bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Sun Is Still Shining: Nature of Industry Payments to Transplant Surgeons From 2014 to 2019
Authors: Lombardi Conner V. , Lang Jacob J. , Clayton Deklin , Sindhwani Puneet , Rees Michael , Ekwenna Obi
Published: April 2022

Background.

Established in 2013, the Open Payments Program (OPP) mandated that medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers submit record of any financial incentive given to physicians to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which is in turn made publicly available. This study aims to characterize these payments to transplant surgeons over the first 6 y of OPP data.

Methods.

The study sample included all physicians who received at least one nonresearch payment as transplant surgeons to the OPP. To capture transplant surgeons who may be listed under their pipeline specialty, the American Society of Transplant Surgeons member directory as of January 2021 was queried. Payments were analyzed temporally, geographically, and by payment type, physician, and industry payer.

Results.

In total, payments totaling $15 661 536 were made to 1335 transplant surgeons over the study period. The mean payment was $436.90 (SD, $1760), and the median payment was $52.94 (interquartile range, $18.29–$159.80). The top contributing companies were Intuitive Surgical, Inc.; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; and Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Only 5.3% ($827 236) was paid toward faculty or as a speaker for a nonaccredited and noncertified continuing education program and honorarium. Educational payments came in at $1 233 141 (7.9%) over the study period. $13 750 828.60 (87.8%) of the payments were for other categories (consulting fees, food and beverages, etc). Organ transplant and procurement region 7 and 8 transplant surgeons received the highest median payments during the study period.

Conclusions.

This study is the first to characterize the payments made to transplant surgeons since the passage of the Sunshine Act. Further studies are needed to understand and interpret the relationship between industry and transplant surgeons, as the payments may or may not translate to influence in medical decisions or use of medical devices.
Wolbachia endosymbionts in two Anopheles species indicates independent acquisitions and lack of prophage elements
Authors: Quek Shannon , Cerdeira Louise , Jeffries Claire L. , Tomlinson Sean , Walker Thomas , Hughes Grant L. , Heinz Eva
Published: April 2022

Wolbachia

is a genus of obligate bacterial endosymbionts that infect a diverse range of arthropod species as well as filarial nematodes, with its single described species,

Wolbachia pipientis

, divided into several ‘supergroups’ based on multilocus sequence typing.

Wolbachia

strains in mosquitoes have been shown to inhibit the transmission of human pathogens, including Plasmodium malaria parasites and arboviruses. Despite their large host range,

Wolbachia

strains within the major malaria vectors of the Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus complexes appear at low density, established solely on PCR-based methods. Questions have been raised as to whether this represents a true endosymbiotic relationship. However, recent definitive evidence for two distinct, high-density strains of supergroup B

Wolbachia

within Anopheles demeilloni and Anopheles moucheti has opened exciting possibilities to explore naturally occurring

Wolbachia

endosymbionts in Anopheles for biocontrol strategies to block Plasmodium transmission. Here, we utilize genomic analyses to demonstrate that both

Wolbachia

strains have retained all key metabolic and transport pathways despite their smaller genome size, with this reduction potentially attributable to degenerated prophage regions. Even with this reduction, we confirmed the presence of cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) factor genes within both strains, with wAnD maintaining intact copies of these genes while the cifB gene was interrupted in wAnM, so functional analysis is required to determine whether wAnM can induce CI. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis indicates that these

Wolbachia

strains may have been introduced into these two Anopheles species via horizontal transmission events, rather than by ancestral acquisition and subsequent loss events in the Anopheles gambiae species complex. These are the first

Wolbachia

genomes, to our knowledge, that enable us to study the relationship between natural strain Plasmodium malaria parasites and their anopheline hosts.
Screening transcriptional connections in Staphylococcus aureus using high-throughput transduction of bioluminescent reporter plasmids
Authors: Weiss Andy , Jackson Jessica K. , Shaw Lindsey N. , Skaar Eric P.
Published: April 2022

Characterization of transcriptional networks is one of the main strategies used to understand how bacteria interact with their environment. To reveal novel regulatory elements in the human pathogen

Staphylococcus aureus

, we adapted a traditional transduction protocol to be used in a high-throughput format in combination with the publicly available

S. aureus

Nebraska Transposon Mutant Library. Specifically, plasmid transductions are performed in 96-well format, so that a single plasmid can be simultaneously transferred into numerous recipient strains. When used in conjunction with bioluminescent reporter constructs, this strategy enables parallel and continuous monitoring of downstream transcriptional effects of hundreds of defined mutations. Here, we use this workflow in a proof-of-concept study to identify novel regulators of the staphylococcal metalloprotease aureolysin. Importantly, this strategy can be utilized with any other bacterium where plasmid transduction is possible, making it a versatile and efficient tool to probe transcriptional regulatory connections.
Methadone overdoses increased 48% during the COVID-19 epidemic
Authors: Kaufman Daniel E. , Kennalley Amy L. , McCall Kenneth L , Piper Brian J.
Published: April 2022

