bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brain Connectivity Correlates of Breathing and Cardiac Irregularities in SUDEP: A Resting-State fMRI Study
Authors: Kassinopoulos Michalis , Rolandi Nicolo , Alphan Laren , Harper Ronald M. , Oliveira Joana , Scott Catherine , Kozák Lajos R. , Guye Maxime , Lemieux Louis , Diehl Beate
Published: May 2023

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the leading cause of premature mortality among people with epilepsy. Evidence from witnessed and monitored SUDEP cases indicate seizure-induced cardiovascular and respiratory failures; yet, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. SUDEP occurs often during the night and early morning hours, suggesting that sleep or circadian rhythm-induced changes in physiology contribute to the fatal event. Resting-state fMRI studies have found altered functional connectivity between brain structures involved in cardiorespiratory regulation in later SUDEP cases and in individuals at high-risk of SUDEP. However, those connectivity findings have not been related to changes in cardiovascular or respiratory patterns. Here, we compared fMRI patterns of brain connectivity associated with regular and irregular cardiorespiratory rhythms in SUDEP cases with those of living epilepsy patients of varying SUDEP risk, and healthy controls. We analysed resting-state fMRI data from 98 patients with epilepsy (9 who subsequently succumbed to SUDEP, 43 categorized as low SUDEP risk (no tonic-clonic seizures (TCS) in the year preceding the fMRI scan), and 46 as high SUDEP risk (>3 TCS in the year preceding the scan)) and 25 healthy controls. The global signal amplitude (GSA), defined as the moving standard deviation of the fMRI global signal, was used to identify periods with regular (‘low state’) and irregular (‘high state’) cardiorespiratory rhythms. Correlation maps were derived from seeds in twelve regions with a key role in autonomic or respiratory regulation, for the low and high states. Following principal component analysis, component weights were compared between the groups. We found widespread alterations in connectivity of precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex in epilepsy compared to controls, in the low state (regular cardiorespiratory activity). In the low state, and to a lesser degree in the high state, reduced anterior insula connectivity (mainly with anterior and posterior cingulate cortex) in epilepsy appeared, relative to healthy controls. For SUDEP cases, the insula connectivity differences were inversely related to the interval between the fMRI scan and death. The findings suggest that anterior insula connectivity measures may provide a biomarker of SUDEP risk. The neural correlates of autonomic brain structures associated with different cardiorespiratory rhythms may shed light on the mechanisms underlying terminal apnea observed in SUDEP.
Loss of E3 ligase HvST1 function substantially increases recombination
Authors: Orr Jamie Neil , Mittmann Sybille U , Ramsay Luke , Lewandowska Dominika , Barakate Abdellah , Macaulay Malcolm , McCallum Nicola , Waugh Robbie , Colas Isabelle
Published: May 2023

During meiosis, genetic recombination occurs via repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) as crossovers (COs) resulting in the exchange of parental genetic material (De Muyt et al., 2009). Crossovers are important for chromosome segregation and shuffling genetic variation, but their number and distribution are tightly regulated (Zickler and Kleckner, 2015). In barley and other large genome cereals, recombination events are limited in number and mainly restricted to the ends of chromosomes (Mascher et al., 2017), constraining progress in plant breeding. Recent studies have highlighted subtle differences in meiotic progression (Higgins et al., 2012; Phillips et al., 2013) and the distribution of recombination events in barley compared to other plants (Colas et al., 2016; Colas et al., 2017; Colas et al 2019), indicating possible evolutionary divergence of the meiotic program in large genome crops. Here we identify a spontaneous loss of function mutation in the grass specific E3 ubiquitin ligase HvST1 (Sticky Telomeres 1) which results in semi-sterility in barley. We show that abnormal synapsis in the absence of HvST1 function increases overall recombination by up to 2.5-fold and that HvST1 is capable of ubiquitinating ASY1, a key component of the lateral elements of the synaptonemal complex. Our findings shed light on an evolutionarily divergent pathway regulating synapsis and recombination in cereals. This natural loss of function variant presents new opportunities for the modulation of recombination in large genome cereals.
The fallacy of global comparisons based onper capitameasures
Authors: Kratochvíl Lukáš , Havlíček Jan
Published: May 2023

Social and environmental scientists often present comparisons across countries and policy makers use such comparisons to take evidence-based action. For a meaningful comparison among countries, one often needs to normalize the measure for differences in the population size. The first choice is usually to calculateper capitaratios. Such ratios, however, normalize the measure for differences in population size directly only under proportional increase of the measure with population size. Violation of this assumption frequently leads to misleading conclusions. To illustrate this issue, we compareper capitaratios with an approach based on regression, which eliminates many of the problems with ratios and allows for a straightforward data interpretation. Theper capitameasures in three global datasets (GDP, COVID-related mortality, and CO2production) systematically overestimate values in countries with small populations, while countries with large populations tend to have misleadingly lowper capitaratios due to the large denominators. Despite their biases, comparisons based onper capitaratios are still ubiquitous and are used for influential recommendations by various global institutions. Their continued use can cause significant damage when employed as evidence for policy actions and should be replaced by a more scientifically substantiated method, such as a regression-based approach.
Naked mole rats have distinctive cardiometabolic and genetic adaptations to their underground low-oxygen lifestyles
Authors: Faulkes Chris G. , Eykyn Thomas R. , Miljkovic Jan Lj. , Charles Rebecca L. , Prag Hiran A. , Patel Nikayla , Hart Daniel W. , Murphy Michael P. , Bennett Nigel C. , Aksentijevic Dunja
Published: May 2023

