bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biofortification and Fortification of Wheat Flour: Qualitative analysis for implementation and acceptance
Authors: Yasin Rahima , Padhani Zahra A. , Mirani Mushtaque , Jamali Muhammad Khan , Memon Mahwish , Khatoon Sana , Rai Riya , Rahman Areeba , Attaullahjan Anushka , Das Jai K.
Published: August 2024

Background

This paper comprehensively investigates various aspects of dietary behaviors relating to the usage of wheat flour and sociocultural preferences embedded within rural communities and aims to bridge health gaps resulting from zinc deficiency by introducing zinc bio-fortified and fortified flour in Pakistan.

Method

A household and a market study was conducted in Ghotki and Tando Muhammad Khan districts in Sindh, Pakistan. Various stakeholders involved in the wheat-flour industry including farmers, seed suppliers, owners of atta-chakkis and flour mills, grocers and flour merchants, bakers and hoteliers, consumers, and agronomists were interviewed to gauge their knowledge of bio-fortified and fortified wheat-flour.

Results

Wheat-flour is a staple food item in Pakistan, however, agricultural output in Pakistan varies across all provinces. Factors that hinder agricultural productivity include a shortfall of essential resources such as irrigation water, superior quality seeds and fertilizers, and machinery. Farmers use primitive methods of farming as they do not have access to modern technologies, information, or training. Wheat flour market vendors and consumers lack awareness of bio-fortified and fortified wheat flour products and believe the only way to create a customer-base is by ensuring that fortified wheat products are available to all and competitively priced compared to traditional options. Additionally, participants misconstrue the process of fermentation and perceive it as unhealthy. The lack of financial resources and awareness restricts adequate promotion of nutrient-rich food products amongst stakeholders involved in the wheat flour industry. Mass awareness campaigns, education and government incentives could bridge the gaps present and encourage wider adoption of bio-fortified and fortified wheat flour.

Conclusion

Policy makers and communities can draw on the recommendations made in this paper to introduce and promote zinc bio-fortified and fortified flour in settings where zinc deficiency is prevalent.
Aging amplifies sex differences in low alpha and low beta EEG oscillations
Authors: Han Chuanliang , Cheung Vincent C.K. , Chan Rosa H.M.
Published: August 2024

Biological sex profoundly shapes brain function, yet its precise influence on neural oscillations was poorly understood. Despite decades of research, studies investigating sex-based variations in electroencephalographic (EEG) signals have yielded inconsistent findings that obstructs what may be a potentially crucial source of inter-individual variability in brain function. To address this, we analyzed five publicly available resting-state datasets, comprising EEG data (n=445) and iEEG data (n=103). Our results revealed striking age-dependent sex differences: older adults (30-80 years) exhibited robust sex differences, with males showing heightened low alpha (8-9 Hz) activity in temporal regions and attenuated low beta (16-20 Hz) oscillations in parietal-occipital areas compared to females. Intriguingly, these sex-specific patterns were absent in younger adults (20-30 years), suggesting a complex interplay between sex and aging in shaping brain dynamics. Furthermore, we identified consistent sex-related activity in the precentral gyrus with the results of scalp EEG, potentially driving the observed scalp EEG differences. This multi-level analysis allowed us to bridge the gap between cortical and scalp- level observations, providing a more comprehensive picture of sex-related neural dynamics. To further investigate the functional implications of these oscillatory differences, we conducted correlation analyses to uncover significant associations between sex-specific oscillatory patterns and several lifestyle factors (behavioral and anthropometric measures) in older adults. This comprehensive investigation demonstrates the complex interplay between sex, age, and neural oscillations, revealing the variability in brain dynamics. And our findings highlight the importance of careful demographic consideration in EEG research design to ensure fairness in capturing the full spectrum of neurophysiological diversity.

Significance statement

The influence of biological sex and age on neural oscillations had been a long- standing, unresolved question in EEG research, largely unaddressed due to limited sample sizes and simplistic demographic matching. Our study leverages large-scale, open datasets to tackle this issue, analyzing hundreds of participants across five datasets. Our findings demonstrate substantial sex- based differences in even resting-state EEG baselines, particularly in low alpha and low beta bands, uncovering a significant source of variability in neural activity. By connecting these sex and age-related variations to potential neural circuit mechanisms and lifestyle factors, our findings highlight the importance of careful demographic consideration in EEG research design in EEG experimental design to accurately capture the rich spectrum of neurophysiological variability across the lifespan.
Low-dose colchicine improves vasorelaxation, reduces arterial remodeling and attenuates blood pressure increases in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Baldwin Samuel N. , Bastrup Joakim A. , van der Horst Jennifer , Formento Antonella M. G. , Dubik Magdalena , Kudryavtseva Olga S. , Saljic Arnela , Rognant Salomé , Dannesboe Johs , Mozzicato Anthony M. , Jespersen Thomas , Moeller Jesper B. , Tardif Jean-Claude , Thomsen Morten B. , Jepps Thomas
Published: August 2024

