bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Individualized functional magnetic resonance imaging neuromodulation enhances visuospatial perception: a proof-of-concept study
Authors: Allam Anthony , Allam Vincent , Reddy Sandy , Rohren Eric M. , Sheth Sameer A. , Froudarakis Emmanouil , Papageorgiou T. Dorina
Published: October 2024

This proof-of-concept study uses individualized functional magnetic resonance imaging neuromodulation (iNM) to explore the mechanisms that enhance BOLD signals in visuospatial perception (VP) networks that are crucial for navigation. Healthy participants (
n
= 8) performed a VP up- and down-direction discrimination task at full and subthreshold coherence through peripheral vision, and superimposed direction through visual imagery (VI) at central space under iNM and control conditions. iNM targets individualized anatomical and functional middle- and medial-superior temporal (MST) networks that control VP. We found that iNM engaged selective exteroceptive and interoceptive attention (SEIA) and motor planning (MP) networks. Specifically, iNM increased overall: (i) area under the curve of the BOLD magnitude: 100% in VP (but decreased for weak coherences), 21–47% in VI, 26–59% in MP and 48–76% in SEIA through encoding; and (ii) classification performance for each direction, coherence and network through decoding, predicting stimuli from brain maps. Our findings, derived from encoding and decoding models, suggest that mechanisms induced by iNM are causally linked in enhancing visuospatial networks and demonstrate iNM as a feasibility treatment for low-vision patients with cortical blindness or visuospatial impairments that precede cognitive decline.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Neurofeedback: new territories and neurocognitive mechanisms of endogenous neuromodulation’.
Regulation of craving for real-time fMRI neurofeedback based on individual classification
Authors: Kim Dong-Youl , Lisinski Jonathan , Caton Matthew , Casas Brooks , LaConte Stephen , Chiu Pearl H.
Published: October 2024

In previous real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback (rtfMRI-NF) studies on smoking craving, the focus has been on within-region activity or between-region connectivity, neglecting the potential predictive utility of broader network activity. Moreover, there is debate over the use and relative predictive power of individual-specific and group-level classifiers. This study aims to further advance rtfMRI-NF for substance use disorders by using whole-brain rtfMRI-NF to assess smoking craving-related brain patterns, evaluate the performance of group-level or individual-level classification (
n
= 31) and evaluate the performance of an optimized classifier across repeated NF runs. Using real-time individual-level classifiers derived from whole-brain support vector machines, we found that classification accuracy between crave and no-crave conditions and between repeated NF runs increased across repeated runs at both individual and group levels. In addition, individual-level accuracy was significantly greater than group-level accuracy, highlighting the potential increased utility of an individually trained whole-brain classifier for volitional control over brain patterns to regulate smoking craving. This study provides evidence supporting the feasibility of using whole-brain rtfMRI-NF to modulate smoking craving-related brain responses and the potential for learning individual strategies through optimization across repeated feedback runs.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Neurofeedback: new territories and neurocognitive mechanisms of endogenous neuromodulation’.
Neurorights in the Constitution: from neurotechnology to ethics and politics
Authors: Ruiz Sergio , Valera Luca , Ramos Paulina , Sitaram Ranganatha
Published: October 2024

Neuroimaging technologies such as brain–computer interfaces and neurofeedback have evolved rapidly as new tools for cognitive neuroscience and as potential clinical interventions. However, along with these developments, concern has grown based on the fear of the potential misuse of neurotechnology. In October 2021, Chile became the first country to include neurorights in its Constitution. The present article is divided into two parts. In the first section, we describe the path followed by neurorights that led to its inclusion in the Chilean Constitution, and the neurotechnologies usually involved in neurorights discussions. In the second part, we discuss two potential problems of neurorights. We begin by pointing out some epistemological concerns regarding neurorights, mainly referring to the ambiguity of the concepts used in neurolegislations, the difficult relationship between neuroscience and politics and the weak reasons for urgency in legislating. We then describe the dangers of overprotective laws in medical research, based on the detrimental effect of recent legislation in Chile and the potential risk posed by neurorights to the benefits of neuroscience development. This article aims to engage with the scientific community interested in neurotechnology and neurorights in an interdisciplinary reflection of the potential consequences of neurorights.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Neurofeedback: new territories and neurocognitive mechanisms of endogenous neuromodulation’.
Neurofeedback: potential for abuse and regulatory frameworks in the United States
Authors: Furnari Fiona , Park Haesoo , Yaffe Gideon , Hampson Michelle
Published: October 2024