The naked mole-ratHeterocephalus glaberis a eusocial mammal exhibiting extreme longevity (37-year lifespan), extraordinary resistance to hypoxia and absence of cardiovascular disease. To identify the mechanisms behind these exceptional traits, RNAseq and metabolomics of cardiac tissue from naked mole-rats was compared to other African mole-rat genera. We identified metabolic and genetic adaptations unique to naked mole-rats including elevated glycogen, thus enabling glycolytic ATP generation during cardiac ischemia. Elevated normoxic expression of HIF-1α was observed while downstream hypoxia responsive-genes were down regulated, suggesting adaptation to low oxygen environments. Naked mole-rat hearts showed reduced succinate build-up during ischemia and negligible tissue damage following ischemia-reperfusion injury. These adaptive evolutionary traits reflect a unique hypoxic and eusocial lifestyle that collectively may contribute to their longevity and health span.

One Sentence Summary

Naked mole-rats have metabolic adaptations distinct from other subterranean genera rendering them resistant to cardiovascular pathology.
Uracil-DNA Glycosylase of Murine Gammaherpesvirus 68 Binds Cognate Viral Replication Factors Independently of its Catalytic Residues
Authors: Smith Kyle R. , Paul Somnath , Dong Qiwen , Anannya Orchi , Oldenburg Darby G. , Forrest J. Craig , McBride Kevin M. , Krug Laurie T.
Published: May 2023

Herpesviruses are large double-stranded DNA viruses that encode core replication proteins and accessory factors involved in nucleotide metabolism and DNA repair. Mammalian Uracil-DNA glycosylases (UNG) excise deleterious uracil residues from their genomic DNA. Each herpesvirus UNG studied to date has demonstrated conservation of the enzymatic function to excise uracil residues from DNA. We previously reported that a murine gammaherpesvirus (MHV68) with a stop codon inORF46(ORF46.stop) that encodes for vUNG was defective in lytic replication and latencyin vivo.However, a mutant virus that expressed a catalytically inactive vUNG (ORF46.CM) had no replication defect, unless coupled with additional mutations in the catalytic motif of the viral dUTPase (ORF54.CM). The disparate phenotypes observed in the vUNG mutants led us to explore the non-enzymatic properties of vUNG. Immunoprecipitation of vUNG followed by mass spectrometry in MHV68-infected fibroblasts identified a complex comprised of the cognate viral DNA polymerase, vPOL encoded byORF9, and the viral DNA polymerase processivity factor, vPPF encoded byORF59. MHV68 vUNG colocalized with vPOL and vPPF in subnuclear structures consistent with viral replication compartments. In reciprocal co-immunoprecipitations, the vUNG formed a complex with the vPOL and vPPF upon transfection with either factor alone, or in combination. Last, we determined that key catalytic residues of vUNG are not required for interactions with vPOL and vPPF upon transfection or in the context of infection. We conclude that the vUNG of MHV68 associates with vPOL and vPPF independently of its catalytic activity.

IMPORTANCE

Gammaherpesviruses encode a uracil-DNA glycosylase (vUNG) that is presumed to excise uracil residues from viral genomes. We previously identified the vUNG enzymatic activity, but not the protein itself, as dispensable for gammaherpesvirus replicationin vivo. In this study, we report a non-enzymatic role for the viral UNG of a murine gammaherpesvirus to form a complex with two key components of the viral DNA replication machinery. Understanding the role of the vUNG in this viral DNA replication complex may inform the development of antiviral drugs that combat gammaherpesvirus associated cancers.
Altered grid-like coding in early blind people
Authors: Sigismondi Federica , Xu Yangwen , Silvestri Mattia , Bottini Roberto
Published: May 2023

Spatial navigation in humans relies heavily on vision. However, the impact of early blindness on the brain navigation network and on the hippocampal-entorhinal system supporting cognitive maps, in particular, remains elusive. Here, we tested sighted and early blind individuals in both imagined navigation in fMRI and real-world navigation. During imagined navigation, the Human Navigation Network was reliably activated in both groups, showing resilience to visual deprivation. However, neural geometry analyses highlighted crucial differences between groups. A 60° rotational symmetry, characteristic of grid-like coding, emerged in the entorhinal cortex of sighted but not blind people, who instead showed a 4-fold (90°) symmetry. Moreover, higher parietal cortex activity during navigation in the blind was correlated with the magnitude of 4-fold symmetry and real-word navigation abilities. In sum, early blindness can alter the geometry of entorhinal cognitive maps, possibly as a consequence of higher reliance on parietal egocentric coding during navigation.
Fibroblasts as an in vitro model of circadian genetic and genomic studies: A temporal analysis
Authors: Francia Marcelo , Bot Merel , Boltz Toni , De la Hoz Juan F. , Boks Marco , Kahn René , Ophoff Roel
Published: May 2023

