bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic analysis of YFP gene traps reveals common discordance between mRNA and protein across the nervous system
Authors: Titlow Joshua S , Kiourlappou Maria , Palanca Ana , Lee Jeffrey Y , Gala Dalia S , Ennis Darragh , Yu Joyce J S , Young Florence L , Susano Pinto David Miguel , Garforth Sam , Francis Helena S , Strivens Finn , Mulvey Hugh , Dallman-Porter Alex , Thornton Staci , Arman Diana , Järvelin Aino I , Thompson Mary Kay , Kounatidis Ilias , Parton Richard M , Taylor Stephen , Davis Ilan
Published: March 2022

While post-transcriptional control is thought to be required at the periphery of neurons and glia, its extent is unclear. Here, we investigate systematically the spatial distribution and expression of mRNA at single molecule sensitivity and their corresponding proteins of 200 YFP trap protein trap lines across the intact Drosophila nervous system. 98% of the genes studied showed discordance between the distribution of mRNA and the proteins they encode in at least one region of the nervous system. These data suggest that post-transcriptional regulation is very common, helping to explain the complexity of the nervous system. We also discovered that 68.5% of these genes have transcripts present at the periphery of neurons, with 9.5% at the glial periphery. Peripheral transcripts include many potential new regulators of neurons, glia and their interactions. Our approach is applicable to most genes and tissues and includes powerful novel data annotation and visualisation tools for post-transcriptional regulation.

Brief outline

A novel high resolution and sensitive approach to systematically co-visualise the distribution of mRNAs and proteins in the intact nervous system reveals that post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression is very common. The rich data landscape is provided as a browsable resource (link), using Zegami, a cloud-based data exploration platform (link). Our solution provides a paradigm for the characterisation of post-transcriptional regulation of most genes and model systems.

Highlights

196/200 (98%) Drosophila genes show discordant RNA and protein expression in at least one nervous system region

137/200 (68.5%) mRNAs are present in at least one synaptic compartment

Novel localised mRNA and protein discovered in periphery of glial processes

New paradigm for analysis of post-transcriptional regulation and data exploration
Molecular drivers of insecticide resistance in the Sahelo-Sudanian populations of a major malaria vectorAnopheles coluzzii
Authors: Ibrahim Sulaiman S. , Muhammad Abdullahi , Hearn Jack , Weedall Gareth D. , Nagi Sanjay C. , Mukhtar Muhammad M. , Fadel Amen N. , Mugenzi Leon J. , Patterson Edward I. , Irving Helen , Wondji Charles S.
Published: March 2022

Information on common markers of metabolic resistance in malaria vectors from countries sharing similar eco-climatic characteristics can facilitate coordination of malaria control. Here, we characterized populations of the major malaria vectorAnopheles coluzziifrom Sahel region, spanning four sub-Saharan African countries: Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. Genome-wide transcriptional analysis identified major genes previously implicated in pyrethroid and/or cross resistance to other insecticides, overexpressed across the Sahel, including CYP450s, glutathione S-transferases, carboxylesterases, and cuticular proteins. Several, well-known markers of insecticide resistance were found in high frequencies - including in the voltage-gated sodium channel (V402L, I940T, L995F, I1527T and N1570Y), theacetylcholinesterase-1 gene (G280S) and theCYP4J5-L43F (fixed). High frequencies of the epidemiologically important chromosomal inversions, 2La, 2Rb and 2Rc were observed (∼80% for 2Rb and 2Rc). The 2La alternative arrangement is fixed across the Sahel. Low frequencies of these inversions (<10%) were observed in the fully insecticide susceptible laboratory colony ofAn. coluzzii(Ngoussou). Several of the most commonly overexpressed metabolic resistance genes sit in these three inversions. Two commonly overexpressed genes,GSTe2andCYP6Z2were functionally validated. TransgenicDrosophila melanogasterexpressingGSTe2exhibited extremely high DDT and permethrin resistance (mortalities < 10% in 24 h). Serial deletion of the 5’ intergenic region, to identify putative nucleotide(s) associated withGSTe2overexpression, revealed that simultaneous insertion of adenine nucleotide and a transition (T->C), between Fork-head box L1 and c-EST putative binding sites were responsible for the high overexpression ofGSTe2in the resistant mosquitoes. Transgenic flies expressingCYP6Z2exhibited marginal resistance towards 3-phenoxybenzylalcohol (a primary product of pyrethroid hydrolysis by carboxylesterases) and a type II pyrethroid, α-cypermethrin. However, significantly higher mortalities were observed inCYP6Z2transgenic flies compared with controls, on exposure to the neonicotinoid, clothianidin. This suggests a possible bioactivation of clothianidin into a toxic intermediate, which if true make it an ideal insecticide against populations ofAn. coluzziioverexpressing this P450. These findings will facilitate regional collaborations within the Sahel region, and refine implementation strategies through re-focusing interventions, improving evidence-based, cross-border policy towards local and regional malaria pre-elimination.
Personality variation is eroded by simple social behaviours in collective foragers
Authors: Rands Sean A. , Ioannou Christos C.
Published: March 2022

