bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Egg-adaptation pathway of human influenza H3N2 virus is contingent on natural evolution
Authors: Liang Weiwen , Tan Timothy J.C. , Wang Yiquan , Lv Huibin , Sun Yuanxin , Bruzzone Roberto , Mok Chris K.P. , Wu Nicholas C.
Published: February 2022

Egg-adaptive mutations in influenza hemagglutinin (HA) often emerge during the production of egg-based seasonal influenza vaccines, which contribute to the largest share in the global influenza vaccine market. While some egg-adaptive mutations have minimal impact on the HA antigenicity (e.g. G186V), others can alter it (e.g. L194P). Here, we show that the preference of egg-adaptation pathway in human H3N2 HA is strain-dependent. In particular, Thr160 and Asn190, which are found in many recent H3N2 strains, restrict the emergence of L194P but not G186V. Our results further suggest that natural amino acid variants at other HA residues also play a role in determining the egg-adaptation pathway. Consistently, recent human H3N2 strains from different clades acquire different mutations during egg passaging. Overall, these results demonstrate that natural mutations in human H3N2 HA can influence the egg-adaption pathway, which has important implications in seed strain selection for egg-based influenza vaccine.
Detection of prevalent SARS-CoV-2 variant lineages in wastewater and clinical sequences from cities in Québec, Canada
Authors: N’Guessan Arnaud , Tsitouras Alexandra , Sanchez-Quete Fernando , Goitom Eyerusalem , Reiling Sarah J. , Galvez Jose Hector , Nguyen Thanh Luan , Loan Nguyen Ha Thanh , Visentin Flavia , Hachad Mounia , Krylova Kateryna , Matthews Sara , Kraemer Susanne A. , Stretenowich Paul , Bourgey Mathieu , Djambazian Haig , Chen Shu-Huang , Roy Anne-Marie , Brookes Brent , Lee Sally , Simon Marie-Michelle , Maere Thomas , Vanrolleghem Peter A. , Labelle Marc-Andre , Moreira Sandrine , Levade Inès , Bourque Guillaume , Ragoussis Jiannis , Dorner Sarah , Frigon Dominic , Shapiro B. Jesse
Published: February 2022

Wastewater-based epidemiology has emerged as a promising tool to monitor pathogens in a population, particularly when clinical diagnostic capacities become overwhelmed. During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), several jurisdictions have tracked viral concentrations in wastewater to inform public health authorities. While some studies have also sequenced SARS-CoV-2 genomes from wastewater, there have been relatively few direct comparisons between viral genetic diversity in wastewater and matched clinical samples from the same region and time period. Here we report sequencing and inference of SARS-CoV-2 mutations and variant lineages (including variants of concern) in 936 wastewater samples and thousands of matched clinical sequences collected between March 2020 and July 2021 in the cities of Montreal, Quebec City, and Laval, representing almost half the population of the Canadian province of Quebec. We benchmarked our sequencing and variant-calling methods on known viral genome sequences to establish thresholds for inferring variants in wastewater with confidence. We found that variant frequency estimates in wastewater and clinical samples are correlated over time in each city, with similar dates of first detection. Across all variant lineages, wastewater detection is more concordant with targeted outbreak sequencing than with semi-random clinical swab sampling. Most variants were first observed in clinical and outbreak data due to higher sequencing rate. However, wastewater sequencing is highly efficient, detecting more variants for a given sampling effort. This shows the potential for wastewater sequencing to provide useful public health data, especially at places or times when sufficient clinical sampling is infrequent or infeasible.
The Nicaraguan Pediatric Influenza Cohort Study, 2011-2019: influenza incidence, seasonality, and transmission
Authors: Maier Hannah E. , Kuan Guillermina , Gresh Lionel , Chowell Gerardo , Bakker Kevin , Lopez Roger , Sanchez Nery , Lopez Brenda , Schiller Amy , Ojeda Sergio , Harris Eva , Balmaseda Angel , Gordon Aubree
Published: February 2022

Background

Children account for a large portion of global influenza burden and transmission, and a better understanding of influenza in children is needed to improve prevention and control strategies.

Methods

To examine the incidence and transmission of influenza we conducted a prospective community-based study of children aged 0-14 years in Managua, Nicaragua between 2011 and 2019. Participants were provided with medical care through study physicians and symptomatic influenza was confirmed by RT-PCR. Wavelet analyses were used to examine seasonality. Generalized growth models (GGMs) were used to estimate effective reproduction numbers.

