bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Asymptotic analysis of optimal vaccination policies
Authors: Penn Matthew J. , Donnelly Christl A.
Published: June 2022

Targeted vaccination policies can have a significant impact on the number of infections and deaths in an epidemic. However, optimising such policies is complicated and the resultant solution may be difficult to explain to policy-makers and to the public. The key novelty of this paper is a derivation of the leading order optimal vaccination policy under multi-group SIR (Susceptible-Infected-Recovered) dynamics in two different cases. Firstly, it considers the case of a small vulnerable subgroup in a population and shows that (in the asymptotic limit) it is optimal to vaccinate this group first, regardless of the properties of the other groups. Then, it considers the case of a small vaccine supply and transforms the optimal vaccination problem into a simple knapsack problem by linearising the final size equations. Both of these cases are then explored further through numerical examples which show that these solutions are also directly useful for realistic parameter values. Moreover, the findings of this paper give some general principles for optimal vaccination policies which will help policy-makers and the public to understand the reasoning behind optimal vaccination programs in more generic cases.

Author summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the importance of vaccination programs in preventing infections and deaths from an epidemic. A common feature of vaccination programs across the world has been a prioritisation of different groups within each country’s population, particularly those who are more vulnerable to the disease. Finding the best priority order is crucial, but may be complicated and difficult to justify to policy-makers and the public. In this paper, we consider two extreme cases where the best prioritisation order can be mathematically derived. Firstly, we consider the case of a population with a very small, very vulnerable group and show that this group should always be vaccinated first. Then, we consider the case of a small supply of vaccines and derive an equation which gives the best prioritisation order. Understanding these extreme cases is important, as it highlights general principles of optimal policies which will be useful when understanding the solution in more complicated settings.
Uncovering the spatial landscape of molecular interactions within the tumor microenvironment through latent spaces
Authors: Deshpande Atul , Loth Melanie , Sidiropoulos Dimitrios N. , Zhang Shuming , Yuan Long , Bell Alexander , Zhu Qingfeng , Ho Won Jin , Santa-Maria Cesar , Gilkes Daniele , Williams Stephen R. , Uytingco Cedric R. , Chew Jennifer , Hartnett Andrej , Bent Zachary W. , Favorov Alexander V. , Popel Aleksander S. , Yarchoan Mark , Zheng Lei , Jaffee Elizabeth M. , Anders Robert , Danilova Ludmila , Stein-O’Brien Genevieve , Kagohara Luciane T. , Fertig Elana J.
Published: June 2022

Recent advances in spatial transcriptomics (ST) enable gene expression measurements from a tissue sample while retaining its spatial context. This technology enables unprecedented in situ resolution of the regulatory pathways that underlie the heterogeneity in the tumor and its microenvironment (TME). The direct characterization of cellular co-localization with spatial technologies facilities quantification of the molecular changes resulting from direct cell-cell interaction, as occurs in tumor-immune interactions. We present SpaceMarkers, a novel bioinformatics algorithm to infer molecular changes from cell-cell interaction from latent space analysis of ST data. We apply this approach to infer molecular changes from tumor-immune interactions in Visium spatial transcriptomics data of metastasis, invasive and precursor lesions, and immunotherapy treatment. Further transfer learning in matched scRNA-seq data enabled further quantification of the specific cell types in which SpaceMarkers are enriched. Altogether, SpaceMarkers can identify the location and context-specific molecular interactions within the TME from ST data.
Dynamic DNA methylation reveals novel cis-regulatory elements in murine hematopoiesis
Authors: Schönung Maximilian , Hartmann Mark , Krämer Stephen , Stäble Sina , Hakobyan Mariam , Kleinert Emely , Aurich Theo , Cobanoglu Defne , Heidel Florian H. , Fröhling Stefan , Milsom Michael D. , Schlesner Matthias , Lutsik Pavlo , Lipka Daniel B.
Published: June 2022

Background

The differentiation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) to terminally differentiated immune cells is accompanied by large-scale remodeling of the DNA methylation landscape. While significant insights into the molecular mechanisms of hematopoietic tissue regeneration were derived from mouse models, profiling of DNA methylation changes has been hampered by high cost or low resolution using the methods available. This problem has been overcome by the recent development of the Infinium Mouse Methylation BeadChip (MMBC) array, facilitating methylation profiling of the mouse genome at single CpG resolution at affordable cost.

Results

We extended the RnBeads package to provide a computational framework for the analysis of MMBC data. This framework was applied to a newly generated MMBC reference map of mouse hematopoiesis encompassing nine different cell types. The analysis of dynamically regulated CpG sites showed progressive and unidirectional DNA methylation changes from HSPCs to differentiated hematopoietic cells and allowed the identification of lineage- and cell type-specific DNA methylation programs. Comparison to previously published catalogues of cis-regulatory elements (CREs) revealed 12,856 novel putative CREs which were dynamically regulated by DNA methylation (mdCREs). These mdCREs were predominantly associated with patterns of cell type-specific DNA hypomethylation and could be identified as epigenetic control regions regulating the expression of key hematopoietic genes during differentiation.

