bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of music on health-related quality of life, as quantified by the SF-36: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: McCrary J. Matt , Altenmüller Eckart , Kretschmer Clara , Scholz Daniel S.
Published: December 2021

Background/Objectives

Increasing evidence supports the ability of music to broadly promote wellbeing and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, the magnitude of music’s effects on HRQOL is still unclear, particularly relative to established interventions, limiting inclusion of music interventions in health policy and care. The SF-36 is the most widely used instrument to evaluate HRQOL, with broad validity in evaluating the effects of a range of interventions. This study aims to synthesize and contextualize the impact of music interventions on HRQOL, as assessed by the SF-36.

Methods

MEDLINE; EMBASE; Web of Science; PsycINFO, clinicaltrials.gov, and ICTRP databases were searched on 30 July 2021. Randomized and single-group studies of music interventions which reported SF-36 data at pre- and post-intervention timepoints were included. Observational studies were excluded. The quality and certainty of evidence provided by included articles and meta-analysis results was appraised using GRADE. Inverse variance random effects meta-analyses quantified changes in SF-36 mental and physical component summary scores (respectively, ‘MCS’ and ‘PCS’) pre- to post-intervention and vs. common control groups.

Results

Analyses included 764 participants from 25 studies. Music interventions (music listening – 10 studies; music therapy – 7 studies; singing – 7 studies; gospel music – 1 study) significantly improved MCS (Mean difference (MD) [95% confidence interval]=3.0 [1.4, 4.6]; p<.001) and PCS (MD=1.0 [0.1, 2.0; p<.04) scores. In a subgroup (8 studies; music group – N=254; control – N=257) addition of music to standard treatment for a range of conditions significantly improved MCS scores vs. standard treatment alone (MD=3.7 [0.4, 7.1; p<.03). Effects did not vary between music listening, therapy and singing intervention types or doses (p≥.12); no evidence of small study or publication biases was present in any analysis (p≥.31). Music’s impact on MCS scores meets SF-36 minimum important difference thresholds (MD≥3) and is within the range of established interventions.

Conclusions

This study provides Moderate quality evidence that music interventions can generally be used to provide clinically meaningful improvements in HRQOL. Further study is needed to determine optimal music interventions and doses for distinct clinical and public health scenarios.

Funding

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

Registration

PROSPERO (ID: CRD42021276204)
Simulation of Pedigree vs. fully-informative marker based relationships matrices in a Loblolly Pine breeding population
Authors: Festa Adam R , Whetten Ross
Published: December 2021

Computer simulations of breeding strategies are an essential resource for tree breeders because they allow exploratory analyses into potential long-term impacts on genetic gain and inbreeding consequences without bearing the cost, time, or resource requirements of field experiments. Previous work has modeled the potential long-term implications on inbreeding and genetic gain using random mating and phenotypic selection. Reduction in sequencing costs has enabled the use of DNA marker-based relationship matrices in addition to or in place of pedigree-based allele sharing estimates; this has been shown to provide a significant increase in the accuracy of progeny breeding value prediction. A potential pitfall of genomic selection using genetic relationship matrices is increased coancestry among selections, leading to the accumulation of deleterious alleles and inbreeding depression. We used simulation to compare the relative genetic gain and risk of inbreeding depression within a breeding program similar to loblolly pine, utilizing pedigree-based or marker-based relationships over ten generations. We saw a faster rate of purging deleterious alleles when using a genomic relationship matrix based on markers that track identity-by-descent of segments of the genome. Additionally, we observed an increase in the rate of genetic gain when using a genomic relationship matrix instead of a pedigree-based relationship matrix. While the genetic variance of populations decreased more rapidly when using genomic-based relationship matrices as opposed to pedigree-based, there appeared to be no long-term consequences on the accumulation of deleterious alleles within the simulated breeding strategy.
Structural characterization of a MAPR-related archaeal cytochrome b5M protein
Authors: Teakel Sarah , Marama Michealla , Aragão David , Tsimbalyuk Sofiya , Forwood Jade K. , Cahill Michael A.
Published: December 2021

We recently reported that the membrane associated progesterone receptor (MAPR) protein family (mammalian members: PGRMC1, PGRMC2, NEUFC and NENF) originated from a new class of prokaryotic cytochrome b5 (cytb5) domain proteins, called cytb5M (MAPR-like). Relative to classical cytb5 proteins, MAPR and ctyb5M proteins shared unique sequence elements and a distinct heme binding orientation at an approximately 90⁰ rotation relative to classical cytb5, as demonstrated in the archetypal crystal structure of a cytb5M protein (PDB accession number 6NZX). Here, we present the second crystal structure of an archaeal cytb5M domain (Methanococcoides burtonii WP_011499504.1, PDB:6VZ6). It exhibits similar heme-binding to the 6NZX cytb5M, supporting the deduction that MAPR-like heme orientation was inherited from the prokaryotic ancestor of the original eukaryotic MAPR gene.
Modelling temporal dynamics of genetic diversity in stage-structured plant populations with reference to demographic genetic structure
Authors: Tsuzuki Yoichi , Takada Takenori , Ohara Masashi
Published: December 2021

