bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The T. ispahanicum elongated glume locus P2 maps to chromosome 6A and is associated with the ectopic expression of SVP-A1
Authors: Chen Yi , Liu Yinqi , Zhang Junli , Torrance Adam , Watanabe Nobuyoshi , Adamski Nikolai M. , Uauy Cristobal
Published: January 2022

In rice and wheat, glume and floral organ length are positively correlated with grain size, making them an important target to increase grain size and potentially yield. The wheat subspecies Triticum ispahanicum is known to develop elongated glumes and floral organs as well as long grains. These multiple phenotypic effects are controlled by the P2 locus, which was previously mapped to wheat chromosome 7B. Using three mapping populations, we show that the long glume locus P2 does not map to chromosome 7B, but instead maps to a 1.68 Mbp interval on chromosome 6A. Within this interval, we identified SVP-A1, a MADS box transcription factor which is the direct ortholog of the maize gene underlying the ‘pod corn’ Tunicate locus and is a paralog to the T. polonicum elongated glume P1 gene. In T. ispahanicum, we identified a private allele which has a 482-bp deletion in the SVP-A1 promoter and is associated with ectopic and higher expression of SVP-A1 in the elongated glumes and floral organs. We used near-isogenic lines (NILs) to show that P2 has a consistent positive effect on the length of glume, lemma, palea, spike and grain. Based on the mapping data, natural variation, biological function of SVP genes in cereals and expression analyses, we propose the MADS-box transcription factor SVP-A1 as a promising candidate for P2.

Key message

We propose the MADS-box transcription factor SVP-A1 as a promising candidate gene for the elongated glume locus P2, which maps to chromosome 6A instead of the previously proposed chromosome 7B.
STK25 inhibits PKA signaling by phosphorylating PRKAR1A
Authors: Zhang Xiaokan , Wang Bryan Z. , Kim Michael , Nash Trevor R. , Liu Bohao , Rao Jenny , Lock Roberta , Tamargo Manuel , Soni Rajesh Kumar , Belov John , Li Eric , Vunjak-Novakovic Gordana , Fine Barry
Published: January 2022

In the heart, Protein Kinase A (PKA) is critical for activating calcium handling and sarcomeric proteins in response to beta adrenergic stimulation leading to increased myocardial contractility and performance. The catalytic activity of PKA is tightly regulated by regulatory subunits which inhibit the catalytic subunit until released by cAMP binding. Phosphorylation of Type II regulatory subunits promotes PKA activation, however the role of phosphorylation in Type I regulatory subunits remain uncertain. Here we utilized human induced pluripotent stem cell cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CM) to identify STK25 as a kinase of the Type Ia regulatory subunit PRKAR1A. Phosphorylation of PRKAR1A led to inhibition of PKA kinase activity and increased binding to the catalytic subunit in the presence of cAMP. Stk25 knockout in mice diminished Prkar1a phosphorylation, increased Pka activity and augmented contractile response to beta adrenergic stimulation. Together, these data support STK25 as a negative regulator of PKA signaling through phosphorylation of PRKAR1A.
Reprogramming Alveolar Macrophage Responses to TGF-β Reveals CCR2+ Monocyte Activity that Promotes Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome
Authors: Liu Zhiyi , Liao Fuyi , Zhu Jihong , Zhou Dequan , Heo Gyu Seong , Leuhmann Hannah P. , Scozzi Davide , Parks Antanisha , Hachem Ramsey , Byers Derek , Tague Laneshia K. , Kulkarni Hrishikesh S. , Cano Marlene , Wong Brian W. , Li Wenjun , Haung Howard J , Krupnick Alexander S. , Kreisel Daniel , Liu Yongjian , Gelman Andrew E.
Published: January 2022

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is a major impediment to lung transplant survival and is generally resistant to medical therapy. Extracorporeal photophoresis (ECP) is an immunomodulatory therapy that shows promise in stabilizing BOS patients but its mechanisms of action are unclear. In a mouse lung transplant model, we show that ECP blunts alloimmune responses and inhibits BOS through lowering airway TGF-β bioavailability without altering its expression. Surprisingly, ECP-treated leukocytes are engulfed primarily by alveolar macrophages (AM), which become reprogrammed to become less responsive to TGF-β and reduce TGF-β bioavailability through secretion of the TGF-β antagonist Decorin. In untreated recipients, high airway TGF-β activity stimulates AM to express CCL2 leading to CCR2+ monocyte-driven BOS development. Moreover, we find TGF-β receptor 2-dependent differentiation of CCR2+ monocytes is required for the generation of monocyte-derived AM, which in turn promote BOS by expanding tissue-resident memory CD8+ T cells that inflict airway injury through Blimp-1-mediated Granzyme B expression. Thus, through studying the effects of ECP, we have identified an AM functional plasticity that controls a TGF-β-dependent network, which couples CCR2+ monocyte recruitment and differentiation to alloimmunity and BOS. Alveolar macrophage plasticity can be harnessed to prevent Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome.
A Guide for Quantifying and Optimizing Measurement Reliability for the Study of Individual Differences
Authors: Xu Ting , Cho Jae Wook , Kiar Gregory , Bridgeford Eric W. , Vogelstein Joshua T. , Milham Michael P.
Published: January 2022

