bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transoceanic voyages of drywood termites (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) inferred from extant and extinct species
Authors: Buček A. , Wang M. , Šobotník J. , Sillam-Dussès D , Mizumoto N. , Stiblík P. , Clitheroe C. , Lu T. , González Plaza J. J. , Mohagan A. , Rafanomezantsoa J. J. , Fisher B. , Engel M. S , Roisin Y. , Evans T. A. , Scheffrahn R. , Bourguignon T.
Published: September 2021

Termites are major decomposers of organic matter in terrestrial ecosystems and the second most diverse lineage of social insects. The Kalotermitidae, the second-largest termite family, are widely distributed across tropical and subtropical ecosystems, where they typically live in small colonies confined to single wood items inhabited by individuals with no foraging abilities. How the Kalotermitidae have acquired their global distribution patterns remains unresolved. Similarly, it is unclear whether foraging is ancestral to Kalotermitidae or was secondarily acquired in a few species. These questions can be addressed in a phylogenetic framework. We inferred time-calibrated phylogenetic trees of Kalotermitidae using mitochondrial genomes and nuclear ribosomal RNA genes of ∼120 species, about 27% of kalotermitid diversity, including representatives of 22 of the 23 kalotermitid genera. We found that extant kalotermitids shared a common ancestor 81 Mya (72–91 Mya 95% HPD), indicating that a few disjunctions among early-diverging kalotermitid lineages may predate Gondwana breakup. However, most of the ∼40 disjunctions among biogeographic realms were dated at less than 50 Mya, indicating that transoceanic dispersals, and more recently human-mediated dispersals, have been the major drivers of the global distribution of Kalotermitidae. Our phylogeny also revealed that the capacity to forage is often found in early-diverging kalotermitid lineages, implying that the ancestors of Kalotermitidae were able to forage among multiple wood pieces. Our phylogenetic estimates provide a platform for a critical taxonomic revision of the family and for future comparative analyses of Kalotermitidae.
SyNPL: Synthetic Notch pluripotent cell lines to monitor and manipulate cell interactionsin vitroandin vivo
Authors: Malaguti Mattias , Migueles Rosa Portero , Annoh Jennifer , Sadurska Daina , Blin Guillaume , Lowell Sally
Published: September 2021

Cell-cell interactions govern differentiation and cell competition in pluripotent cells during early development, but the investigation of such processes is hindered by a lack of efficient analysis tools. Here we introduce SyNPL: clonal pluripotent stem cell lines which employ optimised Synthetic Notch (SynNotch) technology to report cell-cell interactions between engineered “sender” and “receiver” cells in cultured pluripotent cells and chimaeric mouse embryos. A modular design makes it straightforward to adapt the system for programming differentiation decisions non-cell-autonomously in receiver cells in response to direct contact with sender cells. We demonstrate the utility of this system by enforcing neuronal differentiation at the boundary between two cell populations. In summary, we provide a new tool which could be used to identify cell interactions and to profile changes in gene or protein expression that result from direct cell-cell contact with defined cell populations in culture and in early embryos, and which can be adapted to generate synthetic patterning of cell fate decisions.

SUMMARY STATEMENT

Optimised Synthetic Notch circuitry in mouse pluripotent stem cells provides a modular tool to monitor cell-cell interactions and program synthetic patterning of cell fates in culture and in embryos.
Age of diabetes onset in the mutant proinsulin syndrome correlates with mutational impairment of protein foldability and stability
Authors: Dhayalan Balamurugan , Chen Yen-Shan , Yang Yanwu , Jarosinski Mark , Chatterjee Deepak , Grabowski Rachel , Poordian Shayan , Phillips Nelson F.B. , Arvan Peter , Ismail-Beigi Faramarz , Weiss Michael A.
Published: September 2021

Diverse heterozygous mutations in the human insulin gene cause a monogenic diabetes mellitus (DM) syndrome due to toxic misfolding of the variant proinsulin. Whereas mutations that add or remove cysteines (thereby leading to an odd number of thiol groups) generally lead to neonatal-onset DM, non-Cys-related mutations can be associated with a broad range of ages of onset. Here, we compare two mutations at a conserved position in the central B-chain α-helix: one neonatal in DM onset (ValB18→Gly) and the other with onset delayed until adolescence (AlaB18). The substitutions were introduced within a 49-residue single-chain insulin precursor optimized for folding efficiency (Zaykov, A., et al.ACS Chem. Biol. 9, 683-91 (2014)). Although mutations are each unfavorable, GlyB18(a) more markedly perturbs DesDi folding efficiencyin vitrothan does AlaB18and (b) more severely induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in cell-based studies of the respective proinsulin variants. In corresponding two-chain hormone analogs, GlyB18more markedly perturbs structure, function and thermodynamic stability than does AlaB18. Indeed, the GlyB18-insulin analog forms a molten globule with attenuated α-helix content whereas the AlaA18analog retains a nativelike cooperative structure with reduced free energy of unfolding (ΔΔGu1.2(±0.2) kcal/mole relative to ValB18parent). We propose that mutations at B18 variably impede nascent pairing of CysB19and CysA20to an extent correlated with perturbed core packing once native disulfide pairing is achieved. Differences in age of disease onset (neonatal or adolescent) reflect relative biophysical perturbations (severe or mild) of an obligatory on-pathway protein folding intermediate.
Reconstitution and use of highly active human CDK1:Cyclin-B:CKS1 complexes
Authors: Huis in ’t Veld Pim J. , Wohlgemuth Sabine , Koerner Carolin , Mueller Franziska , Janning Petra , Musacchio Andrea
Published: September 2021

