bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synaptic vesicle endocytosis deficits underlie GBA-linked cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease and Dementia with Lewy bodies
Authors: Vidyadhara D J , Bäckström David , Chakraborty Risha , Ruan Jiapeng , Park Jae-Min , Mistry Pramod K. , Chandra Sreeganga. S.
Published: October 2024

GBAis the major risk gene for Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), two common α-synucleinopathies with cognitive deficits. We investigated the role of mutantGBAin cognitive decline by utilizing Gba (L444P) mutant, SNCA transgenic (tg), and Gba-SNCA double mutant mice. Notably, Gba mutant mice showed early cognitive deficits but lacked PD-like motor deficits or α-synuclein pathology. Conversely, SNCA tg mice displayed age-related motor deficits, without cognitive abnormalities. Gba-SNCA mice exhibited both cognitive decline and exacerbated motor deficits, accompanied by greater cortical phospho-α-synuclein pathology, especially in layer 5 neurons. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing of the cortex uncovered synaptic vesicle (SV) endocytosis defects in excitatory neurons of Gba mutant and Gba-SNCA mice, via robust downregulation of genes regulating SV cycle and synapse assembly. Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy validated these findings. Our results indicate that Gba mutations, while exacerbating pre-existing α-synuclein aggregation and PD-like motor deficits, contribute to cognitive deficits through α-synuclein-independent mechanisms, involving dysfunction in SV endocytosis.
Spontaneous alpha-band lateralization extends persistence of visual information in iconic memory by modulating cortical excitability
Authors: Smith Paul J.C. , Busch Niko A.
Published: October 2024

Pre-stimulus alpha oscillations in the visual cortex modulate neuronal excitability, influencing sensory processing and decision-making. While this relationship has been demonstrated mostly in detection tasks with low-visibility stimuli, interpretations of such effects can be ambiguous due to biases, making it difficult to clearly distinguish between perception-related and decision-related effects. In this study, we investigated how spontaneous fluctuations in pre-stimulus alpha power affect iconic memory, a high-capacity, ultra-short visual memory store. Data from 49 healthy adults (34 female and 15 male) was analyzed. We employed a partial report task, where a brief display of six stimuli was followed by a report cue indicating the target stimulus. In this paradigm, accuracy at short stimulus-cue onset asynchronies (SOAs) is typically high, reflecting the initial availability of sensory information, but it rapidly declines at intermediate SOAs due to the decay of the iconic memory trace, stabilizing at a low asymptote at long SOAs, representing the limited capacity of short-term memory. Crucially, performance in this task is constrained by the temporal persistence of sensory information, not by low visibility or response bias. We found that strong pre-stimulus alpha power enhanced performance by amplifying initial stimulus availability without affecting the speed of iconic decay. This effect was driven predominantly by stronger pre-stimulus alpha power in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the to-be-reported target, likely suppressing neuronal excitability of neurons coding irrelevant stimuli. Our findings underscore the role of alpha oscillations in modulating neuronal excitability and visual perception, independent of decision-making strategies implicated in prior studies.
The Neural Oscillatory Basis of Perspective-Taking in Autistic and Non-Autistic Adolescents using MEG
Authors: Seymour Robert A. , Rippon Gina , Gooding-Williams Gerard , Wang Hongfang , Kessler Klaus
Published: October 2024

Taking another’s perspective is a high-level mental skill underlying many aspects of social cognition. Perspective-taking is usually an embodied egocentric process whereby people mentally rotate themselves away from their physical location into the other’s orientation. This is accompanied by increased theta-band (3–7 Hz) brain oscillations within a widespread fronto-parietal cortical network including the temporoparietal junction. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been reported to experience challenges with high-level perspective-taking, particularly when adopting embodied strategies. To investigate the potential neurophysiological basis of these autism-related individual differences, we used magnetoencephalography in combination with a well-replicated perspective-taking paradigm in a group of 18 autistic and 17 age-matched non-autistic adolescents. Findings revealed that increasing the angle between self and other perspective resulted in prolonged reaction times for the autistic group during perspective-taking. This was accompanied by reduced theta power across a wide network of regions typically active during social cognitive tasks. On the other hand, the autistic group showed greater alpha power decreases in visual cortex compared with the non-autistic group across all perspective-taking conditions. These divergent theta and alpha power effects, coupled with steeper response time slopes, suggest that autistic individuals may rely more on alternative cognitive strategies, such as mental object rotation, rather than an egocentric embodied approach. Finally, no group differences were found when participants were asked to track, rather than take, another’s viewpoint, suggesting that autism-related individual differences are specific to high-level perspective-taking.
A GABA-A receptor response to CBD followingstatus epilepticusin the medial entorhinal cortex of the rat
Authors: Henley Benjamin S. , Walsh Richard , Greenhill Stuart , Woodhall Gavin
Published: October 2024

Cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid that has been implicated as a potential therapeutic in numerous neurological diseases. Perhaps the most widespread therapeutic use of CBD has been in the form of Epidiolex, which is used to treat seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome and tuberous sclerosis. Whilst the effectiveness of CBD in seizure reduction is clear, its mechanism of action is complex, and reflects the wide range of pharmacodynamic targets that includes receptors, ion channels and enzymes. This study investigated the effects of action of cannabidiol (CBD) on GABAergic transmission in layer II of the medial entorhinal cortex in animals that had previously undergone a period ofstatus epilepticus (SE). Spontaneous post-synaptic currents were recorded from medial entorhinal cortex layer II pyramidal cells in animals 1-7 after SE and in age matched controls as well as in tissue resected from children with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). CBD enhanced GABAAR-mediated inhibition by increasing decay times and inhibitory charge transfer across the postsynaptic membrane in status epilepticus (SE) but did not alter GABAergic transmission in age-matched control rats. The SE-induced effects of CBD were blocked by ligands acting as inverse agonists at the benzodiazepine site of the GABAAR receptor and the effects of CBD were additive to low-doses of benzodiazepine and barbiturate agonists, consistent with allosteric actions on the GABAAR. Similar effects were observed in both SE rat and human layer II neurons. Overall, these data suggest CBD may act as a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) at postsynaptic GABAARs and this action appears to develop following SE.

Key points

CBD increases inhibition only poststatus epilepticus.

This effect is blocked by benzodiazepine site inverse agonists

CBD is additive to low-dose zolpidem, suggesting an allosteric effect on the GABAAR

CBD was similarly effective inex vivohuman epileptic tissue

These results suggest CBD is a positive allosteric modulator at the GABAAR
Topography of putative bidirectional interaction between hippocampal sharp wave ripples and neocortical slow oscillations
Authors: Swanson Rachel , Chinigò Elisa , Levenstein Daniel , Vöröslakos Mihály , Mousavi Navid , Wang Xiao-Jing , Basu Jayeeta , Buzsáki György
Published: October 2024

Systems consolidation relies on coordination between hippocampal sharp-wave ripples (SWRs) and neocortical UP/DOWN states during sleep. However, whether this coupling exists across neocortex and the mechanisms enabling it remain unknown. By combining electrophysiology in mouse hippocampus (HPC) and retrosplenial cortex (RSC) with widefield imaging of dorsal neocortex, we found spatially and temporally precise bidirectional hippocampo-neocortical interaction. HPC multi-unit activity and SWR probability was correlated with UP/DOWN states in mouse default mode network, with highest modulation by RSC in deep sleep. Further, some SWRs were preceded by the high rebound excitation accompanying DMN DOWN→UP transitions, while large-amplitude SWRs were often followed by DOWN states originating in RSC. We explain these electrophysiological results with a model in which HPC and RSC are weakly coupled excitable systems capable of bi-directional perturbation and suggest RSC may act as a gateway through which SWRs can perturb downstream cortical regions via cortico-cortical propagation of DOWN states.
Nance-Horan Syndrome-like 1 interacts with endophilin and Ena/VASP proteins to promote fast endophilin-mediated endocytosis
Authors: Cope Jonathan F. W. , Law Ah-Lai , Juma Samina , Krause Matthias
Published: October 2024

Endocytosis is crucial for various physiological processes, facilitating the uptake of membrane proteins and extracellular material. Fast endophilin-mediated endocytosis (FEME), driven by endophilin A (EndoA), enables clathrin-independent, ligand-induced receptor uptake at the leading edge of cells. Whilst F-actin polymerisation is essential for FEME, how actin dynamics are regulated at sites of FEME is unknown. NHSL1, a member of the Nance-Horan Syndrome protein family, localises to the leading edge of cells, where it regulates migration, and to vesicular puncta, where its function is undetermined. Here, we show that NHSL1 and its uncharacterised family member NHSL2 co-localise and engage in direct, multivalent interactions with EndoA. NHSL1 also binds Ena/VASP proteins, a family of actin elongators. NHSL1 promotes FEME in cells and its interactions with EndoA and Ena/VASP proteins are required for this function. Thus, NHSL1 may cooperate with EndoA and Ena/VASP proteins to control membrane invagination and actin polymerisation, thereby mediating FEME.
Effector selection precedes movement specification: evidence from repetition effects in motor planning
Authors: Seegelke Christian , Heed Tobias
Published: October 2024

