bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CellsFromSpace: A fast, accurate and reference-free tool to deconvolve and annotate spatially distributed Omics data
Authors: Thuilliez Corentin , Moquin-Beaudry Gael , Khneisser Pierre , Da Costa Maria Eugenia Marques , Karkar Slim , Boudhouche Hanane , Drubay Damien , Audinot Baptiste , Geoerger Birgit , Scoazec Jean-Yves , Gaspar Nathalie , Marchais Antonin
Published: September 2023

Spatial transcriptomics involves capturing the transcriptomic profiles of millions of cells within their spatial contexts, enabling the analysis of cell crosstalk in healthy and diseased organs. However, spatial transcriptomics also raises new computational challenges for analyzing multidimensional data associated with spatial coordinates.

In this context, we introduce a novel framework called CellsFromSpace. This framework allows users to analyze various commercially available technologies without relying on a single-cell reference dataset. Based on the independent component analysis, CellsFromSpace decomposes spatial transcriptomic data into components that represent distinct cell types or activities. Here, we demonstrate that CellsFromSpace outperforms previous reference-free deconvolution tool in term of accuracy and speed, and successfully identify spatially distributed cells as well as rare diffuse cells on datasets from the Visium, Slide-seq, MERSCOPE, and COSMX technologies.

The framework provides a user-friendly graphical interface that enables non-bioinformaticians to perform a full analysis and to annotate the components based on marker genes and spatial distributions. Additionally, CellsFromSpace offers the capability to reduce noise or artifacts by component selection and supports analyses on multiple datasets simultaneously.

Graphical abstract
Understanding the relationship between the presence of vegetation and the spread of canine visceral leishmaniasis in Camaçari, Bahia State, Northeastern Brazil
Authors: Clark Freya N. , Silva Solcà Manuela da , Bittencourt Mothé Fraga Deborah , Ida Brodskyn Claudia , Giorgi Emanuele
Published: September 2023

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease spread by female phlebotomine sandflies (Lutzomyia longipalpis). The most severe form of the disease is visceral leishmaniasis (VL), which can cause fever, hepatosplenomegaly, weight loss and pancytopenia. Domestic canines are the main reservoir for human cases in Brazil because they live in close proximity and can remain asymptomatic for long periods of time. Consequently, sole treatment of human cases will not contain the spread of the disease. Current methods of control have been unsuccessful, and thus a better understanding of the canine transmission and the effect of their environment is required. Vegetation is one of the main risk factors for VL that affects the distribution of phlebotomine sandflies. Using geostatistical models, we aim to further understand the effect of vegetation on canine VL in the community of Camaçari, northeastern Brazil. The risk due to vegetation is quantified using the average of the normalised vegetation index (NDVI) for all pixels within each dog’s home range. We found that an increase in NDVI of 0.1 led to an 1.21-fold increase in the odds of canine visceral leishmaniasis, on average, suggesting that coastal vegetation has a particularly strong correlation with VL.

Author summary

Leishmaniasis is a disease spread by female phlebotomine sandflies when feeding from mammal blood. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), the most severe form of the disease, causes fever, weight loss and swelling of internal organs. The vast majority of human VL cases in the Americas occur in Brazil, where domestic canines act as disease pools due to their close proximity to humans and high proportion of asymptomatic cases. Due to a lack of testing and reporting of canine VL cases, authorities have been unable to control transmission. Understanding how VL spreads to canines is imperative to develop new prevention and control strategies. Phlebotomine sandflies feed on plant sap and nectar, and lay eggs around tree roots, hence, we suspect that a mammal would be more likely to contract VL when living near vegetation. We investigated how a dog’s proximity to vegetation affects its chances of contracting VL. We used a geostatistical model that combined the measure of the vegetation with the spatial correlation of the sampled locations of the dogs. Our model estimated that, on average, an increase of 0.1 in the measure of vegetation led to an 1.21-fold increase in the odds that a canine contracted VL.
White Matter Microstructural Plasticity Associated with Educational Intervention in Reading Disability
Authors: Meisler Steven L. , Gabrieli John D. E. , Christodoulou Joanna A.
Published: September 2023