The movement of groups can be heavily influenced by ‘leader’ individuals who differ from the others in some way. A major source of differences between individuals is the repeatability and consistency of their behaviour, commonly considered as their ‘personality’, which can influence both position within a group as well as the tendency to lead. However, links between personality and behaviour may also depend upon the immediate social environment of the individual; individuals who behave consistently in one way when alone may not express the same behaviour socially, when they may be conforming with the behaviour of others. Experimental evidence shows that personality differences can be eroded in social situations, but there is currently a lack of theory to identify the conditions where we would expect personality to be suppressed. Here, we develop a simple individual-based framework considering a small group of individuals with differing tendencies to perform risky behaviours when travelling away from a safe home site towards a foraging site, and compare the group behaviours when the individuals follow differing rules for aggregation behaviour determining how much attention they pay to the actions of their fellow group-members. We find that if individuals pay attention to the other members of the group, the group will tend to remain at the safe site for longer, but then travel faster towards the foraging site. This demonstrates that simple social behaviours can result in the repression of consistent inter-individual differences in behaviour, giving the first theoretical consideration of the social mechanisms behind personality suppression.
Multisensory integration in neurons of the medial pulvinar of macaque monkey
Authors: Vittek Anne-Laure , Juan Cécile , Nowak Lionel G. , Girard Pascal , Cappe Céline
Published: March 2022

The pulvinar is a heterogeneous thalamic nucleus, which is well developed in primates. One of its subdivisions, the medial pulvinar, is connected to many cortical areas, including the visual, auditory and somatosensory cortices, as well as with multisensory areas and premotor areas. However, except for the visual modality, little is known about its sensory functions. A hypothesis is that, as a region of convergence of information from different sensory modalities, the medial pulvinar plays a role in multisensory integration. To test this hypothesis, two macaque monkeys were trained to a fixation task and the responses of single-units to visual, auditory and auditory-visual stimuli were examined. Analysis revealed auditory, visual and multisensory neurons in the medial pulvinar. It also revealed multisensory integration in this structure, mainly subadditive and suppressive. These findings show that the medial pulvinar is involved in multisensory integration.
Sleep Deprivation Induces Acute Dissociation via Altered EEG Rhythms Expression and Connectivity
Authors: Menicucci Danilo , Cesari Valentina , Cipriani Enrico , Piarulli Andrea , Gemignani Angelo
Published: March 2022

The fragmented sleep, fragmented mind hypothesis has associated sleep disturbances and dissociative states in subjects with dissociative traits, as supported by neurophysiological theories of consciousness stating that altered states might result from an altered functional interaction among brain modules due to inefficient sleep processes.

Irrespective of dissociative traits, it is conceivable that a labile sleep-wake cycle might fuel dissociative states such as derealization, depersonalization, and dissociative amnesia.

To verify whether acute sleep loss can prompt dissociative states and to identify possible psychophysiological correlates, we evaluated dissociative experiences (by means of Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory and Clinician Administered Dissociative State Scale) and resting state EEG features (band-wise spectral content and phase synchronization) after total sleep deprivation.

After deprivation, participants reported increased perception of altered state of consciousness and dissociative experiences, and a decreased perception of cognitive control. Analyzing the psychophysiological correlates of dissociative states following deprivation, we observed the following results: the higher the prefrontal theta spectral content, the higher the depersonalization state and the lower the self-awareness; the higher the intensity of the dissociative experiences, the higher the synchronization increase in alpha, beta, and gamma bands; the higher the decrease of higher-order functions, the higher the synchronization in the aforementioned bands.

Thus, acute sleep deprivation appears to fuel dissociative experiences by establishing a state of consciousness promoted by a higher large-scale synchronization at high frequencies.
Investigating the “two-hit hypothesis”: effects of prenatal maternal immune activation and adolescent cannabis use on neurodevelopment in mice
Authors: Guma Elisa , Cupo Lani , Ma Weiya , Gallino Daniel , Moquin Luc , Gratton Alain , Devenyi Gabriel A , Chakravarty M Mallar
Published: March 2022

Background

Prenatal exposure to maternal immune activation (MIA) and chronic adolescent cannabis use are both risk factors for neuropsychiatric disorders. However, exposure to a single risk factor may not result in major mental illness, indicating that multiple exposures may be required for illness onset. Here, we examine whether combined exposure to prenatal MIA and adolescent delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component of cannabis, lead to enduring neuroanatomical and behavioural changes in adulthood.