Characterizing individual variations is central to interpreting individual differences in neuroscience and clinical studies. While the field has examined multifaceted individual differences in brain functional organization, it is only in recent years that neuroimaging researchers have begun to place a priority on its quantification and optimization. Here, we highlight a potential analytic pitfall that can lead to contaminated estimates of inter-individual differences. We define a two-dimensional individual variation field map to decipher sources of individual variation and their relation to fingerprinting and measures of reliability. We illustrate theoretical gradient flow that represents the most effective direction for optimization when measuring individual differences. We propose to use this general framework for dissecting within- and between-individual variation and provide a supporting online tool for the purposes of guiding optimization efforts in biomarker discovery.
Aeromonas hydrophilainduces skin disturbance through mucosal microbiota dysbiosis inPangasianodon hypophthalmus
Authors: Chen Li-Hsuan , Lin Chia-Hsuan , Siao Ru-Fang , Wang Liang-Chun
Published: January 2022

Bacterial pathogens are well-equipped to adhere to and initiate infection in teleost fish. The fish skin mucus serves as the first barrier against environmental pathogens. The mucus harbors commensal microbes that form the microbiota, impacting the host physiological and immunological regulation. However, how the skin mucosal microbiota responds to the presence of pathogens remains largely unexplored. Thus, little is known about the status of skin mucus prior to the infection with noticeable symptoms. In this study, we aim to investigate the interaction between pathogen and skin mucosal microbiota, as well as the fish skin immune responses in the presence of pathogens. By challenging striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) with different concentrations of bacterial pathogenAeromonas hydrophila(AH), the skin immune response and the mucosal microbiota were examined by qPCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. We found a pathogen concentration able to stimulate the skin immune response associated with the significant mucosal microbiota change and re-confirmed with theex vivofish skin model. Further analysis indicated that the change was attributed to the significant increase in opportunistic pathogens over AH. We concluded that the presence and increase of AH results in dysbiosis of mucosal microbiota that can stimulate skin immune response. We believe our work can shed some light on host-pathogen-commensal microbiota interaction and therefore contribute to aquaculture infection prevention.

IMPORTANCE

The fish skin mucosal microbiota is essentially the first barrier in response to the presence of pathogens. This study is the first study to elucidate the interaction between the AH, the skin mucosal microbiota, and the striped catfish skin at the initiation stage of infection. Our study provides a platform to study both the correlation and causation of the interaction between pathogen, the fish skin, and the skin mucosal microbiota. This work provides information that changes in the AH-induced mucosal microbiota result in skin disturbance with immune stimulation.
Unified surface and volumetric projection of physiological imaging data
Authors: Kirk Thomas F. , Craig Martin S. , Chappell Michael A.
Published: January 2022

Projection of volumetric data onto the cortical surface is an important precursor to performing surface-based analysis. Numerous projection methods have been reported in the literature, many of which make assumptions which tie them to use with specific modalities, notably blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) imaging. This means that they may not be appropriate for use with modalities where subcortical tissue contributes a signal of interest. This work details a new projection that provides a number of generalisations and extensions to existing methods. Namely, it may be used to project arbitrary data without making modality-specific assumptions and can produce unified surface and volumetric representations of data (a concept also known asgrayordinatesspace). When constrained to the same assumptions as existing methods, a comparison using simulation data shows that it produces similar outputs. When these assumptions are relaxed to project simulation data containing both cortical and subcortical signals to and from a unified surface and volume space, substantial and statistically significant differences in recovery of ground truth are observed compared to existing methods.
LmTag: functional-enrichment and imputation-aware tag SNP selection for population-specific genotyping arrays
Authors: Nguyen Dat Thanh , Nguyen Quan Hoang , Duong Nguyen Thuy , Vo Nam Sy
Published: January 2022

Despite the rapid development of sequencing technology, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array is still the most cost-effective genotyping solutions for large-scale genomic research and applications. Recent years have witnessed the rapid development of numerous genotyping platforms of different sizes and designs, but population-specific platforms are still lacking, especially for those in developing countries. We aim to develop methods to design SNP arrays for thse countries, so the arrays should be cost-effective (small size), yet can still generate key information needed to associate genotypes with traits. A key design principle for most current platforms is to improve genome-wide imputation so that more SNPs (imputed tag SNPs) not included in the array can be predicted. However, current tag SNP selection methods mostly focus on imputation accuracy and coverage, but not the functional content of the measured and imputed SNPs. It is those functional SNPs that are most likely associated to traits. Here, we propose LmTag, a novel method for tag SNP selection that not only improves imputation performance but also prioritizes highly functional SNP markers. We apply LmTag on a wide range of populations using both public and in-house whole genome sequencing databases. Our results showed that LmTag improved both functional marker prioritization and genome-wide imputation accuracy compared to existing methods. This novel approach could contribute to the next generation genotyping arrays that provide excellent imputation capability as well as facilitate array-based functional genetic studies. Such arrays are particularly suitable for under-represented populations in developing countries or non-model species, where little genomics data are available while investment in genome sequencing or high-density SNP arrays is limited.
Dynamics of Human Serum Transferrin in Varying Physicochemical Conditions Explored by Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Indrakumar Sowmya , Kulakova Alina , Harris Pernille , Peters Günther H. J.
Published: January 2022