As dividing cells transition into mitosis, hundreds of proteins are phosphorylated by a complex of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and Cyclin-B, often at multiple sites. CDK1:Cyclin-B phosphorylation patterns alter conformations, interaction partners, and enzymatic activities and need to be recapitulated in vitro for the structural and functional characterization of the mitotic protein machinery. This requires a pure and active recombinant kinase complex. The kinase activity of CDK1 critically depends on the phosphorylation of a Threonine residue in its activation loop by a CDK1 activating kinase (CAK). We developed protocols to activate CDK1:Cyclin-B either in vitro with purified CDK1 activating kinases (CAK) or in insect cells through CDK-CAK co-expression. To boost kinase processivity, we reconstituted a tripartite complex consisting of CDK1, Cyclin-B, and CKS1. In this work, we provide and compare detailed protocols to obtain and use highly active CDK1:Cyclin-B (CC) and CDK1:Cyclin-B:CKS1 (CCC).
Artificial neural networks enable genome-scale simulations of intracellular signaling
Authors: Nilsson Avlant , Peters Joshua M. , Bryson Bryan , Lauffenburger Douglas A.
Published: September 2021

Mammalian cells adapt their functional state in response to external signals in form of ligands that bind receptors on the cell-surface. Mechanistically, this involves signal-processing through a complex network of molecular interactions that govern transcription factor (TF) activity patterns. Computer simulations of the information flow through this network could help predict cellular responses in health and disease. Here we develop a recurrent neural network constrained by prior knowledge of the signaling network with ligand concentrations as input, TF activity as output and signaling molecules as hidden nodes. Simulations are assumed to reach steady state, and we regularize the parameters to enforce this. Using synthetic data, we train models that generalize to unseen data and predict the effects of gene knockouts. We also fit models to a small experimental data set from literature and confirm the predictions using cross validation. This demonstrates the feasibility of simulating intracellular signaling at the genome-scale.
Conserved structural elements specialize ATAD1 as a membrane protein extraction machine
Authors: Wang Lan , Toutkoushian Hannah , Belyy Vladislav , Kokontis Claire , Walter Peter
Published: September 2021

The mitochondrial AAA protein ATAD1 (in humans; Msp1 in yeast) removes mislocalized membrane proteins, as well as stuck import substrates from the mitochondrial outer membrane, facilitating their re-insertion into their cognate organelles and maintaining mitochondria’s protein import capacity. In doing so, it helps to maintain proteostasis in mitochondria. How ATAD1 tackles the energetic challenge to extract hydrophobic membrane proteins from the lipid bilayer and what structural features adapt ATAD1 for its particular function has remained a mystery. Previously, we determined the structure of Msp1 in complex with a peptide substrate (Wang et al., 2020). The structure showed that Msp1’s mechanism follows the general principle established for AAA proteins while adopting several structural features that specialize it for its function. We used the yeast growth assay to test the function of key amino acids within these structural elements. In this work, we determined the cryo-EM structures of the human ATAD1 in complex with a peptide substrate at near atomic resolution. The structures show that phylogenetically conserved structural elements adapt ATAD1 for its function while generally adopting a conserved mechanism shared by many AAA proteins. ATAD1’s distinguishing features include an abundance of aromatic amino acids that line the central pore proposed to give ATAD1 a firm grip on its substrate and a short α-helix at the C-terminus that strongly facilitates ATAD1’s oligomerization. We also developed a microscopy-based assay reporting on protein mislocalization, with which we directly assessed ATAD1’s activity in live cells.
A lack of repeatability creates the illusion of a trade-off between basal and plastic cold tolerance
Authors: O’Neill Erica , Davis Hannah E. , MacMillan Heath A.
Published: September 2021