Neurofeedback is a brain-training technique that continues to develop via ongoing innovations, and that has broadening potential impact. Once confined primarily to clinical and research settings, it is increasingly being used in the general population. Such development raises concerns about the current regulatory mechanisms and their adequacy in protecting patterns of economic and political decision-making from the novel technology. As studies have found neurofeedback to change subjects’ preferences and mental associations covertly, there is a possibility it will be abused for political and commercial gains. Current regulatory practices (including disclaimer requirements, unfair and deceptive trade practice statutes and undue influence law) may be avenues from which to regulate neurofeedback influence. They are, however, limited. Regulating neurofeedback will face the line-drawing problem of determining when it induces an unacceptable level of influence. We suggest experiments that will clarify how the parameters of neurofeedback training affect its level of influence. In addition, we assert that the reactive nature of the traditional models of regulation will be inadequate against this and other rapidly transforming technologies. An integrated and proactive regulatory system designed for flexibility must be adopted to protect society in this era of modern technological advancement.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Neurofeedback: new territories and neurocognitive mechanisms of endogenous neuromodulation’.
Phenotypic diversity of type III secretion system activity in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli clinical isolates
Authors: Contreras Carmen A. , Hazen Tracy H. , Guadarrama Carmen , Cervantes-Rivera Ramón , Ochoa Theresa J. , Vinuesa Pablo , Rasko David A. , Puente Jose L.
Published: October 2024

Introduction. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) strains pose a significant threat as a leading cause of severe childhood diarrhoea in developing nations. EPEC pathogenicity relies on the type III secretion system (T3SS) encoded by the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE), facilitating the secretion and translocation of bacterial effector proteins.

Gap Statement. While the regulatory roles of PerC (plasmid-encoded regulator) and GrlA (global regulator of LEE-activator) in ler expression and LEE gene activation are well-documented in the EPEC prototype strain E2348/69, understanding the variability in LEE gene expression control mechanisms among clinical EPEC isolates remains an area requiring further investigation.

Aim. This study aims to explore the diversity in LEE gene expression control mechanisms among clinical EPEC isolates through a comparative analysis of secretion profiles under defined growth conditions favouring either PerC- or GrlA-mediated activation of LEE expression.

Methodology. We compared T3SS-dependent secretion patterns and promoter expression in both typical EPEC (tEPEC) and atypical EPEC (aEPEC) clinical isolates under growth conditions favouring either PerC- or GrlA-mediated activation of LEE expression. Additionally, we conducted promoter reporter activity assays, quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot experiments to assess gene expression activity.

Results. Significant differences in T3SS-dependent secretion were observed among tEPEC and aEPEC strains, independent of LEE sequence variations or T3SS gene functionality. Notably, a clinical tEPEC isolate exhibited increased secretion levels under repressive growth conditions and in the absence of both PerC and GrlA, implicating an alternative mechanism in the activation of Ler (LEE-encoded regulator) expression.

Conclusion. Our findings indicate that uncharacterized LEE regulatory mechanisms contribute to phenotypic diversity among clinical EPEC isolates, though their impact on clinical outcomes remains unknown. This challenges the conventional understanding based on reference strains and highlights the need to investigate beyond established models to comprehensively elucidate EPEC pathogenesis.
Impact of periodontal therapy on oral bacterial composition in individuals diagnosed with advanced periodontal disease
Authors: Chen Huixia , Zhao Liqin , Liang Yan , Xie Hui , Chen Siyu , Wang Lin , Han Xiao
Published: October 2024

Graphical abstract­
Decipher Fundamental Atomic Interactions to Unify Generative Molecular Docking and Design
Authors: Peng Xingang , Guo Ruihan , Xu Yan , Guan Jiaqi , Jia Yinjun , Huang Yanwen , Zhang Muhan , Peng Jian , Sun Jiayu , Han Chuanhui , Wang Zihua , Ma Jianzhu
Published: October 2024

Atomic interactions are fundamental to molecular structures and functions. We constructed PocketXMol, an all-atom AI model, to learn these interactions for general pocket-interacting molecular generative tasks. PocketXMol unified distinct molecular tasks under a single computational framework without re-quiring fine-tuning. It was evaluated on 11 typical tasks, covering docking and design of small molecules and peptides, and compared against 49 baselines using 45 metrics. PocketXMol outperformed state-of-the-art methods in 9 tasks and was competitive in the remaining ones. We successfully adopted PocketXMol to design novel small molecules to inhibit caspase-9 with efficacy comparable to commercial pan-caspase inhibitors. We also adopted PocketXMol to design PD-L1-binding peptides and demonstrated its success rate 50,000 times higher than random library screening. Three peptides underwent rigorous cellular validation, exhibiting effective binding to the cell membrane. Their potential for molecular probing and therapy was further confirmed through injections in tumor mouse models and the ligand inhibition assay.
SMC modulates ParB engagement in segregation complexes inStreptomyces
Authors: Pawlikiewicz Katarzyna , Strzałka Agnieszka , Majkowski Michał , Duława-Kobeluszczyk Julia , Szafran Marcin , Jakimowicz Dagmara
Published: October 2024

