bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scx-positive tendon cells are required for correct muscle patterning
Authors: Ono Yudai , Sato Tempei , Shukunami Chisa , Asahara Hiroshi , Inui Masafumi
Published: January 2021

The elaborate movement of the vertebrate body is supported by the precise connection of muscle, tendon and bone. Each of the >600 distinct skeletal muscles in the human body has unique attachment sites; however, the mechanism through which muscles are reproducibly attached to designated partner tendons during embryonic development is incompletely understood. We herein show that Screlaxis-positive tendon cells have an essential role in correct muscle attachment in mouse embryos. Specific ablation of Screlaxis-positive cells resulted in dislocation of muscle attachment sites and abnormal muscle bundle morphology. Step-by-step observation of myogenic cell lineage revealed that post-fusion myofibers, but not migrating myoblasts, require tendon cells for their morphology. Furthermore, muscles could change their attachment site, even after the formation of the insertion. Our study demonstrated an essential role of tendon cells in the reproducibility and plasticity of skeletal muscle patterning, in turn revealing a novel tissue-tissue interaction in musculoskeletal morphogenesis.

Graphical abstract
Elevated [CO2] concentration and nitrogen addition affects responses of foliar phosphorus fractions in invasive species to increased phosphorus supply
Authors: Zhang Lingling , Luo Xianzhen , Lambers Hans , Zhang Guihua , Liu Nan , Zang Xiaowei , Xiao Meijuan , Wen Dazhi
Published: January 2021

No studies have explored how the invasive species ofMikania micranathaandChromolaena odoratanadjust leaf phosphorus (P) among inorganic P (Pi) and organic P fractions to adapt the low soil P availability, especially under elevated CO2concentrations ([CO2]) and nitrogen (N) deposition. Here, we address this by measuring foliar total N and P concentrations as well as functional P fractions (i.e. Pi, metabolic P, lipid P, nucleic acids P, and residual P) of both invasive species and a native species (Paederia. scandens) growing under different P supplies, N, and N+P addition under both ambient and elevated [CO2]. Phosphorus addition greatly increased plant biomass and foliar P concentrations but did not significantly affect foliar N concentration and leaf mass per unit leaf area (LMA). In response to P addition, the concentration of metabolic P increased the most, followed by that of nucleic acid P, Pi, and lipid P, in all species by an average of 754%, 82%, 53%, and 38%, respectively. However, elevated [CO2] and N addition weakened this positive effect on concentrations of foliar P fractions in the invasive species. Our results indicate that elevated [CO2] and N addition allowed the invasive species to acclimate to a low soil P availability, supporting their successful invasion, through greatly reducing P allocation to non-metabolic foliar P fractions (phospholipids and nucleic acid P) to meet their demand for metabolic P and Pi for photosynthesis, rather than altering LMA.
Structured decomposition improves systems serology prediction and interpretation
Authors: Murphy Madeleine , Taylor Scott D. , Meyer Aaron S.
Published: January 2021

Systems serology measurements provide a comprehensive view of humoral immunity by profiling both the antigen-binding and Fc properties of antibodies. Identifying patterns in these measurements will help to guide vaccine and therapeutic antibody development, and improve our understanding of disorders. Furthermore, consistent patterns across diseases may reflect conserved regulatory mechanisms; recognizing these may help to combine modalities such as vaccines, antibody-based interventions, and other immunotherapies to maximize protection. A common feature of systems serology studies is structured biophysical profiling across disease-relevant antigen targets, properties of antibodies’ interaction with the immune system, and serological samples. These are typically produced alongside additional measurements that are not antigen-specific. Here, we report a new form of tensor factorization, total tensor-matrix factorization (TMTF), which can greatly reduce these data into consistently observed patterns by recognizing the structure of these data. We use a previous study of HIV-infected subjects as an example. TMTF outperforms standard methods like principal components analysis in the extent of reduction possible. Data reduction, in turn, improves the prediction of immune functional responses, classification of subjects based on their HIV control status, and interpretation of these resulting models. Interpretability is improved specifically by applying further data reduction, separation of the Fc from antigen-binding effects, and recognizing consistent patterns across individual measurements. Therefore, we propose that TMTF will be an effective general strategy for exploring and using systems serology.

Summary points

Structured decomposition provides substantial data reduction without loss of information.

Predictions based on decomposed factors are accurate and robust to missing measurements.

Decomposition structure improves the interpretability of modeling results.

