bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bilaterally suppressed EEG amplitudes predict death and poor functional outcomes in critically ill children
Authors: Paul Luisa , Greve Sandra , Hegemann Johanna , Gienger Sonja , Löffelhardt Verena , Della Marina Adela , Felderhoff-Müser Ursula , Dohna-Schwake Christian , Bruns Nora 
Published: November 2023

AbstractBackground and objectivesContinuous full-channel EEG is the gold standard for electrocortical activity assessment in critically ill children, but its implementation faces challenges, leading to a growing use of amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG). While suppressed aEEG amplitudes have been linked to adverse outcomes in preterm infants and adults after cardiac arrest, evidence for critically ill children remains limited. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the association between suppressed aEEG amplitudes in critically ill children and death or poor functional neurological outcomes.Methods235 EEGs derived from individual patients < 18 years in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at the University Hospital Essen (Germany) between 04/2014 and 07/2021 were retrospectively converted into aEEGs and amplitudes analyzed with respect to previously defined age-specific percentiles. Adjusted odds ratios for death and poor functional outcome at hospital discharge in patients with bilateral upper or lower amplitude suppression below the 10thpercentile were calculated accounting for neurological injuries, acute disease severity, sedation levels, and functional neurological status before acute critical illness.ResultsThe median time from neurological insult to EEG recording was 2 days. PICU admission occurred due to neurological reasons in 43 % and patients had high overall disease severity. Thirty-three (14 %) patients died and 68 (29 %) had poor outcomes. Amplitude depression below the 10thpercentile was frequent (upper amplitude: 27 %, lower amplitude: 34 %) with suppression of only one amplitude less frequent than bilateral suppression. Multivariable regression analyses yielded odds between 6.63 and 15.22 for death, neurological death, and poor neurological outcomes if both upper or both lower amplitudes were suppressed. Model discrimination was excellent with areas under the curve above 0.92 for all models.DiscussionThis study found a high prevalence of suppressed aEEG amplitudes in critically ill children early after PICU admission, with suppression being highly associated with death and poor functional outcomes at hospital discharge. These findings emphasize the potential of early identification of high-risk PICU patients through aEEG monitoring if conventional EEG is unavailable, potentially guiding neuroprotective therapies and early neurorehabilitation.
Epstein Barr virus infection induces tissue-resident memory T cells in mucosal lymphoid tissues
Authors: Kirchmeier Daniel , Deng Yun , Rieble Lisa , Läderach Fabienne , Schuhmachers Patrick , Valencia-Camargo Alma Delia , Murer Anita , Caduff Nicole , Chatterjee Bithi , Chijioke Obinna , Zens Kyra , Münz Christian 
Published: November 2023

