bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systemic benefits of Gc inhibition to preserve insulin sensitivity
Authors: Kuo Taiyi , Accili Domenico
Published: October 2020

Type 2 diabetes is caused by an imbalanced supply and demand of insulin. Insulin resistance and impaired β-cell function contribute to the onset of hyperglycemia. No single treatment modality can affect both aspects of diabetes pathophysiology. Thus, current treatments focus either on increasing insulin secretion (incretin mimetics, sulfonylureas) or insulin sensitivity (metformin and TZD), or reducing hyperglycemia (insulin, sglt2i). Previously, we reported that ablation ofGc, encoding a secreted protein with a primary role in vitamin D transport, improves pancreatic β-cell function in models of diet-induced insulin resistance. Here, we show thatGcablation has systemic insulin-sensitizing effects to prevent weight gain, hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, and lower NEFA and triglyceride in mice fed a high-fat diet. Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps show that Gc ablation protects insulin’s ability to reduce hepatic glucose production, and increases glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. Moreover, acute Gc inhibition by way of adeno-associated virus encoding a short hairpin RNA to promote Gc mRNA degradation, prevents glucose intolerance caused by high fat feeding. The data suggest that Gc inhibition can provide an approach to increase insulin production in β-cells, and insulin action in peripheral tissues.

RESEARCH IN CONTEXT

▪ The goal was to find a therapeutic target that can improve insulin sensitivity and β-cell function simultaneously.

▪ Gc ablation preserves β-cell insulin secretionex vivoandin vivo.

▪ Deletion of Gc prevents weight gain, reduces fat mass, lowers fasting glycemia, improves glucose tolerance, reduces hepatic glucose production after feeding, and increased glucose uptake in muscle and adipose.

▪ Acute Gc inhibition improves glucose tolerance, which suggests that targeting Gc could provide an alternative way to treat type 2 diabetes.
De novostructural mutation rates and gamete-of-origin biases revealed through genome sequencing of 2,396 families
Authors: Belyeu Jonathan R. , Brand Harrison , Wang Harold , Zhao Xuefang , Pedersen Brent S. , Feusier Julie , Gupta Meenal , Nicholas Thomas J. , Baird Lisa , Devlin Bernie , Sanders Stephan J. , Jorde Lynn B. , Talkowski Michael E. , Quinlan Aaron R.
Published: October 2020

Each human genome includesde novomutations that arose during gametogenesis. While these germline mutations represent a fundamental source of new genetic diversity, they can also create deleterious alleles that impact fitness. The germline mutation rate for single nucleotide variants and factors that significantly influence this rate, such as parental age, are now well established. However, far less is known about the frequency, distribution, and features that impactde novostructural mutations. We report a large, family-based study of germline mutations, excluding aneuploidy, that affect genome structure among 572 genomes from 33 families in a multigenerational CEPH-Utah cohort and 2,363 cases of non-familial autism spectrum disorder (ASD), 1,938 unaffected siblings, and both parents (9,599 genomes in total). We find thatde novostructural mutations detected by alignment-based, short-read WGS occurred at an overall rate of at least 0.160 events per genome in unaffected individuals and was significantly higher (0.206 per genome) in ASD cases. In both probands and unaffected samples, nearly 73% ofde novostructural mutations arose in paternal gametes, and predict mostde novostructural mutations to be caused by mutational mechanisms that do not require sequence homology. After multiple testing correction we did not observe a statistically significant correlation between parental age and the rate ofde novostructural variation in offspring. These results highlight that a spectrum of mutational mechanisms contribute to germline structural mutations, and that these mechanisms likely have markedly different rates and selective pressures than those leading to point mutations.
A critical role of stable grain filling rate in maximizing rice yield revealed by whole plant carbon nitrogen interaction modeling
Authors: Chang Tian-Gen , Wei Zhong-Wei , Shi Zai , Xiao Yi , Zhao Honglong , Chang Shuo-Qi , Qu Mingnan , Song Qingfeng , Chen Faming , Miao Fenfen , Zhu Xin-Guang
Published: October 2020

