bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Age and cognitive load affect muscle activation profiles in response to physical perturbations while walking
Authors: Rosenblum Uri , Melzer Itshak , Friger Michael , Zeilig Gabi , Plotnik Meir
Published: May 2022

To maintain balance during walking, the central nervous system must adjust the base of support (i.e., modulation of step length and step width) to the center of mass displacement in every step. We aimed to explore age and concurrent cognitive attention-demanding task effects on lower limb muscle fiber type recruitment in response to unexpected loss of balance during walking i.e., perturbation. Twenty young (YA) and 18 older adults (OA), (27.00±2.79 and 70.13±3.95 years old, respectively) were exposed to unexpected perturbations, while walking on a treadmill, in virtual reality environment. Surface electromyography (sEMG) total spectral power for frequency bands associated with muscle fibers type I (40-60Hz), type IIa (60-150Hz) and type IIb (150-250Hz), from tibialis-anterior and vastus-lateralis muscles were analyzed. Four Generalized Estimating Equations models assessed age and cognitive attention-demanding task’s load association with lower-limb muscle activation patterns resulting from perturbation in single- and double-support phases of the gait cycle. Results show that OA employ a muscle fiber type IIa dominant increase strategy while YA show muscle fiber type IIb dominant increase in muscle fiber type recruitment in response to unexpected perturbations during walking. This suggests that the ability to recruit fast-twitch muscle fibers is deteriorated with age and thus may be related to insufficient balance recovery response.
A dual role for CRTH2 in acute lung injury
Authors: Bhattacharya Shreya , Ristic Nick , Cohen Avi J. , Tsang Derek , Gwin Meredith S. , Howell Rebecca , Young Grant M. , Jung Eric , Dela Cruz Charles S. , Gautam Samir
Published: May 2022

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening clinical condition defined by rapid-onset respiratory failure following acute lung injury (ALI). The high mortality rate and rising incidence of ARDS due to COVID-19 make it an important research priority. Here we sought to investigate the role of chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on Th2 cells (CRTH2) in ARDS. CRTH2 is a G protein-coupled receptor best studied in the context of type 2 immunity, but it also exerts effects on neutrophilic inflammation. To evaluate its role in mouse models of ARDS, we first examined its expression pattern on murine neutrophils. We found it is expressed on neutrophils, but only after extravasation into the lung. Next, we showed that CRTH2 expression on extravasated lung neutrophils promotes cell survival, as genetic deletion of CRTH2 and pharmacologic inhibition of CRTH2 using fevipiprant both led to increased apoptosis in vitro. We then evaluated the role of CRTH2 in vivo using a murine model of LPS-induced ALI. In line with the pro-inflammatory effects of CRTH2 in vitro, we observed improvement of lung injury in CRTH2-deficient mice in terms of vascular leak, weight loss and survival after LPS administration. However, neutrophilic inflammation was elevated, not suppressed in the CRTH2 KO. This finding indicated a second mechanism offsetting the pro-survival effect of CRTH2 on neutrophils. Bulk RNAseq of lung tissue indicated impairments in type 2 immune signaling in the CRTH2 KO, and qPCR and ELISA confirmed downregulation of IL-4, which is known to suppress neutrophilic inflammation. Thus, CRTH2 may play a dual role in ALI, directly promoting neutrophil cell survival, but indirectly suppressing neutrophil effector function via IL-4.
Cost-efficient whole genome-sequencing using novel mostly natural sequencing-by-synthesis chemistry and open fluidics platform
Authors: Almogy Gilad , Pratt Mark , Oberstrass Florian , Lee Linda , Mazur Dan , Beckett Nate , Barad Omer , Soifer Ilya , Perelman Eddie , Etzioni Yoav , Sosa Martin , Jung April , Clark Tyson , Trepagnier Eliane , Lithwick-Yanai Gila , Pollock Sarah , Hornung Gil , Levy Maya , Coole Matthew , Howd Tom , Shand Megan , Farjoun Yossi , Emery James , Hall Giles , Lee Samuel , Sato Takuto , Magner Ricky , Low Sophie , Bernier Andrew , Gandi Bharathi , Stohlman Jack , Nolet Corey , Donovan Siobhan , Blumenstiel Brendan , Cipicchio Michelle , Dodge Sheila , Banks Eric , Lennon Niall , Gabriel Stacey , Lipson Doron
Published: May 2022