ParB is long established chromosome segregation protein in bacteria. Due to the recently demonstrated CTPase activity of ParB, formation of its nucleoprotein complexes was unrevealed. ParB homodimers bound to CTP are loaded onto DNA atparSsites, where they recruit condensin (SMC), thereby facilitating chromosome organization and segregation. Whether SMC modulates ParB complexes has remained unknown. Here, we generatedStreptomyces venezuelaestrains producing ParB-HaloTag in the presence or absence of SMC and used single-cell time-lapse fluorescence microscopy, single molecule tracking and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching analysis to explore ParB dynamics. Additionally, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation to examine ParB interactions with DNA in the presence or absence of SMC. We reveal that SMC modulates ParB complex stability on DNA. We find that the absence of SMC results in faster ParB complex disassembly, and promotes non-specific DNA binding. Additionally, we show that SMC reduces ParB CTPase activityin vitro. Taken together our data provide evidence of SMC positive feedback on the ParB nucleoprotein complex, offering new insight into the nature of ParB complex regulation.
Packed Red Blood Cell and Whole Blood Perfusates during an Ex-vivo Normothermic Perfusion for Assessment of High-Risk Donor Kidneys
Authors: Ahmadi Armin , Yang Heiko , Jen Kuang-Yu , Fan Sili , Palma Ivonne , Sageshima Junichiro , Goussous Naeem , Roshanravan Baback , Perez Richard V.
Published: October 2024

Background

Ex-vivo normothermic perfusion (EVNP) with a blood based perfusate has the potential to both assess viability of and repair high-risk organs prior to transplantation. However, the optimal perfusate is yet to be established.

Methods

Eight paired high-risk human kidneys were placed on three hours of pressure dependent EVNP at 37°C. Kidneys were perfused with either a leukocyte-depleted packed red blood cell (PRBC) with crystalloid perfusate or a whole blood (WB) perfusate. Continuous hemodynamic and functional parameters were assessed. Core needle tissue biopsies were taken for untargeted metabolomics and lipidomics profiling. At testwas used to assess group differences in functional and hemodynamics outcomes.

Results

After a mean cold ischemia time (CIT) of 54 hours, all kidneys showed high renal blood flow (RBF) through perfusion. Renal resistance (RR) increased for both groups during the first hour and then decreased to similar terminal values. The kidneys perfused with PRBC had 55 ml/min greater RBF (95% CI of 21 to 89; P=0.004) and higher total urine output (UO) (145 vs 25 ml, P= 0.002) compared to the WB group. Urinary acute kidney biomarkers of NGAL and KIM-1 were also significantly lower (mean differences of 281 and 2.1 ng/ml respectively; P<0.01) in the PRBC perfused kidneys. Compared to PRBC, within group tissue metabolic profiling revealed a similar (23% vs 18%) but a more pronounced alteration predominantly involving (branched chain) amino acid and mitochondrial energy metabolism in the WB group. Similarly, lipid profile temporal changes showed WB group were highlighted by elevation of plasma membrane and structure lipids including glycerolipids, sphingolipids, and steroids. The PRBC group had minimal temporal tissue lipid profile changes.

Conclusion

Compared to WB, PRBC perfusion is superior in mitigating post-ischemia damage and facilitating function and metabolic recovery of high-risk kidneys subjected to long CITs during a three-hour ENVP.

Key points

-

Kidneys perfused with packed red blood cells (PRBC) exhibited more favorable hemodynamics and functional outcomes during ex vivo normothermic perfusion (ENVP).

-

Tissue metabolic profiling showed an overlapping but a more drastic metabolic aberration in the whole blood (WB) group involving amino acid, carbohydrate, and mitochondrial energy metabolism over time.

-

Compared to the PRBC groups, WB perfused kidneys were associated with accumulation of tissue membrane/structure components including TGs, ceramides, and cholesteryl esters post perfusion.
Substantia Nigra MRI markers are lower in Alzheimer’s disease and are linked to novelty and memory
Authors: Krohn Friedrich , Sarkar Mousumi , Schütze Hartmut , Iliopoulos Panagiotis , Penalba-Sánchez Lucía , Hämmerer Dorothea , Yakupov Renat , Lüsebrink Falk , Spottke Annika , Schneider Anja , Roy Nina , Incesoy Enise I. , Heneka Michael , Kilimann Ingo , Kleineidam Luca , Teipel Stefan J , Brosseron Frederic , Goerss Doreen , Glanz Wenzel , Schmid Matthias , Rostamzadeh Ayda , Wagner Michael , Fliessbach Klaus , Jessen Frank , Düzel Emrah , Betts Matthew
Published: October 2024

Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease dementia (ADD) show Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology in and heterogeneous degeneration of the Substantia Nigra (SN) postmortem. However, it is unclear how the SN degeneration is related to cognitive dysfunction across the ADD continuum. In this study, using data from a prospective dementia study (DELCODE), we investigated if in-vivo SN MRI measures are lower in cases with clinically defined ADD than in healthy control subjects (HC) and associated with functional activity during the processing of novel visual stimuli and subsequent recognition memory.