The thermotolerance-plasticity trade-off hypothesis predicts that ectotherms with greater basal thermal tolerance have a lower acclimation capacity. This hypothesis has been tested at both high and low temperatures but the results often conflict. If basal tolerance constrains plasticity (e.g. through shared mechanisms that create physiological constraints), it should be evident at the level of the individual, provided the trait measured is repeatable. Here, we used chill-coma onset temperature and chill-coma recovery time (CCO and CCRT; non-lethal thermal limits) to quantify cold tolerance of Drosophila melanogaster across two trials (pre- and post-acclimation). Cold acclimation improved cold tolerance, as expected, but individual measurements of CCO and CCRT in non-acclimated flies were not (or only slightly) repeatable. Surprisingly, however, there was still a strong correlation between basal tolerance and plasticity in cold-acclimated flies. We argue that this relationship is a statistical artefact (specifically, a manifestation of regression to the mean; RTM) and does not reflect a true trade-off or physiological constraint. Thermal tolerance trade-off patterns in previous studies that used similar methodology are thus likely to be impacted by RTM. Moving forward, controlling and/or correcting for RTM effects is critical to determining whether such a trade-off or physiological constraint truly exists.
Global composition of the bacteriophage community in honeybees
Authors: Busby Taylor J. , Miller Craig R. , Moran Nancy A. , Van Leuven James T.
Published: September 2021

The microbial communities in animal digestive systems are critical to host development and health. These assemblages of primarily viruses, bacteria, and fungi stimulate the immune system during development, synthesize important chemical compounds like hormones, aid in digestion, competitively exclude pathogens, etc. The bacteriophages in animal microbiomes are harder to characterize than the bacterial or fungal components of the microbiome and thus we know comparatively little about the temporal and spatial dynamics of bacteriophage communities in animal digestive systems. Recently, the bacteriophages of the honeybee gut were characterized in two European bee populations. Most of the bacteriophages described in these two reports were novel, encoded many metabolic genes in their genomes, and had a community structure that suggests coevolution with their bacterial hosts. To describe the conservation of bacteriophages in bees and begin to understand their role in the bee microbiome, we sequenced the virome of Apis mellifera from Austin, Texas and compared bacteriophage composition between three locations around the world. We found that the majority of bacteriophages from Austin are novel, sharing no sequence similarity to anything in public repositories. However, many bacteriophages are shared among the three bee viromes, indicating specialization of bacteriophages in the bee gut. Our study along with the two previous bee virome studies shows that the bee gut bacteriophage community is simple compared to that of many animals, consisting of several hundred types of bacteriophages that primarily infect four of the dominant bacterial phylotypes in the bee gut.
RNA helicase DDX6 in P-bodies is essential for the assembly of stress granules
Authors: Majerciak Vladimir , Zhou Tongqing , Zheng Zhi-Ming
Published: September 2021

Two prominent cytoplasmic RNA granules, ubiquitous RNA-processing bodies (PB) and inducible stress granules (SG), regulate storage of translationally arrested mRNAs and are intimately related. In this study, we found the dependence of SG formation on PB in the cells under arsenite (ARS) stress, but not the other way around. GW182, 4E-T and DDX6 essential for PB formation differentially affect SG formation in the cells under ARS stress, with DDX6 being the most prominent. The cells with DDX6 deficiency display irregular shape of SG which could be rescued by ectopic wt DDX6, but not its helicase mutant E247A DDX6, which induces SG in the cells without stress, indicating that DDX6 helicase activity is essential for PB, but suppressive for SG. DDX6’s dual roles are independent of DDX6 interactors EDC3, CNOT1, and PAT1B. This study provides a conceptual advance of how DDX6 involves in the biogenesis of PB and SG.

Highlights

PB act as the seeds for SG nucleation

PB components colocalize with SG

DDX6 plays a critical role in biogenesis of both PB and SG

DDX6 helicase activity prevents SG formation in normal cells
Endothelial PHD2 Deficiency Induces Nitrative Stress via Suppression of Caveolin-1 in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Liu Bin , Peng Yi , Yi Dan , Dai Jingbo , Vanderpool Rebecca , Zhu Maggie M. , Dai Zhiyu , Zhao You-Yang
Published: September 2021

Nitrative stress is a characteristic feature of the pathology of human pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, the role of nitrative stress in the pathogenesis of obliterative vascular remolding and severe PAH remains largely unclear. Our recent studies identified a novel mouse model (Egln1Tie2Cre, Egln1 encoding prolyl hydroxylase 2 [PHD2]) with obliterative vascular remodeling and right heart failure, which provides us an excellent model to study the role of nitrative stress in obliterative vascular remodeling. Here we show that nitrative stress was markedly elevated whereas endothelial Caveolin-1 (Cav1) expression was suppressed in the lungs of Egln1Tie2Cre mice. Treatment with a superoxide dismutase mimetic, manganese (III) tetrakis (1-methyl-4-pyridyl) porphyrin pentachloride (MnTmPyP, also known as a peroxynitrite scavenger) treatment inhibited obliterative pulmonary vascular remodeling and attenuated severe PAH in Egln1Tie2Cre mice. Genetic restoration of endothelial Cav1 expression in Egln1Tie2Cre mice normalized nitrative stress, reduced PAH and improved right heart function. These data suggest that suppression of endothelial Cav1 expression secondary to PHD2 deficiency augments nitrative stress, which contributes to obliterative vascular remodeling and severe PAH. Thus, reactive oxygen/nitrogen species scavenger might have great therapeutic potential for the inhibition of obliterative vascular remodeling and severe PAH.
Structure insights of the human peroxisomal ABC transporter ALDP
Authors: Jia Yutian , Zhang Yanming , Lei Jianlin , Yang Guanghui
Published: September 2021

