bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cortical cell ensemble control of past experience-dependent memory updating
Authors: Suzuki Akinobu , Kosugi Sakurako , Murayama Emi , Sasakawa Eri , Ohkawa Noriaki , Konno Ayumu , Hirai Hirokazu , Inokuchi Kaoru
Published: July 2021

When processing current sensory inputs, animals refer to related past experiences. Current information is then incorporated into the related neural network to update previously stored memories. However, the neuronal mechanism underlying the impact of memories of prior experiences on current learning is not well understood. Here, we found that a cellular ensemble in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) that is activated during past experience mediates an interaction between past and current information to update memory through a PPC-anterior cingulate cortex circuit in mice. Moreover, optogenetic silencing of the PPC ensemble immediately after retrieval dissociated the interaction without affecting individual memories stored in the hippocampus and amygdala. Thus, a specific subpopulation of PPC cells represents past information and instructs downstream brain regions to update previous memories.
A Floxed exon (Flexon) approach to Cre-mediated conditional gene expression
Authors: Shaffer Justin M. , Greenwald Iva
Published: July 2021

Conditional gene expression allows for genes to be manipulated and lineages to be marked during development. In the established “lox-stop-lox” approach, Cre-mediated tissue-specific gene expression is achieved by excising the stop cassette, a lox-flanked translational stop that is inserted into the 5′ untranslated region of a gene to halt its expression. Although lox-stop-lox has been successfully used in many experimental systems, the design of traditional stop cassettes also has common issues and limitations. Here, we describe the Floxed exon (Flexon), a stop cassette within an artificial exon that can be inserted flexibly into the coding region of any gene to cause premature termination of translation and nonsense-mediated decay of the mRNA. We demonstrate its efficacy in C. elegans by showing that, when promoters that cause weak and/or transient cell-specific expression are used to drive Cre in combination with a gfp(flexon) transgene, strong and sustained expression is obtained in specific lineages. We also describe several potential additional applications for using Flexon for developmental studies, including more precise control of gene expression using intersectional methods, tissue-specific protein degradation or RNAi, and generation of genetic mosaics. The Flexon approach should be feasible in any system where any site-specific recombination-based method may be applied.

Summary statement

The Floxed exon (Flexon), a stop cassette that can be inserted flexibly into the coding region of any gene, facilitates Cre-mediated conditional gene expression.
Estimating dispersal rates and locating genetic ancestors with genome-wide genealogies
Authors: Osmond Matthew M , Coop Graham
Published: July 2021

Spatial patterns in genetic diversity are shaped by individuals dispersing from their parents and larger-scale population movements. It has long been appreciated that these patterns of movement shape the underlying genealogies along the genome leading to geographic patterns of isolation by distance in contemporary population genetic data. However, extracting the enormous amount of information contained in genealogies along recombining sequences has, until recently, not been computationally feasible. Here we capitalize on important recent advances in genome-wide gene-genealogy reconstruction and develop methods to use thousands of trees to estimate per-generation dispersal rates and to locate the genetic ancestors of a sample back through time. We take a likelihood approach in continuous space using a simple approximate model (branching Brownian motion) as our prior distribution of spatial genealogies. After testing our method with simulations we apply it toArabidopsis thaliana. We estimate a dispersal rate of roughly 60km2per generation, slightly higher across latitude than across longitude, potentially reflecting a northward post-glacial expansion. Locating ancestors allows us to visualize major geographic movements, alternative geographic histories, and admixture. Our method highlights the huge amount of information about past dispersal events and population movements contained in genome-wide genealogies.
A Lethal Genetic Incompatibility between Naturally Hybridizing Species in Mitochondrial Complex I
Authors: Moran Benjamin M. , Payne Cheyenne Y. , Powell Daniel L. , Iverson Erik N. K. , Donny Alex E. , Banerjee Shreya M. , Langdon Quinn K. , Gunn Theresa R. , Rodriguez-Soto Rebecca A. , Madero Angel , Baczenas John J. , Kleczko Korbin M. , Liu Fang , Matney Rowan , Singhal Kratika , Leib Ryan D. , Hernandez-Perez Osvaldo , Corbett-Detig Russell , Frydman Judith , Gifford Casey , Schartl Manfred , Havird Justin C. , Schumer Molly
Published: July 2021

