bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and retrospective mortality in two African settings: Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Simons Erica , Nikolay Birgit , Ouedraogo Pascal , Pasquier Estelle , Tiemeni Carlos , Adjaho Ismael , Badjo Colette , Chamman Kaouther , Diomandé Mariam , Dosso Mireille , Doumbia Moussa , Izia Yves Asuni , Kakompe Hugues , Katsomya Anne Marie , Kij Vicky , Akissi Viviane Kouakou , Mambula Christopher , Mbala-Kingebeni Placide , Muzinga Jacques , Ngoy Basile , Penali Lou , Pini Alessandro , Porten Klaudia , Salou Halidou , Sevede Daouda , Luquero Francisco , Gignoux Etienne
Published: December 2022

Background

Although seroprevalence studies have demonstrated the wide circulation of SARS-COV-2 in African countries, the impact on population health in these settings is still poorly understood. Using representative samples of the general population, we evaluated retrospective mortality and seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Lubumbashi and Abidjan.

Methods

The studies included retrospective mortality surveys and nested anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence surveys. In Lubumbashi the study took place during April-May 2021 and in Abidjan the survey was implemented in two phases: July-August 2021 and October-November 2021. Crude mortality rates were stratified between pre-pandemic and pandemic periods and further investigated by age group and COVID waves. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was quantified by rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) and laboratory-based testing (ELISA in Lubumbashi and ECLIA in Abidjan).

Results

In Lubumbashi, the crude mortality rate (CMR) increased from 0.08 deaths per 10 000 persons per day (pre-pandemic) to 0.20 deaths per 10 000 persons per day (pandemic period). Increases were particularly pronounced among <5 years old. In Abidjan, no overall increase was observed during the pandemic period (pre-pandemic: 0.05 deaths per 10 000 persons per day; pandemic: 0.07 deaths per 10 000 persons per day). However, an increase was observed during the third wave (0.11 deaths per 10 000 persons per day). The estimated seroprevalence in Lubumbashi was 15.7% (RDT) and 43.2% (laboratory-based). In Abidjan, the estimated seroprevalence was 17.4% (RDT) and 72.9% (laboratory-based) during the first phase of the survey and 38.8% (RDT) and 82.2% (laboratory-based) during the second phase of the survey.

Conclusion

Although circulation of SARS-CoV-2 seems to have been extensive in both settings, the public health impact varied. The increases, particularly among the youngest age group, suggest indirect impacts of COVID and the pandemic on population health. The seroprevalence results confirmed substantial underdetection of cases through the national surveillance systems.
Regenerative capacity of neural tissue scales with changes in tissue mechanics post injury
Authors: Carnicer-Lombarte Alejandro , Barone Damiano G. , Fawcett James W. , Franze Kristian
Published: December 2022

Spinal cord injuries have devastating consequences for humans, as mammalian neurons of the central nervous system (CNS) cannot regenerate. In the peripheral nervous system (PNS), however, neurons may regenerate to restore lost function following injury. While mammalian CNS tissue softens after injury, how PNS tissue mechanics changes in response to mechanical trauma is currently poorly understood. Here we characterised mechanical rat nerve tissue properties before and afterin vivocrush and transection injuries using atomic force microscopy-based indentation measurements. Unlike CNS tissue, PNS tissue significantly stiffened after both types of tissue damage, likely mainly due to an increase in collagen I levels. Schwann cells, which crucially support PNS regeneration, became more motile and proliferative on stiffer substratesin vitro, suggesting that changes in tissue stiffness may play a key role in facilitating or impeding nervous system regeneration.
Effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on FRN and P2 during the performance of auditory monetary incentive delay task
Authors: Grigoreva Anastasia , Gorin Aleksei , Klyuchnikov Valery , Dutov Ivan , Shestakova Anna
Published: December 2022

Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) serves as a powerful technique for assessing the causal role of specific brain regions in behavior, including decision-making. While tES studies investigating sensorimotor function yield unequivocal results, cognitive research reveals considerable ambiguity and diversity in stimulation-related effects. The consequences of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cognitive functioning are not consistently predictable based on the current direction (cathodal or anodal), which limits its applicability in cognitive research.

In the present study, we further explored tES effect ambiguity in cognitive tasks by modulating medial frontal cortex (MFC) activity in an auditory monetary incentive delay (MID) task, where participants responded to acoustic cues encoding expected monetary losses using cathodal tDCS. We analyzed feedback-related negativity (FRN), reflecting prediction error processing when participants encountered losses compared to no losses during two subsequent MID task sessions, and exogenous P2 response to stimulus onset unrelated to anticipated monetary incentives. We anticipated an inhibitory cathodal tDCS effect on both P2 response and FRN.

