bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complex structural variation and behavioral interactions underpin a balanced sexual mimicry polymorphism
Authors: Dodge Tristram O. , Kim Bernard Y. , Baczenas John J. , Banerjee Shreya M. , Gunn Theresa R. , Donny Alex E. , Given Lyle A. , Rice Andreas R. , Haase Cox Sophia K. , Weinstein M. Luke , Cross Ryan , Moran Benjamin M. , Haber Kate , Haghani Nadia B. , Machin Kairuz Jose Angel , Gellert Hannah R. , Du Kang , Aguillon Stepfanie M. , Tudor M. Scarlett , Gutierrez-Rodríguez Carla , Rios-Cardenas Oscar , Morris Molly R. , Schartl Manfred , Powell Daniel L. , Schumer Molly
Published: May 2024

How phenotypic diversity originates and persists within populations are classic puzzles in evolutionary biology. While polymorphisms hypothesized to be under balancing selection segregate within many species, it remains rare for the genetic basis and the selective forces to both be known for the same trait, leading to an incomplete understanding of many classes of polymorphisms. Here, we uncover the genetic architecture of a balanced sexual mimicry polymorphism and identify behavioral mechanisms that may be involved in its maintenance in the swordtail fishXiphophorus birchmanni. We find that ∼40% ofX. birchmannimales develop a “false gravid spot”, a melanic pigmentation pattern that mimics the “pregnancy spot” associated with sexual maturity in female live-bearing fish. Using genome-wide association mapping, we detect a single intergenic region associated with variation in the false gravid spot, which is upstream ofkitlga, a gene involved in melanophore patterning. By performing long-read sequencing within and across populations, we identify complex structural rearrangements between alternate alleles at this locus. The false gravid spot haplotype drives increased allele-specific expression ofkitlga, which provides a mechanistic explanation for the increased melanophore abundance that causes the spot. By studying social interactions in the laboratory and in nature, we find that males with the false gravid spot experience less aggression; however, they also receive increased attention from other males and are disdained by females. These behavioral interactions may play a role in maintaining this phenotypic polymorphism in natural populations. We speculate that structural variants affecting gene regulation may be an underappreciated driver of balanced polymorphisms across diverse species.
A large pocket structure surrounding the catalytic center in the BCG protein fromMycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Takeshita Kohei , Sakai Naoki , Ueno Go , Horie Midori , Tsujino Hirofumi , Arisawa Mitsuhiro , Yamamoto Masaki , Arai Masayoshi , Yamashita Taku
Published: May 2024

The widespread prevalence of tuberculosis and the need for extensive chemotherapy in its treatment are caused by the ability of tuberculosis (TB) bacteria to enter a dormant state. Therefore, it is crucial to develop effective compounds that can inhibit the growth of TB bacteria in both the active and dormant states. Previous research has identified agelasine D (marine sponge-derived diterpene alkaloid) capable of resisting dormant mycobacteria. Additionally, BCG3185c has been designated as a target mycobacterial protein. In this study, the crystal structure of BCG3185c was determined at a resolution of 1.86 Å. Analysis of this crystal structure revealed a large pocket toward the catalytic center of BCG3185c, which is potentially adequate for agelasine D binding. Based on the results of the interaction analysis between agelasine D andBacillusCalmette-Guérin (BCG) proteins, it was inferred that the binding of agelasine D to this large pocket is crucial for suppressing the growth ofMycobacterium tuberculosis.
miR-29a-3p, a new myokine orchestrating resistance exercise via coordinated metabolic responses
Authors: Pinto-Hernandez Paola , Fernandez-Sanjurjo Manuel , Paget Daan , Caravia Xurde M , Roiz-Valle David , Castilla-Silgado Juan , Diez-Robles Sergio , Coto-Vilcapoma Almudena , Gama Pau , Garcia-Roves Pablo M , Lopez-Otin Carlos , Zierath Juleen , Krook Anna , Fernandez-Garcia Benjamin , Tomas-Zapico Cristina , Iglesias-Gutierrez Eduardo
Published: May 2024

It remains unclear whether the adaptive response to different exercise models is mediated by EV miRNAs released from skeletal muscle and their functional metabolic role. We sequenced miRNA-loaded plasma EVs obtained from resting mice after 4-weeks endurance or resistance training. Resistance exercise increased the expression of a 11-miRNA profile grouped into two functional clusters. Using both genetically modified animal models and in vitro approaches, we have identified miR-29a-3p as a novel myokine secreted into the bloodstream as EV cargo by contracting skeletal muscle. It is a cornerstone in the adaptation to resistance training by mediating the coordinated expression and secretion of other miRNAs and affecting muscle mass development and energy metabolism in muscle and liver. Taken together, our study suggests a coordinating and determinant role of miR-29a-3p in the response and adaptation to resistance training, possibly due to its role as a myokine through its regulatory role in energy metabolism.
Stiffness-dependent LOX regulation via HIF-1 drives extracellular matrix modifications in psoriasis
Authors: Balsini Parvaneh , Weinzettl Pauline , Samardzic David , Zila Nina , Buchberger Maria , Tschandl Philipp , Wielscher Matthias , Weninger Wolfgang , Pfisterer Karin
Published: May 2024