The evolution of reproductive barriers is the first step in the formation of new species and can help us understand the diversification of life on Earth. These reproductive barriers often take the form of “hybrid incompatibilities,” where alleles derived from two different species no longer interact properly in hybrids. Theory predicts that hybrid incompatibilities may be more likely to arise at rapidly evolving genes and that incompatibilities involving multiple genes should be common, but there has been sparse empirical data to evaluate these predictions. Here, we describe a mitonuclear incompatibility involving three genes in physical contact within respiratory Complex I in naturally hybridizing swordtail fish species. Individuals homozygous for specific mismatched protein combinations fail to complete embryonic development or die as juveniles, while those heterozygous for the incompatibility have reduced function of Complex I and unbalanced representation of parental alleles in the mitochondrial proteome. We find that the impacts of different genetic interactions on survival are non-additive, highlighting subtle complexity in the genetic architecture of hybrid incompatibilities. We document the evolutionary history of the genes involved, showing for the first time that an incompatibility has been transferred between species via hybridization. This work thus provides the first glimpse into the genetic architecture, physiological impacts, and evolutionary origin of a complex incompatibility impacting naturally hybridizing species.
Nitrogen uptake and macronutrients distribution in mango trees (cv. Keitt) under three N fertigation treatments
Authors: Silber A. , Goldberg T. , Shapira O. , Hochberg U.
Published: July 2021

We assessed the effects of N concentration in the irrigation water on nutrient uptake and distribution in leaves and fruit of mango cv. Keitt grown in a lysimeter for four years. We applied three treatments: N1 – no N fertilization (less than 2 mg/L in the tap water); N2 – 10 mg/L N; N3 – 20 mg/L N.

Deficient N conditions (N1) generated low vegetative yield, high fruit:leaf ratio, high photosynthetic activity, high leaf P and K concentrations, and high sugar content along with low acidity in the fruit. Excess N concentration (N3) induced vegetative growth, and reduced fruit yield and gas-exchange characteristics. The calculated annual nitrogen uptake heavily depended on the nitrogen supply (N1-26 g/tree; N2-196 g/tree; N3- 185 g/tree).

Fruits were the major N sink being 0.82, 0.26 and 0.05 from the total annual N supplied. The N quantities accumulated in N1 fruits during the reproductive season (May-August), were above the N quantities supplied via fertigation, suggesting that N reserve in the vegetative tissues supplied the fruit’s high N demand.

The finding shows the importance of adequate nitrogen supply to mango trees and the dangers of excessive fertilization.
Correlated transcriptional responses provide insights into the synergy mechanisms of the furazolidone, vancomycin and sodium deoxycholate triple combination in Escherichia coli
Authors: Olivera Catrina , Cox Murray , Rowlands Gareth J. , Rakonjac Jasna
Published: July 2021

Effective therapeutic options are urgently needed to tackle antibiotic resistance. Furazolidone (FZ), vancomycin (VAN), and sodium deoxycholate (DOC) show promise as their combination can synergistically inhibit the growth of, and kill, multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria that are classified as critical priority by the World Health Organization. Here, we investigated the mechanisms of action and synergy of this drug combination using a transcriptomics approach in the model bacterium Escherichia coli. We show that FZ and DOC elicit highly similar gene perturbations indicative of iron starvation, decreased respiration and metabolism, and translational stress. In contrast, VAN induced envelope stress responses, in agreement with its known role in peptidoglycan synthesis inhibition. FZ induced the SOS response consistent with its DNA damaging effects, but we demonstrate that using FZ in combination with the other two compounds enables use of lower dosages and largely mitigates its mutagenic effects. Based on the gene expression changes identified, we propose a synergy mechanism where the combined effects of FZ, VAN, and DOC amplify damage to Gram-negative bacteria while simultaneously suppressing antibiotic resistance mechanisms.

Importance

Synergistic combinations of existing antibacterials against multidrug-resistant “superbugs” are an alternative strategy to costly and arduous development of novel antibacterial molecules. The synergistic combination of nitrofurans, vancomycin and sodium deoxycholate shows promise in inhibiting and killing multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. We examined the mechanism of action and synergy of these three antibacterials, and proposed a mechanistic basis for their synergy. Our results highlight much needed mechanistic information necessary to advance this combination as a potential therapy.
NPDS Toolbox: Neural Population (De)Synchronization toolbox for Matlab
Authors: Moayeri Mohammad Mahdi , Hemami Mohammad , Rad Jamal Amani , Parand Kourosh
Published: July 2021

The study of synchronous or asynchronous in (stochastic) neuronal populations is an important concept both in theory and in practice in neuroscience. The NPDS toolbox provides an interactive simulation platform for exploring such processes in Matlab looking through the lens of nonlinear dynamical systems. NPDS includes two main components: neural population (de)synchronization, and neural dynamics. One can investigate distribution controls on various neural models such as HH, FHN, RH, and Thalamic. Also, it supports many numerical approaches for simulation: finite-difference, pseudo-spectral, radial basis function, and Fourier methods. In addition, this toolbox can be used for population phase shifting and clustering.
Design of complicated all-α protein structures
Authors: Sakuma Koya , Kobayashi Naohiro , Sugiki Toshihiko , Nagashima Toshio , Fujiwara Toshimichi , Suzuki Kano , Kobayashi Naoya , Murata Takeshi , Kosugi Takahiro , Koga Rie , Koga Nobuyasu
Published: July 2021