Children’s reading progress typically slows during extended breaks in formal education, such as summer vacations. This stagnation can be especially concerning for children with reading difficulties or disabilities (RD), such as dyslexia, because of the potential to exacerbate the skills gap between them and their peers. Reading interventions can prevent skill loss and even lead to appreciable gains in reading ability during the summer. Longitudinal studies relating intervention response to brain changes can reveal educationally relevant insights into rapid learning-driven brain plasticity. The current work focused on reading outcomes and white matter connections, which enable communication among the brain regions required for proficient reading. We collected reading scores and diffusion-weighted images at the beginning and end of summer for 41 children with RDs who had completed either 1st or 2nd grade. Children were randomly assigned to either receive an intensive reading intervention (n= 26;Seeing Starsfrom Lindamood-Bell which emphasizes orthographic fluency) or be deferred to a wait-list group (n= 15), enabling us to analyze how white matter properties varied across a wide spectrum of skill development and regression trajectories. On average, the intervention group had larger gains in reading compared to the non-intervention group, who declined in reading scores. Improvements on a proximal measure of orthographic processing (but not other more distal reading measures) were associated with decreases in mean diffusivity within core reading brain circuitry (left arcuate fasciculus and left inferior longitudinal fasciculus) and increases in fractional anisotropy in the left corticospinal tract. Our findings suggest that responses to intensive reading instruction are related predominantly to white matter plasticity in tracts most associated with reading.
Dopamine receptor-expressing neurons are differently distributed throughout layers of the motor cortex to control dexterity
Authors: Cieslak Przemyslaw E. , Drabik Sylwia , Gugula Anna , Trenk Aleksandra , Gorkowska Martyna , Przybylska Kinga , Szumiec Lukasz , Kreiner Grzegorz , Parkitna Jan Rodriguez , Blasiak Anna
Published: September 2023

The motor cortex comprises the primary descending circuits for flexible control of voluntary movements and is critically involved in motor skill learning. Motor skill learning is impaired in patients with Parkinson’s disease, but the precise mechanisms of motor control and skill learning are still not well understood. Here we have used transgenic mice, electrophysiology,in situhybridization and neural tract-tracing methods to target genetically defined cell types expressing D1 and D2 dopamine receptors (D1+ and D2+, respectively) in the motor cortex. We observed that D1+ and D2+ neurons are organized in highly segregated, non-overlapping populations. Moreover, based onex vivopatch-clamp recordings, we showed that D1+ and D2+ cells have distinct morphological and electrophysiological properties. Finally, we observed that chemogenetic inhibition of D2+, but not D1+ neurons, disrupts skilled forelimb reaching in adult mice. Overall, these results demonstrate that dopamine receptor-expressing cells in the motor cortex are highly segregated and play a specialized role in manual dexterity.
Optimization of a Cardiomyocyte Model Illuminates Role of Increased INaLin Repolarization Reserve
Authors: Fullerton Kristin E , Clark Alexander P. , Krogh-Madsen Trine , Christini David J
Published: September 2023

Cardiac ion currents may compensate for each other when one is compromised by a congenital or drug-induced defect. Such redundancy contributes to a robust repolarization reserve that can prevent the development of lethal arrhythmias. Most efforts made to describe this phenomenon have quantified contributions by individual ion currents. However, it is important to understand the interplay between all major ion channel conductances, as repolarization reserve is dependent on the balance between all ion currents in a cardiomyocyte. Here, a genetic algorithm was designed to derive a profile of nine ion-channel conductances that optimizes repolarization reserve in a mathematical cardiomyocyte model. Repolarization reserve was quantified using a previously defined metric, repolarization reserve current, i.e., the minimum constant current to prevent normal action potential repolarization in a cell. The optimization improved repolarization reserve current by 77 % compared to baseline in a human adult ventricular myocyte model and increased resistance to arrhythmogenic insult. The optimized conductance profile was characterized by increased repolarizing current conductances, but also uncovered a previously un-reported behavior by the late sodium current. Simulations demonstrated that upregulated late sodium increased action potential duration, without compromising repolarization reserve current. The finding was generalized to multiple models. Ultimately, this computational approach in which multiple currents were studied simultaneously illuminated mechanistic insights into how the metric’s magnitude could be increased, and allowed for the unexpected role of late sodium to be elucidated.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY

Genetic algorithms are typically used to fit models or extract desired parameters from data. Here, we utilize the tool to produce a ventricular cardiomyocyte model with increased repolarization reserve. Since arrhythmia mitigation is dependent on multiple cardiac ion-channel conductances, study using a comprehensive, unbiased, and systems-level approach is important. This use of this optimization strategy allowed us to find a robust profile that illuminated unexpected mechanistic determinants of key ion-channel conductances in repolarization reserve.
A benzoxazolylurea inhibits VraS and enhances antimicrobials against vancomycin intermediate-resistantStaphylococcus aureus
Authors: Heckler Emerson P. , Ali Liaqat , Bhattarai Shrijan , Cagle-White Brittnee , Smith Nicklaus , Coover Robert A. , Abdel Aziz May H. , Sarkar Aurijit
Published: September 2023

Vancomycin intermediate-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) is a pathogen of concern. VraS, a histidine kinase, facilitates the VISA phenotype. Here, we reveal a benzoxazolylurea that directly inhibits VraS and enhances vancomycin to below the clinical breakpoint against an archetypal VISA strain. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first direct VraS inhibitor ever reported that shows significant enhancement of vancomycin against VISA.
Network effects of traumatic brain injury: from infra slow to high frequency oscillations
Authors: Marsh Brianna , Huang Mingxiong , Bazhenov Maxim
Published: September 2023