Background

The United States (US) is in the middle of an opioid overdose epidemic that has spanned over two decades and continues to escalate. Methadone is long-acting full opioid agonist which has been approved to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). Methadone can cause respiratory depression that may result in mortality. The restrictions on methadone availability including take-home dosing were loosened during the COVID-19 pandemic although there have been concerns about the high street value of diverted methadone. This report examined how fatal overdoses involving methadone have changed over the past two-decades including during the pandemic.

Methods

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) database, which draws data from death certificates, was used to find the unintentional methadone related overdose death rate from 1999-2020. Unintentional methadone deaths were defined using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD), 10th revision codes: X40-44 with only data which was coded for methadone (T40.3). Data from the Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS) on methadone overall use, narcotic treatment programs use, and pain management use was gathered for all states, including the District of Columbia, for 2020 and corrected for population.

Results

There have been dynamic changes over the past two-decades in overdoses involving methadone. Overdoses increased from 1999 (0.9/million) to 2007 (15.9) and declined until 2019 (6.5). Overdoses in 2020 (9.6) were 48.1% higher than in 2019 (t(50) = 3.05, p < .005).

The correlations between overall methadone use (r(49) = +0.75, p < 0.001), and narcotic treatment program use (r(49) = +0.77, p < 0.001) were positive, strong, and statistically significant. However, methadone use for pain treatment was not associated with overdoses (r(49) = -.08, p = .57).

Conclusions

Overdoses involving methadone significantly increased by 48.1% in 2020 relative to 2019. This mortality increase is much larger than the 5.3% elevation in calls involving methadone reported to poison control centers in the year following the March 16, 2020 loosening of methadone take-home regulations. Policy changes that were implemented following the COVID-19 pandemic involving methadone may warrant reconsideration.
Air pollution exposure and mitochondrial DNA copy number in the UK Biobank
Authors: Hong Yun Soo , Battle Stephanie L. , Puiu Daniela , Shi Wen , Pankratz Nathan , Zhao Di , Arking Dan E. , Guallar Eliseo
Published: April 2022

Background

Low levels of mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) are a biomarker of mitochondrial dysfunction often induced by oxidative stress. Air pollution is a pervasive source of oxidative stress, but the association between air pollution exposure and mtDNA-CN is inconclusive.

Objective

We evaluated the association between long-term exposure to PM ≤ 10 µm diameter (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) with mtDNA-CN in 195,196 adults in the UK Biobank study.

Methods

Annual average PM10 and NO2 concentrations were estimated using separate land-use regression models for years 2007 and 2010. mtDNA-CN was measured in blood samples collected between 2007 and 2010 and was calculated as the ratio of mitochondrial coverage to the nuclear genome coverage derived from whole-genome sequencing in 195,196 UK Biobank participants. We used standardized values (Z-scores) after log-transformation as the mtDNA-CN metric.

Results

The median (interquartile range) annual average concentrations of PM10 and NO2 were 21.8 (20.3–23.6) and 28.9 (23.7–35.1) µg/m3 in 2007, and 16.2 (15.5–17.1) and 27.8 (22.7–32.4) µg/m3 in 2010. An increase of 10 µg/m3 in annual average PM10 and NO2 exposure was associated with an adjusted difference in mtDNA-CN of −0.089 (95% confidence interval; −0.090, −0.087) and −0.018 (−0.018, −0.017), respectively. The associations persisted for lags of up to 3 years. PM2.5-10 was also inversely associated with mtDNA-CN.

Conclusions

In this large-scale study, long-term exposure to PM10 and NO2 were inversely associated with mtDNA-CN. These findings suggest that oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, reflected by reduced mtDNA-CN, may be an additional mechanism mediating the health effects of air pollution.
BCG vaccination of Diversity Outbred mice induces cross-reactive antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein
Authors: Specht Aubrey G. , Kurtz Sherry L. , Elkins Karen L. , Specht Harrison , Beamer Gillian
Published: April 2022

The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, the only vaccine against tuberculosis, induces cross-protection against pathogens unrelated to Mycobacterium, including viruses. Epidemiological studies have identified potential benefits of BCG vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 infection. While BCG’s heterologous effects have been widely attributable to trained immunity, we hypothesized BCG vaccination could induce cross-reactive antibodies against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan-Hu-1. The concentration of IgG reactive to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein from the sera of BCG-vaccinated, Diversity Outbred (DO) mice and C57BL/6J inbred mice was measured using ELISA. Sera from 10/15 BCG-vaccinated DO mice possessed more IgG reactive to recombinant spike protein than sera from BCG-vaccinated C57BL/6J mice and unvaccinated DO mice. Amino acid sequences common to BCG cell wall/membrane proteins and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were identified as potential antigen candidates for future study. These results imply a humoral mechanism, influenced by genotype, by which BCG vaccination could confer immunity to SARS-CoV-2.

