bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Functional network organization is locally atypical in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease
Authors: Roy Joy , Reynolds William , Panigrahy Ashok , Ceschin Rafael
Published: April 2024

Children and adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD) frequently experience neurodevelopmental impairments that can impact academic performance, memory, attention, and behavioral function, ultimately affecting overall quality of life. This study aims to investigate the impact of CHD on functional brain network connectivity and cognitive function. Using resting-state fMRI data, we examined several network metrics across various brain regions utilizing weighted networks and binarized networks with both absolute and proportional thresholds. Regression models were fitted to patient neurocognitive exam scores using various metrics obtained from all three methods. Our results unveil significant differences in network connectivity patterns, particularly in temporal, occipital, and subcortical regions, across both weighted and binarized networks. Furthermore, we identified distinct correlations between network metrics and cognitive performance, suggesting potential compensatory mechanisms within specific brain regions.
Neurochemical and Neurophysiological Effects of Intravenous Administration ofN,N-Dimethyltryptamine in Rats
Authors: Glynos Nicolas G. , Huels Emma R. , Nelson Amanda , Kim Youngsoo , Kennedy Robert T. , Mashour George A. , Pal Dinesh
Published: April 2024

N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a serotonergic psychedelic that is being investigated clinically for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Although the neurophysiological effects of DMT in humans are well-characterized, similar studies in animal models as well as data on the neurochemical effects of DMT are generally lacking, which are critical for mechanistic understanding. In the current study, we combined behavioral analysis, high-density (32-channel) electroencephalography, and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to simultaneously quantify changes in behavior, cortical neural dynamics, and levels of 17 neurochemicals in medial prefrontal and somatosensory cortices before, during, and after intravenous administration of three different doses of DMT (0.75 mg/kg, 3.75 mg/kg, 7.5 mg/kg) in male and female adult rats. All three doses of DMT produced head twitch response with most twitches observed after the low dose. DMT caused dose-dependent increases in serotonin and dopamine levels in both cortical sites along with a reduction in EEG spectral power in theta (4-10 Hz) and low gamma (25-55 Hz), and increase in power in delta (1-4 Hz), medium gamma (65-115 ), and high gamma (125-155 Hz) bands. Functional connectivity decreased in the delta band and increased across the gamma bands. In addition, we provide the first measurements of endogenous DMT in these cortical sites at levels comparable to serotonin and dopamine, which together with a previous study in occipital cortex, suggests a physiological role for endogenous DMT. This study represents one of the most comprehensive characterizations of psychedelic drug action in rats and the first to be conducted with DMT.

Significance Statement

N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a serotonergic psychedelic with potential as a tool for probing the neurobiology of consciousness and as a therapeutic agent for psychiatric disorders. However, the neurochemical and neurophysiological effects of DMT in rat, a preferred animal model for mechanistic studies, are unclear. We demonstrate that intravenous DMT caused a dose-dependent increase in serotonin and dopamine in medial prefrontal and somatosensory cortices, and simultaneously increased gamma functional connectivity. Similar effects have been shown for other serotonergic and atypical psychedelics, suggesting a shared mechanism of drug action. Additionally, we report DMT during normal wakefulness in two spatially and functionally distinct cortical sites — prefrontal, somatosensory — at levels comparable to those of serotonin and dopamine, supporting a physiological role for endogenous DMT.
A Role for Cross-linking Proteins in Actin Filament Network Organization and Force Generation
Authors: Hill Jennifer M. , Cai Songlin , Carver Michael D. , Drubin David G.
Published: April 2024

The high turgor pressure across the plasma membrane of yeasts creates a requirement for substantial force production by actin polymerization and myosin motor activity for clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME). Endocytic internalization is severely impeded in the absence of fimbrin, an actin filament crosslinking protein called Sac6 in budding yeast. Here, we combine live-cell imaging and mathematical modeling to gain new insights into the role of actin filament crosslinking proteins in force generation. Genetic manipulation showed that CME sites with more crosslinking proteins are more effective at internalization under high load. Simulations of an experimentally constrained, agent- based mathematical model recapitulate the result that endocytic networks with more double-bound fimbrin molecules internalize the plasma membrane against elevated turgor pressure more effectively. Networks with large numbers of crosslinks also have more growing actin filament barbed ends at the plasma membrane, where the addition of new actin monomers contributes to force generation and vesicle internalization. Our results provide a richer understanding of the crucial role played by actin filament crosslinking proteins during actin network force generation, highlighting the contribution of these proteins to the self-organization of the actin filament network and force generation under increased load.
Differential α-Synuclein-induced Autophagy Dysfunction in Neuronal and Microglial Cells drives Tunneling Nanotubes and Aggregate Spread to Microglia
Authors: Chakraborty Ranabir , Samella Philippa , Nonaka Takashi , Hasegawa Masato , Zurzolo Chiara
Published: April 2024

Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) represent a major form of intercellular communication, enabling material exchange of different kinds over long distances between the connected cells. Previous investigations have demonstrated the efficient directional transfer of α-Synuclein (α-Syn) aggregates from neuronal cells to microglia. However, the mechanisms underlying this directional specificity have remained elusive. Here, we investigate the localization, dynamics, and impacts of α-Syn aggregates on the lysosome and autophagic pathways in neuronal and microglial cells. Our findings reveal differential localization of aggregates with lysosomes of neuronal and microglial cells alongside a disparity in lysosomal dynamics. Microglia exhibit a high propensity for lysosomal turnover, particularly through lysophagy, while neuronal lysosomes display compromised degradative capacity and impaired autophagic flux. Consequently, aggregates in neuronal cells are less efficiently targeted for degradation. Furthermore, perturbation of autophagy in neuronal cells elevates TNT-mediated aggregate transfer to microglia. Thus, while revealing distinct effects of α-Syn aggregates in neuronal and microglial cells, our study identifies dysfunctional autophagy as a pivotal determinant driving the preferential directional transfer of aggregates from neurons to microglia.

Teaser

Compromised lysosome functionality and autophagy in neuronal cells leads to α-Synuclein dissipation to microglia via Tunneling Nanotubes.

Graphical Abstract
GIGANTEAis required for robust circadian rhythms in wheat
Authors: Taylor Laura J. , Steed Gareth , Pingarron-Cardenas Gabriela , Wittern Lukas , Hannah Matthew A. , Webb Alex A. R.
Published: April 2024

GIGANTEA (GI) is a plant-specific protein that functions in many physiological processes and signalling networks. In Arabidopsis, GI has a central role in circadian oscillators regulating the abundance of ZEITLUPE and TIMING OF CAB EXPRESSION 1 proteins and is essential for photoperiodic regulation of flowering. We have investigated how ortholgues of this component of Arabidopsis circadian oscillators contributes to circadian rhythms and yield traits, including heading (flowering) in wheat. We find thatGIis a core component of wheat circadian oscillators that is necessary to maintain robust oscillations in chlorophyll fluorescence and circadian oscillator transcript abundance. Predicted lack of functionalGIresults in later flowering in wheat in both long days and short days in controlled environment conditions. Our results support and extend previous work which suggests that the pathways by which photoperiodism regulates flowering are not fully conserved between Arabidopsis and wheat. Understanding the molecular basis for photoperiodism in wheat is important for breeders looking to manipulate flowering time and develop new elite, high yielding cultivars.

Highlight

GIGANTEAis required for robust circadian oscillations in wheat and regulates heading, most likely through aPHOTOPERIOD-1-dependent pathway.
Benchmarking Large Language Models for Bio-Image Analysis Code Generation
Authors: Haase Robert , Tischer Christian , Hériché Jean-Karim , Scherf Nico
Published: April 2024

In the computational age, life-scientists often have to write Python code to solve bio-image analysis (BIA) problems. Many of them have not been formally trained in programming though. Code-generation, or coding assistance in general, with Large Language Models (LLMs) can have a clear impact on BIA. To the best of our knowledge, the quality of the generated code in this domain has not been studied. We present a quantitative benchmark to estimate the capability of LLMs to generate code for solving common BIA tasks. Our benchmark currently consists of 57 human-written prompts with corresponding reference solutions in Python, and unit-tests to evaluate functional correctness of potential solutions. We demonstrate our benchmark here and compare 18 state-of-the-art LLMs. To ensure that we will cover most of our community needs we also outline mid- and long-term strategies to maintain and extend the benchmark by the BIA open-source community. This work should support users in deciding for an LLM and also guide LLM developers in improving the capabilities of LLMs in the BIA domain.
PIKFYVE inhibition induces endosome- and lysosome-derived vacuole enlargement via ammonium accumulation
Authors: Uwada Junsuke , Nakazawa Hitomi , Kiyoi Takeshi , Yazawa Takashi , Muramatsu Ikunobu , Masuoka Takayoshi
Published: April 2024

FYVE-type zinc finger-containing phosphoinositide kinase (PIKFYVE), that is essential for PtdIns(3,5)P2production, is an important regulator of lysosomal homeostasis. PIKFYVE dysfunction leads to cytoplasmic vacuolization; however, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we explored the cause of vacuole enlargement upon PIKFYVE inhibition in DU145 prostate cancer cells. Enlargement of vacuoles by PIKFYVE inhibition required glutamine and its metabolism by glutaminases. Addition of ammonia, a metabolite of glutamine, was sufficient to enlarge vacuoles via PIKFYVE inhibition. Moreover, PIKFYVE inhibition led to intracellular ammonium accumulation. Endosome–lysosome permeabilization resulted in ammonium leakage from the cells, indicating ammonium accumulation in the endosomes and lysosomes. Ammonium accumulation and vacuole expansion were suppressed by the lysosomal lumen neutralization. It is therefore assumed that PIKFYVE inhibition interferes with the efflux of NH4+, which is protonated NH3in the lysosomal lumen, leading to osmotic swelling of vacuoles. Notably, glutamine or ammonium is required for PIKFYVE inhibition-induced suppression of lysosomal function and autophagic flux. In conclusion, this study showed that PIKfyve inhibition disrupts lysosomal homeostasis via ammonium accumulation.

