bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advances in basic and translational research in atrial fibrillation
Authors: Hu Dan , Barajas-Martinez Hector , Zhang Zhong-He , Duan Hong-Yi , Zhao Qing-Yan , Bao Ming-Wei , Du Yi-Mei , Burashnikov Alexander , Monasky Michelle M. , Pappone Carlo , Huang Cong-Xin , Antzelevitch Charles , Jiang Hong
Published: May 2023

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a very common cardiac arrhythmia with an estimated prevalence of 33.5 million patients globally. It is associated with an increased risk of death, stroke and peripheral embolism. Although genetic studies have identified a growing number of genes associated with AF, the definitive impact of these genetic findings is yet to be established. Several mechanisms, including electrical, structural and neural remodelling of atrial tissue, have been proposed to contribute to the development of AF. Despite over a century of exploration, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying AF have not been fully established. Current antiarrhythmic drugs are associated with a significant rate of adverse events and management of AF using ablation is not optimal, especially in cases of persistent AF. This review discusses recent advances in our understanding and management of AF, including new concepts of epidemiology, genetics and pathophysiological mechanisms. We review the current status of antiarrhythmic drug therapy for AF, new potential agents, as well as mechanism-based AF ablation.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘The heartbeat: its molecular basis and physiological mechanisms’.
What makes the sinoatrial node tick? A question not for the faint of heart
Authors: Donald Lorenzo , Lakatta Edward G.
Published: May 2023

Even before the sinoatrial node (SAN) was discovered, cardiovascular science was engaged in an active investigation of when and why the heart would beat. After the electrochemical theory of bioelectric membrane potentials was formulated and the first action potentials were measured in contracting muscle cells, the field became divided: some investigators studied electrophysiology and ion channels, others studied muscle contraction. It later became known that changes in intracellular Ca
2+
cause contraction. The pacemaking field was reunited by the coupled-clock theory of pacemaker cell function, which integrated intracellular Ca
2+
cycling and transmembrane voltage into one rhythmogenic system. In this review, we will discuss recent discoveries that contextualize the coupled-clock system, first described in isolated SAN cells, into the complex world of SAN tissue: heterogeneous local Ca
2+
releases, generated within SAN pacemaker cells and regulated by the other cell types within the SAN cytoarchitecture, variably co-localize and synchronize to give rise to relatively rhythmic impulses that emanate from the SAN to excite the heart. We will ultimately conceptualize the SAN as a brain-like structure, composed of intercommunicating meshworks of multiple types of pacemaker cells and interstitial cells, intertwined networks of nerves and glial cells and more.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘The heartbeat: its molecular basis and physiological mechanisms’.
Cultivation ofMelilotus officinalisas a source of bioactive compounds in association with soil recovery practices
Authors: Nogues Isabel , Passatore Laura , Bustamante María Ángeles , Pallozzi Emanuele , Luz João , Traquete Francisco , Ferreira António E.N. , Silva Marta Sousa , Cordeiro Carlos
Published: May 2023

Melilotus officinalisis a Leguminosae with relevant applications in medicine and soil recovery. This study reports the application ofMelilotus officinalisplants in soil recovery and as a source of bioactive compounds. Plants were cultivated in semiarid soil under four different fertilizer treatments, urban waste compost at 10 t/ha and 20 t/ha, inorganic fertilizer and a control (no fertilizer). Agronomic properties of soil (pH, EC, soil respiration, C content, macro- and micro-elements) were analyzed before and after treatment. Also, germination, biomass, element contents, and physiological response were evaluated. Results showed a significant enhancement of the soil microbial activity in planted soils amended with compost, though there were no other clear effects on the soil physicochemical and chemical characteristics during the short experimental period. An improvement inM. officinalisgermination and growth was observed in soils with compost amendment. Metabolite composition of plants was analyzed through Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS). Principal Component and Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering models suggest that there is a clear separation of the metabolome of four groups of plants grown under different soil treatments. The five most important discriminative metabolites (annotated) were oleamide, palmitic acid, stearic acid, 3-hydroxy-cis-5-octenoylcarnitine, and 6-hydroxynon-7-enoylcarnitine. This study provides information on how the metabolome ofMelilotusmight be altered by fertilizer application in poor soil regions. These metabolome changes might have repercussions for the application of this plant in medicine and pharmacology. The results support the profitability ofMelilotus officinaliscultivation for bioactive compounds production in association with soil recovery practices.
Orchid seed germination through auto-activation of mycorrhizal symbiosis signaling regulated by gibberellin
Authors: Miura Chihiro , Furui Yuki , Yamamoto Tatsuki , Kanno Yuri , Honjo Masaya , Yamaguchi Katsushi , Suetsugu Kenji , Yagame Takahiro , Seo Mitsunori , Shigenobu Shuji , Yamato Masahide , Kaminaka Hironori
Published: May 2023

