bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Natural variation in tetrapyrrole biosynthetic enzymes and their regulation modify the chlorophyll mutantOy1-N1989
Authors: Kaur Amanpreet , Khangura Rajdeep S. , Dilkes Brian P.
Published: September 2024

Tetrapyrroles are macrocyclic compounds present in and required for all life on Earth. Mutants with defects in tetrapyrrole pathway enzymes can be used to uncover natural variation in this pathway and study pathway regulation. We report here the effects of theOy1-N1989/+mutation, a semi-dominant allele of subunit I in the Mg-chelatase enzyme with reduced chlorophyll biosynthesis, on global gene expression and morphological traits. Coordinate regulation of the tetrapyrrole pathway was observed as transcriptional feedback regulation of genes in the tetrapyrrole pathway inOy1-N1898/+ mutants. Natural variation in the wild-type allele atoy1modulated the severity of the impact ofOy1-N1989/+on gene expression. We also studied the effects of previously identified cis-acting expression variation atoy1in wild-type plants. The seventy transcripts encoding biosynthetic enzymes in the tetrapyrrole pathway exhibited similar transcriptional co-regulation in response to cis-variation inoy1transcript accumulation in wild-type plants as observed in the RNAseq ofOy1-N1989/+ mutants. This demonstrated that the coordinate regulation of the pathway also occurs during physiologically-relevant variation in OY1 abundance. Cis variants at seven tetrapyrrole pathway genes were linked to variation in chlorophyll accumulation inOy1-N1989/+mutant or wild-type plants. Analysis of trans-acting transcriptional variation by eGWAS detected multiple transcriptional hotspots, which disproportionately affected the expression of a subset of tetrapyrrole pathway genes, indicating that some genes are repeated targets of transcriptional regulation. The trans-regulatory hotspots coordinately regulated this pathway and may work to limit the accumulation of phototoxic intermediates.

Author Summary

The mutant allele and interactions with the genetic background determine the severity of mutant phenotypes. We usedOy1-N1989/+mutants, affecting Mg-chelatase subunit I, to identify natural variants in the tetrapyrrole pathway affecting transcriptional regulation and variation in mutant traits. By integrating GWAS and transcriptomics, we identified similar feedback regulation of porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism in mutants as well as in wild-type plants affected by natural variation. This is the first demonstration of natural variation affecting transcriptional feedback in the tetrapyrrole pathway under normal conditions. Using GWAS as a regulatory discovery tool, we identified unexplored regulatory mechanisms in a pathway that is critical for energy capture from the sun and chemical energy utilization in all living things and multiple human diseases.
Spatiotemporal, environmental, and behavioral predictors ofVarroamite intensity in managed honey bee apiaries
Authors: Boehm Vock Laura F. , Mossman Lauren M. , Rapti Zoi , Dolezal Adam G. , Clifton Sara M.
Published: September 2024

Honey bees contribute substantially to the world economy through pollination services and honey production. In the U.S. alone, honey bee pollination is estimated to contribute at least $11 billion annually, primarily through the pollination of specialty crops. However, beekeepers lose about half of their hives every season due to disease, insecticides, and other environmental factors. Here, we explore and validate a spatiotemporal statistical model ofVarroa destructormite burden (in mites/300 bees) in managed honey bee colonies, exploring the impact of both environmental factors and beekeeper behaviors. We examine risk factors forVarroainfestation using apiary inspection data collected across the state of Illinois over 2018-19, and we test the models using inspection data from 2020-21. After accounting for spatial and temporal trends, we find that environmental factors (e.g., floral quality, insecticide load) are not predictive ofVarroaintensity, while several beekeeper behaviors (e.g., smaller colony density, supplemental feeding, and mite monitoring/treatment) are protective againstVarroa. Interestingly, while monitoringandtreating forVarroais protective, treatingwithoutmonitoring is no more effective than not treating at all. This is an important result supporting Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches.

Author Summary

Honey bees contribute substantially to the world economy through pollination services and honey production. However, beekeepers lose about half of their hives every season due to disease, insecticides, and other environmental factors. Pathogens, such asVarroamites and the viruses they vector, are especially detrimental to colony health, and best practices for pest management remain contentious. In this study, we modelVarroa destructormite burden in managed honey bee colonies using apiary inspection data collected across the state of Illinois from 2018 – 2021. Our modelling approach accounts for both spatial and temporal trends, allowing us to investigate the marginal impacts of environmental factors and beekeeper interventions on mite burden. We show that treating forVarroamites has a protective effect only when accompanied by a monitoring strategy, important evidence in favor of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches.
Pythia: Non-random DNA repair allows predictable CRISPR/Cas9 integration and gene editing
Authors: Naert Thomas , Yamamoto Taiyo , Han Shuting , Horn Melanie , Bethge Phillip , Vladimirov Nikita , Voigt Fabian F. , Figueiro-Silva Joana , Bachmann-Gagescu Ruxandra , Helmchen Fritjof , Lienkamp Soeren S.
Published: September 2024

