bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accessible and accurate cytometry analysis using fluorescence microscopes
Authors: Foyt Daniel , Kuang Yiming , Rehem Samma , Yserentant Klaus , Huang Bo
Published: January 2025

We have developed a method along with a python-based analysis tool to capture images and produce flow cytometry like data utilizing simple accessible microscopes. Utilizing the recently developed generalist algorithms for cell segmentation, our approach easily segments semi-adherent or suspended cells facilitating quantification of fluorescent intensity similar to flow cytometry. We have shown that our approach exhibits similar speed and enhanced sensitivity when compared to typical flow cytometry. The utility of our approach is demonstrated by screening a set of 88 prime editing conditions utilizing the integration of mNeonGreen11as a reporter.
Construction of Multi-Modal Transcriptome-Small Molecule Interaction Networks from High-Throughput Measurements to Study Human Complex Traits
Authors: Akbary Moghaddam Vaha , Acharya Sandeep , Schwaiger-Haber Michaela , Liao Shu , Jung Wooseok J. , Thyagarajan Bharat , Shriver Leah P. , Warwick Daw E. , Saccone Nancy L. , An Ping , Brent Michael R. , Patti Gary J. , Province Michael A.
Published: January 2025

Small molecules (SMs) are integral to biological processes, influencing metabolism, homeostasis, and regulatory networks. Despite their importance, a significant knowledge gap exists regarding their downstream effects on biological pathways and gene expression, largely due to differences in scale, variability, and noise between untargeted metabolomics and sequencing-based technologies. To address these challenges, we developed a multi-omics framework comprising a machine learning-based protocol for data processing, a semi-supervised network inference approach, and network-guided analysis of complex traits. The ML protocol harmonized metabolomic, lipidomic, and transcriptomic data through batch correction, principal component analysis, and regression-based adjustments, enabling unbiased and effective integration. Building on this, we proposed a semi-supervised method to construct transcriptome-SM interaction networks (TSI-Nets) by selectively integrating SM profiles into gene-level networks using a meta-analytic approach that accounts for scale differences and missing data across omics layers. Benchmarking against three conventional unsupervised methods demonstrated the superiority of our approach in generating diverse, biologically relevant, and robust networks. While single-omics analyses identified 18 significant genes and 3 significant SMs associated with insulin sensitivity (IS), network-guided analysis revealed novel connections between these markers. The top-ranked module highlighted a cross-talk between fiber-degrading gut microbiota and immune regulatory pathways, inferred by the interaction of the protective SM, N-acetylglycine (NAG), with immune genes (FCER1A,HDC,MS4A2, andCPA3), linked to improved IS and reduced obesity and inflammation. Together, this framework offers a robust and scalable solution for multi-modal network inference and analysis, advancing SM pathway discovery and their implications for human health. Leveraging data from a population of thousands of individuals with extended longevity, the inferred TSI-Nets demonstrate generalizability across diverse conditions and complex traits. These networks are publicly available as a resource for the research community.
Dissecting pOXA-48 fitness effects in clinical enterobacteria using plasmid-wide CRISPRi screens
Authors: Calvo-Villamañán Alicia , Sastre-Dominguez Jorge , Barrera-Martín Álvaro , Costas Coloma , San Millan Álvaro
Published: January 2025

Conjugative plasmids are the main vehicle for the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in clinical bacteria. AMR plasmids allow bacteria to survive antibiotic treatments, but they also produce physiological alterations in their hosts that commonly translate into fitness costs. Despite the key role of plasmid-associated fitness effects in AMR evolution, their origin and molecular bases remain poorly understood. In this study, we introduce plasmid-wide CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) screens as a tool to dissect plasmid-associated fitness effects. We designed and performed CRISPRi screens targeting the globally distributed carbapenem resistance plasmid pOXA-48 in 13 different multidrug resistant clinical enterobacteria. Our results revealed that pOXA-48 gene-level effects are conserved across clinical strains, and exposed the key role of the carbapenemase-encoding gene,blaOXA-48, as the main responsible for pOXA-48 fitness costs. Moreover, our results highlighted the relevance of postsegregational killing systems in pOXA-48 vertical transmission, and uncovered new genes implicated in pOXA-48 stability. This study sheds new light on the biology and evolution of carbapenem resistant enterobacteria and endorses CRISPRi screens as a powerful method for studying plasmid-mediated AMR.
Infection with gut parasites correlates with gut microbiome diversity across human populations in Africa
Authors: Ngwese Mirabeau M. , Adegbite Bayode R. , Zinsou Jeannot F. , Fitzstevens J. Liam , Schmidt Victor T. , Moure Alvyn N. , Maloum Moustapha M. , Tyakht Alexander V. , Huus Kelsey E. , Youngblut Nicholas D. , Kremsner Peter G. , Adegnika Ayola A. , Ley Ruth E.
Published: January 2025

Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are common in (sub)tropical regions and primarily affect impoverished populations. STHs reside in the gut, interacting both with the gut microbiota and host immunity. Clinical STH detection is laborious and often not performed within the context of gut microbiome studies. Here, we assessed whether fecal metagenome data could be used to assess STH infection, and to relate STH infection to microbiome diversity. We generated 310 gut metagenomes for mother-child pairs from two different locations in Gabon: one rural and one semi-urban. The presence and abundance of four STH parasites (Ascaris lumbricoides,Strongyloides stercoralis,Trichuris trichiura, andNecator americanus) were assessed using both microscopy and qPCR. Sequence data were used to characterize the microbiomes and to detect the presence of these four STH parasites. We found that metagenome data could accurately detect the presence of all four STHs, as reflected by high sensitivity and specificity compared to microscopy or qPCR detection. Furthermore, the number of STH species present in stool was associated with microbiome diversity and with the abundances of specific taxa, most notably in young children. We applied this approach to microbiome data from five other populations in Africa and corroborated our findings. Our results demonstrate that human intestinal parasites can be accurately detected via metagenomic sequencing, and highlight how infection with multiple STH parasites is linked to consistent features in the gut microbiome in populations in Africa.
Diet gel-based oral drug delivery system for controlled dosing of small molecules for microglia depletion and inducible Cre recombination in mice
Authors: Jovanovic Joel , Stone Megan L. , Dooyema Samantha R. , Tao Yuankai K. , Fuhrmann Sabine , Levine Edward M.
Published: January 2025

Small molecules like PLX5622 for microglia depletion and Tamoxifen for inducible Cre recombination are commonly used in mouse research. Traditional application methods, such as chow or oral gavage and injections, have limitations, including uncontrolled dosage and risk of injury. To address this issue, we have developed an alternative oral drug delivery system using a gel-based rodent maintenance diet that allows for controlled consumption and adjustment of dosage and is suitable for water-insoluble small molecules. We tested DietGel®93M (93M) infused with PLX5622 (0.8 mg/g and 2.0 mg/g) in theCx3cr1gfp/+retinal microglia reporter mouse and Tamoxifen-infused 93M (0.3125 mg/g) in the Rlbp1-CreERT2;Rosaai14mouse with an inducible tdTomato reporter in retinal Müller glia. Mice were single-caged and received daily batches of PLX5622-infused 93M over 14 days or Tamoxifen-infused 93M for one or three days followed by a 14-day observation period. Longitudinal scanning laser ophthalmoscopyin vivoand fixed tissue imaging were used to track GFP and tdTomato expression. Following evaluation of a suitable 93M consumption rate (g/d) to sustain body weight, the PLX5622-93M diet at both concentrations showed a 94% microglia depletion rate at 3 days and >99% after one and two weeks. The Tamoxifen-93M diet confirmed suitability for inducible Cre recombination, with significant treatment-time dependent efficacy and a positive correlation between total Tamoxifen dose and tdTomato expression. This study demonstrates that a diet gel-based drug delivery system offers a controllable and less invasive alternative to current drug application methods for PLX5622 and Tamoxifen.
Synergistic effects ofRetcoding and enhancer loss-of-function alleles cause progressive loss of inhibitory motor neurons in the enteric nervous system
Authors: Fries Lauren E , Grullon Gabriel , Berk-Rauch Hanna E , Chakravarti Aravinda , Chatterjee Sumantra
Published: January 2025

Coding and enhancer variants of theRETreceptor tyrosine kinase gene contribute to ∼50% of Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) risk, a congenital disorder of disrupted enteric nervous system (ENS) development. The greatest contribution of this risk is from a common variant (rs2435357) in an ENS-active, SOX10-boundRETenhancer (MCS+9.7) that reducesRETgene expressionin vivoand triggers expression changes in other ENS genes in the human fetal gut. To uncover the cellular basis ofRET-mediated aganglionosis, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to delete (Δ) the homologous mouse enhancer (mcs+9.7). We used single cell RNA sequencing and high-resolution immunofluorescence to demonstrate four significant features of the developing E14.5 gut of Δmcs+9.7/Δmcs+9.7 embryos: (1) a small (5%) yet significant reduction inRetgene expression in only two major cell types – early differentiating neurons and fate-restricted inhibitory motor neurons; (2) no significant cellular loss in the ENS; and, (3) loss of expression of 19 cell cycle regulator genes suggesting a proliferative defect. To identify theRetfunctional threshold for normal ENS development, we also generated, in combination with theRetCFP null allele, (4) Δmcs+9.7/CFP double heterozygote mice which reducedRetgene expression in the ENS to 42% with severe loss of inhibitory motor neurons, an effect restricted to the hindgut and driven by proliferative loss. Thus,Retgene expression drives proliferation of ENS progenitor cells and hindgut-specific inhibitory motor neuron development, and that HSCR aganglionosis arises from a cascade of cellular defects triggered by >50% loss ofRetfunction.
Local traveling waves of cytosolic calcium elicited by defense signals or wounding are propagated by distinct mechanisms
Authors: Zhang Weiwei , Kumar Nilay , Helwig Jessica R. , Hoerter Alexis , Iyer-Pascuzzi Anjali S. , Umulis David M. , Pienaar Elsje , Staiger Christopher J.
Published: January 2025