Orchids parasitically depend on external nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi for seed germination. Previous findings suggest that orchids utilize a genetic system of mutualistic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis to establish parasitic symbiosis. In AM symbiosis, recent studies have revealed that the plant hormone gibberellin (GA) negatively affects fungal colonization and development. Although previous studies imply that GA is important for orchid mycorrhizal symbiosis, the molecular mechanism of seed germination in which mycorrhizal symbiosis co-occurs remains unclear because, in AM plants, GA regulates seed germination and symbiosis positively and negatively, respectively. To elucidate this conflict, we investigated the effect of GA onBletilla striataseed germination and mycorrhizal symbiosis using asymbiotic and symbiotic germination methods. Additionally, we compared the transcriptome profiles between asymbiotically and symbiotically germinated seeds. Exogenous GA negatively affected seed germination and fungal colonization, and endogenous bioactive GA was actively converted to the inactive form during seed germination. Transcriptome analysis showed thatB. striatashared many of the induced genes between asymbiotically and symbiotically germinated seeds, including GA metabolism- and signaling-related genes and AM-specific marker homologs. Our study suggests that orchids have evolved in a manner that they do not use bioactive GA as a positive regulator of seed germination and instead, auto-activate the mycorrhizal symbiosis pathway through GA inactivation to accept the fungal partner immediately during seed germination.
The transcription factor NF-YA10 determines the area explored byArabidopsis thalianaroots through direct regulation ofLAZYandTACgenes
Authors: Barrios Andana , Gaggion Nicolas , Mansilla Natanael , Lucero Leandro , Blein Thomas , Sorin Céline , Ferrante Enzo , Crespi Martin , Ariel Federico
Published: May 2023

Root developmental plasticity relies on transcriptional reprogramming, which largely depends on the activity of transcription factors (TFs). NF-YA2 and NF-YA10 (Nuclear Factor A2 and A10) are down-regulated by the specific miRNA isoform miR169defg, in contrast to miR169a. Here, we analyzed the role of theArabidopsis thalianaTF NF-YA10 in the regulation of lateral root development. Plants expressing a version ofNF-YA10resistant to miR169 cleavage showed a perturbation in the lateral root gravitropic response. By extracting novel features of root architecture using the ChronoRoot deep-learning-based phenotyping system, we uncovered a differential emergence angle of lateral roots over time when compared to Col-0. Detailed phenotyping of root growth dynamics revealed that NF-YA10 activity modulates the area explored by Arabidopsis roots. Furthermore, we found that NF-YA10 directly regulatesTAC1andLAZYgenes by targeting their promoter regions, genes previously linked to gravitropism. Hence, the TF NF-YA10 is a new element in the control of LR gravitropism and root system architecture.
Preferred left ventricular lead position for upgrade from right ventricular pacing to cardiac resynchronization therapy
Authors: Ogano Michio , Iwasaki Yu-ki , Okada Taiji , Tanabe Jun , Shimizu Wataru , Asai Kuniya
Published: May 2023

Background

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a well-established treatment for symptomatic heart failure with electrical dyssynchrony. The left ventricle (LV) lead position is recommended at LV posterolateral to lateral sites in patients with left bundle branch block; however, its preferred region remains unclear in patients upgrading from conventional right ventricular (RV) apical pacing to CRT. We aimed to identify the preferred LV lead position for upgrading conventional RV apical pacing to CRT.

Methods

This study used electrode catheters positioned at the RV apex and LV anterolateral and posterolateral sites via the coronary sinus (CS) branches to measure the ratio of activation time to QRS duration from the RV apex to the LV anterolateral and LV posterolateral sites during RV apical pacing. We performed simultaneous biventricular pacing at the RV apex and each LV site and measured the differences in QRS duration and LV dP/dtmaxfrom those of RV apical pacing.

Results

This study included 37 patients with anterolateral and posterolateral LV CS branches. During RV apical pacing, the average ratio of activation time to QRS duration was higher at the LV anterolateral site than at the LV posterolateral site (0.90±0.06 vs. 0.71±0.11, p<0.001). The decreasing ratio of QRS duration and the increasing ratio of LV dP/dtmaxwere higher at the LV anterolateral site than at the LV posterolateral site (45.7±18.0% vs. 32.0±17.6%, p<0.001 and 12.7±2.9% vs. 3.7±8.2%, p<0.001, respectively) during biventricular pacing compared with those during RV apical pacing.

Conclusions

The LV lead position is preferred at the LV anterolateral site in patients upgrading from conventional RV apical pacing to CRT.

