bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America Compendium updates 2022
Authors: Septimus Edward J.
Published: June 2023

Purpose of review

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a leading cause of preventable harm in US hospitals. Hospitals are required to conduct surveillance and report selected HAIs, including central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, colon and abdominal hysterectomy surgical-site infections, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, and Clostridioides difficile infections, to the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network.

Recent findings

Up until the COVID-19 pandemic, there was significant progress in reducing HAIs. However, the pandemic resulted in extraordinary challenges for infection prevention in hospitals. Increases in HAIs were observed throughout 2020 and 2021. The Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections in Acute Care Hospitals has recently been updated and provides common sense evidenced-based strategies to reduce HAIs.

The purpose of this review is to highlight important changes since the 2014 Compendium.
The present and future of blood virome in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients
Authors: Hosszu-Fellous Krisztina , Zanella Marie-Celine , Kaiser Laurent , Neofytos Dionysios
Published: June 2023

Purpose of review

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allogeneic HCT) is a highly effective therapy for a broad range of hematological diseases and its use is increasing worldwide. Despite advances in antiviral prophylaxis and treatment, viral infections are still one of the leading causes of post-HCT morbidity and mortality. In this patient population, metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) revealed a much larger diversity of viruses than previously suspected via the targeted screening approach. In the context of profound immunosuppression, these viral infections may cause transient viremia or protracted replication and potentially be associated with yet unrecognized or unspecific clinical manifestations. On the contrary, by constantly interacting with the immune system, viral infections may have a significant impact on posttransplant outcomes. Here, we review the latest advances in research assessing the role of the blood virome in the development of post-HCT complications.

Recent findings

Research efforts are under way to uncover the potential role of several previously undetected viruses in the development of allogeneic HCT complications and their impact on transplant outcomes.

The identification of viral actors impacting post-HCT morbidity and survival is key to optimize monitoring and infection prevention/treatment strategies.
The HLA-II immunopeptidome of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Weingarten-Gabbay Shira , Chen Da-Yuan , Sarkizova Siranush , Taylor Hannah B. , Gentili Matteo , Pearlman Leah R. , Bauer Matthew R. , Rice Charles M. , Clauser Karl R. , Hacohen Nir , Carr Steven A. , Abelin Jennifer G. , Saeed Mohsan , Sabeti Pardis C.
Published: June 2023

Targeted synthetic vaccines have the potential to transform our response to viral outbreaks; yet the design of these vaccines requires a comprehensive knowledge of viral immunogens, including T-cell epitopes. Having previously mapped the SARS-CoV-2 HLA-I landscape, here we report viral peptides that are naturally processed and loaded onto HLA-II complexes in infected cells. We identified over 500 unique viral peptides from canonical proteins, as well as from overlapping internal open reading frames (ORFs), revealing, for the first time, the contribution of internal ORFs to the HLA-II peptide repertoire. Most HLA-II peptides co-localized with the known CD4+ T cell epitopes in COVID-19 patients. We also observed that two reported immunodominant regions in the SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein are formed at the level of HLA-II presentation. Overall, our analyses show that HLA-I and HLA-II pathways target distinct viral proteins, with the structural proteins accounting for most of the HLA-II peptidome and non-structural and non-canonical proteins accounting for the majority of the HLA-I peptidome. These findings highlight the need for a vaccine design that incorporates multiple viral elements harboring CD4+ and CD8+ T cell epitopes to maximize the vaccine effectiveness.
Adolescents’ knowledge of pain medication – can a specific teaching program in primary school improve knowledge and attitudes toward the use of pain medication?
Authors: Andreucci Alessandro , Olesen Anne Estrup , Merrild Camilla , Hardardóttir Heidur , Al-Janabi Nabil , Bruun Malene Kjær , Larsen Rikke Møller , Rathleff Michael Skovdal
Published: June 2023

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate how a specifically designed teaching program for adolescents on the subject of “pain medication” affects their knowledge and attitudes regarding pain medication.

Methods

This prospective interventional study used both quantitative and qualitative methods. The teaching intervention was co-developed with end-users. Adolescents completed a questionnaire at 3 time points: 1) at baseline before the teaching intervention, 2) immediately after the intervention and 3) at follow-up after approximately 1-2 months, depending on the schools’ availability. A qualitative component with interviews on a subsample of participants was carried out between baseline and the 1-2 months follow-up.

Results

Nine classes, corresponding to 181 adolescents with a median age of 14 were exposed to the teaching intervention. 22% used pain medication at least once a week at baseline. Their baseline knowledge regarding the mechanism of action, side effects, dosage, and alternative methods to treat pain was low. Their levels of knowledge improved after the teaching intervention and we observed higher levels of knowledge and less uncertainty. However, despite the immediate positive effect, the retainment of knowledge was slightly reduced at the 1–2-month follow-up.

