bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The type 2 diabetes factor methylglyoxal mediates axon initial segment shortening and neuronal network activity changes
Authors: Griggs Ryan B. , Nguyen Duc V.M. , Yermakov Leonid M. , Jaber Jeneane M. , Shelby Jennae N. , Steinbrunner Josef K. , Miller John A. , Gonzalez-Islas Carlos , Wenner Peter , Susuki Keiichiro
Published: May 2021

Recent evidence suggests that alteration of axon initial segment (AIS) geometry (i.e., length or position along the axon) contributes to CNS dysfunction in neurological diseases. For example, AIS length is shorter in the prefrontal cortex of type 2 diabetic mice with cognitive impairment. The key type 2 diabetes-related factor that alters AIS geometry is unknown. Here, we tested whether modifying the levels of insulin, glucose, or methylglyoxal, a reactive carbonyl species that is a metabolite of glucose, changes AIS geometry in mature cultures of dissociated postnatal mouse cortex using immunofluorescent imaging of the AIS proteins AnkyrinG and βIV spectrin. Neither insulin nor glucose modification appreciably altered AIS length. Elevation of methylglyoxal produced reversible AIS shortening without cell death. Multi-electrode array recordings revealed a biphasic effect of methylglyoxal on neuronal network activity: an immediate, transient ∼300% increase in spiking and bursting rates was followed by a ∼20% reduction from baseline at 3 h. AIS length was unchanged at 0.5 h or 3 h after adding methylglyoxal, whereas development of AIS shortening at 24 h was associated with restoration of spiking to baseline levels. Immunostaining for the excitatory neuron marker Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II alpha revealed AIS shortening in both excitatory and inhibitory neuron populations. This suggests that complex mechanisms maintain neuronal network operation after acute exposure to the disease metabolite methylglyoxal. Importantly, our results indicate that methylglyoxal could be a key mediator of AIS shortening during type 2 diabetes.

Significance Statement

Small changes in the structure of the axon initial segment affect neuronal function and may be a key mediator of neurological complications in various disease states. However, the specific disease factors that mediate structural changes at the axon initial segment are relatively unknown. This is the first study to show that increase of methylglyoxal is sufficient to reduce axon initial segment length and modulate neuronal network function. Methylglyoxal is a disease factor implicated in a wide variety of conditions including type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and aging. Thus, these findings could significantly impact the understanding of neurological complications in several disease states and are of broad pathophysiological relevance.
The integration of large-scale public data and network analysis uncovers molecular characteristics of psoriasis
Authors: Federico Antonio , Pavel Alisa , Moebus Lena , McKean David , del Giudice Giusy , Fortino Vittorio , Smith Catherine , Weidinger Stephan , de Rinaldis Emanuele , Greco Dario
Published: May 2021

In recent years, a growing interest in the characterization of the molecular basis of psoriasis has been observed. However, despite the availability of a large amount of molecular data, many pathogenic mechanisms of psoriasis are still poorly understood. In this study, we performed an integrated analysis of 23 public transcriptomic datasets encompassing both lesional and uninvolved skin samples from psoriasis patients. We defined comprehensive gene co-expression network models of psoriatic lesions and uninvolved skin. Moreover, we collected, curated and exploited a wide range of functional information from multiple public sources in order to systematically annotate the inferred networks.

The integrated transcriptomics analysis of public datasets shed light on a number of genes which are frequently deregulated in the psoriatic lesion compared with the unaffected skin in a large number of studies. In particular, CRABP2, LCN2, S100A12 and PDZK1IP1 were found to be deregulated in all of the datasets analyzed.

Furthermore, the analysis of co-expression networks highlights genes showing aberrant patterns of connectivity in the lesional network as compared to the network inferred from unaffected skin samples. For instance, we identified co-expression patterns of SERPINB4, KYNU and S100A12 as being the most affected by the disease. Network analysis allowed us to identify YPEL1 and HUS1 as plausible, previously unknown, actors in the expression of the psoriasis phenotype. In addition, by exploiting topological properties of the network models, we highlighted a set of 250 non-deregulated genes, 223 of which have never been associated with the disease before, including CACNA1A, HADH, ATP5MC1 and CBARP among others.

