bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Greater reliance on model-free learning in adolescent anorexia nervosa: An examination of dual-system reinforcement learning
Authors: Brown Carina S. , Devine Sean , Otto A. Ross , Bischoff-Grethe Amanda , Wierenga Christina E.
Published: February 2024

Alterations in learning and decision-making systems are thought to contribute to core features of anorexia nervosa (AN), a psychiatric disorder characterized by persistent dietary restriction and weight loss. Instrumental learning theory identifies a dual-system of habit and goal-directed decision-making, linked to model-free and model-based reinforcement learning algorithms. Difficulty arbitrating between these systems, resulting in an over-reliance on one strategy over the other, has been implicated in compulsivity and extreme goal pursuit, both of which are observed in AN. Characterizing alterations in model-free and model-based systems, and their neural correlates, in AN may clarify mechanisms contributing to symptom heterogeneity (e.g., binge/purge symptoms). This study tested whether adolescents with restricting AN (AN-R;n= 36) and binge/purge AN (AN-BP;n= 20) differentially utilized model-based and model-free learning systems compared to a healthy control group (HC;n= 28) during a Markov two-step decision-making task under conditions of reward and punishment. Associations between model-free and model-based learning and resting-state functional connectivity between neural regions of interest, including orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), nucleus accumbens (NAcc), putamen, and sensory motor cortex (SMC) were examined. AN-R showed higher utilization of model-free learning compared to HC for reward, but attenuated model-free and model-based learning for punishment. In AN-R only, higher model-based learning was associated with stronger OFC-to-left NAcc functional connectivity, regions linked to goal-directed behavior. Greater utilization of model-free learning for reward in AN-R may differentiate this group, particularly during adolescence, and facilitate dietary restriction by prioritizing habitual control in rewarding contexts.
Organellomics: AI-driven deep organellar phenotyping reveals novel ALS mechanisms in human neurons
Authors: Krispin Sagy , van Zuiden Welmoed , Danino Yehuda M. , Molitor Lena , Rudberg Noam , Bar Chen , Coyne Alyssa , Meimoun Thea , Waldron Fergal M , Gregory Jenna M , Fisher Tal , Nachshon Aharon , Stern-Ginossar Noam , Yacovzada Nancy , Hornstein Eran
Published: February 2024

Systematic assessment of organelle architectures, termed the organellome, offers valuable insights into cellular states and pathomechanisms, but remains largely uncharted. Here, we present a pipeline for deep phenotypic learning using vision transformers, resulting in the Neuronal Organellomics Vision Atlas (NOVA) model that studies 3 million confocal images of 25 distinct membrane-bound and membraneless organelles in human neurons. Our organellomics approach evaluates cellular phenotypes by quantifying changes in the localization and morphology of multiple organelles, and by consolidating information across organelles it yields an integrated depiction of cellular state. We reveal significant interactions between cytoplasmic mislocalized TDP-43 — a hallmark of ALS — and processing bodies (P-bodies), membraneless organelles that regulate mRNA stability, which is confirmed through patient-derived neurons and human neuropathology. Furthermore, organellomics delineates phenotypic changes in neurons carrying ALS-associated mutations and demonstrates diagnostic potential for patient-derived neurons. Together, organellomics offer a novel approach to studying the neuro-cellular biology of diseases.
The proteostasis interactomes of trafficking-deficient KV11.1 variants associated with Long QT Syndrome and pharmacological chaperone rescue
Authors: Egly Christian L. , Barny Lea , Do Tri , McDonald Eli F. , Plate Lars , Knollmann Bjorn C.
Published: February 2024

Introduction

The voltage gated potassium ion channel KV11.1 plays a critical role in cardiac repolarization. Genetic variants that render Kv11.1 dysfunctional cause Long QT Syndrome (LQTS), which is associated with fatal arrhythmias. Approximately 90% of LQTS-associated variants cause intracellular protein transport (trafficking) dysfunction, which can be rescued by pharmacological chaperones like E-4031. Protein folding and trafficking decisions are regulated by chaperones, protein quality control factors, and trafficking machinery, comprising the cellular proteostasis network. Here, we test whether trafficking dysfunction is associated with alterations in the proteostasis network of pathogenic Kv11.1 variants, and whether pharmacological chaperones can normalize the proteostasis network of responsive variants.

Methods

We used affinity-purification coupled with tandem mass tag-based quantitative mass spectrometry to assess protein interaction changes in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells expressing wild-type (WT) KV11.1 or trafficking-deficient channel variants in the presence or absence of E-4031.

Resultsa

We identified 573 core KV11.1 protein interactors. Both variants KV11.1-G601S and KV11.1-G601S-G965* had significantly increased interactions with proteins responsible for folding, trafficking, and degradation compared to WT. We found that proteasomal degradation is a key component for KV11.1 degradation and that the KV11.1-G601S-G965* variant was more responsive to E-4031 treatment. This suggests a role in the C-terminal domain and the ER retention motif of KV11.1 in regulating trafficking.