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by a thickened epidermis with elongated rete ridges and massive inflammatory immune cell infiltration. It is currently unclear what impact mechanoregulatory aspects in the dermis may have on disease progression. Using multiphoton second harmonic generation microscopy we found that the extracellular matrix (ECM) was profoundly reorganized within the dermis in psoriasis compared to healthy skin. Collagen fibers were highly aligned and assembled into thick, long collagen bundles, whereas the overall fiber density was reduced in psoriasis. This was particularly pronounced within dermal papillae extending into the epidermis. Further, the enzyme LOX, a crucial posttranslational modifier of ECM molecules, was highly upregulated in the dermis of psoriasis patients.In vitrofunctional and knock-down experiments identified a novel link between HIF-1 stabilization and LOX protein regulation in mechanosensitive skin fibroblasts. LOX secretion and activity directly correlated with substrate stiffness, and was independent of hypoxia and IL-17. Finally, scRNA-seq analysis identified skin fibroblasts expressing high amounts of LOX and other ECM-relevant genes and confirmed elevated HIF-1 expression in psoriasis. Our findings suggest a potential yet undescribed mechanical aspect of psoriasis stemming from disordered ECM architecture in the papillary dermis, which could initiate a positive feedback loop in fibroblasts driven by mechanical forces. This mechanism may contribute to tissue stiffening and diminished skin elasticity in psoriasis, potentially exacerbating its pathogenesis.
Screening Mosquito Larvae Under a Fluorescence Binocular Microscope
Authors: Marois Eric
Published: May 2024

Transgenic mosquitoes are used in many aspects of mosquito research, and convenient selection markers are crucial to identifying transgenic individuals even among large numbers of wild types. Visual markers, in the form of fluorescent proteins expressed in larval and adult mosquito tissues, are the most commonly used. This requires observing large numbers of mosquitoes under the fluorescence microscope and recognizing positive individuals expressing the fluorescent genetic marker. As research models, mosquito larvae possess the following two advantages over many other insects, greatly facilitating fluorescence screening: (1) Being aquatic, they can be isolated in a drop of clear water, an ideal medium for live observations under the binocular microscope; and (2) synchronous hatching from many eggs is easily obtained, so that large populations of larvae can be screened in batches of several tens of thousands at a time. Screening at the neonate stage, when larvae are ∼1-mm-long, allows the concentration of hundreds of larvae in a drop of water that fits in the observation field of the microscope at medium magnification. Thus, many individuals can be screened rapidly. We strongly recommend screening larvae at the neonate stage and before any feeding for two reasons, as follows: (1) Food particles can be strongly autofluorescent, thereby dramatically increasing the fluorescence background noise around larvae, and (2) tissue autofluorescence increases during development, notably in the digestive tract, significantly decreasing the specific signal-to-noise ratio. In this protocol, we guide the experimenter step-by-step for a fast and efficient medium-throughput manual screening for fluorescent larvae.
Eliciting Presynaptic Homeostatic Potentiation at theDrosophilaLarval Neuromuscular Junction
Authors: Wang Tingting , Frank C. Andrew
Published: May 2024

TheDrosophila melanogasterneuromuscular junction (NMJ) is an easily accessible synapse and an excellent model for understanding synapse development, function, and plasticity. A form of plasticity called presynaptic homeostatic potentiation (PHP) operates at the NMJ and keeps synapse excitation levels stable. PHP can be induced rapidly in 10 min by application of a pharmacological antagonist of glutamate receptors (philanthotoxin-433) or chronically by deletion of the gene encoding the postsynaptic glutamate receptor subunit GluRIIA. To assess PHP, electrophysiological recordings of spontaneous miniature excitatory postsynaptic potentials and evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials are usually performed at the NMJ of muscle 6 at abdominal segments A2 and A3. This protocol describes steps for larval dissection to access the NMJ, use of mutant lines to assess PHP, application of philanthotoxin-433 to the NMJ, and electrophysiological recordings following drug application. Collectively, these steps allow for analysis of the acute induction and expression of PHP. Recording chamber preparation, electrophysiology rig setup, larval dissection, and current clamp recording steps have been described elsewhere.
Using Electrophysiology to Study Homeostatic Plasticity at theDrosophilaNeuromuscular Junction
Authors: Wang Tingting , Frank C. Andrew
Published: May 2024

