bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disruption of MenT2 toxin impairs the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in guinea pigs
Authors: Gosain Tannu Priya , Singh Manisha , Singh Charandeep , Thakur Krishan Gopal , Singh Ramandeep
Published: November 2022

Toxin–antitoxin (TA) systems are abundantly present in the genomes of various bacterial pathogens. TA systems have been implicated in either plasmid maintenance or protection against phage infection, stress adaptation or disease pathogenesis. The genome of

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

encodes for more than 90 TA systems and 4 of these belong to the type IV subfamily (MenAT family). The toxins and antitoxins belonging to type IV TA systems share sequence homology with the AbiEii family of nucleotidyl transferases and the AbiEi family of putative transcriptional regulators, respectively. Here, we have performed experiments to understand the role of MenT2, a toxin from the type IV TA system, in mycobacterial physiology and disease pathogenesis. The ectopic expression of MenT2 using inducible vectors does not inhibit bacterial growth in liquid cultures. Bioinformatic and molecular modelling analysis suggested that the

M. tuberculosis

genome has an alternative start site upstream of the annotated menT2 gene. The overexpression of the reannotated MenT2 resulted in moderate growth inhibition of

Mycobacterium smegmatis

. We show that both menT2 and menA2 transcript levels are increased when

M. tuberculosis

is exposed to nitrosative stress, in vitro. When compared to the survival of the wild-type and the complemented strain, the ΔmenT2 mutant strain of

M. tuberculosis

was more resistant to being killed by nitrosative stress. However, the survival of both the ΔmenT2 mutant and the wild-type strain was similar in macrophages and when exposed to other stress conditions. Here, we show that MenT2 is required for the establishment of disease in guinea pigs. Gross pathology and histopathology analysis of lung tissues from guinea pigs infected with the ∆menT2 strain revealed significantly reduced tissue damage and inflammation. In summary, these results provide new insights into the role of MenT2 in mycobacterial pathogenesis.
Bayes Factors for Two-group Comparisons in Cox Regression with an Application for Reverse-Engineering Raw Data from Summary Statistics
Authors: Linde Maximilian , Tendeiro Jorge N. , van Ravenzwaaij Don
Published: November 2022

The use of Cox proportional hazards regression to analyze time-to-event data is ubiquitous in biomedical research. Typically, the frequentist framework is used to draw conclusions about whether hazards are different between patients in an experimental and a control condition. We offer a procedure to compute Bayes factors for simple Cox models, both for the scenario where the full data are available and for the scenario where only summary statistics are available. The procedure is implemented in our “baymedr” R package. The usage of Bayes factors remedies some shortcomings of frequentist inference and has the potential to save scarce resources.
Altered structural connectome of children with Auditory Processing Disorder: A diffusion MRI study
Authors: Alvand Ashkan , Kuruvilla-Mathew Abin , Roberts Reece P. , Pedersen Mangor , Kirk Ian J. , Purdy Suzanne C.
Published: November 2022

Auditory processing disorder (APD) is a listening impairment that some school-aged children may experience as difficulty understanding speech in background noise despite having normal peripheral hearing. Recent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has revealed an alteration in regional, but not global, functional brain topology in children with APD. However, little is known about the brain structural organization in APD. We used diffusion MRI data to investigate the structural white matter connectome of 58 children from 8 to 14 years old diagnosed with APD (n=29) and children without hearing complaints (healthy controls, HC; n=29). We investigated the rich-club organization and structural connection differences between APD and HC groups using the network science approach. The APD group showed neither edge-based connectivity differences nor any differences in rich-club organization and connectivity strength (i.e., rich, feeder, local connections) compared to HCs. However, at the regional network level, we observed increased average path length (APL) and betweenness centrality in the right inferior parietal lobule and inferior precentral gyrus, respectively, in children with APD. HCs demonstrated a positive association between APL in the left orbital gyrus and the listening-in-spatialized-noise-sentences task, a measure of auditory processing ability. This correlation was not observed in the APD group. In line with previous functional connectome findings, the current results provide evidence for altered structural networks at a regional level in children with APD, and an association with listening performance, suggesting the involvement of multimodal deficits and a role for structure-function alteration in listening difficulties of children with APD.
mimicINT: a workflow for microbe-host protein interaction inference
Authors: Choteau Sébastien A. , Maldonado Kevin , Bergon Aurélie , Cristianini Marceau , Boujeant Mégane , Drets Lilian , Brun Christine , Spinelli Lionel , Zanzoni Andreas
Published: November 2022

Background

The increasing incidence of emerging infectious diseases is posing serious global threats. Therefore, there is a clear need for developing computational methods that can assist and speed up experimental research to better characterize the molecular mechanisms of microbial infections.