Conclusion

Our report characterizes the proteostasis network of KV11.1, two trafficking deficient KV11.1 variants, and variants treated with a pharmacological chaperone. The identified protein interactions could be targeted therapeutically to improve KV11.1 trafficking and treat Long QT Syndrome.
Quencher-free fluorescence monitoring of G-quadruplex folding
Authors: Parada Zach , Hoog Tanner G. , Adamala Katarzyna P. , Engelhart Aaron E
Published: February 2024

Guanine-rich sequences exhibit a high degree of polymorphism and can form single-stranded, Watson-Crick duplex, and four-stranded G-quadruplex structures. These sequences have found a wide range of uses in synthetic biology applications, arising in part from their structural plasticity. High-throughput, low-cost tools for monitoring the folding and unfolding transitions of G-rich sequences would provide an enabling technology for accelerating prototyping of synthetic biological systems and for accelerating design-build-test cycles. Here, we show that unfolding transitions of a range of G-quadruplex-forming DNA sequences can be monitored in a FRET-like format using DNA sequences that possess only a single dye label, with no quencher. These quencher-free assays can be performed at low cost, with both cost and lead times ca. 1 order of magnitude lower than FRET-labeled strands. Thus, quencher-free secondary structure monitoring promises to be a valuable tool for testing and development of synthetic biology systems employing G-quadruplexes.
Shared neural computations for syntactic and morphological structures: evidence from Mandarin Chinese
Authors: Yu Xinchi , Mancha Sebastián , Tian Xing , Lau Ellen
Published: February 2024

Although psycho-/neuro-linguistics has assumed a distinction between morphological and syntactic structure building as in traditional theoretical linguistics, this distinction has been increasingly challenged by theoretical linguists in recent years. Opposing a sharp, lexicalist distinction between morphology and syntax, non-lexicalist theories propose common morpho-syntactic structure building operations that cut across the realms of “morphology” and “syntax”, which are considered distinct territories in lexicalist theories. Taking advantage of two pairs of contrasts in Mandarin Chinese with desirable linguistic properties, namely compound vs. simplex nouns (the “morphology” contrast, differing in morphological structure complexity per lexicalist theories) and separable vs. inseparable verbs (the “syntax” contrast, differing in syntactic structure complexity per lexicalist theories), we report one of the first pieces of evidence for shared neural responses for morphological and syntactic structure complexity in language comprehension, supporting a non-lexicalist view where shared neural computations are employed across morpho-syntactic structure building. Specifically, we observed that the two contrasts both modulated neural responses in left anterior and centro-parietal electrodes in an a priori 275:400 ms time window, corroborated by topographical similarity analyses. These results serve as preliminary yetprima facieevidence towards shared neural computations across morphological and syntactic structure building in language comprehension.
foxe1mutant zebrafish show indications of a hypothyroid phenotype and increased sensitivity to ethanol for craniofacial malformations
Authors: Raterman Sophie T , Wagener Frank A D T G , Zethof Jan , Cuijpers Vincent , Klaren Peter H M , Metz Juriaan R , Von den Hoff Johannes W.
Published: February 2024

FOXE1 mutations in humans are associated with Bamforth-Lazarus syndrome, characterized by cleft palate and hypothyroidism. Moreover, polymorphisms of FOXE1 are implicated in non-syndromic cleft palate. Much uncertainty still exists about the function of transcription factor FOXE1 in development. To address this, we have previously developed afoxe1mutant zebrafish demonstrating mineralization defects in larvae. In the present study, we further investigate the thyroid status and skeletal phenotype of adultfoxe1mutants. Compared to wild type controls, mutant fish have increased expression of hypothalamictshβ, and hepaticdio1anddio2. In plasma we found higher circulating Mg levels; together these findings are indicative of hypothyroidism. We further observed mineralization defects in scales, likely due to enhanced osteoclast activity as measured by increased expression levels of the markerstracp, ctskandrankl. Gene-environment interactions in the etiology of FOXE1-related craniofacial abnormalities remain elusive, which prompts the need for models to investigate genotype-phenotype associations. We here investigated whether ethanol exposure increases the risk of developing craniofacial malformations infoxe1mutant larvae that we compared to wild types. We found in ethanol-exposed mutants an increased incidence of developmental malformations and marked changes in gene expression patterns of cartilage markers (sox9a), apoptotic markers (casp3b), retinoic acid metabolism (cyp26c1), and tissue hypoxia markers (hifaa, hifab). Taken together, this study shows that thefoxe1mutant zebrafish recapitulates phenotypes associated with FOXE1 mutations in human patients and a clearfoxe1-ethanol interaction.
Identification of genes involved in Kranz anatomy evolution of non-model grasses using unsupervised machine learning
Authors: Prochetto Santiago , Stegmayer Georgina , Studer Anthony J. , Reinheimer Renata
Published: February 2024

