bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Harnessing the flexibility of neural networks to predict dynamic theoretical parameters underlying human choice behavior
Authors: Ger Yoav , Nachmani Eliya , Wolf Lior , Shahar Nitzan
Published: April 2023

Reinforcement learning (RL) models are used extensively to study human behavior. These rely on normative models of behavior and stress interpretability over predictive capabilities. More recently, neural network models have emerged as a descriptive modeling paradigm that is capable of high predictive power yet with limited interpretability. Here, we seek to augment the expressiveness of theoretical RL models with the high flexibility and predictive power of neural networks. We introduce a novel framework, which we term theoretical-RNN (t-RNN), whereby a recurrent neural network is trained to predict trial-by-trial behavior and to infer theoretical RL parameters using artificial data of RL agents performing a two-armed bandit task. In three studies, we then examined the use of our approach to dynamically predict unseen behavior along with time-varying theoretical RL parameters. We first validate our approach using synthetic data with known RL parameters. Next, as a proof-of-concept, we applied our framework to two independent datasets of humans performing the same task. In the first dataset, we describe differences in theoretical RL parameters dynamic among clinical psychiatric vs. healthy controls. In the second dataset, we show that the exploration strategies of humans varied dynamically in response to task phase and difficulty. For all analyses, we found better performance in the prediction of actions for t-RNN compared to the stationary maximum-likelihood RL method. We discuss the use of neural networks to facilitate the estimation of latent RL parameters underlying choice behavior.

Author summary

Currently, neural network models fitted directly to behavioral human data are thought to dramatically outperform theoretical computational models in terms of predictive accuracy. However, these networks do not provide a clear theoretical interpretation of the mechanisms underlying the observed behavior. Generating plausible theoretical explanations for observed human data is a major goal in computational neuroscience. Here, we provide a proof-of-concept for a novel method where a recurrent neural network (RNN) is trained on artificial data generated from a known theoretical model to predict both trial-by-trial actions and theoretical parameters. We then freeze the RNN weights and use it to predict both actions and theoretical parameters of empirical data. We first validate our approach using synthetic data where the theoretical parameters are known. We then show, using two empirical datasets, that our approach allows dynamic estimation of latent parameters while providing better action predictions compared to theoretical models fitted with a maximum-likelihood approach. This proof-of-concept suggests that neural networks can be trained to predict meaningful time-varying theoretical parameters.
Effects of repeated developmental GLP-1R agonist exposure on adult behavior and hippocampal structure in mice
Authors: Cerroni Catherine , Steiner Alex , Seanez Leann , Kwon Sam , Lewis Alan S.
Published: April 2023

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists are common type 2 diabetes medications that have been repurposed for adult chronic weight management. Clinical trials suggest this class may also be beneficial for obesity in pediatric populations. Since several GLP-1R agonists cross the blood-brain barrier, it is important to understand how postnatal developmental exposure to GLP-1R agonists might affect brain structure and function in adulthood. Toward that end, we systemically treated male and female C57BL/6 mice with the GLP-1R agonist exendin-4 (0.5 mg/kg, twice daily) or saline from postnatal day 14 to 21, then allowed uninterrupted development to adulthood. Beginning at 7 weeks of age, we performed open field and marble burying tests to assess motor behavior and the spontaneous location recognition (SLR) task to assess hippocampal-dependent pattern separation and memory. Mice were sacrificed, and we counted ventral hippocampal mossy cells, as we have recently shown that most murine hippocampal neuronal GLP-1R is expressed in this cell population. We found that GLP-1R agonist treatment did not alter P14-P21 weight gain, but modestly reduced adult open field distance traveled and marble burying. Despite these motor changes, there was no effect on SLR memory performance or time spent investigating objects. Finally, we did not detect any changes in ventral mossy cell number using two different markers. These data suggest developmental exposure to GLP-1R agonists might have specific rather than global effects on behavior later in life and that extensive additional study is necessary to clarify how drug timing and dose affect distinct constellations of behavior in adulthood.
Upstream Stimulatory Factors regulate HIV-1 latency and are required for robust T cell activation
Authors: Horvath Riley M. , Sadowski Ivan
Published: April 2023

