bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An adult stem-like cell population generates germline and neurons in the sea anemoneNematostella vectensis
Authors: Miramón-Puértolas Paula , Steinmetz Patrick R.H.
Published: January 2023

Most genetic research animals (e.g., vertebrates, insects, nematodes) segregate germline and soma during early embryogenesis. In contrast, some highly regenerative bilaterian (e.g., planarians) and non-bilaterian animals (e.g., hydrozoan cnidarians) retain adult stem cells with both germinal and somatic potentials. As these cells have been studied in only few phyla, their biology and evolution remain mostly enigmatic. Here, we aimed to identify and characterize adult stem cells and their cell lineages in the sea anemoneNematostella vectensisby combining gene expression analysis, immunostainings, and meganuclease-mediated and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in reporter lines of conserved germline and multipotency genes (e.g.,vasa2,piwi1). We found a small population ofvasa2+/piwi1+ cells in the gastrodermal folds of juvenile and adult sea anemones that generates germline and a diversity of somatic, mostly proliferative cells. Using a combination ofsoxB(2)neural progenitor andpiwi1reporter lines, we found that the somatic progeny fromvasa2+/piwi1+ cells includessoxB(2)+ neural progenitors. Our results strongly support the existence of an adult Vasa2+/Piwi1+ multipotent stem-like cell population that derives both germline and somatic lineages inNematostella. The similarities of lineages and gene expression profiles betweenNematostellaVasa2+/Piwi1+ stem-like cells and hydrozoan interstitial stem cells support their evolutionary conservation among cnidarians.
Control of gastruloid patterning and morphogenesis by the Erk and Akt signaling pathways
Authors: Underhill Evan J. , Toettcher Jared E.
Published: January 2023

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) dependent elongation along an anterior-posterior (A-P) axis is a conserved feature of vertebrate embryogenesis. A-P axis elongation can also be reproduced in 3D cell culture models termed gastruloids, enabling dissection of this process in a controlled, minimal context. Here, we set out to determine how gastruloid posterior elongation depends on the Erk and Akt pathways, canonical downstream effectors of FGF signaling. We find that gastruloids exhibit reproducible posterior-to-anterior gradients in Erk and Akt phosphorylation that are generated independently and correlate with distinct zones of tissue movement, cell proliferation, and expression of cell motility and adhesion regulators. Pharmacological inhibition of FGFR, Erk, or Akt signaling impairs gastruloid elongation, and quantification of signaling gradients reveals how these patterns interact and scale with A-P axis length. Using global inhibitors and activators of each pathway, we find that a gradient of Ras/Erk signaling is required for the establishment of appropriately localized domains of E-cadherin, Snail, and Brachyury expression, whereas perturbing PI3K/Akt signaling alters proliferation but not patterning. Taken together, our data demonstrate that graded PI3K/Akt and Ras/Erk signaling provide spatial information to control proliferation and cell-cell adhesion during gastruloid elongation.
Molecular basis of RanGTP-activated nucleosome assembly with Histones H2A-H2B bound to Importin-9
Authors: Shaffer Joy M. , Jiou Jenny , Tripathi Kiran , Olaluwoye Oladimeji S. , Fung Ho Yee Joyce , Chook Yuh Min , D’Arcy Sheena
Published: January 2023

Padavannil et al. 2019 show that Importin-9 (Imp9) transports Histones H2A-H2B from the cytoplasm to the nucleus using a non-canonical mechanism whereby binding of a GTP-bound Ran GTPase (RanGTP) fails to evict the H2A-H2B cargo. Instead, a stable complex forms, comprised of equimolar RanGTP, Imp9, and H2A-H2B. Unlike the binary Imp9•H2A-H2B complex, this RanGTP•Imp9•H2A-H2B ternary complex can release H2A-H2B to an assembling nucleosome. Here, we define the molecular basis for this RanGTP-activated nucleosome assembly by Imp9. We use hydrogen-deuterium exchange coupled with mass spectrometry and compare the dynamics and interfaces of the RanGTP•Imp9•H2A-H2B ternary complex to those in the Imp9•H2A-H2B or Imp9•RanGTP binary complexes. Our data are consistent with the Imp9•H2A-H2B structure by Padavannil et al. 2019 showing that Imp9 HEAT repeats 4-5 and 18-19 contact H2A-H2B, as well as many homologous importin•RanGTP structures showing that importin HEAT repeats 1 and 3, and the h8 loop, contact RanGTP. We show that Imp9 stabilizes H2A-H2B beyond the direct binding site, similar to other histone chaperones. Importantly, we reveal that binding of RanGTP releases H2A-H2B interaction at Imp9 HEAT repeats 4-5, but not 18-19. This exposes DNA- and histone-binding surfaces of H2A-H2B, thereby facilitating nucleosome assembly. We also reveal that RanGTP has a weaker affinity for Imp9 when H2A-H2B is bound. This may ensure that H2A-H2B is only released in high RanGTP concentrations near chromatin. We delineate the molecular link between the nuclear import of H2A-H2B and its deposition into chromatin by Imp9.

