bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design and optimization of silicon-based electrokinetic microchip for sensitive detection of small extracellular vesicles
Authors: Talebian Gevari Moein , Sahu Siddharth Sourabh , Stridfeldt Fredrik , Haag Petra , Viktorsson Kristina , Lewensohn Rolf , Gori Alessandro , Cretich Marina , Dev Apurba
Published: August 2022

Detection of analyte using streaming current has been previously explored using both experimental and theoretical approaches. However, little has been done to develop a viable microchip which can be exploited to deliver a sensitive, robust, and scalable biosensor device. In this study, we demonstrate the fabrication of such a device on silicon wafer using a scalable silicon microfabrication technology followed by their characterization and optimization for highly sensitive detection of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). We show that the sensitivity of the devices, estimated using a common protein-ligand pair and sEVs significantly outperforms previous reports using the same principle. Two versions of the microchips, denoted as enclosed and open-top microchip, were developed and compared aiming to discern the importance of high-pressure measurement vs easier and better surface preparation capacity. A custom-built chip-manifold allowing easy interfacing with standard microfluidic connections was also developed. By investigating different electrical, fluidic, morphological, and fluorescence measurements, we show that while the enclosed microchip with its robust glass-silicon bonding can withstand higher pressure and thus generate higher streaming current, the open-top configuration offers several practical benefits including easy surface preparation, uniform probe conjugation, and improvement in the limit of detection (LoD). We further compare two common surface functionalization strategies and show that the proposed microchip can achieve both high sensitivity for membrane protein profiling and low LoD for sEV detection. At the optimum condition, we demonstrate that the microchip can detect sEVs reaching a LoD of 104sEV/mL, which is among the lowest in the reported microchip-based methods.
Dimeric G-quadruplex motifs-induced NFRs determine strong replication origins in vertebrates
Authors: Poulet-Benedetti Jérémy , Tonnerre-Doncarli Caroline , Valton Anne-Laure , Laurent Marc , Gérard Marie , Barinova Natalja , Parisis Nikolaos , Massip Florian , Picard Franck , Prioleau Marie-Noëlle
Published: August 2022

Replication of vertebrate genomes is tightly regulated to ensure accurate duplication, but our understanding of the interplay between genetic and epigenetic factors in this regulation remains incomplete. Here, we investigated the involvement of three elements enriched at gene promoters and replication origins: guanine-rich motifs potentially forming G-quadruplexes (pG4s), nucleosome-free regions (NFRs), and the histone variant H2A.Z, in the firing of origins of replication in vertebrates. We show that two pG4s on the same DNA strand (dimeric pG4s) are sufficient to induce assembly of an efficient minimal replication origin without inducing transcription. Dimeric pG4s in replication origins trigger formation of an NFR next to precisely-positioned nucleosomes enriched in H2A.Z on this minimal origin and genome-wide. Thus, our data suggest a crucial role for dimeric pG4s in the organization and duplication of vertebrate genomes. It supports the hypothesis that a nucleosome close to an NFR is a shared signal for the formation of replication origins in eukaryotes.
Assembling highly repetitive Xanthomonas TALomes using Oxford Nanopore sequencing
Authors: Erkes Annett , Grove René , Žarković Milena , Krautwurst Sebastian , Koebnik Ralf , Morgan Richard D. , Wilson Geoffrey G. , Hölzer Martin , Marz Manja , Boch Jens , Grau Jan
Published: August 2022

Most plant-pathogenic Xanthomonas bacteria harbor transcription activator-like effector (TALE) genes, which function as transcriptional activators of host plant genes and support infection. The entire repertoire of up to 29 TALE genes of a Xanthomonas strain is also referred to as TALome. The DNA-binding domain of TALEs is comprised of highly conserved repeats and TALE genes often occur in gene clusters, which precludes the assembly of TALE-carrying Xanthomonas genomes based on standard sequencing approaches. Here, we report the successful assembly of the 5 Mbp genomes of five Xanthomonas strains from Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing data. For one of these strains, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) PXO35, we illustrate why Illumina short reads and longer PacBio reads are insufficient to fully resolve the genome. While ONT reads are perfectly suited to yield highly contiguous genomes, they suffer from a specific error profile within homopolymers. To still yield complete and correct TALomes from ONT assemblies, we present a computational correction pipeline specifically tailored to TALE genes, which yields at least comparable accuracy as Illumina-based polishing. We further systematically assess the ONT-based pipeline for its multiplexing capacity and find that, combined with computational correction, the complete TALome of Xoo PXO35 could have been reconstructed from less than 20,000 ONT reads. Our results indicate that multiplexed ONT sequencing combined with a computational correction of TALE genes constitutes a highly capable tool for characterizing the TALomes of huge collections of Xanthomonas strains in the future.
Genetic and lipidomic identification of tuberculostearic acid as a controller of mycobacterial membrane compartmentalization
Authors: Prithviraj Malavika , Kado Takehiro , Mayfield Jacob A. , Young David C. , Huang Annie D. , Motooka Daisuke , Nakamura Shota , Siegrist M. Sloan , Moody D. Branch , Morita Yasu S.
Published: August 2022

