bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biosynthetic Glycan Labeling
Authors: Marando Victoria M. , Kim Daria E. , Calabretta Phillip J. , Kraft Matthew B. , Bryson Bryan D. , Kiessling Laura L.
Published: July 2021

Glycans are ubiquitous and play important biological roles, yet chemical methods for probing their structure and function within cells remain limited. Strategies for studying other biomacromolecules, such as proteins, often exploit chemoselective reactions for covalent modification, capture, or imaging. Unlike amino acids that constitute proteins, glycan building blocks lack distinguishing reactivity because they are composed primarily of polyol isomers. Moreover, encoding glycan variants through genetic manipulation is complex. Therefore, we formulated a new, generalizable strategy for chemoselective glycan modification that directly takes advantage of cellular glycosyltransferases. Many of these enzymes are selective for the products they generate yet promiscuous in their donor preferences. Thus, we designed reagents with bioorthogonal handles that function as glycosyltransferase substrate surrogates. We validated the feasibility of this approach by synthesizing and testing probes of D-arabinofuranose (D-Araf), a monosaccharide found in bacteria and an essential component of the cell wall that protects mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The result is the first probe capable of selectively labeling arabinofuranose-containing glycans. Our studies serve as a platform for developing new chemoselective labeling agents for other privileged monosaccharides. This probe revealed an asymmetric distribution of D-Araf residues during mycobacterial cell growth and could be used to detect mycobacteria in THP1-derived macrophages.
Dendro-somatic synaptic inputs to ganglion cells violate receptive field and connectivity rules in the mammalian retina
Authors: Sedlacek Miloslav , Grimes William N. , Musgrove Morgan , Nath Amurta , Tian Hua , Hoon Mrinalini , Rieke Fred , Singer Joshua H. , Diamond Jeffrey S.
Published: July 2021

In retinal neurons, morphology strongly influences visual response features. Ganglion cell (GC) dendrites ramify in distinct strata of the inner plexiform layer (IPL) so that GCs responding to light increments (ON) or decrements (OFF) receive appropriate excitatory inputs. This vertical stratification prescribes response polarity and ensures consistent connectivity between cell types, whereas the lateral extent of GC dendritic arbors typically dictates receptive field (RF) size. Here, we identify circuitry in mouse retina that contradicts these conventions. A2 amacrine cells are interneurons understood to mediate “cross-over” inhibition by relaying excitatory input from the ON layer to inhibitory outputs in the OFF layer. Ultrastructural and physiological analyses show, however, that some A2s deliver powerful inhibition to OFF GC somas and proximal dendrites in the ON layer, rendering their inhibitory RFs smaller than their dendritic arbors. This OFF pathway, avoiding entirely the OFF region of the IPL, challenges several tenets of retinal circuitry.
Dopamine D1 receptor activation and cAMP/PKA signalling mediate Brd4 recruitment to chromatin to regulate gene expression in rat striatal neurons
Authors: Jones-Tabah Jace , Martin Ryan D. , Chen Jennifer J. , Tanny Jason C. , Clarke Paul B.S. , Hébert Terence E.
Published: July 2021

The activity of striatal medium-spiny projection neurons is regulated by dopamine acting principally at D1 and D2 dopamine receptors. The dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) is a Gαs/olf-coupled GPCR which activates a cAMP/PKA/DARPP-32 signalling cascade that increases excitability and facilitates plasticity, partly through the regulation of transcription. Transcriptional regulation downstream of the D1R involves the activation of PKA, which can translocate to the nucleus to phosphorylate various targets. The chromatin reader Brd4 regulates transcription induced by neurotrophic factors in cortical neurons and has also been implicated in dopamine-dependent striatal functions. Brd4 is activated by phosphorylation; this facilitates its binding to acetylated histones at promoters and enhancers. In non-neuronal cells, Brd4 is recruited to chromatin in response to PKA signalling. However, it is unknown whether Brd4 is involved in transcriptional activation by the D1R in striatal neurons. Here, we demonstrate that cAMP/PKA signalling increases Brd4 recruitment to dopamine-induced genes in striatal neurons, and that knockdown or inhibition of Brd4 modulated D1R-induced gene expression. Specifically, inhibition of Brd4 with the bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 suppressed the expression of ∼25% of D1R-upregulated genes, while increasing the expression of a subset of immediate-early genes, includingFosandJun. This pro-transcriptional effect of JQ1 was P-TEFb-dependent, and mediated through inhibition of the BD1 bromodomain of Brd4. Finally, we report that JQ1 treatment downregulated expression of many GPCRs and also impaired ERK1/2 signalling in striatal neurons. Our findings identify Brd4 as a novel regulator of D1R-dependent transcription and delineate complex bi-directional effects of bromodomain inhibitors on neuronal transcription.
Prolonging coagulant activity of factor Xa under hemophilic conditions by site-specific N-glycosylation of the surface-exposed autolysis loop
Authors: Bonde Amalie Carnbring , Lund Jacob , Hansen Jens Jacob , Winther Jakob Rahr , Zahn Stefan , Tiainen Peter , Olsen Ole Hvilsted , Petersen Helle Heibroch , Bjelke Jais Rose
Published: July 2021

