bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of methylation markers for age and Bovine Respiratory Disease in dairy cattle
Authors: Attree E. , Griffiths B. , Panchal K. , Xia D. , Werling D. , Banos G. , Oikonomou G. , Psifidi A.
Published: December 2023

Methylation profiles of animals is known to differ by age and disease status. Bovine respiratory disease (BRD), a complex infectious disease, primarily affects calves and has significant impact on animal welfare and the cattle industry, predominantly from production losses. BRD susceptibility is multifactorial, influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. We investigated the epigenetic profile of BRD susceptibility in calves and age-related methylation differences between healthy calves and adult dairy cows using Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS).

We identified 3,452 genes within differentially methylated regions between calves and adults. Functional analysis revealed enrichment of developmental pathways including cell fate commitment and tissue morphogenesis. Between healthy and BRD affected calves, 964 genes were identified within differentially methylated regions. Immune and vasculature regulatory pathways were enriched and key candidates in BRD susceptibility involved in complement cascade regulation, vasoconstriction and respiratory cilia structure and function were identified.
Unlocking Mitochondrial Dysfunction-Associated Senescence (MiDAS) with NAD+– a Boolean Model of Mitochondrial Dynamics and Cell Cycle Control
Authors: Sizek Herbert , Deritei Dávid , Fleig Katherine , Harris Marlayna , Regan Peter L. , Glass Kimberly , Regan Erzsébet Ravasz
Published: December 2023

The steady accumulation of senescent cells with aging creates tissue environments that aid cancer evolution. Aging cell states are highly heterogeneous. ‘Deep senescent’ cells rely on healthy mitochondria to fuel a strong proinflammatory secretome, including cytokines, growth and transforming signals. Yet, the physiological triggers of senescence such as the reactive oxygen species (ROS) can also trigger mitochondrial dysfunction, and sufficient energy deficit to alter their secretome and cause chronic oxidative stress – a state termed Mitochondrial Dysfunction-Associated Senescence (MiDAS). Here, we offer a mechanistic hypothesis for the molecular processes leading to MiDAS, along with testable predictions. To do this we have built a Boolean regulatory network model that qualitatively captures key aspects of mitochondrial dynamics during cell cycle progression (hyper-fusion at the G1/S boundary, fission in mitosis), apoptosis (fission and dysfunction) and glucose starvation (reversible hyper-fusion), as well as MiDAS in response toSIRT3knockdown or oxidative stress. Our model reaffirms the protective role of NAD+and external pyruvate. We offer testable predictions about the growth factor- and glucose-dependence of MiDAS and its reversibility at different stages of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced senescence. Our model provides mechanistic insights into the distinct stages of DNA-damage induced senescence, the relationship between senescence and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in cancer and offers a foundation for building multiscale models of tissue aging.

Highlights

Boolean regulatory network model reproducesmitochondrial dynamicsduring cell cycle progression, apoptosis, and glucose starvation.

Model offers a mechanistic explanation for the positive feedback loop that locks inMitochondrial Dysfunction-Associated Senescence(MiDAS), involving autophagy-resistant, hyperfused, dysfunctional mitochondria.

Model reproducesROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunctionand suggests that MiDAS is part of the early phase of damage-induced senescence.

Modelpredictsthat cancer-driving mutations that bypass the G1/S checkpoint generally increase the incidence of MiDAS, except for p53 loss.
RSPO/LGR signaling mediates astrocyte-induced proliferation of adult hippocampal neural stem cells
Authors: Valenzuela-Bezanilla Daniela , Mardones Muriel D , Galassi Maximiliano , Arredondo Sebastian B , Santibanez Sebastian H , Merino-Veliz Nicolas , Bustos Fernando J , Varela-Nallar Lorena
Published: December 2023

In the dentate gyrus of the adult hippocampus, neurogenesis from neural stem cells (NSCs) is regulated by Wnt signals from the local microenvironment. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is active in NSCs, where it regulates proliferation and fate commitment, and subsequently its activity is strongly attenuated. The mechanisms controlling this pattern of activity are poorly understood. In stem cells from adult peripheral tissues, secreted R-spondin proteins (RSPO1-4) interact with LGR4-6 receptors and control Wnt signaling strength. Here, we found that RSPO1-3 and LGR4-6 are expressed in the adult dentate gyrus and in cultured NSCs isolated from the adult mouse hippocampus. The expression of LGR4-5 decreased in NSCs upon differentiation, concomitantly with the reported decrease in Wnt activity. Treatment with RSPO1-3 increased hippocampal NSCs proliferation and the expression of the Wnt target gene Cyclin D1. Moreover, RSPO1-3 were expressed by primary cultures of dentate gyrus astrocytes, a crucial component of the neurogenic niche able to induce NSC proliferation and neurogenesis. In co-culture experiments, astrocyte-induced proliferation of NSCs was prevented by RSPO2 knockdown in astrocytes, and by LGR5 knockdown in hippocampal NSCs. Altogether, our results indicate that RSPO/LGR signaling is present in the dentate niche, where it could control Wnt activity and proliferation of NSCs.
eCV: Enhanced coefficient of variation and IDR extensions for reproducibility assessment of high-throughput experiments with multiple replicates
Authors: Gonzalez-Reymundez Agustin , Shen Kylie , Doyle Wayne , Peng Sichong , Hutt Kasey , Bruns Stephanie
Published: December 2023

