bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Randomized Trial Comparing Omicron-Containing Boosters with the Original Covid-19 Vaccine mRNA-1273
Authors: Lee Ivan T. , Cosgrove Catherine A. , Moore Patrick , Bethune Claire , Nally Rhiannon , Bula Marcin , Kalra Philip A. , Clark Rebecca , Dargan Paul I. , Boffito Marta , Sheridan Ray , Moran Ed , Darton Thomas C. , Burns Fiona , Saralaya Dinesh , Duncan Christopher J. A. , Lillie Patrick , Ramos Alberto San Francisco , Galiza Eva , Heath Paul T. , Girard Bethany , Parker Christy , Rust Dondi , Mehta Shraddha , Windt Elizabeth de , Sutherland Andrea , Tomassini Joanne E. , Dutko Frank J. , Chalkias Spyros , Deng Weiping , Chen Xing , Tracy LaRee , Zhou Honghong , Miller Jacqueline M. , Das Rituparna
Published: January 2023

Background

Omicron-containing bivalent boosters are available worldwide. Results of a large, randomized, active-controlled study are presented.

Methods

This phase 3, randomized, observer-blind, active-controlled trial in the United Kingdom evaluated the immunogenicity and safety of 50-µg doses of omicron-BA.1-monovalent mRNA-1273.529 and bivalent mRNA-1273.214 booster vaccines compared with 50-µg mRNA-1273 administered as boosters in individuals ≥16 years. Participants had previously received 2 doses of any authorized/approved Covid-19 vaccine with or without an mRNA vaccine booster. Safety and immunogenicity were primary objectives; immunogenicity was assessed in all participants, with analysis conducted based on prior infection status. Incidence of Covid-19 post-boost was a secondary (mRNA-1273.214) or exploratory (mRNA-1273.529) objective.

Results

In part 1 of the study, 719 participants received mRNA-1273.529 (n=362) or mRNA-1273 (n=357); in part 2, 2813 received mRNA-1273.214 (n=1418) or mRNA-1273 (n=1395). Median durations (months [interquartile range]) between the most recent Covid-19 vaccine and study boosters were similar in the mRNA-1273.529 (4.0 [3.6-4.7]) and mRNA-1273 (4.1 [3.5-4.7]) (part 1), and mRNA-1273.214 (5.5 [4.8-6.2] and mRNA-1273 (5.4 [4.8-6.2]) groups (part 2).

Both mRNA-1273.529 and mRNA-1273.214 elicited superior neutralizing antibody responses against omicron BA.1 with geometric mean ratios (99% CIs) of 1.68 (1.45-1.95) and 1.53 (1.41-1.67) compared to mRNA-1273 at day 29 post-boost. Although the study was not powered to assess relative vaccine efficacy, the incidence rates/1000 person years (95% CI) of Covid-19 trended lower with mRNA-1273.529 (670.5 [528.3-839.3]) than mRNA-1273 (769.3 [615.4-950.1]) and mRNA-1273.214 (633.0 [538.1-739.7]) than mRNA-1273 (711.6 [607.5-828.5]).

Sequence analysis in part 2 showed that this was driven by lower incidence of Covid-19 in the mRNA-1273.214 cohort with BA.2 and BA.4 sublineages but not BA.5 sublineages. All study boosters were well-tolerated.

Conclusion

The bivalent omicron BA.1-containing booster elicited superior neutralizing antibody responses against omicron BA.1 with acceptable safety results consistent with the BA.1 monovalent vaccine. Incidence rates for Covid-19 were numerically lower in participants who received mRNA-1273.214 compared to the original booster vaccine mRNA-1273, driven by the BA.2 and BA.4 sublineages.
Single-cell transcriptomic landscape deciphers novel olfactory neuroblastoma subtypes and intratumoral heterogeneity
Authors: Yang Jingyi , Song Xiaole , Zhang Huankang , Liu Quan , Wei Ruoyan , Guo Luo , Yuan Cuncun , Xue Kai , Lai Yuting , Wang Li , Hu Li , Wang Huan , Zhang Chen , Zhang Qianqian , Gu Ye , Zhao Weidong , Yu Huapeng , Wang Jingjing , Liu Zhuofu , Li Han , Zheng Shixing , Liu Juan , Yang Lu , Li Wanpeng , Xu Rui , Chen Jiani , Zhou Yumin , Cheng Xiankui , Yu Yiqun , Wang Dehui , Sun Xicai , Yu Hongmeng
Published: January 2023

Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is an uncommon malignant tumor known to originate from the olfactory epithelial. The complex tumor ecosystem of this pathology remained unclear. Here, we explored the cellular components with ONB tumors based on scRNA profiles of 96,325 single-cells derived from 10 tumors and 1 olfactory mucosa sample. We discovered 11 major cell types, including 6 immune cell, 3 stromal cell subtypes and epithelial cluster in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and identified 5 common expression programs from malignant epithelial cells. We analyzed subclusters of TME and the interactions among different cell types in the TME. An innovative three-classification of ONB was established via scRNA analysis. Markers for categorizing tumor samples into new subtypes were elucidated. Different responses towards certain chemotherapy regimens could be inferred according to the molecular features of three tumor types. Relative abundance of immunosuppressive TAMs indicated the benefits of immunotherapies targeting myeloid cells.
Accurate and fast graph-based pangenome annotation and clustering with ggCaller
Authors: Horsfield Samuel T. , Croucher Nicholas J. , Lees John A.
Published: January 2023

