bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conformational versatility among crystalline solids of L-phenylalanine derivatives
Authors: Movilla Federico , Rey Juan Manuel , López Borda María del Rosario , Di Salvo Florencia
Published: January 2025

In this study, we present a new N-derivative of L-phenylalanine with 2-naphthaldehyde (PN), obtained by the Schiff base formation procedure and its subsequent reduction. This compound was crystallized as a zwitterion {2-[(naphthalen-2-ylmethyl)azaniumyl]-3-phenylpropanoate, C20H19NO2}, as an anion in a sodium salt (catena-poly[[diaquasodium(I)-di-μ-aqua] 2-[(naphthalen-2-ylmethyl)amino]-3-phenylpropanoate monohydrate], {[Na(H2O)4](C20H18NO2)·H2O}
n
), as a cation in a chloride salt [(1-carboxy-2-phenylethyl)(naphthalen-2-ylmethyl)azanium chloride acetic acid monosolvate, C20H20NO2
+·Cl−·CH3COOH], and additionally acting as a ligand in the pentacoordinated zinc compound aquabis{2-[(naphthalen-2-ylmethyl)amino]-3-phenylpropanoato-κO}zinc(II), [Zn(C20H18NO2)2(H2O)] or [Zn(PN)2(H2O)], denoted (PN-Zn), with the amino acid derivative in its carboxylate form. Interestingly, both enantiomers of the zinc complex co-exist within the crystalline structure, one constructed by the ligands with the L (or S) configuration and the other with the ligands having the D (or R) configuration, represented as L,L-PN-Zn and D,D-PN-Zn, respectively. Also, in the structure of the zwitterion, the racemate L,D is observed. These results imply that chirality inversion of the amino acid derivative synthesized from enantiomerically pure L-phenylalanine is taking place, a phenomenon known as oscillatory transenantiomerization. The analysis of these crystal structures reveals that they are primarily stabilized through electrostatic interactions assisted by hydrogen bonds. An interesting finding is that the conformation of PN varies along this family: it is unfolded in the zwitterionic and cationic forms, and folded in the anionic form. To evaluate such conformational differences, we propose the use of a dimensionless Shape Factor quantity defined as the Structural Aspect Ratio (SAR), computed from the geometrical features of the parallelepiped that tightly encloses a conformer constructed by rigid spheres. This parameter provides a simple but useful tool to distinguish conformational differences, providing insights that complement traditional structural analyses. The study of the structural features, conformational diversity, chirality and supramolecular properties of these compounds is also supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations.
Assessing the structural relationships between the CIPP model components in teacher education program
Authors: Alquraan Mahmoud Fisal , Alazzam Sulaf , Farhat Dima
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The objective of this study is to explore the structural relationships among context (C), input (I) and process (P) and product (P) (CIPP) components of teacher preparation programs based on students' perceptions.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, data were collected using a 17-item scale. The study sample consisted of 213 pre-service teachers enrolled in the Postgraduate Professional Diploma in Teaching (PPDT). Quantitative research methodology with multivariate structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized to examine the two suggested models.

Findings

The results of this study show that the CIPP model can be projected into preservice teachers' perceptions of the CIPP components. These preservice teachers' perceptions of preparation programs from the three components (CIP) can predict preservice teachers' perceptions of teachers’ preparation program products or outcomes (i.e. the fourth CIPP component). This result indicates that the relationships between the CIPP components and the pre-service teachers' perceptions of the Diploma in Teaching program are direct.

Originality/value

Two suggested models were tested to explore the structural relationships between CIPP components. The first model represents the original CIPP model with indirect relationships between the four components: CIPP. The second model suggests direct relationships between the first three components (CIP) and the objectives or products (P).
Understanding career-meaningfulness and work centrality to serve customers: servant leadership and customer-oriented boundary-spanning behaviors
Authors: Saeed Munazza , Bani-Melhem Ahmad Jamal , Hassan Hamid , Alvi Tariq Hameed , Altaf Saira
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, this research examines the relationship between managers’ servant leadership and frontline employees’ customer-oriented boundary-spanning behaviors by considering career meaningfulness as an underlying mechanism. Furthermore, this study investigates a moderated mediation model by proposing work centrality as a boundary condition in the relationship between career meaningfulness and customer-oriented boundary-spanning behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

Two-source (manager-frontline employee dyad) data were collected through a survey questionnaire from hospitality organizations at three different points in time. Hayes’ PROCESS macro was used to analyze the data.