Significance

Imp9 is the primary importin for shuttling H2A-H2B from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. It employs an unusual mechanism where the binding of RanGTP alone is insufficient to release H2A-H2B. The resulting stable RanGTP•Imp9•H2A-H2B complex gains nucleosome assembly activity as H2A-H2B can be deposited onto an assembling nucleosome. We show that H2A-H2B is allosterically stabilized via interactions with both N- and C-terminal portions of Imp9, reinforcing its chaperone-like behavior. RanGTP binding causes H2A-H2B release from the N-terminal portion of Imp9 only. The newly-exposed H2A-H2B surfaces can interact with DNA or H3-H4 in nucleosome assembly. Imp9 thus plays a multi-faceted role in histone import, storage, and deposition regulated by RanGTP, controlling histone supply in the nucleus and to chromatin.
Multi-omics analysis identifies LBX1 and NHLH1 as central regulators of human midbrain dopaminergic neuron differentiation
Authors: Ramos Borja Gomez , Ohnmacht Jochen , de Lange Nikola , Ginolhac Aurélien , Valceschini Elena , Rakovic Aleksandar , Halder Rashi , Massart François , Klein Christine , Krause Roland , Schulz Marcel H. , Sauter Thomas , Krüger Rejko , Sinkkonen Lasse
Published: January 2023

Midbrain dopaminergic neurons (mDANs) control voluntary movement, cognition, and reward behavior under physiological conditions and are implicated in human diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). Many transcription factors (TFs) controlling human mDAN differentiation during development have been described, but much of the regulatory landscape remains undefined. Using a tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) iPSC reporter line, we have generated time series transcriptomic and epigenomic profiles of purified mDANs during differentiation. Integrative analysis predicted novel central regulators of mDAN differentiation and super-enhancers were used to prioritize key TFs. We find LBX1, NHLH1 and NR2F1/2 to be necessary for mDAN differentiation and show that overexpression of either LBX1 or NHLH1 can also improve mDAN specification. NHLH1 is necessary for the induction of neuronal miR-124, while LBX1 regulates cholesterol biosynthesis, possibly through mTOR signaling. Consistently, rapamycin treatment led to an inhibition of mDAN differentiation. Thus, our work reveals novel regulators of human mDAN differentiation.
Expanding the repertoire of the plant infecting ophioviruses
Authors: Debat Humberto , García María Laura , Bejerman Nicolás
Published: January 2023

Ophioviruses (genusOphiovirus, familyAspiviridae) are plant-infecting viruses with non-enveloped, filamentous, naked nucleocapsid virions. Members of genusOphiovirushave a segmented single-stranded negative-sense RNA genome (ca. 11.3-12.5 kb), encompassing three or four linear segments. These segments encode in total four to seven proteins in sense and antisense orientation, both in the viral and complementary strands. The genusOphiovirusincludes seven species with viruses infecting both monocots and dicots, mostly trees, shrubs and some ornamentals. From a genomic perspective, as of today, there are complete genomes available for only four species. Here, by exploring large metatranscriptomics publicly available datasets, we report the identification and molecular characterization of 33 novel viruses with genetic and evolutionary cues of ophioviruses. Genetic distance and evolutionary insights suggest that all the detected viruses could correspond to members of novel species, which expand ca. 4.5-fold the current diversity of ophioviruses. The detected viruses increase the tentative host range of ophioviruses for the first time to mosses, liverwort and ferns. In addition, viruses were linked to severalAsteraceae, OrchidaceaeandPoaceaecrops/ornamental plants. Phylogenetic analyses showed a novel clade of mosses, liverworts and fern ophioviruses, characterized by long branches suggesting still plenty unsampled hidden diversity within the genus. This study represents a significant expansion of genomics of ophioviruses, opening the grounds to future works on the molecular and evolutionary peculiarity of this virus genus.
scMultiome analysis identifies embryonic hindbrain progenitors with mixed rhombomere identities
Authors: Kim Yong-Il , O’Rourke Rebecca , Sagerström Charles G.
Published: January 2023

