bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Nuances of Hand Transplantation After Sepsis
Authors: Zuo Kevin J. , Leonard David A. , Shores Jaimie T. , Talbot Simon G.
Published: June 2023

Vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) of the upper extremity is an established restorative procedure for selected patients with acquired upper limb loss. The majority of upper limb VCAs performed worldwide have been for victims of various forms of trauma. However, in the developed world, amputation following severe sepsis seems to be an increasingly common indication for referral to hand transplant programs. Unlike trauma patients with isolated limb injuries, patients with amputations as a complication of sepsis have survived through a state of global tissue hypoperfusion and multisystem organ failure with severe, enduring effects on the entire body’s physiology. This article reviews the unique considerations for VCA candidacy in postsepsis patients with upper limb amputation. These insights may also be relevant to postsepsis patients undergoing other forms of transplantation or to VCA patients requiring additional future solid organ transplants.
kmindex and ORA: indexing and real-time user-friendly queries in terabyte-sized complex genomic datasets
Authors: Lemane Téo , Lezzoche Nolan , Lecubin Julien , Pelletier Eric , Lescot Magali , Chikhi Rayan , Peterlongo Pierre
Published: June 2023

Public sequencing databases contain vast amounts of biological information, yet they are largely underutilized as one cannot efficiently search them for any sequence(s) of interest. We presentkmindex, an innovative approach that can index thousands of highly complex metagenomes and perform sequence searches in a fraction of a second. The index construction is an order of magnitude faster than previous methods, while search times are two orders of magnitude faster. With negligible false positive rates below 0.01%,kmindexoutperforms the precision of existing approaches by four orders of magnitude. We demonstrate the scalability ofkmindexby successfully indexing 1,393 complex marine seawater metagenome samples from theTaraOceans project. Additionally, we introduce the publicly accessible web server “Ocean Read Atlas” (ORA) athttps://ocean-read-atlas.mio.osupytheas.fr/, which enables real-time queries on theTaraOceans dataset. The open-sourcekmindexsoftware is available athttps://github.com/tlemane/kmindex.
Growth dynamics and genetic variation in attached and free-living populations of the filamentous brown seaweed,Pilayella littoralis
Authors: Miller Steven L. , Wilce Robert T.
Published: June 2023

We used common garden growth experiments to study genetic variation among geographic isolates (Greenland, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, USA) of the filamentous brown seaweedPilayella littoralis,including the free-living form unique to Nahant Bay, Massachusetts. Ecotypic variation for temperature growth maximum was demonstrated for a west Greenland isolate (10° Cversus15° C for other attached isolates) and between Nahant Bay attached (narrower phenotypic plasticity) and free-living forms (broader phenotypic plasticity) of the species. Morphological and reproductive characteristics of attached and free-living isolates remained distinctive under identical culture conditions after four years. The attached forms were characteristically cabled, twisted, and clumped; unilocular reproductive cells were common and plurilocular reproductive cells were present. The free-living form was characteristically loosely branched and ball-like; only vegetative reproduction occurred, with a few unilocular reproductive cells observed in one experiment. Free-living and attached isolates cultured using no water movement and turbulent conditions to mimic surf and surge conditions did not develop forms that resembled each other after eight months. We additionally used starch gel electrophoresis to study genetic variability in attached and free-living forms ofP. littoralisfrom Nahant Bay. Free-living and attached populations were not different at the isozyme level because a limited number of isozymes were resolved (six out of 39 enzymes tested). One isozyme (PGI) was polymorphic, with two alleles present. The two alleles shared in the attached and free-living populations suggest that the free-living form is not one large identical clone. For attached and free-livingP. littoralis,both transplant and growth studies in the laboratory provide convincing evidence of ecotypic differentiation.
Formation of amyloid fibrils by the regulatory 14-3-3ζ protein
Authors: Šulskis Darius , Žiaunys Mantas , Sakalauskas Andrius , Smirnovas Vytautas
Published: June 2023

The 14-3-3 is a highly conserved adaptor protein family with multi-layer functions, abundantly expressed in the brain. The 14-3-3 proteins modulate phosphorylation, regulate enzymatic activity and can act as chaperones. Most importantly, they play an important role in various neurodegenerative disorders due to their vast interaction partners. Particularly, the 14-3-3ξ isoform is known to co-localize in aggregation tangles in both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases as a result of protein-protein interactions. These abnormal clumps consist of amyloid fibrils – insoluble aggregates, mainly formed by amyloid-β, tau and α-synuclein proteins. However, the molecular basis of if and how 14-3-3ξ can aggregate into amyloid fibrils is unknown. In this study, we describe the formation of amyloid fibrils by 14-3-3ξ utilizing a comprehensive approach that combines bioinformatic tools, amyloid-specific dye binding, secondary structure analysis and atomic force microscopy. The results presented herein characterize the amyloidogenic properties of 14-3-3ξ and imply that the well-folded protein undergoes aggregation to β-sheet-rich amyloid fibrils.
Variation in thermal sensitivity of diapause development among individuals and over time predicts life history timing in a univoltine insect
Authors: Toxopeus Jantina , Dowle Edwina J. , Andaloori Lalitya , Ragland Gregory J.
Published: June 2023