TheDrosophila melanogasterneuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a superb system for studying synapse function. Beyond that, the NMJ is also great for studying forms of synaptic plasticity. Over the last 25 years,DrosophilaNMJ neuroscientists have pioneered understanding of a form of plasticity called homeostatic synaptic plasticity, which imparts functional stability on synaptic connections. The reason is straightforward: The NMJ has a robust capacity for stability. Moreover, many strategies that the NMJ uses to maintain appropriate levels of function are mirrored at other metazoan synapses. Here, we introduce core approaches that neurophysiologists use to study homeostatic synaptic plasticity at the peripheralDrosophilaNMJ. We focus on methods to study a specific form of homeostatic plasticity termed presynaptic homeostatic potentiation (PHP), which is the most well-characterized one. Other forms such as presynaptic homeostatic depression and developmental forms of homeostasis are briefly discussed. Finally, we share lists of several dozen factors and conditions known to influence the execution of PHP.
Anisotropic Photodetachment of Positronium Negative Ions with Linearly Polarized Light
Authors: Michishio Koji , Chiari Luca , Tanaka Fumi , Nagashima Yasuyuki
Published: May 2024

We report on the anisotropic photodetachment of positronium negative ions, followed by the dissociation into p-wave electrons and positronium atoms, with a linearly polarized laser beam. We have observed a strong recoil effect of the photoelectrons on the translation momentum of the dissociated positronium atoms. With polarization angle-resolved measurements, the asymmetry parameter of the photoemission angular distribution of the ions at a photon energy of 1.165 eV was determined to be 1.97±0.04(stat)±0.07(syst), in agreement with a theoretical prediction. The present method can be applied to explore the unrevealed dissociation dynamics of exotic particle systems and their manipulation with polarized light.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Stacking model of a three-dimensional second-order topological insulator manifesting quantum anomalous Hall effect
Authors: Ostahie B. , Aldea A.
Published: May 2024

We investigate the transport and energy spectrum properties of a three-dimensional high-order topological structure formed by stacking two-dimensional square diatomic Chern insulator lattices. Electron-hole symmetry and the energy spectrum degeneracy at individual points in the semimetallic phase are proven to be due to chiral and antiunitary symmetries in the periodic system. Additionally, we explore the influence of boundary conditions in a slab system with varying surface atom connectivity, and we demonstrate analytically the presence of zero-energy surface states in specific configurations. Moreover, we describe the emergence of two chiral hinge states driven by a perpendicular phase in the nanowire geometry. Next, the quantum Hall resistance is computed in the cross-configuration of a four-lead device. In this paper, we demonstrate that the trajectories of hinge states, determined by the number of layers in parallelepiped finite structure, give rise to fractional Hall plateaus.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis, calculations of intermolecular interaction energies and energy frameworks and the DFT-optimized molecular structure of 1-[(1-butyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyl]-3-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazol-2-one
Authors: El Atrassi Zakaria , Zouhair Mustapha , Blacque Olivier , Hökelek Tuncer , Haoudi Amal , Mazzah Ahmed , Cherkaoui Hassan , Sebbar Nada Kheira
Published: May 2024

The benzimidazole entity of the title molecule, C17H21N5O, is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0262 Å). In the crystal, bifurcated C—H...O hydrogen bonds link individual molecules into layers extending parallel to the ac plane. Two weak C—H...π(ring) interactions may also be effective in the stabilization of the crystal structure. Hirshfeld surface analysis of the crystal structure reveals that the most important contributions for the crystal packing are from H...H (57.9%), H...C/C...H (18.1%) and H...O/O...H (14.9%) interactions. Hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions are the most dominant forces in the crystal packing. Evaluation of the electrostatic, dispersion and total energy frameworks indicate that the stabilization of the title compound is dominated via dispersion energy contributions. The molecular structure optimized by density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6–311 G(d,p) level is compared with the experimentally determined molecular structure in the solid state.
Relationship qualities of brand heritage: warmth, competence and the moderating roles of anthropomorphic factors
Authors: Meyer Caroline , Albert Bente Henrike , Rose Gregory , Orth Ulrich R.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Research has started exploring how brand heritage perceptions affect people. However, little attention has been paid to the underlying mechanisms and the link between brand heritage and relational outcomes. This study aims to integrate research on brand heritage with the stereotype-content model (SCM) to offer a novel explanation of why and when consumers identify with heritage brands.

Design/methodology/approach

Two quasi-experimental studies with consumers in Germany (N = 312 and N = 300) focus on multiple real brands to test the mediating roles of warmth and competence. Given the central role of anthropomorphism in brand applications of the SCM, two corresponding variables are examined as moderators, one relating to the brand (brand anthropomorphism) and the other relating to the individual (a person’s feeling of loneliness). Category involvement, state anxiety, brand familiarity, past orientation and consumer age are included as controls.