Rhombomeres serve to position neural progenitors in the embryonic hindbrain, thereby ensuring appropriate neural circuit formation, but the molecular identities of individual rhombomeres and the mechanism whereby they form have not been fully established. Here we apply scMultiome analysis in zebrafish to molecularly resolve all rhombomeres for the first time. We find that rhombomeres become molecularly distinct between 10hpf (end of gastrulation) and 13hpf (early segmentation). While the mature hindbrain consists of alternating odd- versus even-type rhombomeres, our scMultiome analyses do not detect extensive odd versus even characteristics in the early hindbrain. Instead, we find that each rhombomere displays a unique gene expression and chromatin profile. Prior to the appearance of distinct rhombomeres, we detect three hindbrain progenitor clusters (PHPDs) that correlate with the earliest visually observed segments in the hindbrain primordium and that represent prospective rhombomere r2/r3 (possibly including r1), r4 and r5/r6, respectively. We further find that the PHPDs form in response to Fgf and RA morphogens and that individual PHPD cells co-express markers of multiple mature rhombomeres. We propose that the PHPDs contain mixed-identity progenitors and that their subdivision into individual mature rhombomeres requires resolution of mixed transcription and chromatin states.
Dendritic spine neck plasticity controls synaptic expression of long-term potentiation
Authors: Gupta Rahul , O’Donnell Cian
Published: January 2023

Dendritic spines host glutamatergic excitatory synapses and compartmentalize biochemical signalling underlying synaptic plasticity. The narrow spine neck that connects the spine head with its parent dendrite is the crucial structural element of this compartmentalization. Both neck morphology and its molecular composition differentially regulate exchange of molecular signals between the spine and rest of the neuron. Although these spine neck properties themselves show activity-dependent plasticity, it remains unclear what functional role spine neck plasticity plays in synaptic plasticity expression. To address this, we built a data-constrained biophysical computational model of AMPA receptor (AMPAR) trafficking and intracellular signalling involving Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) and the phosphatase calcineurin in hippocampal CA1 neurons, which provides new mechanistic insights into spatiotemporal AMPAR dynamics during long-term potentiation (LTP). Using the model, we tested how plasticity of neck morphology and of neck septin7 barrier, which specifically restricts membrane protein diffusion, affect LTP. We found that spine neck properties control LTP by regulating the balance between AMPAR and calcineurin escape from the spine. Neck plasticity that increases spine-dendrite coupling reduces LTP by allowing more AMPA receptors to diffuse away from the synapse. Surprisingly, neck plasticity that decreases spine-dendrite coupling can also reduce LTP by trapping calcineurin, which dephosphorylates AMPARs. Further simulations showed that the precise timescale of neck plasticity, relative to AMPAR and enzyme diffusion and phosphorylation dynamics, critically regulates LTP. These results suggest a new mechanistic and experimentally-testable theory for how spine neck plasticity regulates synaptic plasticity.
Elevated glucocorticoid alters the developmental dynamics of hypothalamic neurogenesis
Authors: Eachus Helen , Choi Min-Kyeung , Tochwin Anna , Kaspareit Johanna , Ho May , Ryu Soojin
Published: January 2023

Exposure to excess glucocorticoid (GC) during early development is implicated in adult dysfunctions. Reduced adult hippocampal neurogenesis is a well-known consequence of exposure to early life stress or elevated GC, however the effects on neurogenesis during development and effects on other brain regions are not well understood. Using an optogenetic zebrafish model, here we analysed the effects of GC exposure on neurogenesis during development in the whole brain. We identify that the hypothalamus is a highly GC-sensitive region where elevated GC causes precocious development. This is followed by failed maturation and early decline accompanied by impaired feeding, growth, and longevity. In GC-exposed animals, the developmental trajectory of hypothalamic progenitor cells is strikingly altered, potentially mediated by direct regulation of transcription factors such asrx3by GC. Our data provide cellular and molecular level insight into GC-induced alteration of the hypothalamic development trajectory, a process crucial for health across the life-course.
Design of stimulus-responsive two-state hinge proteins
Authors: Praetorius Florian , Leung Philip J. Y. , Tessmer Maxx H. , Broerman Adam , Demakis Cullen , Dishman Acacia F. , Pillai Arvind , Idris Abbas , Juergens David , Dauparas Justas , Li Xinting , Levine Paul M. , Lamb Mila , Ballard Ryanne K. , Gerben Stacey R. , Nguyen Hannah , Kang Alex , Sankaran Banumathi , Bera Asim K. , Volkman Brian F. , Nivala Jeff , Stoll Stefan , Baker David
Published: January 2023

Proteins that switch between two structural states as a function of environmental stimuli are widespread in nature. These proteins structurally transduce biochemical information in a manner analogous to how transistors control information flow in computing devices. Engineering challenges ranging from biological computing devices to molecular motors require such two-state switches, but designing these is an unsolved problem as it requires sculpting an energy landscape with two low-energy but structurally distinct conformations that can be modulated by external inputs. Here we describe a general design approach for creating “hinge” proteins that populate one distinct state in the absence of ligand and a second designed state in the presence of ligand. X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy, and double electron-electron resonance spectroscopy demonstrate that despite the significant structural differences, the two states are designed with atomic level accuracy. The kinetics and thermodynamics of effector binding can be finely tuned by modulating the free energy differences between the two states; when this difference becomes sufficiently small, we obtain bistable proteins that populate both states in the absence of effector, but collapse to a single state upon effector addition. Like the transistor, these switches now enable the design of a wide array of molecular information processing systems.
Paradoxical leader behavior and leader effectiveness: moderating role of structural and job-related uncertainty
Authors: Batool Uzma , Raziq Muhammad Mustafa , Sarwar Naukhez , Saleem Sharjeel , Obaid Asfia
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of paradoxical leader behavior (PLB) on leader effectiveness (LE). The authors propose an underlying mechanism of this relationship and examine if the stated relationship is moderated by job-related and structural uncertainty in the organization.