Bacterial genomes differ in both gene content and sequence mutations, which can cause important clinical phenotypic differences such as vaccine escape or antimicrobial resistance. To identify and quantify important variants, all genes within a population must be predicted, functionally annotated and clustered, representing the ‘pangenome’. Despite the volume of genome data available, gene prediction and annotation are currently conducted in isolation on individual genomes, which is computationally inefficient and frequently inconsistent across genomes. Here, we introduce the open-source software graph-gene-caller (ggCaller;https://github.com/samhorsfield96/ggCaller). ggCaller combines gene prediction, functional annotation and clustering into a single step using population-wide de Bruijn Graphs, removing redundancy in gene annotation, and resulting in more accurate gene predictions and orthologue clustering. We applied ggCaller to simulated and real-world bacterial genome datasets, comparing it to current state-of-the-art tools. ggCaller is ~50x faster with equivalent or greater accuracy, particularly in datasets with complex sources of error, such as assembly contamination or fragmentation. ggCaller is also an important extension to bacterial genome-wide association studies, enabling querying of annotated graphs for functional analyses. We highlight this application by functionally annotating DNA sequences with significant associations to tetracycline and macrolide resistance inStreptococcus pneumoniae, identifying key resistance determinants that were missed when using only a single reference genome. ggCaller is a novel bacterial genome analysis tool with applications in bacterial epidemiology and evolutionary study.
UL135 and UL136 Epistasis Controls Reactivation of Human Cytomegalovirus
Authors: Moy Melissa A. , Collins-McMillen Donna , Crawford Lindsey , Parkins Christopher , Zeltzer Sebastian , Caviness Katie , Caposio Patrizia , Goodrum Felicia
Published: January 2023

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is beta herpesvirus that persists indefinitely in the human host through a protracted, latent infection. The polycistronicUL133-UL138gene locus of HCMV encodes genes regulating latency and reactivation. While UL138 is pro-latency, restricting virus replication in CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs), UL135 overcomes this restriction for reactivation. By contrast, UL136 is expressed with later kinetics and encodes multiple protein isoforms with differential roles in latency and reactivation. Like UL135, the largest UL136 isoform, UL136p33, is required for reactivation from latency in hematopoietic cells. Furthermore, UL136p33 is unstable, and its instability is important for the establishment of latency and sufficient accumulation of UL136p33 is a checkpoint for reactivation. We hypothesized that stabilizing UL136p33 might overcome the requirement of UL135 for reactivation. To test this, we generated recombinant viruses lacking UL135 that expressed a stabilized variant of UL136p33. Stabilizing UL136p33 did not impact replication of the UL135-mutant virus in fibroblasts. However, in the context of infection in hematopoietic cells, stabilization of UL136p33 strikingly compensated for the loss ofUL135,resulting in increased replication in CD34+ HPCs and in humanized NOD-scidIL2Rγcnull(NSG) mice. This finding suggests that while UL135 is essential for reactivation, it functions at steps preceding the accumulation of UL136p33 and that stabilized expression of UL136p33 largely overcomes the requirement for UL135 in reactivation. Taken together, our genetic evidence indicates an epistatic relationship between UL136p33 and UL135 whereby UL135 may initiate events early in reactivation that will result in the accumulation of UL136p33 to a threshold required for productive reactivation.

SIGNIFICANCE

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is one of nine human herpesviruses and a significant human pathogen. While HCMV establishes a life-long latent infection that is typically asymptomatic in healthy individuals, its reactivation from latency can have devastating consequences in the immune compromised. Defining virus-host and virus-virus interactions important for HCMV latency, reactivation and replication is critical to defining the molecular basis of latent and replicative states and in controlling infection and CMV disease. Here we define a genetic relationship between two viral genes in controlling virus reactivation from latency using primary human hematopoietic progenitor cell and humanized mouse models.
Description of three new species of predatory GenusHexacentrus(Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from India, with bioacoustic and morphological characterization
Authors: Ghosh Aarini , Jaiswara Ranjana , Monaal  , Sabharwal Shagun , Dasoju Vivek , Bhattacharjee Anubhab , Rajaraman Bittu Kaveri
Published: January 2023

Hexacentrusis a genus of predatory katydids. In India, the genusHexacentrusis represented by 7 species of which 6 are morphologically characterized while one is only acoustically characterized. In this study, we describe three new species under the genus from India based on detailed morphological, stridulatory, and acoustic features.
Ramped V1 transcranial ultrasonic stimulation modulates but does not evoke visual evoked potentials
Authors: Nandi Tulika , Johnstone Ainslie , Martin Eleanor , Cooper Robert , Bestmann Sven , Bergmann Til Ole , Treeby Bradley , Stagg Charlotte J.
Published: January 2023

Transcranial ultrasonic stimulation (TUS), has been shown to evoke ‘visual evoked potential (VEP)-like’ potentials on EEG recordings, and also to modulate sensory evoked potentials. However, pulsed TUS is accompanied by an auditory confound, and it is possible that any observed effects were, in-part, evoked by this confound. Therefore, we used ramped TUS pulses, which are not as easily audible, to examine whether primary visual cortex (V1) TUS evokes VEP-like potentials, and modulates VEPs elicited using a checkerboard stimulus.

