bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TRAF2, an innate immune sensor, reciprocally regulates mitophagy and inflammation to maintain cardiac myocyte homeostasis
Authors: Ma Xiucui , Rawnsley David R. , Kovacs Attila , Islam Moydul , Murphy John T. , Zhao Chen , Kumari Minu , Foroughi Layla , Liu Haiyan , Hyrc Krzysztof , Evans Sarah , French Brent A. , Margulies Kenneth B. , Javaheri Ali , Razani Babak , Mann Douglas L. , Mani Kartik , Diwan Abhinav
Published: June 2021

Mitochondrial damage triggers cell death signaling with catastrophic consequences in long-lived and irreplaceable cells, such as cardiac myocytes. Sensing of leaked mitochondrial DNA upon mitochondrial damage is also a potent trigger of inflammation. Whether the innate immune response pathways monitor mitochondrial damage in mitochondria-rich cardiac myocytes to prevent inflammation and cell death, remains unknown. TRAF2, an adaptor protein downstream of innate immune receptors, localizes to the mitochondria in the unstressed heart, with increased mitochondrial targeting in cardiomyopathic human hearts and after cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice. Inducible cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of TRAF2 in young adult mice impairs mitophagy with rapid decline in mitochondrial quality, upregulates TLR9 expression in cardiac myocytes, and results in inflammation and cell death manifesting as a fulminant cardiomyopathy. Preventing TLR9-mediated mitochondrial DNA sensing and resultant inflammation provides a short-term reprieve from cardiomyopathy, but persistence of damaged mitochondria results in long-term recrudescence. Restoration of wild-type TRAF2, but not the E3 ubiquitin ligase deficient mutant, improves mitochondrial quality and rescues cardiomyopathy to restore homeostasis. Thus, the innate immune response acts via TRAF2 as the first line of defense against mitochondrial damage by orchestrating homeostatic mitophagy to dampen myocardial inflammation and prevent cell death.
A comprehensive temporal patterning gene network in Drosophila medulla neuroblasts revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing
Authors: Zhu Hailun , Zhao Sihai Dave , Ray Alokananda , Zhang Yu , Li Xin
Published: June 2021

During development, neural stem cells are temporally patterned to sequentially generate a variety of neural types before exiting the cell cycle. Temporal patterning is well-studied in Drosophila, where neural stem cells called neuroblasts sequentially express cascades of Temporal Transcription Factors (TTFs) to control the birth-order dependent neural specification. However, currently known TTFs were mostly identified through candidate approaches and may not be complete. In addition, many fundamental questions remain concerning the TTF cascade initiation, progression, and termination. It is also not known why temporal progression only happens in neuroblasts but not in their differentiated progeny. In this work, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of Drosophila medulla neuroblasts of all ages to study the temporal patterning process with single-cell resolution. Our scRNA-seq data revealed that sets of genes involved in different biological processes show high to low or low to high gradients as neuroblasts age. We also identified a list of novel TTFs, and experimentally characterized their roles in the temporal progression and neural fate specification. Our study revealed a comprehensive temporal gene network that patterns medulla neuroblasts from start to end. Furthermore, we found that the progression and termination of this temporal cascade also require transcription factors differentially expressed along the differentiation axis (neuroblasts -> -> neurons). Lola proteins function as a speed modulator of temporal progression in neuroblasts; while Nerfin-1, a factor required to suppress de-differentiation in post-mitotic neurons, acts at the final temporal stage together with the last TTF of the cascade, to promote the switch to gliogenesis and the cell cycle exit. Our comprehensive study of the medulla neuroblast temporal cascade illustrated mechanisms that might be conserved in the temporal patterning of neural stem cells.
Chemical Profiling of Antimicrobial Metabolites from Halophilic Actinomycete Nocardiopsis_sp. Al-H10-1 (KF384482) Isolated from Alang, Gulf of Khambhat, India
Authors: Thumar Jignasha T. , Trivedi Nisha
Published: June 2021

The overuse of antibiotics has resulted in the development of drug resistant, a major problem in disease curing processes i.e. development of drug resistance. The World Health Organization (WHO) released its first list of the most concerning pathogens for human health in 2017 which suggested that there are total 12 bacterial families which have developed multiple drug resistance and for which novel antibiotics are required immediately (WHO 2017). There is a requirement to explore some novel compounds to overcome this issue. Thus our study aimed at exploration of marine actinomycetes as a valuable resource for novel products with antimicrobial properties. The halophilic actinomycete Nocardiopsis_sp. Al-H10-1 (KF384482) was isolated from saline water (20 m away from shore) of Alang coast (Gulf of Khambhat), Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India. The isolate Al-H10-1 was identified as Nocardiopsis sp. through rigorous morphological and cultural characteristics; the species was confirmed through 16s rRNA phylogenetic analysis. The antimicrobial potential of Nocardiopsis sp. Al-H10-1 was assessed against a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as three fungi, there it demonstrated antimicrobial activity against four Gram negative bacteria and one Gram positive bacteria. Further active antimicrobial compounds present in ethyl acetate extract was identified using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS). GC-MS analysis showed the presence of 17 compounds which included antimicrobial compounds like 2, 4-bis (1, 1-dimethylethyl)-Phenol, Dibutyl phthalate as well as various types of alkanes and their derivatives.
Silkworm model forBacillus anthracisinfection and virulence determination
Authors: Paudel Atmika , Furuta Yoshikazu , Higashi Hideaki
Published: June 2021