Discussion

Our intervention increased the overall knowledge on pain medication and reduced the adolescents’ uncertainty. However, the retainment of knowledge was reduced after 1–2-month follow-up. Future interventions carried out on a longer time-span and with the inclusion of parents and delivery of online material might be designed to improve retainment of knowledge.
A randomized controlled safety and feasibility trial of floatation-REST in anxious and depressed individuals
Authors: Garland McKenna M. , Wilson Raminta , Thompson Wesley K. , Stein Murray B. , Paulus Martin P. , Feinstein Justin S. , Khalsa Sahib S.
Published: June 2023

Background

Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy via floatation (floatation-REST) is a behavioral intervention designed to attenuate exteroceptive sensory input to the nervous system. Pilot studies in anxious and depressed individuals demonstrated that single sessions of floatation- REST are safe, well-tolerated, and associated with acute anxiolysis. However, there is not sufficient evidence of the feasibility of floatation-REST as a repeated intervention.

Methods

We randomized 75 individuals with anxiety and depression to six sessions of floatation-REST in different formats (pool-REST or pool-REST preferred) or an active comparator (chair-REST). Feasibility was assessed via adherence rate to the assigned intervention, tolerability via duration of REST utilization and overall study dropout rate, and safety via incidence of serious or non-serious adverse events.

Results

Six-session adherence was 85% for pool-REST, 89% for pool-REST preferred, and 74% for chair-REST. Dropout rates did not differ significantly between the treatment conditions.

Mean session durations were consistently above 50 minutes, and when allowed to choose the duration and frequency, participants opted to float for an average of 75 minutes. There were no serious adverse events associated with any intervention. Positive experiences were endorsed more commonly than negative ones and were also rated at higher levels of intensity.

Conclusions

Taken together, six sessions of floatation-REST appear feasible, well-tolerated, and safe in anxious and depressed individuals. Floatation-REST induces positively-valenced experiences with few negative effects. Larger randomized controlled trials evaluating markers of clinical efficacy are warranted.

Clinical Trial Registration Identifier

NCT03899090
OICNet: A Neural Network for Online EEG Source Separation using Independent Component Analysis
Authors: Yeh Po-Ting , Tsai Arthur C. , Hsieh Chia-Ying , Yang Chia-Cheng , Wei Chun-Shu
Published: June 2023

Online source separation of EEG signals plays a crucial role in understanding and interpreting brain dynamics in real-time applications such as brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). In this paper, we propose OICNet, a novel neural network designed specifically for online EEG source separation using independent component analysis, aiming to address the challenges of real-time computational efficiency and reliable extraction of independent components from EEG data streams. The OICNet is trained on a loss function that integrates non-Gaussianity measurement and an orthogonality constraint to achieve effective decomposition of multi-channel EEG signals. We conducted comprehensive evaluation of OICNet on both task-related and task-free EEG datasets with comparison against conventional and network-based ICA counterparts. The results demonstrate that OICNet outperforms existing methods in terms of accuracy and computational efficiency. Overall, OICNet provides high-efficiency real-time EEG source separation capabilities and paves the way for advancements in deep-learning EEG processing in real-world BCI applications.
Miniaturized CAR knocked onto CD3ε extends TCR function with CAR specificity under control of endogenous TCR signaling cascade
Authors: Manske Katrin , Dressler Lisa , Fräßle Simon P. , Effenberger Manuel , Tschulik Claudia , Cletiu Vlad , Benke Eileen , Wagner Michaela , Schober Kilian , Müller Thomas R. , Busch Dirk H. , Stemberger Christian , Germeroth Lothar , Poltorak Mateusz P.
Published: June 2023

Immunotherapy using TCR and especially CAR transgenic T cells is a rapidly advancing field with the potential to become standard of care for the treatment of multiple diseases. While all current FDA approved CAR T cell products are generated using lentiviral gene transfer, extensive work is put into CRISPR/Cas mediated gene delivery to develop the next generation of safer and more potent cell products. One limitation of all editing systems is the size restriction of the knock-in cargo. Targeted integration under control of an endogenous promotor and/or signaling cascades opens the possibility to reduce CAR gene size to absolute minimum. Here we demonstrate that a first-generation CAR payload can be reduced to its minimum component - the antigen-binding domain - by targeted integration under control of the CD3ε promoter generating a CAR-CD3ε fusion protein that exploits the endogenous TCR signaling cascade. Miniaturizing CAR payload in this way results in potent CAR activity while simultaneously retaining the primary antigen recognition function of the TCR. Introducing CAR-specificity using a CAR binder only while maintaining endogenous TCR function may be an appealing design for future autologous CAR T cell therapies.
Lysine 117 on ataxin-3 modulates toxicity inDrosophilamodels of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3
Authors: Blount Jessica R. , Patel Nikhil C. , Libohova Kozeta , Harris Autumn L. , Tsou Wei-Ling , Sujkowski Alyson , Todi Sokol V.
Published: June 2023