Cytosolic Ca2+signatures with specific spatiotemporal patterns play crucial roles in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Perception of microbe- or damage-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs or DAMPs) initiates signaling cascades that represent the first layer of plant defense against pathogens known as pattern-triggered immunity (PTI). During PTI, MAMP/DAMP-induced cytosolic Ca2+fluxes serve as essential messengers in the initiation and transmission of defense signals at the cellular, whole organ, and systemic levels. However, the specific patterns of these Ca2+signatures in response to different pathogen cues, and the mechanisms that encode them, remain largely unexplored. In this study, we quantitatively assessed Ca2+signatures at the single-cell level as well as the local traveling Ca2+waves induced by global treatment of Arabidopsis cotyledons with MAMPs or DAMPs. We demonstrated that MAMPs induced distinct local spatiotemporal Ca2+responses in epidermal pavement cells, with Ca2+traveling waves consistently initiated from a subset of cells and spreading in an approximately radial pattern. These local traveling waves propagated at a slow but constant speed of approximately 1 µm/s and spread to a limited number of neighboring cells. In contrast, wound-induced traveling waves displayed a diffusion-like decay pattern that moved rapidly away from the wounded cell but with diminishing speed over time and distance. Mathematical modeling supported a calcium-induced calcium release mechanism that could recapitulate the constant wave speed induced by MAMPs. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of plant defense-related Ca2+signaling mechanisms as well as how defense responses are spatially restricted within tissues.

One Sentence Summary

A slow, local traveling wave of calcium is initiated from a subset of epidermal cells during plant immune signaling.
Dynamic activity ofErgpromotes aging of the hematopoietic system
Authors: Tanaka-Yano Mayuri , Sugden Wade W. , Wang Dahai , Badalamenti Brianna , Côté Parker , Chin Diana , Goldstein Julia , George Stephan , Rodrigues-Luiz Gabriela F. , da Rocha Edroaldo Lummertz , Li Hojun , North Trista E. , Gryder Berkley E. , Rowe R. Grant
Published: January 2025

Hematopoiesis changes to adapt to the physiology of development and aging. Temporal changes in hematopoiesis parallel age-dependent incidences of blood diseases. Several heterochronic regulators of hematopoiesis have been identified, but how the master transcription factor (TF) circuitry of definitive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) adapts over the lifespan is unknown. Here, we show that expression of the ETS family TFErgis adult-biased, and that programmed upregulation ofErgexpression during juvenile to adult aging is evolutionarily conserved and required for complete implementation of adult patterns of HSC self-renewal and myeloid, erythroid, and lymphoid differentiation.Ergdeficiency maintains fetal transcriptional and epigenetic programs, and persistent juvenile phenotypes inErghaploinsufficient mice are dependent on deregulation of the fetal-biased TFHmga2. Finally,Erghaploinsufficiency in the adult results in fetal-like resistance to leukemogenesis. Overall, we identify a mechanism whereby HSC TF networks are rewired to specify stage-specific hematopoiesis, a finding directly relevant to age-biased blood diseases.

The hematopoietic system undergoes a process of coordinated aging from the juvenile to adult states. Here, we find that expression of ETS family transcription factor Erg is temporally regulated. Impaired upregulation ofErgduring the hematopoietic maturation results in persistence of juvenile phenotypes.
NRGSuite-Qt: A PyMOL plugin for high-throughput virtual screening, molecular docking, normal-mode analysis, the study of molecular interactions and the detection of binding-site similarities
Authors: Galdino Gabriel T. , DesCôteaux Thomas , Teruel Natalia , Najmanovich Rafael
Published: January 2025

We introduce NRGSuite-Qt, a PyMOL plugin that provides a comprehensive toolkit for protein modeling, virtual screening, normal mode analysis, and binding-site similarity calculations. Building on the original NRGSuite plugin for FlexAID, this updated version integrates five new functionalities: protein-protein and protein-ligand interaction analysis using Surfaces, ultra-massive virtual screening with NRGRank, binding-site similarity detection with IsoMIF, normal mode analysis using NRGTEN, and mutational studies through integration with the Modeller Suite. By merging these advanced tools into a cohesive platform, NRGSuite-Qt streamlines complex workflows and facilitates high-throughput computational studies within a single interface. Additionally, we benchmark a newer version of the Elastic Network Contact Model for normal mode analysis method ENCoM, utilizing the same 40 atom-type pairwise interaction matrix that is used in all other software. This version outperforms the default model in multiple benchmarking tests.