Methods

We tested 14 healthy participants (31 ± 4.3 yrs, 4 F and 10 M). TUS was applied to the left V1 using a 270 kHz transducer (H115-2AA, Sonic Concepts). Ramped pulses (1 ms ramp, 3.25 ms total pulse duration) were repeated at 250 Hz, with a pulse train duration of 300 ms, an effective duty cycle of 50%, and Isppa without ramping of 16 W/cm2in water. EEG was recorded from 16 channels using the g.USBamp amplifier (g.tec medical engineering GmbH). In two blocks (TUS-only), real and sham (100 each) TUS trials were repeated every 2 s. In another two blocks (TUS+checkerboard), a checkerboard stimulus was flipped every 0.5 s, and every fourth stimulus was associated with either a real or sham (100 each) TUS trial. The TUS trial started approx. 130 ms (0-5 ms jitter) before the checkerboard flip. All EEG data were analysed using Fieldtrip, and cluster-based permutation tests were used to test for differences between conditions.

Results and discussion

In the TUS-only condition, in contrast to a previous study, we found no evoked potentials using ramped pulses which minimised the auditory artifact. In the TUS+checkerboard condition, we observed a modulation of the early-component of the VEP in real TUS, relative to no TUS trials. This suggests that, in line with in-vitro and animal data, there is a direct neuromodulatory effect of ultrasound, in addition to any confounding effects. Moving forward, ramping offers a relatively easy approach to minimise the auditory confound.
Recovery of protein synthesis to measure transcription-coupled DNA repair in living cells and tissues
Authors: van der Woude Melanie , Davó-Martínez Carlota , Thijssen Karen L. , Vermeulen Wim , Lans Hannes
Published: January 2023

Transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER) is an important DNA repair mechanism that protects against the negative effects of transcription-blocking DNA lesions. Hereditary TC-NER deficiency causes pleiotropic and often severe neurodegenerative and progeroid symptoms. Multiple assays have been developed for the clinic and for research to measure TC-NER activity, which is hampered by the relatively low abundance of repair events taking place in transcribed DNA. ‘Recovery of RNA Synthesis’ is widely used as indirect TC-NER assay based on the notion that lesion-blocked transcription only resumes after successful TC-NER. Here, we show that measuring novel synthesis of a protein that has been degraded prior to DNA damage induction is an equally effective but more versatile manner to indirectly monitor TC-NER. This ‘Recovery of Protein Synthesis’ (RPS) assay is readily adaptable for use with different degradable proteins and readouts, including fluorescence imaging and immunoblot. Moreover, with the RPS assay TC-NER activity can be measured in real-time, in various living cells types and even in differentiated tissues of living organisms. As example, we show that TC-NER capacity declines in aging muscle tissue ofC. elegans. Therefore, the RPS assay constitutes an important novel clinical and research tool to investigate transcription-coupled DNA repair.
Microbe-derived indole tunes organ-function and links microbe metabolites to biological ageing
Authors: Xing Peter Yuli , Jayaraman Anusha , Zhang George Wei , Martin Katherine Ann , Faylon Llanto Elma , Kjelleberg Staffan , Rice Scott A. , Wang Yulan , Bello Adesola T. , Holmes Elaine , Nicholson Jeremy K , Whiley Luke , Pettersson Sven
Published: January 2023

To investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms on how the gut microbe metabolite, indoles, regulate host organ growth and function, germ-free male mice were mono-colonized with indole-producing wildtypeEscherichia colior tryptophanase-encodingtnaAknockout mutant indole-non-producingE. coli. The indole mutantE. colirecipient mice exhibited significant multiorgan decline and growth retardation combined with catabolism and energy deficiency despite increased food intake compared to control mice. In addition, indole mutant mice displayed malfunctional intestine, enlarged caecum, reduced numbers of colonic enterochromaffin cells and reduced circulating serotonin levels, resulting in reduced gut motility, diminished digestion, and lower energy harvest. Furthermore, indole mutant mice also displayed decreased expression ofKcnj12gene, suggesting reduced excitability of enteric neurons thus adding to intestinal dysfunctional phenotype. In conclusion, indoles are necessary to maintain adult metabolic homeostasis across multiple organs in vivo. Impairment of indole levels results in multiorgan functional decline suggesting a mechanism whereby gut microbe metabolites may regulate biological ageing and thus increase the risk for disease.