Bacillus anthracisis an obligate pathogen and a causative agent of anthrax. Its major virulence factors are plasmid-coded; however, recent studies have revealed chromosome-encoded virulence factors, indicating that the current understanding of its virulence mechanism is elusive and needs further investigation. In this study, we established a silkworm (Bombyx mori) infection model ofB. anthracisSterne. We showed that silkworms were killed byB. anthracisand cured of the infection when administered with antibiotics. We quantitatively determined the lethal dose of the bacteria that kills 50% larvae and effective doses of antibiotics that cure 50% infected larvae. Furthermore, we demonstrated thatB. anthracismutants with disruption in virulence genes such aspagA, lef, andatxAhad attenuated silkworm-killing ability and reduced colonization in silkworm hemolymph. The silkworm infection model established in this study can be utilized in large-scale infection experiments to identify novel virulence determinants and develop novel therapeutic options againstB. anthracisinfections.
Hyphal compartmentalization and sporulation in Streptomyces require the conserved cell division protein SepX
Authors: Bush Matthew J. , Gallagher Kelley A. , Chandra Govind , Findlay Kim C. , Schlimpert Susan
Published: June 2021

Filamentous actinobacteria such as Streptomyces undergo two distinct modes of cell division, leading to partitioning of growing hyphae into multicellular compartments via cross-walls, and to septation and release of unicellular spores. Specific determinants for cross-wall formation and the importance of hyphal compartmentalization for Streptomyces development are largely unknown. Here we show that SepX, an actinobacterial-specific protein, is crucial for both cell division modes in Streptomyces venezuelae. Importantly, we find that sepX-deficient mutants grow without cross-walls and that this substantially impairs the fitness of colonies and the coordinated progression through the developmental life cycle. Protein interaction studies and live-cell imaging suggest that SepX contributes to the stabilization of the divisome, a mechanism that also requires the dynamin-like protein DynB. Thus, our work identifies an important determinant for cell division in Streptomyces that is required for cellular development and sporulation.
Quantifying live bacterial densities using non-invasive optical measurements of E. coli
Authors: van der Helm Eric , Redl Stephanie M. A.
Published: June 2021

Profiling the growth of bacterial cultures over time can be a tedious and error-prone process. Here, we present the development and evaluation of the use of the ODity platform to optically measure bacterial cell densities non-invasively. The digital growth data for E. coli MG1655 was calibrated against colony forming units (CFU/mL) obtained by plating on solid media. Diauxic-like shifts of liquid E. coli MG1655 cultures grown at 37°C in LB media were observed at densities as low as 2.9 × 107 ± 1.2 CFU/mL. The shift occurred at a significantly higher cell density (6.0 × 107 ± 1.2 CFU/mL) when the bacteria were cultured at 31°C. These shifts were only short lived, 15.2 ± 1.5 and 20.8 ± 1.8 min at 37°C and 31°C, respectively, with the previous growth rate restored thereafter. We measured minimum doubling times of 17.0 ± 1.1 and 24.8 ± 0.9 min at 37°C and 31°C, respectively. These results demonstrate that the growth and growth rate of bacterial cultures can be accurately determined non-invasively using the ODity device.
Harnessing methylotrophs as a bacterial platform to reduce adverse effects of the use of the heavy lanthanide gadolinium in magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Good Nathan M. , Lee Harvey , Hawker Emily R. , Gilad Assaf A. , Martinez-Gomez N. Cecilia
Published: June 2021

