bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-manic effect of deep brain stimulation of the ventral tegmental area in an animal model of mania induced by methamphetamine
Authors: Varela Roger B. , Boschen Suelen L. , Yates Nathanael , Houghton Tristan , Blaha Charles D. , Lee Kendall H. , Bennet Kevin E. , Kouzani Abbas Z. , Berk Michael , Quevedo João , Valvassori Samira S. , Tye Susannah J.
Published: July 2023

Background

Treatment of refractory bipolar disorder (BD) is extremely challenging. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) holds promise as an effective treatment intervention. However, we still understand very little about the mechanisms of DBS and its application on BD.

Aim

The present study aimed to investigate the behavioural and neurochemical effects of ventral tegmental area (VTA) DBS in an animal model of mania induced by methamphetamine (m-amph).

Methods

Wistar rats were given 14 days of mamph injections, in the last day animals were submitted to 20 minutes of VTA DBS in two different patterns: intermittent low frequency stimulation (LFS) or continuous high frequency stimulation (HFS). Immediately after DBS, manic-like behaviour and nucleus accumbens (NAc) phasic dopamine (DA) release were evaluated in different groups of animals through open-field test and fast-scan cyclic voltammetry. Levels of NAc dopaminergic markers were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.

Results

M-amph induced hyperlocomotion in the animals and both DBS parameters reversed this alteration. Mamph increased DA reuptake time post-sham compared to baseline levels, and both LFS and HFS were able to block this alteration. LFS was also able to reduce phasic DA release when compared to baseline. LFS was able to increase dopamine transporter (DAT) expression in the NAc.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate that both VTA LFS and HFS DBS exert anti-manic effects and modulation of DA dynamics in the NAc. More specifically the increase in DA reuptake driven by increased DAT expression may serve as a potential mechanism by which VTA DBS exerts its anti-manic effects.
Functional consequences of shifting transcript boundaries in glucose starvation
Authors: Nguyen Lan Anh Catherine , Mori Masaru , Yasuda Yuji , Galipon Josephine
Published: July 2023

Glucose is a major source of carbon and essential for the survival of many organisms, ranging from yeast to human. A sudden 60-fold reduction of glucose in exponentially growing fission yeast induces transcriptome-wide changes in gene expression. This regulation is multilayered, and the boundaries of transcripts are known to vary, with functional consequences at the protein level. By combining direct RNA sequencing with 5’-CAGE and short-read sequencing, we accurately defined the 5’- and 3’-ends of transcripts that are both poly(A) tailed and 5’-capped in glucose starvation, followed by proteome analysis. Our results confirm previously experimentally validated loci with alternative isoforms and reveal several transcriptome-wide patterns. First, we show that sense-antisense gene pairs are more strongly anti-correlated when a time lag is taken into account. Secondly, we show that the glucose starvation response initially elicits a shortening of 3’-UTRs and poly(A) tails, followed by a shortening of the 5’-UTRs at later time points. These result in domain gains and losses in proteins involved in the stress response. Finally, the relatively poor overlap both between differentially expressed genes (DEGs), differential transcript usage events (DTUs), and differentially detected proteins (DDPs) highlight the need for further study on post-transcriptional regulation mechanisms in glucose starvation.
The NAD+Precursor Nicotinamide Riboside Rescues Mitochondrial Defects and Neuronal Loss in iPSC derived Cortical Organoid of Alpers’ Disease
Authors: Hong Yu , Zhang Zhuoyuan , Yangzom Tsering , Chen Anbin , Lundberg Bjørn Christian , Fang Evandro Fei , Sullivan Gareth John , Tzoulis Charalampos , Bindoff Laurence A. , Liang Kristina Xiao
Published: July 2023

Alpers’ syndrome is an early-onset neurodegenerative disorder usually caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the gene encoding the catalytic subunit of polymerase-gamma (POLG), which is essential for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication. The disease is progressive, incurable, and inevitably it leads to death from drug-resistant status epilepticus. The neurological features of Alpers’ syndrome are intractable epilepsy and developmental regression, with no effective treatment; the underlying mechanisms are still elusive, partially due to lack of good experimental models. Here, we generated the patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells from one Alpers’ patient carrying the compound heterozygous mutations of A467T (c.1399G>A) and P589L (c.1766C>T), and further differentiated them into cortical organoids and neural stem cells (NSCs) for mechanistic studies of neural dysfunction in Alpers’ syndrome. Patient cortical organoids exhibited a phenotype that faithfully replicated the molecular changes found in patient postmortem brain tissue, as evidenced by cortical neuronal loss and depletion of mtDNA and complex I (CI). Patient NSCs showed mitochondrial dysfunction leading to ROS overproduction and downregulation of the NADH pathway. More importantly, the NAD+precursor nicotinamide riboside (NR) significantly ameliorated mitochondrial defects in patient brain organoids. Our findings demonstrate that the iPSC model and brain organoids are goodin vitromodels of Alpers’ disease; this first-in-its-kind stem cell platform for Alpers’ syndrome enables therapeutic exploration and has identified NR as a viable drug candidate for Alpers’ disease and, potentially, other mitochondrial diseases with similar causes.
Automated escape system: identifying prey’s kinematic and behavioral features critical for predator evasion
Authors: Sunami Nozomi , Kimura Hibiki , Ito Hidechika , Hashimoto Koichi , Sato Yuta , Tachibana Soki , Hidaka Mikiya , Miyama Kouki , Watanabe Hirofumi , Kawabata Yuuki
Published: July 2023