Condensed abstract

Pacing at the latest electrical activation site is crucial to improve electrical dyssynchrony in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). However, the preferred location of the left ventricle (LV) lead position in patients upgrading from conventional right ventricular apical pacing to CRT is unclear. This study aimed to investigate proper strategies for CRT and identify an approach for patients upgrading to CRT. We showed that the preferred location is the LV anterolateral site. Our findings will help cardiologists and clinicians develop better strategies for treating patients with heart failure complicated with atrioventricular block.
Single-cell profiling and zebrafish avatars revealLGALS1as immunomodulating target in glioblastoma
Authors: Finotto Lise , Cole Basiel , Giese Wolfgang , Baumann Elisabeth , Claeys Annelies , Vanmechelen Maxime , Decraene Brecht , Derweduwe Marleen , Lakic Nikolina Dubroja , Shankar Gautam , Kantharaju Madhu Nagathihalli , Albrecht Jan Philipp , Geudens Ilse , Stanchi Fabio , Ligon Keith L. , Boeckx Bram , Lambrechts Diether , Harrington Kyle , Van Den Bosch Ludo , De Vleeschouwer Steven , De Smet Frederik , Gerhardt Holger
Published: May 2023

Glioblastoma (GBM) remains the most malignant primary brain tumor, with a median survival rarely exceeding 2 years. Tumor heterogeneity and an immunosuppressive microenvironment are key factors contributing to the poor response rates of current therapeutic approaches. GBM-associated macrophages (GAMs) often exhibit immunosuppressive features that promote tumor progression. However, their dynamic interactions with GBM tumor cells remain poorly understood. Here, we used patient-derived GBM stem cell cultures and combined single-cell RNA sequencing of GAM-GBM co-cultures and real-timein vivomonitoring of GAM-GBM interactions in orthotopic zebrafish xenograft models to provide insight into the cellular, molecular, and spatial heterogeneity. Our analyses revealed substantial heterogeneity across GBM patients in GBM-induced GAM polarization and the ability to attract and activate GAMs – features that correlated with patient survival. Differential gene expression analysis, immunohistochemistry on original tumor samples, and knock-out experiments in zebrafish subsequently identifiedLGALS1as a primary regulator of immunosuppression. Overall, our work highlights that GAM-GBM interactions can be studied in a clinically relevant way using co-cultures and avatar models, while offering new opportunities to identify promising immune-modulating targets.
Bile acids accumulate norovirus-like particles and enhance binding to and entry into human enteric epithelial cells
Authors: Palm Elin , Danskog Katarina , Nord Stefan , Becker Miriam , Tanner Hugh , Sandblad Linda , Öhlund Daniel , Lenman Annasara , Arnberg Niklas
Published: May 2023

Human norovirus (HuNoV) is a leading cause of acute viral gastroenteritis, but despite high impact on public health and health care, the mechanisms of viral attachment to and entry into target cells are not yet fully understood. It is well known that body fluids such as blood can transmit unrelated viruses, but recent reports also indicate that saliva and bile contribute to transmission of HuNoV. For example, human bile acids increase cell surface ceramide levels in human enteroids, which improves norovirus entry into cells resulting in enhanced replication. Bile acids can also interact directly with the norovirus capsid, but it is not known whether bile or other gastrointestinal body fluids directly affect HuNoV attachment to host cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of patient-derived gastric juice, pancreatic juice, and bile on HuNoV GII.4 virus-like particle (VLP) attachment to and entry into a human duodenal cell line, HuTu-80. We show that while gastric juice and pancreatic juice do not affect viral attachment or entry, bile – in particular hydrophobic bile acids – significantly enhance cellular attachment and subsequent entry of GII.4 VLPs into cells. In addition, we show that hydrophobic bile acids induce accumulation of viral particles in the vicinity of cells. Our results suggest the presence of a newen masseinfection mechanism, where bile acids aggregate virions, and allow direct and more efficient attachment to and entry into target cells.

Importance

Viruses transmitted by the fecal-oral route encounter secreted host factors in gastrointestinal fluids. Some host factors can be exploited by the virus to facilitate infection. Human bile acids indirectly promote norovirus entry into and infection of human enteroids, but the direct effect of bile acids on attachment and uptake, along with the impact of other gastrointestinal fluids, remain unknown. Here, we investigated the direct effects of human body fluids on cellular attachment of norovirus VLPs. We show that human bile and hydrophobic bile acids induce an accumulation of norovirus VLPs, which is associated with significantly enhanced attachment and entry into human duodenal cell lines. These results highlight the differential effects of gastrointestinal body fluids on viral attachment and entry, while providing useful information into the complex HuNoV-host interactions that facilitate infection.
Fast Cycling Culture of the Marine AnnelidPlatynereis dumerilii
Authors: Legras Mathieu , Ghisleni Giulia , Soilihi Rabouant , Celmar Enzo , Balavoine Guillaume
Published: May 2023