Methods

In this context, we developedmimicINT, an open-source computational workflow for large-scale protein-protein interaction inference between microbe and human by detecting putative molecular mimicry elements mediating the interaction with host proteins: short linear motifs (SLiMs) and host-like globular domains.mimicINT exploits these putative elements to infer the interaction with human proteins by using known templates of domain-domain and SLiM-domain interaction templates.mimicINT also provides(i)robust Monte-Carlo simulations to assess the statistical significance of SLiM detection which suffers from false positives, and(ii)an interaction specificity filter to account for differences between motif-binding domains of the same family. We have also mademimicINT available via a web server.

Results

In two use cases,mimicINT can identify potential interfaces in experimentally detected interaction between pathogenicEscherichia colitype-3 secreted effectors and human proteins and infer biologically relevant interactions between Marburg virus and human proteins.

Conclusions

ThemimicINT workflow can be instrumental to better understand the molecular details of microbe-host interactions.
Durable Response and Improved CD8 T Cell Plasticity in Lung Cancer Patients After PD1 Blockade and JAK Inhibition
Authors: Mathew Divij , Marmarelis Melina E. , Foley Caitlin , Bauml Joshua M. , Ye Darwin , Ghinnagow Reem , Ngiow Shin Foong , Klapholz Max , Jun Soyeong , Zhang Zhaojun , Zorc Robert , Diehn Maximillian , Hwang Wei-Ting , Zhang Nancy R. , Langer Corey J. , Wherry E. John , Minn Andy J.
Published: November 2022

Persistent inflammation including type-one interferon (IFN-I) can cause immunosuppression. We show that delayed administration of the JAK1 inhibitor itacitinib after anti-PD1 improves immune function and anti-tumor response in mice, and results in high response rates (67%) in a phase-2 clinical trial for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with tumor PDL1≥50%. In contrast to patients with low inflammation who responded to anti-PD1, patients with elevated inflammation had poor immune and tumor responses to anti-PD1 that improved after adding itacitinib. Itacitinib promoted features of CD8 T cell plasticity and therapeutic responses of exhausted and effector-memory clonotypes. Patients with persistent IFN-I signaling refractory to itacitinib showed progressive CD8 T cell terminal differentiation and progressive disease. Thus, JAK inhibition may improve anti-PD1 efficacy by pivoting T cell differentiation dynamics.
Identification of functional immune and neuronal tumour cells in glioma
Authors: Curry Rachel Naomi , McDonald Malcolm F. , Ma Qianqian , Meyer Jochen , Aiba Isamu , Lozzi Brittney , Cervantes Alexis , Ko Yeunjung , Luna-Figueroa Estefania , Choi Dong-Joo , Lee Zhung-Fu , Jing Junzhan , Harmanci Arif O. , Rosenbaum Anna , He Peihao , Mohila Carrie , Jalali Ali , Noebels Jeffrey , Jiang Xiaolong , Deneen Benjamin , Rao Ganesh , Harmanci Akdes Serin
Published: November 2022

Despite advances in molecular profiling, therapeutic development has been hindered by the inability to identify and target tumour-specific mechanisms without consequence to healthy tissue. Correspondingly, a computational framework capable of accurately distinguishing tumour from non-tumour cells has yet to be developed and cell annotation algorithms are unable to assign integrated genomic and transcriptional profiles to single cells on a cell-by-cell basis. To address these barriers, we developed the Single Cell Rule Association Mining (SCRAM) tool that integrates RNA-inferred genomic alterations with co-occurring cell type signatures for individual cells. Applying SCRAM to glioma, we identified tumour cell trajectories recapitulate temporally-restricted developmental paradigms and feature unique co-occurring identities. Specifically, we validated two previously unreported tumour cell populations with immune and neuronal signatures as hallmarks of human glioma subtypes.In vivomodeling revealed a rare immune-like tumour cell population resembling antigen presenting cells can direct CD8+ T cell responses. In parallel, Patch sequencing studies in human tumours confirmed that neuronal-like glioma cells fire action potentials and represent 40% ofIDH1mutant tumor cells. These studies identified new glioma cell types with functional properties similar to their non-tumour analogues and demonstrate the ability of SCRAM to identify these cell types in unprecedented detail.
Chikungunya intra-vector dynamics inAedes albopictusfrom Lyon (France) upon exposure to a human viremia-like dose range reveals vector barrier’s permissiveness and supports local epidemic potential
Authors: Viginier Barbara , Cappuccio Lucie , Garnier Céline , Martin Edwige , Maisse Carine , Moro Claire Valiente , Minard Guillaume , Fontaine Albin , Lequime Sébastian , Ratinier Maxime , Arnaud Frédérick , Raquin Vincent
Published: November 2022