A wide range of de novo protein structure designs have been achieved, but the complexity of naturally occurring protein structures is still far beyond these designs. To expand the diversity and complexity of de novo designed protein structures, we sought to develop a method for designing “difficult-to-describe”α-helical protein structures composed of irregularly aligned α-helices like globins. Backbone structure libraries consisting of a myriad of α-helical structures with 5- or 6-helices were generated by combining 18 helix-loop-helix motifs and canonical α-helices, and five distinct topologies were selected for de novo design. The designs were found to be monomeric with high thermal stability in solution and fold into the target topologies with atomic accuracy. This study demonstrated that complicated α-helical proteins are created using typical building blocks. The method we developed would enable us to explore the universe of protein structures for designing novel functional proteins.
Ribocutter: Cas9-mediated rRNA depletion from multiplexed Ribo-seq libraries
Authors: Wilkins Oscar G. , Ule Jernej
Published: July 2021

RNA sequencing libraries produced from fragmented RNA, especially Ribo-seq libraries, contain high proportions of reads from abundant non-coding RNAs. Here, we describe a streamlined Cas9-based protocol for removing abundant rRNA/ncRNA contaminants from Ribo-seq (or other small RNA-seq) libraries and an easy-to-use software tool, ribocutter, for designing ready-to-order sgRNA templates. Following sgRNA template design, the pool of templates is in vitro transcribed using a 1-step commercial kit, which produces enough sgRNAs for multiple treatments. A single multiplexed sequencing library is then treated with Cas9/sgRNAs, followed by a short PCR program, which can increase the fraction of useful reads by more than 3-fold. Comparison of samples before and after depletion demonstrates that Cas9 produces minimal off-target effects and preserves key features (eg. footprint length, periodicity) of Ribo-seq libraries. The method is thus highly effective, costs <£0.50 per sample, and minimises non-specific depletion and technical variation between samples.
Lightning Fast and Highly Sensitive Full-Length Single-cell sequencing using FLASH-Seq
Authors: Hahaut Vincent , Pavlinic Dinko , Cowan Cameron , Picelli Simone
Published: July 2021

In the last 10 years, single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) has undergone exponential growth. Emulsion droplets methods1–3, such as those commercialized by 10x Genomics, have allowed researchers to analyze tens of thousands of cells in parallel in a robust and reproducible way. However, in contrast to SMART-based full-length sequencing protocols4,5, these methods interrogate only the outer portion of the transcripts and still lack the required sensitivity for analyzing comprehensively the transcriptome of individual cells. Building upon the existing SMART-seq forerunners protocols4,5, we developed FLASH-Seq (FS), a new scRNA-seq method which displays greater sensitivity while decreasing incubation times and reducing the number of processing steps compared to its predecessors. The entire FS protocol - from lysed cells to pooled cDNA libraries - can be performed in ~4.5 hours, is automation-friendly and can be easily miniaturized to decrease costs.
cylcop: An R Package for Circular-Linear Copulae with Angular Symmetry
Authors: Hodel Florian H. , Fieberg John R.
Published: July 2021

The R packagecylcopextends thecopulapackage to allow modeling of correlated circular-linear random variables using copulae that are symmetric in the circular dimension. We present and derive several new circular-linear copulae with this property and demonstrate how they can be implemented in thecylcoppackage to model animal movements in discrete time. The package contains methods for estimating copulae parameters, plotting probability density and cumulative distribution functions, and simulating data.
The haplotype-resolved reference genome of lemon (Citrus limon L. Burm f.)
Authors: Guardo M. Di , Moretto M. , Moser M. , Catalano C. , Troggio M. , Deng Z. , Cestaro A. , Caruso M. , Distefano G. , La Malfa S. , Bianco L. , Gentile A.
Published: July 2021

Lemon (Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f.) is an evergreen tree belonging to the genus Citrus. The fruits are particularly prized for their organoleptic and nutraceutical properties of the juice.

Herein we report, for the first time, the release of a high-quality reference genome of the two haplotypes of lemon. The sequencing has been carried out coupling Illumina short reads and Oxford Nanopore data leading to the definition of a primary and an alternative assembly characterized by a genome size of 312.8 Mb and 324.74 Mb respectively. The analysis of the long terminal repeat (LTR) allowed the identification of 1921 regions on the primary and 1911 on the alternative assembly distributed across the nine chromosomes. Furthermore, an in-silico analysis of the microRNA genes was carried out using 246 mature miRNA and the respective pre-miRNA hairpin sequences of C. sinensis. Such analysis highlighted a high conservation between the two species with 233 mature miRNAs and 51 pre-miRNA stem-loops aligning with perfect match on the lemon genome.