Platynereis dumerilii, a marine annelid, is a model animal that has gained popularity in various fields such as developmental biology, biological rhythms, nervous system organization and physiology, behaviour, reproductive biology, and epigenetic regulation. The transparency ofP. dumeriliitissues at all developmental stages makes it easy to perform live microscopic imaging of all cell types. In addition, the slow-evolving genome ofP. dumeriliiand its phylogenetic position as a representative of the vast branch of Lophotrochozoans add to its evolutionary significance. AlthoughP. dumeriliiis amenable to transgenesis and CRISPR-Cas9 knockouts, its relatively long and indefinite life cycle, as well as its semelparous reproduction have been hindrances to its adoption as a reverse genetics model. To overcome this limitation, an adapted culturing method has been developed allowing much faster life cycling, with median reproductive age at 15 weeks instead of 6-8 months using the traditional protocol. A low worm density in boxes and a strictly controlled feeding regime are important factors for the rapid growth and health of the worms. Moreover, a genetic selection for fast-reproducing individuals has been applied to isolate a “Fast Forward” strain that can be used for egg microinjection. This culture method has several advantages, such as being much more compact, not requiring air bubbling or an artificial moonlight regime for synchronized sexual maturation, and necessitating only limited water change. A full protocol for worm care and handling is provided.
Prolonged body temperature tuning in mice using radio frequency generating electromagnetic resonant circuit-system
Authors: Franck Grégory , Le Borgne Marie , Cazier Hélène , Laignel Patrick , Caligiuri Giuseppina , Nicoletti Antonino
Published: May 2023

Rational

In endothermic animals, body temperature (BT) is an evolutionary conserved and well characterized physical parameter that guarantees physiological functioning state. It results from the sum of bioenergetic processes of the body weighted by behavioral strategies, heat loss, and thermolytic processes. However, the intrinsic impact of temperature and temperature changes on the biology is far less understood. To date, the modification of the environmental temperature has constituted the main lever to evaluate the impact of thermic changes in small animal. However, studying intrinsic effect of temperature remains impossible using conventional laboratory equipment, mainly because hypothalamus instructed with information grabbed from the environmental temperature finely regulates and maintain body temperature around 37°C. Numerous pharmacological treatments have been used to block these thermoregulatory mechanisms, but confer high toxicity while dysregulating the central nervous responses and can potentially have confounding direct effects on studied peripheral tissues. Alternatively, physical methods using energy irradiation were reported, but they remain expensive and usually involve animal immobilization. We aimed at designing a simple and affordable device to adjust and maintain body temperature on the long course in conscious and free-moving animals.

Method

We developed an electromagnetic LC resonant circuit (ELM circuit) producing a radio frequency signal (64 kHz) inside a copper coil refrigerated with a water circuit. This setting is powered by a simple a 0-48V AC generator, allowing the use of a domestic electrical network. This setting can accommodate metal-free 3D-printed circular cages, where adult mice, previously implanted with thermometric ID transponders, are monitored remotely for intraperitoneal temperature over time.

Results

The BT of mice placed in the ELM circuit could be regulated in a reproducible fashion. Healthy mice increased their BT from 37 to 39.8±1°C, upon power supply ranging from 0 to 48V, respectively. In septic mice developing hypothermia (33±1 °C), BT could be either normalized to normothermia (37°C, 24V), or increased to fever-range hyperthermia (40°C, 48V) as a function of radiofrequency energy. BT tuning was accurate and stable for at least 12h. Blood count after 6 or 12 hours showed no modifications between groups, cardiomyocyte displayed heat shock response within the first hour in mice exposed to the maximal dose (BT=41°C). MALDI TOF imaging on brain microsections revealed modifications of the brain proteome, as suggested by differential PKC-theta, and prolactin 7B1 load in heated mice, as compared to controls.

Conclusion

Precise body temperature tuning is achievable in small animals, and could be of high interest to understand the impact of temperature in (patho)physiology.
An inverse agonist of orphan receptor GPR61 reveals a novel allosteric mechanism
Authors: Lees Joshua A. , Dias João M. , Rajamohan Francis , Fortin Jean-Philippe , O’Connor Rebecca , Kong Jimmy X. , Hughes Emily , Fisher Ethan L. , Tuttle Jamison B. , Lovett Gabrielle , Kormos Bethany L. , Unwalla Rayomand J. , Zhang Lei , Schmidt Anne-Marie Dechert , Zhou Dahui , Stevens Kimberly A. , Fennell Kimberly F. , Varghese Alison E. , Maxwell Andrew , Cote Emmaline E. , Zhang Yuan , Han Seungil
Published: May 2023

GPR61 is a biogenic amine receptor-related orphan GPCR associated with phenotypes relating to appetite and thus, is of interest as a druggable target to treat disorders of metabolism and body weight, such as obesity and cachexia. To date, lack of structural information or a known biological ligand or tool compound has hindered comprehensive efforts to study its structure and function. Here, we report the first ever structural characterization of GPR61, in both its active-like complex with heterotrimeric G protein and in its inactive state. Moreover, we report the discovery of a potent and selective small-molecule inverse agonist against GPR61 and structural elucidation of its unprecedented allosteric site and mode of action. These findings offer key mechanistic insights into an orphan GPCR, while providing both a new structural framework and tool compound to support further studies of GPR61 function and modulation.
Hemin-driven chromatin remodelling by atherosclerotic risk geneSMARCA4switches human blood-derived macrophages from leukocyte disposal to erythrocyte disposal
Authors: Cave Luke , Lodge Katharine M , Chiappo Derick , Sinha Shivani , Chughtai Faiz , Tsao Adam , Haskard Dorian O , Mason Justin C , Humphries Steve E , Boyle Joseph J
Published: May 2023