Conclusions

We established a publicly available analysis pipeline for MMBC datasets and provide a DNA methylation atlas of mouse hematopoiesis. This resource allowed us to identify novel putative CREs involved in hematopoiesis and will serve as a platform to study epigenetic regulation of normal and malignant hematopoiesis.
Single-shot off-axis full-field optical coherence tomography
Authors: Martins Seromenho Emmanuel , Marmin Agathe , Facca Sybille , Bahlouli Nadia , Perrin Stephane , Nahas Amir
Published: June 2022

Full field optical coherence tomography (FF-OCT) enables high-resolution in-depth imaging within turbid media. In this work, we present a simple approach which combines FF-OCT with off-axis interferometry for the reconstruction of theen-faceimages. With low spatial and temporal coherence illumination, this new method is able to extract an FF-OCT image from only one interference acquisition. This method is described and the proof-of-concept is demonstrated through the observation of scattering samples such as organic andex-vivobiomedical samples.
Lateral Axonal Modulation is Required for Stimulus-Specific Olfactory Conditioning in Drosophila
Authors: Manoim Julia E. , Davidson Andrew M. , Weiss Shirley , Hige Toshihide , Parnas Moshe
Published: June 2022

Effective and stimulus-specific learning is essential for animals’ survival. Two major mechanisms are known to aid stimulus-specificity of associative learning. One is accurate stimulus-specific representations in neurons. The second is limited effective temporal window for the reinforcing signals to induce neuromodulation only after sensory stimuli. However, these mechanisms are often imperfect in preventing unspecific associations; different sensory stimuli can be represented by overlapping populations of neurons, and more importantly the reinforcing signals alone can induce neuromodulation even without coincident sensory-evoked neuronal activity. Here, we report a crucial neuromodulatory mechanism that counteracts both limitations and is thereby essential for stimulus specificity of learning. In Drosophila, olfactory signals are sparsely represented by cholinergic Kenyon cells (KCs), which receive dopaminergic reinforcing input. We find that KCs have numerous axo-axonic connections mediated by the muscarinic type-B receptor (mAChR-B). By using functional imaging and optogenetic approaches, we show that these axo-axonic connections suppress both odor-evoked calcium responses and dopamine-evoked cAMP signals in neighboring KCs. Strikingly, behavior experiments demonstrate that mAChR-B knockdown in KCs impairs olfactory learning by inducing undesired changes to the valence of an odor that was not associated with the reinforcer. Thus, this local neuromodulation acts in concert with sparse sensory representations and global dopaminergic modulation to achieve effective and accurate memory formation.

Highlights

Lateral KC axo-axonic connections are mediated by muscarinic type-B receptor

KC connections suppress odor-evoked calcium responses and dopamine-evoked cAMP

knockdown of the muscarinic type-B receptor impairs olfactory learning

Impaired learning is due to changes to the valence of the unconditioned odor
The reef-building coralGalaxea fascicularis: a new model system for coral symbiosis research
Authors: Puntin Giulia , Craggs Jamie , Hayden Róisín , Engelhardt Kara E. , McIlroy Shelby , Sweet Michael , Baker David M. , Ziegler Maren
Published: June 2022

Reef-building corals owe their evolutionary success to their symbiosis with unicellular algae (Symbiodiniaceae). However, increasingly frequent heat waves lead to coral mass-bleaching events and pose a serious threat to the survival of reef ecosystems. Despite significant efforts, a mechanistic understanding of coral-algal symbiosis functioning, what leads to its breakdown and what can prevent it, remains incomplete. The main obstacles are low amenability of corals to experimental handling and, owing to its obligatory nature, the difficulties of manipulating the coral-algal association. Indeed, many studies on the symbiotic partnership are conducted on other cnidarian model organisms and their results may therefore not be fully transferable to tropical reef-building corals. Here, we identify the tropical stony coral speciesGalaxea fascicularisas a novel candidate coral model system. Individual polyps of this species can be separated, enabling highly replicated genotype studies, and are well suited to experimental investigation of the symbiosis as they can be easily and effectively rid of their algal symbionts (bleached). We show that bleached adult individuals can reestablish symbiosis with non-native symbionts, and we report the completion of the gametogenic cycleex-situ, with the successful spawning in aquaria over multiple years. These achievements help overcome several of the major limitations to direct research on corals and highlight the potential ofG. fascicularisas an important new model system for investigations of symbiosis functioning and manipulation.
Ion mobility-resolved phosphoproteomics with dia-PASEF and short gradients
Authors: Oliinyk Denys , Meier Florian
Published: June 2022

Mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics has identified >150,000 post-translational phosphorylation sites in the human proteome. To disentangle their functional relevance, complex experimental designs that require increased throughput are now coming into focus. Here, we apply dia-PASEF on a trapped ion mobility (TIMS) mass spectrometer to analyze the phosphoproteome of a human cancer cell line in short liquid chromatography gradients. At low sample amounts equivalent to ∼20 ug protein digest per analysis, we quantified over 12,000 phosphopeptides including ∼8,000 class I phosphosites in one hour without a spectral library. Decreasing the gradient time to 15 min yielded virtually identical coverage of the phosphoproteome, and with 7 min gradients we still quantified about 80% of the class I sites with a median coefficient of variation <10% in quadruplicates. We attribute this in part to the increased peak capacity, which effectively compensates for the higher peptide density per time unit in shorter gradients. Our data shows a five-fold reduction in the number of co-isolated peptides with TIMS. In the most extreme case, these were positional isomers of nearby phosphosites that remained unresolved with fast chromatography. In summary, we demonstrate how key features of dia-PASEF translate to phosphoproteomics, resulting in high throughput and sensitivity.
Bayesian Analysis for 3D combinatorial CRISPR screens
Authors: Madenach Lukas , Lohoff Caroline
Published: June 2022

Combinatorial CRISPR screens are a well-established tool for the investigation of genetic interactions in a high-throughput fashion. Currently, advancements from 2D combinatorial CRISPR screens towards 3D combinatorial screens are made, but at the same time an easy-to-use computational method for the analysis of 3D combinatorial screens is missing. Here we propose a Bayesian analysis method for 3D CRISPR screens based on a well-established 2D CRISPR screen analysis protocol. With our tool we hope to provide researchers with an out-of-the-box analysis solution, avoiding the need for time-consuming and resource-intensive development of custom analysis protocols.
Sublytic gasdermin-D pores captured in atomistic molecular simulations
Authors: Schaefer Stefan L. , Hummer Gerhard
Published: June 2022

Gasdermin-D (GSDMD) is the ultimate effector of pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death associated with pathogen invasion and inflammation. After proteolytic cleavage by caspases activated by the inflammasome, the GSDMD N-terminal domain (GSDMDNT) assembles on the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane and induces the formation of large membrane pores. We use atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to study GSDMDNT monomers, oligomers, and rings in an asymmetric plasma membrane mimetic. We identify distinct interaction motifs of GSDMDNT with phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) and phosphatidylserine (PS) head-groups and describe differential lipid binding between the pore and prepore conformations. Oligomers are stabilized by shared lipid binding sites between neighboring monomers acting akin to double-sided tape. We show that already small GSDMDNT oligomers form stable, water-filled and ion-conducting membrane pores bounded by curled beta-sheets. In large-scale simulations, we resolve the process of pore formation by lipid detachment from GSDMDNT arcs and lipid efflux from partial rings. We find that that high-order GSDMDNT oligomers can crack under the line tension of 86 pN created by an open membrane edge to form the slit pores or closed GSDMDNT rings seen in experiment. Our simulations provide a detailed view of key steps in GSDMDNT-induced plasma membrane pore formation, including sublytic pores that explain nonselective ion flux during early pyroptosis.

Significance

Gasdermins execute pyroptotic membrane perforation that is responsible for the release of inflammatory signals and ultimately leads to lytic cell death. They assemble into an approximately 20 nm wide transmembrane β-barrel pore across the plasma membrane. With atomistic molecular simulations of gasdermin-D in a realistic asymmetric plasma membrane mimetic, we show that already small oligomers can form stable water-filled and ionconducting pores. Simulations of larger oligomeric assemblies reveal instabilities in the circular prepore and demonstrate pathways to the formation of slit and ring-shaped pores. Our work gives structural and dynamic insight into how small membrane pores emerge that dissipate the ionic gradient of the cell, but not yet cause cell lysis.
A unique single nucleotide polymorphism in Agouti Signalling Protein (ASIP) gene changes coat colour of Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) to dark black
Authors: Sooriyabandara Meegasthanne Gamaralalage Chandana , Bandaranayake Asitha Udaya , Jayasundara Shyaman , Hathurusinghe Hathurusinghe Arachchilage Bhagya M , Marasighe Marasinghe Sumanasirige Leslie Ranj , Prasad Gajadeera Arachchige Tharaka , Abeywardana Vithana Pathirannehalage Malaka Kas , Pinidiya Manoj Akalanka , Nilanthi Rajapakse Mudiyanselage Renuka , Bandaranayake Pradeepa Chandani Gunathilake
Published: June 2022

The Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) is an endangered subspecies restricted to isolated and fragmented populations in Sri Lanka. Among them, the melanistic leopards have been recorded on rare occasions. The existing literature suggests that melanism evolved several times in the Felidae family, with three separate species revealing distinct mutations. Nevertheless, the mutations in the remaining species, including Sri Lankan black leopard, are unknown. We used reference-based assembled the nuclear genomes of Sri Lankan normal and black leopard and de novo assembled mitogenomes of the same to investigate the genetic basis, adaptive significance, and evolutionary history of the Sri Lankan black leopard. Our data suggested coalescence time of Sri Lankan regular and black leopards at ∼0.5 Million years, sisters to Panthera pardus lineage. Interestingly, in the black leopard, a single nucleotide polymorphism in exon-4 possibly completely ablates Agouti Signaling Protein (ASIP) function. Existing genomic data suggest new a species-specific mutation of the ASIP gene in the Felidae family, contributing to naturally occurring colouration polymorphism. As such, the Sri Lankan black leopard and normal leopard probably evolved from the same ancestor, while the mutation in the ASIP gene resulted in black coat colour. This rare mutation could be adaptable to the environment that back leopards reported, camouflage, with a likelihood of recurrence and transmission to future generations. However, protecting this sensitive environment is critical for the conservation of the existing populations and providing breeding grounds.
Parallelization with Dual-Trap Single-Column Configuration Maximizes Throughput of Proteomic Analysis
Authors: Kreimer Simion , Haghani Ali , Binek Aleksandra , Hauspurg Alisse , Seyedmohammad Saeed , Rivas Alejandro , Momenzadeh Amanda , Meyer Jesse , Raedschelders Koen , Van Eyk Jennifer E.
Published: June 2022

Proteomic analysis on the scale that captures population and biological heterogeneity over hundreds to thousands of samples requires rapid mass spectrometry methods which maximize instrument utilization (IU) and proteome coverage while maintaining precise and reproducible quantification. To achieve this, a short liquid chromatography gradient paired to rapid mass spectrometry data acquisition can be used to reproducibly profile a moderate set of analytes. High throughput profiling at a limited depth is becoming an increasingly utilized strategy for tackling large sample sets but the time spent on loading the sample, flushing the column(s), and re-equilibrating the system reduces the ratio of meaningful data acquired to total operation time and IU. The dual-trap single-column configuration presented here maximizes IU in rapid analysis (15 min per sample) of blood and cell lysates by parallelizing trap column cleaning and sample loading and desalting with analysis of the previous sample. We achieved 90% IU in low micro-flow (9.5 µL/min) analysis of blood while reproducibly quantifying 300-400 proteins and over 6,000 precursor ions. The same IU was achieved for cell lysates, in which over 4,000 proteins (3,000 at CV below 20%) and 40,000 precursor ions were quantified at a rate of 15 minutes/sample. Thus, deployment of this dual-trap single column configuration enables high throughput epidemiological blood-based biomarker cohort studies and cell-based perturbation screening.
Actin nucleotide state modulates the F-actin structural landscape evoked by bending forces
Authors: Reynolds Matthew J. , Hachicho Carla , Carl Ayala G. , Gong Rui , Alushin Gregory M.
Published: June 2022

ATP hydrolysis-coupled actin polymerization is a fundamental mechanism of cellular force generation. Force and actin filament (F-actin) nucleotide state in turn modulate the engagement of actin binding proteins (ABPs) to regulate actin dynamics through unknown mechanisms. Here, we show that bending forces evoke structural transitions in F-actin which are modulated by actin nucleotide state. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of ADP- and ADP-Pi-F-actin with sufficient resolution to visualize bound solvent reveal inter-subunit interactions primarily bridged by waters which could contribute to lattice flexibility. Despite substantial ordered solvent differences in the nucleotide binding cleft, these structures feature essentially indistinguishable protein backbone conformations which are unlikely to be discriminable by ABPs. We next introduce a machine-learning enabled pipeline for reconstructing bent filaments, enabling us to visualize both continuous structural variability and side-chain level detail. Bent F-actin structures reveal major rearrangements at inter-subunit interfaces characterized by striking alterations of helical twist and deformations of individual protomers which are distinct in ADP- and ADP-Pi-F-actin. This suggests phosphate rigidifies actin subunits to alter F-actin’s bending structural landscape. We therefore propose actin nucleotide state serves as a co-regulator of F-actin mechanical regulation, as bending forces evoke nucleotide-state dependent conformational transitions that could be readily detected by ABPs.
Taxonium, a web-based tool for exploring large phylogenetic trees
Authors: Sanderson Theo
Published: June 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a step change in the scale of sequencing data, with more genomes of SARS-CoV-2 having been sequenced than any other organism on earth. These sequences reveal key insights when represented as a phylogenetic tree, which captures the evolutionary history of the virus, and allows the identification of transmission events and the emergence of new variants. However, existing web-based tools for exploring phylogenies do not scale to the size of datasets now available for SARS-CoV-2. We have developed Taxonium, a new tool that uses WebGL to allow the exploration of trees with tens of millions of nodes in the browser for the first time. Taxonium links each node to associated metadata and supports mutation-annotated trees, which are able to capture all known genetic variation in a dataset. It can either be run entirely locally in the browser, from a server-based backend, or as a desktop application. We describe insights that analysing a tree of five million sequences can provide into SARS-CoV-2 evolution, and provide a tool atcov2tree.orgfor exploring a public tree of more than five million SARS-CoV-2 sequences. Taxonium can be applied to any tree, and is available attaxonium.org, with source code atgithub.com/theosanderson/taxonium.
Reconstituting human somitogenesis in vitro
Authors: Yamanaka Yoshihiro , Yoshioka-Kobayashi Kumiko , Hamidi Sofiane , Munira Sirajam , Sunadome Kazunori , Zhang Yi , Kurokawa Yuzuru , Mieda Ai , Thompson Jamie L. , Kerwin Janet , Lisgo Steven , Yamamoto Takuya , Moris Naomi , Martinez-Arias Alfonso , Tsujimura Taro , Alev Cantas
Published: June 2022