Graphic Abstract
Biofilms preserve the transmissibility of a multi-drug resistance plasmid
Authors: Metzger Genevieve A. , Ridenhour Benjamin J. , France Michael , Gliniewicz Karol , Millstein Jack , Settles Matthew L. , Forney Larry J. , Stalder Thibault , Top Eva M.
Published: April 2022

Self-transmissible multidrug resistance (MDR) plasmids are a major health concern because they can spread antibiotic resistance to pathogens. Even though most pathogens form biofilms, little is known about how MDR plasmids persist and evolve in biofilms. We hypothesize that (i) biofilms act as refugia of MDR plasmids by retaining them in the absence of antibiotics longer than well-mixed planktonic populations, and that (ii) the evolutionary trajectories that account for the improvement of plasmid persistence over time differ between biofilms and planktonic populations. In this study, we evolvedAcinetobacter baumanniiwith an MDR plasmid in biofilm and planktonic populations with and without antibiotic selection. In the absence of selection biofilm populations were better able to maintain the MDR plasmid than planktonic populations. In planktonic populations plasmid persistence improved rapidly but was accompanied by a loss of genes required for the horizonal transfer of plasmids. In contrast, in biofilms most plasmids retained their transfer genes, but on average plasmid persistence improved less over time. Our results showed that biofilms can act as refugia of MDR plasmids and favor the horizontal mode of plasmid transfer, which has important implications for the spread of MDR.
Change in prey genotype frequency rescues predator from extinction
Authors: Hermann Ruben Joseph , Becks Lutz
Published: April 2022

Indirect evolutionary rescue (IER) is a mechanism where a non-evolving population is saved from extinction in an otherwise lethal environment by evolution in an interacting population. This process has been described in a predator-prey model, where extinction of the predator is prevented by a shift in the frequency of defended towards undefended prey when reduced predator densities lower selection for defended prey. We test here how increased mortality and the initial frequencies of the prey types affect IER. Combining the analysis of model simulations and experiments with rotifers feeding on an algal population we show IER in the presence of increased predator mortality. We found that IER was dependent on the ability of the prey population to evolve as well as on the frequency of the defended prey. High initial frequencies of defended prey resulted in predator extinction despite the possibility for prey evolution, as the increase in undefended prey was delayed too much to allow predator rescue. This frequency dependency for IER was more pronounced for higher predator mortalities. Our findings can help informing the development of conservation and management strategies that consider evolutionary responses in communities to environmental changes.
Autophagy modulates apical growth and development in the moss Physcomitrium patens
Authors: Pettinari Georgina , Finello Juan , Rojas Macarena Plaza , Liberatore Franco , Robert Germán , Otaiza-González Santiago , Velez Pilar , Theumer Martin , Agudelo-Romero Patricia , Gonzalez Claudio , Lascano Ramiro , Saavedra Laura
Published: April 2022

Different to root hairs and pollen tubes, Physcomitrium patens apical growing protonemal cells have the singularity that they continue to undergo cell divisions as the plant develops, allowing to study autophagy in the context of a multicellular apical growing tissue coupled to development. Herein, we showed that the core autophagy machinery is present in the moss P. patens, and deeply characterized the growth and development of wild-type, atg5 and atg7 loss-of-function mutants under optimal and nutrient-deprived conditions. Our results showed that the growth of the different morphological and functional protonemata apical growing cells, chloronema and caulonema, is differentially modulated by this process. These differences depend on the protonema cell type and position along the protonemal filament, and growth condition. As a global plant response, the absence of autophagy triggers the spread of the colony through protonemata growth at the expense of a reduction in buds and gametophore development, and thus the adult gametophytic and reproductive phases. Altogether this study provides valuable information indicating that autophagy has roles during apical growth with differential responses within the cell types of the same tissue and contributes to life cycle progression and thus the development of the 2D and 3D tissues of P. patens.