We introduce a massively parallel novel sequencing platform that combines an open flow cell design on a circular wafer with a large surface area and mostly natural nucleotides that allow optical end-point detection without reversible terminators. This platform enables sequencing billions of reads with longer read length (∼300bp) and fast runs times (<20hrs) with high base accuracy (Q30 > 85%), at a low cost of $1/Gb. We establish system performance by whole-genome sequencing of the Genome-In-A-Bottle reference samples HG001-7, demonstrating high accuracy for SNPs (99.6%) and Indels in homopolymers up to length 10 (96.4%) across the vast majority (>98%) of the defined high-confidence regions of these samples. We demonstrate scalability of the whole-genome sequencing workflow by sequencing an additional 224 selected samples from the 1000 Genomes project achieving high concordance with reference data.
Uncovering Hidden Enhancers Through Unbiased In Vivo Testing
Authors: Mannion Brandon J. , Osterwalder Marco , Tran Stella , Plajzer-Frick Ingrid , Novak Catherine S. , Afzal Veena , Akiyama Jennifer A. , Barton Sarah , Beckman Erik , Garvin Tyler H. , Godfrey Patrick , Godoy Janeth , Hunter Riana D. , Kato Momoe , Kosicki Michal , Kronshage Anne N. , Lee Elizabeth A. , Meky Eman M. , Pham Quan T. , Maydell Kianna von , Zhu Yiwen , Lopez-Rios Javier , Dickel Diane E. , Visel Axel , Pennacchio Len A.
Published: May 2022

Transcriptional enhancers are a predominant class of noncoding regulatory elements that activate cell type-specific gene expression. Tissue-specific enhancer-associated chromatin signatures have proven useful to identify candidate enhancer elements at a genome-wide scale, but their sensitivity for the comprehensive detection of all enhancers active in a given tissue in vivo remains unclear. Here we show that a substantial proportion of in vivo enhancers are hidden from discovery by conventional chromatin profiling methods. In an initial comparison of over 1,200 in vivo validated tissue-specific enhancers with tissue-matched mouse developmental epigenome data, 14% (n=286) of active enhancers did not show canonical enhancer-associated chromatin signatures in the tissue in which they are active. To assess the prevalence of enhancers not detectable by conventional chromatin profiling approaches in more detail, we used a high throughput transgenic enhancer reporter assay to systematically screen over 1.3 Mb of mouse genomic sequence at two critical developmental loci, assessing a total of 281 consecutive 5kb regions for in vivo enhancer activity in mouse embryos. We observed reproducible enhancer-reporter activity in 88 tissue-specific elements, 26% of which did not show canonical enhancer-associated chromatin signatures in the corresponding tissues. Overall, we find these hidden enhancers are indistinguishable from marked enhancers based on levels of evolutionary conservation, enrichment of transcription factor families, and genomic positioning relative to putative target genes. In combination, our retrospective and prospective studies assessed only 0.1% of the mouse genome and identified 309 tissue-specific enhancers that are hidden from current chromatin-based enhancer identification approaches. Our findings suggest the existence of tens of thousands of active enhancers throughout the genome that remain undetected by current chromatin profiling approaches and are an unappreciated source of additional genome function of import in interpreting growing whole human genome sequencing data.
Engineered human cytokine/antibody fusion proteins expand regulatory T cells and confer autoimmune disease protection
Authors: VanDyke Derek , Iglesias Marcos , Tomala Jakub , Young Arabella , Smith Jennifer , Perry Joseph A. , Gebara Edward , Cross Amy R. , Cheung Laurene S. , Dykema Arbor G. , Orcutt-Jahns Brian T. , Henclová Tereza , Golias Jaroslav , Balolong Jared , Tomasovic Luke M. , Funda David , Meyer Aaron S. , Pardoll Drew M. , Hester Joanna , Issa Fadi , Hunter Christopher A. , Anderson Mark S. , Bluestone Jeffrey A. , Raimondi Giorgio , Spangler Jamie B
Published: May 2022

Low dose human interleukin-2 (hIL-2) treatment is used clinically to treat autoimmune disorders due to the cytokine’s preferential expansion of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (TRegs). However, high toxicity, short serum half-life, and off-target immune cell activation limit the clinical potential of IL-2 treatment. Recent work showed that complexes comprising hIL-2 and the anti-hIL-2 antibody F5111 overcome these limitations by preferentially stimulating TRegs over immune effector cells. Although promising, therapeutic translation of this approach is complicated by the need to optimize dosing ratios and by the instability of the cytokine/antibody complex. We leveraged structural insights to engineer a single-chain hIL-2/F5111 antibody fusion protein, termed F5111 immunocytokine (IC), that potently and selectively activates and expands TRegs. F5111 IC conferred protection in mouse models of colitis and checkpoint inhibitor-induced diabetes mellitus. These results provide a roadmap for IC design and establish a TReg-biased immunotherapy that could be clinically translated for autoimmune disease treatment.
Topography of mutational signatures in human cancer
Authors: Otlu Burcak , Díaz-Gay Marcos , Vermes Ian , Bergstrom Erik N , Zhivagui Maria , Barnes Mark , Alexandrov Ludmil B.
Published: May 2022