The segmented body plan of vertebrates is established during somitogenesis, a well-studied process in model organisms, but remains largely elusive in humans due to ethical and technical limitations. Despite recent advances with pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-based approaches1–5, a system that robustly recapitulates human somitogenesis in both space and time remains missing. Here, we introduce a PSC-derived mesoderm-based 3D model of human segmentation and somitogenesis, which we termed Axioloids, that captures accurately the oscillatory dynamics of the segmentation clock as well as the morphological and molecular characteristics of segmentation and sequential somite formation in vitro. Axioloids show proper rostrocaudal patterning of forming segments and robust anterior-posterior FGF/WNT signaling gradients and Retinoic Acid (RA) signaling components. We identify an unexpected critical role of RA signaling in the stabilization of forming segments, indicating distinct, but also synergistic effects of RA and extracellular matrix (ECM) on the formation and epithelialization of somites. Importantly, comparative analysis demonstrates striking similarities of Axioloids to the human embryo, further validated by the presence of the HOX code in Axioloids. Lastly, we demonstrate the utility of our Axioloid system to study the pathogenesis of human congenital spine diseases, by using patient-like iPSC cells with mutations in HES7 and MESP2, which revealed disease-associated phenotypes including loss of epithelial somite formation and abnormal rostrocaudal patterning. These results suggest that Axioloids represent a promising novel platform to study axial development and disease in humans.
Effect of workplace status on employees’ creativity from the perspective of expectation identity: a moderated chain double mediation model
Authors: Liu Yuanyuan , Zhao Li , Liu Pingqing , Yang Zheng
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Drawing upon the creativity interaction theory and expectation-identity perspective, the purpose of this paper is to construct a chain mediation model of the influence of workplace status on individual creativity from the perspective of expectation identity and to explore the moderating effect of prosocial motivation in this model.

Design/methodology/approach

This study reached 529 employees from 35 enterprises as the investigation objects and used structural equation model and hierarchical regression for data analysis. Data on workplace status, prosocial motivation, creativity expectations and creativity role identity were collected at Time Point T1, and individual creativity was collected at time point T2 (one month later).

Findings

The results reveal that: workplace status has a significantly positive effect on creativity; creativity performance expectations and creativity role identity have partial mediating effect in the relationship between workplace status and creativity, respectively; creativity performance expectations and creativity role identity play a chain double mediation role in the relationship between workplace status and creativity; and prosocial motivation moderates the relationship between workplace status and creativity and further moderates the chain double mediation effect of creativity performance expectations and creativity role identity.

Originality/value

In existing studies, conclusions about the relationship between workplace status and individual creativity could be divided into three viewpoints: positive, negative and U-shaped. These inconsistent findings on the relationship between workplace status and creativity imply that the relationship is complex and not fully elucidated. This may be attributed to the fact that workplace status is influenced by cultural factors and research objects. This study reinterprets the relationship between workplace status and individual creativity through the lens of creativity interaction theory and demonstrates the significance of employee workplace status in the Chinese context.
Construction of public security indicators based on characteristics of shared group behavior patterns
Authors: Deng XiYue , Li Xiaoming , Chen Zhenzhen , Zhu Mengli , Xiong Naixue , Shen Li
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Human group behavior is the driving force behind many complex social and economic phenomena. Few studies have integrated multi-dimensional travel patterns and city interest points to construct urban security risk indicators. This paper combines traffic data and urban alarm data to analyze the safe travel characteristics of the urban population. The research results are helpful to explore the diversity of human group behavior, grasp the temporal and spatial laws and reveal regional security risks. It provides a reference for optimizing resource deployment and group intelligence analysis in emergency management.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the dynamics index of group behavior, this paper mines the data of large shared bikes and ride-hailing in a big city of China. We integrate the urban interest points and travel dynamic characteristics, construct the urban traffic safety index based on alarm behavior and further calculate the urban safety index.