Findings

Findings show that managers’ servant leadership fosters frontline employees’ customer-oriented boundary-spanning behaviors directly and through career meaningfulness. Frontline employees’ work centrality moderates the relationship between career meaningfulness and customer-oriented boundary-spanning behaviors (second stage) and the indirect effect of servant leadership (through career meaningfulness) on customer-oriented boundary-spanning behaviors (moderated mediation).

Practical implications

The findings imply that managers should exhibit servant leadership behaviors to enhance frontline employees’ sense of career meaningfulness and customer-oriented boundary-spanning behaviors. Additionally, hospitality organizations and managers are encouraged to prioritize work centrality when hiring frontline employees and implement training programs to cultivate work centrality.

Originality/value

This study’s originality lies in exploring career meaningfulness as the underlying mechanism linking servant leadership to customer-oriented boundary-spanning behaviors while also examining work centrality as a second-stage moderator in this relationship.
Evaluation of the operational efficiency of China’s intellectual property public information service platform
Authors: Wanyan Dengdeng , Liu Chenyu
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to measure the operational efficiency of China’s intellectual property public information service (IPPIS) platform, discuss the current problems of the operational efficiency of China’s IPPIS platform and put forward suggestions for improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the paper chose 36 Chinese IPPIS platforms as the research object and established an assessment indicator system for the operational efficiency of IPPIS platforms that includes six input indicators and three output indicators. Second, the authors used Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method to calculate the operational efficiency of 36 Chinese IPPIS platforms. Finally, the authors analyze the problems that exist in the operational efficiency of China’s IPPIS platform and put forward suggestions for improvement.

Findings

Of the 36 platforms measured, only 9 are in DEA effective status, which means operating well. In addition, this study finds that the following problems exist in China’s IPPIS platforms: the overall operational efficiency is low, and there are large geographic differences; a small number of platforms have low scale efficiency; and half of the platforms have high input redundancy and output insufficiency in different indexes.

Originality/value

This paper aims to help the platform constructor to provide suggestions on the direction and extent of improvement. In addition, this study is expected to raise the attention of the management and practice departments of other external countries (especially developing countries) to the operational efficiency of IPPIS platforms and to provide experiences for other external countries to improve their platform construction.
Examining the brand-level associations between customer satisfaction, demographic profile and loyalty
Authors: Dawes John G.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study examines the extent to which brand-level satisfaction scores are related to loyalty metrics, controlling for the double jeopardy effect as well as the demographic profile of the brand’s customer base.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses data for brands in three UK financial services categories: banks, car/home insurance, and life insurance. Regression analysis is used to examine the relationships between brand size, satisfaction levels, demographic profiles, and loyalty.

Findings

Firstly, the study finds a strong “double jeopardy” association. That is, larger brands have more loyalty, both in terms of behavior and stated preference. Next, brands with higher satisfaction scores tend to have somewhat higher first-preference loyalty, controlling for the double jeopardy effect. There are mixed results in relation to satisfaction’s link to behavioral loyalty. Lastly, aspects of a brand’s demographic profile, particularly in terms of whether it skews towards high-income customers, are associated with somewhat lower loyalty metrics, both behavioral and conative.

Originality/value

The findings represent an original contribution by translating what have been to date principally individual-buyer level associations (between satisfaction, demographics and loyalty) into brand-level relationships that are arguably more relevant to managers who act on this level of reporting.
Dietary restrictions and special food needs in tourism contexts: does the love of events go through the stomach?
Authors: Pompurová Kristína , Šimočková Ivana , Marčeková Radka , Šebová Ľubica , Lazurová Izabela
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to investigate whether and how dietary restrictions or special dietary needs, arising not only from health concerns but also from lifestyle or religious considerations, impact the experiences of visitors at various organized events.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a qualitative research design, interpreting results of both content and sentiment analysis of 154 in-depth interviews with participants from cultural, sports and other events, originating from 18 countries and having dietary restrictions due to health, lifestyle or religious considerations.

Findings

The results underscore that the impact of dietary restrictions and special dietary needs on organized events depends on the duration and nature of the event. This significance is particularly pronounced in events lasting several hours or more and those centred around food and beverages, such as gastronomic festivals. While individuals with long-term dietary restrictions exhibit effective coping mechanisms without compromising their event experience, those with short-term restrictions feel particularly restricted. Although the provision of non-inclusive food during events may not immediately lead to participant dissatisfaction, it has the potential to impact the event’s success in the future.