The somatic mutations found in a cancer genome are imprinted by different mutational processes. Each process exhibits a characteristic mutational signature, which can be affected by the genome architecture. However, the interplay between mutational signatures and topographical genomic features has not been extensively explored. Here, we integrate mutations from 5,120 whole-genome sequenced tumours from 40 cancer types with 516 topographical features from ENCODE to evaluate the effect of nucleosome occupancy, histone modifications, CTCF binding, replication timing, and transcription/replication strand asymmetries on the cancer-specific accumulation of mutations from distinct mutagenic processes. Most mutational signatures are affected by topographical features with signatures of related aetiologies being similarly affected. Certain signatures exhibit periodic behaviours or cancer-type specific enrichments/depletions near topographical features, revealing further information about the processes that imprinted them. Our findings, disseminated via COSMIC, provide a comprehensive online resource for exploring the interactions between mutational signatures and topographical features across human cancer.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

HIGHLIGHTS

Comprehensive topography analysis of mutational signatures encompassing 82,890,857 somatic mutations in 5,120 whole-genome sequenced tumours integrated with 516 tissue-matched topographical features from the ENCODE project.

The accumulation of somatic mutations from most mutational signatures is affected by nucleosome occupancy, histone modifications, CTCF binding sites, transcribed regions, or replication strand/timing.

Mutational signatures with related aetiologies are consistently characterized by similar genome topographies across tissue types.

Topography analysis allows both separating signatures from different aetiologies and understanding the genomic specificity of clustered somatic mutations.

A comprehensive online resource, disseminate through the COSMIC signatures database, that allows researchers to explore the interactions between somatic mutational processes and genome architecture within and across cancer types.
A new species of Cichlidogyrus Paperna, 1960 (Platyhelminthes: Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) infecting tilapias in Lake Kariba (Zimbabwe), with a discussion on its phylogenetic position
Authors: Geraerts Mare , Huyse Tine , Vanhove Maarten P. M. , Artois Tom
Published: May 2022

Monogeneans dominate the external parasite fauna of bony fish. During recent years, examination of more populations of species of Cichlidogyrus Paperna, 1960 has led to the (re)description of several species. Cichlidogyrus halli (Price & Kirk, 1967) Price, 1968, for example, has been redescribed several times in the past and has been proposed to encompass many (pseudo)cryptic species. In Lake Kariba (Zimbabwe), specimens of a species of Cichlidogyrus were found that morphologically resemble C. halli. These specimens were found on the gills of native Oreochromis cf. mortimeri and Coptodon rendalli (Boulenger, 1897), and introduced Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758). A detailed study of the morphology of these specimens, including morphometrics, and a thorough comparison with specimens of C. halli is presented. Part of the COI gene and 18S-ITS1 fragment were sequenced and analysed to provide insight into the phylogenetic placement of these specimens within the Cichlidogyrus-Scutogyrus monophylum. We found that C. halli and the new specimens sp. nov. are sister clades within the same monophyletic clade, and that clear morphological and morphometric differences are present in the dorsal bar of the haptor and accessory piece of the male copulatory organ. Based on these results, the new specimens are described as a new species: C. chloeae sp. nov. The role of introduced Nile tilapia as a potential reservoir for native parasites raises concern for potential spillbacks and stresses the need for further monitoring of monogeneans on native and introduced tilapias.
A human adenovirus encoding IFN-γ can transduce Tasmanian devil facial tumour cells and upregulate MHC-I
Authors: Kayigwe Ahab N. , Darby Jocelyn M. , Lyons A. Bruce , Patchett Amanda L. , Lisowski Leszek , Liu Guei-Sheung , Flies Andrew S.
Published: May 2022

The devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) has led to a massive decline in the wild Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) population. The disease is caused by two independent devil facial tumours (DFT1 and DFT2). These transmissible cancers have a mortality rate of nearly 100%. An adenoviral vector-based vaccine has been proposed as a conservation strategy for the Tasmanian devil. This study aimed to determine if a human adenovirus serotype 5 could express functional transgenes in devil cells. As DFT1 cells do not constitutively express major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I), we developed a replication-deficient adenoviral vector that encodes devil interferon gamma (IFN-γ) fused to a fluorescent protein reporter. Our results show that adenoviral-expressed IFN-γ was able to stimulate upregulation of beta-2 microglobulin, a component of MHC-I, on DFT1, DFT2, and devil fibroblast cell lines. This work suggests that human adenoviruses can serve as vaccine platform for devils and potentially other marsupials.
A unified neural account of contextual and individual differences in altruism
Authors: Hu Jie , Konovalov Arkady , Ruff Christian C.
Published: May 2022