Contrary to our expectations, we observed a facilitatory effect of cathodal tDCS on FRN, replicating our earlier results (Gorin et al., 2022). No effect of stimulation was observed on P2; however, tDCS influenced the learning effect of P2. The difference in P2 amplitude between the first and second sessions, observed in the sham group, was absent in the group that received cathodal tDCS. We offered the interpretation of the complex picture of tES effects during auditory MID performance in light of brain plasticity theory for P2 and reward-learning mechanisms for FRN. Importantly, our findings regarding the multidirectionality of tDCS effects on cognitive function challenge the utility of tES as a readily employable method for testing brain causality in highly complex neurocognitive events, such as decision-making.
Enhancing detectable fluorescence fluctuation for high-throughput and four-dimensional live-cell super-resolution imaging
Authors: Zhao Weisong , Zhao Shiqun , Han Zhenqian , Ding Xiangyan , Hu Guangwei , Wang Xinwei , Mao Heng , Jiu Yaming , Hu Ying , Tan Jiubin , Ding Xumin , Guo Changliang , Chen Liangyi , Li Haoyu
Published: December 2022

Super-resolution (SR) imaging with high-throughput is invaluable to fast and high-precision profiling in a wide range of biomedical applications. However, prevalent SR methods require sophisticated acquisition devices and specific imaging control, and may cost a fairly long time on a single field-of-view. These essentially increase the construction difficulty, including challenges in imaging throughput, system establishment, and automation. Using the natural photophysics of fluorescence, fluctuation-based microscopy techniques can routinely break the diffraction limit with no need for additional optical components, but its long acquisition time still poses a challenge for high-throughput imaging or visualizing transient organelle dynamics. Here, we propose anSR method based on theAuto-Correlation with two-stepDeconvolution (SACD) that reduces the number of frames required by maximizing the detectable fluorescence fluctuation behavior in each measurement, with further removal of tunable parameters by a Fourier ring correlation analysis. It only needs 20 frames for twofold lateral and axial resolution improvements, while the SR optical fluctuation imaging (SOFI) needs more than 1000 frames. By capturing raw images for ∼10 minutes, we record an SR image with ∼128 nm resolution that contains 2.4 gigapixels covering an area of ∼2.0 mm × 1.4 mm, including more than 2,000 cells. Beyond that, by applying continuity and sparsity joint constraint, the Sparse deconvolution-assisted SACD enables 4D live-cell SR imaging of events such as mitochondrial fission and fusion. Overall, as an open-sourced module, we anticipate SACD can offer direct access to SR, which may facilitate the biology studies of cells and organisms with high-throughput and low-cost.
Alpha-band lateralization and microsaccades elicited by exogenous cues do not track attentional orienting
Authors: Balestrieri Elio , Michel René , Busch Niko A.
Published: December 2022

We explore the world by constantly shifting our focus of attention towards salient stimuli, and then disengaging from them in search of new ones. The alpha rhythm (8-13 Hz) has been suggested as a pivotal neural substrate of these attentional shifts, due to its local synchronization and desynchronization that suppresses irrelevant cortical areas and facilitates relevant areas, a phenomenon called alpha lateralization. Whether alpha lateralization tracks the focus of attention from orienting toward a salient stimulus to disengaging from it is still an open question. In this study, we addressed this question by leveraging the well-established phenomenon of Inhibition of Return (IOR), consisting of an initial facilitation in response times (RTs) for target stimuli appearing at an exogenously cued location, followed by a suppression of that location. Our behavioral data showed a typical IOR effect with both early facilitation and subsequent inhibition. By contrast, alpha was lateralized only in the cued direction, but never re-lateralized in a manner compatible with the behavioral inhibition effect. Importantly, also the initial lateralization towards the cue ocurred too late to account for the behavioral facilitation effect. Furthermore, we analyzed the interaction between alpha lateralization and microsaccades: at the same time when alpha was lateralized towards the cued location, microsaccades were mostly oriented away from the cued location. Crucially, the two phenomena showed a significant positive correlation. These results indicate that alpha lateralization reflects primarily the processing of salient stimuli, challenging the view that alpha lateralization is directly involved in exogenous attentional orienting per se. We discuss the relevance of the present findings for an oculomotor account of alpha lateralization as a modulator of cortical excitability in preparation of a saccade.
Regulation of neuroinflammation by astrocyte-derived cholesterol
Authors: Wang Hao , Kulas Joshua A. , Higginbotham Holden , Kovacs Michael A. , Ferris Heather A. , Hansen Scott B.
Published: December 2022