HIGHLIGHT

Autophagy is differentially induced in protonemal cells, and contributes to apical growth, life cycle progression, and thus the development of the 2D and 3D tissues of P. patens.
Modular safe-harbor transgene insertion (MosTI) for targeted single-copy and extrachromosomal array integration in C. elegans
Authors: Mouridi Sonia El , Alkhaldi Faisal , Frøkjær-Jensen Christian
Published: April 2022

Efficient and reproducible transgenesis facilitates and accelerates research using genetic model organisms. Here we describe a modular safe harbor transgene insertion (MosTI) for use in C. elegans which improves targeted insertion of single-copy transgenes by homology directed repair and targeted integration of extrachromosomal arrays by non-homologous end-joining. MosTI allows easy conversion between selection markers at insertion site and a collection of universal targeting vectors with commonly used promoters and fluorophores. Insertions are targeted at three permissive safe-harbor intergenic locations and transgenes are reproducibly expressed in somatic and germ cells. Chromosomal integration is mediated by CRISPR/Cas9, and positive selection is based on a set of split markers (unc-119, hygroR, and gfp) where only animals with chromosomal insertions are rescued, resistant to antibiotics, or fluorescent, respectively. Single-copy insertion is efficient using either constitutive or heat-shock inducible Cas9 expression (25 - 75%) and insertions can be generated from a multiplexed injection mix. Extrachromosomal array integration is also efficient (7 - 44%) at MosTI landing sites or at the endogenous unc-119 locus. We use short-read sequencing to estimate the plasmid copy numbers for eight integrated arrays (6 to 37 copies) and long-read Nanopore sequencing to determine the structure and size (5.4 Mb) of one array. Using universal targeting vectors, standardized insertion strains, and optimized protocols, it is possible to construct complex transgenic strains which should facilitate the study of increasingly complex biological problems in C. elegans.
Development of transformation for genome editing of an emerging model organism
Authors: Yamamoto Yutaka , Gerbi Susan A.
Published: April 2022

With the advances in genomic sequencing, many organisms with novel biological properties are ripe for use as emerging model organisms. However, to make full use of them, transformation methods need to be developed to permit genome editing. Here, we present development of transformation for the fungus flySciara (Bradysia) coprophila; this may serve as a paradigm for development of transformation for other emerging systems, especially insects.Sciarahas a variety of unique biological features including locus-specific developmentally-regulated DNA amplification; chromosome imprinting; a monopolar spindle in male meiosis I; non-disjunction of the X chromosome in male meiosis II; X chromosome elimination in early embryogenesis; germ line limited (L) chromosomes; high resistance to radiation. Mining the unique biology ofSciararequires a transformation system to test mutations of DNA sequences that may play roles for these features. We describe aSciaratransformation system using a modified piggyBac transformation vector and detailed protocols we have developed to accommodateSciara-specific requirements. This advance will provide a platform for us and others in the growingSciaracommunity to take advantage of this unique biological system. In addition, the versatile piggyBac vectors described here and transformation methods will be useful for other emerging model systems.

Author Biographies

Susan A. Gerbi(Ph.D. with Joseph Gall at Yale University 1970) is the George Eggleston, Professor of Biochemistry at Brown University. Her research includes chromosomes, DNA replication and ribosomal RNA. She was President and is a Fellow of ASCB, a Fellow of AAAS and received the RI Governor’s Award for Scientific Achievement. Other honors include RNA Society/CSHL Press Distinguished Research Mentor award; GSA George Beadle award; ASCB Senior Leadership/ Mentoring Award. She is a national leader in graduate education, including member of the National Academy of Sciences Panel on Bridges to Independence that led to the NIH K99 program, Chair of the AAMC Graduate Research Education Training Group; Chair of the FASEB Consensus Conference on Graduate Education.Yutaka Yamamoto(M.D. Kansai Medical University 1990; Ph.D. with Walter Gehring at Biozentrum – Basel 1995; postdoc with David Glover at Dundee University and University of Cambridge) is a research associate at Brown University.

Graphical Abstract
Clearing of ribosome collisions by the ribosome quality control trigger complex RQT
Authors: Best Katharina , Ikeuchi Ken , Kater Lukas , Best Daniel , Musial Joanna , Matsuo Yoshitaka , Berninghausen Otto , Becker Thomas , Inada Toshifumi , Beckmann Roland
Published: April 2022

After translational stalls, colliding eukaryotic ribosomes are cleared through dissociation into subunits by the ribosome quality control trigger complex, RQT, by an unknown mechanism. Here we show that RQT requires accessible mRNA and the presence of a neighboring ribosome. Cryo-EM of several RQT-ribosome complexes revealed the structural basis of splitting: RQT engages the 40S subunit of the lead ribosome and can switch between two conformations. We propose a mechanistic model in which the Slh1 helicase subunit of RQT applies a pulling force on the mRNA, causing destabilizing conformational changes of the 40S subunit. The collided ribosome functions as a ram or giant wedge, ultimately resulting in subunit dissociation. Our findings provide a first conceptual framework for a helicase driven ribosomal splitting mechanism.