Methods

Mice were prenatally exposed to viral mimetic, poly I:C (5mg/kg), or vehicle at gestational day (GD)9, and postnatally exposed to chronic THC (5mg/kg, intraperitoneal) or vehicle during adolescence (postnatal day [PND]28-45). Longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed pre-treatment, PND25, post-treatment, PND50, and in adulthood, PND85, followed by behavioural tests for anxiety-like, social, and sensorimotor gating. Postmortem assessment of cannabinoid (CB)1 and 2 receptor expressing cells was performed in altered regions identified by MRI (anterior cingulate and somatosensory cortices, striatum, and hippocampus).

Results

Subtle deviations in neurodevelopmental trajectory and subthreshold anxiety-like behaviours were observed in mice exposed to both risk factors. Sex-dependent effects were observed in patterns of shared brain-behaviour covariation, indicative of potential sex differences in response to MIA and THC. Density of CB1 and CB2 receptor positive cells was significantly decreased in all mice exposed to MIA, THC, or both.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that there may be a cumulative effect of risk factor exposure on gross neuroanatomical development, and that the endocannabinoid system may be sensitive to both prenatal MIA, adolescent THC, or the combination.
Cell-based model shows complex rearrangement of tissue mechanical properties are needed for roots to grow in hard soil
Authors: Mimault Matthias , Ptashnyk Mariya , Dupuy Lionel
Published: March 2022

When exposed to increased mechanical resistance from the soil, plant roots display non-linear growth responses that can not be solely explained by mechanical principles. Here, we aim to investigate how changes in tissue mechanical properties are biologically regulated in response to soil strength. A particle-based model was developed to solve root-soil mechanical interactions at the cellular scale, and a detailed numerical study explored factors that affect root responses to soil resistance. Results showed that growth through increasing soil strength is maintained through the softening of cell walls at the tip, a response likely linked to soil cavity expansion. The model also predicts the shortening and decreased anisotropy of the zone of cell elongation, which may improve the mechanical stability of the root against axial forces. The study demonstrates the potential of advanced modeling tools to help identify traits that confer plant resistance to abiotic stress.
Compact engineered human mechanosensitive transactivation modules enable potent and versatile synthetic transcriptional control
Authors: Mahata Barun , Cabrera Alan , Brenner Daniel A. , Guerra-Resendez Rosa Selenia , Li Jing , Goell Jacob , Wang Kaiyuan , Guo Yannie , Escobar Mario , Parthasarathy Abinand Krishna , Szadowski Hailey , Bedford Guy , Reed Daniel , Hilton Isaac B.
Published: March 2022

Engineered transactivation domains (TADs) combined with programmable DNA binding platforms have revolutionized synthetic transcriptional control. Despite recent progress in programmable CRISPR/Cas-based transactivation (CRISPRa) technologies, the TADs used in these systems often contain poorly tolerated elements and/or are prohibitively large for many applications. Here we defined and optimized minimal TADs built from human mechanosensitive transcription factors (MTFs). We used these components to construct potent and compact multipartite transactivation modules (MSN, NMS, and eN3×9) and to build the CRISPR-dCas9 recruitedenhancedactivationmodule (CRISPR-DREAM) platform. We found that CRISPR-DREAM was specific, robust across mammalian cell types, and efficiently stimulated transcription from diverse regulatory loci. We also showed that MSN and NMS were portable across Type I, II, and V CRISPR systems, TALEs, and ZF proteins. Further, as proofs of concepts, we used dCas9-NMS to efficiently reprogram human fibroblasts into iPSCs and demonstrated that MTF TADs are efficacious and well tolerated in therapeutically important primary human cell types. Finally, we leveraged the compact and potent features of these engineered TADs to build new dual and all-in-one CRISPRa AAV systems. Altogether, these compact human TADs, fusion modules, and new delivery architectures should be valuable for synthetic transcriptional control in biomedical applications.
Nr6a1 controls axially-restricted body elongation, segmentation, patterning and lineage allocation
Authors: Chang Yi-Cheng , Lisa Wong Siew Fen , Schroeder Jan , Hauswirth Gabriel M. , Shylo Natalia A , Moore Emma L , Achilleos Annita , Garside Victoria , Polo Jose M. , Manent Jan , Trainor Paul , McGlinn Edwina
Published: March 2022

