bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Invasive Mucormycosis Involving the Laryngopharynx After Bone Marrow Transplantation
Authors: Lee Yeong Ju , Lee Yoon Se
Published: September 2021

Invasive larynx or pharyngeal fungal infections are rare. We report an invasive fungal laryngopharyngitis patient who complained of a persistent sore throat after an allogenic bone marrow transplant and a haploidentical stem cell transplant. An antifungal gargle was used after finding necrotic changes extending from the right soft palate to the aryepiglottic fold. Biopsy and culture suggested a fungal infection with suspicious mucormycosis. imaging showed the right oropharynx, supraglottis, and the para- pharnygeal space were involved. After initiating liposomal amphotericin В for 4 days, wide excisional debridement, and a partial pharyngectomy with an anterolateral thigh free flap including the deep fascia were performed. Amphotericin B and posaconazole were used subsequently. Pathology assessment indicated invasive mucormycosis. There was no recurrence for 9 months. Mucormycosis is a fatal opportunistic infection often seen in immunocompromised patients. Rapid detection, radical resection, and reconstruction can save the patient from a life-threatening fungal infection of the laryngopharynx.
Socioeconomic Disparities in the Surgical Management of Craniosynostosis
Authors: Mozaffari Mohammad Ali , Hauc Sacha C. , Junn Adam H. , Junn Alexandra , Dinis Jacob , Alperovich Michael
Published: September 2021

Background:

The updated ICD-10 coding system introduced partway through 2015 offers codes with increased granularity for disease and procedure types. This is the first study to use ICD-10 codes to investigate disparities in the surgical management for craniosynostosis.

Methods:

Using the Kids’ Inpatient Database univariable analyses were performed to compare the relative odds of undergoing strip craniectomy, either endoscopic (ESC) or open (OSC), or calvarial vault remodeling (CVR) based on a variety of demographic and hospital-level variables.

Results:

Of the 2,874 patients identified, 2,352 underwent CVR while 522 underwent SC. Of those undergoing SC, 295 and 228 had an endoscopic and open procedure, respectively. A greater proportion of patients who had private insurance (58.14% versus 47.49%) or were self-pay (8.06% versus 6.28%) underwent SC, whereas a higher percentage who were covered under Medicaid (46.23% versus 32.8%; P < 0.001) received CVR. ESC patients were 2.16 times more likely to have private insurance and 2.07 times more likely to be from the highest income quartile compared to OSC patients. However, there were no differences in terms of insurance type or income level between those undergoing CVR compared to OSC.

Conclusions:

Our study found that the difference between CVR and SC can be attributed to the difference in the endoscopic versus open approaches to SC. Although the socioeconomic disparities persisted in the comparison between ESC and OSC, with patients receiving ESC coming from wealthier and commercially insured families, the same differences were not observed when comparing CVR with OSC.
Systematic review of temporary intravascular shunt use in military and civilian extremity trauma
Authors: Laverty Robert B. , Treffalls Rebecca N. , Kauvar David S.
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND

The use of temporary intravascular shunts (TIVS) in the setting of military and civilian trauma has grown in recent years, predominantly because of the mounting evidence of improved limb outcomes. We sought to characterize the use and outcomes of TIVS in trauma through a systematic review of military and civilian literature.

METHODS

The MEDLINE, EBSCO, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies on TIVS use in military and civilian trauma settings published between January 2000 and March 2021. Reports lacking systematic data collection along with those with insufficient TIVS descriptive and outcome data were excluded. Data regarding the characteristics and outcomes of TIVS were assessed and collective syntheses of military and civilian data performed.

RESULTS

Twenty-one reports were included, 14 from civilian trauma centers or databases and 7 from military field data or databases (total of 1,380 shunts in 1,280 patients). Sixteen were retrospective cohort studies, and four were prospective. Five studies had an unshunted comparison group. Shunts were predominantly used in the lower extremity and most commonly for damage control indications. Dwell times were infrequently reported and were not consistently linked to shunt thrombosis or other complications. Anticoagulation during shunting was sparsely reported and inconsistently applied. Shunted limbs had higher injury severity than unshunted limbs but similar salvage rates.

CONCLUSION

Temporary intravascular shunts are effective for expeditious restoration of perfusion in severely injured limbs and likely contribute to limb salvage. There is a paucity of comparative TIVS data in the literature and no consistently applied reporting standards, so controversies regarding TIVS use remain.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Systematic Review, level IV.
Readmission for pleural space complications after chest wall injury: Who is at risk?
Authors: Kay Annika B. , Morris David S. , Gardner Scott , Majercik Sarah , White Thomas W.
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND

Little is known about patient characteristics predicting postdischarge pleural space complications (PDPSCs) after thoracic trauma. We sought to analyze the patient population who required unplanned hospital readmission for PDPSC.

METHODS

Retrospective review of adult patients admitted to a Level I Trauma Center with a chest Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score of 2 or greater between January 2015 and August 2020. Those readmitted within 30 days of index hospitalization discharge for PDPSC were compared with those not readmitted. Demographics, injury characteristics, surgical procedures, imaging, and readmission data were retrieved.