Colchicine, a microtubule depolymerizing agent, is an effective therapy for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and has been approved recently as a novel treatment for atherosclerosis associated with coronary artery disease. Hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, yet the impact of colchicine on hypertension has not been studied. We hypothesized that low-dose colchicine could be used to treat hypertension to reduce cardiovascular disease risk. The aim of this study was to administer daily, low dose (0.05 mg/kg/day) oral colchicine for 4 weeks to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive controls (WKY) and determine the effect on blood pressure, vascular reactivity, remodeling and inflammation, and left ventricular hypertrophy. Daily blood pressure measurements recorded by telemetry in conscious rats showed colchicine prevented increases in mean arterial pressure observed in the SHRs receiving vehicle over the 4-week treatment period. After the 4-weeks of treatment, 3rdorder mesenteric artery vasorelaxations to isoproterenol, sodium nitroprusside and the Kv7.2-5 channel activator, ML213, were enhanced in the SHRs receiving colchicine compared to vehicle. The improved isoproterenol-mediated relaxation was also observed in WKY rats receiving colchicine, and in both the SHR and WKY, this improved effect was attenuated by the β2 adrenoceptor antagonist, ICI118,551. Proteomic analysis of the mesenteric arteries by mass spectrometry revealed that colchicine treatment prevented changes observed when comparing the SHR vehicle group with the WKY vehicle group in proteins associated with extracellular matrix pathways. Immunostaining of 3rdorder mesenteric arteries with Sirius red found that colchicine treatment attenuated the increased media thickness of the artery wall observed in SHRs receiving vehicle. Multiplex immunoassay and Western blots revealed colchicine reduced certain inflammatory mediators in the wall of the SHR mesenteric arteries, particularly the nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat pyrin containing protein-3 (NLRP3), IL-18, CXCL10, and CXCL2, as well as reducing phosphorylated STAT3. Finally, in the left ventricle of the SHR, colchicine treatment attenuated a number of inflammatory mediators, including NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18, and reduced fibrosis and cell size, which are indicative of left ventricular hypertrophy. Overall, we show colchicine has the potential to elicit cardiovascular protective effects in hypertension by targeting multiple cell types.
Lymphatic endothelial cell-targeting lipid nanoparticles delivering VEGFC mRNA improve lymphatic function after injury
Authors: Michalaki Eleftheria , Chin Rachel , Jeong Kiyoung , Qi Zhiming , Liebman Lauren N. , González-Vargas Yarelis , Echeverri Elisa Schrader , Paunovska Kalina , Muramatsu Hiromi , Pardi Norbert , Tamburini Beth Jiron , Jakus Zoltan , Dahlman James E. , Brandon Dixon J.
Published: August 2024

Dysfunction of the lymphatic system following injury, disease, or cancer treatment can lead to lymphedema, a debilitating condition with no cure. Advances in targeted therapy have shown promise for treating diseases where conventional therapies have been ineffective and lymphatic vessels have recently emerged as a new therapeutic target. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as a promising strategy for tissue specific delivery of nucleic acids. Currently, there are no approaches to target LNPs to lymphatic endothelial cells, although it is well established that intradermal (ID) injection of nanoparticles will drain to lymphatics with remarkable efficiency. To design an LNP that would effectively deliver mRNA to LEC after ID delivery, we screened a library of 150 LNPs loaded with a reporter mRNA, for both self-assembly and deliveryin vivoto lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). We identified and validated several LNP formulations optimized for high LEC uptake when administered ID and compared their efficacy for delivery of functional mRNA with that of free mRNA and mRNA delivered with a commercially available MC3-based LNP (Onpattro™). The lead LEC-specific LNP was then loaded with VEGFC mRNA to test the therapeutic advantage of the LEC-specific LNP (namely, LNP7) for treating a mouse tail lymphatic injury model. A single dose of VEGFC mRNA delivered via LNP7 resulted in enhanced LEC proliferation at the site of injury, and an increase in lymphatic function up to 14-days post-surgery. Our results suggest a therapeutic potential of VEGFC mRNA lymphatic-specific targeted delivery in alleviating lymphatic dysfunction observed during lymphatic injury and could provide a promising approach for targeted, transient lymphangiogenic therapy.

