bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protein Editing using a Concerted Transposition Reaction
Authors: Hua Yi , Tay Nicholas E. S. , Ye Xuanjia , Owen Jeremy A. , Liu Hengyuan , Thompson Robert E. , Muir Tom W.
Published: June 2024

Protein engineering through the chemical or enzymatic ligation of polypeptide fragments has proven enormously powerful for studying countless biochemical processesin vitro. In general, this strategy necessitates a protein folding step following ligation of the unstructured fragments, a requirement that constrains the types of systems amenable to the approach. Here, we report anin vitrostrategy that allows internal regions of target proteins to be replaced in a single operation. Conceptually, our system is analogous to a DNA transposition reaction, but employs orthogonal pairs of split inteins to swap out a designated region of a host protein with an exogenous molecular cassette. We show using isotopic labeling experiments that this ‘protein transposition’ reaction is concerted when the kinetics for the embedded intein pairs are suitably matched. Critically, this feature allows for efficient manipulation of protein primary structure in the context of a native fold. The utility of this method is illustrated using several protein systems including the multi-subunit chromatin remodeling complex, ACF, where we also show protein transposition can occurin situwithin the cell nucleus. By carrying out a molecular ‘cut and paste’ on a protein or protein complex under native folding conditions, our approach dramatically expands the scope of protein semisynthesis.
A Novel Artificial Intelligence (AI) Method to Classify and Predict the Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Hasan Md Mehedi , Rahman Senjuti , Parmar Harshit , Chowdhury Suman K.
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The objective of this study was to develop a novel AI-ensembled network based on the most important features and affected brain regions to accurately classify and exhibit the pattern of progression of the stages of Cognitive Impairment (CI).

Methods

We proposed a novel ensembled architecture, 3D ResNet-18 - RF (Random Forest), and used this network to categorize the stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The residual unit (blocks of ResNet) was introduced to the 3D Convolutional Neural network (CNN) to solve the degradation problem. It was considered an innovative strategy since the combination with fine-tuning resulted in higher accuracy. This network was trained on selected features and affected brain regions. The structured magnetic resonance images (MRI) were collected from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset, and the random forest was used for determining the importance of the features and affected regions from the parcellated 170 regions of interest (ROIs) using Atlas, automated anatomical labeling 3(AAL-3). This framework classified five categories of AD and detected the progression pattern.

Results

The proposed network showed promising results with a 66% F-1 score, 76% sensitivity, and 93.5% specificity, which outperformed the performance of conventional methods for categorizing five categories. Ventral Posterolateral and Pulvinar lateral regions were the regions most affected, indicating the progression from early MCI to AD. The five-fold validation accuracy for the developed model was 60.02%.

Conclusion

The results showed that the gray matter to white matter ratio was the most significant feature, which also accurately predicted the progression pattern. The performance metrics fluctuated with different hyperparameters, but they never exceeded 0.05% of the estimated results, indicating the validity and originality of the suggested methodology.
Spatial Transcriptomics-Aided Localization for Single-Cell Transcriptomics with STALocator
Authors: Li Shang , Shen Qunlun , Zhang Shihua
Published: June 2024

Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) techniques can measure gene expression at the single-cell resolution but lack spatial information. The spatial transcriptomics (ST) techniques simultaneously provide gene expression data and spatial information. However, the data quality on the spatial resolution or gene coverage is still much lower than the single-cell transcriptomics data. To this end, we develop a Spatial Transcriptomics-Aided Locator for single-cell transcriptomics (STALocator) to localize single cells to corresponding ST data. Applications on simulated data showed that STALocator performed better than other localization methods from different angles. When applied to human brain scRNA-seq data and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex 10x Visium data, STALocator could robustly reconstruct the laminar organization of layer-associated cell types. Applications on scRNA-seq data and Spatial Transcriptomics data of human squamous cell carcinoma illustrated that STALocator could robustly reconstruct the relative spatial relationship between tumor-specific keratinocytes, microenvironment-associated cell populations, and immune cells. Moreover, STALocator could enhance gene expression patterns for Slide-seqV2 data and predict genome-wide gene expression data for FISH data, leading to the identification of more spatially variable genes and more biologically relevant GO terms compared to raw data.
Acetyl-CoA Synthetase Mutations S868G and V949I Do Not Confer Resistance to Antimalarial Drugsin vitroinPlasmodium falciparum
Authors: Zhao Wei , Xiang Zheng , Zeng Weilin , Qin Yucheng , Pan Maohua , Wu Yanrui , Duan Mengxi , Mou Ye , Liang Tao , Zhang Yanmei , Liu Cheng , Tang Xiuya , Huang Yaming , Yang Gongchao , Cui Liwang , Yang Zhaoqing
Published: June 2024