The regulation of Factor X (FX) is critical to maintain hemostasis. To gain insights to the regulation of the active and zymogen form of coagulation FX, we probed specific molecular interactions by introducing novel N-linked glycosylations on the surface-exposed loop spanning residues 143-150 (chymotrypsin numbering) of FX. Introduction of N-glycans in the autolysis loop of these FX variants decreased Factor VIIa (FVIIa)-mediated activation ~3-fold and prothrombin activation 2- to 10-fold presumably through steric hinderance. Prothrombin activation was, however, recovered in presence of cofactor Factor Va (FVa) despite a reduced prothrombinase assembly. The introduced N-glycans exhibited position-specific effects on the interaction with two FXa inhibitors: tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and antithrombin (ATIII). Ki for the inhibition by full-length TFPI of these FXa variants was increased by 7- to 1150-fold, while ATIII inhibition in the presence of the heparin-analogue Fondaparinux was modestly increased by 2- to 15-fold compared to wild type. To probe the in vitro hemostatic effect of the FX variants, the thrombin generation potential in FX-depleted plasma was evaluated. When supplemented in zymogen form, the FX variants exhibited reduced thrombin generation activity relative to wild-type FX, whereas enhanced procoagulant activity was measured for activated FX variants with N-glycosylation at positions 148-150. These results indicate that residues of the surface-exposed autolysis loop and residues close by participate in FX activation, proteolytic activity and inhibition of FXa by TFPI and ATIII. In plasma-based assays, a modest decrease in FX-activation rate appeared to compensate for the collective reduction in inhibitor interactions.
Size Matters: A Mechanistic Model of Nanoparticle Curvature Effects on Amyloid Fibril Formation
Authors: John Torsten , Adler Juliane , Elsner Christian , Petzold Johannes , Krueger Martin , Martin Lisandra L. , Huster Daniel , Risselada Herre Jelger , Abel Bernd
Published: July 2021

The aggregation of peptides into amyloid fibrils is linked to ageing-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes. Interfaces, particularly those with large nanostructured surface areas, can affect the kinetics of peptide aggregation, ranging from a complete inhibition to strong acceleration. While a number of physiochemical parameters determine interface effects, we here focus on the role of nanoparticle curvature for the aggregation of the amyloidogenic peptides Aβ40, NNFGAIL, GNNQQNY and VQIYVK. Nanoparticles (NPs) provided a surface for peptide monomers to adsorb, enabling the nucleation into oligomers and fibril formation. High surface curvature, however, destabilized prefibrillar structures, providing an explanation for inhibitory effects on fibril growth. Thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence assays as well as dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and electron microscopy experiments revealed NP size-dependent effects on amyloid fibril formation, with differences between the peptides. While 5 nm gold NPs (AuNP-5) retarded or inhibited the aggregation of most peptides, larger 20 nm gold NPs (AuNP-20) tended to accelerate peptide aggregation. Molecular dynamics (MD) studies demonstrated that NPs’ ability to catalyze or inhibit oligomer formation was influenced by the oligomer stability at curved interfaces which was lower at more highly curved surfaces. Differences in the NP effects for the peptides resulted from the peptide properties (size, aggregation propensity) and concomitant surface binding affinities. The results can be applied to the design of future nanostructured materials for defined applications.
Structural basis of membrane recognition of Toxoplasma gondii vacuole by Irgb6
Authors: Saijo-Hamano Yumiko , Sherif Aalaa Alrahman , Pradipta Ariel , Sasai Miwa , Sakai Naoki , Sakihama Yoshiaki , Yamamoto Masahiro , Standley Daron M , Nitta Ryo
Published: July 2021

The p47 immunity-related GTPase (IRG) Irgb6 plays a pioneering role in host defense against Toxoplasma gondii infection. It is recruited to the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) formed by T. gondii and disrupts it. Despite the importance of this process, the molecular mechanisms accounting for PVM recognition by Irgb6 remain elusive due to lack of structural information on Irgb6. Here we report the crystal structures of mouse Irgb6 in the GTP-bound and nucleotide-free forms. Irgb6 exhibits a similar overall architecture to other IRGs in which GTP-binding induces conformational changes in both the dimerization interface and the membrane-binding interface. The membrane-binding interface of Irgb6 assumes a unique conformation, composed of N- and C-terminal helical regions forming a phospholipid binding site. In silico docking of phospholipids further revealed membrane binding residues that were validated through mutagenesis and cell-based assays. Collectively, these data demonstrate a novel structural basis for Irgb6 to recognize T. gondii PVM in a manner distinct from other IRGs.