161 DELCODE participants (69 years ±6 years, 88 men), including 79 Healthy Controls, 71 individuals with subjective cognitive impairment (SCD), 17 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 10 individuals with ADD, completed a scene novelty and encoding task and a 3T neuromelanin (NM)-sensitive MRI scan, from which in-vivo measures of SN MRI contrast and SN volume were calculated. For 71 individuals, CSF levels of phospoTau, total tau, and amyloid beta 42/40 ratio (Aß42/40) were available. All individuals completed a neuropsychological task battery from which a global cognitive score was calculated.

SN volume but not SN MRI contrast was lower in individuals with clinical ADD (One- way ANOVA: F(3,156)=4,13, N=160, p=0.0056, Tukey posthoc test: p=0.003) and SN MRI contrast and and volume were not associated with Aß42/40, ptau, and ttau CSF levels (all p<0.1). SN MRI contrast was positively associated with anterior hippocampal functional activity during the presentation of novel stimuli in individuals with Aß42/40 ratio levels below a pathological threshold of 0.08 (Aß42/40 positive, (p(FWE)=0.002, 157 voxels, n=28) but not in Aß42/40 negative individuals. Moreover, SN volume was positively associated with recognition memory (N=160, p=0.017, r2=0.11) and global cognition (p<0.0001, N=160, r2=0.221) across the ADD continuum.

Our study emphasizes the potential of using in-vivo SN MRI markers to understand the impact of AD pathology-independent SN degeneration on recognition memory and novelty processing dysfunction in ADD. Our results motivate future longitudinal studies exploring how SN volume and SN contrast change over time, how these differentially associate with cognitive decline and how the SN volume and SN contrast might be associated with other dopamine-dependent cognitive functions.
Social Validation of Post-Treatment Outcomes of Adults Who Stutter Who Participated in the Blank Center CARE™Model Treatment: Replication and Extension
Authors: Coalson Geoffrey A. , Byrd Courtney T.
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Social validation of treatment outcomes provides external validity of treatment from the perspective of untrained observers. To date, clinical efficacy studies of the Blank Center CARE Model indicate post-treatment gains in communication competence from the perspective of the participants and clinicians. An initial social validation study corroborated positive self- and clinician-rated treatment ratings with ratings from the general public for a single participant. The present study was designed to replicate and extend these findings by assessing clinical outcomes from the perspective of untrained observers across multiple participants and contexts.

Method

Ten adults who stutter provided communication samples one week before and after completing the Blank Center CARE Model treatment. A total of 1,110 untrained observers were recruited. Each untrained observer rated only one participant at one timepoint (pre-treatment or post-treatment) in one context (dyad or presentation), and each participant was asked to provide only one rating (communication competence or stuttering severity).

Results

A significant interaction indicated that post-treatment gains were observed for communication competence, but not stuttering severity, for both contexts.

Conclusions

Present findings provide further social validation of the Blank Center CARE Model of treatment. Untrained observers confirmed that participation in this strengths-based approach significantly enhances communication competence. Notably, these changes were observed regardless of pre- to post-treatment stuttering severity, lending additional support to the premise that communication and fluency are independent constructs.
Mutations of schizophrenia risk geneSETD1Adysregulate synaptic function in human neurons
Authors: Su Xiao , Zhang Hanwen , Hong Yan , Yang Qian , Wang Le , Le Tiffany , Liu Jiayi , Cheruvu Lasya , Labour Emily , Zhang Siwei , Mendez-Maldonado Karla , Kreimer Anat , Song Hongjun , Ming Guo-li , Duan Jubao , Pang Zhiping P.
Published: October 2024

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder associated with both common risk variants of small effect sizes and rare risk variants of high penetrance. Rare protein truncating variants (PTVs) inSETD1A(SET Domain Containing 1A) show a strong association with SCZ; however, it remains largely unclear how rare PTVs inSETD1Acontribute to the pathophysiology of SCZ. To understand the impact ofSETD1Arare PTVs in human neurons, we CRISPR/Cas9-engineered five isogenic pairs of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), with a recurrent heterozygous patient-specific PTV mutation c.4582-2delAG in two donor lines and a heterozygous frameshift mutation c.4596_4597insG (p. Leu1533fs) in three donor lines. These two mutations are predicted to cause a premature stop codon in exon 16 ofSETD1A, leading to the loss of the conserved SET domain that is critical for its histone methyltransferase activity. We found that these presumably loss-of-function (LoF) mutations caused theSETD1AmRNAs to be degraded by nonsense-mediated decay (NMD), accompanied by a reduction of full-length SETD1A protein level in iPSCs. We then characterized the morphological, electrophysiological, and transcriptomic impacts of theSETD1A+/-LoF mutations in iPSC-derived human excitatory neurons induced by NGN2. We found that theSETD1A+/-exon-16 LoF mutations altered dendrite complexity, dysregulated synaptic transmission, and synaptic plasticity, likely by dysregulating genes involved in synaptic function. These results provide mechanistic insights into howSETD1A+/-exon-16 patient-specific LoF mutations affect neuron phenotypes that may be relevant to the pathophysiology of SCZ.
Live-HPF CLEM using the HPM Live µ: Finding back all needles in every haystack. The last frontier in CLEM
Authors: Heiligenstein Xavier , Kodera Chie , Bret Yann , Eyraud Frederic , Muczynski Vincent , Heiligenstein Jérôme , Belle Martin
Published: October 2024