Motor performance is influenced by movements that were performed shortly prior. For example, reaction times (RTs) for successive movements are reduced when executed with the same effector, even if the specifics of the consecutive movements differ. These findings have been taken to support the notion that repetition effects in motor planning reflect the involvement of effector-specific motor plans. However, previous studies have confounded motor and visual aspects of repetition: movements have typically been instructed via visual cues, and movement repetition, therefore, implied repeating also the visual cue, so that the latter may be (at least partly) responsible for the observed RT effects. In the present study, participants performed two movements in succession, a prime and a probe action, either with their left or right hand and in one of two directions, inward or outward relative to the body midline. We used different cues for prime and probe actions, so that movement repetitions did not involve repetition of the visual cue. Participants initiated successive same-limb movements faster than different-limb movements, but this RT advantage was smaller than observed in previous work. Moreover, repeating movement direction also led to a decrease in RT, though only in combination with hand repetition. Whereas these findings imply that visual cue repetition can contribute to accelerated RTs in movement repetition, they confirm that the recent motor history affects motor planning. Furthermore, they support the idea of a hierarchical framework of motor planning in which effector selection precedes specification of motor parameters.
A common stay-on-goal mechanism in anterior cingulate cortex for information and effort choices
Authors: González Valeria V. , Malvaez Melissa , Yeghikian Alex , Wissing Sydney , Sharpe Melissa , Wassum Kate M. , Izquierdo Alicia
Published: October 2024

Humans and non-humans alike often make choices to gain information, even when the information cannot be used to change the outcome. Prior research has shown the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is important for evaluating options involving reward-predictive information. Here we studied the role of ACC in information choices using optical inhibition to evaluate the contribution of this region during specific epochs of decision making. Rats could choose between an uninformative option followed by a cue that predicted reward 50% of the time vs. a fully informative option that signaled outcomes with certainty, but was rewarded only 20% of the time. Reward seeking during the informative S+ cue decreased following ACC inhibition, indicating a causal contribution of this region in supporting reward expectation to a cue signaling reward with certainty. Separately in a positive control experiment and in support of a known role for this region in sustaining high-effort behavior for preferred rewards, we observed reduced lever presses and lower breakpoints in effort choices following ACC inhibition. The lack of changes in reward latencies in both types of decisions indicate the motivational value of rewards remained intact, revealing instead a common role for ACC in maintaining persistence toward certain and valuable rewards.

Graphical Summary

Significance Statement

We often make choices to gain information, even when the information cannot be used to change the outcome. Here we investigated the precise timing of the role of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in decisions that involve seeking certain versus uncertain rewards. By optically inhibiting ACC neurons, we demonstrate that this region is crucial for maintaining persistence toward rewards signaled with certainty, without altering the motivational value of the reward itself. In a positive control experiment, we also confirm that ACC is important in effort-based choice. The findings reveal a common role for ACC in maintaining persistence toward certain and valuable rewards, necessary for making optimal decisions. These results have implications for understanding psychiatric disorders involving maladaptive reward-seeking behavior.
The language network ages well: Preserved selectivity, lateralization, and within-network functional synchronization in older brains
Authors: Billot Anne , Jhingan Niharika , Varkanitsa Maria , Blank Idan , Ryskin Rachel , Kiran Swathi , Fedorenko Evelina
Published: October 2024

Healthy aging is associated with structural and functional brain changes. However, cognitive abilities differ from one another in how they change with age: whereas executive functions, like working memory, show age-related decline, aspects of linguistic processing remain relatively preserved (Hartshorne et al., 2015). This heterogeneity of the cognitive-behavioral landscape in aging predicts differences among brain networks in whether and how they should change with age. To evaluate this prediction, we used individual-subject fMRI analyses (’precision fMRI’) to examine the language-selective network (Fedorenko et al., 2024) and the Multiple Demand (MD) network, which supports executive functions (Duncan et al., 2020), in older adults (n=77) relative to young controls (n=470). In line with past claims, relative to young adults, the MD network of older adults shows weaker and less spatially extensive activations during an executive function task and reduced within-network functional synchronization. However, in stark contrast to the MD network, we find remarkable preservation of the language network in older adults. Their language network responds to language as strongly and selectively as in younger adults, and is similarly lateralized and internally synchronized. In other words, the language network of older adults looks indistinguishable from that of younger adults. Our findings align with behavioral preservation of language skills in aging and suggest that some networks remain young-like, at least on standard measures of function and connectivity.