Mycobacteria diverge in a basic way from other bacterial and eukaryotic cells based on their distinct membrane structures. Here we report genome-wide transposon sequencing to discover the controllers of membrane compartmentalization in Mycobacterium smegmatis. cfa, a gene that encodes a putative cyclopropane-fatty-acyl-phospholipid synthase, shows the most significant effect on recovery from a membrane destabilizer, dibucaine. Lipidomic analysis of cfa deletion mutants demonstrates an essential role of Cfa in the synthesis of specific membrane lipids containing a C19:0 monomethyl-branched stearic acid. This molecule, also known as tuberculostearic acid (TBSA), has been intensively studied for decades due to its high level and genus-specific expression in mycobacteria. The proposed Cfa-mediated conversion of an unsaturation to a methylation matched well with its proposed role in lateral membrane organization, so we used new tools to determine the non-redundant effects of Cfa and TBSA in mycobacterial cells. cfa expression regulated major classes of membrane lipids including phosphatidylinositols, phosphatidylethanolamines and phosphatidylinositol mannosides. Cfa localized within the intracellular membrane domain (IMD), where it controls both cellular growth and recovery from membrane fluidization by facilitating subpolar localization of the IMD. Overall, cfa controls lateral membrane partitioning but does not detectably alter orthogonal transmembrane permeability. More generally, these results support the proposed role of the subpolar IMD as a subcellular site of mycobacterial control of membrane function.

Significance

Mycobacteria remain major causes of disease worldwide based in part on their unusual membrane structures, which interface with the host. Here we discover the long sought biosynthetic origin of tuberculostearic acid (TBSA), a major fatty acid found selectively in mycobacteria, as well as its role in mycobacterial cells. The lipid is produced by an enzyme called Cfa, whose loss causes a growth defect and slow reformation of a membrane domain near the pole of the rod-shaped cell. Thus, our study offers mechanistic insights to the intrinsic molecular factors critical for mycobacterial plasma membrane partitioning.
Computational modeling of AMPK and mTOR crosstalk in glutamatergic synapse calcium signaling
Authors: Leung A. , Rangamani P.
Published: August 2022

Neuronal energy consumption is vital for information processing and memory formation in synapses. The brain consists of just 2% of the human body’s mass, but consumes almost 20% of the body’s energy budget. Most of this energy is attributed to active transport in ion signaling, with calcium being the canonical second messenger of synaptic transmission. Here, we develop a computational model of synaptic signaling resulting in the activation of two protein kinases critical in metabolic regulation and cell fate, AMP-Activated protein kinase (AMPK) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and investigate the effect of glutamate stimulus frequency on their dynamics. Our model predicts that frequencies of glutamate stimulus over 10 Hz perturb AMPK and mTOR oscillations at higher magnitudes by up to 70% and area under curve (AUC) by 10%. This dynamic difference in AMPK and mTOR activation trajectories potentially differentiates high frequency stimulus bursts from basal neuronal signaling leading to a downstream change in synaptic plasticity. Further, we also investigate the crosstalk between insulin receptor and calcium signaling on AMPK and mTOR activation and predict that the pathways demonstrate multistability dependent on strength of insulin signaling and metabolic consumption rate. Our predictions have implications for improving our understanding of neuronal metabolism, synaptic pruning, and synaptic plasticity.

Key Points

Neurons consume disproportionate amounts of cellular energy relative to their mass, indicating the importance of energy regulation in information processing in the brain.

AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) is thought to be the biochemical link between energy consumption in neuronal information processing and synaptic plasticity.

Computational model investigating the crosstalk between high-frequency glutamatergic calcium signaling and AMPK activation in neurons predicts multistability in AMPK and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activation.

Our models predict a frequency-dependent response in AMPK and mTOR activation that also scales according to insulin signaling and energy consumption. The oscillatory behavior depends on both intracellular and extracellular factors, such as energy consumption and insulin signaling.