Finally, we characterized specific communities of co-expressed genes sustaining relevant molecular functions and specific immune cell types expression signatures playing a role in the psoriasis lesion. Overall, integrating experimental driven results with curated functional information from public repositories represents an efficient approach to empower knowledge generation about psoriasis and may be applicable to other complex diseases.
Mycobacterium abscessus HelR interacts with RNA Polymerase to confer intrinsic rifamycin resistance
Authors: Hurst-Hess Kelley R. , Saxena Aavrati , Ghosh Pallavi
Published: May 2021

Rifampicin (RIF) constitutes the frontline therapy against M. tuberculosis as well as most slow-growing non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). However, RIF is completely ineffective against M. abscessus despite the absence of mutations in the rifampicin resistance determining region of Mab_rpoB. This has been attributed to the presence of an ADP-ribosyltransferase (Arr) activity that inactivates RIF. Rifabutin (RBT), a close analogue of RIF, has recently been shown to be effective against M. abscessus in vitro and in a mouse model and comprises a promising therapeutic against M. abscessus infections. Using RNA sequencing we show that exposure of M. abscessus to sublethal doses of RIF and RBT results in ∼25-fold upregulation of Mab_helR in laboratory and clinical isolates; an isogenic deletion of Mab_helR is hypersensitive to RIF and RBT, and over-expression of Mab_helR confers RIF tolerance in M. tuberculosis implying that helR constitutes a significant determinant of inducible RIF and RBT resistance. We demonstrate a preferential association of MabHelR with RNA polymerase in vivo in bacteria exposed to RIF and showed that purified MabHelR can rescue transcription inhibition in the presence of RIF in in vitro transcription assays. Furthermore, MabHelR can dissociate RNAP from RIF-stalled initiation complexes in vitro, a species we envisage accumulates upon RIF exposure. Lastly, we show that the tip of the PCh-loop of Mab_helR, in particular residues E496 and D497 that are in proximity to RIF, is critical for conferring RIF resistance without being required for RNAP dissociation from stalled complexes. This suggests that HelR may be additionally involved in displacing RIF bound to RNAP and function as an RNAP protection protein.

Significance Statement

Bacterial RNA polymerase is a target for the potent and broad-spectrum rifamycin group of antibiotics. Mutations within rpoB and inactivation by a diverse group of enzymes constitute the most widespread mechanisms of resistance. Herein we report an unprecedented mechanism of rifamycin resistance in M. abscessus mediated by MabHelR, a putative SF1 like helicase, that involves disassembly of RIF-stalled initiation complexes, likely followed by displacement of the antibiotic, leading to RNAP recycling. The mechanism is reminiscent of the role of HflX and ribosome protection proteins in resistance to ribosome targeting antibiotics and suggests that removal of stalled macromolecular complexes and their recycling comprises a widespread but underappreciated mechanism of antibiotic resistance. Rifampicin (RIF) is pivotal in the control of M. tuberculosis infections but ineffective against M. abscessus. Identification of inducible rifamycin resistance determinants in M. abscessus is therefore particularly crucial for informing treatment strategies and development of novel therapeutic approaches.
mRNA-decapping associated DcpS enzyme controls critical steps of neuronal development
Authors: Salamon Iva , Palsule Geeta , Luo Xiaobing , Roque Alfonso , Tucai Shawn , Khosla Ishan , Volk Nicole , Liu Wendy , Cui Huijuan , Dal Pozzo Valentina , Zalamea Petronio , Jiao Xinfu , D’Arcangelo Gabriella , Hart Ronald P , Rasin Mladen-Roko , Kiledjian Megerditch
Published: May 2021

Homozygous mutations in the gene encoding the scavenger mRNA-decapping enzyme, DcpS, have been shown to underlie developmental delay and intellectual disability. Intellectual disability is associated with both abnormal neocortical development and mRNA metabolism. However, the role of DcpS and its scavenger decapping activity in neuronal development is unknown. Here, we show that human neurons derived from patients with a DcpS mutation have compromised differentiation and neurite outgrowth. Moreover, in the developing mouse neocortex, DcpS is required for the radial migration, polarity, neurite outgrowth and identity of developing glutamatergic neurons. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that the scavenger mRNA decapping activity contributes to multiple pivotal roles in neural development, and further corroborate that mRNA metabolism and neocortical pathologies are associated with intellectual disability.
Cortical alpha-synuclein preformed fibrils do not affect interval timing in mice
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Abdelmotilib Hisham , Larson Travis , Keomanivong Cameron , Conlon Mackenzie , Aldridge Georgina M. , Narayanan Nandakumar S.
Published: May 2021

One hallmark feature of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is Lewy body pathology associated with misfolded alpha-synuclein. Previous studies have shown that striatal injection of alpha-synuclein preformed fibrils (PFF) can induce misfolding and aggregation of native alpha-synuclein in a prion-like manner, leading to cell death and motor dysfunction in mouse models. Here, we tested whether alpha-synuclein PFFs injected into the medial prefrontal cortex results in cognitive deficits in mouse models as measured by interval timing, which is reliably disrupted in PD patients and in rodent models. We injected human alpha-synuclein PFF or monomers in the medial prefrontal cortex pre-injected with adeno-associated virus (AAV) overexpressing human alpha-synuclein. Despite notable medial prefrontal cortical synucleinopathy, we did not observe consistent deficits in fixed-interval timing. These results suggest that cortical alpha-synuclein does not reliably disrupt interval timing in rodent models.