Neurodegeneration and its concomitant loss of cognitive function is associated with inflammation and an accumulation of lipids, in particular cholesterol. In the brain, cholesterol is made in astrocytes and transported to surrounding cells by apolipoprotein E (apoE). Elevated cholesterol promotes inflammation in peripheral tissues, but whether astrocyte cholesterol can drive inflammation in the brain is unclear. Here we show that pro-inflammatory cytokines induce cholesterol synthesis in astrocytes. The astrocytes release the cholesterol and immune cells take it up, which causes clustering of proinflammatory receptors in lipid rafts, perpetuating the inflammatory signal. Knockout of cholesterol synthesis in astrocytes blocks the production of inflammatory cytokines in an AD mouse brain and reduces neuroinflammation induced by peripheral injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the mouse. We conclude that astrocyte cholesterol is a paracrine signal to microglia and tissue-resident macrophages, resulting in increased neuroinflammation.
Regulation of RAS palmitoyltransferases by accessory proteins and palmitoylation
Authors: Yang Anlan , Liu Shengjie , Zhang Yuqi , Chen Jia , Feng Shan , Wu Jianping , Hu Qi
Published: December 2022

Palmitoylation of cysteine residues at the C-terminal hypervariable regions in human HRAS and NRAS, which is necessary for the RAS signaling, is catalyzed by the acyltransferase DHHC9 in complex with its accessory protein GCP16. The molecular basis for the acyltransferase activity and the regulation of DHHC9 by GCP16 is not clear. Here we report the cryo-EM structures of the human DHHC9-GCP16 complex and its yeast counterpart — the Erf2-Erf4 complex, demonstrating that GCP16 and Erf4 are not directly involved in the catalytic process but stabilize the architecture of DHHC9 and Erf2, respectively. We found that a phospholipid binding to an arginine-rich region of DHHC9 and palmitoylation on three residues (C24, C25, and C288) were essential for the catalytic activity of the DHHC9-GCP16 complex. Furthermore, we showed that GCP16 also formed complexes with DHHC14 and 18 to catalyze RAS palmitoylation. These findings provide insights into the regulation mechanism of RAS palmitoyltransferases.
Gut bacteria impact host uric acid burden and its association with atherosclerosis
Authors: Kasahara Kazuyuki , Kerby Robert L. , Zhang Qijun , Pradhan Meenakshi , Mehrabian Margarete , Lusis Aldons , Bergström Göran , Bäckhed Fredrik , Rey Federico E.
Published: December 2022

Humans with metabolic and inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis harbor dysbiotic gut communities. However, the microbes and microbial pathways that influence disease progression remain largely undefined. Here, we show that variation in atherosclerosis burden is in part driven by the gut microbiota and it is associated with circulating levels of the proinflammatory molecule uric acid both in mice and humans. We identify bacterial taxa present in the gut spanning multiple phyla, includingBacillota(Firmicutes),FusobacteriotaandPseudomonadota(Proteobacteria), that use uric acid and adenine– a key precursor of nucleic acids in intestinal cells, as carbon and energy sources anaerobically, and uncover a gene cluster encoding key steps of purine degradation that is widely distributed among gut dwelling bacteria. Furthermore, we demonstrate that colonization of germ-free mice with purine-degrading bacteria modulates levels of uric acid and other purines in the gut and systemically. Altogether this work demonstrates that gut microbes are important drivers of host global purine homeostasis and uric acid levels, and suggests that gut bacterial catabolism of purines may represent a novel mechanism by which the gut microbiome influences host health.
Inhibition of early-acting autophagy genes inC. elegansneurons improves protein homeostasis, promotes exopher production, and extends lifespan via the ATG-16.2 WD40 domain
Authors: Yang Yongzhi , Arnold Meghan Lee , Choy Elizabeth H. , Lange Caitlin M. , Poon Karie , Broussalian Michael , Sun Ling-Hsuan , Moreno Tatiana M. , Singh Anupama , Driscoll Monica , Kumsta Caroline , Hansen Malene
Published: December 2022

While autophagy is key to maintain cellular homeostasis, tissue-specific roles of individual autophagy genes are less understood. To study neuronal autophagyin vivo, we inhibited autophagy genes specifically inC. elegansneurons, and unexpectedly found that knockdown of early-acting autophagy genes, i.e., involved in formation of the autophagosome, except foratg-16.2, decreased PolyQ aggregates and increased lifespan, albeit independently of the degradation of autophagosomal cargo. Neuronal aggregates can be secreted from neurons via vesicles called exophers, and we found that neuronal inhibition of early-acting autophagy genesatg-7andlgg-1/Atg8, but notatg-16.2increased exopher formation. Moreover,atg-16.2mutants were unable to form exophers, andatg-16.2was required for the effects of early autophagy gene reduction on neuronal PolyQ aggregation, exopher formation, and lifespan. Notably, neuronal expression of full-length ATG-16.2 but not ATG-16.2 without a functional WD40 domain, important for non-canonical functions of ATG16L1 in mammalian cells, restored these phenotypes. Collectively, we discovered a specific role forC. elegansATG-16.2 and its WD40 domain in exopher biogenesis, neuronal proteostasis, and lifespan determination, highlighting a possible role for non-canonical autophagy functions in both exopher formation and in aging.
Development of AlissAID system targeting GFP or mCherry fusion protein
Authors: Ogawa Yoshitaka , Nishimura Kohei , Obara Keisuke , Kamura Takumi
Published: December 2022