Physiological time is important for understanding the development and seasonal timing of ectothermic animals, but has largely been applied to developmental processes that occur during spring and summer such as morphogenesis. There is a substantial knowledge gap in the relationship between temperature and development during winter, a season that is increasingly impacted by climate change. Most temperate insects overwinter in diapause, a developmental process with little obvious morphological change. We used principles from the physiological time literature to measure and model the thermal sensitivity of diapause development rate in the apple maggot flyRhagoletis pomonella, a univoltine fly whose diapause duration varies substantially within and among populations. We show that diapause duration can be predicted by modeling a relationship between temperature and development rate that is shifted towards lower temperatures compared to typical models of morphogenic, non-diapause development. However, incorporating interindividual variation and ontogenetic variation in the temperature-to-development-rate relationship was critical for accurately predicting fly emergence, as diapause development proceeded more quickly at high temperatures later in diapause. We conclude that the conceptual framework may be flexibly applied to other insects and discuss possible mechanisms of diapause timers and implications for phenology with warming winters.
Back to normal? The health care situation of home care receivers across Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications on health
Authors: Bergmann Michael , Wagner Melanie
Published: June 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic began impacting Europe in early 2020, posing significant challenges for individuals requiring care. This group is particularly susceptible to severe COVID-19 infections and depends on regular health care services. In this article, we examine the situation of European care recipients aged 50 years and older 18 months after the pandemic outbreak and compare it to the initial phase of the pandemic.

In the descriptive section, we illustrate the development of (unmet) care needs and access to health care throughout the pandemic. Additionally, we explore regional variations in health care receipt across Europe. In the analytical section, we shed light on the mid- and long-term health consequences of COVID-19-related restrictions on accessing health care services by making comparisons between care recipients and individuals without care needs.

We conducted an analysis using data from the representative Corona Surveys of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Our study examines changes in approximately 3,400 care-dependent older Europeans (aged 50+) interviewed in 2020 and 2021, comparing them with more than 45,000 respondents not receiving care. The dataset provides a cross-national perspective on care recipients across 27 European countries and Israel.

Our findings reveal that in 2021, compared to the previous year, difficulties in obtaining personal care from someone outside the household were significantly reduced in Western and Southern European countries. Access to health care services improved over the course of the pandemic, particularly with respect to medical treatments and appointments that had been canceled by health care institutions. However, even 18 months after the COVID-19 outbreak, a considerable number of treatments had been postponed either by respondents themselves or by health care institutions. These delayed medical treatments had adverse effects on the physical and mental health of both care receivers and individuals who did not rely on care.
Auditory steady-state responses: multiplexed amplitude modulation frequencies to reduce recording time
Authors: Sonck Rien , Vanthornhout Jonas , Bonin Estelle , Francart Tom
Published: June 2023

Objectives

This study investigated the efficiency of a multiplexed amplitude-modulated (AM) stimulus in eliciting auditory steady-state responses (ASSR). The multiplexed AM stimulus was created by simultaneously modulating speech-shaped noise with three frequencies chosen to elicit different neural generators: 3.1, 40.1, and 102.1 Hz. For comparison, a single AM stimulus was created for each of these frequencies, resulting in three single AM conditions and one multiplex AM condition.

Design

Twenty-two bilaterally normal-hearing participants (18 female) listened for 8 minutes to each type of stimuli. The analysis compared the signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and amplitudes of the evoked responses to the single and multiplexed conditions.

Results

The results revealed that the SNRs elicited by single AM conditions were, on average, 1.61 dB higher than those evoked by the multiplexed AM condition (p < 0.05). The single conditions consistently produced a significantly higher SNR when examining various stimulus durations ranging from 1 to 8 minutes. Despite these SNR differences, the frequency spectrum was very similar across and within subjects. Additionally, the sensor space patterns across the scalp demonstrated similar trends between the single and multiplexed stimuli for both SNR and amplitudes. Both the single and multiplexed conditions evoked significant ASSRs within subjects. On average, the multiplexed AM stimulus took 31 minutes for the lower bound of the 95% prediction interval to cross the significance threshold across all three frequencies. In contrast, the single AM stimuli took 45 minutes and 42 seconds.

Conclusion

These findings show that the multiplexed AM stimulus is a promising method to reduce the recording time when simultaneously obtaining information from various neural generators.
Predicting condensate formation of protein and RNA under various environmental conditions
Authors: Yin Chin Ka , Ishida Shoichi , Terayama Kei
Published: June 2023

Motivation

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) by biomolecules plays a central role in various biological phenomena and has garnered significant attention. The behavior of LLPS is strongly influenced by the characteristics of the RNAs and environmental factors such as pH and temperature, as well as the properties of the proteins. Recently, several databases of biomolecules associated with LLPS have been established, and prediction models of LLPS-related phenomena have been explored, leveraging these databases. However, a prediction model that concurrently considers proteins, RNAs, and experimental conditions has not been developed due to the limited information available from individual experiments in public databases.

