bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reducing PSY activity fine tunes threshold levels of acis-carotene-derived signal that regulates the PIF3/HY5 module and plastid biogenesis
Authors: Hou Xin , Alagoz Yagiz , Welsch Ralf , Mortimer Matthew D , Pogson Barry J. , Cazzonelli Christopher I.
Published: June 2023

PHYTOENE SYNTHASE (PSY) is a rate-limiting enzyme catalysing the first committed step of carotenoid biosynthesis, and changes in PSY gene expression and/or protein activity alter carotenoid composition and plastid differentiation in plants. Here we identified four genetic variants ofPSY(psy−4,psy−90,psy−130andpsy−145) using a forward genetics approach that rescued leaf virescence phenotypes displayed by theArabidopsisCAROTENOID ISOMERASE (CRTISO) mutantccr2(carotenoid and chloroplast regulation 2) when grown under a shorter photoperiod. The four non-lethal mutations affected alternative splicing, enzyme-substrate interactions, and PSY:ORANGE multi-enzyme complex binding, constituting the dynamic posttranscriptional fine-tuning of PSY levels and activity without changing localization to the stroma and protothylakoid membranes.psygenetic variants did not alter overall total xanthophyll or cis-carotene accumulation inccr2 yetreduced specific acyclic linearcis-carotenes linked to the biosynthesis of a yet-to-be-identified apocarotenoid signal.ccr2 psyvariants modulated the ratio of PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 3/ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (PIF3/HY5), displayed a normal PLB formation in etioplasts, and chlorophyll accumulation during seedling photomorphogenesis. Thus, suppressing PSY activity and impairing PSY:ORANGE protein interactions reveals how threshold specificcis-carotene levels can be fine-tuned through holoenzyme-metabolon interactions to control plastid development.

Highlights

Manipulation of the PHYTOENE SYNTHASE catalytic activity in concert with its regulatory protein, ORANGE, reduces threshold levels of acyclic linearcis-carotenes that signal control over plastid biogenesis in dark and light grown Arabidopsis seedlings
The Unexpected Match: STAT3-NORAD Interaction, a Novel Link in Antiviral Defense
Authors: Argoetti Amir , Shalev Dor , Polyak Galia , Shima Noa , Biran Hadas , Lahav Tamar , Hashimshony Tamar , Mandel-Gutfreund Yael
Published: June 2023

In the intricate biological landscape, evolution often repurposes familiar elements for novel roles. This study reveals an interaction between the long non-coding RNA NORAD, noted for its role in DNA stability, and the immune-related transcription factor STAT3. Our findings indicate that NORAD’s binding to STAT3 facilitates its nuclear entry, suppressing the antiviral response. In the absence of NORAD, STAT3 remains cytoplasmic, enabling STAT1 to activate this response. Evidence from viral infections and clinical samples reinforces this unique role for NORAD. Intriguingly, while other functions of NORAD are conserved in evolution, this newly discovered role is unique to humans, owing to the introduction of an ALU element in hominoids. This discovery sheds new light on the evolution of antiviral defenses.
Genomic refugium of pre-domestication lineages in the Bronze Age Carpathian Basin
Authors: Dicső Zoltán , Szabó Géza , Bozi Róbert , Borbély Noémi , Heltai Botond , Kulcsár Gabriella , Mende Balázs Gusztáv , Kiss Viktória , Szécsényi-Nagy Anna , Gerber Dániel
Published: June 2023

Horse domestication is a key element in history for its impact on human mobility and warfare. There is clear evidence for horse control from the beginning of the 2ndmillennium BCE in the Carpathian Basin, when antler cheekpieces appear in the archaeological record mostly in the eastern areas. Previous archaeogenomic studies also revealed that the spread of the ancestors of modern day horses began at this time period, but the details of this event in Bronze Age Europe is yet to be uncovered. In this study we report a new shotgun genome (∼0.9x coverage) of a Middle Bronze Age horse (radiocarbon dated to 1740-1630 cal. BCE) from Tompa site, southern Hungary, along with six mitochondrial genomes from various sites from Late Copper Age to Early Bronze Age Western Hungary. Our results reveal a strong bottleneck among pre-domestication Carpathian Basin horses and delayed DOM2 introduction into the region compared to the surrounding areas. The population size reduction was most probably due to human mediated loss of natural habitat, but the practice of horsekeeping after the turn of the 2ndmillennium BCE can not be excluded based on the genomic data. Our results provide a complex history for horse domestication in the Central-European region, highlighting the need for further research to fully understand the extent and nature of human-horse interactions in this area throughout prehistory.
Nausea-induced suppression of feeding is mediated by central amygdala Dlk1 expressing neurons
Authors: Ding Wenyu , Weltzien Helena , Peters Christian , Klein Rüdiger
Published: June 2023