One-Sentence Summary

RQT clears collided ribosomes by pulling mRNA to trigger destabilizing conformational transitions for subunit dissociation.
Cystin is required for maintaining fibrocystin (FPC) levels and safeguarding proteome integrity in mouse renal epithelial cells A mechanistic connection between the kidney defects incpkmice and human ARPKD
Authors: Zhang Yiming , Yang Chaozhe , Wang Wei , Harafuji Naoe , Stasiak Piotr , Bell P. Darwin , Caldovic Ljuba , Sztul Elizabeth , Guay-Woodford Lisa M. , Bebok Zsuzsanna
Published: April 2022

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is caused primarily by mutations inPKHD1, encoding fibrocystin (FPC), butPkhd1mutant mice fail to express renal cystic disease. In contrast, the renal lesion inCys1cpk/cpk(cpk) mice with loss of the cystin protein, closely phenocopy ARPKD. Recent identification of patients withCYS1-related ARPKD prompted the investigations described herein. We analyzed cystin and FPC expression in mouse models (cpk, rescued-cpk(r-cpk),Pkhd1mutants) and cortical collecting duct (CCD) cell lines (wild type (wt), cpk). We found that cystin deficiency led to diminished FPC in bothcpkkidneys and CCD cells. Inr-cpkkidneys, FPC increased and siRNA ofCys1inwtCCD cells reduced FPC. Conversely, FPC deficiency inPkhd1mutants did not affect cystin levels. Cystin deficiency and the associated reduction in FPC levels impacted the architecture of the primary cilium, but not ciliogenesis. SimilarPkhd1mRNA levels inwt, cpkkidneys and CCD cells suggested posttranslational mechanisms directed FPC loss and studies of cellular protein degradation systems revealed selective autophagy as a possible mechanism. Loss of FPC from the NEDD4 E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes caused reduced polyubiquitination and elevated levels of functional epithelial sodium channel (NEDD4 target) incpkcells. We propose that cystin is necessary to stabilize FPC and loss of cystin leads to rapid FPC degradation. FPC removal from E3-ligase complexes alters the cellular proteome and may contribute to cystogenesis through multiple mechanisms, that include MYC transcriptional regulation.
Language and the cerebellum: structural connectivity to the eloquent brain
Authors: Jobson Katie R. , Hoffman Linda J. , Metoki Athanasia , Popal Haroon , Dick Anthony Steven , Reilly Jamie , Olson Ingrid R.
Published: April 2022

Neurobiological models of receptive language have focused on the left-hemisphere perisylvian cortex with the assumption that the cerebellum supports peri-linguistic cognitive processes such as verbal working memory. The goal of this study was to identify language-sensitive regions of the cerebellum then map the structural connectivity profile of these regions. Functional imaging data and diffusion-weighted imaging data from the Human Connectome Project (HCP) were analyzed. We found that (a) working memory, motor activity, and language comprehension activated partially overlapping but mostly unique subregions of the cerebellum; (b) the linguistic portion of the cerebello-thalamo-cortical circuit was more extensive than the linguistic portion of the cortico-ponto-cerebellar tract; (c) there was a frontal-lobe bias in the connectivity from the cerebellum to the cerebrum; (d) there was some degree of specificity; and (e) for some cerebellar tracts, individual differences in picture identification ability covaried with fractional anisotropy metrics. These findings yield insights into the structural connectivity of the cerebellum as relates to the uniquely human process of language comprehension.
Enhancing Polysaccharide Immunity through Intranasal Immunizations
Authors: Trabbic Kevin , Ganesan Shyamala , Fattom Ali , Lees Andrew , Bitko Vira
Published: April 2022

Objective

A model conjugate vaccine incorporating a pneumococcal polysaccharide with EcoCRM197 was used to determine vaccine efficacy when administered with our clinical-stage mucosal stimulating adjuvant, NE01. This was the first attempt at combining NE01 with a polysaccharide conjugate vaccine to elicit mucosal immunity against respiratory bacterial infection through intranasal immunizations.

Results

Intranasal immunizations using the NE01 adjuvant incorporating a polysaccharide conjugate resulted in the generation of a robust IgG and IgA responses in both serum and mucosa. Our data also demonstrated the active homing of immunological memory cells to the lower respiratory tract as evidenced by an increase of IgG- and IgA-producing memory B-cells in the lungs. Further, intranasal immunization enhanced the induction of a balanced Th1/Th2/ Th17 immune response with clear homing of memory T-cells to the lungs. Serum antibodies generated by this formulation and route of administration demonstrated excellent efficacy in killing S. pneumonia in an in vitro OPK assay, a biomarker of vaccine efficacy. Our data suggest that further optimization of the dose and schedule as well as evaluation of the efficacy of this new formulation in animal models of colonization and infection are warranted.
Modification and corrosion resistance of halloysite carrier with metal nanoinhibitor in marine corrosion environment
Authors: Wang Yan , Lv Peng , Liu Yan , Zhou Xin
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide theoretical guidance and an experimental basis for a smart anti-corrosion coating of halloysite nanocontainers loaded with benzotriazole (BTA) inhibitors on copper in a marine corrosion environment.