Availability

The Installation guide and tutorial is available athttps://nrg-qt.readthedocs.io/

Contact

rafael.najmanovich@umontreal.ca
Decaying and expanding Erk gradients process memory of skeletal size during zebrafish fin regeneration
Authors: Rich Ashley , Lu Ziqi , Simone Alessandro De , Garcia Lucas , Janssen Jacqueline , Ando Kazunori , Ou Jianhong , Vergassola Massimo , Poss Kenneth D. , Talia Stefano Di
Published: January 2025

Regeneration of an amputated salamander limb or fish fin restores pre-injury size and structure, illustrating the phenomenon of positional memory. Although appreciated for centuries, the identity of position-dependent cues and how they control tissue growth are not resolved. Here, we quantify Erk signaling events in whole populations of osteoblasts during zebrafish fin regeneration. We find that osteoblast Erk activity is dependent on Fgf receptor signaling and organized into millimeter-long gradients that extend from the distal tip to the amputation site. Erk activity scales with the amount of tissue amputated, predicts the likelihood of osteoblast cycling, and predicts the size of regenerated skeletal structures. Mathematical modeling suggests gradients are established by the transient deposition of long-lived ligands that are transported by tissue growth. This concept is supported by the observed scaling of expression of the essential epidermal ligandfgf20awith extents of amputation. Our work provides evidence that localized, scaled expression of pro-regenerative ligands instructs long-range signaling and cycling to control skeletal size in regenerating appendages.
Inferring single-cell dynamics of a molecular reporter from unlabeled live-cell light microscopy data analyzed with delay embedding
Authors: Singh Jalim , Copperman Jeremy , Heiser Laura M. , Zuckerman Daniel M.
Published: January 2025

Quantification of the temporal sequence of molecular behavior in live individual cells holds promise for improving causal and mechanistic models of cell biology. In recent years, different methods for inferring molecular labeling from microscopy data have been developed, especially in the context of “virtual pathology”, but less effort has been directed to the context of single-cell dynamics and live-cell imaging. We demonstrate that phase-contrast live-cell imaging of MCF10A cells, without labeling data, is predictive of dynamical, single-cell behavior of the cell-cycle reporter Human DNA Helicase B (HDHB) – in particular, of the nuclear vs. cytoplasmic localization of this fluorescent reporter of cyclin-dependent kinase activity. Prediction quality improves substantially when temporal sequences of images are combined in a “delay embedding” framework. When different featurizations of the imaging data are examined, we find that features derived from a variational auto-encoder (VAE) outperform “classical” image features derived from shape and texture. We find the best performance, with PearsonR∼0.9 on test data, using VAE features augmented by categorical predictions, all within the delay-embedding framework – in comparison toR ∼0.5 based on “ordinary” regression with VAE features.
Engineering microalgal cell wall-anchored proteins using GP1 PPSPX motifs and releasing with intein-mediated fusion
Authors: Kang Kalisa , do Espirito Santo Évellin , Diaz Crisandra Jade , Mayfield Stephen , Dutra Molino João Vitor
Published: January 2025

Harnessing and controlling the localization of recombinant proteins is critical for advancing applications in synthetic biology, industrial biotechnology, and drug delivery. This study explores protein anchoring and controlled release inChlamydomonas reinhardtii, providing innovative tools for these fields. Using truncated variants of the GP1 glycoprotein fused to the plastic-degrading enzyme PHL7, we identified the PPSPX motif as essential for anchoring proteins to the cell wall. Constructs with increased PPSPX content exhibited reduced secretion but improved anchoring, pinpointing the potential anchor-signal sites of GP1 and highlighting the distinct roles of these motifs in protein localization. Building on the anchoring capabilities established with these glycomodules, we also demonstrated a controlled release system using a pH-sensitive intein derived from RecA fromMycobacterium tuberculosis. This intein efficiently cleaved and released PHL7 and mCherry that was fused to GP1 under acidic conditions, enabling precise temporal and environmental control. At pH 5.5, fluorescence kinetics demonstrated significant mCherry release from the pJPW4mCherry construct within 4 hours. In contrast, release was minimal under pH 8.0 conditions and negligible for the pJPW2mCherry (W2) control, irrespective of the pH. Additionally, bands on the Western blot at the expected size of mCherry also showed its efficient release from the mCherry::intein::GP1 fusion protein at pH 5.5. Conversely, at pH 8.0, no bands were detected. This anchor-release approach offers significant potential for drug delivery, biocatalysis, and environmental monitoring applications. By integrating glycomodules and pH-sensitive inteins, this study establishes a versatile framework for optimizing protein localization and release inC. reinhardtii, with broad implications for proteomics, biofilm engineering, and scalable therapeutic delivery systems.

