bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Granulins rescue inflammation, lysosome dysfunction, and neuropathology in a mouse model of progranulin deficiency.
Authors: Root Jessica , Mendsaikhan Anarmaa , Nandy Srijita , Taylor Georgia , Wang Minzheng , Troiano Araujo Ludmilla , Merino Paola , Ryu Danny , Holler Christopher , Thompson Bonne M , Astarita Giuseppe , Blain Jean-François , Kukar Thomas
Published: April 2023

Progranulin (PGRN) deficiency is linked to neurodegenerative diseases including frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Proper PGRN levels are critical to maintain brain health and neuronal survival, however the function of PGRN is not well understood. PGRN is composed of 7.5 tandem repeat domains, called granulins, and is proteolytically processed into individual granulins inside the lysosome. The neuroprotective effects of full-length PGRN are well-documented, but the role of granulins is still unclear. Here we report, for the first time, that expression of single granulins is sufficient to rescue the full spectrum of disease pathology in mice with complete PGRN deficiency (Grn-/-). Specifically, rAAV delivery of either human granulin-2 or granulin-4 to Grn-/- mouse brain ameliorates lysosome dysfunction, lipid dysregulation, microgliosis, and lipofuscinosis similar to full-length PGRN. These findings support the idea that individual granulins are the functional units of PGRN, likely mediate neuroprotection within the lysosome, and highlight their importance for developing therapeutics to treat FTD-GRN and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Ca2+/Calmodulin Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase-2 (CaMKK2) promotes Protein Kinase G (PKG)-dependent actin cytoskeletal assembly to increase tumor metastasis
Authors: Mukherjee Debarati , Previs Rebecca A , Haines Corinne N , Abo Muthana Al , Juras Patrick K , Strickland Kyle C , Chakraborty Binita , Artham Sandeep , Whitaker Regina , Hebert Katherine L , Fontenot Jake , Patierno Steven R , Freedman Jennifer A , Lau Frank H , Burow Matthew , Chang Ching-Yi , McDonnell Donald P.
Published: April 2023

Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) tend to become highly invasive early during cancer development. Despite some successes in the initial treatment of patients diagnosed with early-stage localized TNBC, the rate of metastatic recurrence remains high with poor long-term survival outcomes. Here we show that elevated expression of the serine/threonine-kinase, Calcium/Calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase kinase-2 (CaMKK2), is highly correlated with tumor invasiveness. We determined that genetic disruption of CaMKK2 expression, or inhibition of its activity, disrupted spontaneous metastatic outgrowth from primary tumors in murine xenograft models of TNBC. High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), a high-risk, poor-prognosis ovarian cancer subtype, shares many genetic features with TNBC, and importantly, CaMKK2 inhibition effectively blocked metastatic progression in a validated xenograft model of this disease. Probing the mechanistic links between CaMKK2 and metastasis we defined the elements of a new signaling pathway that impacts actin cytoskeletal dynamics in a manner which increases cell migration/invasion and metastasis. Notably, CaMKK2 increases the expression of the phosphodiesterase PDE1A which decreases the cGMP-dependent activity of protein kinase G1 (PKG1). This inhibition of PKG1 results in decreased phosphorylation of Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein (VASP), which in its hypophosphorylated state binds to and regulates F-actin assembly to facilitate contraction/cell movement. Together, these data establish a targetable CaMKK2-PDE1A-PKG1-VASP signaling pathway that controls cancer cell motility and metastasis. Further, it credentials CaMKK2 as a therapeutic target that can be exploited in the discovery of agents for use in the neoadjuvant/adjuvant setting to restrict tumor invasiveness in patients diagnosed with early-stage TNBC or localized HGSOC.
Poor biosafety and biosecurity practices and haphazard antibiotics usage in poultry farms in Nepal hindering antimicrobial stewardship
Authors: Poudel Ajit , Sharma Shreeya , Dhital Kavya , Bhandari Shova , Napit Rajindra , Puri Dhiraj , Karmacharya Dibesh B.
Published: April 2023

Poultry industry in Nepal has experienced remarkable growth in the last decade, but farm biosafety and biosecurity measures are often overlooked by farmers due to lack of knowledge or to save cost. As a result, farms often suffer from sporadic and regular outbreaks of many zoonotic diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), impacting production and creating public health challenges. Poor farm management practices, including overuse of antibiotics for prophylaxis and therapeutics, can complicate the spread of poultry diseases by creating and enhancing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) that is threating to both, poultry, and human health.

We assessed biosafety, biosecurity risks and AMR stewardship in sixteen poultry farms located in four districts (Ramechhap, Nuwakot, Sindhupalchowk, and Kavre) surrounding densely populated Kathmandu valley. Risk assessment and AMR stewardship evaluation questionnaire were administered to formulate biosafety and biosecurity compliance matrix (BBCM). Risk assessment checklist assessed facility operations, personnel and standard operating procedures, water supply, cleaning and maintenance, rodent/pest control and farm record keeping. Oral and cloacal samples from the poultry were collected, pooled, and screened for eight poultry pathogens using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests.