CRISPR-based genome engineering holds enormous promise for basic science and therapeutic applications. Integrating and editing DNA sequences is still challenging in many cellular contexts, largely due to insufficient control of the repair process. We find that repair at the genome-cargo interface is predictable by deep-learning models and adheres to sequence context specific rules. Based onin silicopredictions, we devised a strategy of triplet base-pair repeat repair arms that correspond to microhomologies at double-strand breaks (trimologies), which facilitated integration of large cargo (>2 kb) and protected the targeted locus and transgene from excessive damage. Successful integrations occurred in >30 loci in human cells and inin vivomodels. Germline transmissible transgene integration inXenopus, and endogenous tagging of tubulin in adult mice brains demonstrated integration during early embryonic cleavage and in non-dividing differentiated cells. Further, optimal repair arms for single- or double nucleotide edits were predictable, and facilitated small editsin vitroandin vivousing oligonucleotide templates.

We provide a design-tool (Pythia,pythia-editing.org) to optimize custom integration, tagging or editing strategies. Pythia will facilitate genomic integration and editing for experimental and therapeutic purposes for a wider range of target cell types and applications.
An annotated reference library for supporting DNA metabarcoding analysis of aquatic macroinvertebrates in French freshwater environments
Authors: Gauvin Paula , Eme David , Domaizon Isabelle , Rimet Frédéric
Published: September 2024

Freshwater ecosystems are increasingly threatened by human activities, leading to biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. Effective biodiversity monitoring, particularly through the use of aquatic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators, is crucial for assessing ecological health. While traditional morphological methods face limitations, DNA metabarcoding offers higher accuracy and efficiency in species identification using environmental DNA. However, the success of metabarcoding is contingent on the quality of reference libraries, which are often incomplete or biased. This study aimed to construct a comprehensive COI-based DNA barcode library for freshwater macroinvertebrates in France, specifically targeting short gene regions amplified with fwhF2/fwhR2N primers, suitable for degraded DNA. A list of species occurring in French freshwater ecosystems was established from official national checklists and Alpine lake surveys. The resulting library was analyzed for taxonomic completeness, barcode coverage and genetic diversity. The checklist consisted of 2,841 species across 10 phyla, for which 56% had at least one COI-5P sequences available in the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD). Alignment challenges with the primers were identified for certain taxa, particularly among Coleoptera, Diptera, and Malacostraca. The genetic diversity approached by the number of haplotypes per species highlighted that most of the species have limited diversity, with only 3 species having more than 100 haplotypes. Finally, this study showed that a total of 57 haplotypes were shared among 116 distinct species. This work emphasized the need for expanded sequencing efforts to improve barcode coverage and highlighted the pitfalls associated with the use of these primers for further biodiversity assessment of macroinvertebrates with degraded DNA.
Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatumcapsular exopolysaccharide enhances systemic anti-tumour immunity in pre-clinical breast cancer
Authors: Price Christopher A. , Nicklin Alicia , Kujawska Magdalena , Koev Todor T. , Ilker Nilda , Fowler Wesley J. , McKee Alastair M. , Mitchell Luke , Rowe Mitchel , Taylor James A.G.E. , Benwell Christopher J. , Dreger Sally A. , Mueller Julia , Hall Lindsay J. , Robinson Stephen D.
Published: September 2024

Gut microbes have merged as powerful regulators of cancer responses, withBifidobacteriumspecies and strains playing a key role in promoting anti-tumour immunity. While they represent promising candidates for cancer therapeutics, the specific underlying microbial mechanisms driving their efficacy remains poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate the broad potential ofBifidobacteriumspecies to inhibit breast cancer progression across multiple pre-clinical mouse models. We identify a novel strain,Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum210, which induces systemic anti-tumour immunity and enhances responses to standard-of-care therapies via its cell surface capsular exopolysaccharide (EPS).B. pseudocatenulatum210 EPS promotes dendritic cell activation and increases systemic cDC1 infiltration, leading to robust CD8+T cell-mediated anti-tumour activity. Our findings positionBifidobacteriumEPS as a novel class of therapeutic compounds with significant potential for cancer treatment.
Targeting the host transcription factor HSF1 prevents human cytomegalovirus replication in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Akter Dilruba , Biswas Juthi , Miller Michael J. , Thiele Dennis J. , Murphy Eain A. , O’Connor Christine M. , Moffat Jennifer F. , Chan Gary C.
Published: September 2024