Plasmodium falciparumacetyl-CoA synthetase (PfACAS) protein is an important source of acetyl-CoA. We detected the mutations S868G and V949I in PfACAS by whole-genome sequencing analysis in some recrudescent parasites after antimalarial treatment with artesunate and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, suggesting that they may confer drug resistance. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, we engineered parasite lines carrying the PfACAS S868G and V949I mutations in two genetic backgrounds and evaluated their susceptibility to antimalarial drugs in vitro. The results demonstrated that PfACAS S868G and V949I mutations alone or in combination were not enough to provide resistance to antimalarial drugs.
Deep homologies in chordate caudal central nervous systems
Authors: Smith William , Kourakis Matthew , Ryan Kerrianne , Smith Erin Newman , Meinertzhagen Ian
Published: June 2024

Invertebrate chordates, such as the tunicate Ciona, can offer insight into the evolution of the chordate phylum. Anatomical features that are shared between invertebrate chordates and vertebrates may be taken as evidence of their presence in a common chordate ancestor. The central nervous systems of Ciona larvae and vertebrates share a similar anatomy despite the Ciona CNS having ~180 neurons. However, the depth of conservation between the Ciona CNS and those in vertebrates is not resolved. The Ciona caudal CNS, while appearing spinal cord-like, has hitherto been thought to lack motor neurons, bringing into question its homology with the vertebrate spinal cord. We show here that the Ciona larval caudal CNS does, in fact, have functional motor neurons along its length, pointing to the presence of a spinal cord-like structure at the base of the chordates. We extend our analysis of shared CNS anatomy further to explore the Ciona motor ganglion, which has been proposed to be a homolog of the vertebrate hindbrain, spinal cord, or both. We find that a cluster of neurons in the dorsal motor ganglion shares anatomical location, developmental pathway, neural circuit architecture, and gene expression with the vertebrate cerebellum. However, functionally, the Ciona cluster appears to have more in common with vertebrate cerebellum-like structures, insofar as it receives and processes direct sensory input. These findings are consistent with earlier speculation that the cerebellum evolved from a cerebellum-like structure, and suggest that the latter structure was present in the dorsal hindbrain of a common chordate ancestor.
FusOn-pLM: A Fusion Oncoprotein-Specific Language Model via Focused Probabilistic Masking
Authors: Vincoff Sophia , Goel Shrey , Kholina Kseniia , Pulugurta Rishab , Vure Pranay , Chatterjee Pranam
Published: June 2024