Predicting temporal dynamics of genetic diversity is important for assessing long-term population persistence. In stage-structured populations, especially in perennial plant species, genetic diversity is often compared among life history stages, such as seedlings, juveniles, and flowerings, using neutral genetic markers. Because individuals in mature stages will die and be replaced by those in more immature stages over the course of time, the comparison among stages (sometimes referred to as demographic genetic structure) has been regarded as a proxy of potential genetic changes that accompany the turnover of constituent individuals. However, because demographic genetic structure had not been theoretically examined, the basic property and the validity of demographic genetic structure remained unclear.

We developed a matrix model which was made up of difference equations of expected heterozygosity, a common proxy of genetic diversity, of each life history stage at a neutral locus in stage-structured plant populations. Based on the model, we formulated demographic genetic structure as well as the annual change rate of expected heterozygosity (denoted as η). We obtained theoretical expectation of demographic genetic structure and η from our model and compared them with computational results of stochastic simulation for randomly generated 3,000 life histories for model validation. We then examined the relationships of demographic genetic structure with effective population size Ne, which is the determinants of diversity loss per generation time, as well as with η.

Theoretical expectations on η and demographic genetic structure fitted well to the results of stochastic simulation, supporting the validity of our model. Demographic genetic structure varied independently of Ne and η, while having a strong correlation with stable stage distribution: expected heterozygosity was lower in stages with fewer individuals.

Our results indicate that demographic genetic structure strongly reflects stable stage distribution, rather than temporal genetic dynamics, and that inferring future genetic diversity solely from demographic genetic structure would be misleading. Instead of demographic genetic structure, the newly-defined statistics η will be an useful tool to predict genetic diversity at the same time scale as population dynamics, facilitating evaluation on population viability from a genetic point of view.
A bistable orthogonal prokaryotic differentiation system underlying development of conjugative transfer competence
Authors: Sulser Sandra , Vucicevic Andrea , Bellini Veronica , Moritz Roxane , Delavat François , Sentchilo Vladimir , Carraro Nicolas , van der Meer Jan Roelof
Published: December 2021

The mechanisms and impact of horizontal gene transfer processes to distribute gene functions with potential adaptive benefit among prokaryotes have been well documented. In contrast, little is known about the life-style of mobile elements mediating horizontal gene transfer, whereas this is the ultimate determinant for their transfer fitness. Here, we investigate the life-style of an integrative and conjugative element (ICE) within the genus Pseudomonas that stands model for a widespread family transmitting genes for xenobiotic compound metabolism and antibiotic resistances. The ICE only transfers from a small fraction of cells in a population, which we uncover here, results from a dedicated transfer competence program imposed by the ICE. Transfer competence is orthogonally maintained in individual cells in which it is activated, making them the centerpiece of ICE conjugation. The components mediating transfer competence are widely conserved, underscoring their selected fitness for efficient transfer of this class of mobile elements.
The Effect of Oblique Image Acquisition on the Accuracy of Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping and a Robust Tilt Correction Method
Authors: Kiersnowski Oliver C. , Karsa Anita , Wastling Stephen J. , Thornton John S. , Shmueli Karin
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) is increasingly used for clinical research where oblique image acquisition is commonplace but its effects on QSM accuracy are not well understood.

Theory and Methods

The QSM processing pipeline involves defining the unit magnetic dipole kernel, which requires knowledge of the direction of the main magnetic field with respect to the acquired image volume axes. The direction of is dependent upon the axis and angle of rotation in oblique acquisition. Using both a numerical brain phantom and in-vivo acquisitions in five healthy volunteers, we analysed the effects of oblique acquisition on magnetic susceptibility maps. We compared three tilt correction schemes at each step in the QSM pipeline: phase unwrapping, background field removal and susceptibility calculation, using the root-mean-squared error and QSM-tuned structural similarity index (XSIM).

Results

Rotation of wrapped phase images gave severe artefacts. Background field removal with PDF gave the most accurate susceptibilities when the field map was first rotated into alignment with . LBV and V-SHARP background field removal methods gave accurate results without tilt correction. For susceptibility calculation, thresholded k-space division, iterative Tikhonov regularisation and weighted linear total variation regularisation all performed most accurately when local field maps were rotated into alignment with before susceptibility calculation.