Findings

The findings indicate that warmth and competence mediate the brand heritage consumer–brand identification relationship. In addition, they highlight the moderating role of brand anthropomorphism and loneliness.

Research limitations/implications

This study offers a novel process explanation for how brand heritage perceptions influence consumer–brand relationships, contingent upon loneliness and anthropomorphism.

Practical implications

The findings help marketers better understand how and when warmth and competence transmit positive brand heritage effects, resulting in more favorable responses.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work is among the first to adopt a stereotype-content and anthropomorphic perspective on consumer responses to brand heritage perceptions.
On the extension of a Riemann solver for RANS simulations
Authors: Buck Axel , Mundt Christian
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) models often perform poorly in shock/turbulence interaction regions, resulting in excessive wall heat load and incorrect representation of the separation length in shockwave/turbulent boundary layer interactions. The authors suggest that this can be traced back to inadequate numerical treatment of the inviscid fluxes. The purpose of this study is an extension to the well-known Harten, Lax, van Leer, Einfeldt (HLLE) Riemann solver to overcome this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

It explicitly takes into account the broadening of waves due to the averaging procedure, which adds numerical dissipation and reduces excessive turbulence production across shocks. The scheme is derived based on the HLLE equations, and it is tested against three numerical experiments.

Findings

Sod’s shock tube case shows that the scheme succeeds in reducing turbulence amplification across shocks. A shock-free turbulent flat plate boundary layer indicates that smooth flow at moderate turbulence intensity is largely unaffected by the scheme. A shock/turbulent boundary layer interaction case with higher turbulence intensity shows that the added numerical dissipation can, however, impair the wall heat flux distribution.

Originality/value

The proposed scheme is motivated by implicit large eddy simulations that use numerical dissipation as subgrid-scale model. Introducing physical aspects of turbulence into the numerical treatment for RANS simulations is a novel approach.
Evaluation of thermal comfort and air permeability properties of Lyocell blended drapery fabrics
Authors: Karakan Günaydın Gizem , Çeven Erhan Kenan , Çeven Nejla
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The paper aims to provide an investigation about the effect of weft yarn type on thermal comfort and air permeability properties of Lyocell blended drapery fabrics.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper evaluates the effect of weft yarn type on thermal comfort and air permeability properties of Lyocell blended drapery fabrics. Twill drapery fabrics with 18 Tex linen warp yarn where two types of weft yarns were utilized respectively with the order of “A” yarn and “B” yarn. 58 Tex Lyocell Linen blended first weft yarn (A yarn) was kept constant and the second weft yarn (B yarn) varied in different yarn structures and yarn count. Thermal comfort properties such as thermal conductivity, thermal resistivity, thermal absorptivity, fabric thickness were measured by means of Alambeta device. Correlation matrix between the thermal properties was also displayed. Air permeability results were obtained by using SDL Atlas Digital Air Permeability Tester Model M 021 A. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was performed in order to investigate the effect of weft yarn type on thermal comfort and air permeability properties of Lyocell blended drapery fabrics.

Findings

In this paper, weft yarn type was found as a significant factor on some of the thermal comfort properties such as thermal conductivity, thermal resistivity, thermal absorptivity, fabric thickness and on the air permeability properties.

Originality/value

There are limited works related to evaluation of some thermal comfort and air permeability properties of Lyocell blended drapery fabrics.
Greened shopping spaces and pedestrian shopping interactions: the case of Christchurch
Authors: Dyason David , Fieger Peter , Rice John
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The New Zealand city of Christchurch provides a leading example of post-disaster rebuilding in a Central Business District (CBD) area. In its rebuilding programme, the city has given emphasis to the greening of hospitality and traditional retail space through a combination of development of shared pedestrian spaces (with traffic exclusion and calming) and the integration of greening within the streetscape design. This paper aims to assess whether the development of greened pedestrian areas leads to higher retail spending and, thus, retail rental rates.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses pedestrian movement data collected from several CBD locations, as well as spending data on retail and hospitality, to assess relationships between pedestrian movements and spending. This study explores retail spending in greened pedestrian shared spaces, and explores how this differs from retail spending in traditional street areas within the Christchurch CBD.

Findings

Spending patterns are location-related, depending on the characteristics of pedestrian space in the selected area. Greened shared pedestrian areas have the highest spending per measured pedestrian for retail and hospitality, whereas traditional street areas have lower spending for retail and hospitality per measured pedestrian, demonstrating the benefits in redeveloped central city areas.