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can have a multitude of effects on neural functioning. In extreme cases, TBI can lead to seizures both immediately following the injury as well as persistent epilepsy over years to a lifetime. However, mechanisms of neural dysfunctioning after TBI remain poorly understood. To address these questions, we analyzed experimental data and developed a biophysical network model implementing effects of ion concentration dynamics and homeostatic synaptic plasticity to test effects of TBI on the brain network dynamics. We focus on three primary phenomena that have been reportedin vivoafter TBI: an increase in infra slow oscillations (<0.1 Hz), increase in delta (0.1 - 4 Hz) power, and the emergence of high frequency oscillations (HFOs) in the gamma range (30 - 100 Hz). We show that the infra slow oscillations can be directly attributed to extracellular potassium fluctuations, while the existence and characterization of HFOs is related to the increase in strength of synaptic weights from homeostatic synaptic scaling. The experimentally found transient increase in delta power can be attributed to the inter-HFO timings. We then show that buildup of high frequency oscillations in the injured region can lead to seizure-like events that span all neurons in the network; additional seizures can then be initiated in previously healthy regions. This study brings greater understanding of network effects of TBI, and how they can give rise to epileptic activity. This lays the foundation to begin investigating how injured networks can be healed and seizures prevented.

Significance Statement

This project delineates and attempts to explain abnormalities seen in human brain following traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI can lead to the development of seizures, which may last a lifetime and often become resistant to pharmaceutical treatments. The study identified key mechanisms responsible for occurrence of three characteristic changes in spatio-temporal network dynamics following TBI. This model provides predictions that can serve as a testing ground for potential therapeutic approaches.
Contralesional hippocampal spreading depolarization promotes functional recovery after stroke
Authors: Boyce Andrew K.J. , Fouad Yannick , Gom Renaud C. , Ashby Donovan M. , Martins-Silva Cristina , Molina Leonardo , Füzesi Tamas , Ens Carina , Nicola Wilten , McGirr Alexander , Teskey G. Campbell , Thompson Roger J.
Published: September 2023

Ischemic stroke, brain tissue infarction following obstructed cerebral blood flow, leads to long-term neurological deficits and death. While neocortex is a commonly affected region with established preclinical models, less is known about deeper brain strokes, despite having unique neurological outcomes. We induced focal ischemic stroke while simultaneously monitors neuronal activity in awake behaving Thy1-GCaMP6f mice by delivering and collecting light through bilateral fiberoptic implants. Unilateral hippocampal stroke resulted in atypical mouse behavior coincident with ipsilesional terminal spreading depolarization (sustained increase in GCaMP6f fluorescence). Ischemia induced seizures that propagated to the contralesional hippocampus triggering a transient spreading depolarization (SD), predominantly in females. Hippocampal stroke impaired contextual fear conditioning acquired pre-stroke. Yet, 7 days post-stroke, contextual fear conditioning was only improved in mice with evidence of contralesional SD. Here, recovery of hippocampal function was lost by blunting peri-stroke SD with NMDAR antagonism, indicating that contralesional SD improves recovery following hippocampal stroke.
Difficulty in artificial word learning impacts targeted memory reactivation and its underlying neural signatures
Authors: Klaassen Arndt-Lukas , Rasch Bjoern
Published: September 2023

Sleep associated memory consolidation and reactivation play an important role in language acquisition and learning of new words. However, it is unclear to what extent properties of word learning difficulty impact sleep associated memory reactivation. To address this gap, we investigated in twenty-two young healthy adults the effectiveness of auditory targeted memory reactivation (TMR) during non-rapid eye movement sleep of artificial words with easy and difficult to learn phonotactical properties. Here, we found that TMR of the easy words improved their overnight memory performance, whereas TMR of the difficult words had no effect. By comparing EEG activities after TMR presentations, we found an increase in slow wave density independent of word difficulty, whereas the spindle-band power nested during the slow wave up-states - as an assumed underlying activity of memory reactivation - was significantly higher in the easy/effective compared to the difficult/ineffective condition. Our findings indicate that word learning difficulty by phonotactics impacts the effectiveness of TMR and further emphasize the critical role of prior encoding depth in sleep associated memory reactivation.
Revisiting the effects of MDR1 Variants using computational approaches
Authors: Gutman Tal , Tuller Tamir
Published: September 2023