Adrenoleukodystrophy protein (ALDP) is responsible for the transport of free very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) and corresponding CoA-esters across the peroxisomal membrane. ALDP belongs to the ATP-binding cassette sub-family D, which is also named as ABCD1. Dysfunction of ALDP leads to peroxisomal metabolic disorder exemplified by X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). Hundreds of ALD-causing mutations are identified on ALDP. However, the pathogenic mechanisms of these mutations are restricted to clinical description due to limited structural information. Furthermore, ALDP plays a role in myelin maintenance, which is tightly associated with axon regeneration. Here we report the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of human ALDP with nominal resolution of 3.4 Å in nucleotide free state. The structure of ALDP exhibits a typical assembly of ABC transporters. The nucleotide binding domains (NBDs) displays a ligand free state. ALDP exhibits an inward-open conformation to the cytosol. A short helix is located at the peroxisomal side, which is different from other three members of ABCD transporters. The two transmembrane domains (TMDs) of ALDP form a cavity, in which two lipid-like densities can be recognized as the head group of an coenzyme-A ester of a lipid. This structure provides a framework for understanding the working mechanism of ALDP and classification of the disease-causing mutations.
DHODH is an independent prognostic marker and potent therapeutic target in neuroblastoma
Authors: Olsen Thale Kristin , Dyberg Cecilia , Embaie Bethel , Alchahin Adele , Milosevic Jelena , Otte Jörg , Tümmler Conny , Myrberg Ida Hed , Westerhout Ellen M. , Koster Jan , Versteeg Rogier , Kogner Per , Johnsen John Inge , Sykes David B. , Baryawno Ninib
Published: September 2021

Despite intensive therapy, children with high-risk neuroblastoma are at risk of treatment failure. We applied a pan-cancer, multi-omic system approach to evaluate metabolic vulnerabilities in human neuroblastoma. By combining metabolomics, CRISPR screen and gene expression data from more than 700 solid tumor cell lines, we identified DHODH, a critical enzyme in pyrimidine synthesis, as a potential novel treatment target in neuroblastoma. Of note, DHODH inhibition is currently under clinical investigation in patients with hematologic malignancies. In neuroblastoma, DHODH expression was identified as an independent risk factor for aggressive disease, and high DHODH levels correlated to worse overall and event-free survival. A subset of high-risk neuroblastoma tumors with the highest DHODH expression was associated with a dismal prognosis, with a 5-year survival of less than 10%. In neuroblastoma cell lines, DHODH gene dependency was found to correlate with MYCN dependency, rendering these cell lines highly sensitive to DHODH inhibition in vitro. In xenograft and transgenic neuroblastoma mouse models, tumor growth was dramatically reduced, and survival extended following treatment with the DHODH inhibitor brequinar. A combination of brequinar and temozolomide cured the majority of transgenic TH-MYCN neuroblastoma mice, indicating a highly active clinical combination therapy with curative potential. Overall, DHODH inhibition combined with temozolomde has clear therapeutic potential in neuroblastoma and we propose this combination as a candidate for clinical testing.
LIGHTHOUSE illuminates therapeutics for a variety of diseases including COVID-19
Authors: Shimizu Hideyuki , Kodama Manabu , Matsumoto Masaki , Orba Yasuko , Sasaki Michihito , Sato Akihiko , Sawa Hirofumi , Nakayama Keiichi I.
Published: September 2021

One of the bottlenecks in the application of basic research findings to patients is the enormous cost, time, and effort required for high-throughput screening of potential drugs for given therapeutic targets. Here we have developed LIGHTHOUSE, a graph-based deep learning approach for discovery of the hidden principles underlying the association of small-molecule compounds with target proteins. Without any 3D structural information for proteins or chemicals, LIGHTHOUSE estimates protein-compound scores that incorporate known evolutionary relations and available experimental data. It identified novel therapeutics for cancer, lifestyle-related disease, and bacterial infection. Moreover, LIGHTHOUSE predicted ethoxzolamide as a therapeutic for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and this agent was indeed effective against alpha, beta, gamma, and delta variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that are rampant worldwide. We envision that LIGHTHOUSE will bring about a paradigm shift in translational medicine, providing a bridge from bench side to bedside.
Overlap of anxiety, depression, irritability and aggressiveness in autism spectrum disorder: an exploratory study using cluster analysis
Authors: Jean Francois A.M. , Jouni Ali , Bouvard Manuel P. , Camelot Guillaume , Beggiato Anita , Scheid Isabelle , Gaman Alexandru , Bouquet Celine , Ly-Le Moal Myryam , Houenou Josselin , Delorme Richard , Leboyer Marion , Amestoy Anouck
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore the overlap between symptoms of depression, anxiety, irritability and aggressiveness in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), to measure specific and idiosyncratic emotional responses.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 42 high functioning adolescents and adults, between 12 and 39 years old, meeting the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders – 5 criteria for ASD were selected from the InFoR Autism cohort. Data were analyzed in an exploratory way using Hill and Smith and K-medoids cluster analysis.