This work elucidates the role of insulin and insulin resistance in regulating neuronal activity, through computational modeling the metabolic response of energy stress resulting from calcium signaling.
Anti-PF4 (heparin-independent)/PF4 complex induces allosteric activation of integrins αIIbβ3 and αvβ3, a potential mechanism of vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) and autoimmune diseases
Authors: Takada Yoko K , Wu Chun-Yi , Takada Yoshikazu
Published: August 2022

The classical immune-mediated heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is induced by autoantibody against platelet-factor 4 (PF4)/heparin complex. Vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) and autoimmune HIT (aHIT) are induced by anti-PF4 in a heparin-independent manner. Activation of platelet integrin αIIbβ3 is a key event that leads to αIIbβ3 binding to fibrinogen and platelet aggregation, but is not involved in current models of HIT or VITT. Anti-PF4 (heparin-independent) is also detected in autoimmune diseases (e.g., SLE). However, the role of anti-PF4 in these diseases is unknown. Previous studies showed that several pro-inflammatory chemokines potently activated integrins by binding to the allosteric site (site 2). PF4 is known to be inhibitory since it inhibits angiogenesis and tumor growth. Here we describe that PF4 was predicted to bind to site 2 of αIIbβ3 by docking simulation, but did not activate it. However, PF4/anti-PF4 mAb (RTO, heparin-independent) complex potently activated it at biological concentrations of PF4 (<1 μg/ml), but anti-PF4/heparin (KKO) did not. This indicates that RTO changed the phenotype of PF4. We generated PF4 mutants defective in site 2 binding to integrin by introducing mutations in the predicted site 2 binding site of PF4. A PF4 mutant/RTO complex was defective in activating integrins. Furthermore, this PF4 mutant acted as an antagonist of PF4/RTO-induced integrin activation. We obtained similar results with vascular integrin αvβ3. We propose that a potential mechanism, in which PF4/RTO complex binds to site 2 and activates integrins and triggers thrombocytopenia or autoimmune diseases. The inhibitory PF4 mutant may have potential as a therapeutic.
Arrestin-3 agonism at D3 dopamine receptors defines a subclass of second generation antipsychotics that promotes drug tolerance
Authors: Schamiloglu Selin , Lewis Elinor , Hergarden Anne C. , Bender Kevin J. , Whistler Jennifer L.
Published: August 2022

Second generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are front-line treatments for serious mental illness. Often, individual patients benefit only from some SGAs and not others. The mechanisms underlying this unpredictability in treatment efficacy remain unclear. All SGAs bind the D3 dopamine receptor (D3R) and are traditionally considered antagonists for dopamine receptor signaling. Here, we report that some clinically important SGAs function as arrestin-3 agonists at D3R, resulting in modulation of calcium channels localized to the site of action potential initiation in prefrontal cortex pyramidal neurons. We further show that chronic treatment with an arrestin-3 agonist-SGA, but not an antagonist-SGA, abolishes D3R function through post-endocytic receptor degradation by G-protein coupled receptor-associated sorting protein-1 (GASP1). These results implicate D3R-arrestin-3 signaling as a source of SGA variability, highlighting the importance of including arrestin-3 signaling in characterizations of drug action. Furthermore, they suggest that post-endocytic receptor trafficking that occurs during chronic SGA treatment may contribute to treatment efficacy.
Neural similarity between overlapping events at learning differentially affects reinstatement across the cortex
Authors: Hebscher Melissa , Bainbridge Wilma A. , Voss Joel L.
Published: August 2022

Episodic memory often involves high overlap between the actors, locations, and objects of everyday events. Under some circumstances, it may be beneficial to distinguish, or differentiate, neural representations of similar events to avoid interference at recall. Alternatively, forming overlapping representations of similar events, or integration, may aid recall by linking shared information between memories. It is currently unclear how the brain supports these seemingly conflicting functions of differentiation and integration. We used multivoxel pattern similarity analysis (MVPA) of fMRI data and neural-network analysis of visual similarity to examine how highly overlapping naturalistic events are encoded in patterns of cortical activity, and how the degree of differentiation versus integration at encoding affects later retrieval. Participants performed an episodic memory task in which they learned and recalled naturalistic video stimuli with high feature overlap. Visually similar videos were encoded in overlapping patterns of neural activity in temporal, parietal, and occipital regions, suggesting integration. We further found that encoding processes differentially predicted later reinstatement across the cortex. In visual processing regions in occipital cortex, greater differentiation at encoding predicted later reinstatement. Higher-level sensory processing regions in temporal and parietal lobes showed the opposite pattern, whereby highly integrated stimuli showed greater reinstatement. Moreover, integration in high-level sensory processing regions during encoding predicted greater accuracy and vividness at recall. These findings provide novel evidence that encoding-related differentiation and integration processes across the cortex have divergent effects on later recall of highly similar naturalistic events.
Geography, not lifestyle, explains the population structure of free-living and host-associated deep-sea hydrothermal vent snail symbionts
Authors: Hauer Michelle A. , Breusing Corinna , Trembath-Reichert Elizabeth , Huber Julie A. , Beinart Roxanne A.
Published: August 2022