In parallel, total RNA was extracted from fruit, flower, leaf and root enabling the detection of 38,205 and 37,753 predicted transcripts on primary and alternative assemblies respectively. Among those, the highest and lowest number of tissue-specific transcripts were detected in flower (2.73% and 2.71% in primary and alternative assemblies respectively) and leaf (0.7% and 0.68%) while gene ontology analysis enables a more precise characterization of the expressed genes based on their function.

The availability of a reference genome is an important prerequisite both for the set-up of high-throughput genotyping analysis and for functional genomic approaches toward the characterization of the genetic determinism of traits of agronomic interest.
Autocrine signaling explains the emergence of Allee effects in cancer cell populations
Authors: Gerlee Philip , Altrock Philipp M. , Krona Cecilia , Nelander Sven
Published: July 2021

In many human cancers, the rate of cell growth depends crucially on the size of the tumour cell population. Low, zero, or negative growth at low population densities is known as the Allee effect; this effect has been studied extensively in ecology, but so far lacks a good explanation in the cancer setting. Here, we formulate and analyze an individual-based model of cancer, in which cell division rates are increased by the local concentration of an autocrine growth factor produced by the cancer cells themselves. We show, analytically and by simulation, that autocrine signaling suffices to cause both strong and weak Allee effects. Whether low cell densities lead to negative (strong effect) or reduced (weak effect) growth rate depends directly on the ratio of cell death to proliferation, and indirectly on cellular dispersal. Our model is consistent with experimental observations of brain tumor cells grown at different densities. We propose that further studying and quantifying population-wide feedback, impacting cell growth, will be central for advancing our understanding of cancer dynamics and treatment, potentially exploiting Allee effects for therapy.
DeeReCT-TSS: A novel meta-learning-based method annotates TSS in multiple cell types based on DNA sequences and RNA-seq data
Authors: Zhou Juexiao , Zhang Bin , Li Haoyang , Zhou Longxi , Li Zhongxiao , Long Yongkang , Han Wenkai , Wang Mengran , Cui Huanhuan , Chen Wei , Gao Xin
Published: July 2021

The accurate annotation of transcription start sites (TSSs) and their usage is critical for the mechanistic understanding of gene regulation under different biological contexts. To fulfill this, on one hand, specific high-throughput experimental technologies have been developed to capture TSSs in a genome-wide manner. On the other hand, various computational tools have also been developed for in silico prediction of TSSs solely based on genomic sequences. Most of these computational tools cast the problem as a binary classification task on a balanced dataset and thus result in drastic false positive predictions when applied on the genome-scale. To address these issues, we present DeeReCT-TSS, a deep-learning-based method that is capable of TSSs identification across the whole genome based on both DNA sequences and conventional RNA-seq data. We show that by effectively incorporating these two sources of information, DeeReCT-TSS significantly outperforms other solely sequence-based methods on the precise annotation of TSSs used in different cell types. Furthermore, we develop a meta-learning-based extension for simultaneous transcription start site (TSS) annotation on 10 cell types, which enables the identification of cell-type-specific TSS. Finally, we demonstrate the high precision of DeeReCT-TSS on two independent datasets from the ENCODE project by correlating our predicted TSSs with experimentally defined TSS chromatin states. Our application, pre-trained models and data are available at https://github.com/JoshuaChou2018/DeeReCT-TSS_release.
A conditioned place preference for heroin is signaled by increased dopamine and direct pathway activity and decreased indirect pathway activity in the nucleus accumbens
Authors: O’Neal Timothy J. , Bernstein Mollie X. , MacDougall Derek J. , Ferguson Susan M.
Published: July 2021