Altruism is critical for cooperation and productivity in human societies, but is known to vary strongly across contexts and individuals. The origin of these differences is largely unknown, but may in principle reflect variations in different types of neurocognitive processes that temporally unfold during altruistic decision making (ranging from initial perceptual processing via value computations to final integrative choice mechanisms). Here, we address this question by examining altruistic choices in different inequality contexts with computational modeling and EEG. Our results show that across all contexts and individuals, wealth distribution choices recruit a similar late decision process evident in model-predicted evidence accumulation signals over parietal regions. Contextual and individual differences in behavior related instead to initial processing of stimulus-locked inequality-related value information in centroparietal and centrofrontal sensors, as well as to gamma-band synchronization of these value-related signals with parietal response-locked evidence-accumulation signals. Our findings suggest separable biological bases for individual and contextual differences in altruism and emphasize that these reflect differences in processing of choice-relevant information.
Topological defects govern mesenchymal condensations, offering a morphology-based tool to predict cartilage differentiation
Authors: Makhija Ekta , Zheng Yang , Wang Jiahao , Leong Han Ren , Othman Rashidah Binte , Ng Ee Xien , Lee Eng Hin , Tucker Kellogg Lisa , Lee Yie Hou , Yu Hanry , Poon Zhiyong , Van Vliet Krystyn Joy
Published: May 2022

A critical initial stage of skeletal morphogenesis involves formation of highly compact aggregates of mesenchymal cells, known as mesenchymal condensations, appearing as regularly-spaced pattern of spots. Conventional computational models to understand their patterning have been based on chemotaxis, haptotaxis, and reaction-diffusion equations. In this work, we investigate the mesenchymal condensations from a different perspective, namely topological defects within liquid crystal-like pattern. Using bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (bm-MSCs), we observed emergence of cellular swirls in confluent in-vitro cultures, followed by appearance of mesenchymal condensations at the centers of the selfassembled swirls. Specifically, the condensations appeared at the ‘comet-like’ (+1/2) and ‘spiral-shaped’ (+1) topological defect sites within the swirl pattern. Next, with the rationale that cellular swirls precede skeletal morphogenesis, and supported with the qualitative observation that swirl pattern-features are donor-specific, we probed the correlation between swirl pattern and the chondrogenic differentiation outcome of bm-MSCs. Towards this, we first generated and imaged cellular swirls systematically across 5 donors by controlling seeding density, culture vessel geometry, and culture duration. We observed that the swirl pattern features quantified as variance of coherency correlated strongly with the cartilage matrix proteins, sulfated glycosaminoglycan and collagen-II, quantified from the standard in-vitro chondrogenic differentiation assay. Our work shows that swirl-pattern quantification provides a novel and powerful tool to predict efficacy of bm-MSCs for in-vitro cartilage regeneration.

Significance Statement

Mesenchymal condensation is a critical stage in the formation of bone and cartilage, where the mesenchymal cells form high density cell clusters that are regularly spaced. In this work, we inspect the patterning of these condensations in-vitro from a novel perspective. We first show that at high density, bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (bm-MSCs) self-assemble to form cellular swirls resembling the vortices in a turbulent flow. This is followed by cell aggregations at the centers of the vortices, which show correspondence to mesenchymal condensations. Interestingly, we observed that the swirl pattern made by bm-MSCs isolated from human donors, varies from individual to individual and correlates with their propensity to differentiate into cartilage. This suggests that swirl pattern quantification via image analysis can be used to predict differentiation outcome, in context of regenerative cell therapy.
Benchmarks in antimicrobial peptide prediction are biased due to the selection of negative data
Authors: Sidorczuk Katarzyna , Gagat Przemysław , Pietluch Filip , Kała Jakub , Rafacz Dominik , Bąkała Laura , Słowik Jadwiga , Kolenda Rafał , Rödiger Stefan , Fingerhut Legana C H W , Cooke Ira R , Mackiewicz Paweł , Burdukiewicz Michał
Published: May 2022

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a heterogeneous group of short polypeptides that target microorganisms but also viruses and cancer cells. Due to their lower selection for resistance compared to traditional antibiotics, AMPs have been attracting the ever-growing attention from researchers, including bioinformaticians. Machine learning represents the most cost-effective method for novel AMP discovery and consequently many computational tools for AMP prediction have been recently developed. In this article, we investigate the impact of negative data sampling on model performance and benchmarking. We generated 660 predictive models using 12 machine learning architectures, a single positive data set and 11 negative data sampling methods; the architectures and methods were defined on the basis of published AMP prediction software. Our results clearly indicate that similar training and benchmark data set, i.e. produced by the same or a similar negative data sampling method, positively affect model performance. Consequently, all the benchmark analyses that have been performed for AMP prediction models are significantly biased and, moreover, we do not know which model is the most accurate. To provide researchers with reliable information about the performance of AMP predictors, we also created a web server AMPBenchmark for fair model benchmarking. AMPBenchmark is available at http://BioGenies.info/AMPBenchmark.
Activation mechanism of Small Heat Shock Protein HSPB5 revealed by disease-associated mutants
Authors: Woods Christopher N , Janowska Maria K , Ulmer Lindsey D , Sidhu Jasleen Kaur , Stone Natalie L , James Ellie I , Guttman Miklos , Bush Matthew F , Klevit Rachel E
Published: May 2022

