bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
G protein-coupled receptor 17 inhibits glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion via a Gi/o-dependent mechanism in enteroendocrine cells
Authors: Conley Jason M. , Jochim Alexander , Evans-Molina Carmella , Watts Val J. , Ren Hongxia
Published: November 2024

Gut peptides, including glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), regulate metabolic homeostasis and have emerged as the basis for multiple state-of-the-art diabetes and obesity therapies. We previously showed that G protein-coupled receptor 17 (GPR17) is expressed in intestinal enteroendocrine cells (EECs) and modulates nutrient-induced GLP-1 secretion. However, the GPR17-mediated molecular signaling pathways in EECs have yet to be fully deciphered. Here, we expressed the human GPR17 long isoform (hGPR17L) in GLUTag cells, a murine EEC line, and we used the GPR17 synthetic agonist MDL29,951 together with pharmacological probes and genetic approaches to quantitatively assess the contribution of GPR17 signaling to GLP-1 secretion. Constitutive hGPR17L activity inhibited GLP-1 secretion, and MDL29,951 treatment further inhibited this secretion, which was attenuated by treatment with the GPR17 antagonist HAMI3379. MDL29,951 promoted both Gi/o and Gq protein coupling to mediate cyclic AMP (cAMP) and calcium signaling. hGPR17L regulation of GLP-1 secretion was Gq-independent and dependent upon Gi/o signaling, but was not correlated with MDL29,951-induced whole-cell cAMP signaling. Our studies revealed key signaling mechanisms underlying the role of GPR17 in regulating GLP-1 secretion and suggest future opportunities for pharmacologically targeting GPR17 with inverse agonists to maximize GLP-1 secretionGraphical Abstract
Telomeric transposons are pervasive in linear bacterial genomes
Authors: Hsieh Shan-Chi , Fülöp Máté , Schargel Richard , Petassi Michael T. , Barabas Orsolya , Peters Joseph E.
Published: November 2024

Eukaryotes have linear DNA and their telomeres are hotspots for transposons, which in some cases took over telomere maintenance. While many bacteria also have linear chromosomes and plasmids, no transposons were known to target bacterial telomeres. Here we show several families of independently evolved telomeric transposons in cyanobacteria andStreptomyces. While these elements have one specific transposon end sequence with the second boundary being the telomere, we can show they move using two transposon ends. Telomeres are transiently bridged by the telomere maintenance systems, providing a duplex substrate for mobilization of the element and the associated telomere. We identify multiple instances where telomeric transposons have replaced native telomeres, making the host cell dependent on the new telomere system for genome maintenance. This work indicates how telomeric transposons can promote gene transfer both between and within genomes, significantly influencing the evolutionary dynamics of linear genomes.
Dysregulation of synaptic-related genes of neuroimmune networks within peripheral blood mononuclear cells in major depressive disorder
Authors: Adri Anny Silva , Nóbile Adriel Leal , de Alburquerque Débora Gomes , Barcelos Pedro Marçal , do Vale Fernando Yuri Nery , Bahia Ian Antunes F. , Freire Paula P. , Nava Roseane Galdioli , Correa Yohan Lucas G. , Cabral-Miranda Gustavo , Dalmolin Rodrigo , Schimke Lena F. , Fonseca Dennyson Leandro M. , Filgueiras Igor Salerno , Nakaya Helder I. , Rezende Rafael Machado , Dias Haroldo Dutra , Cabral-Marques Otavio
Published: November 2024

Major depressive disorder (MDD) involves complex neuroimmune interactions linked to gene modulation. Our study investigates synaptic-related gene dysregulation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from MDD patients, showing how these immune cells mirror neural processes. Using RNA-seq data, we identified 1,383 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to neuroimmune crosstalk, with 49 DEGs effectively distinguishing MDD patients from controls based on synaptic functions. Synaptic genes, enriched for roles like vesicle transport, suggest mechanistic links between immune cells and neural signaling. Eleven synaptic-related DEGs were shared between PBMCs and brain regions involved in mood regulation, highlighting a common molecular signature. Among them,ADORA3andRPS28emerged as potential biomarkers. These findings highlight the potential of PBMCs in the diagnosis and treatment of MDD, reinforcing the development of future neuroimmune-targeted therapies for depression.
Joint consideration of selection and microbial generation count provides unique insights into evolutionary and ecological dynamics of holobionts
Authors: Pearman William S. , Rodrigo Allen G. , Santure Anna W.
Published: November 2024

