bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Meiosis in the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus has the highest known number of crossovers
Authors: Auxier Ben , Becker Frank , Nijland Reindert , Debets Alfons J. M. , van den Heuvel Joost , Snelders Eveline
Published: January 2022

Evidence from both population genetics and a laboratory sexual cycle indicate that sex is common in the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. However, the impact of sexual reproduction has remained unclear. Here, we show that meiosis in A. fumigatus involves the highest known recombination rate, producing ~29 crossovers per chromosome. This represents the highest known crossover rate for any Eukaryotic species. We validate this recombination rate by mapping resistance to acriflavine, a common genetic marker. We further show that this recombination rate can produce the commonly encountered TR34/L98H azole-resistant cyp51A haplotype in each sexual event, facilitating its rapid and global spread. Understanding the consequences of this unparalleled crossover rate will not only enrich our genetic understanding of this emergent human pathogen, but of meiosis in general.

One-Sentence Summary

Genetic exchange between chromosomes during sex in Aspergillus fumigatus is higher than in any other known organism.
The C terminus of the mycobacterium ESX-1 secretion system substrate ESAT-6 is required for phagosomal membrane damage and virulence
Authors: Osman Morwan M. , Shanahan Jonathan K. , Chu Frances , Takaki Kevin K. , Pinckert Malte L. , Pagán Antonio J. , Brosch Roland , Conrad William H. , Ramakrishnan Lalita
Published: January 2022

Mycobacterium tuberculosisand its close relativeMycobacterium marinuminfect macrophages and induce the formation of granulomas, organized macrophage-rich immune aggregates. These mycobacterial pathogens can accelerate and co-opt granuloma formation for their benefit, using the specialized secretion system ESX-1, a key virulence determinant. ESX-1-mediated virulence is attributed to the damage it causes to the membranes of macrophage phagosomal compartments, within which the bacteria reside. This phagosomal damage, in turn, has been attributed to the membranolytic activity of ESAT-6, the major secreted substrate of ESX-1. However, mutations that perturb ESAT- 6’s membranolytic activity often result in global impairment of ESX-1 secretion. This has precluded an understanding of the causal and mechanistic relationships between ESAT-6 membranolysis and ESX-1-mediated virulence. Here, we identify two conserved residues in the unstructured C-terminal tail of ESAT-6 required for phagosomal damage, granuloma formation and virulence. Importantly, these ESAT-6 mutants have near- normal levels of secretion, far higher than the minimal threshold we establish is needed for ESX-1-mediated virulence early in infection. Unexpectedly, these loss-of-function ESAT-6 mutants retain the ability to lyse acidified liposomes. Thus, ESAT-6’s virulence functionsin vivocan be uncoupled from thisin vitrosurrogate assay. These uncoupling mutants highlight an enigmatic functional domain of ESAT-6 and provide key tools to investigate the mechanism of phagosomal damage and virulence.

Significance Statement

Tuberculosis (TB), an ancient disease of humanity, continues to be a major cause of worldwide death. The causative agent of TB,Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and its close pathogenic relativeMycobacterium marinum, initially infect, evade, and exploit macrophages, a major host defense against invading pathogens. Within macrophages, mycobacteria reside within host membrane-bound compartments called phagosomes.

Mycobacterium-induced damage of the phagosomal membranes is integral to pathogenesis, and this activity has been attributed the specialized mycobacterial secretion system ESX-1, and particularly to ESAT-6, its major secreted protein. Here, we show that the integrity of the unstructured ESAT-6 C-terminus is required for macrophage phagosomal damage, granuloma formation, and virulence.
TGF-β-R2 is required for HBP induced acute lung injury and vascular leakage for TGF-β/Smad/Rho signaling pathway activation
Authors: Liu Zixuan , Chen Mingming , Sun Yini , Li Xu , Cao Liu , Ma Xiaochun
Published: January 2022

Heparin-binding protein (HBP), as a granule protein secreted by polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) participates in the pathophysiological process of sepsis. It has been reported that HBP is a biomarker of sepsis, which is related to the severity of septic shock and organ dysfunction. HBP binds to vascular endothelial cells as one of the primary target sites. However, it is still unclear whether HBP-binding protein receptors exist on the surface of ECs. The effect of HBP on vascular permeability in sepsis and its mechanism needs to be explored. We conducted in vivo and in vitro study. We demonstrated that HBP bound to transforming growth factor-β receptor type 2 (TGF-β-R2) as a ligand. GST pull-down analysis reveals that HBP mainly interacts with the extracellular domain of TGF-β-R2. HBP induced acute lung injury (ALI) and vascular leakage via activation of TGF-β/SMAD2/3 signaling pathway. Permeability assay suggests TGF-β-R2 is necessary for HBP-induced increased permeability. We also defined the role of HBP and its potential membrane receptor TGF-β-R2 in the blood-gas barrier in the pathogenesis of HBP-related ALI.
PRACTICE OF EARLY BREASTFEEDING INITIATION ON PRIMIGRAVIDA WITH A CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Authors: Dewi Tarini Ni Wayan , Rumambo Pandin Moses Glorino
Published: January 2022

One of the health aspects in the development process is the development of human resource potential (HR). What plays a role in this potential of human resources is good nutritional status from an early age. In addition to these factors, the quality of human resource formation is also influenced by the environment that shapes human character. namely the socio-cultural environment (Soekirman, 2005). One of the cultural interactions that affect nutritional status as a condition for the formation of quality human resources is the practice of breastfeeding and the practice of early breastfeeding initiation (IMD). There have been many previous studies that have written that there are still many mothers who do not practice IMD, where one of the reasons mentioned is the belief that the first milk that comes out is dirty and unhealthy, so it is not suitable to be given to babies (Roesli, 2008). The purpose of this literature study is to determine the influence of culture in the practice of early breastfeeding initiation.