FDA-approved antivirals against HCMV have several limitations, including only targeting the later stages of the viral replication cycle, adverse side effects, and the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Antivirals targeting host factors specifically activated within infected cells and necessary for viral replication could address the current drawbacks of anti-HCMV standard-of-care drugs. In this study, we found HCMV infection stimulated the activation of the stress response transcription factor heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1). HCMV entry into fibroblasts rapidly increased HSF1 activity and subsequent relocalization from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, which was maintained throughout viral replication and in contrast to the transient burst of activity induced by canonical heat shock. Prophylactic pharmacological inhibition or genetic depletion of HSF1 prior to HCMV infection attenuated the expression of all classes of viral genes, including immediate early (IE) genes, and virus production, suggesting HSF1 promotes the earliest stages of the viral replication cycle. Therapeutic treatment with SISU-102, an HSF1 inhibitor tool compound, after IE expression also reduced the levels of L proteins and progeny production, suggesting HSF1 regulates multiple steps along the HCMV replication cycle. Leveraging a newly developed human skin xenograft transplant murine model, we found prophylactic treatment with SISU-102 significantly attenuated viral replication in transplanted human skin xenografts as well as viral dissemination to distal sites. These data demonstrate HCMV infection rapidly activates and relocalizes HSF1 to the nucleus to promote viral replication, which can be exploited as a host-directed antiviral strategy.

One Sentence Summary

Inhibiting of HSF1 as a host-directed antiviral therapy attenuates HCMV replication in vitro and in vivo.
AKT-mediated phosphorylation of TSC2 controls stimulus- and tissue-specific mTORC1 signaling and organ growth
Authors: Cormerais Yann , Lapp Samuel C. , Kalafut Krystle C. , Cissé Madi Y. , Shin Jong , Stefadu Benjamin , Personnaz Jean , Schrotter Sandra , D’Amore Angelica , Martin Emma R. , Salussolia Catherine L. , Sahin Mustafa , Menon Suchithra , Byles Vanessa , Manning Brendan D.
Published: September 2024

Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) integrates diverse intracellular and extracellular growth signals to regulate cell and tissue growth. How the molecular mechanisms regulating mTORC1 signaling established through biochemical and cell biological studies function under physiological states in specific mammalian tissues are unknown. Here, we characterize a genetic mouse model lacking the 5 phosphorylation sites on the tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2) protein through which the growth factor-stimulated protein kinase AKT can active mTORC1 signaling in cell culture models. These phospho-mutant mice (TSC2-5A) are developmentally normal but exhibit reduced body weight and the weight of specific organs, such as brain and skeletal muscle, associated with cell intrinsic decreases in growth factor-stimulated mTORC1 signaling. The TSC2-5A mouse model demonstrates that TSC2 phosphorylation is a primary mechanism of mTORC1 activation in some, but not all, tissues and provides a genetic tool to facilitate studies on the physiological regulation of mTORC1.
Evolutionary trajectories of β-lactam resistance inEnterococcus faecalisstrains
Authors: Ugalde Silva Paul , Desbonnet Charlene , Rice Louis B , García-Solache Mónica
Published: September 2024

Resistance to ampicillin and imipenem inEnterococcus faecalisis infrequent. However, the evolution of resistance can occur through prolonged antibiotic exposure during the treatment of chronic infections. In this study, we conducted a Long-Term Evolution Experiment (LTEE) using four genetically diverse strains ofE. faecaliswith varying susceptibilities to ampicillin and imipenem. Each strain was subjected to increasing concentrations of either ampicillin or imipenem over 200 days, with three independent replicates for each strain.

Selective pressure from imipenem led to the rapid selection of highly resistant lineages across all genetic backgrounds, compared to ampicillin. In addition to high resistance, we describe, for the first time, the evolution of a β-lactam dependent phenotype observed in lineages from all backgrounds. WGS and bioinformatic analysis revealed mutations in three main functional classes: genes involved in cell wall synthesis and degradation, genes in the walK/R two-component system, and genes in the c-di-AMP pathway. Our analysis identified new mutations in genes known to be involved in resistance as well as novel genes potentially associated with resistance.

Furthermore, the newly described β-lactam dependent phenotype was correlated with the inactivation of c-di-AMP degradation, resulting in high levels of this second messenger. Together, these data highlight the diverse genetic mechanisms underlying resistance to ampicillin and imipenem inE. faecalis. The emergence of high resistance levels and β-lactam dependency underscores the importance of understanding evolutionary dynamics in the development of antibiotic resistance.