Kranz syndrome is a set of leaf anatomical and functional characteristics of species using C4photosynthesis. The current model for the evolution of C4photosynthesis from a C3ancestor proposes a series of gradual anatomical changes followed by a biochemical adaptation of the C4cycle enzymatic machinery. In this work, leaf anatomical traits from closely related C3, C4and intermediate species (Proto-Kranz, PK) were analyzed together with gene expression data to discover potential drivers for the establishment of Kranz anatomy using unsupervised machine learning. Species-specific Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) were developed to group features (genes and phenotypic traits) into clusters (neurons) according to their expression along the leaf developmental gradient. The analysis with SOM allowed us to identify candidate genes as enablers of key anatomical traits differentiation related to the area of mesophyll (M) and bundle sheath (BS) cells, vein density, and the interface between M and BS cells. At the same time, we identified a small subset of genes that displaced together with the change in the area of the BS cell along evolution suggesting a salient role in the origin of Kranz anatomy in grasses.

Highlight

Kranz syndrome is a set of leaf anatomical and functional characteristics of species using C4photosynthesis. We discovered, with a novel machine learning methodology, some key genes for Kranz differentiation.
Metapopulation model of phage therapy of an acutePseudomonas aeruginosalung infection
Authors: Rodriguez-Gonzalez Rogelio A. , Balacheff Quentin , Debarbieux Laurent , Marchi Jacopo , Weitz Joshua S.
Published: February 2024

Infections caused by multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogenic bacteria are a global health threat. Phage therapy, which uses phage to kill bacterial pathogens, is increasingly used to treat patients infected by MDR bacteria. However, the therapeutic outcome of phage therapy may be limited by the emergence of phage resistance during treatment and/or by physical constraints that impede phage-bacteria interactionsin vivo. In this work, we evaluate the role of lung spatial structure on the efficacy of phage therapy forPseudomonas aeruginosainfection. To do so, we developed a spatially structured metapopulation network model based on the geometry of the bronchial tree, and included the emergence of phage-resistant bacterial mutants and host innate immune responses. We model the ecological interactions between bacteria, phage, and the host innate immune system at the airway (node) level. The model predicts the synergistic elimination of aP. aeruginosainfection due to the combined effects of phage and neutrophils given sufficiently active immune states and suitable phage life history traits. Moreover, the metapopulation model simulations predict that local MDR pathogens are cleared faster at distal nodes of the bronchial tree. Notably, image analysis of lung tissue time series from wild-type and lymphocyte-depleted mice (n=13) revealed a concordant, statistically significant pattern: infection intensity cleared in the bottom before the top of the lungs. Overall, the combined use of simulations and image analysis ofin vivoexperiments further supports the use of phage therapy for treating acute lung infections caused byP. aeruginosawhile highlighting potential limits to therapy given a spatially structured environment, such as impaired innate immune responses and low phage efficacy.
Cycling reduces the entropy of neuronal activity in the human adult cortex
Authors: Silva Ferré Iara Beatriz , Corso Gilberto , Santos Lima Gustavo Zampier dos , Lopes Sergio Roberto , Leocadio-Miguel Mario André , França Lucas G S , de Lima Prado Thiago , Araújo John
Published: February 2024

Electroencephalogram (EEG) data is often analyzed from a Brain Complexity (BC) perspective, having successfully been applied to study the brain in both health and disease. In this study, we employed recurrence entropy to quantify BC associated with the neurophysiology of movement by comparing BC in both resting state and cycling movement. We measured EEG in 24 healthy adults, and placed the electrodes on occipital, parietal, temporal and frontal sites, on both the right and left sides. EEG measurements were performed for cycling and resting states and for eyes closed and open. We then computed recurrence entropy for the acquired EEG series. Our results show that open eyes show larger entropy compared to closed eyes; the entropy is also larger for resting state, compared to cycling state for all analyzed brain regions. The decrease in neuronal complexity measured by the recurrence entropy could explain the neural mechanisms involved in how the cycling movements suppress the freezing of gate in patients with Parkinson’s disease due to the constant sensory feedback caused by cycling that is associated with entropy reduction.
Mutations inHUA2restore flowering in the Arabidopsistrehalose 6-phosphate synthase1(tps1) mutant
Authors: Zeng Liping , Zacharaki Vasiliki , Wang Yanwei , Schmid Markus
Published: February 2024