The articles used in the literature review were obtained through databases of international journal providers such as Proquest, Google Scholar and Science Direct. The journal was taken from 2019 to 2021. Researchers used keywords, namely transcultural nursing, breastfeeding (according to MESH/Medical Subject Heading) and 20 articles were analyzed using PRISMA diagrams. The analysis found that most mothers did not practice early breastfeeding because of certain beliefs about early breastfeeding, such as early breastfeeding was not as good as exclusive breastfeeding, dirty early breast milk, unhealthy early breastfeeding given to babies and the habit of mothers who immediately gave additional food immediately. after the baby is born.
Modulating CRISPR-Cas genome editing using guide-complementary DNA oligonucleotides
Authors: Swartjes Thomas , Shang Peng , van den Berg Dennis , Künne Tim A. , Geijsen Niels , Brouns Stan J.J. , van der Oost John , Staals Raymond H.J. , Notebaart Richard A.
Published: January 2022

CRISPR-Cas has revolutionized genome editing and has a great potential for applications, such as correcting human genetic disorders. To increase the safety of genome editing applications, CRISPR-Cas may benefit from strict control over Cas enzyme activity. Previously, anti-CRISPR proteins and designed oligonucleotides have been proposed to modulate CRISPR-Cas activity. Here we report on the potential of guide-complementary DNA oligonucleotides as controlled inhibitors of Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complexes. First, we show that DNA oligonucleotides down-regulate Cas9 activity in human cells, reducing both on and off-target cleavage. We then used in vitro assays to better understand how inhibition is achieved and under which conditions. Two factors were found to be important for robust inhibition: the length of the complementary region, and the presence of a PAM-loop on the inhibitor. We conclude that DNA oligonucleotides can be used to effectively inhibit Cas9 activity both ex vivo and in vitro.
Nature and Trends of Pharmaceutical Payments to the Board Certified Respiratory Specialists in Japan between 2016 and 2019
Authors: Murayama Anju , Hoshi Momoko , Saito Hiroaki , Kamamoto Sae , Tanaka Manato , Kawashima Moe , Mamada Hanano , Kusumi Eiji , Sapkota Binaya , Shrestha Sunil , Shrestha Rajeev , Bhandari Divya , Sawano Toyoaki , Yamashita Erika , Tanimoto Tetsuya , Ozaki Akihiko
Published: January 2022

Background

There are financial relationships between healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical companies, and these relationships have historically caused conflicts of interest and unduly influenced patient care. However, little was known about such relationship and its effect in clinical practice among specialists in respiratory medicine.

Methods

Based on the retrospective analysis of payment data made available by all 92 pharmaceutical companies in Japan, this study evaluated the magnitude and trend of financial relationships between all board-certified Japanese respiratory specialists and pharmaceutical companies between 2016 and 2019. Magnitude and prevalence of payments for specialists were analyzed descriptively. The payment trends were assessed using the generalized estimating equations for the payment per specialist and the prevalence of specialists with payments.

Results

Among all 7,114 respiratory specialists certified as of August, 2021, 4,413 (62.0%) received a total of USD($) 53,547,391 and 74,195 cases from 72 (78.3%) pharmaceutical companies between 2016 and 2019. The mean±SD and median (interquartile range) four-year combined payment values per specialist were $12,134±$34,045 and $2,210 ($715□$8,178) respectively. At maximum, one specialist received $495,332 personal payments over the four years. Both payments per specialist and prevalence of specialists with payments significantly increased during the four-year period, with 7.8% (95% CI: 5.5□9.8; p<0.001) in payments and 1.5% (95% CI: 0.61% □2.4%; p = 0.001) in prevalence of specialists with payments, respectively.