RESULTS

Out of 17,192 trauma evaluations, 3,412 (19.8%) suffered a chest AIS score of 2 or greater injury and 155 experienced an unplanned 30-day hospital readmission. Of those, 49 (1.4%) were readmitted for the management of PDPSC (readmit PDPSC) and were compared with patients who were not readmitted (no readmit, n = 3,257). The readmit PDPSC group was significantly older age, heavier, comprised of fewer men, and suffered a higher mean chest AIS score. The readmit PDPSC group had a significantly higher incidence of rib fractures, flail chest, pneumothorax, hemothorax, scapula fractures, and a higher rate of tube thoracostomy placement during index admission. The discharge chest X-ray in the readmit PDPSC group demonstrated a pleural space abnormality in 36 (73%) of patients. Mean time to readmission was 10.2 (7.2) days, and hospital length of stay on readmission was 5.8 (3.7) days. Pleural effusion was the most common readmission diagnosis (44 [90%]), and 42 (86%) required tube thoracostomy.

CONCLUSION

We describe the subset of chest wall injury patients who require hospital readmission for PDPSC. Characteristics from index hospitalization associated with PDPSC include older age, female sex, heavier weight, presence of rib fractures, pleural space abnormality, scapular fracture, and chest tube placement. Further studies are needed to characterize this at-risk chest wall injury population, and to determine what interventions can facilitate outpatient management of postdischarge pleural space complications and mitigate readmission risk.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic and epidemiologic, Level IV; Care management, Level V.
Lamotrigine for Treating Anger in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Thompson Shabnam I. , El-Saden Suzie M.
Published: September 2021

Lamotrigine is an antiepileptic drug that was Food and Drug Administration approved in 2003 for use in the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder to delay the time to recurrence of new mood episodes. The mechanism by which lamotrigine achieves its therapeutic effect in the treatment of bipolar disorder is unknown. Here, we report on 2 Veterans with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) endorsing significant anger, aggression, and agitation, who were treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, but whose residual symptoms of anger and aggression were ultimately successfully managed with lamotrigine augmentation. The authors would like to make mental health providers aware of the impact that lamotrigine may have on PTSD symptomology, especially when used to treat anger and aggression in patients with PTSD.
Ruania rhizosphaerae sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium isolated from rhizosphere of Suaeda aralocaspica
Authors: Lu Wan-Ni , Xu Yi-Zhuo , Xie Yuan-Guo , Gao Rui , Song Jie-Qiong , Liu Dan-Feng , Xiao Min , Wang Hong-Fei , Li Qiu-Li , Li Wen-Jun
Published: September 2021

A Gram-stain-positive, non-motile and short rod-shaped actinobacterium, designated strain LNNU 22110T, was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of the halophyteSuaeda aralocaspica(Bunge) Freitag and Schütze, which collected in Xinjiang, north-west China. Growth occurred at 10–45 °C, pH 6.0–10.0 and in the presence of 0–11 % NaCl (w/v). Based on the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogenetic analyses, strain LNNU 22110Tbelonged to the genusRuaniaand had 97.5 and 95.5 % sequence similarity toRuania albaKCTC 19413TandRuania albidiflavaCGMCC 4.3142T, respectively. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization relatedness values between strain LNNU 22110TandR. albaKCTC 19413TandR. albidiflavaCGMCC 4.3142Twere 23.2 and 19.9 %, respectively. The highest average nucleotide identity value between strain LNNU 22110Tand its closest related strain (R. albaKCTC 19413T) was 80.2 %, much lower than the species delineation threshold of 95–96 %. The genome of strain LNNU 22110Twas 4.4 Mb, with a genomic DNA G+C content of 68.4 mol%. The diagnostic diamino acids in the peptidoglycan layer of strain LNNU 22110Twere lysine, alanine, glycine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid. The predominant menaquinone was MK-8(H4). The major fatty acid (>10 %) was anteiso-C15 : 0. The polar lipid profile of strain LNNU 22110Tincluded diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, diacylated phosphatidyl dimannoside, one unidentified glycolipid and two unidentified phospholipids. According to the phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic results, strain LNNU 22110Tis considered to represent a novel species of the genusRuania, for which the nameRuania rhizosphaeraesp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LNNU 22110T(=KCTC 39807T=CGMCC 1.17105T).
Caldicellulosiruptor diazotrophicus sp. nov., a thermophilic, nitrogen-fixing fermentative bacterium isolated from a terrestrial hot spring in Japan
Authors: Chen Yuxin , Nishihara Arisa , Iino Takao , Ohkuma Moriya , Haruta Shin
Published: September 2021

A novel nitrogen-fixing fermentative bacterium, designated as YA01T, was isolated from Nakabusa hot springs in Japan. The short-rod cells of strain YA01T were Gram-positive and non-sporulating. Phylogenetic trees of the 16S rRNA gene sequence and concatenated sequences of 40 single-copy ribosomal genes revealed that strain YA01T belonged to the genus

