bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phage-bacteria dynamics during the first years of life revealed by trans-kingdom marker gene analysis
Authors: Tisza Michael , Lloyd Richard , Hoffman Kristi , Smith Daniel , Rewers Marian , Cregeen Sara Javornik , Petrosino Joseph F.
Published: September 2023

Humans are colonized with commensal bacteria soon after birth, and, while this colonization is affected by lifestyle and other factors, bacterial colonization proceeds through well-studied phases. However, less is known about phage communities in early human development due to small study sizes, inability to leverage large databases, and lack of appropriate bioinformatics tools. In this study, whole genome shotgun sequencing data from the TEDDY study, composed of 12,262 longitudinal samples from 887 children in 4 countries, is reanalyzed to assess phage and bacterial dynamics simultaneously. Reads from these samples were mapped to marker genes from both bacteria and a new database of tens of thousands of phage taxa from human microbiomes. We uncover that each child is colonized by hundreds of different phages during the early years, and phages are more transitory than bacteria. Participants’ samples continually harbor new phage species over time whereas the diversification of bacterial species begins to saturate. Phage data improves the ability for machine learning models to discriminate samples by country. Finally, while phage populations were individual-specific, striking patterns arose from the larger dataset, showing clear trends of ecological succession amongst phages, which correlated well with putative host bacteria. Improved understanding of phage-bacterial relationships may reveal new means by which to shape and modulate the microbiome and its constituents to improve health and reduce disease, particularly in vulnerable populations where antibiotic use and/or other more drastic measures may not be advised.
Do Fossorial Water Voles have a Functional Vomeronasal Organ? A Histological and Immunohistochemical Study
Authors: Ruiz-Rubio Sara , Ortiz-Leal Irene , Torres Mateo V. , Somoano Aitor , Sanchez-Quinteiro Pablo
Published: September 2023

The fossorial water vole,Arvicola scherman, is a herbivorous rodent that cause significant agricultural damages. The application of cairomones and alarm pheromones emerges as a promising sustainable method to improve its integrated management. These chemical signals would induce stress responses that could interfere with the species regular reproductive cycles and induce aversive reactions, steering them away from farmlands and meadows. However, there is a paucity of information regarding the water vole vomeronasal system, both in its morphological foundations and its functionality, making it imperative to understand the same for the application of chemical communication in pest control.

This study fills the existing gaps in knowledge through a morphological and immunohistochemical analysis of the fossorial water vole vomeronasal organ. The study is primarily microscopic, employing two approaches: histological, using serial sections stained with various dyes (Hematoxylin-Eosin, PAS, Alcian Blue, Nissl), and immunohistochemical, applying various markers that provide morphofunctional and structural information. These procedures have confirmed the presence of a functional vomeronasal system in fossorial water voles, characterized by a high degree of differentiation and a significant expression of cellular markers indicative of active chemical communication in this species.
The Role of ATP Hydrolysis and Product Release in the Translocation Mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 NSP13
Authors: Lawal Monsurat M. , Roy Priti , McCullagh Martin
Published: September 2023

In response to the emergence of COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, there has been a growing interest in understanding the functional mechanisms of the viral proteins to aid in the development of new therapeutics. Non-structural protein 13 (Nsp13) helicase is an attractive target for antivirals because it is essential for viral replication and has a low mutation rate; yet, the structural mechanisms by which this enzyme binds and hydrolyzes ATP to cause unidirectional RNA translocation remain elusive. Using Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (GaMD), we generated a comprehensive conformational ensemble of all substrate states along the ATP-dependent cycle. ShapeGMM clustering of the protein yields four protein conformations that describe an opening and closing of both the ATP pocket and RNA cleft. This opening and closing is achieved through a combination of conformational selection and induction along the ATP cycle. Furthermore, three protein-RNA conformations are observed that implicate motifs Ia, IV, and V as playing a pivotal role in an ATP-dependent inchworm translocation mechanism. Finally, based on a linear discriminant analysis of protein conformations, we identify L405 as a pivotal residue for the opening and closing mechanism and propose a L405D mutation as a way of testing our proposed mechanism. This research enhances our understanding of nsp13’s role in viral replication and could contribute to the development of antiviral strategies.

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POP-UP TCR: Prediction of Previously Unseen Paired TCR-pMHC
Authors: Tickotsky Nili
Published: September 2023

Motivation

T lymphocytes (T-cells) major role in adaptive immunity drives efforts to elucidate the mechanisms behind T-cell epitope recognition.

Results

We analyzed solved structures of T-cell receptors (TCRs) and their cognate epitopes and used the data to train a set of machine learning models, POP-UP TCR, that predict the binding of any peptide to any TCR, including peptide and TCR sequences that were not included in the training set. We address biological issues that should be considered in the design of machine learning models for TCR-peptide binding and suggest that models trained only on beta chains give satisfactory predictions. Finally, we apply our models to large data set of TCR repertoires from COVID-19 patients and find that TCRs from patients in severe/critical condition have significantly lower scores for binding SARS-coV-2 epitopes compared to TCRs from moderate patients (p-value <0.001).