Motivation

Reproducibility assessment is essential in extracting reliable scientific insights from highthroughput experiments. Inconsistency between technical replicates poses a challenge, particularly clear in next generation sequencing technologies based on immunoprecipitations, where the assessment of reproducibility in peak identification is a critical analytical step. While the Irreproducibility Discovery Rate (IDR) method has been instrumental in assessing reproducibility, its standard implementation is constrained to handling only two replicates. In the current era of steadily growing sample sizes, eased by multiplexing and reduced sequencing costs, highly performing methods that handle any number of replicates are desirable.

Results

We introduce three novel methods for reproducibility assessment in high-throughput data that handle an arbitrary number of replicates. The first, general IDR (gIDR), extends the standard IDR by adapting its Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm to handle distributions of any dimensions dictated by the number of replicates. The second, meta-IDR (mIDR), employs a meta-analysis approach, calculating local IDR scores for all pairs of replicates and combining them using standard probability rules. The third method introduces an “enhanced” Coefficient of Variation (eCV), ranking features based on intensity and variability, using a parametric bootstrap approach to obtain an index analogous to local IDR. Comparative analysis with traditional IDR in simulated and experimental data reveals the heightened performance of the proposed multivariate alternatives under varying scenarios, thereby addressing the critical challenge of reproducibility assessment in contemporary high-throughput experiments.

Availability and implementation

The described methods are implemented as an R package:https://github.com/eclipsebio/eCV

Contact

info@eclipsebio.com
Interpretable deep learning framework for understanding molecular changes in human brains with Alzheimer’s disease: implications for microglia activation and sex differences
Authors: Trivedi Maitry Ronakbhai , Joshi Amogh Manoj , Shah Jay , Readhead Benjamin P , Wilson Melissa A , Su Yi , Reiman Eric M , Wu Teresa , Wang Qi
Published: December 2023

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this study is to characterize the dysregulation of gene expression in AD affected brain tissues through an interpretable deep learning framework.

METHODS

We trained multi-layer perceptron models for the classification of neuropathologically confirmed AD vs. controls using transcriptomic data from three brain regions of ROSMAP study. The disease spectrum was then modeled as a progressive trajectory. SHAP value was derived to explain model predictions and identify significantly implicated genes for subsequent gene co-expression network analysis.

RESULTS

The models achieved excellent performance in classification and prediction in two external datasets from Mayo RNA-seq cohort and Mount Sinai Brain Bank cohort. SHAP explainer revealed common and specific transcriptomic signatures from different brain regions.

DISCUSSION

We identified common gene signatures among different brain regions in microglia and sex specific modules in neurons implicated in AD. This work paves the way for utilizing artificial intelligence approaches in studying AD at the molecular level.

Research-in-Context

Systematic review: Postmortem brain transcriptomes have been analyzed to study the molecular changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease, usually by a direct contrast approach such as differential gene expression analysis. Nuanced gene regulatory networks thus cannot be easily pinpointed from convoluted data such as those from bulk-tissue profiling. We applied a novel interpretable deep learning approach to dissect the RNA-seq data collected from three different brain regions of a large clinical cohort and identified significant genes for network analysis implicated for AD.

Interpretation: Our models successfully predicted neuropathological and clinical traits in both internal and external validations. We corroborated known microglial biology in addition to revealing novel sex chromosome-linked gene contributing to sex dimorphism in AD.

Future directions: The framework could have broad utility for interpreting multi-omic data such as those from single-cell profiling, to advance our understanding of molecular mechanisms of complex human disease such as AD.

Highlights

We applied novel interpretable deep learning methods to postmortem brain transcriptomes from three different brain regions

We interpreted the models to identify genes most strongly implicated in AD

Network analysis corroborated known microglial biology and revealed novel sex specific transcriptional factors associated with neuronal loss in AD
Re-coding of G protein-coupled receptor signaling enables emergent cellular behavior
Authors: Dehkhoda Farhad , Ringuet Mitchell T. , Whitfield Emily A. , Mutunduwe Keith , Nowell Cameron J. , Misganaw Desye , Xu Zheng , Hossain Akhter M. , Fothergill Linda J. , McDougall Stuart J. , Furness John B. , Furness Sebastian G.B.
Published: December 2023