The relationship between, and joint selection on, a host and its microbes – the holobiont – can impact evolutionary and ecological outcomes of the host and its microbial community. Here we present a novel agent-based modelling framework for understanding the ecological dynamics of hosts and their microbiomes. Our model explicitly incorporates numerous microbial generations per host generation allowing for selection on both host and microbe. We apply our model to explore community fitness and diversity in the face of rapid environmental change. We demonstrate that multiple microbial generations can buffer changes experienced across host lifetimes by smoothing environmental transitions. Our simulations reveal that microbial fitness and host fitness may be at odds with each other when considering the impact of vertical inheritance of microbial communities from a host to its offspring – where high values favour microbial fitness, while low values favour host fitness – these tradeoffs are minimized when microbial generation count per host generation is high. We suggest that these results arise from ‘cross-generational priority effects’ which maintain diversity within the community and can subsequently be acted upon by selection. Our model is readily extensible into new areas of holobiont research and provides novel insights into holobiont evolution under variable environmental conditions.
Brain Aging Among Individuals with Classical Trigeminal Neuralgia
Authors: Cruz-Almeida Yenisel , Valdes-Hernandez Pedro A. , Liang Yun , Ding Mingzhou , Neubert John K.
Published: November 2024

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a complex orofacial neuropathic pain condition with limited understanding of underlying mechanisms and therapeutic options. Emerging evidence suggests the involvement of the brain in persons with TN including widespread brain changes when employing a widely used brain aging biomarker that estimates a predicted brain age difference or brain age gap. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to assess the predicted brain age difference (brain-PAD) or brain age gap across two discrete TN subtypes (classical TN, and secondary/idiopathic TN) in comparison with age-and sex-matched pain-free controls and its association with several clinical and psychological characteristics. Thirty-four individuals diagnosed with Classical TN, 17 diagnosed with secondary/idiopathic TN were age- and sex-matched to pain-free controls (n=54). All participants underwent a T1 brain MRI and completed clinical and psychological measures. There were significant differences in brain-PAD among TN subtypes (ANCOVA p = 0.0078, effect size f2= 0.282), with individuals diagnosed with Classical TN having a brain-PAD significantly greater than the controls by 3.87 years (p = 0.01, Bonferroni-corrected). There were no significant brain-PAD differences between secondary/idiopathic TN and pain-free controls. Brain-PAD had a significant positive association with both pain catastrophizing (p = 0.032) and pain-related anxiety (p = 0.041), but no significant association with disease duration (p = 0.519) or usual pain intensity (p = 0.443). We report here accelerated brain aging processes in patients with classical TN, but not in persons diagnosed with secondary/idiopathic TN. Our study replicates previous findings and adds to the literature that accelerated brain aging may not occur across all TN subtypes. Given the increased use of MRI for TN diagnostics, combined with our own recent work deriving our brain aging biomarker from clinical-grade scans, future studies within clinical settings are feasible and needed to understand this debilitating condition.
Accumulation of Dietary and Non-Enzymatic Oxysterols in Preeclamptic Placentas: Insights into Cholesterol Dynamics in Pregnancy Complications
Authors: Zou Lisa , Maldonado-Pereira Lisaura , Ticiani Elvis , Sethuraman Visalakshi , Olomu Isoken Nicholas , Long Robert , Veiga-Lopez Almudena , Medina-Meza Ilce Gabriela
Published: November 2024

Pregnancy involves a series of intricately coordinated events, including decidualization, placentation, and parturition, with oxidative stress playing a central role in both normal and pathological pregnancy progression. Placental complications in pregnancy, including preeclampsia, characterized by hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation. Excessive ROS production disrupts cell physiology, affecting bioactive lipids such as cholesterol. Cholesterol’s oxidative derivatives, oxysterols, function as active biological molecules regulating cholesterol synthesis and immune function. Oxysterols arise from both enzymatic and non-enzymatic pathways; non-enzymatic oxysterols, including dietary sources, may amplify oxidative stress under pathological conditions. This study aims to characterize dietary and non-enzymatic oxysterol presence in the human placenta, analyzing profiles in uncomplicated and preeclamptic pregnancies delivered preterm and at term. Findings indicate significantly higher oxysterol levels in preeclamptic placentas, particularly for 7-ketcholesterol (7-Keto) and 5α,6β-cholestanetriol, (Triol) regardless of gestational age. 5β,6β-epoxycholesterol (5β,6β-Epoxy) was elevated in term preeclampsia, while total cholesterol levels were notably lower in preeclamptic placentas. Oxysterols levels and cholesterol concentrations positively correlated with certain oxysterols yet inversely with others, highlighting unique oxidative signatures in preeclamptic conditions. These insights reveal oxysterols as potential biomarkers for preeclampsia and deepen our understanding of oxidative processes in pregnancy complications.
ISWI1 complex proteins facilitate developmental genome editing inParamecium
Authors: Singh Aditi , Häußermann Lilia , Emmerich Christiane , Nischwitz Emily , Seah Brandon K.B. , Butter Falk , Nowacki Mariusz , Swart Estienne C.
Published: November 2024