One Sentence Summary

Development of a novel lymphatic endothelial cell-targeting lipid nanoparticle viain vivoscreening for mRNA delivery improves lymphatic regeneration and function after injury.
Transcriptional regulation of adipocyte lipolysis by IRF2BP2
Authors: Chen Yang , Liu Lin , Calhoun Ryan , Cheng Lan , Merrick David , Steger David J. , Seale Patrick
Published: August 2024

Adipocyte lipolysis controls systemic energy levels and metabolic homeostasis. Lipolysis is regulated by post-translational modifications of key lipolytic enzymes. However, less is known about the transcriptional mechanisms that regulate lipolysis. Here, we identify the transcriptional factor interferon regulatory factor-2 binding protein 2 (IRF2BP2) as a repressor of adipocyte lipolysis. Deletion of IRF2BP2 in primary human adipocytes increases lipolysis without affecting glucose uptake, whereas IRF2BP2 overexpression decreases lipolysis. RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analyses reveal that IRF2BP2 directly represses several lipolysis-related genes, includingLIPE(HSL, hormone sensitive lipase), which encodes the rate-limiting enzyme in lipolysis. Adipocyte-selective deletion ofIrf2bp2in mice increasesLipeexpression and free fatty acid levels, resulting in elevated adipose tissue inflammation and glucose intolerance. Altogether, these findings demonstrate that IRF2BP2 restrains adipocyte lipolysis and opens new avenues to target lipolysis for the treatment of metabolic disease.
Feature specific neuronal oscillations in cortical layers
Authors: Clausner T. , Marques J. , Scheeringa R. , Bonnefond M.
Published: August 2024

The particular role of cortical oscillations has been a long-debated topic that resulted in a variety of theoretical frameworks. Oscillatory activity in theαband has been associated with sensory processing, attention as well as other cognitive functions, whileγband oscillations is thought to be related to stimulus feature processing. Current theoretical frameworks rely on the separation of the cortical architecture into layers. Recently, methodological advancements have allowed to test layer specific frameworks on the role of oscillations in cortical computations in healthy human participants. Using EEG-fMRI, we have investigated for the first time both, stimulus feature specificity (line orientation) and the relationship between the laminar BOLD activity andαandγband oscillations. We findγoscillations to be positively correlated with feature-specific signals in superficial layers as predicted by the literature, but we found a deep layer contribution as well. Furthermore we found a layer (and frequency) dissociation within theαband for general, feature unspecific, processes and a feature related process. The power of theα-band correlated negatively with feature unspecific neural activity in all cortical layers. We further found that high frequencyαoscillations were specifically related to stimulus feature specific BOLD signal in deep and superficial layers. More interestingly, we also observed a general modulation effect for negative BOLD signal deflections in line with the inhibitory role ofαduring visual attention in superficial layers. Those findings support the association ofγband oscillations with visual feature processing and further point towards the involvement of multipleαoscillations in more general and feature related processes.
A distinct circuit for biasing visual perceptual decisions and modulating superior colliculus activity through the mouse posterior striatum
Authors: Cover Kara K. , Elliott Kerry , Preuss Sarah M. , Krauzlis Richard J.
Published: August 2024

The basal ganglia play a key role in visual perceptual decisions. Despite being the primary target in the basal ganglia for inputs from the visual cortex, the posterior striatum’s (PS) involvement in visual perceptual behavior remains unknown in rodents. We reveal that the PS direct pathway is largely segregated from the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) direct pathway, the other major striatal target for visual cortex. We investigated the role of the PS in visual perceptual decisions by optogenetically stimulating striatal medium spiny neurons in the direct pathway (D1-MSNs) of mice performing a visual change-detection task. PS D1-MSN activation robustly biased visual decisions in a manner dependent on visual context, timing, and reward expectation. We examined the effects of PS and DMS direct pathway activation on neuronal activity in the superior colliculus (SC), a major output target of the basal ganglia. Activation of either direct pathway rapidly modulated SC neurons, but mostly targeted different SC neurons and had opposite effects. These results demonstrate that the PS in rodents provides an important route for controlling visual decisions, in parallel with the better known DMS, but with distinct anatomical and functional properties.
Non-genetic messenger RNA silencing reveals essential genes in phage-host interplay
Authors: Gerovac Milan , Ðurica-Mitić Svetlana , Buhlmann Leandro , Rech Valentin , Zhu Yan , Carien Samuel , Popella Linda , Vogel Jörg
Published: August 2024

Bacteriophages are the most abundant entities on earth and exhibit vast genetic and phenotypic diversity. Exploitation of this largely unexplored molecular space requires identification and functional characterisation of genes that act at the phage-host interface. To date, this is restricted to few model phage-host systems that are amenable to genetic manipulation. To overcome this limitation, we introduce a non-genetic mRNA targeting approach using exogenous delivery of programmable antisense oligomers (ASOs) to silence genes of both DNA and RNA phages. A systematic knockdown screen of core and accessory genes of the nucleus-forming jumbo phage ΦKZ, coupled to RNA-sequencing and microscopy analyses, reveals previously unrecognised proteins that are essential for phage replication and that, upon silencing, elicit distinct phenotypes at the level of the phage and host response. One of these factors is a ΦKZ-encoded nuclease that acts at a major decision point during infection, linking the formation of the protective phage nucleus to phage genome amplification. The non-genetic ASO-based gene silencing used here promises to be a versatile tool for molecular discovery in phage biology, will help elucidate defence and anti-defence mechanisms in non-model phage-host pairs, and offers potential for optimising phage therapy and biotechnological procedures.
Coding of egocentric distance in the macaque ventral intraparietal area
Authors: Caziot Baptiste , Fathkhani Sadra , Bremmer Frank
Published: August 2024