P-glycoprotein, encoded by the MDR1 gene, is an ATP-dependent pump that exports various substances out of cells. Its overexpression is related to multi drug resistance in many cancers. Numerous studies explored the effects of MDR1 variants on p-glycoprotein expression and function, and on patient survivability. T1236C, T2677C and T3435C are prevalent MDR1 variants that are the most widely studied, typically in-vitro and in-vivo, with remarkably inconsistent results. In this paper we perform computational, data-driven analyses to assess the effects of these variants using a different approach. We use knowledge of gene expression regulation to elucidate the variants’ mechanism of action. Results indicate that T1236C increases MDR1 levels by 2-fold and is correlated with worse patient prognosis. Additionally, examination of MDR1 folding strength suggests that T3435C potentially modifies co-translational folding. Furthermore, all three variants reside in potential translation bottlenecks and likely cause increased translation rates. These results support several hypotheses suggested by previous studies. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to apply a computational approach to examine the effects of MDR1 variants.
Live virus neutralizing antibodies against pre and post Omicron strains in food and retail workers in Québec, Canada
Authors: Rabezanahary Henintsoa , Gilbert Caroline , Santerre Kim , Scarrone Martina , Gilbert Megan , Thériault Mathieu , Brousseau Nicholas , Masson Jean-François , Pelletier Joelle N. , Boudreau Denis , Trottier Sylvie , Baz Mariana
Published: September 2023

Objectives

To assess the neutralization activity pre and post Omicron BA.1 emergence in a unique cohort of 280 vaccinated restaurant/bar, grocery and hardware store workers in Québec, Canada.

Methods

Participants were recruited during the emergence of Omicron BA.1 variant. The neutralizing activity of participant sera was assessed by microneutralization assay.

Results

Serum neutralizing antibody (NtAb) titers of all participants against the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain was comparable with the response against Delta variant, however, their response was significantly reduced against Omicron BA.1, BA2, BA.2.12.1, BA.4 and BA.5. The neutralizing response of each group of workers was similar. Individuals who received 2 doses of vaccine had significantly reduced NtAb titers against all SARS-CoV-2 strains compared to those infected and then vaccinated (≥1 dose), vaccinated (≥2 doses) and then infected, or those who received 3 doses of vaccine. Participants vaccinated with 2 or 3 doses of vaccine and then infected had the highest NtAb titers against all SARS-CoV-2 strains tested.

Conclusion

We assessed for the first time the NtAb response in food and retail workers. Individuals infected after ≥2 doses of vaccine had the highest levels of NtAbs against Omicron BA.1, BA.2 and BA.5 variants and might be better protected against reinfection.
GLOBAL PREVALENCE OF DEPRESSION IN CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS
Authors: Adejumo Oluseyi Ademola , Edeki Imuetinyan Rahsida , Dapo Oyedepo , Falade Joshua , Yisau Olawale Elijah , Ige Olanrewaju Olumide , Adesida Adedayo Oluwadamilola , Palencia Hansel , Moussa Ayman , Abdulmalik Jibril , Noubiap Jean Jacques , Ekrikpo Udeme Ekpenyong
Published: September 2023

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is commonly associated with psychosocial problems, especially depression, contributing to poor overall outcomes in CKD patients. Depression has not been given adequate priority in the management of CKD despite its significant adverse impact.

Objectives

This systematic review and meta-analysis determined the pooled prevalence of clinical depression in the global CKD population and sub-populations.

Design

A systematic search of PubMed, African Journals Online (AJOL), and EMBASE was undertaken to identify published articles with relevant data between 1989 and 2022. The pooled prevalence of clinical depression in the global CKD population was determined using random effects meta-analytic techniques.

Participants

Global adult and paediatric CKD population

Results

Eligible Sixty-one articles were included in this review, comprising 79,691 CKD patients from 26 countries. The participants’ mean age ranged from 11.0 to 76.3 years. Most (68.9%) of the studies had medium methodological quality. The overall pooled prevalence of depression was 27.6% (95% CI: 23.9–31.5%). Studies using Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM), International Classification of Disease, Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM disorder returned a pooled prevalence of 31.7%, 39.6%, 23.3%, 25.1%, respectively; p=0.09. There was significant difference in the pooled prevalence of CKD across the various continents; p=0.01.The prevalence of depression was higher among patients on chronic haemodialysis compared to those in pre-dialysis (31.1% versus 18.9%; p=0.02), and among those on hemodialysis compared to peritoneal dialysis (31.9% versus 20.4%; p=0.03). There was no significant difference between adults and children (28.0% versus 15.9%, p=0.17).

Conclusion

Depression is a common disorder in patients with CKD. The findings of this study have brought to the fore the need for clinicians to make deliberate efforts to evaluate CKD patients for depression, especially those with advanced stages of the disease.

The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022382708)

Strengths and Limitations

The pooled prevalence of depression in this study correctly represents the magnitude of the depression in the CKD population because it included only studies where depression was diagnosed clinically.

This review involved the global population of both adult and paediatric patients with pre-dialysis and dialytic kidney disease.