Conformational stability of human serum transferrin (Tf) at varying pH, salt, and excipient concentrations were investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and the results are compared with previously published small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments. SAXS study showed that at pH 5, Tf is predominantly present in partially open (PO) form, and the factions of PO differ based on the physicochemical condition and drifts towards closed form (HO) as the pH increases. Tf is a bilobal glycoprotein that is composed of homologous halves termed as N-lobe and C-lobe. The current study shows that the protonation of Y188 and K206 at pH 5 is the primary conformational drive into PO, which shifts towards the closed (HO) conformer as the pH increases. Furthermore, at pH 6.5, PO is unfavorable due to negative charge-charge repulsion at the N/C-lobe interface linker region causing increased hinge distance when compared to HO, which has favorable attractive electrostatics. Subsequently, the effect of salt concentration at 70 and 140 mM NaCl was studied. At 70 mM NaCl and pH 5, chloride ions bind strongly in the N-lobe iron-binding site, whereas these interactions are weak at pH 6.5. With increasing salt concentration at pH 5, regions surrounding the N-lobe iron-binding site are saturated and as a consequence sodium and chloride ions accumulate into the bulk. Additionally, protein-excipient interactions were investigated. At pH 5, excipients interact in similar loop regions, E89-T93, D416-D420, located in the C-lobe and N-lobe of the HO conformer, respectively. It is anticipated that interactions of additives in these two loop regions cause conformational changes that lead to iron coordinating residues in the N-lobe to drift away from iron and thus drive HO to PO conversion. Furthermore, at pH 6.5 and 140 mM histidine or phosphate, these interactions are negligible leading to the stabilization of HO.
Dendro-plexing single input spikes by multiple synaptic contacts enriches the computational capabilities of cortical neurons and reduces axonal wiring
Authors: Beniaguev David , Shapira Sapir , Segev Idan , London Michael
Published: January 2022

A cortical neuron typically makes multiple synaptic contacts on the dendrites of its postsynaptic target neuron. The functional implications of this apparent redundancy are unclear. Due to dendritic cable filtering, proximal dendritic synapses generate brief somatic postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) whereas distal synapses give rise to broader PSPs. Consequently, with multiple synaptic contacts, a single presynaptic spike results in a somatic PSP composed of multiple temporal profiles. We developed a “Filter-and-Fire” (F&F) neuron model that incorporates multiple contacts and cable filtering; it demonstrates threefold increase in memory capacity as compared to a leaky Integrate-and-Fire (I&F) neuron, when trained to emit precisely timed spikes for specific input patterns. Furthermore, the F&F neuron can learn to recognize spatio-temporal input patterns, e.g., MNIST digits, where the I&F model completely fails. We conclude that “dendro-plexing” single input spikes by multiple synaptic contacts enriches the computational capabilities of cortical neurons and can dramatically reduce axonal wiring.
Lowering levels of reelin in entorhinal cortex layer II-neurons results in lowered levels of intracellular amyloid-β
Authors: Kobro-Flatmoen Asgeir , Battistin Claudia , Raveendran Rajeevkumar Nair , Bjorkli Christiana , Skender Belma , Kentros Cliff , Gouras Gunnar , Witter Menno P.
Published: January 2022

Projection neurons in the anterolateral part of entorhinal cortex layer II (alEC LII) are the predominant cortical site for hyperphosphorylation of tau (p-tau) and formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in brains of subjects with early-stage Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). A majority of alEC LII-neurons are unique among cortical excitatory neurons by expressing the protein reelin (Re+). In AD patients, and a rat model for AD overexpression mutated human APP, these Re+ excitatory projection-neurons are prone to accumulate intracellular amyloid-β (iAβ). Biochemical pathways that involve reelin-signaling regulate levels of p-tau, and iAβ has been shown to impair such reelin-signaling. We therefore used the rat model and set out to assess whether accumulation of iAβ in Re+ alEC LII projection neurons relates to the fact that these neurons express reelin. Here we show that in Re+ alEC LII-neurons, reelin and iAβ42 engage in a direct protein-protein interaction, and that microRNA-mediated lowering of reelin-levels in these neurons leads to a concomitant reduction of non-fibrillar iAβ ranging across three levels of aggregation. Our experiments are carried out several months before plaque pathology emerges in the rat model, and the reduction of iAβ occurs without any substantial associated changes in human APP-levels. We propose a model positioning reelin in a sequence of changes in functional pathways in Re+ alEC LII-neurons, explaining the region and neuron-specific initiation of AD pathology.