Based on BBCM, we identified one of the farms in Sindhupalchowk (Farm 4) having the most (BBCM score= 67%) and a farm in Kavre (Farm 3) to having the least (BBCM score= 12%) biosafety and biosecurity compliance. Although most of the farms (61.6%) followed general poultry farming practices, only half had clean and well-maintained farms. Personal safety standard procedure compliance (BBCM score = 42.4%) and rodent control (BBCM score = 3.1%) were the biggest gaps. At least one of either bacterial or viral pathogen was detected in all farms.Mycoplasma gallisepticumwas the most common disease detected in all but one farm, followed byMycoplasma synoviae. Although more than half of the farmers considered AMR a threat, over 26% of them used antibiotics as a preventive measure and 81% did not consider withdrawal period for antibiotics prior to processing of their meat products. Additionally, antibiotics classified as Watch and Restrict by the WHO were frequently used by the farmers to treat bacterial infections in their farms. Lack of awareness and inadequate enforcement of regulations have exacerbated the risk of disease transmission in farms and compromised antimicrobial stewardship.
Stray cats and dogs carrying zoonoticEnterocytozoon bieneusigenotype D in China: a public health concern
Authors: Zhang Yidan , Zhang Yan , Mi Rongsheng , Xia Luming , Han Hongxiao , Ma Tao , Gong Haiyan , Huang Yan , Han Xiangan , Chen Zhaoguo
Published: April 2023

Enterocytozoon bieneusiis reported to be a common microsporidian of humans and animals in various countries. However, scarce information onE. bieneusihas been recorded in cats (Felis catus) and dogs (Canis familiaris) in China. As such, we undertook molecular epidemiological investigation ofE. bieneusiin cats and dogs in Shanghai, China. A total of 359 genomic DNAs were extracted from individual faecal samples from cats (n= 59) and dogs (n= 300), and then tested using a nested PCR-based sequencing approach employing internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA as the genetic marker.Enterocytozoon bieneusiwas detected in 34 of all 359 (9.5%) faecal samples from cats (32.2%; 19/59) and dogs (5.0%; 15/300), including 24 stray cats and dogs (22.6%; 24/106), as well as ten household/raised cats and dogs (4.0%; 10/253). Correlation analyses revealed thatE. bieneusipositive rates were significantly associated with stray cats and dogs (P< 0.05). The analysis of ITS sequence data revealed the presentation of five known genotypes CD7, CHN-HD2, D, PtEb IX and Type IV and two novel genotypes D-like1 and PtEb IX-like1. Zoonotic genotype D was the predominant type with percentage of 61.8 (21/34). Phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequence data sets showed that genotypes D, D-like1 and Type IV clustered within Group 1, showing zoonotic potential. The others were assigned into Group 10 with host specificity. These findings suggested that cats and dogs in Shanghai harbor zoonotic genotype D ofE. bieneusiand may have a significant risk for zoonotic transmission. Further insight into the epidemiology ofE. bieneusiin animals, water and the environment from other areas in China will be important to have an informed position on the public health significance of microsporidiosis caused by this microbe.
Proteomic Investigation of Neural Stem Cell to Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cell Differentiation Reveals Phosphorylation-Dependent Dclk1 Processing
Authors: Hardt Robert , Dehghani Alireza , Schoor Carmen , Gödderz Markus , Cengiz Winter Nur , Ahmadi Shiva , Sharma Ramesh , Schork Karin , Eisenacher Martin , Gieselmann Volkmar , Winter Dominic
Published: April 2023

Oligodendrocytes are generated via a two-step mechanism from pluripotent neural stem cells (NSCs): after differentiation of NSCs to oligodendrocyte precursor/NG2 cells (OPCs), they further develop into mature oligodendrocytes. The first step of this differentiation process is only incompletely understood. In this study, we utilized the neurosphere assay to investigate NSC to OPC differentiation in a time course-dependent manner by mass spectrometry-based (phospho-) proteomics. We identify double cortin like kinase 1 (Dclk1) as one of the most prominently regulated proteins in both datasets, and show that it undergoes a gradual transition between its short/long isoform during NSC to OPC differentiation. This is regulated by phosphorylation of its SP-rich region, resulting in inhibition of proteolytic Dclk1 long cleavage, and therefore Dclk1 short generation. Through interactome analyses of different Dclk1 isoforms by proximity biotinylation, we characterize their individual putative interaction partners and substrates.
Structure-function Analyses Reveal Key Molecular Determinants of HIV-1 CRF01_AE Resistance to the Entry Inhibitor Temsavir
Authors: Prévost Jérémie , Chen Yaozong , Zhou Fei , Tolbert William D. , Gasser Romain , Medjahed Halima , Gottumukkala Suneetha , Hessell Ann J. , Rao Venigalla B. , Pozharski Edwin , Huang Rick K. , Matthies Doreen , Finzi Andrés , Pazgier Marzena
Published: April 2023