Gadolinium is a key component of magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents that are critical tools for enhanced detection and diagnosis of tissue and vascular abnormalities. Untargeted post-injection deposition of gadolinium in vivo, and association with diseases like nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, has alerted regulatory agencies to re-evaluate their widespread use and generated calls for safer gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs). Increasing anthropogenic gadolinium in surface water has also raised concerns of potential bioaccumulation in plants and animals. Methylotrophic bacteria can acquire, transport, store and use light lanthanides as part of a cofactor complex with pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), an essential component of XoxF-type methanol dehydrogenases (MDHs), a critical enzyme for methylotrophic growth with methanol. We report robust gadolinium-dependent methanol growth of a genetic variant of Methylorubrum extorquens AM1, named evo-HLn, for “evolved for heavy lanthanides”. Genetic adaptation of evo-HLn resulted in increased xox1 promoter and XoxF MDH activities, transport and storage of Gd3+, and augmented biosynthesis of PQQ. Gadolinium-grown cells exhibited a shorter T1 relaxation time compared to cells with lanthanum or no lanthanide when analyzed by MRI. In addition, evo-HLn was able to grow on methanol using the GBCA Gd-DTPA as the sole gadolinium source, showing the potential of this strain for the development of novel GBCAs and gadolinium recovery from medical waste and/or wastewater.
Estimation of cancer cell fractions and clone trees from multi-region sequencing of tumors
Authors: Zheng Lily , Wood Laura , Karchin Rachel , Scharpf Robert
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Multi-region sequencing of one or multiple biopsies of solid tumors from a patient can be used to improve our understanding of the diversity of subclones in the patient’s tumor and shed light on the evolutionary history of the disease. Due to the large number of possible evolutionary relationships between clones and the fundamental uncertainty of the mutational composition of subclones, elucidating the most probable evolutionary relationships poses statistical and computational challenges. We developed a Bayesian hierarchical model called PICTograph to model uncertainty in the assignment of mutations to subclones and an approach to reduce the space of possible graphical models that postulate their evolutionary origin. Compared to available methods, our approach provided more consistent and accurate estimates of cancer cell fractions and better tree topology reconstruction over a range of simulated clonal diversity. Application of PICTograph to whole exome sequencing data of individuals with pancreatic cancer precursor lesions confirmed known early occurring mutations and indicated substantial molecular diversity, including multiple distinct subclones (range 6 - 12) and intra-sample mixing of subclones. As the complete evolutionary history for some patients was not identifiable, we used ensemble-based visualizations to distinguish between highly probable evolutionary relationships recovered in multiple models from uncertain relationships occurring in a small subset of models. These analyses indicate that PICTograph provides a useful approximation to evolutionary inference, particularly when the evolutionary course of a patient’s cancer is complex.
Polysaccharide utilization loci in Bacteroides determine population fitness and community-level interactions
Authors: Feng Jun , Qian Yili , Zhou Zhichao , Ertmer Sarah , Vivas Eugenio , Lan Freeman , Rey Federico E. , Anantharaman Karthik , Venturelli Ophelia S
Published: June 2021

Polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs) in the human gut microbiome have critical roles in shaping human health and ecological dynamics. We develop a CRISPR-FnCpf1-RecT genome-editing tool to study 23 PULs in the highly abundant species B. uniformis (BU). We identify the glycan-degrading functions of multiple PULs and elucidate transcriptional coordination between PULs that enables the population to adapt to the loss of PULs. Exploiting a pooled BU mutant barcoding strategy, we demonstrate that the in vitro fitness and the colonization ability of BU in the murine gut is enhanced by deletion of specific PULs and modulated by glycan availability. We show that BU PULs can mediate complex glycan-dependent interactions with butyrate producers that depend on the mechanism of degradation and the butyrate producer glycan utilizing ability. In sum, PULs are major determinants of community dynamics and butyrate production and can provide a selective advantage or disadvantage depending on the nutritional landscape.
Comparative therapeutic strategies for preventing aortic rupture in a mouse model of vascular Ehlers Danlos syndrome
Authors: Legrand Anne , Guery Charline , Faugeroux Julie , Fontaine Erika , Beugnon Carole , Gianfermi Amélie , Loisel-Ferreira Irmine , Verpont Marie-Christine , Adham Salma , Mirault Tristan , Hadchouel Juliette , Jeunemaitre Xavier
Published: June 2021

We created a knock-in Col3a1+/G182R mouse model with spontaneous mortality caused by thoracic aortic rupture that recapitulates a rare vascular genetic disease of type III collagen, the vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS). Investigation of this model showed lower survival rate in males caused by aortic rupture, thin non-inflammatory arteries and altered arterial collagen. Transcriptomic analysis of aortas showed upregulation of genes related to inflammation and cell stress response. Compared to water, survival rate of Col3a1+/G182R mice was not affected by beta-blockers (propranolol or celiprolol). Two other vasodilating anti-hypertensive agents (hydralazine, amlodipine) gave opposite results on aortic rupture and mortality rate. There was a spectacular beneficial effect of losartan, reversed by the cessation of its administration, and a marked deleterious effect of exogenous angiotensin II. These results suggest that blockade of the renin angiotensin system should be tested as a first-line medical therapy in patients with vEDS.
Contributions of distinct auditory cortical inhibitory neuron types to the detection of sounds in background noise
Authors: Lakunina Anna A. , Menashe Nadav , Jaramillo Santiago
Published: June 2021