Graphical Abstract
Schaffer commissural inputs regulate the stability of CA1 spatial representation
Authors: Rais Cynthia , Maheu Maxime , Wiegert J. Simon
Published: January 2025

Neuronal representations of the world are dynamic. A striking example is the rapid remapping of the hippocampal spatial code, which occurs even when the environment and behavior remain unchanged. Here, we tested the possibility that CA3 Schaffer commissural inputs to CA1 control the stability of the cellular place representation in dorsal CA1. By combining longitudinal two-photon calcium imaging of CA1 place cells with optogenetic stimulation of contralateral presynaptic CA3 neurons in mice running on a linear treadmill, we demonstrate that CA3 inputs regulate the CA1 place code. Activation of CA3 cells both induced a small pool of new CA1 place cells and altered the pre-existing CA1 place code. The latter occurred through an unbiased shift of existing place fields specifically, and not through modifications of place field precision or a complete loss of place tuning in pre-existing place cells. All CA3-driven changes in the CA1 allocentric place code were transient and almost completely disappeared by the next day. Taken together, these results confirm a role for Schaffer commissural inputs in regulating CA1-encoded spatial representations, thus possibly contributing to the rapid scaffolding and remapping of spatial memories.
Finite-size topological phases from semimetals
Authors: Pal Adipta , Cook Ashley M.
Published: January 2025

Topological semimetals are some of the topological phases of matter most intensely studied experimentally. The Weyl semimetal phase, in particular, has garnered tremendous, sustained interest given fascinating signatures such as the Fermi arc surface states and the chiral anomaly, as well as the minimal requirements to protect this three-dimensional (3D) topological phase. Here, we show that thin films of Weyl semimetals [which we call quasi-(3−1)-dimensional, or q(3−1)D] generically realize finite-size topological phases distinct from 3D and 2D topological phases of established classification schemes: response signatures of the 3D bulk topology coexist with topologically protected, quasi-(3−2)D Fermi arc states or chiral boundary modes due to a second, previously unidentified bulk-boundary correspondence. We show these finite-size topological semimetal phases are realized by Hamiltonians capturing the Fermiology of few-layer van der Waals material MoTe2 in experiment. Given the broad experimental interest in few-layer van der Waals materials and topological semimetals, our work paves the way for extensive future theoretical and experimental characterization of finite-size topological phases.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Simulation of the process
e+e−→W+W−
with the heavy right-handed neutrino exchange at 1 TeV future lepton colliders
Authors: Drutskoy A. , Vasenin E.
Published: January 2025

We study potential contribution of the heavy right-handed neutrino exchange in the process e+e−→W+W−. This process is sensitive to heavy neutrinos with masses larger than s. The Monte Carlo simulation of the studied process is performed assuming the seesaw type-I model, where heavy right-handed neutrinos (heavy neutral leptons, HNLs) are introduced in the leptonic sector. Within the Standard Model (SM), the process has a large cross section described by diagrams with s-channel Z/γ exchange and t-channel active neutrino exchange. Respectively, the t-channel right-handed neutrino exchange amplitude will interfere with these SM amplitudes. However, the angular distributions of the W boson production and decay are different for the right-handed neutrino and SM amplitudes. That can be used to evaluate potential HNL contribution using the extended likelihood method. The simulation of the

e

+

e

−

→

W

+

W

−

process is performed at the 1 TeV center-of-mass energy and polarization Pe+e− of (20%, −80%), which is a standard option for the future linear e+e− International Linear Collider. Both W bosons are reconstructed from two hadronic jets. Simulation of the SM background processes is also done. The beam-induced backgrounds and the initial state radiation effects are taken into account. The majority of background processes are effectively suppressed by the cuts on the invariant masses of two and four jets. Finally, we obtain upper limits on the mixing parameter |VeN|2 as a function of M(N).

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Deep learning-based spatio-temporal fusion for high-fidelity ultra-high-speed X-ray radiography
Authors: Tang Songyuan , Bicer Tekin , Sun Tao , Fezzaa Kamel , Clark Samuel J.
Published: January 2025

Full-field ultra-high-speed (UHS) X-ray imaging experiments have been well established to characterize various processes and phenomena. However, the potential of UHS experiments through the joint acquisition of X-ray videos with distinct configurations has not been fully exploited. In this paper, we investigate the use of a deep learning-based spatio-temporal fusion (STF) framework to fuse two complementary sequences of X-ray images and reconstruct the target image sequence with high spatial resolution, high frame rate and high fidelity. We applied a transfer learning strategy to train the model and compared the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), average absolute difference (AAD) and structural similarity (SSIM) of the proposed framework on two independent X-ray data sets with those obtained from a baseline deep learning model, a Bayesian fusion framework and the bicubic interpolation method. The proposed framework outperformed the other methods with various configurations of the input frame separations and image noise levels. With three subsequent images from the low-resolution (LR) sequence of a four times lower spatial resolution and another two images from the high-resolution (HR) sequence of a 20 times lower frame rate, the proposed approach achieved average PSNRs of 37.57 dB and 35.15 dB, respectively. When coupled with the appropriate combination of high-speed cameras, the proposed approach will enhance the performance and therefore the scientific value of UHS X-ray imaging experiments.
Development of the Nanobeam X-ray Experiments instrument at PAL-XFEL
Authors: Kim Jangwoo , Hyun HyoJung , Kim Seonghan , Hwang Sun Min , Kim Myong-Jin , Jang Dogeun , Kim Kyung Sook , Shin Jaeyong , Kim Sejin , Hwang Junha , Lee Sung Yun , Park Eunyoung , Kim Sangsoo , Eom Intae , Song Changyong , Nam Daewoong
Published: January 2025