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a heritable disorder characterized by shifts in mood that manifest in manic or depressive episodes. Clinical studies have identified abnormalities of the circadian system in BD patients as a hallmark of underlying pathophysiology. Fibroblasts are a well-establishedin vitromodel for measuring circadian patterns. We set out to examine the underlying genetic architecture of circadian rhythm in fibroblasts, with the goal to assess its contribution to the polygenic nature of BD disease risk. We collected, from primary cell lines of 6 healthy individuals, temporal genomic features over a 48 hour period from transcriptomic data (RNA-seq) and open chromatin data (ATAC-seq). The RNA-seq data showed that only a limited number of genes, primarily the known core clock genes such asARNTL,CRY1,PER3,NR1D2andTEFdisplay circadian patterns of expression consistently across cell cultures. The ATAC-seq data identified that distinct transcription factor families, like those with the basic helix-loop-helix motif, were associated with regions that were increasing in accessibility over time. Whereas known glucocorticoid receptor target motifs were identified in those regions that were decreasing in accessibility. Further evaluation of these regions using stratified linkage disequilibrium score regression (sLDSC) analysis failed to identify a significant presence of them in the known genetic architecture of BD, and other psychiatric disorders or neurobehavioral traits in which the circadian rhythm is affected. In this study, we characterize the biological pathways that are activated in thisin vitrocircadian model, evaluating the relevance of these processes in the context of the genetic architecture of BD and other disorders, highlighting its limitations and future applications for circadian genomic studies.
Novel mechanism ofMYCderegulation in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Rahmat Mahshid , Clement Kendell , Alberge Jean-Baptiste , Sklavenitis-Pistofidis Romanos , Kodgule Rohan , Fulco Charles P. , Heilpern-Mallory Daniel , Nilsson Katarina , Dorfman David , Engreitz Jesse M. , Getz Gad , Pinello Luca , Ryan Russell , Ghobrial Irene M.
Published: May 2023

MYCderegulation occurs in 67% of multiple myeloma (MM) cases and associates with progression and worse prognosis in MM. EnhancedMYCexpression is known to be driven by translocation or amplification events, but it only occurs in 40% of MM patients. Here, we describe a new mechanism ofMYCregulation, whereby epigenetic regulation ofMYCby increased accessibility of a cell-type specific enhancer leads to increasedMYCexpression. We found enhancer activity does not associate with enhancer hijacking events. We identified specific binding of c-MAF, IRF4, and SPIB transcription factors to the enhancer can activateMYC. In addition, we discovered focal amplification of this specific enhancer in approximately 4% of MM patients. Together, our findings define a new epigenetic mechanism ofMYCderegulation in MM beyond known translocations or amplifications and point to the importance of non-coding regulatory elements and their associated transcription factor networks as drivers of MM progression.
A coarse-grained DNA model to study protein-DNA interactions and liquid-liquid phase separation
Authors: Kapoor Utkarsh , Kim Young C. , Mittal Jeetain
Published: May 2023

Recent advances in coarse-grained (CG) computational models for DNA have enabled molecular- level insights into the behavior of DNA in complex multiscale systems. However, most existing CG DNA models are not compatible with CG protein models, limiting their applications for emerging topics such as protein-nucleic acid assemblies. Here, we present a new computationally efficient CG DNA model. We first use experimental data to establish the model’s ability to predict various aspects of DNA behavior, including melting thermodynamics and relevant local structural properties such as the major and minor grooves. We then employ an all-atom hydropathy scale to define non-bonded interactions between protein and DNA sites, to make our DNA model compatible with an existing CG protein model (HPS-Urry), that is extensively used to study protein phase separation, and show that our new model reasonably reproduces the experimental binding affinity for a prototypical protein-DNA system. To further demonstrate the capabilities of this new model, we simulate a full nucleosome with and without histone tails, on a microsecond timescale, generating conformational ensembles and provide molecular insights into the role of histone tails in influencing the liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of HP1α proteins. We find that histone tails interact favorably with DNA, influencing the conformational ensemble of the DNA and antagonizing the contacts between HP1α and DNA, thus affecting the ability of DNA to promote LLPS of HP1α. These findings shed light on the complex molecular framework that fine-tunes the phase transition properties of heterochromatin proteins and contributes to heterochromatin regulation and function. Overall, the CG DNA model presented here is suitable to facilitate micron-scale studies with sub-nm resolution in many biological and engineering applications and can be used to investigate protein-DNA complexes, such as nucleosomes, or LLPS of proteins with DNA, enabling a mechanistic understanding of how molecular information may be propagated at the genome level.
WhACC: Whisker Automatic Contact Classifier with Expert Human-Level Performance
Authors: Maire Phillip , King Samson G. , Cheung Jonathan Andrew , Walker Stef , Hires Samuel Andrew
Published: May 2023