Conditional control of target proteins using the auxin-inducible degron (AID) system provides a powerful tool for investigating protein function in eukaryotes. Here, we established an Affinity-linker based super-sensitive auxin-inducible degron (AlissAID) system in budding yeast by using a single domain antibody (a nanobody). In this system, target proteins fused with GFP or mCherry were degraded depending on a synthetic auxin, 5-Adamantyl-IAA (5-Ad-IAA). In AlissAID system, nanomolar concentration of 5-Ad-IAA induces target degradation, thus minimizing the side effects from chemical compounds. In addition, in AlissAID system, we observed few basal degradations which was observed in other AID systems including ssAID system. Furthermore, AlissAID based conditional knockdown cell lines are easily generated by using budding yeast GFP Clone Collection. From these advantages, the AlissAID system would be an ideal protein-knockdown system in budding yeast cells.
How neuronal morphology impacts the synchronisation state of neuronal networks
Authors: Gowers Robert P , Schreiber Susanne
Published: December 2022

The biophysical properties of neurons not only affect how information is processed within cells, they can also impact the dynamical states of the network. Specifically, the cellular dynamics of action-potential generation have shown relevance for setting the (de)synchronisation state of the network. The dynamics of tonically spiking neurons typically fall into one of three qualitatively distinct types that arise from distinct mathematical bifurcations of voltage dynamics at the onset of spiking. Accordingly, changes in ion channel composition or even external factors, like temperature, have been demonstrated to switch network behaviour via changes in the spike onset bifurcation and hence its associated dynamical type. A thus far less addressed modulator of neuronal dynamics is cellular morphology. Based on simplified and anatomically realistic mathematical neuron models, we show here that the extent of dendritic arborisation has an influence on the neuronal dynamical spiking type and therefore on the (de)synchronisation state of the network. Specifically, larger dendritic trees prime neuronal dynamics for in-phase-synchronised or splayed-out activity in weakly coupled networks, in contrast to cells with otherwise identical properties yet smaller dendrites. Our biophysical insights hold for generic multicompartmental classes of spiking neuron models (from ball-and-stick-type to anatomically reconstructed models) and establish a direct mechanistic link between neuronal morphology and the susceptibility of neural tissue to synchronisation in health and disease.

Significance Statement

Cellular morphology varies widely across different cell types and brain areas. In this study, we provide a mechanistic link between neuronal morphology and the dynamics of electrical activity arising at the network level. Based on mathematical modelling, we demonstrate that modifications of the size of dendritic arbours alone suffice to switch the behaviour of otherwise identical networks from synchronised to asynchronous activity. Specifically, neurons with larger dendritic trees tend to produce more stable phase relations of spiking across neurons. Given the generality of the approach, we provide a novel, morphology-based hypothesis that explains the differential sensitivity of tissue to epilepsy in different brain areas and assigns relevance to cellular morphology in healthy network computation.
Emergence of counting in the brains of 3- to 5-year-old children
Authors: Kersey Alyssa J. , Aulet Lauren S. , Cantlon Jessica F.
Published: December 2022

Learning to map number words onto their ordinal and quantitative meanings is a key step in the acquisition of formal mathematics. Previous neuroimaging work suggests that the intraparietal sulcus (IPS), the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), and the fronto-temporal language network may be involved in representing number words. However, the contribution of early-developing numerosity representations to the acquisition of counting has not been tested in children. If regions that support numerosity processing are important for the acquisition of counting, then there should be functional overlap between numerosity representations and number word representations in the brain, before children have mastered counting. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we identified numerosity processing regions in 3- to 5-year-old children during a numerosity comparison task. To identify neural representations of number words, we measured changes in neural amplitudes while those same children listened to number words and color words and while they listened to counting and alphabet sequences. Across multiple whole-brain analyses, we found that the bilateral IPS consistently supported representations of numerosities, number words, and counting sequences. Functional overlap between numerosities and unknown counting sequences was also evident in the left IFG, and in some cases number word representations emerged in the left hemisphere fronto-temporal language network. These results provide new evidence from children that primitive numerosity processing regions of the brain interface with the language network to ground the acquisition of verbal counting.

