bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Working memory affects motor, but not perceptual timing
Authors: Farajzadeh MohammadAmin , Sanayei Mehdi
Published: June 2024

Whether different timing tasks utilize the same brain processes is still debated. To address this question, we investigated how working memory affects two different timing tasks: time reproduction and time discrimination. We found that delay intervals led to an overestimation in the reproduction task but did not introduce any bias in the perception of time in the discrimination task. Delay intervals affected the perception of time when subjects had to actively reproduce the perceived interval, but not when subjects were merely recalling the content of working memory. In subsequent Bayesian modeling, we showed that in the reproduction task, subjects updated their measurement of the stimulus on the current trial (likelihood) based on the delay interval, rather than changes in the motor system or updating priors based on the delay interval. Our findings suggest that the brain processes involved in time reproduction and discrimination are not completely overlapping, and that delay intervals in working memory tasks lead to changes in updating the likelihood. This robustness in prior and updates in likelihood provides both stability and sensitivity in the perception of time.
Function and firing of theStreptomyces coelicolorcontractile injection system requires the membrane protein CisA
Authors: Casu Bastien , Sallmen Joseph W. , Haas Peter E. , Chandra Govind , Afanasyev Pavel , Xu Jingwei , Schlimpert Susan , Pilhofer Martin
Published: June 2024

Bacterial contractile injection systems (CIS) are phage tail-like macromolecular complexes that mediate cell-cell interactions by injecting effector proteins into target cells. CIS fromStreptomyces coelicolor(CISSc) are localized in the cytoplasm. Under stress, they induce cell death and impact the bacteria’s life cycle. It remains unknown whether CISScrequire accessory proteins to directly interact with the cytoplasmic membrane and function.

Here, we characterize the putative membrane adaptor CisA, a conserved factor inCISgene clusters acrossStreptomycesspecies. We show by cryo-electron tomography imaging andin vivoassays that CISSccontraction and function depend on CisA. Using single-particle cryo-electron microscopy, we provide an atomic model of the extended CISScapparatus; however, CisA is not part of the complex. Instead, our findings show that CisA is a membrane protein with a cytoplasmic N-terminus predicted to interact with CISSccomponents, thereby providing a possible mechanism for mediating CISScrecruitment to the membrane and subsequent firing.

Our work shows that CIS function in multicellular bacteria is distinct from Type 6 Secretion Systems and extracellular CIS, and possibly evolved due to the role CISScplay in regulated cell death.
Central tendency and serial dependence in vestibular path integration
Authors: Willemsen Sophie C.M.J. , Oostwoud Wijdenes Leonie , van Beers Robert J. , Koppen Mathieu , Medendorp W. Pieter
Published: June 2024

Path integration, the process of updating one’s position using successive self-motion signals, has previously been studied using visual distance reproduction tasks in which optic flow patterns provide information about traveled distance. These studies have reported that reproduced distances show two types of systematic biases: central tendency and serial dependence. In the present study, we investigated whether these biases are also present in vestibular path integration. Participants were seated on a linear motion platform and performed a distance reproduction task in total darkness. The platform first passively moved the participant a pre-defined stimulus distance which they then actively reproduced by steering the platform back the same distance. Stimulus distances were sampled from short- and long-distance probability distributions and presented in either a randomized order or in separate blocks to study the effect of presentation context. Similar to the effects observed in visual path integration, we found that reproduced distances showed an overall positive central tendency effect as well as a positive, attractive serial dependence effect. Furthermore, reproduction behavior was affected by presentation context. These results were mostly consistent with predictions of a Bayesian Kalman-filter model, originally proposed for visual path integration.

New & Noteworthy

Distance reproduction tasks based on visual information about the traveled distance have shown that reproductions are biased by central tendency and serial dependence effects. Here, we show that distance reproductions based on vestibular signals show similar biases and that the reproductions are affected by the presentation order of the stimulus distances.
Engineering a probioticBacillus subtilisfor acetaldehyde removal: Ahaglocus integration to robustly express acetaldehyde dehydrogenase
Authors: Hassan-Casarez Chandler , Ryan Valerie , Shuster Bentley , Oliver John W. K. , Abbott Zachary D.
Published: June 2024