One of the most extensive forms of natural genome editing occurs in ciliates, a group of microbial eukaryotes. Ciliate germline and somatic genomes are contained in distinct nuclei within the same cell. During the massive reorganization process of somatic genome development, ciliates eliminate tens of thousands of DNA sequences from a germline genome copy. Recently, we showed that the chromatin remodeler ISWI1 is required for somatic genome development in the ciliateParamecium tetraurelia. Here, we describe two high similarity paralogous proteins, ICOPa and ICOPb, essential for their genome editing. ICOPa and ICOPb are highly divergent from known proteins; the only domain detected showed distant homology with the WSD (WHIM2 + WHIM3) motif. We show that both ICOPa and ICOPb interact with the chromatin remodeler ISWI1. UponICOPknockdown, changes in alternative DNA excision boundaries and nucleosome densities are similar to those observed forISWI1knockdown. We thus propose that a complex comprising ISWI1 and either or both ICOPa and ICOPb are needed forParamecium’s precise genome editing.
High-quality sika deer omics data and integrative analysis reveal genic and cellular regulation of antler regeneration
Authors: Li Zihe , Xu Ziyu , Zhu Lei , Qin Tao , Ma Jinrui , Feng Zhanying , Yue Huishan , Guan Qing , Zhou Botong , Han Ge , Zhang Guokun , Li Chunyi , Jia Shuaijun , Qiu Qiang , Hao Dingjun , Wang Yong , Wang Wen
Published: November 2024

The antler is the only organ that can fully regenerate annually in mammals. However, the regulatory pattern and mechanism of gene expression and cell differentiation during this process remain largely unknown. Here, we obtain comprehensive assembly and gene annotation of the sika deer (Cervus nippon) genome. We construct, together with large-scale chromatin accessibility and gene expression data, gene regulatory networks involved in antler regeneration, identifying four transcription factors,MYC,KLF4,NFE2L2,andJDP2, with high regulatory activity across the whole regeneration process. Comparative studies and luciferase reporter assay suggest theMYCexpression driven by a cervid-specific regulatory element might be important for antler regenerative ability. We further develop a model called combinatorial TF Oriented Program (cTOP), which integrates single-cell data with bulk regulatory networks and findPRDM1,FOSL1,BACH1, andNFATC1as potential pivotal factors in antler stem cell activation and osteogenic differentiation. Additionally, we uncover interactions within and between cell programs and pathways during the regeneration process. These findings provide insights into the gene and cell regulatory mechanisms of antler regeneration, particularly in stem cell activation and differentiation.
Collisional thermometry for Gaussian systems
Authors: Alves Gabriel O. , Santos Marcelo A. F. , Landi Gabriel T.
Published: November 2024

We investigate a quantum thermometry scheme-based collision model with Gaussian systems. A key open question of these schemes concerns the scaling of the quantum Fisher information (QFI) with the number of ancillas. In qubit-based implementations this question is difficult to assess, due to the exponentially growing size of the Hilbert space. Here we focus on Gaussian collision models, which allow for the scaling of the QFI to be evaluated for arbitrarily large sizes. This numerical flexibility enables us to explore the thermometric properties of the model for a wide range of configurations. Despite the infinite Markov order of the stochastic process of the model, we provide a simple phenomenological analysis for the behavior of the QFI, estimating the asymptotic Fisher information density and how the transient effects of correlations for an increasing number of ancillas depend on the physical parameters of the model.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Synthesis, crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of N-(4-methoxyphenyl)picolinamide
Authors: Burieva Dilnoza , Torambetov Batirbay , Bobonazarova Sarvinoz , Abdushukurov Anvar , Kholikov Tursinali , Khan Akram A , Ashurov Jamshid , Yusufov Mukhriddin
Published: November 2024

The synthesis, crystal structure, and Hirshfeld surface analysis of N-(4-methoxyphenyl)picolinamide (MPPA), C13H12N2O2, are presented. MPPA crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n, with a single molecule in the asymmetric unit. Structural analysis reveals that all non-hydrogen atoms are nearly coplanar, and the molecule exhibits two intramolecular hydrogen bonds that stabilize its conformation. Supramolecular features include significant intermolecular interactions, primarily C—H...π and various hydrogen bonds, contributing to the overall crystal cohesion, as confirmed by energy framework calculations yielding a total interaction energy of −138.3 kJ mol−1. Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that H...H interactions dominate, followed by C...H and O...H interactions, highlighting the role of van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding in crystal packing.
An impact analysis of global governance and economic indicators in shaping bank lending in India
Authors: Khan Imran , Akhtar Mohammed Anam
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The objective of the research is to examine the impact of global governance and macroeconomic indicators on the lending capacity of banks in India.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing a comprehensive time series dataset spanning from 1996 to 2022, we utilize the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag model approach to investigate the short-run and long-run impact of government policy (GP) effectiveness, lending interest rates and remittance inflows (RI) on the lending capacity of banks in India.