Plant growth and development are regulated by many factors, including carbohydrate availability and signaling. Trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P), which is synthesized by TREHALOSE-6-PHOSPHATE SYNTHASE 1 (TPS1), is positively correlated with and functions as a signal that informs the cell about the carbohydrate status. Mutations inTPS1negatively affect the growth and development ofArabidopsis thalianaand complete loss-of-function alleles are embryo lethal, which can be overcome using inducible expression ofTPS1(GVG::TPS1) during embryogenesis. Using EMS mutagenesis in combination with genome re-sequencing we have identified several alleles in the floral regulatorHUA2that restore flowering and embryogenesis intps1-2 GVG::TPS1. Genetic analyses using aHUA2T-DNA insertion allele,hua2-4, confirmed this finding. RNA-seq analyses demonstrated thathua2-4has widespread effects on thetps1-2 GVG::TPS1transcriptome, including key genes and pathways involved in regulating flowering. Higher order mutants combiningtps1-2 GVG::TPS1andhua2-4with alleles in the key flowering time regulatorsFLOWERING LOCUS T(FT),SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1(SOC1), andFLOWERING LOCUS C(FLC) were constructed to analyze the role ofHUA2during floral transition intps1-2in more detail. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that loss ofHUA2can restore flowering and embryogenesis intps1-2 GVG::TPS1in part through activation ofFT, with contributions of the upstream regulatorsSOC1andFLC. Interestingly, we found that mutation ofFLCis sufficient to induce flowering intps1-2 GVG::TPS1. Furthermore, we observed that mutations inHUA2modulate carbohydrate signaling and that this regulation might contribute to flowering inhua2-4 tps1-2 GVG::TPS1.
Ensemble learning and ground-truth validation of synaptic connectivity inferred from spike trains
Authors: Donner Christian , Bartram Julian , Hornauer Philipp , Kim Taehoon , Roqueiro Damian , Hierlemann Andreas , Obozinski Guillaume , Schröter Manuel
Published: February 2024

Probing the architecture of neuronal circuits and the principles that underlie their functional organization remains an important challenge of modern neurosciences. This holds true, in particular, for the inference of neuronal connectivity from large-scale extracellular recordings. Despite the popularity of this approach and a number of elaborate methods to reconstruct networks, the degree to which synaptic connections can be reconstructed from spike-train recordings alone remains controversial. Here, we provide a framework to probe and compare connectivity inference algorithms, using a combination of synthetic and empirical ground-truth data sets, obtained from simulations and parallel single-cell patch-clamp and high-density microelectrode array (HD-MEA) recordings in vitro. We find that reconstruction performance critically depends on the regularity of the recorded spontaneous activity, i.e., their dynamical regime, the type of connectivity, and the amount of available spike train data. We find gross differences between different algorithms, and many algorithms have difficulties in detecting inhibitory connections. We therefore introduce an ensemble artificial neural network (eANN) to improve connectivity inference. We train the eANN on the validated outputs of six established inference algorithms, and show how it improves network reconstruction accuracy and robustness. Overall, the eANN was robust across different dynamical regimes, with shorter recording time, and ameliorated the identification of synaptic connections, in particular inhibitory ones. Results indicated that the eANN also improved the topological characterization of neuronal networks. The presented methodology contributes to advancing the performance of inference algorithms and facilitates our understanding of how neuronal activity relates to synaptic connectivity.

Author summary

This study introduces an ensemble artificial neural network (eANN) to infer neuronal connectivity from multi-unit spike time recordings. We compare the eANN to previous algorithms and validate it using simulations and HD-MEA/patch-clamp datasets. The latter is obtained from three single-cell patch-clamp recordings and high-density microelectrode array (HD-MEA) measurements, in parallel. Our results demonstrate that the eANN outperforms all other algorithms across different dynamical regimes and provides a more accurate description of the underlying topological organization of the studied networks. We also provide a SHAP analysis of the trained eANN to understand which input features of the eANN contribute most to this superior performance. The eANN is a promising approach to improve connectivity inference from spike-train data.
Preparation of High-Viability Single-Cell Suspensions from African Turquoise Killifish Brain Tissue
Authors: Mariën Valerie , Arckens Lutgarde , Van houcke Jolien
Published: February 2024

Studying the brain at the single-cell level has become increasingly popular in recent years. This, however, remains challenging, especially in emerging model organisms. To carry out single-cell sequencing, the preparation of a high-viability single-cell suspension is critical. In this protocol, we describe how to prepare a high-viability single-cell suspension starting from brain tissue of the African turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri). The protocol consists of dissection, enzymatic and mechanical dissociation of the brain tissue, and debris removal. The protocol described here has been successfully used for 10× Genomics single-cell sequencing of the telencephalon of adult killifish, which requires a cell viability of at least 70%. In addition to single-cell sequencing experiments, the single-cell suspension generated can be used for other applications, including cell culture and flow cytometry.
Separation-of-charge confinement and the Higgs transition in SU(3) gauge-Higgs theory
Authors: Greensite Jeff , Yau Hou Y.
Published: February 2024