Graphical summary
A Comparison of Lossless Compression Methods in Microscopy Data Storage Applications
Authors: Walker Logan A. , Li Ye , McGlothlin Maggie , Cai Dawen
Published: January 2023

Modern high-throughput microscopy methods such as light-sheet imaging and electron microscopy are capable of producing petabytes of data inside of a single experiment. Storage of these large images, however, is challenging because of the difficulty of moving, storing, and analyzing such vast amounts of data, which is often collected at very high data rates (>1GBps). In this report, we provide a comparison of the performance of several compression algorithms using a collection of published and unpublished datasets including confocal, fMOST, and pathology images. We also use simulated data to demonstrate the efficiency of each algorithm as image content or entropy increases. As a result of this work, we recommend the use of theBLOSCalgorithm combined withZSTDfor various microscopy applications, as it produces the best compression ratio over a collection of conditions.

CCS CONCEPTS

• Applied computing → Bioinformatics; Imaging.
Transient Aurein 1.2 pores in prokaryotic model bilayers explored by coarse-grain molecular dynamics simulations: as glycolipid content increases, pore lifetime decreases
Authors: Balatti GE , Martini MF , Pickholz M
Published: January 2023

The Aurein 1.2 is an anuran antimicrobial peptide (AMP) with a proven lytical activity against bacterial membranes. Previously, we found a differential action of aurein by both experimental and computational methods. This differential action was over membranes of two related probiotic strains, where the main differences between membranes were the number of glycolipids on lipid composition. In the present work, we focused on the differential behavior of the aurein 1.2 at its interaction with bacterium model membranes with different amounts of glycolipids in their composition. We carried out extensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations by using the coarse-grain force field MARTINI and raising up differential mixtures of phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and monogalactosylglycerol (MG). We found a correlation between the presence of MG in PG/PE mixtures and the difficulty of aurein to stabilize pore structures, suggesting an AMPresistance factor encoded in the lipid composition of the membrane. Through this study, we hope to shed light on a possible resistance mechanism to AMPs related with the glycolipid content of diverse types of bacterial membranes.
Cholecystokinin-A Signaling Regulates Automaticity of Pacemaker Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Ruan Hongmei , Mandla Ravi , Ravi Namita , Galang Giselle , Soe Amanda W. , Olgin Jeffrey E. , Lang Di , Vedantham Vasanth
Published: January 2023

Aims

The behavior of pacemaker cardiomyocytes (PCs) in the sinoatrial node (SAN) is modulated by neurohormonal and paracrine factors, many of which signal through G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). The aims of the present study are to catalog GPCRs that are differentially expressed in the mammalian SAN and to define the acute physiological consequences of activating the cholecystokinin-A signaling system in isolated PCs.

Methods and Results

Using bulk and single cell RNA sequencing datasets, we identify a set of GPCRs that are differentially expressed between SAN and right atrial tissue, including several whose roles in PCs and in the SAN have not been thoroughly characterized. Focusing on one such GPCR, Cholecystokinin-A receptor (CCKAR), we demonstrate expression ofCckarmRNA specifically in mouse PCs, and further demonstrate that subsets of SAN fibroblasts and neurons within the cardiac intrinsic nervous system express cholecystokinin, the ligand for CCKAR. Using mouse models, we find that while baseline SAN function is not dramatically affected by loss of CCKAR, the firing rate of individual PCs is slowed by exposure to sulfated cholecystokinin-8 (sCCK-8), the high affinity ligand for CCKAR. The effect of sCCK-8 on firing rate is mediated by reduction in the rate of spontaneous phase 4 depolarization of PCs and is mitigated by activation of beta-adrenergic signaling.

Conclusions

(1) PCs express many GPCRs whose specific roles in SAN function have not been characterized, (2) Activation of the the cholecystokinin-A signaling pathway regulates PC automaticity.
Artificial intelligence-driven morphology-based enrichment of malignant cells from body fluid
Authors: Mavropoulos Anastasia , Johnson Chassidy , Lu Vivian , Nieto Jordan , Schneider Emilie , Saini Kiran , Phelan Michael L. , Hsie Linda , Wang Maggie , Cruz Janifer , Mei Jeanette , Kim Julie , Lian Zhouyang , Li Nianzhen , Boutet Stephane C. , Wong-Thai Amy , Yu Weibo , Lu Qing-Yi , Kim Teresa , Geng Yipeng , Masaeli Maddison (Mahdokht) , Lee Thomas D. , Rao Jianyu
Published: January 2023

Cell morphology is a fundamental feature used to evaluate patient specimens in pathological analysis. However, traditional cytopathology analysis of patient effusion samples is limited by low tumor cell abundance coupled with high background of non-malignant cells, restricting the ability for downstream molecular and functional analyses to identify actionable therapeutic targets. We applied the Deepcell platform that combines microfluidic sorting, brightfield imaging, and real-time deep learning interpretations based on multi-dimensional morphology to enrich carcinoma cells from malignant effusions without cell staining or labels. Carcinoma cell enrichment was validated with whole genome sequencing and targeted mutation analysis, which showed higher sensitivity for detection of tumor fractions and critical somatic variant mutations that were initially at low-levels or undetectable in pre-sort patient samples. Combined, our study demonstrates the feasibility and added value of supplementing traditional morphology-based cytology with deep learning, multi-dimensional morphology analysis, and microfluidic sorting.
Stem cell factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor promote remyelination in the chronic phase of severe traumatic brain injury
Authors: Qiu Xuecheng , Ping Suning , Kyle Michele , Chin Lawrence , Zhao Li-Ru
Published: January 2023

Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes long-term disability and death in young adults. White matter is vulnerable to TBI damage. Demyelination is a major pathological change of white matter injury after TBI. Demyelination which is characterized by myelin sheath disruption and oligodendrocyte cell death leads to long-term neurological function deficits. Stem cell factor (SCF) and granulocyte colony–stimulating factor (G-CSF) treatments have shown neuroprotective and neurorestorative effects in the subacute and chronic phases of experimental TBI. Our previous study has revealed that combined SCF and G-CSF treatment (SCF+G-CSF) enhances myelin repair in the chronic phase of TBI. However, the long-term effect and mechanism of SCF+G-CSF-enhanced myelin repair remain unclear. In this study, we uncovered persistent and progressive myelin loss in the chronic phase of severe TBI. SCF+G-CSF treatment in the chronic phase of severe TBI enhanced remyelination in the ipsilateral external capsule and striatum. The SCF+G-CSF-enhanced myelin repair is positively correlated with the proliferation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in the subventricular zone. These findings reveal the therapeutic potential of SCF+G-CSF in myelin repair in the chronic phase of severe TBI and shed light on the mechanism underlying SCF+G-CSF-enhanced remyelination in chronic TBI.
Interleg coordination is not strictly controlled during walking
Authors: Arai Takahiro , Ota Kaiichiro , Funato Tetsuro , Tsuchiya Kazuo , Aoyagi Toshio , Aoi Shinya
Published: January 2023

In human walking, the left and right legs move alternately, half a stride out of phase with each other. Although various parameters, such as stride frequency, stride length, and duty factor, vary with walking speed, the antiphase relationship of the leg motion remains unchanged. This is the case even during running. However, during walking in left-right asymmetric situations, such as walking with unilateral leg loading, walking along a curved path, and walking on a split-belt treadmill, the relative phase between left and right leg motion shifts from the antiphase condition to compensate for the asymmetry. In addition, the phase relationship fluctuates significantly during walking of elderly people and patients with neurological disabilities, such as those caused by stroke or Parkinson’s disease. These observations suggest that appropriate interleg coordination is important for adaptive walking and that interleg coordination is strictly controlled during walking of healthy young people. However, the control mechanism of interleg coordination remains unclear. In the present study, we derive a quantity that models the control of interleg coordination during walking of healthy young people by taking advantage of a state-of-the-art method that combines big data science with nonlinear dynamics. This is done by modeling this control as the interaction between two coupled oscillators through the phase reduction theory and Bayesian inference method. However, the results were not what we expected. Specifically, we found that the relative phase between the motion of the legs is not actively controlled until the deviation from the antiphase condition exceeds a certain threshold. In other words, the control of interleg coordination has a dead zone like that in the case of the steering wheel of an automobile. Such forgoing of control presumably enhances energy efficiency and maneuverability during walking. Furthermore, the forgoing of control in specific situations, where we expect strict control, also appears in quiet standing. This suggests that interleg coordination in walking and quiet standing have a common characteristic strategy. Our discovery of the dead zone in the control of interleg coordination not only provides useful insight for understanding gait control in humans, but also should lead to the elucidation of the mechanisms involved in gait adaptation and disorders through further investigation of the dead zone.
Gestational diabetes mellitus dysregulates the PD-1/PD-L1 axis at the feto-maternal interface
Authors: Mihalic ZN. , Kindler O. , Raftopoulou S. , Santiso A. , Wadsack C. , Heinemann A. , Kargl J.
Published: January 2023

The most common pregnancy complication is gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which is a glucose tolerance disorder. Obesity and older maternal age, which are associated with low-grade systemic inflammation, are the main risk factors for GDM. To evaluate the complexity and differences in the immune landscape at the fetal-maternal interface, we examined the maternally derived tissue, decidua basalis (DB), from healthy women, women with obesity, and women with GDM using flow cytometry, western blot, and gene expression analysis. Our results showed that the immune cell composition of DB is not altered by obesity; however, in GDM pregnancies, the DB displays a dysregulated PD-1/PD-L1 axis and significantly reduced regulatory T cell (Treg) infiltration, suggesting reduced local immunosuppression. Our study provides a detailed picture of the immune landscape at the fetal-maternal interface in normal, obese, and GDM pregnancies. This will aid our understanding of possible dysfunctional immune mechanisms in GDM.
Diatom phytochromes integrate the entire visible light spectra for photosensing in marine environments
Authors: Duchêne Carole , Bouly Jean-Pierre , Karlusich Juan José Pierella , Sellés Julien , Bailleul Benjamin , Bowler Chris , d’Alcalà Maurizio Ribera , Falciatore Angela , Jaubert Marianne
Published: January 2023