Decomposed factors represent meaningful patterns in the HIV humoral response.
Uncertainty in cell fate decision making: Lessons from potential landscapes of bifurcation systems
Authors: Guillemin Anissa , Roesch Elisabeth , Stumpf Michael P.H.
Published: January 2021

Cell fate decision making is known to be a complex process and is still far from being understood. The intrinsic complexity, but also features such as molecular noise represent challenges for modelling these systems. Waddington’s epigenetic landscape has become the overriding metaphor for developmental processes: it both serves as pictorial representation, and can be related to mathematical models. In this work we investigate how the landscape is affected by noise in the underlying system. Specifically, we focus on those systems where minor changes in the parameters cause major changes in the stability properties of the system, especially bifurcations. We analyse and quantify the changes in the landscape’s shape as the effects of noise increase. We find ample evidence for intricate interplay between noise and dynamics which can lead to qualitative change in a system’s dynamics and hence the corresponding landscape. In particular, we find that the effects can be most pronounced in the vicinity of the bifurcation point of the underlying deterministic dynamical systems, which would correspond to the cell fate decision event in cellular differentiation processes.
Levenshtein Distance as a Measure of Accuracy and Precision in Forensic PCR-MPS Methods
Authors: Young Brian , Faris Tom , Armogida Luigi
Published: January 2021

Accuracy and precision determinations are standard components of method validations where they help to describe the performance of methods. Despite their importance, a standard approach to calculating these parameters is not available for forensic PCR-MPS methods that detect sequence-based alleles. In this paper, we describe a method based on the Levenshtein distance metric which aptly summarizes method accuracy in terms of the closeness of read sequences to reference sequences, and method precision in terms of the agreement among read sequences. Inaccuracy or imprecision in forensic methods can lead to wrong allele calls. By expressing method performance in terms of a distance metric, this method places PCR-MPS on equal footing with distance-based measures in PCR-CE methods. Summary statistics based on the Levenshtein distance can be used to compare performance of different kits, markers, sequencers, or methods.
Zebrafish model of human Zellweger syndrome reveals organ specific accumulation of distinct fatty acid species and widespread gene expression changes
Authors: Takashima Shigeo , Takemoto Shoko , Toyoshi Kayoko , Ohba Akiko , Shimozawa Nobuyuki
Published: January 2021

In Zellweger syndrome (ZS), lack of peroxisome function causes physiological and developmental abnormalities in many organs such as the brain, liver, muscles, and kidneys, but little is known about the exact pathogenic mechanism. By disrupting the zebrafishpex2gene, we established a disease model for ZS and found that it exhibits a pathological condition and metabolic failures similar to that of human patients. By comprehensive analysis of fatty acid profile, we found organ specific accumulation and reduction of distinct fatty acid species such as an accumulation of ultra-very-long-chain polyunsturated fatty acids (ultra-VLCPUFAs) in the brain ofpex2mutant fish. Transcriptome analysis using microarray also revealed mutant-specific gene expression changes that might lead to the symptom, which include reduction ofcrystallin, troponin, parvalbumin, and fatty acid metabolic genes. Our data indicated that the loss of peroxisome results in widespread metabolic and gene expression changes beyond the causative peroxisomal function. These results suggest the genetic and metabolic basis of the pathology of this devastating human disease.
Assessing psychosis risk using quantitative markers of disorganised speech
Authors: Morgan Sarah E , Diederen Kelly , Vértes Petra E , Ip Samantha HY , Wang Bo , Thompson Bethany , Demjaha Arsime , De Micheli Andrea , Oliver Dominic , Liakata Maria , Fusar-Poli Paolo , Spencer Tom J , McGuire Philip
Published: January 2021

Recent work has suggested that disorganised speech might be a powerful predictor of later psychotic illness in clinical high risk subjects. To that end, several automated measures to quantify disorganisation of transcribed speech have been proposed. However, it remains unclear which measures are most predictive of psychosis-onset, how different measures relate to each other and what the best strategies are to elicit disorganised speech from participants. Here, we assessed the ability of twelve automated Natural Language Processing markers to differentiate transcribed speech excerpts from subjects at clinical high risk for psychosis (N=25), first episode psychosis patients (N=16) and healthy control subjects (N=13; N=54 in total). In-line with previous work, several of these measures showed significant differences between groups, including semantic coherence and speech graph connectivity. We also proposed two additional measures of repetition and whether speech was on topic, the latter of which exhibited significant group differences and outperformed the prior, related measure of tangentiality. Most measures examined were only weakly related to each other, suggesting they provide complementary information and that combining different measures could provide additional power to predict the onset of psychotic illness. Finally, we compared the ability of transcribed speech generated using different tasks to differentiate the groups. Speech generated from picture descriptions of the Thematic Apperception Test and a story re-telling task outperformed free speech, suggesting that choice of speech generation method may be an important consideration. Overall, quantitative speech markers represent a promising direction for future diagnostic applications for psychosis risk.
Biogeographic position and body size jointly set lower thermal limits of wandering spiders
Authors: Monsimet Jérémy , Colinet Hervé , Devineau Olivier , Lafage Denis , Pétillon Julien
Published: January 2021