With SU(3) gauge-Higgs theory as an example, we examine critically the idea that the confinement property in an SU(N) gauge-Higgs theory, with the Higgs field in the fundamental representation, persists in an unbroken SU(N-1) subgroup.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
What constitutes food system resilience? The importance of divergent framings between UK mainstream and local food system actors
Authors: Black Jasmine Elizabeth , Maye Damian , Krzywoszynska Anna , Jones Stephen
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This paper examines how key actors in the UK food system (FS) understand the role of the local food sector in relation to FS resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

Discourse analysis was used to assess and compare the framings of the UK FS in 36 publications released during Covid-19 from alternative food networks (AFNs) actors and from other more mainstream FS actors, including the UK government.

Findings

The analysis shows that AFNs actors perceive the UK FS as not resilient and identify local FSs as a route towards greater resilience (“systemic” framing). In contrast, other food actors perceive the UK FS as already resilient, with the role of local food limited to specific functions within the existing system (“add-on” framing). The two groups converge on the importance of dynamic public procurement and local abattoir provision, but this convergence does not undermine the fundamental divergence in the understanding of the role of “the local” in resilient UK FSs. The local food sector’s messages appear to have gone largely unheard in mainstream policy.

Research limitations/implications

The paper presents an analysis of public sector reports focused on the UK FS released during the Covid-19 pandemic years 2020–2021. The corpus inclusion criteria mean that publications during this period which focus on other food sector issues, such social injustices, climate change and health, were not included in the analysis, although they may have touched upon local food issues. The authors further recognise that Covid-19 had a longer lasting effect on FSs than the years 2020–2021, and that many other publications on FSs have been published since. The time span chosen targets the time at which FSs were most disrupted and therefore aims to capture emerging issues and solutions for the UK FS. The authors’ insights should be further validated through a more complete review of both public reports and academic papers covering a wider base of food-related issues and sectors as well as a broader timespan.

Originality/value

A comparison of how different FS actors understand the importance of local food, especially in relation to resilience, has not been undertaken to date. The findings raise important questions about the disconnect between AFN actors and other actors in the framing of resilience. Considering the need to ensure resilience of the UK FS, this study's findings raise important insights for UK food policy about the “local food blindspot” and for food movement actors wishing to progress their vision of transformative change.
Build trust, they will come: the case of casino high rollers!
Authors: Ji Chunli , Prentice Catherine , Sthapit Erose , Lei Inman
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Using the analogy of “If you build it, they will come” from the movie Field of Dreams, this study aims to draw on relational signaling and commitment–trust theories to examine the role of different types of trust (cognitive, affective and relational) in the relationship between relational-encounter quality and customer loyalty to service employees and to the organization in the case of an integrated casino resort. The study confirms that building it (trust), they (customers) will come to the casino exhibited in their loyalty to casino hosts and their affiliated casinos.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted with very important person (VIP) customers who have a designated VIP host to provide them with personal services at an integrated casino resort in Macau. The questionnaire was distributed to the respondents by VIP hosts using WeChat and Tencent QQ.

Findings

The study shows that different types of trust (cognitive, affective and relational) play a significant mediation role in the relationship between relational-encounter quality and the customers’ loyalty to the hosts and their affiliated casinos.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the roles of different types of trust (cognitive, affective and relational) in the relational encounter between casino hosts and VIP customers and provides insights into the link between service employees and their firm through the nurturing of the service encounter with the firm’s key accounts.
A study of “organizational identification” during 1965–2022: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Chaudhary Swati , Gupta Aditi , A. Apoorva , Chaudhuri Ranjan , Pereira Vijay , Chatterjee Sheshadri , Chaudhuri Sumana
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the evolution of organizational identification (OI) research over the past five decades and its journey through various lenses, such as the collaborative network of authors, organizations and countries. The conceptual and intellectual structure of the construct is analysed via keywords and co-citation pattern mapping.

Design/methodology/approach

OI research is rising in popularity, with 118 papers published in 2019, 168 papers in 2020 and 15 publications till February 2021 in the Scopus database. The Scopus database is used to retrieve 55 years of OI studies published between 1965 and 2021. The free bibliometric tools Biblioshiny and VOSviewer are used to analyse 1,034 journal papers.

Findings

The result showed that R. Van Dick is the most influential author and the USA is the most involved country in OI research. As per the findings, the Journal of Organizational Behaviour published most of OI research and “corporate social responsibility” and “organizational commitment” seem to be the most used keywords alongside OI.