All cells face the challenge of integrating multiple extracellular signals to produce relevant physiological responses. Different combinations of G protein-coupled receptors, when co-expressed, can lead to distinct cellular outputs, yet the molecular basis for this co-operativity is controversial. One such interaction is the reversal, from inhibition to excitation, at the dopamine D2 receptor in the ghrelin receptor’s presence, relevant for defecation control. Here we demonstrate that this reversal of dopamine D2 activity, to excitatory, occurs through a dominant switch in downstream signaling. This dominant switch, mediated by downstream signaling, enables fidelity in cellular responses not possible under alternative models, and provides an explanation for previously unresolved observations. Importantly, the switch in D2 signaling does not require ghrelin receptor agonism, rather its constitutive activity, thus accounting for the importance of central nervous system-ghrelin receptor in the absence of endogenous ligands. This re-coding has important implications for our understanding of how atypical receptor pharmacology can occur as well as how sequential signaling at individual neurons may be encoded to produce new outputs.
Spatial profiling of the interplay between cell type- and vision-dependent transcriptomic programs in the visual cortex
Authors: Xie Fangming , Jain Saumya , Xu Runzhe , Butrus Salwan , Tan Zhiqun , Xu Xiangmin , Shekhar Karthik , Zipursky S. Lawrence
Published: December 2023

How early sensory experience during “critical periods” of postnatal life affects the organization of the mammalian neocortex at the resolution of neuronal cell types is poorly understood. We previously reported that the functional and molecular profiles of layer 2/3 (L2/3) cell types in the primary visual cortex (V1) are vision-dependent (Tan et al.,Neuron,108(4), 2020; Cheng et al.,Cell,185(2), 2022). Here, we characterize the spatial organization of L2/3 cell types with and without visual experience. Spatial transcriptomic profiling based on 500 genes recapitulates the zonation of L2/3 cell types along the pial-ventricular axis in V1. By applying multi-tasking theory (Adler et al.,Cell Systems,8, 2019), we suggest that the spatial zonation of L2/3 cell types is linked to the continuous nature of their gene expression profiles, which can be represented as a 2D manifold bounded by three archetypal cell types (“A”, “B”, and “C”). By comparing normally reared and dark reared L2/3 cells, we show that visual deprivation-induced transcriptomic changes comprise two independent gene programs. The first, induced specifically in the visual cortex, includes immediate-early genes and genes associated with metabolic processes. It manifests as a change in cell state that is orthogonal to cell type-specific gene expression programs. By contrast, the second program impacts L2/3 cell type identity, regulating a subset of cell type-specific genes and shifting the distribution of cells within the L2/3 manifold, with a depression of the B-type and C-type and a gain of the A-type. Through an integrated analysis of spatial transcriptomic measurements with single-nucleus RNA-seq data from our previous study, we describe how vision patterns L2/3 cortical cell types during the postnatal critical period.

Significance statement

Layer 2/3 (L2/3) glutamatergic neurons are important sites of experience-dependent plasticity and learning in the mammalian cortex. Their properties vary continuously with cortical depth and depend upon experience. Here, by applying spatial transcriptomics and different computational approaches in the mouse primary visual cortex, we show that vision regulates orthogonal gene expression programs underlying cell states and cell types. Visual deprivation not only induces an activity-dependent cell state, but also alters the composition of L2/3 cell types, which are appropriately described as a transcriptomic continuum. Our results provide insights into how experience shapes transcriptomes that may, in turn, sculpt brain wiring, function, and behavior.
Chlamydiae as symbionts of photosynthetic dinoflagellates
Authors: Maire Justin , Collingro Astrid , Tandon Kshitij , Jameson Vanta J. , Judd Louise M. , Horn Matthias , Blackall Linda L. , van Oppen Madeleine J. H.
Published: December 2023

Chlamydiae are ubiquitous intracellular bacteria and infect a wide diversity of eukaryotes, including mammals. However, chlamydiae have never been reported to infect photosynthetic organisms. Here, we describe a novel chlamydial genus and species,CandidatusAlgichlamydia australiensis (A. australiensisthereafter), capable of infecting the photosynthetic dinoflagellateCladocopiumsp. (originally isolated from a scleractinian coral).A. australiensiswas confirmed to be intracellular by fluorescencein situhybridization and confocal laser scanning microscopy, and temporally stable at the population level by monitoring its relative abundance across four weeks of host growth. Using a combination of short- and long-read sequencing, we recovered a high-quality (completeness 91.73% and contamination 0.27%) metagenome-assembled genome ofA. australiensis. Phylogenetic analyses show that this chlamydial taxon represents a new genus and species within the Simkaniaceae family.A. australiensispossesses all the hallmark genes for chlamydiae-host interactions, including a complete type III secretion system. In addition, a type IV secretion system is encoded on a plasmid and has previously been observed for only three other chlamydial species. Twenty orthologous groups of genes are unique toA. australiensis, one of which is structurally similar to a protein known from Cyanobacteria and Archaeplastida involved in thylakoid biogenesis and maintenance, hinting at potential chlamydiae interactions with the chloroplasts ofCladocopiumcells. DespiteCladocopiumbeing itself a symbiont of cnidarians, a meta-analysis of 12,009 cnidarian 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding samples only returned five samples withA. australiensissequences, suggestingA. australiensisdoes not associate with cnidarians. Our study shows that chlamydiae infect dinoflagellate symbionts of cnidarians, the first photosynthetic organism reported to harbor chlamydiae, thereby expanding the breadth of chlamydial hosts and providing a new contribution to the discussion around the role of chlamydiae in the establishment of the primary plastid.
Mapping Structural and Dynamic Divergence Across the MBOAT family
Authors: Ansell T. Bertie , Healy Megan , Coupland Claire E. , Sansom Mark S. P. , Siebold Christian
Published: December 2023