Significance Statement

All organs, including brains, change as we age. However, the brain is not a uniform structure: it comprises multiple distinct networks, each supporting a different aspect of perception, motor control, and cognition. We examine two cognitive brain networks using fMRI and—across two independent cohorts—find a clear dissociation: the so-called Multiple Demand network, which supports executive functions (e.g., working memory), shows clear age-related decline; however, the language-selective network, which supports comprehension and production, remains young-like on all measures of network function and connectivity, in line with the preservation of linguistic skills in older adults. These findings challenge the notion of generalized brain aging and highlight the importance of dissociable components in the brain and mind.
Quantifying the impact of norovirus transmission in the community on acute kidney injury hospitalisations in England: a mathematical modelling study
Authors: Bolt Hikaru , Gupte Pratik R , Douglas Amy , Sadmann Frank G , Tomlinson Laurie A , Eggo Rosalind M
Published: October 2024

Norovirus is one of the most common gastrointestinal pathogens and causes substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. A serious consequence can be acute kidney injury (AKI), characterised by a rapid deterioration of kidney function. A quarter of all inpatients have AKI, which is associated with an increased risk of mortality. This study aimed to quantify the contribution of norovirus community transmission to AKI hospitalisations in England and its attributable cost. We developed an age-structured deterministic compartmental dynamic transmission model for norovirus. We used a Bayesian approach to fit the model to multiple electronic health data sources, including hospitalisations and primary care records for AKI and gastroenteritis, as well as laboratory-confirmed norovirus surveillance data in England, from 2013-2019. We used Markov Chain Monte Carlo to estimate the effect of norovirus incidence on community-acquired AKI hospitalisations. We estimate 25.4% (95% CrI: 17.9-36.3%) of norovirus infections in people aged 65 years and above were linked to community-acquired AKI hospitalisations, amounting to 793,229 (95% CrI: 557,125-1,130,593) hospitalisations between 2013-2019. This represents 16.3% (95% CrI: 11.4-23.2%) of community acquired AKI hospitalisations in people aged 65 years and above over this period. The economic healthcare cost associated with norovirus-linked AKI admissions was estimated to be on average £343 million annually. Gastroenteritis has previously been identified as an important risk factor for AKI in vulnerable patients. Our results suggest norovirus incidence in the community plays an important role in driving AKI hospitalisations in individuals aged 65 years and above. This is the first population-level estimate of the prevalence of norovirus infections linked to hospitalisations for AKI, and the comparable seasonal patterns between the two. This presents a substantial economic burden on the healthcare system and AKI hospitalisation should be an important consideration when evaluating future norovirus vaccines.
Defect-Assisted Domain Nucleation Drives Unique Exchange-Bias Phenomena in
MnBi2Te4
Authors: Yang Shiqi , Xu Xiaolong , Gao Yuchen , Guzman Roger , Gu Pingfan , Wang Huan , Huang Yuan , Zhou Wu , Xia Tianlong , Ye Yu
Published: October 2024

The study of the mechanism of exchange-bias phenomena and the achievement of its efficient control are of great importance, as it promotes the revelation of unique exchange interactions and the development of exotic applications. However, it is challenging due to the elusive interface between magnetic phases. In this study, we report an unprecedented exchange-bias phenomenon observed in ultrathin, uncompensated, antiferromagnetic MnBi2Te4. The magnitude and direction of the exchange field can be intentionally controlled by designing a magnetic-field sweep protocol without a field cooling process. The combined experimental and theoretical simulation results indicate that the spin-flip process assisted by the ubiquitous defect-induced pinning domain sites with varying inner exchange interactions might give rise to the emergence and robustness of this peculiar exchange bias. The temperature and thickness dependence of the exchange-bias phenomena are systematically investigated for further study and exploitation of its unique properties. This mechanism allows for highly tunable exchange bias in prevalent magnetic systems by engineering the properties of domain structures and also offers promising avenues for the design of spintronic devices combing its topology based on MnBi2Te4.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Fookifun: where fun means serious business
Authors: Mejia Reatiga Camilo Antonio , Juliao-Esparragoza David , Gonzalez Saul
Published: October 2024

Learning outcomes

This case study is tailored for audiences engaged in subjects such as entrepreneurship, strategy and foundational marketing principles. The academic focus aligns with the business model conceptualized by Osterwalder and Pigneur. This case study targets both undergraduate and graduate students at the university level, catering to interdisciplinary groups enrolled in courses related to entrepreneurship, strategy, marketing fundamentals and more. The objective is to equip students with the skills to construct diverse business models based on various potential alternatives. This case’s adaptable design and straightforward cost and revenue formulation facilitate comprehension for nonbusiness students, enabling them to grasp the multifaceted dimensions of a business model and project figures using basic arithmetic.