Findings

This study found significant differences in the travel power index among ride-sharing users. There is a positive correlation between user shared bike trips and the power-law bimodal phenomenon in the logarithmic coordinate system. It is closely related to the urban public security index.

Originality/value

Based on group-shared dynamic index integrated alarm, we innovatively constructed an urban public safety index and analyzed the correlation of travel alarm behavior. The research results fully reveal the internal mechanism of the group behavior safety index and provide a valuable supplement for the police intelligence analysis.
Examining the influence of occupational characteristics, gender and work-life balance on IT professionals' occupational satisfaction and occupational commitment
Authors: Young Diana K. , McLeod Alexander J. , Carpenter Darrell
Published: June 2022

Purpose

In response to the tech skills gap, this research paper aims to examine the influence of occupational characteristics, gender and work-life balance on IT professionals' satisfaction with and commitment to their chosen occupation. In addition, the authors explore occupational differences across these investigated factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employed a survey research method and partial least squares (PLS) modeling using 293 responses collected from professionals representing five clusters of Information Technology (IT) occupations. Authors further conducted exploratory post-hoc analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests to check for significant differences in key constructs across five IT occupational clusters.

Findings

Occupational characteristics were found to be significantly related to respondents' occupational satisfaction while work-life balance was associated with their level of occupational commitment. Authors also found that that the influence of work-life balance on occupational commitment was more positive for females than for males. Finally, significant differences were found for task significance, task variety, task autonomy, work-life balance and compensation across the five occupational clusters examined.

Originality/value

A key contribution of this study is the focus on IT professionals' satisfaction with and commitment to their chosen occupation rather than a job, organization or profession. Accordingly, the authors contribute a nuanced understanding of an occupation as a facet of job, professional and career outcomes. Authors also explore how gender moderates the influence of work-life balance on occupational commitment. Finally, rather than treating the IT profession as a unified whole as has been done in most prior studies, authors explore satisfaction and commitment related differences across occupational clusters.
Supply chain resilience: how autonomous rovers empirically provide relief to constrained flight line maintenance activities
Authors: Stanton Mary Ashley , Anderson Jason , Dickens John M. , Champagne Lance
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to explore the utility of autonomous transport across two independent airframe maintenance operations at a single location.

Design/methodology/approach

This study leveraged discrete event simulation that encompassed real-world conditions on a United States Air Force flight line. Though the Theory of Constraints (TOC) lens, a high-demand, human-controlled delivery asset is analyzed and the impact of introducing an autonomous rover delivery vehicle is assessed. The authors’ simulations explored varying numbers and networks of rovers as alternative sources of delivery and evaluated these resources’ impact against current flight line operations.

Findings

This research indicates that the addition of five autonomous rovers can significantly reduce daily expediter delivery tasks, which results in additional expertise necessary to manage and execute flight line operations. The authors assert that this relief would translate into enhancements in aircraft mission capable rates, which could increase overall transport capacity and cascade into faster cargo delivery times, systemwide. By extension, the authors suggest overall inventory management could be improved through reduction in transportation shipping time variance, which enhances the Department of Defense’s overall supply chain resilience posture.

Originality/value

When compared against existing practices, this novel research provides insight into actual flight line movement and the potential benefits of an alternative autonomous delivery system. Additionally, the research measures the potential savings in the workforce and vehicle use that exceeds the cost of the rovers and their employment.
The urgency of sharia compliance regulations for Islamic Fintechs: a comparative study of Indonesia, Malaysia and the United Kingdom
Authors: Muryanto Yudho Taruno
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This article aims to explore legal challenges regarding the regulation and supervision of Islamic Fintech and to construct Sharia compliance regulations to strengthen the supervision of Islamic Fintech operation.

Design/methodology/approach

This type of research is legal research, adopting the statute approach, comparative approach, and conceptual approach. The focus of the study is Indonesia with comparative studies with Malaysia and the United Kingdom.

Findings

Malaysia, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom are all on the top five countries in the Global Islamic Fintech (GIFT) Index. The list comprises countries that are most conducive to the growth of the Islamic Fintech market and ecosystem. However, weak supervision and low Sharia compliance are still becoming prominent challenges in the implementation of Islamic Fintech, while Sharia compliance is the core principle for Islamic finance regulation. Another finding is that a good ecosystem of Islamic Fintechs needs supportive regulations and policies, a Sharia Supervisory Board, and standards of Islamic Fintech Shariah governance.

Research limitations/implications

This study examines the regulation and supervision of Islamic Fintech in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom countries whose Islamic Fintech industry is growing rapidly.

Practical implications

This study is a strong reference for countries with potential Islamic finance, especially when they are constructing the Sharia compliance regulations to strengthen the regulation and supervision of the Islamic finance industries.

Social implications

Sharia compliance regulations can be a subsystem in the Islamic financial ecosystem to encourage Sharia economic growth in various countries.