AbstractEpstein Barr virus (EBV) contributes to around 2% of all tumors worldwide. Simultaneously, more than 90% of healthy human adults persistently carry EBV without clinical symptoms. In most EBV carriers it is thought that virus-induced tumorigenesis is prevented by cell-mediated immunity. Specifically, memory CD8+T cells recognize EBV-infected cells during latent and lytic infection.Using a symptomatic primary infection model, similar to infectious mononucleosis (IM), we found EBV induced CD8+tissue resident memory T cells (TRMs) in mice with a humanized immune system. These human TRMs were preferentially established after intranasal EBV infection in nasal-associated lymphoid tissues (NALT), equivalent to tonsils, the primary site of EBV infection in humans. They expressed canonical TRM markers, including CD69, CD103 and BLIMP-1, as well as Granzyme B, CD107a and CCL5, while demonstrating reduced CD27 expression and proliferation by Ki-67 expression. Despite cytotoxic activity and cytokine productionex vivo, these TRMs failed to control EBV viral loads in the NALT during infection although effector memory T cells (TEMs) controlled viral titers in spleen and blood.Overall, TRMs in mucosal lymphoid tissues are established by EBV infection, but primarily systemic CD8+T cell expansion seems to attenuate viral loads in the context of IM-like infection.
The Rtf1/Prf1-dependent histone modification axis and Rpb1 C-terminal domain phosphorylation counteract multi-drug resistance in fission yeast
Authors: Chen Jennifer J. , Moy Calvin , Pagé Viviane , Monnin Cian , El-Hajj Ziad W. , Avizonis Daina Z. , Reyes-Lamothe Rodrigo , Tanny Jason C. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractRNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription elongation directs an intricate pattern of histone modifications. Formation of this pattern involves a highly conserved regulatory axis, key components of which are the elongation factor Rtf1, monoubiquitylation of histone H2B (H2Bub1), and methylation of histone H3 on lysine 4 (H3K4me). Direct contact between Rtf1 and the ubiquitylation complex Rad6-Bre1 stimulates H2Bub1, which in turn promotes H3K4me by stimulating the activity of the Set1C/COMPASS methyltransferase complex. Previous studies have defined the molecular basis for these regulatory relationships, but it remains unclear how they regulate chromatin and transcriptionin vivo. We found that mutations affecting multiple components of the Rtf1-H2Bub1-H3K4me axis in the model eukaryoteSchizosaccharomyces pombe(fission yeast) caused resistance to the ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor hydroxyurea (HU). Resistance correlated with a reduced effect of HU on dNTP pools, bypass of the S-phase checkpoint in the presence of HU, and blunting of the transcriptional response to HU treatment. Mutations in the C-terminal repeat domain (CTD) of the RNAPII large subunit Rpb1 led to a similar spectrum of phenotypes. Moreover, all the HU resistant mutants we identified also exhibited resistance to several azole class antifungal agents. Our results suggest a novel, shared gene regulatory function of the Rtf1-H2Bub1-H3K4me axis and the Rpb1 CTD in controlling fungal drug tolerance.
Nanopore and Illumina Sequencing Reveal Different Viral Populations from Human Gut Samples
Authors: Cook Ryan , Telatin Andrea , Hsieh Shen-Yuan , Newberry Fiona , Tariq Mohammad A. , Baker Dave J. , Carding Simon R. , Adriaenssens Evelien M. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe advent of viral metagenomics, or viromics, has improved our knowledge and understanding of global viral diversity. High-throughput sequencing technologies enable explorations of the ecological roles, contributions to host metabolism, and the influence of viruses in various environments including the human gut microbiome. However, the bacterial metagenomic studies frequently have the advantage. The adoption of advanced technologies like long-read sequencing has the potential to be transformative in refining viromics and metagenomics.Here, we examined the effectiveness of long-read and hybrid sequencing by comparing Illumina short-read and Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) long-read sequencing technologies and different assembly strategies on recovering viral genomes from human faecal samples.Our findings showed that if a single sequencing technology is to be chosen for virome analysis, Illumina was preferable due to its superior ability to recover fully resolved viral genomes and minimise erroneous genomes. While ONT assemblies were effective in recovering viral diversity, the challenges related to input requirements and the necessity for amplification made it less ideal as a standalone solution. However, using a combined, hybrid approach enabled a more authentic representation of viral diversity to be obtained within samples.Impact StatementViral metagenomics, or viromics, has revolutionised our understanding of global viral diversity however long-read and hybrid approaches are not yet widespread in this field. Here, we compared the performance of Illumina short-read and Nanopore long-read assembly approaches for recovering fully resolved viral genomes from human faecal samples. We highlight Illumina’s short-read sequencing for recovering fully resolved viral genomes, while acknowledging Oxford Nanopore Technology’s long-read sequencing for capturing broader viral diversity. However, a hybrid approach, utilising both technologies, may mitigate the limitations of one technology alone.Data SummaryAll reads used in this study are available on European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) within the project PRJEB47625.
Microbial contamination and some chemical and physical properties of date fruits stored at room and refrigerator temperatures
Authors: Hamad Siddig Hussein 
Published: November 2023

Purpose The purpose of this article is to investigate on changes of the microbial load and the chemical and physical properties of date fruits stored for 6 months under two different temperatures.Design/methodology/approachA composite sample of 100 kg date fruits from the Khalas variety, season 2019, was collected from the local market in Al Ahsa Province, Saudi Arabia, packaged in 1 kg lots, stored at room and refrigerator temperatures and the microbial contamination and the chemical and physical properties monitored over a period of six months of storage. Total bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts and molds were counted and representatives of yeast and mold contaminants were identified using morphological, physiological and molecular typing techniques. Changes in the color and texture of the samples were also monitored during storage.Findings The yeasts detected were two strains of each of Lachancea thermotolerans and Rhodosporidiobolus fluvialis and one strain of Cystofilobasidium lacus-mascardii. For molds, one strain of each of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus caespitosus have been detected. No significant growth of these microorganisms was observed, but enough load persisted during storage that makes the samples not meeting the microbiological standards. There were significant changes in the color and texture of the fruits during storage.Originality/value These findings add important information that can help producers and processors to improve quality and promote marketing of date fruits, especially to international markets.
Hydraulic loss characteristics of closed-loop piping system during start-up process of mixed-flow pump
Authors: Li Wei , Huang Yuxin , Ji Leilei , Ma Lingling , Agarwal Ramesh 
Published: November 2023