The encoding of three-dimensional visual spatial information is of ultimate importance in everyday life, in particular for successful navigation toward targets or threat avoidance. Eye-movements challenge this spatial encoding: 2-3 times per second, they shift the image of the outside world across the retina. The macaque ventral intraparietal area (VIP) stands out from other areas of the dorsal ‘where’ pathway of the primate visual cortical system: many neurons encode visual information irrespective of horizontal and vertical eye position. But does this gaze invariance of spatial encoding at the single neuron level also apply to egocentric distance? Here, concurrent with recordings from area VIP, monkeys fixated a central target at one of three distances (vergence), while a visual stimulus was shown at one of seven distances (disparity). Most neurons’ activity was modulated independently by both disparity and eye vergence, demonstrating a different type of invariance than for visual directions. By using population activity, we were able to decode egocentric distance of a stimulus which demonstrates that egocentric distances are nonetheless represented within the neuronal population. Our results provide further strong evidence for a role of area VIP in 3D space encoding.
Imaging spatial transcriptomics reveals molecular patterns of vulnerability to pathology in a transgenic α-synucleinopathy model
Authors: Horan-Portelance Liam , Iba Michiyo , Acri Dominic J. , Gibbs J. Raphael , Cookson Mark R.
Published: August 2024

In Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, aggregated and phosphorylated α-synuclein pathology appears in select neurons throughout cortical and subcortical regions, but little is currently known about why certain populations are selectively vulnerable. Here, using imaging spatial transcriptomics (IST) coupled with downstream immunofluorescence for α-synuclein phosphorylated at Ser129 (pSyn) in the same tissue sections, we identified neuronal subtypes in the cortex and hippocampus of transgenic human α-synuclein-overexpressing mice that preferentially developed pSyn pathology. Additionally, we investigated the transcriptional underpinnings of this vulnerability, pointing to expression ofPlk2, which phosphorylates α-synuclein at Ser129, and humanSNCA(hSNCA), as key to pSyn pathology development. Finally, we performed differential expression analysis, revealing gene expression changes broadly downstream ofhSNCAoverexpression, as well as pSyn-dependent alterations in mitochondrial and endolysosomal genes. Overall, this study yields new insights into the formation of α-synuclein pathology and its downstream effects in a synucleinopathy mouse model.
Characterization of Social and Repetitive Behaviors of Mllt11/Af1q/TcF7c Conditional Knockout Mice
Authors: Witt Emily A , Stanton-Turcotte Danielle , Garay Pristine , Ge Jinrong , Iulianella Angelo
Published: August 2024

Mllt11 (myeloid/lymphoid or mixed-lineage leukemia translocated to chromosome 11; also known as Af1q/TcF7c) has been identified as a novel regulator of neural development, playing a role in the migration and outgrowth of cortical projection neurons. We previously reported that the conditional inactivation of the Mllt11 gene in the mouse superficial cortex resulted in reduced connectivity of the corpus callosum and white matter fiber tracts, resulting in reduced cortical thickness. However, the behavioral consequences of Mllt11 loss are unknown. Callosal abnormalities are thought to be present in 3-5% of all neurodevelopmental disorders and reduced corpus callosum volume correlates with core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in humans. Cortical thickness dysregulation is likewise shared among various neurodevelopmental disorders including ASD. We therefore investigated the behavioral consequences of conditional knockout of Mllt11 in upper cortical layer 2/3 projection neurons using transgenic Cux2iresCre mice. Utilizing tasks designed to reflect core ASD symptoms, we examined the behaviors of both male and female conditional knockout animals. These tests included olfaction habituation/dishabituation, three-chambered social approach, marble burying, and nestlet shredding. We found sex-dependent disruptions in social preference and nestlet shredding in animals lacking Mllt11, with the female mice presenting with more disruptions than the males. Understanding the behavioral phenotype associated with genes of interest, specifically in the context of sex differences, is crucial to individualized treatment for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Abundance, identity, and potential diazotrophic activity ofnifH-containing organisms at marine cold seeps
Authors: Semler Amanda C. , Paris Emily R. , Dekas Anne E.
Published: August 2024