Arbovirus emergence and epidemic potential, as approximated by the vectorial capacity formula, depends on host and vector parameters, including the vector’s intrinsic ability to replicate then transmit the pathogen known as vector competence. Vector competence is a complex, time dependent, quantitative phenotype influenced by biotic and abiotic factors. A combination of experimental and modelling approaches is required to assess arbovirus intra-vector dynamics and estimate epidemic potential. In this study, we measured infection, dissemination, and transmission dynamics of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in a field-derived Aedes albopictus population (Lyon, France) after oral exposure to a range of virus doses spanning human viraemia. Statistical modelling indicates rapid and efficient CHIKV progression in the vector mainly due to an absence of a dissemination barrier, with 100% of the infected mosquitoes ultimately exhibiting a disseminated infection, regardless of the virus dose. Transmission rate data revealed a time-dependent, but overall weak, transmission barrier, with individuals transmitting as soon as 2 days post-exposure (dpe) and =50% infectious mosquitoes at 6 dpe for the highest dose. Based on these experimental intra-vector dynamics data, epidemiological simulations conducted with an agent-based model showed that even at low mosquito biting rates, CHIKV could trigger outbreaks locally. Together, this reveals the epidemic potential of CHIKV upon transmission by Aedes albopictus in mainland France.
Deep unfolded convolutional dictionary learning for motif discovery
Authors: Chu Shane , Stormo Gary
Published: November 2022

We present a principled representation learning approach based on convolutional dictionary learning (CDL) for motif discovery. We unroll an iterative algorithm that optimizes CDL as a forward pass in a neural network, resulting in a network that is fully interpretable, fast, and capable of finding motifs in large datasets. Simulated data show that our network is more sensitive and specific for discovering binding sites that exhibit complex binding patterns than popular motif discovery methods such as STREME and HOMER. Our network reveals statistically significant motifs and their diverse binding modes from the JASPAR database that are currently not reported.
Cholinergic Interneurons Drive Motivation by Promoting Dopamine Release in the Nucleus Accumbens
Authors: Mohebi Ali , Collins Val L. , Berke Joshua D.
Published: November 2022

Motivation to work for potential rewards is critically dependent on dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). DA release from NAc axons can be controlled by at least two distinct mechanisms: 1) action potentials propagating from DA cell bodies in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), and 2) activation of β2* nicotinic receptors by local cholinergic interneurons (CINs). How CIN activity contributes to NAc DA dynamics in behaving animals remains unclear. We monitored DA release in the NAc Core of awake, unrestrained rats while simultaneously monitoring or manipulating CIN activity at the same location. CIN stimulation rapidly evoked DA release, and in contrast to slice preparations, this DA release showed no indication of short-term depression or receptor desensitization. The sound of food delivery evoked a brief joint increase in CIN population activity and DA release, with a second joint increase as rats approached the food. In an operant task, we observed fast ramps in CIN activity during approach behaviors, either to start the trial or to collect rewards. These CIN ramps co-occurred with DA release ramps, without corresponding changes in the firing of VTA DA neurons. Finally, we examined the effects of blocking CIN influence over DA release through local NAc infusion of DHβE, a selective antagonist ofnicotinic receptors. DHβE dose-dependently interfered with motivated approach decisions, mimicking the effects of a DA antagonist. Our results support a key influence of CINs over motivated behavior via the local regulation of DA release.
Rewarding Value or Prediction Error: Settling the debate over the role of dopamine in reward learning
Authors: Usypchuk Alexandra A. , Maes Etienne JP , Lozzi Megan , Gardner Matthew P.H. , Schoenbaum Geoffrey , Esber Guillem R. , Iordanova Mihaela D.
Published: November 2022

The discovery that DA transients can be mapped onto the reward prediction errors in temporal difference models is a pinnacle achievement of neuroscience. Yet, there is abundant evidence that DA activity reinforces actions, suggesting it serves as an intrinsically rewarding event. These two possibilities are so conceptually intertwined that it is not surprising that they have been so far experimentally conflated. Here, using computational modeling, behavioural blocking and optogenetics, we show that stimulating VTA DA neurons promotes learning even when a natural reward and DA stimulation are held constant across the learning phases of blocking. These findings provide strong evidence in favour of the prediction error hypothesis rather than encoding the rewarding value of appetitive events.
A dual-clock-driven model emulating the effects of either Ano1 or IP3R knock-out on lymphatic muscle cell pace-making
Authors: Hancock E.J. , Zawieja S.D. , Macaskill C. , Davis M.J. , Bertram C.D.
Published: November 2022