Importance

E. faecalisis a major human pathogen, and treatment is frequently compromised by poor response to first-line antibiotics such ampicillin. Understanding the factors that play a role in susceptibility/resistance to these drugs will help guide the development of much needed treatments.
Chemical signatures of social information in Barbary macaques
Authors: Weiß Brigitte M. , Birkemeyer Claudia , Kücklich Marlen , Widdig Anja
Published: September 2024

Primates are well-known for their complex social lives and intricate social relationships, which requires them to obtain and update social knowledge about conspecifics. The sense of smell may provide access to social information that is unavailable in other sensory domains or enhance the precision and reliability of other sensory cues. However, the cognition of social information in catarrhine primates has been studied primarily in the visual and auditory domain. We assessed the social information content of body odor in a catarrhine primate, the Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus), in three semi-free ranging groups at Affenberg Salem, Germany. In particular, we related socially relevant attributes (identity, genetic relatedness, rank, sex, age, group membership) to chemical profiles of body odor. We applied non-invasive active sampling via thermal desorption tubes and analyzed samples by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. We found robust evidence for individual odor signatures and limited support for kin signatures. Chemical profiles were also related to group membership, but little to rank, sex or age. The detected associations between chemical profiles and socially relevant attributes form the theoretical foundations for olfactory information transfer, highlighting the potential of body odor to provide valuable social information in this highly visually oriented primate.
How neural network structure alters the brain’s self-organized criticality
Authors: Sugimoto Yoshiki A. , Yadohisa Hiroshi , Abe Masato S.
Published: September 2024

The brain criticality hypothesis has been a central research topic in theoretical neuroscience for two decades. This hypothesis suggests that the brain operates near the critical point at the boundary between order and disorder, where it acquires its information-processing capabilities. The mechanism that maintains this critical state has been proposed as a feedback system known as self-organized criticality (SOC); brain parameters, such as synaptic plasticity, are regulated internally without external adjustment. Therefore, clarifying how SOC occurs can help us to understand the mechanisms that maintain brain function and cause brain disorders. From the standpoint of neural network structures, the topology of neural circuits also plays a crucial role in information processing, with healthy neural networks exhibiting small-world, scale-free, and modular characteristics. However, how these network structures affect SOC remains poorly understood. In this study, we numerically investigated the possibility that the structure of neural networks contributes to the brain’s critical state and dysfunction using a mathematical model. Our results reveal that the time scales at which synaptic plasticity operates to achieve a critical state differ depending on the network structure. Additionally, we observed Dragon king phenomena associated with abnormal neural activity, depending on the network structure and synaptic plasticity time scales. Notably, Dragon king was observed over a wide range of synaptic plasticity time scales in scale-free networks with high-degree hub nodes. This study emphasizes the importance of neural network topology in neuroscience from the perspective of SOC.
Inchworm quasi Monte Carlo for quantum impurities
Authors: Strand Hugo U. R. , Kleinhenz Joseph , Krivenko Igor
Published: September 2024

The inchworm expansion is a promising approach to solving strongly correlated quantum impurity models due to its reduction of the sign problem in real and imaginary time. However, inchworm Monte Carlo is computationally expensive, converging as 1/N where N is the number of samples. We show that the imaginary-time integration is amenable to quasi Monte Carlo, with parametrically better 1/N convergence, by mapping the Sobol low-discrepancy sequence from the hypercube to the simplex with the so-called Root transform. This extends the applicability of the inchworm method to, e.g., multiorbital Anderson impurity models with off-diagonal hybridization, relevant for materials simulation, where continuous-time hybridization expansion Monte Carlo has a severe sign problem.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Productions of
X(3872)/Zc(3900)
and
X2(4013)/Zc(4020)
in
Y(4220)
and
Y(4360)
decays
Authors: Liu Ming-Zhu , Ling Xi-Zhe , Geng Li-Sheng
Published: September 2024

The two excited vector charmonium states Y(4220) and Y(4360) are difficult to understand as pure cc¯ charmonium states. Since they are located close to the mass thresholds of D¯D1 and D¯*D1, they can be viewed as D¯D1 and D¯*D1 molecules. Furthermore, recent studies indicate that the exotic states X(3872)/Zc(3900) and X2(4013)/Zc(4020) are the isoscalar/isovector D¯D* and isoscalar/isovector D¯*D* molecules, respectively. In this work, in the molecular picture, we employ the triangle diagram mechanism to study the productions of Zc(3900) and X(3872) in the pionic and radiative decays of Y(4220), as well as their heavy-quark spin symmetry partners—i.e., the productions of Zc(4020) and X2(4013) in the pionic and radiative decays of Y(4360). Using the effective Lagrangian approach, we obtain the ratios of the branching fractions B[Y(4360)→Zc(4020)π]/B[Y(4220)→Zc(3900)π]=1.2±0.3 and B[Y(4360)→X2(4013)γ]/B[Y(4220)→X(3872)γ]=0.5±0.1, almost independent of model parameters, which indicate that the productions of X2(4013) and Zc(4020) in the radiative and pionic decays of Y(4360) are likely to be measured in the future. The experimental studies of the predicted decay modes will help to verify the molecular nature of X(3872), Zc(3900), and Y(4220). We hope that the present work can stimulate experimental and further theoretical studies on these decay modes.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Extracting the partonic structure of colorless exchanges at the Electron Ion Collider
Authors: Armesto Néstor , Newman Paul R. , Słomiński Wojciech , Staśto Anna M.
Published: September 2024