Findings

The authors found an aggregation of anxiety, depression, aggressive behaviors and irritability. Cluster analysis was maximized for two groups with 17 and 25 participants, respectively. The first group was characterized by high levels of symptoms of irritability, aggressiveness, hyperactivity and intermediate levels of anxiety and depression. In the first group, participants had significantly higher levels of autistic symptoms considering the social responsiveness scale and repetitive behavior scale-revised scales (relatives’ reports) suggesting that a particular group of subjects with a high level of ASD specific symptoms may express anxiety and depression in a specific way based on externalizing behaviors in addition to the common mood and anxiety symptoms.

Research limitations/implications

Improved understanding of the aggregation of externalized symptoms with symptoms of anxiety and mood disorders in ASD should lead to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms related to emotion dysregulation in ASD.

Practical implications

Improved knowledge of the symptoms could lead to enhanced detection of psychiatric comorbidities in ASD.

Originality/value

The study was based on a transdiagnostic approach of psychiatric symptoms in individuals with ASD. Aggregation and clustering analysis was used to explore naive patterns of these psychiatric symptoms.
Journey of customers in this digital era: Understanding the role of artificial intelligence technologies in user engagement and conversion
Authors: Bag Surajit , Srivastava Gautam , Bashir Md Mamoon Al , Kumari Sushma , Giannakis Mihalis , Chowdhury Abdul Hannan
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The first research objective is to understand the role of digital [artificial intelligence (AI)] technologies on user engagement and conversion that has resulted in high online activities and increased online sales in current times in India. In addition, combined with changes such as social distancing and lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, digital disruption has largely impacted the old ways of communication both at the individual and organizational levels, ultimately resulting in prominent social change. While interacting in the virtual world, this change is more noticeable. Therefore, the second research objective is to examine if a satisfying experience during online shopping leads to repurchase intention.

Design/methodology/approach

Using primary data collected from consumers in a developing economy (India), we tested the theoretical model to further extend the theoretical debate in consumer research.

Findings

This study empirically tests and further establishes that deploying AI technologies have a positive relationship with user engagement and conversion. Further, conversion leads to satisfying user experience. Finally, the relationship between satisfying user experience and repurchase intention is also found to be significant.

Originality/value

The uniqueness of this study is that it tests few key relationships related to user engagement during this uncertain period (COVID-19 pandemic) and examines the underlying mechanism which leads to increase in online sales.
Labor lawsuits and debt maturity
Authors: Unsal Omer
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate how firms’ relationships with employees define their debt maturity. The authors empirically test the role of employee litigations in influencing firms’ choice of short-term versus long-term debt. The authors study employee relations by analyzing the importance of the workplace environment on capital structure.

Design/methodology/approach

The author’s test hypotheses using a sample of US publicly traded firms between 2000 and 2017, including 3,056 unique firms with 4,256 unique chief executive officer, adopting the fixed effect panel model.

Findings

The authors document that employee litigations have a significant negative effect on the use of short-term debt and a significant positive affect on long-term debt. Employee litigations, along with legal fees, outcomes and charging parties, matter the most in explaining debt maturity. In addition, frequently sued firms abandon the short-term debt market and use less shareholders’ equity to finance their operations while relying more on the longer debt market.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the role of employee mistreatment in debt maturity choice. The study extends the lawsuit and finance literature by examining unique, hand-collected data sets of employee lawsuits, allegations, violations, settlements, charging parties, case outcomes and case durations.
Cancer data classification by quantum-inspired immune clone optimization-based optimal feature selection using gene expression data: deep learning approach
Authors: Eluri Nageswara Rao , Kancharla Gangadhara Rao , Dara Suresh , Dondeti Venkatesulu
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Gene selection is considered as the fundamental process in the bioinformatics field. The existing methodologies pertain to cancer classification are mostly clinical basis, and its diagnosis capability is limited. Nowadays, the significant problems of cancer diagnosis are solved by the utilization of gene expression data. The researchers have been introducing many possibilities to diagnose cancer appropriately and effectively. This paper aims to develop the cancer data classification using gene expression data.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed classification model involves three main phases: “(1) Feature extraction, (2) Optimal Feature Selection and (3) Classification”. Initially, five benchmark gene expression datasets are collected. From the collected gene expression data, the feature extraction is performed. To diminish the length of the feature vectors, optimal feature selection is performed, for which a new meta-heuristic algorithm termed as quantum-inspired immune clone optimization algorithm (QICO) is used. Once the relevant features are selected, the classification is performed by a deep learning model called recurrent neural network (RNN). Finally, the experimental analysis reveals that the proposed QICO-based feature selection model outperforms the other heuristic-based feature selection and optimized RNN outperforms the other machine learning methods.