The motivation to eat is suppressed by satiety and by aversive stimuli such as nausea. Compared to the neural regulation of homeostatic feeding, the mechanism of appetite suppression by nausea is not well understood. Previous work characterized PKCδ neurons in the lateral subdivision (CeL) of the central amygdala (CeA) to suppress feeding in response to satiety signals and nausea. Here, we characterized a previously unknown neuronal population enriched in the medial subdivision (CeM) of the CeA and marked by expression of Dlk1. Distinct from CeAPKCδneurons, CeADlk1neurons are activated by nausea, but not by satiety, form long-range projections to many brain regions and exert their anorexigenic activity by inhibition of neurons of the parabrachial nucleus. CeADlk1neurons are under inhibitory control of appetitive CeA neurons, but also receive long-range monosynaptic inputs from multiple brain regions. Our results illustrate a novel CeA circuit that regulates nausea-induced feeding suppression.

Highlights

CeADlk1neurons are a previously unknown CeA cell population, enriched in the CeM

CeADlk1neurons are activated by nausea and bitter food, but not satiety

CeADlk1neurons suppress feeding under conditions of nausea

CeADlk1neuronal projections to the PBN mediate feeding suppression
Discovery of novel DNA cytosine deaminase activities enables a nondestructive single-enzyme methylation sequencing method for base resolution high-coverage methylome mapping of cell-free and ultra-low input DNA
Authors: Vaisvila Romualdas , Johnson Sean R. , Yan Bo , Dai Nan , Bourkia Billal M. , Chen Minyong , Corrêa Ivan R. , Yigit Erbay , Sun Zhiyi
Published: June 2023

Cytosine deaminases have important uses in the detection of epigenetic modifications and in genome editing. However, the range of applications of deaminases is limited by a small number of well characterized enzymes. To expand the toolkit of deaminases, we developed an in-vitro approach that bypasses a major hurdle with their severe toxicity in expression hosts. We systematically assayed the activity of 175 putative cytosine deaminases on an unprecedented variety of substrates with epigenetically relevant base modifications. We found enzymes with high activity on double- and single-stranded DNA in various sequence contexts including novel CpG-specific deaminases, as well as enzymes without sequence preference. We also report, for the first time, enzymes that do not deaminate modified cytosines. The remarkable diversity of cytosine deaminases opens new avenues for biotechnological and medical applications. Using a newly discovered non-specific, modification-sensitive double-stranded DNA deaminase, we developed a nondestructive single-enzyme 5-methylctyosine sequencing (SEM-seq) method. SEM-seq enables accurate, high-coverage, base-resolution methylome mapping of scarce biological material including clinically relevant cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and single-cell equivalent 10 pg input DNA. Using SEM-seq, we generated highly reproducible base-resolution 5mC maps, accounting for nearly 80% of CpG islands for a low input human cfDNA sample offering valuable information for identifying potential biomarkers for detection of early-stage cancer and other diseases. This streamlined protocol will enable robust, high-throughput, high-coverage epigenome profiling of challenging samples in research and clinical settings.
Syndiniales parasites drive species networks and are a biomarker for carbon export in the oligotrophic ocean
Authors: Anderson Sean R. , Blanco-Bercial Leocadio , Carlson Craig A. , Harvey Elizabeth L.
Published: June 2023

Microbial associations that result in phytoplankton mortality are important for carbon transport in the ocean. This includes parasitism, which in microbial food webs, is dominated by the marine alveolate group, Syndiniales. Parasites are expected to contribute to carbon recycling via host lysis; however, knowledge on host dynamics and correlation to carbon export remain unclear and limit the inclusion of parasitism in biogeochemical models. We analyzed a 4-year 18S rRNA metabarcoding dataset (2016-2019), performing network analysis for twelve discrete depths (1- 1000 m) to determine Syndiniales-host associations in the seasonally oligotrophic Sargasso Sea. Analogous water column and sediment trap data were included to define environmental drivers of Syndiniales and their correlation with particulate carbon flux (150 m). Syndiniales accounted for 48-74% of network edges, most often associated with Dinophyceae and Arthropoda (mainly copepods) at the surface and Rhizaria (Polycystinea, Acantharea, and RAD-B) in the aphotic zone. Unlike other major groups, Syndiniales were significantly (and negatively) correlated with particulate carbon flux, suggesting parasites may drive flux attenuation through remineralization. Examination of Syndiniales amplicons revealed a range of depth patterns, including specific ecological niches and vertical connection among a subset (19%) of the community, the latter implying sinking of parasites (infected hosts or spores) on particles. Our findings point to the use of Syndiniales as biomarkers of carbon export, highlighting their importance for marine food webs and biogeochemistry.