Originality/value

This study is the first to investigate a sufficiently large sample of interviewees with diverse dietary restrictions, encompassing more than just health-related reasons, who attend various types of events in tourist destinations. It is also the first to employ sentiment analysis to better understand the impact of dietary restrictions on visitor experiences at events. This research paves the way for further studies in this field, emphasizing specific event types and different visitor groups.
An OWL-S based specification model of dynamic entity services for IoT
Authors: Achour Fatma , Bejaoui Chaima , Jedidi Anis
Published: January 2025

Purpose

One of the open questions is how to define a complete semantic description of an Internet of Things (IoT) system and how to ensure the device’s identification in this type of system. To answer this question, the authors needed to propose a mechanism to describe an IoT system based on an IoT context ontology description. This mechanism is based on semantic web services creation to identify objects in IoT system. This paper aims to propose a model to describe the IoT system. The authors suggest an approach to describe each category of contextual information separately and ensure the adaptation in the IoT system.

Design/methodology/approach

One of the open questions is how to define a complete semantic description of an IoT system and how to ensure the device’s identification in this type of system. To answer this question, the authors needed to propose a mechanism to describe an IoT system based on an IoT context ontology description. This mechanism is based on semantic web services creation to identify objects in IoT system.

Findings

One of the open questions is how to define a complete semantic description of an IoT system and how to ensure the device’s identification in this type of system. To answer this question, the authors needed to propose a mechanism to describe an IoT system based on an IoT context ontology description. This mechanism is based on semantic web services creation to identify objects in IoT system. This paper aims to propose a model to describe the IoT system. The authors suggest an approach to describe each category of contextual information separately and ensure the adaptation in the IoT system.

Originality/value

One of the open questions is how to define a complete semantic description of an IoT system and how to ensure the device’s identification in this type of system. To answer this question, the authors needed to propose a mechanism to describe an IoT system based on an IoT context ontology description. This mechanism is based on semantic web services creation to identify objects in IoT system. This paper aims to propose a model to describe the IoT system. The authors suggest an approach to describe each category of contextual information separately and ensure the adaptation in the IoT system.
Inventory and pricing decisions of brand owners and streamers under demand uncertainty
Authors: Du Zhong , Li Xiang , Fan Zhi-Ping
Published: January 2025

Purpose

In the practice of live streaming e-commerce, the consumer demand is usually uncertain, and the inventory and prices can be decided by brand owners or streamers. To this end, this study examines the inventory and pricing decisions of the brand owner and streamer in a live streaming e-commerce supply chain under demand uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, four scenarios are considered, i.e. the brand owner determines the inventory and price (Scenario BB), the brand owner determines the inventory and the streamer determines the price (Scenario BS), the streamer determines the inventory and the brand owner determines the price (Scenario SB), and the streamer determines the inventory and price (Scenario SS).

Findings

The results show that the inventory and prices, as well as the profits of the brand owner and streamer increase with the consumer sensitivity to streamer’s sales effort level under the four scenarios. The inventory (price) is the highest under Scenario SS (SB), while that is the lowest under Scenario BB (BS). In addition, when the sensitivity is low, the brand owner’s profit is the highest under Scenario BB, otherwise, the profit is the highest under Scenario SS. Regardless of the sensitivity, the streamer’s profit is always the highest under Scenario SS.

Originality/value

Few studies focused on the inventory and pricing decisions of brand owners and streamers in live streaming e-commerce supply chains under demand uncertainty, while this work bridges the research gap. This study can provide theoretical basis and decision support for brand owners and streamers.
Audit quality and earnings management: evidence from rural and community banks in an emerging economy
Authors: Donaldy Robert , Massoudi Dianne
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This paper provides insights into the impact of audit quality on restraining earnings management of rural and community banks (RCBs) in an emerging economy.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-step generalised method of moments, absolute discretionary accruals using the modified Jones model, and multivariate regression are used to test 215 firm-year observations of 43 RCBs in Ghana.

Findings

The findings suggest a positive association between audit quality, proxied by audit firm ranking, in restraining earnings management. Specifically, the association is significant for B1-ranked audit firms and higher than B-ranked audit firms, whose observed discretionary accruals to total assets ratio is 36.6% higher than B1. Also, a negative statistically significant relationship is found between auditor specialization and earnings management, as RCBs that engage specialized auditors are found to have a lower ratio of discretionary accruals to total assets than RCBs that engage unspecialized auditors.

Research limitations/implications

RCB’s annual reports data for the research was from 2014 to 2018. The 2019 and beyond annual reports data could not be added because the study was conducted during 2019 first quarter, by which time the year had not ended, and that constrained the sample size.