RBF-2, composed minimally of the factors USF1, USF2, and TFII-I, is the cognate binding complex of stringently conservedcis-elements on the HIV-1 LTR, designated RBE3 and RBE1. Mutations of these elements prevent induction of provirus in response to T cell signaling. However, the function of USF1 and USF2 for this effect are relatively uncharacterized. Here, we find that deletion of theUSF2but notUSF1gene in T cells abrogates HIV-1 expression. Loss ofUSF2caused a reduction in expression of USF1 protein, an effect that was not associated with decreasedUSF1mRNA abundance. USF1 and USF2 were previously shown to exist predominately as heterodimers on DNAin vivoand cooperatively regulate target genes. To examine this, we performed RNA-seq analysis of T cell lines bearing knockouts of genes encoding these factors. In untreated cells we found limited evidence of coordinated global gene regulation between USF1 and USF2. In contrast we observed a high degree of genome-wide cooperative regulation of RNA expression between these factors in cells stimulated with the combination of PMA and ionomycin. In particular, we found thatUSF1deletion resulted in a restricted T cell activation response, and this phenotype was exaggerated inUSF2knockout cells. These observations indicate that USF2, but not USF1, is crucial for HIV-1 expression, but the combined function of these factors is required for full T cell response.
Genetic Loss of Nicotinamide Nucleotide Transhydrogenase Prevents from Cardiometabolic Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Pepin Mark E. , Nazir Sumra , Konrad Philipp J.M. , Schreiter Friederike , Dewenter Matthias , Backs Johannes
Published: April 2023

Rationale

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) represents a common clinical endpoint of cardiometabolic diseases which impair myocardial diastolic relaxation. Although myocardial redox perturbations are known to accompany HFpEF, the specific role of mitochondrial oxidative stress has not been demonstrated yet.

Objective

Based on an observation that C57BL6/N – but not C57BL6/J – mice develop diastolic dysfunction when provided anad libitumhigh-fat and 0.5% N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (HFD+L-NAME) diet, we conducted a multi-cohort murine study to determine whether the loss of Nicotinamide Nucleotide Transhydrogenase (NNT), a mitochondrial transhydrogenase that couples NADPH:NADP+to NADH:NAD+homeostasis, protects mice from developing cardiometabolic alterations.

Methods and Results

Two cohorts of 12-week-old male and female mice possessing wild-type (Nnt+/+) or deleted (Nnt-/-) NNT were challenged by HFD+L-NAME for 9 weeks (n = 6-10). MaleNnt+/+mice developed obesity (23.2% Δ,P= 0.003), arterial hypertension (24 ± 5 Δ mmHg,P= 0.023), impaired glucose tolerance (P= 0.006), and reduced maximal treadmill running distance (−172 ± 73.1 Δ m,P= 0.006) following 9 weeks HFD+L-NAME, whereas maleNnt-/-mice did not. Female mice were protected from cardiometabolic dysfunction regardless ofNntgenotype. Cardiac functional and morphologic characterization revealed similar NNT-dependent and sex-specific increases in E/e’ (42.8 vs. 21.5,P< 0.001) and E/A (2.3 vs 1.4,P= 0.007) ratios, diastolic stiffness (0.09 vs 0.04 mmHg/μL,P= 0.02), and myocardial fibrosis (P= 0.02). Unsupervised transcriptomic analysis identified distinct genetic and dietary signatures, whereinNnt+/+exhibited disproportionate perturbations in various mitochondrial oxidative pathways following HFD+L-NAME. Our search for putative transcriptional regulators identified NNT-dependent suppression of NAD+ dependent deacetylaseSirt3.

Conclusions

Taken together, these observations support that the genetic disruption ofNntprotects against both cardiac and metabolic consequences of HFD+L-NAME, thus highlighting a novel etiology-specific avenue for HFpEF therapeutics.
Long-Distance Electrical and Calcium Signals Evoked by Hydrogen Peroxide in Physcomitrella
Authors: Koselski Mateusz , Hoernstein Sebastian N. W. , Wasko Piotr , Reski Ralf , Trebacz Kazimierz
Published: April 2023

Electrical and calcium signals in plants are one of the basic carriers of information transmitted over a long distance. Together with reactive oxygen species (ROS) waves, electrical and calcium signals can participate in cell-to-cell signaling, conveying information about different stimuli, e.g. abiotic stress, pathogen infection, or mechanical injury. There is no information on the ability of ROS to evoke systemic electrical or calcium signals in the model moss Physcomitrella and on the relationships between these responses. Here, we show that external application of hydrogen peroxide evokes electrical signals in the form of long-distance changes in the membrane potential, which transmit through the plant instantly after stimulation. The responses were calcium dependent, since their generation was inhibited by lanthanum, a calcium channel inhibitor (2 mM) or EDTA, a calcium chelator (0.5 mM). The electrical signals were partially dependent on glutamate receptor ion channels (GLR), since the knockout of GLR genes only slightly reduced the amplitude of the responses. The basal part of the gametophyte, which is rich in protonema cells, was the most sensitive to hydrogen peroxide. The measurements carried out on the protonema expressing fluorescent calcium biosensor GCaMP3 proved that. We also demonstrate upregulation of a stress-related gene which appears in a distant section of the moss 8 minutes after H2O2treatment. The results help to understand the importance of both types of signals in the transmission of information about the appearance of ROS in the plant cell apoplast.
Notch regulated long non-coding RNA TUG1 regulates smooth muscle cell differentiation in aortic aneurysm
Authors: Bharadhwaj Ravi Abishek , Kumarswamy Regalla
Published: April 2023