Case overview/synopsis

Fookifun emerged as a company born from Mrs Alejandra Padilla’s insightful grasp of the market. With the initial investment from her husband, she initiated a venture focused on delivering high-quality theatrical performances for children in the city of Barranquilla, situated in the northern region of Colombia. This narrative unfolds through early scenarios, illustrating the strategic decisions made by the entrepreneurs and the meticulous calculation of their costs and expenses. Alejandra steered her enterprise from 2014 to 2017, navigating through various alternatives and their associated costs. The narrative delved into 2017, depicting Alejandra’s pivotal decision-making process. Faced with the challenge of insufficient profitability, she contemplated the sustainability of the business. This period prompted her to reassess whether to persist with modifications or relinquish the venture altogether. The crux of Alejandra’s dilemma laid in the business’s meager profitability, which failed to generate adequate income for sustainability. It became imperative for her to make informed decisions, identifying modifiable variables within the business model and assessing their potential impact, particularly on the income generation model. This case study is tailored for audiences engaged in subjects such as entrepreneurship, strategy and foundational marketing principles. The academic focus aligns with the business model conceptualized by Osterwalder and Pigneur.

Complexity academic level

Given the characteristics of this case, it can be used for the teaching and learning of business or business administration, marketing, economics or related students, at higher or postgraduate levels (graduate school).

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS3: Entrepreneurship.
Digital technology and entrepreneurship: unveiling the bridging role of digital innovation
Authors: Lingfu Kong , Bano Safia , Saraih Ummi Naiemah , Shah Naimatullah , Soomro Bahadur Ali
Published: October 2024

Purpose

In today’s era, a country’s economy and society are continuously improved by entrepreneurship that utilizes digital technology. The current study, conducted among university students in Pakistan, examines the roles of digital aspects in moving toward digital innovation (DI) and digital entrepreneurship (DE).

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on quantitative and cross-sectional data. A survey questionnaire was used to obtain responses from respondents recruited through the convenience sampling technique.

Findings

The results from structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis suggest significant effects of technology orientation (TO), entrepreneurial orientation (EO), and DI on DE. The impact of DI on DE is also significant. On the other hand, digital technology self-efficacy (DTSE) is not found to be a significant predictor of DI and DE. Moreover, DI is found to be a significant mediator, which mediates the relationships of TO and EO with DE. On the contrary, DI did not mediate the significant relationship between DTSE and DE.

Practical implications

The study’s findings would benefit policymakers and planners in developing policies to encourage the usage of digital technologies to provide solutions in entrepreneurship. The findings also support promoting DE to tackle business challenges and achieve organizational and academic goals.

Originality/value

The study emphasizes the roles of digital technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship in a developing context.
Organizational justice and work engagement of public service workers and general workers in South Korea: moderating role of supportive learning environment
Authors: Cho Hyerim , Ardichvili Alexandre , Cho Daeyeon
Published: October 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between organizational justice and work engagement, to discover the moderating effect of the supportive learning environment on the relationship between organizational justice and work engagement, and to determine whether there is a difference in moderating effect for general workers and public service workers.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected data by surveying a public enterprise’s general and public service workers in South Korea. A total of 300 responses were used for analysis. The hypothesized relationships were tested using correlation, regression, and moderating effect analysis.

Findings

Organizational justice had a statistically significant positive effect on work engagement. At the sub-factor level, distributive and procedural justice positively affected work engagement. Further, the supportive learning environment did not moderate the relationship between organizational justice and work engagement. However, organizational support, a sub-factor of the supportive learning environment, moderated the relationship between organizational justice and work engagement. Finally, the moderating effect of the supportive learning environment on the relationship between organizational justice and work engagement was insignificant for both general and public service workers.

Originality/value

From the human resource development (HRD) standpoint, this paper emphasized the importance of creating supportive learning environments in integrating large groups of new employees into the organizational structures and culture. Highlighting that public service workers perceived organizational justice as lower than general workers, the study provided insights into future organizational strategies for accommodating these workers. It is particularly meaningful in that it was the first attempt at studying the difference between general and public service workers after integrating public service workers in South Korea. The findings can inform practice beyond the South Korean context, particularly the countries where similar labor market dualisms exist.
Top management team stability and maturity mismatch between investment and financing: the moderating effects of state ownership and institutional ownership
Authors: Zhan Yun , Liao Jia , Zhao Xiaoyang
Published: October 2024

Purpose

According to the resource-based theory, a firm’s unique resources and capabilities are the key to its competitive advantage. This paper aims to investigate the effect of top management team (TMT) stability, an important intangible resource of the firm, on the maturity mismatch between investment and financing of companies. Additionally, we explore the moderating effects of state ownership and institutional ownership in this context.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducts an empirical analysis based on the ordinary least squares (OLS) model with a sample of Chinese companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges from 2010 to 2022.

Findings

The results show that TMT stability significantly mitigates the degree of maturity mismatch. Both state ownership and institutional ownership weaken the negative effect of TMT stability on maturity mismatch. Besides, alleviating financing constraints is a crucial pathway through which TMT stability influences maturity mismatch.