Results

To address this challenge, we have built a new dataset called RNAPSEC, which serves each individual experiment as a data point. This dataset was accomplished by manually collecting data from public literature. Utilizing RNAPSEC, we developed two distinct models that consider a protein, RNA, and experimental conditions. The first model can predict the LLPS behavior of a protein and RNA under specific conditions. The second model can predict the required conditions for a given protein and RNA to undergo LLPS. RNAPSEC and these prediction models are expected to accelerate our understanding of the roles of proteins, RNAs, and environmental factors in LLPS.

Availability

The codes for the prediction models and RNAPSEC are available athttps://github.com/ycu-iil/RNAPSEC.

Contact

terayama@yokohama-cu.ac.jp
5-MeO-DMT induces sleep-like LFP spectral signatures in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of awake rats
Authors: Souza Annie da Costa , Souza Bryan da Costa , França Arthur , Moradi Marzieh , Souza Nicholy da Costa , Leão Katarina , Tort Adriano Bretanha Lopes , Leão Richardson , Lopes-dos-Santos Vítor , Ribeiro Sidarta
Published: June 2023

5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a potent classical psychedelic known to induce changes in locomotion, behaviour, and sleep in rodents. However, there is limited knowledge regarding its acute neurophysiological effects. Local field potentials (LFPs) are commonly used as a proxy for neural activity, but previous studies investigating psychedelics have been hindered by confounding effects of behavioural changes and anaesthesia, which alter these signals. To address this gap, we investigated acute LFP changes in the hippocampus (HP) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of freely behaving rats, following 5-MeO-DMT administration. 5-MeO-DMT led to an increase of delta power and a decrease of theta power in the HP LFPs, which could not be accounted for by changes in locomotion. Furthermore, we observed a dose-dependent reduction in slow (20-50 Hz) and mid (50-100Hz) gamma power, as well as in theta phase modulation, even after controlling for the effects of speed and theta power. State map analysis of the spectral profile of awake behaviour induced by 5-MeO-DMT revealed similarities to electrophysiological states observed during slow-wave sleep (SWS) and rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. Our findings suggest that the psychoactive effects of classical psychedelics are associated with the integration of waking behaviours with sleep-like spectral patterns in LFPs.
The G protein biased serotonin 5-HT 2A receptor agonist lisuride exerts anti-depressant drug-like activities in mice
Authors: Pogorelov Vladimir M. , Rodriguiz Ramona M. , Roth Bryan L. , Wetsel William C.
Published: June 2023

There is now evidence from multiple Phase II clinical trials that psychedelic drugs can exert long-lasting anxiolytic, anti-depressant, and anti-drug abuse (nicotine and ethanol) effects in patients. Despite these benefits, the hallucinogenic actions of these drugs at the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) limit their clinical use in diverse settings. Activation of the 5-HT2AR can stimulate both G protein and β-arrestin (βArr) -mediated signaling. Lisuride is a G protein biased agonist at the 5-HT2AR and, unlike the structurally-related LSD, the drug does not typically produce hallucinations in normal subjects at routine doses. Here, we examined behavioral responses to lisuride, in wild-type (WT), βArr1-KO, and βArr2-KO mice. In the open field, lisuride reduced locomotor and rearing activities, but produced a U-shaped function for stereotypies in both βArr lines of mice. Locomotion was decreased overall in βArr1-KOs and βArr2-KOs, relative to WT controls. Incidences of head twitches and retrograde walking to lisuride were low in all genotypes. Grooming was depressed in βArr1 mice, but was increased then decreased in βArr2 animals with lisuride. Prepulse inhibition (PPI) was unaffected in βArr2 mice, whereas 0.5 mg/kg lisuride disrupted PPI in βArr1 animals. The 5-HT2AR antagonist MDL100907 failed to restore PPI in βArr1 mice, whereas the dopamine D2/D3 antagonist raclopride normalized PPI in WTs but not in βArr1-KOs. Using vesicular monoamine transporter 2 mice, lisuride reduced immobility times in tail suspension and promoted a preference for sucrose that lasted up to 2 days. Together, it appears βArr1 and βArr2 play minor roles in lisuride’s actions on many behaviors, while this drug exerts anti-depressant drug-like responses without hallucinogenic-like activities.
Energetical equivalence between air resistance and gradients in running
Authors: Leclerc M.
Published: June 2023