The vertebrate main-body axis is laid down during embryonic stages in an anterior-to-posterior (head-to-tail) direction, driven and supplied by posteriorly located progenitors. For the vertebral column, the process of axial progenitor cell expansion that drives elongation, and the process of segmentation which allocates progenitor-descendants into repeating pre-vertebral units, occurs seemingly uninterrupted from the first to the last vertebra. Nonetheless, there is clear developmental and evolutionary support for two discrete modules controlling processes within different axial regions: a trunk and a tail module. Here, we identify Nuclear receptor subfamily 6 group A member 1 (Nr6a1) as a master regulator of elongation, segmentation, patterning and lineage allocation specifically within the trunk region of the mouse. Both gain- and loss-of-function in vivo analyses revealed that the precise level of Nr6a1 acts as a rheostat, expanding or contracting vertebral number of the trunk region autonomously from other axial regions. Moreover, Nr6a1 was found to be required for segmentation, but only for trunk-forming somites, with the timely clearance of Nr6a1 critical in supporting tail formation. In parallel with these morphological outcomes, we reveal Nr6a1 as a novel regulator of global Hox signatures within axial progenitors, preventing the precocious expression of multiple posterior Hox genes as the trunk is being laid down and thus reinforcing that patterning and elongation are coordinated. Finally, our data supports a crucial role for Nr6a1 in regulating gene regulatory networks that guide cell lineage choice of axial progenitors between neural and mesodermal fate. Collectively, these data reveal an axially-restricted role for Nr6a1 in all major cellular and tissue-level events required for vertebral column formation, supporting the view that modulation of Nr6a1 expression level or function is likely to underpin evolutionary changes in axial formulae that exclusively alter the trunk region.
Killing SCLC: insights into how to target a shapeshifting tumor
Authors: Sutherland Kate D. , Ireland Abbie S. , Oliver Trudy G.
Published: March 2022

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a rapidly growing, highly metastatic, and relatively immune-cold lung cancer subtype. Historically viewed in the laboratory and clinic as a single disease, new discoveries suggest that SCLC comprises multiple molecular subsets. Expression of MYC family members and lineage-related transcription factors ASCL1, NEUROD1, and POU2F3 (and, in some studies, YAP1) define unique molecular states that have been associated with distinct responses to a variety of therapies. However, SCLC tumors exhibit a high degree of intratumoral heterogeneity, with recent studies suggesting the existence of tumor cell plasticity and phenotypic switching between subtype states. While SCLC plasticity is correlated with, and likely drives, therapeutic resistance, the mechanisms underlying this plasticity are still largely unknown. Subtype states are also associated with immune-related gene expression, which likely impacts response to immune checkpoint blockade and may reveal novel targets for alternative immunotherapeutic approaches. In this review, we synthesize recent discoveries on the mechanisms of SCLC plasticity and how these processes may impinge on antitumor immunity.
Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis, interaction energy and DFT calculations and energy frameworks of methyl 6-chloro-1-methyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinoline-4-carboxylate
Authors: Filali Baba Yassir , Hayani Sonia , Dalbouha Samira , Hökelek Tuncer , Ouazzani Chahdi Fouad , Mague Joel T. , Kandri Rodi Youssef , Sebbar Nada Kheira , Essassi El Mokhtar
Published: March 2022

In the title compound, C12H10ClNO3, the dihydroquinoline moiety is not planar with a dihedral angle between the two ring planes of 1.61 (6)°. An intramolecular C—H...O hydrogen bond helps to establish the rotational orientation of the carboxyl group. In the crystal, sheets of molecules parallel to (10\overline{1}) are generated by C—H...O and C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds, and are stacked through slipped π-stacking interactions between inversion-related dihydroquinoline units. A Hirshfeld surface analysis of the crystal structure indicates that the most important contributions for the crystal packing are from H...H (34.2%), H...O/O...H (19.9%), H...Cl/Cl...H (12.8%), H...C/C...H (10.3%) and C...C (9.7%) interactions. Computational chemistry indicates that in the crystal, the C—H...Cl hydrogen-bond energy is −37.4 kJ mol−1, while the C—H...O hydrogen-bond energies are −45.4 and −29.2 kJ mol−1. An evaluation of the electrostatic, dispersion and total energy frameworks revealed that the stabilization is dominated via the dispersion energy contribution. Density functional theory (DFT) optimized structures at the B3LYP/6–311 G(d,p) level are compared with the experimentally determined molecular structure in the solid state, and the HOMO—LUMO behaviour was elucidated to determine the energy gap.
Examining the performance outcome of intellectual capital: a parallel mediation analysis
Authors: Adusei Enoch , Mensah Henry Kofi , Demah Emmanuel
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The current knowledge economy views firm competitive advantage from the strategic management of knowledge resources. Therefore, rooted in the resource-base view theory, this paper empirically investigated how organizational ambidexterity and innovative leadership behaviour mediate the relationship between intellectual capital (IC) and firm performance among small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

Using purposive sampling, cross-sectional survey data was obtained from 244 SMEs in Ghana. Structural equation modelling was used in testing for the hypothesized relationships.

Findings

Findings show that IC has a significant positive effect on firm performance. Additionally, innovative leadership behaviour and organizational ambidexterity have a parallel mediating effect on the relationship between IC and performance.

Practical implications

The findings of the study have exposed managers of SMEs in Ghana to develop unique behavioural and organizational resources that facilitate competitive edge through strategic utilization of IC, leadership innovation and ambidexterity to produce superior performance.

