bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two extreme Loss-of-FunctionGRIN2B-mutations are detrimental to tri-heteromeric NMDAR-function, but rescued by pregnanolone-sulfate
Authors: Kellner Shai , Berlin Shai
Published: December 2022

Mutations within various N‐methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunits are tightly associated with severe pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders and encephalopathies (here denotedGRINopathies), for which there are no treatments. NMDARs are tetrameric receptors and can be found at the membrane of neurons in various compositions, namely in di- or tri-heteromeric forms. The GluN2B subunit appears very early in development and, therefore, prenatally this subunit is predominantly found within di-heteromeric receptors, exclusively composed of the GluN1 and GluN2B subunits. Postnatally, however, the GluN2A subunit undergoes rapid increase in expression, giving rise to the appearance of tri-heteromers containing the GluN1, GluN2A and GluN2B-subunits. The latter are emerging as the principal receptor-type postnatally. Despite more than a decade of research of numerousGRINopathies, not much is known regarding the effect ofGRINvariants when these are assembled within tri-heteromers. Here, we have systematically examined how twode novo GRIN2Bvariants (G689C and G689S) affect the function of di- and tri-heteromers. We show that whereas a single mutated subunit readily instigates a dominant negative effect over glutamate affinity of tri-heteromers, it does not dominate other features of the receptor, notably potentiation by pregnanolone-sulfate (PS). This led us to explore PS as a potential treatment for these two severe loss-of-function (LoF) mutations in cultured neurons, in which case we indeed find that the neurosteroid rescues current amplitudes. Together, we present the first report to examine LoFGRIN2Bmutations in the context of di- and tri-heteromeric receptors. We also provide the first demonstration of the positive outcome of the use of aGRIN2B-relevant potentiator in the context of tri-heteromers. Our results highlight the importance of examining how different mutations affect features in various receptor subtypes, as these could not have been deduced from observations performed on purely di-heteromers. Together, our study contributes to the ongoing efforts invested towards understanding the pathophysiology ofGRINopathiesas well as provides insights towards a potential treatment.
Human serum supplementation promotesStreptococcus mitisgrowth and induces specific transcriptomic responses
Authors: Wei Yahan , Sturges Camille I. , Palmer Kelli L.
Published: December 2022

Streptococcus mitisis a normal member of the human oral microbiota and a leading opportunistic pathogen causing infective endocarditis (IE). Despite the complex interactions betweenS. mitisand human host, understanding ofS. mitisphysiology, as well as its mechanisms of adaptation to host-associated environments, is inadequate, especially when compared with other IE bacterial pathogens. This study reports growth-promoting effects of human serum onS. mitisand other pathogenic streptococci, includingS. oralis, S. pneumoniae, andS. agalactiae. Using transcriptomic analyses we identified that, with the addition of human serum,S. mitisdown-regulates uptake systems for metal ions and sugars, fatty acid biosynthetic genes, and genes involved in stress response and other processes related with growth and replication.S. mitisup-regulates uptake systems for amino acids and short peptides in response to human serum. Zinc availability and environmental signals sensed by the induced short peptide binding proteins were not sufficient to confer the seen growth-promoting effects. More investigation is required to establish the mechanism for growth promotion. Overall, our study contributes to the fundamental understanding ofS. mitisphysiology under host-associated conditions.

Significance

S. mitisis exposed to human serum components during commensalism in the human mouth and bloodstream pathogenesis. However, the physiological effects of serum components on this bacterium remain unclear. Using transcriptomic analyses,S. mitisbiological processes that respond to the presence of human serum were revealed, providing the fundamental understanding ofS. mitisadaptations towards human host conditions.
Niche formation and metabolic interactions result in stable diversity in a spatially structured cyanobacterial community
Authors: Duxbury Sarah J.N. , Raguideau Sebastien , Cremin Kelsey , Rosko Jerko , Coates Mary , Randall Kieran , Chen Jing , Quince Christopher , Soyer Orkun S.
Published: December 2022