Significance Statement

Syndiniales parasites are widespread in the ocean and represent a potentially important, albeit poorly resolved, source of carbon recycling. Here, we assess Syndiniales population dynamics, trophic relationships, and links to carbon export in the Sargasso Sea. Species networks at all depths were driven by Syndiniales, with parasite-host relationships varying with depth based on shifts in host composition. Syndiniales were the only eukaryote group to be significantly (and negatively) correlated with particulate carbon flux, indicating their contribution to flux attenuation via remineralization. Yet, a subset of parasites was vertically connected between photic and aphotic zones, suggesting continued export. Our findings elevate the critical role of Syndiniales in marine microbial systems and reveal their potential use as biomarkers for carbon export.
A partial Drp1 knockout improves autophagy flux independent of mitochondrial function
Authors: Fan Rebecca Z. , Sportelli Carolina , Lai Yanhao , Salehe Said , Pinnell Jennifer R. , Richardson Jason R. , Luo Shouqing , Tieu Kim
Published: June 2023

Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) is typically known for its role in mitochondrial fission. A partial inhibition of this protein has been reported to be protective in experimental models of neurodegenerative diseases. The protective mechanism has been attributed primarily to improved mitochondrial function. Herein, we provide evidence showing that a partial Drp1-knockout improves autophagy flux independent of mitochondria. First, we characterized in cell and animal models that at low non-toxic concentrations, manganese (Mn), which causes parkinsonian-like symptoms in humans, impaired autophagy flux but not mitochondrial function and morphology. Furthermore, nigral dopaminergic neurons were more sensitive than their neighbouring GABAergic counterparts. Second, in cells with a partial Drp1-knockdown and Drp1+/-mice, autophagy impairment induced by Mn was significantly attenuated. This study demonstrates that autophagy is a more vulnerable target than mitochondria to Mn toxicity. Furthermore, improving autophagy flux is a separate mechanism conferred by Drp1 inhibition independent of mitochondrial fission.
Differential use of the Nkx2.2 NK2 domain in developing pancreatic islets and neurons
Authors: Seymour Philip A. , Serup Palle
Published: June 2023

The homeodomain transcription factor (TF) Nkx2.2 governs crucial cell fate decisions in several developing organs, including the central nervous system (CNS), pancreas, and intestine. How Nkx2.2 regulates unique targets in these different systems to impact their individual transcriptional programs remains unclear. In this issue ofGenes & DevelopmentAbarinov and colleagues (pp. 490–504) generated and analyzed mice in which the Nkx2.2 SD is mutated and found that the SD is required for normal pancreatic islet differentiation but dispensable for most aspects of neuronal differentiation.
Efficient mapping of accurate long reads in minimizer space with mapquik
Authors: Ekim Bariş , Sahlin Kristoffer , Medvedev Paul , Berger Bonnie , Chikhi Rayan
Published: June 2023

DNA sequencing data continue to progress toward longer reads with increasingly lower sequencing error rates. We focus on the critical problem of mapping, or aligning, low-divergence sequences from long reads (e.g., Pacific Biosciences [PacBio] HiFi) to a reference genome, which poses challenges in terms of accuracy and computational resources when using cutting-edge read mapping approaches that are designed for all types of alignments. A natural idea would be to optimize efficiency with longer seeds to reduce the probability of extraneous matches; however, contiguous exact seeds quickly reach a sensitivity limit. We introduce mapquik, a novel strategy that creates accurate longer seeds by anchoring alignments through matches ofkconsecutively sampled minimizers (k-min-mers) and only indexingk-min-mers that occur once in the reference genome, thereby unlocking ultrafast mapping while retaining high sensitivity. We show that mapquik significantly accelerates the seeding and chaining steps—fundamental bottlenecks to read mapping—for both the human and maize genomes with > 96% sensitivity and near-perfect specificity. On the human genome, for both real and simulated reads, mapquik achieves a 37 × speedup over the state-of-the-art tool minimap2, and on the maize genome, mapquik achieves a 410 × speedup over minimap2, making mapquik the fastest mapper to date. These accelerations are enabled from not only minimizer-space seeding but also a novel heuristicO(n)pseudochaining algorithm, which improves upon the long-standingO(nlogn)bound. Minimizer-space computation builds the foundation for achieving real-time analysis of long-read sequencing data.
N-(4-Ethoxyphenyl)-3-oxobutanamide
Authors: Yerramsetty Sreevandana , Fronczek Frank R. , Uppu Rao M.
Published: June 2023

The title compound, C12H15NO3, crystallizes with Z′ = 2 in space group Pca21 with the two independent molecules having almost the same conformation, differing mostly at the end of the butanamide chain. A local inversion center near 1/8, 3/4, z relates the two molecules, as is common for structures in this space group with Z′ = 2. The molecule crystallizes as the keto tautomer, and the β-diketone moieties are twisted out of planarity, with O—C...C—O pseudo torsion angles of −74.4 (5) and −83.9 (5)°. The N—H group of each independent molecule donates an intermolecular hydrogen bond to an amide carbonyl oxygen atom by positive or negative translations along the b axis, thus forming antiparallel chains propagating in the [010] direction.
Food safety and cognitive biases: what we know, what we need to know, and why
Authors: James Harvey S. , Segovia Michelle , Giwa-Daramola Damilola
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The authors review the small but growing literature linking cognitive biases to food safety problems and foodborne illness outbreaks.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a search of peer-reviewed articles utilizing empirical methods published since the year 2000 focusing on food safety or foodborne illnesses/outbreaks and cognitive biases.