Ataxin-3 (Atxn3) is a deubiquitinase with a polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat tract whose abnormal expansion causes the neurodegenerative disease, Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 (SCA3; also known as Machado-Joseph Disease). The ubiquitin chain cleavage properties of Atxn3 are enhanced when it is ubiquitinated at lysine (K) at position 117. K117-ubiqutinated Atxn3 cleaves poly-ubiquitin more rapidly in vitro compared to its unmodified counterpart and this residue is also important for Atxn3 roles in cell culture and inDrosophila melanogaster. How polyQ expansion causes SCA3 remains unclear. To gather insight into the biology of disease of SCA3, here we posited the question: is K117 important for toxicity caused by Atxn3? We generated transgenicDrosophilalines that express full-length, human, pathogenic Atxn3 with 80 polyQ with an intact or mutated K117. We found that K117 mutation mildly enhances the toxicity and aggregation of pathogenic Atxn3 inDrosophila. An additional transgenic line that expresses Atxn3 without any K residues confirms increased aggregation of pathogenic Atxn3 whose ubiquitination is perturbed. These findings suggest Atxn3 ubiquitination as a regulatory step of SCA3, in part by modulating its aggregation.
GIMLET: A Unified Graph-Text Model for Instruction-Based Molecule Zero-Shot Learning
Authors: Zhao Haiteng , Liu Shengchao , Ma Chang , Xu Hannan , Fu Jie , Deng Zhi-Hong , Kong Lingpeng , Liu Qi
Published: June 2023

Molecule property prediction has gained significant attention in recent years. The main bottleneck is the label insufficiency caused by expensive lab experiments. In order to alleviate this issue and to better leverage textual knowledge for tasks, this study investigates the feasibility of employing natural language instructions to accomplish molecule-related tasks in a zero-shot setting. We discover that existing molecule-text models perform poorly in this setting due to inadequate treatment of instructions and limited capacity for graphs. To overcome these issues, we propose GIMLET, which unifies language models for both graph and text data. By adopting generalized position embedding, our model is extended to encode both graph structures and instruction text without additional graph encoding modules. GIMLET also decouples encoding of the graph from tasks instructions in the attention mechanism, enhancing the generalization of graph features across novel tasks. We construct a dataset consisting of more than two thousand molecule tasks with corresponding instructions derived from task descriptions. We pretrain GIMLET on the molecule tasks along with instructions, enabling the model to transfer effectively to a broad range of tasks. Experimental results demonstrate that GIMLET significantly outperforms molecule-text baselines in instruction-based zero-shot learning, even achieving closed results to supervised GNN models on tasks such as toxcast and muv.1
Ultrastructural analysis reveals mitochondrial placement independent of synapse placement in fine caliber C. elegans neurons
Authors: Riboul Danielle V. , Crill Sarah , Oliva Carlos D. , Restifo Maria Gabriela , Joseph Reggie , Joseph Kerdes , Nguyen Ken C.Q. , Hall David H. , Fily Yaouen , Macleod Gregory T.
Published: June 2023

Neurons rely on mitochondria for an efficient supply of ATP and other metabolites. However, while neurons are highly elongated, mitochondria are discrete and limited in number. Due to the slow rates of diffusion over long distances it follows that neurons would benefit from an ability to control the distribution of mitochondria to sites of high metabolic activity, such as synapses. It is assumed that neurons’ possess this capacity, but ultrastructural data over substantial portions of a neuron’s extent that would allow for tests of such hypotheses are scarce. Here, we mined theCaenorhabditis elegans’electron micrographs of John White and Sydney Brenner and found systematic differences in average mitochondrial length (ranging from 1.3 to 2.4 μm), volume density (3.7% to 6.5%) and diameter (0.18 to 0.24 μm) between neurons of different neurotransmitter type and function, but found limited differences in mitochondrial morphometrics between axons and dendrites of the same neurons. Analyses of distance intervals found mitochondria to be distributed randomly with respect to presynaptic specializations, and an indication that mitochondria were displaced from postsynaptic specializations. Presynaptic specializations were primarily localized to varicosities, but mitochondria were no more likely to be found in synaptic varicosities than non-synaptic varicosities. Consistently, mitochondrial volume density was no greater in varicosities with synapses. Therefore, beyond the capacity to disperse mitochondria throughout their length, at least inC. elegans, fine caliber neurons manifest limitedsub-cellular control of mitochondrial size and distribution.