Understanding how microbial communities maintain stable compositional diversity is key for predicting community function. Studies from species pairwise interactions and synthetic communities indicate that metabolic interactions and spatial organisation can influence coexistence, but the relevance of these factors in more complex communities is unclear. Model systems often lack multi-species complexity, thereby making it difficult to study community diversity temporally. Here we used a spatially-organised cyanobacterial enrichment community to investigate compositional diversity and its stability. Over a year of passaging in media without significant carbon source, we found that the community maintains relatively high diversity, with 17 co-existing bacterial species. Using short and long read shotgun metagenomics sequencing from different time point samples, we have reconstructed complete genomes. Genomic annotation of these species revealed complementary metabolic functions involving carbon breakdown and vitamin biosynthesis suggesting interactions amongst community members. Using isolated species, we provide experimental support for carbon provision through cyanobacterial slime and growth on the component substrates by representative members of the Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota phyla. Additionally, we experimentally show vitamin provision and uptake between prototrophic and auxotrophic members. We also found genomic capability for (an)oxygenic photosynthesis and sulfur cycling in several species. We show consistent formation of oxygen gradients across ‘photogranule’ structures, supporting niches that can sustain these specific metabolic functions. These findings indicate that spatial niche formation and metabolic interactions enable maintenance of community compositional stability and diversity.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Microbes exist as species-diverse communities in nature and understanding their stability is an open challenge in microbial ecology. We established and maintained a spatially-organised, photosynthetic microbial community from a freshwater reservoir through long-term culturing in laboratory medium. We found that this community maintained a taxonomically-diverse set of 17 bacterial species. Combining genomic and physiological assays, we characterised a novel filamentous cyanobacterium capable of carbohydrate-rich ‘slime’ secretion supporting growth of other microbes. We predict inter-species vitamin exchanges and identify sulfur cycling and alternative types of photosynthesis that are likely to be favoured in oxygen-free zones identified within the spatial structures. Our findings indicate that metabolic interactions and spatial structures can enable stable microbial coexistence in natural ecosystems.
Phase-based genetic logic circuits
Authors: Rudge Timothy J. , Vidal Gonzalo
Published: December 2022

Bio-computation is the implementation of computational operations using biological substrates, such as cells engineered with synthetic genetic circuits. These genetic circuits can be composed of DNA parts with specific functions, such as promoters that initiate transcription, ribosome binding sites that initiate translation, and coding sequences that are translated into proteins. Compositions of such parts can encode genetic circuits in which the proteins produced by genes regulate each other in different ways. The expression level of each gene may be considered as a signal which may be high or low, encoding binary logic, and the combinations of genes can then encode logic circuits. This is equivalent to the level-based logic used in modern electronic computers in which the voltage forms the logical high or low states.

A different approach to binary logic is to encode the high and low states in the phase of an oscillating signal. In this approach a signal in phase with a reference represents high, and a signal antiphase with the reference represents the logical low state. We present here designs and models for phase-based genetic NOT, OR, AND, MAJORITY and complementary MAJORITY gates, which together form multiple complete logical sets. We derive analytical expressions for the optimal model parameters for circuit function. Our simulation results suggest that this approach to genetic logic is feasible and could be less sensitive to gate input-output mismatch than level-based genetic logic. To demonstrate the scaleability of phase-based genetic logic, we used our complementary MAJORITY and NOT gates to design and simulate a fully functional 4-bit ripple adder circuit, and showed that it was robust to molecular noise.
Structural and Cognitive Solutions to Prevent Group Fragmentation in Group-Living Species
Authors: Dunbar R.I.M.
Published: December 2022

Group-living is one of the six major evolutionary transitions. However, group-living creates stresses that naturally cause group fragmentation, and hence loss of the benefits that group-living provides. How species that live in large groups counteract these forces is not well understood. I analyse comparative data on grooming networks from a large sample of primate species and show that two different social grades can be differentiated in terms of network size and structure. I show that living in large, stable groups involves a combination of increased investment in bonding behaviours (made possible by a dietary adjustment) and the evolution of neuronally expensive cognitive skills of the kind known to underpin social relationships in humans. The first allows the stresses created by these relationships to be defused; the second allows large numbers of weak relationships to be managed, creating a form of multilevel sociality based on strong versus weak ties similar to that found in human social networks.
Sex and timing of gonadectomy relative to puberty interact to influence weight, body composition, and feeding behaviors in mice
Authors: Klappenbach Courtney M. , Wang Qing , Jensen Allison L. , Glodosky Nicholas C. , Delevich Kristen
Published: December 2022

Gonadal sex steroids are important regulators of energy balance in adult rodents, and gonadectomy (GDX) has opposing effects on weight gain in sexually mature males and females. Puberty is associated with the emergence of sex differences in weight, body composition, and feeding behaviors, yet the role of gonadal hormones at puberty remains unclear. To address this, we performed GDX or sham surgery in male and female C57Bl/6 mice at postnatal day (P)25 (prepubertal) or P60 (postpubertal) timepoints and measured weight and body composition for 35 days, after whichad libitumand operant food intake was measured using Feeding Experimentation Device 3 (FED3s) in the home cage. Consistent with previous studies, postpubertal GDX caused weight gain in females and weight loss in males and increased adiposity in both sexes. However, prepubertal GDX decreased weight gain and altered body composition across the adolescent transition (P25 to P60) in males but had no effect in females. Despite the varied effects on weight, GDX decreased food intake and motivation for food as assessed in operant tasks regardless of sex or timing of surgery relative to puberty. Our findings indicate that GDX interacts with both sex and age at surgery to influence weight, body composition, and feeding behavior.