Only a few studies in this review determined the prevalence of depression in the early stages of CKD.

Studies reporting depression prevalence among kidney transplant patients were not included in this review, and the number of studies in the paediatric population was limited.
Uncovering the mosaic evolution of the carnivoran skeletal system
Authors: Law Chris J. , Hlusko Leslea J. , Tseng Z. Jack
Published: September 2023

The diversity of vertebrate skeletons is often attributed to adaptations to distinct ecological factors such as diet, locomotion, and sensory environment. Although the adaptive evolution of skull, appendicular skeleton, and vertebral column is well studied in vertebrates, comprehensive investigations of all skeletal components simultaneously are rarely performed. Consequently, we know little of how modes of evolution differ among skeletal components. Here, we tested if ecological and phylogenetic effects led to distinct modes of evolution among the cranial, appendicular, and vertebral regions in extant carnivoran skeletons. Using multivariate evolutionary models, we found mosaic evolution in which only the mandible, hindlimb, and posterior (i.e., last thoracic and lumbar) vertebrae showed evidence of adaptation towards ecological regimes whereas the remaining skeletal components reflect clade-specific evolutionary shifts. We hypothesize that the decoupled evolution of individual skeletal components may have led to the origination of distinct adaptive zones and morphologies among extant carnivoran families that reflect phylogenetic hierarchies. Overall, our work highlights the importance of examining multiple skeletal components simultaneously in ecomorphological analyses. Ongoing work integrating the fossil and paleoenvironmental record will further clarify deep-time drivers that govern carnivoran diversity we see today and reveal the complexity of evolutionary processes in multicomponent systems.
Plasmodium falciparumpopulations, transmission dynamics and infection origins across Papua New Guinea
Authors: Harrison G.L. Abby , Mehra Somya , Razook Zahra , Tessier Natacha , Lee Stuart , Hetzel Manuel W. , Tavul Livingstone , Laman Moses , Makita Leo , Amato Roberto , Miotto Olivo , Burke Nicholas , Jensen Anne , Kwiatkowski Dominic , Betuela Inoni , Siba Peter M. , Bahlo Melanie , Mueller Ivo , Barry Alyssa E.
Published: September 2023

Pathogen genomic surveillance demands rapid, low-cost genotyping solutions for tracking infections. Here we use single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) barcodes to generate practical information for malaria surveillance and control. Using 91Plasmodium falciparumgenomes from three provinces of Papua New Guinea (PNG), we assessed SNP panels with different allele frequency characteristics. A 191 ‘local’ SNP barcode captured similar patterns of population structure evident with 5786 ‘whole genome’ SNPs. Geographically informative SNPs (iSNPs,FST>0.05) show increased population clustering whilst randomly selected SNPs (rSNPs) and SNPs with similar allele frequencies (FST<0.05) amongst different countries (universal, uSNPs) or local PNG populations (balanced, bSNPs) indicated little clustering. SNP panels must be validated in local settings to ensure they capture the diversity and population structure of the target population. Applied to 727P. falciparumisolates from 16 provinces of PNG, the full barcode identified variable transmission dynamics, and eight major sub-populations, as well as the source of a malaria outbreak in a low transmission setting.
Multicentric validation of a Multimorbidity Adjusted Disability Score to stratify depression-related risks using temporal disease maps
Authors: González-Colom Rubèn , Mitra Kangkana , Vela Emili , Gezsi Andras , Paajanen Teemu , Gal Zsofia , Hullam Gabor , Mäkinen Hannu , Nagy Tamas , Kuokkanen Mikko , Piera-Jiménez Jordi , Roca Josep , Antal Peter , Juhasz Gabriella , Cano Isaac
Published: September 2023

In the EU project TRAJECTOME, we used a novel methodology to identify temporal disease maps of depression and highly prevalent co-occurring disease conditions. This information was combined with disability weights established by the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 to create a depression-related health risk assessment tool, the Multimorbidity Adjusted Disability Score (MADS). MADS was used to stratify over one million cases from three different cohorts and evaluate the impact on utilisation of healthcare resources, mortality, pharmacological burden, healthcare expenditure and multimorbidity progression. Results indicate statistically significant associations between MADS and increased mortality rate (P <.001), heightened healthcare utilization (i.e. emergency room visits P <.001; hospitalizations P <.001; pharmaceutical prescriptions P <.001; total healthcare expenditure P <.001), and a higher risk of disease progression and incidence of new depression-related comorbidities. MADS seems to be a promising approach to predict depression-related health risk and depression’s impact on individuals and healthcare systems, which can be tested in other diseases; nevertheless, clinical validation is still necessary.
Benchmarking nearest neighbor retrieval of zebra finch vocalizations across development
Authors: Tomka Tomas , Hao Xinyu , Miao Aoxue , Lee Kanghwi , Basha Maris , Reimann Stefan , Zai Anja T. , Hahnloser Richard H. R.
Published: September 2023