Practical implications

Evidence from this study has policy implications for regulators and audit monitors in their efforts to improve AQ and minimise financial misreporting through the ranking of audit firms. As RCBs are encouraged by the findings to engage the services of higher-ranked audit firms, lower ranks will eventually be encouraged to improve quality performance in a bid to improve their ranking, which will consequently help in the minimisation of financial manipulations in RCBs financial reporting. The contemporary approach of ranking audit firms into A1, A, B1, B, C and D increases competition in the audit market space in improving quality audits more than the traditional approach of dividing audit firms into only big-4 and non-big-4. There is also a need for regulators to encourage RCBs to engage auditors who have specialized in the RCB sector so that their experience can be leveraged in minimizing EM.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no academic study that explores the impact of audit quality proxied by audit firm ranking and auditor specialisation, on earnings management using hand-collected data sets from non-listed rural banks in an emerging economy. The paper, therefore, fills a research gap in rural financial institution auditing literature.
How law amendments impact women’s economic status and contribute to economic growth
Authors: Zheng Dewei
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Gender equality is a highly debated issue worldwide because of its relevance to sustainable economic development. We want to analyse how law amendments can help improve females' economic status and then develop the economy.

Design/methodology/approach

We introduce a baseline model of household consumption decision-making and figure out the optimal decision which can maximize their utility.

Findings

Law amendments used to empower females in promotion rate, wage level and education have positive impacts on economic development. The ameliorative condition that the next generation possesses more physical capital and higher human capital accumulation makes it possible to produce and consume more than the predecessors.

Originality/value

Building on the existing frameworks of the household decision model and the growth model with physical and human capital, we extend attention to the implications of four core factors which impact females’ economic status and the role in which law amendments may play to improve this situation.
Out of sight, out of mind? Investigating the impact of emotional intelligence on counterproductive work behavior in remote work
Authors: Audrin Bertrand , Audrin Catherine , Fernandez Sébastien , Terrier Lohyd
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and counterproductive work behavior (CWB) in remote work (RW).

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 489 currently employed people were surveyed in April 2022 – 2 years after the start of the pandemic and 1 year before “the great return” to the workplace.

Findings

Results reveal that EI is negatively associated with CWB and that RW moderates this relationship. The more people work remotely, the more likely they are to adopt CWB. However, this tendency is lower for people with higher EI.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the literature on CWB by highlighting the role EI plays in the specific context of RW. In terms of practical implications, it sheds lights on the importance of carefully designing human resource management policies towards RW.
Destructive leader behavior: toward an increased understanding of how unethical leader behavior can harm subordinates
Authors: Shafqat Tehmeena , Mushtaq Rabia , Ahmed Anzar
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study investigates unethical leadership empirically and examines its linkage with counterproductive workplace behavior through workplace ostracism, moral outrage and moral disengagement. The moderating role of coworker support was also tested.

Design/methodology/approach

The data collection comprised a structured survey having a sample of 489 full-time public sector employees, which were analyzed by employing process macros analysis techniques.

Findings

The findings reveal that unethical leadership develops the feelings of isolation at workplace, which leads to severe employee reactions at workplace. Results have revealed a significant positive impact of coworker support.

Research limitations/implications

This paper concludes with theoretical and practical implications and the potential avenues for future research.

Originality/value

This study adds values to the existing literature on the dark side of leadership by investigating unethical leadership and its related consequences.
A scoping review of QuantCrit research: toward consistency and advancing the approaches
Authors: Young Jemimah , Edosomwan Kristian , Young Jamaal Rashad
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This scoping review aims to investigate the current utilization of a QuantCrit approach within educational research.

Design/methodology/approach

The research follows the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley (2005), employing comprehensive search criteria across various databases to select 24 relevant studies for analysis.

Findings

The analysis of the selected studies underscores the focus of QuantCrit in education, primarily addressing educational inequities related to race, gender and socioeconomic status across K-16 education levels. The methodologies used in the studies ranged from basic descriptive statistics to more advanced techniques like multilevel models and correlational analyses. The significant influence of Gillborn et al.’s (2018) tenets of QuantCrit is evident, although some studies incorporated these tenets without direct citation. Limitations identified include the hindrance in data disaggregation across racial groups due to limited sample sizes, the correlational nature of the studies and the complexity of variables.

Research limitations/implications

The findings highlight the need for more comprehensive investigations in the application of QuantCrit within educational research. Future research should address the limitations identified, focusing on increasing sample sizes, incorporating diverse methodologies and exploring variables more deeply.

Practical implications

The review suggests that future educational research should pay more attention to the intricate application of QuantCrit principles, particularly in addressing educational disparities related to race, gender and socioeconomic status across different education levels.

