bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contrary neuronal recalibration in different multisensory cortical areas
Authors: Zeng Fu , Zaidel Adam , Chen Aihua
Published: September 2022

The adult brain demonstrates remarkable multisensory plasticity by dynamically recalibrating information from multiple sensory sources. When a systematic visual-vestibular heading offset is experienced, the unisensory perceptual estimates recalibrate toward each other (in opposite directions) to reduce the conflict. The neural substrate of this recalibration is unknown. Here, we recorded single-neuron activity from the dorsal medial superior temporal (MSTd), parieto-insular vestibular cortex (PIVC), and ventral intraparietal (VIP) areas in three male rhesus macaques during visual-vestibular recalibration. Both visual and vestibular tuning in MSTd recalibrated-each according to their respective cues’ perceptual shifts. Vestibular tuning in PIVC also recalibrated together with corresponding perceptual shifts (cells were not visually tuned). By contrast, VIP neurons demonstrated a unique phenomenon: both vestibular and visual tuning recalibrated according to vestibular perceptual shifts. Such that, visual tuning shifted, surprisingly, contrary to visual perceptual shifts. Therefore, while unsupervised recalibration (to reduce cue conflict) occurs in early multisensory cortices, higher-level VIP reflects only a global shift, in vestibular space.

In Brief:

The neural bases of multisensory plasticity are currently unknown. Here, Zeng et al. studied neuronal recalibration to a systematic visual-vestibular cue conflict. In multisensory cortical areas MSTd and PIVC, single-unit responses to visual and vestibular stimuli recalibrated to reduce the cue conflict, along with their respective unisensory perceptual shifts. By contrast, in higher-level VIP, both visual and vestibular neuronal responses recalibrated with vestibular perceptual shifts. This led to a surprising recalibration of visual responses opposite in direction to visual perceptual shifts. This exposes differential aspects of multisensory plasticity across multisensory cortical areas, and reveals a novel hybrid of visual responses within a vestibular reference frame in parietal neurons.

Highlights

In the presence of a systematic heading conflict, visual and vestibular cues recalibrate towards one another to reduce the conflict.

In MSTd, neuronal responses to vestibular and visual cues recalibrated, each according to their respective cues’ perceptual shifts.

In PIVC, vestibular responses recalibrated according to vestibular perceptual shifts (cells were not visually tuned).

In VIP, neuronal responses to both vestibular and visual cues recalibrated together with vestibular perceptual shifts (opposite in direction to visual perceptual shifts).

Profound differences in neuronal recalibration expose different functions across multisensory cortical areas.
Therapeutic potential of rWnt5A in curbingLeishmania donovaniinfection
Authors: Maity Shreyasi , Sen Malini
Published: September 2022

In this study, we demonstrated that administration of recombinant Wnt5A (rWnt5A) toLeishmania donovani(L. donovani) infected RAW 264.7 macrophages cause a significant reduction of infection that is associated with an increase in both cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and secreted IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio. Furthermore, rWnt5A administration appreciably blocks the progression ofL. donovaniinfection established in a mouse model. This line of defensein vivois associated with an elevation in immune cell associated ROS, and an activated T cell profile marked by increased IFN-γ and Granzyme B expression. As a corollary, infection associated disruption of splenic white pulp organization is markedly restrained. In summary, this study unveils the therapeutic potential of rWnt5A in curbingL. donovaniinfection and the progression of experimental visceral leishmaniasis through immune cell signaling. Additionally, it opens up new avenues of investigation into the use of rWnt5A as a therapeutic agent for restraining progression of the drug resistant refractory disease.
Magnesium and the magnesium transporter UEX regulate sleep via Ca2+-dependent CREB signaling and a CNK-ERK pathway
Authors: Yuan Xin , Zheng Huimei , Xu Xiao , Deng Huan , Yang Xiaohang , Xi Yongmei
Published: September 2022

Magnesium and its related preparations are already in medical use and have recognized therapeutic effects on sleep disorders. However, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, usingDrosophilaas a model, we found that RNAi-mediated knockdown ofUex, the homologous gene of magnesium transporters of the Cyclin M family (CNNM) causes increased daily total sleep. Ectopic-expression of CNNM1 can rescue the sleep phenotype inUexknockdown flies. UEX exhibits rhythmic oscillations in the brain and affects the efflux of cellular Mg2+. Knockdown ofUexin the nervous system influences Ca2+-mediated CREB signaling and neuroplasticity. Additionally, Uex physically interacts with CNK, the upstream regulator of ERK pathway. Similar effects on sleep are observed with knockdown ofCnkin flies. We propose that the UEX regulates sleep through its downstream Ca2+-dependent CREB signaling and a CNK-ERK pathway. Our findings may provide new insight into mechanisms of magnesium and magnesium transporter related sleep disorder.
Preserved neural population dynamics across animals performing similar behaviour
Authors: Safaie Mostafa , Chang Joanna C. , Park Junchol , Miller Lee E. , Dudman Joshua T. , Perich Matthew G. , Gallego Juan A.
Published: September 2022