Conclusion

Majority of respiratory specialists had increasingly received substantial personal payments from pharmaceutical companies for the reimbursement of lecturing, consulting, and writing between 2016 and 2019. These increasing financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies might cause conflicts of interest among respiratory physicians.
Computed tomographic analysis of dental system of three Jurassic ceratopsians: implications for the evolution of the tooth replacement pattern and diet in early-diverging ceratopsians
Authors: Hu Jinfeng , Forster Catherine A. , Xu Xing , Zhao Qi , He Yiming , Han Fenglu
Published: January 2022

The dental system of ceratopsids is among the most specialized structure in Dinosauria, and includes high angled wear surfaces, split tooth roots, and multiple teeth in each tooth family. However, the early evolution of this unique dental system is generally poorly understood due to a lack of knowledge of the dental morphology and development in early-diverging ceratopsians. Here we study the dental system of three of the earliest-diverging Chinese ceratopsians: Yinlong and Hualianceratops from the early Late Jurassic of Xinjiang, and Chaoyangsaurus from the Late Jurassic of Liaoning. By using micro-computed tomographic analyses, our study has revealed significant new information regarding the dental system of these early ceratopsians, including no more than five replacement teeth in each jaw quadrant; at most one generation of replacement teeth in each alveolus; nearly full resorption of the functional tooth root during tooth replacement; and occlusion with low-angled, concave wear facets that differs significantly from the shearing occlusal system seen in ceratopsids. Yinlong displays an increase in the number of maxillary tooth alveoli and a decrease in the number of replacement teeth during ontogeny as well as the retention of remnants of functional teeth in the largest individual. Early-diverging ceratopsians thus display a relatively slow tooth replacement rate compared to late-diverging ceratopsians. Combined with paleobotany and palaeoenvironment data, Yinlong likely uses gastroliths to triturate foodstuffs, and the difference in diet strategy might have influenced the pattern of tooth replacement in later-diverging ceratopsians.
Impaired iron recycling from erythrocytes is an early hallmark of aging
Authors: Slusarczyk Patryk , Mandal Pratik Kumar , Zurawska Gabriela , Niklewicz Marta , Chouhan Komal Kumari , Macias Matylda , Szybinska Aleksandra , Cybulska Magdalena , Krawczyk Olga , Herman Sylwia , Mikula Michal , Serwa Remigiusz , Lenartowicz Malgorzata , Pokrzywa Wojciech , Mleczko-Sanecka Katarzyna
Published: January 2022

Aging affects iron homeostasis, as evidenced by tissue iron loading and toxicity and common anemia in the elderly. Iron needs in mammals are met primarily by iron-recycling from senescent red blood cells (RBCs), a task chiefly accomplished by splenic red pulp macrophages (RPMs) via erythrophagocytosis. Given that RPMs continuously process iron, their cellular functions might be susceptible to age-dependent decline, a condition that has been largely unexplored to date. Here, we found that 10-11-months-old female mice exhibit iron loading, diminished lysosomal activity, and decreased erythrophagocytosis rate in RPMs. These impairments lead to the retention of senescent hemolytic RBCs in the spleen, and the formation of undegradable iron- and heme-rich extracellular protein aggregates, likely derived from ferroptotic RPMs. We further found that feeding mice an iron-reduced diet alleviates iron accumulation in RPMs, enhances their ability to clear erythrocytes, and limits ferroptosis. Consequently, this diet ameliorates hemolysis of splenic RBCs and the formation of iron-rich aggregates, increasing serum iron availability in aging mice. Using RPM-like cells, we show that the diminished iron-recycling capacity of RPMs is underlain by iron accumulation and reduced expression of heme-catabolizing enzyme heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). Taken together, we identified RPM collapse as an early hallmark of aging and demonstrated that dietary iron reduction improves iron turnover efficacy.
Neuron-specific protein network mapping of autism risk genes identifies shared biological mechanisms and disease relevant pathologies
Authors: Murtaza Nadeem , Cheng Annie A. , Brown Chad O. , Meka Durga Praveen , Hong Shuai , Uy Jarryll A. , El-Hajjar Joelle , Pipko Neta , Unda Brianna K. , Schwanke Birgit , Xing Sansi , Thiruvahindrapuram Bhooma , Engchuan Worrawat , Trost Brett , Deneault Eric , Calderon de Anda Froylan , Doble Bradley W. , Ellis James , Anagnostou Evdokia , Bader Gary D. , Scherer Stephen W. , Lu Yu , Singh Karun K.
Published: January 2022

Manuscript summary

There are hundreds of risk genes associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but signaling networks at the protein level remain unexplored. We use neuron-specific proximity-labeling proteomics (BioID) to identify protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks for 41 ASD-risk genes. Neuron-specific PPI networks, including synaptic transmission proteins, are disrupted byde novomissense variants. The PPI network map reveals convergent pathways, including mitochondrial/metabolic processes, Wnt signaling, and MAPK signaling. CRISPR knockout reveal an association between mitochondrial activity and ASD-risk genes. The PPI network shows an enrichment of 112 additional ASD-risk genes and differentially expressed genes from post-mortem ASD patients. Clustering of risk genes based on PPI networks identifies gene groups corresponding to clinical behavior score severity. Our data reveal that cell type-specific PPI networks can identify individual and convergent ASD signaling networks, provide a method to assess patient variants, and reveal biological insight into disease mechanisms and sub-cohorts of ASD.
A comprehensive map of preferentially located motifs reveals distinct proximal cis-regulatory elements in plants
Authors: Rozière Julien , Guichard Cécile , Brunaud Véronique , Martin Marie-Laure , Coursol Sylvie
Published: January 2022