Upon Toxoplasma gondii infection, Irgb6 is recruited to the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) where it disrupts it. We solved the atomic structures of Irgb6 in two distinct nucleotide states, revealing a unique PVM binding interface sensitive to the GTPase cycling.
Performance investigation of doubly salient outer rotor switched reluctance motor using finite element analysis
Authors: Sivasamy Saravanan , Maria M. Marsaline Beno , Sundaramoorthy Prabhu
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The automotive industry extensively uses switched reluctance motors (SRM) because of their excellent performance. The main purpose of this article is to investigate the design of a particular type of SRM called doubly salient outer rotor switched reluctance motor (DSORSRM) for electric vehicle application in this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

Different configurations of DSORSRM motor such as long flux path SRM, reduced flux path mutually coupled SRM and short flux path SRM (SF-SRM) are considered for investigation. The best configuration based on average torque is selected for further investigation by conducting an electromagnetic analysis. Also, in the proposed design, laminating material with low iron loss and superior performance characteristics is selected by doing electromagnetic analysis for SRM with M19, M660-50D, M-19 and M800-100A non-oriented laminating core material. Because vibrations are produced in DSORSRM devices as a result of changing induction, a mechanical analysis was performed to estimate the natural frequencies of vibration and the amplitudes that may lead to acoustic noises.

Findings

SF-SRM configuration with three-phase, 12/10, 250 W, 48 V, 1,000 rpm is selected with the impact in the elimination of flux reversals and also has various salient features such as singly excited, no rotor windings, no permanent magnet, pure in construction and high starting torque. Still, this SRM suffers from vibration owing to changing induction. In lamination material selection, M19 is chosen as optimized material to obtain vibration reduction. Vibration analysis was performed for the optimized 12/10 SF-SRM with M19 lamination material, and the corresponding modes for the machine to operate with reduced vibration are analyzed. The current and speed characteristics of the prototype model for the DSORSRM motor are obtained and validated with finite element analysis (FEA) results.

Originality/value

The performed FEA result shows that the proposed DSORSRM with short flux path configuration produces a high average torque of 1.915 N m. The M19 lamination material gives a minimum iron loss of 9.056 W. The modal frequencies are estimated and validated with numerical equations.
Orthogonal mode dual band MIMO antenna system for 5G smartphone applications using characteristic mode analysis
Authors: K. Swetha , Jayasree P.V.Y. , Saradhi Vijay
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a miniaturized antenna design for a mobile phone. The second design is 2 × 4 elements multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna with 8 port having a substrate size is 20 × 40 mm2 which fits easier within smartphone handset devices for fifth generation technology.

Design/methodology/approach

In this work, the first design is a conventional patch antenna, and its dual-band characteristics are obtained by characteristic mode analysis. In this method, orthogonal modes are carried out for 28 GHz and 38 GHz, and further, both orthogonal modes are excited by finite integration technique full-wave method with 50 Ohm single port coaxial feed line.

Findings

In this configuration, better return loss, high gain, larger bandwidths and low envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) are evaluated by the full-wave simulation computer simulation technology (CST) studio suite.

Originality/value

In this arrangement, the performance metrics of the antenna are analyzed using electromagnetic simulator CST Studio suite.
The GMRES solver for the interpolating meshless local Petrov–Galerkin method applied to heat conduction
Authors: Singh Abhishek Kumar , Singh Krishna Mohan
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The work presents a novel implementation of the generalized minimum residual (GMRES) solver in conjunction with the interpolating meshless local Petrov–Galerkin (MLPG) method to solve steady-state heat conduction in 2-D as well as in 3-D domains.

Design/methodology/approach

The restarted version of the GMRES solver (with and without preconditioner) is applied to solve an asymmetric system of equations, arising due to the interpolating MLPG formulation. Its performance is compared with the biconjugate gradient stabilized (BiCGSTAB) solver on the basis of computation time and convergence behaviour. Jacobi and successive over-relaxation (SOR) methods are used as the preconditioners in both the solvers.

Findings

The results show that the GMRES solver outperforms the BiCGSTAB solver in terms of smoothness of convergence behaviour, while performs slightly better than the BiCGSTAB method in terms of Central processing Unit (CPU) time.

Originality/value

MLPG formulation leads to a non-symmetric system of algebraic equations. Iterative methods such as GMRES and BiCGSTAB methods are required for its solution for large-scale problems. This work presents the use of GMRES solver with the MLPG method for the very first time.
Innovative work behavior scale: development and validation of psychometric properties in higher education in the GCC countries
Authors: Ayoub Alaa Eldin Abdel Hamid , Almahamid Soud Mohammad , Al Salah Luma F.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The study aims to develop an innovative work behavior (IWB) scale for the faculty members and faculty leaders of universities in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries (GCC). This research is intended for assessing the level of IWB in higher education and evaluating its psychometric properties.

Design/methodology/approach

The study targets academic staff of universities in the GCC region, and out of 810 questionnaires that were distributed, only 773 valid responses were obtained of which 517 were responses from males and 256 from females whose ages range between 33 and 67 years.