SIGNIFICANCE

Brain function is unequivocally reliant on mitochondrial function for its energy needs, and the mechanisms that cells use to control these organelles is an active field of enquiry. WormImage, a decades old electron microscopy database in the public domain, contains information about the ultrastructural disposition of mitochondria within the nervous system ofC elegansover previously unexamined extents. In a largely remote format, a team of students mined this database over the course of the pandemic. They found differences in mitochondrial size and density between neurons, but limited differences between different compartments of the same neurons. Also, while neurons are clearly able to disperse mitochondria throughout their extent, they found little evidence that they “install” mitochondria at synaptic varicosities.
Protocol for the development of an artificial intelligence extension to the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) 2022
Authors: Hawksworth Claire , Elvidge Jamie , Knies Saskia , Zemplenyi Antal , Petykó Zsuzsanna , Siirtola Pekka , Chandra Gunjan , Srivastava Divya , Denniston Alastair , Chalkidou Anastasia , Delaye Julien , Nousios Petros , Gomes Manuel , Avsar Tuba Saygin , Wang Junfeng , Petrou Stavros , Dawoud Dalia
Published: June 2023

1.2.

Introduction

AI interventions for health care are on the rise. Decisions about coverage and reimbursement are often informed by Health Technology Assessment (HTA) bodies, who rely on Health Economic Evaluations (HEEs) to estimate the value for money (cost effectiveness) of interventions. Transparent reporting of HEEs ensures they can be used for decision making. Reporting guidance exists to support this, such as the Consolidated Health Economic Reporting Standards (CHEERS) checklist. We aim to identify consensus about specific items should be reported by HEEs that evaluate AI interventions and, if such items are identified, to develop them into an extension to CHEERS: “CHEERS-AI”.

Methods and analysis

The project will have 4 phases:

Phase 1 is a literature review to help identify potential AI-related reporting items.

Phase 2 commences a Delphi process, with a series of surveys to elicit the importance of the potential AI-related reporting items.

Phase 3 is a consensus-generation meeting to agree on the final extension items.

Phase 4 is dissemination of the project’s outputs.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has received ethical approval from Newcastle University Ethics Committee (reference: 28568/2022). The findings will be available in as an open access article and disseminated through blogs, newsletters, and presentations.

1.3.

Funding statement

This study is supported by the Next Generation Health Technology Assessment (HTx) project. The HTx project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement Nº 825162. This dissemination reflects only the views of the authors and the Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
Anaerobic gut fungal communities in marsupial hosts
Authors: Jones Adrienne L. , Pratt Carrie J. , Meili Casey H. , Soo Rochelle M. , Hugenholtz Philip , Elshahed Mostafa S. , Youssef Noha H.
Published: June 2023

The anaerobic gut fungi (AGF) inhabit the alimentary tracts of herbivores. In contrast to placental mammals, information regarding the identity, diversity, and community structure of AGF in marsupials is extremely sparse. Here, we characterized AGF communities in sixty one fecal samples from ten marsupial species belonging to four families in the orderDiprotodontia:Vombatidae(wombats),Phascolarctidae(koalas),Phalangeridae(possums), andMacropodidae(kangaroos, wallabies, and pademelons). Amplicon-based diversity survey using the D2 region in the large ribosomal subunit (D2 LSU) as a phylogenetic marker indicated that marsupial AGF communities were dominated by eight genera commonly encountered in placental herbivores (Neocallimastix,Caecomyces,Cyllamyces,Anaeromyces,Orpinomyces,Piromyces,Pecoramyces, andKhoyollomyces). Community structure analysis revealed a high level of stochasticity, and ordination approaches did not reveal a significant role for animal host, gut type, dietary preferences, or lifestyle in structuring marsupial AGF communities. Marsupial foregut and hindgut communities displayed diversity and community structure patterns comparable to AGF communities typically encountered in placental foregut hosts, while exhibiting a higher level of diversity and a distinct community structure compared to placental hindgut communities. Quantification of AGF load using quantitative PCR indicated a significantly smaller load in marsupial hosts compared to their placental counterparts. Isolation efforts were only successful from a single red kangaroo fecal sample and yielded aKhoyollomyces ramosusisolate closely related to strains previously isolated from placental hosts. Our results suggest that AGF communities in marsupials are in low abundance, and show little signs of selection based on ecological and evolutionary factors. The observed lack of host-fungal coevolutionary signal suggests a potential recent acquisition and/or a transient nature of AGF communities in marsupial herbivores.
Modulation of RNA processing genes during sleep-dependent memory
Authors: Li Yongjun , Chouhan Nitin S. , Zhang Shirley , Moore Rebecca S. , Noya Sara B. , Shon Joy , Yue Zhifeng , Sehgal Amita
Published: June 2023