Highlights

fMRI data revealed the neural basis of counting acquisition in 3- to 5-year-olds.

Overlap between neural responses to count words and numerosity emerged in the IPS.

Sensitivity to number words emerged in the IPS across two different tasks.

Number word stimuli also engaged regions of the language network in children.

The IPS and language network may ground number words during counting acquisition.
Preclinical evaluation of PHH-1V vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2 in non-human primates
Authors: Prenafeta Antoni , Bech-Sàbat Gregori , Moros Alexandra , Barreiro Antonio , Fernández Alex , Cañete Manuel , Roca Mercè , González-González Luis , Garriga Carme , Confais Joachim , Toussenot Marion , Contamin Hugues , Pizzorno Andrés , Rosa-Calatrava Manuel , Pradenas Edwards , Marfil Silvia , Blanco Julià , Rica Paula Cebollada , Sisteré-Oró Marta , Meyerhans Andreas , Lorca Cristina , Segalés Joaquim , Prat Teresa , March Ricard , Ferrer Laura
Published: December 2022

SARS-CoV-2 emerged in December 2019 and quickly spread worldwide, continuously striking with an unpredictable evolution. Despite the success in vaccine production and mass vaccination programmes, the situation is not still completely controlled, and therefore accessible second-generation vaccines are required to mitigate the pandemic. We previously developed an adjuvanted vaccine candidate coded PHH-1V, based on a heterodimer fusion protein comprising the RBD domain of two SARS-CoV-2 variants. Here, we report data on the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of PHH-1V in cynomolgus macaques. PHH-1V prime-boost vaccination induces high levels of RBD-specific IgG binding and neutralising antibodies against several SARS-CoV-2 variants, as well as a balanced Th1/Th2 cellular immune response. Remarkably, PHH-1V vaccination prevents SARS-CoV-2 replication in the lower respiratory tract and significantly reduces viral load in the upper respiratory tract after an experimental infection. These results highlight the potential use of the PHH-1V vaccine in humans, currently undergoing Phase III clinical trials.
A High-Throughput Screen Reveals the Structure-Activity Relationship of the Antimicrobial Lasso Peptide Ubonodin
Authors: Thokkadam Alina , Do Truc , Ran Xinchun , Brynildsen Mark P. , Yang Zhongyue J. , Link A. James
Published: December 2022

TheBurkholderia cepaciacomplex (Bcc) is a group of bacteria including several opportunistic human pathogens. Immunocompromised individuals and cystic fibrosis patients are especially vulnerable to serious infections by these bacteria, motivating the search for compounds with antimicrobial activity against the Bcc. The natural product ubonodin is a lasso peptide with promising activity against several Bcc species, working by inhibiting RNA polymerase in susceptible bacteria. In this study, we developed a high-throughput screen using next-generation sequencing to examine the fitness of a library of over 90,000 ubonodin variants, generating the most comprehensive dataset on lasso peptide activity so far. This screen revealed information regarding the structure-activity relationship of ubonodin over a large sequence space, indicating certain residues that can tolerate amino acid substitutions and still retain activity. Remarkably, the screen identified one variant with not only improved activity compared to wild-type ubonodin but also a sub-micromolar minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against a clinical isolate of the Bcc memberBurkholderia cenocepacia. Ubonodin and several of the variants identified in this study had a lower MIC against certain Bcc strains than many clinically approved antibiotics. Finally, the large library size enabled us to develop DeepLasso, a deep learning model that can predict the RNAP inhibitory activity of an ubonodin variant.
2-Thiouridine is a broad-spectrum antiviral nucleoside analogue against positive-strand RNA viruses
Authors: Uemura Kentaro , Nobori Haruaki , Sato Akihiko , Toba Shinsuke , Kusakabe Shinji , Sasaki Michihito , Tabata Koshiro , Matsuno Keita , Maeda Naoyoshi , Ito Shiori , Tanaka Mayu , Anraku Yuki , Kita Shunsuke , Ishii Mayumi , Kanamitsu Kayoko , Orba Yasuko , Matsuura Yoshiharu , Hall William W. , Sawa Hirofumi , Kida Hiroshi , Matsuda Akira , Maenaka Katsumi
Published: December 2022