Correlative light and electron microscopy is a scientific method that encompasses several technologies and workflows. One of the pioneering workflows consisted in vitrifying by high pressure freezing a sample, shortly after live observation1. Despite its extraordinary potential, it did not turn into a routine technique for practical reasons. We redesigned the entire tool set, from the sample carrier to the high-pressure freezing machine, to standardize and democratise the technique. In our manuscript, we present all the technological developments that lead to a routine workflow for live to HPF CLEM. We demonstrate our ability to track rapidly moving endosomes live and retrieve them at the electron microscopy level, in three dimensions, with high confidence.
Apical clathrin-coated pits control the location, timing, and scale of microvillar growth
Authors: Perkins Olivia L. , Mulligan Alexandra G. , Krystofiak Evan S. , Peebles K. Elkie , Nagarajan Rekha N. , Meenderink Leslie M. , Millis Bryan A. , Tyska Matthew J.
Published: October 2024

Epithelial cells from diverse contexts assemble apical specializations to serve tissue-specific functions. In virtually all cases, these features consist of arrays of microvilli: micron-scale, actin bundle-supported protrusions that mediate biochemical and physical interactions with the external environment. Despite their importance for epithelial physiology, how microvilli grow during cellular differentiation remains poorly understood. Using genetic and small molecule perturbations, we found that an epithelial cell’s potential for growing microvilli of normal size is limited by an adjacent actin-dependent process: apical clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Unexpectedly, timelapse imaging of individual microvillar growth events revealed tight spatial and temporal coupling to sites of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Ultrastructural characterization of undifferentiated epithelial monolayers also showed that most nascent microvilli are in contact with an apical endocytic pit. Finally, inhibition of the Arp2/3 branched nucleation complex, which drives actin polymerization on coated pits, significantly reduced the accumulation of new microvilli on the surface of differentiating epithelial cells. Based on these discoveries, we conclude that clathrin-mediated endocytosis and its associated Arp2/3-based actin nucleation activity control the timing and location of microvillar growth, as well as the dimensions of the resulting protrusions.
Many-body-localization protection of eigenstate topological order in two dimensions
Authors: Venn Florian , Wahl Thorsten B. , Béri Benjamin
Published: October 2024

Many-body localization (MBL) has been proposed to enable and protect topological order in all eigenstates, vastly expanding the traditional ground-state setting. However, for the most intriguing case of two-dimensional (2D) systems with anyons and topology-dependent degeneracies, the dense many-body spectrum challenges studying this MBL protection numerically. Here we use large-scale full-spectrum variational to demonstrate MBL-protected topological order in the disordered 2D toric code perturbed by magnetic fields. We show that the system has topological local integrals of motion (tLIOMs) for magnetic field strengths below hc≈0.1 times the toric-code coupling scale. Combining tLIOMs with exact diagonalization, we also identify high-energy topological multiplets in the dense many-body spectrum. The phase diagram we find is consistent with toric-code and trivial MBL phases being separated by an intervening thermal phase.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Accumulating waves of random mutations before fixation
Authors: Moeller Marius , Werner Benjamin , Huang Weini
Published: October 2024

Mutations provide variation for evolution to emerge. A quantitative analysis of how mutations arising in single individuals expand and possibly fixate in a population is essential for studying evolutionary processes. While it is intuitive to expect that a continuous influx of mutations will lead to a continuous flow of mutations fixating in a stable constant population, joint fixation of multiple mutations occur frequently in stochastic simulations even under neutral selection. We quantitatively measure and analyze the distribution of joint fixation events of neutral mutations in constant populations and discussed the connection with previous results. We propose a new concept, the mutation “waves,” where multiple mutations reach given frequencies simultaneously. We show that all but the lowest frequencies of the variant allele frequency distribution are dominated by single mutation “waves,” which approximately follow an exponential distribution in terms of size. Consequently, large swaths of empty frequencies are observed in the variant allele frequency distributions, with a few frequencies having numbers of mutations far in excess of the expected average values over multiple realizations. We quantify the amount of time each frequency is empty of mutations and further show that the discrete mutation waves average out to a continuous distribution named as the wave frequency distribution, the shape of which is predictable based on few model parameters.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
On the principle of reciprocity in inelastic electron scattering
Authors: Mendis Budhika G.
Published: October 2024

In electron microscopy the principle of reciprocity is often used to imply time reversal symmetry. While this is true for elastic scattering, its applicability to inelastic scattering is less well established. From the second law of thermodynamics, the entropy for a thermally isolated system must be constant for any reversible process. Using entropy and statistical fluctuation arguments, it is shown that, while reversibility is possible at the microscopic level, it becomes statistically less likely for higher energy transfers. The implications for reciprocal imaging modes, including energy loss and energy gain measurements, as well as Kainuma's reciprocal wave model are also discussed.
A numerical study of double flow focusing micro-jets
Authors: Zahoor Rizwan , Bajt Saša , Šarler Božidar
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Double flow-focusing nozzles (DFFNs) form a coaxial flow of primary liquid with micro-crystalline samples, surrounded by secondary liquid and focusing gas. This paper aims to develop an experimentally validated numerical model and assess the performance of micro-jets from a DFFN as a function of various operating parameters for the water–ethanol–helium system, revealing the jet's stability, diameter, length and velocity.