Conclusion

For accurate QSM, oblique acquisition must be taken into account. Rotation of images into alignment with should be carried out after phase unwrapping and before background field removal. We provide open-source tilt-correction code to incorporate easily into existing pipelines: https://github.com/o-snow/QSM_TiltCorrection.git.
Determination of human DNA replication origin position and efficiency reveals principles of initiation zone organisation
Authors: Guilbaud Guillaume , Murat Pierre , Wilkes Helen S. , Lerner Leticia Koch , Sale Julian E. , Krude Torsten
Published: December 2021

Replication of the human genome initiates within broad zones of ~ 150 kb. The extent to which firing of individual DNA replication origins within initiation zones is spatially stochastic or localised at defined sites remains a matter of debate. A thorough characterisation of the dynamic activation of origins within initiation zones is hampered by the lack of a high-resolution map of both their position and efficiency. To address this shortcoming, we describe a modification of initiation site sequencing (ini-seq) based on density substitution. Newly-replicated DNA is rendered ‘heavy-light’ (HL) by incorporation of BrdUTP, unreplicated DNA remaining ‘light-light’ (LL). Replicated HL-DNA is separated from unreplicated LL-DNA by equilibrium density gradient centrifugation, then both fractions are subjected to massive parallel sequencing. This allows precise mapping of 23,905 replication origins simultaneously with an assignment of a replication initiation efficiency score to each. We show that origin firing within initiation zones is not randomly distributed. Rather, origins are arranged hierarchically with a set of very highly efficient origins marking zone boundaries. We propose that these origins explain much of the early firing activity arising within initiation zones, helping to unify the concept of replication initiation zones with the identification of discrete replication origin sites.
Discovering tumor-reactive T-cell receptors through single-cell sequencing of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes
Authors: Gottschalk Elinor , Aksoy Bulent Arman , Aksoy Pinar , Swiderska-syn Marzena , Mart Caroline , Macpherson Linda , Romeo Martin , Smith Aubrey , Knochelmann Hannah , Paulos Chrystal , Timmers Cynthia , Wrangle John , Rubinstein Mark P. , Hammerbacher Jeff
Published: December 2021

We evaluated the utility of single-cell sequencing of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) for tumor-reactive T-cell receptor (TCR) discovery. Using the MC38 cell line as our tumor model in mice, we show that expression of exogenous TCRs via mRNA electroporation in human T cells provides an easy and quick path to validating tumor-specific candidate TCRs. We detail the identification and validation of four novel MC38-reactive mouse TCRs with varying levels of reactivity to the target cells. Validating our process, one of the MC38 TCRs is specific against a previously reported neoantigen (ASMTNMELM in the Adpgk gene). Consideration of these methodologies may aid in the development of rapid TCR-based therapies for the treatment of cancer and human disease.

Abstract Figure
Protein proximity networks and functional evaluation of the Casein Kinase 1 γ family reveals unique roles for CK1γ3 in WNT signaling
Authors: Agajanian Megan J. , Potjewyd Frances M. , Bowman Brittany M. , Solomon Smaranda , LaPak Kyle M. , Bhatt Dhaval P. , Smith Jeffrey L. , Goldfarb Dennis , Axtman Alison D. , Major Michael B.
Published: December 2021

The WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway is evolutionarily conserved and controls normal embryonic development, adult tissue homeostasis and regeneration. Aberrant activation or suppression of WNT signaling contributes to cancer initiation and progression, developmental disorders, neurodegeneration, and bone disease. Despite great need and more than 40 years of research, targeted therapies for the WNT pathway have yet to be fully realized. Kinases are exceptionally druggable and occupy key nodes within the WNT signaling network, but several pathway-relevant kinases remain understudied and ‘dark’. Here we studied the function of the CSNK1γ subfamily of human kinases. miniTurbo-based proximity biotinylation and mass spectrometry analysis of CSNK1γ1, CSNK1γ2, and CSNK1γ3 revealed numerous established components of the β-catenin- dependent and independent WNT signaling pathway, as well as novel interactors. In gain-of- function experiments leveraging a panel of transcriptional reporters, CSNK1γ3 but not CSNK1γ1 or CSNK1γ2 activated β-catenin-dependent WNT signaling and the Notch pathway. Within the family, CSNK1γ3 expression uniquely induced LRP6 phosphorylation. Conversely, siRNA- mediated silencing of CSNK1γ3 alone had no impact on WNT signaling, though co-silencing of all three family members decreased WNT pathway activity. We characterized two moderately selective and potent small molecule inhibitors of the CSNK1γ family. These inhibitors and a CSNK1γ3 kinase dead mutant suppressed but did not eliminate WNT-driven LRP6 phosphorylation and β-catenin stabilization. Our data suggest that while CSNK1γ3 expression uniquely drives pathway activity, potential functional redundancy within the family necessitates loss of all three family members to suppress the WNT signaling pathway.
15N metabolic labeling quantification workflow in Arabidopsis using Protein Prospector
Authors: Shrestha Ruben , Reyes Andres V. , Baker Peter R. , Wang Zhi-Yong , Chalkley Robert J. , Xu Shou-Ling
Published: December 2021