Summary statement

Inhibition of the phosphoinositide kinase PIKFYVE results in endosome/lysosome enlargement and impaired lysosomal function. This study showed that the accumulation of glutamine-derived ammonium is the cause of these events.
A Case for Estradiol: Younger Brains in Women with Earlier Menarche and Later Menopause
Authors: Luders Eileen , Poromaa Inger Sundström , Barth Claudia , Gaser Christian
Published: April 2024

The transition to menopause is marked by a gradual decrease of estradiol. At the same time, the risk of dementia increases around menopause and it stands to reason that estradiol (or the lack thereof) plays a significant role for the development of dementia and other age-related neuropathologies. Here we investigated if there is a link between brain aging and estradiol-associated events, such as menarche and menopause. For this purpose, we applied a well-validated machine learning approach in a sample of 1,006 postmenopausal women who were scanned twice approximately two years apart. We observed less brain aging in women with an earlier menarche, a later menopause, and a longer reproductive span (i.e., the time interval between menarche and menopause). These effects were evident both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, which supports the notion that estradiol might contribute to brain preservation. However, more research is required as effects were small and no direct measures of estradiol were obtained in the current study.
Altered Expression of microRNAs Implicated in Hematopoietic Dysfunction in the Extracellular Vesicles of Bone Marrow-Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Aplastic Anemia
Authors: Srivastava Jyotika , Kundal Kavita , Rai Bhuvnesh , Saxena Pragati , Tripathy Naresh , Yadav Sanjeev , Gupta Ruchi , Kumar Rahul , Nityanand Soniya , Chaturvedi Chandra Prakash
Published: April 2024

Recently, we have reported that extracellular vesicles (EVs) from the bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSC) of aplastic anemia (AA) patients inhibit hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) proliferative and colony-forming ability and promote apoptosis. One mechanism by which AA BM-MSC EVs might contribute to these altered HSPC functions is through microRNAs (miRNAs) encapsulated in EVs. However, little is known about the role of BM-MSC EVs derived miRNAs in regulating HSPC functions in AA. Therefore, we performed miRNA profiling of EVs from BM-MSC of AA (n=6) and normal controls (NC) (n=6), to identify differentially expressed miRNAs carried in AA BM-MSC EVs. DEseq2 analysis identified 34 significantly altered mature miRNAs in AA BM-MSC EVs. Analysis of transcriptome dataset of AA HSPC genes identified that 235 differentially expressed HSPC genes were targeted by these 34 EV miRNAs. The pathway enrichment analysis of 235 HSPC genes revealed their involvement in pathways associated with cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis, and hematopoiesis regulation, thus highlighting that AA BM-MSC EV miRNAs could potentially contribute to impaired HSPC functions in AA.
Modifiable risk factors and inflammation-related proteins in polymyalgia rheumatica: genome-wide meta-analysis and Mendelian randomisation
Authors: Zhao Sizheng Steven , Mackie Sarah L , Larsson Susanna C , Burgess Stephen , Yuan Shuai
Published: April 2024

Objective

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an age-related inflammatory disease of unknown cause. We aimed to identify potentially modifiable risk factors and therapeutic targets for preventing or treating PMR.

Methods

We meta-analysed genetic association data from 8,156 cases of PMR (defined using diagnostic codes and self-report) and 416,495 controls of European ancestry from the UK Biobank and FinnGen. We then performed Mendelian randomization analyses to estimate the association between eight modifiable risk factors (using data from up to 1.2 million individuals) and 65 inflammation-related circulating proteins (up to 55,792 individuals), using the inverse variance weighted and pleiotropy robust methods.

Results

We identified three novel genome-wide significant loci in theIL1R1, NEK6andCCDC88Bgenes and confirmation of previously described associations withHLA-DRB1andANKRD55. Genetically predicted smoking intensity (OR 1.32; 95%CI 1.08-1.60; p=0.006) and visceral adiposity (OR 1.22; 95%CI 1.10-1.37; p=3.10x10−4) were associated with PMR susceptibility. Multiple circulating proteins related to IL-1 family signaling were associated with PMR. IL-1 receptor-like 2, also known as IL-36 receptor (OR 1.25; p=1.89x10−32), serum amyloid A2 (OR 1.06, 9.91x10−10) and CXCL6 (OR 1.09, p=4.85x10−7) retained significance after correction for multiple testing.

Conclusion

Reducing smoking and visceral adiposity at a population level might reduce incidence of PMR. We identified proteins that may play causal roles in PMR, potentially suggesting new therapeutic opportunities. Further research is needed before these findings are applied to clinical practice.

Key messages

Three novel PMR risk loci were identified inIL1R1, NEK6andCCDC88B.

Several circulating proteins, notably those involved in IL-1 family signalling, are associated with PMR susceptibility.