Availability and Implementation

POP-Up TCR is available at:https://github.com/NiliTicko/POP-UP-TCR

Contact

nilibrac@bgu.ac.il
Machine Learning-Based Prediction of Free IgE Concentration in Allergic Rhinitis Patients Treated with Allergen Immunotherapy and Omalizumab
Authors: Olanrewaju Kazeem B. , Ngansop Djampou Laura Marthe Emilie
Published: September 2023

Free immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentration is a key biomarker for allergic diseases. Prediction of free IgE concentration can help clinicians diagnose and monitor allergic diseases more effectively. In this study, we used machine learning to predict free IgE concentration in the blood serum of patients with allergic rhinitis who received allergen immunotherapy co-administered with omalizumab. The predictors for free IgE concentration were the number of visits for treatment and baseline checking, and treatment groups (1) omalizumab/ragweed, (2) omalizumab/placebo, (3) placebo/ragweed, and (4) placebo/placebo. Several machine learning algorithms (MLA) were trained with the immunotherapy dataset imported from Immune Tolerance Network (ITN) TrialShare into the Orange data mining platform. The decision tree algorithm model amidst the list of MLAs trained and tested was the best performing model for predicting free IgE concentration, with an R-squared of about 0.6. This study demonstrates that machine learning can be used to predict free IgE concentration with high accuracy. This prediction model could be used to help clinicians diagnose and monitor allergic diseases more effectively.
Validation of cardiac image derived input functions for functional PET quantification
Authors: Reed Murray Bruce , Handschuh Patricia Anna , Schmidt Clemens , Murgaš Matej , Gomola David , Milz Christian , Klug Sebastian , Eggerstorfer Benjamin , Aichinger Lisa , Godbersen Godber Mathis , Nics Lukas , Traub-Weidinger Tatjana , Hacker Marcus , Lanzenberger Rupert , Hahn Andreas
Published: September 2023

Functional PET (fPET) is a novel technique for studying dynamic changes in brain metabolism and neurotransmitter signaling. Accurate measurement of the arterial input function (AIF) is crucial for quantification of fPET but traditionally requires invasive arterial blood sampling. While, image-derived input functions (IDIF) offer a non-invasive alternative, they are afflicted by drawbacks stemming from limited spatial resolution and field of view. Therefore, we conceptualized and validated a scan protocol for brain fPET quantified with cardiac IDIF.

Twenty healthy individuals underwent fPET/MR scans using [18F]FDG or 6-[18F]FDOPA, with bed motion shuttling between the thorax and brain to capture cardiac IDIF and brain task- induced changes, respectively. Each session included arterial and venous blood sampling for IDIF validation, and participants performed a monetary incentive delay task. IDIFs from fixed- size regions of the left ventricle, ascending and descending aorta, and a composite of all 3 blood pools (3VOI) plus venous blood data (3VOIVB) were compared to the AIF. Quantitative task-specific images from both tracers were compared to assess the performance of each input function.

For both radiotracer cohorts, moderate to high agreement was found between IDIFs and AIF in terms of area under the curve (r = 0.64 – 0.89) and quantified outcome parameters (CMRGlu and Ki(r)=0.84–0.99). The agreement further increased for composite IDIFs 3VOI and 3VOIVB for AUC(r)=0.87–0.93) and outcome parameters (r=0.96–0.99). Both methods showed equivalent quantitative values and high spatial overlap with AIF-derived measurements.

Our proposed protocol enables accurate non-invasive estimation of the input function with full quantification of task-specific changes, addressing the limitations of IDIF for brain imaging by sampling larger blood pools over the thorax. These advancements increase applicability to virtually any PET scanner and to clinical research settings by reducing experimental complexity and increasing patient comfort.

Graphical Abstract
Prevalence of COVID-19 and long COVID - Results from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 50 states
Authors: Adams Mary L. , Grandpre Joseph
Published: September 2023

Recent MMWR results estimate long COVID prevalence at 6.0% in June 2023, while the percentage of those with COVID reporting long COVID was 11.0%. The 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System addressed COVID (positive test) and long COVID (symptoms lasting ≥3 months) in a population-based sample from each state and DC. Results for 385,617 adults indicated 34.4% had ever had COVID, 21.9% of whom reported long COVID, representing 7.4% of all adults. State rates ranged from 25.4% - 40.8% for COVID and 4.1%- 11.1% for long COVID. Groups with high rates for both included women, younger adults, those with children in the household, plus those reporting obesity, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, or cardiovascular disease (CVD). Highest adjusted odds ratios for COVID were 2.34 (95% CI 2.20-2.49) for age 18-24 years vs. age 65+ while for long COVID it was 2.81 (2.53-3.13) for 3+ of the 5 conditions. Most frequently reported problems for those with long COVID were fatigue (26.0%), shortness of breath (18.8%), loss of taste or smell (17.2%), and memory problems (9.9%). Results show the need for state-based data and suggest a focus on younger adults is needed to address COVID and long COVID.
High-volume, label-free imaging for quantifying single-cell dynamics in induced pluripotent stem cell colonies
Authors: Asmar Anthony , Benson Zack , Peskin Adele P. , Chalfoun Joe , Simon Mylene , Halter Michael , Plant Anne
Published: September 2023