Memory consolidation inDrosophilacan be sleep-dependent or sleep-independent, depending on the availability of food. The anterior posterior (ap) alpha′/beta′ (α′/β′) neurons of the mushroom body (MB) are required for sleep-dependent memory consolidation in flies fed after training. These neurons are also involved in the increase of sleep after training, suggesting a coupling of sleep and memory. To better understand the mechanisms underlying sleep and memory consolidation initiation, we analyzed the transcriptome of ap α′/β′ neurons one hour after appetitive memory conditioning. A small number of genes, enriched in RNA processing functions, were differentially expressed in flies fed after training relative to trained and starved flies or untrained flies. Knockdown of each of these differentially expressed genes in the ap α′/β′ neurons revealed notable sleep phenotypes for Polr1F and Regnase-1, both of which decrease in expression after conditioning. Knockdown of Polr1F, a regulator of ribosome RNA transcription, in adult flies promotes sleep and increases pre-ribosome RNA expression as well as overall translation, supporting a function for Polr1F downregulation in sleep-dependent memory. Conversely, while constitutive knockdown of Regnase-1, an mRNA decay protein localized to the ribosome, reduces sleep, adult specific knockdown suggests that effects of Regnase-1 on sleep are developmental in nature. We further tested the role of each gene in memory consolidation. Knockdown of Polr1F does not affect memory, which may be expected from its downregulation during memory consolidation. Regnase-1 knockdown in ap α′/β′ neurons impairs all memory, including short-term, implicating Regnase-1 in memory, but leaving open the question of why it is downregulated during sleep-dependent memory. Overall, our findings demonstrate that the expression of RNA processing genes is modulated during sleep-dependent memory and, in the case of Polr1F, this modulation likely contributes to increased sleep.
Chromatin and gene expression changes during female Drosophila germline stem cell development illuminate the biology of highly potent stem cells
Authors: Pang Liang-Yu , DeLuca Steven , Zhu Haolong , Urban John M. , Spradling Allan C.
Published: June 2023

Highly potent animal stem cells either self renew or launch complex differentiation programs, using mechanisms that are only partly understood. Drosophila female germline stem cells (GSC) perpetuate without change over evolutionary time and generate cystoblast daughters that develop into nurse cells and oocytes. Cystoblasts initiate differentiation by generating a transient syncytial state, the germline cyst, and by increasing pericentromeric H3K9me3 modification, actions likely to suppress transposable element activity. Relatively open GSC chromatin is further restricted by Polycomb repression of testis or somatic cell-expressed genes briefly active in early female germ cells. Subsequently, Neijre/CBP and Myc help upregulate growth and reprogram GSC metabolism by altering mitochondrial transmembrane transport, gluconeogenesis and other processes. In all these respects GSC differentiation resembles development of the totipotent zygote. We propose that the totipotent stem cell state was shaped by the need to resist transposon activity over evolutionary time scales.
Drug-drug interactions between classic psychedelics and psychoactive drugs: a systematic review
Authors: Halman Andreas , Kong Geraldine , Sarris Jerome , Perkins Daniel
Published: June 2023

Classic psychedelics, lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin, mescaline and N,N-dimethyltryptamine, are potent psychoactive substances that have been studied for their physiological and psychological effects. However, our understanding of the potential interactions and outcomes of using these substances are used in combination with other psychoactive drugs is limited.

This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current research on drug-drug interactions between classic psychedelics and other psychoactive drugs in humans. We conducted a thorough literature search using multiple databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science and other sources to supplement our search for relevant studies. A total of 8,487 records were screened, and studies involving human data describing potential interactions (as well as the lack thereof) between classic psychedelics and other psychoactive drugs were included.

In total, we identified 50 studies from 34 reports published before April 20, 2023, encompassing 31 studies on LSD, 11 on psilocybin, 4 on mescaline, 3 on DMT and 1 on ayahuasca. These studies provide insights into the interactions between classic psychedelics and a range of drugs, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, mood stabilisers, recreational drugs and others.

The findings revealed various effects when psychedelics were combined with other drugs, including both attenuated and potentiated effects, as well as instances where no changes were observed. Except for a few case reports, no serious adverse drug events were described in the included studies. In-depth discussion of the results is presented, along with an exploration of the potential molecular pathways that underlie the observed effects.
Evaluation ofAedes aegyptiPenetration, Probing, and Feeding Times on Mice
Authors: Martin-Martin Ines , Williams Adeline E. , Calvo Eric
Published: June 2023

In mosquitoes, the intradermal search for vertebrate blood (probing time) corresponds to the time taken from initial insertion of the mouthparts in the skin until visualization of the initial engorgement of blood in the midgut. Probing time evaluation provides useful information on the ability of a mosquito to initiate successful blood feeding. In this protocol, we describe how to determine feeding parameters inAedes aegypti, a widely distributed mosquito that transmits several deadly pathogens, including yellow fever, dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya viruses. We focus on the different steps of a blood feeding event, including penetration, probing, interprobing, and feeding time. Penetration time corresponds to the insertion of the stylets into the host skin and usually lasts <10 sec. Probing time or intradermal search for blood involves saliva secretion into the skin. Some researchers group penetration and probing time as the exploratory phase for blood. Feeding time is an active phase of blood ingestion and engorgement. Feeding parameters depend on mosquito behaviors and these measurements are visually taken by the investigator. We include a video that provides a close look at a mosquito feeding event in which penetration, probing, and feeding times can be observed. To record these experimental times, one must closely watch the mosquito feeding behavior including stylet penetration in the host skin, visualization of the first traces of blood in the midgut, engorgement of the midgut, and removal of stylets from the skin.
Measurement of Reflexive Feeding Response inDrosophila
Authors: Brown Elizabeth , Worden Kurtresha , Li Yuanyuan , Masek Pavel , Keene Alex C.
Published: June 2023