We have identified solutions to key challenges in probiotic design to create a commercially viable strain for the removal of the intestinal toxin acetaldehyde. Here we report engineering of a σD-dependent flagellin expression locus, hag, as a stable location for robust enzyme production. We demonstrate constitutive gene expression in relevant conditions driven by the endogenous hag promoter following a deletion of the gene encoding a post-translational regulator of σD, FlgM, and a point mutation to abrogate the binding of the translational inhibitor CsrA. Reporter constructs demonstrate hag locus activity after germination and show a steady increase in heterologous expression throughout outgrowth and resumption of vegetative growth. To test the chassis as a spore-based probiotic solution we identified the physiologically relevant pathway of ethanol metabolism and the buildup of gut-derived acetaldehyde after alcohol consumption. Herein, we describe the integration of a robustly expressed Cupriavidus necator aldehyde dehydrogenase, AcoD, under a flagellin protein promoter at the hag locus and report the rapid reduction of acetaldehyde levels after germination in gut simulated conditions.
A complex acoustical environment during development enhances auditory perception and coding efficiency in the zebra finch
Authors: Moseley Samantha M , Meliza C Daniel
Published: June 2024

Sensory experience during development has lasting effects on perception and neural processing. Exposing juvenile animals to artificial stimuli influences the tuning and functional organization of the auditory cortex, but less is known about how the rich acoustical environments experienced by vocal communicators affect the processing of complex vocalizations. Here, we show that in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), a colonial-breeding songbird species, exposure to a naturalistic social-acoustical environment during development has a profound impact on auditory perceptual behavior and on cortical-level auditory responses to conspecific song. Compared to birds raised by pairs in acoustic isolation, male and female birds raised in a breeding colony were better in an operant discrimination task at recognizing conspecific songs with and without masking colony noise. Neurons in colony-reared birds had higher average firing rates, selectivity, and discriminability, especially in the narrow-spiking, putatively inhibitory neurons of a higher-order auditory area, the caudomedial nidopallium (NCM). Neurons in colony-reared birds were also less correlated in their tuning and more efficient at encoding the spectrotemporal structure of conspecific song, and better at filtering out masking noise. These results suggest that the auditory cortex adapts to noisy, complex acoustical environments by strengthening inhibitory circuitry, functionally decoupling excitatory neurons while maintaining overall excitatory-inhibitory balance.

Significance Statement

The statistics of the sensory inputs animals experience during postnatal development shape cortical circuits and their functional properties, but most studies examining experience-dependent plasticity in the auditory system has employed artificial stimuli with limited relevance to acoustic communication. Here, we examined how the natural social-acoustical environment experienced by zebra finches, a social songbird that breeds in large colonies, influences the development of auditory perception and the underlying auditory cortical circuits. Compared to birds raised in a more impoverished environment, colony-reared birds were better at recognizing songs of other zebra finches and had higher firing rates in the avian homolog to auditory cortex, along with changes to functional connectivity that resulted in more efficient and robust coding of conspecific song.
A single-cell transcriptomic atlas of sensory-dependent gene expression in developing mouse visual cortex
Authors: Xavier Andre M. , Lin Qianyu , Kang Chris J. , Cheadle Lucas
Published: June 2024

Sensory experience drives the refinement and maturation of neural circuits during postnatal brain development through molecular mechanisms that remain to be fully elucidated. One likely mechanism involves the sensory-dependent expression of genes that encode direct mediators of circuit remodeling within developing cells. However, while studies in adult systems have begun to uncover crucial roles for sensory-induced genes in modifying circuit connectivity, the gene programs induced by brain cells in response to sensory experience during development remain to be fully characterized. Here, we present a single-nucleus RNA-sequencing dataset describing the transcriptional responses of cells in mouse visual cortex to sensory deprivation or sensory stimulation during a developmental window when visual input is necessary for circuit refinement. We sequenced 118,529 individual nuclei across sixteen neuronal and non-neuronal cortical cell types isolated from control, sensory deprived, and sensory stimulated mice, identifying 1,268 unique sensory-induced genes within the developing brain. To demonstrate the utility of this resource, we compared the architecture and ontology of sensory-induced gene programs between cell types, annotated transcriptional induction and repression events based upon RNA velocity, and discovered Neurexin and Neuregulin signaling networks that underlie cell-cell interactions viaCellChat. We find that excitatory neurons, especially layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons, are highly sensitive to sensory stimulation, and that the sensory-induced genes in these cells are poised to strengthen synapse-to-nucleus crosstalk by heightening protein serine/threonine kinase activity. Altogether, we expect this dataset to significantly broaden our understanding of the molecular mechanisms through which sensory experience shapes neural circuit wiring in the developing brain.
Multi-modal characterisation of cardiac function and electrophysiology in type 2 diabetes: a UK Biobank cross-sectional study
Authors: Bertrand Ambre , Lewis Andrew , Camps Julia , Grau Vicente , Rodriguez Blanca
Published: June 2024

Background and Aim

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major risk factor for heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and cardiac arrhythmias. Our goal is to examine the association of T2DM with ECG and cardiac imaging biomarkers, providing a window into the adverse effects of T2DM on cardiac health.