Metabolic labeling using stable isotopes is widely used for the relative quantification of proteins in proteomic studies. In plants, metabolic labeling using 15N has great potential, but the associated complexity of data analysis has limited its usage. Here, we present the 15N stable-isotope labeled protein quantification workflow utilizing open-access web-based software Protein Prospector. Further, we discuss several important features of 15N labeling required to make reliable and precise protein quantification. These features include ratio adjustment based on labeling efficiency, median and interquartile range for protein ratios, isotope cluster pattern matching to flag incorrect monoisotopic peak assignment, and caching of quantification results for fast retrieval.
The efficacy of antiseptic agents against staphylococcal biofilm can be quantitatively assessed with the use of processed microscopic images
Authors: Krasowski Grzegorz , Migdał Paweł , Woroszyło Marta , Fijałkowski Karol , Chodaczek Grzegorz , Czajkowska Joanna , Dudek Bartłomiej , Nowicka Joanna , Oleksy-Wawrzyniak Monika , Kwiek Bartłomiej , Paleczny Justyna , Brożyna Malwina , Junka Adam
Published: December 2021

The staphylococcal biofilms are major causative factors of non-healing wound infections. Their treatment algorithms recommend the use of locally applied antiseptic agents to counteract the spread of infection. The efficacy of antiseptics against biofilm is assessed in vitro by a set of standard quantitative and semi-quantitative methods. The development of software for image processing allowed to obtain quantitative data also from microscopic images of biofilm dyed with propidium iodine and SYTO-9 reagents, differentiating dead cells from the live ones. In this work, the method of assessment of the impact of antiseptic agents on staphylococcal biofilm in vitro, based on biofilm’s processed images, was proposed and scrutinized with regard to clinically-relevant antiseptics. Taking into account the fact that in vitro results of the efficacy of antiseptic agents against staphylococcal biofilm are frequently applied to back up their use in hospitals and ambulatory units, our work should be considered an important tool providing reliable, quantitative data with this regard.
Elucidating the acid-base mechanisms underlying otolith overgrowth in fish exposed to ocean acidification
Authors: Kwan Garfield T. , Tresguerres Martin
Published: December 2021

Over a decade ago, ocean acidification (OA) exposure was reported to induce otolith overgrowth in teleost fish. This phenomenon was subsequently confirmed in multiple species; however, the underlying physiological causes remain unknown. Here, we report that splitnose rockfish (Sebastes diploproa) exposed to ~1,600 μatm pCO2 (pH ~7.5) were able to fully regulated the pH of both blood and endolymph (the fluid that surrounds the otolith within the inner ear). However, while blood was regulated around pH 7.80, the endolymph was regulated around pH ~8.30. These different pH setpoints result in increased pCO2 diffusion into the endolymph, which in turn leads to proportional increases in endolymph [HCO3−] and [CO32−]. Endolymph pH regulation despite the increased pCO2 suggests enhanced H+ removal. However, a lack of differences in inner ear bulk and cell-specific Na+/K+-ATPase and vacuolar type H+-ATPase protein abundance localization pointed out to activation of preexisting ATPases, non-bicarbonate pH buffering, or both, as the mechanism for endolymph pH-regulation. These results provide the first direct evidence showcasing the acid-base chemistry of the endolymph of OA-exposed fish favors otolith overgrowth, and suggests that this phenomenon will be more pronounced in species that count with more robust blood and endolymph pH regulatory mechanisms.
Ligand-induced changes in dynamics mediate long-range allostery in thelacrepressor
Authors: Glasgow Anum , Hobbs Helen T. , Perry Zion R. , Marqusee Susan , Kortemme Tanja
Published: December 2021

Allostery, broadly defined as a protein’s functional response to distal perturbations, is fundamental to biological regulation. In classical models, allosteric ligand binding produces a defined set of structural changes in the protein, resulting in a different low-energy conformation. Proteins that undergo ligand-induced allostery with few observable structural changes therefore frustrate interpretations by classical models. Here we used hydrogen-deuterium exchange with mass spectrometry (HDX/MS) to map the allosteric effects in a paradigm ligand-responsive allosteric transcription factor, thelacrepressor (LacI). X-ray crystal structures of the core domain of LacI bound to different small molecule ligands, or the DNA operator, show less than 1.5 Å difference in the protein all-atom root-mean-square-deviation (RMSD) between any two structures. Despite this high degree of similarity among static structures, our HDX/MS experiments reveal widespread and unexpected differences in the flexibility of secondary structures in the LacI core domain in each functional state. We propose a model in which ligand binding allosterically switches the functional response of the repressor by selectively changing the dynamics of particular secondary structure elements relative to each other, shifting the conformational ensemble of the protein between mutually incompatible DNA-bound and inducer-bound states. Our model also provides a mechanistic context for the altered functions of thousands of documented LacI mutants. Furthermore, our approach provides a platform for characterizing and engineering allosteric responses in proteins.
Nanoscale structural organization and stoichiometry of the budding yeast kinetochore
Authors: Cieslinski Konstanty , Wu Yu-Le , Nechyporenko Lisa , Hörner Sarah Janice , Conti Duccio , Skruzny Michal , Ries Jonas
Published: December 2021