Membrane BoundO-acyltransferases (MBOATs) are membrane embedded enzymes which catalyse acyl chain transfer to a diverse group of substrates including lipids, small-molecules and proteins. Recent MBOAT structures reveal a conserved structural core, despite wide-ranging functional specificity across both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The structural basis of catalytic specificity, regulation and interactions with the surrounding environment remain uncertain, hindering effective therapeutic targeting. Here, we combine comparative molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with bioinformatics to assess molecular and interactional divergence across the family. In simulations, MBOATs differentially distort the bilayer depending on their substrate type. Additionally, we identify specific lipid binding sites surrounding MBOAT reactant gates into the surrounding membrane. We use bioinformatics to reveal a conserved role for re-entrant loop-2 in stabilisation of the MBOAT fold and identify a key hydrogen bond involved in DGAT1 dimerisation. Finally, we predict differences in MBOAT core solvation and water gating properties across the family. These data are pertinent to the design of MBOAT specific inhibitors that encompass dynamic information within cellular mimetic environments.
Whole-brain modular dynamics at rest predict sensorimotor learning performance
Authors: Standage Dominic I. , Gale Daniel J. , Nashed Joseph Y. , Flanagan J. Randall , Gallivan Jason P.
Published: December 2023

Predictive biomarkers of cognitive performance are informative about the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive phenomena, and have tremendous potential for the diagnosis and treatment of neuropathologies with cognitive symptoms. Among such biomarkers, the modularity (subnetwork composition) of whole-brain functional networks is especially promising, due to its longstanding theoretical foundations and recent success in predicting clinical outcomes. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to identify whole-brain modules at rest, calculating metrics of their spatio-temporal dynamics before and after a sensorimotor learning task on which fast learning is widely believed to be supported by a cognitive strategy. We found that participants’ learning performance was predicted by the strength of dynamic modularity scores (clarity of subnetwork composition), the degree of coordination of modular reconfiguration, and the strength of recruitment and integration of networks derived during the task itself. Our findings identify these whole-brain metrics as promising biomarkers of cognition, with relevance to basic and clinical neuroscience.
Agonism between family groups of cooperative breeding smooth-coated otters (Lutrogale perspicillata)
Authors: Zheng Fan , Chuin How Darren Ang , Heng Yee Mei-Mei Tan , Johns Philip
Published: December 2023

Intraspecific agonistic interactions are common in the animal kingdom and have significant consequences for animals. With a growing population and limited resources, these interactions have been observed more frequently among smooth-coated otters in Singapore. However, little is known about the behavioral patterns of these interactions and the factors that may affect their outcomes. To address this, we analyzed intraspecific agonistic interactions through publicly available videos from citizen scientists. Our analysis revealed different behavioral patterns and typical behaviors between winning and losing family groups in different environments. We also found suggestive evidence that larger family groups with more individuals than opponents have an advantage in these interactions. The environment in which an interaction occurs may also affect its intensity.
STAIG: Spatial Transcriptomics Analysis via Image-Aided Graph Contrastive Learning for Domain Exploration and Alignment-Free Integration
Authors: Yang Yitao , Cui Yang , Zeng Xin , Zhang Yubo , Loza Martin , Park Sung-Joon , Nakai Kenta
Published: December 2023

Spatial transcriptomics is an essential application for investigating cellular structures and interactions and requires multimodal information to precisely study spatial domains. Here, we propose STAIG, a novel deep-learning model that integrates gene expression, spatial coordinates, and histological images using graph-contrastive learning coupled with high-performance feature extraction. STAIG can integrate tissue slices without prealignment and remove batch effects. Moreover, it was designed to accept data acquired from various platforms, with or without histological images. By performing extensive benchmarks, we demonstrated the capability of STAIG to recognize spatial regions with high precision and uncover new insights into tumor microenvironments, highlighting its promising potential in deciphering spatial biological intricates.
Ants hold a grudge: Associative learning of non-nestmate cues improves enemy recognition
Authors: Bey Mélanie , Endermann Rebecca , Raudies Christina , Steinle Jonas , Nehring Volker
Published: December 2023

Recognition protects biological systems of all scales, from cells to societies. Social insects recognize their nestmates by colony-specific chemical labels, which individuals store as “templates” in their memories. The distributed model of nestmate recognition predicts that individual experiences cause variation between the recognition templates that different individuals store in their memory. Here, we show for the first time that ants associatively learn recognition labels of both friends and enemies during brief encounters. Because different individuals will accumulate different experiences throughout their lives, their later decisions on whether to accept or reject other individuals will also vary. Individual associative learning can thus explain many phenomena from nasty neighbour effects to age polyethism. To avoid chaos caused by inconsistent decisions across individuals, decisions are made in a distributed manner at the colony level. Group-level decision can thus be much more accurate than any individual decision alone.
Norovirus NS1/2 protein increases glutaminolysis for efficient viral replication
Authors: Hafner Adam , Meurs Noah , Garner Ari , Azar Elaine , Passalacqua Karla D. , Nagrath Deepak , Wobus Christiane E.
Published: December 2023

Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites that rely on host cell metabolism for successful replication. Thus, viruses rewire host cell pathways involved in central carbon metabolism to increase the availability of building blocks for replication. However, the underlying mechanisms of virus-induced alterations to host metabolism are largely unknown. Noroviruses (NoVs) are highly prevalent pathogens that cause sporadic and epidemic viral gastroenteritis. In the present study, we uncovered several strain-specific and shared host cell metabolic requirements of three murine norovirus (MNV) strains, the acute MNV-1 strain and the persistent CR3 and CR6 strains. While all three strains required glycolysis, glutaminolysis, and the pentose phosphate pathway for optimal infection of macrophages, only MNV-1 relied on host oxidative phosphorylation. Furthermore, the first metabolic flux analysis of NoV-infected cells revealed that both glycolysis and glutaminolysis are upregulated during MNV-1 infection of macrophages. Glutamine deprivation affected the MNV lifecycle at the stage of genome replication, resulting in decreased non-structural and structural protein synthesis, viral assembly, and egress. Mechanistic studies further showed that MNV infection and overexpression of the MNV non-structural protein NS1/2 increased the enzymatic activity of the rate-limiting enzyme glutaminase. In conclusion, the inaugural investigation of NoV-induced alterations to host glutaminolysis identified the first viral regulator of glutaminolysis for RNA viruses, which increases our fundamental understanding of virus-induced metabolic alterations.

Author Summary

All viruses critically depend on the host cells they infect to provide the necessary machinery and building blocks for successful replication. Thus, viruses often alter host metabolic pathways to increase the availability of key metabolites they require. Human noroviruses (HNoVs) are a major cause of acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis, leading to significant morbidity and economic burdens. To date, no vaccines or antivirals are available against NoVs, which demonstrates a need to better understand NoV biology, including the role host metabolism plays during infection. Using the murine norovirus (MNV) model, we show that host cell glutaminolysis is upregulated and required for optimal virus infection of macrophages. Additional data point to a model whereby the viral non-structural protein NS1/2 upregulates the enzymatic activity of glutaminase, the rate-limiting enzyme in glutaminolysis. Insights gained through investigating the role host metabolism plays in MNV replication may assist with improving HNoV cultivation methods and development of novel therapies.
Crystal structure of [1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolidin-2-ylidene]dichlorido(2-{[(2-methoxyethyl)(methyl)amino]methyl}benzylidene)ruthenium
Authors: Mammadova Gunay Z. , Atioğlu Zeliha , Akkurt Mehmet , Grigoriev Mikhail S. , Volchkov Nikita S. , Azizova Asmet N. , Bhattarai Ajaya , Antonova Alexandra S.
Published: December 2023

The title compound, [RuCl2(C33H43N3O)], is an example of a new generation of N,N-dialkyl ruthenium catalysts with an N—Ru coordination bond as part of a six-membered chelate ring. The Ru atom has an Addison τ parameter of 0.244, which indicates a geometry intermediate between square-based pyramidal and trigonal–bipyramidal. The complex shows the usual trans arrangement of the two chlorides, with Ru—Cl bond lengths of 2.3515 (8) and 2.379 (7) Å, and a Cl—Ru—Cl angle of 158.02 (3)°. One of the chlorine atoms and the atoms of the 2-methoxy-N-methyl-N-[(2-methylphenyl)methyl]ethane-1-amine group of the title complex display disorder over two positions in a 0.889 (2): 0.111 (2) ratio.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of diethyl (3aS,3a1R,4S,5S,6R,6aS,7R,9aS)-3a1,5,6,6a-tetrahydro-1H,3H,4H,7H-3a,6:7,9a-diepoxybenzo[de]isochromene-4,5-dicarboxylate
Authors: Sadikhova Nurlana D. , Atioğlu Zeliha , Guliyeva Narmina A. , Podrezova Alexandra G. , Nikitina Eugeniya V. , Akkurt Mehmet , Bhattarai Ajaya
Published: December 2023

In the title compound, C18H22O7, two hexane rings and an oxane ring are fused together. The two hexane rings tend toward a distorted boat conformation, while the tetrahydrofuran and dihydrofuran rings adopt envelope conformations. The oxane ring is puckered. The crystal structure features C—H...O hydrogen bonds, which link the molecules into a three-dimensional network. According to a Hirshfeld surface study, H...H (60.3%) and O...H/H...O (35.3%) interactions are the most significant contributors to the crystal packing.
Training of third-party employees and its outcomes: a systematic literature review
Authors: Anand Mahima , Waraich Sushmita Biswal
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Training has been an important tool for enhancing the skills and productivity of employees. Having productive employees helps organizations sustain themselves. Today, the authors organisations have an increasing number of employees on third-party payroll performing core as well as noncore business functions. However, due to the lack of ownership and moral obligation of employers, these employees are often not provided training, resulting in skills obsolesce and less productivity. The present study is a systematic literature review (SLR) on client organizations’ roles in training third-party employees (TPEs) and its related outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study is a SLR on client organizations' roles in training TPEs and their related outcomes. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) approach, this study presents a review of 217 research papers on training of TPEs and its related outcomes.