Methods

Using data from the UK Biobank, we investigated ECG and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers in a cohort of 1781 participants with T2DM and no diagnosed cardiovascular disease at time of assessment. We performed a pair-matched cross-sectional study to examine the association between type 2 diabetes and multi-modal cardiac biomarkers. We built multivariate multiple linear regression models sequentially adjusted for socio-demographic, lifestyle, and clinical covariates.

Results

T2DM was associated with a higher resting heart rate (66 vs 61 beats per minute, p<0.001), longer QTc interval (424 vs 420 ms, p<0.001), reduced T-wave amplitude (0.33 vs 0.37 mV, p<0.001), lower stroke volume (72 vs 78 ml, p<0.001) and thicker left ventricular wall (6.1 vs 5.9 mm, p<0.001). These trends were consistent in subgroups of different sex, age and body mass index. Fewer significant differences were noted in non-white participants. QRS duration and Sokolow-Lyon index were associated with the development of cardiovascular disease in groups with and without T2DM, respectively. A higher left ventricular mass and wall thickness were associated with cardiovascular outcomes in both groups.

Conclusion

T2DM was associated with adverse changes in ECG and cardiac imaging biomarkers, possibly reflecting subclinical cardiac repolarisation abnormalities, autonomic dysfunction, hypertrophy and impaired mechanical function.
Comparison of large language models for citation screening: A protocol for a prospective study
Authors: Oami Takehiko , Okada Yohei , Nakada Taka-aki
Published: June 2024

Background

Systematic reviews require labor-intensive and time-consuming processes. Large language models (LLMs) have been recognized as promising tools for citation screening; however, the performance of LLMs in screening citations remained to be determined yet. This study aims to evaluate the potential of three leading LLMs - GPT-4o, Gemini 1.5 Pro, and Claude 3.5 Sonnet for literature screening.

Methods

We will conduct a prospective study comparing the accuracy, efficiency, and cost of literature citation screening using the three LLMs. Each model will perform literature searches for predetermined clinical questions from the Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock (J-SSCG). We will measure and compare the time required for citation screening using each method. The sensitivity and specificity of the results from the conventional approach and each LLM-assisted process will be calculated and compared. Additionally, we will assess the total time spent and associated costs for each method to evaluate workload reduction and economic efficiency.

Trial registration

This research is submitted with the University hospital medical information network clinical trial registry (UMIN-CTR) [UMIN000054783].
Voting Patterns, Mortality, and Health Inequalities in England: A replication and extension of Smith and Dorling (1996)
Authors: Rahal Charles , Knight Josh , L’Esperance Veline , Mills Melinda C. , Clarke Philip M.
Published: June 2024

Objectives

To investigate the relationship between voting patterns, mortality, health, and disability across England, replicating and extending a BMJ study from 1996.

Design

Observational study using data from the Office of National Statistics and the House of Commons Library, mapped to electoral constituencies.

Setting

England, UK.

Participants

The mortality, health and disability data come from the English population across multiple publicly available datasets and are cross tabulated against information on voting in the 2019 and 2024 UK General Election in constituencies in England.

Main Outcome Measures

Age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) for 2021, as well as Health and Disability metrics from the UK Census of 2021.

Results

When observing the proportion of vote-share for Labour at the constituency level in both elections, there was a strong, positive correlation with ASMR. In the 2019 election, this wasr=0.708 for males, andr=0.653 for females. For the 2024 election, this wasr=0.540 for males, andr=0.539 for females. There are also correlations between Labour vote shares and measures of health, but far less substantially for measures of disability. The strongest correlations were almost unilaterally observed against the proportion of votes cast in a constituency. A marked deviation was in the 2019 election where there was also a small, but positive correlation with voting Conservative and poor health (r=0.035) and disability (r=0.081), but not for ASMR (r=-0.489 for females,r=-0545 for males). Strong, positive correlations were also observed between all covariates and vote share for the Brexit Party (2019) and Reform UK (2024).