The HIV-1 entry inhibitor temsavir prevents CD4 from interacting with the envelope glycoprotein (Env) and blocks its conformational changes. To do this temsavir relies on the presence of a residue with small side chain at position 375 in Env and is unable to neutralize viral strains like CRF01_AE carrying His375. Here we investigate the mechanism of temsavir-resistance and show that residue 375 is not the sole determinant of resistance. At least six additional residues within the gp120 inner domain layers, including five distant from the drug-binding pocket, contribute to resistance. A detailed structure-function analysis using engineered viruses and soluble trimer variants reveal that the molecular basis of resistance is mediated by crosstalk between His375 and the inner domain layers. Furthermore, our data confirm that temsavir can adjust its binding mode to accommodate changes in Env conformation, a property that likely contributes to its broad-antiviral activity.
VEGFA mRNA-LNP promotes biliary epithelial cell-to-hepatocyte conversion in acute and chronic liver diseases and reverses steatosis and fibrosis
Authors: Rizvi Fatima , Lee Yu-Ri , Diaz-Aragon Ricardo , So Juhoon , Florentino Rodrigo M. , Smith Anna R. , Everton Elissa , Ostrowska Alina , Jung Kyounghwa , Tam Ying , Muramatsu Hiromi , Pardi Norbert , Weissman Drew , Soto-Gutierrez Alejandro , Shin Donghun , Gouon-Evans Valerie
Published: April 2023

The liver is known for its remarkable regenerative ability through proliferation of hepatocytes. Yet, during chronic injury or severe hepatocyte death, proliferation of hepatocytes is exhausted. To overcome this hurdle, we propose vascular-endothelial-growth-factor A (VEGFA) as a therapeutic means to accelerate biliary epithelial cell (BEC)-to-hepatocyte conversion. Investigation in zebrafish establishes that blocking VEGF receptors abrogates BEC-driven liver repair, while VEGFA overexpression promotes it. Delivery of VEGFA via non-integrative and safe nucleoside-modified mRNA encapsulated into lipid-nanoparticles (mRNA-LNP) in acutely or chronically injured mouse livers induces robust BEC-to-hepatocyte conversion and reversion of steatosis and fibrosis. In human and murine diseased livers, we further identified VEGFA-receptor KDR-expressing BECs associated with KDR-expressing cell-derived hepatocytes. This defines KDR-expressing cells, most likely being BECs, as facultative progenitors. This study reveals novel therapeutic benefits of VEGFA delivered via nucleoside-modified mRNA-LNP, whose safety is widely validated with COVID-19 vaccines, for harnessing BEC-driven repair to potentially treat liver diseases.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

Complementary mouse and zebrafish models of liver injury demonstrate the therapeutic impact of VEGFA-KDR axis activation to harness BEC-driven liver regeneration.

VEGFA mRNA LNPs restore two key features of the chronic liver disease in humans such as steatosis and fibrosis.

Identification in human cirrhotic ESLD livers of KDR-expressing BECs adjacent to clusters of KDR+ hepatocytes suggesting their BEC origin.

KDR-expressing BECs may represent facultative adult progenitor cells, a unique BEC population that has yet been uncovered.
Bitesize bundles F-actin and influences actin remodeling in syncytialDrosophilaembryo development
Authors: Yeh Anna R. , Hoeprich Gregory J. , Goode Bruce L. , Martin Adam C.
Published: April 2023

Actin networks undergo rearrangements that influence cell and tissue shape. Actin network assembly and organization is regulated in space and time by a host of actin binding proteins. TheDrosophilaSynaptotagmin-like protein, Bitesize (Btsz), is known to organize actin at epithelial cell apical junctions in a manner that depends on its interaction with the actin-binding protein, Moesin. Here, we showed that Btsz functions in actin reorganization at earlier, syncytial stages ofDrosophilaembryo development. Btsz was required for the formation of stable metaphase pseudocleavage furrows that prevented spindle collisions and nuclear fallout prior to cellularization. While previous studies focused on Btsz isoforms containing the Moesin Binding Domain (MBD), we found that isoforms lacking the MBD also function in actin remodeling. Consistent with this, we found that the C-terminal half of BtszB cooperatively binds to and bundles F-actin, suggesting a direct mechanism for Synaptotagmin-like proteins regulating actin organization during animal development.
Serum from pregnant donors induces human beta cell proliferation and insulin secretion
Authors: Sylvester-Armstrong Kendra R. , Reeder Callie F. , Powell Andrece , Becker Matthew W. , Hagan D. Walker , Chen Jing , Mathews Clayton E. , Wasserfall Clive H. , Atkinson Mark A. , Egerman Robert , Phelps Edward A.
Published: April 2023

Pancreatic beta cells are among the slowest replicating cells in the human body. Human beta cells usually do not increase in number with exceptions being during the neonatal period, in cases of obesity, and during pregnancy. This project explored maternal serum for stimulatory potential on human beta cell proliferation and insulin output. Gravid, full-term women who were scheduled to undergo cesarean delivery were recruited for this study. A human beta cell line was cultured in media supplemented with serum from pregnant and non-pregnant donors and assessed for differences in proliferation and insulin secretion. A subset of pregnant donor sera induced significant increases in beta cell proliferation and insulin secretion. Pooled serum from pregnant donors also increased proliferation in primary human beta cells but not primary human hepatocytes indicating a cell-type specific effect. This study suggests stimulatory factors in human serum during pregnancy could provide a novel approach for human beta cell expansion.
Political hegemony and accounting discourse: valuing nationalization
Authors: Pujiningsih Sri , Suryani Ani Wilujeng , Larasati Ika Putri , Yusuf Sharifah Norzehan Syed
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to discover the role of accounting and media in hegemonic discourse for divestment valuation of PT Freeport Indonesia shares.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs data from 608 news articles from 5 national media. This study uses Gramsci's concept of hegemony and Laclau and Mouffe's hegemonic discourse to explore the ideological role of accounting in the formation of historical blocs and investigate the contestants' discursive strategies through the chains of equivalence and difference.