Proper chromosome segregation is crucial for cell division. In eukaryotes, this is achieved by the kinetochore, an evolutionarily conserved multi-protein complex that physically links the DNA to spindle microtubules and takes an active role in monitoring and correcting erroneous spindle-chromosome attachments. Our mechanistic understanding of these functions and how they ensure an error-free outcome of mitosis is still limited, partly because we lack a comprehensive understanding of the kinetochore structure in the cell. In this study, we use single-molecule localization microscopy to visualize individual kinetochore complexesin situin budding yeast. For major kinetochore proteins, we measured their abundance and position within the metaphase kinetochore. Based on this comprehensive dataset, we propose a quantitative model of the budding yeast kinetochore. While confirming many aspects of previous reports based on bulk imaging, our results present a unifying nanoscale model of the kinetochore in budding yeast.
Transcription factor competition facilitates self-sustained oscillations in single gene genetic circuits
Authors: Landman Jasper , Verduyn Lunel Sjoerd M. , Kegel Willem K.
Published: December 2021

Genetic feedback loops can be used by cells to regulate internal processes or to keep track of time. It is often thought that, for a genetic circuit to display self-sustained oscillations, a degree of cooperativity is needed in the binding and unbinding of actor species. This cooperativity is usually modeled using a Hill function, regardless of the actual promoter architecture. Furthermore, genetic circuits do not operate in isolation and often transcription factors are shared between different promoters. In this work we show how mathematical modelling of genetic feedback loops can be facilitated with a mechanistic fold-change function that takes into account the titration effect caused by competing binding sites for transcription factors. The model shows how the titration effect facilitates self-sustained oscillations in a minimal genetic feedback loop: a gene that produces its own repressor directly without cooperative transcription factor binding. The use of delay-differential equations leads to a stability contour that predicts whether a genetic feedback loop will show self-sustained oscillations, even when taking the bursty nature of transcription into account.
A novel PSII photosynthetic control is activated in anoxic cultures of green algae
Authors: Milrad Yuval , Nagy Valéria , Tóth Szilvia Z. , Yacoby Iftach
Published: December 2021

Photosynthetic green algae face an ever-changing environment of fluctuating light as well as unstable oxygen levels, which via the production of free radicals constantly challenges the integrity of the photosynthetic complexes. To face such challenges, a complex photosynthetic control network monitors and tightly control the membrane redox potential. Here, we show that not only that the photosynthetic control set the rate limiting step of photosynthetic linear electron flow, but also, upon its ultimate dissipation, it triggers intrinsic alternations in the activity of the photosynthetic complexes. These changes have a grave and prolonged effect on the activity of photosystem II, leading to a massive 3-fold decrease in its electron output. We came into this conclusion via studying a variety of green algae species and applying advance mass-spectrometry and diverse spectroscopic techniques. Our results shed new light on the mechanism of photosynthetic regulation, and provide new target for improving photosynthesis.
Understanding the motivational values for the usage of specific online news media and users’ perception of information credibility
Authors: Amosun Tunde Simeon , Jianxun Chu , Rufai Olayemi Hafeez , Sayibu Muhideen , Shahani Riffat , Nadege Muhimpundu , Olaiya Tolulope B.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the utilitarian value (UV), hedonic value (HV) and social value (SV) that make people use a certain type of online media website and how the usage of specific online media website impact the way people perceive online information credibility (OIC). A research model was also proposed to explain the essence of this study.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted the survey research methodology to empirically test the research model with 873 research participants from the University of Science and Technology of China and Anhui Medical University.

Findings

Results from structural equation modeling showed that UV and HV have a significant positive impact on the usage of print news media website (PNMW), usage of broadcast news media website (BNMW) and usage of social networking website (SNW). The SV was also found to have a significant positive impact on the usage of SNWs. The result also indicated that the usage of the PNMW and the usage of the BNMW by online users have a significantly positive impact on high rating of OIC. However, the result showed that the usage of SNW does not have a significant positive impact on the high rating of OIC.