A Nanobeam X-ray Experiments (NXE) instrument was developed and installed at the hard X-ray beamline of the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory X-ray Free Electron Laser. This instrument consists of a diagnostic system, focusing optics, an X-ray diffraction endstation and a femtosecond laser delivery system. The NXE instrument enables sophisticated X-ray experiments using nanofocused X-rays. At a 9.5 keV X-ray energy, the beam was successfully focused to 390 nm × 230 nm at the focal plane using Kirkpatrick–Baez mirrors. Following the successful commissioning experiments in December 2021 and April 2022, the instrument became available for regular user experiments in January 2023. The first user experiment was conducted in January 2024. This article provides detailed information on the beamline optics, the NXE instrument, and its performance and capabilities.
Infrastructure and economic growth: evidence from Zambia
Authors: Sichoongwe Kiru
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to empirically assess how infrastructure development influenced economic growth in Zambia from 2000 to 2020.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses data from the World Development Indicators (WDI), spanning from 2000 to 2020. The selection of this time period was determined by the availability of data related to the research. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach was used for data analysis.

Findings

The findings show that economic growth is cointegrated with capacity to generate electricity, proving the existence of a long-run equilibrium relationship between them. Furthermore, the empirical results established that electricity generation capacity had a positive and significant impact on economic growth. Similarly, in the short run, electricity generation capacity, and mobile cellular services had a positive impact on economic growth.

Practical implications

Policy measures should prioritise increasing capacity for producing electricity and expanding access to energy by relevant economic sectors. Increased access to energy by these sectors can raise productivity, spur economic growth and accelerate industrialisation. Also, in the light of climate change, it is crucial that policymakers explore alternate sources of electricity generation, such as green and renewable sources. Furthermore, policy initiatives should prioritise expanding mobile cellular infrastructure, given that mobile cellular technology has become a vital component of economies and continues to offer unprecedented opportunities for economic growth.

Originality/value

This study presents novel empirical evidence on the unique relationship between infrastructure and economic growth in Zambia, highlighting electricity generation and mobile cellular services as pivotal factors for enhancing productivity and spurring industrial development.
Where has the time gone? A configurational analysis of the utilization level of China’s municipal open government data (OGD) portals to reclaim “time”
Authors: Wu Yingqiang , Huang Ruhua , Li Baiyang
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to overcome the “time blind spot” by exploring the multifactorial synergistic effects that enhance the utilization levels of open government data (OGD) portals over time. The objective is to provide theoretical contributions and practical value for research related to open government data.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies the dynamic qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) method to analyze panel data from 29 municipal portals spanning 2019–2023. Specifically, it examines the trends in the utilization levels of China’s OGD portals over time and identifies configurations of conditions that consider both spatial and temporal factors.

Findings

There are no necessary but insufficient conditions affecting the utilization levels of OGD portals. Instead, rather than being controlled by a single factor, the utilization levels are influenced by the combined effect of multiple factors. A sufficiency analysis of condition combinations identifies three configuration paths: portal and data resource development driven by fiscal support, portal development and public demand driven by government leadership and portal and data resource development driven by government leadership. In particular, the level of data portal development is identified as a core factor in achieving high utilization levels of OGD portals. Furthermore, while the configuration analysis results do not show significant temporal effects, there are case effects caused by a certain degree of spatial differences.

Originality/value

This pioneering study combines the dynamic QCA method based on panel data with the theme of OGD. Using panel data from 29 municipal platforms over the period from 2019 to 2023, this research addresses the shortcomings of limited time frames that have been encountered in previous studies. Moreover, it explores the configurational paths to enhancing platform utilization over time, aiming to provide both theoretical contributions and practical value for research related to the utilization of OGD portals.
The impact of IFRS adoption on the relevance of financial reporting in emerging markets: the case of Moroccan listed companies
Authors: OUBAHOU Yassine , EL OUAFA Khalid , BENGRICH Mustapha
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to assess the impact of the introduction of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on the informational relevance of accounting figures for Moroccan companies listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange. Specifically, it seeks to determine whether IFRS adoption improves the ability of accounting data to reflect share price movements.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis covers a sample of 27 Moroccan listed companies over a six-year period (2015–2020), with a total of 162 observations. The study tests various hypotheses through association studies to evaluate the effectiveness of accounting figures in reflecting share prices in the pre-IFRS and post-IFRS periods. The analysis utilizes Ohlson's (1995) price model, which is widely used in the literature for such assessments.