Findings

The incumbent presidential candidate, by involving political and intellectual actors, has succeeded in taking over and shifting PT Freeport Indonesia's hegemony to maintain its power, through the ideology of divestment and accounting. The media played a role in the victory of the pro-divestment bloc in the hegemonic divestment discourse contest. The pro-divestment bloc's discursive strategy uses more formal and technical language styles than the anti-divestment bloc, which uses informal language styles. The pro-divestment bloc uses the key signifiers of low price, improved financial performance, nationalization and welfare, as opposed to the anti-divestment bloc, with the key signifiers of high price, declining financial performance and neoliberalist colonization.

Practical implications

The implications of this research may encourage accounting academics to contribute to emancipatory social movements in the struggle for hegemony. The implication for policy makers is the importance of involving the public, intellectual actors, political actors and the media in supporting diverse state strategic policies in the national interest.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to Gramsci's theory of hegemony and Laclau and Mouffe's hegemonic discourse to understand the role of accounting and media in a nationalization project as an emancipatory social movement, as well as a hegemonic shifting political movement.
“They expect me to be caring”: the challenges of claiming an androgynous leadership approach
Authors: Hardaker Julie , Dyer Suzette , Hurd Fiona , Harcourt Mark
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore the experience of performing androgynous leadership approaches by New Zealand women leaders within the context of everyday conflict situations.

Design/methodology/approach

The research question “How do women leaders experience gender in conflict situations?” was explored through the facilitation of 4 focus groups with 19 senior female leaders in New Zealand. Poststructural discourse analysis was used to explore how participants negotiated positions of power within their environments and in accordance with competing gendered discourses.

Findings

Participants described taking a flexible, balanced, androgynous leadership approach to managing conflict situations. While the expectations to be “empathetic”, “sympathetic”, “gentle”, “nurturing” and “caring” resonated with the participants preferred approach, they remained firm that if conflict persisted, they would “cross the line” and adopt stereotypically masculine behaviours to resolve the situation. However, participants describe that when perceived to be crossing the line from feminine to masculine approaches, they experienced significant backlash. This demonstrates the tensions between the approaches women leaders would like to take in managing conflict and the experiences of doing so within a prescriptively gendered organisational context.

Originality/value

This research contributes to a gap which exists in understanding how gender is experienced from the viewpoint of the woman leader. This research presents a nuanced view of gendered leadership as a contested ground, rather than a series of strategic choices. Despite an increase in the acceptance of women into leadership positions, the authors seemingly remain bound by what is considered a “feminine” leader.
A systematic literature review of how cybersecurity-related behavior has been assessed
Authors: Kannelønning Kristian , Katsikas Sokratis K.
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Cybersecurity attacks on critical infrastructures, businesses and nations are rising and have reached the interest of mainstream media and the public’s consciousness. Despite this increased awareness, humans are still considered the weakest link in the defense against an unknown attacker. Whatever the reason, naïve-, unintentional- or intentional behavior of a member of an organization, the result of an incident can have a considerable impact. A security policy with guidelines for best practices and rules should guide the behavior of the organization’s members. However, this is often not the case. This paper aims to provide answers to how cybersecurity-related behavior is assessed.

Design/methodology/approach

Research questions were formulated, and a systematic literature review (SLR) was performed by following the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. The SLR initially identified 2,153 articles, and the paper reviews and reports on 26 articles.

Findings

The assessment of cybersecurity-related behavior can be classified into three components, namely, data collection, measurement scale and analysis. The findings show that subjective measurements from self-assessment questionnaires are the most frequently used method. Measurement scales are often composed based on existing literature and adapted by the researchers. Partial least square analysis is the most frequently used analysis technique. Even though useful insight and noteworthy findings regarding possible differences between manager and employee behavior have appeared in some publications, conclusive answers to whether such differences exist cannot be drawn.

Research limitations/implications

Research gaps have been identified, that indicate areas of interest for future work. These include the development and employment of methods for reducing subjectivity in the assessment of cybersecurity-related behavior.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first SLR on how cybersecurity-related behavior can be assessed. The SLR analyzes relevant publications and identifies current practices as well as their shortcomings, and outlines gaps that future research may bridge.
How does emotional labor influence restaurant employees’ service quality during COVID-19? The roles of work fatigue and supervisor–subordinate Guanxi
Authors: Wu Tung-Ju , Zhang Ruo-Xi , Li Jia-Min
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to test the relationship between emotional labor and service quality of the frontline employees of Chinese restaurants during the coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19). This study further investigated the mediating role of work fatigue (WF) and the moderating role of supervisor–subordinate Guanxi (SSG).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a time-lag approach to gather data from a sample of 365 frontline staff members working in Chinese restaurants. All hypotheses were tested using SPSS and AMOS.