Animals of the same species often exhibit similar behaviours that are advantageously adapted to their body and their environment. These behaviours are shaped by selection pressures over evolutionary timescales at the species level, yet each individual produces these behaviours using a different, uniquely constructed brain. It remains unclear how these common behavioural adaptations emerge from the idiosyncratic neural circuitry of a given individual. Here, we hypothesised that the adaptive behaviour of a species requires specific neural population ‘latent dynamics’. These latent dynamics should thus be preserved and identifiable across individuals within a species, regardless of the idiosyncratic aspects of each individual’s brain. Using recordings of neural populations from monkey and mouse motor cortex, we show that individuals from the same species share surprisingly similar neural dynamics when they perform the same behaviour. The similarity in neural population dynamics extends beyond cortical regions to the dorsal striatum, an evolutionarily older structure, and also holds when animals con-sciously plan future movements without overt behaviour. These preserved dynamics are behaviourally-relevant, allowing decoding of intended and ongoing movements across individuals. We posit that these emergent neural population dynamics result from evolutionarily-imposed constraints on brain development, and reflect a fundamental property of the neural basis of behaviour.
Early parafoveal semantic integration in natural reading
Authors: Pan Yali , Frisson Steven , Federmeier Kara D. , Jensen Ole
Published: September 2022

Humans can read and comprehend text rapidly, implying that readers might process multiple words per fixation. However, the extent to which parafoveal words are previewed and integrated into the evolving sentence context remains disputed. We investigated parafoveal processing during natural reading by recording brain activity and eye movements using MEG and an eye tracker while participants silently read one-line sentences. The sentences contained an unpredictable target word that was either congruent or incongruent with the sentence context. To measure parafoveal processing, we flickered the target words at 60 Hz and measured the resulting brain responses (i.e.,Rapid Invisible Frequency Tagging, RIFT) during fixations on the pre-target words. Our results revealed a significantly weaker tagging response for target words that were incongruent with the previous context compared to congruent ones, even within 100 ms of fixating the word immediately preceding the target. This reduction in the RIFT response was also found to be predictive of individual reading speed. We conclude that semantic information is not only extracted from the parafovea but can also be integrated with the previous context before the word is fixated. This early and extensive parafoveal processing supports the rapid word processing required for natural reading. Our study suggests that theoretical frameworks of natural reading should incorporate the concept of deep parafoveal processing.
3D Printed Skull Cap and Benchtop Fabricated Microwire-based Microelectrode Array for Custom Rat Brain Recordings
Authors: Yi Dongyang , Hartner Jeremiah P. , Ung Brian S. , Zhu Harrison L. , Watson Brendon O. , Chen Lei
Published: September 2022

Microwire microelectrode arrays (MEAs) have been a popular low-cost tool for chronic electrophysiological recordings. Multi-MEA implantations can reveal electrical dynamics crucial to brain function. However, both the fabrication and implantation procedures for multi-MEAs on a single rodent are time-consuming and highly manual skill-dependent for quality. To enable in-house design, fabrication, and implantation of custom microwire MEAs, we developed (1) a computer-aided designed and 3D printed skull cap for pre-determined implantation locations of each MEA and (2) a benchtop fabrication approach for low-cost custom microwire MEAs. A proof-of-concept design of 32-channel 4-MEA (8-wire each) recording system was prototyped and tested through Sprague Dawley rat recordings. The skull cap design based on CT-scan of single rat conforms well with multiple Sprague Dawley rats of various size, age, and weight with minimal bregma alignment error. The prototyped 32-channel system were able to record spiking activities over 5 months. In comparison with conventional stereotactic surgeries, the skull cap system simplifies the implantation location alignment for each MEA by embedding them into the pre-printed designs, thus dramatically reducing the surgical time and effort and increasing the accuracy and repeatability. Compared to commercially available custom microwire MEAs, this in-house fabrication method enables neuroscience labs to create a custom recording apparatus with lower cost and shorter lead time for design modifications. A new methodology for neuroscience labs to fabricate and insert custom microwire MEAs has been developed and it could be easily generalized to enable low-cost highly-custom multi-region recording/stimulation studies.

Highlights

3D printed skull caps as implantation platform for multi-region rat brain recording

Computer-aided design for custom cap geometry and predetermined implantation location

Benchtop microwire fabrication approach for in-house custom microelectrode arrays

Duplicable and generalizable design, fabrication, and implantation methodologies
Personalized transcranial alternating current stimulation improves sleep quality: Initial Findings
Authors: Ayanampudi V. , Kumar V. , Krishnan A. , Walker M.P. , Ivry R.B. , Knight R.T. , Gurumoorthy R.
Published: September 2022

Insufficient sleep is a major health issue. Inadequate sleep is associated with an array of poor health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, certain forms of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Given concerns with typical sedative hypnotic drugs for treating sleep difficulties, there is a compelling need for added alternative interventions. Here, we report results of a non-invasive electrical brain stimulation approach to optimizing sleep involving transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS).