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, seriously impacting not only human health but also the global economy. Furthermore, over 1 million cases of newly emerging or re-emerging viral infections, specifically dengue virus (DENV), are known to occur annually. Because no virus-specific and fully effective treatments against these and many other viruses have been approved, they continue to be responsible for large-scale epidemics and global pandemics. Thus, there is an urgent need for novel, effective therapeutic agents. Here, we identified 2-thiouridine (s2U) as a broad-spectrum antiviral nucleoside analogue that exhibited antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of concern, including the Delta and Omicron variants, as well as a number of other positive-sense single-stranded RNA (ssRNA+) viruses, including DENV. s2U inhibits RNA synthesis catalyzed by viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, thereby reducing viral RNA replication, which improved the survival rate of mice infected with SARS-CoV-2 or DENV in our animal models. Our findings demonstrate that s2U is a potential broad-spectrum antiviral agent not only against SARS-CoV-2 and DENV but other ssRNA+ viruses.
A configurational approach to understanding trust in rural tourism accommodation during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis
Authors: Pinho José Carlos , Nogueira Sónia , Macedo Isabel
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Consumer trust plays a key role in the development and maintenance of long-term relationships in the tourism sector. This study aims to examine the antecedents of trust in the local accommodation sector, which faced a disruptive period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also addresses the trust–loyalty relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was administered to a sample of rural accommodation tourists during the COVID-19 pandemic. A mixed-method approach was used to analyse data; in particular, a PLS-SEM approach was used, followed by a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA).

Findings

This study confirms and reinforces the importance of a positive influence of affective evaluation, reputation, perceived security and the destination image on perceived trust. It also demonstrates the impact of trust on loyalty. Using fsQCA, it was found that perceived security is a necessary condition to achieve perceived trust. However, there are multiple paths to achieving high trust.

Research limitations/implications

This article provides a practical and theoretical contribution to this phenomenon during the pandemic crisis. This study concludes that implementing specific measures to increase perceived security (e.g. clean and safe seal) was critical to increase trust and loyalty.

Practical implications

Although the decrease in visits has had a significant impact on economic activities, the nature of the context, in particular the rural context, proved that the combination of agricultural activities with tourism services offering also revealed to be a promising complementary strategy to help owners and minimize the lack of visitors.

Originality/value

This study is one of the earliest to understand trust and its antecedents and trust loyalty during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mitigating the impact of Covid-19: Social Safety Net from Islamic perspective
Authors: Widiastuti Tika , Rusgianto Sulistya , Mawardi Imron , Fanani Sunan , Ali Mohammad Mahbubi , Al Mustofa Muhammad Ubaidillah , Fadlul Hady Aufar
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study aims to propose priority solutions for mitigating the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic through the Social Safety Net (SSN) based on the Islamic objectives.

Design/methodology/approach

The analytic network process method is used in this study. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders were used to collect data and supplemented by a literature review to explore comprehensive information.

Findings

The findings indicate different opinions among experts, including regulators, practitioners, associations and academics regarding the most important priority solutions to the impact of Covid-19. However, experts agree that the highest priority solution is the SSN program in the lineage sector, specifically the distribution of the Family Hope Program. A program in the field of protecting the mind is the second priority solution. The program in the field of soul and wealth is the third priority solution.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the development of government policy to deal with the socioeconomic impact of Covid-19 based on the Islamic objectives by mapping the SSN through the five elements of protection, namely, faith, soul, mind, lineage and wealth protection based on priority solution.
Lecturers' perceptions of authentic assessment in times of COVID-19 pandemic: a case of Indonesian universities
Authors: Ibrahim Misykat Malik , Malik Marhany , Avianti Ratu Amilia
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The present study aims to provide a better understanding of authentic assessment in the COVID-19 pandemic era by exploring how Indonesian lecturers perceive authentic assessment in terms of input, process and output. It also examines the issue through the theoretical lens of authentic assessment following the tenet of a five-dimensional framework (5DF) including assessment task, physical context, social context, assessment result and standard authentic criteria.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design to garner data through qualitative interviews and authentic assessment questionnaires in which 48 lecturers from four universities were involved.

Findings

The study gleaned two important findings. The qualitative data showed that the university teachers enacted the cognitive assessment fruitfully. The study shows that lecturer participants experienced difficulties in integrating cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains into authentic assessment tasks during the teaching and learning process. Additionally, the results of quantitative data support the qualitative data that lecturer participants faced challenges (asking students to demonstrate or perform the tasks) in implementing both social and physical contexts in authentic assessment tasks of online learning during COVID-19 pandemic.

Research limitations/implications

The present study addresses practical and conceptual implications. Practically, it suggests the need to facilitate the development of lecturers' technological skills to design online authentic assessment in higher education that responds to fully online assessment, such as the prevalence of COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the study suggests that lecturers need to build their understanding of 5DF theoretical lens which include assessment tasks, physical contexts, social contexts, assessment result and standard authentic criteria to enhance their literacy in enacting authentic assessment.