Findings

The authors find that most research is conducted at the consumer side of the food system, with few studies examining the potential problems that can arise in the production and processing of food. The authors also observe that most research tends to focus on a few cognitive biases.

Originality/value

This is the most comprehensive study to date examining insights from the literature on cognitive biases and the related discipline of behavioral economics to the specific problem of foodborne illness outbreaks and food safety problems.
Predictors of continued intention of working professionals for pursuing e-learning courses for career advancement
Authors: Deshpande Amruta , Raut Rajesh , Gupta Kirti , Mittal Amit , Raheja Deepali , Ekbote Nivedita , Kaul Natashaa
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the continuance intentions of working professionals to pursue e-learning courses as a path for career advancement. The primary objective of this study is to ascertain the predictors of continued intentions of working professionals to pursue e-learning courses and examine if this is a trend in career development.

Design/methodology/approach

Perceived usefulness of e-learning, motivation and satisfaction are independent variables which are examined using a regression model as potential determinants of continued intentions to use various e-learning platforms. Data from 240 working professionals in different sectors was collected. In addition, satisfaction, motivation and perceived usefulness among the male and female respondents are compared using ANOVA.

Findings

The findings showed that motivation, satisfaction and perceived usefulness of e-learning are significant predictors and have a strong influence on the continued intentions of working professionals to pursue e-learning courses. In addition, the results showed that motivation levels while pursuing e-learning and satisfaction derived from them were higher for female professionals.

Practical implications

This study identifies the antecedents of the continued intentions of working professionals to pursue e-learning courses on the path of career advancement. The outcome of the study can be used by educators and e-content creators to make e-learning more engaging. Corporates can also use the results of this study to identify initiatives that can encourage the pursuit of e-learning.

Originality/value

This study provides an important insight exploring the antecedents of continued intentions of working professionals to pursue e-learning courses as a path of career advancement. The research contributes significantly to the understanding thought process of working professionals towards their careers.
The role of effectuation and causation for SME survival amidst economic crisis
Authors: Osiyevskyy Oleksiy , Shirokova Galina , Ehsani Mehrsa
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Economy-wide crises create major challenges for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Existing studies emphasize the crucial role of contrasting behavioral strategies, effectuation and causation in SMEs' adaptation to crisis conditions. Yet, prior literature concentrated predominantly on exploring the impact of effectuation and causation on firm performance rather than survival. The authors present and empirically test a theoretical model explaining how behavioral strategies affect SME survival during an economy-wide crisis under different levels of environmental dynamism.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose a theoretical framework based on the combination of the effectuation literature and the emerging variance-based perspective on entrepreneurial actions. The theoretical model is then tested using a sample of Russian SMEs during a period of economic adversity and recovery (2015–2019).

Findings

The empirical results reveal that causation reduces the probability of firm survival in dynamic environments, while effectuation increases the chance of survival irrespective of the state of the environment. In a nutshell, the study provides evidence that the effectuation logic serves a viable way for SMEs to increase the chances of survival through the economic shock and subsequent recovery period.

Originality/value

For the first time in the literature, the authors demonstrate the role of behavioral strategy (effectual and causal) as a crucial antecedent of SME survival in the short and medium term, particularly during an economy-wide downturn. Furthermore, the study demonstrates the power of variability-based theorizing for explaining and predicting the survival/failure implications of entrepreneurial actions.
Entrepreneurs' gender and small business going green
Authors: Nguyen Bach , Lin Han , Vu Nhung
Published: June 2023

Purpose

For small businesses, the strategic objective of going green may be a gendered process. Male and female entrepreneurs, due to their gender roles, respond differently to intrinsic motivations and extrinsic pressures to go green. This study aims to investigate whether women-run or men-run firms are more likely to go green due to intrinsic motivations versus extrinsic pressures. Moreover, it examines how the effect of gender on going green is moderated by market competition and gender inequality.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a dataset of small businesses in 40 countries, mostly developing, in Eastern Europe, Western Asia and Northern Africa.

Findings

Women-run firms are more likely to go green due to both intrinsic motivations and extrinsic pressures compared to men-run firms. Notably, market competition weakens the positive effect of female ownership on firm going green while gender inequality amplifies the relationship.