Practical implications

The findings help firms to effectively retain TMT talents and reduce the occurrence of maturity mismatch.

Originality/value

This paper not only helps to expand the research on the economic effects of TMT stability but also provides new ideas on how to alleviate the maturity mismatch of companies.
The effect of social experience and content quality on the use of celebrity endorsement strategy in the social commerce context: a case study of Indonesia
Authors: Handarkho Yonathan Dri , Arifin Pupung
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study aims to provide a comprehensive theoretical model based on stimulus-organismresponse, social impact, and signaling theory to examine the factors influencing the successful application of the celebrity endorsement strategy in social commerce (SC). Three aspects involved in the model include social experience, content quality and endorser credibility, which have yet to be comprehensively compared in previous studies. The process, therefore, involved thoroughly examining the social and quality factors associated with endorser quality, leading to brand image.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 340 pieces of valid feedback from Indonesian respondents were used to validate the proposed model using structural equation modeling analysis. The model includes endorser expertise, attractiveness, brand credibility, content quality, parasocial interaction and herd behavior.

Findings

The study showed how parasocial interaction, herd behavior and content quality in SC platforms affect the credibility of endorsers, affecting brand credibility and leading to customer purchase intention.

Originality/value

This study explains how social experience and content quality affect endorsers’ credibility, leading to the brand’s credibility, which affects consumer purchase decisions in the SC context. It was discovered that most of the prior related studies focused on celebrity and brand credibility without adequate attention to other constructs existing in SC, such as social interaction and content quality. It also contributes to the practical aspect by proposing managerial action based on direct and indirect effect analysis, which is not comprehensively indicated in previous related studies.
Exploring the enablers of virtual tourism experiences for Gen Z
Authors: Das Payel , Chintaluri Manoj Gaur , Mandal Santanu , Babu Sarath , Kotni V.V. Prasad , Raman Raghu
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study explored the enabler role of novelty-seeking and materialistic values on technology-based outcomes: usefulness, ease of use and enjoyment of virtual tourism. Furthermore, this study explored the direct effects of Gen Z’s word-of-mouth intentions. The study also explored the contingent effects of gender and educational level.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey-based responses were gathered from 342 Gen Z participants using specific filtering criteria to ensure sample representativeness. Subsequently, the final responses were analysed using partial least squares.

Findings

The findings suggest a significant role for novelty-seeking and materialistic values in Gen Z’s overall perception of virtual tourism. Furthermore, with higher perceived usefulness, ease of use and enjoyment, Gen Zs are more inclined to share positive word-of-mouth for virtual tourism experiences.

Originality/value

This study aims to explore the orientation of Gen Zs toward virtual travel experiences in an emerging economy such as India. Implications for managers and practitioners are also discussed.
Employee participation as a new frontier in corporate social responsibility: a review of the literature
Authors: Crifo Patricia , Rebérioux Antoine
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This paper examines the relationship between employee involvement in decision-making (in particular codetermination) and corporate social responsibility, i.e. extra-financial or environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature review was done based on the following methodology: synthesis of existing knowledge, bringing together and summarising published work on the relationship between codetermination and CSR; identification of potential gaps in the literature, highlighting what has been little studied in the field; assessment of the quality, relevance and limitations of existing studies and following citation standards to acknowledge the work of other researchers.

Findings

Codetermination has a rather positive impact on extra-financial performance. The special status of employee directors, who combine independence (from management) with knowledge of the company and its sector, may generate better strategic choices and enhanced oversight of management action, with positive consequences for ESG performance overall. Regarding, more specifically, governance, although codetermination inevitably upsets the internal balances of corporate boards, it does not seem to pose a major risk to their operation. The possibility of blocking decisions remains theoretical, and codetermination does not necessarily lead to oversized boards. On the social side, codetermination would have a positive impact on wage and employment management. Finally, regarding the environment, no strong consensus has emerged so far on whether codetermination improves or deteriorates corporate environmental performance.

Originality/value

The originality of our approach is to propose a review of the literature on the determinants and impact of employee participation in light of concerns and reflections on the nature and responsibility of firms, particularly about the ecological and environmental crisis that contributed to shifting the challenges to less operational and more strategic considerations. We thus question how the participation of employees in the decision-making process tends to delineate a democracy that is no longer merely liberal but also “social”. We examine, conceptually and empirically, the various forms that the participation of employees may take and their impact on firm performance.
Predicting user behavior on s-commerce platforms: a novel model
Authors: Al-Omoush Khaled Saleh , Shuhaiber Ahmed
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study investigates the influence of the wisdom of the crowd (WSC), trust and perceived value on consumer purchase intentions within social commerce (s-commerce) platforms. By constructing a novel theoretical model, the research aims to delineate the interrelationships among these variables, addressing an emerging area in social interactions and information technology.