A total of 25 participants (mean age: 46.3, S.D. ±12.4, 15 females) were recruited for a null-stimulation controlled (Control condition), within subjects, randomized crossed design, that included two variants of an active condition involving 15 minutes pre-sleep tACS stimulation. To evaluate the impact on sleep quality, the two active tACS stimulation conditions were designed to modulate sleep-dependent neural activity in the theta/alpha frequency bands, with both stimulation types applied to all subjects in separate sessions. The first tACS condition used a fixed stimulation pattern across all participants, a pattern composed of stimulation at 5Hz and 10Hz. The second tACS condition used a personalized stimulation approach with the stimulation frequencies determined by each individual’s peak EEG frequencies in the 4-6Hz and 9-11Hz bands.

Personalized tACS stimulation increased sleep quantity (duration) by 22 minutes compared to a Control condition (p=.04), and 19 minutes compared to Fixed tACS stimulation (p=.03). Fixed stimulation did not significantly increase sleep duration compared to Control (mean: 3 minutes; p=0.75). For sleep onset, the Personalized tACS stimulation resulted in reducing the onset by 28% compared to the Fixed tACS stimulation (6 minutes faster, p=.02). For a Poor Sleep sub-group (n=13) categorized with Clinical Insomnia and with a high insomnia severity, Personalized tACS stimulation improved sleep duration by 33 minutes compared to Fixed stimulation (p=0.02), and 30 minutes compared to Control condition (p<0.1).

Together, these results suggest that Personalized stimulation improves sleep quantity and time taken to fall asleep relative to Control and Fixed stimulation providing motivation for larger-scale trials for Personalized tACS as a sleep therapeutic, including for those with insomnia.
A highly expressed odorant receptor from the yellow fever mosquito, AaegOR11, responds to (+)- and (-)-fenchone and a phenolic repellent
Authors: Lu WeiYu , Leal Walter S. , Brisco Katherine K. , An Sunny , Cornel Anthony J.
Published: September 2022

The cornerstone of the reverse chemical ecology approach is the identification of odorant receptors (OR) sensitive to compounds in a large panel of odorants. In this approach, we de-orphanize ORs and, subsequently, measure behaviors elicited by these semiochemicals. After that, we evaluate behaviorally active compounds for applications in insect vector management. Intriguingly, multiple ORs encoded by genes highly expressed in mosquito antennae do not respond to any test odorant. One such case is CquiOR125 from the southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus Say. To better understand CquiOR125’s role in Culex mosquito olfaction, we have cloned a CquiOR125 orthologue in the genome of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (L.), AaegOR11. Unlike the unresponsive nature of the orthologue in Cx. quinquefasciatus, oocytes co-expressing AaegOR11 and AaegOrco elicited robust responses when challenged with fenchone, 2,3-dimethylphenol, 3,4-dimethylphenol, 4-methycyclohexanol, and acetophenone. AlphaFold models showed that AaegOR11 and CquiOR125 share structural homolog cores with MhraOR5, the only insect OR structure (PDB: 7LID) elucidated to date. Interestingly, AaegOR11 responded strongly and equally to (+)- and (-)-fenchone, with no chiral discrimination. Contrary to reports in the literature, fenchone did not show any repellency activity against Ae. aegypti or Cx. quinquefasciatus. Laboratory and field tests did not show significant increases in egg captures in cups filled with fenchone solutions compared to control cups. The second most potent ligand, 2,3-dimethylphenol, showed repellency activity stronger than that elicited by DEET at the same dose. We, therefore, concluded that AaegOR11 is a mosquito repellent sensor. It is feasible that CquiOR125 responds to repellents that remain elusive.
Numbers of mutations within multicellular bodies: why it matters
Authors: Frank Steven A.
Published: September 2022

Multicellular organisms often start life as a single cell. Subsequent cell division builds the body. Each mutational event during those developmental cell divisions carries forward to all descendant cells. The overall number of mutant cells in the body follows the Luria–Delbrück process. This article first reviews the basic quantitative principles by which one can understand the likely number of mutant cells and the variation in mutational burden between individuals. A new Fréchet distribution approximation greatly simplifies calculation of likelihoods and intuitive understanding of process. The second part of the article highlights consequences of somatic mutational mosaicism for understanding diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration, and atherosclerosis.
Context-dependent requirement of G protein coupling for Latrophilin-2 in target selection of hippocampal axons
Authors: Pederick Daniel T. , Perry-Hauser Nicole A. , Meng Huyan , He Zhigang , Javitch Jonathan A. , Luo Liqun
Published: September 2022