The rodent vibrissal system remains pivotal in advancing neuroscience research, particularly for studies of cortical plasticity, learning, decision-making, sensory encoding and sensorimotor integration. While this model system provides notable advantages for quantifying active tactile input, it is hindered by the labor-intensive process of curating touch events across millions of video frames. Even with the aid of automated tools like the Janelia Whisker Tracker, millisecond-accurate touch curation often requires >3 hours of manual review / million video frames. We address this limitation by introducing Whisker Automatic Contact Classifier (WhACC), a python package designed to identify touch periods from high-speed videos of head-fixed behaving rodents with human-level performance. For our model design, we train ResNet50V2 on whisker images and extract features. Next, we engineer features to improve performance with an emphasis on temporal consistency. Finally, we select only the most important features and use them to train a LightGBM classifier. Classification accuracy is assessed against three expert human curators on over one million frames. WhACC shows pairwise touch classification agreement on 99.5% of video frames, equal to between-human agreement. Additionally, comparison between an expert curator and WhACC on a holdout dataset comprising nearly four million frames and 16 single-unit electrophysiology recordings shows negligible differences in neural characterization metrics. Finally, we offer an easy way to select and curate a subset of data to adaptively retrain WhACC. Including this retraining step, we reduce human hours required to curate a 100 million frame dataset from ∼333 hours to ∼6 hours.
Co-occurring ripple oscillations facilitate neuronal interactions between cortical locations in humans
Authors: Verzhbinsky Ilya A. , Rubin Daniel B. , Kajfez Sophie , Bu Yiting , Kelemen Jessica N. , Kapitonava Anastasia , Williams Ziv M. , Hochberg Leigh R. , Cash Sydney S. , Halgren Eric
Published: May 2023

Synchronous bursts of high frequency oscillations (‘ripples’) are hypothesized to contribute to binding by facilitating integration of neuronal firing across cortical locations. We tested this hypothesis using local field-potentials and single-unit firing from four 96-channel microelectrode arrays in supragranular cortex of 3 patients. Neurons in co-rippling locations showed increased short-latency co-firing, prediction of each-other’s firing, and co-participation in neural assemblies. Effects were similar for putative pyramidal and interneurons, during NREM sleep and waking, in temporal and Rolandic cortices, and at distances up to 16mm. Increased co-prediction during co-ripples was maintained when firing-rate changes were equated, and were strongly modulated by ripple phase. Co-ripple enhanced prediction is reciprocal, synergistic with local upstates, and further enhanced when multiple sites co-ripple. Together, these results support the hypothesis that trans-cortical co-ripples increase the integration of neuronal firing of neurons in different cortical locations, and do so in part through phase-modulation rather than unstructured activation.
Spider: a flexible and unified framework for simulating spatial transcriptomics data
Authors: Yang Jiyuan , Qu Yang , Wei Nana , Hu Congcong , Wu Hua-Jun , Zheng Xiaoqi
Published: May 2023

Spatial transcriptomics technology provides a valuable view for studying cellular heterogeneity due to its ability to simultaneously acquire gene expression profile and cell location information. However, benchmarking these rapidly accumulating spatial transcriptomics analysis tools is challenging owing to the limited diversity and accuracy of “gold standard” data sets annotated by pathologists. To address this issue, we proposed Spider, a flexible and unified simulator for spatial transcriptomics data guided by cell type proportion and transition matrix of adjacent cell types. Taking advantage of a heuristic batched simulated annealing algorithm (BSA) in assigning simulated cell type labels, Spider can generate spatial transcriptomics data for one million cells in just five minutes. Furthermore, Spider can generate various types of spatial transcriptomics data, including immune hot/cold tumor samples by specifying different immune cell proportions and transition matrices and layered tissue samples via an interactive interface. In addition, Spider is also a unified framework for ST data simulation in which we have implemented diverse simulators proposed by other researchers as special cases. We have systematically evaluated the performance of Spider and competing tools, and demonstrated Spider’s remarkable power to capture the spatial pattern of the reference dataset. Spider is available athttps://github.com/YANG-ERA/Artist.
IL-1β promotes MPN disease initiation by favoring early clonal expansion ofJAK2-mutant hematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Rai Shivam , Zhang Yang , Grockowiak Elodie , Kimmerlin Quentin , Hansen Nils , Stoll Cedric B. , Usart Marc , Hao-Shen Hui , Bader Michael S. , Passweg Jakob R. , Dirnhofer Stefan , Farady Christopher J. , Schroeder Timm , Méndez-Ferrer Simón , Skoda Radek C.
Published: May 2023