Findings

The study identifies the outcomes of providing training to TPEs and presents the findings and suggestions made by researchers. The study concludes that TPEs are an important investment for the client organization. Training them would benefit the client organization, TPEs and the economy as a whole. The paper also suggests some avenues for future research.

Research limitations/implications

This paper tries to answer an important question: What could drive productive behavior among TPEs? Based on the literature reviewed, the answer is that TPEs could be offered training opportunities with a view to enhancing their employability. This could induce, among them, a sense of being valued and supported while contributing to organizational performance and creating a feeling of reciprocal obligation. This is an important contribution to literature. Low investment in these employees affects their employability, i.e. be it in the same organization for another term or another organization and thus the need for training and development, for sustained productivity among TPEs, in organizations.

Practical implications

Training and development, for them, would result in enhanced employability within as well as outside the organization. These employees could also be a good source for regular positions within the organization, if required, benefiting both the organization and the employee. Additionally, the economy would also benefit from a pool of skilled workforce. Therefore, it is suggested that governments initiate some policy framework regarding mandatory training of TPEs to increase their competencies, resulting in increased organizational productivity, especially for TPEs at lower and middle levels of management.

Originality/value

The paper is an original contribution by the researcher. An attempt has been made to highlight the training needs of TPEs and their related outcomes.
Factors affecting high-quality entrepreneurial performance in small- and medium-sized family firms
Authors: Mitropoulos Panagiotis , Mitropoulos Alexandros , Vlami Aimilia
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to measure the high-quality entrepreneurial efficiency of family-owned small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) while exploring the potential determinants of their performance. This study places particular emphasis on the firms' technological competencies and internationalization efforts. The authors aim to shed light on the internal and external characteristics that impact the efficiency of family SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a two-stage approach. In the first stage, a data envelopment analysis model is utilized to measure the high-quality entrepreneurial efficiency of family SMEs. To achieve this, this study considered as outputs three key quality aspects of entrepreneurship, namely innovativeness, export orientation and turnover rate, while the inputs were the number of employees and the business environment. Then, in the second stage, the efficiency scores are regressed against a set of environmental factors that may affect the efficiency. The proposed efficiency measurement models are utilized with a particularly rich dataset of 1,910 family SMEs from 35 developed countries.

Findings

The results demonstrated that the efficiency of family SMEs primarily engaged in the production of goods was significantly higher than those providing services. Importantly, the presence of barriers related to innovation and digitalization had a pronounced negative impact on efficiency. Additionally, scale-up firms exhibited higher levels of efficiency. When examining family SMEs within their national context, it was observed that non-EU countries and countries with a higher gross domestic product displayed significantly higher efficiencies.

Originality/value

The findings of this research provide guidance for the development of entrepreneurship-oriented policies that consider both the internal characteristics of family SMEs and the diverse socioeconomic contexts in which they operate.
Post-fire response of S235 steel plates considering different bolt hole-making processes
Authors: Al Chamaa Fadwa M. , El Ghor Ahmad , Hantouche Elie
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study aims at investigating the effect of bolt hole-making processes on the post-fire behavior of S235 steel plates.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of nine steel plates with a single bolt hole are tested. The single bolt holes are fabricated using three different hole-making processes: drilling, waterjet and plasma. Among the nine steel plates, three fabricated specimens are control specimens and are tested at ambient temperature. The six remaining steel plates with a single bolt hole are subjected to a complete heating-cooling cycle and then monotonically loaded until failure. The six fabricated specimens are first heated up to two different temperatures 800 and 925 °C, and then cooled back to the ambient prior to loading.

Findings

The results show that after being exposed to post-fire temperatures (800 and 925 °C), the maximum decrease in strength of the S235 steel plate was 6% (at 925 °C), 14% (at 925 °C) and 22% (at 800 °C) when compared to the results of ambient specimens for waterjet, drilled and plasma bolt holes, respectively. For post-fire temperature tests, drilled and waterjet bolt hole-making processes result in having approximately the same load-displacement response, and both have larger strength and ductility than those obtained using plasma cutting.

Originality/value

This study provides preliminary data to guide the steel designers and fabricators in choosing the most suitable hole-making process for fire applications and to quantify the post-fire reduction in capacity of S235 plates.
Daily vlog-induced tourism: impact of enduring involvement on travel intention
Authors: Wu Pei , Zou Yongguang , Jin Dan , Li Yuan , Zhang Jianming
Published: December 2023

Purpose

A daily vlog is a new type of film tourism that has been underexplored in the literature. This study aims to explore the key elements of daily vlogs that trigger a followers’ travel intention within the framework of enduring involvement. The study will highlight the affect-inspiring role of para-social relationships (PSR), extending the scope of film tourism research.

Design/methodology/approach

In Study 1, the objective was to investigate the essential components of enduring involvement in destination-life scenarios. This was accomplished through the analysis of qualitative data, including interview data collected from 15 participants and more than 20,000 words extracted from online blogs, barrages and comments. Additionally, Study 2 used 376 questionnaires to test the proposed structural model.