Found from bacteria to humans, small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) are the least understood protein chaperones. HSPB5 (or αB-crystallin) is among the most widely expressed of the ten human sHSPs, including in muscle, brain, and eye lens where it is constitutively present at very high levels and carries out a myriad of functions. A high content of disorder in HSPB5 has stymied efforts to uncover how its structure gives rise to function. To uncover its mechanisms of action, we compared human HSPB5 and two disease-associated mutants, R120G and D109H. Expecting to learn how the mutations lead to loss of function, we found instead that the mutants are constitutively activated chaperones while wild-type HSPB5 can transition reversibly between non-activated (low activity) and activated (high activity) states in response to changing conditions. Techniques that provide information regarding interactions and accessibility of disordered regions revealed that the disordered N-terminal regions (NTR) that are required for chaperone activity exist in a complicated interaction network within HSPB5 oligomers and are sequestered from solvent in non-activated states. Either mutation or an activating pH change cause rearrangements in the network that expose parts of the NTR, making them more available to bind an aggregating client. While beneficial in the short-term, failure of the mutants to adopt a state with lower activity and lower NTR accessibility leads to increased co-aggregation propensity and, presumably, early cataract. The results support a model where chaperone activity and solubility are modulated through the quasi-ordered NTR and its multiple competing interactions.

Significance

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) are the oldest known protein chaperones, but how they recognize misfolding proteins in early stages of aggregation is unknown. Disordered regions within sHSPs are critical to their function, raising the question of how disorder recognizes disorder. We investigated a human sHSP (HSPB5) and two disease mutants using approaches that provide residue-level information in regions of disorder. The findings reveal that large, heterogeneous oligomers of HSPB5 contain complicated networks of interactions involving their disordered regions that protect them from solvent. Conditions associated with stress or disease mutations cause a rearrangement of the interaction network and enhancement of chaperone activity. The study provides new information regarding how disordered regions are modulated in a network of competing interactions.
Data science approaches provide a roadmap to understanding the role of abscisic acid in defence
Authors: Stevens Katie , Johnston Iain. G. , Luna Estrella
Published: May 2022

Abscisic acid is a plant hormone well known to regulate abiotic stress responses. ABA is also recognised for its role in biotic defence, but there is currently a lack of consensus on whether it plays a positive or negative role. Here, we used supervised machine learning to analyse experimental observations on ABA to identify the most influential factors determining disease phenotypes. ABA concentration, plant age and pathogen lifestyle were identified in our computational predictions. We explored these predictions with new experiments in tomato, demonstrating that phenotypes after ABA treatment were highly dependent on plant age and pathogen lifestyle. Integration of these new results into the statistical framework refined the quantitative model of ABA influence, suggesting a framework for proposing and exploiting further research to make more progress on this complex question. Our approach provides a unifying road map to guide future studies involving the role of ABA in defence.
Reported Health Benefits of a Vegan Dog Food – A Likert Scale-type Survey of 100 Guardians
Authors: Davies Mike
Published: May 2022

Introduction

There has been a surge in feeding plant-based foods to pets and advocates extol the health benefits of this practice. However, there is a lack of scientific evidence to support health claims for vegan diets in dogs.

Aims

This study aimed to quantify perceived health changes by dog guardians following the feeding of a single brand of UK-produced vegan food for a period of 3 to 12 months.

Methods

Dog guardians registered as feeding the vegan food for 3 - 12 months were invited to participate in an online Likert Scale-type survey of observations reflecting health status.

Results

100 guardians completed the survey. The vegan food was acceptable (palatable), and appetite and body weight were not adversely affected. Changes, including improvements, were reported in the following areas: body condition score (BCS), activity, faecal consistency, faecal colour, frequency of defaecation, flatus frequency, flatus antisocial smell, coat glossiness, scales in haircoat (dandruff), redness of the skin (erythema, inflammation), crusting of the external ear canals (otitis externa), itchiness (scratching; pruritus), anxiety, aggressive behaviour and coprophagia.

Conclusions

This is the first study to quantitatively document guardian reports of specific positive health benefits associated with feeding a UK vegan dog food. Further prospective, randomised, controlled clinical trials are needed to validate and determine the significance of these observations.
Beyond the dyad: uncovering higher-order structure within cohesive animal groups
Authors: Musciotto Federico , Papageorgiou Danai , Battiston Federico , Farine Damien R.
Published: May 2022

Revealing the consequences of social structure in animal societies is largely determined by our ability to accurately estimate functionally relevant patterns of social contact among individuals. To date, studies have predominantly built up social structure from dyadic connections. However, many associations or interactions can involve more than two individuals participating together, which current approaches cannot distinguish from independent sets of dyadic connections. Here we demonstrate the application of higher-order networks to detect the central roles of dominance and sex in structuring social groups of vulturine guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum). Specifically, we find that while females and low-ranking group members engage in more dyadic interactions, males and more dominant group members are substantially more likely to be observed forming hyperlinks—edges that contain more than two individuals (e.g. a triad). These results demonstrate how higher-order networks can provide a deeper understanding of the multidimensionality in the difference of centrality among group members.
A novel discrete grey model with time-delayed power term and its application in solar power generation volume forecasting
Authors: Li Ye , Bai Xue , Liu Bin , Yang Yuying
Published: May 2022