Lymphoedema, a common dysfunction of the lymphatic system, results in fluid accumulating between cells. Fluid return through the lymphatic vascular system is primarily provided by contractions of muscle cells in the walls of lymphatic vessels, driven by electrochemical oscillations causing rhythmic action potentials and associated surges in intracellular calcium ion concentration. There is incomplete understanding of the mechanisms involved in these repeated events, restricting the development of pharmacological treatments for dysfunction. Previously, we proposed a model where autonomous oscillations in the membrane potential (M-clock) drove passive oscillations in the calcium concentration (C-clock). In this paper, to model more accurately what is known about the underlying physiology, we extend this model to the case where the M-clock and the C-clock oscillators are both active but coupled together, and thus both driving the action potentials. This extension results from modifications to the model for the IP3receptor, a key C-clock mechanism. The synchronized dual-driving clock behaviour enables the model to match IP3receptor knock-out data, resolving an issue with previous models. We also use phase-plane analysis to explain the mechanisms for the dual-clock coupling. The model has the potential to help determine mechanisms and find targets for pharmacological treatment of lymphoedema.
Does it pay to be green? Evidence from banks in emerging markets
Authors: Al-Ajmi Jasim , Saudagaran Shahrokh , Kukreja Gagan , Fadel Sayed
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is twofold. The first is to examine the impact of environmental disclosure on banks’ performance, while the second is to investigate the moderating role of a country’s economic activities and institutional quality on the relationship between environmental activities disclosure and banks’ operational, financial and market performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample includes 246 banks from emerging markets from 2008 to 2020, comprising 1,899 bank-year observations. The independent regressors are environmental disclosure, two moderators and two sets of control (bank and country) variables. The dependent variables are return on assets, return on equity and Tobin’s Q. This study adopts ordinary least squares, panel fixed effect and instrumental variables generalized method of moments to estimate the parameters of the models.

Findings

This study reveals a negative relationship between environmental disclosure and bank performance, lending credence to the agency and neoclassical theories. The moderator regressors show positive influence on banks performance. The results indicate that it is difficult to make a business case for environmental commitment.

Practical implications

There is a need for effective monitoring by shareholders to ensure that funds allocated for environmental activities are spent wisely.

Originality/value

This study provides new evidence on the ways in which economic and institutional quality influence the environmental practices of banks in emerging and frontier markets.
Who uses drug checking services? Assessing uptake and outcomes at English festivals in 2018
Authors: Measham Fiona , Simmons Henry
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study aims to assess service user characteristics, uptake and outcomes for drug checking services offered to over 250,000 English festival-goers in summer 2018 and to compare findings with earlier years, wider festival-goers and the general population.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 2,672 substances of concern were submitted by the public and tested by chemists in mobile laboratories on 24 show days at seven festivals. Results were embedded in 2,043 individually tailored brief interventions (BI) delivered by health professionals to 4,240 service users. Comparative data were collected through anonymous self-report surveys with 1,291 respondents at five of the same festivals.

Findings

Three percent of drug-using festival-goers received BI, 95% of whom had not previously accessed health services regarding their alcohol or other drug use. Drug checking service users were significantly more likely to be younger, male and past month polydrug users with a wider range of drugs consumed in the last month compared with the general festival population. For samples matching purchase intent, nearly half intended to reduce dosage, with younger and female service users significantly more likely to reduce dosage. For substances identified as other than expected, nearly two thirds disposed of them.

Social implications

Festivals are potential sites to deliver innovative health interventions and to monitor their outcomes, reduce the risk of poisoning and overdose, and facilitate access to follow-up support services.

Originality/value

This study suggests that there is value in event-based services that provide risk reduction communications directly to young adults engaged in higher risk drug use compared with wider event and general populations.
Do desire, anxiety and personal innovativeness impact the adoption of IoT devices?
Authors: Bhadauria Vikram S. , Chennamaneni Anitha
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the threat phenomenon as perceived by Internet of Things (IoT) users and examines the role of anxiety, desire and personal innovativeness in the behavioral intention toward the usage of IoT devices.

Design/methodology/approach

A unified research model is developed based on the protection motivation theory, theory of reasoned action, theory of self-regulation and the review of relevant theoretical, empirical and practitioner literature. Data were collected from 315 assistive IoT device users and analyzed using partial least squares structural modeling.

Findings

The results indicate strong support for the proposed research model. All relationships, except one, were significant at the 0.05 level. Desire was found to play a direct as well as a moderating role between fear and behavioral intention to continue using assistive IoT devices, which was also directly influenced by anxiety and personal innovativeness.

Research limitations/implications

Understanding the security behaviors of IoT users will help researchers and practitioners develop preventive measures and robust security solutions for the IoT devices to avert any threats from cyber-attacks and to boost users’ confidence levels. Future research will benefit from replicating the study using longitudinal data.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first studies that integrate multiple perspectives to present a holistic research model. To the authors’ knowledge, anxiety, desire and personal innovativeness, key factors influencing fear and behavioral intention, have not been studied in the domain of adoption of IoT assistive devices. Additionally, the study offers a new dimension to IoT users’ security behaviors.
Measurement of city road network resilience in hazardous flood events
Authors: M.S. Mukesh , Katpatal Yashwant B. , Londhe Digambar S.
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Recently, the serviceability of the transportation infrastructure in urban areas has become crucial. Any impact of the hazardous conditions on the urban road network causes significant disruption to the functioning of the urban region, making the city’s resilience a point of concern. Thereby, the purpose of the study is to examine the city’s recovery capacity to absorb the impacts of adverse events like urban floods.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines the road network resilience for an urban flood event for zones proposed by the Municipal Corporation to develop multiple central business districts. This study proposes a novel approach to measure the resilience of road networks in an urban region under floods caused due to heavy rainfall. A novel Road Network Resilience Index (RNRI) based on the serviceability of the road network during floods is proposed, estimated using Analytic Hierarchy Process - Multiple Criteria Evaluation (AHP-MCE) approaches by using the change in street centrality, impervious area and road network density. This study examines and analyses the resilience of road networks in two conditions: flood and nonflood conditions. Resilience was estimated for both the conditions at the city level and the decentralized zone level.