Conclusions

Health and mortality inequalities across England remain high, with trends largely following previous political patterning. People needing to rely on state provisions likely vote for the political party they believe will be best placed to solve health and structural issues.
Olfactory training using nasal inserts more effective due to increased adherence
Authors: Winter Anja L. , Henecke Sofie , Thunell Evelina , Swartz Mattias , Martinsen Joakim , Johnson Pernilla Sahlstrand , Lundström Johan N.
Published: June 2024

The recommended treatment for hyposmia (clinically reduced sense of smell) is olfactory training using odors in containers that the patients smell twice a day for several weeks. Adherence to the olfactory training regimen is, however, generally low. We aimed to investigate if a new form of olfactory delivery via scented nasal inserts could enhance olfactory training adherence by allowing participants to be mobile while performing the training and thereby lower perceived intrusion in their everyday life, using a randomized controlled parallel-group design. Two groups of individuals with hyposmia underwent 8 weeks of olfactory training. One group (n=60) performed olfactory training using scented nasal inserts (nasal plugs that retain nasal patency) and one group (n=56) performed the standard care regiment currently recommended by the Swedish healthcare system. We assessed objective and subjective olfactory ability before and after olfactory training as well as adherence to training. While both groups significantly improved their objective and subjective olfactory abilities, training with nasal insert produced similar improvement as standard care in overall treatment outcome. However, there was a significantly greater increase in discrimination performance and lower dropout rate (6.7%) in the nasal insert compared to the standard care group (23.2%). Critically, the nasal insert group had a significantly higher adherence to the training regimen, i.e. fewer missed training sessions. In addition, they reported overall greater satisfaction with their treatment. These data suggest that olfactory training with nasal inserts could serve as a more effective form of treatment for hyposmia, due to patients improved adherence to protocol and increased tendency to finish their treatment regimen.
Capturing the implications of residential segregation for the dynamics of infectious disease transmission
Authors: Zelner Jon , Stone Danielle , Eisenberg Marisa , Brouwer Andrew , Sakrejda Krzysztof
Published: June 2024

Occupational and residential segregation and other manifestations of social and economic inequity drive of racial and socioeconomic inequities in infection, severe disease, and death from a wide variety of infections including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, HIV, tuberculosis, and many others. Despite a deep and long-standing quantitative and qualitative literature on infectious disease inequity, mathematical models that give equally serious attention to the social and biological dynamics underlying infection inequity remain rare. In this paper, we develop a simple transmission model that accounts for the mechanistic relationship between residential segregation on inequity in infection outcomes. We conceptualize segregation as a high-level, fundamental social cause of infection inequity that impacts both who-contacts-whom (separation or preferential mixing) as well as the risk of infection upon exposure (vulnerability). We show that the basic reproduction number, ℛ0, and epidemic dynamics are sensitive to the interaction between these factors. Specifically, our analytical and simulation results and that separation alone is insufficient to explain segregation-associated differences in infection risks, and that increasing separation only results in the concentration of risk in segregated populations when it is accompanied by increasing vulnerability. Overall, this work shows why it is important to carefully consider the causal linkages and correlations between high-level social determinants - like segregation - and more-proximal transmission mechanisms when either crafting or evaluating public health policies. While the framework applied in this analysis is deliberately simple, it lays the groundwork for future, data-driven explorations of the mechanistic impact of residential segregation on infection inequities.
The ataxia-telangiectasia disease protein ATM controls vesicular protein secretion via CHGA and microtubule dynamics via CRMP5
Authors: Reichlmeir Marina , Duecker Ruth Pia , Röhrich Hanna , Key Jana , Schubert Ralf , Abell Kathryn , Possemato Anthony P. , Stokes Matthew P. , Auburger Georg
Published: June 2024

The autosomal recessive disease ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) presents with cerebellar degeneration, immunodeficiency, radiosensitivity, capillary dilatations, and pulmonary infections. Most symptoms outside the nervous system can be explained by failures of the disease protein ATM as Ser/Thr-kinase to coordinate DNA damage repair. However, ATM in adult neurons has cytoplasmic localization and vesicle association, where its roles remain unclear. Here, we defined novel ATM protein targets in human neuroblastoma cells and filtered initial pathogenesis events in ATM-null mouse cerebellum. Profiles of global proteome and phosphorylome - both direct ATM/ATR-phosphopeptides and overall phosphorylation changes - confirmed previous findings on NBN, MRE11, MDC1, CHEK1, EIF4EBP1, AP3B2, PPP2R5C, SYN1 and SLC2A1. Even stronger downregulation of ATM/ATR-phosphopeptides after ATM-depletion was documented for CHGA, EXPH5, NBEAL2 and CHMP6 as key factors of protein secretion and endosome dynamics, as well as for CRMP5, DISP2, PHACTR1, PLXNC1, INA and TPX2 as neurite extension factors. Prominent affection of semaphorin-CRMP5-microtubule signals and ATM association with CRMP5 were validated. As a functional consequence, microtubules were stabilized, and neurite retraction ensued. The ATM impact on secretory granules confirms previous ATM-null cerebellar transcriptome findings. Our study provides the first link of A-T neural atrophy to growth cone collapse and aberrant microtubule dynamics.
Renormalization of beta decay at three loops and beyond
Authors: Borah Kaushik , Hill Richard J. , Plestid Ryan
Published: June 2024

The anomalous dimension for heavy-heavy-light effective theory operators describing nuclear beta decay is computed through three-loop order in the static limit. The result at order Z2α3 corrects a previous result in the literature. An all-orders symmetry is shown to relate the anomalous dimensions at leading and subleading powers of Z at a given order of α. The first unknown coefficient for the anomalous dimension now appears at O(Z2α4).