Caldicellulosiruptor

and was closely related to

Caldicellulosiruptor hydrothermalis

108T,

Caldicellulosiruptor bescii

DSM 6725T and

Caldicellulosiruptor kronotskyensis

2002T. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain YA01T shares less than 98.1 % identity to the known

Caldicellulosiruptor

species. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 34.8 mol%. Strain YA01T shares low genome-wide average nucleotide identity (90.31–91.10 %), average amino acid identity (91.45–92.10 %) and <70 % digital DNA–DNA hybridization value (41.8–44.2 %) with the three related species of the genus

Caldicellulosiruptor

. Strain YA01T grew at 50–78 °C (optimum, 70 °C) and at pH 5.0–9.5 (optimum, pH 6.5). Strain YA01T mainly produced acetate by consuming d(+)-glucose as a carbon source. The main cellular fatty acids were iso-C17 : 0 (35.7 %), C16 : 0 (33.3 %), DMA16 : 0 (6.6 %) and iso-C15 : 0 (5.9 %). Based on its distinct phylogenetic position, biochemical and physiological characteristics, and the major cellular fatty acids, strain YA01T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Caldicellulosiruptor

for which the name Caldicellulosiruptor diazotrophicus sp. nov. is proposed (type strain YA01T=DSM 112098T=JCM 34253T).
Green spotted puffers can detect an almost nontoxic TTX analog odor using crypt olfactory sensory neurons
Authors: Suzuki Takehisa , Nakahigashi Ryota , Adachi Masaatsu , Nishikawa Toshio , Abe Hideki
Published: September 2021

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a well-known neurotoxin that functions as a defense substance for toxic puffers. Several behavioral studies reported that TTX attracts toxic puffers belonging to the genus Takifugu. Although our electrophysiological and behavioral studies showed that a TTX analog, 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX, acts as an olfactory chemoattractant for grass puffers (T. alboplumbeus), it is unclear whether toxic puffers are commonly attracted to 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX, and which types of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) detect 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX.

Here we investigated whether the green spotted puffer (Dichotomyctere nigroviridis), a phylogenetically different species from the grass puffer, is attracted to 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX. Administration of 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX attracted green spotted puffers, but TTX or vehicle did not. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry of the olfactory epithelium exposed to 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX with an antibody against phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 (pS6), a neuronal activity marker, labeled oval cells with apical invagination. These oval cells were also labeled by the antibody against S100, a specific marker of crypt OSNs. Thus, our results suggest that 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX acts as an olfactory chemoattractant that is detected by crypt-type OSNs in the olfactory epithelium of green spotted puffers. Toxic puffers may use 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX as an olfactory chemoattractant involved in reproduction and parental care or as an olfactory cue of TTX-bearing organisms for effective toxification.

Summary statement

Behavioral and immunohistochemical experiments suggest that an almost nontoxic TTX analog, 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX, acts as an olfactory chemoattractant for green spotted puffers, and crypt-type olfactory sensory neurons detect it.
Short-term assessment of subfoveal injection of AAV2-hCHM gene augmentation in choroideremia using adaptive optics ophthalmoscopy
Authors: Morgan Jessica I. W. , Jiang Yu You , Vergilio Grace K. , Serrano Leona W. , Pearson Denise J. , Bennett Jean , Maguire Albert M. , Aleman Tomas S.
Published: September 2021

Subretinal injection for gene augmentation in retinal degenerations forcefully detaches the neural retina from the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), potentially damaging photoreceptors and/or RPE cells. Here, we use adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) to assess the short-term integrity of the cone mosaic following subretinal injections of AAV2-hCHM gene augmentation in subjects with choroideremia (CHM). Nine adult CHM patients received uniocular subfoveal injections of low dose (5x1010 vector genome (vg) per eye, n=5) or high dose (1x1011 vg per eye, n=4) AAV2-hCHM. The macular regions of both eyes were imaged pre- and one-month post-injection using a custom-built, multimodal AOSLO. Post-injection cone inner segment mosaics were compared to pre-injection mosaics at multiple regions of interest (ROIs). Post-injection AOSLO images showed preservation of the cone mosaic in all 9 AAV2-hCHM injected eyes. Mosaics appeared intact and contiguous one-month post-injection, with the exception of foveal disruption in one patient. Co-localized optical coherence tomography showed foveal cone outer segment (COS) shortening post-injection (significant, n=4; non-significant, n=4; unchanged, n=1). Integrity of the cone mosaic is maintained following subretinal delivery of AAV2-hCHM, providing strong evidence in support of the safety of the injections. Minor foveal thinning observed following surgery corresponds with short-term COS shortening rather than cone cell loss.
Global distribution of the rooting zone water storage capacity reflects plant adaptation to the environment
Authors: Stocker Benjamin D. , Tumber-Dávila Shersingh Joseph , Konings Alexandra G. , Anderson Martha B. , Hain Christopher , Jackson Robert B.
Published: September 2021