Fusion oncoproteins, a class of chimeric proteins arising from chromosomal translocations, drive and sustain various cancers, particularly those impacting children. Unfortunately, due to their intrinsically disordered nature, large size, and lack of well-defined, druggable pockets, they have been historically challenging to target therapeutically: neither small molecule-based methods nor structure-based approaches for binder design are strong options for this class of molecules. Recently, protein language models (pLMs) have demonstrated success at representing protein sequences with information-rich embeddings, enabling downstream design applications from sequence alone. However, no current pLM has been trained on fusion oncoprotein sequences and thus may not produce optimal representations for these proteins. In this work, we introduceFusOn-pLM, a novel pLM that fine-tunes the state-of-the-art ESM-2 model on fusion oncoprotein sequences. We specifically introduce a novel masked language modeling (MLM) strategy, employing a binding-site probability predictor to focus masking on key amino acid residues, thereby generating more optimal fusion oncoprotein-aware embeddings. Our model improves performance on both fusion oncoprotein-specific benchmarks and disorder prediction tasks in comparison to baseline ESM-2 representations, as well as manually-constructed biophysical embeddings, motivating downstream usage of FusOn-pLM embeddings for therapeutic design tasks targeting these fusions. We have made our model publicly available to the community athttps://huggingface.co/ChatterjeeLab/FusOn-pLM.
ANGPTL3 regulates the peroxisomal translocation of SmarcAL1 in response to cell growth states
Authors: Nagai Taylor Hanta , Mizoguchi Taiji , Wang Yanyan , Deik Amy , Bullock Kevin , Clish Clary B. , Xu Yu-Xin
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) is a key regulator of lipoprotein metabolism, known for its potent inhibition on intravascular lipoprotein and endothelial lipase activities. Recent studies have shed light on the cellular functions of ANGPTL3. However, the precise mechanism underlying its regulation of cellular lipid metabolism remains elusive. We recently reported that ANGPTL3 interacts with the chromatin regulator SMARCAL1, which plays a pivotal role in maintaining cellular lipid homeostasis. Here, through a combination of in vitro and in vivo functional analyses, we provide evidence that ANGPTL3 indeed influences cellular lipid metabolism. Increased expression of Angptl3 prompted the formation of lipid droplets (LDs) in response to slow growth conditions. Notably, under the conditions, Angptl3 accumulated within cytoplasmic peroxisomes, where it interacts with SmarcAL1, which translocated from nucleus as observed previously. This translocation induced changes in gene expression favoring triglyceride (TG) accumulation. Indeed,ANGPTL3gene knockout (KO) in human cells increased the expression of key lipid genes, which could be linked to elevated nuclear localization of SMARCAL1, whereas the expression of these genes decreased inSMARCAL1KO cells. Consistent with these findings, the injection of Angptl3 protein to mice led to hepatic fat accumulation derived from circulating blood, a phenotype likely indicative of its long-term effect on blood TG, linked to SmarcAL1 activities. Thus, our results suggest that the Angptl3-SmarcAL1 pathway may confer the capacity for TG storage in cells in response to varying growth states, which may have broad implications for this pathway in regulating energy storage and trafficking.
DiverseFgfr1signaling pathways and endocytic trafficking regulate mesoderm development
Authors: Clark James F. , Soriano Philippe
Published: June 2024

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) pathway is a conserved signaling pathway required for embryonic development. Activated FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) drives multiple intracellular signaling cascade pathways, including ERK/MAPK and PI3K/AKT, collectively termed canonical signaling. However, unlikeFgfr1-null embryos, embryos containing hypomorphic mutations inFgfr1lacking the ability to activate canonical downstream signals are still able to develop to birth but exhibit severe defects in all mesodermal-derived tissues. The introduction of an additional signaling mutation further reduces the activity ofFgfr1, leading to earlier lethality, reduced somitogenesis, and more severe changes in transcriptional outputs. Genes involved in migration, ECM interaction, and phosphoinositol signaling were significantly downregulated, proteomic analysis identified changes in interactions with endocytic pathway components, and cells expressing mutant receptors show changes in endocytic trafficking. Together, we identified processes regulating early mesoderm development by mechanisms involving both canonical and noncanonicalFgfr1pathways, including direct interaction with cell adhesion components and endocytic regulation.
Elliptic anisotropy of open-charm hadrons from parton scatterings in
p
-Pb collisions at energies available at the CERN Large Hadron Collider
Authors: Tang Siyu , Lu Yuan , Zhang Chao , Wan RenZhuo
Published: June 2024

The elliptic azimuthal anisotropy coefficient (v2) of open-charm hadrons at midrapidity (|η<1|) was studied in p-Pb collisions at sNN=8.16 TeV using a multiphase transport () model including an additional charm quark–antiquark pair production trigger. The model provides a simultaneous description of the measured pT spectrum and v2 of the D0 meson, as well as the v2 of light flavor meson Ks0. We found that the D0 and Ks0 v2 are both significantly affected by different parton scatterings among charm and light quarks. In addition, the predictions for the v2 of other charm hadrons including D+, Ds+, and Λc+ in p-Pb collisions are given for the first time. The v2 of open-charm hadrons reasonably follows the number-of-constituent-quark (NCQ) scaling up to 2.5 GeV, strongly indicating the importance of partonic degrees of freedom for the collectivity of heavy flavors in high-multiplicity p-Pb collisions. These findings may hint at the formation of deconfined matter in small collision systems, and provide referential value for future measurements of azimuthal anisotropy at energies available at the CERN Large Hadron Collider.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Global quark spin correlations in relativistic heavy ion collisions
Authors: Lv Ji-peng , Yu Zi-han , Liang Zuo-tang , Wang Qun , Wang Xin-Nian
Published: June 2024