Aquatic life is strongly structured by light gradients, with gradual decrease in light intensity and differential attenuation of sunlight wavelengths with depth. How phytoplankton perceive these variations is unknown. By providing the firstin vivoquantitative assessment of the action of marine diatom phytochrome photoreceptors (DPH), we show that they efficiently trigger photoreversible responses across the entire light spectrum, unlike current models of phytochrome photosensing. The distribution and activity of DPHs in the environment indicate that they are extremely sensitive detectors of spectral light variations related to depth and optical properties of the water column in temperate and polar oceans, revealing a completely novel view of how light is perceived in the marine environment.
Accounting, tax compliance and New Zealand indigenous entrepreneurs: a Bourdieusian perspective
Authors: Yong Sue , Fukofuka Peni
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study offers a Bourdieu-oriented analysis of the tax compliance practice for indigenous entrepreneurs in New Zealand. It examines the intersection of accounting and tax for Māori entrepreneurs and their relational interactions with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD)/state/Crown and accountants by considering the contextual factors of history, culture and society of Māori.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative research was adopted using face-to-face in-depth interviews with 34 participants and reviewing government documents. The authors analyse the tax compliance practice by drawing on Bourdieu's concepts of field, capital and habitus to conceptualise the tax field as a site of struggle for power and control by the IRD, accountants and indigenous entrepreneurs.

Findings

This study demonstrates how the tax field is structured as a game between tax reporting, taxpaying and monitoring functions. The position within the field is determined by the actor's access to the relevant capitals and habitus. It identifies how accounting, given its centrality to tax compliance, facilitates the power relations between the IRD, accountants and Māori entrepreneurs. The Eurocentric accounting-based tax reporting and the contextual factors illuminate how indigenous entrepreneurs are being dominated in the tax field. They experienced cultural dissonance with conflicting responsibilities when traversing the collectivistic indigenous and tax fields. Their collectivism involves sharing resources as they cherish whanaungatanga (relationship, kinship) and manaakitanga (kindness, generosity), which are at odds and are not valued in the tax field.

Practical implications

It is an empirical illustration of the connection between accounting, tax and power for indigenous taxpayers and their relationship with the IRD/Crown and accountants. It has practical implications for developing and enhancing tax compliance in jurisdictions with indigenous taxpayers. Such an understanding is helpful for policymakers, government, business agencies and the accounting professions when assisting, empowering and educating indigenous groups regarding tax compliance.

Originality/value

This paper responds to the call for accounting research with modern-day indigenous peoples rather than historical ones. The paper fills a gap in the accounting and tax literature by examining the tax compliance practice of indigenous small and medium enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs using Bourdieu's framework. It identifies how the role of accounting creates, maintains and reinforces power structures in the tax field. Tax/accounting reporting based on Eurocentric rules disempowers and alienates indigenous entrepreneurs. They misrecognise their actions in reproducing the existing power structures in the tax field due to deeply held historical and cultural factors about the fear of the Crown/state and their practice of rangitaratanga (esteeming authorities).
Examining the impact of gender power and gender diversity within the top management team on firm performance and firm risk
Authors: Walton Richard , Tribbitt Mark A.
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study moves beyond existing research on gender diversity to define a new construct – gender power. The study examines gender power within the top management team (TMT) and its relationship to firm performance and firm risk.

Design/methodology/approach

The study utilizes a cross-disciplinary combination of upper echelons theory and finance theory as a framework to further examine the impact of gender power within the TMT and its impact on firm risk and firm performance. Employing data collected for 2,570 American publicly traded small-, medium- and large-cap firms over a 20-year period, panel regression analyses were conducted for measures of firm risk and firm performance, beta and return on assets (ROA), respectively.

Findings

This study shows that gender diversity and gender power are two distinct constructs with different effects. The findings from this study suggest that gender power may be a stronger predictor of the relationship between firm performance and firm risk than simply gender diversity alone.

Research limitations/implications

This study was conducted based on a sample of publicly traded firms. These relationships may not be generalizable to firms in other contexts. Further, other variables representing firm performance and firm risk may add to this research.

Practical implications

Understanding the differences between gender diversity and gender power may allow firms to make more informed decisions when adding female executives to their TMTs.

Originality/value

This study proposes an objective representational indicator of structural power to measure the relative power of female executives of public companies that allows the expansion of existing research examining the distinction between gender diversity and gender power and their relationship to firm risk and firm performance.
The roles of internal marketing and person-organization fit in hospitality employees’ life satisfaction: an integration of work and nonwork domains
Authors: Thai Trung Dam-Huy , Nguyen Tin Trung , Chen Wen-Kuo , Tang Au Due
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Integrating the Stimulus-Organism-Response model, the spillover theory and the person-organization fit literature, this study investigates how internal marketing spills over its effects from the work domain to nonwork domains.

Design/methodology/approach

Data of 279 hotel employees working in the US were collected from a self-administered survey via Amazon Mechanical Turk.