Originality/value

This research is one of the first to examine the gendered process of going green in small businesses. Using the social feminist and institutional theories to understand how male and female entrepreneurs go green for different types of motivations, this research expands understanding of the green transition of small businesses.
An innovation maturity assessment framework for universities with an integrated ANP approach
Authors: Saihi Afef , Madani Batool , Ndiaye Malick
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Identifying the criteria that effectively drive innovation in universities is critical to assessing their innovation maturity level, and hence, planning for the improvements required to reach a target level. This paper aims to propose a three-phase approach to develop a multidimensional maturity assessment framework used by university decision-makers to determine their level of innovation readiness.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a systematic collection of evaluation criteria from the literature is conducted. The results are mapped into different categories in a hierarchical and multidimensional way, and validated by experts. The second phase aims to identify the critical factors and their priorities, which are determined using analytic network process (ANP). To facilitate that, a panel of thirteen experts is formed and questionnaires are sent to rank the importance of the criteria and their elements. Finally, a maturity assessment tool is developed to complement the framework, allowing decision-makers to determine the level of innovation maturity with respect to each dimension and the overall position.

Findings

Results revealed three clusters, eight criteria and 26 subcriteria related to innovation in universities. The findings about the relative importance of the various attributes are reflected in the developed assessment tool and taken into consideration in the maturity indices computation approach.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first attempt to develop a comprehensive list of innovation success drivers in universities and to use this list to design an innovation maturity assessment framework
Orientation and absorptive capacity towards sustainability: a missing link between sustainability and performance
Authors: Shah Naimatullah , Moawad Nisren Farouk , Bhatti Mitho Khan , Abdelwahed Nadia A. Abdelmegeed , Soomro Bahadur Ali
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study investigates economic sustainability through orientation and absorptive capacity.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers developed a conceptual framework based on vigorous literature for this investigation. This study targeted managers from Pakistan's SME sector as respondents and employed cross-sectional data. In total, the authors based this study's findings on 192 valid cases.

Findings

The structural equation modeling (SEM) results highlight that innovation orientation (IO), customer orientation (CO), supplier orientation (SO), network orientation (NO) and absorptive capacity (AC) have significant effects on economic sustainability (ES). Moreover, this study's findings show that ES significantly predicts environmental sustainability (ENS). Finally, the results also demonstrate that ES and ENS positively and substantially affect financial performance (FP).

Practical implications

This study's findings help SMEs continue sustainable business practices by avoiding adverse environmental effects and ongoing climate changes. This study's findings contribute also to the manufacture of eco-friendly environmental products to reduce the contamination of the environment. Financial institutions and policymakers would boost SME owners' capacity and the obtainability of financial resources to improve Pakistani SMEs’ sustainable economic and environmental performance.

Originality/value

This study's findings help to enrich environmental and economic sustainability and, more significantly, for developing countries.
Exploring active and passive interactions in social networking services: a psychological needs perspective
Authors: Yang Yongqing , Xu Jianyue , Land Lesley Pek Wee , Yang Shuiqing , Chesney Thomas
Published: June 2023

Purpose

People's socializing behavior in social networking services (SNS) presents dramatically different features, forming differentiated online social interaction patterns (DOSIP) in SNS. This study aims to explore the relationships between users' multidimensional psychological needs and multiple social interaction patterns in SNS.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs and use and gratifications (U&G) theory, the authors develop the research model to examine the effects of psychological needs on DOSIP. A survey is used to collect the data of SNS users' social interaction. The authors adopt structural equation modeling–neural network (SEM-NN) integrated method to examine the research model.

Findings

Need to belong, need for self-esteem, need for social contact, need for emotional expression, need for cognition, and need for external-esteem have significant influences on both active and passive social interactions respectively.

Originality/value

Based on the categorization of DOSIP into six types in terms of the level of activity and disclosure of social interaction, the authors construct an integrated research model of multidimensional psychological needs to multiple social interaction patterns, and validate the antecedents of DOSIP from the perspective of psychological needs.
Exploring the lived experience of secure patients during COVID-19
Authors: Humphries Karen , Clarke Caroline , Willoughby Kate , Collingwood Sophie
Published: June 2023

Purpose

In 2019, the world was hit by a life threatening severe acute respiratory syndrome causing a global pandemic; Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In the UK, a nationwide “lockdown” of public isolation and reduced social contact followed. The experience of COVID-19 and the lockdown for forensic secure mental health patients is yet to be understood. This study aims to explore this phenomenon from the patients’ perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach was taken. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with six patients from a low secure unit in the UK, between November 2020 and March 2021.

Findings

Interpretive phenomenological analysis generated three superordinate themes from the data, providing insight into patients’ experience: “treading water”; how they managed: “learning to swim”; and what was helpful during this time: “in the same boat”.

Practical implications

Further consideration should be given to creating a sense of safety in wards, along with ways to continue to address the power imbalance. Interestingly, social connection may be cultivated from within the hospital setting and would benefit from further research.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore secure patients’ experience of COVID-19 from the patients’ perspective, within a population often neglected within recovery research.
How did local wisdom and practice make schools thrive during the pandemic? Evidence from a positive deviance study in rural Uganda
Authors: Atuhurra Julius , Kim-Hines Yoonjung , Nishimura Mikiko
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This research explores the impact of the locally grown strategies for learning support, as a positive deviance (PD) study, during the COVID-19 pandemic in rural Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers employed a randomized control trial (RCT) as an original design whereby 50 schools received a full package of SMS and WhatsApp peer groups of head teachers, 50 schools received SMS only and another 50 served as a control group. As an analytical method, this study adopted a difference-in-difference (DID) model to analyze the impact of the radio talk shows promoted through SMS followed by discussion among WhatsApp peer groups. The data collected in June 2021 and February 2022 were used due to the COVID-19-related data limitation of the baseline survey collected in 2019.