Visceral adiposity and cigarette smoking are causally associated with risk of PMR.
Benchmarking Human-AI Collaboration for Common Evidence Appraisal Tools
Authors: Woelfle Tim , Hirt Julian , Janiaud Perrine , Kappos Ludwig , Ioannidis John P. A. , Hemkens Lars G.
Published: April 2024

Background

It is unknown whether large language models (LLMs) may facilitate time- and resource-intensive text-related processes in evidence appraisal.

Objectives

To quantify the agreement of LLMs with human consensus in appraisal of scientific reporting (PRISMA) and methodological rigor (AMSTAR) of systematic reviews and design of clinical trials (PRECIS-2). To identify areas, where human-AI collaboration would outperform the traditional consensus process of human raters in efficiency.

Design

Five LLMs (Claude-3-Opus, Claude-2, GPT-4, GPT-3.5, Mixtral-8x22B) assessed 112 systematic reviews applying the PRISMA and AMSTAR criteria, and 56 randomized controlled trials applying PRECIS-2. We quantified agreement between human consensus and (1) individual human raters; (2) individual LLMs; (3) combined LLMs approach; (4) human-AI collaboration. Ratings were marked as deferred (undecided) in case of inconsistency between combined LLMs or between the human rater and the LLM.

Results

Individual human rater accuracy was 89% for PRISMA and AMSTAR, and 75% for PRECIS-2. Individual LLM accuracy was ranging from 63% (GPT-3.5) to 70% (Claude-3-Opus) for PRISMA, 53% (GPT-3.5) to 74% (Claude-3-Opus) for AMSTAR, and 38% (GPT-4) to 55% (GPT-3.5) for PRECIS-2. Combined LLM ratings led to accuracies of 75-88% for PRISMA (4-74% deferred), 74-89% for AMSTAR (6-84% deferred), and 64-79% for PRECIS-2 (18-88% deferred). Human-AI collaboration resulted in the best accuracies from 89-96% for PRISMA (25/35% deferred), 91-95% for AMSTAR (27/30% deferred), and 80-86% for PRECIS-2 (76/71% deferred).

Conclusions

Current LLMs alone appraised evidence worse than humans. Human-AI collaboration may reduce workload for the second human rater for the assessment of reporting (PRISMA) and methodological rigor (AMSTAR) but not for complex tasks such as PRECIS-2.
Application of physiological network mapping in the prediction of survival in critically ill patients with acute liver failure
Authors: Oyelade Tope , Moore Kevin P. , Mani Ali R.
Published: April 2024

Reduced functional connectivity of physiological systems is associated with poor prognosis is critically ill patients. However, physiological network analysis is not commonly used in clinical practice and awaits quantitative evidence. Acute liver failure (ALF) is associated with multiorgan failure and mortality. Prognostication in ALF is highly important for clinical management but is currently dependent on models that do not consider the interaction between organ systems. This study is aimed to examine the impact of physiological network analysis, in prognostication of patients with ALF.

Data from 640 adult patients admitted to the ICU for paracetamol-induced ALF were extracted from the MIMIC-III database. Parenclitic network analysis was performed on the routine biomarkers and network clusters were identified using the k-clique percolation method.

Network analysis showed that the liver function biomarkers were more clustered in survivors than in non-survivors. Arterial pH was also found to cluster with serum creatinine and bicarbonate in survivors compared with non-survivors, where it clustered with respiratory nodes indicating physiologically distinctive compensatory mechanism. Deviation along the pH-bicarbonate and pH-creatinine axes could significantly predict mortality independent of current prognostic indicators. These results demonstrate that network analysis can provide pathophysiologic insight and predict survival in critically ill patients with ALF.
Improvement of corrosion resistance of 7075 aluminum alloy by ceria coating modified by zinc oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Ahmadi Vahid , Hosseini Seyed Mohammad Ali , Jamalizadeh Effat , Naghizade Razie
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the corrosion resistance of two types of coatings – one is ceria sol coating and the other is ceria sol coating modified by ZnO nanoparticles on 7075 aluminum alloy in 3.5% NaCl solution.

Design/methodology/approach

Aluminum alloys were dipped into ceria sol and ceria sol modified by ZnO nanoparticles separately and removed after 10 min from the solutions and dried at 110°C for 30 min and heated at 500 °C for 30 min to form the coatings. The coatings have been characterized by using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The EIS tests were performed in a corrosive solution of 3.5% NaCl.

Findings

The results showed that the coating of ceria sol modified by ZnO nanoparticles has higher corrosion resistance than the ceria sol coating and the bare sample. Also, the best efficiency is related to aluminum sample immersion after 1 h in NaCl corrosive solution for coating modified by ZnO nanoparticles.

Originality/value

In this research, the modification of ceria sol coating by ZnO nanoparticles had an effect on improving the corrosion behavior of aluminum alloy. It is also understood that modification of coatings is an effective parameter on corrosion resistance.
Jason Goes Job Hunting
Authors: Sinclair Safiya , Fairchild Gregory B.
Published: April 2024

Jason has had a string of bad luck: he was fired from his job, his car got repossessed, he had to move back in with his mother when he was unable to make rent on his apartment, and his girlfriend dumped him. He is feeling unmotivated and discouraged, but also recognizes—at his mother's insistence—that he needs to start contributing to the household. Following his mother's orders, he heads to the local strip mall seeking employment.