Marine symbioses are predominantly established through horizontal acquisition of microbial symbionts from the environment. However, genetic and functional comparisons of free-living populations of symbionts to their host-associated counterparts are sparse. Here, we assembled the first genomes of the chemoautotrophic gammaproteobacterial symbionts affiliated with the deep-sea snailAlviniconcha hesslerifrom two separate hydrothermal vent fields of the Mariana Back-Arc Basin. We used phylogenomic and population genomic methods to assess sequence and gene content variation between free-living and host-associated symbionts. Our phylogenomic analyses show that the free-living and host-associated symbionts ofA. hesslerifrom both vent fields are populations of monophyletic strains from a single species. Furthermore, genetic structure and gene content analyses indicate that these symbiont populations are differentiated by vent field rather than by lifestyle. Together, this work suggests that, despite the potential influence of host-mediated acquisition and release processes on horizontally transmitted symbionts, geographic isolation and/or adaptation to local habitat conditions are important determinants of symbiont population structure and intra-host composition.
Elemental stoichiometry and insect chill tolerance: Evolved and plastic changes in organismal Na+ and K+ content in Drosophila
Authors: Chalmer Sarah C. , Rudman Seth M. , Andersen Mads K. , Schmidt Paul , MacMillan Heath A.
Published: August 2022

Acclimation and evolutionary adaptation can produce phenotypic change that allows organisms to cope with challenges like those associated with climate change. Determining the relative contributions of acclimation and adaptation is of central importance to understanding animal responses to change. Rates of evolution have traditionally been considered slow relative to ecological processes that shape biodiversity. Many organisms nonetheless show patterns of spatial genetic variation suggestive of adaptation and some evidence is emerging that adaptation can act sufficiently fast to allow phenotypic tracking in response to environmental change (‘adaptive tracking’). In Drosophila, both plastic and evolved differences in chill tolerance are associated with ionoregulation. Here we combine acclimation, latitudinal field collections, and a replicated field experiment to assess the effects of acclimation and adaptation on chill coma recovery and elemental (Na and K) stoichiometry in both sexes of Drosophila melanogaster. Acclimation and spatial adaptation both shape chill coma recovery, with acclimation producing the greatest magnitude response. Leveraging knowledge on the physiological mechanisms that underlie variation in chill tolerance traits, we find that the relationship between K content and chill tolerance differs among flies acclimated vs. adapted to cold. Taken together, these data reinforce the importance of acclimation in responses to abiotic challenges and illustrate that the mechanisms of phenotypic change can differ between acclimation and basal tolerance adaptation.
Comprehensive analyses of partially methylated domains and differentially methylated regions in esophageal cancer reveal both cell-type- and cancer-specific epigenetic regulation
Authors: Zheng Yueyuan , Ziman Benjamin , Ho Allen S. , Sinha Uttam K. , Xu Li-Yan , Li En-Min , Koeffler H Phillip , Berman Benjamin P. , Lin De-Chen
Published: August 2022

As one of the most common malignancies, esophageal cancer has two subtypes, squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and adenocarcinoma (EAC), arising from distinct cells-of-origin. However, distinguishing cell-type-specific molecular features from cancer-specific characteristics has been challenging. Here, we analyze whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) data on 45 esophageal tumor and nonmalignant samples from both subtypes. We develop a novel sequence-aware method to identify large partially methylated domains (PMDs), revealing profound heterogeneity at both the methylation level (depth) and genomic distribution (breadth) of PMDs across tumor samples. We identify subtype-specific PMDs, which are associated with repressive transcription, chromatin B compartments and high somatic mutation rate. While the genomic locations of these PMDs are pre-established in normal cells, the degree of loss is significantly higher in tumors. We find that cell-type-specific deposition of H3K36me2 may underlie the genomic distribution PMDs. At a smaller genomic scale, both cell-type- and cancer-specific differentially methylated regions (DMRs) are identified for each subtype. Using binding motif analysis within these DMRs, we show that a cell-type-specific transcription factor such as HNF4A can maintain the binding sites that it establishes in normal cells, while being recruited to new binding sites with novel partners such as FOSL1 in cancer. Finally, leveraging pan-tissue single-cell and pan-cancer epigenomic datasets, we demonstrate that a substantial fraction of the cell-type-specific PMDs and DMRs identified here in esophageal cancer, are actually markers that co-occur in other cancers originating from related cell types. These findings advance our understanding of the DNA methylation dynamics at various genomic scales in normal and malignant states, providing novel mechanistic insights into cell-type- and cancer-specific epigenetic regulations.
Recurrent mutation in the ancestry of a rare variant
Authors: Wakeley John , Fan Wai-Tong (Louis) , Koch Evan , Sunyaev Shamil
Published: August 2022