Findings

The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used and confirmed a five-factor structural model (opportunity exploration, idea generation, idea promotion, idea realization and idea sustainability), and the model has a satisfactory fit. The scale consists of 27 items with high Cronbach's alpha value of 0.87, demonstrating good internal consistency. Preliminary results suggest that the IWB scale has adequate convergent and divergent validity.

Practical implications

The IWB scale can be a useful tool for evaluating and developing a high level of innovative work behavior that maintains university services' sustainability and increases industries' competitiveness.

Originality/value

This research provides insights into the importance of IWB in achieving tangible success to the educational institutions. It provides a new method to confront sudden and unexpected circumstance such as what has happened during COVID-19 pandemic.
Customer involvement, business capabilities and new product performance
Authors: Chen Yen-Chun , Arnold Todd , Tsai Hsien-Tung
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to test the role of a firm’s marketing and technological capabilities in mediating the relationship between customer involvement in information provision (CIP) and customer involvement in coproduction (CIC) and new product performance, while also investigating the impact of the interactive effect of such capabilities. This investigation is at the firm rather than the project level.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey-based questionnaire was distributed to senior managers from 101 Taiwanese electronics firms. The research model and hypotheses were evaluated using partial least squares structural equation modeling in SmartPLS 3.

Findings

CIP and CIC improve new product performance indirectly through the development of marketing and technological capabilities. CIP has a stronger positive effect on marketing capabilities than CIC. In addition, the interactive effect of marketing and technological capabilities on new product performance is positive and significant.

Research limitations/implications

The data came from a single respondent in each firm, which may lead to common method bias. In addition, the data were cross-sectional in nature, having been collected at a single point in time. This limits the ability to draw causal inferences, as would be possible with longitudinal data. Finally, the data came from a single industry in only one country.

Practical implications

CIC is useful in terms of product idea generation and screening, as well as in helping to effectively learn and combine market knowledge from customers, whereas CIP takes on a more active role in strengthening marketing capabilities. Managers should understand these direct effects of CIP and CIC, as well as their indirect effects on new product performance.

Originality/value

Previous empirical research is largely limited to project-level implications such as innovativeness, advantages and the financial performance of a specific new product; a clear understanding of the strategic, firm-level implications of CIP and CIC in the context of new product development is lacking. The findings highlight the importance of treating CIP and CIC as continuous processes in a firm rather than viewing each in isolation to a specific project.
The role of blockchain technology in enhancing Islamic social finance: the case of Zakah management in Malaysia
Authors: Mohd Nor Shifa , Abdul-Majid Mariani , Esrati Siti Nabihah
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore the perceptions of zakah institutions and the intention of society towards the application of blockchain technology in zakah management.

Design/methodology/approach

The nature of this study is qualitative, attempting to indulge into the contribution of Fintech in Islamic social finance. This study uses a mixed-method to gauge the perception of stakeholders. For the quantitative approach, a survey was carried out focussing on zakah receiver and zakah payer. The data then was analysed based on the technology acceptance model. While interview survey with multiple stakeholders (zakah institutions, JAWHAR and university) was conducted to gauge the perception of zakah institutions in using blockchain technology.

Findings

The findings of this study provide a positive view for zakah institutions to embrace the usage of blockchain in its management, however, there are several concern that needs to be addressed.

Practical implications

This study provides new insights to the body of knowledge especially in the zakah management system and Fintech. Besides, from a managerial aspect, this study contributes to the new practices that could be implemented in zakah institutions.

Social implications

Many people lose jobs and income due to the economic turmoil and COVID-19 pandemic, which makes zakah an important Islamic social finance tool to assist in socio-economic development. It is high time for zakah institutions to implement blockchain especially during this pandemic crisis that requires a more contactless approach to ensure health and safety.

Originality/value

This study is important to encourage Islamic social finance institutions to embrace blockchain technology in providing an efficient service to the development of social and economic.
A novel buoyancy-modified subgrid-scale model for large-eddy simulation of turbulent convection
Authors: Yilmaz Ilyas
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a subgrid-scale (SGS) model for large eddy simulation (LES) of buoyancy- and thermally driven transitional and turbulent flows and further examine its performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Favre-filtered, non-dimensional LES equations are solved using non-dissipative, fully implicit, kinetic energy conserving, finite-volume algorithm which uses an iterative predictor-corrector approach based on pressure correction. Also, to develop a new SGS model which accounts for buoyancy, turbulent generation term in SGS viscosity is properly modified and enhanced by buoyancy production.

Findings

The proposed model has been successfully applied to turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection. The results show that the model is able to reproduce the complex physics of turbulent thermal convection. In comparison with the original wall-adapting local eddy-viscosity (WALE) and buoyancy-modified (BM) Smagorinsky models, turbulent diagnostics predicted by the new model are in better agreement with direct numerical simulation.