Design methodology approach

The authors draw on survey data from 127 employees working in public and privately owned organizations and analyze data using AMOS and SPSS.

Findings

Results offer partial support to the authors’ hypotheses indicating that paradoxical leader behavior is positively associated to LE. As expected, the relationship is negatively moderated by structural uncertainty indicating that LE is weakened where there is structural uncertainty in the organization. However, in contrast to our other assumption, the authors find a positive (rather than negative) moderating role of job-related uncertainty in the PLB–LE relationship.

Originality value

Paradoxes are everywhere and inherently embedded in complex and dynamic organizational systems. To deal with paradoxes, organizational leaders often seek to act paradoxically. However, not every leader has a paradoxical mindset, and where a leader has such, it remains unclear if they will prove to be effective leaders. What can further influence the effectiveness of such leaders is the uncertainty that organizations face in the today’s dynamic environments. In this study, the authors contribute to paradox theory and the paradoxical leadership literature by unfolding the boundary conditions which can influence paradoxical leader’s effectiveness.
Relationship between Twitter activity and stock performance: evidence from Turkish airline industry
Authors: Ismayil Javid , Demir Oguz
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the correlation between the Twitter activity of two airline companies and their stock performance at the Istanbul Stock Exchange (BIST).

Design/methodology/approach

Overall, 113,018 tweets were divided into 34,152 semantic and 78,866 share tweets. Semantic tweets are tweets mentioning company’s products or services and were labeled manually and with deep learning models. Share tweets were divided into 13,618 relevant and 65,248 irrelevant tweets.

Findings

A positive correlation was found between share tweets and stock performance. Semantic tweets did not display a correlation with stock performance. Relevant share tweets displayed as a strong correlation as all share tweets for one company. Also, the manual labeling of 8,000 tweets led to the discovery of many insights related to service provision in the airway industry, management of digital support channels, management of reputation on social media and using Twitter as a customer support platform.

Practical implications

Relevant share tweets comprise only 20% of all share tweets for one company and show the same level of correlation with stock performance. This means that the efficiency of business intelligence solutions created to monitor Twitter activity can be improved five times by saving computational power, network bandwidth and data storage.

Originality/value

Previous research has analyzed all Twitter activity taken together. By dividing tweets into semantic and share tweets, this paper illustrates that it is, in fact, share tweets that are correlated with stock performance and not semantic tweets.
Prediction identification method of time-varying internal heat source based on inverse heat transfer problem
Authors: Li Zhenjun , Zhao Chunyu
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the inverse problems that arise in various practical heat transfer processes. The purpose of this paper is to provide an identification method for predicting the internal boundary conditions for thermal analysis of mechanical structure. A few examples of heat transfer systems are given to illustrate the applicability of the method and the challenges that must be addressed in solving the inverse problem.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the thermal network method and the finite difference method are used to model the two-dimensional heat conduction inverse problem of the tube structure, and the heat balance equation is arranged into an explicit form for heat load prediction. To solve the matrix ill-conditioned problem in the process of solving the inverse problem, a Tikhonov regularization parameter selection method based on the inverse computation-contrast-adjustment-approach was proposed.

Findings

The applicability of the proposed method is illustrated by numerical examples for different dynamically varying heat source functions. It is proved that the method can predict dynamic heat source with different complexity.

Practical implications

The modeling calculation method described in this paper can be used to predict the boundary conditions for the inner wall of the heat transfer tube, where the temperature sensor cannot be placed.

Originality/value

This paper presents a general method for the direct prediction of heat sources or boundary conditions in mechanical structure. It can directly obtain the time-varying heat flux load and thtemperature field of the machine structure.
Understanding sustainability as a cyclical process: insights from social innovation and the adaptive cycle
Authors: Dare Alexa M. , Dittrich Ruth , Schondel Macey , Lowney Molly , Hill Gregory
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to understand why higher education institutions (HEIs) struggle to become sustainable institutions themselves despite providing relevant teaching and research on sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

Using 17 open-ended, semistructured interviews to determine common themes (codes) regarding sustainability, the authors mapped those codes to the adaptive cycle from social innovation theory.