Findings

First, restaurant frontline employees’ deep acting was associated with higher service quality, whereas surface acting leads to lower service quality. Second, WF mediated the relationship between emotional labor and service quality. Third, SSG moderated the impact of emotional labor on WF during COVID-19.

Research limitations/implications

All variables measured in this study were self-reported by restaurant frontline employees, which may increase the risk of common-method bias. However, this study enriches the literature on emotional labor, WF and SSG during COVID-19.

Practical implications

COVID-19 has severely affected the hotel, restaurant and catering sector and especially the psychological state and the work performance of frontline employees. Restaurant managers should implement some measures to improve employees’ service quality during COVID-19.

Originality/value

The present findings show that restaurant frontline employees adopted various emotional labor strategies when they were faced with higher than usual job demands and the risk of infection during COVID-19.
Emergency resource storage facility location problem considering domino effect after a disaster
Authors: Chowdhury Hasina Tabassum , Ghosh Shuva , Mahamud Shaim , Siddiqui Fazlul Hasan , Noor Sabah Binte
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The earth is facing challenges to work for the survival of human life during domino effect disasters. The emergency resource storage locations should be selected considering the probability of domino effect disasters. The first purpose of this study is to select the storage locations where domino effect probability is less. And second, facility development cost and transportation costs and costs for unutilized capacity have been optimized.

Design/methodology/approach

The work is a multiobjective optimization problem and solved with weighted sum approach. At first, the probabilities of domino effect due to natural disasters are calculated based on the earthquake zones. Then with that result along with other necessary data, the location to set up storage facilities and the quantities of resources that need to be transported has been determined.

Findings

The work targeted a country, Bangladesh for example. The authors have noticed that Bangladesh is currently storing relief items at warehouse which is under the domino effect prone region. The authors are proposing to avoid this location and identified the optimized cost for setting up the facilities. In this work, the authors pointed out which location has high probability of domino effect and after avoiding this location whether cost can be optimized, and the result demonstrated that this decision can be economical.

Originality/value

Disaster response authorities should try to take necessary proactive steps during cascading disasters. The novelty of this work is determining the locations to select storage facilities if the authors consider the probability of the domino effect. Then a facility location optimization model has been developed to minimize the costs. This paper can support policymakers to assess the strategies for selecting the location of emergency resource facilities.
Interlinkages of market power, price and liquidity network in banks: evidence from an emerging economy
Authors: Poddar Abhishek , Choudhary Sangita , Tiwari Aviral Kumar , Misra Arun Kumar
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The current study aims to analyze the linkage among bank competition, liquidity and loan price in an interconnected bank network system.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs the Lerner index to estimate bank power; Granger non-causality for estimating competition, liquidity and loan price network structure; principal component for developing competition network index, liquidity network index and price network index; and panel VAR and LASSO-VAR for analyzing the dynamics of interactive network effect. Current work considers 33 Indian banks, and the duration of the study is from 2010 to 2020.

Findings

Network structures are concentrated during the economic upcycle and dispersed during the economic downcycle. A significant interaction among bank competition, liquidity and loan price networks exists in the Indian banking system.

Practical implications

The study meaningfully contributes to the existing literature by adding new insights concerning the interrelationship between bank competition, loan price and bank liquidity networks. While enhancing competition in the banking system, the regulator should also pay attention toward making liquidity provisions. The interactive network framework provides direction to the regulator to formulate appropriate policies for managing competition and liquidity while ensuring the solvency and stability of the banking system.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the limited literature concerning interactive relationship among bank competition, liquidity and loan price in the Indian banks.
Employee-driven learning and innovation (EDLI) as a phenomenon of continuous learning at work
Authors: Lemmetty Soila , Billet Stephen
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine employee-driven innovation (EDI) intertwined with learning, creating a new description combining these two concepts: employee-driven learning and innovation (EDLI). This paper provides insights into the nature of EDLI based on the existing theories and perspectives. It seeks to elaborate EDLI as an ongoing process in and through work.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on Jaakkola’s (2020) guidance for structuring a conceptual article. The authors first describe the theoretical starting points related to EDI and then elaborate its relationship with learning at work, with the aim of structuring the key elements involved, drawing on and interpreting existing theory and knowledge.

Findings

In summary, advanced here are five premises for describing EDLI at work: (1) EDI and workplace learning are strongly intertwined phenomena, (2) learning in the EDI process occurs simultaneously at the intra-personal and inter-personal levels as a reciprocal process of adaptive and innovative learning, (3) innovations are only manifested in and are relevant to the specific cultural-historical and social context of particular enterprises, (4) the continuity of innovations and learning processes is enabled by participation and (5) triggers from outside the workplace, behind the innovation and the specific consequences (that transcend workplace boundaries) of the innovation anchor aspects of the process outside the workplace or work practice.