Highlights

Cortical injection of alpha-synuclein preformed fibrils (PFF) induces diffuse synucleinopathy

Cortical injection of PFFs does not affect interval timing in mice

Medial prefrontal cortical synucleinopathy does not reliably disrupt interval timing
Absence of muricholic acid due to Cyp2c-deficiency protects against high fat diet-induced obesity in male mice but promotes liver damage
Authors: Oteng Antwi-Boasiako , Higuchi Sei , Banks Alexander S. , Haeusler Rebecca A.
Published: May 2021

Objective

Murine-specific muricholic acids (MCAs) are reported to protect against obesity and associated metabolic disorders. However, the response of mice with genetic depletion of MCA to an obesogenic diet has not been evaluated. We used Cyp2c-deficient (Cyp2c−/−) mice, which lack MCAs and thus have a human-like bile acid (BA) profile, to directly investigate the potential role of MCAs in diet-induced obesity.

Methods

Male and female Cyp2c−/− mice and wild-type controls were fed a standard chow diet or a high fat diet (HFD) for 18 weeks. We measured BA composition from a pool of liver, gallbladder, and intestine, as well as weekly body weight, food intake, lean and fat mass, systemic glucose homeostasis, energy expenditure, intestinal lipid absorption, fecal lipid, and energy content.

Results

Cyp2c deficiency depleted MCAs and caused other changes in BA composition, namely a decrease in the ratio of 12α-hydroxylated (12α-OH) BAs to non-12α-OH BAs, without altering the total BA levels. While wild-type male mice became obese after HFD-feeding, Cyp2c−/− male mice were protected from obesity and associated metabolic dysfunctions. Cyp2c−/− male mice also showed reduced intestinal lipid absorption and increased lipid excretion, which was reversed by oral gavage with the 12α-OH BA, taurocholic acid. Cyp2c−/− mice also showed increased liver damage, which appeared stronger in females.

Conclusion

MCA does not protect against diet-induced obesity but may protect against liver injury. Reduced lipid absorption in Cyp2c-deficient male mice is potentially due to a reduced ratio of 12α-OH/non-12α-OH BAs.
HelR is a helicase-like protein that protects RNA polymerase from rifamycin antibiotics
Authors: Surette Matthew D. , Waglechner Nick , Koteva Kalinka , Wright Gerard D.
Published: May 2021

Rifamycin antibiotics such as rifampin are widely used for the management of tuberculosis and other bacterial infections. These drugs inhibit prokaryotic RNA polymerase (RNAP) by preventing elongation of mRNA resulting in cell death. Rifamycin resistance in the clinic is manifested primarily through amino acid substitutions in RNAP that decrease target affinity for the antibiotics. In contrast, environmental bacteria possess a wide variety of highly specific rifamycin enzyme-mediated resistance mechanisms that modify and inactivate the antibiotics by glycosylation, phosphorylation, ADP-ribosylation, or hydroxylation. Expression of rifamycin resistance is controlled by a common 19bp cis-acting rifamycin associated element (RAE) upstream of inactivating genes. Guided by the presence of RAE sequences, we identify an unprecedented ATP-dependent mechanism of rifamycin resistance that acts not by antibiotic inactivation but by protecting the RNAP target. We show that Streptomyces venezuelae encodes a helicase-like protein, HelR, which confers broad spectrum rifamycin resistance. Furthermore, HelR is essential for promoting rifamycin tolerance at inhibitory concentrations, enabling bacterial evasion of the toxic properties of these antibiotics. HelR forms a complex with RNAP in vivo and rescues transcription inhibition by rifampin in vitro. We synthesized a rifamycin photoprobe and demonstrated that HelR directly displaces rifamycins from RNAP. HelR-encoding genes associated with RAEs are broadly distributed in actinobacteria, including many opportunistic Mycobacterial pathogens, which cannot currently be treated with rifamycins. This first report of an RNAP protection protein conferring antibiotic resistance and offers guidance for developing new rifamycin antibiotics that can avoid this mechanism.
Expanding the Potential Genes of Inborn Errors of Immunity through Protein Interactions
Authors: Khan Humza A. , Butte Manish J.
Published: May 2021

Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are a group of genetic disorders that impair the immune system, with over 400 genes described so far, and hundreds more to be discovered. To facilitate the search for new genes, we need a way to prioritize among all the genes in the genome those most likely to play an important role in immunity. Here we identify a new list of genes by linking known IEI genes to new ones by using open-source databases of protein-protein interactions, post-translational modifications, and transcriptional regulation. We analyze this new set of 2,530 IEI-related genes for their tolerance of genetic variation and by their expression levels in various immune cell types.
Phyllosphere-inhabiting endophytic bacteria feature a stationary phase-like lifestyle
Authors: Velásquez André C. , Huguet-Tapia José C. , He Sheng Yang
Published: May 2021