Findings

Within daily vlog-induced tourism, PSR assumes a pivotal role as a catalyst for evoking emotions. This phenomenon is interwoven with enduring involvement and has a direct impact on the determination of travel intention. Within the contextual framework of enduring involvement, constituents such as destination-life self-disclosure, situational resonance and affective belonging converge synergistically. These elements collectively underpin the process through which followers harness PSR as a driving force for nurturing travel intentions within the realm of daily vlog-induced tourism.

Originality/value

This study proposes the concept of daily vlog-induced tourism and emphasizes the emotion-inspiring role of PSR, to extend film tourism research to include daily vlogs. The study then explores the influencing factors of daily vlog-induced tourism under the framework of enduring involvement, providing a new understanding of enduring involvement in daily vlog-induced tourism.
More to life than promotion: Self‐initiated and self‐resigned career plateaus
Authors: Farivar Farveh , Anthony Mary , Richardson Julia , Amarnani Rajiv
Published: December 2023

Being on a career plateau is widely regarded as an undesirable career experience characterised by a lack of individual proactivity, ability, or opportunity for promotion. In this paper, we present an alternative view arguing that some employees may choose to plateau their careers and deliberately forego opportunities for hierarchical progression. Drawing on in‐depth interviews with 75 law enforcement officers in the US and Australia, we explore why they declined a promotion opportunity or elected not to apply for promotion. Drawing on social cognitive career theory, we develop a provisional taxonomy characterised by individual proactivity: self‐initiated and self‐resigned career plateaus. Specifically, we report how the decision to remain on either of these career plateaus is informed by either the low valence accorded to a promoted position or, paradoxically, the reduced self‐efficacy in navigating what is viewed as a flawed promotion system.
Integrating network pharmacology and experimental verification to investigate the pharmacological mechanisms of Buzhong Yiqi decoction in the treatment of non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Zeng Panke , Wang Feng , Zhang Jianing , ur Rashid Haroon , Li Xin , Zhang Pengfei , Luo Yunru , Wu Xinyu
Published: December 2023

Among all types of cancers, non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) exhibits the highest mortality rate with a five‐year survival rate below 17% for patients. The Buzhong Yiqi decoction (BZYQD), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has been reported to exhibit clinical efficacy in the treatment of NSCLC. Nevertheless, the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. This study aimed to assess the mechanistic actions exerted by BZYQD against NSCLC using network pharmacological analysis and experimental validation. The public databases were searched for active compounds in BZYQD, their potential targets, and NSCLC‐related targets. The protein–protein interaction (PPI) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed to predict the core targets and signaling pathways of BZYQD against NSCLC. After screening, this study validated the results of predictions through in vitro experiments and public databases. We found 192 common targets between BZYQD and NSCLC. KEGG analysis showed that the anti‐NSCLC effects of BZYQD were mediated through the PI3K‐AKT signaling pathway. The results of in vitro experiment indicated that BZYQD could inhibit cell viability and proliferation of A549 and H1299 cells apart from inducing cell apoptosis. In addition, western blot results substantiated that BZYQD could treat NSCLC by inhibiting the activation of the PI3K‐AKT signaling pathway. The current study investigated the pharmacological mechanism of BZYQD against NSCLC via network pharmacology and in vitro analyses. Overall, the results revealed that BZYQD could be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of NSCLC in the future. Still, more experimental investigations are needed to confirm the applicability of BZYQD for clinical trials.
‘There is not much we can do’: The roles and challenges of Nigeria's child protection social workers
Authors: Isangha Stanley Oloji , Akintunde Tosin Yinka , Choi Wai Man Anna , Lin Tam Cherry Hau
Published: December 2023

Research on the challenges child protection social workers (CPSWs) face has increased remarkably in developed nations with the goal of finding sustainable solutions. There is a significant number of vulnerable children in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), yet little is documented and known about the role of CPSWs in supporting the children, and the challenges they face that must be addressed to ensure effective and efficient service delivery. The study presents findings from in‐depth interviews with 11 certified social workers recruited from five non‐governmental organizations in Lagos and Kano states, Nigeria. A realist thematic methodological analysis was performed on the data. Findings were organized and discussed around two major themes including child‐focused remedial work and challenges encountered. Providing essential remedial services such as food, clothing, shelter and counselling/therapeutic services emerged as the primary responsibilities of Nigerian child protection social workers (NCPSWs). Their work‐related challenges include frustration due to limited resources and resistant children, shortages of social workers and high caseloads, whereas systemic challenges include the non‐adoption and non‐implementation of the 2003 Child Rights Act (CRA), the lack of legal recognition for the profession and government support. Implications and recommendations are drawn for practice, policy, and research.
Role of nerve growth factor on cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer's disease carrying apolipoprotein E ε4
Authors: He Mingyue , Liu Zhan , Lian Tenghong , Guo Peng , Zhang Wenjing , Huang Yue , Zhang Yanan , Liu Gaifen , Zhang Weijiao , Li Jinghui , Guan Huiying , Zhang Weijia , Luo Dongmei , Qi Jing , Yue Hao , Wang Xiaomin , Zhang Wei
Published: December 2023

Aims

To investigate the roles of neurotrophic factors on cognition in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) carrying Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4.