Crop yield is co-determined by potential size of the harvest organ, photosynthetic potential of source organs, and pattern of partitioning and use of photosynthates among sink organs. Given a sufficient potential size of the harvest organ at flowering, how to fully fill them remains a central challenge in crop breeding for high yields. Here, we develop a kinetic model of rice grain filling, scaling primary biochemical and biophysical processes to whole-plant carbon and nitrogen dynamics. Predicted post-anthesis physiological and agronomic behaviors validate experimental observations under six endogenous and external perturbations. By large scale in silico screening, we show here that a stable grain filling rate from flowering to harvest is required to maximize grain yield, which is validated here in two independent super-high yielding rice cultivars (~21 t ha-1 rough rice yield at 14% moisture). On the other hand, we show grain yields in an elite rice cultivar may increase by about 30-40% by stabilizing its grain filling rate. Intriguingly, we have found that the sum of grain filling rates around 15 and 38 days after flowering largely determines grain yield, and have further developed a novel in situ approach quantifying grain filling rates and grain yield precisely with the measurements of ear respiratory rates (r>0.93). Potential post-anthesis molecular targets to maximize rice yield include delaying leaf senescence, enhancing leaf sucrose synthesis and export, limiting root growth, strengthening stem starch synthesis, accelerating endosperm starch synthesis, and moderating endosperm cell division. Our study provides an effective computational framework for post-anthesis crop physiology research and ideotype design.
Blocking of EGFR Signaling is a Latent Strategy for the Improvement of Prognosis of HPV Induced Cancer
Authors: Qiu Jianfa , Hu Feifei , Shao Tingting , Guo Yuqiang , Dai Zongmao , Nie Huanhuan , Olasunkanmi Oluwatayo Israel , Chen Yang , Lin Lexun , Zhao Wenran , Zhong Zhaohua , Wang Yan
Published: October 2020

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a dsDNA virus and its high-risk subtypes increase cancer risks. Yet, the mechanism of HPV infection and pathogenesis still remain unclear. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms, and the pathogenesis of HPV are crucial in the prevention of HPV related cancers. In this study, we analyzed cervix squamous cell carcinoma (CESC) and head and neck carcinoma (HNSC) combined data to investigate various HPV induced cancer common feature. We showed that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was downregulated in HPV positive (HPV+) cancer, and that HPV+ cancer patients exhibited better prognosis than HPV negative (HPV−) cancer patients. Our study also showed that TP53 mutation rate is lower in HPV+ cancer than in HPV− cancer and that TP53 can be modulated by HPV E7 protein. However, there was no significant difference in the expression of wildtype TP53 in both groups. Subsequently, we constructed HPV-human interaction network and found that EGFR is a critical factor. From the network, we also noticed that EGFR is regulated by HPV E7 protein and hsa-miR-944. Moreover, while phosphorylated EGFR is associated with a worse prognosis, EGFR total express level is not significantly correlated with prognosis. This indicates that EGFR activation will induce a worse outcome in HPV+ cancer patients. Further enrichment analysis showed that EGFR downstream pathway and cancer relative pathway are diversely activated in HPV+ cancer and HPV− cancer. In summary, HPV E7 protein downregulates EGFR that downregulates phosphorylated EGFR and inhibit EGFR related pathways which in turn and consequently induce better prognosis.

Importance

Although HPV infection has been studied in various cancer types, there are only limited studies that have focused on the common effect of HPV related cancer. Consequently, this study focused on CESC and HNSC, two cancer types with high HPV infection proportion in cohort, thereby, intending to dig out the common effects and mechanisms of HPV+ cancers.

Unlike some virus-human interaction prediction studies, the P-HIPSter database provides virus-human protein interaction based on protein structure prediction. Through this data, our interaction network was able to uncover previously unnoticed protein interactions. Our finding revealed that HPV infection caused various gene expression differences, and a great amount of which interact with EGFR, a cancer related gene. Therefore, since EGFR is associated with HPV+ cancer patients’ survival, some FDA proved EGFR inhibitors would be potential anti-HPV drugs.
Landscape of allele-specific transcription factor binding in the human genome
Authors: Abramov Sergey , Boytsov Alexandr , Bykova Dariia , Penzar Dmitry D. , Yevshin Ivan , Kolmykov Semyon K. , Fridman Marina V. , Favorov Alexander V. , Vorontsov Ilya E. , Baulin Eugene , Kolpakov Fedor , Makeev Vsevolod J. , Kulakovskiy Ivan V.
Published: October 2020

Sequence variants in gene regulatory regions alter gene expression and contribute to phenotypes of individual cells and the whole organism, including disease susceptibility and progression. Single-nucleotide variants in enhancers or promoters may affect gene transcription by altering transcription factor binding sites. Differential transcription factor binding in heterozygous genomic loci provides a natural source of information on such regulatory variants. We present a novel approach to call the allele-specific transcription factor binding events at single-nucleotide variants in ChIP-Seq data, taking into account the joint contribution of aneuploidy and local copy number variation, that is estimated directly from variant calls. We have conducted a meta-analysis of more than 7 thousand ChIP-Seq experiments and assembled the database of allele-specific binding events listing more than half a million entries at nearly 270 thousand single-nucleotide polymorphisms for several hundred human transcription factors and cell types. These polymorphisms are enriched for associations with phenotypes of medical relevance and often overlap eQTLs, making candidates for causality by linking variants with molecular mechanisms. Specifically, there is a special class of switching sites, where different transcription factors preferably bind alternative alleles, thus revealing allele-specific rewiring of molecular circuitry.
Extremely potent human monoclonal antibodies from convalescent Covid-19 patients
Authors: Andreano Emanuele , Nicastri Emanuele , Paciello Ida , Pileri Piero , Manganaro Noemi , Piccini Giulia , Manenti Alessandro , Pantano Elisa , Kabanova Anna , Troisi Marco , Vacca Fabiola , Cardamone Dario , De Santi Concetta , Benincasa Linda , Agrati Chiara , Capobianchi Maria Rosaria , Castilletti Concetta , Emiliozzi Arianna , Fabbiani Massimiliano , Montagnani Francesca , Depau Lorenzo , Brunetti Jlenia , Bracci Luisa , Montomoli Emanuele , Sala Claudia , Ippolito Giuseppe , Rappuoli Rino
Published: October 2020