For a given running speed and for any wind speed, we calculate the slope for which the effort to overcome in the absence of wind is energetically equivalent to running with the original wind speed on a flat track. The influence of headwind and tailwind is thus made numerically comparable to the influence of a positive or negative slope. The same applies to the lack of air resistance on a treadmill and its compensation by adjusting the incline. Moreover, for turning point routes physiological corrections are considered and the impact of speed adjustments is analyzed.
A novel small molecule PKC epsilon inhibitor reduces hyperalgesia induced by paclitaxel or opioid withdrawal
Authors: Gregory-Flores Adriana , Magayewski Bonet Ivan J. , Desaivre Stève , Levine Jon D. , McHardy Stanton F. , Kraker Harmannus de , Russell Nicholas , Fleischer Caleb , Messing Robert O. , Marinelli Michela
Published: June 2023

Aggressive marketing and increased prescribing of opioids for treating pain have fueled a prominent increase in opioid use disorder. This acute public health problem has led to calls for the development of non-opioid alternatives to treat chronic pain. The enzyme protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε) plays an important role in nociceptor sensitization, in inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Here we investigated the effects of a novel small molecule that inhibits PKCε in a rodent model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain produced by administration of the cancer chemotherapy, paclitaxel. Because transition of opioid-dependent individuals to a non-opioid pain medication can increase pain due to opioid withdrawal, we also investigated if the PKCε inhibitor alters features of opioid withdrawal and opioid self-administration. This novel PKCε inhibitor attenuated paclitaxel-induced hyperalgesia, reversed hyperalgesia produced by opioid withdrawal, and reduced somatic signs of opioid withdrawal. This PKCε inhibitor did not modify opioid self-administration, nor produce self-administration. These findings suggest that PKCε inhibition is an effective, non-addictive strategy to treat chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain with the added benefit of limiting hyperalgesia due to opioid withdrawal, which could facilitate switching treatment of chronic pain, in opioid-dependent individuals.
Dynamic chromatin remodeling in cycling human endometrium at single cell level
Authors: Vrljicak Pavle , Lucas Emma S , Tryfonos Maria , Muter Joanne , Ott Sascha , Brosens Jan J
Published: June 2023

Estrogen-dependent proliferation followed by progesterone-dependent differentiation of the endometrium culminates in a short implantation window. We performed single cell ATAC-seq on endometrial samples obtained across the menstrual cycle to investigate the regulation of temporal gene networks that control embryo implantation. We identified uniquely accessible chromatin regions in all major cellular constituents of the endometrium, delineated temporal patterns of coordinated chromatin remodeling in epithelial and stromal cells, and gained mechanistic insights into the emergence of a receptive state through integrated analysis of enriched transcription factor (TF) binding sites in dynamic chromatin regions, ChIP-seq analyses, and gene expression data. We demonstrate that the implantation window coincides with pervasive cooption of transposable elements (TE) into the regulatory chromatin landscape of decidualizing cells and expression of TE-derived transcripts in a spatially defined manner. Our data constitute the first comprehensive map of the chromatin changes that control TF activities in cycling endometrium at cellular resolution.
Study of auxin metabolism using stable isotope labeling and LCMS; evidence forin plantaauxin decarboxylation pathway
Authors: Dobrev Petre I. , Filepová Roberta , Lacek Jozef , Vondráková Zuzana , Müller Karel , Maršík Petr , Drašarová Lenka , Talacko Pavel , Hošek Petr , Petrášek Jan
Published: June 2023

The natural plant hormone auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) influences many physiological processes in plants. Here, the metabolism of IAA was studied in detail using tobacco BY-2 cells as a model and compared with thein plantametabolism in several plant species. A combination of labeled/unlabeled substrate feeding, global untargeted mass spectrometric (MS) scanning, and selective MS filtering allowed the detection of 17 auxin metabolites, 15 of which were identified. Subsequent study of intermediate metabolism and dynamics revealed eight major pathways: three amino acid conjugation pathways with aspartate, glutamate, and glutamine, followed by their 2-oxidation with the help of the DAO enzyme; side-chain glucosyl ester formation; direct 2-oxidation; two decarboxylation pathways; and a pathway producing an unidentified metabolite. Interestingly, the first intermediates of the two decarboxylation pathways, indole-3-carbinol and oxoindole-3-carbinol, were formed outside the cells. We found that the majority of the detected auxin metabolites occur naturally in several plant species and that IAA is their precursor, indicating that the auxin metabolic pathways observed in BY-2 cells also occurin planta. Our finding that the IAA decarboxylation pathway occursin planta, and the previous reports of auxin activity of some metabolites of this pathway, suggest that at least some of the biological effects of IAA may be explained by its conversion to decarboxylative metabolites.
Recording morphogen signals reveals origins of gastruloid symmetry breaking
Authors: McNamara Harold M. , Solley Sabrina C. , Adamson Britt , Chan Michelle M. , Toettcher Jared E.
Published: June 2023