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAAs) are asymptomatic vascular diseases with life threatening outcomes. Smooth-muscle cell (SMC) dysfunction plays an important role in AAA development. The contributions of non-coding genome, specifically the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in SMC dysfunction are relatively unexplored. We investigated the role of lncRNA TUG1 in the pathology of AAA. TUG1 was identified through lncRNA profiling in Angiotensin-II (Ang-II) treated SMCs. TUG1 was upregulated in Ang-II treated SMCsin vitroand its expression increased with progression of aneurysm in mouse model of Ang-II induced AAA. Ang-II induced TUG1 was blunted by inhibition of Notch signaling and TUG1 is demonstrated to be a transcriptional target of Notch. AAA tissues exhibited inversely correlated expression of TUG1 and SMC contractile markers. TUG1 knock-down via siRNA/shRNA increased SMC differentiation. ChIP, DNA-RNA IP, and RNA-IP experiments demonstrated that TUG1 interacts with transcriptional repressor KLF4 and aides in its recruitment to Myocardin promoter, thereby repressing SMC differentiation. In summary, we show a novel role for lncRNA TUG1 in Ang-II induced AAA wherein it modulates SMC differentiation via KLF4-Myocardin axis.
WITHDRAWN: Spatial enrichment of the type 1 interferon signature in the brain of a neuropsychiatric lupus murine model
Authors: Aw Ernest , Lin Stacie L. , Zhang Yingying , Herrmann Uli , Yalcin Esra , Langston Kent , Castrillion Carlos , Ma Minghe , Moffitt Jeffrey R. , Carroll Michael C.
Published: April 2023

Withdrawal Statement

bioRxiv has withdrawn this manuscript because it was posted without the consent of all authors. If you have any questions, please contact the corresponding author.
Dating ancient humans splits by estimating Poisson rates from mitochondrial DNA parity samples
Authors: Hallak Keren Levinstein , Rosset Saharon
Published: April 2023

We tackle the problem of estimating species divergence times, given a genome sequence from each species and a large known phylogenetic tree with a known structure (typically from one of the species). The number of transitions at each site from the first sequence to the other is assumed to be Poisson distributed, and only the parity of the number of transitions is observed. The detailed phylogenetic tree contains information about the transition rates in each site. We use this formulation to develop and analyze multiple estimators of the divergence between the species. To test our methods, we use mtDNA substitution statistics from the well-established Phylotree as a baseline for data simulation such that the substitution rate per site mimics the real-world observed rates. We evaluate our methods using simulated data and compare them to the Bayesian optimizing software BEAST2, showing that our proposed estimators are accurate for a wide range of divergence times and significantly outperform BEAST2. We then apply the proposed estimators on Neanderthal, Denisovan, and Chimpanzee mtDNA genomes to better estimate their TMRCA (Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor) with modern humans and find that their TMRCA is sub-stantially later, compared to values cited recently in the literature.
Luteinizing hormone stimulates ingression of mural granulosa cells within the mouse preovulatory follicle
Authors: Owen Corie M. , Jaffe Laurinda A.
Published: April 2023

Luteinizing hormone (LH) induces ovulation by acting on its receptors in the mural granulosa cells that surround a mammalian oocyte in an ovarian follicle. However, much remains unknown about how activation of the LH receptor modifies the structure of the follicle such that the oocyte is released and the follicle remnants are transformed into the corpus luteum. The present study shows that the preovulatory surge of LH stimulates LH receptor-expressing granulosa cells, initially located almost entirely in the outer layers of the mural granulosa, to rapidly extend inwards, intercalating between other cells. The cellular ingression begins within 30 minutes of the peak of the LH surge, and the proportion of LH receptor-expressing cell bodies in the inner half of the mural granulosa layer increases until the time of ovulation, which occurs at about 10 hours after the LH peak. During this time, many of the initially flask-shaped cells appear to detach from the basal lamina, acquiring a rounder shape with multiple filipodia. Starting at about 4 hours after the LH peak, the mural granulosa layer at the apical surface of the follicle where ovulation will occur begins to thin, and the basolateral surface develops invaginations and constrictions. Our findings raise the question of whether LH stimulation of granulosa cell ingression may contribute to these changes in the follicular structure that enable ovulation.

Summary sentence

LH-induced ingression of LH receptor-expressing cells within the mural granulosa layer of the ovarian follicle is a new component in the complex sequence of structural changes that lead to ovulation.
Perceived work identity deprivation: the construct, measurement, and validity
Authors: Huang Jie , Tang Chunyong , Li Yali
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This research aims to present the results of a study that operationalizes the construct of perceived work identity deprivation (PWID) and examines its validity.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopted a mixed method design in this study where a Likert-type scale to measure PWID was developed based on the interviews of 40 workers and the questionnaires of 625 participants successively. Later, the generalizability of the scale was tested through quantitative data from 412 workers. Finally, validity analysis was conducted based on 380 usable questionnaires. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 24 and Mplus 7.0.