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the transient characteristics of mixed-flow pumps during startup process.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a full-flow field transient calculation method of mixed-flow pump based on a closed-loop model.FindingsThe findings show the hydraulic losses and internal flow characteristics of the piping system during the start-up process.Research limitations/implicationsLarge computational cost.Practical implicationsImprove the accuracy of current numerical simulation results in transient process of mixed-flow pump.Originality/valueSimplify the setting of boundary conditions in the transient calculation.
Al-Chef Cafeteria: dilemma of market expansion post-pandemic
Authors: Singh Deepak , Qadir Abdul 
Published: November 2023

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this case study, students will be able to identify the key changes in the marketing environment affecting the industry, demonstrate the elements of the marketing mix in the fast-food industry, illustrate the crucial elements of customer value-driven marketing strategy, critique relevant marketing strategies that are crucial for business development and formulate effective market expansion strategies for Al-Chef Cafetaria to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the VUCA world.

Case overview/synopsis
The Al-Chef Cafeteria, established by Ali Arif, one of the partners, became one of the most happening quick service restaurants (QSRs) in Patna. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the once-thriving fast-food market in the city as the government imposed lockdowns to restrict the onslaught of the pandemic. The relentless waves of the pandemic in the subsequent months severely impacted India and worsened the economic challenges. Consumer behaviour towards outdoor eateries, especially QSRs, became uncertain, which led to the exit of several smaller players in the industry. In June 2021, because of an uncertain future, Arif was forced to contemplate different business trajectories for survival and growth. Arif’s resilience was highlighted, as he endeavoured to revive his dream cafe. To start the café, Arif had quit a stable job in the Middle East. His journey mirrored the broader narrative of businesses navigating uncharted waters as the cafe transformed from a flourishing enterprise to one reeling from adversity and looking forward to undergoing a strategist lens for revival. Against an uncertain business landscape and wavering consumer sentiment, Arif grappled with the question of whether a return to normalcy was possible or if a new-normal system would emerge. This case study highlighted the challenges and uncertainties faced by the Al-Chef Cafeteria post-pandemic and the strategies needed to rewire the previous business model to chart a new growth trajectory.

Complexity academic level
This case is suitable for postgraduate-level marketing management or sales management (business development) courses in any of the following programmes: MBA programme, PG diploma in marketing management/PG diploma in hospitality and tourism management/PG diploma in sales management/PG diploma in food and beverage service/PG diploma in service management, part-time diploma programmes in management and executive programmes in management.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code
CSS 8: Marketing.
The impact of internal governance mechanisms on environmental performance of Saudi firms
Authors: Alwadani Neef , Al-Shaer Habiba , Albitar Khaldoon 
Published: November 2023

Purpose
This study aims to explore whether firms that have a sustainability committee operating on the board, publish separate sustainability reports that are externally assured by an independent external audit and have large and active boards are more likely to be engaged in environmental practices and have better environmental performance.

Design/methodology/approach
Based on a sample of firms listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange, covering the period 2014–2021, this study applies panel data models to examine the research hypotheses.

Findings
The findings show significant positive associations between the existence of a sustainability committee, the publication of separate sustainability reports and the independent external assurance of these reports and environmental performance. This study also finds that the composite internal governance index is significant and positively associated with environmental performance.

Practical implications
Policymakers should support the creation of a sustainability committee on the boards of Saudi firms and review its role and responsibilities. The findings of this study inform regulators of the importance of the existence of independent external assurance of the sustainability reports of Saudi firms to enhance the credibility and reliability of these reports. Managers need to establish devoted committees committed to sustainability-related tasks that help coordinate communications between the firm and stakeholders.

Originality/value
The Saudi Arabian Government has implemented a range of policies and initiatives aimed at improving environmental performance, which is a main focus of Saudi Vision 2030 to achieve environmental sustainability. Therefore, this study provides unique evidence and new insights on the impact of internal governance on corporate environmental performance in the Saudi context.
Assessing the barriers to lean manufacturing adoption in the furniture industry of Bangladesh: a fuzzy-DEMATEL study
Authors: Uday Rifath Mahmud , Salman Sheak , Karim Md. Rezaul , Ar Salan Md. Sifat , Islam Muzahidul , Shahriar Mustak 
Published: November 2023