The formation of neural circuits requires extensive interactions of cell-surface proteins to guide axons to their correct target neurons. Trans-cellular interactions of the adhesion G protein-coupled receptor latrophilin-2 (Lphn2) with its partner teneurin-3 instruct the precise assembly of hippocampal networks by reciprocal repulsion. Lphn2 acts as a receptor in distal CA1 neurons to direct their axons to proximal subiculum, and as a repulsive ligand in proximal subiculum to direct proximal CA1 axons to distal subiculum. It remains unclear if Lphn2-mediated intracellular signaling is required for its role in either context. Here, we show that Lphn2 couples to Gα12/13 in heterologous cells, which is increased by constitutive exposure of the tethered agonist. Specific mutations of Lphn2’s tethered agonist region disrupt its G protein coupling and autoproteolytic cleavage, whereas mutating the autoproteolytic cleavage site prevents cleavage but preserves a functional tethered agonist. Using an in vivo misexpression assay, we demonstrate that wild-type Lphn2 misdirects proximal CA1 axons to proximal subiculum and that Lphn2 tethered agonist activity is required for its role as a repulsive receptor. By contrast, neither tethered agonist activity nor autoproteolysis was necessary for Lphn2’s role as a repulsive ligand. Thus, tethered agonist activity is required for Lphn2-mediated neural circuit assembly in a context-dependent manner.
Transposase N-terminal phosphorylation and asymmetric transposon ends inhibit piggyBac transposition in mammalian cells
Authors: Luo Wentian , Hickman Alison B. , Genzor Pavol , Ghirlando Rodolfo , Furman Christopher M. , Menshikh Anna , Haase Astrid , Dyda Fred , Wilson Matthew H.
Published: September 2022

Mechanistic regulation of DNA transposon systems in mammalian cells remains poorly understood. Using modeling, biochemical, and cell-based assays, we sought to extend the recent cryoEM structural insight into the piggyBac transpososome to evaluate the previously unexplained role of the transposase N-terminus, the need for asymmetric transposon ends, and the complexity of transposase tetramer formation for transposition in mammalian cells. We found that N-terminal phosphorylation by casein kinase II inhibits transposase-DNA interaction and designed deletion of this phosphorylated domain releases inhibition thereby enhancing activity. We also found that the N-terminal domain promotes transposase dimerization in the absence of transposon DNA. N-terminal deletion enables transposition of symmetric transposon ends that was previously not achievable with piggyBac. The complex transposase tetramer needed for transposition of asymmetric transposon ends can be overcome via appending a second transposase C-terminal domain in combination with symmetric transposon ends overcoming the negative regulation by asymmetric ends. Our results demonstrate that N-terminal transposase phosphorylation and the requirement for asymmetric transposon ends both negatively regulate piggyBac transposons in mammalian cells. These novel insights into mechanism and structure of the piggyBac transposase expand its potential use for genomic applications.
Structural conservation of Lassa virus glycoproteins and recognition by neutralizing antibodies
Authors: Perrett Hailee R. , Brouwer Philip J. M. , Hurtado Jonathan , Newby Maddy L. , Burger Judith A. , Liu Lin , Bouhuijs Joey H. , Gibson Grace , Messmer Terrence , Schieffelin John S. , Antanasijevic Aleksandar , Boons Geert-Jan , Crispin Max , Sanders Rogier W. , Briney Bryan , Ward Andrew B.
Published: September 2022

Lassa fever is an acute hemorrhagic fever caused by the zoonotic Lassa virus (LASV). The LASV glycoprotein complex (GPC) mediates viral entry and is the sole target for neutralizing antibodies. Immunogen design is complicated by the metastable nature of recombinant GPCs and the antigenic differences amongst LASV lineages. Despite the sequence diversity of GPC, structures of most lineages are lacking. We present the development and characterization of prefusion-stabilized, trimeric GPCs of LASV lineages II, V, and VI, revealing structural conservation despite sequence diversity. High-resolution structures and biophysical characterization of GPC in complex with GP1-A antibodies reveal their neutralization mechanisms. Finally, we present the isolation and characterization of a novel trimer-preferring neutralizing antibody belonging to the GPC-B competition group with an epitope that spans adjacent protomers and includes the fusion peptide. Our work provides molecular detail information on LASV antigenic diversity and will guide efforts to design pan-LASV vaccines.

Highlights

Structural characterization of soluble glycoproteins from four Lassa virus lineages.

MAb 12.1F, belonging to the GP1-A cluster, inhibits matriglycan and LAMP-1 binding.

GP1-A mAbs show glycan-dependence with 19.7E demonstrating lineage-dependent binding.

A novel trimer-preferring NAb S370.7 targets the GPC-B epitope.
Gliding towards an understanding of the origin of flight in bats
Authors: Burtner Abigail E. , Grossnickle David M. , Santana Sharlene E. , Law Chris J.
Published: September 2022