Findings

The results show that both earnings and shareholders’ equity are more effective in explaining share price variations in the post-IFRS period than in the pre-IFRS period. In particular, equity demonstrates greater explanatory power than earnings. The combined explanatory power of equity and earnings is significantly stronger in the post-IFRS period, suggesting that the adoption of IFRS has played a key role in enhancing the quality of financial information disclosed in the Moroccan market.

Practical implications

Theoretical implications – this study highlights that the adoption of IFRS reduces information asymmetry, thereby mitigating conflicts of interest and agency costs. By aligning accounting practices with international standards, IFRS enhance transparency and governance, fostering a more reliable business environment. Practical implications – the study indicates that IFRS adoption improves the transparency, reliability and comparability of financial information, enhancing investor confidence and making the Moroccan financial market more attractive. It provides useful guidance for regulators, businesses and countries considering IFRS implementation, demonstrating the importance of these standards in boosting market transparency and attracting global investments.

Originality/value

This study explores the impact of IFRS adoption on the relevance of financial information in Morocco, a topic that has been underexplored in emerging economies. It fills a gap in the literature by providing insights into IFRS adoption in a specific context, thus contributing to the ongoing debate on their effectiveness in developing economies.
Does eWoM matter in s-commerce? A comparatives study between Kuwait and United Arab Emirates
Authors: Abbas Hasan A. , Rouibah Kamel , Al-Qirim Nabeel
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to explore the antecedent factors that directly and indirectly influence electronic word of mouth (eWoM) for social commerce (s-commerce) in two developing countries (e.g. Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates [UAE]) by extending social cognitive theory.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a previous robust model (Rouibah et al., 2021) as theoretical background to investigate and compares the antecedents (trust in Instagram, perceived risks) on eWoM for s-commerce through the mediation of three mediators (perceived enjoyment, perceived value and customer satisfaction) among two Arab countries. Data was collected from Kuwait (n = 1,132) and the UAE (n = 190). Different statistical analyses and structured equation modeling-based analysis of moment structure are used to test the robustness of the research model.

Findings

This study found customer satisfaction to be most important factor that mediates the effect independent factors on eWoM for s-commerce in both countries. Surprisingly, perceived enjoyment has no effect, and trust in Instagram and perceived risks are the most important factors that are considered imperative for customer satisfaction and positive feedback.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation of this study is that the author does not focus on the difference between the effects of textual and graphical information on customers’ decisions and trust in buying merchandise. Another limitation is that this study focuses on Kuwait and the UAE. Other Gulf Cooperation Council countries are also growing exponentially, and mobile and internet penetration rates are booming; they could be a trigger for more studies on whether differences occur among all of them.

Practical implications

The first implication is that it is the first in its field to extend the effects of eWoM. To the best of the author’s knowledge, compared to the online research this study is unique because the authors examine six factors for eWoM in s-commerce using the Instagram platform as opposed to other platforms.

Social implications

The third implication of this study is that the previous ones have applied eWoM to different subjects of e-commerce such as tourism and marketing but have concentrated less on s-commerce, where in-depth research is needed much more to explore factors and theories that explain human behavior.

Originality/value

Furthermore, most of these studies have focused on the intention to use (Dincer and Dincer, 2023; X. Hu, Chen, Davison, and Liu, 2022; Zhou et al., 2023). However, the attention in this research is on the actual use.
Appraising young adult built environment researchers training needs in a developing economy: a perspective from stakeholders
Authors: Ebekozien Andrew , Aigbavboa Clinton , Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed Hafez , Samsurijan Mohamad Shaharudin , Aliu John Ogbeleakhu , Ikuabe Matthew , Nwaole Angeline Ngozika Chibuike
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Studies have shown that research is a global innovation’s “engine room.” Therefore, young adult-built environment researchers (YABER), especially in developing countries, need research upskilling and reskilling training for better-integrated outcomes. Evidence shows that research training can improve YABER competencies and proficiencies. In Nigeria, YABER may have had some challenges in training needs. There is a lack of extant literature about the issues facing Nigeria’s YABER upskilling and reskilling training needs. Thus, this study investigated the perceived problems facing YABER and proffered measures to improve their training needs in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers used participants from Edo State, Abuja and Lagos State, Nigeria. This study adopted a qualitative research approach. The researchers accomplished saturation after 40 virtual interviews and adopted a thematic analysis for the primary data.

Findings

The research shows that the built environment research refines current and creates new knowledge. The built environment researchers (trainers and trainees) need training but face challenges. Findings clustered measures to improve quality research publications in the built environment through YABER training into government/regulatory agencies-related, higher education institutions-related and researcher-related measures.