Results

From 2011-2019, 3,016 children participated, with an average of ∼1,800 participants per year and median follow-up time of 5 years per child, and 48.3% of the cohort in 2019 had been enrolled their entire lives. The overall incidence rates per 100 person-years were 14.5 symptomatic influenza cases (95%CI: 13.9-15.1) and 1.0 influenza-associated ALRI case (95%CI: 0.8-1.1). Symptomatic influenza incidence peaked at age 9-11 months. Infants born during peak influenza circulation had lower incidence in the first year of their lives. The mean effective reproduction number was 1.2 (range 1.02-1.49), and we observed significant annual patterns for influenza and influenza A, and a 2.5-year period for influenza B.

Conclusions

This study provides important information for understanding influenza epidemiology and informing influenza vaccine policy. These results will aid in informing strategies to reduce the burden of influenza.

In this long-running influenza cohort, we found a substantial incidence of RT-PCR-confirmed influenza, and report by subtype/lineage. Infants born during influenza epidemics were protected from infection that first year. The mean effective reproduction number across years was 1.2.
Neutralization profile of Omicron variant convalescent individuals
Authors: Rössler Annika , Knabl Ludwig , Laer Dorothee von , Kimpel Janine
Published: February 2022

Recently, the Omicron variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been described as immune escape variant.

Here, we analyzed samples from BA.1 (Omicron) convalescent patients with different constellations of prior SARS-CoV-2 immunity regarding vaccination and previous infection with a non-Omicron variant and determined titers of neutralizing antibodies against different SARS-CoV-2 variants (D614G, Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, Omicron).

We found high neutralizing antibody titers against all variants for vaccinated individuals after BA.1 breakthrough infection or for individuals after infection with a pre-omicron variant followed by BA.1 infection. In contrast, samples from naive unvaccinated individuals after BA.1 infection mainly contained neutralizing antibodies against BA.1 but only occasionally against the other variants.
3D printed bioreactor enabling the physiological culture and the study of pathological processes in large vessels
Authors: Matos Rolando S , Maselli Davide , McVey John H , Heiss Christian , Campagnolo Paola
Published: February 2022

Routine cardiovascular interventions such as balloon angioplasty, result in vascular activation and remodeling, often requiring re-intervention. 2D in vitro culture models and small animal experiments have enabled the discovery of important molecular and cellular pathways involved in this process, however the clinical translation of these results is often underwhelming. There is a critical need for an ex vivo model representative of the human vascular physiology and encompassing the complexity of the vascular wall and the physical forces regulating its function. Vascular bioreactors for ex vivo culture of large vessels are viable alternatives, but their custom-made design and insufficient characterization often hinders the reproducibility of the experiments.

The objective of the study was to design and validate a novel 3D printed cost-efficient and versatile perfusion system, capable of sustaining the viability and functionality of large porcine arteries for 7 days and enabling monitoring of post-injury remodeling.

MultiJet Fusion 3D printing technology was used to engineer the ‘EasyFlow’ insert, converting a conventional 50 ml centrifuge tube into a mini bioreactor. Porcine carotid arteries either left untreated or injured with a conventional angioplasty balloon, were cultured under pulsatile flow for up to 7 days. Pressure, heart rate, medium viscosity and shear conditions were adjusted to represent the typical arterial physiology. Tissue viability, cell activation and matrix remodeling were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, and vascular function was monitored by duplex ultrasound.

Physiological blood flow conditions in the EasyFlow bioreactor preserved endothelial coverage and smooth muscle organization and extracellular matrix structure in the vessel wall, as compared to static culture. Injured arteries presented hallmarks of early remodeling, such as intimal denudation, smooth muscle cell disarray and media/adventitia activation in flow culture. Duplex ultrasound confirmed physiological hemodynamic conditions, dose-dependent vasodilator response to nitroglycerin in untreated vessels and impaired dilator response in angioplastied vessels. We here validate a low-cost, robust and reproducible system to study vascular physiopathology, laying the basis for future investigations into the pathological remodeling of blood vessels and creating a platform to test novel therapies and devices ex vivo, in a patient relevant system.
Deep Mendelian Randomization: Investigating the Causal Knowledge of Genomic Deep Learning Models
Authors: Malina Stephen , Cizin Daniel , Knowles David A.
Published: February 2022

Multi-task deep learning (DL) models can accurately predict diverse genomic marks from sequence, but whether these models learn the causal relationships between genomic marks is unknown. Here, we describe Deep Mendelian Randomization (DeepMR), a method for estimating causal relationships between genomic marks learned by genomic DL models. By combining Mendelian Randomization with in silico mutagenesis, DeepMR obtains local (locus specific) and global estimates of (an assumed) linear causal relationship between marks. In a simulation designed to test recovery of pairwise causal relations between transcription factors (TFs), DeepMR gives accurate and unbiased estimates of the ‘true’ global causal effect, but its coverage decays in the presence of sequence-dependent confounding. We then apply DeepMR to examine the global relationships learned by a state-of-the-art DL model, BPNet [Avsec et al., 2020], between TFs involved in reprogramming. DeepMR’s causal effect estimates validate previously hypothesized relationships between TFs and suggest new relationships for future investigation.
ReadBouncer: Precise and Scalable Adaptive Sampling for Nanopore Sequencing
Authors: Ulrich Jens-Uwe , Lutfi Ahmad , Rutzen Kilian , Renard Bernhard Y.
Published: February 2022

