bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Immunological Biomarkers Associated With Rejection After Uterus Transplantation in Human
Authors: Carbonnel Marie , Petit Maxime , Tarantino Nadine , Morin Veronique , Corneau Aurélien , Tourne Morgan , Gueguan Justine , Mölne Johann , Akouri Randa , Broecker Verena , Vinit Angélique , Racowsky Catherine , Brännström Mats , Ayoubi Jean-Marc , Vieillard Vincent
Published: July 2024

Background.

Uterus transplantation (UTx) is an emerging therapy for women with uterine infertility. However, critical questions remain with this procedure including the mechanisms involved in graft rejection.

Methods.

In this study, we analyzed the immune profile of ectocervical biopsies from 5 patients after UTx before and during their first episode of rejection using RNA sequencing, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and imaging mass cytometry.

Results.

We identified 530 upregulated and 207 downregulated genes associated with graft rejection. Enrichment databases revealed abnormalities of skin-associated genes and the immune system, in particular activation of T and B lymphocytes, and macrophages. Imaging mass cytometry confirmed these observations; in cervical biopsies of 3 women, rejection was associated with the presence of B-cell structures linked to tertiary lymphoid structures, and 2 biopsies from 1 woman with severe rejection episodes and poor prognosis of graft function (repeated miscarriage and implantation failures) were associated with an accumulation of HLA-DR− macrophages, producing granzyme B at the surface of the epithelium.

Conclusions.

We showed that rejection of a UTx graft was associated with major alterations of immune markers including the involvement of tertiary lymphoid structures, the most organized of which may be a sign of chronic rejection, and with an increase in HLA-DR− macrophages expressing granzyme B in the case of grade 3 rejection episodes according Mölne’s classification. We identified potential emerging biomarkers to predict or diagnose graft rejection (Keratin 1 granzyme B, IL1β). These findings could lead to development of improved strategies for the identification, prevention, and/or treatment of uterus graft rejection.
Sphingobacterium tenebrionis sp. nov., isolated from intestine of mealworm
Authors: Zhang Chengsong , Zhang Guoqiang , Chen Yuexing , Zheng Shanmin , Du Jieke , Zhao Zhiyi , Zhao Yushuo , Wang Ning , Chen Cheng , Gao Zhengquan , Li Shengying , Liu Kun
Published: July 2024

A bacterial strain designated PU5-4T was isolated from the mealworm (the larvae of Tenebrio molitor) intestines. It was identified to be Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile, and non-spore-forming. Strain PU5-4T was observed to grow at 10–40 °C, at pH 7.0–10.0, and in the presence of 0–3.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain PU5-4T should be assigned to the genus Sphingobacterium. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity analysis showed that strain PU5-4T was closely related to the type strains of Sphingobacterium lactis DSM 22361T (98.49 %), Sphingobacterium endophyticum NYYP31T (98.11 %), Sphingobacterium soli NCCP 698T (97.69 %) and Sphingobacterium olei HAL-9T (95.73 %). The predominant isoprenoid quinone is MK-7. The major fatty acids were identified as iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 03-OH and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1
 ω7c and/or C16 : 1
 ω6c) and summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 0
 ω9c). The polar lipids are phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid, and six unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain PU5-4T is 40.24 mol%. The average nucleotide identity of strain PU5-4T exhibited respective values of 73.88, 73.37, 73.36 and 70.84 % comparing to the type strains of S. lactis DSM 22361T, S. soli NCCP 698T, S. endophyticum NYYP31T and S. olei HAL-9T, which are below the cut-off level (95–96 %) for species delineation. Based on the above results, strain PU5-4T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingobacterium, for which the name Sphingobacterium temoinsis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PU5-4T (=CGMCC 1.61908T=JCM 36663T).
Canonical time-series features for characterizing biologically informative dynamical patterns in fMRI
Authors: Alam Imran , Harris Brendan , Cahill Patrick , Cliff Oliver , Markicevic Marija , Zerbi Valerio , Fulcher Ben D.
Published: July 2024

The interdisciplinary time-series analysis literature encompasses thousands of statistical features for quantifying interpretable properties of dynamical data. But for any given application, it is likely that just a small subset of informative time-series features is required to capture the dynamical quantities of interest. So, while comprehensive libraries of time-series features have been developed, it is useful to construct reduced and computationally efficient subsets for specific applications. In this work, we demonstrate a systematic process to deduce such a reduced set, focused on the problem of distinguishing changes to functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) time series caused by a range of experimental manipulations of excitatory and inhibitory neural activity in mouse cortical circuits. We reduce a comprehensive library of over 7000 candidate time-series features down to a subset of 16 features, which we callcatchaMouse16, that aims to both: (i) accurately characterize biologically relevant properties of fMRI time series; and (ii) minimize inter-feature redundancy. ThecatchaMouse16feature set accurately classifies experimental perturbations of neuronal activity from fMRI recordings, and also shows strong generalization performance on an unseen mouse and human resting-state fMRI data where it tracks spatial variations in excitatory and inhibitory cortical cell densities, often with greater statistical power than the fullhctsafeature set. We provide an efficient, open-source implementation of thecatchaMouse16feature set in C (achieving an approximately 60 times speed-up relative to the native Matlab code of the same features), with wrappers for Python and Matlab. This work demonstrates a procedure to reduce a large candidate time-series feature set down to the key statistical properties of mouse fMRI dynamics that can be used to efficiently quantify and interpret informative dynamical patterns in neural time series.
Enhancing sleep via rocking ameliorates motor behavior and reduces beta-amyloid levels in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Zhang Luyan , Santoni Letizia , Ngo Nam Anh , Simayi Reyila , Ficiará Eleonora , de Vivo Luisa , Bellesi Michele
Published: July 2024