Most species encounter large variations in abiotic conditions along their distribution range. Climate, and in particular temperature, varies along clinal gradients, which determines phenotypic plasticity, local adaptations and associated physiological responses of most terrestrial ectotherms, such as insects and spiders. This study aimed to determine how the biogeographic position of populations and the body size of two wandering spiders set their limits of cold (freezing) resistance. Using an ad-hoc design, we sampled relatively large numbers of individuals from four populations ofDolomedes fimbriatusand one population of the sister speciesDolomedes plantariusoriginating from contrasting climatic areas (temperate and continental climate), and compared their supercooling ability as an indicator of cold resistance. Results indicated that spiders from northern (continental) populations had higher cold resistance than spiders from a southern (temperate) populations. Larger spiders had a lower supercooling ability in northern populations. The red-listed and rarestD. plantariuswas slightly less cold-tolerant than the more commonD. fimbriatus, and this might be of importance in a context of climate change that could imply colder overwintering habitats in the north due to reduced snow cover protection.
Pulled Diversification Rates, Lineages-Through-Time Plots and Modern Macroevolutionary Modelling
Authors: Helmstetter Andrew J. , Glemin Sylvain , Käfer Jos , Zenil-Ferguson Rosana , Sauquet Hervé , de Boer Hugo , Dagallier Léo-Paul M. J. , Mazet Nathan , Reboud Eliette L. , Couvreur Thomas L. P. , Condamine Fabien L.
Published: January 2021

Abstract

Estimating time-dependent rates of speciation and extinction from dated phylogenetic trees of extant species (timetrees), and determining how and why they vary, is key to understanding how ecological and evolutionary processes shape biodiversity. Due to an increasing availability of phylogenetic trees, a growing number of process-based methods relying on the birth-death model have been developed in the last decade to address a variety of questions in macroevolution. However, this methodological progress has regularly been criticised such that one may wonder how reliable the estimations of speciation and extinction rates are. In particular, using lineages-through-time (LTT) plots, a recent study (Louca and Pennell, 2020) has shown that there are an infinite number of equally likely diversification scenarios that can generate any timetree. This has lead to questioning whether or not diversification rates should be estimated at all. Here we summarize, clarify, and highlight technical considerations on recent findings regarding the capacity of models to disentangle diversification histories. Using simulations we demonstrate the characteristics of newly-proposed “pulled rates” and their utility. We recognize that the recent findings are a step forward in understanding the behavior of macroevolutionary modelling, but they in no way suggest we should abandon diversification modelling altogether. On the contrary, the study of macroevolution using phylogenetic trees has never been more exciting and promising than today. We still face important limitations in regard to data availability and methodological shortcomings, but by acknowledging them we can better target our joint efforts as a scientific community.
The p53-induced RNA-binding protein ZMAT3 is a splicing regulator that inhibits the splicing of oncogenic CD44 variants in colorectal carcinoma
Authors: Muys Bruna R. , Anastasakis Dimitrios G. , Claypool Duncan , Pongor Lörinc , Li Xiao Ling , Grammatikakis Ioannis , Liu Minxue , Wang Xiantao , Prasanth Kannanganattu V. , Aladjem Mirit I. , Lal Ashish , Hafner Markus
Published: January 2021

p53 is an intensely studied tumor-suppressive transcription factor. Recent studies suggest that the RNA-binding protein (RBP) ZMAT3 is important in mediating the tumor-suppressive effects of p53. Here, we globally identify ZMAT3-regulated RNAs and their binding sites at nucleotide resolution in intact colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. ZMAT3 binds to thousands of mRNA precursors, mainly at intronic uridine-rich sequences and affects their splicing. The strongest alternatively spliced ZMAT3 target was CD44, a cell adhesion gene and stem cell marker that controls tumorigenesis. Silencing ZMAT3 increased inclusion of CD44 variant exons, resulting in significant up-regulation of oncogenic CD44 isoforms (CD44v) and increased CRC cell growth that was rescued by concurrent knockdown of CD44v. Silencing p53 phenocopied the loss of ZMAT3 with respect to CD44 alternative splicing, suggesting that ZMAT3-mediated regulation of CD44 splicing is vital for p53 function. Collectively, our findings uncover a p53–ZMAT3–CD44 axis in growth suppression in CRC cells.
Calcium signaling instructs NIPBL recruitment at active enhancers and promoters via distinct mechanisms to reconstruct genome compartmentalization
Authors: Zhu Yina , Denholtz Matthew , Lu Hanbin , Murre Cornelis
Published: January 2021