Design/methodology/approach

To empirically test and validate the proposed model, the study collected data from 442 Facebook users familiar with online shopping. The analysis employed Structural Equation Modeling – Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) to test the hypotheses and examine the relationships between WSC, trust, perceived value and purchase intentions.

Findings

The findings confirm that WSC significantly influences trust, perceived value and the intention to purchase on s-commerce platforms. Both perceived value and trust are substantial determinants of purchase intentions. Notably, the PLS analysis revealed that WSC accounts for 36.8% of the variance in trust and 33.1% of the variance in perceived value related to purchasing decisions on s-commerce platforms.

Originality/value

This research contributes uniquely to the ongoing discourse on s-commerce adoption by integrating WSC as a pivotal factor in understanding perceived value and consumer adoption intentions. It provides a fresh perspective on how collective intelligence affects consumer behavior in digital marketplaces, enriching the theoretical and practical understanding of s-commerce dynamics.
Beyond words: understanding the impact of presentation formats and product involvement on AI-voice assistant adoption
Authors: Hari Harinder , Sharma Arun , Verma Sanjeev
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Voice assistants can present search results through “voice presentation” or “voice and visual”, depending on the device they are connected to. Alternatively, consumers can search for products manually using the online website. Despite the critical role of presentation formats in helping consumers understand and decide on products, this area remains vastly unexplored, particularly the combined use of voice and visual formats. Thus, to understand which presentation format suits different products, we delve into consumer search behaviour, distinguishing between low and high-involvement products.

Design/methodology/approach

A between-subjects factorial experimental design was used to examine the influence of 3 presentation formats (voice only, visual only and voice and visual) and 2 product involvement levels (low and high) on consumer trust, usefulness and behavioural intentions.

Findings

The results confirm a significant interaction between presentation format and product involvement, highlighting consumers' preference for voice presentation in low-involvement products, while a combination of “voice and visual” is preferred for high-involvement products.

Originality/value

The study shows that both presentation format and product involvement affect the trust and usefulness of voice assistants, which further influences consumers’ behavioural intentions. The key finding contributes to the growing body of knowledge of consumer and voice assistant interaction and offers guidance to managers on the use of voice assistants for their customers.
A shallow convolutional neural network-based method for enhanced conductivity distribution reconstruction under limited measurement
Authors: Shi Yanyan , Su Hao , Wang Meng , Dou Hanxiao , Yang Bin , Fu Feng
Published: October 2024

Purpose

In the brain imaging based on electrical impedance tomography, it is sometimes not able to attach 16 electrodes due to space restriction caused by craniotomy. As a result of this, the number of boundary measurements decreases, and spatial resolution of reconstructed conductivity distribution is reduced. The purpose of this study is to enhance reconstruction quality in cases of limited measurement.

Design/methodology/approach

A new data expansion method based on the shallow convolutional neural network is proposed. An eight-electrode model is built from which fewer boundary measurements can be obtained. To improve the imaging quality, shallow convolutional neural network is constructed which maps limited voltage data of the 8-electrode model to expanded voltage data of a quasi-16-electrode model. The predicted data is compared with the quasi-16-electrode data. Besides, image reconstruction based on L1 regularization method is conducted.

Findings

The results show that the predicted data generally coincides with the quasi-16-electrode data. It is found that images reconstructed with the data of eight-electrode model are the poorest. Nevertheless, imaging results when the limited data is expanded by the proposed method show large improvement, and there is a minor difference with the images recovered with the quasi-16-electrode data. Also, the impact of noise is studied, which shows that the proposed method is robust to noise.

Originality/value

To enhance reconstruction quality in the case of limited measurement, a new data expansion method based on the shallow convolutional neural network is proposed. Both simulation work and phantom experiments have demonstrated that high-quality images of cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral ischemia can be obtained when the limited measurement is expanded by the proposed method.
The effects of cannabinoids on the kidney
Authors: Didik Steven , Palygin Oleg , Chandy Mark , Staruschenko Alexander
Published: October 2024