Methods

Totals of 173 patients with AD were divided into APOE ε4 carrier and non‐carrier groups, and their demographics, cognition, and neurotrophic factors in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were compared. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess correlations among APOE ε4, neurotrophic factors and cognition. Mediation analyses were conducted to assess the sequential associations among APOE ε4, nerve growth factor (NGF), and cognition.

Results

Global cognition and multiple domains were impaired in the APOE ε4 carrier group (all p < 0.05). NGF level in the APOE ε4 carrier group was lower than that in the non‐carrier group (p = 0.016). NGF level showed significant correlations with both global and multiple domains cognitions. Specifically, NGF mediated the association between APOE ε4 and Animal Fluency Test score (β, −0.45; 95% CI [−0.96, −0.07]; p < 0.001) and Trail Making Test‐A (time) (β, 0.15; 95% CI [0.01, 0.33]; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

APOE ε4 is associated with cognitive impairment, and those carrying APOE ε4 have decreased NGF level in CSF. Declined NGF level is correlated with compromised cognition. NGF mediates APOE ε4‐associated cognitive impairment.
Three major steps toward the conservation of freshwater and riparian biodiversity
Authors: Hoppenreijs Jacqueline H. T. , Marker Jeffery , Maliao Ronald J. , Hansen Henry H. , Juhász Erika , Lõhmus Asko , Altanov Vassil Y. , Horká Petra , Larsen Annegret , Malm‐Renöfält Birgitta , Runnel Kadri , Piccolo John J. , Magurran Anne E.
Published: December 2023

Freshwater ecosystems and their bordering wetlands and riparian zones are vital for human society and biological diversity. Yet, they are among the most degraded ecosystems, where sharp declines in biodiversity are driven by human activities, such as hydropower development, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Because freshwater ecosystems are characterized by strongly reciprocal linkages with surrounding landscapes, human activities that encroach on or degrade riparian zones ultimately lead to declines in freshwater–riparian ecosystem functioning. We synthesized results of a symposium on freshwater, riparian, and wetland processes and interactions and analyzed some of the major problems associated with improving freshwater and riparian research and management. Three distinct barriers are the lack of involvement of local people in conservation research and management, absence of adequate measurement of biodiversity in freshwater and riparian ecosystems, and separate legislation and policy on riparian and freshwater management. Based on our findings, we argue that freshwater and riparian research and conservation efforts should be integrated more explicitly. Best practices for overcoming the 3 major barriers to improved conservation include more and sustainable use of traditional and other forms of local ecological knowledge, choosing appropriate metrics for ecological research and monitoring of restoration efforts, and mirroring the close links between riparian and freshwater ecosystems in legislation and policy. Integrating these 3 angles in conservation science and practice will provide substantial benefits in addressing the freshwater biodiversity crisis.
Trophic niches of macrobenthos: Latitudinal variation indicates climate change impact on ecosystem functioning
Authors: Silberberger Marc J. , Koziorowska‐Makuch Katarzyna , Reiss Henning , Kędra Monika
Published: December 2023

Benthic food‐web structure and organic matter (OM) utilization are important for marine ecosystem functioning. In response to environmental changes related to the ongoing climate change, however, many benthic species are shifting their ranges to colder regions, which may lead to altered community composition, but it remains largely unknown how it will affect ecosystem functioning. Here, stable isotope analysis was used to study benthic OM utilization and food‐web structure and to assess whether their spatial patterns reflect today's community differentiation among biogeographic regions and depth zones. Benthic fauna and OM mixtures were collected from two depth zones (100–150 m vs. 200–250 m) within a temperate, two sub‐Arctic, and an Arctic fjord along a latitudinal gradient (59–78° N) that was used as a space‐for‐time substitution to assess the impact of climate change. Our results showed that Arctic and temperate communities are functionally different. Arctic communities were characterized by a strong resource partitioning among different feeding types, irrespective of depth zone. In contrast, all feeding types in temperate communities seemed to rely on sedimentary OM. The sub‐Arctic presented a transition zone. In the sub‐Arctic, shallower communities resembled Arctic communities, suggesting a functional transition between temperate and sub‐Arctic regions. Deeper sub‐Arctic communities resembled temperate communities, suggesting a functional transition between the sub‐Arctic and Arctic regions. This implies that the regions north of the current transitions (deep Arctic and shallow sub‐Arctic) are most likely to experience functional changes related to an altered OM utilization in benthic food webs in response to climate change.
ENDING WASTEFUL YEAR‐END SPENDING: ON OPTIMAL BUDGET RULES IN ORGANIZATIONS
Authors: Siemroth Christoph
Published: December 2023

What can organizations do to minimize wasteful year‐end spending? I introduce a two‐period model to derive optimal budget roll‐over and audit rules. A principal tasks an agent with using a budget to fulfill the organization's spending needs, which are private information of the agent. The agent can misuse funds for private benefit. The optimal rules allow the agent to roll‐over a share of the unused funds, but not necessarily the full share, and in most cases to audit only sufficiently large spending. The optimal audit rule can change once fund roll‐over is allowed. Strategically underfunding the agent can be optimal.