Findings

The findings of the study indicate that lending interest rates have a statistically insignificant impact on lending capacity in the short term. However, in the long run, an increase in the lending interest rate leads to a decrease in lending capacity, whereas a decrease in the lending interest rate has a non-significant impact. On the other hand, the effectiveness of GPs affects both short-term and long-term lending capacity. In the short run, positive or negative changes in GP effectiveness lead to a decline in lending capacity. Whereas in the long run, a positive shock in GP effectiveness increases lending capacity, while a negative shock decreases it. Lastly, RI indicated no significant short-term impact on the lending capacity of the banks. Conversely, in the long run, a positive change in RI enhances lending capacity, whereas a negative change in RI reduces it, with a more pronounced effect.

Originality/value

The novelty of the study lies in the fact that it is a pioneering study that utilizes global governance and macroeconomic indicators to examine the impact on the lending capacity of banks and financial institutions in India. Moreover, the study adopts a non-linear approach to examine the relationship between the chosen variables, which enables an understanding of the impact of both positive and negative shocks on the dependent variable both in the short and long run. Lastly, the examination sheds light on the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 8.10, which is related to financial inclusion and it is a major concern for a large developing nation like India.
Determinants of consumer purchase decisions of plant-based milk alternatives: the role of preferences for product attributes
Authors: Su Wenfan , Gao Zhifeng , Li Songhan , Sheng Jiping
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The study aims to investigate consumer preferences across 25 attributes of plant-based milk (PBM) products and examine the key predictors and underlying mechanisms of consumer purchase decisions of PBM alternatives.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a multidimensional approach to investigate consumer preferences and the determinants of PBM purchasing decisions. Drawing on data from 819 online surveys conducted in the Jing-Jin-Ji region of China in 2021, we measured consumer preferences across 25 specific attributes and other individual characteristics. Purchasing decisions were framed as a two-stage process – the decision to purchase (frequency) and the decision on how much to pay (WTP). The Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) model was utilized to examine these dimensions separately, and the selected predictors were incorporated into OLS linear and Heckman’s two-stage regression analyses to establish the underlying mechanisms.

Findings

The findings indicate that consumers exhibit a strong preference for freshness and the absence of spoilage, followed by taste experiences such as taste and aroma. Preferences for milk preservation significantly increase the purchase frequency of PBM, while preference for calorie content has a negative and significant impact. Preferences for milk preservation, aroma and processing methods can also significantly increase WTP. Preferences vary across PBM categories. Social influence, knowledge and advertising exposure positively impact purchase frequency and WTP. Consumers with low food neophobia tend to be more responsive to product-related factors, such as freshness, calorie content and processing methods, in their purchase decisions.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the extant literature by comprehensively examining the determinants of consumer purchase decisions for PBM alternatives. The findings provide practical implications for marketers and policymakers, highlighting the strategic product attributes, consumer segments and marketing levers that can effectively target and cater to consumer preferences for PBM alternatives.
Closed-form eigensolutions and exact complex mode superposition method for non-proportionally rate-independent damped systems
Authors: Li Xueju , Pan Danguang , Huang Ying
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The main objectives of this paper are to develop a novel perturbation method (PM) to solve the complex-orthogonal eigenvalue problem and further propose an exact complex mode superposition method (CMSM) for the non-proportionally rate-independent damped systems.

Design/methodology/approach

A novel PM is developed to solve the eigenvalue problem. The PM reduced the N-order generalized complex eigenvalue problem into a set of n algebraic equations by the perturbation theory. The convergence and accuracy of the PM are demonstrated by several numerical examples. Further, an exact CMSM is presented. The influences of the imaginary part response of the modal coordinate and the off-diagonal elements of the damping matrix as well as the modal truncation on the solution by CMSM are discussed to illustrate the effectiveness of the developed CMSM.

Findings

The eigenvalues obtained by PM would converge to the exact ones with the increase of the modal numbers. For seismic response, the influence of the imaginary part solutions of the modal coordinate would increase with the increase of the coupling factor. The contribution of higher modes to acceleration response is greater than that to the displacement. The cumulative mode contribution coefficient of acceleration is developed to estimate the numbers of the complex modes for the acceleration seismic response by the CMSM.