The ability to distinguish between food sources that are good and provide nutrients and those that are potentially dangerous is crucial to the survival of an organism. Here, we describe a taste assay that measures the reflexive feeding response to a given tastant. To examine taste preference for a soluble compound, an appetitive tastant is applied to the proboscis, and the proportion of proboscis extensions are recorded. This single-fly assay may be applied to adultDrosophilaof any genetic background and facilities examination of the neural circuitry and molecular processes encoding the reflexive taste response. Furthermore, this assay requires few custom components and therefore can be easily established in laboratories with minimal expertise in the study of fly behavior.
Synthesis, crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and DFT study of the 1,1′-(buta-1,3-diyne-1,4-diyl)bis(cyclohexan-1-ol)
Authors: Tirkasheva Sarvinoz I. , Ziyadullaev Odiljon E. , Eshimbetov Alisher G. , Ibragimov Bakhtiyar T. , Ashurov Jamshid M.
Published: June 2023

The title compound, C16H22O2, was synthesized in order to obtain its guest-free form because `wheel-and-axle'-shaped molecules tend to crystallize from solutions as solvates or host–guest molecules. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2/c with two crystallographically non-equivalent molecules, one situated on an inversion center and the other on a twofold axis. The rod-like 1,3-diyne fragments have the usual linear geometry. In the crystal, O—H ... O bonds form eight-membered rings of the R
4
4(8) type, linking molecules into layers. The Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the largest contributions are from intermolecular H...H (ca 71%) and H...C/C...H (ca 19%) contacts. The energies of the frontier molecular orbitals were determined by DFT calculations at the B3LYP/def2-TZVP level of theory.
Sustainable construction practice in Nigeria: barriers and strategies for improvement
Authors: Akindele Oluwaseun Enoch , Ajayi Saheed , Toriola-Coker Luqman , Oyegoke Adekunle Sabitu , Alaka Hafiz , Zulu Sambo Lyson
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Amidst all solutions posited to address sustainable construction practices in Nigeria, the implementation plans are repudiated by sustainable barriers. This study examines and confirms the strategy with the most significant impacts on the identified barrier to sustainable construction practice (SCP).

Design/methodology/approach

The study deployed a questionnaire survey to evaluate the perspective of 100 construction actors on the barriers and strategies of sustainable construction practice in Nigeria. Factor Analysis was employed to categorize key barriers and strategies into their underlying clusters for further analysis. Partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to confirm the construct's significant relationship and magnitude, thereby establishing the strategies with the highest impacts on the barriers to sustainable construction practices.

Findings

The findings revealed three clusters of barriers and four groups of strategies to SCP, including technopolitic barrier, perception and awareness barrier and sociocultural barrier. For the significant strategies, education and training, stakeholder regulation, incentive support and government and legislative support strategies were established. Overall, education and training strategy was identified as the most dominant and effective strategy to mitigate the barriers of SCP in Nigeria.

Originality/value

The paper establishes education and training as the key strategy to achieving sustainable quest in the AEC industry. The practical implication is that policymakers, educators and professional bodies can harness sustainable knowledge transfer through education and training to improve sustainable construction practices in Nigeria.
A weighted fuzzy Petri-net analysis for Indian foodgrains supply chain
Authors: Rathore Rishabh , Thakkar Jitesh , Jha J.K.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper investigates the overall system risk for a foodgrains supply chain capturing the interrelationship among the risk factors and the effect of risk mitigation strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper first calculates the weight of risk factors using an integrated approach of failure mode, effects analysis and fuzzy VIKOR technique. Next, the weights are utilized as input for the weighted fuzzy Petri-net (WFPN) approach to calculate the system risk.

Findings

Two different WFPN models are developed based on the relationships among the risk factors, and both models demonstrate a higher risk value for the overall system.

Originality/value

The proposed methodology will help practitioners or managers understand the complexity involved in the system by capturing the interrelationship behaviour. This study also considers the concurrent effect of risk mitigation strategies for calculating the overall system risk, which helps to improve the system’s performance.
Quality improvement in retail-distribution of Saudi thobe using six-sigma
Authors: Abualsauod Emad Hashiem
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This research aims to enhance the operational excellence and continuous improvement of the retail supply chain in the Saudi Thobe Factory through an integrated approach of Six Sigma DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control) with artificial intelligence (AI).

Design/methodology/approach

The study identified the tailoring department as the department with maximum defects by using voice of customer and critical to quality tools. An AI-integrated Six Sigma approach was applied to identify and eliminate nonproductive stages, and a new facility layout was designed to enhance productivity and customer satisfaction.