Findings

The findings of the study indicate that the reliability measures, exploratory factor analyses, confirmatory factor analysis and subsequent convergent and discriminant validity tests support the PWID scale. The nomological validity of PWID is also presented, which demonstrates its predictive validity.

Originality/value

Despite highlighting the importance of work identity, prior research lacked to provide empirical foundations to understand this perception. This study fills this gap in the literature by providing a measure of PWID, distinguishing it from similar constructs and establishing convergent, discriminant and nomological validity. Moreover, by extending the range of theoretical and measurable deprivation of work identity, the authors hope to allow research to take into account a more complete picture of it. PWID scale can be used to develop more relevant suppression plans.
Barriers to innovation in construction organizations of different sizes: a case study in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Minh Van
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to determine barriers to innovation and to develop a quantitative model for the barrier to innovation in Vietnamese construction organizations of different sizes.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review and discussions with experienced practitioners were implemented to determine barriers to innovation in construction organizations. The rank-based non-parametric test analyzed collected data from a questionnaire survey to examine if there were significant differences between the three groups of organizations, including small, medium and large construction organizations. The fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE) technique was employed to develop barrier indexes (BIs) for organizations of different sizes in Vietnam.

Findings

The findings showed 17 barriers to innovation which were categorized into four groups, including organizational, human resources, economic and market barriers. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences regarding barriers to innovation between small, medium and large construction organizations in Vietnam. The post hoc test highlighted barriers to innovation differently separated into two groups: SMEs and large construction organizations. The FSE analysis integrated the identified barriers into the comprehensive BIs for SMEs and large construction organizations. The FSE analysis illustrated that the organizational barrier is the most critical barrier for SMEs. On the other hand, the market barrier received the most significant attention in large construction organizations.

Originality/value

This research is one of the first integrated barriers to innovation into a comprehensive formulation. The indexes provide the decision-makers with a practical and reliable tool to evaluate barriers to innovation in construction organizations of different sizes.
The influence of religious beliefs on the expectations of individual social class mobility
Authors: Chen Xiaodong , Bhuiyan Miraj Ahmed
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This paper examines the in-depth relationship between religious beliefs and individual social class mobility expectations in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The data used in this article are mainly from the China Comprehensive Social Survey in 2010 (CGSS2010). Compared with other years' CGSS data, CGSS2010 includes a module on religious topics, and the questionnaire information related to religion is more comprehensive and suitable for in-depth analysis.

Findings

The results show that religious beliefs have a significant positive impact on personal social class mobility expectations. Based on the principle of diminishing marginal returns on capital, the positive impact of religious belief on the expectation of individual social class mobility is more significant in groups with nonagricultural household registration, higher education level, older age and better family background conditions. However, with the further improvement of family background conditions, this positive impact begins to weaken. In addition, possible channels of action include prejudice effects, psychological effects, individual capital effects and social capital effects. The results of other effects are positive except for the prejudice effect. Overall, religious beliefs, as one of the important components of contemporary Chinese culture, have a positive significance for the “Chinese Dream”.

Originality/value

There is also little literature globally that provides an in-depth analysis of the relationship between religion and economic development. Studies have led to an understanding of the relationship between religious beliefs and individual social class mobility expectations. But it is unclear whether theories developed based on Western spiritual experience will be applicable to China or not. The authors have tested for China.
Inferring quality from price: the effect of stereotype threat on price–quality judgments
Authors: Song Lei , Suri Rajneesh , Huang Yanliu
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how a stereotype threat, which entails being aware of a negative stereotype about one’s social group (e.g. gender), affects consumers’ price perceptions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted four studies to examine the effect of a stereotype threat on consumers’ perceptions of a product’s price–quality relationship.

Findings

This study found that being aware of a negative stereotype about one’s social group (i.e. gender here) led consumers to use price more as a quality indicator. This study also determined that reappraisal – an alternative way of coping with stereotype threats – reduced the impact of a stereotype threat and, subsequently, decreased reliance on price to infer quality.

Research limitations/implications

This research contributes to the consumer decision-making literature by examining stereotype threat effect in in-store product purchasing contexts; provides theoretical contributions to the processing of price information by exploring the role of a stereotype threat in price perceptions and revealing that impairment of consumers’ working memory resources affects price perceptions; adds to the existing stereotype threat literature by investigating the effect of a stereotype threat on systematic versus heuristic information processing; and advances the stress and coping literature by suggesting that consumers adopting a reappraisal strategy cope better with a stereotype threat than when opting for a suppression strategy.