When cultured in three dimensional spheroids, mammalian stem cells can reproducibly self-organize a single anterior-posterior axis and sequentially differentiate into structures resembling the primitive streak and tailbud. Whereas the embryo’s body axes are instructed by spatially patterned extra-embryonic cues, it is unknown how these stem cell gastruloids break symmetry to reproducibly define a single anterior-posterior (A-P) axis. Here, we use synthetic gene circuits to trace how early intracellular signals predict cells’ future anterior-posterior position in the gastruloid. We show that Wnt signaling evolves from a homogeneous state to a polarized state, and identify a critical 6-hour time period when single-cell Wnt activity predicts future cellular position, prior to the appearance of polarized signaling patterns or morphology. Single-cell RNA sequencing and live-imaging reveal that early Wnt-high and Wnt-low cells contribute to distinct cell types and suggest that axial symmetry breaking is driven by sorting rearrangements involving differential cell adhesion. We further extend our approach to other canonical embryonic signaling pathways, revealing that even earlier heterogeneity in TGFβ signaling predicts A-P position and modulates Wnt signaling during the critical time period. Our study reveals a sequence of dynamic cellular processes that transform a uniform cell aggregate into a polarized structure and demonstrates that a morphological axis can emerge out of signaling heterogeneity and cell movements even in the absence of exogenous patterning cues.

Highlights

Symmetry-breaking gastruloid protocol where Wnt signaling evolves from a uniform high state to a single posterior domain.

Synthetic gene circuits record Wnt, Nodal and BMP signaling with high time resolution.

Heterogeneity in Wnt signaling at 96 h predicts cells’ future positions and types.

Wnt activity differences are influenced by earlier heterogeneity in Nodal/BMP activity.
Interplay of CaHVA and Ca2+-activated K+channels affecting firing rate in perineuronal net disruption
Authors: Hanssen Kine Ødegård , Ness Torbjørn Vefferstad , Halnes Geir
Published: June 2023

Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are extracellular matrix structures consisting of proteoglycans crosslinked to hyaluronan. They wrap around subgroups of individual neurons in the brain, primarily parvalbumin positive inhibitory neurons. The nets have been found to affect conductances and activation curves of certain ion channels, including Ca2+-activated K+and high-voltage-activated Ca2+channels. We studied how PNN related parameters affected the firing rate of one-compartment neuron models. We found that the direct effect of the CaHVA current on firing rate was small, while it had a much larger indirect effect on firing rate through initiation of the SK current. Upregulation of the SK conductance similarly had a pronounced effect on the firing rate. The SK currents therefore acted as the main determinant of firing rate out of these two mechanisms. We shifted the CaHVA channel activation by 14.5 mV and increased the SK conductance by a factor of 3.337, consistent with experimental findings on PNN breakdown in the literature. We studied this in nine different models and found a reduction in firing rate in some, but not all, of these models.
Translocation and fate of nanospheres in pheochromocytoma cells following exposure to synchrotron-sourced terahertz radiation
Authors: Perera Palalle G. Tharushi , Vilagosh Zoltan , Linklater Denver , Nguyen The Hong Phong , Appadoo Dominique , Vongsvivut Jitraporn , Tobin Mark , Dekiwadia Chaitali , Croft Rodney , Ivanova Elena P.
Published: June 2023

The routes by which foreign objects enter cells is well studied; however, their fate following uptake has not been explored extensively. Following exposure to synchrotron-sourced (SS) terahertz (THz) radiation, reversible membrane permeability has been demonstrated in eukaryotic cells by the uptake of nanospheres; nonetheless, cellular localization of the nanospheres remained unclear. This study utilized silica core-shell gold nanospheres (AuSi NS) of diameter 50 ± 5 nm to investigate the fate of nanospheres inside pheochromocytoma (PC 12) cells following SS THz exposure. Fluorescence microscopy was used to confirm nanosphere internalization following 10 min of SS THz exposure in the range 0.5–20 THz. Transmission electron microscopy followed by scanning transmission electron microscopy energy-dispersive spectroscopic (STEM-EDS) analysis was used to confirm the presence of AuSi NS in the cytoplasm or membrane, as single NS or in clusters (22% and 52%, respectively), with the remainder (26%) sequestered in vacuoles. Cellular uptake of NS in response to SS THz radiation could have suitable applications in a vast number of biomedical applications, regenerative medicine, vaccines, cancer therapy, gene and drug delivery.
Shifts in cannabis use at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic among Global Drug Survey respondents from 13 countries
Authors: Puljević Cheneal , Cossart Amelia , Davies Emma L. , Barratt Monica J. , Maier Larissa J. , Jauffret-Roustide Marie , Winstock Adam R. , Ferris Jason A.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic likely impacted cannabis distribution, access and usage worldwide. This study aims to describe self-reported changes in cannabis use and related outcomes following COVID-19-related restrictions among an international sample of people who use drugs.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from the Global Drug Survey COVID-19 Special Edition, the authors identified 20,417 respondents from 13 countries who reported whether the number of THC-containing cannabis usage days changed compared with February 2020 (before COVID-19 restrictions). Using descriptive statistics and a multinomial multivariable logistic regression, the authors investigated the impact of changes in cannabis use on respondents’ mental health, physical health, relationships, finances, work/study performance and cannabis-related pleasure/enjoyment.