Plants are in constant association with a variety of microbes, and although much is known about how symbiotic and pathogenic microbes interact with plants, less is known about the population dynamics, adaptive traits, and transcriptional features of endophytic commensal microbes that live inside leaves. In this study, we evaluated the long-term population and transcriptional dynamics of two bacterial microbiota endophytes and compared them to those of a commensal-simulating non-pathogenic mutant of the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. We found that population densities of all three endophytic phyllosphere bacteria remained static over a long period of time, which was caused by a continual equilibrium between bacterial multiplication and death, as evidenced by treatment of plants with antibiotics that only targeted dividing bacteria or by in planta visualization of bacteria carrying a fluorescent division reporter. Population stasis could not be explained by a lack of resources, as Arabidopsis leaves could support population densities up to 100 times higher than the normal microbiota populations, nor was population stasis reversed by significantly quenching PAMP-triggered immunity. Long-term temporal in planta transcriptomic analysis of these three bacterial endophytes revealed up-regulation of protein translation, the generation of energy, and the response to stress, and interestingly, for the microbiota strains, the longer the bacteria remained inside plants, the greater the up-regulation of some of these processes. Further transcriptomic analysis of in planta populations of commensal-simulating Pseudomonas syringae revealed a remarkable resemblance to those of in vitro bacteria in stationary phase, a metabolically active physiological state in which the production of secondary metabolites and stress responses are induced. This study provides novel insight into how endophytic bacteria survive and thrive inside plant leaves, and reshapes our current understanding of what it means to be part of the endophytic microbiota in the phyllosphere.
Prodromal dysfunction of α5GABA-A receptor modulated hippocampal ripples in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Ratner Marcia H. , Downing Scott S. , Guo Ouyang , Odamah KathrynAnn E. , Stewart Tara M. , Kumaresan Vidhya , Robitsek R. Jonathan , Xia Weiming , Farb David H.
Published: May 2021

Decades of research attempting to slow the onset of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) indicates that a better understanding of memory will be key to the discovery of effective therapeutic approaches. Here, we ask whether prodromal neural network dysfunction might occur in the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit by using α5IA as a selective negative modulator of extrasynaptic α5GABA-A receptors in TgF344-AD transgenic rats, a model for early onset AD. The results demonstrate that orally bioavailable α5IA, an established memory enhancer, increases CA1 pyramidal cell mean firing rates and peak CA1 ripple amplitude during wakeful immobility in wild type F344 rats resting in a familiar environment. We show that TgF344-AD rats, which express human amyloid-beta precursor protein (with the Swedish mutation) and human presenilin-1 (with a Δ exon 9 mutation), exhibit high serum Aβ42 and Aβ40 levels by 3 months of age. By 9 months of age, CA1 ripples in young adult TgF344-AD rats are nonresponsive to α5IA indicating network dysfunction prior to the onset of AD pathology and memory dysfunction. These results demonstrate, to the best of our knowledge, the first evidence for prodromal α5GABA-A receptor dysfunction in the AD hippocampal trisynaptic circuit. Moreover, as α5GABA-A receptors are located extrasynaptically and subserve the function of tonic inhibition we posit that an early stage of memory dysfunction involves the disruption of tonic inhibition in the hippocampus.
Multi-resolution deconvolution of spatial transcriptomics data reveals continuous patterns of inflammation
Authors: Lopez Romain , Li Baoguo , Keren-Shaul Hadas , Boyeau Pierre , Kedmi Merav , Pilzer David , Jelinski Adam , David Eyal , Wagner Allon , Addad Yoseph , Jordan Michael I. , Amit Ido , Yosef Nir
Published: May 2021

The function of mammalian cells is largely influenced by their tissue microenvironment. Advances in spatial transcriptomics open the way for studying these important determinants of cellular function by enabling a transcriptome-wide evaluation of gene expressionin situ. A critical limitation of the current technologies, however, is that their resolution is limited to niches (spots) of sizes well beyond that of a single cell, thus providing measurements for cell aggregates which may mask critical interactions between neighboring cells of different types. While joint analysis with single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) can be leveraged to alleviate this problem, current analyses are limited to a discrete view of cell type proportion inside every spot. This limitation becomes critical in the common case where, even within a cell type, there is a continuum of cell states that cannot be clearly demarcated but reflects important differences in the way cells function and interact with their surroundings. To address this, we developed Deconvolution of Spatial Transcriptomics profiles using Variational Inference (DestVI), a probabilistic method for multi-resolution analysis for spatial transcriptomics that explicitly models continuous variation within cell types. Using simulations, we demonstrate that DestVI is capable of providing higher resolution compared to the existing methods and that it can estimate gene expression by every cell type inside every spot. We then introduce an automated pipeline that uses DestVI for analysis of single tissue slices and comparison between tissues. We apply this pipeline to study the immune crosstalk within lymph nodes to infection and explore the spatial organization of a mouse tumor model. In both cases, we demonstrate that DestVI can provide a high resolution and accurate spatial characterization of the cellular organization of these tissues, and that it is capable of identifying important cell-type-specific changes in gene expression - between different tissue regions or between conditions. DestVI is available as an open-source software package in the scvi-tools codebase (https://scvi-tools.org).
Exosomal transmission of α-synuclein initiates Parkinson’s disease-like pathology
Authors: Howitt Jason , Low Ley Hian , Bouman Michelle , Yang Jeremy , Gordon Sarah , Hill Andrew , Tan Seong-Seng
Published: May 2021