Purpose

In order to accurately forecast nonlinear and complex characteristics of solar power generation in China, a novel discrete grey model with time-delayed power term (abbreviated as TDDGM(1,1,tα) is proposed in this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, the time response function is deduced by using mathematical induction, which overcomes the defects of the traditional grey model. Then, the genetic algorithm is employed to determine the optimal nonlinear parameter to improve the flexibility and adaptability of the model. Finally, two real cases of installed solar capacity forecasting are given to verify the proposed model, showing its remarkable superiority over seven existing grey models.

Findings

Given the reliability and superiority of the model, the model TDDGM(1,1,tα) is applied to forecast the development trend of China's solar power generation in the coming years. The results show that the proposed model has higher prediction accuracy than the comparison models.

Practical implications

This paper provides a scientific and efficient method for forecasting solar power generation in China with nonlinear and complex characteristics. The forecast results can provide data support for government departments to formulate solar industry development policies.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this paper is to propose a novel discrete grey model with time-delayed power term, which can handle nonlinear and complex time series more effectively. In addition, the genetic algorithm is employed to search for optimal parameters, which improves the prediction accuracy of the model.
Understanding employees’ information security–related stress and policy compliance intention: the roles of information security fatigue and psychological capital
Authors: Chen Hao , Liu Mengya , Lyu Tu
Published: May 2022

Purpose

This study aims to explore the emotion-based mediator of information security fatigue in the relationship between employees’ information security–related stress (SRS) and information security policy (ISP) compliance intention and the effects of psychological capital (PsyCap) on relieving SRS and promoting compliance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors tested a series of hypotheses by applying partial least squares–based structural equation modeling to survey data from 488 employees in Chinese enterprises.

Findings

The results suggest that the relationship between SRS and ISP compliance intention is fully mediated by information security fatigue. Employees’ SRS promotes their information security fatigue, which reduces their intention to follow ISPs. In addition, employees with high PsyCap may experience low levels of SRS and information security fatigue, which promotes their willingness to comply with ISPs.

Originality/value

This study extends knowledge by introducing information security fatigue and PsyCap to the field of information security management, and it calls attention to the effects on information security behaviors of employee emotions and positive psychological resources in an organization. The authors reveal the emotion-based mediating effect of information security fatigue and the positive influence of PsyCap in information security management.
Global analysis of timely COVID-19 vaccinations: improving governance to reinforce response policies for pandemic crises
Authors: Benati Igor , Coccia Mario
Published: May 2022

Purpose

The goal of this study is to analyze the relationship between public governance and COVID-19 vaccinations during early 2021 to assess the preparedness of countries to timely policy responses to cope with pandemic crises.

Design/methodology/approach

This global study elaborates descriptive statistics, correlations, regression analyses and Independent Samples T-Test on 112 countries, comparing those with high/low level of governance, to determine whether statistical evidence supports the hypothesis that good governance can improve the timely administration of vaccines.

Findings

Bivariate correlation reveals that doses of vaccines administered × 100 inhabitants have a high positive association with the General Index of Governance (r = 0.58, p-value <0.01). The result is confirmed by partial correlation (controlling density of population per km2): r = 0.584, p-value <0.001. The coefficient of regression in the models also indicates that an increase in the General Index of Governance improves the expected administration of doses of COVID-19 vaccines (p-value <0.001).

Research limitations/implications

Although this study has provided interesting results that are, of course, tentative, it has several limitations. First, a limitation is the lack of data in several countries. Second, not all the possible confounding factors that affect the vaccination against COVID-19 are investigated, such as country-specific health investments and expenditures, and these aspects should be examined in the future development of this research. A third limit is related to the measurement of governance through the World Governance Indicators, which are based only on perceptions and can be biased by different socio-economic factors.

Practical implications

The identification of factors determining the timely vaccinations may help to design best practices of health policy for improving the resilience of countries to face pandemic crises.

Social implications

The improvement of preparedness of countries through good governance can foster a rapid rollout of vaccinations to cope with pandemic threats and the negative effects of their socio-economic impact.

Originality/value

This study presents a global analysis of the role of public governance for timely vaccinations to face pandemic crises in society.
Assessment of science, technology and innovation parks based on helices actors linkages
Authors: Amaral Marcelo G. , da Hora André Luis Furtado , Schocair Marília Medeiros
Published: May 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine the evolution of three science, technology and innovation parks (STIPs) located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from the perspective of the university–industry–government linkages.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a multiple case study organized in two stages: first, bibliographic and documentary research to develop a theoretical framework and description of the innovation environments; and second, interviews and forms filling with 13 managers and stakeholders, combined with participant observation. The analysis and assessment of the evolution of each environment are based on a tool named Amaral’s Model for Innovation Environment Management (AMIEM).