Findings

Similar proportions of respondents reported that their cannabis use had stayed the same (38.2%) or increased (38.3%) compared with February 2020, while 21.9% of respondents reported a decrease. The most common reason for increased use was having more time (68.4%), while decreased use was associated with having less contact with people they use cannabis with (58.4%). The likelihood of reporting worse mental and physical health, finances, and work/study performance following COVID-19 restrictions was highest among those who reported increased cannabis use.

Research limitations/implications

These findings provide a unique understanding of the short-term international impact of initial COVID-19 restrictions on cannabis use, and highlight the need for policy to address the ongoing and improved provision of evidence-based mental health and other support for people who frequently use cannabis.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the world’s largest international study exploring the impacts of these changes in cannabis use following initial COVID-19 restrictions on individuals’ mental health, physical health, relationships, finances, work/study performance and cannabis-related pleasure. This study is also unique in comparing these changes across multiple continents.
How does collective moral judgment focus on the self-induce deviant behavior of construction workers? A multilevel investigation
Authors: Yuan Ming , Wang Xuetong , Zhang Ziyao , Lin Han , Yu Mingchuan
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The deviant behavior (DB) of construction workers has always been a troubling event in project management. Although scholars continue to search for the main causes of this behavior to curb it at the source, the authors know less about the role and contribution of the team. This study aims to uncover the mechanisms and conditions under which collective moral judgment focus on self (CMJS) effectively enhances DB.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting Chinese construction enterprises as samples, a hierarchical linear model (HLM) is used to test the results of the hypothesis. Moderated mediating effects are used to analyze the potential mechanisms and boundary conditions of DB.

Findings

The results of the HLM analysis show that CMJS could directly and significantly induce DB, and moral disengagement (MD) plays a mediator role in this association. In addition, the positive relationship between MD and DB is stronger when performance-avoidance goal orientation (PaGO) or overqualification (Overq) is higher.

Research limitations/implications

The conditions and mechanisms that influence DB are not unique. Future study could examine the explanatory and weighting mechanisms of DB from other perspectives or to construct a framework and summarize the factors that may influence DB.

Practical implications

This study provides a rich theoretical basis for the prevention and correction of construction workers' DB in Chinese construction firms from the perspective of CMJS. In addition, objective moral judgments contribute to guiding employees' moral cognitive processes and positive work.

Originality/value

This study extends existing research on DB and advances the practical outcomes of construction project governance. It not only illustrates that CMJS has a direct impact on DB but also clarifies the mechanisms and conditions that predispose to the generation of DB, filling the research gap on construction workers' DB from cross-level mechanisms and also enriching the theoretical system for preventing this behavior.
Examining governance of post-earthquake reconstruction planning from an evolutionary resilience perspective
Authors: Shao Yiwen , Sun Yao
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The politically laden nature of postdisaster recovery calls for more research on its governance, especially at the micro-scale. Apart from engineering-oriented frameworks, researchers need new theoretical underpinnings. This paper aims to review the development of the evolutionary resilience theory and use it as an analytical framework to evaluate the governance of post-earthquake reconstruction planning in China.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper examines how reconstruction planning is governed in the epicenter town of the 2008 Great Sichuan Earthquake, highlighting three key qualities of evolutionary resilience. The authors draw on site investigations, semistructured interviews and analysis of official and unpublished documents from various sources.

Findings

This paper finds that despite the absence of specific resilience statements in reconstruction plans of the time, qualities of evolutionary resilience, including social connectedness, flexibility and innovation, were evident in a hybrid and contradictory reconstruction planning system. In this respect, resilience thinking appears in Chinese planning earlier than generally assumed. This paper suggests that this manifestation of resilience was the result of an instrumental utility in addressing socioeconomic uncertainties in the postdisaster environment and, thus, may not be systematic.

Originality/value

This work enriches the understanding of recovery governance from an evolutionary resilience perspective where existing research is insufficient. It also offers ample practical guidance for similar cases in China and elsewhere.
Innovation mentor community of practice: a social network analysis perspective
Authors: Altinisik Gunda Esra , Aydin Mehmet Nafiz
Published: June 2023

Purpose

To exploit collaboration-driven innovation, in recent years, many government-sponsored innovation programs and mentor services have emerged. These services support an effective exchange of knowledge among innovation actors, including innovation mentors and enable mentor connectedness as an important factor to develop and sustain effective innovation mentors’ community of practice (CoP). The purpose of this paper is to examine the degree of connectedness in an innovation mentor CoP.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the innovation mentors CoP as part of a national innovation program is considered a network. The connectedness and assortative mixing of this CoP and the effects of these two on each other were examined by using social network measures, including component analysis, the giant component (GC) and assortativity.