Originality/value

Findings in this study provided substantial contributions toward the advancement of the uses and gratification theoretical framework by unraveling how certain motivational values can influence online media users’ preferences for specific online media websites, as well as showing how specific online media websites affect online users’ perception of OIC.
Islamic securities (ṣukūk) and economic growth: New empirical investigation from Southeast Asia using non-parametric analysis of MCMC panel quantile regression
Authors: Ledhem Mohammed Ayoub , Mekidiche Mohammed
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate empirically whether Islamic securities enhance economic growth in the Southeast Asian region based on the endogenous growth theory using the non-parametric analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper applies panel quantile regression with Markov chain Monte Carlo optimization as an optimal non-parametric approach to investigate the effect of Islamic securities on economic growth starting from 2013Q4 to 2019Q4 in Southeast Asia. Total issued Islamic securities holdings are employed as a measure for Islamic securities, while the gross domestic product is employed as a proxy for economic growth. The sample includes all working Islamic financial foundations in the top progressive Islamic securities markets' countries of Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam).

Findings

The findings confirm that the increase of issuing Islamic securities in Islamic capital markets of Southeast Asia is increasing the levels of economic growth, reflecting the weighty role of the Islamic capital market development as an active contributor to economic growth.

Practical implications

This research would fill the literature gap by exploring Islamic securities–economic growth nexus in Southeast Asia using a robust non-parametric approach based on the endogenous growth theory for better estimation results. The findings of this review serve as a roadmap for financial analysts, policymakers and decision makers to stimulate the Islamic securities markets as another source of finance which can promote the economic growth.

Originality/value

This research is the first that investigates empirically the Islamic securities–economic growth nexus in Southeast Asia using a new empirical investigation built on the non-parametric analysis and outlined within the theoretical context of the endogenous growth model to gain robust evidence about this nexus.
From curious to connoisseur: a longitudinal segmentation of attendees at a Chinese wine festival
Authors: Shi Fangfang , Ji Shaojun , Weaver David , Huang Ming-Feng
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the components and evolution of the Chinese wine festival market using the Dalian International Wine and Dine Festival (DIWDF) as a case study.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting a longitudinal approach, survey data were collected from attendees of the first, fifth and seventh DIWDF in 2012, 2016 and 2018, respectively. Cluster analysis segmented attendees by wine and festival experience and consumption features. Comparative analysis was conducted to examine segment differences by demography, festival motivation, satisfaction and intention. Changes in segments over time were examined across the three times.

Findings

The following three clusters were identified: “wine-novice fest-newbies,” “occasional drinker fest-goers” and “wine-lover fest-enthusiasts.” Over the study period, the proportion of “wine-lover fest-enthusiasts” increased significantly while the percentages of the other two segments decreased, demonstrating the evolution of the Chinese wine festival market and their consumer impacts.

Practical implications

This study offers straightforward indicators of market value via consumption features for both wine businesses and festival organizers. The characteristics of the segments and their inter-linkage have important implications for developing product mix, targeting strategies, festival service design and market development.

Originality/value

This is the first known empirical research globally to investigate relationships among market segments both horizontally (differences between segments) and vertically (development over time) and to incorporate both wine- and festival-related consumption features.
Managing innovation on the public frontline: three approaches to innovation leadership
Authors: Thøgersen Ditte
Published: December 2021

Purpose

For decades, there has been a call for the public sector to be more innovative, and there is widespread agreement that managers play a crucial role in meeting this goal. Most studies of innovation management focus on top-level managers, despite the fact that most innovation activities take place on the frontlines, deeply embedded in professional practice. Meanwhile, micro-level studies of innovation tend to focus on the agency of employees, which leaves a knowledge gap regarding the mobilizing role of frontline managers. This is unfortunate because frontline managers are in a unique position to advance the state of the art of their professions, in scaling public innovation and in implementing public reform.

Design/methodology/approach

To explore how frontline managers approach innovation, a case study has been constructed based on in-depth interviews with 20 purposely selected frontline managers, all working within the Danish public childcare sector.

Findings

The article explores how frontline managers perceive their role in public innovation and finds three distinct approaches to innovation leadership: a responsive, a strategic and a facilitating approach.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the research on public management by applying existing research on leadership styles in order to discuss the implications of how frontline managers perceive their role in relation to public innovation.
Tax compliance and non-deterrence approach: a systematic review
Authors: Dularif Muh , Rustiarini Ni Wayan
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This research systematically reviewed studies on tax compliance based on five determinants consisting of tax services, trust in government, personal norm, social norm and religiosity.

Design/methodology/approach

The research used a vote-counting method to synthesize 279 studies consisting of 160 empirical studies and 119 non-empirical studies conducted from 1946 until 2017.

Findings

The research has made a relatively robust conclusion related to the impacts of determinant factors on tax compliance. Tax service and trust in government are the most critical factors to increase tax compliance. Personal norm, social norm and religiosity encourage tax compliance, yet the influence is not as strong as expected.

Practical implications

This research suggests that improving tax service and government trust are more effective and relatively easier to implement than developing the taxpayers' positive behaviors.