Findings

There are critical issues for the development of STIPs, namely, governance structure, government participation and the relationship with knowledge sources such as universities. The time of existence is not a significant factor in reaching evolution. Although common factors are present in all environments, local particularities, specific characteristics, regional vocations, management leadership and other elements have an impact on park performance.

Practical implications

AMIEM is an assessment tool and a technological product, useful in mapping and evaluating innovation environments.

Social implications

STIPs are dynamic and maturing, requiring active management and engagement with government and companies.

Originality/value

The results allow a better comprehension of the evolution and management of the STIPs located in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Another contribution lies in the organization of information to design public policies.
Empirical evidence of the relationship between terrorism and firm financial performance in Nigeria
Authors: Okafor Godwin , Calderon Camilo
Published: May 2022

Purpose

This paper investigates the relationship between terrorism and firm financial performance in Nigeria. The country has become one of the riskiest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa due to the intensity of recent terror attacks. Also, there is a growing focus on the importance of firms, given firms' economic contribution towards growth, employment and economic and industrial transformation. However, no study has tried establishing a relationship between terrorism and firm financial performance. Therefore, providing empirical proof of this relationship is the primary purpose and motivation of this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey (WBES) and the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) were used for this study. The baseline analysis was estimated using the pooled ordinary least squares regression technique. For robustness checks, the fixed effects technique was used to control for heterogeneity across the authors' sample of firms and unobserved factors that are time-invariant, while the IV technique was employed to control for any potential endogeneity.

Findings

The results obtained from the regression analysis were robust to different econometric estimations and approaches. Terrorism was found to have a consistent and significant negative impact on firm financial performance. Furthermore, the marginal effect of terrorism on firm performance was more substantial when state-level terrorism data were used.

Originality/value

Studies often focus on the impact of political instability (which is a measure subjectively based on perception) on foreign direct investment or on the activities of multinational corporations. The authors' research is new in supplying evidence of the relationship between terrorism (an objective measure) and the financial performance of manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Methodologically, this study also employed spatially distributed incidents of terrorism within the country. This is because incidents of terrorism are often spatially distributed within a country (i.e. province or state). This will provide new evidence of the effects of within-country variations of terrorism on firm financial performance.
My will to live
Authors: Murillo Fernando
Published: May 2022

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Can intelligent manufacturing empower manufacturing? – an empirical study considering ambidextrous capabilities
Authors: Lu Na , Zhou Wei , Dou Zhi Wu
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Intelligent manufacturing has attracted extensive attention from national strategy, academic research and enterprises' practices. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of intelligent manufacturing on performance in manufacturing firms. Moreover, how intelligent manufacturing technology affects enterprise performance, this study provided a practice that can be replicated by other businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses text mining to collect the intelligence level of Chinese listed companies. It uses quantitative analysis to test the proposed model based on samples of 2,091 manufacturers.

Findings

Intelligent manufacturing has positive effect on short-term performance and long-term performance. Intelligent manufacturing can empower firms with ambidextrous capabilities, including exploit capability and explore capability. Exploit capability has positive effects on short-term performance and long-term performance. Explore capability has negative effects on short-term performance, but has positive effects on long-term performance.

Originality/value

On the theoretical side, it enriches the research framework between intelligent manufacturing and enterprise performance. This study explains the preconditions and results of ambidextrous capabilities. Moreover, based on the practice-based view (PBV), this study proposes that technologies can be used as strategies, filling a gap in the existing research on strategic management. On the practical side, how to quantify the intelligent manufacturing level of enterprises provides a certain reference. Also, this study provides an easy to imitate practice that can serve as a model for under-performing enterprises.
Examining the status of IPSAS adoption at the country level: an analysis of the OECD member states
Authors: Bekiaris Michalis , Paraponti Thekla
Published: May 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of the adoption status of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) within Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member states at the country level and highlight the main factors impeding the process of accounting harmonisation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses factor analysis (FA) to assess the status of IPSAS adoption as the weighted average of the adoption levels of three categories: central government, sub-national governments, and country-level consolidation. Based on this assessment, the sample is classified into three levels of IPSAS adoption: high, medium, and low.

Findings

The findings suggest a slow trend towards accounting harmonisation and an increasing influence of IPSAS. However, evidence also suggests significant limitations in the adoption of the standards, mainly attributed to national adaptations, which undermine the ongoing efforts for standardisation.