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive decline and characterized by beta-amyloid plaque and tau tangle pathology. Recent research indicates a bidirectional relationship between AD pathology and sleep disturbances, with disrupted sleep exacerbating AD progression through increased beta-amyloid and tau accumulation. This strongly indicates that improving sleep may exert a direct protective effect on preventing the accumulation and spreading of AD pathology, and possibly slow the cognitive decline.

Here we investigated the effects of enhancing sleep via vestibular stimulation (rocking) on AD progression in a 3xTg mouse model. Over a four-month period starting in early adulthood (p60), we monitored sleep patterns, motor function, memory, and AD pathology. Twelve-hour rocking during the light period significantly increased non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep duration in mice, although this effect diminished over time due to habituation. Despite this, rocking attenuated motor function decline and reduced beta-amyloid levels in the cerebral cortex of treated mice. No noticeable changes in tau levels were observed following sleep enhancement.

In conclusion, our findings highlight the potential of non-pharmacological methods to enhance NREM sleep and modify disease trajectory in AD models, emphasizing the critical role of sleep in neuroprotection.
CompactTree: A lightweight header-only C++ library for ultra-large phylogenetics
Authors: Moshiri Niema
Published: July 2024

Motivation

The study of viral and bacterial species requires the ability to load and traverse ultra-large phylogenies with tens of millions of tips, but existing tree libraries struggle to scale to these sizes.

Results

We introduce CompactTree, a lightweight header-only C++ library for traversing ultra-large trees that can be easily incorporated into other tools, and we show that it is orders of magnitude faster and requires orders of magnitude less memory than existing tree packages.

Availability

CompactTree can be accessed at:https://github.com/niemasd/CompactTree

Contact

niema@ucsd.edu

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available atBioinformaticsonline.
Butyrate as a growth factor ofClostridium acetobutylicum
Authors: Seo Hyeongmin , Capece Sofia H. , Hill John D. , Otten Jonathan K. , Papoutsakis Eleftherios T.
Published: July 2024

The butyrate biosynthetic pathway not only contributes to electron management and energy generation in butyrate forming bacteria, but also confers evolutionary advantages to the host by inhibiting the growth of surrounding butyrate-sensitive microbes. Proteomic data suggest that butyrate may lead to lysine butyrylation, a lesser-known post-translational modification, which might affect enzyme catalysis and thus cellular metabolism. Although high levels of butyrate induce toxic stress responses, it is not known if butyrate at non-toxic levels influences cellular processes such as growth, health, metabolism, and sporulation. Here, we show that butyrate stimulates cellular processes ofClostridium acetobutylicum, a model butyrate forming Firmicute. First, we deleted the 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase gene (hbd) from theC. acetobutylicumchromosome in order to eliminate the butyrate synthetic pathway and thus butyrate formation. For rapid genome engineering, a xylose inducible Cas9 cassette was chromosomally integrated and utilized for the one-step markerless gene deletions. The addition of non-toxic levels of butyrate revealed that butyrate has a profound effect on the growth, health, and sporulation ofC. acetobutylicum. By further deletingspo0A, the gene of the master regulator of sporulation, and followed by butyrate addition experiments, we conclude that butyrate affects cellular metabolism through both Spo0A dependent and independent mechanisms. We also deleted thehbdgene from the chromosome of the asporogenousC. acetobutylicumM5 strain lacking the pSOL1 plasmid to examine the potential involvement of pSOL1 genes on the observed butyrate effects. Addition of the precursor of butyrate biosynthesis crotonate to thehbddeficient M5 strain was used to probe the role of butyrate biosynthesis pathway in electron and metabolic fluxes. Finally, we found that butyrate addition can enhance the growth of the non-butyrate formingClostridium saccharolyticum. Our data suggest that butyrate functions as a stimulator of cellular processes, like a growth factor, inC. acetobutylicumand otherClostridiumorganisms, and may thus be as a modulator of microbial population dynamics.

Highlights

Deployed chromosomally integrated spCas9 for markerless one-stepClostridium acetobutylicumgenome engineering.

Deleted 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase gene (hbd) fromClostridium acetobutylicumto elucidate the roles of butyrate in cellular processes.

Demonstrated butyrate as a growth factor stimulating cellular processes inClostridium acetobutylicumand potentially otherClostridiumspecies.