Recurrent mutation produces multiple copies of the same allele which may be co-segregating in a population. Yet most analyses of allele-frequency or site-frequency spectra assume that all observed copies of an allele trace back to a single mutation. We develop a sampling theory for the number of latent mutations in the ancestry of a rare variant, specifically a variant observed in relatively small count in a large sample. Our results follow from the statistical independence of low-count mutations, which we show to hold for the standard neutral coalescent or diffusion model of population genetics as well as for more general coalescent trees. For populations of constant size, these counts are given by the Ewens sampling formula. We develop a Poisson sampling model for populations of varying size, and illustrate it using new results for site-frequency spectra in an exponentially growing population. We apply our model to a large data set of human SNPs and use it to explain dramatic differences in site-frequency spectra across the range of mutation rates in the human genome.
Centriole signaling restricts hepatocyte ploidy to maintain liver integrity
Authors: Sladky Valentina C. , Akbari Hanan , Tapias-Gomez Daniel , Evans Lauren T. , Drown Chelsea G. , Strong Margaret A. , LoMastro Gina M. , Larman Tatianna , Holland Andrew J.
Published: August 2022

Hepatocyte polyploidization is a tightly controlled process that is initiated at weaning and increases with age. The proliferation of polyploid hepatocytes in vivo is restricted by the PIDDosome–P53 axis, but how this pathway is triggered remains unclear. Given that increased hepatocyte ploidy protects against malignant transformation, the evolutionary driver that sets the upper limit for hepatocyte ploidy remains unknown. Here we show that hepatocytes accumulate centrioles during cycles of polyploidization in vivo. The presence of excess mature centrioles containing ANKRD26 was required to activate the PIDDosome in polyploid cells. As a result, mice lacking centrioles in the liver or ANKRD26 exhibited increased hepatocyte ploidy. Under normal homeostatic conditions, this increase in liver ploidy did not impact organ function. However, in response to chronic liver injury, blocking centriole-mediated ploidy control leads to a massive increase in hepatocyte polyploidization, severe liver damage, and impaired liver function. These results show that hyperpolyploidization sensitizes the liver to injury, posing a trade-off for the cancer-protective effect of increased hepatocyte ploidy. Our results may have important implications for unscheduled polyploidization that frequently occurs in human patients with chronic liver disease.
Insights for educators working with ethnically diverse youth in Hong Kong: a pilot positive youth development program
Authors: Arat Gizem , Wong Paul Wai-Ching
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Positive youth development (PYD) among ethnic minorities is important to building a socially inclusive and rapidly aging Hong Kong. There are very limited empirically driven with evaluation among ethnic minorities in Hong Kong and in the region. This study aims to fill the research-to-practice gap by examining the implementation process and impacts of a school-based PYD school program for ethnic minorities in Hong Kong developed empirically based on the data of the larger sequential mixed-methods research project.

Design/methodology/approach

Along with a non-governmental organization the authors co-developed, implemented and evaluated an eight-week pilot PYD program for youth from South Asia and newly arrival mainland Chinese backgrounds. Although a quasi-experimental mixed-methods research design was adopted and included 18 young people in the intervention group and 12 young people in the control group, this paper reported the qualitative interviews of three students, two of their teachers and two PYD interventionalists who commented about the content and process to further improve future PYD programs for ethnic minorities young people in Hong Kong.

Findings

Students stated their positive experience about the program while other participants (interventionalists and teachers) provided insights for further program effectiveness enhancement. This includes organizing social activities in the program, such as basketball or football matches would enhance the level of engagement of the participants. Teachers and interventionists suggested to develop age-appropriate programs as younger groups may have different needs or interests compared to their older counterparts.

Originality/value

This study provides insight into how to improve the implementation process, effectiveness and quality of evidence based PYD education research and practices from a culturally appropriate perspective, particularly for South Asian youth residing in Hong Kong and beyond.
Do boards practice what they preach on nonfinancial disclosure? Evidence from China on corporate water information disclosures
Authors: Liu Chengyun , Su Kun , Zhang Miaomiao
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine whether and how gender diversity on corporate boards is associated with voluntary nonfinancial disclosures, particularly water disclosures.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses corporate water information disclosure data from Chinese listed firms between 2010 and 2018 to conduct regression analyses to examine the association between female directors and water information disclosure.

Findings

Empirical results show that female directors have a significantly positive association with corporate water information disclosure. Additionally, internal industry water sensitivity of firms moderates this significant relationship.

Originality/value

This study determined that female directors can promote not only water disclosure but also positive corporate water performance, reflecting the consistency of words and deeds of female directors in voluntary nonfinancial disclosures.
Property Assertion Constraints for ontologies and knowledge graphs
Authors: Dibowski Henrik
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The curation of ontologies and knowledge graphs (KGs) is an essential task for industrial knowledge-based applications, as they rely on the contained knowledge to be correct and error-free. Often, a significant amount of a KG is curated by humans. Established validation methods, such as Shapes Constraint Language, Shape Expressions or Web Ontology Language, can detect wrong statements only after their materialization, which can be too late. Instead, an approach that avoids errors and adequately supports users is required.