To facilitate the characterization of unlabeled induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) during culture and expansion, we developed an AI pipeline for nuclear segmentation and mitosis detection from phase contrast images of individual cells within iPSC colonies. The analysis uses a 2D convolutional neural network (U-Net) plus a 3D U-Net applied on time lapse images to detect and segment nuclei, mitotic events, and daughter nuclei to enable tracking of large numbers of individual cells over long times in culture. The analysis uses fluorescence data to train models for segmenting nuclei in phase contrast images. The use of classical image processing routines to segment fluorescent nuclei precludes the need for manual annotation. We optimize and evaluate the accuracy of automated annotation to assure the reliability of the training. The model is generalizable in that it performs well on different datasets with an average F1 score of 0.94, on cells at different densities, and on cells from different pluripotent cell lines. The method allows us to assess, in a non-invasive manner, rates of mitosis and cell division which serve as indicators of cell state and cell health. We assess these parameters in up to hundreds of thousands of cells in culture for over 20 hours, at different locations in the colonies, and as a function of excitation light exposure.
Mitochondrial regulator PGC-1a in neuronal metabolism and brain aging
Authors: Souder Dylan C , McGregor Eric R , Rhoads Timothy W , Clark Josef P , Porter Tiaira J , Eliceiri Kevin , Moore Darcie L , Puglielli Luigi , Anderson Rozalyn M
Published: September 2023

The brain is a high energy tissue, and the cell types of which it is comprised are distinct in function and in metabolic requirements. The transcriptional co-activator PGC-1a is a master regulator of mitochondrial function and is highly expressed in the brain; however, its cell-type specific role in regulating metabolism has not been well established. Here, we show that PGC-1a is responsive to aging and that expression of the neuron specific PGC-1a isoform allows for specialization in metabolic adaptation. Transcriptional profiles of the cortex from male mice show an impact of age on immune, inflammatory, and neuronal functional pathways and a highly integrated metabolic response that is associated with decreased expression of PGC-1a. Proteomic analysis confirms age-related changes in metabolism and further shows changes in ribosomal and RNA splicing pathways. We show that neurons express a specialized PGC-1a isoform that becomes active during differentiation from stem cells and is further induced during the maturation of isolated neurons. Neuronal but not astrocyte PGC-1a responds robustly to inhibition of the growth sensitive kinase GSK3b, where the brain specific promoter driven dominant isoform is repressed. The GSK3b inhibitor lithium broadly reprograms metabolism and growth signaling, including significantly lower expression of mitochondrial and ribosomal pathway genes and suppression of growth signaling, which are linked to changes in mitochondrial function and neuronal outgrowth. In vivo, lithium treatment significantly changes the expression of genes involved in cortical growth, endocrine, and circadian pathways. These data place the GSK3b/PGC-1a axis centrally in a growth and metabolism network that is directly relevant to brain aging.
Erythropoietin restrains the inhibitory potential of interneurons in the mouse hippocampus
Authors: Curto Yasmina , Carceller Héctor , Klimczak Patrycja , Perez-Rando Marta , Wang Qing , Grewe Katharina , Kawaguchi Riki , Rizzoli Silvio , Geschwind Daniel , Nave Klaus-Armin , Teruel-Marti Vicent , Singh Manvendra , Ehrenreich Hannelore , Nácher Juan
Published: September 2023

Erythropoietin (EPO) aids in rectifying hippocampal transcriptional networks and synaptic structures of pyramidal lineages, thereby mitigating mood and cognition-associated disorders. An imminent conundrum is how EPO restores synapses by involving interneurons. By analyzing ∼ 12,000 single-nuclei transcriptomic data, we generated a comprehensive molecular atlas of hippocampal interneurons, resolved into 15 interneuron subtypes. Next, we studied molecular alterations upon recombinant human (rh)EPO and saw that gene expression changes relate to synaptic structure, trans-synaptic signaling and intracellular catabolic pathways. Putative ligand-receptor interactions between pyramidal and inhibitory neurons, regulating synaptogenesis, are altered upon rhEPO. An array ofin/ex vivoexperiments confirms that specific interneuronal populations exhibit reduced dendritic complexity, synaptic connectivity, and changes in plasticity-related molecules. Metabolism and inhibitory potential of interneuron subgroups are compromised, leading to greater excitability of pyramidal neurons. To conclude, improvement by rhEPO of neuropsychiatric phenotypes may partly owe to restrictive control over interneurons, facilitating re-connectivity and synapse development.
Decoding time-resolved neural representations of orientation ensemble perception
Authors: Yashiro Ryuto , Sawayama Masataka , Amano Kaoru
Published: September 2023