Design/methodology/approach

In the present study, the smart anti-corrosion coatings of halloysite nanocontainers loaded inhibitors on copper were synthesized by adding BTA inside the halloysite nanocontainers. Then, the halloysite carrier’s surface topography and composition in the halloysite were observed using scanning electron microscopy. After the successful synthesis of the coating, the inhibitor’s physical and chemical properties, as well as the mass change in halloysite, were evaluated in terms of temperature fluctuation and time using thermal gravity analysis (TGA). Finally, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to check the pH selectivity for the self-releasing of BTA out of the nanocontainers.

Findings

The results indicate that the efficiency of the nanotubes was enhanced by calcination at high temperatures. The thermal gravity analysis by TGA shows that halloysite nanoparticles store inhibitors BTA and there are approximately 37.39 Wt.% BTA loaded in each nanocontainer. The release of the preloaded BTA from the halloysite nanocontainers is pH 7 in a 3.5% NaCl solution.

Originality/value

The development of a new environmentally safe coating for corrosion protection of metallic surfaces has attracted great interest in material science over the past few years. At present, halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) have become a research hotspot internationally and are widely used in nanocomposites, catalysis, nanofiltration, drug sustained-release and other fields. However, the application of HNT is limited by its modification methods. As the carrier of metal nanocorrosion inhibitor in the Marine corrosive environment, the modification research of HNT still needs to be further studied and improved so as to expand the practical application of HNT in the Marine corrosive environment. In this paper, the modification of HNTs was investigated and observed. Four different modification schemes were used to observe and compare the structural properties of the nanotubes under different conditions so as to provide a theoretical basis for the further loading of HNTs as corrosion inhibitors.
Use of real-life imagery and words in luxury brand trademarks: a study of the trademark lawsuits involving the Polo/Lauren Company
Authors: Cheng Kwang-Hwee
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This article presents a study of the trademark lawsuits in Singapore involving the Polo/Lauren Company, L.P. (“PRL”) in their attempts to stop various competitors and businesses from using the word “polo” and/or a device of a polo player. Hitherto, there has not been any concerted study of these lawsuits that seeks to analyse the legal principles underpinning the case judgements and translate them into actionable marketing insights using both legal and marketing perspectives. Applying both of such perspectives through the domains of trademark law, consumer attitudes towards counterfeiting and marketing perspectives, such as targeting, promotion and pricing strategies, this article will distill practical and managerial implications for marketers in the luxury brand industry.

Design/methodology/approach

An interdisciplinary approach is adopted, using both legal and marketing frameworks to analyse the decisions, reasoning and implications from the PRL trademark lawsuits.

Findings

There are key practical considerations for marketers and luxury brand managers to consider, both at the conception and during the life cycle of the luxury brand, in order to optimise the level of legal protection under the trademark regime. These include the use of invented words and imaginary content in trademarks, exercising a balancing of various considerations in the use of “composite marks”, and the selection of market pricing, promotion and distribution strategies, which are elaborated in the article.

Research limitations/implications

Given the commonality of the subject matter involved in the trademark lawsuits involving PRL (i.e. the use of the word “polo” and/or the device of a polo player), this study has chosen to focus only on these lawsuits in the context of the Singapore market, and based on Singapore's legal framework, to glean thematic and practical insights. Further studies based on other types of businesses, geographical markets and legal frameworks could be explored to form a better basis for the applicability and comparability of the findings.

Originality/value

While there have been case studies and analyses performed on some of the individual PRL trademark lawsuits around the world, this will be the first study to look at the series of Singapore PRL lawsuits in a holistic and interdisciplinary perspective.
Dysfunctional leadership: investigating employee experiences with dysfunctional leaders
Authors: Abalkhail Jouharah M.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the experiences of employees who are exposed to dysfunctional behaviors by their leaders in a healthcare organization.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a qualitative methodology drawing on 25 semi-structured interviews with administrative and clinical employees working in a healthcare setting operating in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Findings

This study’s findings provide insights into dysfunctional leadership phenomena based on employees’ personal experiences with dysfunctional leaders. Dysfunctional leaders have several harmful behaviors, such as behaving in abusive ways, marginalizing others, engaging in favoritism, and degrading employees. This study also demonstrated that the leaders’ negative behavior directly influences employees to leave their jobs, contributes to feelings of alienation at work, reduces their commitment, and frequently creates serious psychological and physical problems. This study also discovered that over time the negative effects of a dysfunctional leader do not stop at employees; it also filters through to other areas such as the organizational environment and family life.