Originality/value

The scope of smart data continues to develop as a research area within urban studies to develop an open and connected city. This research demonstrates the use of innovative technologies for data collection, use and sharing. The results support commercial benefits of greening and pedestrianisation of retail and hospitality areas for CBDs and providing an example for other cities to follow.
Exploring the dual routes in influencing sales and adoption in augmented reality retailing: a mixed approach of SEM and FsQCA
Authors: Xu Xiaoyu , Jia Qingdan , Tayyab Syed Muhammad Usman
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study investigates augmented reality (AR) retailing and attempts to develop a profound understanding of consumer decision-making processes in AR-enabled e-retailing.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is grounded in rich informational cues and information processing mechanisms by incorporating the elaboration likelihood model (ELM) and trust transfer theory. This study employs a mixed analytic method that incorporates structural equation modeling (SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to provide a complete picture of individual information process mechanisms in AR retailing under the tenet of ELM.

Findings

The SEM analysis results confirm the relationships between the central and peripheral route factors, information processing outcomes and eventual behavioral intentions. Moreover, all configurations revealed by the fsQCA include both central and peripheral factors. Hence, the dual routes proposed in the ELM are verified by using two distinct analytical approaches.

Originality/value

This study is pioneering in validating and contextualizing ELM theory in AR retailing. In addition, this study offers a methodological paradigm by demonstrating the application of multi-analysis in exploring consumers’ information process mechanisms in AR retailing, which offers a holistic and comprehensive view to understand consumers’ decision-making mechanisms.
Problem resolution with business analytics: a task-technology fit perspective
Authors: Muchenje Givemore , Seppänen Marko , Li Hongxiu
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The study explores the extent to which business analytics can address business problems using the task-technology fit theory.

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative research approach of pattern matching was adopted for data analysis and 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Four propositions derived from the literature on task-technology fit are compared to emerging core themes from the empirical data.

Findings

The study establishes the relationships between various forms of fit, arguing that the iterative application of business analytics improves problem understanding and solutions, and contends that both under-fit and over-fit can be acceptable due to the increasing costs of achieving ideal fit and potential unaffected outcomes, respectively. The study demonstrates that managers should appreciate that there may be a distinction between those who create business analytics solutions and those who apply business analytics solutions to solve problems.

Originality/value

Extant studies on business analytics have not focused on how the match between business analytics and tasks affects the level to which problems can be addressed that determines business value. This study enriches the literature on business analytics by linking business analytics and business value through problem resolution demonstrated by task-technology fit. To the authors’ knowledge, this study might be the first to apply pattern matching to study the fit between technology and tasks.
How corporate technological innovation social responsibility leads to better radical technological innovation: an intellectual capital perspective
Authors: Wu Weiwei , Shi Jian , Liu Yexin , Zhang Xu
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is regarded as the driving factor of innovation. However, corporate technological innovation social responsibility’s (CTISR) role and effect mechanism in leveraging radical technological innovation (RTI) has been limited. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between CTISR and RTI and the moderating effect of intellectual capital and institutional support on CTISR and RTI.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounded in resource-based view, a research model including CTISR, intellectual capital, institutional support and RTI is proposed Content analysis is performed on the CSR reports of Chinese companies that have been publicly listed published from 2008 to 2022, to measure each company’s CTISR. A regression analysis was then applied to relate CTISR, intellectual capital and institutional support to firm-specific variables to determine their relevance and influence on RTI.

Findings

Results indicate that CTISR is positively related to RTI. The results also indicate that human capital, structural capital and institutional support strengthen this positive relationship. Furthermore, institutional support strengthens the positive interaction effect of human capital with CTISR and structural capital with CTISR, respectively.

Originality/value

This research explores the relationships among CTISR, intellectual capital, institutional support and RTI in a comprehensive model, which is the first known study to highlight that CTISR can enhance RTI and gives managers implications on how to align corporate technological innovation while pursuing RTI.
Carbon emission allowances purchasing decisions in supply chains under the cap-and-trade mechanism in China: an evolutionary game analysis
Authors: Hu Haiju , Li Yakun
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The importance of carbon reduction has become a global consensus, and more and more countries are implementing the cap-and-trade mechanism, including China. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the optimal carbon emission allowances (CEA) purchasing decisions of supply chain members under the cap-and-trade mechanism in China.

Design/methodology/approach

An evolutionary game model is established to analyze the CEA purchase strategy choices of suppliers and manufacturers in the supply chain. The influence of the key parameters on the evolutionary game results is analyzed by numerical simulations.

Findings

The supply chain system always evolves towards neither supplier nor manufacturer purchasing CEA or both purchasing CEA. Illegal production behavior and excessive CEA costs are key factors that hinder parties from purchasing CEA. High revenue from purchasing CEA for production, high supply chain losses and high governmental penalties can promote parties to purchase CEA.