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Gluon generalized parton distributions of the proton at nonzero skewness
Authors: Chakrabarti Dipankar , Choudhary Poonam , Gurjar Bheemsehan , Maji Tanmay , Mondal Chandan , Mukherjee Asmita
Published: June 2024

Using a recently developed light-front spectator model that incorporates gluon, where the light-front wave functions are modeled from the soft-wall anti–de Sitter/QCD prediction, we examine the leading twist gluon generalized parton distributions (GPDs) inside the proton. We derive the chirally even and odd distributions by using the overlap representation of the light-front wave functions. In terms of GPDs at nonzero skewness, we investigate the entire three-dimensional representation of gluons. We analyse the gluon impact parameter distributions at ξ=0 using the Fourier transform of GPDs. We address the total angular momentum contribution of the gluons by using the Ji’s sum rule and also give our predictions for both the canonical and kinetic orbital angular momentum in the light-cone gauge.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Gravitational Rényi entropy from corner terms
Authors: Kastikainen Jani , Svesko Andrew
Published: June 2024

We provide a consistent first principles prescription to compute gravitational Rényi entropy using Hayward corner terms. For Euclidean solutions to Einstein gravity, we compute Rényi entropy of Hartle-Hawking and fixed-area states by cutting open a manifold containing a conical singularity into a wedge with a corner. The entropy functional for fixed–area states is equal to the corner term itself, having a flat-entanglement spectrum, while extremization of the functional follows from the variation of the corner term under diffeomorphisms. Notably, our method does not require regularization of the conical singularity, and naturally extends to higher-curvature theories of gravity.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Transient Amplification of Broken Symmetry in Elastic Snap-Through
Authors: Wang Qiong , Giudici Andrea , Huang Weicheng , Wang Yuzhe , Liu Mingchao , Tawfick Sameh , Vella Dominic
Published: June 2024

A snap-through bifurcation occurs when a bistable structure loses one of its stable states and moves rapidly to the remaining state. For example, a buckled arch with symmetrically clamped ends can snap between an inverted and a natural state as the ends are released. A standard linear stability analysis suggests that the arch becomes unstable to asymmetric perturbations. Surprisingly, our experiments show that this is not always the case: symmetric transitions are also observed. Using experiments, numerics, and a toy model, we show that the symmetry of the transition depends on the rate at which the ends are released, with sufficiently fast loading leading to symmetric snap-through. Our toy model reveals that this behavior is caused by a region of the system’s state space in which any initial asymmetry is amplified. The system may not enter this region when loaded fast (hence remaining symmetric), but will traverse it for some interval of time when loaded slowly, causing a transient amplification of asymmetry. Our toy model suggests that this behavior is not unique to snapping arches, but rather can be observed in dynamical systems where both a saddle-node and a pitchfork bifurcation occur in close proximity.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
The proactive role played by sustainable wineries at times of economic crisis
Authors: García-Cortijo María Carmen , Castillo-Valero Juan Sebastián , Pérez-Luño Ana
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This paper analyses the behaviour of wineries after an economic crisis depending on their interest in the environment.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was drawn up to collect quantitative data on Spanish wineries; a total of 230 firms participated in the study. Subsequently, a detailed statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U test and rank sum.

Findings

The results show that the wineries that were most interested in sustainability exhibited proactive behaviour during the post-crisis period, choosing to innovate in their different areas in order to deal with the situation.