The ability to separate background noise from relevant acoustic signals is essential for appropriate sound-driven behavior in natural environments. Examples of this separation are apparent in the auditory system, where neural responses to behaviorally relevant stimuli become increasingly noise-invariant along the ascending auditory pathway. However, the mechanisms that underlie this reduction in responses to background noise are not well understood. To address this gap in knowledge, we first evaluated the effects of auditory cortical inactivation on mice of both sexes trained to perform a simple auditory signal-in-noise detection task, and found that outputs from the auditory cortex are important for the detection of auditory stimuli in noisy environments. Next, we evaluated the contributions of the two most common cortical inhibitory cell types, parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) and somatostatin-expressing (SOM+) interneurons, to the perception of masked auditory stimuli. We found that inactivation of either PV+ or SOM+ cells resulted in a reduction in the ability of mice to determine the presence of auditory stimuli masked by noise. These results indicate that a disruption of auditory cortical network dynamics by either of these two types of inhibitory cells is sufficient to impair the ability to separate acoustic signals from noise.

Significance Statement

Appropriate behavior in a natural environment relies on the ability to separate background noise from relevant signals. We found that auditory cortical inhibitory neurons play a causal role in separating environmental noise from behaviorally relevant auditory signals. These results advance our understanding of the computations performed by the auditory system to decompose and analyze acoustic stimuli in the presence of noise.
Segmenting German housing markets using principal component and cluster analyses
Authors: Wiersma Simon , Just Tobias , Heinrich Michael
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Germany has a polycentric city structure. This paper aims to reduce complexity of this structure and to find a reliable classification scheme of German housing markets at city level based on 17 relevant market parameters.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a two-step clustering algorithm combining k-means with Ward’s method to develop the classification scheme. The clustering process is preceded by a principal component analysis to merely retain the most important dimensions of the market parameters. The robustness of the results is investigated with a bootstrapping method.

Findings

It is found that German residential markets can best be segmented into four groups. Geographic contiguity plays a specific role, but is not a main factor. Our bootstrapping analysis identifies the majority of pairwise city relations (88.5%) to be non-random.

Research limitations/implications

A deeper discussion concerning the most relevant market parameters is required. The stability of the clusters is to be re-investigated in the future, as the bootstrapping analysis indicates that some clusters are more homogeneous than others.

Practical implications

The developed classification scheme provides insights into opportunities and risks associated with specific city groups. The findings of this study can be used in portfolio management to reduce unsystematic investment risks and to formulate investment strategies.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to offer insights into the German housing markets which applies principal component, cluster and bootstrapping analyses in a sole integrated approach.
Determinants of housing inflation in Turkey: a conditional frequency domain causality
Authors: Kırca Mustafa , Canbay Şerif
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate whether changes in consumer interest rate, exchange rate and housing supply have permanent effects on housing inflation in Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, data from 2010M01 to 2020M06 and changes in consumer interest rate, exchange rate, housing supply and housing inflation were used. Relationships between variables are analyzed first by the Granger causality tests and then the conditional frequency domain causality tests. The conditional frequency domain causality test specifically reveals the permanent causality between variables, whether there is a permanent effect.

Findings

According to the Granger causality test results, there are causality relationships from changes in the consumer interest rate and exchange rate to housing inflation. However, there is no causality relationship between housing supply and housing inflation. According to the conditional frequency domain causality test results, there is causality for the permanent and mid-term from changes in the consumer interest rate to housing inflation and causality for the mid-term and temporary from changes in the exchange rate to housing inflation. Additionally, it was found that there are causality relationships between changes in the consumer interest rate and changes in the exchange rate.

Research limitations/implications

The first limit of the study is that only 2010M01-2020M06 months can be considered. Because the date that variables started common is 2010M01. Besides, there is a limit in the study in variables used. Many variables, both micro and macro, can be added to affect housing inflation.

Originality/value

Housing inflation is a remarkable issue in Turkey. There is an increase in the number of studies on the subject in recent years. For this reason, the study is trying to contribute by approaching the subject from a different angle. The most important contribution of the study is that it has not been investigated whether the determinants of housing inflation have permanent or temporary effects, which were not done in previous studies. In addition, the method used reveals how many months the effects of changes in exchange rates, consumer interest rates and housing supply on housing inflation last. Based on the findings obtained from the methods, important economic and political implications have been put forward in depth.
Changes in overdose knowledge and attitudes in an incarcerated sample of people living with HIV
Authors: Reed Megan , Siegler Anne , Tabb Loni P. , Momplaisir Florence , Krevitz Dorsche , Lankenau Stephen
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present evaluation results. People exiting incarceration who use opioids are at an elevated risk for overdose following release. People living with HIV (PLWH) who use drugs are also at increased overdose risk. Overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) is an effective community-based intervention, but few OEND programs have been evaluated in a correctional setting and none have specifically targeted PLWH.