Findings

Based on RNRI values, this study identifies zones having a lower or higher resilience index. The central, southern and eastern zones have lower road network resilience and western and northern zones have high road network resilience.

Practical implications

The proposed methodology can be used to increase road network resilience within the city under flood conditions.

Originality/value

The previous literature on road network resilience concentrates on the physical properties of roads after flood events. This study demonstrates the use of nonstructural measures to improve the resilience of the road network by innovatively using the AHP-MCE approach and street centrality to measure the resilience of the road network.
Kinematic modeling of a spatial three degrees-of-freedom compliant micro-motion parallel mechanism considering input coupling effect and bilateral restrained torsion
Authors: Song Zhicheng , Li Xiang , Yang Xiaolong , Li Yao , Wang Linkang , Wu Hongtao
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to improve the kinematic modeling accuracy of a spatial three-degrees-of-freedom compliant micro-motion parallel mechanism by proposing a modified modeling method based on the structural matrix method (SMM).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyzes the problem that the torsional compliance equation of the circular notched hinge is no longer applicable because it is subject to bilateral restrained torsion. The torsional compliance equation is modified by introducing the relative length coefficient. The input coupling effect, which is often neglected, is considered in kinematic modeling. The symbolic expression of the input coupling matrix is obtained. Theory, simulation and experimentation are presented to show the validity of the proposed kinematic model.

Findings

The results show that the proposed kinematics model can improve the modeling accuracy by comparing the theoretical, finite element method (FEM) and experimental method.

Originality/value

This work provides a feasible scheme for CMPM kinematics modeling. It can be better applied to the optimization design based on the kinematic model in the future.
The first half century of industrial robot: 50 years of robotic developments
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to trace the technological and commercial developments in robotics over the last 50 years, from 1973, the year in which this journal was founded, to the present day.

Design/methodology/approach

Following an introduction, this identifies key robot developments on a decade-by-decade basis and considers research, products, applications and corporate activity and also highlights many of the enabling technologies. Brief conclusions are draw.

Findings

The robot industry has changed beyond all recognition during the last half century. Enabled by developments in microelectronics, computing, sensors, imaging technologies, data communication and power sources, today robots satisfy a multitude of applications and play a role in almost every sphere of human activity.

Originality/value

This provides a detailed review of robotic developments during the last 50 years.
Chief financial officer’s educational background from reputable universities and financial reporting quality
Authors: Harymawan Iman , Minanurohman Adib , Nasih Mohammad , Shafie Rohami , Ismail Ismaanzira
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between the educational background of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) from reputable universities and financial reporting quality (FRQ). Educational background is divided into two categories: an undergraduate degree from a reputable university and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from a reputable university.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses data from all companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2010 to 2019, except for financial companies, and obtains 2,583 research samples. The least-squares regression analysis model was used in this study.

Findings

This study finds that the educational background of CFOs with a bachelor’s degree and CFOs with an MBA from reputable universities has a positive and significant relationship with FRQ. This study also performs an additional analysis with high-low growth and high-low tech and robustness testing with coarsened exact matching method and Heckman to corroborate the results.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides a theoretical contribution to the literature on the relationship between CFOs’ educational background and FRQ in Indonesia. It is also expected to contribute to the implementation of company policies, management and educational institutions in Indonesia.

Originality/value

This study provides a novel measurement of CFO reputation, measured using the ranking of CFO alumni from reputable universities and its association with FRQ.
Asymmetric volatility spillover between hospitality sub-sectors during COVID-19: evidence from the USA
Authors: Marobhe Mutaju Isaack , Kansheba Jonathan Mukiza Peter
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This article examines dynamic volatility spillovers between stock index returns of four main hospitality sub-sectors in US during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. These are tourism and travel, hotel and lodging, recreational services and food and beverages. Volatility spillovers are explicitly used as accurate and informative proxies for risk contagion between sectors during turbulent times.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ dynamic conditional correlation-generalized autoregression heteroskedasticity (DCC-GARCH) and wavelet coherence analysis (WCA) to analyze the phenomenon. The authors’ timeframe is divided into three main sub-periods, namely the pre-pandemic, the first wave and the second wave periods.