Originality/value

Several studies conducted to synthesize the impacts of determinant factors on tax compliance were only limited to the empirical research which provided sufficient statistical data. On the other hand, there were many substantial research types discussing tax compliance without involving statistical numbers. The facts have distorted the complete picture of tax compliance. Recently, no synthesis studies have comprehensively combined and compared the empirical with non-empirical research based on the related theories. Thus, the synthesis studies that discuss tax compliance based on non-deterrence approach are still limited.
Is the sense of awe an effective emotion to promote product sharing: based on the type of awe and tie strength
Authors: Zhu Huawei , Duan Xiaoling , Su Yu
Published: December 2021

Purpose

As a complex social emotion, awe includes both positive emotion and negative emotion. But few studies have explored the downstream effects and psychological mechanisms of two different types of awe. As a self-transcendence emotion, awe will arouse the small self, that is, reduce self-awareness. In the era of the sharing economy, the obstacle to sharing is the strong self-awareness that consumers have built about their belongings. Therefore, this paper aims to explore how two different types of awe can affect consumers' sharing, especially with different relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted two experiments to test the effect of awe on consumer sharing of their own products. Study 1 aimed to examine the main effect of different awe on consumer sharing of their product as well as the underlying mechanism. Study 2 aimed to examine the interacting role of tie strength in the effect of awe on consumer product sharing.

Findings

Through two empirical tests, the authors have found that, relative to the control group, the sense of awe arouses the feeling of small self and significantly increases the consumers' willingness of sharing. Also, the authors have found that threat-based awe which leads to self-diminishment is more conducive to promoting the sharing of weak ties; on the contrary, the nonthreat-based awe which leads to a feeling of vastness is more conducive to promoting the sharing of strong ties.

Originality/value

This research expands the literature in the field of sharing. While the mainstream sharing a focus on information sharing, this research extends it to product sharing. What is more important is, this research explores how to encourage sharing to weak ties, which contributes to sharing economy.
Integrated reporting disclosure in Malaysia: regulations and practice
Authors: Qaderi Sumaia Ayesh , Chandren Sitraselvi , Abdullah Zaimah
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Integrated reporting (IR) is a new trend in corporate reporting that has spread rapidly in recent years for disclosing financial and non-financial information. This study aims to assess the status of the current regulations and the trends in IR disclosure practice in an emerging market, Malaysia, by providing a comparative analysis of the IR disclosure level (IRDL) and IR disclosure quality (IRDQ).

Design/methodology/approach

The current study has developed a comprehensive IR disclosure index based on the international integrated reporting framework (IIRF), which comprises 100 items divided into four categories (background, assurance and reliability, content and form). The data were collected from annual reports of companies listed on the Bursa Malaysia over the three years 2017 to 2019, based on 267 observations. Content analysis technique was used to evaluate and measure IRDL and IRDQ. Descriptive analysis was performed to provide the background statistics of the variables examined.

Findings

IR regulations are at an early stage, and IR adoption is still voluntary in the Malaysian market. Only 267 Malaysian company-year observations during the years 2017–2019 have adopted IR techniques. However, descriptive analysis results showed that Malaysian companies have moved towards the preparation of IR consistent with the IIRF. The findings indicate a significant increase in both IRDL and IRDQ over this period, after the recent recommendation by the Malaysian code of corporate governance (2017) on adopting IR. Further, the results show statistically significant differences in the mean of IRDL and IRDQ between large and small companies.

Practical implications

These results are important for regulators and policymakers in articulating new IR legislation in an emerging market and for corporate entities and investors in shaping their understanding of IR disclosure practice in the Malaysian institutional context.

Originality/value

To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, the study is among the first to address the IR regulation status and practice in Malaysian companies. It also established a comprehensive index for measuring IRDL and IRDQ based on the IIRF. The results add to the meagre descriptive literature on IR practice by providing comprehensive insights into IR practice from the perspective of an emerging country.
Assessment of a fire-damaged concrete overpass: the Verona bus crash case study
Authors: Felicetti Roberto
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aims to develop an assessment strategy for fire damaged infrastructures based on the implementation of quick diagnostic techniques and consistent interpretation procedures, so to determine the residual safety margin and any need for repair works.

Design/methodology/approach

In this perspective, several tailored non-destructive test (NDT) methods have been developed in the past two decades, providing immediate results, with no need for time-consuming laboratory analyses. Moreover, matching their indications with the calculated effects of a tentative fire scenario allows harmonizing distinct pieces of evidence in the coherent physical framework of fire dynamics and heat transfer.

Findings

This approach was followed in the investigations on a concrete overpass in Verona (Italy) after a coach violently impacted one supporting pillar and caught fire in 2017. Technical specifications of the vehicle made it possible to bound the acceptable ranges for fire load and maximum rate of heat release, while surveillance video footage indicated the duration of the burning stage. Some established NDT methods (evaluation of discolouration, de-hydroxylation and rebar hardness) were implemented, together with advanced ultrasonic tests based on pulse refraction and pulse-echo tomography.