Nanopore sequencers allow targeted sequencing of interesting nucleotide sequences by rejecting other sequences from individual pores. This feature facilitates the enrichment of low-abundant sequences by depleting overrepresented ones in-silico. Existing tools for adaptive sampling either apply signal alignment, which cannot handle human-sized reference sequences, or apply read mapping in sequence space relying on fast GPU base callers for real-time read rejection. Using nanopore long-read mapping tools is also not optimal when mapping shorter reads as usually analyzed in adaptive sampling applications. Here we present a new approach for nanopore adaptive sampling that combines fast CPU and GPU base calling with read classification based on Interleaved Bloom Filters (IBF). Read-Bouncer improves the potential enrichment of low abundance sequences by its high read classification sensitivity and specificity, outperforming existing tools in the field. It robustly removes even reads belonging to large reference sequences while running on commodity hardware without graphical processing units (GPUs), making adaptive sampling accessible for in-field researchers. Readbouncer also provides a user-friendly interface and installer files for end-users without a bioinformatics background.

Availability

The C++ source code of ReadBouncer is available at (https://gitlab.com/dacs-hpi/readbouncer).
Optimization of NLS Composition Improves CRISPR-Cas12a Editing Rates in Human Primary Cells
Authors: Luk Kevin , Liu Pengpeng , Zeng Jing , Wang Yetao , Maitland Stacy A. , Idrizi Feston , Ponnienselvan Karthikeyan , Zhu Lihua Julie , Luban Jeremy , Bauer Daniel E. , Wolfe Scot A.
Published: February 2022

Type V CRISPR–Cas12a systems are an attractive alternative nuclease platform for specific genome editing applications. However, previous studies demonstrate that there is a gap in overall activity between Cas12a and Cas9 in primary cells. Here we describe optimization to the nuclear localization signal composition and architecture of Cas12a to facilitate highly efficient targeted mutagenesis in mammalian cell lines (HEK293T, Jurkat, and K562 cells) and primary cells (NK cells and CD34+ HSPCs), regardless of Cas12a ortholog. A 3xNLS Cas12a architecture resulted in the most robust editing platform. The improved editing activity of Cas12a in both NK cells and CD34+ HSPCs resulted in pronounced phenotypic changes associated with target gene editing. Lastly, we demonstrated that optimization of the NLS composition and architecture of Cas12a did not decrease the specificity of editing in HEK293T and CD34+ HSPCs. Our new Cas12a NLS variant provides an improved nuclease platform for therapeutic genome editing.
Autophagy receptor NDP52 alters DNA conformation to modulate RNA Polymerase II transcription
Authors: dos Santos Ália , Rollins Daniel E. , Hari-Gupta Yukti , Reed Hannah C. W. , Du Mingxue , Ru Sabrina Yong Zi , Pidlisna Kseniia , Stranger Ane , Lorgat Faeeza , Brown Ian , Howland Kevin , Aaron Jesse , Wang Lin , Ellis Peter J. I. , Chew Teng-Leong , Martin-Fernandez Marisa , Pyne Alice L. B. , Toseland Christopher P.
Published: February 2022

NDP52 is an autophagy receptor involved in the recognition and degradation of invading pathogens and damaged organelles. Although NDP52 was first identified in the nucleus and is expressed throughout the cell, to date, there is no clear nuclear function for NDP52. Here, we use a multidisciplinary approach to characterise the biochemical properties and nuclear roles of NDP52. We found that NDP52 clusters with RNA Polymerase II (RNAPII) at transcription initiation sites and that its overexpression promotes the formation of additional transcriptional clusters. We also show that depletion of NDP52 impacts overall gene-expression levels in two model mammalian cells, and that transcription inhibition affects the spatial organisation and molecular dynamics of NDP52 in the nucleus. This directly links NDP52 to a role in RNAPII-dependent transcription. Furthermore, we also show that NDP52 binds specifically and with high affinity to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and that this interaction leads to changes in DNA structure in vitro. This, together with our proteomics data indicating enrichment for interactions with nucleosome remodelling proteins and DNA structure regulators, suggests a possible function for NDP52 in chromatin regulation. Overall, here we uncover novel nuclear roles for NDP52 in gene expression and DNA structure regulation.
The lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxynonenal inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation and macrophage pyroptosis
Authors: Hsu Chia George , Chávez Camila Lage , Zhang Chongyang , Sowden Mark , Yan Chen , Berk Bradford C.
Published: February 2022