We investigate the determination of the partonic structure of colorless exchanges in deep inelastic diffractive ep scattering at the Electron Ion Collider (EIC), using the standard decomposition into Pomeron and Reggeon contributions. We perform fits to simulated diffractive cross section pseudodata in four variables, including the momentum transfer t, to estimate the achievable precision on the Pomeron and Reggeon quark and gluon distributions. We analyze the influence of different cuts in the kinematic variables, beam energy configurations, and luminosities, including a “first year” scenario. We conclude that the EIC will be able to constrain the partonic structure of the subleading Reggeon exchange with a precision comparable to that of the leading Pomeron exchange.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Detecting axion dark matter with black hole polarimetry
Authors: Gan Xucheng , Wang Lian-Tao , Xiao Huangyu
Published: September 2024

The axion, as a leading dark matter candidate, is the target of many ongoing and proposed experimental searches based on its coupling to photons. Ultralight axions that couple to photons can also cause polarization rotation of light which can be probed by the cosmic microwave background. In this work, we show that a large axion field is inevitably developed around black holes due to the Bose-Einstein condensation of axions, enhancing the induced birefringence effects. Therefore, measuring the modulation of supermassive black hole imaging polarization angles is a strong probe to the axion-photon coupling due to the formation of the axion condensation (axion star) which enhances the axion field. The oscillating axion field around black holes induces polarization rotation on the black hole image, which is detectable and distinguishable from astrophysical effects on the polarization angle, as it exhibits distinctive temporal variability and frequency invariability. In this work, we perform the theoretical calculation on the axion star formation rate and correspondingly the enhanced axion field value near supermassive black holes. Then, we present the range of axion-photon couplings within the axion mass range 10−21–10−16  eV that can be probed by the Event Horizon Telescope. The axion parameter space probed by black hole polarimetry will expand with the improvement in sensitivity on the polarization measurement and more black hole polarimetry targets with determined black hole masses.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Modularity of the Schur index, modular differential equations, and high-temperature asymptotics
Authors: Pan Yiwen , Yang Peihe
Published: September 2024

In this paper we analytically explore the modularity of the flavored Schur index of 4d N=2 superconformal field theories. We focus on the A1 theories of class-S and N=4 theories with SU(N) gauge group. We work out the modular orbit of the flavored index and defect index, compute the dimension of the space spanned by the orbit, and provide complete basis for computing modular transformation matrices. The dimension obtained from the flavored analysis predicts the minimal order of the unflavored modular differential equation satisfied by the unflavored Schur index. With the help of modularity, we also study analytically the high temperature asymptotics of the Schur index. In the high temperature limit

τ

→

+

i

0

, we identified the (defect) Schur index of the genus-zero A1 theories of class S with the S3 partition function of the SU(2)×U(1)n star-shaped quiver (with Wilson line insertion). In the identification, we observe an interesting relation between the linear-independence of defect indices and the convergence of the Wilson line partition functions.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Non-Abelian Transport Distinguishes Three Usually Equivalent Notions of Entropy Production
Authors: Upadhyaya Twesh , Braasch William F. , Landi Gabriel T. , Halpern Nicole Yunger
Published: September 2024

We extend entropy production to a deeply quantum regime involving noncommuting conserved quantities. Consider a unitary transporting conserved quantities (“charges”) between two systems initialized in thermal states. Three common formulas model the entropy produced. They respectively cast entropy as an extensive thermodynamic variable, as an information-theoretic uncertainty measure, and as a quantifier of irreversibility. Often, the charges are assumed to commute with each other (e.g., energy and particle number). Yet quantum charges can fail to commute. Noncommutation invites generalizations, which we posit and justify, of the three formulas. The noncommutation of charges, we find, breaks the equivalence of the formulas. Furthermore, different formulas quantify different physical effects of the noncommutation of charges on entropy production. For instance, entropy production can signal contextuality—true nonclassicality—by becoming nonreal. This work opens up stochastic thermodynamics to noncommuting—and so particularly quantum—charges.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Climate change as fake news. Positive attribute framing as a tactic against corporate reputation damage from the evaluations of sceptical, right-wing audiences
Authors: Chmiel Michal , Fatima Sania , Ingold Ciara , Reisten Jana , Tejada Catalina
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The paper aims to examine whether CSR communication about a company’s support for climate change created using different content framing categories (positive vs negative) can lead climate change-sceptical audiences to positively influence their evaluations of the credibility of CSR communication, of a company and its actions, and lead to higher purchase intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper used an experimental design. About 266 respondents recruited via the Prolific platform were invited to participate in an online study. A between-subject design was used, and data was analysed using the bootstrapping technique, allowing to identify moderators of the relationship between CSR communication framing and different evaluations of a company.

Findings

The paper provides empirical support for the role of political preferences and climate change beliefs in predicting the preference for positive attribute framing among climate change sceptical audiences. It is argued that climate change sceptics are still in the process of deliberation about whether climate change is occurring.