Originality/value

The results clearly showed the extension of the most damaged area at the intrados of the box girders and validated the maximum heating depth, as predicted by numerical analysis of the heat transient ensuing from the localized fire model.
Lessons learned: a meta-synthesis examining library spaces, services and resources during COVID-19
Authors: Munip Lana , Tinik Leigh , Borrelli Steve , Randone Gabriella Reese , Paik Eun Jung
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the evolving ways library users engaged with services and resources and how library services adapted to meet their needs, in order to improve practice post-pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

During Fall 2020 and Spring 2021, nine studies were conducted which examined the usage of space, services and resources; and employee and student perspectives. Findings from these studies were synthesized for this investigation through a process of qualitative meta-synthesis.

Findings

The themes from this meta-synthesis point to an ongoing need for streamlining services and processes, to improve efficiency as well as enable the Libraries to be prepared for the next crisis.

Originality/value

While change takes time for large organizations, the existence of system-wide processes and services enabled library employees to continue assisting users across all Penn State campuses, demonstrating that the University Libraries could be considered a model for the “One Penn State” vision that the university strives to achieve by 2025.
The role of social influencers for effective public health communication
Authors: Gupta Shiromani , Dash Satya Bhusan , Mahajan Rachna
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to explore the suitability of social media influencers (SMIs) for communicating public health messages via social media platforms. The study identifies key persuasive communication components that influence individuals' attitudes and, subsequently, intentions to follow health-related information shared by SMIs.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative interviews with healthcare workers and interactions with 332 active social media users via structured online questionnaires were used for data collection. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse responses.

Findings

Results indicate that SMIs' credibility, SMI–individual homophily and quality of information shared by the SMI are the significant factors determining individuals' attitudes towards the information received. Furthermore, the individual's attitude significantly impacts their intention to follow information shared by the SMI. The study thus verifies the mediating role of attitude in persuasive communication.

Research limitations/implications

The current study can serve as a foundation for future work to examine the suitability of SMIs for tasks other than marketing.

Practical implications

The study provides insights for planning and implementing SMI-sourced communication in the public health context. The study enhances the understanding of the tested relationships and thereby increases scholars' and practitioners' ability to leverage SMIs for health-related communication.

Originality/value

Whilst SMIs are attracting increasing attention in consumer markets, the study suggests that they can be used in public health communication. Considering the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation, the empirical study provides insights into SMIs' role in persuasive public health communication amid a health crisis.

Peer review

The peer review history for the article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-01-2021-0012
Anthropocene and the dawn of a planetary civilization
Authors: Rival Laura
Published: December 2021

This exploratory article invites anthropologists to renew their curiosity about the human condition and creatively decode today's contemporary myth‐making practices. After a decade of active academic engagement with the Anthropocene, we would do well to turn our endless curiosity about the world and its diversity to the Promethean stories ecomodernists are spreading with accelerated ease within the public sphere. To burst out of our media‐saturated environment, the author asks: what patterns of deglobalization and reglobalization will emerge from the stories we tell each other about the Covid‐19 pandemic and the health of the planet? In what ways do these stories inform us about the society we want to create, inhabit and pass on? The author shows how redeploying our skills as storytelling analysts and ethnographers of embodied and collective experiences helps us to renew questions about place and mobility. As we enter a new era of symbolic manipulation, remembering the importance of myths may help us contribute to the emergence of a planetary civilization that the earth appears to be calling for.
In their own words: A narrative analysis of illness memoirs written by men with prostate cancer
Authors: van der Kamp Jill , Betten Afke Wieke , Krabbenborg Lotte
Published: December 2021

By drawing on a narrative analysis of 11 autobiographical illness memoirs, this article investigates the complexities of what it means to live with prostate cancer over a period of time. Acknowledging how cancer disrupts everyday life, we focus on the day‐to‐day experiences and struggles that take place inside and outside the hospital. By building on illustrative quotes from the memoirs, we discuss different facets of cancer as a lived experience. Our findings show that men reconstruct their identity in the memoirs in response to the disruptive nature of cancer by including various identities from previous times. They describe a relationship with their cancer that is fluid and fitful and often depends on place, time and circumstances. We also found that the ‘not knowing’ of prostate cancer creates uncertainty, which can take different forms, transcends time and is shaped through medical technologies, continual testing and disagreeing doctors. Prostate cancer is often seen as easily treatable, but our findings call for a different way of looking at its impact. We argue that memoirs, written by men themselves, make it palpable what it means to live with cancer. As such, illness memoirs offer a way to advance our sociological understanding of cancer‐as‐a‐lived experience.