Human monoclonal antibodies are safe, preventive and therapeutic tools, that can be rapidly developed to help restore the massive health and economic disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. By single cell sorting 4277 SARS-CoV-2 spike protein specific memory B cells from 14 Covid-19 survivors, 453 neutralizing antibodies were identified and 220 of them were expressed as IgG. Up to 65,9% of monoclonals neutralized the wild type virus at a concentration of >500 ng/mL, 23,6% neutralized the virus in the range of 100 - 500 ng/mL and 9,1% had a neutralization potency in the range of 10 - 100 ng/mL. Only 1,4% neutralized the authentic virus with a potency of 1-10 ng/mL. We found that the most potent neutralizing antibodies are extremely rare and recognize the RBD, followed in potency by antibodies that recognize the S1 domain, the S-protein trimeric structure and the S2 subunit. The three most potent monoclonal antibodies identified were able to neutralize the wild type and D614G mutant viruses with less than 10 ng/mL and are good candidates for the development of prophylactic and therapeutic tools against SARS-CoV-2.

One Sentence Summary

Extremely potent neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies isolated from Covid-19 convalescent patients for prophylactic and therapeutic interventions.
Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Molecular Diversity of Human Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells
Authors: Chamling Xitiz , Kallman Alyssa , Berlinicke Cindy , Devkota Prajwal , Mertz Joseph L. , Chang Calvin , Kaushik Aniruddha , Chen Liben , Calabresi Peter A. , Mao Hai-Quan , Wang Tza-Huei , Zack Donald J.
Published: October 2020

Injury and loss of oligodendrocytes can cause demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. To improve our understanding of oligodendrocyte development, which could facilitate development of remyelination-based treatment strategies, we performed single-cell-transcriptomic-analysis of developing human oligodendrocyte-precursor-cells (hOPCs). We engineered knock-in hESC-reporter lines in which an Identification-and-Purification tag is expressed under control of the endogenous, OPC-specific,PDGFRαpromoter, and performed time-course single-cell-RNA-sequencing of purified hOPCs. Our analysis uncovered marked transcriptional heterogeneity of PDGFRα+ hOPCs and identified regulatory genes and networks that control their differentiation and myelination competence. Pseudotime trajectory analysis revealed two distinct trajectories for the development of oligodendrocytes vs astrocytes from hOPCs. We also identified novel transcription factors and other genes that developing hOPCs potentially use to choose between oligodendrocyte vs astrocyte lineages. In addition, pathway enrichment analysis followed by pharmacological intervention of those pathways confirm that mTOR and cholesterol biosynthesis signaling pathways are involved in maturation of oligodendrocytes from hOPCs.
3D FIB-SEM reconstruction of microtubule-organelle interaction in whole primary mouse beta cells
Authors: Müller Andreas , Schmidt Deborah , Xu C. Shan , Pang Song , D’Costa Joyson Verner , Kretschmar Susanne , Münster Carla , Kurth Thomas , Jug Florian , Weigert Martin , Hess Harald F. , Solimena Michele
Published: October 2020

Microtubules play a major role in intracellular trafficking of vesicles in endocrine cells. Detailed knowledge of microtubule organization and their relation to other cell constituents is crucial for understanding cell function. However, their role in insulin transport and secretion is currently under debate. Here, we use Fib-Semto image islet beta cells in their entirety with unprecedented resolution. We reconstruct mitochondria, Golgi apparati, centrioles, insulin secretory granules and micro-tubules of seven beta cells, and generate a comprehensive spatial map of microtubule-organelle interactions. We find that micro-tubules form non-radial networks that are predominantly not connected to either centrioles or endomembranes. Microtubule number and length, but not microtubule polymer density, vary with glucose stimulation. Furthermore, insulin secretory granules are enriched near the plasma membrane where they associate with microtubules. In summary, we provide the first 3D reconstructions of complete microtubule networks in primary mammalian cells together with evidence regarding their importance for insulin secretory granule positioning and thus supportive role in insulin secretion.
Algorithmic and data modeling: Will algorithmic modeling improve predictions of traits evaluated on ordinal scales?
Authors: Xu Zhanyou , Kurek Andreomar , Cannon Steven B. , Beavis Williams D.
Published: October 2020