Vocalizations are highly specialized motor gestures that regulate social interactions. The reliable detection of vocalizations from raw streams of microphone data remains an open problem even in research on widely studied animals such as the zebra finch. A promising method for finding vocal samples from potentially few labelled examples (templates) is nearest neighbor retrieval, but this method has never been extensively tested on vocal segmentation tasks. We retrieve zebra finch vocalizations as neighbors of each other in the sound spectrogram space. Based on merely 50 templates, we find excellent retrieval performance in adults (F1 score of 0.93±0.07) but not in juveniles (F1 score of 0.64±0.18), presumably due to the larger vocal variability of the latter. The performance in juveniles improves when retrieval is based on fixed-size template slices (F1 score of 0.72±0.10) instead of entire templates. Among the several distance metrics we tested such as the cosine and the Euclidean distance, we find that the Spearman distance largely outperforms all others. We release our expert-curated dataset of more than 50’000 zebra finch vocal segments, which will enable training of data-hungry machine-learning approaches.
Iterative learning data driven strategy for aircraft control system
Authors: Jianhong Wang , Xiaoyong Guo
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to extend the previous contributions about data-driven control in aircraft control system from academy and practice, respectively, combining iteration and learning strategy. More specifically, after returning output signal to input part, and getting one error signal, three kinds of data are measured to design the unknown controller without any information about the unknown plant. Using the main essence of data-driven control, iterative learning idea is introduced together to yield iterative learning data-driven control strategy. To get the optimal data-driven controller, other factors are considered, for example, adaptation, optimization and learning. After reviewing the aircraft control system in detail, the numerical simulation results have demonstrated the efficiency of the proposed iterative learning data-driven control strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

First, considering one closed loop system corresponding to the aircraft control system, data-driven control strategy is used to design the unknown controller without any message about the unknown plant. Second, iterative learning idea is combined with data-driven control to yield iterative learning data-driven control strategy. The optimal data-driven controller is designed by virtue of power spectrum and mathematical optimization. Furthermore, adaptation is tried to combine them together. Third, to achieve the combination with theory and practice, our proposed iterative learning data-driven control is applied into aircraft control system, so that the considered aircraft can fly more promptly.

Findings

A novel iterative learning data-driven strategy is proposed to efficiently achieve the combination with theory and practice. First, iterative learning and data-driven control are combined with each other, being dependent of adaptation and optimization. Second, iterative learning data-driven control is proposed to design the flight controller for the aircraft system. Generally, data-driven control is more wide in our living life, so it is important to introduce other fields to improve the performance of data-driven control.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this new paper extends the previous contributions about data-driven control by virtue of iterative learning strategy. Specifically, iteration means that the optimal data-driven controller is solved as one recursive form, being related with one gradient descent direction. This novel iterative learning data-driven control has more advanced properties, coming from data driven and adaptive iteration. Furthermore, it is a new subject on applying data-driven control into the aircraft control system.
The role of CRM implementation in internal capital markets
Authors: Cheng Zhuo June , Min Yinghua , Tian Feng , Xu Sean Xin
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how customer relationship management (CRM) implementation affects internal capital allocation efficiency, the efficiency with which a firm allocates its capital across its business segments.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a statistical regression method to analyze a sample of 801 unique firms in the USA from COMPUSTAT and the Computer Intelligence database. This analysis examines the relation between CRM implementation and internal capital allocation efficiency and identifies the conditions under which firms benefit more from CRM implementation. They also use instrumental variables (IVs) to address endogenous concerns with a two-stage least squares (2SLS) model.

Findings

The authors find that CRM implementation is positively related to internal capital allocation efficiency. The results are robust to the 2SLS analysis with IVs. This positive relation is more pronounced for firms with effective internal control and for those operating in highly competitive markets.

Practical implications

The research implies that that CRM can have a significant cross-functional effect on corporate financing and budgeting. This also suggests that when chief marketing officers plan marketing initiatives and implement CRM, they should communicate to chief financial officers not only the direct effect but also the indirect strategic benefits of such initiatives to a firm.