The observation of the vector meson’s global spin alignment by the STAR Collaboration reveals that strong spin correlations may exist for quarks and antiquarks in relativistic heavy-ion collisions in the normal direction of the reaction plane. We propose a systematic method to describe such correlations in the quark matter. We classify them as local and long range quark spin correlations in the system. We show in particular that the effective quark spin correlations contain the genuine spin correlations originated directly from the dynamical process as well as those induced by averaging over other degrees of freedom. We also show that such correlations can be studied by measuring the vector meson’s spin density matrix and hyperon-hyperon and hyperon-anti-hyperon spin correlations. We present the relationships between these measurable quantities and spin correlations of quarks and antiquarks.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Study of the timelike electromagnetic form factors of the
Λc
Authors: Guo Di , Yang Qin-He , Dai Ling-Yun
Published: June 2024

In this paper, the reaction of electron-positron annihilation into Λc+Λ¯c− is investigated. The Λc+Λ¯c− scattering amplitudes are obtained by solving the Lippmann-Schwinger equation. The contact, annihilation, and two pseudoscalar-exchange potentials are taken into account in the spirit of the chiral effective field theory. The amplitudes of e+e−→Λc+Λ¯c− are constructed by the distorted wave Born approximation method, with the final state interactions of the Λc+Λ¯c− rescattering implemented. By fitting to the experimental data, the unknown couplings are fixed, and high-quality solutions are obtained. With these amplitudes, the individual electromagnetic form factors in the timelike region, GEΛc, GMΛc, and their ratio, GEΛc/GMΛc, are extracted. Both modulus and phases are predicted. These individual electromagnetic form factors reveal new insights into the properties of the Λc. The separated contributions of the Born term, contact, annihilation, as well as the two pseudoscalar-exchange potentials to the electromagnetic form factors are isolated. It is found that the Born term dominates the whole energy region. The contact term plays a crucial role in the enhancement near the threshold, and the annihilation term is essential in generating the fluctuation of the electromagnetic form factors.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Cosmic string solution to the radio synchrotron background
Authors: Cyr Bryce , Chluba Jens , Acharya Sandeep Kumar
Published: June 2024

We investigate the low-frequency spectral emission from a network of superconducting cosmic string loops in hopes of explaining the observed radio synchrotron background. After considering constraints from a variety of astrophysical and cosmological measurements, we identify a best-fit solution with string tension Gμ≃6.5×10−12 and current I≃2.5×106  GeV. This model yields a convincing fit to the data and may be testable in the near future by spectral distortion (TMS, BISOU) and 21 cm experiments (HERA, SKA, REACH). We also find that soft photon heating protects us against current constraints from global 21 cm experiments.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Structural insight into piezo-solvatochromism of Reichardt's dye
Authors: Sobczak Szymon , Katrusiak Andrzej
Published: June 2024

To date, accurate modelling of the solvation process is challenging, often over-simplifying the solvent–solute interactions. The interplay between the molecular arrangement associated with the solvation process and crystal nucleation has been investigated by analysis of the piezo-solvatochromic behaviour of Reichardt's dye, ET(1), in methanol, ethanol and acetone under high pressure. High-pressure single-crystal X-ray diffraction and UV–Vis spectroscopy reveal the impact of solute–solvent interactions on the optical properties of ET(1). The study underscores the intricate relationship between solvent properties, molecular conformation and crystal packing. The connection between liquid and solid phases emphasizes the capabilities of high-pressure methods for expanding the field of crystal engineering. The high-pressure environment allowed the determination of the crystal structures reported here that are built from organic molecules fourfold solvated with ethanol or methanol: ET(1)·4CH3OH and ET(1)·4C2H5OH·H2O. The observed piezo-solvatochromic effects highlight the potential of ET(1) in nonlinear optoelectronics and expand the application of solvatochromic chemical indicators to pressure sensors.
Synthesis and crystal structures of two racemic 2-heteroaryl-3-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-pyrido[3,2-e][1,3]thiazin-4-ones
Authors: Yennawar Hemant P. , Mal Tapas K. , Olsen Mark A. , Lagalante Anthony F. , Louca Evelyn M. , Gavalis Aloura D. , Silverberg Lee J.
Published: June 2024