Initial drug use promotes the development of conditioned reinforcement, whereby the reinforcing properties of a drug become attributed to drug-associated stimuli, such as cues and contexts. A principal role for the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in the response to drug-associated stimuli has been well-documented. In particular, direct and indirect pathway medium spiny neurons (dMSNs and iMSNs) have been shown to bidirectionally regulate cue-induced heroin-seeking in rats expressing addiction-like phenotypes, and a shift in NAc activity towards the direct pathway has been shown in mice following cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP). However, how NAc signaling guides heroin CPP, and whether heroin alters the balance of signaling between dMSNs and iMSNs remains unknown. Moreover, the role of NAc dopamine signaling in heroin reinforcement remains unclear. Here, we integrate fiber photometry for in vivo monitoring of dopamine and dMSN/iMSN calcium activity with a heroin CPP procedure in rats to address these outstanding questions. We identify a sensitization-like response to heroin in the NAc, with prominent iMSN activity during initial heroin exposure and prominent dMSN activity following repeated heroin exposure. We demonstrate a ramp in dopamine activity, dMSN activation, and iMSN inactivation preceding entry into a heroin-paired context, and a decrease in dopamine activity, dMSN inactivation, and iMSN activation preceding exit from a heroin-paired context. Finally, we show that buprenorphine is sufficient to prevent the development of heroin CPP and activation of the NAc post-conditioning. Together, these data support the hypothesis that an imbalance in NAc activity contributes to the development of addiction.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

The attribution of the reinforcing effects of drugs to neutral stimuli (e.g., cues and contexts) contributes to the maintenance of addiction, as re-exposure to drug-associated stimuli can reinstate drug seeking and taking even after long periods of abstinence. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) has an established role in encoding the value of drug-associated stimuli, and dopamine release into the NAc is known to modulate the reinforcing effects of drugs, including heroin. Using fiber photometry, we show that entering a heroin-paired context is driven by dopamine signaling and NAc direct pathway activation, whereas exiting a heroin-paired context is driven by NAc indirect pathway activation. This study provides further insight into the role of NAc microcircuitry in encoding the reinforcing properties of heroin.
Profiling chromatin accessibility in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples
Authors: Zhang Hua , Polavarapu Vamsi Krishna , Xing Pengwei , Zhao Miao , Mathot Lucy , Zhao Linxuan , Rosen Gabriela , Swartling Fredrik J. , Sjöblom Tobias , Chen Xingqi
Published: July 2021

Archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples are the global standard format for preservation of the majority of biopsies in both basic research and translational cancer studies, and profiling chromatin accessibility in the archived FFPE tissues is fundamental to understanding gene regulation. Accurate mapping of chromatin accessibility from FFPE specimens is challenging because of the high degree of DNA damage. Here, we first showed that standard ATAC-seq can be applied to purified FFPE nuclei but yields lower library complexity and a smaller proportion of long DNA fragments. We then present FFPE-ATAC, the first highly sensitive method for decoding chromatin accessibility in FFPE tissues that combines Tn5-mediated transposition and T7 in vitro transcription. The FFPE-ATAC generates high-quality chromatin accessibility profiles with 500 nuclei from a single FFPE tissue section, enables the dissection of chromatin profiles from the regions of interest with the aid of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and reveals disease-associated chromatin regulation from the human colorectal cancer FFPE tissue archived for >10 yr. In summary, the approach allows decoding of the chromatin states that regulate gene expression in archival FFPE tissues, thereby permitting investigators to better understand epigenetic regulation in cancer and precision medicine.
The impact of debt service costs and public debt on private capital formation in South Africa
Authors: Zhou Sheunesu
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to analyse the relationship between public debt, corporate debt service costs and private capital formation in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

To capture the long-run characteristic of investment, the study adopts the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares approach and tests for cointegration using Hansen (1992)'s Parameter Instability test.

Findings

We find that private capital formation increases in domestic debt and decreases in external debt during the pre-crisis period. However, during the period post the Global Financial Crisis, we find evidence of domestic public debt crowding out private capital formation, whereas external debt crowds-in capital formation. Debt service costs are found to reduce investment due to the effect of the debt overhang throughout the period under analysis.

Research limitations/implications

The paper has important implications for macroeconomic policy. In particular, there is need for deleveraging and allocation of a higher proportion of debt to public infrastructure expenditure which has complementary effects on private investment.

Practical implications

Debt overhang signal that South African firms could be over-leveraged, which hinders future growth prospects. Firms that face high levels of debt should consider debt restructuring.

Originality/value

Empirical studies undertaken to explore this relationship have yielded contradicting results suggesting that the relationship between public debt and private investment is heterogeneous depending on a given economy or prevailing macroeconomic environment. In particular, existing research does not provide evidence on whether recent increases in public debt in South Africa have led to crowding-in or crowding-out of private investment. This paper therefore contributes to empirical literature on the impact of public debt on private investment within a small open economy.
Women on boards of directors: the moderation role of female labour force participation
Authors: Hamdan Reem , Hamdan Allam , Alareeni Bahaaeddin , Atayah Osama F. , Alhalwachi Layla Faisal
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the moderation role of the percentage of women in the country labour force in the relationship between firm-level governance factors (board size, institutional ownership, ownership concentration, board independence, performance, firm size, firm’s risk and sector) and women on boards (WOBs) in publicly listed firms in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The study relied on a sample of 436 publicly listed firms in 2018 in six GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates).