Design/methodology/approach

An OEND pilot program was implemented in the Philadelphia jail from December 2017 to June 2019. OEND was provided through an HIV case management program and naloxone given at release. Participants (n = 68) were assessed for changes in overdose knowledge and beliefs in their ability to respond to an overdose from baseline to one month later while still incarcerated. Other demographic variables were assessed via publicly available records and case manager chart abstraction.

Findings

A total of 120 incarcerated PLWH were OEND trained; 68 (56.7%) were still incarcerated one month later and received post-tests. The 68-person sample was predominantly male (79.4%) and Black (64.7%). One-fifth reported heroin use, a third reported cocaine use and nearly 2/3 reported use of any illegal drug on date of arrest. Among these 68, overdose knowledge and overdose attitudes improved significantly (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively).

Originality/value

OEND in correctional settings is feasible and knowledge and overdose attitudes improved significantly from baseline. OEND programs should be implemented within the general population of incarcerated people but, as with PLWH, can be extended to other vulnerable populations within correctional settings, such as persons with mental health conditions and a history of homelessness.
Does business intelligence mediate the relationship between ERP and management accounting practices?
Authors: Youssef Mayada Abd El-Aziz , Mahama Habib
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of business intelligence and analytics (BI&A) in mediating the relationship between enterprise resource planning (ERP) and three sets of management accounting practices (MAPs): budgeting, costing and performance evaluation. It also examines the extent to which the usage of ERP affects the intensity of the application of various MAPs.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modeling (SmartPLS 3) is used to analyze data collected from a cross-sectional survey of 82 firms in the UAE. The results indicate that the constructs are valid and reliable and that the model supports the research hypotheses.

Findings

The findings confirm the positive effect of the extent of using ERP systems, as a construct of modules, on the extent of applying three sets of MAPs. They also show that the extent of the use of BI&A systems partially mediates the relationship between the extent of the use of ERP systems and intensity of applying each of the three sets of MAPs.

Practical implications

The results encourage organizations to adopt BI&A to reap the full benefits of ERP.

Originality/value

In contrast to the extant research that presumes a direct influence of ERP on MAPs, this study investigates if the extent of the use of BI&A mediates the presumed relationship between the extent of the use of ERP and intensity of applying each of the three sets of MAPs.
Bio-waste influence on air lime mortar performance corrosion – optimization using the surface response method
Authors: Hayette Faid , Yacine Abadou , Abderrahmane Ghrieb
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to characterize the properties lightweight green air lime and marble waste mixtures, relating microstructural and chemical properties with physical development of the material, an effort has been made to simulate the structure of the different mortar reinforced by two main layers plants.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents an experimental design of response surface methodology, a model which predicts the mechanical strength and evaluate the effectiveness of bio-waste as a corrosion inhibitor to resist the steel corrosion in air lime mortars as a function of the proportion of the constituents of a new air lime mortar based on a combination of different percentages of marble waste (MRW), air lime and deferent type, layers of natural fiber reinforcement. Luffa sponge gourd and oakum hemp fiber residues capabilities in civil engineering are evaluated by combining numerical and experimental approaches for repair mortar based on air lime and marble waste. Several electrochemical techniques, mechanical strength tests and visual inspection of steel surface were performed.

Findings

The results revealed good mechanical strength and corrosion protection properties of air lime mortar containing the fiber naturel. These green wastes are considered economically feasible, as well having possessing good performance efficiency in protecting rebar reinforcement. These results were confirmed via polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements.

Originality/value

The prepared green air lime mortar provided good corrosion protection to the rebar. The significance of this study is to encourage the usage of solid white marble waste to prepare biomass-based repair mortar with good mechanical and anti-corrosion properties on the long term is still a big challenge.
Neuro-fuzzy system based model for prediction of project performance in downstream sector of petroleum industry in Iran
Authors: Faraji Amir
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Planning phase of a project results to series of crucial decisions which determine the path to objectives achievement. At the same time, in this phase, project encounters the highest level of uncertainty in comparison of all phases of project lifecycle. This paper aims to support early decisions of project based on the progress forecasting.

Design/methodology/approach

The scope of study is limited to downstream projects of petroleum industry in Iran, and the proposed model is trained and tested based on 75 Iranian completed petroleum projects. First, types of progress curve functions are investigated, and various types are studied and the most appropriate ones are selected through curve fitting. In the next step, using questionnaire, dependent and independent variables are recognized. Finally, using historical data and s-curve generator functions, a fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) based model have been developed to support early phases decision-making processes.