Diazotrophic microorganisms alleviate nitrogen limitation at marine cold seeps using nitrogenase, encoded in part by the genenifH. Here, we investigatednifH-containing organisms (NCOs) inside and outside six biogeochemically heterogeneous seeps using amplicon sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) ofnifHgenes and transcripts. We detectednifHgenes affiliated with anaerobic methane-oxidizing ANME-2 archaea and sulfate-reducing Desulfobacteraceae, consistent with previous studies, but also phylogenetically and likely metabolically diverse organisms, includingDesulfoglaeba,CandidatusMethanoliparia, and Desulfuromonadales. In total, we recovered 10,734 bona fidenifHsequence variants affiliated with 18 bacterial and archaeal phyla (17 within seeps), a subset of which were transcribed at nearly all seeps investigated. We corrected our qPCR data based on our amplicon results, which found that 71% of recovered sequences were not bona fidenifH,and we recommend a similar correction in future qPCR studies that use broadnifHprimers.NifHabundance was up to three orders of magnitude higher within seeps, was highly correlated withmcrAgene abundance, and, when corrected, was negatively correlated with porewater ammonium <25 uM, consistent with the inhibition of diazotrophy by ammonium. Our findings significantly expand the known diversity of NCOs at seeps and emphasize seeps as hotspots for deep-sea diazotrophy.
Phonon dispersion of quantum paraelectric
SrTiO3
in electric fields
Authors: Jacobsen Henrik , Barthkowiak Marek , Weber Tobias , Stuhr Uwe , Roessli Bertrand , Niedermayer Christof , Staub Urs
Published: August 2024

Here we report on an elastic and inelastic neutron scattering study addressing the effect of electric fields on quantum paraelectric SrTiO3. Our elastic scattering results find small changes as a function of field in a superlattice reflection that sample the octahedral rotations, which is indicative of only weak coupling of octahedral rotation and electric polarization. Using inelastic neutron scattering, we measured the dispersion of the transverse acoustic and transverse optic phonon in SrTiO3 as a function of applied electric fields. By collecting not only the change in gap, but also of the dispersion, we can better quantify the changes in the lattice dynamics. The findings are put in context to recent DFT calculations predicting the E-field effect on the atomic motions of the lowest lying transverse optical (soft) mode. We find hints of nonlinear coupling to the acoustic mode and to the phonon with polarization perpendicular to the E field, which shows the nonlinearity in the chemical potential that is also relevant when SrTiO3 is excited by strong E-field (THz) pulses.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Dynamic Cost Allocation Allows Network-Forming Forager to Switch Between Search Strategies
Authors: Schick Lisa , Kramar Mirna , Alim Karen
Published: August 2024

Network-forming organisms, like fungi and slime molds, dynamically reorganize their networks during foraging. The resulting rerouting of resource flows within the organism's network can significantly impact local ecosystems. In current analysis limitations stem from a focus on single-time-point morphology, hindering understanding of continuous dynamics and underlying constraints. Here we study ongoing network reorganization in the foraging slime mold , identifying three distinct states with varying morphology and migration velocity. We estimate the energetic cost of each state and find a trade-off between building and transport costs within the morphological variability, facilitating different search strategies. Adaptation of state population to the environment suggests that diverse network morphologies support varied foraging strategies, though constrained by associated costs. Our findings provide insights for evaluating the impact of resource flow rerouting in changing ecosystems.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Guidelines for communicating commensurate magnetic structures. A report of the International Union of Crystallography Commission on Magnetic Structures
Authors: Perez-Mato J. M. , Campbell B. J. , Garlea V. O. , Damay F. , Aurelio G. , Avdeev M. , Fernández-Díaz M. T. , Henriques M. S. , Khalyavin D. , Lee S. , Pomjakushin V. , Terada N. , Zaharko O. , Campo J. , Fabelo O. , Litvin D. B. , Petricek V. , Rayaprol S. , Rodriguez-Carvajal J. , Von Dreele R.
Published: August 2024

A report from the International Union of Crystallography Commission on Magnetic Structures outlining the recommendations for communicating commensurate magnetic structures.
Orientational and crystallographic relationships in thin films of yttrium orthoferrite on sapphire substrates
Authors: Subbotin Ilia A. , Pashaev E. M. , Dubinin Stanislav S. , Izyurov Vladimir V. , Belyaeva Anna O. , Kondratiev Oleg A. , Merencova Kristina A. , Artemiev Mikhail S. , Nosov Aleksandr P.
Published: August 2024

An algorithm is proposed for determining the orientational relationships and crystal unit-cell parameters of thin films using a laboratory X-ray diffractometer and stereographic projections. It is illustrated by the treatment of experimental data obtained for yttrium orthoferrite YFeO3 films on single crystalline sapphire (Al2O3) substrates for film thicknesses in the range from 100 to 7000 Å. Precise determination of unit-cell constants and angles is possible by combining the results of X-ray measurements made in the in-plane and out-of-plane geometries. The unit-cell unit parameters and orientation relationships for thin films were determined. For the studied films, typical errors in determining unit-cell parameters and angles are better than 0.17 Å and 0.17°, respectively.
Numerical simulation of ice accretion on helicopter rotor blades with trailing edge flap
Authors: Tang Man , Cao Yihua , Zhong Guo
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to describe a numerical simulation method of ice accretion on BO105 helicopter blades for predicting the effects of trailing edge flap deflection on ice accretion.