Highlights

Gonadectomy had opposing effects on weight in males and females when performed in adulthood.

Gonadectomy performed prior to puberty decreased weight gain in males but did not affect weight gain in females.

Across sex and age at surgery, GDX decreasedad libitumfood intake and reduced operant responding for food.

Decreased food intake under effortful conditions was not explained by body weight in GDX mice.
GWAS of Chronic Dizziness in the Elderly Identifies Novel Loci ImplicatingMLLT10, BPTF, LINC01225, andROS1
Authors: Clifford Royce , Munro Daniel , Dochtermann Daniel , Devineni Poornima , Pyarajan Saiju , Program Million Veteran , Talese Francesca , Palmer Abraham A. , Mohammadi Pejman , Friedman Rick
Published: December 2022

Background

Chronic age-related dizziness can arise from dysfunction of the vestibulocochlear system, an elegant neuroanatomical group of pathways that mediates human perception of linear acceleration, gravity, and angular head motion. Studies indicates that 27-46% of chronic imbalance is genetically inherited, nevertheless, underlying genes leading to chronic imbalance remain unknown.

Methods

The Million Veteran Program comprises over 900,000 diverse-ancestry participants. Cases required two diagnoses of dizziness at least six months apart, excluding acute vertiginous syndromes, ataxias, syncope, and traumatic brain injury. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS’) were performed as separate logistic regressions on Europeans, African Americans, and those of Hispanic ancestry, followed by trans-ancestry meta-analysis. Downstream analysis included case-case-GWAS, fine-mapping, probabilistic colocalization of significant variants and genes with eQTLs, and functional analysis of significant hits.

Results

The final cohort consisted of 50,339 cases and 366,900 controls. Two significant loci were identified in Europeans, another in the Hispanic population, and two additional loci in trans-ancestry meta-analysis. Fine mapping revealed credible sets of intronic single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes includingMLLT10- a histone methyl transferase cofactor,BPTF- a subunit of a nucleosome remodeling complex implicated in neurodevelopment,LINC01224- affecting transcription ofZNF91, a repressor of retrotransposons, andROS1– a proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase.

Conclusion

Balance dysfunction can lead to catastrophic outcomes, including falls, injury, and death in the elderly. By removing acute vertiginous syndromes and non-cochlear disorders to focus on vestibulocochlear age-related dizziness, findings suggest genomic candidates for further study and ultimate treatment of this common neurologic disease.

KEY MESSAGES

What is already known on this topic

The vestibule of the cochlea is a neuroanatomic structure mediating balance, and chronic imbalance in the elderly is a large predictor of falls and their associated morbidities and mortalities. Chronic vestibular balance is 27% - 46% heritable, however, underlying genes are unknown.

What this study adds

In a genome-wide association study, we identified novel single nucleotide polymorphisms and genes associated with chronic dizziness in the elderly.

How this study might affect research, practice or policy

Ascertaining the physiologic/genetic architecture in the cochleovestibular system will aid in future treatment where drug development can target specifically genes related to imbalance. Individuals at higher genetic risk for imbalance can be provided more focused preventive vestibular therapy.
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy is associated with altered myoblast proteome dynamics
Authors: Nishimura Yusuke , Bittel Adam J. , Stead Connor A. , Chen Yi-Wen , Burniston Jatin G
Published: December 2022

Proteomic studies in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) could offer new insight to disease mechanisms underpinned by post-transcriptional processes. We used stable isotope (deuterium oxide; D2O) labelling and peptide mass spectrometry to investigate the abundance and turnover rates of proteins in cultured muscle cells from 2 individuals affected by FSHD and their unaffected siblings (UASb). We measured the abundance of 4485 proteins and the turnover rate of 2324 proteins in each (n= 4) myoblast sample. FSHD myoblasts exhibited a greater abundance but slower turnover rate of subunits of mitochondrial respiratory complexes and mitochondrial ribosomal proteins, which may indicate an accumulation of ‘older’ less viable mitochondrial proteins in myoblasts from individuals affected by FSHD. Our results highlight the importance of post-transcriptional processes and protein turnover in FSHD pathology and provide a resource for the FSHD research community to explore this burgeoning aspect of FSHD.
Crystal structure of the C-terminal domain of the plant-specific microtubule-associated protein Spiral2
Authors: Ohno Marina , Higuchi Yuuki , Hayashi Ikuko
Published: December 2022