Selection of markers linked to alleles at quantitative trait loci (QTL) for tolerance to Iron Deficiency Chlorosis (IDC) has not been successful. Genomic selection has been advocated for continuous numeric traits such as yield and plant height. For ordinal data types such as IDC, genomic prediction models have not been systematically compared. The objectives of research reported in this manuscript were to evaluate the most commonly used genomic prediction method, ridge regression and it’s equivalent logistic ridge regression method, with algorithmic modeling methods including random forest, gradient boosting, support vector machine, K-nearest neighbors, Naïve Bayes, and artificial neural network using the usual comparator metric of prediction accuracy. In addition we compared the methods using metrics of greater importance for decisions about selecting and culling lines for use in variety development and genetic improvement projects. These metrics include specificity, sensitivity, precision, decision accuracy, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. We found that Support Vector Machine provided the best specificity for culling IDC susceptible lines, while Random Forest GP models provided the best combined set of decision metrics for retaining IDC tolerant and culling IDC susceptible lines.
The gut virome of healthy children during the first year of life is diverse and dynamic
Authors: Taboada Blanca , Morán Patricia , Serrano-Vázquez Angélica , Iša Pavel , Rojas-Velázquez Liliana , Pérez-Juárez Horacio , López Susana , Torres Javier , Ximenez Cecilia , Arias Carlos F.
Published: October 2020

In this work, we determined the diversity and dynamics of the gut virome of infants during the first year of life. Fecal samples were collected monthly, from birth to one year of age, from three healthy children living in a semi-rural village in Mexico. Most of the viral reads were classified into six families of bacteriophages including five dsDNA virus families of the orderCaudovirales, withSiphoviridaeandPodoviridaebeing the most abundant. Eukaryotic viruses were detected as early as two weeks after birth and remained present all along the first year of life. Thirty-four different eukaryotic virus families were found, where eight of these families accounted for 98% of all eukaryotic viral reads:Anelloviridae,Astroviridae,Caliciviridae,Genomoviridae,Parvoviridae, Picornaviridae,Reoviridaeand the plant-infecting viruses of theVirgaviridaefamily. Some viruses in these families are known human pathogens, and it is surprising that they were found during the first year of life in infants without gastrointestinal symptoms. The eukaryotic virus species richness found in this work was higher than that observed in previous studies; on average between 7 and 24 virus species were identified per sample. The richness and abundance of the eukaryotic virome significantly increased during the second semester of life, probably because of an increased environmental exposure of infants with age. Our findings suggest an early and permanent contact of infants with a diverse array of bacteriophages and eukaryotic viruses, whose composition changes over time. The bacteriophages and eukaryotic viruses found in these children could represent a metastable virome, whose potential influence on the development of the infant’s immune system or on the health of the infants later in life, remains to be investigated.
Depletion of voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) ofToxoplasma gondiiaffects multiple mitochondrial functions, but not calcium signalling
Authors: Mallo Natalia , Martins Duarte Erica S. , Baehr Stephan C. , Biddau Marco , Ovciarikova Jana , Wilde Mary-Louise , Uboldi Alessandro D , Lemgruber Leandro , Tonkin Christopher J , Wideman Jeremy G. , Harding Clare R. , Sheiner Lilach
Published: October 2020

The Voltage Dependent Anion channel (VDAC) is a ubiquitous channel in the outer membrane of the mitochondrion with multiple roles in protein, metabolite and small molecule transport. In mammalian cells, VDAC, as part of a larger complex including the inositol triphosphate receptor, has been shown to have a role in mediating contact between the mitochondria and ER. We identify VDAC of the pathogenic apicomplexanToxoplasma gondiiand demonstrate its importance for parasite growth. We show that VDAC is involved in protein import and metabolite transfer to the mitochondria, but does not appear to modulate calcium (Ca2+) signalling. Further, depletion of VDAC resulted in significant morphological changes of the mitochondrion and ER, suggesting a role in mediating contacts between these organelles inT. gondii.
Developmental effects of oxytocin neurons on social affiliation and processing of social information
Authors: Nunes Ana Rita , Gliksberg Michael , Varela Susana A.M. , Teles Magda , Wircer Einav , Blechman Janna , Petri Giovanni , Levkowitz Gil , Oliveira Rui F.
Published: October 2020

Hormones regulate behavior either through activational effects that facilitate the acute expression of specific behaviors or through organizational effects that shape the development of the nervous system thereby altering adult behavior. Much research has implicated the neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) in acute modulation of various aspects of social behaviors across vertebrate species, and OXT signaling is associated with the developmental social deficits observed in autism spectrum disorders, however, little is known about the role of OXT in the neurodevelopment of the social brain. We show that perturbation of OXT neurons during early zebrafish development led to a loss of dopaminergic neurons, associated with visual processing and reward, and blunted the neuronal response to social stimuli in the adult brain. Ultimately, adult fish whose OXT neurons were ablated in early life, displayed altered functional connectivity within social decision-making brain nuclei both in naïve state and in response to social stimulus and became less social. We propose that OXT neurons have an organizational role, namely to shape forebrain neuroarchitecture during development and to acquire an affiliative response towards conspecifics.