Design/methodology/approach

A numerical simulation method of ice accretion is established based on Myers model. Next, the shape and location of ice accretion of NACA0012 airfoil are calculated, and a comparison between calculated results and experimental data is made to validate the method. This method is used to investigate the effect of trailing edge flap deflection on ice accretion of a rotor blade.

Findings

The numerical method is feasible and effective to study the ice accretion on helicopter rotor blades. The downward deflection of the trailing edge flap affects the shape of the ice.

Practical implications

This method can be further used to predict the ice accretion in actual flights of the helicopters with multielement airfoils.

Originality/value

The numerical simulation method here can lay a foundation of the research about helicopter flight performance in icing condition through predicting the shape and location of ice accretion on rotor blades.
The effects of trust and religiosity on halal products purchase intention: indirect effect of attitude
Authors: Koc Fatih , Ozkan Bekir , Komodromos Marcos , Efendioglu Ibrahim Halil , Baran Tamer
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The primary objective of this study is to examine how trust and religiosity, in relation to halal products, impact Turkish consumers' intention to purchase such goods. Furthermore, the study aims to identify whether attitudes towards halal products play a mediating role in these effects.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 847 people living in Turkey using an online survey. The authors empirically tested the proposed conceptual model via structural equation modeling.

Findings

The study’s results show that trust in halal products has a positive impact on both the intention to buy halal products and the attitude towards them. Moreover, one’s attitude towards halal products affects the intention to purchase them. Additionally, one’s religiosity-belief level influences the intention to purchase halal products, while religiosity-practice level influences the attitude towards halal products. Furthermore, through indirect effect analyses, it was found that trust in halal products and religious practices has an indirect impact on intention through attitude.

Research limitations/implications

These outcomes significantly contribute to understanding the complex interactions between trust in halal products, levels of religiosity, and attitudes in shaping consumers' purchase intentions and approaches towards halal products. These implications offer valuable insights into how consumers' religious beliefs, trust perceptions, and attitudes influence their purchase of halal-certified products. Validating these conclusions on a larger scale and exploring them in different contexts would be beneficial.

Practical implications

The practice dimension of religiosity pertains to performing actions prescribed by the religion, embodying the practical applications of religious teachings. According to the research findings, the belief dimension of religiosity significantly and positively affects the intention to purchase halal products. This finding aligns with several prior studies.

Social implications

Sharing information on websites, social media platforms, or product packaging can be effective. If businesses genuinely adhere to halal standards and address the genuine needs of consumers who value halal products, they can enhance consumers' interest in such products.

Originality/value

This research was conducted in Turkey, where most people follow the Muslim faith. The main objective of the study was to examine the trust levels of consumers who have strong religious beliefs and are sensitive to consuming halal products. The study looked at trust on three levels: trust in the halal product, trust in the company that produces halal products, and trust in institutions that provide halal certification. The study also looked at the religiosity levels of the consumers using a two-dimensional approach, which included their beliefs and practices.
Institutional structure of organization and employees’ pro-environmental behaviors: the mediating effect of employees’ organizational identification
Authors: Qi Lei , Li Ji , Pang Zhiqiang , Liu Bing
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to enrich the literature on employee relations with a new model focusing on the effect of institutional structure and that of employees’ organizational identification on the relationship between institutional structure in an organization and employees’ pro-environmental behaviors, which represents an alternative approach for understanding employees’ pro-environmental performance.

Design/methodology/approach

We collect multi-level and multi-source data from 52 four- or five-star hotels in China (N = 963). For data analysis, we adopt the approach of multilevel structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results suggest that organizations’ green institutional structure (G-structure) can significantly influence employees’ organizational identification, which in turn can increase their pro-environmental performance.

Originality/value

We propose a new multi-level theoretical perspective to explain employees’ pro-environmental behaviors. While prior studies on the issue mainly consider only the effects of such micro-level variables as ability, motivation and personality, we focus on the effect of organizational institution and its interaction with micro-level variables so that we can evaluate the effect a commonly-studied contextual variable, i.e. green institutions, on the behaviors. Moreover, in this new theoretical model, we also take into account the effect of another insufficiently-tested micro-level variable, i.e. employees’ identification, which has not been considered as frequently as other micro-level variables in studying employees’ pro-environmental performance. Our results highlight the importance of all these variables and suggest a valuable alternative model for more comprehensive research of employees’ green performance.
Ownership structure and sustainability reporting: emerging economies evidence
Authors: Nuhu Yusuf , Alam Ashraful
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the impact of ownership structure variables on the level of sustainability reporting (SR) of listed BRICS energy firms as well as the moderating role of the board sustainability committee on this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a sample of 1,260 firm-year observations from BRICS for the period 2010–2019. This study uses the Bloomberg database, companies’ annual reports and companies’ websites for data collection and the ordinary least squares (OLS) and instrutemental variables (IV) two-stage least squares (2SLS) regressions for data analysis.