Design/methodology/approach

For solving that problem, Property Assertion Constraints (PACs) have been developed. PACs extend the range definition of a property with additional logic expressed with SPARQL. For the context of a given instance and property, a tailored PAC query is dynamically built and triggered on the KG. It can determine all values that will result in valid property value assertions.

Findings

PACs can avoid the expansion of KGs with invalid property value assertions effectively, as their contained expertise narrows down the valid options a user can choose from. This simplifies the knowledge curation and, most notably, relieves users or machines from knowing and applying this expertise, but instead enables a computer to take care of it.

Originality/value

PACs are fundamentally different from existing approaches. Instead of detecting erroneous materialized facts, they can determine all semantically correct assertions before materializing them. This avoids invalid property value assertions and provides users an informed, purposeful assistance. To the author's knowledge, PACs are the only such approach.
Federate learning on Web browsing data with statically and machine learning technique
Authors: Bhimanpallewar Ratnmala Nivrutti , Khan Sohail Imran , Raj K. Bhavana , Gulati Kamal , Bhasin Narinder , Raj Roop
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Federation analytics approaches are a present area of study that has already progressed beyond the analysis of metrics and counts. It is possible to acquire aggregated information about on-device data by training machine learning models using federated learning techniques without any of the raw data ever having to leave the devices in the issue. Web browser forensics research has been focused on individual Web browsers or architectural analysis of specific log files rather than on broad topics. This paper aims to propose major tools used for Web browser analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

Each kind of Web browser has its own unique set of features. This allows the user to choose their preferred browsers or to check out many browsers at once. If a forensic examiner has access to just one Web browser's log files, he/she makes it difficult to determine which sites a person has visited. The agent must thus be capable of analyzing all currently available Web browsers on a single workstation and doing an integrated study of various Web browsers.

Findings

Federated learning has emerged as a training paradigm in such settings. Web browser forensics research in general has focused on certain browsers or the computational modeling of specific log files. Internet users engage in a wide range of activities using an internet browser, such as searching for information and sending e-mails.

Originality/value

It is also essential that the investigator have access to user activity when conducting an inquiry. This data, which may be used to assess information retrieval activities, is very critical. In this paper, the authors purposed a major tool used for Web browser analysis. This study's proposed algorithm is capable of protecting data privacy effectively in real-world experiments.
The social impacts of innovation: reproducing racial, gender and social class inequality
Authors: Dahlin Eric , Ammons Samantha K. , Rugh Jacob S. , Sumsion Rachel , Hebertson Justin
Published: August 2022

Purpose

While current scholarship on innovation typically examines its antecedents, the purpose of this paper is to provide a more complete account by advocating for social impacts as a critical component of the sociological study of innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a conceptual approach to illustrate the ways in which innovation may generate unequitable outcomes. The authors illustrate the purpose of the paper by discussing strategically selected examples that are intended to reflect prominent themes and topics in the relevant literature.

Findings

The analysis suggests that while innovation yields many positive benefits, pervasive narratives about its virtues can be overstated when, in fact, innovation may generate adverse effects for particular social groups by reproducing or exacerbating inequality. The authors provide a more complete account of innovation by naming social impacts as a critical component of its sociological study and discussing examples that illustrate how innovation can produce disadvantageous effects by race, gender and social class. The authors move forward the discussion of social impacts by elaborating conditions in which innovation is likely to reproduce the status quo as well as ameliorate negative impacts.

Originality/value

While many studies have explained the conditions that foster innovation, this study pushes the boundaries of the study of innovation – a timely topic for practitioners and scholars in the fields of not only sociology, but management, education and public policy. Accordingly, we move forward the discussion of the social impacts of innovation by identifying the ways in which innovation is likely to reproduce structural inequalities.
The challenges of B2B innovation: using marketing analytics to plan and implement a successful digital catalog adoption
Authors: Wilson R. Dale , Stephens Anna M.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study aims to demonstrate how marketing analytics can be used to identify the challenges a B2B company faced in the conversion from a hard-copy print catalog to a digital ordering system. Specifically, an empirical research approach identified the potential issues the company was likely to face in the digitalization of the company’s catalog.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the Qualtrics survey platform, a questionnaire was used to obtain a final sample of 332 customers (a 14.02% response rate) on a variety of issues related to the transition from the company’s current printed catalog to a digital catalog ordering system. A variety of data analysis procedures were used to gain insight and highlight potential issues in the move to a digital format.