Suggested butyrate as a potential modulator of microbial population based on different responses of microbes against butyrate.
Selective binding of MLX to triacylglycerol-rich lipid droplets: Mechanisms of cytosolic localization and proteome regulation
Authors: Braun R. Jay , Swanson Jessica MJ
Published: July 2024

The activation of transcription factor Max-Like Protein x (MLX) is modulated by competition between active dimerization and inactive association with cytosolic lipid droplets (LDs). This work explores how two MLX sequences inhibit activity, targeting either membranes broadly or LDs rich in triacylglycerol (TG) specifically. If applicable to other proteins in the MAX-network of transcription factors, this could offer a new direction for cancer therapeutics. The association mechanisms explain why targeting is specific, highlighting the physical properties of sterol ester-rich LDs that block association and thereby link lipid metabolic conditions to glucose metabolic regulation. Notably, MLX association is shown to be influenced by kinetics and to alter the surrounding LD monolayer. These findings demonstrate a dynamic interplay between protein association and membrane monolayer properties that enables cytosolic localization, targeting specificity, and potential kinetic and allosteric regulation of the LD proteome.
Peptide Coated Polycaprolactone-Benzalkonium Chloride Nanocapsules for Targeted Drug Delivery to the Pancreatic β-Cell
Authors: Collins Jillian , Barra Jessie M. , Holcomb Kiefer , Ocampo Andres , Fremin Ashton , Akolade Jubril , Kratz Austin , Hays Julianna K. , Shilleh Ali , Hodson David J. , Broichhagen Johannes , Russ Holger A. , Farnsworth Nikki L.
Published: July 2024

Targeting of current therapies to treat or prevent loss of pancreatic islet β-cells in Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) may provide improved efficacy and reduce off target effects. Current efforts to target the β-cell are limited by a lack of β-cell specific targets and the inability to test multiple targeting moieties with the same delivery vehicle. Here we fabricate a novel tailorable polycaprolactone nanocapsule (NC) where multiple different targeting peptides can be interchangeably attached for β-cell specific delivery. Incorporation of a cationic surfactant in the NC shell allows for the attachment of Exendin-4 and an antibody for ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 3 (ENTPD3) for β-cell specific targeting. The average NC size ranges from 250-300nm with a polydispersity index under 0.2. The NCs are non-toxic, stable in media culture, and can be lyophilized and reconstituted. NCs coated with targeting peptide were taken up by human cadaveric islet β-cells and human stem cell-derived β-like cells (sBC)in vitrowith a high level of specificity. Furthermore, NCs successfully delivered both hydrophobic and hydrophilic cargo to human β-cells. Finally, Exendin-4 coated NCs were stable and targeted the mouse pancreatic islet β-cellin vivo. Our unique NC design allows for the interchangeable coating of targeting peptides for future screening of targets with improved cell specificity. The ability to target and deliver thera-peutics to human pancreatic β-cells opens avenues for improved therapies and treatments to help the delay onset, prevent, or reverse T1D.
Visual field asymmetries in responses to ON and OFF pathway biasing stimuli
Authors: Scott Martin T.W. , Yakovleva Alexandra , Norcia Anthony Matthew
Published: July 2024

Recent reports suggest the ON and OFF pathways are differentially susceptible to selective vision loss in glaucoma. Thus, perimetric assessment of ON- and OFF-pathway function may serve as a useful diagnostic. However, this necessitates a developed understanding of normal ON/OFF pathway function around the visual field and as a function of input intensity. Here, using electroencephalography, we measured ON- and OFF-pathway biased contrast response functions in the upper and lower visual fields. Using the steady-state visually evoked potential paradigm, we flickered achromatic luminance probes according to a saw-tooth waveform, the fast-phase of which biased responses towards the ON or OFF pathways. Neural responses from the upper and lower visual fields were simultaneously measured using frequency tagging - probes in the upper visual field modulated at 3.75Hz, while those in the lower visual field modulated at 3Hz. We find that responses to OFF/decrements are larger than ON/increments, especially in the lower visual field. In the lower visual field, both ON and OFF responses were well described by a sigmoidal non-linearity. In the upper visual field, the ON pathway function was very similar to that of the lower, but the OFF pathway function showed reduced saturation and more cross-subject variability. Overall, this demonstrates that the relationship between the ON and OFF pathways depends on the visual field location and contrast level, potentially reflective of natural scene statistics.
Time restricted eating and sleep in adults with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Lin Shuhao , Cienfuegos Sofia , Ezpeleta Mark , Runchey Mary-Claire , Corapi Sarah , Gabel Kelsey , Kalam Faiza , Alexandria Shaina J , Vidmar Alaina P , Varady Krista
Published: July 2024