Background

Putative genetic risk loci for atherosclerotic vascular disease includeSMARCA4, a chromatin remodeling gene important for gene activation. Its causal role in atherosclerosis has been uncertain. Intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) is a late event in atherosclerosis that is linked to plaque destabilisation and increased inflammation. IPH is countered by Mhem macrophages, which are directed by hemin-mediated induction of Heme Oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) via Activating Transcription Factor 1 (ATF1).Atf1deficiencyin vivoimpairs hematoma clearance, promoting inflammation and oxidative stress. Like its homologue cyclic-adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein 1 (CREB1), ATF1 is normally cyclic-AMP activated.

Hypothesis

Hemin-directed chromatin remodelling by SMARCA4 regulates specificity of ATF1 gene-binding, thereby switching between leukocyte disposal and erythrocyte disposal, contributing to its role in atherosclerosis.

Results

We here show thatSMARCA4is genetically independent of the adjacentLDLRlocus (p<0.05). In human blood-derived macrophages, hemin triggered histone acetylation (H3K9Ac) and SMARCA4 recruitment in advance of p-ATF1 recruitment at theHMOX1enhancer. si-RNA-mediatedSMARCA4-knockdown suppressed p-ATF1 binding toHMOX1but increased its binding to cyclic-AMP responsive genesFOSandNR4A2, with corresponding changes in mRNA levels. This functionally correlated withSMARCA4-knockdown switching hemin to mimic prostacyclin (PGI2), for induced genes and phagocytic disposal of leukocytes rather than erythrocytes.

Conclusions

These data establishSMARCA4as an independent atherosclerosis risk gene and reveal a novel mechanism in which it switches between disposal of leukocytes or erythrocytes, with important clinical implications for atherosclerotic inflammation and intraplaque hemorrhage including treatment by histone deacetylase inhibitors.
Trans-scale live imaging of an E5.5 mouse embryo using incubator-type dual-axes light-sheet microscopy
Authors: Shioi Go , Watanabe Tomonobu M , Kaneshiro Junichi , Azuma Yusuke , Onami Shuichi
Published: May 2023

We report our success in simultaneously tracking tissue formation and single-cell migration in a mouse embryo on embryonic day 5.5 for 12 h. The microscope, incubator, and observation protocols were comprehensively specialized and optimized to achieve this. The present system revealed new phenomena that had not previously been observed and promises to elucidate the mechanism of mouse embryonic development in the future.
Building flexible and robust analysis frameworks for molecular subtyping of cancers
Authors: Pedersen Christina Bligaard , Campos Benito , Krishnan Neeraja M. , Panda Binay , Vitting-Seerup Kristoffer , Rossing Maria , Bagger Frederik Otzen , Rønn Olsen Lars
Published: May 2023

Molecular subtyping is essential to infer tumor aggressiveness and predict prognosis. In practice, tumor profiling requires in-depth knowledge of bioinformatics tools involved in the processing and analysis of the generated data. Additionally, data incompatibility (e.g., microarray vs. RNA sequencing data) and technical and uncharacterized biological variance between training and test data can pose challenges in classifying individual samples. In this article, we provide a roadmap for implementing bioinformatics frameworks for molecular profiling of human cancers in a clinical diagnostic setting. We describe a framework for integrating several methods for quality control, normalization, batch correction, classification, and reporting and a use case of the framework in breast cancer.
CRISPR-Cas9-based repeat depletion for high-throughput genotyping of complex plant genomes
Authors: Rossato Marzia , Marcolungo Luca , De Antoni Luca , Lopatriello Giulia , Bellucci Elisa , Cortinovis Gaia , Frascarelli Giulia , Nanni Laura , Bitocchi Elena , Di Vittori Valerio , Vincenzi Leonardo , Lucchini Filippo , Bett Kirstin E. , Ramsay Larissa , Konkin David James , Delledonne Massimo , Papa Roberto
Published: May 2023