Significance Statement

Social behavior is developed over the lifetime of an organism and the neuropeptide oxytocin modulates social behaviors across vertebrate species, and is associated with neuro-developmental social deficits such as autism. However, whether oxytocin plays a role in the developmental maturation of neural systems that are necessary for social behavior remains poorly explored. We show that proper behavioral and neural response to social stimuli depends on a developmental process orchestrated by oxytocin neurons. Animals whose oxytocin system is ablated in early life show blunted neuronal and behavioral responses to social stimuli as well as wide ranging disruptions in the functional connectivity of the Social Brain. We provide a window into the mechanisms underlying oxytocin-dependent developmental processes that implement adult sociality.
The influence of brand experience on brand authenticity and brand love: an empirical study from Asian consumers’ perspective
Authors: Safeer Asif Ali , He Yuanqiong , Abrar Muhammad
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This research investigates the effects of multidimensional brand experiences (i.e. behavioral, intellectual, affective and sensory) on brand authenticity and brand love from the Asian consumers' perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

This research collected primary data from 418 consumers on global brands, and it tested the proposed hypotheses by using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The findings indicate that sensory and affective experiences have direct significant impacts on brand love, while intellectual and behavioral experiences have nonsignificant impacts on brand love. Overall, intellectual, behavioral, affective and sensory experiences positively influence brand authenticity, which in turn have substantial positive impacts on brand love.

Research limitations/implications

This study investigated consumer behavior in a broader sense, and consumers from 13 Asian countries participated in this research. Future research may collect data on a larger scale from Asian countries to generalize the results.

Practical implications

By following brand authenticity as an essential positioning tool and implementing several experiential marketing strategies, global managers can develop brand-loving consumers in Asia.

Originality/value

Under the parasol of attribution theory, this research explores the relationships among the multidimensional brand experiences, brand authenticity and brand love from the Asian perspective.
Five-phase sphere equivalent model of recycled concrete and numerical simulation based on the base force element method
Authors: Peng Yijiang , Wu Zhenghao , Ying Liping , Yang Desi
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to propose the five-phase sphere equivalent model of recycled concrete, which can be used to deduce the theoretical formulas for the Poisson’s ratio and effective elastic modulus.

Design/methodology/approach

At a mesoscopic level, the equivalent model converts the interfacial layer, which consists of the new interfacial transition zone (ITZ), the old mortar and the old (ITZ), into a uniform equivalent medium. This paper deduces a strength expression for the interfacial transition zone at the microscopic level using the equivalent model and elastic theory. In addition, a new finite element method called the base force element method was used in this research.

Findings

Through numerical simulation, it was found that the mechanical property results from the five-phase sphere equivalent model were in good agreement with those of the random aggregate model. Furthermore, the proposed model agree on quite well with the available experimental data.

Originality/value

The equivalent model can eliminate the influence of the interfacial layer on the macroscopic mechanical properties, thereby improving the calculation accuracy and computational efficiency. The proposed model can also provide a suitable model for multi-scale calculations.
The impacts of ethical climate on knowledge contribution loafing among designers in engineering design firms: mediated effect of knowledge leadership
Authors: Zhang Lianying , Sun Hui
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Knowledge contribution loafing as one of the major obstacles to knowledge sharing among designers in engineering design firms impedes better achievement of engineering design. The purpose of this paper is to examine different types of ethical climate impacts on knowledge contribution loafing among designers through the mediating effect of knowledge leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

By adopting a quantitative research design, data were collected using a survey questionnaire from 352 designers in engineering design firms. The data were analyzed using the partial-least squares structural equation modeling approach to test hypotheses.

Findings

Ethical climate is an important factor to affect knowledge contribution loafing among designers, and three types of ethical climate (self-interest, social responsibility and law/professional codes) have different degrees of influence on knowledge contribution loafing. In addition, knowledge leadership can alleviate knowledge contribution loafing, and it is a mediator between ethical climate and knowledge contribution loafing.

Practical implications

Engineering design firms should cultivate and strengthen the role of social responsibility, law/professional codes and knowledge leadership and reduce the influence of self-interest to mitigate the negative of knowledge contribution loafing among designers.

Originality/value

By identifying ethical climate as a novel influence factor for knowledge contribution loafing, this research further highlights the role of different types of ethical climate in an engineering design context. Moreover, it delves deeply into the issue around different types of ethical climate affect knowledge contribution loafing among designers through the role of knowledge leadership. This broadens the understanding of how ethical climate affects knowledge contribution loafing among designers in the engineering design organizations and enriches knowledge management literatures in engineering design industry.
The moderating role of perceived social risk in bank credit card referral programs
Authors: Song Chanho , Wang Tuo , Lee Hyunjung , Hu Michael Y.
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the effects of referral rewards in referral reward programs (RRPs) are moderated through perceived social risk of a recommender.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 717 consumers are accessed through Amazon's Mechanical Turk worker panel. The authors use t-test and analysis of variance to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The findings show that consumers with high perceived social risk balance financial rewards with social risks, while low social risk consumers largely ignore these social risk elements surrounding a referral decision.