Originality/value

This scoping review provides valuable insights into the multifaceted application of the QuantCrit approach in educational research and points to the need for comprehensive and nuanced investigations in this domain. The value of the paper lies in its contribution to understanding the role of QuantCrit in addressing educational inequalities and providing a roadmap for future research in this area.
Funding sustainable entrepreneurship: a hybrid systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis
Authors: Derdabi Ayoub , Dvouletý Ondřej
Published: January 2025

Purpovse

This literature review paper focuses on funding sustainable entrepreneurship. This paper aims to analyse the main trends in the intersection of these two fields, the current focus of the literature and synthesises the main findings.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis consists of bibliometric literature research and relevant peer-reviewed literature content analysis based on a corpus of 74 papers. The analysis aims to understand how sustainable entrepreneurs can fund their ventures and the main funding sources that could be used. The study also presents the challenges and the strategies to fund sustainable ventures.

Findings

The findings show that the literature in the field is still nascent, even though scholars have shown a growing interest in it in the past five years. The focus of the literature is quite diverse between macro- and micro-level analysis and there are some rising topics such as alternative finance like crowdfunding.

Originality/value

Based on the content analysis, the paper synthesises the main trends of the literature and identifies some potential research gaps, such as post-funding empirical research and the efficiency of regulations supporting the emergence of sustainable entrepreneurship.
Does green innovation facilitate buyer firms’ attainment of trade credit from suppliers? A signalling theory perspective
Authors: Shao Jinan , Yin Li , Dai Jing , Shangguan Wuyue
Published: January 2025

Purpose

As a crucial supply chain financing instrument, trade credit has become increasingly important for firms to enhance financial flows in supply chains. Yet, scant research has examined how firms’ green innovation affects the attainment of trade credit from their suppliers. To bridge this gap, this study aims to draw on signalling theory to investigate the impacts of incremental green innovation (IGI) and radical green innovation (RGI) on trade credit and the contingent roles of supplier concentration and industry dynamism.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a data set of 3,302 Chinese listed manufacturing companies from 2007 to 2021, our research adopts fixed-effect regression models to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The authors find that both IGI and RGI exert a positive effect on trade credit. Interestingly, supplier concentration weakens the association between RGI and trade credit, whereas it does not significantly influence the association between IGI and trade credit. Moreover, industry dynamism attenuates the relationship between IGI and trade credit, whereas it does not significantly alter the relationship between RGI and trade credit.

Originality/value

The paper extends the supply chain finance literature by applying signalling theory to uncover the effects of IGI and RGI on trade credit and the distinct contingency roles of supplier concentration and industry dynamism. It also provides supply chain managers with important implications regarding how to tailor the strategies of implementing different types of green innovation to acquire more trade credit in different situations.
The clockwork of insect activity: Advancing ecological understanding through automation
Authors: Kirse Ameli , Wittenhorst Manus Arian , Scherber Christoph , Posanski Michel , Scherges Alice , Zizka Vera , Ott David , Noll Niklas W. , Wägele Wolfgang J.
Published: January 2025

Understanding insect behaviour and its underlying drivers is vital for interpreting changes in local biodiversity and predicting future trends. Conventional insect traps are typically limited to assess the composition of local insect communities over longer time periods and provide only limited insights into the effects of abiotic factors, such as light on species activity. Achieving finer temporal resolution is labour‐intensive or only possible under laboratory conditions.

Here, we demonstrate that time‐controlled insect sampling using an automated Malaise trap in combination with metabarcoding allows for the observation and documentation of taxon‐specific activity patterns. Furthermore, these recorded activity patterns can provide valuable insights into the underlying ecological processes.

Insect activity curves, derived from predicted detection numbers using generalised linear latent variable models, reveal distinct differences in activity patterns at higher and lower taxonomic level. While our findings align with existing literature, they also reveal that the activity patterns of some species are more complex than previously known. Additionally, a comparison of the assessed activity patterns across taxa suggest potential, previously undescribed parasitoid–host relationships. Within taxonomic groups, we observe variations in both the timing and duration of activity patterns, which can be linked to differences in mating strategies among closely related species.

By capturing circadian rhythms of insect activity through time‐controlled bulk sampling, we can expand our knowledge on species behaviour, ecology and temporal interactions. This contributes significantly to the advancement of chronoecology, allowing for further exploration of the roles of species and benefits in natural and anthropogenic ecosystems, alongside their potentially significant threat.
The transition from resistance to acceptance: Managing a marine invasive species in a changing world
Authors: Keller Abigail G. , Counihan Timothy D. , Grosholz Edwin D. , Boettiger Carl
Published: January 2025

Marine invasive species can transform coastal ecosystems, yet mitigating their effects can be difficult, and even impractical. Often, marine invasive species are managed at poorly matched spatial scales, and at the same time, rates of spread and establishment are increasing under climate change and can outpace resources available for population suppression. These circumstances challenge traditional conservation goals of maintaining a historic environmental state, especially for a species like the European green crab (Carcinus maenas), a formidable invader with few examples of successful long‐term removal programs.