Findings

A variety of potential stumbling blocks were identified that suggest the company should move forward with caution. The data analysis was used to suggest areas that needed to be emphasized in the rollout of the new digital ordering system.

Research limitations/implications

Like all marketing research, this application is limited by the methods used and the data generated by this study. Its implications suggest the potential use of marketing research before an important change in a B2B company’s marketing approach.

Practical implications

This paper provides an approach that can be used by firms considering a change to digitize key components of their marketing assets.

Originality/value

The research contributes to the B2B marketing literature by demonstrating how data-driven marketing analytics can be used to identify potential issues prior to the development of a new digital marketing approach used by B2B firms.
Another look at banks as lenders of first resort: evidence from the COVID-19 crisis
Authors: Flynn Matthew , Wu Yufei
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study aims to provide a fresh look at banks as lenders in and extending past the COVID-19 crisis, with a particular focus on examining the results of recent work by Lei et al. (2020).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors’ replication, as well as the original paper, uses a fixed-effects model on panel data. The authors discuss issues regarding data sources as well as use an array of panel data robustness checks to help ascertain an appropriate empirical specification for continued research of this type.

Findings

The authors show that the results of Lei et al. (2020) are sensitive to the data source, as well as the construction of the standard errors in their regression framework, with an appropriate specification uncovered through panel data statistical tests. The authors also provide some extensions to the original work by including interacted fixed-effects models and extending the sample period from 2020Q1 to 2021Q1, noting some changes in results.

Originality/value

The authors provide novel results on banks’ lending constraints both at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and shortly thereafter. The study also provides an empirical framework for future studies conducted on similar panel data sets.
Marketing/entrepreneurship interface research priorities (2023–2026)
Authors: Alqahtani Nasser , Uslay Can
Published: August 2022

Purpose

To update the research priorities, this study aims to propose a roadmap to researchers who are interested in the marketing/entrepreneurship interface (MEI) and stimulate research by providing an agenda through a synthesis of the collective wisdom of the scholars in the field.

Design/methodology/approach

A-multi-stage data collection using questionnaires and interviews is used in this study. Multiple rounds of interviews spanning three Global Research Conferences on Marketing and Entrepreneurship (GRCME), followed by a survey seeking input from the attendees of these events and the members of the Entrepreneurial Marketing SIG of the American Marketing Association, were used in developing the proposed research priorities.

Findings

A comprehensive list of research priorities was developed categorizing them in terms of importance and level of interest. The list is a product of the collective wisdom of the field, distilled from several rounds of interviews and from a thorough analysis of the participants’ input to a comprehensive survey.

Originality/value

The current research provides scholars with MEI research priorities for 2023–2026.
Inkjet four-dimensional printing of shape memory polymers: a review
Authors: Nachimuthu Manikandan , P.K. Rajesh
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a review of four-dimensional (4D) printing of shape memory polymers using inkjet printing technology. 4D printing refers to the three-dimensional (3D) printing of smart materials capable of shape change or function modification with respect to time when activated by external stimuli. Inkjet printing has gained popularity because of the technical advantages such as non-contact deposition, multi-material printing, high resolution, high speed of printing and minimal post processing. This review will serve as a platform for understanding the inkjet 4D printing process and the shape memory capability of the polymer structures printed using inkjet printing.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach used in this review was to search for and review research works related to inkjet 4D printing of shape memory polymers. The search period was limited for the duration 2013 to 2021 as the 4D printing technology came into light later in 2013. With the review of inkjet 4D printing of shape memory polymers, the shape memory capability of the inkjet-printed structures were also studied.

Findings

With the available research documents, it was found that the inkjet 4D printing technology gained momentum from 2016, three years after the introduction of the 4D printing technology. The key findings of this review show that inkjet 4D printing of shape memory polymers were primarily performed using commercial inkjet printers and polymer inks linked to the printers. Even though the inkjet printing technology is matured enough to print multiple materials, development of shape memory polymer inks for inkjet printability remains complex. To realize the full potential of inkjet 4D printing, novel polymer inks specific for inkjet printing needs development.

Research limitations/implications

The major limitation to this review was the availability of research papers for review. Even though inkjet printing technology has grown to popularity in the graphics printing and publishing industry since its inception in the 19th century, the technology still needs to evolve in the printing of 3D structures due to the limitations in synthesizing inks that are inkjet printable. However, this research will serve as a platform for understating the current status of inkjet 4D printing and the limitations of the technology.