Originality/value

The inclusion of perceived social risk provides the opportunity to fully understand how a consumer goes about balancing social risk and referral rewards in making referral decisions. The concept of social risk has not been previously applied to this context.
Food loss and waste in the Brazilian beef supply chain: an empirical analysis
Authors: Magalhães Vanessa S.M. , Ferreira Luís Miguel D.F. , César Aldara da Silva , Bonfim Renato Manzini , Silva Cristóvão
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The livestock sector contributes significantly to the Brazilian economy, but also creates many environmental and social issues. To mitigate these problems and help counteract the effects of the growing production demand, it is essential to address the prevention of food loss and waste (FLW). Therefore, the aim of the present study is to identify the causes of FLW, model their interrelationships and determine their root causes for the Brazilian beef supply chain (SC).

Design/methodology/approach

16 causes are analysed using an integrated interpretive structural modelling (ISM) and matrix impact of cross-multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) methodology. ISM identified interrelationships among the causes and MICMAC determined the root causes of FLW.

Findings

The ISM highlights the “Lack of transportation infrastructures”, “Inadequate handling”, “Poor operational performance”, “Variety of products available in supermarkets” and “Unhealthy animals and outbreaks of disease” as the most influential causes and the MICMAC classifies them as the root causes of FLW in the Brazilian beef SC.

Practical implications

The results provide fundamental insights for researchers, practitioners and policymakers, by exploring which causes are more influential and which are the root causes, thereby assisting the SC members in the definition of suitable strategies to mitigate FLW.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical analysis of the interdependencies between the causes of FLW in the beef SC.
Ethical expectations and ethnocentric thinking: exploring the adequacy of technology acceptance model for millennial consumers on multisided platforms
Authors: Bhattacharyya Som Sekhar , Verma Surabhi , Sampath Gayathri
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Multisided platforms (MSPs) have become omnipresent. Millennial consumers have taken well to MSPs. It has become imperative to explicate the process of adoption of MSPs by millennials. The purpose of this study is to comprehend the factors that lead to the adoption of MSPs by millennials beyond the factors identified in the technology acceptance model (TAM).

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from 252 respondents through a structured survey questionnaire to comprehend MSP adoption. Partial least squares structured equation modelling was applied for analysis.

Findings

The theoretical lens of TAM was applied for the study. Results indicated that over and above TAM, millennials’ intention to use of MSPs was moderated by ethical expectations, as well as ethnocentric thinking. The study, thus, extended TAM theoretical conversation by including factors of consumer ethnocentric behaviour and customer ethical considerations.

Research limitations/implications

This study modifies the TAM factors theoretically by including two new factors, namely, customers’ ethical expectations and ethnocentric thinking.

Practical implications

This study results would help MSP firm managers comprehend the importance of consideration of consumer ethnocentric behaviour and customer ethical considerations. Thus, managers have to include in their MSPs’ aspects of customers’ ethical expectations and ethnocentric thinking while marketing their MSPs’ while doing business with millennials.

Originality/value

This was one of the first studies that extended TAM by adding the factors of ethical expectations and ethnocentric thinking in the context of MSP adoption for millennial customers.
Socio-economic determinants of public expenditure in Africa: assessing the influence of population age structure
Authors: Azolibe Chukwuebuka Bernard , Nwadibe Chidinma Emelda , Okeke Chidimma Maria-Gorretti
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Africa's population is the second largest and fastest growing in the world after Asia, and this puts African governments under great stress in terms of increased public expenditure and is faced with a low revenue generation. Hence, the need for this study. The purpose of this paper is to examine the socio-economic determinants of public expenditure in Africa by assessing the influence of population age structure using a sample of the top ten most populous countries in Africa covering period of 1989 to 2018.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed panel fully modified ordinary least square (OLS) in estimating the relevant relationship between the variables in the model. The dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) model was also used to check the robustness of the fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS) results.

Findings

The findings revealed that the major population age structure that influences the growth of public expenditure in Africa are population ages (0–14) and population ages (15–64), but the former poses a stronger significant influence than the latter while population ages (65 and above) has a negative and insignificant influence. Also, in terms of other socio-economic factors, self-employment has a reducing and significant influence on public expenditure. GDP per capita has a negative and insignificant influence while foreign aid and unemployment rate has an increasing influence. Finally, inflation rate and control of corruption (CC) has a negative relationship with public expenditure.

Social implications

The study argues that an increase in the young and working population will put enormous pressure on the government in the provision of more jobs and other public infrastructures such as health care and education. In the context of African economy with a low revenue generation, public expenditure will be low and the desperately poor masses will be denied of these public infrastructures.