The intercellular transmission of α-synuclein is proposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD)1. Supporting this transmission hypothesis, α-synuclein has been identified to act as a prion2 and has been found in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood, and saliva3. However, the mechanism required to initiate the pathogenic spread of α-synuclein in the body that results in PD remains unclear. Here we identify a mechanism for the loading of α-synuclein into exosomes, resulting in prion-like transmission that is mediated by the ubiquitin ligase activator, Ndfip1. Risk factors associated with PD, including metal toxicity, lysosome dysfunction and pesticide exposure,4 stimulate the upregulation of Ndfip1 and increase the loading of α-synuclein into exosomes. We used this pathway to promote the loading of endogenous α-synuclein into exosomes, that when intranasally delivered to either wild type or M83 transgenic mice, resulted in Parkinson’s-like pathology including motor impairments and brain amyloids. Recipient cells require α-synuclein for pathogenesis, as delivery of exosomes containing α-synuclein to Snca knockout mice did not generate brain amyloids or Parkinson’s-like motor impairments. Our results demonstrate a novel mechanism to initiate the prion-like spread of α-synuclein in exosomes, following exposure to risk factors for PD.
Mechanism of molnupiravir-induced SARS-CoV-2 mutagenesis
Authors: Kabinger Florian , Stiller Carina , Schmitzová Jana , Dienemann Christian , Hillen Hauke S. , Höbartner Claudia , Cramer Patrick
Published: May 2021

Molnupiravir is an orally available antiviral drug candidate that is in phase III trials for the treatment of COVID-19 patients1,2. Molnupiravir increases the frequency of viral RNA mutations3,4 and impairs SARS-CoV-2 replication in animal models4-6 and in patients2. Here we establish the molecular mechanisms that underlie molnupiravir-induced RNA mutagenesis by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Biochemical assays show that the RdRp readily uses the active form of molnupiravir, β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) triphosphate, as a substrate instead of CTP or UTP. Incorporation of NHC monophosphate into nascent RNA does not impair further RdRp progression. When the RdRp uses the resulting RNA as a template, NHC directs incorporation of either G or A, leading to mutated RNA products. Structural analysis of RdRp-RNA complexes containing mutagenesis products shows that NHC can form stable base pairs with either G or A in the RdRp active center, explaining how the polymerase escapes proofreading and synthesizes mutated RNA. This two-step mutagenesis mechanism likely applies to various viral polymerases and can explain the broad-spectrum antiviral activity of molnupiravir.
Crystal structure of 4-(anthracen-9-yl)pyridine
Authors: Zhao Meng , Zhang Gang , Zhang Jingmiao , Huang Shan , Liu Xiuxia , Li Fei
Published: May 2021

The title compound, C19H13N, which crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/c space group with one half-molecule in the asymmetric unit, was synthesized by Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of 9-bromoanthracene with pyridin-4-ylboronic acid and purified by column chromatography on silica gel. Light-yellow crystals of 4-(anthracen-9-yl)-pyridine suitable for X-ray diffraction were collected by the solvent evaporation method. In the crystal, pairs of molecules are connected by intermolecular C—H...π (pyridine) interactions [d(H7...Cg) = 2.7391 (2) Å], forming cyclic centrosymmetric dimers, further resulting in an infinite one-dimensional linear chain along the c-axis direction. Weak face-to-face π–π stacking interactions [d(Cg...Cg) = 3.6061 (2) Å] link neighboring lamellar networks into the supramolecular structure.
Educators' self-esteem: the effect of perceived occupational stress and the role of organizational support
Authors: Masoom Muhammad Rehan
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This research investigates the mediation effect of perceived organizational support on the relationship between organization-based self-esteem and perceived occupational stress of teachers.

Design/methodology/approach

The present quantitative venture follows a causal research design to unveil the relationship among organization based self-esteem (independent variable), perceived occupational stress (dependent variable) and perceived organizational support (intervening variable). The research surveys 813 educators from nineteen selected distinct areas of Dhaka city; the survey instrument has twenty-six items apart from some general inquires about the respondents. To address the dynamic interplay among these variables, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is conducted within a structural equation modeling (SEM) framework.

Findings

Teachers with low self-esteem perceived a high level of occupational stress, whereas teachers who perceived high organizational support feel low occupational stress. Increasing organizational support not only increases organization-based self-esteem but also mediates the relationship between self-esteem and occupational stress.