Significance

Anterolateral entorhinal cortex layer II (EC LII) neurons are the predominant cortical site for hyperphosphorylation of tau (p-tau) and formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in brains of subjects with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The same neurons are prone to very early accumulation of non-fibrillary forms of amyloid-β in the context of AD, and are unique among cortical excitatory neurons by expressing the protein reelin. We show that in such alEC LII-neurons, reelin and iAβ42 engage in a direct protein-protein interaction, and that selectively lowering levels of reelin leads to a concomitant reduction of non-fibrillar Aβ. We propose a model positioning reelin in a sequence of changes in functional pathways in reelin-expressing EC LII neurons, explaining the region and neuron specific initiation of AD.
Cross-linked natural IntegroPectin films from Citrus biowaste with intrinsic antimicrobial activity
Authors: Piacenza Elena , Presentato Alessandro , Alduina Rosa , Scurria Antonino , Pagliaro Mario , Albanese Lorenzo , Meneguzzo Francesco , Ciriminna Rosaria , Chillura Martino Delia F.
Published: January 2022

Pectin recovered via hydrodynamic cavitation (IntegroPectin) from lemon and grapefruit agri-food waste intrinsically containing antimicrobial bioactive substances (flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenes, and terpenoids) was used to generate innovative and eco-compatible films that efficiently inhibit the growth of Gram-negative pathogens. Extensive characterization of films confirmed the presence of these substances, which differently interact with the polysaccharide polymer (pectin), plasticizer (glycerol), surfactant (Tween 60), and cross-linker (Ca2+), conferring to these films a unique structure. Besides, IntegroPectin-based films constitute sustained, controlled, and slow-release (up to 72h) systems for bioactive substances in an aqueous environment. This feature is crucial for the goodin vitroantimicrobial activity exerted by IntegroPectin films against three Gram-negative bacteria (two indicator pathogen strainsPseudomonas aeruginosaATCC 10145,P. aeruginosaPAO1, and the clinical isolateKlebsiella pneumoniae) that are involved in the global emergence of the antimicrobial resistance.
Compartment-specific energy requirements of photosynthetic carbon metabolism in Camelina sativa leaves
Authors: Wieloch Thomas , Sharkey Thomas David
Published: January 2022

Detailed knowledge about plant energy metabolism may aid crop improvements. Using published estimates of flux through central carbon metabolism, we phenotype energy metabolism in illuminated Camelina sativa leaves (grown at 22 °C, 500 μmol photons m-2 s-1) and report several findings. First, the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP) transfers 3.3% of the NADPH consumed in the Calvin-Benson cycle to the cytosol. NADPH supply proceeds at about 10% of the rate of net carbon assimilation. However, concomitantly respired CO2 accounts for 4.8% of total rubisco activity. Hence, 4.8% of the flux through the Calvin-Benson cycle and photorespiration is spent on supplying cytosolic NADPH, a significant investment. Associated energy requirements exceed the energy output of the OPPP. Thus, autotrophic carbon metabolism is not simply optimised for flux into carbon sinks but sacrifices carbon and energy use efficiency to support cytosolic energy metabolism. To reduce these costs, we suggest bioengineering plants with a repressed cytosolic OPPP, and an inserted cytosolic NADPH-dependent malate dehydrogenase tuned to compensate for the loss in OPPP activity (if required). Second, sucrose cycling is a minor investment in overall leaf energy metabolism but a significant investment in cytosolic energy metabolism. Third, leaf energy balancing strictly requires oxidative phosphorylation, cofactor export from chloroplasts, and peroxisomal NADH import. Fourth, mitochondria are energetically self-sufficient. Fifth, carbon metabolism has an ATP/NADPH demand ratio of 1.52 which is met if ≤21.7% of whole electron flux is cyclic. Sixth, electron transport has a photon use efficiency of ≥62%. Lastly, we discuss interactions between the OPPP and the cytosolic oxidation-reduction cycle in supplying leaf cytosolic NADPH.

Main Conclusion

The oxidative pentose phosphate pathway provides cytosolic NADPH yet reduces carbon and energy use efficiency. Repressing this pathway and introducing cytosolic NADPH-dependent malate dehydrogenase may increase crop yields by ≈5%.
Megaviruses contain various genes encoding for eukaryotic vesicle trafficking factors
Authors: Neveu Emilie , Khalifeh Dany , Fasshauer Dirk
Published: January 2022

Many intracellular pathogens, such as bacteria and large viruses, enter eukaryotic cells via phagocytosis, then replicate and proliferate inside the host. To avoid degradation in the phagosomes, they have developed strategies to modify vesicle trafficking. Although several strategies of bacteria have been characterized, it is not clear whether viruses also interfere with the vesicle trafficking of the host. Recently, we came across SNARE proteins encoded in the genomes of several bacteria of the order Legionellales. These pathogenic bacteria may use SNAREs to interfere with vesicle trafficking, since SNARE proteins are the core machinery for vesicle fusion during transport. They assemble into membrane-bridging SNARE complexes that bring membranes together. We now have also discovered SNARE proteins in the genomes of diverse giant viruses. Our biochemical experiments showed that these proteins are able to form SNARE complexes. We also found other key trafficking factors that work together with SNAREs such as NSF, SM, and Rab proteins encoded in the genomes of giant viruses, suggesting that viruses can make use of a large genetic repertoire of trafficking factors. Most giant viruses possess different collections, suggesting that these factors entered the viral genome multiple times. In the future, the molecular role of these factors during viral infection need to be studied.