Design/methodology/approach

The physical model is formulated in the mixture-continuum formulation, which includes coupled mass, momentum and species transport equations. The model is numerically formulated within the finite volume method–volume of fluid approach and implemented in OpenFOAM to allow for a non-linear variation of the fluid's material properties as a function of the mixture concentration. The numerical results are compared with the experimental data.

Findings

A sensitivity study of jets with Reynolds numbers between 12 and 60, Weber numbers between 4 and 120 and capillary numbers between 0.2 and 2.0 was performed. It was observed that jet diameters and lengths get larger with increased primary and secondary fluid flow rates. Increasing gas flow rates produces thinner, shorter and faster jets. Previously considered pre-mixed and linear mixing models substantially differ from the accurate representation of the water–ethanol mixing dynamics in DFFNs. The authors demonstrated that Jouyban–Acree mixing model fits the experimental data much better.

Originality/value

The mixing of primary and secondary liquids in the jet produced by DFFN is numerically modelled for the first time. This study provides novel insights into mixing dynamics in such micro-jets, which can be used to improve the design of DFFNs.
Mired in tasks: how daily workplace multitasking shapes employee service innovation behavior
Authors: Xie Peng , Tian Fen Fen
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Drawing on conservation of resources theory, this paper aims to propose that daily multitasking increases employees’ daily role pressure, ultimately hindering their service innovation behavior. Furthermore, we suggest that trait mindfulness may mitigate this negative impact.

Design/methodology/approach

To empirically test the study hypotheses, this paper conducted a multilevel diary field study, collecting data from 64 employees over 10 working days to comprehensively validate the theoretical model.

Findings

The findings indicate that daily multitasking indirectly reduces daily service innovation behavior by increasing employee role pressure. Notably, this indirect effect is more pronounced among employees with lower trait mindfulness, while it is less significant for those with higher trait mindfulness.

Practical implications

Hotels should manage multitasking, reduce employee stress and promote service innovation by optimizing task allocation and redesigning work processes. Additionally, hotel management should adopt a multifaceted and innovative approach to foster mindfulness traits.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on multitasking and innovation by examining how and when daily multitasking influences employee service innovation behavior.
A self-organizing map clustering adaptive artificial neural network model for analysis critical success factors in different phases of MTO projects case study: electrical equipment manufacturer and supplier in Iran
Authors: Shirouyehzad Hadi , Kashian Elham , Emadi Saeed
Published: October 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the benefit of critical success factors (CSFs) clustering in different phases of make-to-order (MTO) projects and develop standards for management.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a questionnaire survey. First of all, collecting data by structured interviews, relying on a questionnaire and second from leader contractors who are active in the engineering and steel industry (in Iran). So, the requirements and objective of the research are presented to the top management of MTO projects to gain their support in data collection. Then 20 CSFs were identified by the literature review so a questionnaire survey was prepared for the CSFs assessment and interview with the experts. Finally analyzing the importance and performance of CSFs in project phases and cluster them in different project phases with self-organizing map as one of the artificial neural network (ANN) approaches due to high predictive accuracy. Review the research result with the top management of MTO project and examine the results obtained from neural networks and validation indices.

Findings

Cluster analysis shows that the implementation phase is the most important stage in MTO organizations and the other phases like feasibility and start-up, design and planning, delivery and end-phase should be also considered as effective phases in determining the level of organization performance. Different industries with additional data at different periodic times will verify the result. Furthermore, testing the other ANN model will improve risk analysis and could shift this classification approach to a regression type.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of the research is related to the sample. Research findings are limited to the time of data collection so validity is limited to the mentioned time. Different industries with additional data will verify the result. Furthermore, testing different ANN models such as K-MEANS, non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) analyses will improve risk analysis and could meet different classification results to find gaps.

Practical implications

In this paper, CSF and project phase dimensions are viewed together which is necessary to meet better results for simplifying social and economic benefits. Merge the new findings and latest technologies could prepare the best results and enable managers to create a better framework or implement key factors for minimizing waste.

Originality/value

This paper moves the definition of MTO organizations beyond measuring cost, complexity and financial variables by clustering CSFs in different phases of projects. So, the results enable managers to use this concept in their daily production to minimize waste and could be implemented to efficiently choose factors.
Adoption of cloud-based accounting solutions in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises: insights from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alshenaifi Zeyad , El Sayad Samar
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the extent to which micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Saudi Arabia are adopting cloud-based accounting systems, what cloud accounting technologies MSMEs are using and the factors that affect cloud accounting system adoption. The technology, organizational and environmental model was used to assess the factors that affect the adoption of cloud accounting systems.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected via a survey distributed to MSME owners, directors and chief executives in Saudi Arabia. The final sample comprised 174 participants. Descriptive statistics, multiple response analysis and logistic regression were used to analyze the data.