Originality/value

This review focuses only on the inkjet 4D printing of shape memory polymers among the generally summarized 4D printing review papers available. Currently, 4D printing of shape memory polymers is carried out using only the commercially available polymer printers. Also, researchers do not have the flexibility of modifying the polymer inks linked to the printers. This review can spur more research into the development of novel polymer inks specific for inkjet printing.
Early growing season weather variation, expectation formation and agricultural land allocation decisions in Ethiopia
Authors: Ahmed Musa Hasen , Tesfaye Wondimagegn Mesfin , Gassmann Franziska
Published: August 2022

Using unique crop‐specific data gathered over 7 years, we study if and how maize‐producing farmers in Ethiopia adjust their land allocation decisions in response to pre‐planting‐season weather variations. We show that farmers adjust their land allocation decisions in response to increased temperatures early in the growing season. In addition to quantifying a substantial adaptation margin that has not been documented before, our study also reveals the presence of a weather variation‐induced expansion of maize production into areas that are less suitable for maize cultivation.
Species diversity of the Culex pipiens complex in the Republic of Korea
Authors: Ryu Jihun , Choi Kwang Shik
Published: August 2022

The Culex pipiens complex, a common species in urban areas, has not yet caused a disease in the Republic of Korea, although it is abundant across residential areas. This complex is a major vector of West Nile virus in the United States. Additionally, Culex pipiens molestus and Culex pipiens pallens in the Republic of Korea are known to have vector competence. However, it is difficult to morphologically distinguish Culex pipiens complex species in the Republic of Korea. In this study, samples were collected from 48 sites near residential areas in the Republic of Korea, and the distribution of Culex pipiens complex species was firstly analyzed using species‐specific primers. Culex p. molestus and Cx. p. pallens were collected in large numbers in all the study regions except Ulleungdo, where the number of samples collected was five. Of the total 1063 samples, 70.1% were Cx. p. molestus and 29.9% were Cx. p. pallens. As there has been no research on the diversity of these species in the Republic of Korea, the results of this study would provide important baseline data for further studies on the Culex pipiens complex.
Comparing mixed models and Random Forest association tests using naturalgwas and a Striped Bass SNP data set
Authors: LeBlanc Nathalie M. , Pavey Scott A.
Published: August 2022

In this study, we used the phenotype simulation package naturalgwas to test the performance of Zhao's Random Forest method in comparison to an uncorrected Random Forest test, latent factor mixed models (LFMM), genome‐wide efficient mixed models (GEMMA), and confounder adjusted linear regression (CATE). We created 400 sets of phenotypes, corresponding to five effect sizes and two, five, 15, or 30 causal loci, simulated from two empirical data sets containing SNPs from Striped Bass representing three and 13 populations. All association methods were evaluated for their ability to detect genotype–phenotype associations based on power, false discovery rates, and number of false positives. Genomic inflation was highest for uncorrected Random Forest and LFMM tests and lowest for Gemma and Zhao's Random Forest. All association tests had similar power to detect causal loci, and Zhao's Random Forest had the lowest false discovery rate in all scenarios. To measure the performance of association tests in small data sets with few loci surrounding a causal gene we also ran analyses again after removing causal loci from each data set. All association tests were only able to find true positives, defined as loci located within 30 kbp of a causal locus, in 3%–18% of simulations. In contrast, at least one false positive was found in 17%–44% of simulations. Zhao's Random Forest again identified the fewest false positives of all association tests studied. The ability to test the power of association tests for individual empirical data sets can be an extremely useful first step when designing a GWAS study.
Export finance and the green transition
Authors: Klasen Andreas , Wanjiru Roseline , Henderson Jenni , Phillips Josh
Published: August 2022

As emissions reach record levels, governments must implement and strengthen climate policies for the global pathway to net‐zero emissions by 2050. Climate finance plays a crucial role in the net‐zero transition. It refers to local, national, or transnational financing seeking to support mitigation and adaptation actions that address climate change. Public export–import banks (EXIMs) and government export credit agencies (ECAs) are highly influential actors for climate action. Although there is no consensus among EXIMs and ECAs on how to define climate finance, 20 institutions assessed in this research give evidence that they strongly support climate‐action‐related transactions: EXIM and ECA financing, guarantees, and insurance amounted to EUR 6.7–8.4 billion in 2020, much more than estimated by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI). However, the results also reveal that EXIM and ECA lending, guarantee, and insurance activities must rise substantially in order to contribute to climate finance volumes required by 2030 as estimated by CPI. To retain their current proportion relative to other climate finance flows, assessed institutions would need to increase their climate financing 6.8 times to up to EUR 57.4 billion by 2030.
Ireland: Political Developments and Data in 2021
Authors: O'MALLEY EOIN
Published: August 2022

The political year started and ended with surges in Covid‐19 cases dominating the political world, business and citizens’ lives. Caution at the end of the year was probably determined by what had happened at the start of 2021, with a surge in deaths from Covid‐19 damaging the government's reputation and its parties’ support. Other more normal issues also started to return to politics, which made 2021 a more typical year of government versus opposition, with the main opposition party gaining support.