Findings

Using the adaptive cycle offered a framework for understanding sustainability at HEIs as a cyclical process where innovation occurs in ebbs and flows. Differing perceptions of power by students and faculty slow down the process, and cross-collaboration is the key to further sustainability.

Practical implications

Insights from the adaptive cycle can contribute to HEI assessment of its sustainability initiatives by identifying the stage of the adaptive cycle relevant to the institution’s present sustainability work.

Originality/value

Applying the adaptive cycle is an original way of understanding the process of anchoring sustainability at HEIs providing concrete insights into advancing this process.
Food security and political instability-foreign divestment analysis
Authors: Subramaniam Yogeeswari , Loganathan Nanthakumar , Masron Tajul Ariffin
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Prior studies have found evidence for the role of political instability on foreign divestment (FD) where a high level of instability encourages FD decisions. Therefore, this paper aims to examine how the food security level explains the linkage between political instability and FD.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study adopts the system generalised method of moment (GMM) to achieve accurate and reliable empirical evidence for 60 developing countries in the period 2011 to 2020.

Findings

The results demonstrated a negative and significant relationship between political instability and FD on food security. This suggests that political instability’s impact on divestment tends to be lower in countries with better levels of food security. Other controlled variables, such as economic growth, human capital and trade openness, also have a negative effect on FD, discouraging FD.

Practical implications

As a result, policymakers could take steps to ensure that food security levels reach acceptable levels, as food security has been linked to a country’s political stability.

Originality/value

To the authors limited knowledge, no studies have looked at the relationship between political instability and food security in determining a country’s FD. Our study aims to analyse this issue because the current global crisis, which is being caused by high food prices, will push millions of more people into severe poverty and exacerbate hunger and malnutrition
Determinants of Sukuk credit rating: evidence from issuing firms in Malaysia
Authors: Homsi Mahmoud Al , Muhamad Sori Zulkarnain , Mohamad Shamsher
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the determinants of Sukuk credit ratings of issuing firms in Malaysia, and the rating changes from lower to higher rating and vice versa.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 328 Sukuk issuances and 1,110 Sukuk rating announcements from 2009 to 2014 were analysed using generalized ordered logit regressions approach. Firm financial characteristics, corporate governance attributes, macroeconomic factors and Sukuk structures (debt or equity based) were among the important determinants used to explain the different Sukuk credit ratings.

Findings

The results indicate a positive association of Sukuk credit rating with issuing firm’s financial information, governance attributes and the Sukuk structure whilst the macroeconomic factors did not explain the changes in the Sukuk credit rating. Specifically, firm size, profitability and leverage characteristics had significant positive effect on Sukuk credit rating for listed firms whilst only firm’s profitability had a positive effect on Sukuk credit rating by unlisted firms. With regard to governance, the board structure which includes board size, board independence and CEO/Chairman non-duality is associated with positive Sukuk credit rating for listed firms. Only financial report audited by big four auditors is associated with positive Sukuk credit rating for unlisted firms. Equity-based Sukuk are associated with positive Sukuk credit rating for listed firms while for unlisted firms only the Ijarah Sukuk had a positive Sukuk credit rating.

Research limitations/implications

Data on credit rating is scarce and had to be hand-collected from published reports. Furthermore, issues on the lack of standardisation of Islamic contracts in different geographical areas could constrain on the comparability of findings on determinants of ratings in different jurisdictions.

Practical implications

The findings provide some guide to the rating agencies to objectively assess the issuer’s creditworthiness that could mitigate default risk. Mitigating the default risk will boost investors’ confidence and credibility of credit rating agencies.

Originality/value

This study examines the determinants of Sukuk credit rating of issuing firms in Malaysia, which include not only the listed firms but also the unlisted firms.
Combining internal quality-oriented product design with external supplier involvement for enhancing operational performance: the moderating role of product modularity
Authors: Kang Mingu , Um Ki-Hyun
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a moderated mediation model by which quality-oriented product design practices influence operational performance via supplier involvement under the different levels of product modularity.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use the multisource data from 268 manufacturing firms worldwide and apply regression and the PROCESS macro model to test the moderated mediation model.

Findings

The findings reveal that quality-oriented product design practices enhance operational performance directly and do so indirectly through promoting supplier involvement in quality improvement. In addition, this indirect effect is stronger when the level of product modularity is high.

Originality/value

By exploring the interaction effects of quality-oriented product design and product modularity, this study provides valuable insights into the ways in which manufacturing firms improve operational performance more effectively.
Process modeling for decomposition unit of a UFP for reliability indices subject to fail-back mode and degradation
Authors: Kumar Amit , Ram Mangey
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Ensuring safe operation of a urea fertilizer plant (UFP) is a vital aspect for its functioning and production. Clearly the safe operation of such systems can only be archived with proper and effective maintenance scheduling and through controlling its failures as well as repairs of the components. Also for this, the concern plant management must have the information regarding the failures that affects the system's performance most/least. The objective of this study is to analyze mathematically the factors that are responsible for the failure/degradation of the decomposition unit of UFP.