Abstract Figure

Synopsis

Giant viruses enter their eukaryotic host cells by phagocytosis. For reproduction, they hijack the host cell’s membranes by an unknown mechanism. Here, we found that giant viruses express several core factors of the eukaryotic vesicle fusion machinery, including SNARE, Rab, SM proteins, and the disassembly protein NSF. Very probably, these genes were transferred from different eukaryotic hosts to different viruses. Whether the viruses deploy these factors for interfering with the vesicle trafficking of the host cell needs to be investigated.
Reanalysis of a novel variant in the IGF1R gene in a family with variable pre-and postnatal growth retardation and dysmorphic features: benefits and feasibility of IUSM-URDC (Undiagnosed Rare Disease Clinic) program
Authors: Jacobs Annalise , Burns Catherine , Patel Purva , Treat Kayla , Helm Benjamin Michael , Conboy Erin , Vetrini Francesco
Published: January 2022

IGF1R-related disorders are associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), postnatal growth failure, short stature, microcephaly, developmental delay, and dysmorphic facial features. We report a patient who presented to medical genetics at 7 months of age with a history of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), poor feeding, mild developmental delays, microcephaly, and dysmorphic facial features. Whole exome sequencing revealed a novel c.1464 T>G (p.Cys488Trp) variant in the IGF1R gene, initially classified as a variation of uncertain significance (VUS). We enrolled the patient in URDC (Undiagnosed Rare Disease Clinic) and performed additional studies including deep phenotyping and familial segregation analysis, which demonstrated that the patient's IGF1R VUS was present in phenotypically similar family members. Furthermore, biochemical testing revealed an elevated serum IGF1 level consistent with abnormal IGF1 receptor function. Work-up resulted in the patient's variant being upgraded from a VUS to likely pathogenic. Our report expands the variant and phenotypic spectrum of IGF1R-related disorders and illustrates benefits and feasibility of reassessing a VUS beyond the initial molecular diagnosis by deep phenotyping, 3D modeling, additional biochemical testing and familial segregation studies through URDC, a multidisciplinary clinical program whose major goal is to end the diagnostic odyssey in patients with rare diseases.
ALBERT-BPF: a book purchase forecast model for university library by using ALBERT for text feature extraction
Authors: Wu Yejun , Wang Xiaxian , Yu Peilin , Huang YongKai
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to achieve automatic and accurate book purchase forecasts for the university libraries and improve efficiency of manual book purchase.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors presented a Book Purchase Forecast model with A Lite BERT(ALBERT-BPF) to achieve their goals. First, the authors process all the book data to unify format of books' features, such as ISBN, title, authors, brief introduction and so on. Second, they exploit the book order data to label all books supplied by booksellers with “purchased” or “non-purchased”. The labelled data will be used for model training. Last, the authors regard the book purchase task as a text classification problem and present a model named ALBERT-BPF, which applies ALBERT to extract text features of books and BPF classification layer to forecast purchased books, to solve the problem.

Findings

The application of deep learning in book purchase task is effective. The data the authors exploited are the historical book purchase data from their university library. The authors’ experiments on the data show that ALBERT-BPF can seek out the books that need to be purchased with an accuracy of over 82%. And the highest accuracy reached is 88.06%. These indicate that the deep learning model is sufficient to assist the traditional manual book purchase way.

Originality/value

This research applies ALBERT, which is based on the latest Natural Language Processing (NLP) architecture Transformer, to library book purchase task.
Artificial intelligence in Peer-to-peer lending in India: a cross-case analysis
Authors: Anil Kanwal , Misra Anil
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This is an original piece of research holding the promise to position itself as a pioneering research to showcase the evolving role of Artificial intelligence (AI) in the Indian peer-to-peer lending (P2P) markets. The research effectively uses the holistic multiple case study design to highlight the phenomenon of how AI as the holy grail of investments is proving to be a game changer for the Indian P2P markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a unique research design and curates six Indian licensed Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC)-P2P as exemplary cases to cull out unique contextual findings on how AI has penetrated the Indian P2P market and road ahead. The research is based on a total of 18 semi-structured interviews of six NBFC-P2P founders and 12 Fintech and P2P industry experts. These interviews were used as alternate sources of evidence for data triangulation along with within case analysis, cross-case analysis to achieve well-rounded results.

Findings

The findings have been propounded in the form of unique, context specific results achieved with a bouquet of six NBFC-P2P cases and supplemented through triangulation of data done through multiple industry experts. Findings indicate that AI has reached that tipping point in India.

Research limitations/implications

There is a scope of further refinement of our results with a larger sample size. Therefore future researches could consider conducting a comprehensive study including all existing NBFC-P2Ps in the space.