Originality/value

1. An eigenvalue perturbation method for a rate-independent damped system is proposed. 2. PM is carried out by the real mode and accomplishes the reduction of the matrix. 3. CMSM is established for rate-independent damped systems. 4. CMSM considers the effect of imaginary part solutions of the modal coordinate. 5. Modal truncation index is developed to estimate the complex mode number for CMSM.
Safety attitudes and safety management: perspectives of managerial personnel and frontline workers in construction sites in China
Authors: Wang Yan , Liu Chunpeng , Zhao Wenchao
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study employed a questionnaire survey to understand the safety attitudes, focusing on safety motivation and risk tolerance as well as safety management practices, including safety training and safety incentives, among construction site employees, including both managerial personnel and frontline workers. The objective was to explore the relationship between safety management practices and safety attitudes within both the managerial and frontline worker groups.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was conducted among 1,026 construction workers and 256 managerial personnel at 53 construction sites across 12 provinces in China. A t-test was used to compare the differences in safety-related scores between managerial personnel and frontline workers, and a structural equation model was used to explore the relationship between safety attitudes and safety management.

Findings

This study found that the scores of managerial personnel for safety motivation, safety training and safety incentives were significantly higher than construction workers, while their scores for risk tolerance were significantly lower than construction workers. Managerial personnel’s safety motivation has a significant positive impact on both safety training and safety incentives, while their risk tolerance has a significant negative impact on safety incentives. Safety training has a significant positive effect on construction workers’ safety motivation, whereas safety incentives have a significant negative impact on construction workers’ risk tolerance.

Originality/value

This study is one of the few that have investigated construction safety by conducting surveys targeting both site managerial personnel and frontline workers, employing an empirical approach to validate the role of safety management in transmitting safety attitudes from site managerial personnel to frontline workers.
Government environmental attention and enterprise greenwashing behavior: evidence from China
Authors: Zheng Xiaoyu , Li Wenzhen
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study investigates whether Chinese local governments’ environmental attention can mitigate corporate “greenwashing”, focusing on the extent of environmental content in annual government work reports as indicative of government environmental attention. This study aims to determine whether enterprises respond to changes in local governmental attention by improving the quality of their environmental information disclosures.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from China’s A-share listed companies spanning 2013–2021 were sourced from the CSMAR database and company annual reports. Environmental attention data were manually gathered from local government work reports published on official local government websites by using text analysis methods. These datasets were analyzed empirically to assess the impact of local governments’ environmental attention on corporate greenwashing behavior.

Findings

Results show that increased governmental environmental attention significantly reduces corporate greenwashing behavior by alleviating corporate financing constraints, enhancing independent engagement in environmental initiatives and bolstering stakeholder oversight. Moreover, heterogeneity analysis indicates that the influence of government environmental concerns is pronounced in non-state-owned enterprises, firms with subpar audit quality and those exhibiting myopic management tendencies.

Originality/value

This study enriches the existing literature on the government–business nexus. It also introduces methodological innovations by employing a lexical analysis of environmental themes in local government work reports instead of using typical event study approaches. Furthermore, it uses a mediating effect model to identify the mechanisms through which government environmental attention influences corporate greenwashing, namely, government subsidies, corporate environmental initiatives and external stakeholder oversight.
Substitution and complementarity between human and artificial intelligence: a dynamic capabilities view
Authors: Siaw Christopher Agyapong , Ali Waqas
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This paper draws on the dynamic capabilities (DC) view to develop a conceptual framework that explicates the mechanisms through which human intelligence (HI) and artificial intelligence (AI) substitute and complement each other for organizational knowledge management (KM) while considering the role of ethics.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper that draws on DC theory and integrates insights from the burgeoning literature on organizational AI adoption and application to develop a conceptual framework that explains the mechanisms through which HI and AI may substitute and complement each other for organizational KM to develop DC.

Findings

The conceptual framework demonstrates that substituting HI with AI is suitable for external environmental scanning to identify opportunities, while AI substitution for HI is ideal for internal scanning through data analytics. Additionally, HI complementing AI is effective for seizing opportunities by aligning internal competencies with external opportunities, whereas AI complementing HI is beneficial for reconfiguring assets by transforming tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge. This substitution and complementarity between HI and AI shape KM processes—acquisition, conversion, application, and retention—that influence organizational performance, depending on how internal and external ethical standards govern organizational AI use.

Research limitations/implications

The paper presents key insights into how AI may substitute for HI for internal data analytics in KM but may be ineffective for external environmental scanning to sense opportunities. It further reveals that using AI to capture and convert tacit knowledge (HI) to explicit knowledge requires ethical considerations at the organizational level, but ethical considerations are necessary at the employee/manager level when HI relies on AI-generated insights for strategic decisions.

Practical implications

The study implies that in environments with defined regulations for AI and KM (e.g. privacy protection), responsibility for the consequences of AI-HI substitution and complementarity in developing DC can be assigned to specific steps in the KM process. However, in environments with undefined regulations, responsibility must be assigned to people, units or departments who manage the entire KM process to ensure accountability for ethical breaches.