Design/methodology/approach

The considered system has been modeled by the aid of Markov's birth–death process with two types of failures for its components: variable (which are very similar in practical situations) and constant. The mathematical model is solved by the help of Laplace transform and supplementary variable technique.

Findings

In the present paper, the availability, reliability and mean time to failure (MTTF) are computed for the decomposition unit of the UFP. The critical components that affect the reliability and MTTF of the decomposition unit are identified through sensitivity analysis.

Originality/value

In this paper, a mathematical model based on the working of the decomposition unit of a UFP has been developed by considering two types of failure, namely, variable failures rates and constant failure rates (which has not been done in the literature for the decomposition unit). Conclusions in this paper are good references for the improvement of the same.
Modular maintenance instructions architecture (MMIA)
Authors: Sigsgaard Kristoffer Vandrup , Agergaard Julie Krogh , Mortensen Niels Henrik , Hansen Kasper Barslund , Ge Jingrui
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The study consists of a literature study and a case study. The need for a method via which to handle instruction complexity was identified in both studies. The proposed method was developed based on methods from the literature and experience from the case company.

Design/methodology/approach

The purpose of the study presented in this paper is to investigate how linking different maintenance domains in a modular maintenance instruction architecture can help reduce the complexity of maintenance instructions.

Findings

The proposed method combines knowledge from the operational and physical domains to reduce the number of instruction task variants. In a case study, the number of instruction task modules was reduced from 224 to 20, covering 83% of the maintenance performed on emergency shutdown valves.

Originality/value

The study showed that the other methods proposed within the body of maintenance literature mainly focus on the development of modular instructions, without the reduction of complexity and non-value-adding variation observed in the product architecture literature.
Social support resilience as a protective mental health factor in postgraduate researchers’ experiences: a longitudinal analysis
Authors: Gooding Patricia , Crook Rebecca , Westwood Melissa , Faichnie Claire , Peters Sarah
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the following across a six-month period in post-graduate research (PGR) students: mental health and well-being; the effect of academic pressures on depression, anxiety and well-being; and the extent to which psychological resilience buffered against academic pressures.

Design/methodology/approach

This was a longitudinal questionnaire study with predictor variables of six types of academic pressure, outcome variables of depression, anxiety and well-being, and a moderator of resilience.

Findings

Well-being significantly worsened across the six-month timeframe, but levels of depression and anxiety remained relatively stable. Negative perceptions of academic challenges at baseline significantly predicted anxiety, but not depression or well-being, six months later. Negative appraisals of relationships with supervisors, other university staff and work peers were not predictors of anxiety. Social support resilience which was present at baseline buffered the relationship between perceived academic challenges and anxiety.

Practical implications

Higher education institutions have a duty of care towards PGR students, many of whom struggle with the escalating interactions between mental health problems and academic pressures. Actively nurturing psychological resilience related to social support is key at the level of individual students and the PGR community but more broadly at an institutional level.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effects of negative perceptions of multiple facets of academic life on depression, anxiety and well-being longitudinally. Additionally, it is the first study to investigate, and demonstrate, the extent to which psychological resilience can lessen the relationship between academic challenges and anxiety over time.
Unveiling the ghosts of landscapes past: Changes in landscape connectivity over the last decades are still shaping current woodland plant assemblages
Authors: Uroy Léa , Ernoult Aude , Alignier Audrey , Mony Cendrine
Published: January 2023

In ever‐changing landscapes, there is increasing evidence that current plant assemblages are shaped by the temporal dynamics of landscape connectivity. So far, attempts to take the temporal dynamics of connectivity into account have only focused on the degree of connectivity at one or several moments in time, but neglected the cumulative effects of temporal changes in connectivity.

We investigated the effects of the temporal dynamics of landscape connectivity (i.e. the degree of connectivity, the magnitude and the variability of its temporal changes) over the last seven decades on current woodland plant herbaceous assemblages. The assemblages were described using a taxonomic approach combined with a functional approach based on four traits linked to the colonisation capacity of plant species.

The taxonomic diversity of current woodland assemblages did not respond to the degree of connectivity nor to the magnitude and the variability of temporal changes, but the mean and/or the diversity of trait values linked to their colonisation capacity did. Responses, mainly driven by generalist species, were modulated by the type of connectivity trend experienced by woodlands. In woodlands experiencing an upward connectivity trend, high magnitude of temporal changes in connectivity increased the abundance of species that invest mostly in sexual reproduction at the expense of vegetative reproduction whereas the degree of connectivity and the variability of its temporal changes had no effect. In woodlands experiencing a downward connectivity trend, the diversity of seed mass values was independent on the magnitude but decreased with the variability of temporal changes, and increased with the degree of connectivity.