The visual system is capable of computing summary statistics of multiple visual elements at a glance. While numerous studies have demonstrated ensemble perception across different visual features, the timing at which the visual system forms an ensemble representation remains unclear. This is mainly because most previous studies did not uncover time-resolved neural representations during ensemble perception. Here we used orientation ensemble discrimination tasks along with EEG recordings to decode orientation representations over time while human observers discriminated an average of multiple orientations. We observed alternation in orientation representations over time, with stronger neural representations of the individual elements in a set of orientations, but we did not observe significantly strong representations of the average orientation at any time points. We also found that a cumulative average of the orientation representations over approximately 500 ms converged toward the average orientation. More importantly, this cumulative orientation representation significantly correlated with the individual difference in the perceived average orientation. These findings suggest that the visual system gradually extracts an orientation ensemble, which may be represented as a cumulative average of transient orientation signals, through selective processing of a subset of multiple orientations that occurs over several hundred milliseconds.
Cellular complexity and crosstalk in murine TNF-dependent ileitis: Different fibroblast subsets propel spatially defined ileal inflammation through TNFR1 signalling
Authors: Iliopoulou Lida , Tzaferis Christos , Prados Alejandro , Roumelioti Fani , Koliaraki Vasiliki , Kollias George
Published: September 2023

Crohn’s disease represents a persistent inflammatory disorder primarily affecting the terminal ileum. Through the application of single-cell RNA sequencing, we unveil the intricate cellular complexities within murine TNF-dependent ileitis, developing inTnfΔAREmice. Detailed immune cell analysis highlights B cell expansion, T cell effector reprogramming, and macrophage lineage shifts during inflammation. Focusing on stromal cells, we reveal a strong pro-inflammatory character, acquired by all fibroblast subsets, which exhibit complex communication patterns with the infiltrating immune and surrounding stromal cells. Interestingly, we identify thatTnfΔARE-induced ileitis is initiated in the lamina propria via TNFR1 pathway activation in villus-associated fibroblasts (Telocytes and Pdgfralowcells). Furthermore, we unveil separate spatial subsets of fibroblasts acting as exclusive responders to TNF, each orchestrating inflammation in different intestinal layers. Additionally, manipulating theTnfrsf1agene exclusively in fibroblast subsets suggests that inflammation is initiated by telocytes and Pdgfralowcells, while trophocytes drive its progression. This introduces novel evidence of spatial regulation of inflammation by fibroblast subsets, inciting and advancing disease in different layers of the gut. These findings underscore the pivotal role of fibroblasts in the inception and advancement of ileitis, proposing that targeting different fibroblast populations could impede the disease development and chronicity of inflammation.
Inhibition of the macrophage demethylase LSD1 reversesLeishmania amazonensis-induced transcriptomic changes and causes a decrease in parasite load
Authors: Gutiérrez-Sanchez Maria , Zhang Sheng , Gharsallah Charfeddine , Lamotte Suzanne , Varet Hugo , Rachel Legendre , Dingli Florent , Loew Damarys , Rotili Dante , Valente Sergio , Mai Antonello , Loiseau Philippe , Pomel Sébastien , Jung Manfred , Lecoeur Hervé , Prina Eric , Späth Gerald F.
Published: September 2023

Intracellular pathogens exploit host cell functions to favor their own survival. In recent years, the subversion of epigenetic regulation has emerged as a key microbial strategy to modify host cell gene expression and evade antimicrobial immune responses. Using the protozoan parasiteLeishmaniaas a model system, we have recently demonstrated that infection causes histone H3 hypomethylation, which is associated with the establishment of an anti-inflammatory phenotype, suggesting that host cell demethylases may play a role in the intracellular survival of these parasites. In this study, we employed a combination of pharmacological, RNA sequencing and interaction studies to investigate the role of the macrophage lysine demethylase LSD1 (KDM1a) inLeishmaniaintracellular infectionin vitro. Treatment of infected macrophages with two validated LSD1-specific inhibitors resulted in a significant reduction in parasite burden. We confirmed the impact of these inhibitors on LSD1 activity within macrophage nuclear extracts using anin vitrodemethylase assay and established their LSD1 target engagementin situby cellular thermal shift assay. RNA-seq analysis of infected and inhibitor-treated macrophages linked parasite killing to a partial reversion of infection-dependent expression changes, restoring the macrophage anti-microbial response and limiting cholesterol biosynthesis. While we ruled out any impact ofLeishmaniaon LSD1 expression or localization, we uncovered significant alterations in LSD1 complex formation within infected macrophages, involving unique interactions with host proteins as well as interactions withLeishmaniaproteins that appear to be secreted into the macrophage nucleus. Our study sheds important new light on the epigenetic mechanisms of macrophage immuno-metabolic subversion by intracellularLeishmaniaand identifies LSD1 as a potential candidate for host-directed, anti-leishmanial therapy.
Degraded tactile coding in the Cntnap2 mouse model of autism
Authors: Wang Han Chin , Feldman Daniel E.
Published: September 2023