3-Phenyl-2-(thiophen-3-yl)-2,3-dihydro-4H-pyrido[3,2-e][1,3]thiazin-4-one (C17H12N2OS2, 1) and 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-3-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-pyrido[3,2-e][1,3]thiazin-4-one 0.438-hydrate (C21H15N3OS·0.438H2O, 2) crystallize in space groups P21/n and C2/c, respectively. The asymmetric unit in each case is comprised of two parent molecules, albeit of mixed chirality in the case of 1 and of similar chirality in 2 with the enantiomers occupying the neighboring asymmetric units. Structure 2 also has water molecules (partial occupancies) that form continuous channels along the b
-axis direction. The thiazine rings in both structures exhibit an envelope conformation. Intermolecular interactions in 1 are defined only by C—H...O and C—H...N hydrogen bonds between crystallographically independent molecules. In 2, hydrogen bonds of the type N—H...O between independent molecules and C—H...N(π) type, and π–π stacking interactions between the pyridine rings of symmetry-related molecules are observed.
Introduction of the Capsules environment to support further growth of the SBGrid structural biology software collection
Authors: Herre Carol , Ho Alex , Eisenbraun Ben , Vincent James , Nicholson Thomas , Boutsioukis Giorgos , Meyer Peter A. , Ottaviano Michelle , Krause Kurt L. , Key Jason , Sliz Piotr
Published: June 2024

The expansive scientific software ecosystem, characterized by millions of titles across various platforms and formats, poses significant challenges in maintaining reproducibility and provenance in scientific research. The diversity of independently developed applications, evolving versions and heterogeneous components highlights the need for rigorous methodologies to navigate these complexities. In response to these challenges, the SBGrid team builds, installs and configures over 530 specialized software applications for use in the on-premises and cloud-based computing environments of SBGrid Consortium members. To address the intricacies of supporting this diverse application collection, the team has developed the Capsule Software Execution Environment, generally referred to as Capsules. Capsules rely on a collection of programmatically generated bash scripts that work together to isolate the runtime environment of one application from all other applications, thereby providing a transparent cross-platform solution without requiring specialized tools or elevated account privileges for researchers. Capsules facilitate modular, secure software distribution while maintaining a centralized, conflict-free environment. The SBGrid platform, which combines Capsules with the SBGrid collection of structural biology applications, aligns with FAIR goals by enhancing the findability, accessibility, interoperability and reusability of scientific software, ensuring seamless functionality across diverse computing environments. Its adaptability enables application beyond structural biology into other scientific fields.
The relationship between happiness and consumption of brands and product categories in consumers' perception
Authors: Registro Gisele , Queiroz Mauricio Jucá de , Borini Felipe Mendes , dos Santos-Costa Lucas
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to identify whether there is happiness in the consumption of brands and product categories and to clarify which provides more happiness: consuming the product itself or consuming the branded product.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was a survey with 528 Brazilian consumers. Data were analyzed and interpreted through content analysis and regressions: linear, quantile and logistic.

Findings

The results show that there is happiness in the consumption of brands and product categories, with culture being the category that most provides happiness; also confirming that individuals who consume branded products are happier than those who consume the product itself.

Research limitations/implications

Studies confirm that there is happiness in consumption, but when we show that there is more happiness in the consumption of branded products than in not consuming the product itself, and when we identify which are the categories of products that bring the most happiness in an emerging country of Latin America, our article deepens and expands the previous literature.

Practical implications

We suggest that companies associate their brands with culture to balance profit with sustainable purpose. For this, we provide a framework as a tool for this association.

Originality/value

The topic of our article is relevant, timely and current, its originality lies in confirming that those who consume the branded product are happier and those who consume the product itself are less happy, and also by identifying which categories provide the most happiness.
Performance barriers and competence development of graduate architects in construction contract administration (CCA): the mediating role of CCA skills
Authors: Si Yee Tiew
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Education focused on the creation of a knowledge base but not on how to bring such knowledge into practice had caused graduate architects to encounter reality shock and fail to perform during building contract administration. Although the effect of performance barriers on competence development is empirically supported, less is known about the mechanisms that explain this effect. Overcoming barriers for graduate architects is crucial while supporting building contract administrators and acquiring professional qualifications. To address this issue, we propose the mediating role of CCA skills as a possible explanation of the relationship between performance barriers and competence development of graduate architects.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted among graduate architects in Klang Valley. In total, one hundred and twenty-seven usable questionnaires were returned and analyzed using descriptive analysis and regression analysis.