Pyroptosis is a form of cell death triggered by the innate immune system that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of sepsis and acute lung injury. At the cellular level, pyroptosis is characterized by cell swelling, membrane rupture, and release of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β. However, the role of endogenous lipids in pyroptosis remains underappreciated. We discovered that 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), a major endogenous product of lipid peroxidation, inhibited pyroptosis and inflammasome activation. HNE at physiological concentrations (3 µM) blocked nigericin and ATP-induced cell death, as well as secretion of IL-1β, by mouse primary macrophages and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Treatment with HNE, or an increase of endogenous HNE by inhibiting glutathione peroxidase 4, reduced inflammasome activation in mouse models of acute lung injury and sepsis. Mechanistically, HNE inhibited the NLRP3 inflammasome activation independently of Nrf2 and NF-κB signaling, and had no effect on the AIM2 inflammasome. Furthermore, HNE directly bound to NLRP3 and inhibited its interaction with NEK7. Our findings identify HNE as a novel, endogenous inhibitor of the NLRP3 inflammasome.
A multi-omics approach to visualize early neuronal differentiation in 4D
Authors: Samara Athina , Spildrejorde Mari , Sharma Ankush , Falck Martin , Leithaug Magnus , Modafferi Stefania , Bjørnstad Pål Marius , Acharya Ganesh , Gervin Kristina , Lyle Robert , Eskeland Ragnhild
Published: February 2022

Neuronal differentiation of pluripotent stem cells is an established method to study physiology, disease and medication safety. However, the sequence of events in human neuronal differentiation and the ability of in vitro models to recapitulate early brain development are poorly understood. We developed a protocol optimized for the study of early human brain development and neuropharmacological applications. We comprehensively characterized gene expression and epigenetic profiles at four timepoints, as the cells differentiate from embryonic stem cells towards a heterogenous population of progenitors, immature and mature neurons bearing telencephalic signatures. A multi-omics roadmap of neuronal differentiation, combined with searchable interactive gene analysis tools, allows for extensive exploration of early neuronal development and the effect of medications.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

Multi-omics charting a new neuronal differentiation protocol for human ES cells

Single-cell analyses reveals marker genes during neuronal differentiation

Identified transcriptional waves similar to early human brain development

Searchable tools to visualize single-cell gene expression and chromatin state

In Brief

We have developed a novel protocol for human embryonic stem cells to study neural induction and early neuronal differentiation. Multi-omics analyses uncovered cell populations, genes and transcriptional waves defining cell fate commitment. We comprehensively describe epigenetic landscapes and gene expression and provide searchable analysis tools for exploration of the data.
SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR testing of pooled saliva samples: a case study of 824 asymptomatic individuals and a questionnaire survey in Japan
Authors: Oba Junna , Taniguchi Hiroaki , Sato Masae , Takanashi Masaki , Yokemura Moe , Sato Yasunori , Nishihara Hiroshi
Published: February 2022

From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for diagnostic and screening tests has exceeded supply. Although the proportion of vaccinated people has increased in wealthier countries, breakthrough infections have occurred amid the emergence of new variants. Pooled-sample COVID-19 testing using saliva has been proposed as an efficient, inexpensive, and non-invasive method to allow larger-scale testing, especially in a screening setting. In this study, we aimed to evaluate pooled RT-qPCR saliva testing and to compare the results with individual tests.

Employees of Philips Japan, Ltd. were recruited to participate in COVID-19 screening from October to December 2020. Asymptomatic individuals (n=824) submitted self-collected saliva samples. Samples were tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR in both 10-sample pools and individual tests. We also surveyed participants regarding their thoughts and behaviors after the PCR screening project.

Two of the 824 individuals were positive by RT-qPCR. In the pooled testing, one of these two had no measurable Ct value, but showed an amplification trend at the end of the PCR cycle. Both positive individuals developed cold-like symptoms, but neither required hospitalization. Of the 824 participants, 471 responded to our online questionnaire. Overall, while respondents agreed that PCR screening should be performed regularly, the majority were willing to undergo PCR testing only when it was provided for free or at low cost.

In conclusion, pooled testing of saliva samples can support frequent large-scale screening that is rapid, efficient, and inexpensive.
Durability of Omicron-neutralizing serum activity following mRNA booster immunization in elderly individuals
Authors: Vanshylla Kanika , Tober-Lau Pinkus , Gruell Henning , Münn Friederike , Eggeling Ralf , Pfeifer Nico , Le N. Han , Landgraf Irmgard , Kurth Florian , Sander Leif E. , Klein Florian
Published: February 2022