During developmental progression the genomes of immune cells undergo large-scale changes in chromatin folding. However, insights into signaling pathways and epigenetic control of nuclear architecture remain rudimentary. Here, we found that in activated neutrophils calcium influx rapidly recruited the cohesin-loading factor NIPBL to thousands of active enhancers and promoters to dictate widespread changes in compartment segregation. NIPBL recruitment to enhancers and promoters occurred with distinct kinetics. The induction of NIPBL-binding was coordinate with increased P300, BRG1 and RNA polymerase II occupancy. NIPBL-bound enhancers were associated with NFAT, PU.1, and CEBP cis elements, whereas NIPBL-bound promoters were enriched for GC-rich DNA sequences. Using an acute degradation system, we found that the histone acetyltransferases P300 and CBP maintained H3K27ac abundance and facilitated NIPBL occupancy at enhancers and that active transcriptional elongation is essential to maintain H3K27ac abundance. Chromatin remodelers, containing either of the mutually exclusive BRG1 and BRM ATPases, promoted NIPBL recruitment at active enhancers. Conversely, at active promoters, depletion of BRG1 and BRM showed minimal effect on NIPBL occupancy. Finally, we found that calcium signaling in both primary innate and adaptive immune cells swiftly induced NIPBL occupancy. Collectively, these data reveal how transcriptional regulators, histone acetyltransferases, chromatin remodelers, and transcription elongation promote NIPBL occupancy at active enhancers while the induction of NIPLB occupancy at promoters is primarily associated with GC-rich DNA sequences.
The missing linker: emerging trends for H1 variant-specific functions
Authors: Prendergast Laura , Reinberg Danny
Published: January 2021

Major advances in the chromatin and epigenetics fields have uncovered the importance of core histones, histone variants and their post-translational modifications (PTMs) in modulating chromatin structure. However, an acutely understudied related feature of chromatin structure is the role of linker histone H1. Previous assumptions of the functional redundancy of the 11 nonallelic H1 variants are contrasted by their strong evolutionary conservation, variability in their potential PTMs, and increased reports of their disparate functions, sub-nuclear localizations and unique expression patterns in different cell types. The commonly accepted notion that histone H1 functions solely in chromatin compaction and transcription repression is now being challenged by work from multiple groups. These studies highlight histone H1 variants as underappreciated facets of chromatin dynamics that function independently in various chromatin-based processes. In this review, we present notable findings involving the individual somatic H1 variants of which there are seven, underscoring their particular contributions to distinctly significant chromatin-related processes.
A feed-forward regulatory loop in adipose tissue promotes signaling by the hepatokine FGF21
Authors: Han Myoung Sook , Perry Rachel J. , Camporez João-Paulo , Scherer Philipp E. , Shulman Gerald I. , Gao Guangping , Davis Roger J.
Published: January 2021

The cJun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway is activated by metabolic stress and promotes the development of metabolic syndrome, including hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance. This integrated physiological response involves cross-talk between different organs. Here we demonstrate that JNK signaling in adipocytes causes an increased circulating concentration of the hepatokine fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) that regulates systemic metabolism. The mechanism of organ crosstalk is mediated by a feed-forward regulatory loop caused by JNK-regulated FGF21 autocrine signaling in adipocytes that promotes increased expression of the adipokine adiponectin and subsequent hepatic expression of the hormone FGF21. The mechanism of organ cross-talk places circulating adiponectin downstream of autocrine FGF21 expressed by adipocytes and upstream of endocrine FGF21 expressed by hepatocytes. This regulatory loop represents a novel signaling paradigm that connects autocrine and endocrine signaling modes of the same hormone in different tissues.
Generalized cyclic contractions and coincidence points involving a control function on partial metric spaces
Authors: Mohanta Sushanta Kumar
Published: January 2021

Purpose

In this paper, we use the notion of cyclic representation of a nonempty set with respect to a pair of mappings to obtain coincidence points and common fixed points for a pair of self-mappings satisfying some generalized contraction- type conditions involving a control function in partial metric spaces. Moreover, we provide some examples to analyze and illustrate our main results.

Design/methodology/approach

Theoretical method.

Findings

We establish some coincidence points and common fixed point results in partial metric spaces.

Originality/value

Results of this study are new and interesting.
Disaster governance as the governance of decentralized systems: the case of the 2003 Bam earthquake in Iran
Authors: Farzadnia Armita , Fayazi Mahmood
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This study aims to yield significant insight into decentralized Disaster Governance (DG), explaining the passage from selecting actors and defining actions to determining outcomes in a decentralized process.

Design/methodology/approach

We adopt the systems thinking approach to investigate the reconstruction program after the 2003 Bam earthquake in Iran. In-depth interviews are our main source of data that are carefully triangulated with findings from the review of documents and our direct observations.

Findings

We detected many shortcomings in this program, among which incomplete decentralization is highly prominent. In the Bam recovery program, tasks were delegated to varied actors based on their capacities without considering potential conflicts of interests and their unbalanced authority to serve their benefits. Meanwhile, the impact of the country's unstable political climate on restricting or liberating actors' influence on the recovery program was overlooked. These split relationships between DG components finally obstructed decentralization by intensifying conflicts of interest, which eventually compromised recovery objectives.