Research limitations/implications

This study will be highly beneficial to OI researchers making their understanding about the construct better. It will also encourage social psychologists to understand the construct utility in workplace social welfare programmes. The research could also help governments and funding bodies to evaluate grant requests. Furthermore, researchers from countries with the lowest proportion of OI studies would be encouraged to spend more time and effort in this area. It will offer insight into international marketing and how individuals and stakeholders perceive and connect with an organization globally.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the important research studies carried out in the domain of OI in the international context. This is also one of the few studies which is spread out across different disciplinary areas including international marketing and management. The success of this paper can open avenues and influence future researchers to study in the OI and related cross-disciplinary areas of international management.
A study on the co-movement and influencing factors of stock markets between India and the other Asia–Pacific countries
Authors: Aggarwal Khushboo , Saradhi V. Raveendra
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The aim of this study is to examine the nature and determinants of stock market integration between India and other Asia–Pacific countries (Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Taiwan) over the period 1991–2021.

Design/methodology/approach

Unit root tests, the dynamic conditional correlation-Glosten Jagannathan and Runkle-generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (DCC-GJR-GARCH), pooled ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and random effects models are employed for the analysis.

Findings

The empirical results show that the DCC between each pair of sample countries is less than 0.5, indicating weak ties between the pairs of sample countries. Also, the DCC between India and other Asia–Pacific stock markets is positive and low, implying low level of integration. The correlation between India and China stock markets is found to be the highest, implying significant level of integration. The main reason for it would be strong economic linkages and bilateral trade relationship between India and China. Moreover, gross domestic product (GDP), interest rate (IR), consumer price index (CPI)-inflation and money supply (MS) differentials are the major driver of stock market integration between India and other Asia–Pacific countries.

Practical implications

The findings of the study have important implications for investors, portfolio managers and policymakers. It is found that the DCC between India and other Asia–Pacific countries (considered in the study) except China is low, which indicates weak ties between the pairs of sample countries. This implies that the Indian stock market provides good investment opportunities for foreign investors. Also, investors and portfolio managers can attain more diversified benefits and can minimize country risk by investing across Asia–Pacific countries. Further, knowledge about the factors that integrate the Indian stock market with the other Asia–Pacific stock markets will help policymakers frame suitable economic and financial stabilization policies.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the extant literature: first, by examining the linkages of Indian stock market with other Asia–Pacific countries; second, although previous studies confirmed the existence of linkages among the various stock markets, few researchers pay attention to the factors driving the process of stock market integration. This study provides additional evidence by examining the significant macroeconomic factors driving the process of such integration in the Asia–Pacific region considered under the study.
Impacts of trade policy on the welfare of citrus producers and consumers in Indonesia
Authors: Nugrahapsari Rizka Amalia , Hasibuan Abdul Muis , Novianti Tanti
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the factors influencing the citrus trade in Indonesia, the effects of tariff and non-tariff policies on the industry and the welfare of producers and consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

The research used annual series data from 1991 to 2021 and employed inferential, simulation, and descriptive analyses. The two-stage least squares (2SLS) of 19 simultaneous equations were used to estimate parameters.

Findings

The results indicate that free trade policies and restrictions have influenced the citrus industry, leading to a reduction in Indonesian citrus imports, and increased consumer and producer prices. However, eliminating import tariff policies on citrus from China and import restrictions increased producer surplus while decreasing consumer surplus, government revenue, and total welfare. Therefore, trade policies should be combined with non-trade policies such as citrus region development policies and advancing cultivation technology.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence for the Indonesian government to formulate effective citrus trade and development policies. It emphasizes the importance of carefully considering the impact of trade policy on the citrus industry and the need to implement non-trade policies such as citrus zone development policies and advancing cultivation technology to benefit both producers and consumers.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-02-2023-0148
Co-learning partnerships and carbon management in Denmark and Canada
Authors: Earley Sinead , Stridsland Thomas Daae , Korn Sarah , Lysák Marin
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Climate change poses risks to society and the demand for carbon literacy within small and medium-sized enterprises is increasing. Skills and knowledge are required for organizational greenhouse gas accounting and science-based decisions to help businesses reduce transitional risks. At the University of Copenhagen and the University of Northern British Columbia, two carbon management courses have been developed to respond to this growing need. Using an action-based co-learning model, students and business are paired to quantify and report emissions and develop climate plans and communication strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on surveys of businesses that have partnered with the co-learning model, designed to provide insight on carbon reductions and the impacts of co-learning. Data collected from 12 respondents in Denmark and 19 respondents in Canada allow for cross-institutional and international comparison in a Global North context.

Findings

Results show that while co-learning for carbon literacy is welcomed, companies identify limitations: time and resources; solution feasibility; governance and reporting structures; and communication methods. Findings reveal a need for extension, both forwards and backwards in time, indicating that the collaborations need to be lengthened and/or intensified. Balancing academic requirements detracts from usability for businesses, and while municipal and national policy and emission targets help generate a general societal understanding of the issue, there is no concrete guidance on how businesses can implement operational changes based on inventory results.