Elderly individuals are at high risk for severe COVID-19. Due to modest vaccine responses compared to younger individuals and the time elapsed since prioritized vaccinations, the emerging immune-evasive Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is a particular concern for the elderly. Here we longitudinally determined SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing serum activity against different variants in a cohort of 37 individuals with a median age of 82 years. Participants were followed for 10 months after an initial two-dose BNT162b2 vaccination and up to 4.5 months after a BNT162b2 booster. Detectable Omicron-neutralizing activity was nearly absent after two vaccinations but elicited in 89% of individuals by the booster immunization. Neutralizing titers against the Wu01, Delta, and Omicron variants showed similar post-boost declines and 81% of individuals maintained detectable activity against Omicron. Our study demonstrates the mRNA booster effectiveness in inducing Omicron neutralizing activity and provides critical information on vaccine response durability in the highly vulnerable elderly population.
Replay in human visual cortex is linked to the formation of successor representations and independent of consciousness
Authors: Wittkuhn Lennart , Krippner Lena M. , Koch Christoph , Schuck Nicolas W.
Published: February 2022

Humans automatically infer higher-order relationships between events in the environment from their statistical co-occurrence, often without conscious awareness. Neural replay of task representations is a candidate mechanism by which the brain learns such relational information or samples from a learned model in the service of adaptive behavior. Here, we tested whether cortical reactivation is related to learning higher-order sequential relationships without consciousness. Human participants viewed sequences of images that followed probabilistic transitions determined by ring-like graph structures. Behavioral modeling revealed that participants acquired multi-step transition knowledge through gradual updating of an internal successor representation (SR) model, although half of participants did not indicate conscious knowledge about the sequential task structure. To investigate neural replay, we analyzed the temporal dynamics of multivariate functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) patterns during brief 10 seconds pauses from the ongoing statistical learning task. We found evidence for backward sequential replay of multi-step sequences in visual cortical areas. These findings indicate that implicit learning of higher-order relationships establishes an internal SR-based map of the task, and is accompanied by cortical on-task replay.
Management and ownership transfer in small and medium family farms
Authors: Wiatt Renee D. , Marshall Maria I. , Musselman Ryan
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study investigated the succession process in small and medium family farms as two distinct but related processes of management transfer and ownership transfer. Past studies focused on the broad subject of succession, without dissecting succession into the components that it contains. Furthermore, this study aimed to evaluate which business, family and owner characteristics were significant in the progress of each process toward the actual transfer of management and ownership.

Design/methodology/approach

Telephone interviews were conducted to gather information from rural family businesses in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. A bivariate ordered probit regression was utilized to model the processes of management and ownership transfer as separate but related processes. Both management transfer and ownership transfer were modeled utilizing three distinct stages of transfer.

Findings

Business and owner characteristics were significant to both management and ownership transfer, whereas family characteristics only influenced ownership transfer. Farm family businesses that discussed goals, identified a successor and were educated on how to start the transfer process were more likely to have made progress in both management and ownership transfer.

Originality/value

The authors contribute empirically to the literature by modeling the components of the succession process, management transfer and ownership transfer, as separate but interrelated processes. The authors specifically investigate which business, owner and family characteristics influence the progression of management and ownership transfer in farm family businesses.
Understanding influence of supply chain competencies when developing Triple-A
Authors: Huma Sehrish , Ahmed Waqar
Published: February 2022

Purpose

To be successful in the rapidly changing global business environment, supply chains (SCs) must be agile, adaptable and aligned (Lee, 2004), a practice known as Triple-A. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the dimensions of Triple-A SCs and their concurrent impact on all three Triple-A components.

Design/methodology/approach

The relationship among these factors is analyzed through Smart PLS-structured equation modeling (PLS-SEM) for which data have been collected from 243 SC professionals working in manufacturing organizations.

Findings

The findings of this study reveal that the relationship between visibility and adaptability are directly significant but that the negative relationship between velocity and alignment is insignificant; however, indirectly these relationships have a positive impact using the mediating effect of agility over visibility and adaptability, velocity and alignment. However, the relationship of flexibility over SC Triple-A is positively significant, visibility over agility and alignment is positively significant and velocity over agility and adaptability is also positively significant, and each impact agility over adaptability and adaptability over alignment which is significant.

Originality/value

There is a shortage of empirical studies to date that empirically provide evidence of possible relationships among Triple-A and its key dimensions when attempting to obtain Triple-A. This is the first authenticated Triple-A SC conceptual framework that provides direction to better understand the dimension and significance of Triple-A.
Local worker perspectives from Nicaraguan surf tourism: revisiting career anchors in non-standard work contexts
Authors: Mielly Michelle , Peticca-Harris Amanda
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This qualitative study explores, through the lens of Schein's (1978) career anchor theory, the internal career perceptions (self-perceived values, challenges and capabilities) of local surf workers in the highly internationalized sector of surf tourism in Nicaragua.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 22 local surf tourism workers. Participant experiences were analyzed using thematic analysis to distinguish their career anchor orientations.