Practical implications

The results reveal the importance of adopting mechanisms to ensure monitoring systems' and governments' neutrality and limit any political influence over the outcomes.

Originality/value

DG concept is relatively new in disaster literature and despite its advancement in the last two decades, many studies still contribute to the epistemology of DG and its assessment methodology. However, the relationship between DG's components remains still obscure. This study tries to bridge this gap and make the concept more practical.
University students’ self-regulation, engagement and performance in flipped learning
Authors: Park Sunyoung , Kim Nam Hui
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of students’ self-regulation, co-regulation and behavioral engagement on their performance in flipped learning environments in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

The subjects were college students taking an education course offered at a 4-year university in South Korea. Structural equation modeling was adopted to analyze 221 student responses.

Findings

The findings indicated that the more students self-regulated, the more likely they were to engage in co-regulation with other students in the class. Students’ self-regulation and co-regulation also significantly affected their behavioral engagement. Finally, students’ self-regulation positively affected their academic performance, while co-regulation and behavioral engagement did not affect their performance.

Originality/value

Based on these findings, this study provides meaningful implications for scholars and practitioners on how to select and use more appropriate instructional and evaluation strategies to improve students’ positive behavior, engagement and performance in a flipped learning environment.
Employability implications of artificial intelligence in healthcare ecosystem: responding with readiness
Authors: Jain Mahima , Goel Apoorva , Sinha Shuchi , Dhir Sanjay
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Intervention of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought up the issue of future job prospects in terms of the employability of the professionals and their readiness to harness the benefits of the AI. The purpose of this study is to recognize the implications of AI on employability by analyzing the issues in the health-care sector that if not addressed, can dampen the possibilities offered by AI intervention and its pervasiveness (Cornell University, INSEAD, and WIPO, 2019).

Design/methodology/approach

To get an insight on these concerns, an approach of total interpretive structural modelling, cross impact matrix multiplication applied to classification and path analysis have been used to understand the role of the critical factors influencing employability in the health-care sector.

Findings

This study primarily explores the driving-dependence power of the critical factors of the employability and displays hierarchical relationships. It also discusses measures which, if adopted, can enhance employability in the health-care sector with the intervention of AI.

Research limitations/implications

Employability also has an impact on the productivity of the health-care service delivery which may provide a holistic opportunity to the management in health-care organizations to forecast the allocation and training of human resources and technological resources.

Originality/value

The paper attempts to analyze AI intervention and other driving factors (operational changes, customized training intervention, openness to learning, attitude toward technology, job-related skills and AI knowledge) to analyze their impact on employability with the changing needs. It establishes the hierarchical relationship among the critical factors influencing employability in the health-care sector because of the intervention of AI.
Consumption values and mobile banking services: understanding the urban–rural dichotomy in a developing economy
Authors: Karjaluoto Heikki , Glavee-Geo Richard , Ramdhony Dineshwar , Shaikh Aijaz A. , Hurpaul Ashna
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This study develops a theoretical model of consumption values regarding the technology adoption of mobile banking (m-banking) services, with the financial service sector as the empirical context. This study aims to evaluate whether consumption values influence trust and intention. Furthermore, the authors explore how the consumer type (i.e. urban vs rural) differs in consumption values regarding adopting m-banking services.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this study were gathered from 246 responses collected from individuals living in a country with a developing market, using a survey instrument. The six study hypotheses were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling.

Findings

The authors found support for effects from functional, epistemic and emotional value on intention. Functional and emotional value significantly influenced trust, while social and epistemic value did not. Social value was a significant moderator between functional value and intention. Consumers who were relatively unconcerned with social value were more motivated by functional value, while consumers who placed great emphasis on social value were motivated by epistemic value. Multigroup analysis showed that the effect from functional value on trust was stronger for urban than rural customers, while the effect from emotional value on trust was stronger for rural than urban customers.

Practical implications

Overall, functional value is the strongest predictor of trust and intention; therefore, bank managers are encouraged to promote m-banking services' functional value to increase trust and attract more users by promoting their companies' m-banking application. M-banking customers can also be classified based on the benefits in which they are most interested.

Originality/value

The study is one of the first attempts to demonstrate empirically how consumption values' dimensions drive m-banking use among different types of customers in a developing market context with a high m-banking penetration rate.
Pre-disaster assessment of flood risk for mid Central Vietnam
Authors: Huynh Huong Thi Lan , Nguyen Hien Xuan , Ngo Thuy Thi , Van Hang Thi
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Nowadays, under climate change contexts, natural disasters are becoming stronger in intensity and probability. The impacts of natural disasters on people and the environment are also getting worse. The purpose of this study was conducted to provide a method of assessing disaster risks, in particular, floods for human life in Mid Central Vietnam.

Design/methodology/approach

The pre-disaster assessment method was used based on the analysis of hazard factors (Hazard-H), exposure to hazards (Exposure-E) and vulnerability (Vulnerability-V).