Findings

The authors provide the analytical interconnectedness results for both the GC and the whole network with network analysis and assortativity measurements of three attributes of mentors (institution, title and degrees). The degree of correlation of community for the GC shows preferential attachment between high-ranking and low-ranking mentors, while preferential attachment was not observed for the whole network. The correlation coefficient for the institution attribute has the highest value for GC, while the title has the highest value for the whole network.

Originality/value

The study is one of the early attempts to apply social network analysis for an innovation mentor CoP. This study reveals the criticality of evaluating the GC and the whole network separately and provides a number of research and practical directions that will contribute to the development of the innovation mentor CoP.
Does human capital mediate the relationship between digital competence and service innovation capability? Evidence from the UAE during covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Blaique Lama , Abu Salim Taghreed , Mir Farzana Asad
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between digital competence and the capability to innovate in the service sector and examine if this relationship is mediated by human capital in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a cross-sectional survey, data were collected from 188 service sector professionals in the United Arab Emirates. Data were analyzed using partial least square-based structural equation modeling.

Findings

The findings of partial least square based structural equation modeling analysis indicate that there is a significant positive relationship between digital competence and the capacity to innovate in the service sector, which is partially mediated by human capital.

Originality/value

This study contributes to knowledge by offering an understanding of the relationship between digital competence and innovation capability, especially in uncertain situations. This study also notes the importance of human capital as a strategic resource for innovation.
Digital humanism and artificial intelligence: the role of emotions beyond the human–machine interaction in Society 5.0
Authors: Magni Domitilla , Del Gaudio Giovanna , Papa Armando , Della Corte Valentina
Published: June 2023

Purpose

By considering the challenges of Industry 5.0, the purpose of this study is to analyze the role of heuristic factors in the technical qualities and emotions of Millennials and Generation Z (Gen Z) to assess their acceptance of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) devices such as robots. For this purpose, this paper uses the innovative AI device use acceptance (AIDUA) framework. This research evaluates the implications of human–machine interactions for the usage of robots and AI in daily life.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed AIDUA model is tested using data collected from Millennials and Gen Z. First, a principal components analysis technique is used to validate each measure. Second, a multiple regression analysis using IBM SPSS 26.0 is conducted.

Findings

The results of this study suggest that human–machine interaction is a part of a complex process in which there are different elements determining individuals’ acceptance of the use of AI devices during daily life. This paper outlines both the theoretical and practical implications. This study enriches the AIDUA model by connoting it with features and emotions belonging to the younger generation. Additionally, this research offers technology companies suggestions for addressing future efforts on technical performance and on the alignments of the expectations of young people in Society 5.0.

Originality/value

First, the originality of this paper lies in highlighting the binary role of emotions in triggering the use of AI devices and robots. Second, the focus on Millennials and Gen Z offers a new lens for the interpretation of longitudinal phenomena in the adoption of AI. Finally, the findings of this paper contribute to the development of a new perspective regarding a “heartly collaborative” approach in Society 5.0.
An independent technology commercialization model in oil and gas industry: a grounded theory approach
Authors: Baghdadi Saeed , Khamseh Abbas , Madani Seyed Hesamedin
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a commercialization model based on gaining economic benefits through the transfer of technological capabilities in the oil and gas industry. Since commercialization models are mostly based on the implement of technology to produce and sell new products, this study focuses on developing a specific independent technology commercialization model.

Design/methodology/approach

The method of this research is qualitative based on the grounded theory. For this purpose, general variables with content analysis were extracted by reviewing documents (Literature review) and then for identifying special components, interviewing experts in the Iranian oil and gas industry. Participations were selected using snowball sampling for semistructured interviews.

Findings

The findings of this research were extracted based on grounded theory with data analysis in MAXQDA software. In this research, first, 210 open codes were identified based on qualitative content analysis of relevant documents and results of interviews with experts. Then the classification of open codes was done, and 46 subcategories (variables) were determined in the commercialization model. Finally, 46 subcategories were classified into 10 categories as axial codes in grounded theory as components of the commercialization model.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this research have led to the creation of new practical and theoretical implications. In this research, a new perspective of commercialization with the aim of transferring technology and obtaining its economic benefits for oil and gas industry companies was discussed. Also, based on the practical implications explained in this research, policymakers can use the suggested model to effectively implement independent technology commercialization to acquire economic benefits.

Originality/value

This study is purely original and the outcome of the research conducted by the authors. The research findings are the outcome of in-depth study on technology commercialization in the Iranian oil and gas industry.
Unleashing latent data, linked data and library partnerships: EBSCO technology day, Manchester (UK)
Authors: Harper Ray
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to summarize various presentations at EBSCO’s Technology Day, held in Manchester (UK) on 21 March 2023. Key topics included library user analytics, linked data, open-source software and library partnerships.

Design/methodology/approach

This study reports from the viewpoint of an attendee of the event. This summarises the main issues raised by each presentation and draws out the key learning points for practical situations.