Originality/value

To ensure Sharia compliance, it is recommended to take some steps: (a) creating the Sharia compliance regulations; (b) creating the Sharia supervisory boards; and (c) standardizing the Sharia governance of Islamic Fintech.
The influence of human, organizational and relational capital of universities on their performance: a developing economy perspective
Authors: Chatterji Niti , Kiran Ravi
Published: June 2022

Purpose

One in every four graduates of the world will be the product of Indian higher education system by the year 2030 as per a report issued by the FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) in 2015. This brings out the growing significance of higher education sector and purpose of the study. The present study tries to explore the relationship between intellectual capital of universities and their performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied on the dataset of 590 respondents, and the suggested model reiterate that human capital, organizational capital and relational capital have a significant influence on a university's performance.

Findings

Human capital, organizational capital and relational capital have a significant influence on a university's performance. The study strongly recommends that factors like research facilitation, quality of work life, knowledge sharing, industry academia relationship and information disclosure have a strong influence on performance.

Originality/value

Not just India, but policymakers across Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) can strategize around intellectual capital to give a push to the fast-growing higher education sector.
Measurement invariance across gender for the CSR as a promotional tool for halal certified companies in Malaysia
Authors: Jaiyeoba Haruna Babatunde , Abdullah Moha Asri , Hossain Shahoriyer
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study uses second-order measurement invariance analysis to investigate the perspective of gender divide on whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) can serve as a promotional tool for halal certified companies in Malaysia. Perhaps researching into the perspective of gender on whether CSR can serve as a promotional tool has either been ignored or received limited attention among the researchers from this domain. Hence, this study aims to fill this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

In the quest to achieve the mentioned aim, quantitative research design was adopted for this study and the developed questionnaire was used to collect data from 295 respondents, consisting of 172 males and 123 females. In analysing the data, this study has mainly used second-order measurement invariance analysis to uncover the difference across gender divide on whether CSR can serve as a promotional tool for halal certified companies.

Findings

The findings of this study reveal two perspectives to the issue of interest in this study. The tests of measurement invariance at the model level suggest a significant difference between male and female to a certain extent. The post hoc test (at the path level) reveals that there are significant differences between gender divide with respect to responsible dealings with clients and legal responsibility only. However, there are insignificant differences between them in connection with commitment to halal best practices, zakat and charitable donations, environmental responsibility, halal economic responsibility and employee welfare. Nonetheless, both gender groups agree that CSR activities will promote halal certified companies if these activities are appropriately communicated to halal consumers.

Research limitations/implications

The authors acknowledge that limitations cannot be avoided in any study, such as this study, where a nonprobability sampling technique is used. The respondents were largely drawn from Klang Valley in Malaysia; although Klang Valley’s population represents about a quarter of Malaysia’s total population, the authors admit that the opinions of the respondents may not represent the opinions of others in the country, and this may consequently limit the generalisability of the findings. Also, the authors acknowledge that self-report survey data is subject to response bias, which may reduce the accuracy of the data that were sourced from the respondents; though respondents were constantly reminded to respond honestly to all the questions in the questionnaire.

Originality/value

This study has uniquely employed second-order measurement invariance analysis to investigate the perspective of gender divide on whether CSR can serve as a promotional tool for halal certified companies in Malaysia. This study will enrich literature in this area of study.
You are drafted: the role of employee and manager human capital on employee career advancement
Authors: Harris Christopher M. , Brown Lee W. , Pattie Marshall W.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study examines how managers' human capital, time spent with employees and employees' human capital can influence employees' career advancement. While research tends to find a positive relationship between human capital and career advancement, less attention is paid the effect of managers' human capital on employee careers. A combination of human capital and social capital theories is used to develop hypotheses.

Design/methodology/approach

A five-year sample of American football players selected in the National Football League (NFL) draft is used to test the hypotheses. Archival data for human capital, social capital and career success measures are used, and OLS regression analyses test the hypotheses.

Findings

The authors find employees with higher levels of human capital experience greater career advancement. Managers' human capital moderates this relationship and the length of time worked together by the employee–manager dyad. The relationship between employees' human capital and career advancement is strengthened when managers have high levels of human capital.

Practical implications

The results of this study indicate that individuals with higher levels of human capital and social capital have greater career success. When individuals have higher levels of human capital it is important for them to determine how long they should work for a particular manager before advancing in their careers. Individuals with higher levels of human capital may need lees time working for a manager than those with lower levels of human capital before advancing in their careers.

Originality/value

This study contributes to careers and human resource management research by examining the moderating impact that manager human capital and time employees spend with a manager have on the relationship between employee human capital and employee career advancement.
Femvertising practices on social media: a comparison of luxury and non-luxury brands
Authors: Michaelidou Nina , Siamagka Nikoletta Theofania , Hatzithomas Leonidas , Chaput Luciana
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine how luxury and non-luxury brands portray women in social media advertising shedding light on their femvertising practices.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative content analysis and multiple correspondence analysis are used to examine female representations in the advertising of personal care products on social media. The sample includes brand posts from 15 brands on two social media platforms.