Findings

Mediation results indicate that performance barriers have a significant positive influence on competence development through CCA skills in claims and legal matters management, project management, communication and relationship management, quality assessment and management, and design management.

Originality/value

The present study contributes to the construction contract administration literature by integrating performance barriers and the CCA skills model. This advances our understanding of performance barriers and CCA skills engendering competence development of graduate architects.
Consumer segmentation in esports: clustering via consumption motivation
Authors: Rietz Julia , Hallmann Kirstin
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The study aims to provide a reference for market segmentation in a relatively new market. Esports consumer profiles are developed based on consumption motives, structural factors, game genres, interests, demographics and behavioral intentions. It delivers managerial advice for a growing esports market.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach using an online survey was implemented to identify homogenous groups. The study employed the Motivation Scale for Sports Consumption (MSSC) to investigate the consumption motives of esports consumers. A two-step market segmentation was conducted based on the motives, applying hierarchical clustering. Moreover, descriptor variables were used to create distinct esports consumer profiles.

Findings

This research divides the esports market into four clusters based on MSSC, which is new and relevant in a constantly changing environment. The clusters are named Low Intention Novices, Leisure Warriors, Socializing Learners and Dedicated Enthusiasts.

Originality/value

This adds to the limited literature on esports market segmentation and highlights the theoretical and practical implications of the findings.
“We are openly, proudly Subjective … This history is important to our contemporary survival”: queer embodied knowledge and the curatorial work of ICT-based LGBTQIA+ history content creators
Authors: Wagner Travis L.
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This article reports on findings from interviews with ICT-based content creators whose work focuses on documenting and curating queer history and culture. The research specifically examines how as amateur historians, the participant’s embodied knowledge plays a central role in how they engage with discourse about queer historical figures, methods of queer historiography and community accountability.

Design/methodology/approach

The research deploys a queer constructivist framework to qualitatively gather and analyzes the semi-structured interviews of 31 North American content creators who curate digital project related to queer history and culture. The interviews were gathered between August 2022 and August 2023.

Findings

The research highlights how the subjectivity of queer embodiment aids, rather than hinders, participants' ability to collaborate with LGBTQIA+ communities while also addressing more significant ethical questions around intersectionality and inclusive historiographic work.

Research limitations/implications

The content creators’ own positionality and commitments to community accountability and queer inclusivity fostered richer stories and historical documentation, while also helping make visible queer identity as affirming and valuable within queer culture. Additionally, practical implications include highlighting the value of ICT-based content within the distribution of educational and informational resources related to queer history.

Originality/value

This research offers an underexamined intersection of historiography and queer embodiment. While extensive scholarship on institutional and community-based historiography work exist the content creators interviewed within this study exist within the space of both, often using a combination of embodied knowledge and traditional curatorial work to translate between such spaces, inviting, in turn, new ways of thinking about queer archival knowledge.
Green bonds forecasting: evidence from pre-crisis, Covid-19 and Russian–Ukrainian crisis frameworks
Authors: Amri Amamou Souhir , Ben Daoud Mouna , Aguir Bargaoui Saoussen
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Without precedent, green bonds confront, for the first time since their emergence, a twofold crisis context, namely the Covid-19-Russian–Ukrainian crisis period. In this context, this paper aims to investigate the connectedness between the two pioneering bond market classes that are conventional and treasury, with the green bonds market.

Design/methodology/approach

In their forecasting target, authors use a Support Vector Regression model on daily S&P 500 Green, Conventional and Treasury Bond Indexes for a year from 2012 to 2022.

Findings

Authors argue that conventional bonds could better explain and predict green bonds than treasury bonds for the three studied sub-periods (pre-crisis period, Covid-19 crisis and Covid-19-Russian–Ukrainian crisis period). Furthermore, conventional and treasury bonds lose their forecasting power in crisis framework due to enhancements in market connectedness relationships. This effect makes spillovers in bond markets more sensitive to crisis and less predictable. Furthermore, this research paper indicates that even if the indicators of the COVID-19 crisis have stagnated and the markets have adapted to this rather harsh economic framework, the forecast errors persist higher than in the pre-crisis phase due to the Russian–Ukrainian crisis effect not yet addressed by the literature.