Practical implications

This research provides important implications for consumers. For example, the findings suggest that consumers who would like to avoid paying more for stereotype-associated products may adopt reappraisal to cope with a stereotype threat. Reappraisal may allow consumers to use fewer cognitive resources when coping with stereotype threats, thus minimizing the possibility that they might overpay for high-priced products.

Originality/value

This research uniquely examines the effect of a stereotype threat on consumers’ price perceptions and the role of reappraisal in this effect.
What does corporate sustainability reporting imply to auditors? Evidence from going-concern opinions and discretionary accruals
Authors: Tuo Ling , Han Shipeng , Rezaee Zabihollah , Yu Ji
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to address the unanswered question of whether corporate sustainability has an impact on auditors’ overall judgment and to provide incremental evidence that corporate sustainability reporting has significant effect on financial auditors’ judgment.

Design/methodology/approach

Following prior research, the authors, respectively, apply auditors’ decisions on going-concern opinions and three discretionary accrual measures as proxies for auditor conservatism over financial risk and financial reporting risk. The authors collect corporate sustainability reporting and sustainability assurance data of U.S. firms from the global reporting initiative (GRI) database to construct and measure firms’ sustainability reporting activities.

Findings

The authors find that nonreporting firms are more likely to receive going-concern opinions than the reporting firms. In addition, reporting firms have a larger scale of discretionary accruals than their nonreporting counterparts. The authors also obtain consistent findings that sustainability assurance or accounting assurance providers strengthen the effect of sustainability reporting on auditors’ judgment.

Research limitations/implications

First, using discretionary accruals as measures of auditor conservatism is controversial, as accruals are the joint product by auditors and clients. Second, binary variables as a measure of sustainability reporting activities limit the inference. Lastly, the findings based on limited samples may weaken the external validity.

Practical implications

The findings imply that firms engaging in sustainability activities are lower in financial or financial reporting risk. Firms can influence audit practitioners’ overall judgment through sustainability reports. Sustainability commitments and reporting have become a part of firms’ risk management.

Social implications

The findings imply that sustainability reporting could become an integrated part of regulated corporate disclosure. Sustainability assurance reduces social costs by lending credibility to sustainability reports.

Originality/value

This paper provides incremental evidence that sustainability reports provide useful information and signals that influence auditors’ professional judgment. The findings also suggest that sustainability assurance strengthens auditors’ confidence in using sustainability information, thus amplifying the effect of sustainability reporting on auditors’ judgment.
‘Space-as-a-service’: A premium to office rents?
Authors: Tsolacos Sotiris , Lee Stephen , Tse Hoi
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of “space-as-a-service” (SAAS) provision on office rents in the UK and quantify premia to office rents.

Design/methodology/approach

Using hedonic modelling techniques the authors are able to quantify the impact of a number of SAAS features on office rents in the City of London using CoStar data. The authors control for the quality of the buildings by focussing on five-star buildings, rated by CoStar, as these buildings are more likely to incorporate SAAS features.

Findings

Using data on 317 transactions in 37 City of London Office buildings over the period 1 November 2004–15 July 2020, the authors find that tenant exclusive mobile applications (MAPPS) and a public terrace or rooftop command a rent premium of around £13 and £6.5 per sq. ft per annum, respectively. However, other SAAS features such as conferencing facilities, on-site fitness centre and touch down space have no significant impact on office rents. The impact of exclusive MAPPS varies with size of net lettable area.

Research limitations/implications

The SAAS real estate model is an emerging trend in the office market. As it grows in importance more research questions will have to be investigated. The present study raises awareness of the need to specify SAAS features and form a rating system that will facilitate future research on the subject.

Practical implications

The conclusion from the present investigation is that only two SAAS features have a positive impact on office (tenant exclusive mobile apps and a public terrace or rooftop), which suggest that these two features may form the basis of any future SAAS rating system. These two SAAS components should carry more weight in valuations and pricing.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that attempts to quantify the impact of SAAS features on office rents.
The influence of host country education and professional experience on repatriation intentions: an examination of French long-term self-initiated expatriates in the United States
Authors: Ryan Jason
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The aim of this study is to develop a better understanding of how the transferability and recognition of host country professional experience and educational credentials impact the repatriation intentions of long-term self-initiated expatriates (SIEs). To that end, the study interviews a sample of American-educated French long-term SIEs in the United States (US) to assess how both their higher education and professional experience influence their social identity in their home country, France and their perceived repatriation opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies social identity theory to the examination of the combined impact of higher education and work experience abroad on the repatriation expectations of long-term SIEs. The author interviewed twenty-one French SIEs who attended universities in the US and remained there afterward to begin their careers.