Identifying the kinematic and behavioral variables of prey that influence the evasion from predator attacks is essential not only for comprehending the determinants of successful predator evasion but also for shedding light on the evolution of specific traits and the dynamics of predator-prey relationships on a larger scale. However, quantifying the relationship between these variables and the success or failure of predator evasion is challenging, particularly for variables with small variations within prey species. One promising approach to address this challenge is the use of a simulated prey system, which allows us to manipulate the kinematic and behavioral features of prey and expose them to real predators. Nevertheless, creating a system that moves comparably to real prey animals remains difficult, especially for invertebrate and lower vertebrate species that respond quickly to predators and escape rapidly.

In this study, we have developed an automated escape system that is comparable to real prey species, responding to a predator within tens of milliseconds and escaping at over 1.0 m/s. The system automatically detects an approaching predator and pulls the prey away from the predator once the predator reaches a predetermined threshold distance. Reaction distance, response latency, as well as escaping speed, duration, and direction can be adjusted in the system.

By repeatedly measuring the response latency and escaping speed of the system, we demonstrated the system’s ability to exhibit fast and rapid responses while maintaining consistency across successive trials. As a case study, we manipulated the escape speed and reaction distance of the prey to expose them to a predatory fish,Coreoperca kawamebari. The results show that both variables significantly affect the outcome of predator-prey interactions.

These findings indicate that the developed escape system is useful for identifying kinematic and behavioral features of prey that are critical for predator evasion. Moreover, due to its relatively low cost and customizability, we propose that this system can be applied to investigate various aspects of animal behaviors (e.g., eliciting escape responses by artificial stimuli) in different animal species.
A simplified femtosecond laser repetition frequency divider for two-photon imaging
Authors: Tang Shiming
Published: July 2023

We present a simplified femtosecond laser frequency divider designed to divide the repetition frequency of an 80 MHz laser pulse into a 40 MHz laser pulse using a resonant model Pockels cell. The simplified driving electronics include a commercially obtainable frequency divider, power amplifier and impedance transformer, which can be easily assembled in a laboratory. By simply integrating this device into a conventional two-photon imaging system, we observed a two-fold increase in two-photon excitation efficiency and imaging intensity, while maintaining the same average excitation laser power.
Fusion of histone variants to Cas9 enhances homology-directed repair
Authors: Kato-Inui Tomoko , Ono Terumi , Miyaoka Yuichiro
Published: July 2023

As a versatile genome editing tool, the CRISPR-Cas9 system induces DNA double-strand breaks at targeted sites to activate mainly two DNA repair pathways: HDR which allows precise editing via recombination with a homologous template DNA, and NHEJ which connects two ends of the broken DNA, which is often accompanied by random insertions and deletions. Therefore, how to enhance HDR while suppressing NHEJ is a key to successful applications that require precise genome editing. Histones are small proteins with a lot of basic amino acids that generate electrostatic affinity to DNA. Since H2A.X is involved in DNA repair processes, we fused H2A.X to Cas9 and found that this fusion protein could improve the HDR/NHEJ ratio. As various post-translational modifications of H2A.X play roles in the regulation of DNA repair, we also fused H2A.X mimicry variants to replicate these post-translational modifications including phosphorylation, methylation, and acetylation. However, none of them were effective to improve the HDR/NHEJ ratio. We further fused other histone variants to Cas9 and found that H2A.1 exhibited the improved HDR/NHEJ ratio better than H2A.X. Thus, the fusion of histone variants to Cas9 is a promising option to enhance precise genome editing.
BRD4 directs mitotic cell division by inhibiting DNA damage
Authors: Wu Tiyun , Hou Haitong , Dey Anup , Bachu Mahesh , Chen Xiongfong , Wisniewski Jan , Kudoh Fuki , Chen Chao , Chauhan Sakshi , Xiao Hua , Pan Richard , Ozato Keiko
Published: July 2023