Plant cells form microtubule arrays, called `cortical microtubules', beneath the plasma membrane which are critical for cell-wall organization and directional cell growth. Cortical microtubules are nucleated independently of centrosomes. Spiral2 is a land-plant-specific microtubule minus-end-targeting protein that stabilizes the minus ends by inhibiting depolymerization of the filament. Spiral2 possesses an N-terminal microtubule-binding domain and a conserved C-terminal domain whose function is unknown. In this study, the crystal structure of the conserved C-terminal domain of Spiral2 was determined using the single-wavelength anomalous dispersion method. Refinement of the model to a resolution of 2.2 Å revealed a helix–turn–helix fold with seven α-helices. The protein crystallized as a dimer, but SEC-MALS analysis showed the protein to be monomeric. A structural homology search revealed that the protein has similarity to the C-terminal domain of the katanin regulatory subunit p80. The structure presented here suggests that the C-terminal domain of Spiral2 represents a new class of microtubule dynamics modulator across the kingdom.
Factors influencing re-usage intention of online and mobile grocery shopping amongst young adults in South Africa
Authors: Ligaraba Neo , Nyagadza Brighton , Dӧrfling Danie , Zulu Qinisoliyakhulula Mhlengi
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study investigates the factors influencing re-usage intention of online and mobile grocery shopping among young adult consumers in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from selected young adult participants using a stratified probability sampling strategy. Smart PLS was used to analyse the data.

Findings

The findings of the study indicate that perceived usefulness (PU), peer review (PR) and attitude (ATT) positively influence continuance intention (CI).

Research limitations/implications

In line with the available literature, there are few prior post-adoption studies that delineate the influence of individual characteristics on digital commerce usage activities. There is high mobile penetration as a result of positive digital commerce and mobile application usage and adoption, creating the need to investigate and better understand the drivers behind, not just adoption and usage, but continued use of digital commerce platforms and applications. Since the sample size is relatively small, further future research studies can test the same model with bigger sample sizes to assess generalisability of the results in different locations.

Practical implications

This study adds to the current literature by concentrating on the extent to which systems and marketing elements influence young adult customers' intention to continue using online and mobile grocery shopping platforms in South Africa.

Originality/value

The study adds value from a theoretical standpoint, contributing to the antecedent factors of the technology acceptance model (TAM), theory of reasoned action (TRA) and stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) model and giving marketing academics insights into what aspects drive re-use of online and mobile grocery shopping and on what should be the focus.
Employee attrition prediction in a pharmaceutical company using both machine learning approach and qualitative data
Authors: Mozaffari Fatemeh , Rahimi Marzieh , Yazdani Hamidreza , Sohrabi Babak
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This research intends to develop a model for predicting employees at a high-risk attrition and identify the most important factors affecting them.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, using the triangulation technique of a mixed research method, the employee attrition problem is investigated by identifying its affecting factors. For that matter, data related to the human resources department of a pharmaceutical company in Iran are used. And to achieve the intended goal, advanced data mining algorithms and interviews with human resource managers are applied.

Findings

A model for predicting employees at a high-risk attrition is presented based on the gradient boosting machine algorithm with 89% accuracy. The use of the mixed research approach shows that qualitative and quantitative methods can be more effective in identifying the factors affecting employee churn or loss of staff. The results also contain a new situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic and remote working scenarios having impact on employee attrition. Finally, human resource policies are presented based on variables related to each of the identified factors.

Originality/value

The novel contributions of this study include real data related to a leading pharmaceutical company as well as a combination of two quantitative and qualitative methods. The hybrid approach can identify the reasons for attrition and, consequently, retention policies to benefit from the advantage of both approaches. Data mining can be useful to identify the factors, which are usually not mentioned in termination interviews, such as direct managers. On the other hand, the results obtained from termination interviews can also include features that the authors cannot identify through data mining, which are specifically related to the characteristics of the pharmaceutical industry such as building a more professional career path. From a practical perspective, since this company specializes in pharmaceutical marketing in a new way and is primarily comprised graduates, it is important to note that the churn of specialized people disperses organizational and technological know-how. On the other hand, the pharmacist community in Iran is small, and their attrition might adversely affect not only the reputation of an organization but the employer's brand as well. So, this research would help other similar firms in retaining their valuable human capital.
An overall blockage attenuation-based aerodynamic performance and stability design optimization method for transonic axial flow compressors
Authors: Wang Xuesong , Sun Jinju , Benini Ernesto , Song Peng , He Youwei
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study aims to use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to understand and quantify the overall blockage within a transonic axial flow compressor (AFC), and to develop an efficient collaborative design optimization method for compressor aerodynamic performance and stability in conjunction with a surrogate-assisted optimization technique.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantification method for the overall blockage is developed to integrate the effect of regional blockages on compressor aerodynamic stability and performance. A well-defined overall blockage factor combined with efficiency drives the optimizer to seek the optimum blade designs with both high efficiency and wide-range stability. An adaptive Kriging-based optimization technique is adopted to efficiently search for Pareto front solutions. Steady and unsteady numerical simulations are used for the performance and flow field analysis of the datum and optimum designs.