Originality/value

This study is a pioneering one that uniquely investigated how innovative leadership behaviour and organizational ambidexterity play a parallel mediating role in the IC–performance nexus in a less-industrialized economy.
Evaluating transfer learning approach for detecting Arabic anti-refugee/migrant speech on social media
Authors: Mohdeb Djamila , Laifa Meriem , Zerargui Fayssal , Benzaoui Omar
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The present study was designed to investigate eight research questions that are related to the analysis and the detection of dialectal Arabic hate speech that targeted African refugees and illegal migrants on the YouTube Algerian space.

Design/methodology/approach

The transfer learning approach which recently presents the state-of-the-art approach in natural language processing tasks has been exploited to classify and detect hate speech in Algerian dialectal Arabic. Besides, a descriptive analysis has been conducted to answer the analytical research questions that aim at measuring and evaluating the presence of the anti-refugee/migrant discourse on the YouTube social platform.

Findings

Data analysis revealed that there has been a gradual modest increase in the number of anti-refugee/migrant hateful comments on YouTube since 2014, a sharp rise in 2017 and a sharp decline in later years until 2021. Furthermore, our findings stemming from classifying hate content using multilingual and monolingual pre-trained language transformers demonstrate a good performance of the AraBERT monolingual transformer in comparison with the monodialectal transformer DziriBERT and the cross-lingual transformers mBERT and XLM-R.

Originality/value

Automatic hate speech detection in languages other than English is quite a challenging task that the literature has tried to address by various approaches of machine learning. Although the recent approach of cross-lingual transfer learning offers a promising solution, tackling this problem in the context of the Arabic language, particularly dialectal Arabic makes it even more challenging. Our results cast a new light on the actual ability of the transfer learning approach to deal with low-resource languages that widely differ from high-resource languages as well as other Latin-based, low-resource languages.
Internet access and irrigation adoption in China
Authors: Hu Yushan , Wang Yahua , Zhang Penglong
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effect of the Internet on irrigation system adoption. The authors implement the most extensive household survey of irrigation arrangements ever conducted in rural China and also exploit a public program to improve the quality of distance education in rural middle schools, which has led to plausibly exogenous variation in Internet access across rural districts.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors present a conceptual framework highlighting the transmission mechanisms whereby Internet access may affect irrigation system selection and identify direct effects through agricultural production and an indirect effect through non-agricultural production. To examine the effect of the Internet on irrigation system adoption, we implement the most extensive household survey of irrigation arrangements ever conducted in rural China. We also exploit a public program to improve the quality of distance education in rural middle schools, which has led to plausibly exogenous variation in Internet access across rural districts.

Findings

The authors find evidence to suggest that Internet access can effectively reduce information frictions and searching costs in the non-agricultural labor market, thus increasing rural households' participation in non-farm work. To save more hours from agricultural production, rural households select more labor-saving irrigation systems.

Originality/value

This study’s findings have important implications for the ongoing policy debate over government investment in Internet infrastructure to improve agricultural development in rural and isolated areas.
Digital labour platforms and neoliberal governmentality: the case of platform workers in Turkey
Authors: Uysal Kadir
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The paper brings Foucauldian analysis of neoliberal governmentality in the discussion on the new forms of labour control within digital labour platforms. The aim of the paper is to reveal the effect of control mechanisms employed by platforms on “entrepreneurial self” within the context of work relations.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on in-depth interviews, conducted with workers under different service categories, the author undertook an extended case study of Armut.com, a digital labour platform operating in Turkey.

Findings

The study finds that competitive mechanisms employed by the platform have a considerable effect on worker self-commercialisation and self-rationalisation. This is dependent on different control mechanisms employed by the platform, based on different platform working models.

Originality/value

The research brings the worker subjectivities to the discussion of control within the scope of digital labour platforms. By undertaking a rare empirical study on this issue, it contributes to the theory of entrepreneurial self within the scope of work relations.
Vibro-acoustic characteristics analysis of the rotary composite plate and conical–cylindrical double cavities coupled system
Authors: Zhang Hong , Chen Tianlin
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to obtain and analyze vibro-acoustic characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

A unified analysis model for the rotary composite laminated plate and conical–cylindrical double cavities coupled system is established. The related parameters of the unified model are determined by isoparametric transformation. The modified Fourier series are applied to construct the admissible displacement function and the sound pressure tolerance function of the coupled systems. The energy functional of the structure domain and acoustic field domain is established, respectively, and the structure–acoustic coupling potential energy is introduced to obtain the energy functional. Rayleigh–Ritz method was used to solve the energy functional.

Findings

The displacement and sound pressure response of the coupled systems are acquired by introducing the internal point sound source excitation, and the influence of relevant parameters of the coupled systems is researched. Through research, it is found that the impedance wall can reduce the amplitude of the sound pressure response and suppress the resonance of the coupled systems. Besides, the composite laminated plate has a good noise reduction effect.