Synthesis. Overall, we show that, besides the degree of connectivity, the cumulative effects of decades of changes in connectivity shape woodland plant community assembly by selecting for particular trait values in plant species. This study opens new perspectives for integrating the temporal dynamics of landscape connectivity in the theoretical framework of plant assembly rules. It should also be considered in the development of management strategies to restore and maintain landscape connectivity.
Varieties of improvement expertise: Knowledge and contestation in health‐care improvement
Authors: Cribb Alan , Entwistle Vikki , Mitchell Polly
Published: January 2023

The ‘improvement’ of health care is now established and growing as a field of research and practice. This article, based on qualitative data from interviews with 21 senior leaders in this field, analyses the growth of improvement expertise as not simply an expansion but also a multiplication of ‘ways of knowing’. It illustrates how health‐care improvement is an area where contests about relevant kinds of knowledge, approaches and purposes proliferate and intersect. One dimension of this story relates to the increasing relevance of sociological expertise—both as a disciplinary contributor to this arena of research and practice and as a spur to reflexive critique. The analysis highlights the threat of persistent hierarchies within improvement expertise reproducing and amplifying restricted conceptions of both improvement and ‘better’ health care.
Strengthening the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation's Approach to Constructing Alternative Payment Models
Authors: KANNARKAT JOSEPH T. , SHAH SOLEIL , PAREKH NATASHA , CROSSON FRANCIS J.
Published: January 2023

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) seeks to develop evidence‐based alternative payment models (APM) to improve health care quality and reduce costs, but its performance in achieving these goals has been mixed. In October 2021, CMMI released its Innovation Strategy Refresh to highlight challenges faced by payment models and suggest new strategic approaches for the upcoming decade. While a welcome recast of organizational goals, the Refresh leaves space for how CMMI will address persistent issues. These include how CMMI can best engage physicians and patients in APMs, minimize conflicting incentives among APMs, reduce selection bias in model participation, and, ultimately, transition away from the fee‐for‐service framework that underlies much of Medicare reimbursement. This article provides guidance to CMMI's vision by examining challenges within CMMI's strategy for model building and offering solutions to mitigate these issues. These strategies include engaging beneficiaries in APM incentives, expanding operational flexibility to improve clinical behaviors (e.g., waivers), rectifying issues with conflicting model incentives, building voluntary short‐term and mandatory long‐term incentives to mitigate selection bias, and transitioning to an overriding population‐based model to constrain net costs.

Policy Points

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) seeks to develop evidence‐based alternative payment models (APM) to improve care quality and reduce health care cost, but its performance in achieving these goals has been mixed.

In October 2021, CMMI released a “strategic refresh” of its goals but left space for how persistent issues to model development would be addressed.

We propose strategies to engage physicians and patients in APMs, minimize conflicting incentives among APMs, reduce selection bias in model participation, and, ultimately, transition away from the fee‐for‐service framework that underlies much of Medicare reimbursement.
Effects of obesity on talar micro‐ and macro‐morphology
Authors: Sylvester Adam D. , Wescott Daniel J. , Cunningham Deborah L. , Gleiber Devora S.
Published: January 2023

The addition of information regarding obesity status to the forensic anthropological biological profile could significantly contribute to the identification of human skeletal remains since over 40% of the U.S. adult population is currently obese. This study examines the differences in talar shape and trabecular bone structure between obese and non‐obese individuals. A sample of 20 obese and 20 non‐obese divided evenly by sex was selected from the Texas State University Donated Skeletal Collection. Tali were imaged using x‐ray computed tomography (voxel size: 28–38.7 μm). Image stacks were processed to produce binary images as well as trabecular thickness and spacing maps. Landmark‐based geometric morphometric analyses were conducted to quantify shape variation. Shape coordinates were used to locate 100 geometrically homologous volumes of interest within each talus. Bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness, and trabecular spacing were extracted at each volume of interest. Within each sex, a one‐way ANCOVA was used to determine if significant differences exist between obese and non‐obese individuals in trabecular bone after controlling for age. The size of the talus as well as subtle aspects of shape were found to distinguish the sexes. The results further indicate that bone volume fraction significantly differs between obese and non‐obese males. In females, bone volume fraction is correlated with age but does not differ between obese and non‐obese. The study demonstrates that bone microstructure is a promising approach to estimating body mass or body mass index category but age effects diminish the potential for the talus to be used alone.
Postpartum perineal wound infection and its effect on anal sphincter integrity: Results of a prospective observational study
Authors: Okeahialam Nicola Adanna , Thakar Ranee , Sultan Abdul H.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Perineal wound infection can affect tissues at superficial, deep, and organ space levels. Women with obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) are at risk of infection; however, no study to date has investigated if infection can extend to affect the anal sphincter integrity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical progression of perineal wound infection and its effect on the anal sphincter in women with or without OASIS using three‐dimensional endoanal ultrasound (3D‐EAUS).