High-throughput genotyping enables the large-scale analysis of genetic diversity in population genomics and genome-wide association studies that combine the genotypic and phenotypic characterization of large collections of accessions. Sequencing-based approaches for genotyping are progressively replacing traditional genotyping methods because of the lower ascertainment bias. However, genome-wide genotyping based on sequencing becomes expensive in species with large genomes and a high proportion of repetitive DNA. Here we describe the use of CRISPR-Cas9 technology to deplete repetitive elements in the 3.76-Gb genome of lentil (Lens culinaris), 84% consisting of repeats, thus concentrating the sequencing data on coding and regulatory regions (single-copy regions). We designed a custom set of 566,766 gRNAs targeting 2.9 Gbp of repeats and excluding repetitive regions overlapping annotated genes and putative regulatory elements based on ATAC-seq data. The novel depletion method removed ∼40% of reads mapping to repeats, increasing those mapping to single-copy regions by ∼2.6-fold. When analyzing 25 million fragments, this repeat-to-single-copy shift in the sequencing data increased the number of genotyped bases of ∼10-fold compared to nondepleted libraries. In the same condition, we were also able to identify ∼12-fold more genetic variants in the single-copy regions and increased the genotyping accuracy by rescuing thousands of heterozygous variants that otherwise would be missed because of low coverage. The method performed similarly regardless of the multiplexing level, type of library or genotypes, including different cultivars and a closely related species (L. orientalis). Our results showed that CRISPR-Cas9-driven repeat depletion focuses sequencing data on single-copy regions, thus improving high-density and genome-wide genotyping in large and repetitive genomes.
Career shock of hotel employees and their individual resilience: an exploratory study
Authors: Mousa Mohamed , Abdelgaffar Hala
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the extent to which global shocks like Covid-19, climate crisis or war in Ukraine represent a negative career shock for hotel employees and how their individual resilience helps them to mitigate such shock.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research method is used, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 full-time employees working at four hotels in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Thematic analysis was used to extract the main ideas from the transcripts.

Findings

The findings showed that some of the addressed employees do not perceive the impact of current wicked problems as a negative career shock that would cause them to divert their career paths particularly because of the recent support they receive from their professional and social circles. However, some respondents are worried about their career prospects owing to the dramatic events affecting beach tourism in Egypt this past decade. Findings reveal that managing negative career shocks necessitates institutional support, as well as employee responsibility and the adaptation.

Originality/value

This paper contributes by filling a gap in hospitality, and human resources management, in which empirical studies on the relationship between career shock of hotel employees and their individual resilience have been limited so far.
Exploring the relationship among ESG, innovation, and economic and financial performance: evidence from the energy sector
Authors: Pinheiro Alan Bandeira , Panza Graziela Bizin , Berhorst Nicolas Lazzaretti , Toaldo Ana Maria Machado , Segatto Andréa Paula
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effect of innovation on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and, consequently, its influence on the economic and financial performance of companies.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative and descriptive research was carried out based on secondary data from the Refinitiv Eikon® database, using the panel data regression technique, considering the constructs: innovation, ESG performance and economic and financial performance.

Findings

The results showed that companies that tend to invest more financial resources in R&D are more likely to have higher ESG performance. In addition, companies that have higher ESG performance tend to have higher economic and financial performance.

Practical implications

Managers may consider investing more resources in R&D to achieve superior ESG performance. They should be aware that ESG is a strategic tool for creating financial and nonfinancial value for the organization. More than the traditional preparation of a financial report, stakeholders demand another type of information: ESG information.

Originality/value

The results confirm the basis of Stakeholder Theory, showing that the companies that meet the needs of all stakeholders tend to have greater economic and financial performance. ESG practices can include keeping employees motivated to work, improved corporate image in the eyes of customers, more satisfied suppliers and community and environment aligned with management. Therefore, these ESG initiatives are instrumental in protecting organizational objectives as well as increasing shareholder value.
Occupational health and safety rights of hospital workers in relation to needle stick injuries exposure in Pakistan
Authors: Abbas Mohsin , Rafique Sidra , Asam Zaki-Ul-Zaman
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the determinants of needle stick injuries (NSIs) suffering in terms of occupational health and safety (OHS) coverage critically for health-care workers’ rights in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative study involving the designing of a questionnaire followed by the World Health Organization’s NSI prevention assessment tool and nationally published reports covering health-care workers’ OHS rights protection. A total of 17 public and private hospitals were surveyed with a two-stage sampling method. Descriptive and inferential statistics (one-way analysis of variance with multiple comparison tests) were applied and significant results were discussed (p = 0.05 & p = 0.01). The results were discussed critically in the context of the OHS rights of health-care workers.

Findings

Analysis revealed the following significant relationships: job type and safety behavior; age group of health-care workers and safety management; injection usage per day and safety behavior; past year’s needle sticks injuries cases with safety behavior and occupational exposure; work shift and work experience with safety knowledge, safety awareness and work experience with safety management. It was also found there is no specific OHS law in the country for health-care workers.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited in terms of sampling size and quantification of NSI burden among health-care workers.

Practical implications

Improved OHS management practices among health-care workers can control NSIs that ultimately ensure their workplace OHS rights. Health-care workers need OHS coverage in terms of awareness about potential workplace hazards and job training accordingly. Findings from extensive studies of a similar kind can give useful policy directions for workplace health management in health-care setup at the national level.