Originality/value

Dysfunctional leadership is under-studied within the context of the Middle Eastern region. Therefore, this study’s findings provide theoretical and practical implications. It provides information about employee experiences and how dysfunctional behavior influences individuals and, ultimately, organizational life. Furthermore, this study has value to practitioners by offering suggestions for organizational interventions for creating more effective policies and programs to support employees’ careers and well-being.
AI-enables product purchase on Amazon: what are the consumers saying?
Authors: Gunasekar Sangeetha , Ray Sougata , Dixit Saurabh Kumar , PA Manoj Raj
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to identify the product attributes that influence customer satisfaction related to AI-enabled products with a strong forecast of growth. This study is very timely as the market for AI-based smart home products is still at a nascent stage in emerging economies (Vaishali Dar, 2021). Adding evidence to literature on the experience of customers, identifying the attributes that lead to customer satisfaction and those that lead to dissatisfaction are essential for products that were launched recently during the pandemic. This study makes valuable addition to the existing literature.

Design/methodology/approach

Online reviews (12,326 reviews) for EchoDot products launched by Amazon India during the pandemic were collected for the study. The attributes were identified based on the most frequently discussed attributes in the text reviews. Further review valence was determined to group the reviews under positive reviews indicating customer satisfaction and negative reviews indicating customer dissatisfaction. Logistic regression was used to identify the attributes that significantly impact customer satisfaction/dissatisfaction.

Findings

The results of the study indicate that while EchoDot is seen to add value to the smart home environment (home variable), video (video variable) and speaker (speaker variable) quality also contribute to customer satisfaction. Further, consumers found the product truly worth their money (value for money variable). Other attributes like a complaint about Bluetooth features are seen to increase the probability of customer dissatisfaction.

Originality/value

This study identifies the most important attributes that influence customer satisfaction in AI-enabled product sales on e-commerce platforms in pandemic times for India. Such studies are scarce in the emerging markets where the AI-based home appliance market is still in its nascent stage, and the customers are trying out their experiences with these products. What the customers expect and are these products fulfill these expectations is an important question that needs to be addressed by research. This study addresses this gap and adds to this literature.
Dividend payment and financial restatement: US evidence
Authors: Bhuiyan Md. Borhan Uddin , Ahmad Fawad
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of financial restatement on corporate dividend payment. Firms that announce financial restatements rupture their corporate reputation and adversely affect investors’ confidence. Consequently, firms must attempt to regain lost reputation and market confidence.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the US regulatory setting to examine the association between corporate dividend policy and financial restatement over the 2001–2017 financial years.

Findings

The findings evidence a robust positive association between financial restatement and dividend payouts, indicating that firms pay higher dividends following the year of financial restatement. Several sensitivity tests were conducted to confirm the robustness of the findings.

Originality/value

Prior research indicates that corporate dividend payouts enhance a firm’s reputation by reducing information asymmetry and providing a positive signal to investors regarding future financial performance. This study provides valuable evidence that dividend payout can be used as a channel for image restoration by firms with lost reputations because of financial restatement.
Robotic plasma cladding complex NURBS curve coating using the bisection inverse search bow height control interpolation method
Authors: Wang Zhao-Qin , Shi Yu , Wang Xiao-Rong
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The bisection inverse search bow height control interpolation (BIS-BHCI) method for nonuniform rational B-splines (NURBS) curve is proposed to accomplish the serial robotic plasma cladding of planar complex curve coating with high precision.

Design/methodology/approach

A plasma–computer integrated cladding system is constructed based on a Motoman-UP6 serial robot and a plasma power. Based on the BIS-BHCI method, combining the serial robotic kinematics with the NURBS curve model, an offline plasma cladding software is developed for Motoman-UP6. Before plasma cladding, a planar NURBS curve coating is designed and defined and its BIS-BHCI is carried out with proper parameters. Then, the cladding programs are generated using the BIS-BHCI results and the robotic kinematics and inputted into the serial robotic controller. After that, the plasma cladding of the planar NURBS curve coating is implemented based on the Motoman-UP6 serial robot.

Findings

The simulation and plasma cladding for the NURBS curve coating shows that the BIS-BHCI method is feasible and effective. Plasma cladding of complex NURBS curve coating based on serial robot is feasible and effective.