Originality/value

Several studies (Jibir and Aluthge, 2019; Tayeh and Mustafa, 2011; Okafor and Eiya, 2011; Obeng and Sakyi, 2017; Ofori-Abebrese, 2012) have investigated the determinants of public expenditure using total population as a variable. However, this study is unique as it focused on the influence of population age structure on public expenditure in Africa. Also, the study incorporated other socio-economic determinants of public expenditure such as self-employment, standard of living, inflation rate, unemployment rate, foreign aid and corruption in its analytical model. To the best of our knowledge, some of these variables have not been employed in previous studies.
Analysis of challenges for automobile service garages in India: a structural modeling approach
Authors: James Ajith Tom , Kumar Girish , Bhalla Megha , Amar Megha , Jain Prasham
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The increase in automobile usage across the world has fortified the opportunities of maintenance service garages. However, there are significant numbers of challenges in front of maintenance service providers at all stages of the business. This paper identifies, analyzes and prioritizes various challenges associated with the establishment and survival of garages specific to Indian context.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, challenges for automotive service garage are identified through expert opinion, garage survey and literature. A structural hierarchical framework of the identified challenges is established through structural models, including interpretive structural modeling and analytic hierarchy process.

Findings

This paper has identified nine challenges, namely proliferation of new models and variants; technological advancements in automobile systems; demand of better service quality; space and ambience requirements; labor requirements; requirement of modern support equipments, tools and spares; safety requirements and prevention of occupational hazards; environmental norms and concerns; proper documentation requirements. The drivers and dependent variables have been identified. A hierarchical framework of challenges has been established.

Practical implications

This paper provides a comprehensive list of challenges and their priority in establishing an automobile maintenance garage business in Indian context. This will help the budding entrepreneurs and existing maintenance organizations to focus on the challenges that necessitate immediate attention and corrective actions.

Originality/value

This paper provides a significant contribution in the literature of garage maintenance services, which is established on the viewpoint of different collaborators associated with this business. This study will be a foundation to investigate further in this domain.
A framework for implementing integrated project delivery in architecture design firms in Egypt
Authors: Othman Ayman Ahmed Ezzat , Youssef Lamis Yasser Wagih
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a framework for implementing the integrated project delivery (IPD) approach during the design process in architecture design firms (ADFs) in Egypt.

Design/methodology/approach

A research methodology consists of literature review, case studies and survey questionnaire was designed to achieve the abovementioned aim. First, literature review was used to identify and categorise the challenges of implementing IPD during the design process. Second, four case studies were analysed to investigate the values delivered to the client or missed due to the use of IPD or traditional procurement approaches, respectively. Finally, a survey questionnaire was carried out with a representative sample of ADFs in Egypt to investigate their perception towards the challenges of IPD implementation in Egypt. Based on the results of the above, the research developed a framework to facilitate the implementation of IPD in ADFs in Egypt.

Findings

Through literature review, the research identified 30 challenges that hamper the implementation of IPD in ADFs. These challenges were categorised due to their nature into five groups, namely, integration, cooperation, commitment and trust challenges, knowledge, experience skills and decision-making challenges, cultural challenges, legal and contractual challenges and technical and financial challenges. Results of data analysis showed that “poor communication and spirit of collaboration between project stakeholders” was ranked the highest influential challenge as IPD is based on collaboration and trust between project participants. In addition, “lack of training and motivation in investing for using IPD” was ranked the lowest influential challenge due to the poor attention paid to training in the construction industry. Moreover, despite the benefits of IPD implementations in many countries worldwide, it is not implemented in the Egyptian context. This necessitated taking action towards developing a framework to facilitate IPD implementation in ADFs in Egypt.

Research limitations/implications

The research focussed on ADFs in Egypt.

Practical implications

Adopting the proposed framework developed through this research will help implementing IPD during the design process in ADFs.

Originality/value

The research identified, categorised and analysed the challenges that obstruct the implementation of IPD in ADFs. The research tackled a topic that received scant attention in construction literature in the Middle East generally and Egypt in particular. In addition, this paper presented a framework to facilitate the implementation of IPD during the design process, which represents a synthesis that is novel and creative in thought and adds value to the knowledge in a manner that has not previously occurred.
Towards a taxonomy for real estate and land automated valuation systems
Authors: Glumac Brano , Des Rosiers François
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Automated valuation models have been in use at least for the last 50 years in both academia and practice, while automated valuation recently re-emerged as very important with the rise of digital infrastructure. The current state of the art, therefore, justifies the dual contributions of this paper: organising existing knowledge and providing a new framework.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides much-needed analysis and synthesis of the accumulated body of knowledge by proposing an updated classification of automated valuation approaches based on two criteria, and a taxonomy adapted to new trends. The latter requires a paradigm shift from models to automated valuation systems. Both classification and taxonomy arose after literature review.