How hard could it be to get a job, anyway?
La Pinekonez: navigating challenges of homestay business
Authors: Attri Rekha
Published: April 2024

Learning outcomes

After completion of the case study, the participants would be able to understand the challenges in building a sustainable homestay tourism business; develop a positioning statement for La Pinekonez which builds a unique competitive advantage; and outline elements of the business strategy to profitably sustain and grow a sustainable tourism homestay in terms of service offering, pricing, marketing and operations.

Case overview/synopsis

La Pinekonez Homestay, located in the beautiful region of Himachal Pradesh, India, is the subject of this case study, which explores both its successes and its difficulties. In August 2022, Arvind, the dedicated sole proprietor of La Pinekonez, grappled with multifaceted challenges, the first being the foray of established hotel chains into the homestay business. As the protagonist, was is in dilemma of preserving La Pinekonez’s unique identity amidst corporate competitors, particularly with regards to differentiating from the expanding hotel chains. The clash between customer expectations for hotel-like amenities and the homestay’s commitment to sustainable tourism presented a crucial challenge. Negative reviews questioning the authenticity of La Pinekonez’s green initiatives heightened the complexity. Adding to Arvind’s predicament were the seasonal fluctuations in tourist inflow and his aspiration to embrace immersive tourism trends. This case study facilitates exploration of strategic positioning, sustainability management and marketing strategies in the dynamic and competitive hospitality industry. It also offers insights into the complexities of balancing differentiation, customer satisfaction and sustainability while navigating the evolving landscape of tourism trends.

Complexity academic level

This case study is suitable for students of tourism and hospitality management at postgraduate level. The case study can be discussed once the basic concepts of hospitality management and service dimensions are covered.

Supplementary material

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CCS 12: Tourism and hospitality.
Exploring the relationship between self-perceived academic performance and entrepreneurial intention: the moderating roles of serious leisure, perceived stress and gender
Authors: Mouratidou Maria , Donald William E. , Mohandas Nimmi P. , Ma Yin
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Drawing on a framework of conservation of resources theory, the purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between self-perceived academic performance and individual entrepreneurial intention and consider the potential moderating role of (1) participation in serious leisure, (2) perceived stress and/or (3) gender.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 405 UK-based undergraduates completed the questionnaire, with a representative gender split of 57% women and 43% men.

Findings

The positive relationship between self-perceived academic performance and individual entrepreneurial intention was moderated by serious leisure (stronger when participation in serious leisure increased) and by perceived stress (stronger when levels of perceived stress were lower). However, contrary to our expectations, gender had no statistically significant moderating role.

Practical implications

The practical contribution comes from informing policy for universities and national governments to increase individual entrepreneurial intention in undergraduates.

Originality/value

The theoretical contribution comes from advancing conservation of resources theory, specifically the interaction of personal resources, resource caravans and resource passageways.
Why do companies integrate products and services? Linking decision-makers’ personality traits and decision-making logics
Authors: Coreynen Wim , Vanderstraeten Johanna , van Hugten Joeri , van Witteloostuijn Arjen
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Despite the increasing attention given to product-service integration (PSI), little is known about this innovation strategy from a key decision-maker’s perspective. To address this gap, our study draws from personality psychology and decision-making (DM) logics theory to better understand why and how companies’ decision-makers strategize for PSI.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an abductive, empirics-first approach, we identify the study’s theoretical building blocks, followed by an exploratory quantitative analysis to generate new theory. We propose a fit-as-mediation conceptual framework suggesting that (1) specific personality traits [i.e. honesty-humility (H), emotionality (E), extraversion (X), agreeableness (A), conscientiousness (C) and openness to experience (O) (HEXACO)] make decision-makers more likely to include PSI in their company’s strategy and (2) depending on their personality, they apply different DM logics (i.e. causation or effectuation) to do so. To empirically examine this, we use data from 289 SMEs’ decision-makers.

Findings

We report several meaningful relationships among our key theoretical constructs. For instance, we find that conscientious decision-makers are more likely to develop a PSI strategy via causation, whereas extravert decision-makers are more likely to do so via both causation and effectuation.

Originality/value

This service study is the first to apply the well-established HEXACO Personality Inventory to companies’ key decision-makers. Moreover, it contributes to the microfoundations of PSI strategy and DM logic theories.
Experiences, expectations and suggestions of digital nomads towards an intangible cultural heritage
Authors: Yıldırım Mücahit , Kaya Aysel
Published: April 2024

Purpose

To understand the experiences, expectations and suggestions of digital nomads towards intangible cultural heritage in the places they travel.

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative research method was used and the research design is a phenomenological design. Multiple qualitative research design steps were followed in obtaining the research data. In this context, online interviews were conducted with a semi-structured interview form developed by the researchers, and the social media accounts of digital nomads were monitored. The sample consists of nine digital nomads who were interviewed online and five digital nomads whose videos and comments shared on social media were monitored. The inductive thematic analysis method was used to analyse the data.