Atypical sensory processing in autism involves altered neural circuit function and neural coding in sensory cortex, but the nature of coding disruption is poorly understood. We characterized neural coding in L2/3 of whisker somatosensory cortex (S1) ofCntnap2-/-mice, an autism model with pronounced hypofunction of parvalbumin (PV) inhibitory circuits. We tested for both excess spiking, which is often hypothesized in autism models with reduced inhibition, and alterations in somatotopic coding, using c-fos immunostaining and 2-photon calcium imaging in awake mice. InCntnap2-/-mice, c- fos-(+) neuron density was elevated in L2/3 of S1 under spontaneous activity conditions, but comparable to control mice after whisker stimulation, suggesting that sensory-evoked spiking was relatively normal. 2-photon GCaMP8m imaging in L2/3 pyramidal cells revealed no increase in whisker-evoked response magnitude, but instead showed multiple signs of degraded somatotopic coding. These included broadening of whisker tuning curves, blurring of the whisker map, and blunting of the point representation of each whisker. These altered properties were more pronounced in noisy than sparse sensory conditions. Tuning instability, assessed over 2-3 weeks of longitudinal imaging, was also significantly increased inCntnap2-/-mice. Thus,Cntnap2-/-mice show no excess spiking, but a degraded and unstable tactile code in S1.
We set them up for failure: performativity, corporate reporting and decolonisation
Authors: Norris Ellie , Kutubi Shawgat , Greenland Steven , Wallace Ruth
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This research aims to examine the performativity of corporate reports as an example of an accounting inscription that can frame the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entities and their stakeholders. The framing and overflow effects of these reports have been explored to consider whether they strengthen or undermine the reputation and capability of these community-controlled entities.

Design/methodology/approach

Aligned with actor–network theory and a decolonising research protocol, qualitative interviews were conducted with senior managers and directors of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entities and their key stakeholders to explore their experiences of corporate reporting. Additional analysis of these organisations' annual reports was conducted to corroborate key reporting themes.

Findings

This research has identified a dual role for corporate reporting, simultaneously framing performance against an expectation of failure, but with the potential for accounting inscriptions to highlight positive contributions to cultural and community priorities. It also indicates the need for sector specifics within the reporting frameworks and adequate resourcing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entities to meet reporting obligations.

Practical implications

This research makes policy-based recommendations in terms of user-driven and culturally informed performance measures. It also highlights the importance of adequate funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entities to carry out meaningful performance evaluations beyond the preparation of financial statements.

Originality/value

One of the few empirical studies to capture the performativity of accounting inscriptions from the perspective of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entities. This sector has received minimal attention within the accounting discipline, despite significantly contributing to community well-being and cultural protection. There is emancipatory potential via policy frameworks that resonate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural beliefs and practices.
CEO successions in times of decline and prosperity: restoring aspiration and performance implications in family firms
Authors: Calabrò Andrea , Torchia Mariateresa , Yezza Hedi , Quarato Fabio
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to develop and test a behavioral theory of chief executive officer (CEO) succession and its performance consequences in family firms. Building upon performance feedback and slack research, the study hypothesizes that the effect of selecting a non-family outsider CEO on post-succession firm performance is contingent upon pre-succession firm performance aspirations level and the available slack resources.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses are tested using a panel of 430 CEO successions in Italian family firms.

Findings

The findings show that a non-family outsider CEO is particularly valuable when performance resides far below aspiration levels, and there is a high availability of slack resources.

Originality/value

The study provides novel insights of the benefits and drawbacks of selecting non-family outsider CEOs offering behavioral-based theoretical explanations of performance consequences of CEO successions.
The role of ethical leadership and psychological capital in influencing employee attitudes: a moderated-mediation model
Authors: Loghman Saeed , Quinn Michael , Dawkins Sarah , Scott Jenn
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Research has consistently demonstrated that psychological capital (PsyCap) is an important predictor of various employee outcomes. Despite this, there is a paucity of knowledge regarding antecedents of PsyCap and the boundary conditions that influence PsyCap relationships. This study aimed to address these gaps by investigating how ethical leadership (EL) influences employee PsyCap, and in turn, predicts a range of desirable and undesirable employee attitudes. Furthermore, the study examined the moderating role of length of the leader-follower relationship (LLR) and organisational identification in these relationships in a novel moderated-mediation model.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 269 full-time employees in Australia via an online survey across two time-points.

Findings

The results show that PsyCap mediates the relationship between EL and employee attitudes. The results also indicate that LLR moderates these relationships, whereby these relationships are strengthened as LLR increases.