The aim of this secondary analysis was to compare the effects of time restricted eating (TRE) versus calorie restriction (CR) on sleep in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Adults with T2D (n = 75) were randomized to 1 of 3 interventions for 6-months: 8-h TRE (eating only between 12-8pm daily); CR (25% energy restriction daily); or control. Our results show that TRE has no effect on sleep quality, duration, insomnia severity, or risk of obstructive sleep apnea, relative to CR and controls, in patients with T2D.
A Metagenomic Approach Does Not Elucidate Uremic Toxin Levels in Hemodialysis Patients.
Authors: Taft Diana , Quinones Julia M , Moreno Melissa L , Fatani Asmaa , Suh Joonhyuk , Gorwitz Gabrielle , Wang Yu , Segal Mark S , Dahl Wendy J
Published: July 2024

Blood levels of uremic molecules generated through gut microbial metabolism are associated with disease risk, reduced quality of life, and mortality in patients with renal insufficiency. Modulation of the microbiome may offer therapeutic potential. Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the relationships between fecal microbiome and serum levels of targeted uremic molecules in adults undergoing hemodialysis and, secondarily, the role of relative macronutrient substrate availability. Methods: Fecal microbiota was profiled by whole metagenome sequencing, serum p cresyl sulfate (CS), indoxyl sulfate (IS), phenylacetylglutamine (PAG), and trimethylamine N oxide (TMAO) were quantified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC MS/MS), and dietary intake was assessed by three multipass-method 24-hr recalls. Results: Differences in gut microbiome associated with serum uremic toxin levels were not detected. Instead, the relative substrate availability for the microbiota, using dietary protein-to-fiber ratio, was significantly associated with uremia. Serum levels of IS (multivariate linear model, p=0.042) and TMAO (p=0.032) were positively associated with dietary protein-to-fiber ratio, but not CS (p=0.096) and PAG (p=0.44). Conclusion: The lack of association of fecal microbiome with serum uremic toxins suggests that hemodialysis patients possess sufficient microbial enzymatic capacity for the synthesis of these molecules and that, instead, microbially available substrate, protein vs. fiber, may be the primary driver of production.
TheBordetellaeffector protein BteA induces host cell death by disruption of calcium homeostasis
Authors: Zmuda Martin , Sedlackova Eliska , Pravdova Barbora , Cizkova Monika , Cerny Ondrej , Allsop Tania Romero , Grousl Tomas , Malcova Ivana , Kamanova Jana
Published: July 2024

Bordetella pertussisis the causative agent of whooping cough in humans, a disease that has recently experienced a resurgence. In contrast,Bordetella bronchisepticainfects the respiratory tract of various mammalian species, causing a range of symptoms from asymptomatic chronic carriage to acute illness. Both pathogens utilize type III secretion system (T3SS) to deliver the effector protein BteA into host cells. Once injected, BteA triggers a cascade of events leading to caspase 1-independent necrosis through a mechanism that remains incompletely understood. We demonstrate that BteA-induced cell death is characterized by the fragmentation of the cellular endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, the formation of necrotic balloon-like protrusions, and plasma membrane permeabilization. Importantly, genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen targeting 19,050 genes failed to identify any host factors required for BteA cytotoxicity, suggesting that BteA does not require a single nonessential host factor for its cytotoxicity. We further reveal that BteA triggers rapid and sustained influx of calcium ions, which is associated with organelle fragmentation and plasma membrane permeabilization. The sustained elevation of cytosolic Ca2+levels results in mitochondrial calcium overload, mitochondrial swelling, cristolysis, and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Inhibition of calcium channels with 2-APB delays both the Ca2+influx and BteA-induced cell death. Our findings indicate that BteA exploits essential host processes and/or redundant pathways to disrupt calcium homeostasis and mitochondrial function, ultimately leading to host cell death.

Importance

The respiratory pathogens,Bordetella pertussisandBordetella bronchiseptica, exhibit cytotoxicity towards a variety of mammalian cells, which depends on the type III secretion effector BteA. Moreover, the increased virulence ofB. bronchisepticais associated with enhanced expression of T3SS and BteA effector. However, the molecular mechanism underlying BteA cytotoxicity is elusive. In this study, we performed a CRISPR-Cas9 screen, revealing that BteA-induced cell death depends on essential or redundant host processes. Additionally, we demonstrate that BteA disrupts calcium homeostasis, which leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. These findings contribute to closing the gap in our understanding of the signaling cascades targeted by BteA.
Prevalence of bias attributable to composite outcome in clinical trials: a systematic review
Authors: Silva José Mário Nunes da , Conceição Juliana Ferreira Souza , Ramírez Paula C. , Diaz-León Christian Leonardo , Diaz-Quijano Fredi Alexander
Published: July 2024

Objective

To investigate the prevalence of bias attributable to composite outcome (BACO) in clinical trials.

Study design and setting

We searched PubMed for randomized clinical trials where the primary outcome was a binary composite that included all-cause mortality among its components from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. For each trial, the BACO index was calculated to assess the correspondence between effects on the composite outcome and that on mortality. This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021229554).