Findings

Findings support the direct effects of internal marketing on job performance and job satisfaction, and of job satisfaction on life satisfaction. Moreover, results show the mediating roles of perceived person-organization fit, highlighting the mechanism by which internal marketing generates its spillover effect from the work domain to the life domain.

Originality/value

This study advances the conversation on employee-organization behaviors by revealing how internal marketing could lead to job satisfaction, job performance and life satisfaction. These insights reflect the true interconnection of human work and life. For hospitality employees’ well-being, this study encourages managers to simultaneously adopt and integrate the five functional activities of internal marketing (i.e. communication, compensation, welfare system, training and management support) in organizational operations.
The role of cultural distance in boosting international tourism arrivals in ASEAN: a gravity model
Authors: Heriqbaldi Unggul , Esquivias Miguel Angel , Agusti Kemala Sari
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore the role of cultural distance, economic integration, price competitiveness and substitution prices for tourism arrivals between 10 Southeast Asian (ASEAN) countries and 22 other origin countries from 2007 to 2019.

Design/methodology/approach

A panel-data gravity model is applied to estimate tourism demand in the ASEAN region. An index of cultural distance (time-variant) is introduced to examine the role of cultural differences across bilateral partners. Moreover, relative prices and substitution prices are introduced to the gravity equation to estimate price elasticities. Finally, this study tested whether the ASEAN free trade agreements (FTAs) encourage intraregional tourism arrivals. Two-panel regression approaches are used to test the model.

Findings

Cultural distance positively affects tourism inflows, boosting foreign arrivals. Income and price elasticities are important determinants in the demand model for ASEAN. A gain in price competitiveness versus alternative destinations can lead to substitution in destination choice. Meanwhile, geographic distance has a negative impact on arrivals, suggesting that connectivity and transportation are key in boosting tourism inflows in ASEAN. A decline in the disposable incomes of tourists caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may reduce tourism arrivals in the region. However, when currencies in ASEAN weaken, and consumer prices are lower than in other destinations, arrivals in ASEAN will be stimulated. FTAs have facilitated travel intra-ASEAN, which is an advantage over the extra-ASEAN sector.

Practical implications

Cultural heritage could be used in tourism promotion as ASEAN can attract tourists seeking novelty and new excitements. ASEAN countries could create complementary destinations and jointly promote cultural heritage to accelerate the region’s recovery. The depreciation of currencies in ASEAN and the gain in relative price competitiveness could attract more tourist visits, helping the region reestablish tourism activities in a postpandemic economy.

Originality/value

The model accounts for three key variables in the gravity approach: cultural distance in ASEAN tourism inflows, the effects of the ASEAN economic community on intraregional tourism, and relative and alternative price competitiveness. This study enriches the literature about tourism-demand approaches in modeling tourism arrivals.
Women on boards, firm earnings management (EM) and performance nexus: does gender diversity moderate the EM–performance relationship?
Authors: Mensah Emmanuel , Onumah Joseph Mensah
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to shed light on an essential role that “female directors” on boards of companies in sub-Saharan Africa play towards corporate financial performance enhancement. The study observes how board gender diversity moderates the relationship between earnings management (EM) and financial performance of firms in sub-Saharan Africa from a dynamic perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The study’s sample comprises 105 companies listed on the respective stock markets of nine sub-Saharan African countries. The data are collected from annual reports over the period 2007–2019, a total of 1,166 firm-year observations. Panel data models are used in the analyses.

Findings

The study finds that the performance effect of EM is contingent on board diversity and this finding persists even after controlling for dynamic endogeneity, simultaneity and unobserved time-invariant heterogeneity inherent in the EM and performance relationship.

Research limitations/implications

The findings should be understood within the context that, only available annual reports and audited financial statements that were filed with respective capital markets of the nine surveyed countries are used as source of information.

Originality/value

The current study is unique, in that, it is the first panel multi-cross-country investigation within Africa to introduce gender diversity in the study of the relationship between EM and firm performance. It therefore extends the agency theory by using gender diversity as a moderating variable in the EM–firm performance nexus.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on motivating factors affecting individual investors’ socially responsible investment decision: a comparative analysis of the USA, Germany and Japan
Authors: Murashima Miho
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Individual investors are experiencing serious sentiment shifts that influence their financial activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic while socially responsible investment (SRI) has garnered attention worldwide. This study aims to explore how individual investors’ sentiments and investment choices altered in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

We surveyed 1,219 individual investors in Japan, the USA and Germany using an online questionnaire and performed a cross-sectional analysis using logit and ordered logit regressions.

Findings

This study found that individual investor sentiment affects SRI after COVID-19, but not necessarily in the same manner. Return-focused aspects negatively affect their SRI, while relationship-oriented social issues positively affect it. In addition, the relationship differs by nation. Japanese investors anticipate shorter term SRI returns than the US and German investors. Only Japanese investors’ SRI decisions were impacted by the relationship-oriented social factors including the environment, diversity and employee rights and welfare.