The identification of cis-regulatory elements controlling gene expression is an arduous challenge that is being actively explored to discover the key genetic factors responsible for traits of agronomic interest. Here, we have used a de novo and genome-wide approach for preferentially located motif (PLM) detection to investigate the proximal cis-regulatory landscape of Arabidopsis thaliana and Zea mays. We report three groups of PLMs in each gene-proximal region and emphasize conserved PLMs in both species, particularly in the 3’-gene-proximal region. Comparison with resources of transcription factor and microRNA binding sites indicates that 79% of the identified PLMs are unassigned, although some are supported by MNase-defined cistrome occupancy analysis. Enrichment analyses further reveal that unassigned PLMs provide functional predictions distinct from those inferred by transcription factor and microRNA binding sites. Our study provides a comprehensive map of PLMs and points at their potential utility for future characterization of orphan genes in plants.
Capturing non-local through-bond effects in molecular mechanics force fields: II. Using fractional bond orders to fit torsion parameters
Authors: Stern Chaya D. , Maat Jessica , Dotson David L. , Bayly Christopher I. , Smith Daniel G. A. , Mobley David L. , Chodera John D.
Published: January 2022

Accurate small molecule force fields are crucial for predicting thermodynamic and kinetic properties of drug-like molecules in biomolecular systems. Torsion parameters, in particular, are essential for determining conformational distribution of molecules. However, they are usually fit to computationally expensive quantum chemical torsion scans and generalize poorly to different chemical environments. Torsion parameters should ideally capture local through-space non-bonded interactions such as 1-4 steric and electrostatics and non-local through-bond effects such as conjugation and hyperconjugation. Non-local through-bond effects are sensitive to remote substituents and are a contributing factor to torsion parameters poor transferability. Here we show that fractional bond orders such as the Wiberg Bond Order (WBO) are sensitive to remote substituents and correctly captures extent of conjugation and hyperconjugation. We show that the relationship between WBO and torsion barrier heights are linear and can therefore serve as a surrogate to QC torsion barriers, and to interpolate torsion force constants. Using this approach we can reduce the number of computationally expensive QC torsion scans needed while maintaining accurate torsion parameters. We demonstrate this approach to a set of substituted benzene rings.
Assessing Myf5 and Lbx1 contribution to carapace development by reproducing their turtle-specific signatures in mouse embryos
Authors: Tekko Triin , Nóvoa Ana , Mallo Moisés
Published: January 2022

Background

The turtle carapace is an evolutionary novelty resulting from changes in the processes that build ribs and their associated muscles in most tetrapod species. Turtle embryos have several unique features that might play a role in this process, including the carapacial ridge, a Myf5 gene with shorter coding region that generates an alternative splice variant lacking exon 2, and unusual expression patterns of Lbx1 and HGF.

Results

We generated Myf5 alleles reproducing the Myf5 turtle expression features. At mid gestation, mouse embryos expressing Myf5 lacking exon 2 reproduced some early properties of turtle somites, but still developed into viable and fertile mice. Extending Lbx1 expression into the hypaxial dermomyotomal lip of trunk somites to mimic the turtle Lbx1 expression pattern, produced fusions in the distal part of the ribs.

Conclusions

Turtle-like Myf5 activity might generate a plastic state in developing trunk somites under which they can either enter carapace morphogenetic routes, possibly triggered by signals from the carapacial ridge, or still engage in the development of a standard tetrapod ribcage in the absence of those signals. In addition, trunk Lbx1 expression might play a later role in the formation of the lateral border of the carapace.
Distinct roles for SOX2 and SOX21 in differentiation, distribution and maturation of pulmonary neuroendocrine cells
Authors: Eenjes Evelien , Boerema-de Munck Anne , Buscop-van Kempen Marjon , Tibboel Dick , Rottier Robbert J.
Published: January 2022

Pulmonary neuroendocrine (NE) cells represent a small population in the airway epithelium, but despite this, hyperplasia of NE cells is associated with several lung diseases, such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The molecular mechanisms causing the development of NE cell hyperplasia remains poorly understood. Previously, we showed that the SOX21 modulates the SOX2-initiated differentiation of epithelial cells in the airways (Eenjes, 2021). Here, we show that precursor NE cells start to develop in the SOX2+SOX21+ airway region and that SOX21 suppresses the differentiation of airway progenitors to precursor NE cells. During development, clusters of NE cells start to form and NE cells mature by expressing neuropeptide proteins, such as CGRP. Deficiency in SOX2 resulted in decreased clustering, while deficiency in SOX21 increased both the numbers of NE ASCL1+ precursor cells early in development, and the number of cell clusters at E18.5. In addition, at the end of gestation (E18.5), a number of NE cells in Sox2 heterozygous mice, did not yet express CGRP suggesting a delay in maturation. In conclusion, SOX2 and SOX21 function in the initiation, migration and maturation of NE cells.
Rethinking Statistical Learning as a Dynamic Stochastic Process, from The Motor Systems Perspective
Authors: Vaskevich Anna , Torres Elizabeth B
Published: January 2022