Findings

The proposed QICO-RNN is acquiring the best outcomes at any learning percentage. On considering the learning percentage 85, the accuracy of the proposed QICO-RNN was 3.2% excellent than RNN, 4.3% excellent than RF, 3.8% excellent than NB and 2.1% excellent than KNN for Dataset 1. For Dataset 2, at learning percentage 35, the accuracy of the proposed QICO-RNN was 13.3% exclusive than RNN, 8.9% exclusive than RF and 14.8% exclusive than NB and KNN. Hence, the developed QICO algorithm is performing well in classifying the cancer data using gene expression data accurately.

Originality/value

This paper introduces a new optimal feature selection model using QICO and QICO-based RNN for effective classification of cancer data using gene expression data. This is the first work that utilizes an optimal feature selection model using QICO and QICO-RNN for effective classification of cancer data using gene expression data.
From bystander to ally among faculty colleagues: construction and validation of the bystander intervention behavior scale
Authors: Griffith Jennifer , Malone Mary Fran T. , Shea Christine M.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Bystander intervention mitigates the negative impact of bias incidents in the workplace. However, intervention tends to be viewed as binary: intervention occurred or it did not. Consequently, research has focused on conditions under which witnesses of bias incidents choose to intervene, and less is known about how witnesses may intervene. This paper elucidates the intervention behavior choices available to witnesses of bias incidents and develops a bystander intervention behavior (BIB) scale.

Design/methodology/approach

To develop the scale, the authors used the three-phased act frequency methodology. In phase I, the authors surveyed faculty who had both witnessed a bias incident and seen someone intervene to address it. The authors asked these faculties to list the observed bystander intervention behaviors they had personally observed. In Phase II, different survey respondents and subject matter experts assessed the prototypicality of each of the behaviors in relation to the concept of bystander intervention. In phase III, the authors tested the validity and reliability of the resulting 18-item scale and assessed the ability of bystander intervention behavior to mitigate the negative impact of bias incidents on the academic workplace.

Findings

The BIB scale consists of two theoretically derived, empirically validated and reliable dimensions; it can be used as a summary score to evaluate the extent to which colleagues intervene indirectly and directly when a bias incident occurs in the academic workplace.

Originality/value

This scale is valuable in advancing efforts to mitigate the negative effect of bias in the workplace and training colleagues to intervene in various ways when bias occurs.
Research on the motion law of fiber in the vortex field inside the nozzle based on ADINA fluid–structure coupling model
Authors: Han Chenchen , Gao Weidong
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is researching on the motion law of fiber in the vortex field inside the nozzle.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-dimensional calculation model was established using the MVS861 (Muratec Vortex Spinning) air-jet vortex-spinning nozzle as the prototype, and the fluid–solid coupling calculation module in the finite element calculation software ADINA (Adina System) was used to numerically analyze the fiber-air flow two-phase coupling. At the same time, the effect of the air pressure at the nozzle on the two-phase flow is studied.

Findings

The results show that after the air flow ejected through the nozzle, a vortex field will be generated in the flow field to push the internal fiber to move toward the nozzle outlet in a wave motion; as the air pressure at the nozzle increases, the fiber movement period becomes shorter and the oscillation frequency becomes higher; increasing the air pressure at the spray hole can improve the working efficiency of fiber twisting and wrapping.

Originality/value

The research present an effective and feasible theoretical model and method for the motion law of fiber in the vortex field inside the nozzle based on ADINA fluid–structure coupling model.
Feature-based fashion flat sketch design using automatic module alignment algorithm
Authors: Lee Yoo-Jeong , Kim Sungmin
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop an easy-to-use CAD software for fashion flat sketch that can create new sketches by combining the flat sketch modules.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample fashion flat module database was constructed by performing a sketch modularization process as well as a morphological analysis. In addition, an automatic module assembling algorithm was developed to create new sketches using the database.

Findings

The module assembling algorithm enabled the users to make new fashion flat sketches by the combination of design modules in the database. The example database constructed in this study was composed of bodice, sleeve, collar, cuffs and pocket modules chosen based on the results of a morphological analysis.

Social implications

A CAD program has been developed that might improve the efficiency of design work by helping the users to make fashion flat sketches more easily.