The rooting zone water storage capacity (S0) extends from the soil surface to the weathered bedrock (the Critical Zone) and determines land-atmosphere exchange during dry periods. Despite its importance to land-surface modeling, variations ofS0across space are largely unknown as they cannot be observed directly. We developed a method to diagnose global variations ofS0from the relationship between vegetation activity (measured by sun-induced fluorescence and by the evaporative fraction) and the cumulative water deficit (CWD). We then show that spatial variations inS0can be predicted from the assumption that plants are adapted to sustain CWD extremes occurring with a return period that is related to the life form of dominant plants and the large-scale topographical setting. Predicted biome-levelS0distributions, translated to an apparent rooting depth (zr) by accounting for soil texture, are consistent with observations from a comprehensivezrdataset. Large spatial variations inS0across the globe reflect adaptation ofzrto the hydroclimate and topography and implies large heterogeneity in the sensitivity of vegetation activity to drought. The magnitude ofS0inferred for most of the Earth’s vegetated regions and particularly for those with a large seasonality in their hydroclimate indicates an important role for plant access to water stored at depth - beyond the soil layers commonly considered in land-surface models.
Experience-dependent changes in hippocampal spatial activity and hippocampal circuit function are disrupted in a rat model of Fragile X Syndrome
Authors: Asiminas Antonis , Booker Sam A , Dando Owen R , Kozic Zrinko , Arkell Daisy , Inkpen Felicity H , Sumera Anna , Akyel Irem , Kind Peter C , Wood Emma R
Published: September 2021

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a common single gene cause of intellectual disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cognitive inflexibility is one of the hallmarks of FXS with affected individuals showing extreme difficulty adapting to novel or complex situations. To explore the neural correlates of this cognitive inflexibility, we used a rat model of FXS (Fmr1-/y), and recorded from the CA1 region of the hippocampus while animals habituated in a novel environment for two consecutive days. On the first day of exploration, the firing rate and spatial tuning of CA1 pyramidal neurons was similar between wild-type (WT) and Fmr1-/y rats. However, while CA1 pyramidal neurons from WT rats showed experience-dependent changes in firing and spatial tuning between the first and second day of exposure to the environment, these changes were decreased or absent in CA1 neurons of Fmr1-/y rats. These findings were consistent with increased excitability of Fmr1-/y CA1 neurons in ex-vivo hippocampal slices, which correlated with reduced synaptic inputs from the medial entorhinal cortex. Lastly, activity patterns of CA1 pyramidal neurons were discoordinated with respect to hippocampal oscillatory activity in Fmr1-/y rats. These findings suggest a network-level origin of cognitive deficits in FXS.
Circumscribing laser cuts attenuate seizure propagation in a mouse model of focal epilepsy
Authors: Lieberman Seth , Rivera Daniel A. , Morton Ryan , Hingorani Amrit , Southard Teresa L. , Johnson Lynn , Reukauf Jennifer , Radwanski Ryan E. , Zhao Mingrui , Nishimura Nozomi , Bracko Oliver , Schwartz Theodore H. , Schaffer Chris B.
Published: September 2021

In partial onset epilepsy, seizures arise focally in the brain and often propagate, causing acute behavior changes, chronic cognitive decline, and increased mortality. Patients frequently become refractory to medical management, leaving neurosurgical resection of the seizure focus as a primary treatment, which can cause neurologic deficits. In the cortex, focal seizures are thought to spread through horizontal connections in layers II/III, suggesting that selectively severing these connections could block seizure propagation while preserving normal columnar circuitry and function. We induced focal neocortical epilepsy in mice and used tightly-focused femtosecond-duration laser pulses to create a sub-surface, opencylinder cut surrounding the seizure focus and severing cortical layers II-IV. We monitored seizure propagation using electrophysiological recordings at the seizure focus and at distant electrodes for 3-8 months. With laser cuts, only 5% of seizures propagated to the distant electrodes, compared to 85% in control animals. Laser cuts also decreased the number of seizures that were initiated, so that the average number of propagated seizures per day decreased from 42 in control mice to 1.5 with laser cuts. Physiologically, these cuts produced a modest decrease in cortical blood flow that recovered within days and, at one month, left a ~20-μm wide scar with increased gliosis and localized inflammatory cell infiltration but minimal collateral damage. When placed over motor cortex, cuts did not cause notable deficits in a skilled reaching task. Femtosecond laser produced sub-surface cuts hold promise as a novel neurosurgical approach for intractable focal cortical epilepsy, as might develop following traumatic brain injury.