The brain integrates streams of sensory input and builds accurate predictions, while arriving at stable percepts under disparate time scales. This stochastic process bears different dynamics for different people, yet statistical learning (SL) currently averages out, as noise, individual fluctuations in data streams registered from the brain as the person learns. We here adopt the motor systems perspective to reframe SL. Specifically, we rethink this problem using the demands that the person’s brain faces to predict, and control variations in biorhythmic activity akin to those present in bodily motions. This new approach harnesses gross data as the important signals, to reassess how individuals learn predictive information in stable and unstable environments. We find two types of learners: narrow-variance learners, who retain explicit knowledge of the regularity embedded in the stimuli -the goal. They seem to use an error-correction strategy steadily present in both stable and unstable cases. In contrast, broad-variance learners emerge only in the unstable environment. They undergo an initial period of memoryless learning characterized by a gamma process that starts out exponentially distributed but converges to Gaussian. We coin this mode exploratory, preceding the more general error-correction mode characterized by skewed-to-symmetric distributions and higher signal content from the start. Our work demonstrates that statistical learning is a highly dynamic and stochastic process, unfolding at different time scales, and evolving distinct learning strategies on demand.
Performance of the time-resolved ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering beamline with the Extremely Brilliant Source
Authors: Narayanan Theyencheri , Sztucki Michael , Zinn Thomas , Kieffer Jérôme , Homs-Puron Alejandro , Gorini Jacques , Van Vaerenbergh Pierre , Boesecke Peter
Published: January 2022

The new technical features and enhanced performance of the ID02 beamline with the Extremely Brilliant Source (EBS) at the ESRF are described. The beamline enables static and kinetic investigations of a broad range of systems from ångström to micrometre size scales and down to the sub-millisecond time range by combining different small-angle X-ray scattering techniques in a single instrument. In addition, a nearly coherent beam obtained in the high-resolution mode allows multispeckle X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy measurements down to the microsecond range over the ultra-small- and small-angle regions. While the scattering vector (of magnitude q) range covered is the same as before, 0.001 ≤ q ≤ 50 nm−1 for an X-ray wavelength of 1 Å, the EBS permits relaxation of the collimation conditions, thereby obtaining a higher flux throughput and lower background. In particular, a coherent photon flux in excess of 1012 photons s−1 can be routinely obtained, allowing dynamic studies of relatively dilute samples. The enhanced beam properties are complemented by advanced pixel-array detectors and high-throughput data reduction pipelines. All these developments together open new opportunities for structural, dynamic and kinetic investigations of out-of-equilibrium soft matter and biophysical systems.
X-ray free-electron laser based dark-field X-ray microscopy: a simulation-based study
Authors: Holstad Theodor Secanell , Ræder Trygve Magnus , Carlsen Mads , Bergbäck Knudsen Erik , Dresselhaus-Marais Leora , Haldrup Kristoffer , Simons Hugh , Nielsen Martin Meedom , Poulsen Henning Friis
Published: January 2022

Dark-field X-ray microscopy (DFXM) is a nondestructive full-field imaging technique providing three-dimensional mapping of microstructure and local strain fields in deeply embedded crystalline elements. This is achieved by placing an objective lens in the diffracted beam, giving a magnified projection image. So far, the method has been applied with a time resolution of milliseconds to hours. In this work, the feasibility of DFXM at the picosecond time scale using an X-ray free-electron laser source and a pump–probe scheme is considered. Thermomechanical strain-wave simulations are combined with geometrical optics and wavefront propagation optics to simulate DFXM images of phonon dynamics in a diamond single crystal. Using the specifications of the XCS instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source as an example results in simulated DFXM images clearly showing the propagation of a strain wave.
The linear phase correction of modulation of intensity emerging from zero effort (MIEZE) with magnetic Wollaston prisms
Authors: Li Fankang
Published: January 2022

This study proposes the use of two magnetic Wollaston prisms (MWPs) to correct for the linear Larmor phase aberration of modulation of intensity emerging from zero effort (MIEZE), introduced by the transverse size of the sample. With this approach, the contrast of the intensity modulation can be maximized at any scattering angle of interest such that the same contrast as the direct transmission geometry can be fully recovered. The optimum magnetic fields required for the MWPs depend only on the scattering angle and the frequencies of the radio-frequency flippers, and they are independent of the neutron wavelength and beam divergence, which makes the approach suitable for both pulsed and continuous neutron sources.
Synchrotron radiation transmission by two coupled flat microchannel plates: new opportunities to control the focal spot characteristics
Authors: Mazuritskiy M. I. , Lerer A. M. , Marcelli A. , Dabagov S. B.
Published: January 2022

An improved theoretical model to calculate the focal spot properties of coherent synchrotron radiation (SR) soft X-ray beams by combining and aligning two microchannel plates (MCPs) is presented. The diffraction patterns of the radiation behind the MCP system are simulated in the framework of the electrodynamical model of the radiation emission from two-dimensional finite antenna arrays. Simulations show that this particular optical device focuses the soft X-ray radiation in a circular central spot with a radius of ∼4 µm. The study points out that such MCP-based devices may achieve micrometre and sub-micrometre spot sizes as required by many applications in the soft X-ray range. Finally, based on experimental and theoretical results of the radiation transmission by this MCP-based device, a new method to characterize the spatial properties of brilliant SR sources is discussed.
Information-seeking behaviour of Tanzanians in the time of COVID-19
Authors: Elia Emmanuel Frank
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate on access and communication of COVID-19 information among Tanzanians.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative methods were applied to identify a total of 636 respondents.