BRD4 binds to acetylated histones to regulate transcription and drive cancer cell proliferation. However, the role of BRD4 in normal cell growth remains to be elucidated. Here we investigated the question by using mouse embryonic fibroblasts with conditional Brd4 knockout (KO). We found that Brd4KO cells grow more slowly than wild type cells: they do not complete replication, fail to achieve mitosis, and exhibit extensive DNA damage throughout all cell cycle stages. BRD4 was required for expression of more than 450 cell cycle genes including genes encoding core histones and centromere/kinetochore proteins that are critical for genome replication and chromosomal segregation. Moreover, we show that many genes controlling R-loop formation and DNA damage response (DDR) require BRD4 for expression. Finally, BRD4 constitutively occupied genes controlling R-loop, DDR and cell cycle progression. We suggest that BRD4 epigenetically marks those genes and serves as a master regulator of normal cell growth.
The Symptomatology and Diagnosis of Domoic Acid Toxicosis in Stranded California Sea Lions: A Review and Evaluation of 20 Years of Cases to Guide Prognosis
Authors: McClain Abby M. , Field Cara L. , Norris Tenaya A. , Borremans Benny , Duignan Pádraig J. , Johnson Shawn P. , Whoriskey Sophie T. , Thompson-Barbosa Lorraine , Gulland Frances M. D.
Published: July 2023

Domoic acid (DA) is a glutaminergic excitatory neurotoxin that causes morbidity and mortality of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus; CSL) and other marine mammals due to a suite of effects mostly on the nervous and cardiac systems. Between 1998 and 2019, 11,737 live-stranded CSL were admitted to The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC; Sausalito, CA, USA), over 2,000 of which were intoxicated by DA. A plethora of clinical research has been performed over the past 20 years to characterize the range of toxic effects of DA exposure on CSLs, generating the largest dataset on the effects of natural exposure to this toxin in wildlife. Here we review published methods for diagnosing DA intoxication, clinical presentation and treatment of DA-intoxicated CSL, and present a practical, reproducible scoring system called the neuroscore (NS) to help assess whether a DA-affected CSL is fit for release to the wild following rehabilitation. The largest proportion of DA-intoxicated CSL were adult females (58.6%). The proportions of acute and chronic cases were 63.5% and 36.5%, respectively, with 44% of affected CSL released and 56% either dying naturally or euthanized. The average time in rehabilitation was 15.9 days (range 0-169) for all outcomes. Logistic regression models were used to assess the relationships between outcome (released vs. euthanized or died) and multiple variables to predict the outcome for a subset of 92 stranded CSLs. The best performing model (85% prediction accuracy; area under the curve = 0.90) consisted of four variables: final NS, change in NS over time, whether the animal began eating in rehabilitation, and the state of nutrition on admission. These results suggest that a behavioral scoring system is a useful tool to assess the fitness for release of stranded DA-intoxicated CSL.
Integration of human organoids single-cell transcriptomic profiles and human genetics repurposes critical cell type-specific drug targets for severe COVID-19
Authors: Ma Yunlong , Zhou Yijun , Jiang Dingping , Dai Wei , Li Jingjing , Deng Chunyu , Chen Cheng , Zheng Gongwei , Zhang Yaru , Qiu Fei , Sun Haojun , Xing Shilai , Han Haijun , Qu Jia , Wu Nan , Yao Yinghao , Su Jianzhong
Published: July 2023

Human organoids recapitulate the cell type diversity and function of their primary organs holding tremendous potentials for basic and translational research. Advances in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology and genome-wide association study (GWAS) have accelerated the biological and therapeutic interpretation of trait-relevant cell types or states. Here, we constructed a computational framework to integrate atlas-level organoid scRNA-seq data, GWAS summary statistics, expression quantitative trait loci, and gene-drug interaction data for distinguishing critical cell populations and drug targets relevant to COVID-19 severity. We found that 39 cell types across eight kinds of organoids were significantly associated with COVID-19 outcomes. Notably, subset of lung mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) increased proximity with fibroblasts predisposed to repair COVID-19-damaged lung tissue. Brain endothelial cell subset exhibited significant associations with severe COVID-19, and this cell subset showed a notable increase in cell-to-cell interactions with other brain cell types, including microglia. We repurposed 33 druggable genes, includingIFNAR2,TYK2, andVIPR2, and their interacting drugs for COVID-19 in a cell-type-specific manner. Overall, our results showcase that host genetic determinants have cellular specific contribution to COVID-19 severity, and identification of cell type-specific drug targets may facilitate to develop effective therapeutics for treating severe COVID-19 and its complications.
Creatine supplementation for optimisation of physical function in the patient at risk of functional disability: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Davies TW , Watson N , Pilkington JJ , McClelland TJ , Azzopardi G , Pearse RM , Prowle J , Puthucheary Z
Published: July 2023

Background

The efficacy of creatine replacement through supplementation for the optimisation of physical function in the population at risk of functional disability is unclear.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and CINAHL until November 2022. Studies included were randomised controlled trials comparing the use of creatine supplementation with placebo in older adults and adults with chronic disease. The primary outcome was physical function measured by the sit-to-stand test after pooling data using random effects modelling. We also performed a Bayesian meta-analysis to describe the treatment effect in probability terms. Secondary outcomes included other measures of physical function, muscle function and body composition. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool.