Once sentence summary

In a mouse model of focal epilepsy, sub-surface laser-produced cuts encircling the seizure focus attenuate propagation without behavioral impairment.
Sexually dimorphic interplay between anxiety-related phenotype and fear memory extinction
Authors: Bonilla Maria I. , Lee Hae-Lim , Kim In-Jung , Rudenko Andrii
Published: September 2021

The authors have withdrawn this manuscript because they want to validate their conclusions further using additional analytic strategies. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as reference for the project. If you have any questions, please contact the corresponding author
MM-Deacon: Multimodal molecular domain embedding analysis via contrastive learning
Authors: Guo Zhihui , Sharma Pramod Kumar , Du Liang , Abraham Robin
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Molecular representation learning plays an essential role in cheminformatics. Recently, language model-based approaches have been popular as an alternative to traditional expert-designed features to encode molecules. However, these approaches only utilize a single modality for representing molecules. Driven by the fact that a given molecule can be described through different modalities such as Simplified Molecular Line Entry System (SMILES), The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), and The IUPAC International Chemical Identifier (InChI), we propose a multimodal molecular embedding generation approach called MM-Deacon (multimodalmoleculardomainembeddinganalysis viacontrastive learning). MM-Deacon is trained using SMILES and IUPAC molecule representations as two different modalities. First, SMILES and IUPAC strings are encoded by using two different transformer-based language models independently, then the contrastive loss is utilized to bring these encoded representations from different modalities closer to each other if they belong to the same molecule, and to push embeddings farther from each other if they belong to different molecules. We evaluate the robustness of our molecule embeddings on molecule clustering, cross-modal molecule search, drug similarity assessment and drug-drug interaction tasks.
Pitfalls and recommended strategies and metrics for suppressing motion artifacts in functional MRI
Authors: Raval Vyom , Nguyen Kevin P. , Pinho Marco , Dewey Richard B. , Trivedi Madhukar , Montillo Albert A.
Published: September 2021

In resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), artefactual signals arising from subject motion can dwarf and obfuscate the neuronal activity signal. Typical motion correction approaches involve the generation of nuisance regressors, which are timeseries of non-brain signals regressed out of the fMRI timeseries to yield putatively artifact-free data. Recent work suggests that concatenating all regressors into a single regression model is more effective than the sequential application of individual regressors, which may reintroduce previously removed artifacts. This work compares 18 motion correction pipelines consisting of head motion, independent components analysis, and non-neuronal physiological signal regressors in sequential or concatenated combinations. The pipelines are evaluated on a dataset of cognitively normal individuals with repeat imaging and on datasets of studies of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Parkinson’s Disease. Extensive metrics of motion artifact removal are measured, including resting state network recovery, Quality Control-Functional Connectivity (QC-FC) correlation, distance-dependent artifact, network modularity, and test-retest reliability of multiple rs-fMRI analyses. The results reveal limitations in previously proposed metrics, including the QC-FC correlation and modularity quality, and identify more robust motion correction metrics. The results also reveal limitations in the concatenated regression approach, which is outperformed by the sequential regression approach in the test-retest reliability metrics. Finally, pipelines are recommended that perform well based on quantitative and qualitative comparisons across multiple datasets and robust metrics. These new insights and recommendations help address the need for effective motion artifact correction to reduce noise and confounds in rs-fMRI.
Identification of Serum Bridging Molecules that Mediate Human Endothelial Cell Invasion byCandidaspecies
Authors: Phan Quynh T. , Solis Norma V. , Lin Jianfeng , Swidergall Marc , Singh Shakti , Liu Hong , Sheppard Donald C. , Ibrahim Ashraf S. , Mitchell Aaron P. , Filler Scott G.
Published: September 2021

During hematogenously disseminated candidiasis, blood borne fungi must invade the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels to infect the deep tissues. AlthoughCandida albicans, which forms hyphae, readily invades endothelial cells, other medically important species ofCandidaare poorly invasive in standard in vitro assays. Here, we show thatCandida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, andCandida kruseican bind to vitronectin and high molecular weight kininogen present in human serum. Acting as bridging molecules, vitronectin and kininogen bind to αv integrins and the globular C1q receptor (gC1qR), inducing human endothelial cells to endocytose the fungus. This mechanism of endothelial cell invasion is poorly supported by mouse endothelial cells, but can be restored when mouse endothelial cells are engineered to express human gC1qR or αv integrin. Overall, these data indicate that bridging molecule-mediated endocytosis is a common pathogenic strategy used by many medically importantCandida spp. to invade human vascular endothelial cells.

Significance

The invasion of vascular endothelial cells is a key step in the pathogenesis of hematogenously disseminated candidiasis. How species ofCandidaother thanC. albicansinvade endothelial cells is poorly understood because these fungi are weakly invasive in serum-free media. Here, we demonstrate thatC. glabrataand otherCandidaspp. bind to the serum proteins kininogen and vitronectin, which act as bridging molecules and mediate the adherence and endocytosis of the organisms by endothelial cells. These serum proteins induce endocytosis when they interact with the globular C1q receptor and αv integrins on human, but not mouse endothelial cells. Thus, bridging molecule-mediated endocytosis is a common mechanism by which medically importantCandidaspp. invade human endothelial cells.
Long term nasopharyngeal colonization by Staphylococcus aureus determinants of adaptation
Authors: Salgado Breno A. B. , Waters Elaine M. , Moran Josephine C. , Kadioglu Aras , Horsburgh Malcolm J.
Published: September 2021

Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization is a risk factor for infection. A large proportion of the population are identified as potential S. aureus carriers yet we only partially understand the repertoire of genetic factors that promote long-term nasal colonization. Here we present a novel murine model of nasopharyngeal colonization that requires a low S. aureus inoculum and is amenable to experimental evolution approaches. We used this model to experimentally evolve S. aureus using successive passages in the nasopharynx to identify those genetic loci under selection. After 3 cycles of colonization, mutations were identified in mannitol, sorbitol, arginine, nitrite and lactate metabolism genes promoting key pathways in nasal colonization. Stress responses were identified as being under selective pressure, with mutations in DNA repair genes including dnaJ and recF and key stress response genes clpL, rpoB and ahpF. Peptidoglycan synthesis pathway genes also revealed mutations indicating potential selection for alteration of the cell surface. The infection model used here is versatile to assist decolonization and persistence studies.
The moderating effect of agglomeration on horizontal differentiation and online reviews: the case of Paris hotels
Authors: Illescas-Manzano María D. , Martínez-Puertas Sergio , Sánchez-Pérez Manuel
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Hotels are immersed in a very competitive environment and hoteliers have to plan and redesign their strategies to stay in the hospitality industry while faced with a steady rise in competition. Hoteliers can employ horizontal differentiation strategies and pricing decisions to gain a competitive advantage over their competitors. The goal of our work is to analyse the effect of pricing and horizontal differentiation strategy of a hotel on its online reputation and to analyse if the hotel location and agglomeration of competitors moderates their relationship with online reputation.

Design/methodology/approach

With a sample of 264 hotels from Paris, an empirical study is developed that aims to analyse, using regression techniques, the impact of price, differentiation, location and competitive environment on online ratings given by consumers in the hospitality context.

Findings

The paper provides empirical evidence of how a good location improves the online reputation of a company and how pricing strategies should take into account the location and number of competitors since a good location allows premium prices to be valued positively by consumers while an inappropriate location can produce the opposite effect. Depending on location, the number of competitors can intensify or reduce the effect of price on online reputation. Finally, online reputation only benefits from horizontal differentiation strategies when the degree of agglomeration is low.

Originality/value

This work provides insights about how hotels can strengthen their online reputation through pricing and differentiation strategies, incorporating elements of their environment such as location and competition in this decision-making process.
When anger and happiness generate concessions: investigating counterpart’s culture and negotiation intentions
Authors: Ramirez-Marin Jimena Y. , Barragan Diaz Adrian , Guzman Felipe A.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Drawing from the emotions as social information theory, this paper aims to investigate the differential effects of emotions in inter vs intracultural negotiations.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used one face-to-face negotiation and two experimental scenario studies to investigate the influence of emotions (anger vs happiness) and negotiation type (intercultural vs intracultural) on concession behavior.

Findings

Across the three studies, the results consistently show that angry opponents from a different national culture obtain larger concessions from negotiators. A face-to-face negotiation shows that happy opponents from the same culture are able to obtain larger concessions from negotiators. Additionally, the negotiator’s intentions to compromise and yield mediate the relationship between the interaction of emotions and counterpart’s culture on concessions.

Research limitations/implications

Two limitations are that the studies were conducted in a single country and that they use different types of role-playing designs. The empirical implications provide evidence of the moderating effect of the counterpart’s culture on the effect of anger on concessions. Then, providing two different mechanisms for concessions.

Practical implications

The research helps global negotiators who face counterparts from different nationalities. It suggests that these negotiators should be mindful of their counterpart’s emotions in intercultural negotiation as anger seems to generate more concessions in this setting.

Originality/value

The article is among the first studies to show that the combination of the counterpart’s culture and emotions has an effect on concessions in negotiation. Compromising and yielding are mediating mechanisms for this moderated effect. As opposed to previous studies that use one type of research design, the research combines face-to-face and scenario methodologies to test the predictions.
Early impact of Covid-19 on private sector employees finance homeownership in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alharbi Raed Khamis
Published: September 2021

Purpose

For almost two years, the economic shocks and financial uncertainty created by the Covid-19 pandemic have affected all sectors. The private sector employees may be the worst hit. This is because of the lockdown across many countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), leading to income irregularities. Studies exploring private-sector employees concerning housing finance for the houses purchased and how the lockdown has affected their sources of income for repayment plans are scarce. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the possible early negative impacts of Covid-19 on private sector employees’ housing finance homeownership in KSA.

Design/methodology/approach

A phenomenology type of qualitative research was used. Data were sourced from three cities (Riyadh, Al-Qassim and Medina) and three mortgage banks across KSA. Virtual interviews via Zoom and WhatsApp video calls were conducted with engaged participants (bankers, government agencies and private sector employees). Thematic analysis was adopted, and the analysed data was presented in themes.