Practical implications

The paper develops a simple and effective method for wineries to gain confidence that their sustainable behaviour will be compatible with innovating and overcoming a crisis.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature because, to the authors' knowledge, no other study has investigated the concepts of sustainability, crisis and innovation simultaneously. The model is also applicable to international wineries as well as companies in other sectors and would help them to define their strategic and sustainability plans.
GVC embeddedness and innovation performance – an analysis across 28 European countries
Authors: van Zijl Alissa Lysanne , Koster Ferry
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study has the following aims. First, it tries to clarify the relationship between global value chain (GVC) participation and innovation performance. To date, research generated mixed results. Secondly, it explores a novel way of investigating GVC participation by focusing on the sectoral level in which organizations operate using the concept of GVC embeddedness, which has not been investigated to date.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from two sources are combined. The European Company Survey of 2019 provides data about the innovation performance of organizations. These data include measures about production and process. At the sectoral level, these company-level data are combined with data from the Trade in Value Added from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In total, more than 20,000 companies were investigated, which operate in 15 sectors in 28 countries. This three-level structure is analysed using multilevel ordered probit analyses.

Findings

The results show that forward participation and backward participation at the sectoral level are positively related to product innovation and process innovation. The probability of not being engaged in innovation is reduced through GVC embeddedness. And, the probability of generating incremental and radical innovations (both regarding products and processes) increases if GVC participating at the sectoral level is higher.

Originality/value

This study is the first to relate sectoral GVC embeddedness to the innovation performance of organizations.
The relationship between management vs nonmanagement status and women employees’ dissent expression in US organizations
Authors: Oommen Deepa
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to test whether a) differences existed in dissent expression between women in management and nonmanagement positions and b) the differences varied between white women and women of color.

Design/methodology/approach

Responses from 1,011 employed women in the US were analyzed for the study.

Findings

Results revealed that in management vs nonmanagement status, women employees were more likely to express upward dissent and employ dissent strategies that signified both influence and lack of influence in organizations. However, race-based differences existed in the expressions of some forms of dissent.

Originality/value

Research has shown that employees in management vs nonmanagement status express more upward dissent and employ dissent strategies that signify influence in organizations. However, can this be the case for women employees? Although previous research has explored dissent expression extensively in US organizations, women employees' dissent expression has not received much attention in social-scientific studies. In these studies, gender and race were treated as mere demographic variables to describe sample compositions despite these variables being influential factors in organizational life. Through an intersectional approach to identities, this study’s findings call upon organizations to address iniquities that limit dissent expression based on identity hierarchies.
Remote employee work performance in the meta COVID-19 era: evidence from Greece
Authors: Katsaros Kleanthis Konstantinos
Published: June 2024

Purpose

By drawing on the reciprocity norm and the employee engagement theory, the aim of this study is to investigate the influence of workplace characteristics (e.g. individual, job, group and organizational levels) on remote employee work performance (i.e. task, adaptive and proactive) and to examine the potential role of work engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through a phased investigation in a branch of a multinational telecommunication company located in Greece. The research was carried out from September 2022 to December 2022. Firstly, 364 exclusively remote employees completed questionnaires examining work-related characteristics (i.e. change self-efficacy, work autonomy and perceived organizational support (POS)) as well as their work engagement. Consequently, their supervisors evaluated their work performance. The research model was tested with the use of structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The research findings suggest that change self-efficacy, work autonomy, support from supervisors and organizational support positively influence employee work engagement as well as that work engagement mediates the relationship among change self-efficacy, support from supervisors, organizational support and employee work performance (i.e. task and adaptive). Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Practical implications

The results indicate that if organizations manage to influence positively their employees’ work engagement by providing them with the necessary conditions and support (i.e. individual, group and organizational levels), they may increase their work performance in changing and complex times.

Originality/value

The research findings provide new insights into how workplace characteristics and work engagement may influence employee performance during turbulent times. The originality of this study lies in the finding that employees’ work engagement mediates the relationship among change self-efficacy, support from supervisors, organizational support and employee work performance (i.e. task and adaptive). Further, the study refers to exclusively remote employees, and it was conducted in the meta coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) era.
ESG scores and stock returns during COVID-19: an empirical analysis of an emerging market
Authors: Yadav Mahender , Dhingra Barkha , Batra Shallu , Saini Mohit , Aggarwal Vaibhav
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a dramatic downturn in the global stock markets. Investors look for safe stocks that can provide better risk-adjusted returns. Stocks with higher Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) scores can be good choices for investors. This study focuses on this argument by examining the relationship between ESG indicators and stock returns while considering financial and macroeconomic variables.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, 39 non-financial firms listed in Nifty-50, for which data is available, have been included. Panel data from 2018 to 2021 is collected to examine this relationship in the presence of COVID-19. Additionally, the panel regression method is used.

Findings

The empirical findings indicate a positive relationship between ESG scores and stock returns. This relationship holds even when the control variables like Return on Assets (ROA), Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Return on Equity (ROE), age, size, leverage of the firm, inflation, and crisis period are used in the model.