Originality/value

The developed framework and thematic network analysis could be used to stimulate YABER training needs and, by extension, stir Nigeria’s higher education institutions regulatory agencies to upgrade requirements for academic staffers, especially published articles, to be compulsorily Scopus/Web of Sciences indexed for promotion exercise. This is the global best practice, and Nigerian scholars cannot be in isolation. It will form part of this study’s implication and revitalise UNSDG 4.
The challenges clinical supervisors experience when supervising students in the workplace
Authors: Gustavsson Maria , Bivall Ann-Charlotte
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This article aims to provide a deeper understanding of the challenges clinical supervisors’ experience when supervising students’ professional learning in the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 13 healthcare professionals, who are experienced clinical supervisors. They were employed either in a hospital ward or in one of two municipal care units.

Findings

The findings showed that clinical supervisors must navigate a complex landscape of challenges to ensure students’ professional learning. They had to balance their regular duties with the time and effort required for supervision. Prominent challenges were ensuring students met their learning objectives and determining when to allow students to handle tasks independently. The supervisors also faced challenges that were beyond their control. Their workplace conditions were not designed to accommodate students effectively. They struggled with negative attitudes from colleagues towards student supervision and they wanted the clinic managers to be more involved. The gap between the university’s educational demands and the realities of the workplace also presented supervisors with a significant challenge.

Originality/value

Apart from unique empirical material depicting clinical supervisors’ experiences of student supervision, the value of this study lies in the recommendation that supervisors have clear requirements from higher educational institutions, but of equal importance is that these requirements align with the conditions in the workplace. Further studies are necessary to understand the role that workplace conditions play for clinical supervisors in creating supportive learning environments that facilitate students in their journey to becoming established professionals.
Maternal and paternal influence on female entrepreneurial identity: a narrative analysis
Authors: Sarfati Gilberto , Ulreich Constanze
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study explores the role of maternal and paternal influence in shaping the entrepreneurial identities and motivations of female founders. It seeks to fill the gap in the literature by examining how different forms of parental influence affect female entrepreneurs.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses a narrative analysis approach to examine the life stories of 22 female entrepreneurs from Germany, Switzerland, Canada, and Brazil. Through in-depth interviews, the study identifies key themes that illustrate the impact of parental influence on entrepreneurial identity formation.

Findings

The analysis identifies seven distinct themes: “Mom’s Dream,” “Absence,” “Equality First,” “Never Enough,” “Overprotected,” “Atypical Role Model,” and “The Rock.” These themes highlight the complex interplay between family dynamics and entrepreneurial motivations, demonstrating how parental roles and attitudes significantly contribute to forming entrepreneurial identity.

Research limitations/implications

The study’s findings are based on a relatively small sample size from four countries, which may limit the generalizability of the results. Future research could expand the sample and explore diverse cultural contexts to enhance understanding. Longitudinal studies could also provide deeper insights into the evolving impact of parental influence on entrepreneurial identity over time.

Practical implications

The findings offer valuable insights for designing targeted support programs for female entrepreneurs. Mentorship programs can address gaps in parental support, while entrepreneurship education can highlight the interplay of maternal and paternal influences in fostering confidence and resilience. Encouraging parents to support their daughters’ entrepreneurial ambitions can help build confidence and resilience in future female entrepreneurs, contributing to a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Originality/value

This study advances identity theory in entrepreneurship by integrating family dynamics into understanding entrepreneurial identity formation. It highlights the dual influences of mothers and fathers and their complementary contributions to resilience, confidence, and ambition. The research also provides a nuanced perspective on gender dynamics within entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of family context.
New technologies in HR: bridging efficiency and ethical considerations
Authors: Sposato Martin , Dittmar Eduardo Carlos , Vargas Portillo Jenny Patricia
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This systematic literature review examines the impact of Web-based human resource management (HRM) systems on organizational practices, exploring both the benefits and challenges associated with their implementation. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these technologies transform HR processes while addressing ethical concerns and implications for employee well-being and engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a systematic literature review methodology, analysing peer-reviewed academic journals, industry reports and relevant books published between 2000 and 2023. The research uses a tripartite framework to explore the positive aspects (“The Good”), challenges and limitations (“The Bad”) and ethical considerations (“The Ugly”) of Web-based HRM systems, with particular attention to employee engagement and organizational effectiveness.

Findings

This study reveals that Web-based HR systems significantly enhance efficiency in recruitment, compensation and payroll management. However, they also present substantial challenges related to data security, user competence and system integration. Ethical concerns emerge regarding privacy, potential biases in artificial intelligence-driven decision-making and the risk of over-dependency on technology. The research underscores the need for a balanced approach in implementing these systems, considering both their transformative potential and impact on employee well-being.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing literature by providing a nuanced, holistic examination of Web-based HRM systems. It extends the theoretical landscape by addressing the darker sides of HR technology adoption, including ethical dilemmas and potential negative impacts on employee engagement. The research offers valuable insights for both academics and practitioners, providing a foundation for future research and practical recommendations for effective implementation.