Originality/value

The paper advances a description and justification of EDLI. As such, it extends, connects and updates previously established theoretical models and explanations of this about EDIs. Based on the premises advanced here, the theoretical and practical contributions are discussed and the research gaps and needs for further research identified.
Leverage target and firm innovation
Authors: Azim Khan Sharier
Published: April 2023

Purpose

In this paper, the author examines how capital structure (relative to target) affects firm innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The author uses cross-sectional OLS regressions (for each year of data) to determine whether a firm is above or below its target debt level (in that year) and then uses fixed effects OLS regressions with panel data to examine the impact of having leverage above or below the firm's target on its innovation activity.

Findings

The author shows that firms with below-target debt innovate more in terms of number of patents granted and have better quality innovations in terms of citation counts of patents and in terms of economic value of patents. The results hold for sample splits based on firm age, firm size and access to external finance. The author also shows that the findings are not driven by the negative correlation between leverage and innovation measures. Overall, the results indicate that it is not the actual level of leverage that impacts innovation; the relevant factor that impacts firm innovation is whether a firm is above or below its leverage target.

Originality/value

The author extends the literature on financing innovation by linking leverage target with firm innovation. Findings of this paper also provide supporting evidence that capital structure plays an important role on firm innovation and supplements prior literature that shows the importance of debt in financing firm innovation.
Contrasting spatial distribution of pioneer versus non‐pioneer saplings in a Taiwanese forest: A multiple scale approach
Authors: Chang Li‐Wan , Chiu Shau‐Ting , Hsieh Chang‐Fu
Published: April 2023

Dispersal limitation and environmental filtering were recognized as the main dispersal‐based and niche‐based processes responsible for community assembly. These interactions usually leave more spatial signatures in sapling communities and create detectable spatial patterns in different functional types of species. We investigated saplings of pioneer and non‐pioneer species, which facilitated an understanding of species co‐existence and biodiversity recovery. Based upon mapped tree data in the subtropical evergreen broad‐leaved forest dynamics plot in Taiwan, we endeavored to: (1) determine the different spatial scales contributing to distribution patterns of pioneer and non‐pioneer saplings; (2) understand how dispersal limitation affects distribution of pioneer and non‐pioneer saplings; and (3) evaluate the degree to which the different environmental factors explain variation in species composition in pioneer and non‐pioneer saplings. We used the principal coordinates of neighbor matrices (PCNM) method, and variation partitioning to disentangle the contributions of these processes. Fine‐scale spatial patterns were more important for pioneer than for non‐pioneer saplings. Dispersal limitation was the main process influencing the spatial distribution of the non‐pioneer saplings. Environmental filtering was also an important process regulating the spatial distribution of saplings for both functional types, especially for pioneer saplings. Disturbance effects contributed to fine‐scale spatial variation in pioneer saplings, whereas topographic and soil effects contributed to broad and medium scale  spatial variation in non‐pioneer saplings. It was evident that different spatial patterns of saplings of different functional types served to facilitate tree regeneration and maintain species co‐existence in this subtropical broad‐leaved forest.
SOCIALLY ENGAGED MUNICIPAL STATECRAFT IN URBAN CHINA? The Shenzhen Biennale as Situated Planning Experiment
Authors: Teo Shaun S.K.
Published: April 2023

In this article I build on scholarship that calls for attention to the interventionist role of the municipality in steering development beyond growth to introduce the situated planning experiment as a mechanism through which municipalities practice socially engaged statecraft. The situated planning experiment foregrounds place‐based innovative planning practices that incorporate the participation of citizen intellectuals who act as advocates for marginalized groups in China. I frame the Shenzhen Urbanism\Architecture Biennale (UABB) as a situated planning experiment, tracing its influence on the municipality's shift in approach to planning for urban village redevelopment. I show how the UABB is leveraged as an instrument for the municipality to connect social and economic objectives in development and how it presents differentiated opportunities for migrant residents to make viable urban lives. The article offers one possibility for theorizing the changing relationship between municipal entrepreneurialism and urban planning and critically evaluates the potential for socially engaged municipal statecraft, considering the Xi regime's focus on people‐oriented urbanization. It represents one way in which studies of municipal statecraft can consider the variegated logics and forms of emerging post‐growth state programmes and politics.
Can allostatic load in pregnancy explain the association between race and subsequent cardiovascular disease risk: A cohort study
Authors: Lueth Amir J. , Allshouse Amanda A. , Blue Nathan M. , Grobman William A. , Levine Lisa D. , Catov Janet , Saade George , Yee Lynn M. , Wilson Fernando A. , Murtaugh Maureen , Merz Noel , Chung Judith , Ray Mitali , Scifres Christina , Silver Robert M. ,   For the NIH NICHD nuMoM2b and NHLBI nuMoM2b Heart Health Study Networks
Published: April 2023

Objective

To assess the relationship between allostatic load, a measure of cumulative chronic stress in early pregnancy and cardiovascular disease risk, 2–7 years postpartum, and pathways contributing to racial disparities in cardiovascular disease risk.

Design

Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study.