Research limitations/implications

The research findings may not be generalizable to countries where support for climate change is low, and a technique like attribute framing may not lead to noticeable differences in message reception.

Practical implications

The paper underscores the impact of the type of attribute framing in CSR communication on different aspects of company evaluations depending on beliefs in climate change. Commercial communicators should additionally invest in climate change education to address the climate change challenge.

Social implications

Addressing climate change effectively requires support from companies to communicate their CSR efforts purposefully and to address climate change sceptical audiences.

Originality/value

The paper identifies beliefs in climate change as an important moderator of CSR communication attribute framing effectiveness.
Comparison of actual and virtual pressure of athletic clothing in active poses
Authors: Vuruskan Arzu , Ashdown Susan P.
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The circular design process in contemporary fashion design, from two-dimensional (2D) sketching and pattern making to three-dimensional (3D) prototypes, can be facilitated by virtual prototyping. Virtual pressure representations on avatars provide visual and quantitative information regarding garment fit and comfort, which are particularly important for active wear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the benefits of using avatars in active poses from 3D body scans and the use of digital 3D tools for the design process and the prediction of fit of active wear.

Design/methodology/approach

This research initially explores virtual fit of cycling wear in active poses and compares the actual pressure values from humans with virtual pressure maps on custom avatars made from body scans in cycling poses across a range of sizes.

Findings

Similar fit results were achieved visually in both the standing and cycling poses. However, the comparisons showed no correlation between the actual and virtual pressure data. Of the 32 cases representing different combinations of the parameters of this research (four sizes, two garment types, four active poses), the differences were significant. The results suggest that, rather than providing a direct correlation with pressure values on the body, the main value of avatar data is in providing comparative visual support for fit evaluation.

Originality/value

The approach taken in this research, which considers the active pose and the size range, potentially contributes to the improvement of virtual fit technology, and its more effective use in apparel product development and fit evaluation.
Does greater filial piety bring more gender income advantages? Exploring the influence of traditional Chinese filial piety on the gender wage gap
Authors: Li Xiaoman , Yang Xinxin , Zheng Qi
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Based on traditional Chinese filial piety, this article examines the impacts and mechanisms of the two-dimensional filial piety concept “Qinqin – Zunzun” on gender wages in China via China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) conducted in 2014 and 2018.

Design/methodology/approach

This article construct regression models to examine the relationship between filial piety concepts and wages. Also, it uses unconditional quantile regression and decomposition to explore the impact of filial piety concepts on the wage gap.

Findings

It is found that: (1) The effects of two-dimensional filial piety are heterogeneous in terms of gender. Specifically, authoritarian filial piety significantly suppresses individual wages and has a stronger suppressive effect on women’s wages, whereas affinity filial piety significantly enhances individual wages without gender heterogeneity; (2) Parents' time support in the intergenerational exchange model is a crucial mechanism by which filial piety affects wages, exhibiting significant gender heterogeneity; (3) Regarding wage distribution, authoritarian filial piety mainly widens the gender income gap in the low and middle income-groups, while affinity filial piety narrows the gender wage gap by “raising the floor”, with its converging effect being most significant in the middle and high-income groups. This article deepens the understanding of the gender wage gap and intergenerational income mobility, providing policy references for better utilizing the social governance function of culture.

Originality/value

The article deepens the understanding and mechanisms of the gender wage gap and inter-generational income mobility, providing policy reference for better utilizing the social governance function of culture.
Recognizing the ideal patterns of strategic flexibility, IT strategy and business performance: a cluster analysis approach
Authors: Asarian Mohammad , Jami Pour Mona , Talafidaryani Mojtaba
Published: September 2024

Purpose

In spite of intensive research that explained the strategic flexibility-performance and information technology (IT) strategy-performance relationships, there is a little insight regarding how these notions ideally affect business performance. Accordingly, this study attempts to investigate how businesses can translate IT directions and strategic practices into actual increases in business performance. More precisely, the primary purpose of this paper is to explore the influential role of strategic flexibility and IT strategy on business performance considering balanced scorecard (BSC) dimensions in the context of the tourism industry.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical investigation of 331 tourism businesses was performed to explore the relationship between strategic flexibility, IT strategy and business performance. A non-probability convenience sampling was applied to select the sample. Factor analysis, descriptive statistics and cluster analysis were used to analyze the data.

Findings

The findings include the clustering of the studied businesses in terms of strategic flexibility and IT strategy. A cluster analysis based on strategic flexibility indicates that businesses can be divided into four main clusters, and based on IT strategy, they can be classified in three main clusters. The results show that businesses with a high level of strategic flexibility and a high level of IT strategic practices have high performance. More importantly, it was known that proactiveness and strategic use of IT have more predictor role on performance.