Findings

The proposed method not only remarkably improves the compressor efficiency but also significantly enhances the compressor operating stability with fewer CFD calls. These achievements are mainly attributed to the improvement of specific flow behaviors oriented by the objectives, including the attenuation of the shock and weakening of the tip leakage flow/shock interaction intensity.

Originality/value

CFD-based design optimization of AFC is inherently time-consuming, which becomes even trickier when optimizing aerodynamic stability since the stall margin relies on a complete simulation of the performance curve. The proposed method could be a good solution to the collaborative design optimization of aerodynamic performance and stability for transonic AFC.
The role of online channel in influencing perceived firm size and brand authenticity in international marketing
Authors: Septianto Felix , Japutra Arnold , Putra Pragea , Ang Tyson
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This research investigates the role of marketing channel selection in influencing brand authenticity and purchase likelihood in the international marketing domain. Further, perceived firm size is identified as a mediator in this regard. The moderating role of consumer skepticism is also considered.

Design/methodology/approach

Three experimental studies were carried out across three different markets (India, the US and the UK) in the context of South Korean brands.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that firms utilizing (only) online channels are perceived to be smaller than those that utilize hybrid channels (i.e. both online and physical stores) or offline channels (i.e. physical stores). When consumers perceive firms to be smaller, they also report higher levels of brand authenticity, which in turn increases their purchase likelihood. Further, this effect is weaker among consumers with high levels of skepticism.

Originality/value

The findings of the present research contribute to the international marketing literature by demonstrating how consumers perceive online marketing channels, the role of marketing channel selection in driving brand authenticity, as well as providing managerial implications on how to promote products in the international market.
Enhancing the tourist experiences and attractiveness of World Heritage Sites: a stakeholders' perspective
Authors: Juneja Monisha , Sufi Tahir , Bhatnagar Mamta
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The study aims, based on the symbiotic relationship between tourism agencies and various stakeholders, to investigate what “policy-level” partners would advise their “practice-level” counterparts on, first, how the World Heritage Site (WHS) status of monuments can be made attractive for travellers, and second, what steps can be taken by stakeholders to enhance the WHS tourist experience.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach involving e-mail interviews was adopted. Content analyses of open-ended exploratory questions put to “policy-level” respondents yielded 10 major themes that can enhance the brand appeal of the WHS.

Findings

The findings offer in-depth solutions for better trip experiences of Heritage Tourists. Insights from the responses under ten thematic areas have direct relevance for application by tourism and hospitality facilitators.

Practical implications

Although this study was conducted in India, its findings hold implications for practice throughout the world. They could similarly be incorporated as elements of policy directed at incentivising communication of the value of preserving heritage for future generations.

Originality/value

While previous research focused on stakeholders for planning and policy making, this study explores the stakeholder's perspective for a more comprehensive understanding of how using the WHS brand can generate more holistic tourism development.
The hope and hype of neuromarketing: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Siddique Junaid , Shamim Amjad , Nawaz Muhammad , Abid Muhammad Farrukh
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Recent years have witnessed a rise in interest in neuromarketing from academia and industry, as it offers practical tools for determining consumers' subconscious reactions to marketing stimuli. Despite this, the current state of neuromarketing research is not well supported by empirical data. To offer a thorough overview of the studies conducted on this discipline in the past few years, a bibliometric analysis of neuromarketing is carried out, taking into account its techniques, key areas and publication patterns trends from several viewpoints.

Design/methodology/approach

This study searched 463 documents for the web of science databases published during the previous sixteen years and visualized them. The graphical display of data was created using the VOS Viewer software.

Findings

Electroencephalogram (EEG) appeared as a predominantly tool used in neuromarketing research. EEG is either used alone or together with Human Eye-Tracking (HET). “Emotions” was identified in the study as a crucial area of neuromarketing, among other pertinent concepts. The study's results also showed that authors from the United States produced the most articles on neuromarketing, followed by those from the United Kingdom and Spain. The publishing trend, sources and major contributors in neuromarketing are identified using Web of Science data from 2006 to 2021. Overall, the research provides insight into neuromarketing's past, present and future as well as the most widely utilized analytical techniques.