Setting Multicenter Population

Pregnant women.

Methods

Our primary exposure was high allostatic load in the first trimester, defined as at least 4 of 12 biomarkers (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein, high‐density lipoprotein, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, triglycerides, insulin, glucose, creatinine and albumin) in the unfavourable quartile. Logistic regression was used to test the association between high allostatic load and main outcome adjusted for confounders: time from index pregnancy and follow up, age, education, smoking, gravidity, bleeding in the first trimester, index adverse pregnancy outcomes, and health insurance. Each main outcome component and allostatic load were analysed secondarily. Mediation and moderation analyses assessed the role of high allostatic load in racial disparities of cardiovascular disease risk.

Main outcome measure

Incident cardiovascular disease risk: hypertension, or metabolic disorders.

Results

Cardiovascular disease risk was identified in 1462/4022 individuals (hypertension: 36.6%, metabolic disorder: 15.4%). After adjustment, allostatic load was associated with cardiovascular disease risk (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.0, 95% CI 1.8–2.3), hypertension (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.8–2.4) and metabolic disorder (aOR 1.7, 95% CI 1.5–2.1). Allostatic load was a partial mediator between race and cardiovascular disease risk. Race did not significantly moderate this relationship.

Conclusions

High allostatic load during pregnancy is associated with cardiovascular disease risk. The relationships between stress, subsequent cardiovascular risk and race warrant further study.
Protective effect of Lactiplantibacillus pentosus CQZC01 in Kunming mice of subacute alcoholic liver injury
Authors: Gan Yi , Peng Jing , Zhang Yu , Feng Xia , Qian Yu , Long Xingyao , Zhao Xin , Li Qiang
Published: April 2023

To decrease the climbing rate of alcoholic liver disease, the protective effect in subacute alcoholic liver injury of newly isolated Lactiplantibacillus pentosus CQZC01 has been investigated. Lactiplantibacillus pentosus CQZC01 (1 × 109 CFU/kgbw) administered orally could keep weight of mice at 30.54 ± 1.15 g; alleviate alcoholic damage on hepatic morphology; decrease the activities of hyaluronidase (147 ± 19 U/L), procollagen III (4.82 ± 0.54 ng/mL), alanine transaminase (10.66 ± 2.32 U/L), and aspartate aminotransferase (15.18 ± 1.98 U/L); enhance the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (65.15 ± 3.2 U/mgprot), aldehyde dehydrogenase (16.50 ± 0.96 U/mgprot), superoxide dismutase (623 ± 39 U/mgprot), and glutathione (19.54 ± 2.46 µmol/gprot); and decrease liver total cholesterol (3.59 ± 0.50 mmol/gprot) and triglyceride (0.88 ± 0.24 mmol/gprot) (p < 0.05). Moreover, L. pentosus CQZC01 elevated the level of interleukin‐10 (IL‐10; 807 ± 44 pg/mL) but significantly decreased the levels of IL‐1β (29.75 ± 5.27pg/mL), IL‐6 (58 ± 8 pg/mL), and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α, 564 ± 13 pg/mL). Liver malondialdehyde was also significantly decreased by treatment with L. pentosus CQZC01 from 3.61 ± 0.14  to 2.03 ± 0.49 nmol/mgprot. The relative expression of C‐Jun N‐terminal kinase, extracellular regulated protein kinases, and cyclooxygenase‐1 was downregulated, and the SOD1, SOD2, peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐α, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, nuclear factor erythroid‐2‐related factor 2, heme oxygenase‐1 and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate were upregulated by L. pentosus CQZC01. The overall protective effect of L. pentosus CQZC01 was comparable to commercial Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus. Lactobacillus pentosus CQZC01 might be a suitable hepatoprotective measure for people who frequently ingest alcoholic drinks.

Practical Application

L. pentosus CQZC01 can alleviate subacute alcoholic liver injury by raising the antioxidant status and upregulating the antioxidant‐related genes.
Identification of fish sounds in the wild using a set of portable audio‐video arrays
Authors: Mouy Xavier , Black Morgan , Cox Kieran , Qualley Jessica , Dosso Stan , Juanes Francis
Published: April 2023

Associating fish sounds to specific species and behaviours is important for making passive acoustics a viable tool for monitoring fish. While recording fish sounds in tanks can sometimes be performed, many fish do not produce sounds in captivity. Consequently, there is a need to identify fish sounds in situ and characterise these sounds under a wide variety of behaviours and habitats.

We designed three portable audio‐video platforms capable of identifying species‐specific fish sounds in the wild: a large array, a mini array and a mobile array. The large and mini arrays are static autonomous platforms than can be deployed on the seafloor and record audio and video for one to two weeks. They use multichannel acoustic recorders and low‐cost video cameras mounted on PVC frames. The mobile array also uses a multichannel acoustic recorder, but mounted on a remotely operated vehicle with built‐in video, which allows remote control and real‐time positioning in response to observed fish presence. For all arrays, fish sounds were localised in three dimensions and matched to the fish positions in the video data. We deployed these three platforms at four locations off British Columbia, Canada.