Results

After screening 1,076 citations and 171 full-text articles, 91 studies were included from 13 different medical areas. The prevalence of significant or suggestive BACO among the 91 included articles was 25.2% (n=23), including 12 with p<0.005 and 11 with p between 0.005 and <0.05. We observed that in 17 (73.9%) of these 23 studies, the BACO index value was between zero and <1, indicating an underestimation of the effect. The other six studies showed negative values (26.1%), indicating an inversion of the association with mortality. None of the studies showed significant overestimation of the association attributable to the composite outcome.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the need to predefine guidelines for interpreting effects on composite endpoints based on objective criteria such as the BACO index.

What is new?

Key Findings

The study found that 25.2% of the included clinical trials exhibited significant or suggestive bias attributable to composite outcomes (BACO).

In 73.9% of these cases, the BACO index was less than 1, indicating an underestimation of the effect. 26.1% of the studies showed an inversion of the association with mortality.

No significant overestimation of the association due to composite outcomes was observed.

What This Adds to What Was Known?

This study contributes to the existing knowledge by quantifying the prevalence of bias attributable to composite outcomes in clinical trials.

It highlights that a significant proportion of trials may underestimate the effect or even show an inversion of the association with mortality when composite outcomes are used.

This finding emphasizes the need for careful consideration and objective criteria, like the BACO index, in the design and interpretation of clinical trials involving composite outcomes.

What Is the Implication and What Should Change Now?

Researchers and clinicians should be cautious about relying solely on composite outcomes without assessing the potential biases they introduce.

The study suggests a need for predefined guidelines and objective criteria, such as the BACO index, for interpreting the effects of composite outcomes.
Branched actin networks in innate immune cells mediate host microbiota homeostasis
Authors: Vasconcellos Luiz Ricardo C. , Huang Shaina Chor Mei , Suarez-Bonnet Alejandro , Priestnall Simon , Varsani-Brown Sunita , Winder Matthew L. , Shah Kathleen , Kogata Naoko , Stockinger Brigitta , Way Michael
Published: July 2024

Assembly of branched actin networks, driven by the Arp2/3 complex are essential for the function and integrity of the immune system. Patients with loss-of-function mutations in the ARPC5 subunit of the Arp2/3 complex develop inflammation and immunodeficiency after birth, leading to early mortality. However, the mechanistic basis for these phenotypes remains obscure. Here we demonstrate that loss of Arpc5 in the murine hematopoietic system, but not the corresponding Arpc5l isoform causes early-onset intestinal inflammation. This condition is initiated by microbiota breaching the ileal mucosa, leading to local and systemic inflammation. Macrophage and neutrophils infiltrate into the ileum, but in the absence of Arpc5 fail to restrict microbial invasion. Loss of Arpc5 compromises the ability of macrophages to phagocytose and kill intra-cellular bacteria. Our results underscore the indispensable role of Arpc5, but not Arpc5l containing Arp2/3 complexes in mononuclear phagocytes function and host-microbiota homeostasis.

One-Sentence Summary

Arpc5 containing Arp2/3 complexes are essential for host-microbiota homeostasis
Parity doublet model for baryon octets: Ground states saturated by good diquarks and the role of bad diquarks for excited states
Authors: Gao Bikai , Kojo Toru , Harada Masayasu
Published: July 2024

Parity doublet model is an effective chiral model that includes the chiral-variant and -invariant masses of baryons. The chiral-invariant mass has large impacts on the density dependence of models which can be constrained by neutron star observations. In the previous work, models of two flavors have been considered up to a few times nuclear saturation density, but in such dense regions it is also necessary to consider hyperons. With the chiral-invariant masses baryons can stay massive in extreme environments (e.g., neutron stars) where the chiral symmetry restoration takes place. In this work, we generalize the previous SU(2)L×SU(2)R parity models of nucleons to SU(3)L×SU(3)R models of the baryon octet within the linear realization of the chiral symmetry. The major problem in constructing such models has been too many candidates for the chiral representations of baryons. Motivated by the concepts of diquarks and the mended symmetry, we choose the (3L,3¯R)+(3¯L,3R), (3L,6R)+(6L,3R), and (1L,8R)+(8L,1R) representations and use quark diagrams to constrain the possible types of Yukawa interactions. The masses of the baryon octets for positive and negative baryons up to the first excitations are successfully reproduced. As expected from the diquark considerations, the ground-state baryons are well dominated by (3L,3¯R)+(3¯L,3R) and (1L,8R)+(8L,1R) representations, while the excited states require (3L,6R)+(6L,3R) representations. Important applications of our model are the chiral restoration for strange quarks at large density and the continuity of diquarks from hadronic to quark matter. We also address the problem of large Yukawa couplings which are enhanced in three-flavor construction.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Microstates of Accelerating and Supersymmetric
AdS4
Black Holes from the Spindle Index
Authors: Colombo Edoardo , Hosseini Seyed Morteza , Martelli Dario , Pittelli Antonio , Zaffaroni Alberto
Published: July 2024

We provide a first principles derivation of the microscopic entropy of a very general class of supersymmetric, rotating, and accelerating black holes in AdS4. This is achieved by analyzing the large-N limit of the spindle index and completes the construction of the first example of a holographic duality involving supersymmetric field theories defined on orbifolds with conical singularities.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Longitudinal analysis of production process variability: an organizational information processing theory perspective
Authors: Karbasi Ata , Mahdikhani Maryam , Gerschberger Melanie , Aghaie Sina
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study applies organizational information processing theory (OIPT) to investigate managing production process variability in uncertain environments using information technology (IT) capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

We conduct an empirical analysis using the three-stage least squares (3SLS) technique on 1,612 manufacturing firms over ten years.