Results

We identified 33 RCTs, comprising 1076 participants. From 6 trials reporting the primary outcome, the pooled standardised mean difference was 0.51 (95% CI 0.01 to 1.00; I =62%; p=0.04); using weakly informative priors, the posterior probability that creatine supplementation improves physical function was 66.7%. Upper body muscle strength (SMD 0.25, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.44; I =0%; p=0.01), handgrip strength (SMD 0.23, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.45; I =0%; p=0.04) and lean tissue mass (MD 1.08kg; 95% CI 0.77 to 1.38; I =26%; p<0.01) improved with creatine supplementation. The quality of evidence for all outcomes was low or very low due to a high risk of bias.

Conclusion

Creatine supplementation improves sit-to-stand performance, muscle function and lean tissue mass. It is crucial to conduct high-quality prospective RCTs to confirm these hypotheses (Prospero number, CRD42023354929).
A Study of Patients undergoing Trigger Finger Release Surgery in a Primary Care setting – Organisational Capabilities, Outcomes and Benefits
Authors: Rizvi Fahad , Rong Ryan Chen Wei , Ethan Kong Amos , Pui Joshua Wong Chun , Khambhayata Neal , Arya Dhriti , Kapasi Tariq , Wilson Philippe B.
Published: July 2023

Background

Trigger finger is a common hand condition in which a finger is unable to fully extend due to a thickening of the tendon and its sheath, causing the finger to lock in a bent position.

Aim

To assess the viability of carrying out Trigger Finger surgeries in NHS primary care in terms of clinician and patient acceptance, experience and outcomes, and operational requirements of this service for wider application.

Design and Setting

In this study, a total of 214 Trigger Finger Release Surgery procedures carried out between 22nd August 2019 and 25th October 2022 by a single hand surgeon in a single Primary Care surgery in Leicester, United Kingdom.

Methods

Data were analysed using data from SystemOne, which is a patient database linked with the National Health Service (NHS).

Results and Conclusion

Herein, we identify the opportunity to significantly reduce pressures on secondary care orthopaedic referrals as well as offer patients faster and effective surgical treatment within a primary care setting utilising far less NHS resources.

How this fits in

There are huge challenges in addressing long orthopaedic waiting lists in UK secondary care, therefore these can be alleviated by completing standard and non-complex cases by qualified surgeons in the primary care sector. We describe a clinic set-up including operational requirements and positive patient outcomes for Trigger Finger surgeries carried out within a primary care network in Leicester, UK.
Effects of Covering Mature Avocado ‘Pinkerton’ Trees with High-Density Shading Nets during Cold Winters on Microclimate, Chlorophyll Fluorescence, Flowering and Yield
Authors: Rubinovich Lior , Sofer-Arad Carmit , Chernoivanov Simon , Szenes Nitzan
Published: July 2023

Avocado (Persea americanaMill.) is a subtropical fruit tree of high commercial value with increasing global demand. Most avocado cultivars are vulnerable to cold climates, which may reduce yields and restrict their geographical expansion. This includes the green-skinned avocado cv. Pinkerton, which accounts for 45% of the avocado cultivated in northeastern Israel. Shading nets can protect agricultural crops from cold environments. We therefore evaluated the effect of covering mature ‘Pinkerton’ trees with high-density shading nets during the winter. Trees were covered with Silver-coloured 50% or 70% shading nets during three consecutive winters, while uncovered trees served as controls. Photosynthetically active radiation in plots covered with the Silver 50% or 70% nets was significantly lower than for the control by 52% and 90%, respectively. Minimum air temperature was similar between treatments. Maximum air temperature was generally lower under the shading nets compared to the control. The ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence (Fv/Fm) measured in February 2019 and 2020 was 0.72 and 0.8 in the control trees, 0.79 and 0.83 in the Silver 50% trees and 0.81 and 0.84 in the Silver 70% trees, respectively. Flowering intensity was lower in the net-covered trees compared to the control, by up to 42%. Interestingly, the three-year average yield of trees covered with the Silver 50% or 70% nets was insignificantly higher by 27% and 38%, respectively, compared to the control trees. These results suggest that the reduction of daytime solar irradiance in the winter by the shading nets may mitigate cold stress and increase yield. Additional long-term studies should examine the effects of shading nets and other shading strategies on different avocado cultivars.
The biodiversity of eukaryotes in Bambara groundnut rhizosphere
Authors: Ajilogba CF , Gaebee L , Mothupi T , Babalola OO
Published: July 2023