Originality/value

A BM variant of the WALE SGS model is newly developed and analyzed.
Ethnotechnology Noken-Papua as carrying capacity for enhancing local economic development
Authors: Avianto Bhakti Nur , Marjanto Damardjati Kun , Ulumuddin Ihya , Sudrajat Unggul , Julizar Kaisar
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to determine the extent to which the strategy of Noken-Papuan products, known as intangible culture recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), can increase local economic empowerment. The main strategy is to strengthen the regulation of the use of Noken in every activity of daily life while promoting it, this has not been explained much from previous research.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used the method of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats– analytic hierarchy process (SWOT-AHP) with analysing several pairs of instruments’ predetermined group and finally decision-making strategy recommendations. Data distribution to five districts of Jayapura using simple random sampling based on consideration type product and industrial areas with a number of elements in each sub-population are different.

Findings

The development of local products with cultural values is one of the important points included in the regional development strategy model.

Social implications

The traditional handmade products that have a high cultural philosophical value can be beneficial to the local community empowerment.

Originality/value

Ethnotechnology can be well-developed and implemented if policy actors identify the values of external and internal factors to be formulated in enhancing local economic development. This work is a simple attempt to collect research findings separately on Noken product development as a conceptual basis for comparative analysis.
The brand persona of a football manager – the case of Arsène Wenger
Authors: Berndt Adele
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Sport is an important economic activity, and understanding the role of teams and managers is necessary, yet managers – specifically their brand personas – have been the subject of limited research. The purpose of this research is to explore the brand persona of a football manager, using Arsène Wenger as a case.

Design/methodology/approach

Due to the exploratory nature of the study, qualitative methods were used to explore the brand-building activity. Media reports and images that centred on Arsène Wenger's words covering a three-year period were analysed. In total, 1364 articles and 23 images were analysed in NVivo, using botha prioriand emergent codes.

Findings

The findings show the construction of the brand persona in three main dimensions pertinent to his role as a manager. The first is the performance in the managerial role in which Arsène Wenger is appointed, the second is associated with the person (including emotions and self-expression) and the third is the context (i.e. football) in which the manager operates.

Research limitations/implications

The research focused on one manager while he was managing a premier league club and is limited to England.

Practical implications

While proposing a theoretical model, this study proposes football clubs understand a manager's persona in relation to the club's brand and the interactive effect. The support of the club on the persona is also indicated.

Originality/value

Football managers have received some research attention, but there has been no analysis of their brand personas. This study expands the understanding of the contribution of the manager to the club brand.
Relationship between users' perceptions of coolness and intention to use digital products: a user-centered approach
Authors: Li Jian , Gong Yanping , Xie Julan , Tan Yuxuan
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to employ a user-centered approach to identify subgroups of people with similar profiles based on their perceptions of multiple dimensions of digital products' coolness and to test the differences across subgroups in the intention to use these products.

Design/methodology/approach

In Study 1, 1,161 adults rated a virtual digital product on four dimensions of coolness. In Study 2, 660 college students made similar ratings and also reported their intention to use a real digital product. Participants' ratings were analyzed using a user-centered approach, namely latent profile analysis.

Findings

Study 1 identified groups of participants who had similar profiles of product ratings on the four dimensions of coolness: niche cool, mass cool, uncertain cool and uncool. Study 2 replicated the findings of Study 1 and in addition showed that these groups varied in their intention to use the product and in whether a specific dimension increased or decreased this intention.

Research limitations/implications

The cross-sectional data preclude inferences about causality, calling for experimental or longitudinal research. Additionally, future research should explore whether the results generalize to other product categories and other age groups.

Practical implications

Managers should design digital products, segment the market and develop flexible strategies based on combined responses to dimensions of coolness perception.

Originality/value

The present research employed a user-centered approach to identify groups of people who share similar patterns of coolness perception. This study provides new insight that was not available in variable-centered research.
Acceptance of protection technology in a time of fear: the case of Covid-19 exposure detection apps
Authors: Alsaad Abdallah , Al-Okaily Manaf
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study explores the acceptance of protection technology, namely, exposure detection apps, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. Unlike other situations, the context of the pandemic is characterized by large levels of threat and fear which largely affect the human decision-making process. To identify such characteristics, this study investigates the acceptance of exposure detection apps from the perspective of protection motivation theory (PMT). It examines how the perceived risk of Covid-19, perceived fear of Covid-19, self-efficacy, response efficacy and protection motivation interact to predict the acceptance of exposure detection apps.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 306 Jordanian participants, and structural equation modelling was used for data analysis.

Findings

The results reveal that acceptance of these apps is triggered by the perceived risk of Covid-19, which increases the experienced level of fear. The latter then initiates a compelling desire or motivation to protect oneself by using the recommended adaptive response (exposure detection app). The results show that an increased level of self-efficacy and perceived efficacy of exposure detection apps also contribute to the development of protection motivation and later the intent to use exposure detection apps.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the technology acceptance domain by developing a context-driven model of the key characteristics of pandemics that lead to different patterns of technology acceptance. The key components in designing effective marketing campaigns to prompt the use of exposures detection apps are discussed.
How education level polarizes halal food purchase decision of Indonesian millennials
Authors: Wibowo Mas Wahyu , Putri Auditia Lintang Sari , Hanafiah Ali , Permana Dudi , Sh Ahmad Fauziah
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate Indonesian Muslim millennials’ decision-making process in purchasing halal food by introducing knowledge variable into the theory of planned behavior framework and education level (EL; i.e. low vs high) as the moderating variable.