Findings

Findings show that the partial and full lockdown resulted in income irregularities in many private businesses. Also, findings identified downsizing, leading to large-scale unemployment, half-monthly income for employees, loss of profit, human resources wastage, etc. Findings reveal that because of the economic shock, many homeowners have not been able to meet up with their monthly mortgage repayment obligation. Also, the absence of financial support in form of socioeconomic needs has not helped the matter.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is limited to the early negative impacts of Covid-19 on private sector employees’ housing finance homeownership in KSA and data collected via Zoom and WhatsApp video calls across the three main cities. The recommendations that will emerge from this study may be adopted by other Gulf and Islamic countries with similar homeownership repayment challenges.

Practical implications

This study would stir key stakeholders, especially the policymakers and mortgage institutions to consider future policy principles that focus on who is at the highest risk for housing-related hardships because of the Covid-19 or future pandemic. The outcome can be used to develop an equitable housing policy framework to foster long-term economic mobility and be validated in the future by scholars.

Originality/value

Similar research in this area is limited, which makes this study one of the pioneering attempts to investigate the early negative impacts of Covid-19 on private sector employees’ housing finance homeownership in KSA. The paper sheds light on the emerged early negative impacts and proffer feasible possible solutions to promote homeownership amongst Saudi citizens.
Construction logistics in urban development projects – learning from, or repeating, past mistakes of city logistics?
Authors: Janné Mats , Fredriksson Anna
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The construction industry is reluctant to utilize construction logistics centres (CLC). To understand why, the purpose of the study is to increase the understanding of drivers and challenges of CLC utilization.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting an activity-based cost methodology, nine construction projects' CLC utilization in a Swedish urban development project is analyzed for a time period of three years (2013–2016).

Findings

There is a difference between drivers and challenges for implementing and utilizing CLCs, which are often implemented to reduce third-party disturbances. The drivers to utilize a CLC, however, stem from achieving efficient logistics. The authors identify two different utilization strategies; the CLC is used either for just-in-time (JIT) deliveries or as a consolidation point.

Research limitations/implications

The study shows that construction logistics is to some extent repeating some mistakes of its big brother, city logistics. The study hypothesizes that there are differences between CLC implementation and utilization drivers and challenges that are often overlooked, which can explain the lack of CLC utilization.

Practical implications

The study shows that it is crucial for construction projects to develop and formulate a logistics strategy for how to utilize the setup, i.e. deciding whether to use the setup as a consolidation point leading to fewer deliveries and more materials on-site, or as JIT, leading to more deliveries but fewer materials on-site.

Social implications

CLCs can reduce environmental impact and third-party disturbances. However, to make this come true, acceptance among the users is needed. The study provides understanding of drivers and barriers for CLC implementation and utilization that can increase acceptance among users (i.e. construction projects).

Originality/value

The current study is one of the first studies to analyze CLC utilization.
Green human resource management and green organizational citizenship behavior: do green culture and green values matter?
Authors: Hooi Lai Wan , Liu Min-Shi , Lin Joe J.J.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Drawing on the Ability–Motivation–Opportunity (AMO) theory, this study aims to test the effect of green human resource management (G-HRM) on green organizational citizenship behavior (G-OCB) taking into consideration green culture as the mediator and green values as the moderator.

Design/methodology/approach

Valid data from 240 entities collected in Taiwan were analyzed to test the five hypotheses. The valid data were analyzed using confirmatory factor model, correlation analysis, structural equation modeling and bootstrapping analysis.

Findings

The results for all relationships show significant associations. G-HRM is significantly associated with G-OCB and green culture, while green culture is significantly related to G-OCB. The mediating effect of green culture on the G-HRM-G-OCB relationship is significant. The moderating effect of green values on the green culture–G-OCB relationship is significant.

Originality/value

The originality of this study lies in being one of the first study in an advanced emerging economy utilizing the AMO theory.
Contact points between Lean Six Sigma and Industry 4.0: a systematic review and conceptual framework
Authors: Sordan Juliano Endrigo , Oprime Pedro Carlos , Pimenta Marcio Lopes , Silva Sérgio Luis da , González Mario Orestes Aguirre
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a conceptual framework of the implementation of the contact points (CPs) between Lean Six Sigma practices and Industry 4.0 technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review was carried out based on two samples. A first sample containing 78 articles was analyzed through bibliometric indicators. After that, a second sample of 33 articles was analyzed in-depth according to research questions.

Findings

The conceptual framework involves 13 CPs between Lean Six Sigma (LSS) practices and I4.0 technologies (what), going through the technical requirements needed (how), categorized as information technology (IT), automation and competence requirements, to finally present the main results reported in the literature (why).

Research limitations/implications

This paper presents an innovative perspective of interactions between digital technologies and LSS practices, expanding knowledge about Digital LSS. Such perspective gives emphasis to the importance of technical requirements, such as communication and connectivity protocols, network topology, machine-to-machine communication (M2M), human–machine interfaces (HMI), as well as analytical and digital skills.