Originality/value

This study provides an integrated view of IPSAS adoption at the country level and sheds light on a different aspect of the international harmonisation process, which is missing from the literature.
Effects of human capital on entrepreneurial ecosystems in the emerging economy: the mediating role of digital knowledge and innovative capability from India perspective
Authors: Chaudhuri Ranjan , Chatterjee Sheshadri , Vrontis Prof. Demetris , Vicentini Francesca
Published: May 2022

Purpose

This study empirically examines the relationship between human capital ecosystems and entrepreneurial ecosystems. The study also investigates the mediating roles of digital knowledge capability and innovation capability and the moderating role of technology turbulence in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Design/methodology/approach

The study takes inputs from existing literature and resource-based view (RBV) and absorptive capacity theories and develops a theoretical model. Later, the model is validated using the structural equation modeling technique with data collected from India-based startup enterprises.

Findings

The authors found a nexus between human capital and entrepreneurial ecosystems. The study also highlights that enterprises' digital knowledge capability and innovation capability significantly influence the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The study also found that technology turbulence has a significant moderating impact on the relationship between digital knowledge capability and innovation capability in entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Research limitations/implications

The study shows the importance of developing human capital for improving enterprises' innovation capability and digital knowledge capability, which are also important to develop the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Entrepreneurs can use the proposed model in their enterprises for appropriately developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Originality/value

The authors propose a theoretical model for entrepreneurial ecosystems, from the human capital perspective, which entrepreneurs could use to improve the overall organizational performance. Moreover, the model uses technology turbulence as a moderator, which is also a novel approach. The study also adds valuable knowledge to the overall body of literature of intellectual capital.
Intraspecific trait changes in response to drought lead to trait convergence between—but not within—species
Authors: Rodríguez‐Alarcón Slendy , Tamme Riin , Carmona Carlos P.
Published: May 2022

Drought is expected to increase in future climate scenarios. Although responses to drought of individual functional traits are relatively well‐known, simultaneous changes across multiple traits in response to water scarcity remain poorly understood despite its importance to understand alternative strategies to resist drought.

We grew 52 herbaceous species in monocultures under drought and control treatments and characterized the functional space using seven measured above‐ and below‐ground traits: plant height, leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, specific root length, average root diameter, and root dry matter content. Then, we estimated how each species occupied this space and the amount of functional space occupied in both treatments using trait probability density functions. We also estimated intraspecific trait variability (ITV) for each species as the dissimilarity in trait values between the individuals of each treatment. We then mapped drought resistance and ITV in the functional space using generalized additive models.

The response of species to drought strongly depended on their traits, with species that invested more in root tissues and conserved small size being both more resistant to drought and having higher ITV. We also observed a significant trend of trait displacement towards less conservative strategies. However, these changes depended strongly on the trait values of species in the control treatment, with species with different traits having opposing responses to drought. These contrasting responses resulted in lower trait variability in the species pool in drought compared to control conditions. Our results suggest strong trait filtering acting on conservative species as well as the existence of an optimal part in the functional space to which species converge under drought.

Our results show that changes in species trait‐space occupancy are key to understand plant strategies to withstand drought, highlighting the importance of individual variation in response to environmental changes, and suggest that community‐wide functional diversity and biomass productivity could decrease in a drier future. Knowing these shifts will help to anticipate changes in ecosystem functioning facing climate change.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Post‐translational modifications drive secondary metabolite biosynthesis in Aspergillus: a review
Authors: Yang Kunlong , Tian Jun , Keller Nancy P.
Published: May 2022

Post‐translational modifications (PTMs) are important for protein function and regulate multiple cellular processes and secondary metabolites (SMs) in fungi. Aspergillus species belong to a genus renown for an abundance of bioactive secondary metabolites, many important as toxins, pharmaceuticals and in industrial production. The genes required for secondary metabolites are typically co‐localized in biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), which often localize in heterochromatic regions of genome and are ‘turned off’ under laboratory condition. Efforts have been made to ‘turn on’ these BGCs by genetic manipulation of histone modifications, which could convert the heterochromatic structure to euchromatin. Additionally, non‐histone PTMs also play critical roles in the regulation of secondary metabolism. In this review, we collate the known roles of epigenetic and PTMs on Aspergillus SM production. We also summarize the proteomics approaches and bioinformatics tools for PTM identification and prediction and provide future perspectives on the emerging roles of PTM on regulation of SM biosynthesis in Aspergillus and other fungi.
Muting Science: Input Overload Versus Scientific Advice in Swiss Policy Making During the Covid‐19 Pandemic
Authors: Armingeon Klaus , Sager Fritz
Published: May 2022

This article explores why the Swiss Federal Council and the Swiss Federal Parliament were reluctant to follow the majority views of the scientific epidemiological community at the beginning of the second wave of the Covid‐19 pandemic. We propose an institutionalist take on this question and argue that one major explanation could be the input overload that is characteristic of the Swiss federal political system. We define input overload as the simultaneous inputs of corporatist, pluralist, federalist and direct democratic subsystems. Adding another major input—this time from the scientific subsystem—may have threatened to further erode the government's and parliament's discretionary power to cope with the pandemic. We assume that the federal government reduced its input overload by fending off scientific advice.