Originality/value

This study responds to calls for further investigation of antecedent and outcome variables related to PsyCap, as well as moderators of the relationships between PsyCap and antecedent and outcome variables. The findings also extend the application of social exchange theory to the context of EL and PsyCap.
Do all CEO pay regulations hurt firm performance? Evidence from China
Authors: Tong Xiaochuan , Wang Weijie , Liu Yaowu
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The authors study and compare the effects of three CEO compensation restricting policies issued by the Chinese government in 2009, 2012 and 2015. This paper aims to shed light on the conditions under which CEO compenstation can be effectively regulated without negatively affecting firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

These policies targeted state-owned enterprises (SOEs), especially central state-owned enterprises (CSOEs). Using these policies as natural experiments, the authors investigate how their effects differ on CEO compensation, firm performance and two known performance-decreasing mechanisms: perk consumption and tunneling activities.

Findings

The authors show that restricting CEO pay does not necessarily backfire in terms of deteriorating firm performance. This non-decreasing firm performance can be achieved by restricting perk consumption and tunneling activities while introducing CEO pay regulations.

Originality/value

The authors exploit a powerful experimental setting in the context of China. The evidence contributes to the literature on CEO pay regulations and is relevant to the managerial decisions of policy makers and boards of directors.
Strategies for the ISO 9001 certification life cycle (StrategISO)
Authors: Cândido Carlos J.F.
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Certified and non-certified organisations must make strategic decisions regarding ISO 9001 adoption, maintenance, renewal and abandonment. However, the ISO 9001 literature lacks a typology of the strategic options available to these organisations. The purpose of this conceptual study is to develop a framework of the alternative strategies for the stages of the ISO 9001 life cycle (implementation/certification, certification maintenance and recertification/decertification stages).

Design/methodology/approach

The research method is based on literature review, selection of relevant variables and synthesis of coherent alternative strategies.

Findings

Results include the main variables of relevance for the definition of the ISO 9001 strategies (e.g. life cycle stage, organisational motivations, barriers, benefits, internalisation degree and quality of the certification body), the main situations in which organisations can find themselves (in terms of ISO 9001 certification, maintenance and decertification), the strategic options for each situation (e.g.: certify, maintain certification, try harder, change certification body, intensify learning and experimentation with ISO 9001) and the implications and consequences of such options. Research results are integrated into a strategy framework, composed of three strategy matrices, one for each stage of the life cycle. The matrices present the strategic situations, available strategic alternatives and benefits of the strategies.

Originality/value

This study combines the results of previous research to develop an original strategy framework, which constitutes the main research contribution. As far as the author is aware, there is no such strategy framework in the literature. The framework has relevant implications for theory and practice and helps to identify future research directions.
We're all in this together: addressing post-pandemic challenges of Indian rural society
Authors: Gupta Aanchal , Singh Samar
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This qualitative study explores how technologically challenged Indian rural communities adjusted to the tech-driven work system successfully in the post-pandemic era.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative semi-structured interviews with multiple Indian rural households conducted in the years 2021 and 2022 were employed.

Findings

The findings highlight the critical role played by the social capital in addressing the issues that Indian rural communities were facing in their work setting as a direct result of the COVID-19 outbreak. The embedded social network and social values in rural society came to the rescue when other tangible resources were not available for everyone.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to Bourdieu's theory of Social Capital by discovering that social capital can be utilized to gain existential advantages in extraordinary circumstances of (work) life.

Practical implications

Policymakers should acknowledge the presence of social capital in societies, especially rural ones. Social capital plays a significant role in the execution of relevant society-level tasks and can further help in dealing with certain materialistic impediments.

Social implications

Investments in community infrastructure, education and communication strategies can enhance social capital's role in crisis response.

Originality/value

This study is original as it is the first one that studies the significance of social capital in a post-pandemic environment, especially when the availability of required technological resources is rare.
Family business succession: opportunities from the Victorian wine industry
Authors: Strickland Paul , Ratten Vanessa
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the opportunities of continuous family succession in operating small-to-medium-sized wineries (SMWs) in Victoria, Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

Using case studies from Victoria, an exploratory qualitative approach was used to explore the benefits of continuous family succession in this conceptual paper. This included interviewing participants from wineries about their perceptions about family business succession. Themed analysis was applied to highlight the findings and overall conclusions about why the wine industry was affected more than other industries with regard to family business succession issues.

Findings

The three main findings of this study include family succession is extremely important in building a story customers can relate to; family reinvestment opportunities for financial sustainability and innovation of the winery and family succession for future employment and legacy. These three findings highlight the way family business succession is integral to the successfulness of the wine industry.

Practical implications

Small-to-medium-sized wineries (SMWs) have many challenges including long-term financial sustainability and innovation opportunities. To assist in overcoming these challenges, the findings suggest winery owners need to create lasting legacy through story-telling, competitive advantage and family linkage (succession). This will assist wineries to create marketing campaigns focussing on family succession and brand attachment, seven opportunities for family reinvestment and innovation leading to financial sustainability and competitive advantage.