Originality/value

A review of the strategic management literature reveals a lack of empirical studies that adequately explore the significant roles of strategic flexibility and IT strategy on business performance in the tourism industry. This paper provides actionable insights into these two main determinants that explain why some tourism businesses outperform others. The primary contribution of this study is to address the gap in our understanding of the interconnections between strategic flexibility, IT strategy and business performance through cluster analysis in the tourism industry.
The “capitalism without capital era”: exploring intellectual capital impact on SMEs growth hacking capability
Authors: Bresciani Stefano , Giordino Daniele , Troise Ciro
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Although a growing number of companies are using growth hacking (GH) to grow their businesses, scholars know little about its operationalization, namely through growth hacking capability (GHC), its antecedents and its effectiveness in improving their performance. Indeed, there are no studies that have examined the role of intellectual capital (IC) in this sense. The aim of this study is to fill these gaps and explore the effects of IC (composed of human, relational and structural capital) in influencing GHC and – in turn – whether GHC influences companies’ financial and market performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical research was conducted using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to examine the validity of the proposed hypotheses and research model. Quantitative data were collected from 38 SMEs in the Italian context through a specifically designed questionnaire.

Findings

The results of the analysis show that IC has a positive and significant impact on SMEs’ GHC, thus confirming its role as a relevant antecedent; at the same time, the empirical results underscore the positive effect GHC has on SMEs’ financial and market performance.

Originality/value

First, the present body of work operationalizes GH, thereby, following previous work on lean startup and explores for the first time in literature the effect of IC on it. Second, from a contextual standpoint, the article deepens scholars' understanding of GHC by focusing on SMEs. Lastly, the adopted method represents a novel approach to investigating GHC, as scholarly literature has primarily focused on qualitative and theoretical dimensions.
The strategic role of entrepreneurial computer engineers in shaping innovation ecosystems: innovation engineering
Authors: Ardeshir Amir , Sharifi Khobdeh Mehdi , Fillis Ian , Eghbali Hossein
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This paper investigates the critical role of entrepreneurial computer engineers in driving innovation and accelerating economic growth through the creation of technological businesses. By analyzing their contributions to innovation ecosystems, this paper aims to provide insights into the unique impact these engineers have within the entrepreneurial landscape. The study underscores the need for tailored policies that harness the potential of entrepreneurial computer engineers to achieve macroeconomic objectives amidst ever-changing economic complexities.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine the significance of entrepreneurial computer engineers within the innovation ecosystem, this study uses bibliometric analysis with VOS viewer to explore existing literature on engineering and entrepreneurship.

Findings

Using bibliometric analysis, the authors reveal a network of interconnected skills such as risk-taking, self-determination and project-based learning, evident in the co-occurrence of keywords.

Practical implications

The entrepreneurial computer engineer plays a central role in steering technical innovation and fostering sustainable economic growth within the field of computer engineering. The authors pinpoint specific skills and strategic pathways crucial for the growth and development of entrepreneurial computer engineers, emphasizing the unique contributions and challenges within this domain.

Originality/value

This paper addresses the under-researched topic of engineering entrepreneurship in relation to innovation, aiming to provide knowledge and insights into the intersection of engineering and entrepreneurship. By examining this nexus, the paper contributes to filling the gap in existing literature and offers valuable perspectives for both academia and industry.
Digital storytelling: An educational approach for enhancing dyslexic children's writing skills, critical and cultural learning
Authors: Kritsotaki Kalliopi , Castro–Kemp Susana , Kamenopoulou Leda
Published: September 2024

This paper reports an exploratory pilot study‐ which is part of a larger study‐ examining the impact of an innovative approach to enhancing the writing skills of primary school students with dyslexia, digital storytelling (DST), linked to critical and cultural learning. The study adopted a single‐subject design with a pre‐experimental approach (A‐B) to explore connections between the use of digital storytelling, and children's writing skills, as well as cultural and critical dimensions of learning. A socio‐cultural framework, drawing on Green's 3D model, and the Not‐So Simple View of Writing, informed the methodology adopted. A dual perspective aligning with the socio‐cultural theory was adopted, delving into both product and process of digital storytelling. The results revealed significant improvements in writing skills, cultural and critical behaviours, pre and post intervention, with large effect sizes, suggesting this may be a promising classroom approach to improve literacy and learning in children with dyslexia.
A nationwide cohort study of inflammatory bowel disease, histological activity and fracture risk
Authors: Mårild Karl , Söderling Jonas , Axelrad Jordan , Halfvarson Jonas , Forss Anders ,   SWIBREG Study Group, Michaëlsson Karl , Olén Ola , Ludvigsson Jonas F.
Published: September 2024

Background

Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of fracture. It is unclear if this risk varies by recent histological activity.

Aims

To determine the fracture risk in IBD during periods with and without histological inflammation.