Originality/value

This study highlights the importance of OHS coverage for health-care workers in hospitals. It reports different determinants of NSIs suffering causing health-care worker’s rights violations at the workplace in Pakistan.
Technology adoption in accounting: the role of staff perceptions and organisational context
Authors: Jackson Denise , Allen Christina
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Technology is widely recognised to be revolutionising the accounting profession, allowing accountants to focus on professional skills and technical knowledge that deliver value for organisational success. Despite the known benefits, it is reported that accountants are not fully leveraging the potential value of certain technologies. To understand why, this study aims to draw on the technology adoption model (TAM) and investigates accounting professionals’ perceptions towards technology, and how these may influence adoption at work.

Design/methodology/approach

The study gathered online survey data from 585 accounting managers from organisations of varying sizes and in different sectors in Australia and parts of Southeast Asia. Qualitative data were thematically analysed, and quantitative data were analysed using both descriptive and multivariate techniques.

Findings

The study highlighted the pivotal role of staff perceptions on the importance and ease of using technology on the uptake and successful usage. Findings emphasised important opportunities for organisations to educate accounting staff on the value of technology and optimise their confidence and skills through training and support initiatives, particularly smaller businesses. Marked differences in the orientation towards technology among Australian and Southeast Asian participants illuminate how national work culture and practice can influence technology adoption.

Originality/value

The study makes a practical contribution by advancing the understanding of the relative importance and value of certain technologies in different regions and organisation types in the accounting profession. It extends the theoretical understanding of the role of TAM’s core elements to the accounting context, exploring staff’s notions of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use from the manager’s perspective.
Informal service economy: a research study of attitudes, motivations and practices among informal entrepreneurs
Authors: Del Giudice Oscar Naranjo , Giraldo Mario , Alkire Linda , Orozco Restrepo Gabriel
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore how the attitudes, motivations and practices of informal entrepreneurs, who choose service exclusion, prevent them from recognizing and taking advantage of transformative opportunities and embracing change.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a two-year study to explore five types of informal entrepreneurs (musicians, street vendors, artists, owners of informal smoke shops and street food vendors). The authors used semi-structured interviews and applied thematic analysis (ATA) of popular music and narratives to shed light on their attitudes, motivations and practices.

Findings

The study shows how potential service participants freely exclude themselves from services and transformative service initiatives, preventing them from realizing opportunities and embracing change that can improve their well-being. The study also demonstrates that to serve human needs fairly, service designers need to recognize that some actors require more attention and resources than others to achieve their potential.

Originality/value

The study challenges the notion that any population experiencing vulnerability wants help and chooses to participate in transformative service initiatives. Service participants can, in fact, exclude themselves from services and transformative service initiatives by free will, demonstrating that service exclusion is a multidirectional phenomenon, not unidirectional. Additionally, the paper analyzes narratives gathered from aesthetic expressions, using principles of ATA, introducing music thematic analysis as a research approach.
The importance of digital mental health interventions to support people with diabetes-related psychological outcomes: a narrative review
Authors: Adeel Ayesha , Kannangara Chathurika , Bharaj Harnovdeep Singh , Basu Ambar , Green Barrie , Ogilvie Lisa , Carson Jerome
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) are promising alternatives to traditional face-to-face psychological interventions to improve psychological outcomes in various chronic health conditions. However, their efficacy among people with diabetes is yet to be established. Therefore, this narrative review aims to identify the importance and need for evidence-based research on DMHIs targeting the psychological outcomes in people with diabetes.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a narrative review approach, this study highlights the technological advancements in diabetes health care and identifies a need for developing DMHIs for people with diabetes.

Findings

DMHIs are promising for improving psychological outcomes in people with diabetes. However, there is a need for further rigorous, controlled and high-quality diabetes-focused studies, to make firm conclusions on the effectiveness and appropriateness of DMHIs for patients with diabetes. This review also suggests that DMHIs based on psychological theories and studies with higher quality methodologies are also needed.

Originality/value

This review highlights the contemporary literature on diabetes and related technological advancements. The findings of this study serve as a basis of the improvement of policy on digital mental health services for people with diabetes, to impact the global burden of the disease.
A syntactic method for robot imitation learning of complex sequence task
Authors: Du Yu , Jian Jipan , Zhu Zhiming , Pan Dehua , Liu Dong , Tian Xiaojing
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Aiming at the problems of weak generalization of robot imitation learning methods and higher accuracy requirements of low-level detectors, this study aims to propose an imitation learning method based on structural grammar.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper proposes a hybrid training model based on artificial immune algorithm and the Baum–Welch algorithm to extract the action information of the demonstration activity to form the {action-object} sequence and extract the symbol description of the scene to form the symbol primitives sequence. Then, probabilistic context-free grammar is used to characterize and manipulate these sequences to form a grammar space. Minimum description length criteria are used to evaluate the quality of the grammar in the grammar space, and the improved beam search algorithm is used to find the optimal grammar.