Findings

Based on the analysis of received questionnaires, six functional criteria in two groups as dependent variables and 25 independent variables, in two groups and four clusters are determined and categorized. Eventually, performance prediction model of a project has been developed by using Adaptive Nero Fuzzy Inference System.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this study to construction management knowledge is categorizing two groups of variables, which first one defines the project dynamic and the other calculates the key effects on previous one. Also, this investigation improves the current knowledge by analyzing the project system from the dynamic behavior perspective and modeling the defined variables using ANFIS tools.
Is lodging research suffering from methods bias? An assessment of published research during 1990-2016
Authors: Ali Faizan , Koseoglu Mehmet Ali , Okumus Fevzi , Putra Eka Diraksa , Yildiz Mehmet , Dogan Ismail Cagri
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The study aims to investigate if lodging research suffers from a method bias by comprehensively reviewing the research methodology used in lodging related research articles.

Design/methodology/approach

In all, 2,647 published papers in 16 leading hospitality and tourism published between 1990 and 2016 are analyzed using bibliometric technique.

Findings

In all, 69% of the empirical studies in lodging research across 26 years period used quantitative methods, with an increasing reliance on regression-based analysis and structural equation modeling, a disturbing plunging trend in methods diversity. Findings also suggest an increasing trend of using secondary data.

Research limitations/implications

Based on the findings of this study, theoretical and practical implications for hospitality and tourism researchers are provided.

Originality/value

This is the first study that reviewed a large corpus of published research (2,647 papers in 16 hospitality and tourism journals from the last 27 years) to highlight (a) methodology used, (b) methods employed and (c) data collection and analysis procedures.
What does culturally relevant pedagogy have to offer with regard to teaching and learning during a time of physical distancing?
Authors: Reid Shamari
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This conceptual paper, framed as a letter to educators, explores what the theory of culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) offers us as we reimagine our approaches to teaching and learning amidst a pandemic and during a time of physical distancing.

Design/methodology/approach

To make my argument that CRP is a frame for teaching that is based in a particular set of beliefs and ideologies, I draw on my experience as a K-12 educator, teacher educator, and education researcher. In addition, I ground my argument in the extant research on the intimate interrelationship between teachers’ beliefs about teaching, learning, themselves, and their students and the actions they take in the classroom.

Findings

In my discussion, I invite teachers to examine their beliefs, with the end goal of aligning these beliefs with those shared across the extensive scholarship on CRP. I argue that once educators have examined their beliefs with regard to teaching, learning and their students and aligned them with those presented in the literature on CRP, they will be in a better position to engage in online teaching that works toward achieving the seemingly elusive goal of educational equity. Furthermore, I make the argument that if we do not engage in this belief work prior to our transition to online instruction, we risk falling into online assimilationist practices that we know do not work and that reinscribe inequitable schooling experiences for our most marginalized students.

Originality/value

This paper will be useful for teachers and teacher educators who are committed to engaging in teaching (virtual, in-person, hybrid) during a time of collective crisis that is committed to bringing about educational equity. I present a new way of thinking about CRP as a set of beliefs and guiding questions to help educators align their beliefs with those presented in the literature on CRP.
Nigerian cultural beliefs about mental health conditions and traditional healing: a qualitative study
Authors: Jidong Dung Ezekiel , Bailey Di , Sodi Tholene , Gibson Linda , Sawadogo Natéwindé , Ikhile Deborah , Musoke David , Madhombiro Munyaradzi , Mbah Marcellus
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore how cultural beliefs and traditions are integral to understanding indigenous mental health conditions (MHCs) and traditional healing (TH). However, Nigerian cultural beliefs about MHCs and TH are under-researched.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a qualitative design using critical realist and social constructionist perspectives to explore Nigerian mental health-care practitioners (MHCPs) and lay participants’ (LPs) views regarding MHCs and TH. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select 53 participants (MHCPs = 26; LPs = 27; male = 32; female = 21) in four Nigerian cities (Ado-Ekiti, Enugu, Jos and Zaria). Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed through thematic analyses.

Findings

The data sets revealed three overarching themes, namely, existing cultural beliefs about MHCs as spiritual curse; description of TH as the first treatment modality for MHCs; and perceived stigma associated with MHCs and help-seeking behaviours.

Originality/value

A study on Nigerian cultural beliefs and TH contributes meaningfully to mental health systems. Future research and policy initiatives could explore ways of optimising TH practices and community awareness programmes to increase access to mental health care in Nigeria.
Living in a care home during COVID-19: a case study of one person living with dementia
Authors: Davies-Abbott Ian , Hedd Jones Catrin , Windle Gill
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to understand the lived experience of a person living with dementia in a care home during the COVID-19 pandemic. It responds to the absence in research of the voices of people with dementia living in care homes during the pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a single case study design applied thematic analysis to semi-structured interview data to discover the experiences of one person living with dementia in a care home during a period of lockdown.

Findings

Five themes reveal how the participant responded to the practical and emotional challenges of the pandemic: autonomy; fears; keeping connected; keeping safe and other people living with dementia. These themes highlight the participant’s ability to adapt, accept and dispute lockdown restrictions, revealing considerable insight into their situation.