Findings

The results indicate the sustained value and instrumentality of Schein's original career anchor theory, specifically in terms of the interconnectedness of dominant and supporting anchors and the relevance of anchor groupings for workers in non-standard working environments. The anchors of lifestyle, entrepreneurial creativity, and security and stability were closely interrelated and complementary, as participants from this context were ultimately striving for security and stability.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should consider more explicitly the role of the socio-political, environmental or economic context in shaping the internal career self-concepts and experiences of workers.

Practical implications

This study sheds light on the internal career drivers — the unique dilemmas, challenges, passions and motives — of local workers in a resource-constrained environment. Managers, business owners and other economic actors stand to gain important insights into the realities of workers they employ, but do not intimately understand. Such insights could be generalizable to a variety of work settings in which there are high material, social or cultural constraints.

Social implications

Non-standard work contexts and local worker voices are both thematically underrepresented in the careers scholarship. Research on these topics can contribute to broader discussions of sustainability, sustainable development goals and decolonial perspectives in social science scholarship. Bringing local workers from the Global South into view means turning scholarly attention towards less-visible “others” working alongside those having received the lion's share of academic discussion, i.e. expatriate workers on a global assignment or self-initiated expatriates, most often from the Global North.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to explore the career anchors of local workers in the Global South in a non-standard, non-bureaucratic vocational setting. The study sheds light on local workers' career decisions, an often-neglected perspective within international human resource management.
Coronavirus research performance across journal quartiles. Advantages of Q1 publications
Authors: Shehatta Ibrahim , Al-Rubaish Abdullah M_ , Qureshi Inaam Ullah
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the share of coronavirus publications and its citation-based indicators in various journal impact factor quartiles to discover their relationship and analyze the advantages of Q1 publications.

Design/methodology/approach

Bibliometric analyses of world coronavirus research publications (articles and reviews) indexed in Web of Science database over 20 years among four journal quartiles were performed.

Findings

The publication and citation shares in various journal quartiles were decreased in the following order: Q1 > Q2 > Q3 > Q4. World coronavirus publications/citations share in Q1 journals were on average 1.78/4.18, 2.75/7.90 and 5.07/27.79 times greater than Q2, Q3 and Q4 publications, respectively. Moreover, similar patterns were obtained for various research performance dimensions: impact, excellence, corporate interest and funding indicators. These indicators of Q1 publications were much better than the corresponding values for world overall and infectious disease literature. Thus, there was a clear research performance advantage of Q1 coronavirus publications.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study analyzing the journal impact factor quartiles and its impact on coronavirus research performance. The results/findings of this study are useful for many stakeholders to enhance the research influence by considering journal impact factor quartiles especially Q1 journals.
Customer experience in digital banking: a review and future research directions
Authors: Chauhan Shilpa , Akhtar Asif , Gupta Ashish
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study aims to demonstrate digital banking’s influence on customers’ evaluation of service experience and develop a framework identifying the most significant variables of digital banking that influence the financial performance of banks.

Design/methodology/approach

This structured review of literature, guided with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses framework, takes a digital banking perspective to identify 88 articles published between 2001 and 2021, examining distinct aspects of digital banking and their impact on financial performance.

Findings

Customer experience (CE) is determined by functional clues (functional quality, trust and convenience), mechanic clues (website attributes, website design, perceived usability) and humanic clues (customer complaint handling). The study is furthered to combine CE with the service profit chain model. This study also fills the gap to understand the use of “gamification” in technology-driven banking services to enhance CE. Finally, an integrative framework is proposed to link technology-related factors (digital banking clues and gamification), customer-related factors (CE, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty) and performance-related factors (financial performance).

Practical implications

The study conceptualises a “total” CE framework that banks can use to enhance their online presence. Banking service providers could also analyse their financial results based on digital banking’s impact on customers. Besides, banks can use this framework to strategically place “game-like features” in their digital platforms.

Originality/value

This study attempts to significantly contribute to the digital marketing literature related to CE with banks. It is one of the first studies to determine gamification explicitly in banking literature.
Information source and content: articulating two key concepts for information evaluation
Authors: Vamanu Iulian , Zak Elizabeth
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Learning how to identify and avoid inaccurate information, especially disinformation, is essential for any informational consumer. Many information literacy tools specify criteria that can help users evaluate information more efficiently and effectively. However, the authors of these tools do not always agree on which criteria should be emphasized, what they mean or why they should be included in the tool. This study aims to clarify two such criteria (source credibility and soundness of content), which evolutionary cognitive psychology research emphasize. This paper uses them as a basis for building a question-based evaluation tool and draws implications for information literacy programs.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on cross-disciplinary scholarship (in library and information science, evolutionary cognitive psychology and rhetoric studies) to explore 15 approaches to information evaluation which conceptualizes source credibility and content soundness, two markers of information accuracy. This paper clarifies these two concepts, builds two sets of questions meant to elicit empirical indicators of information accuracy and deploys them against a recent piece of journalism which embeds a conspiracy theory about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper shows how the two standards can help us determine that the article is misleading. This paper draws implications for information literacy programs.