Findings

The findings of this study confirm that the repatriation intentions of long-term SIEs are strongly influenced by concerns about the ability to maintain their host country standard of living in their home country. It also finds that foreign educational credentials and professional experience can constrain the ability of long-term SIEs to repatriate easily and gain acceptance. To overcome this, long-term SIEs often feel that they must embrace alternative repatriation strategies to maintain the lifestyle that they enjoyed while abroad when returning back home.

Originality/value

This study examines a sample of long-term SIEs from one home country, France, who left to attend university in the same host country, the US. It assesses how the experiences of those who remained in the US afterward to start their careers impacted their repatriation intentions. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on the context of self-initiated expatriation by examining the influence of host-country educational credentials and work experience on the repatriation intentions of long-term SIEs.
#MeToo, Covid-19 and the new workplace: re-examining institutional discrimination's impact on workplace harassment of expatriates following two exogenous shocks
Authors: Obenauer William , Rezaei Shafagh
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Replication is essential to science for the purpose of (1) updating previously accepted knowledge and (2) testing the boundary conditions of this knowledge. Although Bader et al.’s (2018) impactful paper on gender harassment experienced by expatriates was only published five years ago, there have been two relevant exogenous shocks to the environment since they collected their data, making this study an excellent target for replication.

Design/methodology/approach

Three-hundred ninety-one expatriates who were currently working in 79 different countries completed an electronic survey that included scales for gender harassment, ethnicity harassment, general stress, frustration and job satisfaction. Data were analyzed using partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) in Stata17.

Findings

Consistent with prior research, gender had a significant relationship with workplace gender harassment (ß = 0.228, p < 0.001) such that males experienced lower levels of harassment than other expatriates. The relationship between race/ethnicity and experiences of ethnicity harassment was dependent upon model specification. Workplace harassment had a negative relationship with job satisfaction (gender harassment, ß = −0.114, p = 0.030; ethnicity harassment; ß = −0.146, p = 0.002) and a positive relationship with frustration (gender harassment, ß = 0.231, p < 0.001; ethnicity harassment, ß = 0.213, p < 0.001).

Originality/value

Using a larger, more diverse sample than that used in prior research, the authors were able to test the generalizability of accepted knowledge. While the authors replicated many findings identified in prior research, they failed to replicate the effects pertaining to the relationship between macro-level variables and experiences of harassment. Given that macro-level variables play a key role in status construction theory (SCT), this research raises important questions for future work.
Usefulness of immunofluorescence overlay antigen mapping in the identification of autoantigen in anti‐p200 pemphigoid
Authors: Kitayama Shohei , Makino Teruhiko , Hayashi Masao , Mizawa Megumi , Ishii Norito , Hashimoto Takashi , Shimizu Tadamichi
Published: April 2023

Anti‐p200 pemphigoid is a rare subepidermal blistering disease showing immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies reactive with a 200‐kDa protein. In most patients, serum IgG antibodies react with laminin γ1. The diagnosis of anti‐p200 pemphigoid is occasionally difficult, mainly due to the lack of standardized tests. We performed fluorescence overlay antigen mapping by laser scanning confocal microscopy (FOAM‐LSCM) to identify autoantigens in an anti‐p200 pemphigoid patient and assessed its usefulness for the diagnosis. A 71‐year‐old man presented with blisters and erosions on the bilateral forearms. No mucosal lesions were observed. Laboratory examinations revealed mild leukocytosis and antinuclear antibody negativity. A histopathological examination showed subepidermal blisters with neutrophil infiltration. Direct immunofluorescence showed linear IgG staining along the basement membrane zone. Indirect immunofluorescence using 1 M NaCl‐split skin sections revealed IgG reactivity on the dermal side. Immunoblotting detected circulating IgG autoantibodies that reacted with a 200‐kDa protein. Accordingly, anti‐p200 pemphigoid was diagnosed. FOAM‐LSCM revealed that the patient's IgG signals were co‐localized with laminin γ1 but were observed above type VII collagens. A direct immunofluorescent analysis for IgG deposition patterns showed an n‐serrated pattern. Thus, FOAM‐LSCM may be useful for diagnosing anti‐p200 pemphigoid.
The Politics of Race and the Future of British Political History
Authors: Liburd Liam
Published: April 2023

This article addresses the field of British political history's blind spot when it comes to race. Where modern British political historians are comfortable approaching politics in ‘high’ and ‘popular’ forms as well as in terms of ideas, institutions and policy, they often struggle even to see a politics of race in operation. Using examples drawn from research on the post‐1945 history of the white supremacist movement in Britain, this article maintains that the means to render race visible in the political history of modern Britain lies in the incorporation of previously overlooked perspectives. In search of these perspectives, it looks to black British history and critical studies of race. In particular, it highlights analyses and critiques of British racism by black political activists, from those who organised in response to the 1959 murder of Kelso Cochrane, to the Black Power groups of the 1970s.
Can US Medical Schools Teach About Structural Racism?
Authors: SCHLAFF ANTHONY L. , AMUTAH‐ONUKAGHA NDIDIAMAKA N. , MABIALA DORCAS , KAMRUDDIN JASMIN , ONA FERNANDO F.
Published: April 2023

Policy Points

There need to be sweeping changes to medical school curricula that addresses structural racism in medicine and how to attend to this in medical practice.