Research limitations/implications

The pandemic has restricted access to care homes, which informed the single case study design. This approach to the research may restrict the generalisability of the findings. Other researchers are encouraged to include the voices of people with dementia living in care homes in further studies.

Practical implications

Implications for practice, presented in this paper, promote quality psychosocial approaches when health-care workers engage with people living with dementia during periods of restricted activity.

Originality/value

Unlike other studies about the impact of the pandemic on care homes, this paper explores the experience of the pandemic in care homes from the perspective of a person living with dementia.
The impact of climate change on Canadian archives
Authors: Oliver Amanda
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to identify Canadian archives that are at risk for climate change threats, to present a snapshot of current practices around disaster planning, sustainability and climate adaptation and to provide recommended next steps for records managers and archivists adapting to climate change.

Design/methodology/approach

These objectives were achieved by analyzing the geographic locations of Canadian archives in relation to projected climate data and by analyzing the results of a survey distributed to staff at Canadian archival repositories.

Findings

This study found that all Canadian archives will be impacted by projected changes in both annual mean temperatures and precipitation to the year 2080. Themes that emerged surrounding climate adaptation strategies include the investment in the design and efficiency of spaces housing records and the importance of resilient buildings, the need for increased training on climate change, engaging senior leadership and administrators on climate change and developing regional strategies. Preparing for and mitigating the impact of climate change on the facilities and holdings needs to become a priority.

Originality/value

This research underscores the importance of developing climate adaptation strategies, considering the sustainability of records management and archival professional practice, increasing the resilience of the facilities and records and strengthening the disaster planning and recovery methods.
Rosiglitazone restores nitric oxide synthase‐dependent reactivity of cerebral arterioles in rats exposed to prenatal alcohol
Authors: Saha Partha S. , Kim Sawtelle Kirsten R. , Bamberg Brittany N. , Arrick Denise M. , Watt Michael J. , Scholl Jamie L. , Zheng Hong , Mayhan William G.
Published: June 2021

Background

Prenatal exposure to alcohol leads to a greater incidence of many cardiovascular‐related diseases, presumably via a mechanism that may involve increased oxidative stress. An agonist of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPARγ; rosiglitazone) has been shown to suppress alcohol‐induced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. The goal of this study was to determine whether acute and chronic treatment with rosiglitazone could restore or prevent impaired nitric oxide synthase (NOS)‐dependent responses of cerebral arterioles in male and female adult (14–16 weeks old) rats exposed to alcohol in utero.

Methods

We fed Sprague‐Dawley dams a liquid diet with or without 3% ethanol for the duration of their pregnancy (21–23 days). In the first series of studies, we examined the reactivity of cerebral arterioles to eNOS‐ (ADP), nNOS‐dependent (NMDA), and NOS‐independent agonists in male and female adult rats before and during acute (1 hour) topical application of rosiglitazone (1 µM). In a second series of studies, we examined the influence of chronic treatment with rosiglitazone (3 mg/kg/day in drinking water for 2–3 weeks) on the responses of cerebral arterioles in male and female adult rats exposed to alcohol in utero.

Results

We found that in utero exposure to alcohol similarly reduced responses of cerebral arterioles to ADP and NMDA, but not to nitroglycerin in male and female adult rats. In addition, acute treatment of the male and female adult rats with rosiglitazone similarly restored this impairment in cerebral vascular function to that observed in controls. We also found that chronic treatment with rosiglitazone prevented impaired vascular function in male and female adult rats that were exposed to alcohol in utero.

Conclusions

PPARγ activation may be an effective and relevant treatment to reverse or prevent cerebral vascular abnormalities associated with prenatal exposure to alcohol.
Repeated ethanol intoxications of Drosophila melanogaster adults increases the resistance to ethanol of their progeny
Authors: Bonilla Michelle , McPherson Michael , Coreas Jocelyn , Boulos Michael , Chavol Paniz , Alrabadi Ranna I. , Loza‐Coll Mariano
Published: June 2021

Background

For decades, Drosophila melanogaster has been used as a model organism to understand the genetics and neurobiology of ethanol intoxication and tolerance. Previous research has shown that acute and chronic pre‐exposures to ethanol can trigger the development of functional ethanol tolerance in flies and has unveiled some of the genetic pathways involved in the process. To our knowledge, however, no previous work has systematically explored whether repeated intoxications of adult flies can affect the ethanol tolerance of their progeny.

Methods

Adult flies were intoxicated several times (once daily, over several days), and their F1 and F2 progeny were subjected to a functional tolerance test in which flies are exposed to ethanol and video recorded twice within 5 hr. Their behavior was subsequently analyzed to determine how long it took them to become sedated during the first and second exposures. One‐ and 2‐way ANOVAs were used to determine whether parental treatment had an effect on their progeny's baseline resistance and/or acquired functional tolerance to ethanol.