Findings

The results demonstrate that non-luxury brands use femvertising to a greater extent compared to luxury brands. In particular, this study shows that luxury brands rely more on stereotyped gender expressions and use more sexualisation in their advertising, relative to non-luxury brands.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides an analysis of luxury and non-luxury brands’ femvertising practices on social media. In doing so, this study extends the study of femvertising to the context of luxury and social media, which is currently underexplored. In terms of practical implications, this study sheds light on the extent of the application of femvertising across luxury and non-luxury brands on social media.

Practical implications

The findings drive a number of suggestions for luxury marketers, including the use of more independent gender roles and more racial diversity in their social media advertising and the lessening of unrelated sexuality.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to compare femvertising practices of luxury and non-luxury brands on social media, delineating different facets of femvertising (e.g. gender roles, diversity, etc.) and extending scholarly understanding of the possible facets of this concept.
Going concern modifications and the self-fulfilling prophecy: evidence from extreme market conditions
Authors: Gleason Kimberly , Nagle Brian , Kannan Yezen H. , Rau Stephen
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine whether two periods of extreme market conditions – the governance crisis and Sarbanes-Oxley Act regulatory shock of 2002 and the 2007–2008 global financial crisis – incrementally impacted the self-fulfilling prophecy effect, by examining the propensity of US firms receiving going concern modification (GCM) opinions to go bankrupt relative to their non-GCM distress risk-matched counterparts during these two crisis periods.

Design/methodology/approach

To assess the potential influence of the governance/regulatory shock of 2002 and the global financial crisis moderate or mitigate the self-fulfilling prophecy effect, the authors use multivariate logit analysis, regressing t + 1 bankruptcy status on time t GCM and other bankruptcy determinants, interacting crisis period dummies with the GCM variable.

Findings

GCM firms were more likely to declare bankruptcy than their distressed non-GCM counterparts, confirming prior research documenting the existence of a self-fulfilling prophecy effect. The authors also find that the self-fulfilling prophecy effect was exacerbated by the governance crisis/Sarbanes-Oxley Act regulatory shock, but not the global financial crisis, a financial/banking sector shock.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the financial crisis and auditing literatures by examining whether exogenous shocks exacerbate the self-fulfilling prophecy effect. The present analysis and findings have implications for future academic research related to systemic shocks and for auditors in documenting the inducement effect arising from the issuance of GCMs during crisis periods.
Short-run and long-run determinants of bitcoin returns: transnational evidence
Authors: Dubey Priti
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Bitcoin has emerged as a phenomenal asset earning abnormal profits. However, the factors with predictability power over its price are not widely studied. Therefore, this study aims to explore the factors that determine bitcoin prices. The analysis explores the determinants belonging to four categories – macro economic, financial, technical and fundamental factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs random effects regression on the panel data of five countries. Then Granger causality test is applied on the time series of all the variables. Lastly, diagnostic tests are conducted to confirm the findings to be robust and reliable.

Findings

The findings suggest that oil price, bitcoin supply, trading volume and market capitalization significantly impact the price of bitcoin in the long run. In short run, bitcoin returns are only caused by oil price and market capitalization. Interestingly, bitcoin returns influence its attractiveness to investors, market capitalization, S&P 500 returns and trading volume, in the short run.

Practical implications

The technical analysis is found to be redundant in the short run. In the long run, technical as well as fundamental analysis are useful. The bitcoin is found to be a good diversification tool as it has no linkages with the stock markets and gold market. It is also an inflationary hedger owing its limited supply.

Originality/value

The studies on cryptocurrency market have not conducted the analysis across countries. This study captures the cross-sectional effects along with time effects. The study also includes 17 variables belonging to four categories.
Research on job insecurity and well‐being in the workplace from triple perspectives of HRM, leader and coworker
Authors: Li Xiufeng , Lin Congcong , Dong Yiting
Published: June 2022

This research aims to investigate how organizational high‐commitment HRM, leader's trust, and coworker support influence well‐being in the workplace. Based on signaling theory and conservation of resources theory, we first posit that high‐commitment HRM is positively related to work well‐being through reducing job insecurity. We also assume that leader’s trust in subordinates and coworker support serve as important moderators in this relationship. We adopt a multilevel, multisource field survey with 1369 supervisors and 6975 employees from 128 firms in China. Results support our hypotheses, indicating that job insecurity mediates the relationship between high‐commitment HRM and work well‐being. Leader’s trust in subordinates and coworker support moderate the mediating effect of job insecurity; specifically, the effect of job insecurity is stronger when leader’s trust is high rather than low, and when coworker support is low rather than high. These findings provide a finer‐grained understanding of how organizational HRM, leaders, and coworkers interact to affect employee job insecurity and, finally, work well‐being.