Findings

The authors found that the local radio talk shows as a PD intervention had a humble impact on preventing pupils’ dropout during the school closures for two years in Uganda. However, the authors did not obtain a significant result on the impact of the PD intervention on pedagogical support or learning outcomes at the school level. The authors also found that the pupils have significantly dropped their level of proficiencies in literacy and numeracy during the pandemic.

Originality/value

The findings could be of value for the leaders, educators and policymakers to understand the most recent update of learning situation in Uganda and the potential impact of locally grown strategies for learning which does not require external inputs.
The eradication of hate speech on social media: a systematic review
Authors: Gracia-Calandín Javier , Suárez-Montoya Leonardo
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a quantitative and qualitative synthesis of the diverse academic proposals and initiatives for preventing and eliminating hate speech on the internet.

Design/methodology/approach

The foundation for this study is a systematic review of papers devoted to the analysis of hate speech. It has been conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol and applied to an initial corpus of 436 academic texts. Having implemented the suitability, screening and inclusion criteria, this corpus was refined to a sample of 74 articles.

Findings

The main subject categories studied in this corpus of academic research are legal issues and social media. In the majority of the articles, the use of hate speech via social media is associated with five typologies: religion, cyber racism, political slurs, misogyny and attacks on the LGTBI community. The absence of ethical reflection is one of the major shortcomings of IT-focused research and analysis devoted to online hate speech.

Practical implications

To date various systematic reviews have been presented, and they focus on detecting or describing hate speech. These have used either the search appraisal synthesis analysis framework or the Cochrane network. The PRISMA protocol was applied for this study, and both Scopus and texts in German were included. To date no major, rigorous systematic review has been undertaken of proposals to combat hate speech.

Originality/value

The link between hate speech and poverty has not been studied in depth within the academic sphere. Tolerance and ethical compassion are not granted the attention they merit when it comes to analysing the phenomenon of hate speech.
Industry 4.0 and global value chains: what implications for circular economy in SME?
Authors: Suchek Nathalia , Ferreira João J.M. , Fernandes Paula O.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Drawing on the resource-based view (RBV), this paper aims to analyse the relevance of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies and participation in global value chains (GVC) and the effects of the complementarity between both in the adoption of circular economy (CE) actions by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analysed a large-scale international sample by employing logistic and linear regression models to test the research hypotheses on the effects of I4.0 technologies, GVC participation, and the interaction on CE actions (recycling or reusing materials, reducing the consumption and impact of natural resources, saving energy and/or switching to sustainable energy sources, developing sustainable products or services).

Findings

The evidence suggests that I4.0 technologies already represent important resources for CE adoption and SME participating in GVC display a greater likelihood of adopting CE actions. From the perspective of resource complementarity, by interacting the two factors viewed as resources in this article, results may report that adopting I4.0 technologies and simultaneously participating in GVC may turn out detrimental to SME undertaking CE actions, specifically as regards recycling and reusing materials, saving energy or switching to sustainable energy sources and in cases of widely adopting CE practices.

Originality/value

The paper returns novel insights into the adoption of CE practices by presenting evidence that I4.0 technologies and participation in GVC may be successful means for SME seeking to implement CE actions but must be combined carefully. This paper also provides theoretical and practical implications for SME managers, firms participating in GVCs and policy makers, and shedding light on new research avenues.
Implicit contact-rich manipulation planning for a manipulator with insufficient payload
Authors: Nakatsuru Kento , Wan Weiwei , Harada Kensuke
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to study using a mobile manipulator with a collaborative robotic arm component to manipulate objects beyond the robot’s maximum payload.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a single-short probabilistic roadmap-based method to plan and optimize manipulation motion with environment support. The method uses an expanded object mesh model to examine contact and randomly explores object motion while keeping contact and securing affordable grasping force. It generates robotic motion trajectories after obtaining object motion using an optimization-based algorithm. With the proposed method’s help, the authors plan contact-rich manipulation without particularly analyzing an object’s contact modes and their transitions. The planner and optimizer determine them automatically.

Findings

The authors conducted experiments and analyses using simulations and real-world executions to examine the method’s performance. The method successfully found manipulation motion that met contact, force and kinematic constraints. It allowed a mobile manipulator to move heavy objects while leveraging supporting forces from environmental obstacles.