Findings

It was found that digital nomads experience intangible cultural heritage elements, especially religious rituals and food culture, and actively participate in activities and rituals related to these elements as well as sharing them on their social media accounts. It was also concluded that the participants expected to work towards the protection of intangible cultural heritage elements through a number of activities such as awareness-raising and education, and that it is difficult to experience cultural heritage in societies that are not foreign-friendly.

Research limitations/implications

The data were obtained from volunteer participants consisting of digital nomads and digital nomads who shared their experiences on social media. It is suggested that traditional food and religious rituals as intangible cultural heritage should be promoted and transferred by sharing the experiences these digital nomads on digital platforms.

Practical implications

Religious rituals and food cultures are prominent in the ICH experiences of digital nomads. Digital nomads who stay longer in their destination than tourists can play an intermediary role in promoting and transmitting this heritage. The social media and other digital platforms enable digital nomads to share their experiences of cultural heritage and create a global dialogue and understanding through these experiences.

Social implications

The experiences and expectations of digital nomads towards ICH require a reassessment of traditional approaches to the preservation and transmission of cultural heritage. By experiencing different cultural heritages and sharing these experiences through digital platforms, digital nomads contribute to the reinterpretation and reproduction of cultural heritage. This process reveals that cultural heritage is not limited to a particular community or geography, but is rather a global phenomenon, and therefore needs to be addressed from a global perspective.

Originality/value

It is one of the pioneering studies on the experiences of digital nomads towards intangible cultural heritage.
Time‐domain finite element method based on arbitrary quadrilateral meshes for two‐dimensional SHTE mode seismoelectric and electroseismic waves modelling
Authors: Li Jun , Yin Changchun , Liu Yunhe , Huang Xianyang , Zhang Bo , Ren Xiuyan , Su Yang , Wang Luyuan , Ma Xinpeng
Published: April 2024

A time‐domain finite‐element method based on an arbitrary quadrilateral mesh is proposed to simulate two dimensional seismoelectric and electroseismic waves in SHTE mode. By decoupling the electrokinetic coupling equation, we can solve seismic waves and electromagnetic waves independently. For the simulation of seismic wavefield, we utilize a more compact second‐order unsplit perfectly matched layer that is easier to implement in finite‐element methods. Moreover, to avoid errors caused by the quasi‐static approximation, we directly solve the full‐wave electromagnetic equations when simulating the electromagnetic wavefield. Our computational domain is discretized using arbitrary quadrilateral meshes, which offers possibilities in handling undulating terrain and complex anomalies in the underground. To ensure computational accuracy, we utilized biquadratic interpolation as our finite‐element basis functions, which provides higher precision compared to bilinear interpolation. We validate our time‐domain finite‐element method by comparing its results with analytical solutions for a layered model. We also apply our algorithm to the modelling of an underground aquifer and a complex anomalous hydrocarbon reservoir under undulating terrain.
Mutualistic and antagonistic phyllosphere fungi contribute to plant recruitment in natural communities
Authors: Pajares‐Murgó Mariona , Garrido José L. , Perea Antonio J. , López‐García Álvaro , Bastida Jesús M. , Alcántara Julio M.
Published: April 2024

Phyllosphere fungal communities participate in multiple ecological functions (litter decomposition, disease‐causing, plant defence). However, there is a lack of knowledge on whether and how these functions contribute to plant community dynamics under natural conditions.

One of the aspects of plant dynamics in which these fungi can most clearly affect is recruitment, since the success of newly germinated plants can be seriously compromised by pathogenic activity or the absence of mutualistic interactions.

To determine the relationship between phyllosphere fungal communities and plant recruitment, we combined published information on the frequency of plant–plant recruitment interactions and phyllosphere fungal communities in 38 woody species from two mixed forests in southern Spain.

Our results indicate that phyllosphere pathogens and saprotrophs have a negative effect on canopy–recruit interactions, while epiphytic fungi have a positive effect.

Additionally, the presence of canopy species hosting high richness of epiphytes or counting with a high diversity of saprotrophic fungi favours the formation of an abundant sapling bank.

Synthesis. Our results suggest that phyllosphere fungi play a relevant role in the assembly of the sapling bank in forest communities, thus, potentially influencing plant community dynamics. Beyond the well‐known negative effect of pathogenic fungi on recruitment, our results show the mutualistic effect of fungal epiphytes and a dual role of saprotrophs as antagonistic, decreasing recruitment of certain species, or mutualistic, enhancing recruitment in the sapling bank.
‘We assumed it would all be fairly straight forward’: Exploring early implementation of the recommendations of the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence
Authors: Buys Rebecca , Fitz‐Gibbon Kate
Published: April 2024

Over the past decade, royal commissions have been increasingly employed to address some of Australia's most pernicious and persistent problems. However, their recommendations often languish unimplemented. Research on why so many proposals fail to make it into policy and practice is divided. To explore the fraught road from recommendation to reform, this article analyses the early implementation of the recommendations of the 2016 Royal Commission into Family Violence (Victoria, Australia) from a relational vantage. To do so, this article brings attention to the under‐explored insights of advocates and frontline service providers and their relationship to post‐royal commission reform processes. Their relational accounts of corroborations, contradictions, and contestations move the contemporary predominate question of if implementation happens to more nuanced questions about when it occurs, what is implemented, who does it, and how it happens. The difficulties participants faced in the early implementation phase of the reforms demonstrate implementation alone is not a panacea for the problems royal commissions face post‐inquiry.