A management paradigm where decision alternatives include resisting or accepting a new ecological trajectory may be needed. We apply mathematical concepts from decision theory to develop a quantitative framework for navigating management decisions in this new resist‐accept paradigm. We develop a model of European green crab growth, removal and colonization, and we find optimal levels of removal effort that minimize both ecological change and removal cost.

We establish a benchmark of colonization pressure at which green crab density becomes decoupled from a decision maker's actions, such that population control can no longer shape the invasion trajectory. For informing the decision boundary between resistance and acceptance, our results highlight that a decision maker's understanding of how removal cost scales with removal effort is more important than understanding the density‐impact relationship.

We show that assuming stationary system dynamics can result in sub‐optimal levels of species removal effort, highlighting the importance of developing anticipatory management strategies by accounting for non‐stationary dynamics.

Policy implications. For marine invasive species that can disperse across long distances and recolonize rapidly after removal, the focus of conservation policy should shift away from understanding how to resist change to understanding when to stop resisting change. Navigating this decision problem involves trade‐offs among competing objectives, highlighting the need for structured approaches to elicit objective weights that reflect the values of the decision maker. For natural resource managers facing possible ecosystem transformation, this decision framework can enable proactive and strategic decisions made under uncertainty in a changing world.
Metagenomic and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Crosstalk Between Intratumor Mycobiome and Hosts in Early‐Stage Nonsmoking Lung Adenocarcinoma Patients
Authors: Sun Yaohui , Gan Zhiming , Liu Shijiancong , Zhang Sheng , Zhong Wei , Liu Jian , Huang Xiuting , He Wei , Zhong Hongcheng , Cao Qingdong
Published: January 2025

Background

The mycobiome in the tumor microenvironment of non‐smokers with early‐stage lung adenocarcinoma (ES‐LUAD) has been minimally investigated.

Methods

In this study, we conducted ultra‐deep metagenomic and transcriptomic sequencing on 128 samples collected from 46 nonsmoking ES‐LUAD patients and 41 healthy controls (HC), aiming to characterize the tumor‐resident mycobiome and its interactions with the host.

Results

The results revealed that ES‐LUAD patients exhibited fungal dysbiosis characterized by reduced species diversity and significant imbalances in specific fungal abundances. Concurrently, microbial functional analysis revealed significant alterations associated with genes such as ribosomal proteins and histones. We observed correlations between Yarrowia lipolytica, Saccharomyces paradoxus, and tumor‐infiltrating immune cells (TIICs), and identified a strong association (|rho| > 0.7) between S. paradoxus and 14 transcription factors. A signature of three prognostic genes (GRIA1, CDO1, FHL1) closely associated with S. paradoxus was identified and they suggest that the interaction between the mycobiome and the host may contribute to prolonged overall survival (OS). Finally, a predictive model based on six fungi demonstrated decent classification performance in distinguishing ES‐LUAD cases from HCs (AUC = 0.724).

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that the interactions between the mycobiome and transcriptome within tumors may help elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms of ES‐LUAD. Fungi, as a potential predictive tool, can be used as an additional resource for accurately detecting and discriminating individuals with ES‐LUAD.
Examining the Formalin Fixation Method for Maintaining High RNA Quality in Surgical Lung Specimens
Authors: Teishikata Takashi , Itoh Manabu , Okamoto Yusuke , Miyahara Naofumi , Nakashima Chiho , Takahashi Koichiro , Hiratsuka Masafumi , Kai Keita , Kamohara Keiji
Published: January 2025

Background

Multiplex genetic testing is recommended when treating nonsmall cell lung cancer. A certain percentage of test failures in RNA assays owing to poor surgical specimen quality have been documented, and fixation failure is a possible cause. At our institution, sheet‐like fixation is performed to reduce fixation time. This study aimed to compare the quality of RNA from resected lung cancer specimens following different fixation methods.

Methods

Sheet‐like fixation specimens (n = 15), conventional fixation specimens of the same resected lungs (n = 15), and other lung cancer specimens collected for conventional fixation and subjected to multiplex gene‐panel testing (n = 22) were retrospectively examined. RNA was extracted from each specimen. RNA quality and quantity were compared, and the success rate of multiplex gene‐panel testing was determined.