Findings

This study’s findings show that many MSMEs currently do not use cloud accounting. The findings also show that Sage One and Xero Accounting are the main cloud accounting technologies MSMEs use. Perceived benefits, security concerns, organizational readiness, government support and vendor support were found to significantly influence the adoption of cloud accounting systems, while compatibility, firm size, top management support and intensity of the competition were not found to affect MSMEs adoption of cloud accounting technologies.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to explore cloud accounting adoption by MSMEs in Saudi Arabia. It empirically shows the extent to which cloud-based accounting systems are used in MSMEs and the significant factors influencing the adoption of these systems.
From social media marketing to sustainable tourism development: how functionalities and destination image support sustainable tourism development
Authors: Fathy Doaa , Naguib Hend M. , Elsharnouby Mohamed H. , Shazly Rana Essam
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study investigates the influence of social media marketing (SMM) functionalities on perceived destination image (DI) and its dimensions, which in turn impact residents’ support for sustainable tourism development (SSTD). The study also examines the moderated mediation effect of the residency length and resident’s income in the indirect relationship between SMM and SSTD through the DI.

Design/methodology/approach

The best technique found appropriate for this study was the survey approach. To gather empirical data, people who currently reside in Alexandria completed 351 questionnaires via an online survey. The questionnaire was translated into Arabic while adhering to back-translation guidelines. SPSS and AMOS software were used to analyze the collected data.

Findings

It is found that there is a direct effect of SMM and its functionalities on overall DI and its dimensions. In addition, DI mediates the relationship between SMM and SSTD. These results hold valuable insights for academicians and practitioners in the tourism industry, potentially informing SMM strategies to support tourism activities.

Originality/value

This research introduces a novel framework emphasizing the functionalities of the SMM as a tool for enhancing both affective and cognitive DI and supporting sustainable tourism development. It contributes to the SMM and SSTD literature by examining the links between SMM functionalities and sustainable tourism development in emerging countries such as Egypt.
Mentoring student teachers during practicum: exploring experiences and limitations
Authors: Mpate Hawa Mohamed
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study aims to delve into experiences and challenges impeding effective mentoring in three secondary schools where student teachers were placed for their practicum in Tanzania.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a qualitative approach, employing interviews and focus group discussions to gather data from 31 participants, including mentor teachers, heads of schools, supervisors and student teachers.

Findings

The findings revealed that poor communication, inadequate understanding of effective mentoring practices, improper mentor-teacher recruitment processes, mentors’ unwillingness to engage in mentoring and divergence of expectations were significant challenges to effective mentoring on practicum.

Originality/value

The study gives new insights into the existing research on the potential challenges impeding mentoring and appropriate solutions to address them and improve the practicum experience in the Tanzanian teacher education system.
Bringing brain into the game: introducing the brain-based view of dynamic capabilities
Authors: Kaur Vaneet
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Change lies at the heart of the dynamic capability theory; however, the essence of concept of change is antithetical to the brain's predominant mode of operation i.e. maintenance of internal homeostasis. Since very little is known about the connection between neurology and dynamic capabilities, the present study aims to open this black box and propose a novel brain-based view of developing dynamic capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws on the insights from neuroscience to offer propositions that not only provide realistic approaches for building dynamic capabilities, but also explain what would cause the brain to enter a state of plasticity to facilitate the development of managerial dynamic capabilities.

Findings

This study explains that dynamic capabilities are shaped by both lower-level neural processes and higher-level organizational processes, and that both these levels must be brought together to provide a holistic explanation about the complex phenomena of dynamic capabilities.

Originality/value

This study proposes a novel brain-based view of dynamic capabilities that provides neuroscientific explanations regarding how managerial capabilities can be leveraged to form organization-level capabilities without holding a priori assumptions about the application of the aggregation principle.
Oral administration of ruxolitinib in psoriasis vulgaris: A case report of plaque psoriasis accompanied by myelofibrosis secondary to polisitemia vera successfully treated with oral ruxolitinib
Authors: Çetinarslan Tubanur , Aydoğdu İsmet , Ermertcan Aylin Türel
Published: October 2024

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by keratinocyte hyperproliferation and immune cell infiltration. Various therapies have been discovered for psoriasis, including topical treatments, phototherapy, conventional systemic agents such as methotrexate, retinoids and ciclosporine, as well as biologics. Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway inhibitors targeting Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF‐α), interleukin (IL)‐23 and IL‐17 can be effective in psoriasis. Ruxolitinib is a US Food and Drug Administration‐approved first‐generation Janus kinase inhibitor for polycythemia vera, myelofibrosis, and acute graft‐versus‐host disease. Ruxolitinib cream has been investigated in various dermatologic diseases, including atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, psoriasis, and alopecia areata. However, there is limited data on the efficacy of oral ruxolitinib in patients with psoriasis vulgaris. Here, we report a patient diagnosed with myelofibrosis coexisting with psoriasis vulgaris, successfully treated with oral ruxolitinib.
The potential for species distribution models to distinguish source populations from sinks
Authors: Şen Bilgecan , Che‐Castaldo Christian , Akçakaya H. Reşit
Published: October 2024