Originality/value

The research brings new knowledge to the field of transitional climate risks and does so with a focus on both small businesses and universities as important co-learning actors in low-carbon transitions. The comparison across geographies and institutions contributes an international solution perspective to climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
How to deeply understand the voice of the customer? A proposal for a synthesis of techniques for analyzing online reviews in the hospitality industry
Authors: Le Thien , Ho Thanh , Nguyen Van-Ho , Le Hoanh-Su
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study aims to use the voice of the customer (VoC) strategy to collect user-generated content (UGC) compare customer expectations with reality, make the necessary improvements for the business and create personalized strategies for each customer to maximize revenue, focus on hospitality industry in Vietnam market.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposes a synthesis of techniques for a deep understanding of the VoC based on online reviews in the hospitality industry. First, 409,054 comments were collected from websites in the hospitality sector. Second, the data will be organized, stored, cleaned, analyzed and evaluated. Next, research using business intelligence (BI) solutions integrating three models, including net promoter score (NPS), graph model and latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA), based on natural language processing (NLP) technique, experiment on Vietnamese and English data to explore the multidimensional voice of customer’s row. Finally, a dashboard system will be implemented to visualize analysis results and recommendations on marketing strategies to improve product and service quality.

Findings

Experimental results allow analysts and managers to “listen to the customer’s voice” accurately and effectively, identify relationships between entities, topics of discussion in favor of positive and negative trends.

Originality/value

The novelty in this study is the integration of three models, including NPS, graph model and LDA. These models are combined based on the BI solution and NLP technique. The study also conducted experiments on both Vietnamese and English languages, which ensures more effective practical application.
Mitigating the unwillingness to exchange knowledge: a focus on exporters’ networks
Authors: Obadia Claude
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to explain the unwillingness to exchange export knowledge by members of exporters’ networks and provides potential solutions to this problem.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses data from a survey of 301 members of a French exporter’s network to test a set of hypotheses with partial least squares structural equation modeling.

Findings

Network participants’ export experience and age have a negative influence on their willingness to exchange knowledge. However, positive attitudes toward the network (perception of network quality, commitment) can mitigate those negative links.

Practical implications

Network members’ unwillingness to exchange knowledge represents a major challenge that threatens the existence of knowledge networks. The findings suggest solutions to this issue for network managers.

Originality/value

This study views knowledge exchange in a network as a risky behavior. It explains why members do not participate in networks. The model shows how contrary forces work and interact to deter or foster knowledge exchange.
Organizational practices to co-create value with family members engaged in service journeys of their loved ones
Authors: Verleye Katrien , Holvoet Sofie
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The aim of this research is to provide insight into how organizations can co-create value with family members engaged in service journeys of customers experiencing vulnerabilities, thereby paying attention to their organizational practices (i.e. recursive or routinized patterns of organizational actions and behaviors).

Design/methodology/approach

To investigate, this research relies upon a multiple case study in a group of nursing homes in Flanders that had the ambition to engage family members in service journeys of their loved ones while measuring their value perceptions as a performance indicator (here, satisfaction with nursing home services).

Findings

The case evidence shows that nursing homes co-create value with family members through caring practices that focus on their role as secondary customers (i.e. welcoming, connecting and embedding) and empowering practices that focus on their role as partial employees (i.e. teaming up, informing and listening practices). However, the way in which the different caring and empowering practices are enacted by the nursing home and its staff affects their value co-creation potential.

Originality/value

By focusing on the practices with which organizations can co-create value with family members engaged in service journeys of their loved ones, this research bridges the service literature with its attention for value co-creation practices and the literature on customers experiencing vulnerabilities with its focus on extended customer entities.
The effect of wheelchair cushion properties on the microclimate at the cushion‐user interface: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Couzens Lisa , Peterson Benjamin , Innes Ev , Stevens Christopher J.
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Pressure injuries are a preventable yet highly prevalent health concern. Wheelchair cushion prescription can have significant implications for wheelchair users' risk of pressure injury development, which can impact functional abilities and quality of life. The efficacy of a wheelchair cushion to redistribute pressure has been well‐researched, but the efficacy to manage the microclimate is less clear, particularly in warm‐hot environments. The aim of this study was to systematically review studies examining the effect of wheelchair cushions on temperature, moisture and thermal perception to determine which cushions are superior to improve these responses.

Method

A systematic review with meta‐analyses of randomised cross‐over and randomised control trials of wheelchair cushion interventions on measures of temperature, moisture, and thermal perception was conducted.