Results

Parental flies that were intoxicated several times produced F1 and F2 progeny with a significantly higher resistance to ethanol than progeny from unexposed controls. Further, parental intoxications inconsistently increased the progeny's capacity to develop rapid functional tolerance upon re‐exposure to ethanol. The transmission of increased ethanol resistance to progeny lasted several days after the last parental intoxication.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that repeated parental daily intoxications affect the progeny's response to ethanol in fruit flies. Our findings support the use of D. melanogaster to explore conserved pathways underlying the transmission of ethanol tolerance and can help in the identificaton of novel strategies for managing alcohol use disorder.
Pilot randomized placebo‐controlled clinical trial of high‐dose gabapentin for alcohol use disorder
Authors: Mariani John J. , Pavlicova Martina , Basaraba Cale , Mamczur‐Fuller Agnieszka , Brooks Daniel J. , Bisaga Adam , Carpenter Kenneth M. , Nunes Edward V. , Levin Frances R.
Published: June 2021

Background

Despite advances in the development of pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder (AUD), there remains a need for medications that can be administered to actively drinking outpatients to promote a reduction in harmful alcohol consumption. The primary aim of this pilot study was to determine whether high‐dose gabapentin (3600 mg/daily) is more effective than placebo in reducing harmful alcohol consumption in outpatients with AUD.

Methods

Forty patients (27 men) who met DSM‐IV‐TR criteria for alcohol dependence and reporting at least 4 heavy drinking days (HDD) per week were recruited at a single site. Participants were actively drinking at study entry and received double‐blind gabapentin (3600 mg/day; n = 19) or placebo (n = 20) for 8 weeks. Study medication was titrated over 5 days and administered in three divided doses (1200 mg three times per day). The proportion of HDD (primary outcome) and percent days abstinent (PDA; secondary outcome) were analyzed using generalized longitudinal mixed models with the predictors being study arm, week, study arm by week interaction, and corresponding baseline drinking measure.

Results

There was a significant interaction between study arm and week for the proportion of HDD per week, F (7, 215) = 3.33, p = 0.002 . There was also a significant interaction between study arm and week for PDA per week, F (7, 215) = 3.11, p = 0.004. The overall retention rate was 67.5% with no significant difference in time‐to‐dropout between treatment groups. There were no serious adverse events. No participants were removed from the trial due to the development of moderate‐to‐severe alcohol withdrawal (CIWA‐Ar ≥ 13).

Conclusions

Gabapentin treatment rapidly titrated to a dosage of 3600 mg/day is associated with a reduction in the proportion of HDD per week and an increase in PDA per week in actively drinking outpatients with AUD. High‐dose gabapentin is potentially a feasible approach to treating AUD and deserving of further study.
Potential causal effect of posttraumatic stress disorder on alcohol use disorder and alcohol consumption in individuals of European descent: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Bountress Kaitlin E. , Wendt Frank , Bustamante Daniel , Agrawal Arpana , Webb Bradley , Gillespie Nathan , Edenberg Howard , Sheerin Christina , Johnson Emma ,   The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Working Group, Polimanti Renato , Amstadter Ananda
Published: June 2021

Background

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often co‐occurs with alcohol consumption (AC) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, it is unknown whether the same etiologic influences that underlie PTSD co‐occurring with AUD are those that underlie PTSD and AC individually.

Methods

This study used large‐scale genome‐wide association study (GWAS) data to test whether PTSD and drinks per week [DPW]/AUD are causally related to one another, and, if so, whether PTSD precedes DPW/AUD and/or vice versa. We used Mendelian Randomization methods to analyze European ancestry GWAS summary statistics from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC; PTSD), GWAS & Sequencing Consortium of Alcohol and Nicotine Use (GSCAN; DPW), and the Million Veteran Program (MVP; AUD).

Results

PTSD exerted a potentially causal effect on AUD (β = 0.039, SE = 0.014, p = 0.005), but not on DPW (β = 0.002, SE = 0.003, p = 0.414). Additionally, neither DPW (β = 0.019, SE = 0.041, p = 0.637) nor AUD (β = 8.87 × 10−4, SE = 0.001, p = 0.441) exerted a causal effect on PTSD.

Conclusions

These findings are consistent with the self‐medication model, in which individuals misuse alcohol to cope with aversive trauma‐related symptoms. These findings extend latent analysis and molecular findings of shared and correlated risk between PTSD and alcohol phenotypes. Given the health behaviors associated with these phenotypes, these findings are important in that they suggest groups to prioritize for prevention efforts. Further, they provide a rationale for future preclinical and clinical studies examining the biological mechanisms by which PTSD may impact AUD.