Originality/value

The results help supply chain members make better CEA purchasing decisions and also benefit the development of China’s carbon trading market and environmental protection.
Political familiarity vs. journalism background: insights from three Israeli prime ministers on social media
Authors: Yavetz Gal
Published: May 2024

Purpose

To explore a potential relationship between politicians’ media background and social media success through an analysis of content and engagement strategies adopted by three consecutive Israeli prime ministers on their official Facebook pages.

Design/methodology/approach

A detailed comparative content analysis of a total of 1,242 posts published by three Israeli prime ministers – Benjamin Netanyahu, Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett – on the same official Facebook account, “the Prime Minister of Israel,” during their respective terms. Metrics like engagement rates, content distribution and media type utilization were considered.

Findings

All analyzed prime ministers exhibited consistent messaging strategies, suggesting a standardized approach to digital political communication. However, we found no correlation between a politician’s media background and their success on social media. Instead, decisive determinants of engagement outcomes were factors like longstanding political exposure and familiarity.

Practical implications

The observed uniformity in leaders’ messaging strategies indicates a prevalent standardized approach in digital political communication, revealing potential avenues for innovation and diversification.

Originality/value

This research challenges the prevailing notion that background in media inherently benefits digital political engagement, emphasizing the significance of political experience. The results provide new insights into the evolving landscape of political communication. Using signaling theory to evaluate how digital content reveals leaders’ intentions and credibility, our findings provide new insights into political communication in the digital era.
Professional learning networks: a descriptive phenomenological study with primary school teachers in Greece
Authors: Ventista Ourania Maria , Kaldi Stavroula , Kolokitha Magdalini , Govaris Christos , Brown Chris
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Professional learning networks (PLNs) involve teachers’ collaboration with others outside of their school to improve teaching and learning. PLNs can facilitate teachers’ professional growth and school improvement. This study aims to explore the drivers for participation within PLNs, the enactment process and the impact of PLN participation on teachers, students and schools in Greece.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive phenomenological study was conducted to explore the lived experience of primary school teachers participating in PLNs.

Findings

The findings showed that individuals who were open to change were driving innovation to address a need or a lack in their daily practice that was not satisfied within their usual community of practice. The key element of the participation was peer collaboration with openness of communication without attendant accountability pressures. The change was mainly identified in teacher skills and the school climate. An individual could bring change only if the school is already open to change. In some cases, resistance to change in schools was identified before enactment or during enactment. The transformation of teachers’ and leaders’ stances is discussed, enabling the opportunity to maximise school improvement.

Originality/value

The study examines PLNs as European Union-funded initiatives that are developed by teachers in centralised education systems under the phenomenological research paradigm. It explores the PLNs in a different setting compared to the existing conceptual theory of change for PLNs.
Chasing and surfing seasonal waves: Avian migration through the US tracks land surface phenology in fall, but not spring
Authors: Adams Carrie Ann , Tomaszewska Monika A. , Henebry Geoffrey M. , Horton Kyle G.
Published: May 2024

Climate change is altering the timing of seasonal events for many taxa.

There is limited understanding of how northward/southward songbird migration follows or is limited by the latitudinal progression of seasonal transitions. Consistent environmental conditions that migrating birds encounter across latitudes likely represent or correlate with important resources or limiting factors for migration.

We tested whether migratory passage—observed via radar—consistently tracked land surface variables and phenophases across latitudes in the US Central Flyway in both spring and fall.

The daily temperatures, precipitation and vegetation greenness occurring on 10%, 50% and 90% cumulative passage dates changed substantially with latitude, indicating that most migrants experienced rapidly changing conditions as they headed north or south. Temperature did not limit the progression of migration in either season.

Peak spring migration in the southern US occurred nearly 40 days after the spring green wave, the northward progression of vegetation growth, but nearly caught up to green‐up at 48° N. Spring migration phenology may have evolved to prioritize earlier arrival for breeding.

Across all latitudes, peak fall migration coincided with the same land surface phenophase, an interval of 26 days prior to dormancy onset. Migrants may rely on phenological events in vegetation during fall stopovers.

Considering that (a) migratory passage tracked fall land surface phenology across latitudes at a continental scale, (b) previous studies at local scales have demonstrated the importance of fruit during fall migratory stopover and (c) fruiting phenology in North America is occurring later over time while fall migration is advancing, the potential for mismatch between fall fruiting and bird migration phenology urgently needs further investigation.
Surviving Industry Convergence: Ambidexterity via Internal Development, Alliances and Acquisitions
Authors: Chaturvedi Tuhin , Hsu Sean Tsuhsiang , Prescott John E.
Published: May 2024