JAK2-V617F is the most frequent somatic mutation causing myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN). However,JAK2-V617F can also be found in healthy individuals with clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) with a frequency much higher than the prevalence of MPN. The factors controlling the conversion ofJAK2-V617F CHIP to MPN are largely unknown. We hypothesized that IL-1β mediated inflammation is one of the factors that favors this progression. We examined mono- or oligoclonal evolution of MPN by performing bone marrow transplantations at limiting dilutions with only 1-3JAK2-mutant HSCs per recipient. Genetic loss ofIL-1βinJAK2-mutant hematopoietic cells or inhibition by a neutralizing anti-IL-1β antibody restricted the early clonal expansion of theseJAK2-mutant HSCs resulting in a reduced frequency of a CHIP-like state and a lower rate of conversion to MPN. The MPN disease-promoting effects of IL-1β were associated with damage to sympathetic innervation leading to loss of nestin-positive mesenchymal stromal cells and required the presence ofIL-1R1on bone marrow stromal cells. The anti-IL-1β antibody protected these mesenchymal stromal cells from IL-1β mediated damage and limited the expansion of theJAK2-mutant clone. Our results identify IL-1β as a potential therapeutic target for preventing the transition fromJAK2-V617F CHIP to MPN.

Brief summary

In a mouse model of oligo-clonal myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), IL-1β produced byJAK2-mutant cells favored expansion of sub-clinicalJAK2-V617F clones and initiation of MPN disease.
The effect of rising food prices on nutrient intake among rural–urban migrants in China
Authors: Li Lei , Bai Junfei , Zhu Qiubo
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of rising food prices on food demand and nutrient intake among rural–urban migrants and whether such impact varies across income classes.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), this study adopts a quadratic almost ideal demand system (QUAIDS) for food demand elasticity and an indirect estimation method for nutrient elasticity to investigate the effects of rising food prices on food demand and nutrient intake among rural–urban migrants.

Findings

The estimated results indicate that an increase in the price of pork alone would lead to a larger reduction in most nutrients among rural–urban migrants than other single targeted food group, and a simultaneous rise in the price of all food groups would have a remarkably adverse effect on the nutritional status of rural–urban migrants in comparison to the nutritional effects of a rise in one targeted food group. In addition, the nutritional effects of food prices across income classes show that the nutritional status is particularly vulnerable to rising food prices among low-income rural–urban migrants.

Originality/value

This paper focuses on analyzing the impact of rising food prices on the nutritional status of rural–urban migrants, a topic that is very limited in the literature. This study provides a fresh look at the effect of volatile food prices on food demand and nutrient intake among rural–urban migrants. The results indicate that income growth would have a remarkable positive effect on nutrient intake for rural–urban migrants, especially for low-income rural–urban migrants. However, an increment in nutrients due to a growth in income would not be far from enough to cover the reduction in nutrients as a result of a simultaneous rise in price of all the studied food categories at the same rate.
Stakeholder theory, risk-taking and firm performance
Authors: Dao Thi Thanh Binh , Phan Minh Chau
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study, using stakeholder approach, aims to examine the impact of corporate governance and risk-taking on the performance of the top 100 nonfinancial listed firms in Vietnam from 2015 to 2019.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical and empirical studies are reviewed for rational hypotheses development. Firm performance is represented by return on assets, return on equity and Tobin’s Q.

Findings

Specifically, concentrated ownership structure, large workforce, being a great workplace, quick sales growth, high receivables turnover, being funded by both the state and foreigners and high-risk exposure positively affect firm performance. However, a high level of state ownership or foreign ownership, more independent members on board, large board size and chief executive officer (CEO) duality show an inverse effect. Besides, an inverted U-shaped relationship with firm performance is recognized for liquidity ratios.

Originality/value

This study uses three triangles, including governance, risk, and performance. The paper offers some evidence-based recommendations to improve firm performance in Vietnamese businesses.
Design advantages and analysis of a novel five-phase doubly-fed induction generator
Authors: Ryndzionek Roland , Michna Michal , Kutt Filip , Kostro Grzegorz , Blecharz Krzysztof
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of the performance of a new five-phase doubly fed induction generator (DFIG).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents the results of a research work related to five-phase DFIG framing, including the development of an analytical model, FEM analysis as well as the results of laboratory tests of the prototype. The proposed behavioral level analytical model is based on the winding function approach. The developed DFIG model was used at the design stage to simulate the generator’s no-load and load state. Then, the results of the FEM analysis were shown and compared with the results of laboratory tests of selected DFIG operating states.

Findings

The paper provides the results of analytical and FEM simulation and measurement tests of the new five-phase dual-feed induction generator. The use of the MATLAB Simscape modeling language allows for easy and quick implementation of the model. Design assumptions and analytical model-based analysis have been verified using FEM analysis and measurements performed on the prototype. The results of the presented research validate the design process as well as show the five-phase winding design advantage over the three-phase solution regarding the control winding power quality.