Findings

Flood disaster risks in the area are assessed and displayed on spatial maps. The districts in coastal plains of Quang Ngai and Thua Thien Hue provinces have the highest levels of risk. These assessments will play an important role in supporting flood prevention and mitigation in the region.

Originality/value

According to the authors, this is the first study assessing the flood risk in Vietnam on the pre-disaster perspective. The assessment provides a plain point of view on natural disaster impacts that supporting disaster prevention services.
Identifying export risks of non-oil products related to money laundering and related strategies
Authors: Tanabandeh Maryam
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify the risks associated with money laundering in the scope of non-oil products export and related strategies to manage them.

Design/methodology/approach

The statistical population of the research was the managers and experts of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration in Tehran. The sample needed for qualitative interviews was collected to the extent of theoretical saturation through a targeted judgment sampling. The qualitative data was analyzed by thematic analysis. In sum, 20 interviews were conducted.

Findings

Out of 181 subcategories extracted from verbal propositions, 41 core categories were extracted. In this way, 23 subcategories constructed final codes, 6 codes were export risks and 70 codes were final and 12 codes constructed strategy of export risk management.

Originality/value

This qualitative study provides the first exploration of the state-of-art on export risk management and money laundering.
Networked “bubbles”: study workgroups’ spatial adjacency preference using social network analysis methods
Authors: Zhou Yaoyi , Tagliaro Chiara , Hua Ying
Published: January 2021

Purpose

In large organizations, space planning relies on workgroup leaders to indicate spatial adjacency preferences. However, many factors affect workgroups’ adjacency preferences, and it is not clear how the choices are made. This paper aims to explore whether the adjacency preferences are influenced by the collaboration relationship or constrained by the organizational structure.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors studied a large company’s spatial adjacency planning with an in-depth analysis of its formal organizational structure and collaboration network. A sample of 183 managers was surveyed regarding groups with whom they want to be spatially adjacent and groups with whom they mostly interact. The data enabled us to test three structural factors related to adjacency preference: department affiliation, workgroup’s prestige and collaboration relation. The authors used the quadratic assignment procedure analysis to examine the correlations between network matrices.

Findings

The results suggest that department affiliation and collaboration relations are significantly correlated to adjacency preferences. The authors did not find evidence supporting the notion that a workgroup’s prestige affects the preference. Among the three factors, collaboration relation best predicts the preference, which echoes Penaet al.’s (1977) argument that space planners should look into how groups function, rather than merely following the organizational chart.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research was the first to explore the choice of spatially adjacent workgroup through a detailed network analysis of the formal structure, work collaboration relations and other group-level characteristics. The findings have noteworthy cross-disciplinary implications, given that spatial proximity can be taken as a human resource management strategy to facilitate the overall interactions between workgroups.
Social economy advancement: from voluntary to secure organizational commitments to public benefit
Authors: Haugh Helen M.
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explain the development of the social economy by analyzing when, why and how the community interest company (CIC) legal structure was established in the UK. The CIC legal structure was designed for social enterprise to ensure that company assets are committed to public benefit in perpetuity.

Design/methodology/approach

This research paper uses archival data and semistructured interviews to analyze the historical development of the social economy, emergence of social enterprise and the establishment of the CIC legal structure.

Findings

The historical analysis describes why and how the idea for the CIC emerged from practitioners and explains how collaboration between practitioners, lawyers, civil servants and politicians established the CIC as a new legal structure for social enterprise.

Practical implications

The analysis explains how practitioners influenced policy development and demonstrates how practitioner influence can be usefully incorporated into policy development.

Social implications

The CIC legal structure advanced the social economy by creating an institutionally recognized brand identity for social enterprise that locks assets to public benefit in perpetuity.

Originality/value

The paper presents a detailed empirical account of the establishment of a new legal structure for social enterprise and applies theoretical concepts to develop an integrated account of social economy advancement.
Modelling the relationship between population density and air quality using fractional Hausdorff grey multivariate model
Authors: Shi Kaihe , Wu Lifeng
Published: January 2021

Purpose

The proposed model can emphasize the priority of new information and can extract messages from the first pair of original data. The comparison results show that the proposed model can improve the traditional grey model.

Design/methodology/approach

The grey multivariate model with fractional Hausdorff derivative is firstly put forward to enhance the forecasting accuracy of traditional grey model.

Findings

The proposed model is used to predict the air quality composite index (AQCI) in ten cities respectively.

Originality/value

The effect of population density on AQCI in cities with poor air quality is not as significant as that of the cities with better air quality.
Multi-tissue layering and path planning of in situ bioprinting for complex skin and soft tissue defects
Authors: Wang Huichao , Lian Qin , Li Dichen , Li Chenghong , Zhao Tingze , Liang Jin
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Reconstructing multi-layer tissue structure using cell printing to repairing complex tissue defect is a challenging task, especially using in situ bioprinting. This study aims to propose a method of in situ bioprinting multi-tissue layering and path planning for complex skin and soft tissue defects.