Points for practitioners

Improving the implementation of royal commissions’ recommendations requires centring the perspectives of those with specialised knowledge and who deliver related services.

Recommendations to address challenging social problems need to be designed to evolve, often rapidly, to the constantly changing contexts that they are enmeshed within.

An implementation for implementation's sake approach risks obfuscating the contestations of what royal commissions find and cementing potentially problematic initiatives.
When we came back the ball was just not rolling: Special needs educators' perspectives of improvisation through the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Lourens Heidi , Moodley Jacqueline , Joosub Noorjehan
Published: April 2024

While the COVID‐19 pandemic disrupted education across the globe, special needs schools in middle‐ and low‐income countries were particularly affected. Learners in these contexts often did not have access to assistive technologies and individualised adaptations of materials in their home environment. This study aimed to explore the experiences of special needs educators regarding how lockdown restrictions had impacted their educational practices. In‐depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 special needs educators across the Gauteng and Western Cape provinces of South Africa and were analysed through the lens of interpretive phenomenological analysis. Three themes emerged from the interviews. First, the teachers discussed the ways in which they ensured that the curriculum continued during the period of hard lockdown. Second, they discussed the challenges of remote teaching, and lastly, they addressed the challenges when the learners returned to face‐to‐face learning. These themes shed light on the teachers' flexibility, creativity and ability to improvise within uncertain, unpredictable and unfamiliar educational terrains. We draw the conclusion that it was largely due to positive teacher–learner relationships and the commitment by teachers that improvisation and creativity were possible and effective.
Typhoon strikes, political costs and earnings management
Authors: Du Jun , Dai Xinhui , Yan Bo
Published: April 2024

This study examines how firms in typhoon‐prone areas respond to the political costs of typhoon strikes. We found that such firms tend to engage in downward earnings management after a typhoon strike. Various robustness tests support our findings: cross‐sectional variation tests indicate that this tendency is strong in cities with high governmental intervention and incentives for political leaders and in firms with high political connections and visibility. Further analysis reveals that typhoon strikes enhance earnings management by intensifying fiscal pressure. Finally, this study provides a precise evaluation of the adverse effects of typhoons and complements the existing literature on the political cost hypothesis.
Editorial: High qHBsAg—is it a good or bad signal?
Authors: Kim Beom Kyung
Published: April 2024

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Lin et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17915 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.18021.
Editorial: Peering through the fog—New tools to assess neurocognitive symptoms in coeliac disease
Authors: Villafuerte Gálvez Javier A. , Leffler Daniel A.
Published: April 2024

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Knowles et al paper. To view this article, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17942
Letter: Presence of progression or absence of response? Alternative trial designs for immunotherapy of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: De Toni Enrico N. , Mayerle Julia , Oehrle Bettina , Seidensticker Max , Rimassa Lorenza , Philipp Alexander , Roessler Daniel , Khaled Najib Ben
Published: April 2024

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Jost‐Brinkmann et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17441 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.18008
Editorial: Foretelling the future—Emerging role of magnetic resonance enterography as a prognostic tool in Crohn's disease
Authors: Urquhart Siri A. , Fletcher Joel G. , Bruining David H.
Published: April 2024

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Fernandez‐Clotet et al paper. To view this article, visithttps://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17968
How do university‐industry collaborations benefit innovation? Direct and indirect outcomes of different collaboration types
Authors: Alpaydın Utku Ali Rıza , Fitjar Rune Dahl
Published: April 2024

This paper explores the extent to which firms perceive to benefit from university‐industry collaborations in their innovation processes, building on survey data from 232 Norwegian firms. We find that firms experience not only direct innovation benefits from collaborations, but also indirect benefits in the form of closer proximity to universities, which can in turn improve future collaboration. We compare the reported outputs from various types of collaboration, finding that firms engaging mainly in research‐oriented interactions more often report that collaborations result in innovation than those engaging in education‐oriented or more informal collaborations. However, education‐oriented and informal collaborations are equally important for building cognitive, organizational, institutional and social proximities between firms and universities.
Single‐cell analysis revealed a potential role of T‐cell exhaustion in colorectal cancer with liver metastasis
Authors: Ling Tianlong , Zhang Cheng , Liu Ye , Jiang Chunhui , Gu Lei
Published: April 2024