Originality/value

There is little research investigating family succession in the Victorian wine industry even though it is common practice and essential to marketing and communication campaigns. This paper supports continuous family succession as a legitimate marketing technique and long-term financial sustainability and innovation for small-to-medium-sized wineries (SMWs) through reinvestment opportunities. This is the first time small-to-medium-sized wineries have been defined as SMWs and reinvestment opportunities have been identified by wine stakeholders.
Immersive gaming in the fashion arena: an investigation of brand coolness and its mediating role on brand equity
Authors: Salem Suha Fouad , Alanadoly Alshaimaa Bahgat , Sulaiman Mohammed Ali Bait Ali
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study's aim was to investigate the role of the perceived values of gaming on consumers' perceptions of brands as cool as well as the impacts on the consumer–brand equity relationship. The study proposed a framework highlighting the influences of fashion-branded games on brand coolness and building fashion brands' overall equity. As significant factors affecting gamers, gender and gaming have been studied as moderators affecting the overall proposed framework.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative method was used to assess the significance of the relationships within the proposed model. Partial least squares structural equation modeling technique was implemented to assess the framework's relationships with a sample size of 248 active online gamers.

Findings

The findings indicate that brand equity is positively associated with perceived brand coolness. Furthermore, of the three core online game values, perceived enjoyment was most strongly associated with perceived brand coolness, with other values, such as self-expression and perceived emotional challenge, having a weaker association. The multigroup analysis results further suggest that in the fashion industry, building brand equity through online games is strongly related to perceived brand coolness among female respondents, with the role of perceived brand coolness affecting male respondents to a lesser degree.

Originality/value

The contribution of this study to the existing literature consists in providing a deeper understanding of the impact of branded games on fashion brands' overall equity. The results provide insights for fashion brand managers into the significant effect of fashion gaming collaborations on consumers' behavioral outcomes.
The role of service quality in achieving sustainable development goal 3: shaping students' psychological well-being in an Egyptian higher education context
Authors: Abdelnaeim Shrouk , El-Bassiouny Noha , Hauser Christian
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study aims at exploring the role of higher education service quality in affecting students' psychological well-being through the lens of the sustainable development goals. This purpose is achieved through investigating the effects of functional and technical service quality dimensions on six psychological well-being dimensions, namely, environmental mastery, autonomy, self-acceptance, positive relationships with others, personal growth and purpose in life.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a survey, data were collected from 453 Egyptian students. The hypotheses are tested using structural equation modeling via SmartPLS 4. The study's limitations are the inability to use probability sampling techniques and length of the survey that led to low response rates.

Findings

The results show that functional service quality is positively associated with students' autonomy, positive relationships with others and self-acceptance, while functional service was found insignificant in affecting environmental mastery or self-acceptance. Further, positive results are found in the relationship between technical service quality and students' environmental mastery and self-acceptance. On the other hand, a negative relationship is detected between technical service quality and students' personal growth. Lastly, technical service quality is found to be insignificant in affecting students' autonomy or personal relationships with others.

Originality/value

This study responds to calls for more studies investigating how service quality can shape and affect customer well-being. Furthermore, this is the first study to investigate the different roles played by functional and technical service quality in affecting six psychological well-being dimensions of higher education students. Drawing on a sample of 453 Egyptian students, this study provides a novel contribution about the Egyptian higher education context, which is both understudied in the service literature and the well-being literature.
Two‐step morphology‐based denoising and non‐local means smoothing improves micro‐computed tomography digital rock images
Authors: Gupta Utkarsh , Periyasamy Vijitha , Hofmann Ronny , Prakash Jaya , Yalavarthy Phaneendra K.
Published: September 2023

Digital rock physics is a workflow that relies on imaging techniques to quickly and cost‐effectively estimate the petrophysical properties of small core samples taken from reservoirs. By using digital representations of rock samples as input, physics‐based simulators can estimate properties such as porosity and permeability. The accuracy of these estimates depends on the quality of the digital volumes generated from micro‐computed tomography scans. To enhance the accuracy, denoising is necessary to reduce image noise caused by various experimental factors like electronic noise and bad pixels. This study introduces a novel two‐step denoising pipeline that combines adaptive morphological filtering with non‐local means smoothing, ensuring both noise reduction and preservation of edges. The effectiveness of the proposed pipeline is assessed through qualitative evaluation using optimal segmentation results and quantitative evaluation using a non‐reference metric and equivalent number of looks. Comparing the results of the two‐step approach with traditional non‐local means and morphology‐based filtering using a multi‐resolution structurally varying bitonic filter, the non‐reference metric and equivalent number of looks values are higher, indicating improved denoising performance. Furthermore, the denoised rock volume is subjected to the next step in the digital rock workflow to compute important petrophysical properties like porosity and permeability. The findings indicate that our proposed pipeline significantly improves the accuracy of estimating physical parameters such as porosity and permeability.
Glacier as a source of novel polyethylene terephthalate hydrolases
Authors: Qi Xiaoyan , Ji Mukan , Yin Chao‐Fan , Zhou Ning‐Yi , Liu Yongqin
Published: September 2023