Findings

The use of the factor rating method and simulation using Arena software led to an improved sigma level from 1.597 to 2.237, representing an increment of about 40%. Additionally, the defects per million opportunities reduced from 461,538 to 230,769. The study can help production industry management to optimize facility layouts and improve overall production line efficiency.

Practical implications

This study addresses the lack of published research on the use of an integrated approach of Six Sigma DMAIC with AI in the retail and distribution sector of Saudi Arabia, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The study demonstrates how this approach may significantly boost SMEs’ performance and provides a basis for future research in this area.

Originality/value

This study provides a practical example of how an integrated approach of Six Sigma DMAIC with AI can be used in the retail and distribution sector of Saudi Arabia to enhance operational excellence and continuous improvement. The study highlights the potential benefits of this approach for SMEs in the region and provides a framework for future research.
Risk formulation in forensic practice: a review of the evidence
Authors: Tarpey Emma , Stephenson Zoe , Barker Richard
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the evidence base for the use of risk formulation in forensic practice settings.

Design/methodology/approach

Systematic literature review principles were adopted to identify literature exploring risk formulation in forensic practice settings in relation to offending behaviour.

Findings

Data were analysed using a narrative synthesis approach, and commonalities were observed across some of the studies in terms of definitions, outcomes, and implementation, of risk formulation; however, the findings of the review did not provide a definitive account of risk formulation practice in forensic settings. This is due to the narrow scope of the included studies, the small yet diverse samples, the heterogeneity in research aims and the methodological weaknesses apparent within the included studies.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is needed to understand the application and outcomes of risk formulation in forensic practice settings.

Practical implications

Practitioners should be clear about how they are defining, implementing and assessing the outcomes of risk formulation, alongside being mindful of the evidence base when utilising forensic risk formulation in practice.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to focus solely on the evidence base for forensic risk formulation in practice.
When social media meets destination marketing: the mediating role of attachment to social media influencer
Authors: Zhu Chris , Fong Lawrence Hoc Nang , Liu Christy Ying Ni , Song Hongmei
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the mediating role of attachment to social media influencer between authenticity and enjoyment and then travel intention while watching social media influencer video.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the survey approach to collect responses from respondents who have watched the social media influencer video. Partial least squares structural equation modeling technique was applied for the data analysis.

Findings

The results indicated that authenticities positively impact tourist attachment to social media influencer, enjoyment and hence visit intention. Attachment to social media influencer mediates the relationships between authenticities and enjoyment.

Originality/value

This study proposes and examines the role of attachment to social media influencers as a mediator between authenticities and tourist responses, which provided meaningful theoretical and practical insights for the future research on social media influencers.
Rethinking workplace collaboration – an old topic with a practical view
Authors: Drake Ryan , Chen Wendy D.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Research has long lauded collaboration at work as one of the best management strategies to increase employee engagement, raise productivity and enhance innovation. In real life, many businesses also strongly encourage and enforce workplace collaboration. However, the purpose of this paper was to examine workplace collaboration from a practitioners' perspective who experienced collaborations firsthand.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper takes a practical and ethnographic view and examines collaboration in three different organizations which varied in mission and size.

Findings

The findings identify three major drawbacks of collaboration including repetitive meetings, slowed business process and a reduction of recognition and accountability.

Practical implications

Three practical suggestions for leaders and managers to improve their collaboration strategies are discussed.

Originality/value

This article is one of the first to examine collaboration from a practitioner's point of view while providing detailed examples. It is also amongst the first to provide actionable suggestions to practitioners that can be implemented immediately.
FADM-SLAM: a fast and accurate dynamic intelligent motion SLAM for autonomous robot exploration involving movable objects
Authors: Ul Islam Qamar , Ibrahim Haidi , Chin Pan Kok , Lim Kevin , Abdullah Mohd Zaid
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Many popular simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) techniques have low accuracy, especially when localizing environments containing dynamically moving objects since their presence can potentially cause inaccurate data associations. To address this issue, the proposed FADM-SLAM system aims to improve the accuracy of SLAM techniques in environments containing dynamically moving objects. It uses a pipeline of feature-based approaches accompanied by sparse optical flow and multi-view geometry as constraints to achieve this goal.

Design/methodology/approach

FADM-SLAM, which works with monocular, stereo and RGB-D sensors, combines an instance segmentation network incorporating an intelligent motion detection strategy (iM) with an optical flow technique to improve location accuracy. The proposed AS-SLAM system comprises four principal modules, which are the optical flow mask and iM, the ego motion estimation, dynamic point detection and the feature-based extraction framework.

Findings

Experiment results using the publicly available RGBD-Bonn data set indicate that FADM-SLAM outperforms established visual SLAM systems in highly dynamic conditions.