Findings

This study’s results reveal immense negative shocks in returns of all four sub-sectors on the Black Monday (8th March 2020). Moreover, high volatility persistence was observed during both waves with an exception of tourism and travel which exhibited lower volatility persistence during the second wave. The authors discovered magnified contagion effects between tourism and travel, hotel and lodgment and recreational services during the first wave of the pandemic with tourism and travel being the main volatility transmitter. Lower magnitudes of spillovers were observed between food and beverages and other sub-sectors with a decoupling effect being evident during the second wave.

Research limitations/implications

This study’s findings contribute to the contagion theory by providing evidence of disproportional volatility spillover among hospitality sub-sectors despite being exposed to similar turbulent economic conditions.

Practical implications

Crucial implications can be drawn from this study’s findings to assist in risk management, asset valuation and portfolio management. The importance of close monitoring, safety measures, international diversification and adequacy of liquid assets during health crises cannot be stresses enough for hospitality firms. Retail investors, speculators and asset managers can take advantage of this study’s findings to design trading strategies and hedge against risk.

Originality/value

A body of knowledge pertaining to effects of crises such as COVID-19 on hospitality stocks has been proliferating. Nonetheless, there is still a relative dearth of empirical literature on volatility spillover between hospitality sub-sectors especially during periods of rising economic uncertainties.
SDGs, COVID-19 and institutional pressures on organizations
Authors: Galleli Barbara , Santos Joyce Aparecida Ramos , Teles Noah Emanuel Brito , Freitas-Martins Mateus Santos , Onevetch Raquel Teodoro
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This article answers the following research question: How do institutional pressures influence the re(actions) of organizations in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic?

Design/methodology/approach

The present research was conducted through the search and review of online secondary sources based on a critical and exploratory analysis. The data were obtained from the Global Compact Brazilian Committee (Rede Brasil do Pacto Global, in Portuguese) and analyzed by means of qualitative content analysis with the support of the ATLAS.ti software.

Findings

The results have showed the role of organizations in dealing with the impacts provoked by the current COVID-19 scenario. However, the association of actions implemented by organizations is evident in some SDGs, but not in all and not with the same intensity. There is a higher incidence of SDG 3 (Good health and well-being), which is linked to 278 actions. Regarding institutional pressures, we noticed a higher incidence of normative pressures, which may indicate a sense of responsibility towards employees and other stakeholders related to the prevention of the impacts caused by the pandemic.

Practical implications

The findings presented here can encourage companies to better direct their efforts to fight the virus without neglecting the 2030 Agenda.

Social implications

The authors intend to encourage institutions that may exert coercive, normative, and mimetic pressures to recognize the impacts of their influence and better direct it to the interests of society during and after the pandemic.

Originality/value

This research investigates organizational actions in the context of COVID-19 from an institutional theory perspective.
Shrinkage behaviour of material extrusion steel 316L: influence of primary 3D printing parameters
Authors: Obadimu Solomon O. , Kourousis Kyriakos I.
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The wide application of metal material extrusion (MEX) has been hampered by the practicalities associated with the resulting shrinkage of the final parts when commercial three-dimensional (3D) printing equipment is used. The shrinkage behaviour of MEX metal parts is a very important aspect of the MEX metal production process, as the parts must be accurately oversized to compensate for shrinkage. This paper aims to investigate the influence of primary 3D printing parameters, namely, print speed, layer height and print angle, on the shrinkage behaviour of MEX Steel 316L parts.

Design/methodology/approach

Two groups of dog-bone and rectangular-shape specimens were produced with the BASF Ultrafuse Steel 316L metal filament. The length, width and thickness of the specimens were measured pre- and post-debinding and sintering to calculate the percentile shrinkage rates. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate and rank the significance of each manufacturing parameter on shrinkage. Typical main print quality issues experienced in this analysis are also reported.

Findings

The shrinkage rates of the tested specimens ranged from 15.5 to 20.4% along the length and width axis and 18.5% to 23.1% along the thickness axis of the specimens. Layer height and raster angle were the most statistically significant parameters influencing shrinkage, while print speed had very little influence. Three types of defects were observed, including surface roughness, surface deformation (warping and distortion) and balling defects.

Originality/value

This paper bridges an existing gap in MEX Steel 316L literature, with a focus on the relationship between MEX manufacturing parameters and subsequent shrinkage behaviour. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the relationship between manufacturing parameters – layer height, raster angle and print speed and subsequent shrinkage behaviour, thereby providing further information on the relationship between the former and the latter.
Treatment with brodalumab is not associated with improved sleep problems in real‐life patients with plaque psoriasis: Results of the ProLOGUE study
Authors: Mizutani Yoko , Kanai Yasumasa , Murotani Kenta , Honma Masaru , Higashiyama Mari , Kobayashi Satomi , Nomura Takanobu , Seishima Mariko , Imafuku Shinichi
Published: November 2022