Originality/value

The study's conclusions will be of interest to researchers in understanding the journals that publish neuromarketing research, the themes that contributors and writers have identified, and the countries where research is carried out. This is the first comprehensive study, to the authors' knowledge, that provides a general summary of the key trends in neuromarketing research throughout its history. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first thorough study that offers a broad overview of the most important developments in neuromarketing research from 2006 to 2021.
Taking Chatman back to prison: rethinking the theory of life in the round
Authors: Garner Jane
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This paper serves to test the validity of Chatman’s theory of “Life Lived in the Round” within a modern prison context. In particular, it examines Propositions Five and Six of her theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Data regarding the information-seeking practices of Australian adult female and male prisoners from maximum-, medium- and minimum-security facilities was gathered through 106 surveys and 27 semi-structured interviews. Participants’ information-seeking from sources internal and external to the “small world” of the prison was described. The information behaviours of the participants were examined against Chatman’s theory of “Life in the Round” to determine its applicability in the prison context.

Findings

The data gathered does not support Chatman’s theory of “Life Lived in the Round”, despite that theory being developed in a prison context. Neither Proposition Five nor Proposition Six of Chatman’s theory can be supported when examined in the light of the current data.

Research limitations/implications

The inability of the data to support Chatman’s theory requires a reassessment of the applicability of the theory, at least to the prison context. As the theory was generated in part from a prison study, the foundational understandings of the theory could be questioned as a result of this current research.

Originality/value

Although Chatman’s theory has been examined against the information behaviours of other “Small World” communities, none of these studies have taken the theory back to the prison context from which the theory was developed. This study is also novel as its findings do not support Chatman’s theory, in contrast to other previously published examinations.
Financial inclusion: a new multi-dimensional index and determinants – evidence from the Union for the Mediterranean countries
Authors: Ben Khelifa Soumaya , Hmaied Dorra , Ben Ouda Olfa , Ayadi Rym , Makni Rania
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This paper proposes a new multi-dimensional financial inclusion index.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ two-stage principal component analysis (PCA) and aggregating indicators of availability, access and use. The paper first assesses the cross-country variations in the index and analyses trends over time for a sample of countries members of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) from 2010–2018. Second, it investigates factors that could explain the level of financial inclusion across countries.

Findings

The financial inclusion index shows a downward trend for the full sample over the period under investigation; however when splitting the sample by income group, it appears that high- and middle–income countries did not register the same trend. When examining the determinants of financial inclusion for the UfM countries, the authors find that macroeconomic, social and governance factors, as well as banking conditions, matter. Policy-makers in low- and middle-income economies should consider the importance of digital financial inclusion, which is substituting the role to traditional banking system, to close the gap and accelerate its development.

Originality/value

First, the authors provide a new measure of financial inclusion using a three-dimensional index: availability, access and use, for which weights are assigned using PCA. It uses data available for the UfM sample by combining data from different databases in order to include most indicators considered in the literature, as the majority of studies only use single measures (number of bank branches, ownership of a bank account, ratio of credits or deposits to gross domestic product [GDP], etc.). Second, by focussing on UfM countries, the study covers a region that includes both large developed and small developing economies that are connected via financial and trade ties, whilst previous studies generally give global evidence from an international sample with little or no economic ties. Third, splitting the sample by country income groups, the paper presents a more comprehensive representation of the cross-country variation in financial inclusion levels between high- and middle-income economies for this region.
Basic income in Australia: an exploration
Authors: Nghiem Son , Vu Xuan-Binh (Benjamin)
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Basic income (BI) is predicted to be the major economic intervention in response to raising income inequality and accelerating technological progress. Financing is often the first question that arises when discussing a BI. A thorough answer to this question will determine the sustainability of any BI program. However, BI experiments implemented worldwide have not answered this question. This paper explores two options for a BI program in Australia: (1) BI and (2) top-up basic income (TBI).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ “back-of-the-envelope” calculations with the latest publicly available data on income distribution, the poverty line and the share of income tax in the government revenue to estimate the costs of implementing BI in Australia.

Findings

Even without any change in the current tax regulations, the TBI option, which requires a contribution of 2–3% disposable income from net contributors, will guarantee that no Australian family lives under the current national poverty line. The BI for all options is not financially feasible under the current tax and transfer regulations because it requires an additional tax rate of at least 42% of disposable income from net contributors.

Practical implications

The results of this study can serve as inputs for the design and implementation of BI options in Australia and similar countries.

Originality/value

This is the first paper that examines the macroeconomic effects of BI options in Australia.
When love leads the way! Conceptualizing triangular theory of love and expectations-confirmation theory in Islamic banking
Authors: Ismail Ismail Juma
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the mediating effect of brand love (BRL) on the relationship between service quality and brand addiction (BRA) among Islamic banks. Past studies have noted that customer satisfaction as the primary means of studying customer behaviour needs to be reconsidered because even satisfied customer switch brands, and the dissatisfied customer have repurchasing intentions. Therefore, considering BRL and BRA can be a new way of studying customer behaviour in Islamic banking.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a structured questionnaire administered to 380 customers of Islamic banks. The study used structural equation modelling and Process Macro test in the analysis.