Research limitations/implications

The main disadvantage of the winding function approach-based model development is the simplification regarding omitting the tangential airgap flux density component. However, this fault only applies to large airgap machines and is insignificant in induction machines. The results of the DFIG analyses were limited to the basic operating states of the generator, i.e. the no-load state, the inductive and resistive load.

Practical implications

The novel DFIG with five phase rotor control winding can operate as a regular three-phase machine in an electric power generation system and allows for improved control winding power quality of the proposed electrical energy generation system. This increase in power quality is due to the rotor control windings inverter-based PWM supply voltage, which operates with a wider per-phase supply voltage range than a three-phase system. This phenomenon was quantified using control winding current harmonic analysis.

Originality/value

The paper provides the results of analytical and FEM simulation and measurement tests of the new five-phase dual-feed induction generator.
The supportability evaluation of cross-regional major infrastructure projects based on the combination weighting of the game theory–cloud model
Authors: Zhang Minggong , Xue Xiaolong , Luo Ting , Li Mengmeng , Tang Xiaoling
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aims to establish an evaluation method for cross-regional major infrastructure project (CRMIP) supportability. The focus is to identify evaluation indicators from a complexity perspective and develop an evaluation model using qualitative and quantitative methods. Case studies are carried out to verify the reliability of the evaluation model, thereby providing theoretical and practical guidance for CRMIP operations and maintenance (O&M).

Design/methodology/approach

Guided by the idea of complexity management, the evaluation indicators of CRMIP supportability are determined through literature analysis, actual O&M experience and expert interviews. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, consisting of sequential relationship analysis, entropy weighting, game theory and cloud model, is developed to determine the indicator weights. Finally, the evaluation model is used to evaluate the supportability of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge (HZMB), which tests the rationality of the model and reveals its supportability level.

Findings

The results demonstrate that CRMIPs' supportability is influenced by 6 guideline-level and 18 indicator-level indicators, and the priority of the influencing factors includes “organization,” “technology,” “system,” “human resources,” “material system,” and “funding.” As for specific indicators, “organizational objectives,” “organizational structure and synergy mechanism,” and “technical systems and procedures” are critical to CRMIPs' O&M supportability. The results also indicate that the supportability level of the HZMB falls between good and excellent.

Originality/value

Under the guidance of complexity management thinking, this study proposes a supportability evaluation framework based on the combined weights of game theory and the cloud model. This study provides a valuable reference and scientific judgment for the health and safety of CRMIPs' O&M.
The self-perceived age of GenX women: prioritising female subjective age identity in marketing
Authors: Gillooley Sharon-Marie , Resnick Sheilagh Mary , Woodall Tony , Allison Seamus
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the phenomenon of self-perceived age (SPA) identity for Generation X (GenX) women in the UK. Squeezed between the more ubiquitous “boomer” and “millennial” cohorts, and now with both gender and age stigma-related challenges, this study looks to provide insights for understanding this group for marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts an existential phenomenological approach using a hybrid structured/hermeneutic research design. Data is collected using solicited diary research (SDR) that elicits autoethnographic insights into the lived experiences of GenX women, these in the context of SPA.

Findings

For this group, the authors find age a gendered phenomenon represented via seven “age frames”, collectively an “organisation of experience”. Age identity appears not to have unified meaning but is contingent upon individuals and their experiences. These frames then provide further insights into how diarists react to the stigma of gendered ageism.

Research limitations/implications

SDR appeals to participants who like completing diaries and are motivated by the research topic. This limits both diversity of response and sample size, but coincidentally enhances elicitation potential – outweighing, the authors believe, these constraints. The sample comprises UK women only.

Practical implications

This study acknowledges GenX women as socially real, but from an SPA perspective they are heterogeneous, and consequently distributed across many segments. Here, age is a psychographic, not demographic, variable – a subjective rather than chronological condition requiring a nuanced response from marketers.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first formal study into how SPA identity is manifested for GenX women. Methodologically, this study uses e-journals/diaries, an approach not yet fully exploited in marketing research.
Anti-corruption disclosure quality and earnings management in the United Kingdom: the role of audit quality
Authors: Salem Rami Ibrahim A. , Ghazwani Musa , Gerged Ali Meftah , Whittington Mark
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Building upon institutional pressures on firms to deal with corruption, this study aims to investigate the association between a firm's engagement with anti-corruption disclosure quality (ACD_Q) and earnings management (EM). Also, this study examines the moderating role of audit quality in the association between ACD_Q and EM.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors constructed an ACD_Q index based on the 2010 UK Bribery Act and taking into account a wide range of rules on corruption and bribery, including those of the OECD, World Bank, UNCTAD, UNGC, UNCAC and GRI. Generalized method of moments and panel regression were used to examine the association between ACD_Q and EM.