While species distribution models (SDM) are frequently used to predict species occurrences to help inform conservation management, there is limited evidence evaluating whether habitat suitability can reliably predict intrinsic growth rates or distinguish source populations from sinks. Filling this knowledge gap is critical for conservation science, as applications of SDMs for management purposes ultimately depend on these typically unobserved population or metapopulation dynamics.

Using linear regression, we associated previously published population level estimates of intrinsic growth and abundance derived from a Bayesian analysis of mark‐recapture data for 17 bird species found in the contiguous United States with SDM habitat suitability estimates fitted here to opportunistic data for these same species. We then used the area under the ROC curve (AUC) to measure how well SDMs can distinguish populations categorized as sources and sinks. We built SDMs using two different approaches, boosted regression trees (BRT) and generalized linear models (GLM), and compared their source/sink predictive performance. Each SDM was built with presence points obtained from eBird (a web‐available database) and 10 environmental variables previously selected to model intrinsic growth rates and abundance for these species.

We show that SDMs built with opportunistic data are poor predictors of species demography in general; both BRT and GLM explained very little spatial variation of intrinsic growth rate and population abundance (median R2 across 17 species was close to 0.1 for both SDM methods). SDMs, however, estimated higher suitability for source populations as compared to sinks. Out of 13 species which had both source and sink populations, both BRT and GLM had AUC values greater than 0.7 for 7 species when discriminating between sources and sinks.

Habitat suitability have the potential to be a useful measure to indicate a population's ability to sustain itself as a source population; however more research on a diverse set of taxa is essential to fully explore this potential. This interpretation of habitat suitability can be particularly useful for conservation practice, and identification of explicit cases of when and how SDMs fail to match population demography can be informative for advancing ecological theory.
Multi‐targets cleavage of BmNPV genome through genome‐wide repeat sequence using CRISPR/Cas9 antiviral system
Authors: Liu Yujia , Yang Xu , Wu Ping , Guo Xijie , Liu Zulian , Huang Yongping , Xu Xia
Published: October 2024

The escalating severity of Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) infections poses significant challenges to the silkworm industry, especially when massive production shifts occur from the eastern regions to western regions with lower labor costs. Education and experience levels are different and disease control is badly needed. To solve the problems, we have developed an innovative CRISPR/Cas9 system specifically targeting BmNPV to enhance viral resistance. For the system, we selected BmNPV genes linked to virus replication and proliferation as targets, designing 2 sites for each gene. Mutating the target sequence renders the system incapable of efficiently cleaving the virus genome, hence decreasing cleavage efficiency. We conducted a search for “NGG” or “CCN” target sequences in the BmNPV genome, excluding non‐recurring and potential targets in the B. mori genome. We successfully identified 2 distinct target sequences in the BmNPV genome—one being repeated 12 times and the other three times. These sequences lead to fragmentation of virus genome into multiple large segments that are difficult to repair. Transgenic silkworms demonstrate robust resistance to viruses, significantly boosting their survival rates compared with wild‐type silkworms under various virus infection concentrations. Our system efficiently targets dozens of viral genomes with just 2 sequences, minimizing transposable elements while ensuring cutting effectiveness. This marks a pioneering advancement by using repetitive elements within the virus genome for targeted CRISPR cleavage, aiming for antiviral effects through genome fragmentation rather than disrupting essential viral genes. Our research introduces innovative concepts to CRISPR antiviral investigations and shows promise for the practical application of gene editing in industrial silkworm strains.
Obstructive sleep apnoea, sleep bruxism and gastroesophageal reflux – mutually interacting conditions? A literature review
Authors: Thomas Davis C. , Colonna Anna , Manfredini Daniele
Published: October 2024

The purpose of the present manuscript is to provide an overview for researchers and clinicians summarizing the knowledge concerning the relationship between some of the main sleep‐related conditions of dental interest: sleep bruxism (SB), obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Starting with the discussion of the evolving current knowledge on SB, the interconnections are discussed. Most of the available literature focused on the possible relationship between OSA and SB, but a clear pathophysiological connection or temporal relationship has not been identified. Despite the paucity of data on the possible commonalities, SB, OSA and GERD constitute a complex network of conditions that may affect the clinical and research dental practice, and they are rarely found in isolation. In this scenario, the key role of dental practitioners as sentinel in the case of these sleep‐related conditions is important, thanks to their ability and the knowledge to identify signs, symptoms and risk factors that are signs of ongoing sleep‐related conditions. Thus, dental practitioners are recommended to view bruxism as a potential gateway to medicine.