Practical implications

Teachers' stress is not only an increasing problem over the years but also it was one of the top six most stressful professions. The present study outlines the possible organizational initiatives that can reduce the stresses of the teaching profession.

Originality/value

The findings of the present study square with several theoretical frameworks such as the job demands–resources (JD–R) model and conservation of resources (COR) theory. The results highlight the fact that allowing school teachers to express their ideas and points of view makes them feel esteemed. Likewise, good relations with the school head and getting positive feedback are found to be contributing factors. The teachers feel lesson planning overburdensome and undue office inspections hurt their self-esteem. Any school can increase the self-esteem of the teachers by providing support and training to adjust to changes.
The use of m-government applications: empirical evidence from the smartest cities of Brazil
Authors: de Oliveira Malaquias Fernanda Francielle , da Silva Júnior Romes Jorge
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the use of m-government applications for public services providing in Brazil. As a secondary objective, the paper aims to analyze the relationship between the use of m-government applications and development.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the objective of this research, the 100 smartest cities of Brazil were selected and the mobile apps provided by their local governments were identified. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were adopted, including content analysis technique, chi-square test and regression analysis.

Findings

The results show that mobile apps developed by local governments of Brazilian smart cities include information and public services access, health, education, security, tourism, water supply system, environment, among others. The results also show a positive relationship between apps downloads and development indexes.

Social implications

This paper emphasizes the social side of information technology, showing that it can contribute to the implementation of more inclusive cities that respond to the needs and interests of their citizens.

Originality/value

This paper presents empirical evidences of the potential benefits of m-government technologies for development in an emerging country. Moreover, it highlights how mobile applications developed by local governments may lead to a better quality of life of the population, considering a comprehensive approach of development that involves its economic, social and human dimensions.
Transcoding authenticity: preserving unreleased gaming software outside of memory institutions
Authors: Hodges James A.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to introduce new criteria for evaluating authenticity in digital preservation, particularly in cases related to unreleased software projects and preservation work that occurs in non-institutional settings.

Design/methodology/approach

Interpretive visual and formal analysis of image files is performed on three overlapping preservation efforts to understand the ways that self-appointed preservationists reframe content in varied settings. The unreleased mid-1990s console game Sonic X-Treme is used as a case study because assets from the development process have been widely preserved among former developers and enthusiasts alike.

Findings

The findings indicate that non-professional preservationists transcode original production files into a variety of formats, ranging from lossy compressed images to contemporary three-dimensional (3D) modeling files. Materials are presented in settings that range from colorful webpages mimicking the appearance of commercial software to browsable file systems. These results show that non-institutional preservation practices embody notions of authenticity that diverge significantly from those of professional archivists.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited by its focus on a single case study, but helps to facilitate ongoing research concerning preservation of unreleased projects insofar as it surveys the current status of existing projects.

Originality/value

Existing studies within preservation literature have established the need for increased attention paid to unfinished digital works. This study introduces new data and interpretative findings that outline such preservation efforts as they already occur in non-institutional settings.
Self-injurious behaviour in forensic mental health care: a study into the prevalence and characteristics of incidents of self-injury
Authors: de Vogel Vivienne , Verstegen Nienke
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Incidents of self-injury by forensic psychiatric patients often have a deleterious impact on all those involved. Moreover, self-injurious behaviour is an important predictor for violence towards others during treatment. The aim of this study is to analyse methods and severity of incidents of self-injury of patients admitted to forensic psychiatry, as well as the diagnoses of self-injuring patients.

Design/methodology/approach

All incidents of self-injury during treatment in a forensic psychiatric centre recorded between 2008 and 2019 were analysed and the severity was coded with the modified observed aggression scale+ (MOAS+).

Findings

In this period, 299 incidents of self-injury were recorded, displayed by 106 patients. Most of these incidents (87.6%) were classified as non-suicidal. Methods most often used were skin cutting with glass, broken plates, a razor or knife and swallowing dangerous objects or liquids. Ten patients died by suicide, almost all by suffocation with a rope or belt. The majority of the incidents was coded as severe or extreme with the MOAS+. Female patients were overrepresented and they caused on average three times more incidents than male patients.

Practical implications

More attention is warranted for self-injurious behaviour during forensic treatment considering the distressing consequences for both patients themselves, supervisors and witnesses. Adequate screening for risk of self-injurious behaviour could help to prevent this behaviour. Further research is needed in different forensic settings into predictors of self-injurious behaviour, more specifically, if there are distinct predictors for aggression to others versus to the self.