Industry convergence (IC), the blurring of boundaries between previously separate industries, is a pervasive phenomenon. The emergence of new products, resources and competitors as a result of IC poses a threat to firm survival. Importantly, IC differs from other contexts of technological change that bear their origin in an emerging technology that may substitute or make obsolete an existing technology. Yet, little is known about how firms may survive IC. We theorize that the degrees to which firms explore or exploit using their growth modes (i.e. internal development, alliances and acquisitions) by emphasizing an ambidextrous posture may affect their likelihood of survival. We hypothesize that a high degree of exploration in internal development and alliances and a high degree of exploitation in acquisitions positively affect the likelihood of firm survival. Our hypotheses received strong support in a sample of 231 firms from a period of IC between the telecommunication equipment and data networking industries between 1989 and 2003. Our study opens a new research frontier on IC by proposing a novel theoretical approach based on examining the ambidexterity within and across growth modes to better understand firm outcomes during IC. It also contributes to research on growth modes.
Protective and risk factors at school level during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Perspective of primary school students with LD and ADHD from Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia
Authors: Janković Dragan , Cvitković Daniela , Babuder Milena Košak
Published: May 2024

The COVID‐19 pandemic and its effect on the world led to major changes in educational practices worldwide and presented many challenges for students from vulnerable groups. In this study, we examined protective and risk factors related to schooling from the perspective of students with learning disabilities (LD) and/or attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during the pandemic in three European countries. Data were collected through semi‐structured interviews with 53 primary school students and analysed using qualitative content analysis. The results showed that additional individualised educational support from the school was the most common protective factor, followed by the availability of synchronous teaching. On the other hand, lack of individualisation and additional educational support, and shortcomings in teaching strategies during distance education, were the most common risk factors. These findings lead to the conclusion that school professionals need additional training on academic accommodations for LD and/or ADHD students and how to provide them under the conditions of distance and hybrid education.
Teaching middle school students with learning disabilities argumentative writing using SRSD with technology supports
Authors: Ray Amber B. , Mason Tara
Published: May 2024

Teaching middle school students with learning disabilities strategies for writing essays that incorporate information from source texts helps prepare them for academic success. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of self‐regulated strategy development (SRSD) writing instruction using technology tools implemented by special education teachers on the source‐based argumentative writing performance of middle school students with learning disabilities. In this quasi‐experimental, pretest–posttest design study, three middle school special education teachers engaged in online Practice‐Based Professional Development. The teachers then implemented SRSD writing instruction to teach source‐based argumentative writing with technology tools. Implementation of the SRSD writing instruction by special education teachers positively impacted the number of argumentative elements, quality, number of transitions and length of students' source‐based argumentative essays. Teachers implemented the intervention with high fidelity and quality and felt that the intervention supported their students' writing. Teachers and students were positive about the SRSD writing instruction. This study adds to the evidence base that SRSD is an effective writing intervention for middle school students with learning disabilities.
Extraction of Heracleum dissectum soluble dietary fiber by different methods: Structure and antioxidant properties
Authors: Zhang Jing , Guo Jialiang , Yang Xiyue , Yang Xu , Zhang Xiuling , Wu Fei
Published: May 2024

Heracleum dissectum is rich in nutrients, but there is little research on its soluble dietary fiber (SDF). In this study, SDF from H. dissectum was extracted by enzyme extraction (E‐SDF), enzyme chemical extraction (EC‐SDF), and fermentation extraction (F‐SDF). The composition, molecular weight (Mw), structural characterization, and antioxidant activity of SDF extracted by the three methods were compared. This study showed that different extraction methods lead to differences in their structure. The Mw results showed that F‐SDF had the largest Mw, the structure of SDF could be destroyed by enzymatic hydrolysis, and large molecules could be converted into small molecules. The monosaccharide composition analysis showed that the main sugars of E‐SDF, EC‐SDF, and F‐SDF were galacturonic acid and galactose, and the main components of the three SDF samples were hemicellulose hydrolyzed pectin and soluble polysaccharide. Notably, E‐SDF had the greatest antioxidant effect at the same concentration. In summary, different extraction methods can affect the structure and antioxidant capacity of H. dissectum SDF, among which E‐SDF has potential as a functional food ingredient.
Unlocking the genetic tapestry of autoimmune diseases: Unveiling common genes across multiple conditions
Authors: Ghosh Soujanya , Mohanty Rupali , Santra Arunava , Saha Anisha , Agrawal Anubha , Shrivastava Sharmishtha , Roy Chandrashish , Mazumder Ishanee , Das Debarup , Mahmood Syed Haaris
Published: May 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to unravel the complexities of autoimmune diseases by conducting a comprehensive analysis of gene expression data across 10 conditions, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), psoriasis, Sjögren's syndrome, sclerosis, immune‐associated diseases, osteoarthritis, cystic fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), type 1 diabetes, and Guillain–Barré syndrome.