Practical implications

The research builds perspective for improving the practice in many ways. It shows the way to the other P2Ps still stuck to manual underwriting and see merit in AI-driven processes. It would guide them to embrace new technology driven business models to enhance customer experience and champion service transformation by making financial processes faster and secure. It also highlights how some of the P2Ps are scaling up and improving their visibility and outreach through strategic partnerships.

Social implications

The research would assist in creating awareness about the unique P2P sector and AI solutions for individual investors, particularly the “new to credit customers” and “thin file borrowers”. AI led initiatives in the P2P space validate a certain amount of sophistication thereby giving sanctity to the sector and would therefore enforce confidence in the minds of new age investors and borrowers.

Originality/value

This original research unravels avenues for novel and untraversed area in the Indian settings where paucity of extant literature and structured data highlighted a research gap and hence necessitated this study. AI as a form of disruptive innovation offering predictive intelligence to the Indian P2P space and empowering it with process efficiency, cost optimization and client engagement is definitely paving the way for an exponential growth in the Indian Fintech Industry.
Policy-oriented restart of supply and demand after COVID-19: firm-level evidence for China
Authors: Liang Chao , Liu Bai , Chan Hing Kai
Published: January 2022

Purpose

China is the only major economy in the world that has achieved positive gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2020. The paper aims to explore the effect of China's public policy restarting supply and consumption after coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).

Design/methodology/approach

Affected by the epidemic, global economic growth slowed down. Using the stock price data of Chinese A-share listed company, combining natural experiment and event study method, the paper examines the policy effects of work resumption and consumer vouchers.

Findings

Compared with demand capacity, the work resumption has a more significant role in promoting the supply industry. Issuing consumer vouchers can effectively promote local demand recovery, and the effect is mainly concentrated in the industries involved in consumption vouchers. At the same time, public management capacity and the income level of residents play an important role in restarting supply and demand.

Practical implications

Understanding China's public policies and effects are of positive significance to the restoration of economic development in other countries.

Originality/value

The study contributes to knowledge by empirically examining the effect of China's public policies against the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper also expands the scope of policy-oriented research based on the perspective of supply and demand capacity building.
Parcel lockers vs. home delivery: a model to compare last-mile delivery cost in urban and rural areas
Authors: Seghezzi Arianna , Siragusa Chiara , Mangiaracina Riccardo
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This paper investigates the economic performances of two business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce last-mile delivery options –parcel lockers (PLs) and traditional home delivery (HD) in contexts where e-commerce is still at its early stages. It analyses and compares two different implementation contexts, urban and rural areas.

Design/methodology/approach

This study develops an analytical model that estimates delivery costs for both the PL and HD options. The model is applied to two base cases (representative of urban and rural areas in Italy), and sensitivity analyses are subsequently performed on a set of key variables/parameters (i.e. PL density, PL fill rate and PL annual costs). To support the model development and application, interviews with practitioners (Edwardset al., 2011) were performed.

Findings

PLs imply lower delivery cost than HD, independently from the implementation area (urban or rural): advantages mainly derive from the higher delivery density and the drastic reduction of failed deliveries. Benefits entailed by PLs are more significant in rural areas due to lower PL investments and annual costs, as well as higher HD costs.

Originality/value

This paper offers insights to both academics and practitioners. On the academic side, it develops a model to compare the delivery cost of PL and HD, which includes the analysis of urban and rural contexts. This could serve as a platform for developing/informing future analytical/optimisation contributions. On the managerial side, it may support practitioners in making decisions about the implementation of PLs and HD, to benchmark their costs and to identify the main variables and parameters at play.
“We sleep 10cm apart so there is no social distancing”: COVID-19 preparedness in a Zimbabwean prison complex
Authors: Mhlanga-Gunda Rosemary , Rusakaniko Simbarashe , Chinyuku Anne Nyararai , Pswarayi Valentine Farai , Robinson Charmaine Sabrina , Kewley Stephanie , Van Hout Marie Claire
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Prisons in Africa face unprecedented challenges during Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In July 2020, the first prison system case of COVID-19 was notified in Zimbabwe. Subsequently, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services released their COVID-19 operational plan. The purpose of the study was to assess preparedness, prevention and control of COVID-19 in selected prisons in Zimbabwe.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi-method situation assessment of COVID-19 preparedness was conducted across three Zimbabwean prisons. The World Health Organization checklist to evaluate preparedness, prevention and control of COVID-19 in prisons was administered to frontline health managers. Information garnered was further explored during site observation and in multi-stakeholder key informant interviews with policymakers, prison health directorate, frontline health-care professionals, officers in charge and non-governmental organizations (n = 26); focus group discussions with correctional officers (n = 18); and male/female prisoners (n = 36). Data was triangulated and analyzed using content thematic analysis.

Findings

Outdated infrastructure, severe congestion, interrupted water supply and inadequate hygiene and sanitation were conducive to ill-health and spread of disease. Health professionals had been well-trained regarding COVID-19 disease control measures. COVID-19 awareness among prisoners was generally adequate. There was no routine COVID-19 testing in place, beyond thermo scanning. Access to health care was good, but standards were hindered by inadequate medicines and personnel protective equipment supply. Isolation measures were compromised by accommodation capacity issues. Flow of prison entries constituted a transmission risk. Social distancing was impossible during meals and at night.