Originality/value

This study proposes AI-HI substitution and complementarity in organizations to extend the understanding of the relationship between AI and HI to DC development.
Digital technology application, network strategy and opportunity recognition in Chinese entrepreneurial firms
Authors: Pang Changwei , Wang Qiong , Liu Chao
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Entrepreneurial boundaries and activities have changed with the widespread use of digital technologies. However, few studies have examined DTA’s effect on opportunity recognition, leading to a vague understanding of this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on the digital entrepreneurship perspective, we explore the underlying mediating mechanism and contextual conditions in the relationship between digital technology application (DTA) and opportunity recognition using data from Chinese entrepreneurial firms.

Findings

DTA positively affects opportunity recognition and network strategy mediates the relationship between DTA and opportunity recognition. Environmental uncertainty positively moderates DTA’s indirect effect on opportunity recognition through network strategies.

Originality/value

Our findings contribute to digital entrepreneurship literature by explaining how DTA promotes entrepreneurial firms’ opportunity recognition through network strategies.
Circular product development strategies for sustainable production and consumption based on waste valorization
Authors: Rossi Daiane , Lermen Fernando Henrique , Echeveste Márcia Elisa
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study aims to propose guidelines for developing circular products based on waste recovery that are aligned with sustainable production and consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review and case studies on circular product development were conducted. In total, 15 companies with products based on waste recovery and aligned with sustainable production and consumption goal were studied.

Findings

The results show the decisions and strategies applied at each stage of the new product development process, including the design for recycling, the use of waste as a raw material for products and the concern for reducing pollution and recovering end-of-life products.

Practical implications

The cases studied meet the goals of efficient use of natural resources and waste reduction by preventing, reducing, recycling and reusing waste. For practitioners, a set of guidelines is proposed to help companies develop circular products based on waste recovery.

Originality/value

Previous studies have not evaluated the new product development process and circularity from the institutional theory and waste valorization perspectives.
Sensitivity analysis of radiative hybrid nanofluid flow across a moving permeable wedge with variable surface temperature and magnetic field effects
Authors: Chakraborty Anomitra , Janapatla Pranitha
Published: November 2024

Purpose

In the present article, sensitivity analysis was studied in the presence of the combined effects of thermal radiation, suction and magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) effects on a Nimonic 80A-Fe3O4/water hybrid nanofluid across moving a wedge with variable surface temperature and buoyancy effects.

Design/methodology/approach

The governing equations were transformed using similarity transformations and solved using MATLAB bvp4c code and response surface methodology (RSM), with quadratic face-centred central composite design being implemented. All results and graphs were formulated after positive outcomes of our results with existing literature.

Findings

An increase in magnetic parameter (M) and velocity ratio parameter (R) resulted in an increase in velocity profiles and local Nusselt number, while a reverse trend was observed for temperature profiles. With radiation parameter Rd = 0.8, the local Nusselt number increased by 4.08% as the velocity ratio parameter increased from R = 0.0 to R = 0.5. The Nusselt number was found to be most sensitive to R, while the latter produced negative sensitivity on skin friction coefficient. The skin friction coefficient for the hybrid nanofluid model increased by 35.39% compared to the regular fluid model, with a very low standard deviation value of 10−4. The Model F-value for Nusselt number model was found to be 939278.49 with a noise ratio of 3618.711. Skin friction coefficient was found to be most sensitive with respect to changes in the parametric values of M.

Research limitations/implications

Nimonic 80A being a super-alloy of nickel-iron-chromium and built in high frequency melting, it can work up to 1500°F and is extensively used in automobile exhaust valves.

Practical implications

The present study finds numerous applications in biotoxicity studies, medical industries, water heaters and the forging of hot exhaust valve heads.

Originality/value

In view of various applications of our present study, there remains a gap in examining the sensitivity analysis of a hybrid nanofluid flow model across a moving permeable wedge using the Tiwari–Das model, which required clinical investigations numerically and statistically.
Supporting teachers to lead invention education with high school students
Authors: Skukauskaite Audra , Couch Stephanie Renee
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine ways high school educators new to invention education (IvE) pedagogy can develop confidence in their ability to facilitate high school students’ work as part of this transdisciplinary (STEM+) problem-based approach to teaching.

Design/methodology/approach

This focused ethnographic study traced participants’ interactions across a three-day event that included professional development for 36 educators. The authors documented the discourse, actions and broader social context in which the interactions took place between the educators and others. Ethnographic fieldnotes, interview transcripts and pre- post-experience surveys were analyzed to determine ways the professional development opportunities shaped the educators’ perspectives on their confidence to facilitate IvE with their students.