Liver metastasis (LM) is an important factor leading to colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality. However, the effect of T‐cell exhaustion on LM in CRC is unclear. Single‐cell sequencing data derived from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Data were normalized using the Seurat package and subsequently clustered and annotated into different cell clusters. The differentiation trajectories of epithelial cells and T cells were characterized based on pseudo‐time analysis. Single‐sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was used to calculate enrichment scores for different cell clusters and to identify enriched biological pathways. Finally, cell communication analysis was performed. Nine cell subpopulations were identified from CRC samples with LM. The proportion of T cells increased in LM. T cells can be subdivided into NK/T cells, regulatory T cells (Treg) and exhausted T cells (Tex). In LM, cell adhesion and proliferation activity of Tex were promoted. Epithelial cells can be categorized into six subpopulations. The transformation of primary CRC into LM involved two evolutionary branches of Tex cells. Epithelial cells two were at the beginning of the trajectory in CRC but at the end of the trajectory in CRC with LM. The receptor ligands CEACAM5 and ADGRE5‐CD55 played critical roles in the interactions between Tex and Treg cell‐epithelial cell, which may promote the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition process in CRC. Tex cells are able to promote the process of LM in CRC, which in turn promotes tumour development. This provides a new perspective on the treatment and diagnosis of CRC.
Tales from the crick: The art of demo
Authors: Renshaw Matthew J. , Charoy Camille
Published: April 2024

Equipment demonstrations (demos) play an important role in the evaluation of new systems. As well as the excitement of exploring emerging technologies, a well‐organised demo can help guide procurement decisions and support funding applications. However, it is easy to underestimate the substantial effort required both before and following the demo to maximise its potential impact. Here, we discuss how our approach to demos at the Crick Advanced Light Microscopy Science and Technology Platform (CALM‐STP) has evolved over the last few years, emphasising the importance of a documented approach that combines quantitative with qualitative comparisons and engages with your user base in order to build up support for any potential system purchase.
An existential perspective on post‐retirement decisions: The role of meaning in life and social identity
Authors: Smith Shona G. , Froidevaux Ariane , Hirschi Andreas , Johnson Lars U.
Published: April 2024

In the context of the ageing workforce, late‐career development implies ongoing decisions during retirement regarding one's engagement in volunteering and bridge employment activities. While prior research has emphasized the role of the meaning of work in retirement decisions, it has not examined the roles that meaning in life and identity play in decisions made during retirement. Relying on the existential framework on meaning and career decision‐making, this article explores the role of social identities as retirees and as workers as critical self‐concept dimensions that may mediate the impact of meaning in life (search and presence) on their decisions to pursue bridge employment and to volunteer in retirement. Using an archival survey study relying on a time‐lagged design with a one‐year interval among 204 retirees, we found that retirees demonstrating a greater search for meaning in life exhibited positive identification with the worker social identity but negative identification with the retiree social identity. Additionally, worker social identity was positively associated with bridge employment; however, retiree social identity was negatively associated with bridge employment and positively with volunteering. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Evaluating the dose‐dependent effects of curcumin nano‐micelles on rumen fermentation, nitrogen metabolism, and nutrient digestibility in heat‐stressed fattening lambs: Implications for climate change and sustainable animal production
Authors: Bokharaeian Mostafa , Toghdory Abdolhakim , Ghoorchi Taghi
Published: April 2024

Global warming threatens livestock production, especially in hot climates. This study evaluated the dose‐dependent impacts of dietary curcumin nano‐micelles (CNM) on rumen fermentation, nitrogen metabolism, and nutrient digestibility in heat‐stressed fattening lambs. Thirty‐two crossbred male lambs [ˆIle‐de‐France × (Dalagh × Romanov)] were utilized within the current study. The initial weight of lambs was documented as averaged by 31.2 ± 1.55 kg, while they were in their 4th to 5th months of age. Animals were fed increasing doses of dietary CNM (0, 20, 40, and 80 mg/day) over 97 days, under severe heat stress conditions with average temperature‐humidity index (THI) of 24.5. Quadratic improvements (p < 0.01) occurred in weight gain, average daily gain (ADG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) by 28.7%, 27.4%, and 23.9%, respectively, in the T40 group compared to the control. Additionally, T40 increased fiber digestion by 2.8% (p < 0.05). Furthermore, T40 quadratically improved parameters of rumen fermentation, including concentrations of NH3‐N (p < 0.05), total volatile fatty acids (TVFA; p < 0.01), acetate (p < 0.05), and iso‐valerate (p < 0.05), by 13.9%, 12.5%, 15.0%, and 43.5%, respectively, compared to the control. Quadratic increases were also observed in nitrogen balance (p < 0.05) and microbial protein synthesis (p < 0.01) by 19.8% and 37.6%, respectively, in the T40 group. Quadratic models estimated optimal CNM levels between 41.5 and 48.6 mg/day for multiple parameters. These findings indicate CNM at dose level of 40 mg/day could benefit heat‐stressed lambs through enhanced rumen function and microbiota. Further research should refine ideal dosing for various species and production phases as higher levels adversely impacted fiber digestibility. Overall, CNM shows promise as a sustainable nutritional intervention for livestock production facing global warming.