Originality/value

In summary, the first module generates the indication of dynamic objects by using the optical flow and iM with geometric-wise segmentation, which is then used by the second module to compute the starting point of a posture. The third module, meanwhile, first searches for the dynamic feature points in the environment, and second, eliminates them from further processing. An algorithm based on epipolar constraints is implemented to do this. In this way, only the static feature points are retained, which are then fed to the fourth module for extracting important features.
Rohingya Refugee Response Encircling South Asian Geo-politics: Debriefing India’s Stance from Bangladesh Perspective
Authors: Islam Santa
Published: June 2023

This paper aims to present a brief discussion on the geopolitical aspects of diplomatic divergences between India and Bangladesh regarding the Rohingya issue. Presently, more than a million people are living in 30 refugee camps in Bangladesh. In August 2017, the plight of Rohingya refugees broke all the previous record and had largely affected the Cox's Bazar region of Bangladesh when Bangladesh decided to provide shelter to the Rohingyas, identifying them as “Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN). Due to geographical closeness and historical linkage with both Myanmar and Bangladesh, India, despite taking strict measures to avoid any cross-border opportunities for Rohingyas, could not escape the consequences. Myanmar, due to its strategic position and natural resources, has always been the epicentre of attention and investment of foreign powers. The crisis has all the elements in it to create political turbulence in South Asia and South East Asia. A peaceful environment based on mutual trust and cooperation is required for the continuing economic growth of the region. Considering the importance of in-depth research in this arena, the study pursued the qualitative method.
Coastal Erosion in The Unprotected and Protected Sections At Berakas
Authors: Latif Md Mahdi Hj Abd , Yong Gabriel Y.V.
Published: June 2023

The coast at Berakas in the Brunei-Muara district of Brunei Darussalam suffers from erosion caused by a combination of fluvial and marine processes. This paper investigates the rate and pattern of erosion along a 1.8-km stretch of coast to compare the difference between the unprotected and protected sections. We used (i) image and spatial analysis and (ii) field geomorphology. The Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) in ArcGIS was used to compare the study area using two Google Earth images. The study found that the unprotected section had receded by 4.6 m between 2009 and 2019, while the protected section had advanced by 8.0 m over the same period; intense gullying and slumping of cliff continued at both sections. The detached headland breakwaters in the protected section were effective in stabilizing the coast. A concrete drain installed parallel to the cliff edge appears to be capable of intercepting storm runoff, but its effectiveness was undermined by lack of maintenance. We conclude that terrestrial-fluvial processes continue to erode coastal land and cause slumping of the cliff face at Berakas. However, coastal protection structures that curb the marine process could stabilize the coastline, even where sediment transport is active.
Malaysian Perceptions of China Following the Asian Financial Crisis
Authors: Sigit  , Twigivanya Rachel Shannon
Published: June 2023

This paper examines Malaysia's perception of China following the Asian Financial Crisis. The Asian Financial Crisis, which occurred in 1997, resulted in a contraction in Malaysia's GDP, which resulted in increased unemployment in Malaysia. China is a rising economy. Several bilateral visits and trade missions meet both states to achieve an advantageous economic position. Malaysia's decision to rely on China despite historical events that had sparked tensions between the two countries. Despite Malaysia's economic downturn, the country is taking swift action to address the issue. During the crisis, Malaysia viewed Western countries as irresponsible and allowed the situation to deteriorate, which later became the reason for Malaysia's relationship with China. The crisis, however, has influenced Malaysian Chinese businesses to improve their foreign policy and bilateral relations. This paper contends that Malaysia recognizes the importance of its bilateral relationship with China in stabilizing its economic development and social activity following the crisis.
Contemporary issues, current best practice and ways forward in soil protist ecology
Authors: Geisen Stefan , Lara Enrique , Mitchell Edward
Published: June 2023

Soil protists are increasingly studied due to a release from previous methodological constraints and the acknowledgement of their immense diversity and functional importance in ecosystems. However, these studies often lack sufficient depth in knowledge, which is visible in the form of falsely used terms and false‐ or over‐interpreted data with conclusions that cannot be drawn from the data obtained. As we welcome that also non‐experts include protists in their still mostly bacterial and/or fungal‐focused studies, our aim here is to help avoid some common errors. We provide suggestions for current terms to use when working on soil protists, like protist instead of protozoa, predator instead of grazer, microorganisms rather than microflora and other terms to be used to describe the prey spectrum of protists. We then highlight some dos and don'ts in soil protist ecology including challenges related to interpreting 18S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing data. We caution against the use of standard bioinformatic settings optimized for bacteria and the uncritical reliance on incomplete and partly erroneous reference databases. We also show why causal inferences cannot be drawn from sequence‐based correlation analyses or any sampling/monitoring, study in the field without thorough experimental confirmation and sound understanding of the biology of taxa. Together, we envision this work to help non‐experts to more easily include protists in their soil ecology analyses and obtain more reliable interpretations from their protist data and other biodiversity data that, in the end, will contribute to a better understanding of soil ecology.