Originality/value

The authors reveal a previously overlooked aspect of marketing accountability by suggesting marketing’s impact on internal capital markets. They also enrich the body of literature on CRM benefits by showing a cross-functional benefit from marketing to finance (or capital allocation).
Searching for alternative health and social care integration measurement tools – a rapid review of the existing systematic models
Authors: Tikkanen Samuli , Räsänen Pekka , Sinervo Timo , Keskimäki Ilmo , Sahlström Merja , Pesonen Tiina , Tiirinki Hanna
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Health care integration is crucial in improving service equality and patient outcomes. However, measuring integration between the health and social care sectors remains challenging. This article aims to review existing systematic models to identify alternative health and social care integration measurement tools. The review focuses on models that involve systematic planning and long-term cooperation across different organizational sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examines various dimensions and elements of integration, including process, outcome and structural measures. It compares different tools used to measure social and health care integration, such as the Rainbow model, Balanced Scorecard (BSC) Scorecard, PRISMA, SCIROCCO, integRATE, health-data simulation (HSIM) and the model developed by Åhgren and Axelsson. The analysis includes both empirical studies and theoretical frameworks.

Findings

The findings highlight the importance of standardized measurement methods to assess the impact of integration initiatives on patient outcomes, healthcare costs and the quality of care.

Originality/value

The review contributes to the ongoing discourse on social and health care integration, particularly in the Nordic context. The results can inform social and healthcare providers, policymakers and researchers in evaluating and improving integration initiatives.
Performance implications of financial resource allocation in new hiring: the case of major league baseball
Authors: Shin Ho Wook , Cho Sungho , Lee Jong Kwan
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Integrating the resource-based view (RBV) with pay dispersion research, the authors examine how the allocation of resources between hiring new employees and compensating current employees, as well as the allocation of resources among new employees, affects organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use panel data on Major League Baseball teams. The authors also use system generalized method of moments (GMM) estimations to control for the impact of past performance on current performance, unobserved individual heterogeneity and omitted variable bias.

Findings

The authors find that the larger the portion of the human resources (HR) budget allocated to hiring new employees, the poorer organizational performance becomes unless the focal organization has already significantly underperformed. The authors also find that pay concentration among new employees has a positive impact on organizational performance unless the focal organization has already significantly overperformed.

Originality/value

This study extends RBV research by examining how resource allocation patterns affect organizational performance, which has rarely been studied. Moreover, by showing the organizational context's significant effect on the outcome of financial allocation for resource acquisition, this study extends both the RBV research and the pay dispersion research.
Driving sustained work engagement: moderating role of leadership and organizational support for remote work
Authors: Deepa R. , Dharshini J. Juvala
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study aims to understand the impact of key resources on work engagement while working from home (WFH). Social support is divided into the support provided at home and leadership and organizational support (LOS) provided externally. Thus, the study contends that while WFH employees invest in internal resources, they seek validation, care and assurance from external resources. Previous studies' limitations were addressed by considering LOS as an external resource that strengthens the relationship between internal resources and work engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey research (n = 244) was undertaken, and the interaction effect between LOS and the other resources like flexibility, work support and the home environment was empirically validated using PROCESS macro.

Findings

The interaction effects between LOS and the internal resources were positive, which suggests that LOS helps mitigate the stress associated with remote working and results in positive work engagement.

Originality/value

The study delineates LOS as an external resource that augments the effect of internal resources on work engagement, which impacts work engagement. In research, significantly less effort has been expended on studying the effect of the home domain on work engagement, which was also the focus of this study. Future research can look at other factors that impact work engagement, especially in a remote work setting.
Host-guest complexes application in textile industry
Authors: Hamidon Farish Armani , Supian Faridah Lisa , Mat Darus Mazlina , Wong Yeong Yi , Abd Karim Nur Farah Nadia
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The host–guest molecules are often used in various fields and applications. This paper aims to discuss the role of host–guest complexes in the textile industry, focusing on calixarenes as a potential adsorbent for hazardous dyes. The paper begins with an introduction to nanotechnology and its many uses, including textiles.

Design/methodology/approach

The risks associated with the utilisation of dyes and its adverse effects on the environment are then also highlighted. This paper also discusses the structure and characteristics of calixarenes and their potential use as an adsorbent to extract toxic metals from aqueous solutions. The paper also explains the molecular structure of calixarenes, especially the ability of its upper and lower rims, which can be altered to yield derivatives with various selectivities for diverse guest ions and small molecules. In addition, the application of various host–guest molecules in the textiles industry to extract dyes also had been discussed.

Findings

In conclusion, the paper highlights the essential in establishing a systematic review on the significance of selective adsorbents, such as calixarenes, to isolate particular targets from diverse matrices in the textile industry.

Research limitations/implications

Only discussing several applications for several host–guest molecules.

Originality/value

The paper concisely describes various host–guest molecule applications in the textile industry, with each molecule being elaborated upon in detail.
The small‐bat‐in‐summer paradigm: Energetics and adaptive behavioural routines of bats investigated through a stochastic dynamic model
Authors: Fjelldal Mari Aas , Muller Amandine Sophie , Ratikainen Irja Ida , Stawski Clare , Wright Jonathan
Published: September 2023

Strong seasonality at high latitudes represents a major challenge for many endotherms as they must balance survival and reproduction in an environment that varies widely in food availability and temperature. To avoid energetic mismatches caused by limited foraging time and stochastic weather conditions, bats employ the energy‐saving state of torpor during summer to save accumulated energy reserves.