Bats are the only mammals capable of powered flight and have correspondingly specialized body plans, particularly in their limb morphology. The origin of bat flight is still not fully understood due to an uninformative fossil record but, from the perspective of a functional transition, it is widely hypothesized that bats evolved from gliding ancestors. Here, we test predictions of the gliding-to-flying hypothesis of the origin of bat flight by using phylogenetic comparative methods to model the evolution of forelimb and hindlimb traits on a dataset spanning four extinct bats and 231 extant mammals with diverse locomotor modes. Our results reveal that gliders exhibit adaptive trait optima (1) toward relatively elongate forelimbs that are intermediate between those of bats and non-gliding arborealists, and (2) toward relatively narrower but not longer hindlimbs that are intermediate between those of non-gliders and bats. We propose a hypothetical adaptive landscape based on limb length and width optimal trends derived from our modeling analyses. Our results support a hypothetical evolutionary pathway wherein glider-like postcranial morphology precedes a bat-like morphology adapted to powered-flight, setting a foundation for future developmental, biomechanical, and evolutionary research to test this idea.
Presentation of long COVID and associated risk factors in a mobile health study
Authors: Stewart Callum , Ranjan Yatharth , Conde Pauline , Sun Shaoxiong , Rashid Zulqarnain , Sankesara Heet , Cummins Nicholas , Laiou Petroula , Bai Xi , Dobson Richard J B , Folarin Amos A
Published: September 2022

Backgroun

The Covid Collab study was a citizen science mobile health research project set up in June 2020 to monitor COVID-19 symptoms and mental health through questionnaire self-reports and passive wearable device data.

Methods

Using mobile health data, we consider whether a participant is suffering from long COVID in two ways. Firstly, by whether the participant has a persistent change in a physiological signal commencing at a diagnosis of COVID-19 that last for at least twelve weeks. Secondly, by whether a participant has self-reported persistent symptoms for at least twelve weeks. We assess sociodemographic and wearable-based risk factors for the development of long COVID according to the above two categorisations.

Findings

Persistent changes to physiological signals measured by commercial fitness wearables, including heart rate, sleep, and activity, are visible following a COVID-19 infection and may help differentiate people who develop long COVID. Anxiety and depression are significantly and persistently affected at a group level following a COVID-19 infection. We found the level of activity undertaken in the year prior to illness was protective against long COVID and that symptoms of depression before and during the acute illness may be a risk factor.

Interpretation

Mobile health and wearable devices may prove to be a useful resource for tracking recovery and presence of long-term sequelae to COVID-19. Mental wellbeing is significantly negatively effected on average for an extended period of time following a COVID-19 infection.
Classification of GBA1 variants in Parkinson’s disease; the GBA1-PD browser
Authors: Parlar Sitki Cem , Grenn Francis P. , Kim Jonggeol Jeffrey , Blauwendraat Cornelis , Gan-Or Ziv
Published: September 2022

Background

GBA1 variants are among the most common genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s Disease (PD). GBA1 variants can be classified into three categories based on their role in Gaucher’s Disease (GD) or PD: severe, mild, and risk variant (for PD).

Objectives

This paper aims to generate and share a comprehensive database for GBA1 variants reported in PD to support future research and clinical trials.

Methods

We performed a literature search for all GBA1 variants that have been reported in PD. The data has been standardized and complimented with variant classification, Odds Ratio (OR) if available and other data.

Results

We found 371 GBA1 variants reported in PD: 22 mild, 84 severe, 3 risk variants, and 262 of unknown status. We created a browser, containing up-to-date information on these variants (https://pdgenetics.shinyapps.io/GBA1Browser/).

Conclusions

The classification and browser presented in this work should inform and support basic, translational, and clinical research on GBA1-PD.
Association of IFNAR2 rs2236757 and OAS3 rs10735079 polymorphisms with susceptibility to COVID-19 infection and severity
Authors: Abdelhafez Mohammad , Nasereddin Abedelmajeed , Shamma Omar Abu , Abed Rajaa , Sinnokrot Raghida , Marof Omar , Heif Tariq , Erekat Zaid , Al-Jawabreh Amer , Ereqat Suheir
Published: September 2022

The clinical course and severity of COVID-19 vary among patients. This study aimed to investigate the association of the interferon receptor (IFNAR2) rs2236757 and oligoadenylate synthetase 3 (OAS3) rs10735079 gene polymorphisms with risk of COVID-19 infection and severity among Palestinian patients. The study was conducted between April and May 2021 on 154 participants that divided into three groups: the control group (RT-PCR-negative, n=52), the community cases group (RT-PCR-positive, n= 70) and the critically ill cases (ICU group; n=32). Genotyping of the studied polymorphisms was conducted by amplicon-based next-generation sequencing.

The genotype distribution of the IFNAR2 rs2236757 was significantly different among the study groups (P = 0.001), while no significant differences were observed in the distribution of OAS3 rs10735079 genotypes (P = 0.091). Logistic regression analysis adjusted for possible confounding factors revealed a significant association between the risk allele rs2236757A and critical COVID-19 illness (P < 0.025). Among all patients, the rs2236757GA carriers were more likely to have sore throat (OR, 2.52 (95% CI 1.02-6.24); P = 0.011); the risk allele rs2236757A was associated with dyspnea (OR, 4.70 (95% CI 1.80-12.27); P < 0.001), while the rs10735079A carriers were less prone to develop muscle aches (OR, 0.34 (95% CI 0.13-0.88); P = 0.0248) and sore throat (OR, 0.17 (95% CI 0.05-0.55); P < 0.001). In conclusion, our results revealed that the rs2236757A variant was associated with critical COVID-19 illness and dyspnea, whereas the rs10735079A variant was protective for muscle aches and sore throat.
Revisiting Japan’s stakeholder-based system and foreign ownership: IR managers’ view of foreign shareholders in corporate governance reform in Japanese companies
Authors: Nemoto Kumiko
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Building on the institutional theory perspective on corporate governance change and based on interviews with investor relations (IR) managers in large Japanese companies, this study aims to examine Japanese IR managers’ perceptions of the influence of foreign shareholders on Japan’s corporate governance reform and stakeholder-based system. The paper examines tensions, conflicts and collaborations among different stakeholders involved in corporate governance changes in Japan, especially in the areas of firm ownership, employment relations and boards of directors. The paper explains why convergence does not happen in some large Japanese companies by investigating Japanese managers’ responses to and perceptions of foreign shareholders in multiple corporate contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