Design/methodology/approach

There were 400 questionnaires that were distributed to obtain responses from Indonesian Muslim millennials consumers. SmartPLS was used as the structural equation modeling approach to perform the multi-group analysis.

Findings

EL plays an important role that determines Indonesian Muslim millennials’ decision-making process to purchase halal food.

Research limitations/implications

The EL was distinguished based on the Indonesian formal education system, which excluded the religious education system from the analysis.

Practical implications

The information conveyance of halal food product attributes should be conducted gradually according to the millennial consumers’ EL. Millennial consumers with higher EL are more likely to internalize the credence attributes of halal food compared to the lower EL counterpart.

Originality/value

This study found the significant differences in terms of halal food purchase decision-making between the two groups of lower EL and higher EL.
Do Investors Care Who Did the Audit? Evidence from Form AP
Authors: DOXEY MARCUS M. , LAWSON JAMES G. , LOPEZ THOMAS J. , SWANQUIST QUINN T.
Published: July 2021

In early 2017, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) mandated the disclosure of audit participants, including the lead audit partner and other audit firms participating in the audit (“component auditors”). In this study, we examine whether investors use these disclosures in a way that influences their investment decisions, a primary goal of the PCAOB. Using trading volume, absolute abnormal returns, and bid–ask spreads, we find little evidence of a significant investor response following the disclosure of partner identity or component auditor participation in the first three years of the requirement. We also examine instances where these disclosures are most likely to be informative (e.g., partners associated with restatements or component auditors with PCAOB deficiencies) and find no significant investor response. Taken together, we find little evidence that capital markets respond to partner and component auditor identity in the United States.
Trading‐off flexibility: Contingent workers or human resource practices? A configurational approach
Authors: Signoretti Andrea , Pederiva Lucia , Zaninotto Enrico
Published: July 2021

Atypical work has been proven to worsen employment conditions, reduce labour productivity and hinder firms from competing in higher quality market segments, yet companies still hire atypical workers to provide flexibility in response to unstable market conditions. Previous research has examined the relationship between specific job features and the incidence of atypical work. Using a fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis technique, we analysed interviews of service firms’ managers to identify configurations that limit the use of atypical workers. We found evidence that firms limit the use of atypical contracts not only in cases of firm‐specific and complex tasks but also in cases of simple and nonspecific tasks when supported by human resource management practices that aim to increase internal flexibility. Firms can take advantage of a stable workforce by strategically using human resource management flexibility practices as an alternative to labour market flexibility.
Evaluation of deep learning‐based artificial intelligence techniques for breast cancer detection on mammograms: Results from a retrospective study using a BreastScreen Victoria dataset
Authors: Frazer Helen ML , Qin Alex K , Pan Hong , Brotchie Peter
Published: July 2021

Introduction

This study aims to evaluate deep learning (DL)‐based artificial intelligence (AI) techniques for detecting the presence of breast cancer on a digital mammogram image.

Methods

We evaluated several DL‐based AI techniques that employ different approaches and backbone DL models and tested the effect on performance of using different data‐processing strategies on a set of digital mammographic images with annotations of pathologically proven breast cancer.

Results

Our evaluation uses the area under curve (AUC) and accuracy (ACC) for performance measurement. The best evaluation result, based on 349 test cases (930 test images), was an AUC of 0.8979 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.873, 0.923] and ACC of 0.8178 [95% CI 0.785, 0.850]. This was achieved by an AI technique that utilises a certain family of DL models, namely ResNet, as its backbone, combines the global features extracted from the whole mammogram and the local features extracted from the automatically detected cancer and non‐cancer local regions in the whole image, and leverages background cropping and text removal, contrast adjustment and more training data.

Conclusion

DL‐based AI techniques have shown promising results in retrospective studies for many medical image analysis applications. Our study demonstrates a significant opportunity to boost the performance of such techniques applied to breast cancer detection by exploring different types of approaches, backbone DL models and data‐processing strategies. The promising results we have obtained suggest further development of AI reading services could transform breast cancer screening in the future.
Acceptance and image quality of high‐resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography of the metacarpophalangeal joints in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Klose‐Jensen Rasmus , Keller Kresten Krarup , Langdahl Bente , Hauge Ellen‐Margrethe
Published: July 2021

Objective

High‐resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR‐pQCT) requires longer immobilization time than conventional radiography, which challenges patient acceptance and image quality. Therefore, the aim was to investigate the acceptance of HR‐pQCT in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and secondly the effect of an inflatable hand immobilization device on motion artefacts of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints.