Findings

The empirical findings of this study suggest that service quality is positively and significantly related to BRL and that BRL positively and significantly relates to BRA. Furthermore, the findings indicate that BRL mediates the relationship between service quality and BRA.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study have revealed that the triangular theory of love and expectation-confirmation theory can be combined to explain the relationship between service quality and loving relationships among customers of Islamic banks.

Practical implications

The study provides ways in which service providers can use service qualities to manage BRL and addiction. Based on the positive and significant relationships, managers of Islamic banks can build service qualities that are vital for creating BRL and BRA.

Originality/value

The link between service quality, BRL and BRA is not adequately established, especially in Islamic banking. This is important to be established because studying consumer psychology is currently considered a vital strategy for customer repurchasing and switching barriers in the modern banking business. Furthermore, integrating two theories, the triangular theory of love and expectation-confirmation theory, provide a new way of combining two theoretical aspects from different disciplines.
Determinants of Zakat donor behavior in a Gulf state
Authors: AlShamali Sarah , AlMutairi Shihanah
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the donor characteristics of Muslim donors and fills the gap by empirically surveying Muslim donors from Kuwait. The authors believe their sample choice to be of importance due to the stark contrast between the Kuwaiti and Asian environment, of which much of the literature’s findings on Muslim donor behavior was based on.

Design/methodology/approach

The characteristics studied include demographics, socioeconomics, individual attitudes, trust perceived generosity among others identified in the literature. Data was gathered by disseminating 320 surveys to better understand which variables have significant influence on an individual’s charity behavior. Statistical analysis using regression method was used to analyze the data.

Findings

The findings report that fundraising campaigns, perceived financial security are significant and there is also a significant association between certain charity activities and gender. The findings have implications on market segmentation and promotional strategies aimed toward similar donor profiles and for the charities soliciting Zakat who are based in the Gulf Cooperation Council region.

Originality/value

The contributions of this manuscript further the knowledge of donor behavior and thus enrich the body of work within research that explores the role of marketing in philanthropic and non-profit organizations. This study provides deeper insights into the Muslim’s donor behavior and from a managerial standpoint, facilitates on how to target them effectively when soliciting donations or raising funds for campaigns within Muslim communities, an area that has received little attention from research investigating marketing for nonprofit organizations.
Assessing the impact of fusion-based additive manufacturing technologies on green supply chain management performance
Authors: Ferreira Inês A. , Oliveira J.P. , Antonissen Joachim , Carvalho Helena
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the impacts of wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) technology on the green supply chain management (GSCM) performance. Also, it intends to identify the most essential WAAM capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory case study related to a metallurgical company using WAAM technology to repair metallic components was developed. A research framework to identify WAAM production capabilities and the different GSCM performance criteria was proposed based on the current state of the art. Primary qualitative data provided evidence for developing seven propositions relating WAAM capabilities to GSCM performance.

Findings

The paper provides empirical evidence relating to how WAAM production capabilities impact the different performance criteria of the GSCM performance. The results show that “relative advantage” and “supply-side benefits” are critical capabilities developed through WAAM. Furthermore, most of the capabilities regarding “relative advantage” and “supply-side benefits” promote a higher GSCM performance.

Research limitations/implications

This research was carried out using a single case study research design and using qualitative data. Thus, future works are encouraged to test the propositions empirically using quantitative methodologies.

Practical implications

The case study findings support that most WAAM production capabilities promote a higher GSCM performance. Managers could use this research to understand the capabilities developed by this fusion-based additive manufacturing (AM), become aware of the implications of new technology adoption on the supply chain environmental externalities, and develop new business models based on the WAAM capabilities.

Originality/value

This research contributes to expanding the state-of-the art related to WAAM technology by evidencing the relationship between adopting this fusion-based AM technology and green supply chain practices. Also, it provides a set of seven propositions that could be used to theorise the impacts of WAAM adoption on the GSCM performance.
Presence of eosinophil extracellular trap cell death in the affected skin of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis
Authors: Kawakami Tamihiro , Yokoyama Kae , Ikeda Takaharu , Tomizawa Hiroki , Ueki Shigeharu
Published: December 2022