The Liaison Committee on Medical Education should develop and promulgate specific learning objectives and curricular offerings that require medical schools to teach about structural racism and antiracist medical practice in ways that are robust and standardized.

The federal government, through the Health Resources and Services Administration, should prioritize support for antiracism education in medical schools, residency, and continuing medical education in similar ways and with similar effort in scale and scope to its support for primary care, providing technical assistance and grants for programs across the educational spectrum that provide antiracist training.

State governments should mandate, as part of continuing education requirements for physicians, 2 or more hours per recertification cycle of antiracist training.

Context

Since the beginning of COVID‐19 and the rise of social justice movements sparked by the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in the summer of 2020, many medical schools have made public statements committing themselves to become antiracist institutions. The notions that US society generally, and medicine, are rife with structural racism no longer seems as controversial in the academic community. Challenges remain, however, in how this basic understanding gets translated into medical education practice. Understanding where the profession must go should start with understanding where we currently are.

Methods

Prior to the events of 2020, in the spring of 2018, we conducted nine key informant interviews to learn about the challenges and best practices from schools deemed to be positive deviants in teaching about structural racism.

Findings

Our interviews showed that even those schools deemed positive deviants in the amount of teaching done about structural racism faced significant barriers in providing a robust education.

Conclusions

Significant structural change, perhaps far beyond what most schools consider themselves willing and able to engage in, will be necessary if future US physicians are to fully understand and address structural racism as it affects their profession, their practice, and their patients.
Dissemination of carbapenemase‐producing Enterobacteriaceae and associated resistance determinants through global food systems
Authors: Harding‐Crooks Richard , Smith Darren , Fanning Séamus , Fox Edward M.
Published: April 2023

Antimicrobial agents are a critical component of modern healthcare systems, fulfilling a core function in patient care and improving individual patient outcomes and consequently overall public health. However, the efficacy of antimicrobial interventions is being consistently eroded by the emergence and dissemination of various antimicrobial resistance (AMR) mechanisms. One highly valued class of antimicrobial compounds is carbapenems, which retain efficacy in treating most multidrug‐resistant infections and are considered “last line” agents. Therefore, recent trends in proliferation of carbapenem resistance (CR) via dissemination of carbapenemase‐encoding genes among members of the Enterobacteriaceae family pose a significant threat to public health. While much of the focus relating to this has been on nosocomial environments, community‐acquired carbapenemase‐producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) infections and their associated transmission routes are less well studied. Among these community‐associated vectors, the role of food chains and contaminated foods is important, since Enterobacteriaceae occupy niches within these settings. This review examines foodborne CPE transmission by exploring how interactions within and between food, the food chain, and agriculture not only promote and disseminate CPE, but also create reservoirs of mobile genetic elements that may lead to further carbapenemase gene proliferation both within and between microbial communities. Additionally, recent developments regarding the global occurrence and molecular epidemiology of CPEs in food chains will be reviewed.
Not just for programmers: How GitHub can accelerate collaborative and reproducible research in ecology and evolution
Authors: Braga Pedro Henrique Pereira , Hébert Katherine , Hudgins Emma J. , Scott Eric R. , Edwards Brandon P. M. , Sánchez Reyes Luna L. , Grainger Matthew J. , Foroughirad Vivienne , Hillemann Friederike , Binley Allison D. , Brookson Cole B. , Gaynor Kaitlyn M. , Shafiei Sabet Saeed , Güncan Ali , Weierbach Helen , Gomes Dylan G. E. , Crystal‐Ornelas Robert
Published: April 2023

Researchers in ecology and evolutionary biology are increasingly dependent on computational code to conduct research. Hence, the use of efficient methods to share, reproduce, and collaborate on code as well as document research is fundamental. GitHub is an online, cloud‐based service that can help researchers track, organize, discuss, share, and collaborate on software and other materials related to research production, including data, code for analyses, and protocols. Despite these benefits, the use of GitHub in ecology and evolution is not widespread.

To help researchers in ecology and evolution adopt useful features from GitHub to improve their research workflows, we review 12 practical ways to use the platform.

We outline features ranging from low to high technical difficulty, including storing code, managing projects, coding collaboratively, conducting peer review, writing a manuscript, and using automated and continuous integration to streamline analyses. Given that members of a research team may have different technical skills and responsibilities, we describe how the optimal use of GitHub features may vary among members of a research collaboration.