Results

The DV200 value was significantly higher in RNA extracted from sheet‐like fixation samples (median 47.5%, interquartile range [IQR]:40.3–51.5) compared with RNA extracted from conventionally fixed samples or conventionally fixed samples of other patient specimens (median 21%, IQR:5.3–29.8 and median 16.3%, IQR:9.5–27.1, respectively). No significant difference was observed in nucleic acid concentration. The multiplex genetic analysis success rate was 95% with conventional methods (one failure); however, it was 100% with the sheet‐like fixation method.

Conclusion

Sheet‐like fixation preserved RNA extracted from lung cancer specimens, resulting in lesser degradation than with conventional fixation.
Accounting for spatiotemporal patterns of long‐term recursion in estimating local‐scale step selection
Authors: Egan Michael E. , Gorman Nicole T. , Eichholz Michael W. , Skinner Dan , Schlichting Peter E. , Bastille‐Rousseau Guillaume
Published: January 2025

Step‐selection analysis (SSA) is ubiquitous for assessing local‐scale habitat selection by comparing relocations from telemetry data (used steps) to potential relocations given the movement of the animal (available steps). The case–control design of SSA is intended to estimate selection at the spatiotemporal scale of these steps. However, long‐term behaviour associated with recurring use of certain locations or resources may additionally impact movement decisions, potentially impacting the estimates produced by SSA.

To determine the impact of recursive behaviour on local selection, we simulated movement trajectories in which animals exhibited patterns of recursion. Based on these simulated trajectories, we evaluated the impact of long‐term behaviour on estimates of step‐selection. Then, we developed a new approach to identify recursion points based on a time‐dependent kernel density estimate including latitude, longitude and time of day. Based on this information, we accounted for recursive behaviour by including the relationship between available steps to recursion points or using recursion points to adjust our sample of available steps. Finally, we apply this approach to estimate the response of white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to sources of risk.

Recursive movement resulted in biased estimates of selection when using previously established step‐selection methods. However, we found that our correction models were able to produce accurate estimates across differing recursion scenarios. When applied to an empirical deer data set, these methods revealed a pattern of selection and avoidance for human modified areas that was masked by previous approaches.

Our results suggest that long‐term recursive behaviour may have unappreciated effects on estimates from SSA. Specifically, since the used and available steps in SSA are associated with specific places and times, covariates must account for variation in spatial and temporal patterns of long‐term behaviour. Unless properly accounted for, the effects of long‐term recursive behaviour will inhibit the ability of SSA to characterize fine‐scale behaviours such as predator response or foraging ecology.
Top Executives with Academic Work Experience, Stakeholder‐friendly Engagement, and Firm Value
Authors: Li Zhe , Liu Xinrui
Published: January 2025

We study the role of top executives’ prior academic work experience in stakeholder‐oriented activities and related capital market benefits. Analyzing data from China, we demonstrate that firms managed by top executives with academic work experience have higher stakeholder‐friendly engagement scores than those without. The proportion of executives having academic work experience on the management team is positively linked to stakeholder‐friendly activities. Additionally, companies led by academic executives tend to make larger philanthropic donations, adhere to Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines, and produce more extensive corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports. Furthermore, we show that this positive impact is more pronounced in non‐state‐owned entities, younger firms, those with sufficient cash reserves, and those with larger management teams. Our channel analysis reveals that top executives with academic experience achieve their sustainability goals by actively engaging in employee‐friendly activities, customer and supplier protection disclosures, public relations, and internal sustainability system construction. Finally, we demonstrate that firms with improved stakeholder‐friendly strategies driven by academic executives exhibit higher future firm value, increased investment in research and development initiatives, and attract more financial analyst coverage.
Confidence and information usage: Evidence from soil testing in India
Authors: Gars Jared , Fishman Ram , Kishore Avinash , Rothler Yoav , Ward Patrick S.
Published: January 2025

Informational barriers are often considered to be a major constraint to the adoption of improved farming practices, inputs, and technologies by smallholder farmers. In the Indian context, it is widely believed that farmers misapply chemical fertilizers because they lack scientific information on soil conditions and corresponding fertilizer recommendations, thus resulting in imbalanced and potentially detrimental fertilizer application. Policymakers are frequently interested in providing farmers with various streams of information to overcome these informational barriers to optimize farming activities. However, such informational interventions frequently fail either because generic recommendations may be ill‐suited for decision makers in highly heterogeneous agricultural environments or because farmers' beliefs may be so entrenched as to make them unresponsive to new information. We implemented a field experiment in Bihar, India to test whether plot‐specific fertilizer recommendations affect farmers' fertilizer use. We find little evidence for sizable impacts on fertilizer use in general, though impacts are more apparent for low cost or costless recommendations such as increasing the use of highly subsidized fertilizers or shifting the timing of application. Despite modest evidence of such effects, even those fall short of their potential magnitude. We show that treated farmers who are less confident in their subjective beliefs about optimal fertilizer application rates (i.e., with more disperse priors) are more responsive to the recommendations and have a higher ex ante willingness to pay for soil testing. These results suggest that heterogeneity in beliefs may constrain the overall effectiveness of information provision, even when the information is tailored to individual farms.
Development of a nomogram model to predict postoperative urinary retention risk after transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair
Authors: Wang Jiwei , Li Kanghu , Wang Guangyuan , Liu Kai , Wu Yin , Zhang Tao , Xie Ming
Published: January 2025