Psoriasis impacts various aspects of patients' health‐related quality of life and is associated with sleep problems. However, research discussing the associations between interleukin‐17 blockage therapies and sleep problems in patients with psoriasis is insufficient. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of brodalumab in alleviating sleep problems in real‐life patients with plaque psoriasis. This analysis was part of the single‐arm, open‐label, multicenter, prospective, cohort study, ProLOGUE (study period October 2017–March 2020), which involved Japanese patients with plaque psoriasis. Assessments included correlation of Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale–Revised (MOS Sleep‐R) scores (Sleep Problems Index‐II [SPI‐II] and MOS Sleep‐R subscale scores) with multiple patient‐reported outcome scores and the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) at baseline. Additionally, change from baseline in MOS Sleep‐R scores was assessed at weeks 12 and 48 of brodalumab treatment. Seventy‐three patients were enrolled (male 82.2%, median age 54.0 years). At baseline, the SPI‐II score correlated with the Patient Health Questionnaire‐8 score (Spearman correlation coefficient [ρ] = −0.474) and weakly correlated with the Itch Numeric Rating Scale (NRS; ρ = −0.366), Skin Pain NRS (ρ = −0.275), and all Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication‐9 domain scores (ρ = 0.270, ρ = 0.303, and ρ = 0.322 for effectiveness, convenience, and global satisfaction, respectively) but did not correlate with the PASI score. The SPI‐II score and MOS Sleep‐R subscale scores, except the Snoring score (p = 0.0319), did not significantly change from baseline to week 12 of brodalumab treatment. In conclusion, treatment with brodalumab did not improve overall sleep problems in real‐life patients with plaque psoriasis, suggesting that sleep problems require attention in daily clinical practice (Japan Registry of Clinical Trials identifier, jRCTs031180037).
Is Social Trust a Governance Mechanism? Evidence From Dividend Payouts of Chinese Firms
Authors: Goodell John W. , Li Mingsheng , Liu Desheng , Wang Ying
Published: November 2022

While management studies show that micro‐level trust within and between firms affects firm performance and innovation, it is unclear how macro‐level trust, namely social trust, affects corporate decisions. Addressing this is important because micro‐level trust is shaped by macro‐level social norms. A growing literature finds that corporations are influenced by local social norms. Drawing from this insight and using various measures of social trust, we examine the impact of social trust on dividend payouts. We find that levels of social trust, both in terms of directly measured trust and trust inferred from concomitant levels of civic social capital, negatively impact dividend payouts of local firms across Chinese provinces. We argue that community social trust supplies governance and plays a substitute role for dividend payouts, with a higher level of social trust engendering a lower demand for dividend payouts. This negative effect is more pronounced for younger firms, companies with high growth potential and firms in regions of less‐developed institutional environments. We further show that agency cost plays an important mediating role, since high social trust reduces agency cost, jointly affecting dividends. Firms in high‐trust regions make meaningful use of their greater retained earnings for research and development and innovations.
Changes in prenatal care and birth outcomes after federally qualified health center expansion
Authors: Gourevitch Rebecca A. , Hatfield Laura A.
Published: November 2022

Objective

To evaluate whether the expansion of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) improved late prenatal care initiation, low birth weight, and preterm birth among Medicaid‐covered or uninsured individuals.

Data Sources and Study Setting

We identified all FQHCs in California using the Health Resources and Services Administration's Uniform Data System from 2000 to 2019. We used data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey to describe area characteristics. We measured outcomes in California birth certificate data from 2007 to 2019.

Study Design

We compared areas that received their first FQHC between 2011 and 2016 to areas that received it later or that had never had an FQHC. Specifically, we used a synthetic control with a staggered adoption approach to calculate non‐parametric estimates of the average treatment effects on the treated areas. The key outcome variables were the rate of Medicaid or uninsured births with late prenatal care initiation (>3 months' gestation), with low birth weight (<2500 grams), or with preterm birth (<37 weeks' gestation).

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

The analysis was limited to births covered by Medicaid or that were uninsured, as indicated on the birth certificate.

Principal Findings

The 55 areas in California that received their first FQHC in 2011–2016 were more populous; their residents were more likely to be covered by Medicaid, to be low‐income, or to be Hispanic than residents of the 48 areas that did not have an FQHC by the end of the study period. We found no statistically significant impact of the first FQHC on rates of late prenatal care initiation (ATT: −10.4 [95% CI −38.1, 15.0]), low birth weight (ATT: 0.2 [95% CI −7.1, 5.4]), or preterm birth (ATT: −7.0 [95% CI −15.5, 2.3]).