Originality/value

The automatic module assembling algorithm developed in this study has not been implemented in any existing commercial systems. It is expected that users who do not have expertise in fashion design could be able to participate from the clothing design stage as a mass customization prosumer by using the software.
Entrepreneurial dynamics in two-sided platforms: the influence of sides in the case of Friendz
Authors: Trabucchi Daniel , Buganza Tommaso
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Two or multi-sided platforms - defined as those companies that aim to connect two or more groups of customers leveraging the opportunities provided by indirect network externalities – got massive attention from both scholars and practitioners over the last decade. Entrepreneurship scholars mainly focused on the platform's ability to enable entrepreneurial ventures for the complementors' side, exploring the network-centric view. This study aims to expand it by exploring the broader influence that sides can have on the platform provider's entrepreneurial decisions over time, during the evolution of the two-sided platform.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a longitudinal single case study developed over five years. The research presents the born and evolution of Friendz, an Italian two-sided platform.

Findings

The research presents a four-phases evolution process that shows how the entrepreneurs may first leverage an existing platform to develop a new venture and then develop his/her own two-sided platform. In this latter phase, the findings show how the sides may actually influence the platform provider's entrepreneurial decisions, both in terms of value proposition design, but also regarding the creation of new ventures.

Research limitations/implications

The study contributes to the two-sided platform literature highlighting new evolutionary paths that expand current literature and highlight the doubling platform approach. Moreover, it contributes to the entrepreneurship literature offering a novel perspective on the entrepreneurial dynamics in two-sided platforms by re-balancing the power between the platform provider and the sides within the double network-centric view.

Practical implications

From a practitioners' perspective, this study offers an evolutionary path and specific tactics related to the evolution of an entrepreneurial venture based on a two-sided platforms that may inspire entrepreneurs working on two-sided platforms on how to use existing platforms and on the management of sides and the value propositions used to target them.

Originality/value

This study takes a novel perspective at the intersection between platforms and entrepreneurship literature streams, exploring the power that sides have over the platform provider in shaping the platform's entrepreneurial evolution. In doing so, it proposes a double network view on two-sided platforms and highlights three network-related tensions that can guide the evolution of the two-sided platforms.
Towards a conceptual definition of intangible Olympic legacy
Authors: Girginov Vassil , Preuss Holger
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Intangible legacy encapsulates the essence of Olympism and its manifestation, the Olympic Games. Despite significant interest in the capacity of the Olympics to produce notable changes in society, conceptual difficulties in defining and measuring intangible legacy persist. The study develops a conceptual definition of intangible Olympic legacy.

Design/methodology/approach

The study follows a four-step concept definition approach. It examines and integrates three strands of literature including intangibles, social interactions and public value, which is combined with insights from a longitudinal empirical investigation of intangible Olympic legacy for National Sport Organisations (NSO).

Findings

The proposed concept of intangible legacy defines it an emerging combination of attributes, interactions, processes and technology, with the goal of creating public value which is the ultimate goal of the Olympic Games. Since intangible legacy is qualitative rather than quantitative, a reconsideration of the current research paradigm is also proposed.

Research limitations/implications

The study develops a new analytical device for the investigation of intangible legacies for specific publics such as NSO.

Practical implications

The study carries practical implications for Olympic and events/festival promoters as it allows defining and operationalising the key attributes of the concept.

Originality/value

This is the first study to conceptualise intangible legacy of mega events.
Examining the spatial and non-spatial linkages between suburban housing markets
Authors: Moallemi Morteza , Melser Daniel , de Silva Ashton , Chen Xiaoyan
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is on developing and implementing a model which provides a fuller and more comprehensive reflection of the interaction of house prices at the suburb level.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examine how changes in housing prices evolve across space within the suburban context. In doing so, the authors developed a model which allows for suburbs to be connected both because of their geographic proximity but also by non-spatial factors, such as similarities in socioeconomic or demographic characteristics. This approach is applied to modelling home price dynamics in Melbourne, Australia, from 2007 to 2018.

Findings

The authors found that including both spatial and non-spatial linkages between suburbs provides a better representation of the data. It also provides new insights into the way spatial shocks are transmitted around the city and how suburban housing markets are clustered.

Originality/value

The authors have generalized the widely used SAR model and advocated building a spatial weights matrix that allows for both geographic and socioeconomic linkages between suburbs within the HOSAR framework. As the authors outlined, such a model can be easily estimated using maximum likelihood. The benefits of such a model are that it yields an improved fit to the data and more accurate spatial spill-over estimates.
Is the US 3PL industry overcoming paradoxes amid the pandemic?
Authors: Ashraf Muhammad Hasan , Yalcin Mehmet G. , Zhang Jiayuan , Ozpolat Koray
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Third-party logistics (3PL) companies have experienced an explosion of volume during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Special tiers have been introduced to provide differentiated levels of service to the customers. However, such changes in an organization reveal and intensify tensions known as paradoxes. The purpose of this research is to identify what paradoxes emerged or have become more salient specifically due to COVID-19 in 3PLs' ground operations and how they are dealt with by ground operation managers.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative study conducted in two phases. Phase one utilizes a questionnaire approach to identify the paradoxes within the 3PLs operating in the USA. Phase two, conducted six months after phase one, follows an in-depth one-on-one interview approach. NVivo 12 is employed to analyze the interview data.