However, at high‐latitude small‐bats‐in‐summer face a particular challenge: as nocturnal foragers, they rely on the darkness at night to avoid predators and/or interspecific competition, but live in an environment with short, light summer nights, and even a lack of true night at the northernmost distributions of some bat species.

To predict optimal behaviour in relation to latitudinal variation in diurnal cycles, we constructed a stochastic dynamic programming model of bats living at high latitudes. Using a stochastic dynamic programming framework with values that are representative for our study system, we show that individual energetic reserves are a strong driver of daytime use of torpor and night‐time foraging behaviour alike, with these linked effects being both temperature‐ and photoperiod‐dependent.

We further used the model to predict survival probabilities at five locations across a latitudinal gradient (60.1° N to 70.9° N), finding that combinations of photoperiod and temperature conditions limited population distributions in the model.

To verify our model results, we compared predictions for optimal decisions with our own empirical data collected on northern bats (Eptesicus nilssonii) from two latitudes in Norway. The similarities between our predictions and observations provide strong evidence that this model framework incorporates the most important drivers of diurnal decision‐making in bat physiology and behaviour.

Comparing empirical data and model predictions also revealed that bats facing lighter night conditions further north restrict their mass gain, which strengthens the hypothesis that predation threat is a main driver of bat nocturnality. Our model findings regarding state‐dependent decisions in bats should contribute to the understanding of how bats cope with the summer challenges at high latitudes.
The common operating picture as a collaborative governance tool for urban resilience
Authors: Therrien Marie‐Christine , Manrique Rueda Gabriela , Normandin Julie‐Maude , Veillette Sandrine , Chelihi Morgan , Arnaud Joris
Published: September 2023

Through analysis of the narratives of participants to the London Common Operating Picture (COP), this study discusses the “information warehouse” and the “trading zone” theoretical perspectives on the COP that consider it, respectively, as an information system to share common information on a crisis or as a relational space of learning in which common meanings enable decision‐making and coordination. The trading zone approach has started to examine its role as a coordination tool, but there is little empirical research on how it can foster network's collaboration. Through an exploration of the COP participants' positions as boundary spanners, this study puts forward the trading zone perspective, showing that in London it has become a regular mechanism of collaboration and coordination. It argues that boundary spanners operate at multiple boundaries that enable network's collaboration and coordination, and the relational character of the COP create bonds of trust that foster collaboration and common understandings on the role of communication, collaboration, information sharing, and coordination for the security of all. We show that the COP is a relational space that creates a sense of belonging to a common community of security that believes in the role of networks' information sharing and collaboration for urban resilience.
An examination of self‐efficacy and sense of belonging on accounting student achievement
Authors: Beatson Nicola , de Lange Paul , Tharapos Meredith , O'Connell Brendan , Smith Jeffrey , Scott Stephen , Greatbanks Richard
Published: September 2023

Student success is impacted by many factors, both individual and institutional. We examine Tinto's (Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 2017, 19, 254) theoretical model of achievement by surveying students enrolled in an introductory accounting subject (n = 132) at a New Zealand university twice and relating their responses to their levels of achievement in the subject. We find that both self‐efficacy beliefs and a sense of belonging to the university are significantly related to academic success. This study builds on the body of work examining non‐cognitive factors in accounting education and provides practical implications for accounting educators.
Oral health messages for Australia: A national consensus statement
Authors: Welti R , Chinotti M , Walsh O , Arcus M , Asgari J , Phillips K , Wallace J , Do L , Moynihan P , Silva M
Published: September 2023

Background

Oral health promotion initiatives must be evidence‐based and consistent with broader health messaging. The Oral Health Messages for the Australian Public were first produced in 2009 and sought to enable a focused, and strategic approach to oral health promotion in Australia. As the evidence base and needs of the Australian population have since changed, this consensus statement was updated in 2022–2023.

Methods

The process of updating the messages consisted of 3 phases (preparatory phase, the Delphi technique, final revision phase). The preparatory phase included public and expert consultation, an umbrella review of published scientific literature and review of available recommendations, policies and guidelines. The Delphi technique used in this study was guided by Guidance on Conducting and REporting DElphi Studies (CREDES) and included 2 voting rounds. There were 70 experts in round 1 and 60 experts in round 2. Delphi participants comprised of experts from a variety of fields to ensure diversity and inclusion, balance expertise and maximize stakeholder representation. Consensus was defined as 75% agreement.

Results

A total of 11 messages were included in the 2022 update of Oral Health Messages for Australia.

Conclusion

The updated oral health messages will support oral health promotion policy and activity at both individual and population level to improve the oral health of Australians.