PurposeThe objective of this study is to investigate the barriers hindering the integration of lean manufacturing (LM) practices within the furniture industry of Bangladesh. The traditional operational paradigms in this sector have posed substantial challenges to the effective implementation of LM. In this study, the barriers of implementing LM in the furniture business are examined, aiming to provide a systematic understanding of the barriers that must be addressed for a successful transition.FindingsThe research reveals that “Fragmented Industry Structure,” “Resistance to Lean Practices” and “Inadequate Plant Layout and Maintenance”, emerged as the foremost barriers to LM implementation in the furniture industry. Additionally, “Insufficient Expert Management,” “Limited Technical Resources” and “Lack of Capital Investment” play significant roles.Research limitations/implicationsThe outcomes of this study provide valuable insights into the furniture industry, enabling the development of strategies for effective LM implementation. One notable challenge in lean implementation is the tendency to revert to established practices when confronted with barriers. Therefore, this transition necessitates informed guidance and leadership. In addition to addressing these internal challenges, the scope of lean implementation should be broadened.Originality/valueThis study represents one of the initial efforts to systematically identify and assess the barriers to LM implementation within the furniture industry of Bangladesh, contributing to the emerging body of knowledge in this area.
The impact of economic policy uncertainty on sustainability (ESG) performance: the role of the firm life cycle
Authors: Qureshi Muhammad Azeem , Ahsan Tanveer , Gull Ammar Ali , Umar Zaghum 
Published: November 2023

PurposeThis study investigates the impact of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on corporate sustainability [environmental, social and governance (ESG)] performance and aims to explore whether uncertainty-induced sustainability performance is influenced by the firm's life cycle (LC).Design/methodology/approachThe study uses data from European non-financial firms listed during the period from 2002 to 2022 to extend the nascent literature regarding EPU and sustainability performance while applying a dynamic panel data regression analysis (Generalized Method of Moments - GMM System) on 11,462 firm-year observations of 1,869 European firms.FindingsThe authors find overwhelming evidence that policy uncertainty affects the sustainability performance of European firms. The firms restrict their environmental and governance-related activities and address immediate issues to survive during periods of high EPU. Conversely, the firms increase their social engagements to decrease uncertainty-induced information asymmetry. The authors' results show that the intensity and type of sustainability performance are also influenced by the firm's LC. The results imply that board gender diversity (BGD) increases while power concentration with the chief executive officer (CEO) decreases sustainability performance.Practical implicationsThese findings have important implications for policymakers, potential investors, firm management and other stakeholders given the firms' access to resources and preferences to encounter uncertainty vary across different LC stages.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the role of the firm's LC in the relationship between policy uncertainty and sustainability performance in the European context.
A qualitative exploration of immigrant’s experiences, practices and feelings about health‐care management, diet quality and food security issues, in Greece
Authors: Michalis Athanasios , Panagiotakos Demosthenes B. , Papadopoulos Apostolos , Costarelli Vassiliki 
Published: November 2023

Purpose
The study aims to have adults discuss experiences, practices needs and feelings related to health management, diet and food security.

Design/methodology/approach
A total of 22 immigrants were recruited from the Open School of Immigrants in Piraeus, Attica, Greece, to participate in focus group discussions. The discussions were audio recorded and thematically analyzed. Three major themes were developed: pathways to health care, nutrition management and experiences related to food shortages.

Findings
Most of the participants identified internet as the most commonly used way to obtain health advice; they also stated that unexpected ill-health is usually accompanied by feelings of fear, anxiety and loneliness. Immigrants, who had visited a public hospital in Greece, identified the language barrier as the most challenging issue, followed by the long waiting lists. Fear and anxiety of hospital visits was an important factor in their decision to vaccinate against COVID-19. Lack of time, high cost of healthy food and lack of knowledge were the most common obstacles to a healthy diet. One in two immigrants reported that they have faced food insecurity issues in the past. Stress, psychological distress and irritation were reported, due to food shortages, especially during the first few years of arriving in Greece. The exclusion of some foods, reduced portion sizes and buying cheaper foods were among the coping strategies to address food shortages.

Originality/value
The study offers an insight into immigrant’s experiences, practices and feelings about managing health issues and could be useful for health-care practitioners, researchers and policymakers.
FedACQ: adaptive clustering quantization of model parameters in federated learning
Authors: Tian Tingting , Shi Hongjian , Ma Ruhui , Liu Yuan 
Published: November 2023

Purpose
For privacy protection, federated learning based on data separation allows machine learning models to be trained on remote devices or in isolated data devices. However, due to the limited resources such as bandwidth and power of local devices, communication in federated learning can be much slower than in local computing. This study aims to improve communication efficiency by reducing the number of communication rounds and the size of information transmitted in each round.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper allows each user node to perform multiple local trainings, then upload the local model parameters to a central server. The central server updates the global model parameters by weighted averaging the parameter information. Based on this aggregation, user nodes first cluster the parameter information to be uploaded and then replace each value with the mean value of its cluster. Considering the asymmetry of the federated learning framework, adaptively select the optimal number of clusters required to compress the model information.

Findings
While maintaining the loss convergence rate similar to that of federated averaging, the test accuracy did not decrease significantly.

Originality/value
By compressing uplink traffic, the work can improve communication efficiency on dynamic networks with limited resources.