Findings

The study concluded that the percentage of women in the country’s labour force has a moderation role in the relationship between board size and WOB, as well as firm market performance and WOBs. However, ownership concentration, firm size, firm risk and firm sector do not affect the percentage of WOB; consequently, the percentage of women in the country’s labour force did not have a moderation role in the relationship between these variables and the percentage of WOBs.

Originality/value

The study incorporates an institutional level variable which is the percentage of women in the country’s labour force in a firm-level relationship mostly understood by agency theory.
A stakeholder analysis of government policy intervention in the Ghanaian slum communities
Authors: Nkrumah Agyabeng Anthony , Preko Alexander
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Slum upgrading has received intense attention in the Global South, particularly among stakeholders. This study aims to examine government policy priorities towards slum management with the view of establishing its level of commitment in terms of measures undertaken and identify specific policies to structure the sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The study systematically reviewed national policies, guided by the frequency statistics method in identifying key issues relating to slums management. Content analysis was used to identify findings into themes and discussed in line with the study’s objectives.

Findings

The results revealed the government’s determination to upgrade the existing slums, with the establishment of a Ministry for Inner City and Zongo Development to facilitate collaboration between stakeholders in the value chain of slum management. Furthermore, the study established government’s resolve to strengthen the Local Government Act, 1993, and the National Development Planning Act, 1994 within context to pave way for slums upgrading.

Research limitations/implications

The study used a national policy framework to inform the conclusion reached. Further studies are needed in similar contexts to understand the inputs of government and stakeholders and their contributions towards slum management. This would further expand the frontiers of knowledge in the domain.

Practical implications

The findings revealed policy-driven that can be used by policymakers, practitioners, housing managers and other relevant stakeholders to create workable policies for slum management.

Originality/value

This study provides first insight into government commitment to slums management using national policy documents in context.
Impact of urbanization on per capita energy use and emissions in India
Authors: Haldar Stuti , Sharma Gautam
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impacts of urbanization on per capita energy consumption and emissions in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study analyses the effects of urbanization on energy consumption patterns by using the Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology in India. Time series data from the period of 1960 to 2015 has been considered for the analysis. Variables including Population, GDP per capita, Energy intensity, share of industry in GDP, share of Services in GDP, total energy use and urbanization from World Bank data sources have been used for investigating the relationship between urbanization, affluence and energy use.

Findings

Energy demand is positively related to affluence (economic growth). Further the results of the analysis also suggest that, as urbanization, GDP and population are bound to increase in the future, consequently resulting in increased carbon dioxide emissions caused by increased energy demand and consumption. Thus, reducing the energy intensity is key to energy security and lower carbon dioxide emissions for India.

Research limitations/implications

The study will have important policy implications for India’s energy sector transition toward non- conventional, clean energy sources in the wake of growing share of its population residing in urban spaces.

Originality/value

There are limited number of studies considering the impacts of population density on per capita energy use. So this study also contributes methodologically by establishing per capita energy use as a function of population density and technology (i.e. growth rates of industrial and service sector).
Governance and renewable energy consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Asongu Simplice , Odhiambo Nicholas M.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the nexus between governance and renewable energy consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Design/methodology/approach

The focus is on 44 countries in SSA with data from 1996 to 2016. The empirical evidence is based on Tobit regressions.

Findings

It is apparent from the findings that political and institutional governance are negatively related to the consumption of renewable energy in the sampled countries. The unexpected findings are clarified and policy implications are discussed in the light of sustainable development goals.

Originality/value

This study extends the extant literature by assessing how political governance (consisting of political stability and “voice and accountability”) and institutional governance (entailing the rule of law and corruption-control) affect the consumption of renewable energy in SSA.
A self-congruence and impulse buying effect on user’s shopping behaviour over social networking sites: an empirical study
Authors: Chauhan Shaifali , Banerjee Richa , Chakraborty Chinmay , Mittal Mohit , Shiva Atul , Ravi Vinayakumar
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the shopping behaviour of consumers, mainly in fashion apparels, and intends to understand consumer buying patterns in Indian context. The study was designed to determine the level of consumer's sense of belonging towards apparel shopping by applying the concept of self-congruence.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used variance-based partial least squares structural equational modelling (PLS-SEM) on a cross-sectional study conducted on 569 consumers. The study was conducted by using questionnaire to collect the responses from the central zone of India. The results support most of the projected hypotheses.