Originality/value

This unique situation assessment of Zimbabwean prisons’ preparedness and approach to tackling COVID-19 acknowledges state and prison efforts to protect prisoners and staff, despite infrastructural constraints and inadequate resourcing from government.
Technical trading rules' profitability and dynamic risk premiums of cryptocurrency exchange rates
Authors: Masuku Khumbulani L. , Gopane Thabo J.
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The study considers time-varying risk premium in investigating the capability of technical analysis (TA) to predict and outperform a buy–hold strategy in Bitcoin exchange rate returns.

Design/methodology/approach

The study tests the technical trading rule of fixed moving average (FMA) on daily actual and equilibrium returns of Bitcoin exchange rates. The equilibrium returns are computed using dynamic CAPM in conjunction with a VAR-MGARCH (1, 1) system. The empirical evaluation of the study uses a case study of four Bitcoin exchange rates (BTC/AUD, BTC/EUR, BTC/JPY and BTC/ZAR) for the period 19 June 2010 to 30 October 2020.

Findings

The findings are consistent with related studies in conventional foreign exchange markets that find TA to be profitable, especially in emerging markets. Nevertheless, the consideration of risk premium has the effect of reducing the abnormal returns. Also, further robust tests reveal that Bitcoin returns possess a momentum effect which prompts further study in efficient market hypothesis research.

Practical implications

The empirical findings of this study should benefit portfolio managers and active investors on the strength of TA to predict returns in a speculative market like the Bitcoin exchange rate market.

Originality/value

The study takes cognisance that cryptocurrency trading is speculative in nature which renders it a good candidate for TA methods. While there are studies that have explored the value of TA in Bitcoin exchange rates, these studies fail to incorporate the effects of time-varying risk premiums, the strength and focus of the current paper.
Toward cooperative competitiveness for community development in Economic Society 5.0
Authors: Wahyuningtyas Ratri , Disastra Ganjar , Rismayani Risris
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Economic Society 5.0 is the answer to the challenges of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 through the creation of new value from the development of advanced technology that aims to reduce the gap between human and economic problems. Excellent human resources and adequate digital infrastructure are requirements in an Economic Society 5.0. Cooperatives as community economic organizations are players in the Industrial Revolution 4.0. Because of low competitiveness, cooperatives cannot create new and sustainable income streams, particularly digitalization capabilities. This study aims to encourage the competitiveness of cooperatives in the West Java region, Indonesia, in an Economic Society 5.0 by identifying the correlation between digital capabilities, digital orientation, employee resistance, government support, digital innovation and competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a quantitative method through surveys as data collection techniques by distributing questionnaires to 386 leaders of cooperatives in West Java. Hypothesis testing uses analysis technique of structural equation modeling with partial least squares tool.

Findings

There are five hypotheses that are supported in the proposed model in this study. Digital orientation and government support have a positif and significant effect on digital innovation, in contrary; digital capability and employee resistance do not show any effect. Digital orientation, government support and digital capability also have a positive and significant effect on competitiveness. Meanwhile, employee resistance and digital innovation have no significant effect on competitiveness. Digital innovation was also found not to mediate the relationship between digital orientation, government support, digital capability and employee resistance with competitiveness.

Originality/value

This study provides new insights into the study of cooperatives as community’s economic institutions. This study adds empirical evidence of the factors that influence the competitiveness of cooperative institutions in Indonesia as a driver of the community’s economy. This study also provides practical implications for the development of cooperative competitiveness in developing countries, particularly in Indonesia.
Proposal of design rules for improving the accuracy of selective laser melting (SLM) manufacturing using benchmarks parts
Authors: Giganto Sara , Martínez-Pellitero Susana , Cuesta Eduardo , Zapico Pablo , Barreiro Joaquín
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Among the different methodologies used for performance control in precision manufacturing, the measurement of metrological test artefacts becomes very important for the characterization, optimization and performance evaluation of additive manufacturing (AM) systems. The purpose of this study is to design and manufacture several benchmark artefacts to evaluate the accuracy of the selective laser melting (SLM) manufacturing process.

Design/methodology/approach

Artefacts consist of different primitive features (planes, cylinders and hemispheres) on sloped planes (0°, 15°, 30°, 45°) and stair-shaped and sloped planes (from 0° to 90°, at 5° intervals), manufactured in 17-4PH stainless steel. The artefacts were measured optically by a structured light scanner to verify the geometric dimensioning and tolerancing of SLM manufacturing.

Findings

The results provide design recommendations for precision SLM manufacturing of 17-4PH parts. Regarding geometrical accuracy, it is recommended to avoid surfaces with 45° negative slopes or higher. On the other hand, the material shrinkage effect can be compensated by resizing features according to X and Y direction.