Findings

The event focused on some new EBSCO products, including Panorama and BiblioGraph, as well as the open-source FOLIO product. The presenters highlighted technical detail involved in the various tools and drew attention to key issues to consider during product implementations.

Originality/value

This event highlighted key changes in metadata standards, with a shift from MARC to BIBFRAME now a tangible possibility. It highlighted how new library products in the future will be focused on adding value to how a library operates and makes decisions. The event underlined the importance of partnerships between the various actors in the library world, including suppliers.
Investigating macro herd behaviour: evidence from publicly traded German companies
Authors: Erdős Sándor , Várkonyi Patrik László
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine herd behaviour under different market conditions, examine the potential impact of the firm size and stock characteristics on this relationship, and explore how herding affects market prices in the German market.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors apply a method that does not rely on theoretical models, thus eliminating the biases inherent in their application. This technique is based on the assumption that macro herding manifests itself in the synchronicity (comovement) of stock returns.

Findings

The study’s findings show that herding is more pronounced in down markets and is more pronounced when market returns reach extreme levels. Additionally, the authors have found that there is stronger herding among large companies compared to small companies, and that stock characteristics considered have no effect on the degree of macro herding. Results also suggest that the contemporaneous market-wide information drives macro herding and that macro herding facilitates the incorporation of market-wide information into prices.

Practical implications

The study’s results strongly support the idea of directional asymmetry, which holds that stocks react quickly to negative macroeconomic news while small stocks react slowly to positive macroeconomic news. Additionally, the study’s results suggest that the contemporaneous market-wide information drives macro herding and that macro herding facilitates the rapid incorporation of market-wide information into prices.

Originality/value

To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first study that examines macro herding for a major financial market using a herding measure based on the co-movement of returns that does not rely on theoretical models.
Le développement de la géopolitique au Québec : du tropisme national à l'étude de dynamiques plurielles
Authors: Lasserre Frédéric
Published: June 2023

Au Québec, la géopolitique n'a pas suscité, comme domaine de recherche, de vifs débats épistémologiques comme en France ou ailleurs dans le monde. A la croisée des écoles française et anglo‐saxonne, la géopolitique québécoise a connu un développement progressif, avec quelques pionniers dans les années 1960, pour s'ancrer dans le paysage disciplinaire de la géographie dans les années 1980. La sous‐discipline a d'abord été portée par les enjeux géopolitiques liés à la question nationale, soit celle de la place du Québec au sein du Canada. A partir des années 2000, la géopolitique québécoise se diversifie et s'internationalise pour devenir un sous‐domaine de recherche communément admis.
“I'm going to do battle… I'm going to do some good”. Biographical trajectories, moral politics, and public engagement among highly religious young Catholics in Spain and Mexico
Authors: García Martín Joseba , Delgado‐Molina Cecilia , Griera Mar
Published: June 2023

Public debates and controversies on moral issues have gained visibility in recent decades in both Spain and Mexico. Conservative Catholic groups and networks are increasingly playing a crucial role in raising and framing highly morally charged themes in the public arena, especially on intimacy‐related policies, including sexual and reproductive freedoms. A new generation of young Catholic leaders becoming key political agents has emerged in this scenario. They are fostering new mobilisation repertoires in the public sphere (e.g., digital activism and public performances) and promoting new political narratives merging moral, cultural, and religious elements. These highly religious and conservative young Catholics consider themselves part of a cultural/cognitive minority and feel entitled to become what Howard Becker termed “moral entrepreneurs.” Most have been educated in Catholic schools and belong to Catholic movements. Still, they can also navigate secular politics and strategically use different regimes of justification and action. Within this context, the article aims to examine and compare the intersection of historical trends and the relevance of individual biographies to understand the role of these young Catholics in the public space in both countries.
Integration of Data Envelopment Analysis with Analytical Hierarchy Process and Entropy Measurement in the Optimization of Supplier Selection
Authors: Mohd Rashid Nur Rasyida , Abdul Halim Bushra , Mohd Zawawi Iskandar Shah , Abdullah Husna Nadzirah , Abu Hassan Nur Iylia Antasha , Ismail Nur Atikah
Published: June 2023

Supplier selection is perceived as important decision-making process in any supply chain management. In this study, the best supplier for a company is being determined based on five main criteria chosen which are delivery, capacity, warranty, cost, and quality. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Entropy Measurement (EM) methods are integrated with Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was applied to set ranking and choose the best supplier as conventional DEA is not able to provide complete ranking among inefficient units. The mathematical modelling is executed using LINGO software. Supplier 3 has obtained efficient result of score 1 for both hybrid method and in Super Efficiency method as the most efficient supplier. Then, the results are validated using Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient (SRCC) which shows positive correlation between both integrated methods. Finally, findings of this study indicate the feasibility of integrated AHP-DEA and EM-DEA for supplier selection with multiple criteria.