Objective

To explore independent risk factors and to establish a predictive model for postoperative urinary retention (POUR) following transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair (TAPP).

Methods

Between January 2017 and December 2023, 598 patients with inguinal hernia who underwent TAPP at the General Surgery Department of Zunyi Medical University Affiliated Liupanshui Hospital were enrolled in the study. Participants were randomly divided into training and validation sets (7:3 ratio). The training set was further divided into POUR and non‐POUR groups (38 and 381 cases, respectively). Independent risk factors for POUR were screened by logistic regression analysis. A nomogram predictive model was established based on the independent risk factors. The model's predictive ability was evaluated.

Results

Logistic regression revealed recurrent hernia (P = 0.013, OR = 0.279, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.105–0.805), BPH (P = 0.002, OR = 5.09, 95% CI: 2.658–96.282), preoperative catheterization (P = 0.004, OR = 0.087, 95% CI: 0.012–0.370), operation time (P < 0.001, OR = 0.015, 95% CI: 1.006–1.023), and use of narcotic analgesics (P = 0.042, OR = 2.224, 95% CI: 1.021–5.222) as independent risk factors for POUR after TAPP. Discriminant analysis showed the training set AUC was 0.763 (95% CI: 0.684–0.842, P < 0.001) while that for the validation set was 0.812 (95% CI: 0.677–0.947, P < 0.001). The Hosmer–Lemeshow test was performed to assess calibration of the training (P = 0.696) and validation (P = 0.194) sets.

Conclusion

Recurrent hernia, BPH, preoperative catheterization, operation time, and use of narcotic analgesics were identified as independent risk factors for POUR after TAPP. The nomogram model for risk prediction based on these factors has strong predictive performance and application prospect.
Organoid Ethical Typology: varieties of three‐dimensional stem cell constructs and the many issues they raise in bioethics
Authors: Gaillard Maxence , Pence Charles H. , Botbol‐Baum Mylène
Published: January 2025

The advancement of and prospects for stem cell research raise a number of specific ethical issues. While navigating the ethical landscape of stem cell research is often challenging for biology researchers and biotechnology innovators, it is also difficult for the public and other persons of concern (from ethicists to policy‐makers) to grasp the technicalities of a burgeoning field that develops in many directions. Organoids are one of these new biotechnological constructs that are currently eliciting a rich debate in bioethics. In this guide, we argue that different types of organoids have different emerging properties with different ethical implications. Going from general properties to particular ones, we propose a typology of organoid technology and other associated biotechnology from a philosophical and ethical perspective. We point to relevant ethical issues and try to convey the sense of uncertainty peculiar to ongoing research and emerging technological objects.
Neutral lipids restrict the mobility of broken DNA molecules during comet assays
Authors: Soulet Caroline , Josa‐Castro Jordi , Moriel‐Carretero María
Published: January 2025

One widespread technique to assess in relative terms the amount of broken DNA present in the genome of individual cells consists of immobilizing the cell's nucleus under an agarose pad (called the nucleoid) and subjecting the whole genome to electrophoresis to force broken DNA molecules out of it. Since the migrating broken DNA molecules create a tail behind the nucleoid, this technique is named the comet assay. While performing comet assays regularly, we systematically observed circular regions devoid of DNA within the nucleoid region. We characterize here that these correspond to clusters of neutral (apolar) lipids, since they could be labeled with neutral lipid‐dying molecules, increased when cells were fed with oleic acid, and were irresponsive to the electrophoretic field. Of relevance, de‐lipidation assays, either in vivo, or in vitro using acetone, show that these neutral lipids (NL) within the nucleoid limit the ability of broken DNA molecules to migrate into the comet tail. From a technical point of view, we show that de‐lipidation permits a wider range for the detection of broken DNA molecules. Biologically, we put forward the notion that NL in contact with DNA may locally exert regulatory functions within the cell's nucleus.