Design/methodology/approach

The scanned three-dimensional (3D) point cloud of the skin and soft tissue defect is taken as the input data, the depth value of the defect is then calculated using a two-step grid division method, and the tissue layer is judged according to the depth value. Then, the surface layering and path planning in the normal direction are performed for different tissue layers to achieve precise tissue layering filling of complex skin soft tissue defects.

Findings

The two-step grid method can accurately calculate the depth of skin and soft tissue defects and judge the tissue layer accordingly. In the in situ bioprinting experiment of the defect model, the defect can be completely closed. The defect can be reconstructed in situ, and the reconstructed structure is basically the same as the original skin tissue structure, proving the feasibility of the proposed method.

Originality/value

This study proposes an in situ bioprinting multi-tissue layering and path planning method for complex skin and soft tissue defects, which can directly convert the scanned 3D point cloud into a multi-tissue in situ bioprinting path. The printed result has a similar structure to that of the original skin tissue, which can make cells or growth factors act on the corresponding tissue layer targets.
Socially responsible investment strategies for the transition towards sustainable development: the importance of integrating and communicating ESG
Authors: Sciarelli Mauro , Cosimato Silvia , Landi Giovanni , Iandolo Francesca
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Recently, socially and responsible investments (SRI) have constantly grown becoming a highly discussed issue. Therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to better understand if environmental social governance (ESG) criteria integration in investment strategies can support the transition of finance toward a more sustainable growth.

Design/methodology/approach

An explorative analysis based on a multiple case study has been conducted and addressed by a content analysis on the Key Investors Information Documents (KIIDs) that the sample companies published for 2020.

Findings

The achieved results demonstrated that the case companies differently integrated ESG into their SRI; thus, if some of them are quite near to a full integration, the others demonstrated less than a full commitment with ESG. This seems to be mainly due to the different approach that asset management companies (AMCs) and/or managers have adopted for integrating ESG criteria.

Research limitations/implications

Even though the achieved results offered some interesting insights for asset managers, the explorative and qualitative nature of this study and the small sample investigated somewhat limits it.

Practical implications

AMCs, consultants and managers in developing and implementing their SRI strategy could be much more focused on the importance of ESG integration for the transition toward a more responsible and sustainable finance (micro-level) as well as a more sustainable development (macro-level).

Originality/value

The paper provides new insights into the essence of SRI strategies and their potential to contribute to sustainable development. Thus, it tries to shed new lights on the role that ESG can have to stimulate and support investment decisions and, in so doing, contributing to make finance grow more sustainable.
Construction and dissemination of information veracity on French social media during crises: Comparison of Twitter and Wikipedia
Authors: Bubendorff Sandrine , Rizza Caroline , Prieur Christophe
Published: January 2021

In the crisis management literature information shared on social media during a crisis is relevant both to emergency agencies, when it establishes a more accurate situational awareness, and to citizens, when it enables a collective and coherent approach to the event (e.g. Stieglitz, Bunker, Mirbabaie & Ehnis, 2018, Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, 26(1), 4). Social media is, however, also considered as a place where “noise” and fake news can be dispensed (e.g., Alexander, 2014, Science and Engineering Ethics, 20(3), 717; Starbird, 2017, https://www.aaai.org/ocs/index.php/ICWSM/ICWSM17/paper/view/15603). In this paper, we analyse contributions on Wikipedia and Twitter during major crises in France through online ethnographies and semi‐structured interviews to investigate their roles in building and sharing information. Wikipedia has often been analysed as a collaborative tool but this approach has underestimated its use in reducing uncertainty in times of crisis. We demonstrate that despite their distinct pace and designs, Twitter and Wikipedia are used with seriousness by citizens in their dissemination of information. We also explain how social media change the landscape of means of communication for official institutions and citizens, and that they can be used in the same way. Finally, we stress the need for official institutions to integrate social media in their practices and interactions with citizens that they involve.
Modification of plant proteins for improved functionality: A review
Authors: Akharume Felix U. , Aluko Rotimi E. , Adedeji Akinbode A.
Published: January 2021