Conclusions

Our results from California suggest that access to primary and prenatal care may not be enough to improve these outcomes. Future work should evaluate the impact of ongoing initiatives to increase access to maternal health care at FQHCs through targeted workforce investments.
Obstructor, a Frankliniella occidentalis protein, promotes transmission of tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus
Authors: Zheng Xiaobin , Wan Yanran , Tao Min , Yuan Jiangjiang , Zhang Kun , Wang Jing , Zhang Youjun , Liang Pei , Wu Qingjun
Published: November 2022

Tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus (TSWV) causes substantial economic losses to vegetables and other crops. TSWV is mainly transmitted by thrips in a persistent and proliferative manner, and its most efficient vector is the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). In moving from the thrips midgut to the salivary glands in preparation for transmission, the virions must overcome multiple barriers. Although several proteins that interact with TSWV in thrips have been characterized, we hypothesized that additional thrips proteins interact with TSWV and facilitate its transmission. In the current study, 67 F. occidentalis proteins that interact with GN (a structural glycoprotein) were identified using a split‐ubiquitin membrane‐based yeast 2‐hybrid (MbY2H) system. Three proteins, apolipoprotein‐D (ApoD), orai‐2‐like (Orai), and obstructor‐E‐like isoform X2 (Obst), were selected for further study based on their high abundance and interaction strength; their interactions with GN were confirmed by MbY2H, yeast β‐galactosidase and luciferase complementation assays. The relative expressions of ApoD and Orai were significantly down‐regulated but that of Obst was significantly up‐regulated in viruliferous thrips. When interfering with Obst in larval stage, the TSWV acquisition rate in 3 independent experiments was significantly decreased by 26%, 40%, and 35%, respectively. In addition, when Obst was silenced in adults, the virus titer was significantly decreased, and the TSWV transmission rate decreased from 66.7% to 31.9% using the leaf disk method and from 86.67% to 43.33% using the living plant method. However, the TSWV acquisition and transmission rates were not affected by interference with the ApoD or Orai gene. The results indicate that Obst may play an important role in TSWV acquisition and transmission in Frankliniella occidentalis.
Three amino acid substitutions contributing to thermostability of phosphoglucose isomerase in the Glanville fritillary butterfly
Authors: Yang Jianing , Wang Di , Liu Hui , Wang Lin , Jin Ling , Ahola Virpi , Xu Chongren , Wang Rongjiang
Published: November 2022

Temperature is one of the most important environmental factors that affect organisms, especially ectotherms, due to its effects on protein stability. Understanding the general rules that govern thermostability changes in proteins to adapt high‐temperature environments is crucial. Here, we report the amino acid substitutions of phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) related to thermostability in the Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia, Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). The PGI encoded by the most common allele inM. cinxiain the Chinese population (G3‐PGI), which is more thermal tolerant, is more stable under heat stress than that in the Finnish population (D1‐PGI). There are 5 amino acid substitutions between G3‐PGI and D1‐PGI. Site‐directed mutagenesis revealed that the combination of amino acid substitutions of H35Q, M49T, and I64V may increase PGI thermostability. These substitutions alter the 3D structure to increase the interaction between 2 monomers of PGI. Through molecular dynamics simulations, it was found that the amino acid at site 421 is more stable in G3‐PGI, confining the motion of the α‐helix 420–441 and stabilizing the interaction between 2 PGI monomers. The strategy for high‐temperature adaptation through these 3 amino acid substitutions is also adopted by other butterfly species (Boloria eunomia,Aglais urticae,Colias erate, andPolycaena lua) concurrent withM. cinxiain the Tianshan Mountains of China, i.e., convergent evolution in butterflies.
A randomized clinical trial of beetroot juice consumption on inflammatory markers and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Karimzadeh Laleh , Behrouz Vahideh , Sohrab Golbon , Hedayati Mehdi , Emami Golpar
Published: November 2022

Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are both major underlying factors for the initiation and progression of diabetes, as well as for the development of long‐term diabetes‐related consequences in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study was designed to evaluate the effects of beetroot juice (BJ) consumption on oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in patients with T2DM. In this trial, 52 patients with T2DM were randomly assigned to either the concentrated BJ or the control group. The BJ group received 12 ml concentrated BJ twice daily, whereas the control group received no intervention. At the baseline and the end of week 12, plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), high sensitive C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), and nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) were measured. Compared with the control group, BJ reduced IL‐6 (−0.1 vs. 0.83, P = 0.001), TNF‐α (−1.28 vs. 5.51, P = 0.001), and NF‐κB (−0.03 vs. 0.36, P = 0.005) after 12‐week intervention; plasma concentration of MDA and hs‐CRP did not change between groups after intervention. Intra‐group comparison disclosed that daily BJ consumption could not change oxidative stress and inflammatory markers except for TNF‐α (−1.28 ± 2.31, P = 0.026) compared with the baseline. However, the concentrations of IL‐6, TNF‐α, and NF‐κB increased significantly in the control group at the end of week 12 compared to baseline (19.5%, P = 0.001; 120%, P = 0.001; and 69%, P = 0.021, respectively). In conclusion, our study indicates that daily consumption of BJ reduces the concentrations of some inflammatory markers, including IL‐6, TNF‐α, and NF‐κB, which are involved in the pathogenesis of complications of T2DM.

Practical Application

Beetroot juice concentrate contains nutrients such as antioxidants that can improve the health status of people with type 2 diabetes.