Methods

We studied a nationwide cohort of 54,591 individuals diagnosed with IBD in 1990–2016 with longitudinal data on ileo‐colorectal biopsies. Fractures were identified by inpatient and hospital‐based outpatient diagnoses. We derived Cox regression estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for fracture during 12 months following a histological inflammation (vs. histological remission) record after adjusting for socio‐demographics, comorbidities, IBD duration, IBD‐related surgery and hospitalization. We adjusted sensitivity analyses for medical IBD treatment including corticosteroids.

Results

Mean age of patients was 44.0 (SD = 18.3) and 45.5 (SD = 17.1) years at biopsy with histological inflammation and remission, respectively. For histological inflammation, there were 1.37 (95% CI 1.29–1.46) fractures per 100 years' follow‐up versus 1.31 (95% CI 1.19–1.44) for remission (adjusted [a]HR 1.12; 95% CI 1.00–1.26; p = 0.04). HRs were similar with histological inflammation of Crohn's disease (1.11; 95% CI 0.91–1.36) and ulcerative colitis (1.18; 95% CI 1.02–1.36). Estimates were consistent across age groups. An overall small excess risk of any fracture remained after accounting for corticosteroids. A more prominently raised fracture risk was observed in corticosteroid‐naïve IBD patients with histological inflammation versus histological remission (aHR 1.41; 95% CI 1.07–1.85). The aHR of hip fracture following histological inflammation was 1.29 (95% CI 0.87–1.92).

Conclusions

Histological inflammation in IBD predicted a small increase in short‐term fracture risk. Measures to reduce disease activity may reduce fracture risk in IBD.
The association between alcohol consumption and cardiometabolic factors and liver fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease and metabolic dysfunction and alcohol‐associated liver disease
Authors: Sogabe Masahiro , Okahisa Toshiya , Kagawa Miwako , Kashihara Takanori , Shinomiya Ryo , Miyake Takanori , Kawaguchi Tomoyuki , Yokoyama Reiko , Kagemoto Kaizo , Kida Yoshifumi , Okada Yasuyuki , Tomonari Tetsu , Kawano Yutaka , Sato Yasushi , Nakasono Masahiko , Takayama Tetsuji
Published: September 2024

Background

The relationships between alcohol consumption, cardiometabolic factors, and liver fibrosis in patients with metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease and those with metabolic dysfunction and alcohol‐associated liver disease remain unclear.

Aims

To investigate the longitudinal associations among alcohol consumption, cardiometabolic factors, and liver fibrosis in patients with these two liver diseases.

Methods

This observational cohort study included 1866 patients with metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease and 521 patients with metabolic dysfunction and alcohol‐associated liver disease who underwent > two health checkups over >2 years. The associations of both liver diseases with worsening non‐invasive liver fibrosis scores were assessed using the Cox regression analysis.

Results

Both liver diseases independently worsened liver fibrosis in both sexes. However, the hazard ratio for worsening liver fibrosis in females was significantly higher with metabolic dysfunction and alcohol‐associated liver disease than with metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease. Worsening liver fibrosis was not associated with alcohol consumption. Among males with metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease, the hazard ratio for worsening liver fibrosis was significantly higher in those with multiple cardiometabolic factors compared to those with a single cardiometabolic factor.

Conclusions

Although both metabolic steatotic liver disease and metabolic alcohol‐associated liver disease were correlated with liver fibrosis progression in both sexes, the impact of alcohol consumption and cardiometabolic factors on fibrosis progression differed by sex. Cardiometabolic factors may have a stronger impact on liver fibrosis than alcohol consumption in males with metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease.
Rocket seed meal (Eruca sativa) can replace soybean meal in fattening lamb diets improving performance, protein metabolism, and economic balance
Authors: Mousa Gamal A. , Kholif Ahmed E. , Vargas‐Bello‐Pérez Einar , Abdo Mohamed M. , Hassan Ola G. A.
Published: September 2024

The study determined the effects of replacing different levels of soybean meal (SBM) with rocket seed cake (RSC) in the diets of growing lambs on feed utilization and growth performance. Twenty‐eight male lambs (180 ± 5 d old) were divided into four groups in a complete randomized design with repeated measures for 105 d. Soybean meal was replaced with RSC at 0% (RSC0), 25% (RSC25), 50% (RSC50), and 75% (RSC75). The RSC75 group had the lowest final weight, total weight gain, and daily weight gain. The RSC25 increased (P < 0.001) the intakes of DM, starch value (SV), total digestible nutrients (TDN), digestible energy (DE), and digestible crude protein (DCP) compared to the other diets, while the RSC75 decreased these values. Moreover, the RSC25 decreased (P < 0.05) feed conversion of DM compared to other diets. Treatments did not affect nutrient digestibility or diet's nutritive values expressed as true SV, TDN, DCP, and DE. The RSC linearly increased albumin and urea and lowered the high‐density lipoprotein concentrations in lamb's blood. The inclusion of RSC in the diet increased economic efficiency, with the highest relative percentages of net revenue with the RSC25. Overall, RSC can replace SBM at 25% in the diet of growing lambs.