As more ecologists and evolutionary biologists establish their workflows using GitHub, the field can continue to push the boundaries of collaborative, transparent, and open research.
Computational screen to identify potential targets for immunotherapeutic identification and removal of senescence cells
Authors: Deng Eden Z. , Fleishman Reid H. , Xie Zhuorui , Marino Giacomo B. , Clarke Daniel J. B. , Ma'ayan Avi
Published: April 2023

To prioritize gene and protein candidates that may enable the selective identification and removal of senescent cells, we compared gene expression signatures from replicative senescent cells to transcriptomics and proteomics atlases of normal human tissues and cell types. RNA‐seq samples from in vitro senescent cells (6 studies, 13 conditions) were analyzed for identifying targets at the gene and transcript levels that are highly expressed in senescent cells compared to their expression in normal human tissues and cell types. A gene set made of 301 genes called SenoRanger was established based on consensus analysis across studies and backgrounds. Of the identified senescence‐associated targets, 29% of the genes in SenoRanger are also highly differentially expressed in aged tissues from GTEx. The SenoRanger gene set includes previously known as well as novel senescence‐associated genes. Pathway analysis that connected the SenoRanger genes to their functional annotations confirms their potential role in several aging and senescence‐related processes. Overall, SenoRanger provides solid hypotheses about potentially useful targets for identifying and removing senescence cells.
Development and validation of the C‐SHADE scale for measuring perpetration of common sexually harassing and aggressive behaviors in drinking environments
Authors: Graham Kathryn , Bernards Sharon , Abbey Antonia , Senn Charlene , Dumas Tara M. , Trudell AnnaLise , Donnelly Peter D. , Wells Samantha
Published: April 2023

Background

Sexual aggression (SA) is ubiquitous in drinking environments. Although such behavior is often seen as normal and acceptable, the targets of SA experience many negative consequences. This research aimed to develop a valid measure of common acts of SA in drinking settings for estimating prevalence and evaluating prevention initiatives.

Methods

We developed a questionnaire measure of common acts of sexual harassment and aggression in drinking environments (C‐SHADE) based on descriptions of SA behavior from our own and others' research. The measure was validated in a cross‐sectional survey of 335 men aged 19 to 25 using webpanels from an online survey company. Validation measures included: a modified version of the Sexual Experiences Survey (M‐SES), measures of SA by peers in drinking environments, SA‐related attitudes, expectancies about sexual effects of alcohol, and alcohol consumption.

Results

The C‐SHADE showed high internal consistency (α = 0.96) and was significantly correlated with M‐SES (r = 0.52), SA by peers (r = 0.61 to 0.70), SA‐related attitudes/expectations (r = 0.38 to 0.55), and measures of alcohol consumption (r = 0.22 to 0.36). Overall, 71.9% of participants reported SA using the C‐SHADE versus 24.7% with the M‐SES. We compared the responses of participants who reported perpetration on both measures (N = 83), on only the C‐SHADE (N = 141), and among nonperpetrators (N = 89; excluding four participants who reported perpetration only on the M‐SES). The M‐SES/C‐SHADE perpetrators scored significantly higher than C‐SHADE‐only perpetrators and nonperpetrators on most SA‐related and drinking measures, while C‐SHADE‐only perpetrators scored significantly higher than nonperpetrators on peer SA and two attitude measures.

Conclusions

The C‐SHADE is suitable for measuring prevalence and evaluating interventions in drinking settings. The C‐SHADE confirmed a high prevalence of SA in drinking settings and identified an important group of C‐SHADE‐only perpetrators for whom interventions that focus on situational precipitators of SA in drinking settings may be especially useful.
The balanced scorecard: Do managers need a strategy map when evaluating performance?
Authors: Humphreys Kerry A.
Published: April 2023

Prior research establishes a judgemental bias towards common measures when managers evaluate performance using the balanced scorecard. In an experimental study, I examine the role of a strategy map when evaluating performance in a boundary condition setting for this bias with performance measures strategically linked and both narrative strategy information and a strategy map provided. I manipulate the presence of a strategy map and find that managers who receive a strategy map develop greater strategic causal relationship knowledge when evaluating performance than managers who receive narrative strategy information only. Additional analyses indicate the bias is absent from managers' judgements in both conditions.
Muddy waters: Mega‐herbivores as agents of change in African shallow freshwaters
Authors: Wasserman Ryan J. , Dalu Tatenda
Published: April 2023

Large herbivores have been described as agents of change in terrestrial habitats. Their effect on aquatic ecosystems are, however, underexplored. We raise the question of whether elephants and hippopotamus have the potential to significantly alter limnological properties and, indirectly, primary and secondary productivity within small and shallow freshwaters in arid and semi‐arid African landscapes. In this note we discuss hypothetical means by which elephants and hippopotamus alter shallow freshwater bodies. We further assimilate this with known ways by which these mega‐herbivores alter aquatic environments giving an overview of their potential functional role in structuring aquatic habitats.