The market trend towards plant‐based protein has seen a significant increase in the last decade. This trend has been projected to continue in the coming years because of the strong factors of sustainability and less environmental impact associated with the production of plant‐based protein compared to animal, aside from other beneficial health claims and changes in consumers' dietary lifestyles. In order to meet market demand, there is a need to have plant‐based protein ingredients that rival or have improved quality and functionality compared to the traditional animal protein ingredients they may replace. In this review article, we present a detailed and concise summary of the functionality challenges of some plant protein ingredients with associated physical, chemical, and biological processing techniques (traditional and emerging technologies) that have been attempted to enhance them. We cataloged the differences between several studies that seek to address the functionality challenges of selected plant‐based protein ingredients without overtly commenting on a general technique that addresses the functionality of all plant‐based protein ingredients. Additionally, we elucidated the chemistry behind some of these processing techniques and how they modify the protein structure for improved functionality. Although, many food industries are shifting away from chemical modification of proteins because of the demand for clean label product and the challenge of toxicity associated with scale‐up of this technique, so physical and biological techniques are widely being adopted to produce a functional ingredient such as texturized vegetable proteins, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, clean label protein concentrates, de‐flavored protein isolates, protein flour, and grits.
Recovery of 3D footwear impressions using a range of different techniques
Authors: Larsen Hannah J. , Bennett Matthew R.
Published: January 2021

Three‐dimensional (plastic) footwear impressions are frequently found at, or in the vicinity of a crime scene, and may provide a valuable form of evidence or intelligence. This paper compares the traditional methods of casting and/or two‐dimensional photography with Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry. We focus both on the recovery of class characteristics (sole pattern) and randomly acquired characteristics caused by damage. We examine how different recovery techniques influence visualization of outsole features and discuss what effect this may have on evidential value. Five shoes and their associated three‐dimensional impressions made in both sand and soil were compared using a grid system and tread descriptors commonly used in the UK. We conclude that within the limitations of this study SfM photogrammetry allows superior levels of visualization of both class and randomly acquired characteristics, giving a better definition in detail in some instances. The use of SfM as a complementary approach can therefore lead to a potential increase in evidential value.
Response of gut microbiota to feed‐borne bacteria depends on fish growth rate: a snapshot survey of farmed juvenile Takifugu obscurus
Authors: Jin Xingkun , Chen Ziwei , Shi Yan , Gui Jian‐Fang , Zhao Zhe
Published: January 2021

Environmental bacteria have a great impact on fish gut microbiota, yet little is known as to where fish acquire their gut symbionts, and how gut microbiota response to the disturbance from environmental bacteria. Through the integrative analysis by community profiling and source tracking, we show that feed‐associated bacteria can impose a strong disturbance upon the hindgut microbiota of cultured fugu. Consequently, marked alterations in the composition and function of gut microbiota in slow growth fugu were observed, implying a reduced stability upon bacterial disturbance from feed. Moreover, quantitative ecological analyses indicated that homogeneous selection and dispersal limitation largely contribute to the community stability and partial variations among hosts in the context of lower degree of disturbance. While the disturbance peaked, variable selection leads to an augmented interaction within gut microbiota, entailing community unstability and shift. Our findings emphasized the intricate linkage between feed and gut microbiota and highlighted the importance of resolving the feed source signal before the conclusion of comparative analysis of microbiota can be drawn. Our results provide a deeper insight into aquaculture of fugu and other economically important fishes and have further implications for an improved understanding of host–microbe interactions in the vertebrate gastrointestinal tract.
Antioxidative response and photosynthetic regulatory mechanisms in common fig leaves after short‐term chilling stress
Authors: Mlinarić Selma , Cesar Vera , Lepeduš Hrvoje
Published: January 2021

Common fig (Ficus carica L.) is widely cultivated Mediterranean species. Such warm‐climate species are adapted to elevated temperatures and are susceptible to chilling stress (0–12°C). However, occasional short chilling periods are common during growing season in temperate areas that can affect functionality of the plant. The aim of this work was to investigate influence of short‐term chilling stress on antioxidative response and PSII photochemistry in developing leaves of two common fig varieties: Zamorčica and Green matalon. Leaves were detached from the trees, acclimated at room temperature in dark for 16 hr and then exposed to low temperature (10°C) at low irradiation (50 μmol m−2 s−1) for 4 hr. Dark adapted leaves were considered as the control. The damage to the membranes was determined as lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) while the antioxidative response was evaluated by determining activities of the selected antioxidative enzymes. Photosynthetic performance was analysed by measuring in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlF) increase. Relative accumulation of the main photosynthetic proteins (D1 and Rubisco LSU) was determined, as well. Due to efficient antioxidative activity, neither of investigated variety showed damage of the membrane lipids. Both varieties revealed functional antennae and its good connectivity to their reaction centres shown as negative L and K bands as well as stable D1 protein accumulation suggesting functional electron transport through photosystem II (PSII) and efficient primary photochemistry. Blocked electron flow further than QA resulted in limitation of the Photosystem I (PSI) functionality in both varieties. Due to differential relative accumulation of D1 and Rubisco LSU proteins upon the chilling stress, Zamorčica revealed greater decrease of the main photosynthetic parameters derived from in vivo ChlF induction (PItotal, PIABS and φP0) in comparison to Green matalon. In addition, increased specific energy fluxes through PSII in Zamorčica suggested its higher susceptibility to photoinhibition caused by chilling stress in comparison to Green matalon.