The large array provided the best localisation accuracy and, with its larger footprint, was well suited to habitats with a flat seafloor. The mini and mobile arrays had lower localisation accuracy but were easier to deploy, and well suited to rough/uneven seafloors. Using these arrays, we identified, for the first time, sounds from quillback rockfish Sebastes maliger, copper rockfish Sebastes caurinus and lingcod Ophiodon elongatus. In addition to measuring temporal and spectral characteristics of sounds for each species, we estimated mean source levels for lingcod and quillback rockfish sounds (115.4 and 113.5 dB re 1 μPa, respectively) and maximum detection ranges at two sites (between 10.5 and 33 m).

All proposed array designs successfully identified fish sounds in the wild and were adapted to various budget, logistical and habitat constraints. We include here building instructions and processing scripts to help users replicate this methodology, identify more fish sounds around the world and make passive acoustics a more viable way to monitor fish.
Blunted neural reward response to alcohol and greater alcohol motivation in binge drinkers in a randomized clinical experiment
Authors: Blaine Sara , Fogelman Nia , Lacadie Cheryl , Constable Todd , Sinha Rajita
Published: April 2023

Background

Alcohol stimulates cerebral blood flow (CBF) in brain reward regions. However, neural processes that support sustained alcohol motivation after the first drink are not well understood.

Methods

Using a novel placebo‐controlled, randomized, crossover experiment, 27 individuals who binge drink (BD; 15 M, 12 F) and 25 social drinkers (SD; 15 M, 10 F) underwent a behavioral test of self‐motivated alcohol consumption using an Alcohol Taste Test (ATT) involving alcoholic and nonalcoholic beer on separate days. The test was followed immediately by perfusion functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). On both days, participants then engaged in a post‐scan ATT with placebo beer to assess sustained alcohol self‐motivation without active alcohol effects. Linear mixed effects models were used to examine the effects of drinking group on the placebo‐controlled effect of initial alcohol motivation on brain perfusion (whole brain corrected p < 0.001, cluster corrected p < 0.025) and on the relationship between placebo‐controlled brain perfusion and sustained alcohol motivation.

Results

Initial alcohol self‐motivation in the alcohol relative to placebo session led to markedly decreased activation in the medial orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and the ventral striatum in BD relative to SD, indicative of neural reward tolerance. The BD group also showed an enhanced neural response in behavioral intention regions of the supplementary motor area (SMA) and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) regions. Moreover, there was greater sustained alcohol motivation in BD than SD in the post‐scan ATT in the alcohol relative to placebo session. Correspondingly, only in BD and only in the alcohol session, lower alcohol‐induced OFC response correlated with concurrent sensitized SMA response, and each predicted the subsequent sustained higher alcohol motivation in the post‐scan ATT.

Conclusions

Alcohol‐related OFC tolerance may play an important role in sustained alcohol motivation. Furthermore, both specific alcohol‐related neural reward tolerance and premotor sensitization responses may contribute to escalating alcohol motivation to drive excessive alcohol intake, even in individuals without alcohol use disorder.
Phosphatidylethanol and self‐reported alcohol consumption among people living with HIV in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam
Authors: Chen Jane S. , Chander Geetanjali , Tran Ha Viet , Sripaipan Teerada , Hoa Ngo T. K. , Miller William C. , Latkin Carl A. , Dowdy David W. , Hutton Heidi E. , Frangakis Constantine , Go Vivian F.
Published: April 2023

Background

Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a biomarker for recent alcohol consumption that would ideally validate self‐reported alcohol consumption behaviors. We assessed the relationship between PEth and several self‐reported alcohol consumption metrics among hazardous alcohol users living with HIV in Vietnam.

Methods

Participants in a three‐arm randomized controlled trial assessing two alcohol interventions reported recent alcohol consumption on a 30‐day timeline follow‐back interview and had a PEth assessment at enrollment, 3 months, and 12 months of the study follow‐up. We examined the relationship between self‐reported alcohol consumption and quantitative PEth results using Spearman rank correlation and receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) curves to calculate the area under the curve (AUC). We assessed associations between categorical PEth results and self‐reported drinking behaviors using prevalence ratios calculated with regression models and generalized estimating equations.

Results

Among 1221 study visits (n = 439 participants; 425 (97%) men), the median PEth result was 71 ng/mL (Interquartile range (IQR): 20, 212), and participants reported a median of 11 (IQR: 4, 24) drinking days and 25 (IQR: 8, 71) standard drinks in the previous 28 days. Quantitative PEth results were moderately correlated with drinking days (ρ = 0.26–0.35) and standard drinks consumed (ρ = 0.23–0.38) in the same period. AUCs ranged from 0.54 (any binge drinking in the past 28 days) to 0.82 (any alcohol consumed in the past 21 days). Positive PEth results (≥50 ng/mL) were 2.24 (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.49, 3.35) times as prevalent among participants who reported drinking in the previous 28 days compared with those who did not.

Conclusions

Although PEth values and self‐reported alcohol use were correlated, the observed associations were modest. Additional research into the dynamics of PEth production and elimination is warranted across diverse populations to better understand how PEth assessments can best be integrated into research and clinical care.