Findings

Results show that the majority (86.9%) of respondents seek information on COVID-19. Gender, age, education and marital status did not influence individual’s information-seeking behaviour. Respondents largely used social media, particularly WhatsApp, to communicate. Respondents prefer blending professional and traditional information to combat COVID-19. The majority (51%) of respondents indicated that COVID-19 information was not communicated ethically. Employed people are more likely to ethically communicate information on the pandemic in social media.

Practical implications

Findings imply that novelty of the pandemic has enhanced active information-seeking behaviour. Respondents rely on multiple information sources to seek and collaboratively communicate COVID information. Employment status is associated with respondents’ information-seeking behaviour. Audio-visual sources are mostly preferred and relied in communicating information on the pandemic. Social media usage has enhanced timely and appropriate decision-making measures to tackle the COVID menace. Level of education has an influence on the use of credible sources and ethical communication of information on the pandemic. Utilization of COVID-19 preventive information was not statistically associated with socio-demographic variables. Availability of information infrastructures, particularly the internet, influences access, use and clear informed decision on prevention and treatment of COVID-19 disease.

Originality/value

The study contributes to knowledge and literature on response and preventive measures on COVID-19 pandemic in developing countries.
Comparing health consumer search behavior and scientific research productivity related to COVID-19 vaccines in the USA: an infodemiology study
Authors: SeyyedHosseini Shohreh , Lund Brady D. , BasirianJahromi Reza
Published: January 2022

Purpose

While vaccines are an effective preventative measure to defend against the spread and harmful symptoms of COVID-19, information about COVID vaccines can be difficult to find and conflicting in its coverage of vaccines’ benefits and risks. This study aims to examine the extent to which Americans are searching for information about the three major vaccine producers (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen) in relation to the amount of reliable scholarly information that has been produced about each one.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were retrieved from Google Trends for the US Web users alongside scientific research output of the US scientists toward three Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-authorized COVID-19 vaccines in Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed. The authors searched for descriptive statistical analyses to detect coronavirus-seeking behavior versus coronavirus releases in the USA from May 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021.

Findings

Of the three COVID-19 vaccines, Pfizer has attracted more attention from the US population. However, the greatest number of articles about COVID-19 vaccines published by the US scholars belonged to Moderna (M = 8.17), with Pfizer (M = 7.75) having slightly less, and Janssen (M = 0.83) well behind. A positive association was found between COVID-19 vaccine information-seeking behavior (ISB) on Google and the amount of research produced about that vaccine (P <0.001).

Research limitations/implications

As the researchers use the single search engine, Google, to retrieve data from the USA, thus, selection bias will be existing as Google only gathers the data of people who chose to get the information by using this search engine.

Practical implications

If the policymakers in the US Department of Health and Human Services or the US CDC desire to improve the country’s health ISB and the scientific publication behavior (SPB) of the US researchers regarding COVID-19 vaccines studies, they should reference the results of such a study.

Originality/value

From an infodemiological viewpoint, these findings may support the health policymakers, as well as researchers who work on COVID-19 vaccines in the USA.
Exploring the impact of social capitals and knowledge creation on construction firms performance in the COVID-19 era
Authors: Boamah Fredrick Ahenkora , Zhang Jianhua , Shehzad Muhammad Usman , Sherani Sherani , Wen Dandan
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Creativity and productivity are important factors for corporate and government institutions in the COVID-19 era. As a result, there is an urgent need to ensure that construction projects can recover adequately to survive potential surges or even potential epidemics. Therefore, this study aims to explore social capital by examining the effect/impact of knowledge creation on construction performance in the COVID-19 era.

Design/methodology/approach

A simple random sampling approach focused on Ghanaian construction firms was used. Completed responses were obtained and analyzed from employees who had tasks on sites. SmartPLS 3.3.3 and Statistical Package for Social Sciences v. 26 was used.

Findings

One key finding from this research was that construction firms with solid social capital built by their management staff are more connected and have better adaptive systems than firms with low capital. A company’s development programs must concentrate not only on the development of targeted or selective know-how and professional abilities but also on capacity creating, collaboration and knowledge creation and sharing among its employees.

Originality/value

Using this study’s findings, construction professionals can develop successful solutions to the COVID-19 epidemic and future emergencies. Additionally, the comprehensive exposition of the implications, constraints and preventive methods in this study may enable scholars to discover current gaps in the literature and investigate other elements of the pandemic’s influence on the construction industry.
Human rights for refugees: enhancing sustainable humanitarian supply chain to guarantee a health environment in refugee settlements
Authors: Karl Alexandre Augusto , Scholz Karl Julia
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Despite global efforts for environmental protection, there is a gap in the literature about the contributions of a sustainable humanitarian supply chain (SHSC) to the promotion of human rights in refugee settlements. In this context, this study investigates how the generation of sustainability in the humanitarian supply chain (HSC) acts as an instrument for guaranteeing the human rights for refugees.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review was conducted to identify the state of the art and research challenges as well as an analysis of international law documents related to refugees, international human rights law and environmental protection, and a critical study of sustainable initiatives already taken by international organizations and humanitarian agencies in refugee camps.