Originality/value

Although many studies have investigated the implementation of authentic assessment in higher education, only a few have examined how lecturers perceived online authentic assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study contributes to developing conceptual and empirical evidence regarding lecturers' perception of the implementation of authentic assessment based on 5DF theoretical lens in higher education settings during the pandemic of COVID-19.
Humanitarian aid distribution logistics with accessibility constraints: a systematic literature review
Authors: Rojas Trejos Carlos Alberto , Meisel Jose D. , Adarme Jaimes Wilson
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the relevant literature in order to identify trends and suggest some possible directions for future research in the framework of humanitarian aid distribution logistics with accessibility constraints.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors developed a systematic literature review to study the state of the art on distribution logistics considering accessibility constraints. The electronic databases used were Web of science, Scopus, Science Direct, Jstor, Emerald, EBSCO, Scielo and Redalyc. As a result, 49 articles were reviewed in detail.

Findings

This study identified some gaps, as well as some research opportunities. The main conclusions are the need for further studies on the interrelationships and hierarchies of multiple actors, explore intermodality, transshipment options and redistribution relief goods to avoid severe shortages in some nodes and excess inventory in others, studies of the vulnerability of transport networks, correlational analysis of road failures and other future lines.

Research limitations/implications

The bibliography is limited to peer-reviewed academic journals due to their academic relevance, accessibility and ease of searching. Most of the studies included in the review were conducted in high-income countries, which may limit the generalizability of the results to low-income countries. However, the authors focused on databases covering important journals on humanitarian logistics.

Originality/value

This paper contextualises and synthesises research into humanitarian aid distribution logistics with accessibility constrains, highlights key themes and suggests areas for further research.
Internet of things, big data analytics and operational performance: the mediating effect of supply chain visibility
Authors: Al-Khatib Ayman Wael
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate hypothesized relationships between the Internet of things (IoT) and big data analytics (BDA) with supply chain visibility (SCV) and operational performance (OP) in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector in Jordan. The paper also aims to test the conceptual model related to the indirect effects of SCV.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the objectives of this paper, a conceptual model was developed through a review of the current literature. Data analysis was performed by covariance-based structural equation modelling using Amos 25 software, and the convergent validity, discriminant validity, reliability and confirmatory factor analysis were verified. Then the hypotheses were tested.

Findings

The results of the study indicate that there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between the IoT and BDA on SCV and OP. The relationship was positive and statistically significant between SCV and OP. In addition, support for the mediation hypothesis that SCV mediates the relationship among IoT, BDA and OP was confirmed.

Originality/value

This paper provides new theoretical and managerial contributions that have not been covered in previous studies, and it is considered the first study that uses this conceptual model with this mechanism in terms of the theoretical lens and empirical application. This paper contributes to understanding the dynamic mechanisms of the IoT and BDA in enhancing OP, which contributes to creating a supply chain capable of facing various environmental fluctuations and pressures. This study presents new implications that can be used in the supply chain literature.
White, Brown, mad, fat, male and female academics: a duoethnography challenging our experiences of deficit identities
Authors: Fox Joanna , Sangha Jas
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The authors are two social work academics working in a UK Higher Education Institute. Social work is underpinned by principles of anti-oppressive practice which leads to challenge discrimination and stigmatisation. The authors explored experiences of deficit imposed by others' perceptions of the physical and ethnic appearance and mental health status. The authors consider how these features influence how the authors locate themselves within the wider contexts of academic spaces in higher education institutions (HEI).

Design/methodology/approach

Using duoethnography, a collaborative research methodology, the authors recorded reflections on their experiences for five months and met weekly to discuss their material. This process enabled them to engage in dialogic narrative through collaborative writing using both structured and unstructured reflections. The authors analysed the reflections using thematic data analysis.

Findings

Four themes were generated that led to understanding how the authors could challenge oppression. The oppression became visible as the authors reflected on the common experiences of deficit. The understanding of other's oppression as well as the authors’ own became clearer as the unconscious experiences became conscious. The authors began to locate the experiences of being both privileged and oppressed in the wider social context of the HE. Finally, the authors recognised how the “deficit” identities could transform into strengths.

Originality/value

This personal journey of two academics reflecting on how they are paradoxically both privileged and yet oppressed challenges other professionals to honestly explore how they themselves can occupy both roles and become allies in confronting discrimination in all its forms.
How a sense of collective efficacy influences teacher learning during change: the role of academic optimism and shared vision
Authors: Vanlommel Kristin , van den Boom-Muilenburg Selia Neeske , Thesingh Jan , Kikken Èvi
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is twofold. First, this study reflects on the development of professional capital through understanding collective cultural factors, namely, academic optimism and shared vision. Second, it aims at exploring teacher learning. Teacher learning resulting in changes to teacher knowledge, attitudes and practices is crucial for the necessary changes education is continually confronted with. This learning is too often studied as a result of individual traits or structural factors, such as motivation or time. The authors investigated how teacher learning is influenced by academic optimism and shared vision.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors administered an online web-based survey to 278 teachers in higher education, using the educational change to online learning due to the covid pandemic as a unique chance to study the role of collective cultural factors in teacher learning.

