weeks showed increased survival rates but no improvement in neonatal morbidity
Authors: Lundgren Pia , Morsing Eva , Hård Anna‐Lena , Rakow Alexander , Hellström‐Westas Lena , Jacobson Lena , Johnson Mats , Holmström Gerd , Nilsson Staffan , Smith Lois E. , Sävman Karin , Hellström Ann
Published: April 2022

Aim

To describe survival and neonatal morbidities in infants born before 24 weeks of gestation during a 12‐year period.

Methods

Data were retrieved from national registries and validated in medical files of infants born before 24 weeks of gestation 2007–2018 in Sweden. Temporal changes were evaluated.

Results

In 2007–2018, 282 live births were recorded at 22 weeks and 460 at 23 weeks of gestation. Survival to discharge from hospital of infants born alive at 22 and 23 weeks increased from 20% to 38% (p = 0.006) and from 45% to 67% (p < 0.001) respectively. Caesarean section increased from 12% to 22% (p = 0.038) for infants born at 22 weeks. Neonatal morbidity rates in infants alive at 40 weeks of postmenstrual age (n = 399) were unchanged except for an increase in necrotising enterocolitis from 0 to 33% (p = 0.017) in infants born at 22 weeks of gestation. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia was more common in boys than girls, 90% versus 82% (p = 0.044). The number of infants surviving to 40 weeks doubled over time.

Conclusion

Increased survival of infants born before 24 weeks of gestation resulted in increasing numbers of very immature infants with severe neonatal morbidities likely to have a negative impact on long‐term outcome.