Findings

The study focused on the shopping behaviour of consumer such as self-congruence, impulse buying, hedonic values and consumer satisfaction. The results of the study highlight the association of constructs and analysed the mediation relation of hedonic and impulse buying constructs. The results revealed a positive association among the constructs and also found a partial mediation effect in their relation with constructs.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are outcomes of an empirical study conducted in the fashion apparel industry of India based on the sample set of urban consumers. The study is restricted to the direct and indirect relationship of constructs. Further, research can examine by using moderating constructs like demographic factors (gender, age, income, etc.) and other shopping behaviours (like brand loyalty, brand love, brand attachment) for more clarity in results. Moreover, the study limited is with fashion apparel, whereas there are many categories in the fashion industry like accessories, perfumes, cosmetic products, footwear and also other products industry.

Practical implications

The study provided valuable inputs to the literature of marketing where self-congruence affects consumer shopping behaviour such as impulse buying, hedonic values and consumer satisfaction. The study proposes a practical approach that can help the marketing professionals and product developers to have a deep understanding about consumer shopping behaviour for facilitating consumer-oriented goods in the Indian fashion industry.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies in the fashion industry to test the association of self-congruence with hedonic value and consumer satisfaction. This relation is not tested in context of fashion apparel. Additionally, this study also examined the mediating effect of hedonic value and impulse buying in relation with self-congruence and consumer satisfaction in the Indian context.
Working capital allocations and productivity: empirical issues and role of asset utilization
Authors: Chauhan Gaurav Singh
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The article highlights potential mismeasurement in working capital allocations among academicians and practitioners and revisits the relationship between firms' working capital and productivity, as evident from their values.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design acknowledges the relative role of firms' working capital vis-a-vis other assets in generating revenue, thereby effectively accounting for the overall asset efficiency in influencing firm value. The authors use a multivariate framework to draw inferences from the marginal impact of working capital and its components on firm value while controlling for asset utilization.

Findings

The authors find that, after accounting for asset utilization, the marginal impact of working capital and its components on firm value is quite weak. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that firms' trade-off between short-term and long-term assets per se should not have any value implications. After controlling for their asset turnovers, the authors find that higher allocations to working capital relative to other assets are not necessarily value-destructive. The findings contrast with the past literature.

Research limitations/implications

The article, through its analytical and empirical insights, suggests that working capital allocations should be measured by managers and academicians relative to firms' other asset rather than their sales. Firm values should, therefore, be compared based on firms' overall asset utilization rather than inter-temporal allocations to short-term versus long-term assets.

Originality/value

Contrary to the existing literature so far, the article explicitly acknowledges the relative role of firms' other assets, and hence the overall asset utilization, to infer the marginal impact of working capital on firm value.
Blockchain adoption in health market: a systems thinking and modelling approach
Authors: Nanda Shweta , Nanda Saket
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to formulate strategic interventions that can contribute to adoption of blockchain in Asian health market.

Design/methodology/approach

A methodological framework based on the three qualitative phases of the systems thinking and modelling methodology, namely, problem structuring, causal loop modelling and developing strategic interventions were used. Data was collected using thirty interviews and secondary research.

Findings

The reference model developed in the study captured the system behavior, showing health market blockchain adoption increasing in other countries but struggling in Asia. The qualitative systems model developed explained this behavior by capturing the underlying system structure using six interconnected feedback loops. Three strategic interventions were formulated to change the system structure to improve its adoption.

Research limitations/implications

This study acknowledges its limitation that blockchain integration in health supply chain management (SCM) and adaptability to technological trends are just few elements that contributes to challenges in blockchain adoption in Asia Pacific health market . It also acknowledges the limited scale of this study using 30 interviews with a narrow set of stakeholders, limiting its generalisability.

Practical implications

Although the blockchain technology has medical data security benefits, its integration in health SCM could potentially improve cost of health service delivery to patient. Not only it prevents drug counterfeiting, it enhances patient’s safety by reducing the time it takes to alert the supply chain of a product recall from few days to few seconds.

Social implications

“Blockchain-as-a-Service” has wide applications in SCM, identity management, payments, smart contracts, governance risk and compliance management, with its market size expected to grow in future. This affordable solution opens up the roads for future empirical research for information systems academicians and information technology practitioners.

Originality/value

This research provides a holistic analysis of the challenges facing blockchain adoption in the health market for Asia. It offers a methodological approach based on systems thinking and modelling to improve its adoption.
Rural revitalization: sustainable strategy for the development of cultural landscape of traditional villages through optimized IPA approach
Authors: Zhang Qunsong , Kim Eunyoung , Yang Cuixia , Cao Fucun
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to provide a decision-making basis for the development of a sustainability strategy by importance-performance analysis (IPA) methods. However, traditional and modified IPA methods do not accurately reveal the impact of the various dimensions of sustainable development (SD) on cultural landscape (CL). Based on the structural equation model (SEM), four main dimensions of SD were identified from the available data. This paper conducted an optimized IPA by building three SEMs based on importance, performance and the importance of four dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes the use of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and SEM to develop the CL characteristic index evaluation model to determine the load of each indicator of importance and performance, and the SD-based measurement model to further determine the weight of the sustainability of each indicator in importance and performance. Afterwards, proposed sustainable strategies to the corresponding index were obtained.