Findings

Results showed how teachers characterized their learning, academic optimism and shared vision during the educational change to online learning resulting from the covid pandemic. The authors found that teacher learning was greatly influenced by teachers' collective sense of efficacy, an aspect of their academic optimism. Teachers' strong belief in each other, that they as fellow professionals could handle the challenging changes that the covid pandemic required, strongly enhanced teacher learning during the covid pandemic. Teachers' feeling of a professional community helped teacher to make sense of, and push through, the undeniable chaos that was the covid pandemic.

Originality/value

Collective cultural factors are rarely studied in conjunction with educational change. Insights into how a collective culture of professionalism enhances or hinders teacher learning are important for theory, policy and practice as it helps understand how teacher teams can be supported to build their professional capital by learning from educational change.
I see myself in my leader: transformational leadership and its impact on employees' technology-mediated knowledge sharing in professional service firms
Authors: Nguyen Mai
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Knowledge is the main product of professional service firms; therefore, knowledge is the key to success. Due to the nature of this organizational type, management in professional service firms has faced many challenges in encouraging employees to share knowledge. The diffusion of technologies has facilitated technology-mediated knowledge sharing (TMKS), which helps the transfer of knowledge become easier without time and space limits. This study aims to unfold the impact of transformational leadership as an antecedent of TMKS under the interplay with perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness in using technology.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was distributed to employees in professional service firms through the snowball sampling method. Three hundred forty employees, who had experience with technology-mediated knowledge sharing, participated in the survey.

Findings

The findings showed that transformational leadership had a significant impact on TMKS, which was moderated by perceived usefulness and gender. TMKS influenced organizational innovation, and the mediating effect of TMKS was identified.

Originality/value

This study provides solutions for management in professional service firms to motivate their employees to share knowledge via technology, which drives organizational innovation. More caution about gender differences and the low levels of perceived usefulness from employees need to be considered when adopting transformational leadership.
The contribution of digitalisation, channel integration and sustainability to the international performance of industrial SMEs
Authors: Fayos Teresa , Calderón Haydeé , Cotarelo Mitxel , Frasquet Marta
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the contribution of digitalisation, channel integration and sustainability to the improvement of industrial small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)' international performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a review of the literature, the authors developed a research model that included six hypotheses about the relationships between the constructs studied: digitalisation, channel integration, sustainability and international performance. The structural equation model was tested with data from a survey answered by 200 exporting industrial SMEs, by means of partial least squares regression.

Findings

The digitalisation of SMEs contributes positively to channel integration and sustainability, while channel integration is positively related to their international performance. Although a direct relationship between digitalisation and international performance was not observed, a mediated relationship through channel integration was confirmed. Additionally, the multi-group analysis according to the level of internationalisation revealed that sustainability positively influences the international performance of companies with a high degree of internationalisation.

Originality/value

This study is original insofar as it examined the role of digitalisation in the international performance of industrial SMEs, considering the mediating role of sustainability and channel integration.
Participatory management of natural resources in Africa: an imperative policy direction for sustainable development
Authors: Muchunguzi Sospeter
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The quest for Africa's desire to achieve innovative and transformative ways in the use of natural resources and the implications this might have on people's lives for the present and future generations is now more critical than ever. This paper aims that in order to let African countries attain an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena, it is imperative that a coherent policy direction be set between individual countries and continental framework for participatory management of resources in order to address the global challenge of climate change.

Design/methodology/approach

This article employs literature review of various sources, to get a deeper understanding of the situation of management of natural resources for sustainable development within the global and African development agenda.

Findings

The literature review indicates that nearly 1 out of every 9 people on Earth go to bed hungry every night; there is a challenge of having access to safe and affordable drinking water; fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions drastically result into climate change; more than half the world's population lives in cities posing a challenge to affordable public housing, upgraded slum settlements and investment in public transport, creation of green spaces; every country in the world is witnessing the drastic effects of climate change; fish stocks are overexploited and oceans are becoming more acidic.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on findings from literature review, specifically in line with the global development agenda and African agenda on sustainable development. More studies are needed to include findings from Africa and elsewhere so as to get a clearer global perspective about resource exploitation and sustainability.

Practical implications

The work is expected to provide practitioners concerned with environmental conservation and development with the theoretical and policy gaps that need to be addressed when dealing with environmental management for sustainable development.

Originality/value

The review structures extant natural resource management literature and highlights its critical importance in development management research. Topical gaps in the literature are identified as areas for future research.