Eosinophil activation in tissue might be associated with disease severity. Eosinophil cytolysis, a process of active cell death, has been referred to as eosinophil extracellular trap cell death (EETosis). In the present study, the authors investigated EETosis in the affected skin of four patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) using an immunofluorescence staining method. Immunofluorescence staining for myelin basic protein, galectin‐10, and DNA revealed various degrees of EETosis and Charcot‐Leyden crystals in skin tissue, suggesting the different degree of eosinophil activation status. The histopathological characteristic features may help physicians establish an earlier diagnosis of intractable eosinophilic‐related disease including EGPA. Furthermore, ETotic eosinophil infiltration in perineurium of skin tissue might play a primary role in peripheral neuropathy of this disorder.
Presidents, priests, and prophets: covenantal Christian nationalism and the challenge of biblical analogy
Authors: Haynes Naomi
Published: December 2022

This article explores the elaboration and application of the Old Testament idea of ‘covenant’ among Zambian church leaders who are Christian nationalist activists. In this framework, Zambia serves as an analogue of biblical Israel, while contemporary government and church leaders are the analogues of Old Testament kings, priests, and prophets. This covenantal approach presents challenges. On the one hand, government support for Christian nationalism encourages the compliance of church leaders with state‐led religious projects; on the other hand, however, the analogical reading of the biblical text on which this support depends casts the church in a prophetic role, which in turn opens the door for criticism of the government. Christian nationalist activists in Zambia therefore find themselves caught in a double‐bind that simultaneously encourages submission and critique. An analysis of this process contributes an important non‐Western perspective to contemporary discussions of Christian nationalism. It also complicates easy interpretations of Christian nationalism as abetting state power by demonstrating its critical possibilities.
Genetic basis of enhanced stress resistance in long‐lived mutants highlights key role of innate immunity in determining longevity
Authors: Soo Sonja K. , Traa Annika , Rudich Zenith D. , Moldakozhayev Alibek , Mistry Meeta , Van Raamsdonk Jeremy M.
Published: December 2022

Mutations that extend lifespan are associated with enhanced resistance to stress. To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying this relationship, we directly compared lifespan extension, resistance to external stressors, and gene expression in a panel of nine long‐lived Caenorhabditis elegans mutants from different pathways of lifespan extension. All of the examined long‐lived mutants exhibited increased resistance to one or more types of stress. Resistance to each of the examined types of stress had a significant, positive correlation with lifespan, with bacterial pathogen resistance showing the strongest relationship. Analysis of transcriptional changes indicated that all of the examined long‐lived mutants showed a significant upregulation of multiple stress response pathways. Interestingly, there was a very significant overlap between genes highly correlated with stress resistance and genes highly correlated with longevity, suggesting that the same genetic pathways drive both phenotypes. This was especially true for genes correlated with bacterial pathogen resistance, which showed an 84% overlap with genes correlated with lifespan. To further explore the relationship between innate immunity and longevity, we disrupted the p38‐mediated innate immune signaling pathway in each of the long‐lived mutants and found that this pathway is required for lifespan extension in eight of nine mutants. Overall, our results demonstrate a strong correlation between stress resistance and longevity that results from the high degree of overlap in genes contributing to each phenotype. Moreover, these findings demonstrate the importance of the innate immune system in lifespan determination and indicate that the same underlying genes drive both immunity and longevity.
Dissecting the influence of cellular senescence on cell mechanics and extracellular matrix formation in vitro
Authors: Brauer Erik , Lange Tobias , Keller Daniela , Görlitz Sophie , Cho Simone , Keye Jacqueline , Gossen Manfred , Petersen Ansgar , Kornak Uwe
Published: December 2022

Tissue formation and healing both require cell proliferation and migration, but also extracellular matrix production and tensioning. In addition to restricting proliferation of damaged cells, increasing evidence suggests that cellular senescence also has distinct modulatory effects during wound healing and fibrosis. Yet, a direct role of senescent cells during tissue formation beyond paracrine signaling remains unknown. We here report how individual modules of the senescence program differentially influence cell mechanics and ECM expression with relevance for tissue formation. We compared DNA damage‐mediated and DNA damage‐independent senescence which was achieved through over‐expression of either p16Ink4a or p21Cip1 cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitors in primary human skin fibroblasts. Cellular senescence modulated focal adhesion size and composition. All senescent cells exhibited increased single cell forces which led to an increase in tissue stiffness and contraction in an in vitro 3D tissue formation model selectively for p16 and p21‐overexpressing cells. The mechanical component was complemented by an altered expression profile of ECM‐related genes including collagens, lysyl oxidases, and MMPs. We found that particularly the lack of collagen and lysyl oxidase expression in the case of DNA damage‐mediated senescence foiled their intrinsic mechanical potential. These observations highlight the active mechanical role of cellular senescence during tissue formation as well as the need to synthesize a functional ECM network capable of transferring and storing cellular forces.