Findings

The findings show that IT capability plays a dual role: it reduces the positive impact of environmental uncertainty on production process variability and mitigates the negative relationship between production process variability and operational performance.

Practical implications

Our findings suggest that managers should focus on reducing production process variability by strengthening their firms' IT capabilities. This is particularly crucial in volatile environments where external uncertainties can significantly impact operational processes.

Originality/value

Variability in the production process is a significant source of inefficiency and disruption within business processes. Using OIPT, our study contributes to the field by empirically analyzing the role of IT capabilities in reducing production process variability under environmental uncertainty.
The influence of brands’ internationalization degree on consumers’ attitudes toward cross-border philanthropy: based on theory of legitimacy
Authors: Tong Zelin , Liu Huilin , Liu Diyi , Zhou Ling
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore how brands’ degree of internationalization influences consumers’ attitudes toward brands’ engagement in cross-border philanthropy by taking legitimacy as a mediating mechanism. The authors further investigate the moderating role of cause acuteness in this effect to identify practical strategies for managers.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses are tested via laboratory experiments. In brief, Study 1 investigates the relationship between a brand’s degree of internationalization and perceived legitimacy for corporate cross-border philanthropy and the impact of internationalization on consumers’ brand evaluations of such philanthropy. Study 2 addresses the moderating role of cause acuteness.

Findings

The authors discover that companies with a high (vs low) degree of internationalization gained more legitimacy, and thus better brand evaluations, upon engaging in corporate cross-border philanthropy. This effect reverses when the causes are related to sudden disasters rather than ongoing tragedies.

Practical implications

This study provides valuable guidance for marketers seeking to leverage cross-border philanthropy to enhance consumers’ brand attitudes. Specifically, brands’ degree of internationalization should be consistent when performing cross-border philanthropy. Otherwise, brands will struggle to gain legitimacy and will earn less favorable consumer evaluations.

Originality/value

This work enriches the literature on corporate social responsibility in the domain of cross-border philanthropy and elucidates consumers’ attitudes toward this type of philanthropy in a corporate context. This study also meaningfully contributes to research on brands’ internationalization and legitimacy.
Disaster risk reduction in the wicked problems framework
Authors: Kasdan David Oliver
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Applying the wicked problems framework to disaster risk reduction makes for a more appropriate understanding of the modern challenges of mitigation that may inform better strategies and communications.

Design/methodology/approach

This research employs a literature review of wicked problems to posit a theoretical application of the concept to disaster risk reduction in the format of a reflective examination and argument with reasoned lessons for policy and governance.

Findings

There is a broad body of research that informs the application of the wicked problems framework to improve disaster risk reduction. Understanding the value of rationality, complexity, clumsy solutions, and inter-disciplinary approaches for risk scenarios helps to frame and communicate a realistic perspective of disaster risk reduction objectives.

Practical implications

Recognizing the various modes of response to the wicked problem of disaster risk reduction can help construct more comprehensive, inclusive, and effective approaches for continuous improvement.

Social implications

Understanding disaster risk as a wicked problem broadens the base for mitigation efforts by promoting more inclusion and perspectives from all segments of society.

Originality/value

Wicked problems have been loosely referenced in disaster management research, but there is a lack of theoretical foundation for the concept applied to disaster risk reduction and extension into practical policy.
An empirical analysis of India’s insolvency code: perspectives based on ex-post economic efficiency
Authors: Kanojia Sunaina , Gupta Shasta
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aims to analyse the outcomes of Indian insolvency proceedings for their ex-post economic efficiency. Ideally, insolvent yet viable companies should witness resolution, whereas insolvent-unviable companies should be liquidated. This study aims to ascertain the key forces that ensure or prevent the application of the first part of this maxim in practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses logistic regression on a sample of 320 corporate insolvencies (out of 942 insolvencies) reported under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016. Two-stage least squares regression is used to check endogeneity issues.

Findings

The results claim high levels of rationality from the financial creditors and acceptable levels of viability from the plan proposers for precluding liquidation of insolvent yet viable companies. The findings reveal that an excess of value from resolution over that from liquidation, controls the outcomes of insolvency proceedings. Further examinations indicate that financial creditors’ focus on upfront recovery prevents them from judging the plans on other viability-related factors. Based on the findings, this study recommends that IBC must focus on the importance of both long-term recovery rates and resolution.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies to empirically analyse Type 2 efficiency-related errors prevalent in the Indian insolvency proceedings since the enactment of its new code. The empirical explorations offered in this research can prove to be unique for policy-making.
Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic: a practical guide for designing synchronous online teaching in higher education
Authors: Lin Feng , Sun Jingjing
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to present a practical guide for designing effective synchronous online teaching to support student engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

This practical guide was developed by drawing insights from literature and our own practical experiences.