Originality/value

No previous work has been found that evaluates accuracy when printing inwards (pockets) and outwards (pads) geometries at different manufacturing angles using SLM. The proposed artefacts can be used to determine the manufacturing accuracy of different AM systems by resizing to fit the build envelope of the system to evaluate. Analysis of manufactured benchmark artefacts allows to determine rules for the most suitable design of the desired parts.
The impact of supply chain finance on corporate social responsibility and creating shared value: a case from the emerging economy
Authors: Chen Xiangfeng , Wang Chenyu , Li Shuting
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Agriculture and cultivation firms are facing severe competition in the saturated market. Due to the characteristics of heavy assets, low investment return, long cycle and high price fluctuation, agri-food firms require innovations for capital support. The purpose of this paper is to provide valuable insights on how firms in the food/agricultural industry approach innovations and reinforce their advantages through functional and structural innovations by adopting supply chain finance (SCF).

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopts a single-case study methodology to investigate the innovations and mechanisms taking place at H Corp Agriculture Group (H Corp hereafter), a Chinese egg company.

Findings

The findings of this paper indicate that SCF could have a great impact on supply chain management through functional and structural innovations throughout the supply chain and solve the capital constraint problems in the agricultural development process, promoting the implementation of the integration strategy as well as innovation in the agricultural industry chain. The research also shows that supply chain structural and functional innovations could promote corporate social responsibility (CSR) and creating shared value (CSV).

Research limitations/implications

The research contributes to the application of SCF mechanisms and the realization of CSV and CSR jointly – both in the literature and in firms’ practices. It also contributes to the extension of structural and functional innovations and vertical integration of the supply chain. However, generalizability and universality are insufficient for a single case study in the specified industry. Data collection and quantitative analysis could be extended for further research.

Originality/value

The study addresses the need for comprehensive research on SCF and its applications. It proposes effective and efficient strategies for agri-food firms applying SCF to overcome industry capital constraints and develop competitiveness. It also provides a balanced and positive circulation between economic value and social value, realizing CSR and CSV.
Reliability analysis to improve performance of multi-pin glass fiber-epoxy laminated composite joints using Weibull distribution
Authors: Gupta Akash , Singh Manjeet
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to check the reliability of a multi-pin joint to be a fail-safe joint by considering different geometric and material parameters. The pin joints are made of uni-directional fiberglass that has been impregnated with epoxy composites incorporating 3% nano-clay.

Design/methodology/approach

This study incorporates the analysis of multi-pin joints experimentally, numerically and statistically using the Weibull approach. During analyses, geometrical parameters edge to diameter (E:D), longitudinal pitch to diameter (F:D), side edge to diameter (S:D) and transverse pitch to diameter (P:D) were analyzed using the Taguchi method with a higher-the-better L16 orthogonal array.

Findings

This study aims to develop multi-pin laminated joints to attain higher reliability, which have been designated as fail-safe joints for the intended application and which have higher joint strength. The study reveals that to achieve 99% reliability or 1% probability of failure using the Weibull approach, 24.4% load decrement from the experimental result recorded for three-pin joint configuration at E:D = 4, F:D = 5, S:D = 4 and P:D = 5. Similarly, for the four-pin configuration at E:D = 4, F:D = 4, S:D = 4 and P:D = 5, 23.07% of load decrement observed from the experimental result implies that the expected load with a 99% reliability offers a safe load.

Originality/value

A reliability analysis on multi-pin joints was not conducted in structural application. Composite materials are used because of high reliability and high strength-to-weight ratio. So, in the present work, reliability of the multi-pin joint is analyzed using Weibull distribution.
Reliability of dentin translucency and incremental cemental lines in age estimation using light and stereomicroscopes: A comparative study
Authors: Shylaja Sanjeevareddygari , Manay Srinivas Munisekhar , Ganji Kiran Kumar , Eppalapalli Sharath Kumar Reddy , Oruganti Venkata Ramanand , Issrani Rakhi
Published: January 2022

Age estimation of the dead and human remains has been challenging in forensic medicine, both in mass disasters and criminal investigations. There are several approaches to accurately evaluate age, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. Dentine translucency (DT) and incremental cemental lines (ICL) have often been used for age estimation in living adults and unknown skeletal remains. We attempted to estimate age using both these parameters and compare accuracy of age estimated using these parameters in a larger sample. A total of 300 extracted single‐rooted permanent teeth were collected from the patients aged between 15 and 75 years. Longitudinal ground sections in the buccolingual direction of 250 μm thickness were prepared, and the images obtained were subsequently analyzed to measure the length of DT using the ImageJ software program. In addition, the number of ICL were also counted in each tooth section. The age of the individuals was estimated using both methods individually, and the results have shown that both parameters have shown reliable age estimates in the middle age groups. However, there was overestimation of age up to 10.6 years in the younger age group using DT and an underestimation of age up to 13.4 years in the older age group with ICL. Pearson’s correlation statistics revealed a strong positive and statistically significant correlation of both the parameters with the chronological age (0.973 and 0.917). To conclude, the method using the ICL should be preferred due to the relatively higher number of errors (<±3 years) which were considered excellent.