Findings

This study provides empirical evidence that foreign ownership, managerial ownership and blockholder ownership have a positive and statistically significant impact on the level of SR. However, the results indicate institutional ownership impacts SR negatively. The findings remain qualitatively the same after addressing endogeneity concerns using the IV 2SLS regression method.

Research limitations/implications

This paper has some limitations. This study focuses on listed companies in BRICS. Therefore, future studies should look at non-listed small and medium enterprises. Similarly, because this study focuses on emerging economies, future studies should consider comparative studies between developed and developing economies.

Practical implications

This study makes significant empirical, theoretical and regulatory contributions to policymakers, investors and management on the ownership type that positively influence the level of SR.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the corporate governance and sustainability literature and extends existing empirical literature on the role of ownership structure on the level of SR in the context of emerging economies. This study provides important theoretical and empirical evidence for regulators and policymakers.
An investigation of nexus between climate-related financial policy and energy security: novel evidence from global database
Authors: Ha Le Thanh
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This paper answers the question of whether climate-related financial policies (CRFP) enable the energy transition in the European region.

Design/methodology/approach

By using various econometric techniques (namely a panel-corrected standard errors [PCSE] model and a feasible generalized least square estimates [FGLS] model, this study examines a link between CRFP and energy security (ES).

Findings

Using seven indicators, this paper examines four parts of energy security: acceptability, availability, sustainability and developability. The author has performed econometric analyses on 17 European countries during the period 2010–2020 to reveal critical findings. The results show a relationship between CRFP and energy intensity, energy consumption, nonfossil energy consumption, renewable energy consumption and CO2 emissions. This finding suggests that CRFP involvement benefits the energy system’s acceptability, developability and sustainability. Moreover, the author observes long-term cointegration between CRFP and ES, and the findings validate their short-term and long-term effects. The author also finds that ES is influenced by past and future CRFP participation.

Practical implications

This study focuses on countries in a European Union (EU) region, which contribute significantly to secure ES and represent a varied spectrum of rich and emerging economies.

Originality/value

In this paper, the author contributes to the research in three ways. First, to the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first empirical study to explore CRFP as a contributor to the security of the energy system. This research contributes to the existing body of information by investigating the influence of CRFP on environmental quality as assessed by various dimensions. Second, this paper uses a PCSE model based on cross-sectional dependence and stationarity tests. Furthermore, the findings can be further verified using FGLSs considering heteroscedasticity. Long-term and short-term impacts of autoregressive distributed lag methods were also investigated using pooled mean groups (PMG).
Block? Delete? All of the above? The self-protective behaviors of young adult cyberstalking victims
Authors: Fissel Erica R. , Lee Jin R.
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the self-protective behaviors of young adult cyberstalking victims and the factors that impact adoption of such behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a sample of 880 young adults (18–25 years of age) who had experienced cyberstalking victimization within the previous 12 months. Data were collected through an online self-report survey hosted on Qualtrics from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk workers.

Findings

Results revealed that three-quarters of cyberstalking victims engaged in at least one form of self-protective behavior. The most commonly adopted self-protective behavior was blocking unwanted communications only (29%), while 40% of cyberstalking victims noted engaging in multiple forms of self-protective behaviors. While results varied across models, findings revealed that incident characteristics and respondent characteristics impacted the likelihood of engaging in self-protective behaviors after a cyberstalking victimization experience.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature examining the self-protective behaviors adopted by cyberstalking victims, which can shed light on other forms of cyber abuse and help explain victims’ low reporting rates to official sources (e.g. law enforcement).
Toward a mapping of compliance risk in banks
Authors: Tahiri Amal , El Arif Fatima Zahra
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Compliance risk management in the banking sector is crucial because of its multifaceted nature and its potential repercussions on reputation and financial stability. This study aims to present a systematic approach to mapping compliance risks, leveraging the risk self-control assessment (RSCA) method. Integrating quantitative and qualitative assessment techniques and drawing on human expertise and industry best practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors followed a methodology that involves conducting semistructured interviews with banking compliance professionals and analyzing professional frameworks to gather pertinent information. This comprehensive approach allows to obtain a holistic view of the risks involved and to refine the risk analysis process.

Findings

A step-by-step guide to map compliance risk within banks is proposed. The authors offer a rigorous process to enhance compliance risk management practices within the banking sector, providing actionable insights to effectively navigate regulatory complexities and safeguard financial stability.