Findings

This paper developed BEST principles (i.e., Building positive relationships, Engage through interactions, Scaffold collaborative learning, and Timely feedback) as a practical framework for guiding the design of synchronous online teaching. This paper also discussed the pedagogical roles digital tools can play in supporting online teaching and the various design considerations.

Practical implications

This guide can serve multiple purposes: a practical framework for guiding the design of online teaching, a reflective instrument to evaluate the effectiveness of online teaching, and a resource for teacher professional development training in online teaching. It also has implications for the design of learning in other modalities (e.g. face-to-face and hybrid learning).

Originality/value

While some prior research has put forth principles and instructional strategies for designing online teaching, they tend to be more conceptual, and few have integrated principles with empirical evidence and technological solutions. This paper creates a comprehensive guide that integrates learning principles, technology and design considerations for effective online teaching.
Successful implementation of customer experience strategy: determinants and results
Authors: Köninger Juliane Kristina , Gouthier Matthias H.J.
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Customer Experience Management (CXM) has already outgrown its infancy and must now position itself for long-term strategic success. However, the best Customer Experience Strategy (CXS) is worth little if not implemented effectively. Therefore, the present study investigated the determinants of the successful implementation of CXS and its results.

Design/methodology/approach

Key success factors were identified based on intensive desk research complemented by an exploratory qualitative study. The relevance of these determinants and the impact of successful CXS implementation were examined in a quantitative study involving 264 Customer Experience (CX) managers from several countries.

Findings

The results demonstrate the significant positive effects of the four determinants of top management support, CX-related organizational involvement, CX measurement ability, and internal use of CX data on CXS implementation success. Additionally, cross-functional working acts as a moderator. Moreover, the findings show the positive effects of successful CXS implementation on organizational customer orientation and customer relationship performance. Finally, our findings lead to essential theoretical and managerial implications.

Originality/value

While previous studies focused on CX or CXM, this study contributes to the research field by empirically testing the central determinants of successful CXS implementation and demonstrating the firm-internal (organizational customer orientation) and firm-external (customer relationship performance) effects of successful CXS implementation.
Economic outcomes of place branding: evidence from a scoping review
Authors: Pattaratanakun Ake , Taecharungroj Viriya
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study examines the relationship between place branding and economic growth, addressing the gap in literature that directly links the two. Recognising the importance of place branding in attracting investment and fostering economic development, the study aims to substantiate the commonly held belief that place branding contributes to economic prosperity.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing a scoping review methodology, this study analyses 129 articles to assess the evidence supporting the impact of place branding on economic outcomes. The review spans a wide range of fields and includes both direct and indirect evidence, highlighting the complexity of establishing a clear link.

Findings

The review uncovers a significant literature gap, with only a small fraction of the articles providing direct evidence of a link between place branding and economic outcomes. While many articles imply a positive impact, the evidence is not sufficiently generalisable, indicating a yet unverified assumption in the field.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to place branding scholarship by critically examining the assumed economic benefits of place branding. It suggests that while the belief in place branding’s economic influence is widespread and reasonable, there is a crucial need for more rigorous studies to establish a firm empirical foundation for this relationship.
Does societal trust matter for the conservative financing policy puzzle? European SMEs evidence
Authors: Gama Paulo M. , Vieira Elisabete F.
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper studies the impact of societal trust on the conservative financing policy puzzle, aiming to cover a gap in the relationship between cultural values and the conservative financing policy.

Design/methodology/approach

We use a sample of 14,509 privately held medium-sized manufacturing firms from 26 European countries between 2015 and 2020 and rely on logistic regression methods controlling for firm-specific and macroeconomic factors.

Findings

We show that societal trust decreases the odds of being a zero-leverage or almost zero-leverage firm. Also, the probability of being a conservatively financed firm increases for older and more profitable firms and decreases with tangibility. In more trustworthy national environments, firms are less averse to debt as a source of financing. Our results are robust to the specific measure of trust, estimation methods, sampling procedures, and annual financial constraint status. Moreover, we show that the effect is noticed both in the long-term debt and the short-term debt with a lower economic impact in the latter situation and that increased societal trust attenuates (reinforces) the effect of being a financially constrained (unconstrained) firm on the odds of adopting a conservative financing policy.

Research limitations/implications

Societal trust strategically impacts debt financing policy and could help foster firms’ growth, particularly for those facing heavier financial constraints.