Findings

As a result, ensuring human rights in refugee camps is directly related to the development of a SHSC that contributes without deviation to the enjoyment and exercise of human rights by preserving the local environment.

Originality/value

This study offers a literature review and discusses the generation of sustainability in refugee camps and its relationship with human rights protected by rules of international law. Aspects such as the circular humanitarian supply chain are for the first time discussed, introducing the circular economy to refugee settlements.
Managing the most important asset: a twenty year review on the performance management literature
Authors: Justin M.A. Ebina , Joy Manu Melwin
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The three objectives served by this review are to provide readers a limpid insight about the topic performance management (PM), to analyse the latest trends in PM literature and to illustrate the theoretical perspectives. It would be fascinating for the practitioners and researchers to see the latest trends in the PM system, which is not yet covered in previous reviews. The study covers the historical and theoretical perspectives of human resource management practices. We also try to unveil some of the theoretical debates and conflicts regarding the topic.

Design/methodology/approach

We reviewed 139 studies on PM published within the last 20 years (2000–2020). The method used here is the integrative review method. The criteria used to determine studies are articles from peer-reviewed journals regarding the PM system published between 2000 and 2020. The initial search for studies was conducted using an extensive journal database, and then an intensive reference-based search was also done. Each selected article was coded, themes were identified, and trends for every 5 years were determined. All the articles were analysed and classified based on the methodology used to identify qualitative and quantitative studies.

Findings

The review concludes that PM literature's emphasis shifted from traditional historical evaluations conducted once or twice a year to forward-looking, feedback-enriched PM systems. By segregating the studies into 5-year periods, we could extract five significant trends that prevailed in the PM literature from 2000 to 2020: reactions to PM system, factors that influence PM system, quality of rating sources, evaluating the PM system and types of the PM system. The review ends with a discussion of practical implications and avenues for future research.

Research limitations/implications

It is equally a limitation and strength of this paper that we conducted a review of 139 articles to cover the whole works in PM literature during the last 20 years. The study could not concentrate on any specific PM theme, such as exploring employee outcomes or organizational outcomes. Likewise, the studies on public sector and non-profit organizations are excluded from this review, which constitutes a significant share of PM literature. Another significant limitation is that the selected articles are classified only based on their methodology; further classification based on different themes and contexts can also be done.

Originality/value

The study is an original review of the PM literature to identify the latest trends in the field.
The past masters: the impact of the Evolution of Management Thought on history
Authors: Muldoon Jeffrey , Deal Nicholous M. , Smith Douglass , Shivanapura Lakshmikanth Geethalakshmi
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Evolution of Management Thought (EMT), a critically acclaimed text in management and organizational studies for its value in historicizing the practice of management.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors asked Daniel Wren and Arthur Bedeian in their own words to their contribution. In addition, the authors offer commentary and critique of 16 leading management historians who share their reflections on the intellectual significance of Wren and Bedeian, and the punctuation of EMT as a canonical text in the field of management history.

Findings

The legacy of Wren and Bedeian can be felt across the academy of historical research on business and organizations. Their work has separately made significant contributions to management studies but together they have forged a fruitful partnership that has given rise to multiple generations of scholars and scholarship that continue to shape the field to this day.

Originality/value

The contribution of the authors in this article is to mark the significant milestone of EMT’s five-decade success by hearing from the authors themselves about their longstanding success as well as giving space to critique about the past, present and future of our collective historical scholarship shaped by Wren and Bedeian’s legacy.
Sensor-based human activity recognition using fuzzified deep CNN architecture with λmax method
Authors: V. Gomathi , S. Kalaiselvi , D Thamarai Selvi
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This work aims to develop a novel fuzzy associator rule-based fuzzified deep convolutional neural network (FDCNN) architecture for the classification of smartphone sensor-based human activity recognition. This work mainly focuses on fusing the λmax method for weight initialization, as a data normalization technique, to achieve high accuracy of classification.

Design/methodology/approach

The major contributions of this work are modeled as FDCNN architecture, which is initially fused with a fuzzy logic based data aggregator. This work significantly focuses on normalizing the University of California, Irvine data set’s statistical parameters before feeding that to convolutional neural network layers. This FDCNN model with λmax method is instrumental in ensuring the faster convergence with improved performance accuracy in sensor based human activity recognition. Impact analysis is carried out to validate the appropriateness of the results with hyper-parameter tuning on the proposed FDCNN model with λmax method.

Findings

The effectiveness of the proposed FDCNN model with λmax method was outperformed than state-of-the-art models and attained with overall accuracy of 97.89% with overall F1 score as 0.9795.