Originality/value

This paper presents an automatic approach for solving contact-rich heavy object manipulation problems. Unlike previous methods, the new approach does not need to explicitly analyze contact states and build contact transition graphs, thus providing a new view for robotic grasp-less manipulation, nonprehensile manipulation, manipulation with contact, etc.
Automatic microseismic signal classification for mining safety monitoring using the WaveNet classifier
Authors: Choi Woochang , Pyun Sukjoon , Cheon Dae‐Sung
Published: June 2023

Microseismic monitoring is a promising method for the safety monitoring of underground mines. However, it is crucial to isolate microseismic signals related to the collapse of a mine from others for successful monitoring because the monitoring system records various signals. Recently, deep learning‐based classification techniques have achieved high performance in such data classification problems. In this context, we develop an automatic signal classification technique using the modified WaveNet classifier. The main characteristic of the WaveNet structure is its ability to extract features at various frequencies from very long time‐series data, and such an advantage makes the WaveNet suitable for seismic data processing. The data imbalance problem coming from the safe condition of the monitoring target is solved by augmenting the training data with those acquired from another mine and employing class weighting. After training, an optimal classifier is chosen considering the loss function, accuracy and Fβ score. The optimal classifier shows very high accuracy and excellent performance for the test data prediction. Compared to the random forest model and another one‐dimensional convolutional neural network–based network, the suggested classifier has higher reliability in predicting microseismic signals. Even though the proposed WaveNet model has a much more complex structure than the random forest model, the actual application examples demonstrate that the proposed model achieves high efficiency without any preprocessing. The automatic signal classifier developed in this study can be directly applied to various safety monitoring problems, not only mines, to improve the efficiency and reliability of monitoring systems.
Evidence of exploitative competition between honey bees and native bees in two California landscapes
Authors: Page Maureen L. , Williams Neal M.
Published: June 2023

Human‐mediated species introductions provide real‐time experiments in how communities respond to interspecific competition. For example, managed honey bees Apis mellifera (L.) have been widely introduced outside their native range and may compete with native bees for pollen and nectar. Indeed, multiple studies suggest that honey bees and native bees overlap in their use of floral resources. However, for resource overlap to negatively impact resource collection by native bees, resource availability must also decline, and few studies investigate impacts of honey bee competition on native bee floral visits and floral resource availability simultaneously.

In this study, we investigate impacts of increasing honey bee abundance on native bee visitation patterns, pollen diets, and nectar and pollen resource availability in two Californian landscapes: wildflower plantings in the Central Valley and montane meadows in the Sierra.

We collected data on bee visits to flowers, pollen and nectar availability, and pollen carried on bee bodies across multiple sites in the Sierra and Central Valley. We then constructed plant‐pollinator visitation networks to assess how increasing honey bee abundance impacted perceived apparent competition (PAC), a measure of niche overlap, and pollinator specialization (d'). We also compared PAC values against null expectations to address whether observed changes in niche overlap were greater or less than what we would expect given the relative abundances of interacting partners.

We find clear evidence of exploitative competition in both ecosystems based on the following results: (1) honey bee competition increased niche overlap between honey bees and native bees, (2) increased honey bee abundance led to decreased pollen and nectar availability in flowers, and (3) native bee communities responded to competition by shifting their floral visits, with some becoming more specialized and others becoming more generalized depending on the ecosystem and bee taxon considered.

Although native bees can adapt to honey bee competition by shifting their floral visits, the coexistence of honey bees and native bees is tenuous and will depend on floral resource availability. Preserving and augmenting floral resources is therefore essential in mitigating negative impacts of honey bee competition. In two California ecosystems, honey bee competition decreases pollen and nectar resource availability in flowers and alters native bee diets with potential implications for bee conservation and wildlands management.
Effects of different types and concentrations of thickeners on yoghurt protein bioaccessibility by an in vitro dynamic gastrointestinal digestive model
Authors: Xie Zhezheng , Bao Jiayu , Mo Qiaoya , Chen Lili , Rui Xin , Dong Mingsheng , Li Wei
Published: June 2023

This study analysed the protein bioaccessibility of yoghurt containing different concentrations of pectin, acid‐resistant carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), guar gum and xanthan gum before and during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, respectively. Soluble protein contents and protein digestion rates of yoghurt with 0.2% (m/v) guar gum, CMC and xanthan gum were significantly higher and faster, whereas other thickeners had slower rates than control yoghurt during gastric digestion phase. In addition, the contents of small peptides and amino acids were higher in yoghurt with 0.2% (m/v) thickeners than those with 1.0% (m/v) thickeners during simulated intestinal digestion in most of the samples.
Determination of anxiety, depression, avoidance and obsessions experienced by hemodialysis patients during the COVID‐19
Authors: Koşunalp Nazlı , Kavurmaci Mehtap
Published: June 2023

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the levels of anxiety, despair, avoidance, and obsessions that hemodialysis patients dealt with during the pandemic.