Originality/value

This study can provide the theoretical guidance for vibration and noise reduction.
Ethnic mental health inequalities and mental health policies in England 1999-2020
Authors: Hussain Basharat , Hui Ada , Timmons Stephen , Nkhoma Kennedy
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This paper presents a thematic synthesis of mental health policies published in England from 1999 to 2020.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper aims to present a thematic synthesis of mental health policies published in England from 1999 to 2020. The authors specifically focus on ethnicity-related mental health issues highlighted in policies, policy recommendations and performance measurements of policy implementation.

Findings

Findings from this synthesis demonstrate that ethnic mental health inequalities remain comparable over the past two decades. Ongoing issues include a lack of data on the ethnicity of mental health services users. Where data is available, these highlight ethnic inequalities in access to, experiences of and outcomes of mental health services, as well as a lack of cultural capability in health-care professionals. Policy recommendations have also remained the same during this time and include: collecting data on the ethnicity of service users, raising awareness of the cultural needs of Black and Minority ethnic populations amongst health-care professionals, recruiting BME staff into mental health care services and improving community engagement. The synthesis identified poor indicators of performance measurement on policy implementation and weak monitoring regimes.

Practical implications

The synthesis identified poor indicators of performance measurement on policy implementation and weak monitoring regimes.

Originality/value

This paper presents a thematic synthesis of mental health policies published in England from 1999 to 2020.
Networking of corporate universities in knowledge management: evidence from China
Authors: Chen Yunqi , Xu Yusen , Zhai Qingguo
Published: March 2022

Purpose

A corporate university is a knowledge management institution established within an enterprise. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the evolution of knowledge activities of corporate university and their relationship, particularly the role of networking in the knowledge management.

Design/methodology/approach

Haier, which had the earliest Chinese corporate university in the science and technology manufacturing industry, was employed as a case study. Data were collected by interviews and through consulting the documents of Haier’s corporate university. Grounded theory was used for data analysis.

Findings

The paper finds that corporate universities are engaged in three kinds of activities, namely, enterprise operational knowledge transfer, networking activities and scientific and technological activities. There is a dynamic circular relationship among these three kinds of activities, which form a “figure of eight” cycle model. Networking activities are the hub between enterprise operational knowledge transfer and scientific and technological activities. There is a two-way integration of enterprise operational knowledge transfer and science and technological activities via networking activities. Networking activities, thus, play a key role in the development of corporate universities into knowledge management centers. The scope of the key activities of corporate universities is dynamic and expanding. The double circulation effect among key activities in corporate universities has strengthened over time.

Originality/value

By investigating the dynamic nature of the activities of corporate universities, particularly the role of networking in knowledge management, this research enriches the study of the knowledge management of corporate universities.
Technology adoption in hotels: applying institutional theory to tourism
Authors: Soares André Luiz Vieira , Mendes-Filho Luiz , Gretzel Ulrike
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to apply institutional theory to demonstrate if and how mimetic, coercive and normative pressures shape technology adoption in hotels and lead to institutional isomorphism.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a qualitative approach involving interviews with managers representing 20 different hotels. A theory-driven thematic analysis was carried out with institutional theory concepts serving as guidance. The data analysis involved three phases, namely, pre-analysis, exploration and finalizing of results. Nvivo software was used to assist with the coding.

Findings

The results show signs of isomorphism on a large scale across several items related to technology adoption practices and uses of technological tools. For instance, hoteliers adopt similar standards, feel the need to mimic competition and all strive to be well-evaluated on sites such as TripAdvisor to achieve legitimacy in the marketplace. In contrast, coercive pressures from trade associations or other governing bodies seem to have little influence on technology adoption decisions. Instead, consumers are seen as powerful agents driving technology adoption in the industry. Regarding normative pressures, certification from third parties is perceived as a more important source of legitimization than recognition from government institutions or trade associations.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the still limited literature on institutional theory in tourism and provides an alternative perspective to understanding technology adoption from a rational technology acceptance model point-of-view.
Anhidrosis accompanied by cholinergic urticaria‐like rash and dermal pain in a patient with Sjögren's syndrome
Authors: Yanagida Nozomi , Takahagi Shunsuke , Aoyama Yumi , Tanaka Akio , Hide Michihiro
Published: March 2022