Research limitations/implications

This study emphasizes the need for precise motivation characterization when evaluating the same issue. The author also identified the variance and characteristics among countries, which differ from previous research.

Practical implications

An academically credible image of the relationship will enable business managers to find appealing strategies. This study also suggests country-specific investor relations strategies.

Originality/value

This study differentiates return- and relationship-oriented social motivations for SRI into 14 components, thus clarifying the relationship mechanism between the COVID-19 pandemic and individual investors’ SRI behavior. Moreover, no study has compared individual investor sentiment and investment behavior affected by the pandemic in the three countries.
Stress-dependent unstable dynamic propagation of multiple hydraulic fractures: a review of stress shadow effects and continuum-discontinuum methods
Authors: Wang Yongliang , Liu Nana
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The unstable dynamic propagation of multistage hydrofracturing fractures leads to uneven development of the fracture network and research on the mechanism controlling this phenomenon indicates that the stress shadow effects around the fractures are the main mechanism causing this behaviour. Further studies and simulations of the stress shadow effects are necessary to understand the controlling mechanism and evaluate the fracturing effect.

Design/methodology/approach

In the process of stress-dependent unstable dynamic propagation of fractures, there are both continuous stress fields and discontinuous fractures; therefore, in order to study the stress-dependent unstable dynamic propagation of multistage fracture networks, a series of continuum-discontinuum numerical methods and models are reviewed, including the well-developed extended finite element method, displacement discontinuity method, boundary element method and finite element-discrete element method.

Findings

The superposition of the surrounding stress field during fracture propagation causes different degrees of stress shadow effects between fractures and the main controlling factors of stress shadow effects are fracture initiation sequence, perforation cluster spacing and well spacing. The perforation cluster spacing varies with the initiation sequence, resulting in different stress shadow effects between fractures; for example, the smaller the perforation cluster spacing and well spacing are, the stronger the stress shadow effects are and the more seriously the fracture propagation inhibition arises. Moreover, as the spacing of perforation clusters and well spacing increases, the stress shadow effects decrease and the fracture propagation follows an almost straight pattern. In addition, the computed results of the dynamic distribution of stress-dependent unstable dynamic propagation of fractures under different stress fields are summarised.

Originality/value

A state-of-art review of stress shadow effects and continuum-discontinuum methods for stress-dependent unstable dynamic propagation of multiple hydraulic fractures are well summarized and analysed. This paper can provide a reference for those engaged in the research of unstable dynamic propagation of multiple hydraulic structures and have a comprehensive grasp of the research in this field.
The reuse of DCMI metadata terms in linked open vocabulary
Authors: Zhang Aimin , Zhang Yingjun , Jia Junzhi
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore the reusing of Dublin core metadata initiative (DCMI) metadata terms on the linked open vocabulary (LOV) platform in the linked data environment to offer a better understanding of the reusing behaviour during the process of vocabulary construction and further explain why DC has become a popular vocabulary.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors selected LOV, as a typical linked data platform. The SPARQL language was used to acquire and parse data to examine the reuse types of DCMI terms, the reuse distribution of classes and properties in different semantic relation types among vocabularies, the subject and size of the reused vocabularies and the correlation between vocabulary reuse and data set reuse.

Findings

Results showed that DCMI metadata terms were reused by 83.7% of LOV vocabularies and became the core nodes on the vocabulary-linked network. Among the six relationships between vocabularies and the DCMI metadata terms, the metadata relationship is the most frequently used. DCMI metadata terms are reused by small- and medium-sized vocabularies and are not limited to subject domain.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies focussing on the roles of DCMI metadata terms in vocabulary reusing. Furthermore, it provides a systematic view of how these DCMI terms participate in the construction of other vocabularies and in features of reused vocabularies.
Smart working as an organisational process or as a social change? An Italian pandemic experience
Authors: Morea Donato , Basile Gianpaolo , Bonacci Isabella , Mazzitelli Andrea
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Along the coronavirus pandemic, huge business challenges are facing as a result of collapsing customer demand and organisational significant changes supported by digital development, while the increasing social and environmental needs involve business and individuals. The authors argue that this trend is modifying organisational and market logic, replacing them with values and practices linked to community-based models. The present work aims to study the impact that smart working (SW) has on the worker, seen both as a member of the organisation and the social community.

Design/methodology/approach

The study data were collected from a computer-assisted web interview administered in 2020 to public employees working for health agencies across the Campania region, in South Italy. To test the conceptual model, partial least squares-structural equation modelling is used. Considering the abductive soul of the research, the study represents a pilot survey that will deliver stochastic results to be subsequently replicated in all Italian health agencies.

Findings

The results of the research highlighted how the evolutionary dynamics of SW employees tend towards a reconceptualisation of workspaces, a redefinition of time and emotions and a better balance between work and personal life, thus creating a greater space for social and community aspects and determining a greater involvement in their working life.

Originality/value

This research introduces a new win-win logic in the labour market, one capable of generating advantages for people, organisations and the entire social system by allowing workers to better reconcile working times with their personal needs and with flexibility demands coming from companies.