Findings

Using a sample of 2,695 firm‐year observations of the UK’s FTSE-350 from 2008 to 2018, this study finds ACD_Q is negatively associated with EM. In addition, this negative relationship is contingent on audit committee independence and audit committee expertise. This finding is supported by additional robustness and sensitivity analysis.

Practical implications

The empirical evidence reiterates the crucial need for more concerted efforts to ensure corporate engagement in anti-corruption practices with a view to reducing earnings manipulations.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the limited evidence that investigates how ACD Q influences EM in the UK after the introduction of the UK Bribery Act in 2010. Furthermore, by considering the period from 2008 to 2019, this study investigates the potential moderating role of UK corporate governance reforms in EM reduction. In particular, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study assesses for the first time the moderating effect of audit committee mechanisms on the ACD Q and EM nexus.
The impact of maritime service quality on employee satisfaction by seafarers rank: evidence from a global survey grounded on ERG theory
Authors: Pantouvakis Angelos , Vlachos Ilias , Polemis Dionysios
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aims to reveal the constituents of seafaring service quality (physical and social environment) and their effects on seafarer employee satisfaction (job satisfaction and turnover intention) and analyse any differences among seafarer ranks. Literature on service quality has overlooked the transportation sector and seafaring in particular.

Design/methodology/approach

Seafaring service quality is measured by the workplace environment constituted of physical and social environments. Two types of employee (job) satisfaction were explored: overall job satisfaction and turnover intention. This study is based on a unique, large survey based on the Existence-Relatedness-Growth (ERG) needs theory. An exploratory factor analysis revealed four physical environment factors (Ship conditions, Communication facilities, Nautical health and Living conditions) and four social environment factors (Social fit, Team cohesion, Ship company support and Intercultural environment). Multi-group regression analysis assessed the effects of seafaring service quality on employee satisfaction.

Findings

The social environment has stronger effects than the physical environment on job satisfaction but not on employee retention. Team cohesion has strong effects on employee retention, while social fit has stronger effects on overall job performance. Seafarer ranks showed significant variations. The physical environment matters for 2nd engineers' and cadets’ job satisfaction but not for ratings, masters and chief officers. Team cohesion is significant to master, chief officer, engineer and cadet ranks but not for junior officers and ratings. Social fit has stronger effects on overall job performance than employee retention, particularly for ratings, cadets, master, chief officer and chief engineer ranks. Ship company support has the stronger effect on overall job satisfaction among all workplace factors; this is also observed across all ranks.

Research limitations/implications

Motivation theories like the ERG theory can help understand service quality and employee satisfaction in the maritime sector; future studies should examine more behaviour variables/constructs from these theories.

Practical implications

Maritime companies can offer better services to seafarers, who are considered as key workers, by customising their interventions to specific seafarer ranks and developing a supportive culture that improves seafarer well-being.

Originality/value

This study examined the overlooked topic of maritime service quality based on a large-scale survey grounded on ERG theory and reveals how the physical and social environment has different effects on seafarer job satisfaction and retention.
Value-added service investment and pricing decisions in two-sided platform: the role of user expectations
Authors: Gui Yunmiao , Zhai Huihui , Dong Feng , Liu Zhi
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate how user expectations affect value-added service (VAS) investment and pricing decisions of two-sided platforms. It draws on the information asymmetry theory and offers suggestions on how platform operators can manage user expectations.

Design/methodology/approach

According to the game theory, this study considers three user expectations (responsive, passive and wary). By framing the Hotelling duopoly model and comparing the VAS investment, price and platform profits, the optimal platform decision is analyzed and discussed.

Findings

The conclusions demonstrate that the monopolistic two-sided platform obtains more profits from the informed users with responsive expectations than uninformed users with passive or wary expectations. The marginal investment cost and cross-network externalities are two key factors that determine the platform's VAS investment and pricing strategies of passive or wary users. Furthermore, considering the expectation preferences, i.e. the uniformed users hold wary expectations with more information and hold passive expectations with less or no information, the results suggest that the proportion of wary users to all uninformed users increases the platform's VAS investment, profits and the price of informed users, and increase (decrease) the price of uninformed users when the cross-network externalities of informed users are relatively small (larger).

Practical implications

These results can provide insightful enlightenment into how platform operators utilize bilateral users' expectations and information level to guide their VAS investment and pricing decisions.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first to explore the impact of three user expectations and the heterogeneity of preferences in informing users' passive or wary expectations, based on different levels of information on the decision-making of two-sided platforms regarding VAS.
The mystery of choice of equity incentive model: based on the game theory analysis between shareholders and top executives
Authors: Chen Wenzhe , Shi Ning , Liang Qi , Hao Xiangchao
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Based on the background of the restricted stock has gradually replaced stock option and has become the mainstream equity incentive model in China, this paper aims to investigate the which factors affect the choice of equity incentive model, and the impacts of equity incentive model.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical analysis is based on the game theory between shareholders and top executives. The empirical analysis is based on the detailed data of equity incentives in China’s listed companies from 2006 to 2017; the logit method and least square method are implemented to estimate the regression coefficients and Black–Scholes options pricing model to estimate the value of restricted stock/option granted to the CEO.