Bambara groundnut has been observed to resist pest and drought, and still able to produce enormous yield when cultivated on poor soil. The advantages of the crop to farmers includes the fact that it produces enormous yield with very low agricultural input. The aim of the present study was to determine the taxonomic and microbial diversity, and identification of eukaryotic organisms in Bambara groundnut rhizosphere using microbiomeanalyst platform. A total of ten soil samples corresponding to the different growth stages were collected from Bambara groundnut rhizosphere over interval period of 4 weeks at North-West University agricultural farm, Mafikeng campus. These samples were assessed for the presence of eukaryotic organisms through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene. Metagenomics analysis using culture-independent technique (next generation sequencing (NGS)) by Paired end illumina-Miseq ™ technology sequencing with the prospect of discovering novel eukaryotes with plant growth promoting features was used. Statistical analysis was carried out to profile and confirm identities of detected organisms.

Fifty-nine (59) features were detected from the 10 samples by microbiomeanalyst under data normalization and data cleaning. Taxonomic analysis showed that, 69% of the eukaryotes in the samples were Peronosporales while Thalassiosiraceae and others were 30% and 1% respectively. There was profound variance difference in the rhizosphere microbiome mainly at the OTU level which largely attributed to those taxa most strongly depleted by the plant.Thalassiosira pseudonana, which is a centric diatom found in marine environment was observed in this study. This is the first time so far thatT. pseudonanais observed in plants’ rhizosphere and its ability to withstand harsh environmental variation might contribute to the ability of Bambara groundnut to be able to withstand drought, pests and diseases.
Recent land use and land cover pressures on Iberian peatlands
Authors: Fernandes Raquel , Geraldes Miguel , Marchante Elizabete , Durán Jorge , Capinha César
Published: July 2023

Iberian peatlands have been severely affected by land use and land cover (LULC) changes. Despite these pressures, some peatlands persist in the region, although their susceptibility to LULC change remains poorly understood. This study presents the most detailed and extensive distribution data for Iberian peatlands to date and analyzes the dynamics and drivers of LULC in Iberian peatlands and their surrounding areas. We compiled peatland records from various sources and used Corine Land Cover Change layers to determine LULC shifts for 1990, 2000, 2006, 2012, and 2018. Environmental and socioeconomic variables were used to create Boosted Regression Tree models explaining spatial variations in the mean percentage of changed area. Analysis of 270 peatland locations in the Iberian Peninsula revealed that forests and seminatural areas constituted over 80% of the peatland’s surroundings. Agricultural areas expanded the most, except between 2006 and 2012 when the artificial areas showed more gains. While most areas experienced an average change of 0%-9.51% of the total area, between 1990 and 2018, lowland peatlands (littoral and sublittoral) suffered more intense changes (9.51% to 38.43%). Our models showed that only elevation and agricultural area density were relevant predictors of spatial distribution changes. Upland Iberian peatlands showed lower susceptibility to LULC changes, while lowland peatlands underwent remarkable transformations. This study substantially expands previous knowledge about the distribution and conservation needs of these ecosystems in the Iberian Peninsula, especially those in littoral and sublittoral lowlands.
A single genetic locus lengthens deer mouse burrows via motor pattern evolution
Authors: Harringmeyer Olivia S. , Hu Caroline K. , Metz Hillery C. , Mihelic Eris L. , Rosher Charlie , Sanguinetti-Scheck Juan I. , Hoekstra Hopi E.
Published: July 2023

The question of how evolution builds complex behaviors has long fascinated biologists. To address this question from a genetic perspective, we capitalize on variation in innate burrowing behavior between two sister species ofPeromyscusmice:P. maniculatusthat construct short, simple burrows andP. polionotusthat uniquely construct long, elaborate burrows. We identify three regions of the genome associated with differences in burrow length and then narrow in on one large-effect 12-Mb locus on chromosome 4. By introgressing theP. polionotusallele into aP. maniculatusbackground, we demonstrate this locus, on its own, increases burrow length by 20%. Next, by recording mice digging in a transparent tube, we find this locus has specific effects on burrowing behavior. This locus does not affect time spent digging or latency to dig, but rather affects usage of only two of the primary digging behaviors that differ between the focal species: forelimb digging, which loosens substrate, and hindlimb kicking, which powerfully ejects substrate. This locus has an especially large effect on hindkicking, explaining 56% and 22% of interspecific differences in latency and proportion of hindkicks, respectively. Together, these data provide genetic support for the hierarchical organization of complex behaviors, offering evolution the opportunity to tinker with specific behavioral components.
Nuclear mRNPs are compact particles packaged with a network of proteins promoting RNA–RNA interactions
Authors: Bonneau Fabien , Basquin Jérôme , Steigenberger Barbara , Schäfer Tillman , Schäfer Ingmar B. , Conti Elena
Published: July 2023

Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) are at the center of the central dogma of molecular biology. In eukaryotic cells, these long ribonucleic acid polymers do not exist as naked transcripts; rather, they associate with mRNA-binding proteins to form messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complexes. Recently, global proteomic and transcriptomic studies have provided comprehensive inventories of mRNP components. However, knowledge of the molecular features of distinct mRNP populations has remained elusive. We purified endogenous nuclear mRNPs fromSaccharomyces cerevisiaeby harnessing the mRNP biogenesis factors THO and Sub2 in biochemical procedures optimized to preserve the integrity of these transient ribonucleoprotein assemblies. We found that these mRNPs are compact particles that contain multiple copies of Yra1, an essential protein with RNA-annealing properties. To investigate their molecular and architectural organization, we used a combination of proteomics, RNA sequencing, cryo-electron microscopy, cross-linking mass spectrometry, structural models, and biochemical assays. Our findings indicate that yeast nuclear mRNPs are packaged around an intricate network of interconnected proteins capable of promoting RNA–RNA interactions via their positively charged intrinsically disordered regions. The evolutionary conservation of the major mRNA-packaging factor (yeast Yra1 and Aly/REF in metazoans) points toward a general paradigm governing nuclear mRNP packaging.
Quantifying molecular deformation in polymer melts by a generalized Zimm plot approach
Authors: Lam Christopher N. , He Lilin , Do Changwoo , Chen Wei-Ren , Wang Weiyu , Hong Kunlun , Wang Yangyang
Published: July 2023

The Zimm plot has been widely used to characterize the molecular dimensions of polymers from small-angle scattering experiments, where the reciprocal intensity is analyzed as a function of the square of the magnitude of the scattering wavevector Q. This work explores the benefits of analyzing the reciprocal scattering intensity from deformed polymers, extending the original Zimm plot to anisotropic materials. In the small-angle limit, a tensorial extension of the Guinier law is found for the gyration tensor and the reciprocal single-chain structure factor. In the high-Q limit, application of the spherical harmonic expansion technique to the reciprocal structure factor permits direct model-independent analysis of spatially dependent molecular deformation of polymers. Additionally, the contributions from high-order spherical harmonics become insignificant in the reciprocal-intensity representation. The proposed generalized Zimm plot approach is demonstrated computationally with the affine deformation model and the Rouse model, and experimentally with small-angle neutron scattering measurements of deformed polystyrene melts.
Social media marketing in the digital age: empower consumers to win big?
Authors: Moedeen Sajjaad , Aw Eugene Cheng-Xi , Alryalat Mohammad , Wei-Han Tan Garry , Cham Tat-Huei , Ooi Keng-Boon , Dwivedi Yogesh K.
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to propose and test a research model outlining the chain effects of social media marketing activities (SMMA) on brand equity, encompassing the potential mediators of self-congruity, consumer empowerment and brand experience.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was conducted, and 241 valid responses were acquired. The data was submitted to Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), complemented by the artificial neural network (ANN) analysis.

Findings

The results revealed that SMMA can foster the development of self-congruity and consumer empowerment. These two psychological responses represent the key drivers to reinforce the positive brand experience and ultimately lead to brand equity. The sequential mediating effect was confirmed. The ANN analysis offered further insights into the ranking of variable importance.

Originality/value

The present study presents a breakthrough by taking into account the roles of self-congruity, consumer empowerment, brand experience simultaneously and assesses their sequential mediating roles in the linkage between SMMA and brand equity.
Do knowledge-oriented leadership and knowledge management capabilities help firms to stimulate ambidextrous innovation: moderating role of technological turbulence
Authors: Riaz Muhammad , Jie Wu , Ali Zulfiqar , Sherani Mrs , Yutong Liu
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Given the decisive role of knowledge-oriented leadership (KOL) in boosting organizational innovation capacities, the research intends to investigate the effect of KOL on ambidextrous innovation with the mediating effect of knowledge management capability (KMC). Furthermore, technological turbulence (TT) is regarded as a moderator in the relationship between KMC and ambidextrous innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The data obtained from 122 Pakistani manufacturing firms were used to evaluate the proposed relationships using the partial least square structural equation modeling approach.

Findings

The empirical findings demonstrate that KOL positively affects both aspects of ambidextrous innovation, namely exploitative innovation (EII) and exploratory innovation (ERI), with a higher effect on EII. Additionally, knowledge management process capability (KMPC) partially mediates the association between KOL and both dimensions of ambidextrous innovation (EII and ERI). Similarly, knowledge management infrastructure capability (KMIC) mediates the link between KOL and ERI but does not mediate the relationship between KOL and EII. The impacts of the KMPC and KMIC on EII are also significantly moderated by TT, although the link between the two components of the KMC (KMPC and KMIC) and ERI is unaffected.

Practical implications

The research provides useful knowledge and a novel strategy for policymakers to foster KOL and invest in KMC to improve the capabilities of Pakistani manufacturing firms in terms of innovation.