Cannabinoids are a class of drugs derived from the Cannabis plant that are widely used for the treatment of various medical conditions and recreational use. Common examples include Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), spice, and 2‐arachidonoylglycerol (2‐AG). With more than 100 cannabinoids identified, their influence on the nervous system, role in pain management, and effects due to illicit use have been extensively studied. However, their effects on peripheral organs, such as the kidneys, require further examination. With dramatic rises in use, production, and legalization, it is essential to understand the impact and mechanistic properties of these drugs as they pertain to renal and cardiovascular physiology. The goal of this review is to summarize prior literature on the expression of cannabinoid receptors and how cannabinoids influence renal function. This review first discusses the interaction of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and renal physiology and pathophysiology. Following, we briefly discuss the role of the ECS in various kidney diseases and the potential therapeutic applications of drugs targeting the cannabinoid system. Lastly, recent studies have identified several detrimental effects of cannabinoids, not only on the kidney but also in contributing to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Thus, the negative impact of cannabinoids on renal function and the development of various cardiovascular diseases is also discussed.
Fuelling the blacksmiths furnace: a multidisciplinary study into the use of ‘smithy’ coal in the iron‐working industry of a late medieval harbour system, Bruges (Belgium)
Authors: Paulina Biernacka , Wim De Clercq , Elisa Bonduel , Patrick Barnard , Duncan Mc Lean , Rick Harding , Maxime Poulain , Jan Trachet , Stijn Dewaele , Johan De Grave
Published: October 2024

Large amounts of iron slag were discovered during archaeological excavations in the late medieval harbour of Hoeke (Municipality of Damme, Belgium), one of the main outer harbours of Bruges. This waste product indicates the presence of 13th‐ to 14th‐century pre‐industrial metalworking activities, such as blacksmithing, which involved the production of iron objects and the repair of ships, as historically documented on this site. Besides the waste products from iron working, fragments of coal were also discovered within the same deposits, both as separate pieces and included in the slags, suggesting that coal was used as a fuel during these activities. This discovery resulted in a multidisciplinary study applying geochemical, palaeontological, and historical analyses that allowed to identify the provenance of the coal (Northumberland‐Durham Coalfield) as well as to provide new insights into maritime coal trade during this period. This work contributes to a deeper understanding of pre‐industrial craft practices in the Bruges harbour system and expands the knowledge of the fuel sources used in the late medieval harbour's iron‐working activities.
Home production and time use in an epidemic
Authors: Xu Shaofeng , Feng Jie
Published: October 2024

This paper examines the role of home production in gender‐based responses of time use to the COVID‐19 pandemic. We develop a tractable model featuring time allocation choices and susceptible‐infected‐susceptible epidemiological dynamics. The model economy has two steady states, and an outbreak can trigger a transition from a disease‐free steady state to an epidemic steady state, accompanied by a shift in economic activity toward the home. Our parameterized model well reproduces pandemic‐driven variations in time allocation in the US. This stems largely from the combination of three key features of home production: the high substitutability between market goods and home goods, the asymmetric immunity of home production to the epidemic and the comparative advantage of women in household work. Our decomposition analysis finds that elevated home production accounts for a sizable share of changes in market work and its gender gap during the pandemic. Remote work limits fluctuations in time use but worsens gender inequality in market work.
Recent Sociocultural Changes Reverse the Long‐Term Trend of Declining Habitat Availability for Large Wild Mammals in Europe
Authors: Davoli Marco , Kuemmerle Tobias , Monsarrat Sophie , Crees Jennifer , Cristiano Andrea , Pacifici Michela , Svenning Jens‐Christian
Published: October 2024

Aim

People have strongly influenced the biosphere for millennia, but how their increasing activities have shaped wildlife distribution is incompletely understood. We examined how the distribution of European large (>8 kg), wild mammals has changed in association with changing anthropogenic pressures and climate change through the Holocene.

Location

Europe.

Methods

We used over 17,000 zooarchaeological records of 20 species spanning 12,000 years to develop time‐calibrated species distribution models, incorporating dynamic data on cropland extent, natural vegetation fragmentation, human population density and climate. We assessed habitat availability and potential species richness across time and within seven biogeographical regions. We also compared anthropogenic pressures at zooarchaeological record sites with present‐day habitats of remaining large mammals to evaluate recent increases in their potential for coexistence with human activities.

Results

We found a continuous decline in potential large mammal species richness, particularly linked to changes in human population density. Most habitat loss became evident continentally after 1500 AD, but in the Atlantic and Mediterranean bioregions, habitat loss reached 20% during the Iron/Roman Ages (1000 BC–500 AD) due to increasing human population density. Climate change initially boosted species richness (+0.67 species/km2 on average) until the end of the Mesolithic but had negligible effects afterward. Today, large mammals appear to have a higher potential for coexisting with people compared to the past (e.g., herbivores today inhabit areas with a mean human population density of 95 people/km2, compared to an average of 17 people/km2 in the period 1500–2000 AD).

Main Conclusions

Our study emphasizes the crucial role of anthropogenic pressures over natural climate change in determining the distribution and diversity of large mammal communities throughout history. Additionally, our results indicate that contemporary anthropogenic trends like land‐use de‐intensification and stronger conservation policies can counteract the impact of past, higher anthropogenic pressures and reverse defaunation.