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a major component of microplastic contamination globally, which is now detected in pristine environments including Polar and mountain glaciers. As a carbon‐rich molecule, PET could be a carbon source for microorganisms dwelling in glacier habitats. Thus, glacial microorganisms may be potential PET degraders with novel PET hydrolases. Here, we obtained 414 putative PET hydrolase sequences by searching a global glacier metagenome dataset. Metagenomes from the Alps and Tibetan glaciers exhibited a higher relative abundance of putative PET hydrolases than those from the Arctic and Antarctic. Twelve putative PET hydrolase sequences were cloned and expressed, with one sequence (designated as GlacPETase) proven to degrade amorphous PET film with a similar performance as IsPETase, but with a higher thermostability. GlacPETase exhibited only 30% sequence identity to known active PET hydrolases with a novel disulphide bridge location and, therefore may represent a novel PET hydrolases class. The present work suggests that extreme carbon‐poor environments may harbour a diverse range of known and novel PET hydrolases for carbon acquisition as an environmental adaptation mechanism.
What Would the British Party System Look Like under Proportional Representation?
Authors: Quinn Thomas
Published: September 2023

British debates over electoral reform are invariably debates about what party system would emerge. While there is agreement that proportional representation (PR) would boost the size of existing smaller parties, there is no consensus over the emergence and prospering of new parties. The main weakness in the British debate concerns the types of governments that would form under PR. Some believe the Liberal Democrats would be perennial kingmakers. Others suggest that a ‘progressive alliance’ on the centre‐left would sweep all before it. This article considers the experience of west European multiparty systems since the 1980s and argues that party system fragmentation and the growth of non‐centrist parties would characterise Britain under PR. Moreover, the pattern of overlapping centrist coalitions seen in Germany and Benelux would be unlikely to emerge in Britain. Instead, a two‐bloc system, common in Scandinavia and southern Europe, would most likely develop.
Closed shutters or revolving doors? Elite career track similarity and elite sector transfers in Denmark
Authors: BINDERKRANTZ ANNE SKORKJÆR , CHRISTENSEN JØRGEN GRØNNEGÅRD , CHRISTIANSEN PETER MUNK , NIELSEN MARIE KALDAHL , PEDERSEN HELENE HELBOE
Published: September 2023

A crucial aspect of elite dominance in modern democracies concerns the degree to which different political elites share similar career paths and shifts between different elite positions. Similarity in career paths and transfers across elite positions are crucial aspects of elite dominance in modern democracies. This paper argues that there are limits to elite career similarity and sector transfer because of varying recruitment criteria and reputational cargo across different political elite groups. We argue that career similarity and transfers across elite positions are lower when recruitment criteria are exclusive. We also argue that acquired reputation may be a career liability limiting transfers into other elite groups. Empirically, we examine career trajectories and transfers across elite groups by mapping the full career of Members of the Parliament, top bureaucrats and interest group leaders in Denmark. We demonstrate that within the Danish political elite, career paths are relatively distinct and transfer few. Career distinctiveness and lack of elite transfers are especially pronounced for the bureaucratic elite, which is guarded by stricter recruitment criteria and on guard against reputations that might taint its image as a pure merit civil service. In contrast to other studies, our results suggest that the shutters between elite sectors are relatively closed. However, the few individuals passing through these most exclusive revolving doors may have a significant political impact.
Establishment of an adverse effect prevention protocol on plasma exchange using fresh frozen plasma prior to ABO‐incompatible living donor kidney transplantation at our hospital
Authors: Tanaka Akihito , Watanabe Yu , Furuhashi Kazuhiro , Saito Shoji , Yasuda Yoshinari , Kosugi Tomoki , Sano Yuta , Kato Masashi , Maruyama Shoichi
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Simple plasma exchange (PE) with fresh‐frozen plasma replacement allows antibody removal for ABO‐incompatible living donor kidney transplantation, but is associated with a high incidence of allergic reactions. We developed, implemented, and evaluated a protocol for safe preoperative PE.

Methods

The protocol comprised pretreatment (125 mg methylprednisolone infusion, 400 mg acetaminophen and 30 mg diphenhydramine orally) with a replacement fluid rate < 20 mL/min. Allergic reaction incidence was investigated in controls who underwent ABO‐incompatible living donor kidney transplantation between 2016 and March 2020 (group C) and patients who underwent the protocol and procedure between April 2020 and February 2023 (group N).

Results

Ten (group C) and 19 (group N) patients performed 11 and 30 sessions of PE, respectively. Allergic reactions occurred in 81.8% and 36.7% (p = 0.014), respectively, with an odds ratio of the protocol was 0.056 (95% CI 0.0059–0.5380, P = 0.013).

Conclusion

Our protocol resulted in a significantly lower incidence of allergic reactions.