Methods

Gene expression profiles were rigorously examined to identify both upregulated and downregulated genes specific to each autoimmune disease. The study employed visual representation techniques such as heatmaps, volcano plots, and contour‐MA plots to provide an intuitive understanding of the complex gene expression patterns in these conditions.

Results

Distinct gene expression profiles for each autoimmune condition were uncovered, with psoriasis and osteoarthritis standing out due to a multitude of both upregulated and downregulated genes, indicating intricate molecular interplays in these disorders. Notably, common upregulated and downregulated genes were identified across various autoimmune conditions, with genes like SELENBP1, MMP9, BNC1, and COL1A1 emerging as pivotal players.

Conclusion

This research contributes valuable insights into the molecular signatures of autoimmune diseases, highlighting the unique gene expression patterns characterizing each condition. The identification of common genes shared among different autoimmune conditions, and their potential role in mitigating the risk of rare diseases in patients with more prevalent conditions, underscores the growing significance of genetics in healthcare and the promising future of personalized medicine.
Dietary anthocyanin is associated with a lower prevalence of hyperuricemia independently of metabolic syndrome among females: Results from NHANES 2007–2010 and 2017–2018
Authors: Li Xin , Yang Hao , Zhang Peiyu , Cheng Qi , Tong Shuting , Lu Xiaoyong , Wu Huaxiang
Published: May 2024

Objective

Known for anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant properties, flavonoid has phytoestrogenic effects, but it is unclear whether its role in hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome (MetS) differs by gender. Moreover, given the strong association between hyperuricemia and MetS, we aimed to explore whether flavonoid is a protective factor for hyperuricemia, independently of MetS, in different genders.

Methods

Data for 2007–2010 and 2017–2018 were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS). To assess the association among flavonoid, hyperuricemia, and MetS, multivariate logistic regression and subgroup analyses were conducted. Besides, to investigate whether the association between flavonoid and hyperuricemia was independent of MetS, multivariate logistic regression models were further conducted to explore the association between flavonoid and MetS among females with hyperuricemia and to investigate the association between flavonoid and hyperuricemia among females after excluding MetS.

Result

Among 5356 females, anthocyanin intake was inversely associated with the prevalence of hyperuricemia (Q4 vs. Q1: OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.76), and MetS (Q4 vs. Q1: OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.93). Furthermore, subgroup analyses showed the beneficial association between anthocyanin and hyperuricemia among females aged 40 to 59 years and menopausal. However, among 5104 males, no significant association was observed after adjustment for covariates (Q4 vs. Q1: OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.18). While in 372 females with hyperuricemia, no significant association was found between MetS and anthocyanin (Q4 vs. Q1: OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.31 to 2.49). Meanwhile, among 3335 females after excluding MetS, there was still a significant association between anthocyanin and a lower prevalence of hyperuricemia (Q4 vs. Q1: OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.85).

Conclusion

Dietary anthocyanin is associated with a lower prevalence of hyperuricemia independently of MetS among females. Foods rich in anthocyanin should be emphasized for females, especially those aged 40 to 59 years and menopausal, which may be of potential significance in the prevention of hyperuricemia.
Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists: a narrative review of clinical pharmacology and implications for peri‐operative practice
Authors: Milder David A. , Milder Tamara Y. , Liang Sophie S. , Kam Peter C.A.
Published: May 2024

Background

Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists are used increasingly in the management of patients living with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. In patients using glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists, a key concern in the peri‐operative period is the increased risk of pulmonary aspiration due to delayed gastric emptying. This review provides an overview of the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists and the risk of delayed gastric emptying and aspiration.

Methods

We conducted searches of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases of articles published before January 2024 using the keywords and medical subject headings: incretins; glucagon‐like peptide‐1; GLP‐1; glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists; GLP‐1 RA; peri‐operative period; perioperative; peri‐operative; stomach emptying; gastric emptying; pulmonary aspiration; aspiration; food regurgitation; and regurgitation. The evidence was analysed, synthesised and reported narratively.

Results

A total of 1213 articles were located after duplicates were removed. Two authors screened the titles and abstracts to identify those studies which assessed specifically the risk of delayed gastric emptying and pulmonary aspiration or regurgitation in the peri‐operative period. We searched manually the reference lists of relevant studies to identify any additional case reports. Ten studies were identified. Available evidence was limited to case reports, case series and observational work.

Conclusions

There is insufficient evidence to put forward definitive guidance regarding the ideal cessation period for glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists before elective surgery. Precautionary practice is required until more evidence becomes available. We suggest an individualised, evidence‐based approach. In patients living with type 2 diabetes mellitus, there is concern that prolonged cessation before surgery will have a detrimental effect on peri‐operative glycaemic control and discussion with an endocrinologist is advised. For patients taking glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists for weight management, these drugs should be withheld for at least three half‐lives before an elective surgical procedure.