The author conducted in-depth interviews with ten IR managers at large, listed Japanese companies in Kyoto and Tokyo and two managers at foreign investment banks in Tokyo, between 2018 and 2021.

Findings

This paper explores five themes that emerged from my interviews: Chief executive officers’ (CEOs’) mixed perceptions of foreign investors, the effectiveness of CEO compensation and outside directors, managers’ reluctance to accept stock price-driven business strategies, foreign investors’ engagement vs investments in index funds and gender patterns, including the effectiveness of token female outside directors. The Japanese companies the author looked at incorporated foreign shareholders as consultants and adopted a few major shareholder-based customs, such as CEOs communicating with investors, having outside directors, increasing CEO compensation and slimming down unprofitable parts of the business via restructuring and downsizing. Simultaneously, they resisted a few major shareholder-based practices. Foreign shareholders’ pressure revealed tensions and contradictions between the Japanese stakeholder system and shareholder primacy-based customs.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the few qualitative studies that explores Japanese IR managers’ responses to and perceptions of foreign shareholders in corporate governance reform, with a particular focus on ownership, employment relations and board members. This paper provides examples of tension, conflict and cooperation between Japanese managers and foreign investors, as seen through the eyes of Japanese IR managers. Examining changes in Japan’s stakeholder-based system of corporate governance reform enables us to better understand the processes by which, with vigorous pressure from government and foreign shareholders, a non-western country like Japan may adopt shareholder-based customs and how such a change may also lead to institutional changes.
Building back better through feminist entrepreneurship policy
Authors: Orser Barbara
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Most feminists policies are aspirational. Deficiencies include vague terms of what constitutes ‘feminist’ within policy, ambiguous investment criteria, lack of consultation and the use of the binary definition of gender negating gender-diverse people (Tiessen, 2019). The purpose of this study is to identify parameters that characterize feminist entrepreneurship policies and to advance recommendations to operationalize these policies.

Design/methodology/approach

The COVID-19 pandemic has unveiled fragilities in the socio-economic gains that women entrepreneurs have achieved. Gender-regression is, in part, the product of entrepreneurship policies that fail to recognize the nature and needs of women entrepreneurs. To inform recovery measures, this article considers two research questions: what are the parameters of feminist entrepreneurship policies? and how can parameters of feminist entrepreneurship policy be operationalized in pandemic recovery measures? To inform the questions, the study draws on the academic literature and thematic analysis of three collective feminist action plans to operationalize ten parameters that characterize feminist entrepreneurship policy.

Findings

Supplanting ‘feminist’ for women in the construction of entrepreneurship policies, without specifications of how parameters differ dilutes government's efforts to achieve gender quality and women's economic empowerment. To inform policy, recommendations of three feminist recovery policies clustered under seven themes: importance of addressing root causes of inequality; need to invest in social and economic outcomes; economic security; enhancing access to economic resources; investment in infrastructure; inclusive decision-making; and need for gender disaggregated data to inform policy. Differences in policy priorities between collective feminist recovery plans and the academic literature are reported.

Research limitations/implications

The parameters of feminist entrepreneurial policy require further interpretation and adaptation in different policy, cultural and geo-political contexts. Scholarly attention might focus on advisory processes that inform feminist policies, such as measures to address gender-regressive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Research is also needed to understand the impacts of feminist policies on the lived experiences of diverse women entrepreneurs. Limitations: The study design did not incorporate viewpoints of policymakers or capture bureaucratic boundary patrolling practices that stymie feminist policies. Thematic analysis was limited to three feminist recovery plans from two countries.

Practical implications

Recommendations to operationalize feminist entrepreneurship policies in the context of pandemic recovery are described.

Originality/value

Ten parameters of feminist entrepreneurship policy are explored. The conceptual study also advances a framework of feminist entrepreneurship policy and considers boundary conditions for when and how the parameters are applicable.
Effectiveness of online education during the COVID-19 pandemic: a study of Bangladesh
Authors: Saifullah Md. Khaled , Sharmeen Nuzhat , Ahmed Zaima
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) remains a global public health emergency as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO). The COVID-19 impacted educational institutions around the world, and they were shut down to minimize the fatalities and spread of the infection. Educational institutions around the world, including Bangladesh, started to conduct online classes as an alternative to physical classes. Therefore, this study assesses the effectiveness of online classes in terms of information and communications technology (ICT) readiness, online class assessment, online class participation, and convenience and flexibility for the educational institutions of Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

To fulfill the objective of the study, data were collected from 817 teachers and students. Additionally, the partial least squares (PLS) regression method was adopted as a quantitative technique.