Findings

Many different types of learning opportunities were afforded across the three days, including lectures by professor-inventors, seminars, talks with experienced educators, hands-on activities and engagement with high school students. The 36 educators indicated they were more confident in their ability to lead invention projects (55% more confident, 41% much more confident) due to participation.

Originality/value

IvE is an emerging form of problem-based learning in which educators engage learners in the identification of problems and the design and development of new, novel, useful and unique technological solutions (i.e. inventions) that help people. The study responds to the need for research on ways educators learn how to take-up IvE pedagogy.
Unlocking IPO success in Pakistan: the power of institutional quality, sponsor ownership and smart pricing
Authors: Mehmood Waqas , Mohd-Rashid Rasidah , Ahmad Abd Halim , Hussain Atia
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study investigates the variables that impact initial public offerings (IPO) initial returns witnessed in Pakistan from 1996 to 2019 using pre-listing information variables, namely country-level institutional quality, sponsor ownership and pricing mechanism. IPO oversubscription is included as a moderating variable.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is motivated by the premise that the Pakistani IPO market is characterised by a broad range of institutional and regulatory frameworks. Multiple regression studies, i.e. ordinary least square (OLS) and quantile least square (QLS), were performed on 102 IPOs issued on the Pakistan stock market.

Findings

The present study findings suggest that the quality of public service, the independence of civil service from political influences and the legitimacy of government increase investors’ confidence in the prospects of companies, hence increasing the demand for IPO and initial returns. In addition, good regulatory quality enhances market transparency and lowers uncertainty, hence signalling high-quality IPOs and leading in substantial initial returns. The negative effect of the lock-up ratio on the initial return of an IPO is consistent with the risk-return trade-off theory, which asserts that the lock-up ratio indicates the quality of the IPO.

Practical implications

The results provide market regulators, policymakers, investors and underwriters with useful data for assuring proper subscriptions of issued shares, as these variables are crucial for company transparency and market efficiency. The findings will also help investors make better IPO subscription decisions.

Originality/value

The present study explains the important influencing factors of IPO initial return in the Pakistani market.
Why there are more species in several small patches versus few large patches: A multispecies modelling approach
Authors: Saravia Leonardo A. , Balza Ulises , Momo Fernando
Published: November 2024

As global biodiversity is rapidly declining due to habitat loss, it is important to determine how to protect it. The policies of many conservation agencies are still prioritizing the preservation of a single large habitat area (SL) versus several small areas of the same size (SS), despite empirical support favouring SS. However, to date, while many studies have explored this issue using model communities, the results are mixed. In competitive community models, fragmentation has a negative effect at low habitat amounts, whereas neutral community models suggest positive effects.

This work aims to explore spatial multispecies models to verify the SS > SL pattern and determine its causes. We used three types of models: a classical neutral, neutral with habitat selection and a competitive hierarchical model. All models have three parameters, namely extinction, reproduction and dispersal distance. In the classical neutral model, species are equivalent and have the same parameters; when there is a reproduction event, they send the propagule to a surrounding patch blindly, and if the patch is already occupied, the propagule dies. In the neutral with habitat selection model, the propagules select an empty patch, so their survival is ensured. In the hierarchical model, species have competitive dominance and more dominant ones can replace the less dominant with a replacement rate parameter. We use 100 species and start simulating the colonization of an empty area; then, we destroy a fixed amount of habitat using different regular patch sizes.

The results for all models are almost always that SS retains more species than SL. The extinction of species in patches depends on the quotient between reproduction and extinction rates in relation to patch size. The only case when SL > SS is when dispersal is insufficient to connect patches, and patch size is smaller than the minimum to prevent extinction. If patch size is above the critical size to maintain local populations, the SS > SL pattern is due to the sampling effect of aggregated species distribution combined with the reduction of dispersal ability of species.

High‐dispersal rates produce the homogenization of species distribution and a reduction of species richness and this is why habitat fragmentation by habitat loss retains more species when patches are smaller. The model predicts that if a set of species have more dispersal capabilities, the SS effect would be lower than for species with less dispersal.

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Picky eaters: Selective microbial diet of avian ectosymbionts
Authors: Matthews Alix E. , Trevelline Brian K. , Wijeratne Asela J. , Boves Than J.
Published: November 2024

Individual organisms can function as ecosystems inhabited by symbionts. Symbionts may interact with each other in ways that subsequently influence their hosts positively or negatively, although the details of how these interactions operate collectively are usually not well understood.

Vane‐dwelling feather mites are common ectosymbionts of birds and are proposed to confer benefits to hosts by consuming feather‐degrading microbes. However, it is unknown whether these mites exhibit generalist or selective diets, or how their dietary selection could potentially impact their symbiotic functional nature.