Findings

The meanings of and relationships between source credibility and content soundness often diverge across the 15 approaches to information evaluation this paper analyzed. Conceptual analysis allowed the authors to articulate source credibility in terms of authority and trustworthiness, and content soundness in terms of plausibility and evidential support. These conceptualizations allow the authors to formulate two respective sets of appropriate questions, the answers to which are meant to function as empirical indicators for the two standards. Deploying this instrument provides us with the opportunity to understand why a certain article discussing COVID-19 is misleading.

Originality/value

By articulating source credibility and content soundness as the two key criteria for evaluating information, together with guiding questions meant to elicit empirical indicators for them, this paper streamlines the process through which information users can judge the likelihood that a piece of information they encounter is accurate.
Low velocity impact study of a sandwich beams using Ritz method and finite element modelling
Authors: Ali Ali Mohammed , Jasim Manar Hamid , Al-Kasob Bashar Dheyaa Hussein
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an applied method to design the low-speed contact between a mass and surface of a beam using an analytical solution based on the first-order shear deformation beam theory. Also, a simulation of impact process is carried out by ABAQUS finite element (FE) code.

Design/methodology/approach

In theoretical formulation, first strains and stresses are obtained, then kinetic and potential energies are written, and using a combination of Ritz and Lagrange methods, a set of system of motion equations in the form of mass, stiffness and force matrices is obtained. Finally, the motion equations are solved using Runge–Kutta fourth order method.

Findings

The von Mises stress contours at the impact point and contact force from the ABAQUS simulation are illustrated and it is revealed that the theoretical solution is in good agreement with the FE code. The effect of changes in projectile speed, projectile diameter and projectile mass on the results is carefully examined with particular attention to evaluate histories of the impact force and beam recess. One of the important results is that changes in projectile speed have a greater effect on the results than changes in projectile diameter, and also changes in projectile mass have the least effect.

Originality/value

This paper presents a combination of methods of energy, Ritz and Lagrange and also FE code to simulate the problem of sandwich beams under low velocity impact.
A Nash bargaining game data envelopment analysis model for measuring efficiency of dynamic multi-period network structures
Authors: Gazori-Nishabori Arezoo , Khalili-Damghani Kaveh , Hafezalkotob Ashkan
Published: February 2022

Purpose

A Nash bargaining game data envelopment analysis (NBG-DEA) model is proposed to measure the efficiency of dynamic multi-period network structures. This paper aims to propose NBG-DEA model to measure the performance of decision-making units with complicated network structures.

Design/methodology/approach

As the proposed NBG-DEA model is a non-linear mathematical programming, finding its global optimum solution is hard. Therefore, meta-heuristic algorithms are used to solve non-linear optimization problems. Fortunately, the NBG-DEA model optimizes the well-formed problem, so that it can be solved by different non-linear methods including meta-heuristic algorithms. Hence, a meta-heuristic algorithm, called particle swarm optimization (PSO) is proposed to solve the NBG-DEA model in this paper. The case study is Industrial Management Institute (IMI), which is a leading organization in providing consulting management, publication and educational services in Iran. The sub-processes of IMI are considered as players where their pay-off is defined as the efficiency of sub-processes. The network structure of IMI is studied during multiple periods.

Findings

The proposed NBG-DEA model is applied to measure the efficiency scores in the IMI case study. The solution found by the PSO algorithm, which is implemented in MATLAB software, is compared with that generated by a classic non-linear method called gradient descent implemented in LINGO software.

Originality/value

The experiments proved that suitable and feasible solutions could be found by solving the NBG-DEA model and shows that PSO algorithm solves this model in reasonable central process unit time.
Balconies during COVID-19 lockdown: exploring the change in patterns of use in Cairo
Authors: Khalil Marwa , Eissa Doha
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper questions the change in patterns of use of the balcony during lockdown. It investigates whether residents, specifically of apartment buildings in Cairo, used their balconies more frequently or for different activities during the lockdown.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted through a mixed methods approach. More specifically, a sequential explanatory design was adopted where quantitative data were collected at first followed by qualitative data collection. The study proceeded in two stages. First, an online questionnaire with 160 respondents was conducted to depict the change in the frequency and use patterns of balconies pre/post lockdown in Cairo. The respondents were approached through snowball sampling. Second, in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 participants, approached through convenience sampling, were done. The interviews aimed to provide interpretation and rationale for the responses, patterns and correlations identified from the questionnaire results.