Findings

This paper documents that enterprises with serious agency problems, high investment risks, high stock price synchronicity and great executive power are significantly and positively related to restricted stock. The main empirical findings still hold after several robust tests. In addition, restricted stock can significantly improve corporate performance when the performance evaluation index is strict and the validity period is long, while for the sample group with loose performance index and short validity period, restricted stock significantly reduces corporate performance.

Originality/value

This paper analyzes the “black box” of equity incentive model selection from the stakeholders’ game perspective by constructing a game theory model to investigate the reasons for the choice of equity incentive model in various situations, which enriches the research in this field. Moreover, this paper finds that restricted stock has both incentive and welfare characteristics, and the rationality of performance appraisal goals is the key factor leading to the difference in incentive effects. Overall, the research indicates that only well-designed equity incentive plans can improve corporate performance, which contributes to regulators and practitioners to form a rational understanding of restricted stock model and provides a reference for their decision-making.
Relatively large wings facilitate life at higher elevations among Nearctic dragonflies
Authors: Moore Michael P. , Khan Faiza
Published: May 2023

Determining which traits allow species to live at higher elevations is essential to understanding the forces that shape montane biodiversity.

For the many animals that rely on flight for locomotion, a long‐standing hypothesis is that species with relatively large wings should better persist in high‐elevation environments because wings that are large relative to the body generate more lift and decrease the aerobic costs of remaining aloft. Although these biomechanical and physiological predictions have received some support in birds, other flying taxa often possess smaller wings at high elevations or no wings at all.

To test if predictions about the requirements for relative wing size at high elevations are generalizable beyond birds, we conducted macroecological analyses on the altitudinal characteristics of 302 Nearctic dragonfly species.

Consistent with the biomechanical and aerobic hypotheses, species with relatively larger wings live at higher elevations and have wider elevation breadths—even after controlling for a species' body size, mean thermal conditions, and range size. Moreover, a species' relative wing size had nearly as large of an impact on its maximum elevation as being adapted to the cold.

Relatively large wings may be essential to high‐elevation life in species that completely depend on flight for locomotion, like dragonflies or birds. With climate change forcing taxa to disperse upslope, our findings further suggest that relatively large wings could be a requirement for completely volant taxa to persist in montane habitats.
Evaluation and classification of fentanyl‐related compounds using EC‐SERS and machine learning
Authors: Cooman Travon , Ott Colby E. , Arroyo Luis E.
Published: May 2023

Multiple analytical techniques for the screening of fentanyl‐related compounds exist. High discriminatory methods such as GC–MS and LC–MS are expensive, time‐consuming, and less amenable to onsite analysis. Raman spectroscopy provides a rapid, inexpensive alternative. Raman variants such as electrochemical surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (EC‐SERS) can provide signal enhancements with 1010 magnitudes, allowing for the detection of low‐concentration analytes, otherwise undetected using conventional Raman. Library search algorithms embedded in instruments utilizing SERS may suffer from accuracy when multicomponent mixtures involving fentanyl derivatives are analyzed. The complexing of machine learning techniques to Raman spectra demonstrates an improvement in the discrimination of drugs even when present in multicomponent mixtures of various ratios. Additionally, these algorithms are capable of identifying spectral features difficult to detect by manual comparisons. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate fentanyl‐related compounds and other drugs of abuse using EC‐SERS and to process the acquired data using machine learning—convolutional neural networks (CNN). The CNN was created using Keras v 2.4.0 with Tensorflow v 2.9.1 backend. In‐house binary mixtures and authentic adjudicated case samples were used to evaluate the created machine‐learning models. The overall accuracy of the model was 98.4 ± 0.1% after 10‐fold cross‐validation. The correct identification for the in‐house binary mixtures was 92%, while the authentic case samples were 85%. The high accuracies achieved in this study demonstrate the advantage of using machine learning to process spectral data when screening seized drug materials comprised of multiple components.
Living with anthropogenic climate change: Learning from environmental history to question narratives of doom, hope, and crisis
Authors: McManus Phil
Published: May 2023

We are living with anthropogenic climate change and must address the causes and reduce the negative impacts on our planet, humans, and other species. This commentary offers a brief review of environmental history from deep time to recent waves of environmentalism demonstrating that climate change has occurred before; that people have faced perceived end times; and that predictions of doom have helped us to act to avoid that potential scenario. These are important lessons for how we may live today and into the future, given the shift from climate change denial to narratives of impending doom because we have already failed to act. The commentary presents a matrix of positions adopted in relation to climate change and environmentalism more generally, highlighting narratives of hope, doom, and urgency. While not exhaustive, these summarised positions alert us to possibilities and are intended to generate wider discussion about how we may live with anthropogenic climate change. We have to learn to live with anthropogenic climate change while addressing the causes and reducing the negative impacts on our planet, humans and on other species.