Originality/value

This study contributes by examining the linkage between ESG indicators and stock return while controlling the impact of the financial and macroeconomic variables in Indian markets, which has not been undertaken so far. Moreover, this is the first study to use the ESG score data of S&P Global, which gives more weight to the material factors of a firm.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-10-2023-0819.
Eco-endorsement dynamics: unraveling the influence of celebrity attitudes on eco-product perceptions and purchase decisions
Authors: Szymkowiak Andrzej , Antoniak Marcin Adam
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This research delved into the intricate dynamics between celebrity endorsements and consumer behavior focusing on eco-friendly wine product. This study aims to understand the relationship between attitudes toward the celebrity endorser (CATT), perception of wine as eco-friendly (PECO), overall positive attitude toward the product (PATT) and the intention to purchase (PINT).

Design/methodology/approach

The present study relies on a large sample of 478 US citizens. Mediation moderation analysis is adopted for data analysis.

Findings

The findings revealed a full mediation effect where the influence of CATT on PINT is primarily through PECO and PATT. This suggests that the celebrity's endorsement indirectly affects purchase intention by first influencing perceptions of the product's eco-friendliness and the overall product attitude. Notably, perceiving wine as eco-friendly leads to a favorable product attitude, subsequently enhancing purchase intentions. While CATT significantly impacts both PECO and PATT, its effect is more potent on PATT, emphasizing that the celebrity's overall image might align more closely with the general product attitude than specific attributes like eco-friendliness.

Originality/value

Recognizing the complex landscape of the wine market, the research emphasizes the necessity for comprehensive marketing strategies that consider both the direct and mediated impacts of celebrity endorsements. The findings offer a foundational framework for understanding the nuanced interplay of celebrity endorsement, product perception and purchase intention in the context of the wine market.
Role of institutional quality in the public education financing–educational quality nexus: evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Musah Abubakar , Aawaar Godfred , Nkansah Eric
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This paper investigates the moderating role of institutional quality in the relationship between public education financing and educational quality in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a two-step system generalised method of moments (GMM) to investigate the dynamic relationships among the variables using data from the World Bank covering the periods 2002–2020 for 46 SSA countries.

Findings

The results show that institutional quality moderates the effect of public education financing on educational quality at SSA’s primary, secondary and tertiary levels. This finding shows that improved institutional quality enhances the effectiveness of public educational investments.

Practical implications

The findings of this study imply that policymakers seeking to enhance educational quality must not only increase educational investments but also institute measures to improve institutional quality.

Originality/value

Prior studies fail to examine the moderating role of institutional quality in the nexus between public education financing and educational quality. This study analyses the role of institutional quality in the public education financing–educational quality nexus in SSA. The findings of this study contribute to improving the return on public education financing in SSA.
The role of Islamic economics and social institutions during the time of Covid-19
Authors: Herianingrum Sri , Iswati Sri , Ma’ruf Anwar , Bahari Zakaria
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the role of Islamic economic and social institutions during Covid-19 and try to propose a model that highlights Islamic economics and social institutions’ role in providing community economic, social and health recovery support.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses a qualitative approach with a multicase method. Interviews with the institutions including the Amil Zakat, Islamic Banks, Micro Waqf Banks and Islamic Cooperative (Baitul Maal wat Tamwil) were conducted in order to develop a model about how the integration between each institution in handling the effect of COVID-19.

Findings

The model shows the interaction roles of each Islamic institution and implementation in the long term and short term in handling the impact of Covid-19, particularly in the economic, social and health sectors. These institutions will assist the government in establishing community economic independence in the face of COVID-19, which has caused economic sluggishness or recession.

Research limitations/implications

This study proposes the model of synergy using a qualitative approach. Future studies can develop the synergy model by employing a statistical and quantitative method, such as by employing analytical network process method.

Originality/value

This study adds the literature about empirical evidence on the role of each Islamic economic and social institution and develops new scenario model about integration of those institutions in overcoming economic and social problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. These interactions play a role in shaping the community’s economic independence in dealing with the economic downturn due to COVID-19.
The mediating role of intellectual capital on the nexus between diversification, financial stability and efficiency of commercial banks in Ethiopia
Authors: Filatie Yichlal Simegn , Sharma Dhiraj
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The main objective of this study is to analyze the mediating role of intellectual capital in the relationship between diversification, financial stability, and efficiency of the banking sector in Ethiopia.

Design/methodology/approach

Secondary data for this study was obtained from audited financial statements of 17 Ethiopian commercial banks for a decade starting in 2013. A descriptive and explanatory research design with a quantitative research approach was employed. The seemingly unrelated Hierarchical regression analysis is used to estimate diversification’s effect on banks' financial stability and efficiency, considering the interaction between diversification and intellectual capital as a mediating variable.