Originality/value

Novel evidence on the impact of societal trust on the conservative financing policy, for privately held medium-sized European firms.
Attitudes among physicians towards transgender and gender diverse people in Turkey: Relationship with religiousness, political view and conservatism
Authors: Ersoy Gökhan , Akrep Aytunç , Gönen Anıl Çakır , Gölge Zeynep Belma
Published: July 2024

According to several recent studies, physicians in various medical branches have some differences in attitudes towards transgender and gender‐diverse (TGD) persons based on religious or political beliefs. Our study aims to uncover the attitudes of the general physician community in Turkey, which has a youthful profile, regarding TGD individuals. The attitudes towards transgender individuals scale (ATTI) and the general conservatism scale, along with a form that asks about socio‐demographic factors, political beliefs, and level of religion, were administered online to physicians. The ATTI score of physicians (mean = 77.8) is favourable and did not vary among branches. Being female, being close to TGD, having left‐wing views, low conservatism and low religious belief scores were associated with positive attitudes towards TGD individuals. The physician profile’s moderate religious belief and left‐wing views can be interpreted as a country‐specific dynamic and did not prevent the approach from being positive. Despite physicians’ positive attitude towards TGD individuals on a professional level, there is resistance to contacting them in their daily lives. The possibility of the partial contribution of socially desirable response behaviour to positive scores should not be ignored.
Songs that made men leave: migration, imagination, and media in late twentieth‐century Mali
Authors: Mbodj‐Pouye Aïssatou
Published: July 2024

Throughout the twentieth century, in the Soninke‐speaking area of West Africa, women sang to praise migrants and mock immobile men, before such songs were abandoned at the beginning of the twenty‐first century. These songs have commonly been read as reinforcing a normative order of migration whereby migration functioned as proof of manhood. The study of an original corpus, collected by a radio station since the 1980s, makes it possible to reconsider these songs as imaginative devices allowing women to take various stances on male migration, through their performance as much as in the metadiscourse on migration conveyed by stories about these songs. Calling for a finer attention to texts in the burgeoning scholarship on migration and imagination, the study of the ‘non‐migrant song’, and of its abrupt end, inscribes the imaginative processes about migration and gender roles in a long history that pre‐dates the tightening of borders and the global circulation of images. It highlights the analytical potential of studying textual engagements with technology to enrich the understanding of imagination processes in migration contexts.
LOCAL INITIATIVES IN SHRINKING CITIES: On Normative Framings and Hidden Aspirations in Scholarly Work
Authors: Sandmann Leona , Gunko Maria , Shirobokova Irina , Adams Ria‐Maria , Lilius Johanna , Grossmann Katrin
Published: July 2024

Questions of responsibility for future‐making often arise in localities where the withdrawal of capital and state seem to leave tangible voids and a sense of loss. Over the past decade, academic discourse has furthered discussions on the role of civic engagement, local initiatives and their agency under conditions of urban shrinkage. However, scholars (including ourselves) are confronted with their own normative assumptions and aspirations when conceptualizing local initiatives in shrinking cities. Through reviewing the literature on this phenomenon, we identified three main epistemological pitfalls that emerge from the legacies of planning discipline, current neoliberal developments and scholars’ own biases. By drawing from our fieldwork experiences, we conclude that local initiatives should be viewed in the plurality of their essences as extremely variegated in form and motivation. We therefore assert the need to disentangle research on local initiatives in shrinking cities from normative aspirations to avoid neoliberal responsibilization, and instead pay attention to the nuances of their aims and practices, achievements and constraints.
Same‐day discharge after laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign/premalignant disease: A multicentre randomised controlled trial
Authors: Dedden Suzanne J. , Maas Jacques W. M. , Smeets Nicol A. C. , van Hamont Dennis , Groenman Freek A. , Lim Arianne C. , van Vliet Huib A. A. M. , van der Steeg Jan Willem , Leemans Jaklien C. , Meijer Patrick , van Kuijk Sander M. J. , Huirne Judith A. F. , Bongers Marlies Y. , Geomini Peggy M. A. J.
Published: July 2024

Objective

To evaluate whether physical function and quality of life was influenced by discharge on the same‐day after a total laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Design

Multicentre non‐inferiority randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Five teaching hospitals and two university hospitals in the Netherlands.

Population

Patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign or premalignant disease.

Methods

Following informed consent, participants were allocated 1:1 either to same‐day discharge (SDD) or next‐day discharge (NDD).

Main Outcome Measures

The primary outcome was physical function at 7 days after surgery measured by the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function short Form 10A. Secondary outcomes were physical function and quality of life at 1 and 3 days and 6 weeks after surgery measured with PROMIS short Form 10A and the EuroQol questionnaire (EQ‐5D‐5L).

Results

Two hundred and five patients were included of whom 105 were allocated to SDD and 100 to NDD. Physical function 7 days after surgery was 35.95 in the SDD group and 35.63 in the control group (mean difference 0.32; 95% CI [0.07–0.57]). As the upper limit of the 95% CI does not exceed the non‐inferiority margin of 4 points, non‐inferiority of SDD could be demonstrated. No difference in physical function nor quality of life on Days 1 and 3 and 6 weeks could be found.

Conclusion

This research demonstrates same‐day discharge after laparoscopic hysterectomy is non‐inferior to next day discharge in physical function 7 days after surgery.