Material and methods

Women were recruited into the Prospective Observational Study Evaluating the Sonographic Appearance of the Anal Sphincter in Women With Perineal Wound Infection Following Vaginal Delivery (PERINEAL Study) between August 2020 and August 2021 (NCT 04480684). 3D‐EAUS was performed weekly until complete wound healing. Significant bacterial colonization was diagnosed using the MolecuLight i:X camera. The primary study outcome was a change in a sphincter defect angle from baseline (wound infection) until wound healing. A robust Poisson regression model was used to analyze the effect of significant bacterial loads on the anal sphincter.

Results

Seventy‐three women were included. A median of two ultrasound scans were performed in each patient (range 1–16). Five women (6.8%) had an OASI clinically diagnosed at delivery. In total, 250 EAUS were performed. An external anal sphincter defect was found on EAUS in 55 (22.0%) scans (n = 10 women). An external anal sphincter and internal anal sphincter defect was found in 26 scans (10.4%) (n = 3 women). During the course of the wound healing process, there was no significant change in defect size in wounds with or without significant bacterial colonization. In cases of an intact anal sphincter, wound infection did not disrupt its integrity.

Conclusions

We found that perineal wound infection does not disrupt an intact anal sphincter or OASIS. This new information can provide important information for clinicians and patients. As there are myths frequently encountered in cases of litigation when disruption of sphincter integrity is attributed to perineal infection, the findings of this study should be tested in larger studies in the future.
Association of postpartum medication practices with early breastfeeding cessation among mothers with chronic conditions: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Scime Natalie V. , Metcalfe Amy , Nettel‐Aguirre Alberto , Tough Suzanne C. , Chaput Kathleen H.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Use of medications is a common concern for breastfeeding women, particularly when they are strongly needed or unavoidable to manage maternal chronic conditions. Yet the influence of medication usage patterns on breastfeeding duration in mothers with chronic conditions is unclear. The objective of this study was to examine whether postpartum medication practices were associated with shorter breastfeeding duration or earlier than planned breastfeeding cessation among mothers with chronic conditions.

Material and methods

We analyzed 346 mothers with chronic conditions enrolled in a prospective, community‐based pregnancy cohort study (Alberta, Canada) who initiated breastfeeding after birth. Data were collected through self‐report questionnaires spanning late pregnancy to 6 months postpartum. Based on reported use of preexisting medications while breastfeeding, women were classified as continuing medications (reference group), discontinuing one or more medications, or those who did not use preexisting medications. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to analyze the association of medication practices and overall breastfeeding duration in weeks. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association of medication practices and earlier than planned breastfeeding cessation. Multivariable models adjusted for demographic and health‐related factors.

Results

Overall, 30.6% of women with chronic conditions stopped breastfeeding in the first 6 months, almost all of whom did so earlier than planned. In multivariable models, medication discontinuation was significantly associated with shorter breastfeeding duration (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–2.70) and earlier than planned breastfeeding cessation (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.85, 95% CI 1.01–3.42), whereas medication non‐use was not associated with differences in breastfeeding outcomes.

Conclusions

Women with chronic conditions who discontinued preexisting medications while breastfeeding had significantly shorter breastfeeding duration and were less likely to meet their breastfeeding goals in the first 6 months postpartum compared to women who continued preexisting medications.
Pregnancy‐ and birth‐related risk factors for the development of childhood celiac disease
Authors: Tanpowpong Pornthep , Li Sijia , Espinola Janice A. , Santos Ludmilla Candido , James Kaitlyn E. , Powe Camille E. , Camargo Carlos A.
Published: January 2023

Aim

To evaluate whether pregnancy and birth‐related factors are associated with celiac disease (CD) in a large, United States (US)‐based mother‐child cohort.

Methods

We analysed data gathering from the Massachusetts General Hospital Maternal Child Cohort (MMCC) of children born between 1998 and 2016. Data included the mode of delivery, maternal pregnancy and their offspring characteristics. We searched for CD cases by using diagnosis billing codes. Cox proportional hazard regression models were created to identify variables associated with CD.

Results

We identified 44 539 mother‐child pairs who had at least one encounter by 5 years old and identified 173 children (0.4%) with CD diagnosis; median age at the diagnosis was 6 years. Overall, the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of caesarean delivery for CD was 1.39 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.96, p = 0.06) when compared to children born vaginally. After stratifying for the presence of labour, children born by Caesarean delivery without labour had a higher risk of CD (aHR 1.56; 95%CI: 1.01, 2.41; p = 0.046) while infants born by Caesarean delivery with labour did not (aHR 1.26; 95% CI: 0.83, 1.93; p = 0.28).

Conclusion

Being born by Caesarean delivery without labour may be associated with an increased risk for CD in the US children.