Originality/value

The complex NURBS curve coating is prepared based on a serial robot platform for the first time. It provides a theoretical and technical basis for plasma cladding to produce surface coatings of industrial complex parts. With the increasing application of complex parts, the plasma cladding process of complex NURBS curve coatings has a broad application prospect.
A delineation of the impact of illicit financial flows on the right to development: details from Cameroon’s special criminal court
Authors: Agbor Avitus Agbor
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This paper advances the argument that misappropriation of public funds should be construed as illicit financial flows (IFFs) which, undoubtedly, have an adverse effect on the realisation of the right to development. Furthermore, by detailing the nature of IFFs, this paper aims to demystify the shallow understanding of what is IFF or what are IFFs and why misappropriation of public funds should be seen in that light.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper examines and interrogates the different judgements that have been delivered in cases tried and finalised by the special criminal court (SCC). With viewpoints that are backed by a theoretical understanding of Cameroonian criminal law in particular and criminal law in general, an analysis of the underlying intentions, motives and trajectories in the commission of misappropriation of public funds corroborate the view that the offence must be construed as IFFs. The data used in this paper are primary.

Findings

A few pertinent findings were made in the course of this research. Firstly, the offence of misappropriation of public funds and IFFs are not distinct, and any effort to limit the use of “funds” to finances will ultimately miss the point as property with financial value will definitely amount to funds. Secondly, through misappropriation of public funds/property, IFFs have been committed based on the trends and figures disclosed in the judgements of the SCC. Finally, the right to development requires resources and by stealing public funds, resources are deprived, thereby compromising the realisation of development and the right to development.

Originality/value

This paper examines the impact of IFFs on the right to development within the context of Cameroon. By diagnosing the definition of the crime of misappropriation of public property or funds, the paper argues that such an offence must be seen as IFFs given its nature, the motive and intention underlying its perpetration. By taking such perspectives, this paper not only adds to the literature thereon but further brings in new perspectives on those aspects of Cameroonian criminal law.
Online accounting courses: digital loyalty for an inclusive and open society
Authors: Varma Ashish , Mancini Daniela , Dalela Ashwin Anupam , Varma Aradhya
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Online education can facilitate inclusive societal development. In emerging countries with low investment per capita in school and universities, it helps students overcome infrastructure constraints to continue their learning and reach their full potential, and it helps educational institutes to save costs and improve quality of learning. This study aims to develop and empirically evaluate a conceptual model for predicting digital loyalty (DL) among participants in online accounting courses, as a key lever to execute an inclusive societal development agenda and ensure sustainability of education in an emerging country.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used quantitative primary data collected from survey questionnaires administered to 167 respondents in India and employed partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS SEM) to analyse the data.

Findings

We observed that perceived learning (PL) significantly mediated the relationship between learning performance (LP) and digital loyalty to an online accounting programme.

Research limitations/implications

Students’ attitudes and preferences have changed remarkably in recent years. Online education encourages participants to complete their courses, learn new and relevant skills, improve their quality of life and recommend online education to others. This facilitates an inclusive, open society with opportunities for all. The results of this study have certain implications. First, as a novel extension of Abrantes et al.’s (2007) work, the DL construct added a new key dimension to the model. Second, the use of PLS Predict introduced methodological rigour to measures such as R2 and blindfolding processes, improving the understanding of the PLS Predict algorithm’s application to prediction studies.

Practical implications

The study established PL as a mediating variable in the associations between LP and DL and between pedagogical affect (PA) and DL. These findings have practical implications for course design and execution programmes in educational institutes, especially those aiming to democratise education and ensure inclusivity. Online education service providers should focus on equipping students with updated, cross-functional and integrated skills.

Originality/value

Online education can foster an inclusive and open society by overcoming the twin limitations of geographical distance and infrastructure constraints resulting from scarce learning resources, especially in emerging markets, such as India. The study makes an original contribution by collecting participant data for online accounting courses in India to establish clearly the antecedents of DL. This study empirically demonstrates the role of LP as the most significant antecedent of PL and DL.
COVID-19 and medical tourism intentions for Iran – a test of the risk perception attitude framework (RPAF)
Authors: Abbaspour Ferdos , Soltani Sanaz , Tham Aaron
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to examine whether medical tourism can be a frontrunner in terms of post-pandemic recovery for the industry

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-method analysis of 17 interviews and 210 questionnaires involving medical tourists to Iran was applied.

Findings

Medical tourists perceived the risks posed by COVID-19 as a temporal one, and attitudes toward post pandemic visitation intentions remained strong. In addition, these tourists can mostly be classified into responsive individuals, who demonstrate not only high risk but also high efficacy levels to negotiate the threats posed by the pandemic. No gender differences were located between male and female medical tourists in terms of post-COVID-19 travel intentions to Iran.

Originality/value

This research extends the application of the risk perception attitude framework to a medical tourism context. Furthermore, medical tourists are uncovered as another segment of crisis-resistant tourists.