Originality/value

Incidents of self-injury occur with some regularity in forensic mental health care and are usually classified as severe. The impact of suicide (attempts) and incidents of self-injurious behaviour on all those involved can be enormous. More research is needed into the impact on all those involved, motivations, precipitants and functions of self-injurious behaviour and effective treatment of it.
Development of multi-component counseling program for enhancing resilience among Thai caregivers of older persons with dementia
Authors: Maneewat Thidajit , Lertmaharit Somrat , Tangwongchai Sookjaroen , Phansuea Phenphop
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to develop a multi-component counseling program and examine the short-term effects of an 8-session program.

Design/methodology/approach

This present study was a research and development of a multi-component counseling program for enhancing resilience. The concept of resilience was reviewed based on a synthesis of existing research, together with an exploration of qualitative data derived from an interview with ten caregivers of older persons with dementia. Six domains of resilience were identified: physical, relationships, emotional, moral, cognitive and spiritual; which were then used to develop the eight-week program. The program was examined by a panel of three experts for content validity, which yielded an index of 0.87. The program was then tried out with 60 caregivers recruited and assigned 30 caregivers in the intervention and control group. The Caregiver’s Resilience Scale (CRS) was used by trained nurses to evaluate the program and data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA.

Findings

The results indicated that the resilience scores of the participants in the intervention group were statistically significantly higher than those of the control group at one month after program participation and at the follow-up three months later (p < 0.05).

Originality/value

It could be concluded that the program yielded support for the evidence-based practice of non-pharmacological intervention. The program would be suitable as a clinical practice guideline to provide help to caregivers of older persons with dementia at the outpatient setting.
Significant governance factors in PPP infrastructure delivery performance in Ghana
Authors: Kwofie Titus Ebenezer , Ellis Florence Yaa Akyiaa , Opoku Desmond
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Inefficiencies in public-private partnership (PPP) has been attributed to deficient and poor governance practices and structures. It has been recognized that a veritable way to achieve efficiency in PPP governance is through gaining an understanding of the theoretical, practical and contextual factors that underline governance practices in PPP project delivery. The purpose of this study is to explore the significant governance factors in PPP project performance and delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a questionnaire survey on major players in PPPs in policy, research, consultancy and professionals, the study sought to delineate the significant governance factors that impact PPP project delivery performance.

Findings

A step-wise multiple regression analysis revealed effective communication and openness in sharing project information systems, competent, responsible and effective project leadership, trust-building processes, systems and practices, best practice organizational and team norms, team culture, cohesion practices, effective relationship management practices, robust policy diffusion and transfer processes, friendly business environment and government support and contractual and renegotiation flexibility as the key contractual and non-contractual governance factors that can predict about 79% level of PPP project delivery performance.

Social implications

The findings offer support to improve PPP delivery in governance.

Originality/value

These findings are, thus, useful toward evolving regulatory quality governance mechanisms, flexible supervision and quality decisions that can enhance value for money in PPP projects in PPP project delivery.
Special review: Mechanical investigation on failure modes of reticular porous metal foams under different loadings in engineering applications
Authors: Liu P.S. , Ma X.M.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a summarization and review of the present author's main investigations on failure modes of reticular metal foams under different loadings in engineering applications.

Design/methodology/approach

With the octahedral structure model proposed by the present authors themselves, the fundamentally mechanical relations have been systematically studied for reticular metal foams with open cells in their previous works. On this basis, such model theory is continually used to investigate the failure mode of this kind of porous materials under compression, bending, torsion and shearing, which are common loading forms in engineering applications.

Findings

The pore-strut of metal foams under different compressive loadings will fail in the tensile breaking mode when it is brittle. While it is ductile, it will tend to the shearing failure mode when the shearing strength is half or nearly half of the tensile strength for the corresponding dense material and to the tensile breaking mode when the shearing strength is higher than half of the tensile strength to a certain value. The failure modes of such porous materials under bending, torsional and shearing loads are also similarly related to their material species.

Originality/value

This paper presents a distinctive method to conveniently analyze and estimate the failure mode of metal foams under different loadings in engineering applications.
Repairing political trust in Tunisia
Authors: Sghaier Malek , Skandrani Hamida , Robson Julie
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This study aims to identify the responses required to repair political trust in Tunisia and the differences between two key stakeholder groups, namely, politicians and voters.

Design/methodology/approach

A sequential mixed method study was adopted using two data sources: semi-structured interviews conducted with citizens and politicians; and media data from TV political talk shows. Data was collected over a three-year period following several key events that affected trust.

Findings

New responses were identified to repair political trust, and these were categorized using a trust repair framework. In addition to short- and long-term responses, a new category, swift response, was identified to resolve immediate political uncertainty. The role of the trustor (i.e. voters) in actively restoring trust was identified for the first time.

Research limitations/implications

This study focussed on trust repair responses suggested by voters and politicians and not necessarily responses that were implemented by government or political parties during the period of study. The effectiveness of the suggested responses in repairing trust was not evaluated.

Practical implications

Identification of the responses required to repair trust with voters, how these differ over time, and according to different trust violations will help Tunisian politicians rebuild trust more effectively during election and non-election periods. Notably, differences highlighted between the responses suggested by voters and politicians suggest that politicians may not understand how to repair voter trust.