Findings

The study shows that online class participation, online class assessment, and convenience and flexibility have positive relationships with ICT readiness and the effectiveness of online classes. At the same time, the challenges of online classes have negative relationships with ICT readiness and the effectiveness of online classes.

Practical implications

The study suggests that the government should ensure stable internet connectivity access across the country so that both students and teachers can participate in online classes effectively. Moreover, educational institutional authorities should extend support to the institutions for developing proper ICT infrastructure.

Originality/value

ICT infrastructure readiness is the backbone for effective online education; however, before the COVID-19 pandemic, online education was almost non-existent at the educational institutional level in Bangladesh. The country started developing the ICT infrastructure only when online classes were scheduled to start, and the development is still ongoing. Hence, this study used ICT readiness as a mediator factor. Moreover, primary data are used in this study. The findings of the study will help academicians and policymakers to better understand the effectiveness of online classes.
Pro-environmental awareness of university students – assessment through sustainability literacy test
Authors: Aikowe Loveth Daisy , Mazancova Jana
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study aims to assess the current knowledge and awareness of environmental and sustainable development of Nigerian students by investigating the influence of their sociodemographics.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adapts the concept of using an assessment model in a bespoke application of Sulitest® and Assessment of Student Knowledge. A total of 650 undergraduate students (in the environment, engineering and agriculture programs) were administered a paper-based questionnaire from June to July 2019.

Findings

This study determined that Nigerian students performed poorly on the sustainability literacy test (SLT). Furthermore, students majoring in agriculture exhibited higher knowledge in the social and overall topics, followed by students majoring in the environmental field. From the study findings, the authors recommend that periodic assessment using SLT measures will help higher education institutions (HEIs) identify targeted sustainability programs for the development of students and educators. Hence, HEIs in Nigeria and elsewhere should use sustainability assessment tools to promote pro-environmental awareness.

Originality/value

The SLT is one of several options to assess sustainability knowledge in HEIs. Several HEIs across the USA and Europe have been known to adopt some SLT assessment techniques to improve environmental literacy among students. However, environmental literacy has global implications; hence, this study contributes to the limited body of literature investigating the level of environmental awareness or literacy among university students from a developing country, focusing on the three main study programs (agriculture, environment and engineering).
Wear failure analysis of ball bearings based on lubricating oil for gas turbine
Authors: Sun Jiasi , Bu Jiali , Yang Jinglai , Hao Yanlong , Lang Hong
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Ball bearings in gas turbine have played a critical role in supporting heavy radial loads but with higher failure rates and repair costs. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to introduce and study a method for their failure analysis with an actual industrial example to guarantee operation reliability and safety.

Design/methodology/approach

Spectrometric oil analysis was used as an early abnormal wear indicator, based on which emergent in-use oil replacement was carried out to reduce the wear rate. However, with wear deterioration, further wear failure investigation was conducted by LaserNet Fines and ferrography to detect the imminent wear failure. Finally, with the assistance of elemental analysis of the typical wear particles, the root cause and worn components were determined by scanning electronic microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

Findings

The results have shown that an extraneous source led to wear failure, which later caused overheat between the outer bearing ring and ball. It is in accordance with visual inspection of the disassembled engine.

Originality/value

This method has specified the occasion under which the suitable measurement can be taken. It can achieve the rapid wear condition assessment allowing for root cause and worn parts identification. In addition, wear rate reduction by change of oil can be efficient for most of the time to avoid premature disassemble, especially with the possibility of contamination. It has provided experience to address similar industry-level practical wear failure analysis problems.
You sneeze, and the markets are paranoid: the fear, uncertainty and distress sentiments impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the stock–bond correlation
Authors: Banerjee Ameet Kumar
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper investigates the influence of three different sentiment indicators on the time-varying stock–bond correlation of 15 countries during the global crisis period of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The author uses the time-varying correlation estimated using the autoregressive moving average -dynamic conditional correlation - generalised autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (ARMA-DCC-GARCH) model to achieve this aim. The impact of investor sentiment on the stock–bond correlation was analysed using the Markov regime-switching regression.

Findings

The study results show that the sentiment indicators of fear, uncertainty and distress have a pronounced negative impact on the stock–bond correlation. They further provide evidence of a strong regime effect on the stock–bond correlation with sentiment indicators.

Practical implications

The paper has a relevant impact on policymakers and fund managers. First, the policymakers now have more insightful evidence of how the stock and bond markets react during crises. Second, the fund managers need to focus on behavioural variables as they may be driving factors in crisis periods that may impair portfolio management.