Originality/value

The research has contributed significantly to the resources-based view and knowledge-based view (KBV) literature by examining the various mediation moderation mechanisms and offering greater insights into the relationship between KOL and firms, KMC, and ambidextrous innovations.
Energy transition and pollution emissions in developing countries: are renewable energies guilty?
Authors: Achuo Elvis Dze , Ojong Nathanael
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effects of energy transition on pollution emissions in Africa. In addition, it explores the indirect channels through which energy consumption impacts environmental quality.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses system Generalised Method of Moments approach for a panel of 51 developing African countries over the 1996–2020 period.

Findings

The results show that fossil fuel and renewable energy consumption increase pollution emissions. The environment-degrading effect of renewable energy in Africa is however counter-intuitive, though the results are robust across regional economic blocks and income groups except for upper-middle-income countries where energy consumption is environment enhancing. Moreover, the results show that the environmental impacts of non-renewable energy consumption are modulated through financial development and information and communication technology (ICT) adoption, leading to respective positive net effects of 0.04460796 and 0.07682873. This is up to respective policy thresholds of 203.265 and 137.105 of financial development and ICT adoption, respectively, when the positive net effects are nullified.

Practical implications

Contingent on the results, the study suggests the need for African countries to develop sound financial systems and encourage the use of green technologies, to ensure that energy transition effectively contributes to emissions reduction. Policymakers in Africa should also be aware of the critical levels of financial development and ICT, beyond which complementary policies are required for non-renewable energy consumption to maintain a negative impact on environmental degradation.

Originality/value

Firstly, extant studies on the nexus between energy transition and environmental degradation in Africa are very sparse. Therefore, this study fills the existing research gap by comprehensively examining the effects of energy transition on pollution emissions across 51 African economies. Additionally, besides accounting for the direct environmental effects of energy transition, the current study accounts for the indirect channels through which the environmental impacts of energy transition are modulated. Hence, this study provides critical thresholds for the policy modulating variables, which enlighten policymakers on the necessity of designing complementary policies once the modulating variables attain the established thresholds.
Evaluating and improving the performance of retailers' branches by considering resilience, sustainability and sales-marketing
Authors: Aghakarimi Ehsan , Karimi Hamed , Aghsami Amir , Jolai Fariborz
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Considering the direct impact of retailers' performance on the economy, this paper aimed to propose a comprehensive framework to evaluate the performance of different branches of a retailer.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a case study, the weights of indicators were calculated by the best-worst method (BWM) and the branches' performance was appraised using data envelopment analysis (DEA).

Findings

The branches were ranked in terms of performance, and sensitivity analysis and statistical tests were conducted to realize the weaknesses and strengths of the branches. Then, some strategies were proposed using strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis to improve the performance of the weak branches.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to previous studies on the evaluation of retailers' performance by proposing a triple framework based on resilience, sustainability and sales-marketing indicators. This paper focused on branches' operations and branches' optimization by improving performance in terms of these three indicators. This paper also offers a qualitative and quantitative analysis of retailers' performance, which has received less attention in previous studies.
The carbon footprint at quality and environmental university consortium – QualEnv
Authors: Fuchs Paulo Guilherme , Honorato Filho Manoel , da Silva Liziane Araújo , Dutra Ana Regina Aguiar , Guerra José Baltazar Salgueirinho Osório de Andrade
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Universities and their actions affect the environment directly and significantly. Therefore, the carbon footprint (CF) needs to be implemented in these institutions for mitigating climate change and its potential risks. Based on this understanding, the university consortium quality and environment (QualEnv) stands out by its main objective – to increase the university's contribution to sustainable development (SD) through the deployment of systematic environmental practices and quality processes. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to present the CF of the Latin American universities of the QualEnv consortium.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was based on the actions for adopting CF and its implementation at the universities that take part in the QualEnv consortium. The measurement process and report presentation were done properly by the universities and published as institutional documents. Therefore, data were collected and analyzed through a document search, systematic literature review and participant observation.

Findings

The results show knowledge deepening and systematization on CF in higher education. In addition, it presents the effort of a group of universities that, through a research network, seek to adopt practices towards a carbon-neutral university, which requires an incremental and systematic change to break out of the traditional system.

Originality/value

This paper discusses the practical implications for universities and the need to implement initiatives for measuring and reducing their CF since it shows how the institutions belonging to QualEnv consortium have created their own strategies to mitigate climate change and contribute to SD.
Exploring the interconnected nature of the sustainable development goals: the 2030 SDGs Game as a pedagogical tool for interdisciplinary education
Authors: Andreoni Valeria , Richard Alice
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the 2030 SDGs Game as a pedagogical tool for the promotion of interdisciplinary education. Based on the simulation of possible world outcomes for the year 2030, the game induces participants to reflect on the socioeconomic and environmental consequences of actions and facilitate the exploration of the interconnected nature of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Design/methodology/approach

Starting with a review of the main benefits and constraints of interdisciplinary learning approaches, this paper discusses how pedagogical attitudes have change over time and suggests the use of the 2030 SDGs Game as a powerful tool for sustainability education. Composed by a set of cards with different projects and goals, the game connects participants to the principles of the Agenda 2030 and is suitable for a wide range of educational settings. In the case study presented in this paper, the game was played by 20 students from five different faculties of the University of Liverpool (UK).