Findings

The findings of this study confirm that there is a change in the pattern of use of balconies in terms of frequency and the types of hosted activities. The analysis revealed three key ideas that characterize those changes: the balcony as a found space, as a loose space and as a space of self-expression at home. It also expands on spatial qualities of balconies that promoted their use. The study emphasizes the significance of such outdoor private spaces in apartment buildings and puts forward balconies as an essential element of future dwellings design for the multiple benefits they behold.

Originality/value

The originality of the study stems from tackling such a timely and unprecedented situation, where still few studies investigating the relationship between pandemic and the architecture of homes have been conducted. Furthermore, this study focuses particularly on exploring the use of balconies in Cairo, one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East, during lockdown. Its findings might ultimately help formulate, define and characterize new trends in the architecture of homes that would embrace human needs in times of prosperity and rising tensions alike.
Social media usage and academic performance from a cognitive loading perspective
Authors: Hameed Irfan , Haq Mirza A. , Khan Najmonnisa , Zainab Bibi
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Social media has shown a substantial influence on the daily lives of students, mainly due to the overuse of smartphones. Students use social media both for academic and non-academic purposes. Due to an increase in the usage of social media, academicians are now confronting pedagogical issues, and the question arises as to whether the use of social media affects students’ performance or not. Considering this, this study aims to examine the role of social media usage on students’ academic performance in the light of cognitive load theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a quantitative research approach, 220 valid responses were received through an e-survey administered to university students. The proposed claims were tested through structural equation modeling using AMOS version 24.

Findings

Findings revealed that social media usage for non-academic purposes harmed students’ academic performance. Additionally, social media usage for academic purposes and social media multitasking did not affect students’ academic performance. Most importantly, social media self-control failure moderates the relationship between “social media usage for non-academic purposes” and students’ academic performance.

Practical implications

The findings of the study can be used by the academic policymakers of institutions and regulatory bodies.

Originality/value

The study suggests that teachers not only rely on using social media as a learning tool but also concentrate on improving student self-control over the use of social media through various traditional and non-traditional activities, such as online readings, group discussions, roleplays and classroom presentations.
A single bout of exhaustive treadmill exercise increased AMPK activation associated with enhanced autophagy in mice skeletal muscle
Authors: Wang Ping , Li Chun Guang , Zhou Xian , Cui Di , Ouyang Ting , Chen Weikai , Ding Shuzhe
Published: February 2022

Previous studies reported inconsistent findings on autophagy activation in skeletal muscles after acute exercise. In this study, we investigated the effect of a single bout of exhaustive treadmill exercise on AMPK and autophagy activations in mice gastrocnemius muscle in vivo. Male ICR/CD‐1 mice were randomly divided into the control and exercise groups. The later was subjected to a single bout of exhaustive treadmill exercise. Changes of AMPK, phosphorylation of AMPKThr172(pAMPKThr172), and autophagy markers including Beclin1, LC3II/LC3I and p62 mRNA and protein expressions in gastrocnemius muscle at different times (0, 6, 12, 24 h) after the exercise were analysed by quantitative real‐time PCR and western blot. Our results demonstrated that a single bout of exhaustive treadmill exercise significantly induced AMPK content and AMPK activity at 0, 6 and 12 h after the exercise, and changed the expressions of autophagy markers at different time points in the recovery period, respectively. Moreover, we observed positive correlations between expressions of LC3II/LC3I ratio and pAMPKThr172or AMPK, and a negative correlation between expressions of p62 and AMPK or pAMPKThr172. In conclusion, a single bout of exhaustive treadmill exercise in mice caused a prolonged activation of AMPK and improved autophagy in the gastrocnemius muscle. The regulation of autophagic markers were related to enhanced AMPK activity. The findings indicate that acute exercise enhanced AMPK‐related autophagy activation may be the underlying molecular mechanism that regulates cellular energy metabolism during exercise.
Back to our roots: exploring the role of root morphology as a mediator of beneficial plant–microbe interactions
Authors: Herms Courtney Horn , Hennessy Rosanna Catherine , Bak Frederik , Dresbøll Dorte Bodin , Nicolaisen Mette Haubjerg
Published: February 2022

Plant breeding for belowground traits that have a positive impact on the rhizosphere microbiome is a promising strategy to sustainably improve crop yields. Root architecture and morphology are understudied plant breeding targets despite their potential to significantly shape microbial community structure and function in the rhizosphere. In this review, we explore the relationship between various root architectural and morphological traits and rhizosphere interactions, focusing on the potential of root diameter to impact the rhizosphere microbiome structure and function while discussing the potential biological and ecological mechanisms underpinning this process. In addition, we propose three future research avenues to drive this research area in an effort to unravel the effect of belowground traits on rhizosphere microbiology. This knowledge will pave the way for new plant breeding strategies that can be exploited for sustainable and high‐yielding crop cultivars.