Findings

It is found that the obtained general structure can parse the symbol primitive sequence containing noise and obtain the correct sequence, thereby guiding the robot to perform more complex and higher-order demonstration tasks.

Practical implications

Using this strategy, the robot completes the fourth-order Hanoi tower task has been verified.

Originality/value

An imitation learning method for robots based on structural grammar is first proposed. The experimental results show that the method has strong generalization ability and good anti-interference performance.
A multi-sensor based emergency healthcare monitoring system integrating heart status, stress, and alcohol detections
Authors: Kaur Karandeep , Verma Harsh Kumar
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Ubiquitous health-care monitoring systems can provide continuous surveillance to a person using various sensors, including wearables and implantable and fabric-woven sensors. By assessing the state of many physiological characteristics of the patient’s body, continuous monitoring can assist in preparing for the impending emergency. To address this issue, this study aims to propose a health-care system that integrates the treatment of the impending heart, stress and alcohol emergencies. For this purpose, this study uses readings from sensors used for electrocardiography, heart rate, respiration rate, blood alcohol content percentage and blood pressure of a patient’s body.

Design/methodology/approach

For heart status, stress level and alcohol detection, the parametric values obtained from these sensors are preprocessed and further divided into four, five and six phases, respectively. A final integrated emergency stage is derived from the stages that were interpreted to examine at a person’s state of emergency. A thorough analysis of the proposed model is carried out using four classification techniques, including decision trees, support vector machines, k nearest neighbors and ensemble classifiers. For all of the aforementioned detections, four metrics are used to evaluate performance: classification accuracy, precision, recall and fmeasure.

Findings

Eventually, results are validated against the existing health-care systems. The empirical results received reveal that the proposed model outperforms the existing health-care models in the context of metrics above for different detections taken into consideration.

Originality/value

This study proposes a health-care system capable of performing data processing using wearable sensors. It is of great importance for real-time systems. This study assures the originality of the proposed system.
Defunding the police through shared service agreements: The impact on cost savings, staffing, and public safety using a bias‐corrected synthetic control analysis
Authors: Mazeika David
Published: May 2023

Research Summary

New Jersey (NJ) is home to more than 460 municipal police departments, including close to 60 with fewer than 11 officers. In total, the state spends around $3 billion per year on policing, 20% of the typical municipal budget. In recent history, seven NJ municipalities have disbanded their local force and contracted services with a neighbor. Using the bias‐corrected synthetic control method, results from this study reveal these locations saved on average $143 per person per year, close to $300,000 per municipality. There were fewer officers in the contracting force per capita postcontracting, but no effects on public safety. Contracting agencies also gained new services including a K‐9 Unit and full‐time detectives. However, the monies municipalities saved were largely used to cut taxes and fund capital improvements, not to fund reform efforts called for after the murder of George Floyd. Contracting thus was a way to maintain the status quo.

Policy Implications

Interlocal police shared service agreements offer one promising model to defund the police without public safety collateral consequences. More municipalities can be encouraged to share police services by changing civil service rules and amending NJ state law, which currently limits the ability to realize cost savings. Contracts should also be required to clearly delineate service delivery and set minimum standards of service delivery.
Contact forces and motion behavior of non‐Newtonian fluid–solid food by coupled SPH–FEM method
Authors: Fan Yuhe , Zhang Lixun , Zheng Canxing , Xue Feng , Wang Zhenhan , Wang Xingyuan , Wang Lan
Published: May 2023

The non‐Newtonian fluid–solid interaction food has complex physical properties and complicated contact force, which brings the greater technical challenge to improving the food fetching rate. In this work, we used the smooth particle hydrodynamics and finite element coupling method for a node‐to‐surface penalty function contact to characterize the contact forces between non‐Newtonian fluid food and solid foods. The shear rheological properties and density of non‐Newtonian fluid food, including xanthan gum (XG) and guar gum (GG), were investigated by a viscometer and densitometer, respectively. The results showed that the shear viscosity of non‐Newtonian fluid food depends to some extent on the mass ratio of the thickening gums. We investigated the effects of the end‐effector with different fetching velocities and different inclination angles, and the nut root powder paste (NRPP) food with different ratios of XG and GG, on the fetching rate, stress‐strain, and motion behavior. The results showed that the stress increased with increasing v1 and w; however, the v2 had less effect on the stress. The sparseness of the distribution of solid food was related to the v1 and w, whereas it was less influenced by the v2. The distribution of solid food became denser in the X–Z plane and sparser in the X–Y plane with increasing inclination angle. The motion behavior of viscoelastic solid foods depended on the mass ratio of XG to GG dissolved in NRPP. The present work can provide a theoretical foundation for meal‐assisting robots and robots in the field of food engineering with the task of improving the food fetching rate.