Originality/value

Contrary to previous studies that assume a trustor (the voter) is a passive observer, this research identified the proactive role that citizens play in the trust repair process.
Sovereign credit ratings, relative risk ratings and private capital flows: evidence from emerging and frontier markets
Authors: De Supriyo , Mohapatra Sanket , Ratha Dilip
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Relative risk ratings measure the degree by which a country’s sovereign rating is better or worse than other countries (Basu et al., 2013). However, the literature on the impacts of sovereign ratings on capital flows has not covered the role of relative risk ratings. This paper aims to examine the effect of relative risk ratings on private capital flows to emerging and frontier market economies is filled. In the analysis, the effect of relative risk ratings to that of absolute sovereign ratings in influencing private capital flows are compared.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper examines the influence of sovereign credit ratings and relative risk ratings on private capital flows to 26 emerging and frontier market economies using quarterly data for a 20-year period between 1998 and 2017. A dynamic panel regression model is used to estimate the relationship between ratings and capital flows after controlling for other factors that can influence capital flows such as growth and interest rate differentials and global risk conditions.

Findings

The analysis finds that while absolute sovereign credit ratings were an important determinant of net capital inflows prior to the global financial crisis in 2008, the influence of relative risk ratings increased in the post-crisis period. The post-crisis effect of relative ratings appears to be driven mostly by portfolio flows. The main results are robust to an alternate measure of capital flows (gross capital flows instead of net capital flows), to the use of fixed gross domestic product weights in calculating relative risk ratings and to the potential endogeneity of absolute and relative ratings.

Originality/value

This study advances the literature on being the first attempt to understand the impact of relative risk ratings on capital flows and also comparing the impact of absolute sovereign ratings and relative risk ratings on capital flows in the pre- and post-global financial crisis periods. The findings imply that emerging and frontier markets need to pay greater attention to their relative economic performance and not just their sovereign ratings.
Tax aggressiveness and sustainable welfare: the roles of corruption and tax allocation inefficiency
Authors: Rudyanto Astrid , Utama Sidharta , Martani Dwi , Adhariani Desi
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the roles of corruption and tax allocation inefficiency in moderating the effect of tax aggressiveness on sustainable welfare.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses a fixed-effect multiple regression analysis for 55,438 firm-year observations covering 22 countries from 2007 to 2017.

Findings

For less (more) tax-aggressive observations, corruption and tax allocation inefficiency strengthen the negative (positive) effect of tax aggressiveness on sustainable welfare. The results are in line with public choice and functionalism theories that suggest that private investments can increase welfare when governments are dysfunctional.

Practical implications

This paper shows that the effect of tax aggressiveness on sustainable welfare depends on tax aggressiveness, corruption and tax allocation inefficiency.

Social implications

This paper implies that governments should reduce their corruption levels and increase tax allocation efficiency because private investments are ineffective in the long run.

Originality/value

Because of increasing awareness of sustainability issue, sustainable welfare is considered more relevant than traditional welfare. Hence, empirical studies on the effect of tax aggressiveness on sustainable welfare are crucial. This paper adds the literature by combining public choice and functionalism theories to investigate the moderating roles of corruption and tax allocation inefficiency in this issue.
Urbanism as a political way of life: the case of highly educated mainlanders in Hong Kong
Authors: Ip Iam Chong
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The disengaged form of urban experience, addressed by Louis Wirth in his classic essay, is worthy of further theorization and contextualization. The themes such as indifference, alienation, and disengagement, once the focus of early urban theorists, remain underdeveloped in contemporary China. Through the case study of gangpiao (“Hong Kong drifters”), the highly educated youth from mainland China to Hong Kong, this paper aims to offer an apt and logical illustration of how a disengaged form of urban experience is contingently made.

Design/methodology/approach

Between 2017 and 2020, the author and his assistants interviewed 50 mainland Chinese youth, aged between 25 and 35, in Hong Kong and explored how they perceive, conceive and relate themselves to the city.

Findings

Most informants, instead of devoting themselves to the local community life, embrace a way of life characterized by impersonal, superficial and transitory contacts. The author argues that their feeling of estrangement and indifference, rather than a “natural” outcome of economic progress, is an ethos primarily nurtured by China’s governing strategy and tactics of segregation. The transnational space of gangpiao is a part of the process of reproduction of the Chinese state across territories.

Originality/value

Except for a very limited number of studies, most scholars and critics barely examine the responsibilities of non-state actors for the dominant project of urbanism. The themes such as indifference, alienation and disengagement, once the focus of early urban theorists, remain underdeveloped in the new era of Chinese urban culture. In other words, more scholarly attention should be paid to the circumstances under which people disregard local differences and envision and embrace a “generic” form of city and way of urban life.