Practical implications

The insights from this paper will guide compliance officers and risk managers to better assess and monitor compliance risk within their organizations.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this may be the first thorough paper that tackles the topic of mapping compliance risk in banks, from identifying areas of risk to corrective measures after drawing up the risk map, using the RSCA approach.
Practice Briefing: A comprehensive negotiation framework for real estate professionals (Part II)
Authors: Wiegelmann Thomas , Falcão Horacio
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this briefing, which is Part II of a two-part series, is to address the challenges faced by real estate professionals in negotiations, advocating a shift from traditional win-lose strategies to a value win-win approach and providing a path for this transition. It highlights the importance of continuous negotiation learning and adaptation in an evolving industry, emphasising the need for a collaborative, ethical and interest-based negotiation strategy to achieve long-term success.

Design/methodology/approach

The briefing adopts a theoretical and practical approach, combining insights from negotiation theory with real-world applications in the real estate context. It introduces the seven elements framework as a foundation for value win-win negotiations, providing a structured method for real estate professionals to enhance their negotiation skills and outcomes.

Findings

The briefing identifies a historical preference for win-lose negotiation strategies in the real estate industry, driven by power dynamics and short-term gains. It highlights the limitations of this approach in a changing industry landscape and presents value win-win negotiation as a more effective alternative that focuses on mutual gains, ethical practices and long-term relationships. It differentiates value win-win from win-lose or win-win naïve strategies and provides value win-win advice to negotiate when faced with these other two strategies.

Practical implications

Real estate professionals are encouraged to embrace the value win-win approach by shifting their mind-set, building strong relationships and communication channels, focusing on interests rather than positions, generating mutual-gain options, persuading based on legitimacy and finally making the best possible decision to either commit or walk away to their alternatives. The briefing provides practical strategies and best practices for implementing this approach, including preparation, option generation and commitment to mutually beneficial outcomes.

Originality/value

The briefing contributes to the negotiation literature by offering a comprehensive and practical guide for real estate professionals to navigate complex negotiations. It presents a novel application of the seven elements framework in the real estate context, emphasising the importance of a value-driven, collaborative approach in achieving superior negotiation outcomes on average than other common negotiation strategies.
Organizational citizenship behavior to the environment at medical device firms: the intersection of leadership characteristics, organizational factors and employee behaviors
Authors: Swearingen Anne H. , Ailts Campeau Danielle , Siats Nathaniel , Nowakowski Matthew J.
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of ten (10) product innovation employees in medical device firms’ sustainability initiatives, considering leadership, organizational and employee factors within the healthcare industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Phenomenology was chosen as it supports an in-depth analysis of the lived experience of several individuals, who are experiencing a similar phenomenon. This methodology permitted the researcher to “view experience and behavior as an integrated and inseparable relationship of the subject and object and of parts and whole.”

Findings

The intersection of employee, leader and organizational factors should be considered to further organizational citizenship behavior to the environment. Within each theme, cognitive dissonance is present. Understanding and acknowledging the choice required by the individual, leader and/or organization may impact overall environmental organizational citizenship behavior.

Practical implications

When implementing sustainable activities, three key areas should be evaluated: leaders, organizations and employees.

Social implications

This study provides insight into employee experiences and sustainable activities.

Originality/value

This research adds to the literature on organizational citizenship behavior to the environment within medical device firms as it provides insight into how sustainability programs within firms could be approached. Healthcare’s climate impact contributes to emissions which are equivalent to having 75 million vehicles on the road, annually. In addition, this study provided an initial understanding of the lived experiences of employees within the medical device industry when themes are analyzed. The results may help organizations understand the experiences of employees to further advance their vision and mission, by understanding the phenomenon of how sustainability initiatives are perceived.
Conducting systematic literature review of Front-of-Pack-Labelling: integrative framework, themes formation, and path for future research
Authors: Jakhar Riya , Singh Surinder
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The escalating prevalence of non-communicable diseases has underscored the crucial role of Front-of-Pack-Labelling (FoPL) in shaping consumer decisions. However, the research in this field is still in its developing stage, leading to a fragmented and limited body of work. Given the critical importance of FoPL, it is imperative to conduct a comprehensive literature review of existing research to outline the academic aspect of FoPL research. This research paper aims to combine the available research to generate a systematic compilation of literature, thereby contributing to the advancement of knowledge in this vital area.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the objectives, a systematic literature review technique was followed. The database used for the extraction of documents was Scopus. Sixty-three articles were critically examined to extract the relevant information.

Findings

Based on the analysis types of a study conducted, data collection source, types of FoPL studied, key themes, theoretical model, antecedents, dependent/independent variables and outcome were identified. It also explained the underlying phenomenon of FoPL’s impact on the various outcomes. An integrative theoretical model was also proposed based on the underlying mechanism, antecedents, moderator, mediator and outcome. Towards the end of the paper, research gaps were also identified for future paths in unexplored areas.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first attempt in the field of FoPL to comprehensively include all the dependent and independent variables involved and propose a framework along with future research prospects. The findings will guide researchers and policymakers.