Findings

This paper provides a framework for an explicit context under which automated valuation is carried out. To do so, authors propose a definition of automation valuation systems; contextualise the differences among theories, approaches, methods, models and systems present in automated valuation and introduce a classification of automated valuation approaches and a non-hierarchical taxonomy of automated valuation systems.

Research limitations/implications

Perhaps, a systematic literature review process instead of a selective list of 100 references could additionally validate the proposed classification and taxonomy.

Practical implications

The new framework, underlying various dimensions of the automated valuation process, can help practitioners surpass judging models based purely on their predictive accuracy. Also, the automated valuation system is a more generic term that can better accommodate future research coming from a multitude of disciplines, more diverse business areas and enlarged variety of practical users.

Originality/value

This is the first paper that develops a taxonomy of automated valuation systems.
Human leptospirosis in the Marche region: Over 10 years of surveillance
Authors: Magi Gloria , Mingoia Marina , Morroni Gianluca , Fioriti Simona , Coccitto Sonia Nina , Di Sante Laura , Giovanetti Eleonora , Brenciani Andrea
Published: October 2020

We conducted a 10 years’ retrospective study in 347 symptomatic individuals to assess the regional distribution of leptospirosis. A total of 173 individuals were diagnosed positive (49.8%): 11.5% were found positive to Leptospira by microscopic agglutination test positive, whereas 38.3% were found positive by microscopy analysis. The maximum peak of leptospirosis was reached in 2017 (n = 32). The most common serovars were Icterohaemorrhagiae and Poi.
CXC chemokine ligand 5 (CXCL5) disrupted the permeability of human brain microvascular endothelial cells via regulating p38 signal
Authors: Yu Min , Ma Xiaokun , Jiang Dudu , Wang Lijing , Zhan Qing , Zhao Jiangmin
Published: October 2020

The ischemia‐reperfusion‐induced damage in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) is associated with disruption of the blood–brain barrier. CXC chemokine ligand 5 (CXCL5) is reported to be up‐regulated in ischemic stroke. However, the detailed function of CXCL5 in this pathological process remains largely unclear. To further analyze the function of CXCL5 in ischemic stroke, an oxygen–glucose deprivation model on human BMECs was constructed to mimic the ischemic stroke condition in vitro. Cell proliferation was analyzed using a cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8) assay. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction and western blot were utilized to determine gene expression. The barrier function of BMECs was assessed using a fluorescently labeled dextran assay and a trans‐epithelial/endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) technique. The results indicated that CXCL5 antibody (anti‐CXCL5) promoted the proliferation of model cells, whereas it reduced the permeability. Moreover, the TEER value of model cells was enhanced in the presence of anti‐CXCL5. Therefore, these findings demonstrated that CXCL5 silencing attenuated the ischemic/hypoxic‐induced injury in human BMECs. Importantly, human recombinant protein CXCL5 (Re‐CXCL5) deeply disrupted the function of BMECs in the normoxic condition. Furthermore, the p38 inhibitor SB203580 significantly abolished the function of CXCL5 in model cells. More importantly, similar results were also obtained in BMECs under normoxic conditions in the presence of Re‐CXCL5. These results indicated that CXCL5 might regulate the function of BMECs by mediating the p38 pathway. This investigation not only enhanced the understanding of the biological effect of CXCL5 in human BMECs under ischemic/hypoxic conditions but also indicated its potential value as a therapeutic target for ischemic‐induced brain disease.
Ants adjust their tool use strategy in response to foraging risk
Authors: Zhou Aiming , Du Yuzhe , Chen Jian
Published: October 2020

Ants are among a few invertebrates that can use certain tools. For example, some ants can use debris and soil grains to transport liquid food. Although there has been evidence showing that ants can select the most efficient tools in transporting liquid food, little is known about their flexibility in using a specific tool under environmental pressure.

Black imported fire ants Solenopsis richteri Forel, can use sand grains as a tool for foraging. We hypothesized that S. richteri can adjust their strategy of tool use in response to various foraging risks. The hypothesis was tested by studying their sand use behaviour in response to sugar water with different drowning risks.

The results support our hypothesis. Solenopsis richteri indeed adjusted their strategy of tool use in response to increased drowning risks. Due to their hydrophobic cuticle, S. richteri can float on water surface to forage directly with the minimal risk of drowning. However, when the drowning risk was elevated by reducing the surface tension of sugar water in a food container by the addition of surfactant, ants used sand grains to build a structure that could effectively function as a syphon instead of directly foraging inside the container. This sand structure could draw sugar water out of the container then to be collected by the ants, which not only reduced the drowning risk of ants, but also provided a larger operational space for their collection of sugar water.

This study demonstrates that ants can not only recognize the increase in foraging risks, but also make corresponding adjustments to their strategy by using a specific tool. Our results also suggest that social insects can be highly flexible in their tool use in response to ecological challenges.

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