Originality/value

To the best of my knowledge, the paper is the first to throw light on the behaviour of the stock–bond correlation for 15 countries during the COVID-19 period.
Was the change in accounting standard favourable to the financial reporting of AirAsia? From IAS 17 Leases to IFRS 16 Leases
Authors: Ooi Sue Chern , Lim Chee Chee
Published: September 2022

Theoretical basis

This case uses agency theory and decision usefulness approach to justify whether the change in accounting standard from IAS 17 Leases to IFRS 16 Leases favourably or adversely affects AirAsia’s financial reporting.

Research methodology

This case was written based on secondary data contained in industry reports, company annual reports, company websites, news reports and accounting standards. The case has been classroom-tested with undergraduate students taking advanced financial accounting and reporting module.

Case overview/synopsis

AirAsia Group Berhad (AirAsia), a Malaysian multinational low-cost carrier, was required to adopt IFRS 16 Leases (equivalent to MFRS 16 Leases), effective from 1 January 2019. The new standard, superseding IAS 17 Leases, was expected to provide investors and creditors with a richer insight into AirAsia’s leasing transactions and financial situations. In view of AirAsia having a substantial fleet of leased aircraft, the adoption of IFRS 16 Leases would change the way AirAsia had to report its borrowings which could subsequently have an impact on its bottom line. Thus, this case requires students to examine the financial implications of adopting IFRS 16 Leases by AirAsia and to determine whether the change in accounting standard favourably or adversely affects AirAsia’s financial reporting.

Complexity academic level

This case is intended for use in intermediate and advanced financial accounting and reporting modules at the undergraduate level.
Does the internationalisation of China's agri‐food standards affect export quality upgrading?—Evidence from firm‐product‐level data
Authors: Wang Xuejun , Zhou Huiying , Su Dongmei
Published: September 2022

China attaches importance to the development of standards in agri‐food sectors, especially the harmonisation of national standards with international standards. Our study matches agri‐food product standards and firm‐product customs data for the period from 2000 to 2015. We perform an empirical analysis using the ‘distance to the frontier’ model to identify the effects of the internationalisation of China's agri‐food product standards on the quality upgrading of firms' exported products. The results suggest that when Chinese standards are harmonised with international measures, there is a significant positive impact on quality upgrading. In addition, this international standards–quality relationship is nonmonotonic; that is, firm‐level products that are far from the quality frontier are more likely to upgrade quality in response to an increase in standards. Conversely, national standards have not demonstrated good trade performance and have no significant quality‐promoting effect on firms' export products. These results are robust to various checks. Moreover, the heterogeneous effects further suggest that the positive correlation between international standards and quality upgrading is even stronger for modified versions of international standards, in smaller‐sized firms and foreign‐invested firms. Finally, the quality upgrading effects of international standards induce an increase in both the extensive and the intensive margins of firms' exports.
Can mean platelet volume predicts renal outcome in acute on chronic kidney disease?
Authors: Tunca Onur , Kazan Sinan , Kazan Elif Dizen
Published: September 2022

Introduction

This study aimed to investigate the role of mean platelet volume (MPV) in predicting renal outcome in acute kidney injury (AKI) developing on pre‐existing chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods

The patients whose first hemodialysis program was initiated in our center were divided into two groups as those who were taken to the scheduled dialysis program after discharge and those who were not dialysis‐dependent. Groups were compared in terms of demographic characteristics, and laboratory parameters including MPV.

Results

A total of 288 patients were included in the study (scheduled dialysis = 162 patients, nondialysis dependent = 126 patients). High MPV was found to be an independent risk factor for scheduled dialysis programs in multivariable analyses (OR [95% CI]: 90.9 [6.3–1313.6], p: 0.001).

Conclusion

CKD patients with high MPV were more likely to be included in scheduled dialysis programs after an AKI attack. MPV is found to be an independent risk factor and a reliable predictor for a scheduled dialysis program.
Testosterone recovery therapy targeting dysfunctional Leydig cells
Authors: Garza Samuel , Papadopoulos Vassilios
Published: September 2022

Reduced serum testosterone affects millions of men across the world and has been linked to several comorbidities, metabolic dysfunctions, and quality of life changes. The standard treatment for testosterone deficiency remains testosterone replacement therapy. However, limitations on its use and the risk of significant adverse effects make alternative therapeutics desirable. Studies on the mechanisms regulating and synthesizing testosterone formation in testicular Leydig cells demonstrate numerous endogenous targets that could increase testosterone biosynthesis, which could alleviate reduced testosterone effects. Testosterone biosynthesis is facilitated by a conglomerate of cytosolic and mitochondrial proteins that facilitate cholesterol translocation into the mitochondria, the rate‐limiting step in steroidogenesis. An effective therapeutic approach would be required to increase endogenous testosterone formation by enhancing steroidogenesis in Leydig cells. Numerous ligands for steroidogenic proteins have been developed, which increase steroid hormone formation. However, off‐target effects on neurosteroid and adrenal steroid formation may limit their clinical use. First‐in‐class biologics, such as voltage‐dependent anion channel peptides and transplantation of induced human Leydig‐like cells offer advances in the development of specific strategies that could be used to enhance endogenous steroid formation in hormone deficient patients.