Findings

The Mediation analysis reveals that asset diversification improves the financial stability of commercial banks when mediated by intellectual efficiency. Investment diversification negatively impacts risk-adjusted return on asset and Z score. Intellectual capital significantly enhances commercial banks' efficiency and financial stability in Ethiopia and mediates the relationship between geographic diversification, financial stability, and efficiency. The mediation analysis also indicates that intellectual capital significantly mediates the relationship between income diversification and efficiency.

Practical implications

This study highlights the importance of intellectual capital and promotes its strategic allocation by management and regulatory bodies to enhance the financial stability and operational effectiveness of the banking industry in Ethiopia.

Originality/value

To the best of the researcher’s knowledge, this study is one of the rare attempts to investigate the mediating role of intellectual capital on the nexus between diversification, financial stability, and efficiency of commercial banks in Ethiopia.
Occupational therapists views on GAS-light as an outcome measure in community adult mental health
Authors: Lister Ashley , Morris Karen
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The paper aims to gain understanding of perceived benefits and barriers to GAS-light as an occupational therapy outcome measure in community adult mental health. The study explored occupational therapists’ views on the client-centred nature of GAS-light and whether it is an applicable outcome measure for group intervention. It also aimed to understand how occupational therapists use of GAS-light informed their practice and the wider multidisciplinary team perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a phenomenological design. This comprising of a focus group of occupational therapists experienced in using the tool, followed by framework analysis. Focus group questions were derived from literature.

Findings

Three main themes were identified to reflect experiences relating to the GAS-light tool as an outcome measure; value in process, occupational narrative and language and expertise.

Practical implications

The paper is indicative of practical implications regarding the use of the GAS-light tool with community mental health clients and therapists, including the perceived value in the process, the language used by the therapist and level of expertise.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified need to contribute towards an evidence base for occupational therapy and mental health.
New perspective on sustainable practices in the events industry
Authors: Baydeni̇z Erdem , Özdoğan Osman Nuri
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The aim of this study is to systematically review scientific research on sustainability in the event industry to understand the current state of affairs and provide a roadmap for future studies. By combining the topics of the event industry and sustainability, it aims to thematically analyze the scientific literature in this area.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzed 1,710 studies in the Web of Science (WoS) database as of June 1, 2024. The keywords “event industry” and “sustainability” were used to search for academic articles, review articles, and conference proceedings. The data were analyzed geographically, thematically, and temporally. Cross-national research contributions, document types, researcher profiles, and interdisciplinary relationships were examined in detail.

Findings

The analysis shows that sustainability is an increasingly important issue in the events industry, with countries such as the USA, China and Australia leading the way. Most research is in the form of articles, with conference proceedings and reviews playing an important role. There is a particular concentration in categories such as “management,” “hospitality, leisure, sport and tourism” and “sustainability science.” Even during the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in research activity, underscoring the importance of this topic on a global scale. Researchers have made significant scientific contributions in this area. These interdisciplinary studies have revealed important intersections between environmental sustainability and event management.

Originality/value

This study provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on the event industry and sustainability, illustrating the interdisciplinary nature of the field and the geographical distribution of research activity. A systematic review of the literature consolidates the body of knowledge in this field and provides directions for future research. This study highlights the need for more in-depth and comprehensive research on sustainability, and provides an important framework for strengthening the links between event management and sustainability.
Tumor‐associated macrophages: The key player in hepatoblastoma microenvironment and the promising therapeutic target
Authors: Adawy Ahmad , Komohara Yoshihiro , Hibi Taizo
Published: June 2024

The tumor microenvironment of hepatoblastoma (HB), the most common pediatric liver tumor, predominantly exhibits a myeloid immune landscape. in which tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) are considered the core component. The crosstalk between TAMs and HB cells markedly influences tumor behavior. TAM‐derived factors are involved in tumor proliferation and vascular invasion. On the other hand, HB cell secretome attracts, stimulates, and reprograms TAMs to be immunosuppressive in favor of tumor invasion, rather than their innate role in combating tumor growth, such crosstalk sometimes forms bidirectional feedback loops, making the tumor more virulent and resistant to routine therapeutics. Consequently, TAMs are the common denominator of most suggested HB immunotherapeutic strategies. Macrophage immune checkpoint inhibitors, macrophage‐mediated antibody‐dependent cellular phagocytosis, and the novel chimeric antigen receptor macrophage therapy (CAR Mφ) are currently under trial. In this review, we will summarize the significance of TAMs and their potential role as a therapeutic target in HB.