Practical implications

The managerial implications regarding the digitalization of LSS practices address the investments required for the acquisition and maintenance of cyber-physical systems (CPS). Moreover, there is a need for the development of skills so that operators can successfully use the new technologies in a context of continuous improvement.

Originality/value

This paper presents a conceptual framework covering 13 CPs between LSS practices and Industry 4.0 technologies, the technical requirements and the expected results. It is hoped that this framework can assist future research and operational excellence projects towards digitalization.
Passion in the pit: the effects of harmonious and obsessive passion on nurse burnout
Authors: Landay Karen , Arena Jr David F. , King Dennis Allen
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Anecdotal and survey reports indicate that nurses are suffering increased stress and burnout due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Therefore, this study investigated two forms of passion, harmonious and obsessive passion, as resources that may indirectly predict two forms of burnout, disengagement and exhaustion, through the mediator of job stress.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors tested their hypotheses in a mediation model using a sample of nurses surveyed at three timepoints during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Findings

As hypothesized, harmonious passion indirectly decreased disengagement and exhaustion by decreasing job stress. Contrary to authors’ hypotheses, obsessive passion also indirectly decreased (rather than increased, as hypothesized) both disengagement and exhaustion by decreasing job stress. Harmonious, but not obsessive, passion, was significantly negatively directly related to disengagement and exhaustion.

Research limitations/implications

Data were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have impacted nurses’ work environments and their willingness to respond.

Originality/value

This study extends conservation of resources theory to conceptualize harmonious and obsessive passion as resources with differing outcomes based on their contrasting identity internalization, per the Dualistic Model of Passion. This study also operationalizes burnout more comprehensively by including cognitive and physical exhaustion along with emotional exhaustion, as well as disengagement. By collecting responses at three timepoints, this study provides a more robust test of causality than previous work examining passion and burnout.
Interpersonal leadership and job engagement: testing the mediating role of deep acting, initiative climate and learning goal orientation
Authors: Aslam Muhammad Zia , Omar Safiah , Nazri Mohammad , Bustaman Hasnun Anip , Yousif Mohammed Mustafa Mohammed
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Though employee job engagement has been one of the few most proliferated organizational concepts during the last two decades, evidence on how to achieve an engaged workforce is unclear. The purpose of this study was to contribute to the engagement literature by investigating the role of interpersonal leadership in developing job engagement through the relative importance of deep acting emotional labor skills, initiative climate and learning goal orientation as intervening mechanisms.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed an online self-reported survey in data collection, gathering input from 438 frontline service employees in Malaysia. The data was then tested using the structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to evaluate the proposed parallel mediation model of the study.

Findings

The findings demonstrated that deep acting emotional labor skills, initiative climate and learning goal orientation were significantly effective in intervening mechanisms through which interpersonal leadership impacted job engagement.

Practical implications

This study offers insightful evidence that can be utilized by service organizations to improve employees' job engagement. The evidence derived from this study suggests that interpersonal leadership is a valuable organizational resource that can help carve pathways through which the objective of employee job engagement can be achieved. Therefore, while crafting organizational interventions for employee job engagement, service managers should address the findings of this study.

Originality/value

Despite the evidence presented in previous literature on the notable relationship between leadership and engagement, there is yet to be an apt understanding of the impact of new leadership perspectives and the intervening mechanisms in predicting job engagement. This study attempts to fill the research gap.
Enhancing foreign subsidiaries' performance through relational ties, market- and nonmarket-based capabilities
Authors: Thoumrungroje Amonrat , Kapasuwan Supara
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Given the inconclusive findings on relational ties–performance relationships, this study approaches this phenomenon through social capital theory and resource-based view (RBV) lenses to advocate the mediating role of nonmarket- and market-based capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey-based research methodology was employed. A list of 1,425 foreign subsidiaries was identified from the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) website, and key informants were contacted. A final response rate of 11.8% was achieved. All hypotheses were tested via path analyses with the bootstrapping technique.

Findings

The results indicate that the relationships between business- and government-relational ties and performance are fully mediated by market- and nonmarket-based capabilities with the latter serving as essential but inadequate preconditions for achieving superior firm performance.

Practical implications

To mitigate the liability of foreignness and to enhance performance of foreign subsidiaries operating in volatile emerging economies such as Thailand, government and business relational ties are crucial in developing nonmarket- and market-based capabilities. The nonmarket-based capabilities entail the ability to negotiate with and influence policy makers, which in turn helps augment the development of market-based capabilities, including the ability to be highly responsive to customers' needs.

Originality/value

This research illustrates the embedded roles of nonmarket and market-based capabilities developed through complex interactions among social actors, including the multinational enterprises’ (MNEs’) subsidiaries and government and nongovernment counterparts, in attaining superior performance. The results indicate how relational ties enable MNEs’ subsidiaries to develop various capabilities, and how these capabilities are related with each other and linked to firm performance. Findings from an emerging economy undergoing recent political and economic uncertainties also provide theoretical advancements for international business studies.