Cholinergic urticaria (CholU)‐like rash and dermal pain on sweating occur in patients with acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis (AIGA). However, it is unclear whether these are symptoms specific to AIGA among the various types of acquired generalized anhidrosis/hypohidrosis (AGAH). Moreover, the pathogenesis underlying CholU‐like rash and dermal pain observed with anhidrosis remains to be clarified. A 20‐year‐old Japanese man with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) presented with anhidrosis. Transient stinging pain on the skin and pinpoint wheals were observed when his body temperature increased. Thermoregulatory sweat testing revealed anhidrotic areas covering 69% of the body surface area with a symmetrical distribution. A high concentration of histamine was detected (506 ng/mL) in the sweat. A skin biopsy specimen from the anhidrotic area showed the inflamed secretory portion of eccrine glands. This suggested inflammation‐mediated damage to sweat glands, consistent with AGAH related to SS. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis revealed an ectopic distribution of dermcidin, a sweat‐specific peptide, in the dermal tissue surrounding the secretory portion of eccrine glands. The expression of claudin‐3, a tight junction (TJ) component of sweat glands, decreased or distributed in a mottled manner in the secretory portion. No decreased expression of muscarinic cholinergic receptor M3 was detected. These results suggested that sweat had leaked into the dermis in association with impaired TJ in the secretory portion, along with the damage to inflamed sweat glands related to SS. Collectively, CholU‐like rash and dermal pain on sweating were observed in an AGAH patient with SS. The sweat leakage into the dermis may contribute to the development of the rash and pain.
Simulation‐based study design accuracy weights are not generalisable and can still lead to biased meta‐analytic inference: Comments on Christie et al. (2019)
Authors: Pescott Oliver L. , Stewart Gavin B.
Published: March 2022

Variable study quality is a challenge for all the empirical sciences, but perhaps particularly for disciplines such as ecology where experimentation is frequently hampered by system complexity, scale and resourcing. The resulting heterogeneity, and the necessity of subsequently combining the results of different study designs, is a fundamental issue for evidence synthesis.

We welcome the recognition of this issue by Christie et al. (2019) and their attempt to provide a generic approach to study quality assessment and meta‐analytic weighting through an extensive simulation study. However, we have reservations about the true generality and usefulness of their derived study ‘accuracy weights’.

First, the simulations of Christie et al. rely on a single approach to effect size calculation, resulting in the odd conclusion that before‐after control‐impact (BACI) designs are superior to randomised controlled trials (RCTs), which are normally considered the gold standard for causal inference. Second, the so‐called ‘study quality’ scores have long been criticised in the epidemiological literature for failing to accurately summarise individual, study‐specific drivers of bias and have been shown to be likely to retain bias and increase variance relative to meta‐regression approaches that explicitly model such drivers.

Synthesis and applications. We suggest that ecological meta‐analysts spend more time critically, and transparently, appraising actual studies before synthesis, rather than relying on generic weights or weighting formulas to solve assumed issues; sensitivity analyses and hierarchical meta‐regression are likely to be key tools in this work.
Innovation and forward‐thinking are needed to improve traditional synthesis methods: A response to Pescott and Stewart
Authors: Christie Alec P. , Amano Tatsuya , Martin Philip A. , Shackelford Gorm E. , Simmons Benno I. , Sutherland William J.
Published: March 2022

In Christie et al. (2019), we used simulations to quantitatively compare the bias of commonly used study designs in ecology and conservation. Based on these simulations, we proposed ‘accuracy weights’ as a potential way to account for study design validity in meta‐analytic weighting methods. Pescott and Stewart (2022) raised concerns that these weights may not be generalisable and still lead to biased meta‐estimates. Here we respond to their concerns and demonstrate why developing alternative weighting methods is key to the future of evidence synthesis.

We acknowledge that our simple simulation unfairly penalised randomised controlled trial (RCT) relative to before‐after control‐impact (BACI) designs as we considered that the parallel trends assumption held for BACI designs. We point to an empirical follow‐up study in which we more fairly quantify differences in biases between different study designs. However, we stand by our main findings that before‐after (BA), control‐impact (CI) and after designs are quantifiably more biased than BACI and RCT designs. We also emphasise that our ‘accuracy weighting’ method was preliminary and welcome future research to incorporate more dimensions of study quality.

We further show that over a decade of advances in quality effect modelling, which Pescott and Stewart (2022) omit, highlights the importance of research such as ours in better understanding how to quantitatively integrate data on study quality directly into meta‐analyses. We further argue that the traditional methods advocated for by Pescott and Stewart (2022; e.g. manual risk‐of‐bias assessments and inverse‐variance weighting) are subjective, wasteful and potentially biased themselves. They also lack scalability for use in large syntheses that keep up‐to‐date with the rapidly growing scientific literature.