Methods

The study was conducted with 139 hemodialysis patients. Research data “Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS),” “Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD),” “COVID‐19 Avoidance Scale” (AA‐COVID‐19) and “Coronavirus Obsession Scale (OCS).” The data obtained from the research were analyzed using the SPSS 21 package program.

Results

The average score of the patients on the CAS scale was 0.73 ± 1.17, on the HAD‐A scale was 5.94 ± 3.67, and on the HAD‐D scale was 7.06 ± 3.89. The COVID‐19 outbreak has consequently had a severe impact on hemodialysis patients' mental health.

Conclusion

Covid 19 epidemic, the health sector failed to protect the mental health of patients. However, new epidemics and disasters await the world in the future. In these results show that new strategies need to be developed.
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: Clinical trajectories and patterns of use three months following a visit to the emergency department
Authors: Wightman Rachel S. , Metrik Jane , Lin Timmy R. , Collins Alexandra B. , Beaudoin Francesca L.
Published: June 2023

Objectives

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a clinical condition of cyclic vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain associated with chronic cannabis use. Despite increased recognition of CHS, there are limited details on cannabis use practices and symptoms over time. Understanding what happens in the period surrounding the emergency department (ED) visit, including any changes in symptoms and cannabis use practices following the visit, can help inform the development of patient‐centered interventions around cannabis use disorder for patients with CHS.

Methods

A prospective observational cohort (n = 39) of patients with suspected CHS recruited from the ED at the time of a symptomatic cyclic vomiting episode was followed for 3 months. Disease progression, cannabis use practices, and health care utilization were monitored.

Results

Participants reported high rates of persistent CHS symptoms (abdominal pain, nausea, or cyclic vomiting) in the 2‐week period immediately following an ED visit with a median duration of 7 days. Cannabis use frequency and quantity were reduced immediately after the ED visit, but most participants returned to pre‐ED visit cannabis use patterns within a few days. Recurrent ED visits for cyclic vomiting were reported by 25% of participants who completed follow‐up during the 3‐month follow‐up period.

Conclusions

Participants continued to have ongoing symptoms after the ED visit, but most managed symptoms on their own and did not return to the ED. Longitudinal studies beyond 3 months are needed to better understand the clinical course of patients with suspected CHS.
Anatomical oropharyngeal cavity specialisations in the cutlassfish (Trichiurus lepturus, Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: El‐Bakary Neveen E. R. , Alsafy Mohamed A. M. , Rutland Catrin S. , El‐Gendy Samir A. A. , Kamal Basma M.
Published: June 2023

Trichiurus lepturus is a carnivorous fish, and most of the previous anatomical research has focused on computed tomography imaging and histology of their teeth and fangs, while the remaining structures of pharyngeal cavity remain unexplored. The present research is the first to use anatomical examinations alongside scanning electron microscopy to investigate the T. lepturus oral cavity. The oropharyngeal roof included teeth, upper lip, rostral and caudal velum and the palate. The middle of the palate showed a median groove flanked by two folds, followed by a median band flanked by micro‐folds, thereafter the palate became crescent shaped. The lateral regions of the palate exhibited longitudinal folds that extended rostrally towards the fangs. The oropharyngeal floor had two cavities which acted as a scabbard for the premaxillary fangs and upper velum, while the caudal sublingual cavity contained two oyster‐shaped structures on the outer surface plus sublingual ridges and sublingual clefts. The tongue apex exhibited a spoon‐like shape, its body demonstrated a median elevation and the root with two lateral branches contained only dome‐shaped papillae. Taste buds were located on the upper velum, lower lip and the caudal part of the interbranchial septum. Images and descriptions of T. lepturus tooth structure are also provided. The present research, using anatomical dissection and morphological observation using scanning electron microscopy, has identified the structures of the dentition system, a variety in shapes of the folds and microridges, and identified the taste buds and mucous pores in the T. lepturus oropharyngeal cavity.
On the selection of predictors by using greedy algorithms and information theoretic criteria
Authors: Li Fangyao , Triggs Christopher M. , Giurcăneanu Ciprian Doru
Published: June 2023

We discuss the use of the following greedy algorithms in the prediction of multivariate time series: Matching Pursuit Algorithm (MPA), Orthogonal Matching Pursuit (OMP), Relaxed Matching Pursuit (RMP), Frank–Wolfe Algorithm (FWA) and Constrained Matching Pursuit (CMP). The last two are known to be solvers for the lasso problem. Some of the algorithms are well‐known (e.g. OMP), while others are less popular (e.g. RMP). We provide a unified presentation of all the algorithms, and evaluate their computational complexity for the high‐dimensional case and for the big data case. We show how 12 information theoretic (IT) criteria can be used jointly with the greedy algorithms. As part of this effort, we derive new theoretical results that allow modification of the IT criteria such that to be compatible with RMP. The prediction capabilities are tested in experiments with two data sets. The first one involves air pollution data measured in Auckland (New Zealand) and the second one concerns the House Price Index in England (the United Kingdom).