Findings

The results show that new paradoxes did in fact emerge due to the COVID-19 and are mostly related to the performing paradox category. Findings from in-depth interviews show that the 3PL managers focus on keeping safety as priority to manage COVID-19 related paradoxes, along with modifying operational plans, improving communication, investing in training, optimizing hub network, introducing modified/new methods and adapting modified human resource policies.

Originality/value

This paper is among the first known to identify paradoxes within the 3PL operations during the COVID-19 and provides insights into how these paradoxes are dealt with at mid-management level. Findings of this study provide foundations for the development of a theoretical framework on handling paradoxes within 3PLs.
Modelling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on South African livelihoods
Authors: Simon Benjamin Aye , Khambule Isaac
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-induced declining economic prospects and accompanying economic shocks present socioeconomic vulnerabilities for developing economies at the tranches of poverty, unemployment and minimal social security. South Africa is one of the countries that have the most precarious societies in developing nations due to the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality. As such, this paper investigates the impact of the pandemic on South African livelihoods.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses secondary data obtained from the National Income Dynamics Study – Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey (NIDS-CRAM) Wave 1 dataset to analyse the impact of COVID-19 on South African livelihoods.

Findings

The findings reveal that COVID-19 amplified the country's poor and vulnerable population's socioeconomic conditions because of the stringent Level 5 lockdown regulations that barred low-income households from making a livelihood. It further revealed that low-income households, who are the least educated, Black African, female and marginalized, were disproportionally socioeconomically affected by losing the main household income.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited in that it used secondary quantitative data that relied on a telephonic survey during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

Practical implications

This study offers a policy suggestion that increasing social grants during the pandemic will not have any significant impact on the livelihoods of many South Africans unless distributional inequalities are reduced.

Social implications

The government needs to develop welfarist policies to protect the most vulnerable in society to limit the socioeconomic impact of pandemics and take proactive policy measures to reduce unemployment and income inequalities in the country.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to understanding the precarious nature of low-income households.
Lessons from abroad for funding long-term care in England: a prospective policy transfer perspective on official documents
Authors: Powell Martin
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Many governments stress the importance of “learning from abroad”. An analysis of official documents over a period of some 20 years examines learning from abroad in the case of funding long-term care in England through the lens of prospective policy transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyses the eight “official” documents in England that examined funding LTC from 1999 to 2019. It uses interpretive content analysis in a deductive approach that focuses on both manifest and latent content.

Findings

Only four of the eight documents gave more than a token level of attention to other nations, and of the remaining four, none fully satisfied the criteria or followed the recommendations of prospective policy transfer. Moreover, a rather limited pool of lessons from other nations is examined. Much of the material is rather descriptive, with limited explicit attention towards goals, problems, settings and policy performance, and a clear recommendation explicitly associated with a clear lesson or policy recommendation is rare.

Originality/value

This is the first analysis of the eight official documents that have discussed funding long-term care in England.
Repairing the trust in ride-sharing after security incidents
Authors: Chen Aihui , Wan Jinlin , Lu Yaobin
Published: September 2021

Purpose

A rash of security incidents in ride-sharing have made discovering the mechanisms to repair consumers' trust essential for the information technology (IT)-enabled ride-sharing platforms. The purpose of this paper is to explore how the two response strategies (i.e. security policies [SPs] and apologies) of platforms repair passengers' trust and whether the two implementation approaches of SPs (i.e. pull and push) lead to different results in repairing passengers' trust in the platforms.

Design/methodology/approach

A field survey based on a real scenario (n = 238) and an experiment (n = 245) were conducted to test the hypotheses empirically. Structural equation modeling and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) are employed in the data analyses.

Findings

This study finds that (1) both SPs and apologies aid in repairing trust; (2) repaired trust fully mediates the influence of SPs on continuance usage and partially mediates the influence of apologies on continuance usage; (3) security polices and the three dimensions of apologies play different roles in repairing trust and retaining passengers and (4) both pull-based and push-based SPs can repair the violated trust; however, the effect of the pull approach is greater than that of the push approach.

Practical implications

The findings provide guidelines for ride-sharing platforms in taking appropriate actions to repair users' trust after security incidents.

Originality/value

The findings reveal the mechanism of trust repairing in the fields of ride-sharing and extend the contents of the trust theory and pull–push theory.