Results

Eight studies were identified that met the eligibility criteria and six meta‐analyses were conducted. Pooled analyses identified a significantly lower temperature on foam‐gel cushions compared to air cushions (MD = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.31, 1.29; p = 0.002) and a significantly lower temperature on foam‐gel cushions compared to foam cushions (SMD = 0.76, 95%CI; 0.45, 1.06; p < 0.00001). Pooled analyses also demonstrated significantly lower relative humidity (i.e., moisture) on foam cushions compared to foam‐gel cushions (p = 0.02). Differences in thermal perception were inconclusive due to limited data found.

Conclusion

It is clear that not one cushion is ideal in managing all aspects of microclimate, as foam‐gel cushions were the superior cushion to manage temperature and foam cushions were the superior cushion to manage moisture. This article provides occupational therapists and other health professionals with evidence‐based information to assist with wheelchair cushion prescription that minimises the temperature and moisture accumulation, and associated risk of pressure injury for wheelchair users.
Conservation genomics analysis reveals recent population decline and possible causes in bumblebee Bombus opulentus
Authors: Sang Huiling , Li Yancan , Tan Shuxin , Gao Pu , Wang Bei , Guo Shengnan , Luo Shudong , Sun Cheng
Published: February 2024

Bumblebees are a genus of pollinators (Bombus) that play important roles in natural ecosystem and agricultural production. Several bumblebee species have been recorded as under population decline, and the proportion of species experiencing population decline within subgenus Thoracobombus is higher than average. Bombus opulentus is 1 species in Thoracobombus, but little is known about its recent population dynamics. Here, we employed conservation genomics methods to investigate the population dynamics of B. opulentus during the recent past and identify the likely environmental factors that may cause population decline. Firstly, we placed the scaffold‐level of B. opulentus reference genome sequence onto chromosome‐level using Hi‐C technique. Then, based on this reference genome and whole‐genome resequencing data for 51 B. opulentus samples, we reconstructed the population structure and effective population size (Ne) trajectories of B. opulentus and identified genes that were under positive selection. Our results revealed that the collected B. opulentus samples could be divided into 2 populations, and 1 of them experienced a recent population decline; the declining population also exhibited lower genetic diversity and higher inbreeding levels. Genes related to high‐temperature tolerance, immune response, and detoxication showed signals of positive selection in the declining population, suggesting that climate warming and pathogen/pesticide exposures may contribute to the decline of this B. opulentus population. Taken together, our study provided insights into the demography of B. opulentus populations and highlighted that populations of the same bumblebee species could have contrasting Ne trajectories and population decline could be caused by a combination of various stressors.
Polly: An R package for genotyping microsatellites and detecting highly polymorphic DNA markers from short‐read data
Authors: Perry Annabel , Eddelbuettel Dirk , Rosenthal Gil , Blackmon Heath
Published: February 2024

Highly polymorphic markers, such as microsatellites, are invaluable for the study of natural populations. However, contemporary methods for genotyping highly polymorphic variants have serious drawbacks that impede their efficiency. We created Polly, an R package with C++ source code that uses Illumina short‐read data to genotype microsatellites, detect highly polymorphic variants and identify clusters of highly polymorphic SNPs, indels and microsatellites. We tested Polly on short‐read data from Xiphophorus birchmanni (Teleostei: Poeciliidae) and Arabidopsis thaliana, finding it to be efficient and accurate both for microsatellite genotyping and polymorphic marker detection. This program can be applied to any diploid population for which there exists short‐read data and at least one scaffolded reference genome.
Complete genome sequence and potential pathogenic assessment of Flavobacterium plurextorumRSG‐18 isolated from the gut of Schlegel's black rockfish, Sebastes schlegelii
Authors: Lee Jisol , Cha In‐Tae , Lee Ki‐Eun , Son Youn Kyoung , Cho Seoae , Seol Donghyeok
Published: February 2024

Flavobacterium plurextorum is a potential fish pathogen of interest, previously isolated from diseased rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and oomycete‐infected chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) eggs. We report here the first complete genome sequence of F. plurextorum RSG‐18 isolated from the gut of Schlegel's black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii). The genome of RSG‐18 consists of a circular chromosome of 5,610,911 bp with a 33.57% GC content, containing 4858 protein‐coding genes, 18 rRNAs, 63 tRNAs and 1 tmRNA. A comparative analysis was conducted on 11 Flavobacterium species previously reported as pathogens or isolated from diseased fish to confirm the potential pathogenicity of RSG‐18. In the SEED classification, RSG‐18 was found to have 36 genes categorized in ‘Virulence, Disease and Defense’. Across all Flavobacterium species, a total of 16 antibiotic resistance genes and 61 putative virulence factors were identified. All species had at least one phage region and type I, III and IX secretion systems. In pan‐genomic analysis, core genes consist of genes linked to phages, integrases and matrix‐tolerated elements associated with pathology. The complete genome sequence of F. plurextorum RSG‐18 will serve as a foundation for future research, enhancing our understanding of Flavobacterium pathogenicity in fish and contributing to the development of effective prevention strategies.