Findings

This study offers useful insights into the actual operation and theoretical aspects of the IPA method.

Practical implications

This study offers useful insights into the actual operation and theoretical aspects of the IPA method. This can solve the incongruous and uncertainty problem in the sustainable planning strategy, and the case study proves the feasibility of the IPA method combined with the influence of the structural equation.

Social implications

The research is conducive to acceptance by local people with regard to their preferences in the perspective of sustainable development. It provides a basis for the future use of the IPA method in a comprehensive way based on an administrative angle.

Originality/value

The case study proves the feasibility of the IPA method combined with the influence of the structural equation. This provides a basis for the future use of the IPA method in a comprehensive way based on an administrative angle.
Drug sentencing in Brazil: factors influencing sentencing outcomes in the criminal courts of Recife/PE
Authors: Brasileiro Dourado Lais Meneses , Fischer Benedikt
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine sentencing decisions for drug-trafficking offences in the criminal courts of the city of Recife to address a gap in quantitative research on drug sentencing and incarceration in Brazil.

Design/methodology/approach

Using original data obtained from the Court of Justice for Pernambuco, the research used multivariate regression analysis to investigate the effect of case processing, offender, and offence characteristics on sentence length.

Findings

A key finding of the research is the influence of two legal factors on sentence length: admitting to a drug-trafficking offence and being categorized as “mitigated trafficking”. Results also indicate that first-time defendants were more likely to be categorized as mitigated trafficking, stressing the importance of criminal history on predicting sentencing outcomes. “Mitigated trafficking” is a distinct category of drug-trafficking created by the Drug Law nº. 11.343 (2006) to protect defendants considered novices in the illicit drug market from receiving longer imprisonment sentences.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that the policy strategy of having a legal distinction for a specific type of defendant appears to be effective in impacting sentence length for drug-trafficking convictions. Future research could explore how similar strategies could be adopted to influence sentencing for other vulnerable groups. However, focussing on a defendant records or prior convictions as an eligibility criterion could disproportionately impact defendants who are caught in a cycle of re-offending for socio-economic reasons or a need to finance a substance use disorder.

Originality/value

This research address a gap in quantitative sentencing research in Brazil and contributes to the broader literature by presenting results that are aligned with previous studies conducted in North America.
Effect of Ponzi schemes on a country: the case of Ghana
Authors: Mohammed Umar
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the nature and operations of the two main Ponzi schemes (DKM Diamond Micro Finance Company and Menzgold Company Limited). It explores how such dubious schemes were able to circumvent financial regulatory bodies and their impact on the social, political and economic spheres of Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts both quantitative and qualitative research approaches and relies on secondary sources of data from the Bank of Ghana, World Bank and textbooks, etc.

Findings

It was found out that inadequate supervisory role by financial regulators was a factor that made these schemes thrive in Ghana which had dire consequences on the socio-economic of the country.

Originality/value

This is the first paper that explores the major Ponzi schemes in Ghana.
Linear and nonlinear relationships: a hybrid SEM-neural network approach to verify the links of online experience with luxury hotel branding
Authors: Xia Menglong , Zhang Yang
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Mobile technologies have recently come to serve as the primary reservation option for the hospitality industry. This study examines the role of online experience in determining potential consumers' perceived hotel brand image, through a three-stage model based on the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) framework.

Design/methodology/approach

A dual-stage analytical procedure, including structural equation modeling (SEM) and an artificial neural network (ANN) approach, was adopted to test the hypotheses.

Findings

Online experience of mobile applications (apps) can be influenced by perceived usefulness. As the indivisible component of consumers' cognitive beliefs, perceived ease of use exerts a positive impact on online experience. The online experience of mobile apps positively influenced brand awareness and satisfaction, further contributing to potential consumers' brand image formation.

Research limitations/implications

This study empirically verified the relationships among potential hotel consumers' perceptions of official hotel mobile app quality, online experience and brand image.

Practical implications

This study reiterates the importance of official hotel apps in implementing online marketing strategies, suggesting that hoteliers should pay attention to enhancing the quality of their official apps.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to combine machine learning techniques with the traditional SEM approach to assess linear and nonlinear relationships in consumers' perceptual models. Additionally, the findings provide theoretical insights into the online experience of mobile apps and reveal the perceived brand image formation process of potential consumers.