Practical implications

The proposed fuzzy associate rule layer (FAL) layer is responsible for feature association based on fuzzy rules and regulates the uncertainty in the sensor data because of signal inferences and noises. Also, the normalized data is subjectively grouped based on the FAL kernel structure weights assigned with the λmax method.

Social implications

Contributed a novel FDCNN architecture that can support those who are keen in advancing human activity recognition (HAR) recognition.

Originality/value

A novel FDCNN architecture is implemented with appropriate FAL kernel structures.
The Scottish Presbyterian Defence of British Protestantism: The Scottish Reformation Society and the “Papal Aggression”, 1850–52
Authors: Mallon Ryan
Published: January 2022

This article is a study of the Edinburgh‐based anti‐Catholic organisation, the Scottish Reformation Society, in the immediate aftermath of the 1850 restoration of the Roman Catholic hierarchy in England and Wales, commonly known at the time as the papal aggression. The papal aggression sent shockwaves throughout England and was viewed by Protestants as an illegal attempt to overthrow Britain's civil and religious liberties by Pope Pius IX. Despite in practice only affecting England, the restoration also had a dramatic impact in Scotland, resulting in thousands of parliamentary petitions and sporadic bouts of communal violence. The Scottish Reformation Society, led by the controversial Free Church of Scotland minister James Begg, was at the forefront of this Scottish Protestant response. The society was dominated by Scotland's Presbyterian dissenters, particularly members of the establishmentarian Free Church. The Free Church had formed out of the 1843 Disruption in the Established Church of Scotland, a momentous politico‐ecclesiastical event which highlighted divisions between the British state and its Scottish church, the national kirk and dissent, and pro‐establishment and voluntary ecclesiologies. By focusing on the influence of a major Scottish anti‐Catholic society during a turbulent period for British Protestantism, this article examines the gulf between the rhetoric of national Protestant unity and the reality of national, ideological, and denominational divisions within mid‐nineteenth century Protestantism in the United Kingdom. It builds on existing research to highlight the various ways in which the anti‐Catholic movement was fractured on denominational lines and reflected the wider tensions of Scottish ecclesiastical politics in the years after the Disruption.
Pope's Day and the Language of Popery in Eighteenth‐Century New England
Authors: Ritter Luke
Published: January 2022

This article explains how American colonists' commemoration of religious conflicts in the past, particularly the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, gradually diverged from British systems of discourse. In the Revolutionary Era, Americans commemorated Guy Fawkes Day, a holiday which had initially been established by the king of England to solidify English nationalism, so as to criticise and overthrow British governance. The perseverance of Guy Fawkes Day, or “Pope's Day,” in eighteenth‐century New England, where Puritan authorities declared the holiday illegal, testified to its anti‐authoritarian as well as anti‐Catholic appeal among common people. The apocalyptic pitch of anti‐Catholicism reached a new height in colonial America during the so‐called First Great Awakening of the 1740s as conflicts with the French and Indians escalated. During the 1760s, the Pope's Day constituency of Boston, initially bent on liberating themselves from official interference at the local level, turned their animus against recent British policies, such as the Stamp Act of 1765, and eventually transformed themselves into revolutionary crowds, chanting, “No King, No Popery!” In the early United States, anti‐Catholic sentiment no longer promoted English nationalism, but it remained a powerful source of American identity and a potent motivation for rebellion against local authorities.
DNA methylation signatures in Blood DNA of Hutchinson–Gilford Progeria syndrome
Authors: Bejaoui Yosra , Razzaq Aleem , Yousri Noha A. , Oshima Junko , Megarbane Andre , Qannan Abeer , Potabattula Ramya , Alam Tanvir , Martin George M. , Horn Henning F. , Haaf Thomas , Horvath Steve , El Hajj Nady
Published: January 2022

Hutchinson–Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) is an extremely rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the LMNA gene and characterized by premature and accelerated aging beginning in childhood. In this study, we performed the first genome‐wide methylation analysis on blood DNA of 15 patients with progeroid laminopathies using Infinium Methylation EPIC arrays including 8 patients with classical HGPS. We could observe DNA methylation alterations at 61 CpG sites as well as 32 significant regions following a 5 Kb tiling analysis. Differentially methylated probes were enriched for phosphatidylinositol biosynthetic process, phospholipid biosynthetic process, sarcoplasm, sarcoplasmic reticulum, phosphatase regulator activity, glycerolipid biosynthetic process, glycerophospholipid biosynthetic process, and phosphatidylinositol metabolic process. Differential methylation analysis at the level of promoters and CpG islands revealed no significant methylation changes in blood DNA of progeroid laminopathy patients. Nevertheless, we could observe significant methylation differences in classic HGPS when specifically looking at probes overlapping solo‐WCGW partially methylated domains. Comparing aberrantly methylated sites in progeroid laminopathies, classic Werner syndrome, and Down syndrome revealed a common significantly hypermethylated region in close vicinity to the transcription start site of a long non‐coding RNA located anti‐sense to the Catenin Beta Interacting Protein 1 gene (CTNNBIP1). By characterizing epigenetically altered sites, we identify possible pathways/mechanisms that might have a role in the accelerated aging of progeroid laminopathies.