Findings

The participatory nature of the game, where players learn through the experience of play, is functional to support the co-creation of knowledge of the “active-learner-centred” approach, and facilitate the development of problem-solving attitudes, soft skills and team-working abilities.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper presents, for the first time, the 2030 SDGs Game as a pedagogical tool for interdisciplinary sustainability education. The game is relatively easy to play and is suitable to be used in a wide range of educational settings.
Mixed lubrication performances of misaligned stern bearing considering turbulence and elastic deformation
Authors: Yang Minghui , Lu Hong , Zhang Xinbao , Zhang Yong Quan , Li Zhang Jie , Zhang Wei
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate mixed lubrication performances of stern bearing in a misaligned state considering turbulence and bearing deformation impacts.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed lubrication model of stern bearing is established. The generalized average Reynolds equation governing the turbulent flow of lubricant is analyzed by considering the interaction of bearing elastic deformation, asperity contact pressure and film pressure. The bearing behaviors including minimum film thickness, hydrodynamic pressure, asperity friction force and frictional coefficient are studied under different models. The correctness of this model is verified by comparing it with that of the published data.

Findings

Numerical results indicate that elastic deformation noticeably decreases the maximum film pressure, the asperity contact force and the friction coefficient in the mixed lubrication stage. The effect of elastic deformation and turbulence reduces the transition speed from mixed to liquid lubrication.

Originality/value

This model includes both turbulence and bearing deformation impacts on journal bearing performances. It is expected that the numerical results can provide useful information to establish a stern bearing exposed to mixed lubrication conditions.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-11-2022-0352/
Governance boards of trustees: quality of higher education and the outputs of scientific research
Authors: Awwad Bahaa , Anaewah Mohammad , Razia Bahaa , Salameh Muhammed
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study investigates whether there are relationships between the characteristics of the boards of trustees of universities in the Arab region, higher education quality assurance and the output of scientific research.

Design/methodology/approach

The descriptive analytical approach was used in this study. The study was conducted on the universities of the Arab region that are included in the classification of the British Institution for the Arab Region: QS Arab Region University.

Findings

The findings show that there is an effect of the characteristics of the trustees combined in the universities of the Arab region on ensuring the quality of higher education, other than the output of scientific research. The findings also indicate when measuring the characteristics individually that the trustee system is not effective in the Arab region and it is only formal for nominal purposes.

Research limitations/implications

Most universities in the Arab region do not disclose the data of boards of trustees, their roles, committees, rules of procedure and the nature of their work. A large number of universities also do not operate under the trustee system because the regulations and instructions do not allow this in the country.

Practical implications

This study seeks to improve practitioners knowledge, including boards of trustees, in ensuring the quality of higher education and the output of scientific research.

Originality/value

The research projected the governance model through the characteristics of the boards of directors of for-profit companies on the boards of trustees of universities in the Arab region. The study examines the nature of the characteristics of the boards of trustees that are compatible with its responsibilities, the most important of which is the supervision of the strategy to ensure the quality of higher education research.
Child First and the end of ‘bifurcation’ in youth justice?
Authors: Case Stephen , Smith Roger
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to critically evaluate the trajectory of the “Child First” guiding principle for youth justice in England and Wales, which challenges adult-centric constructions of children (when they offend) as “threatening” and asserts a range of theoretical and principled assumptions about the nature of childhood and children’s evolving capacity.

Design/methodology/approach

Focussing on how Child First seeks to transcend the socio-historically bifurcated (polarised/dichotomised) thinking and models/strategies/frameworks of youth justice, this study examines the extent and nature of this binary thinking and its historical and contemporary influence on responses to children’s offending, latterly manifested as more hybridised (yet still discernibly bifurcated) approaches.

Findings

Analyses identified an historical and contemporary influence on bifurcated responses to offending by children in the United Kingdom/England and Wales, subsequently manifested as more hybridised (yet still discernibly bifurcated) approaches. Analyses also identified a contemporary, progressive challenge to bifurcated youth justice thinking, policy and practice through the “Child First” guiding principle.

Originality/value

By tracing the trajectory of Child First as an explicit, progressive challenge to previous youth justice thinking and formal “approaches”, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, they are the first to question whether, in taking this approach, Child First represents a clean break with the past, or is just the latest in a series of strategic realignments in youth justice seeking to resolve inherent tensions between competing constructions of children and their behaviour.