Methods

Fifty patients with established RA and a median (interquartile range) age of 64.3 (55.0‐71.2) years had their MCP joints scanned by HR‐pQCT with the hand positioned with and without an inflatable immobilization device followed by a full radiographic examination and a questionnaire on the imaging experience. The comparability of the erosion measures was investigated with and without the immobilization device using Bland‐Altman plot and intrareader repeatability by intraclass correlation coefficient. The motion artefacts were graded for each acquisition, and intrareader repeatability was investigated by Cohen's kappa coefficient.

Results

Forty percent of the patients preferred HR‐pQCT imaging, only 6% preferred conventional X‐ray. Seventy‐four percent reported it was not difficult to keep their fingers steady during the scan. Sixty percent of the patients reported the immobilization device helped keep their fingers steady. However, as motion artefacts were sparse, no clinically relevant difference was observed concerning the effect of the immobilization device on readability. The intrareader repeatability and comparability for the erosion measures were excellent.

Conclusion

The high patient acceptance adds to the feasibility of HR‐pQCT imaging of MCP joints in RA. The inflatable immobilization device did not reduce motion‐induced image degradation.
Multiple plant hormone catabolism activities: an adaptation to a plant‐associated lifestyle by Achromobacter spp.
Authors: Nascimento Francisco X. , Glick Bernard R. , Rossi Márcio J.
Published: July 2021

Elaborating the plant hormone catabolic activities of bacteria is important for developing a detailed understanding of plant–microbe interactions. In this work, the plant hormone catabolic and plant growth promotion activities of Achromobacter xylosoxidans SOLR10 and A. insolitus AB2 are described. The genome sequences of these strains were obtained and analysed in detail, revealing the genetic mechanisms behind its multiple plant hormone catabolism abilities. Achromobacter strains catabolized indoleacetic acid (IAA) and phenylacetic acid (PAA) (auxins); salicylic acid (SA) and its precursor, benzoic acid (BA); and the ethylene precursor 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate (ACC). The inoculation of cucumber plants resulted in increased plant growth and development, indicating the beneficial properties of SOLR10 and AB2 strains. Genomic analysis demonstrated the presence of IAA, PAA and BA degradation gene clusters, as well as the nag gene cluster (SA catabolism) and the acdS gene (ACC deaminase), in the genomes of strains SOLR10 and AB2. Additionally, detailed analysis revealed that plant hormone catabolism genes were commonly detected in the Achromobacter genus but were mostly absent in the Bordetella genus, consistent with the notion that Achromobacter evolved in soils in close association with its plant hosts.
Genetic signature of human longevity in PKC and NF‐κB signaling
Authors: Ryu Seungjin , Han Jeehae , Norden‐Krichmar Trina M. , Zhang Quanwei , Lee Seunggeun , Zhang Zhengdong , Atzmon Gil , Niedernhofer Laura J. , Robbins Paul D. , Barzilai Nir , Schork Nicholas J. , Suh Yousin
Published: July 2021

Gene variants associated with longevity are also associated with protection against cognitive decline, dementia and Alzheimer's disease, suggesting that common physiologic pathways act at the interface of longevity and cognitive function. To test the hypothesis that variants in genes implicated in cognitive function may promote exceptional longevity, we performed a comprehensive 3‐stage study to identify functional longevity‐associated variants in ~700 candidate genes in up to 450 centenarians and 500 controls by target capture sequencing analysis. We found an enrichment of longevity‐associated genes in the nPKC and NF‐κB signaling pathways by gene‐based association analyses. Functional analysis of the top three gene variants (NFKBIA, CLU, PRKCH) suggests that non‐coding variants modulate the expression of cognate genes, thereby reducing signaling through the nPKC and NF‐κB. This matches genetic studies in multiple model organisms, suggesting that the evolutionary conservation of reduced PKC and NF‐κB signaling pathways in exceptional longevity may include humans.
Conflict, Protection, and Punishment: Repercussions of Violence in Eastern DR Congo
Authors: Lindsey Summer
Published: July 2021

How does armed conflict affect attitudes that tolerate violence against women? This article examines the effects of armed violence on preferences for punishing crimes against women using original quantitative data from 80 focus groups across 20 villages in Democratic Republic of Congo and a matched pair design. Challenging unidirectional logics within theories of violence against women, the data reveal that local exposure to armed violence increases how severely men prefer to punish rape while decreasing how severely men and women prefer to punish domestic violence. Building inductively, I develop a theory of protective masculine norms to account for armed conflict's gendered and crime‐specific effects. When armed violence heightens demand for local male protection, crimes perceived to pose a community threat are affected differently from “private” crimes.
Impact of the pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block on postoperative analgesia and functional recovery following total hip arthroplasty: a randomised, observer‐masked, controlled trial
Authors: Pascarella G. , Costa F. , Del Buono R. , Pulitanò R. , Strumia A. , Piliego C. , De Quattro E. , Cataldo R. , Agrò F. E. , Carassiti M. ,   collaborators
Published: July 2021

The pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block is a novel regional anaesthesia technique that aims to provide hip analgesia with preservation of motor function, although evidence is currently lacking. In this single‐centre, observer‐masked, randomised controlled trial, patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty received pericapsular nerve group block or no block (control group). Primary outcome measure was maximum pain scores (0–10 numeric rating scale) measured in the first 48 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes included postoperative opioid consumption; patient mobilisation assessments; and length of hospital stay. Sixty patients were randomly allocated equally between groups. The maximum pain score of patients receiving the pericapsular nerve group block was significantly lower than in the control group at all time‐points, with a median (IQR [range]) of 2.5 (2.0–3.7 [0–7]) vs. 5.5 (5.0–7.0 [2–8]) at 12 h; 3 (2.0–4.0 [0–7]) vs. 6 (5.0–6.0 [2–8]) at 24 h; and 2.0 (2.0–4.0 [0–5]) vs. 3.0 (2.0–4.7 [0–6]) at 48 h; all p < 0.001. Moreover, the pericapsular nerve group showed a significant reduction in opioid consumption, better range of hip motion and shorter time to ambulation. Although no significant difference in hospital length of stay was detected, our results suggest improved postoperative functional recovery following total hip arthroplasty in patients who received pericapsular nerve group block.
Leading change by protecting group identity in the 2019 Canadian general election
Authors: Syfers Lily , Rast David E. , Gaffney Amber M.
Published: July 2021

Often leaders who attempt to enact large‐scale changes face resistance from group members who perceive the change as a drastic alteration of the core identity features of their group. Core changes to a group's identity can create a sense of collective identity discontinuity, indicating the group's sense of “who we are” is fundamentally altered. Leaders can circumvent this by emphasizing how the proposed change is consistent with the group's identity, although this may be influenced by whether group members are uncertain and perceive the leader as group prototypical. Two preregistered studies measured the degree to which participants felt self‐uncertain and perceived their in‐group political party leaders (Study 1) and newly reelected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Study 2) as group prototypical and as promoting collective identity continuity before (N= 408) and after (N= 209) the 2019 Canadian General Election. Study 1 results supported the preregistered hypotheses, and Study 2 extended these findings by exploring the hypothesized interaction from Study 1 in the postelection context. We discuss these results in the social identity framework, implicating the importance of a leader's promotion of collective identity continuity in promoting change during uncertain times.
Exploring the formation of social entrepreneurship from an ecological perspective: Evidence from South Korea
Authors: Cho Sangmi , Chun JongSerl , An Soyoung
Published: July 2021

This study explores the formation of social entrepreneurship from an ecological perspective as developing personal attributes taking into account the dynamic context of external factors. Semi‐structured in‐depth interviews with 22 social entrepreneur trainees are conducted based on the grounded theory. The main finding is that the paradigm of the social entrepreneurship formation is described through close interactions between the purposeful actors and the decisive environments. Especially, the interdisciplinary social‐economic educational program in which individual attributes are developed—that is, social welfare, business administration, and health studies programs—are part of an important process through which social entrepreneurship is formed. Thus, the study suggests that systematically organized social‐economic education programs should serve as intermediaries in connecting individuals and the environment around them.
Hairy and iridescent chaetae of the sea mouse Aphrodita (Annelida, Errantia)
Authors: Tilic Ekin , Neunzig Nina , Bartolomaeus Thomas
Published: July 2021

The bright iridescent chaetae of Aphrodita species have fascinated scientists for decades. The particular nanoscale substructure of these chitinous bristles resembles photonic crystals and manipulates the incident light in a way that results in spectacular structural coloration. Even though Aphrodita's chaetae have garnered great attention from the field of biomimetics, the few previous ultrastructural studies primarily focused on acicular chaetae that are much less iridescent than the thin capillary notochaetae. In this paper, we present new ultrastructural data on the chaetae of two species of Aphrodita and illustrate their formation process. Our results allow us to specify the prerequisite for iridescent chaetae. Aphrodita species are dorsally covered with a matted felt of intertwined chaetae, and we further discuss the evolution of feltage chaetae in Aphroditiformia. In addition to iridescent feltage chaetae, we also provide new insights into the chaeotogenesis of pilose chaetae. For the first time, our study shows that the hairy tips and ornamentation of the chaetae is formed by follicle cells alone and thus attribute a further role to this type of cells.
Infant T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia with t(6;7) (TCRB‐MYB) translocation
Authors: Ramdeny Pemantah Sandheeah , Mullanfroze Khushnuma , de Lorenzo Paola , Grazia Valsecchi Maria , Meijerink Jules , Pieters Rob , Baruchel Andre , Vora Ajay
Published: July 2021

T‐ALL is rare in infancy with only 10 (1.5%) of 651 patients of that subtype in the Interfant‐06 infant ALL trial. We report 3 cases of t(6;7) (TCR/MYB) infant T‐cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia who appear to have a distinct clinical presentation with CNS disease and refractory disease or late relapse.