In this study, we conducted 16S rDNA and ITS1 amplicon sequencing to examine the microbial diet of feather mites. We characterized and compared the diversity and composition of bacteria and fungi in the bodies of mites living on feathers of the Prothonotary Warbler, Protonotaria citrea, to microbial assemblages present on the same feathers.

We found less diverse, more compositionally similar microbial assemblages within mites than on feathers. We also found that mites were resource‐selective. Based on the identity and known functions of microbes found within and presumably preferred by mites, our results suggest that these mites selectively consume feather‐degrading microbes. Therefore, our results support the proposition that mites confer benefits to their hosts.

This study provides insight into symbioses operating at multiple biological levels, highlights the ecological and evolutionary importance of the synergistic interactions between species, and greatly expands our understanding of feather mite biology.
Patient‐Generated Data as Interventions in Doctor‐Patient Relationships? Negotiating (Un)Invited Participation in Medical Consultations
Authors: Augst Ann Kristin , Lämmerhirt Danny , Schubert Cornelius
Published: November 2024

Health data generated by apps and devices are increasingly popular and expected to affect various aspects of doctor‐patient relationships. No longer confined to medically authorised and certified health technologies, a range of biomedical data—from heart rate to blood pressure or oxygen saturation—are captured and processed by consumer health devices. This article outlines different responses of physicians to patients collecting data with popular consumer devices and considers how the data may challenge or reify medical authority. Based on semi‐structured interviews with doctors and chronically ill patients in Germany from 2021 to 2023, we compare cases from diabetes, sleep disorders, cardiovascular conditions, obesity and ME/CFS and explore when, how and for what reasons different medical specialists consider patient‐generated data (PGD) from consumer devices in outpatient settings. Their response registers vary: whereas some physicians reject PGD that seem to compete with their diagnostic activities, others tolerate the data (collection), whereas still others more readily include them into their diagnostic practices. This suggests nuanced strategies for navigating the demarcation between accepting or rejecting ‘uninvited’ participation through PGD from consumer apps and devices.
Accurate felt‐tip pen brands classification based on a convolutional neural network using data augmentation
Authors: Wang Xiaobin , Yang Lei , Chen Ruili , Guo Wei , Han Xun , Zhang Aolin
Published: November 2024

Ink analysis played an important role in document examination, but the limited dataset made it difficult for many algorithms to distinguish inks accurately. This article aimed to evaluate the feasibility of two data augmentation (DA) methods, Gaussian noise data augmentation (GNDA) and extended multiplicative signal augmentation (EMSA), for the classification of felt‐tip pen ink brands. Four brands of felt‐tip pens were analyzed using FT‐IR spectroscopy. Five classification models were used, convolutional neural network (CNN), K‐nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA). The results showed that the datasets generated by GNDA and EMSA are similar to the original datasets and have some diversity. The EMSA method had optimal classification results when combined with CNN, with classification accuracy (ACC), precision (PRE), recall (REC) and F1 score reaching 99.86%, 99.87%, 99.86%, 99.86%, and 99.86%, compared with GNDA‐CNN method (ACC = 80.90%, PRE = 87.34%, REC = 81.62%, F1 score = 79.23%). This study shows that when raw spectral data is small, DA methods can be combined with neural network models to identify ink brands effectively.
Forensic‐geology‐based magnetic analysis of beach sediments from the Shimokita Peninsula, Japan
Authors: Kawamura Noriko , Matsushita Takuya , Itamiya Hiromi , Sugita Ritsuko , Yamazaki Toshitsugu
Published: November 2024

The occurrences of various illegal activities on beaches require effective geological and environmental investigation methods. Among these methods, the room‐temperature magnetic analysis of soils and sediments represents a nondestructive investigation method for various amounts, types, and grain sizes of magnetic minerals. Here, to verify the usefulness of magnetic analysis in forensic geology research, beach sediment samples from nine sites in the Shimokita Peninsula, Japan, were measured using magnetic analysis to determine the correlations between their concentration‐dependent magnetic parameters and actual regional characteristics. The results revealed that the values of various parameters, namely the low‐field magnetic susceptibility, anhysteretic remanent magnetization, and isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM), were relatively higher at sites near Ti and Fe sedimentary ore deposits. Further, thermomagnetometry results revealed that magnetite was the main magnetic carrier of the sediments. Moreover, pyrrhotite was detected around Ti–Fe mine sites. Furthermore, the results of the investigated parameters reflected the regional characteristics of the amount of magnetic minerals in the beach sediments. Low‐temperature IRM curves and the magnetic grain size parameter also displayed sample‐site‐reflective characteristics. Thus, we believe that magnetic analysis represents an effective method for estimating the provenance of beach sediments in forensic geology research.