Synthesis and applications. We suggest, contrary to Pescott and Stewart's narrative, that moving towards alternative weighting methods is key to future‐proofing evidence synthesis through greater automation, flexibility and updating to respond to decision‐makers' needs—particularly in crisis disciplines in conservation science where problematic biases and variability exist in study designs, contexts and metrics used. While we must be cautious to avoid misinforming decision‐makers, this should not stop us investigating alternative weighting methods that integrate study quality data directly into meta‐analyses. To reliably and pragmatically inform decision‐makers with science, we need efficient, scalable, readily automated and feasible methods to appraise and weight studies to produce large‐scale living syntheses of the future.
Shifts in growth light optima among diatom species support their succession during the spring bloom in the Arctic
Authors: Croteau Dany , Lacour Thomas , Schiffrine Nicolas , Morin Philippe‐Israël , Forget Marie‐Hélène , Bruyant Flavienne , Ferland Joannie , Lafond Augustin , Campbell Douglas A. , Tremblay Jean‐Éric , Babin Marcel , Lavaud Johann
Published: March 2022

Diatoms of the Arctic Ocean annually experience extreme changes of light environment linked to photoperiodic cycles and seasonal variations of the snow and sea‐ice cover extent and thickness which attenuate light penetration in the water column. Arctic diatom communities exploit this complex seasonal dynamic through a well‐documented species succession during spring, beginning in sea‐ice and culminating in massive phytoplankton blooms underneath sea‐ice and in the marginal ice zone. The pattern of diatom taxa sequentially dominating this succession is relatively well conserved interannually, and taxonomic shifts seem to align with habitat transitions.

To understand whether differential photoadaptation strategies among diatom taxa explain these recurring succession sequences, we coupled laboratory experiments with field work in Baffin Bay at 67.5°N. Based on field data, we selected five diatom species typical of different ecological niches and measured their growth rates under light intensity ranges representative of their natural habitats. To characterize their photoacclimative responses, we sampled pigments and total particulate carbon, and conducted 14C‐uptake photosynthesis response curves and variable fluorescence measurements.

We documented a gradient in species respective light intensity for maximal growth suggesting divergent light response plasticity, which for the most part align with species sequential dominance. Other photophysiological parameters supported this ecophysiological framing, although contrasts were always clear only between succession endmembers, Nitzschia frigida and Chaetoceros neogracilis. To validate that these photoacclimative responses are representative of in situ dynamics, we compared them to the chlorophyll a‐specific light‐limited slope (α*) and saturated rate of photosynthesis (), monitored in Baffin Bay on sea‐ice and planktonic communities. This complementary approach confirmed that unusual responses in α* and as a function of light history intensity are similar between sentinel sympagic species N. frigida and natural ice‐core communities. While no light‐history‐dependent trends were observed in planktonic communities, their α* and values were in the range of measurements from our monospecific cultures.

Synthesis. Our results suggest that Arctic diatoms species photoadaptation strategy is tuned to the light environment of the habitats in which they dominate and indeed drives the seasonal taxonomic succession.
Soil causes gut microbiota to flourish and total serum IgE levels to decrease in mice
Authors: Zhou Dongrui , Li Na , Yang Fan , Zhang Honglin , Bai Zhimao , Dong Yangyang , Li Mengjie , Zhu Wenyong , Fei Zhongjie , Xiao Pengfeng , Sun Xiao , Lu Zuhong
Published: March 2022

Traditional farm environments induce protection from allergic diseases. In this study, farm environmental factors were classified into three categories, environmental microbes, soil, and organic matter. To explore the impact of soil and environmental microorganisms on gut microbiota and immune function, mice were fed sterilized soil and inhaling microbes, soil microbes, or non‐sterilized soil. Metagenomic sequencing results showed the intake of sterile soil, that is, inhaling a small amount of soil microbes in the air increased gut microbial diversity and the abundance of type III secretion system (T3SS) genes, and decreased serum immune IgE levels induced by 2‐4‐dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). The intake of soil microbes increased the abundance of genes involved in the metabolism of short‐chain fatty acids and amino acid biosynthesis. Meanwhile, the intake of soil increased gut microbial diversity, the abundance of T3SS genes and related infectious elements, and genes associated with the metabolism of short‐chain fatty acids and amino acid biosynthesis, and decreased serum IgE levels. Therefore, soil may be useful as a potential ‘prebiotic’ promoting the reproduction and growth of some intestinal microorganisms that harbour bacterial secretion system genes, especially those of T3SS, whose abundance was positively and significantly correlated with innate immune function of mice.
Refining policies for financial stress
Authors: Best Rohan
Published: March 2022

Household financial stress is a persistent problem that can be exacerbated by shocks such as the COVID‐19 pandemic. This paper finds that assets are more important than income for explaining financial stress using the Household Expenditure Survey, conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Households in the bottom quintile for net assets are more likely to experience many dimensions of financial stress, with a magnitude of approximately 3 percentage points in most cases. Total income often has no identifiable impact on financial stress, all else equal, although the component of income based on investments may be a better predictor of financial stress. Further, there is a positive relationship between liabilities and financial stress. In addition, substantial financial stress is observable for recipients of payments for unemployment or disability, with lower impacts suggested for some other welfare groups. Three policy options are refining asset tests to provide higher benefits for low‐wealth households, raising benefits for particular welfare types including for those receiving unemployment and disability payments, and promoting financial literacy to avoid excessive liabilities.