Originality/value

This study has several implications for the field of green bond forecasting. It not only illuminates the market participants to the best market forecasters, but it also contributes to the literature by proposing an unadvanced investigation of green bonds forecasting in Crisis periods that could help market participants and market policymakers to anticipate market evolutions and adapt their strategies to period specificities.
How does corporate hypocrisy undermine corporate reputation? The roles of corporate trust, affective commitment and CSR perception
Authors: Lee Luri , Hur Won-Moo
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Corporate hypocrisy occurs when a discrepancy exists between corporate talk and actions. As companies assume more extensive economic, societal and global roles, they are more likely to encounter situations in which their words and actions are inconsistent. Therefore, a company’s ability to cope with such situations is becoming increasingly important. This study aims to examine the negative effects of corporate hypocrisy on corporate reputation. First, it reveals the underlying mechanisms by presenting corporate trust and affective commitment as parallel mediators. Additionally, it explores how corporate social responsibility (CSR) perceptions mitigate the indirect effects of corporate hypocrisy.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through an online survey conducted at two time points in the context of Korean retail banking companies. A total of 313 respondents participated in a two-wave online survey using a multistage sampling technique to ensure a representative population sample. This study used the Mplus-based Hayes’ PROCESS Macro to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that corporate hypocrisy negatively affects corporate reputation by impeding customers’ corporate trust and affective commitment. These negative indirect effects are mitigated when customers’ perceptions of CSR are high.

Originality/value

By establishing a parallel moderated mediation model that captures the impact of corporate hypocrisy. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study presents important academic and managerial implications that have not been provided in the literature.
The influence of the reward culture on client-led service innovation in academic libraries of Uganda
Authors: Lwanga Elizabeth Namale Kawuma , Ngulube Patrick
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Client-led service innovation has gained currency in academic libraries owing to ever-shifting client preferences. Library clients are interested in determining which services libraries should offer to meet their information needs. Several studies have investigated service innovation or improvement in libraries with an emphasis on client involvement. However, it is not clear whether the reward culture influences client-focused service innovation in the context of Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

This multiple-case study triangulated data from a survey of 80 staff members, three semi-structured interviews conducted with three library heads, and data from institutional documents. Data were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively.

Findings

The results indicated that the financial reward culture did not influence client-led service innovation in any way; instead, non-financial rewards had an impact. Therefore, library managers need to appreciate that clients are no longer interested in financial rewards, but rather in non-financial rewards that have enduring value.

Originality/value

The study underscores the importance of client-led services in an information environment that has been invaded by industry 4.0 and calls upon librarians to use the opportunity to provide innovative services.
Effect of polymerization methods on surface roughness and hardness of commercially available self-curing acrylic resins: a comparative study
Authors: Rojas-Macedo Francisco Javier , Teutle-Coyotecatl Bernardo , Contreras-Bulnes Rosalía , Rodríguez-Vilchis Laura Emma , Reyes-Cervantes Eric , Velazquez-Enriquez Ulises
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to compare the surface roughness and hardness of three commercially available self-curing acrylic resins for dental use, under different polymerization conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

A comparative in vitro study was conducted using a convenience sample of 12 × 5 × 2 mm blocks with n = 40 for each material (Nic Tone, Arias Plus and Orthocryl®), with subgroups according to the polymerization method: conventional (C) and polymerization under ambient conditions (A). The surface roughness of the materials was measured using a profilometer; hardness was measured with a portable hardness tester. Additionally, surface morphology as well as particles size and morphology were evaluated with scanning electron microscopy.

Findings

There were significant differences in roughness and hardness values between the three self-curing acrylic resins (p < 0.05), as well as within each self-curing acrylic resin according to the polymerization method used (p < 0.05). The samples polymerized with the conventional method presented lower surface roughness and hardness values.

Originality/value

This study provides scientific evidence of values not provided by manufacturers in relation to the surface roughness and hardness of these materials, and all of them met the ideal minimum values of surface roughness, regardless of the polymerization technique used.
Evolutionary lability of food caching behaviour in mammals
Authors: Mahoney Sean M. , Pasch Bret
Published: June 2024

Food hoarding provides animals access to resources during periods of scarcity. Studies on mammalian caching indicate associations with brain size, seasonality and diet but are biased to a subset of rodents. Whether the behaviour is generalizable at other taxonomic scales and/or is influenced by other ecological factors is less understood. Population density may influence food caching due to food competition or pilferage, but this remains untested in a comparative framework.

Using phylogenetic analyses, we assessed the role of morphology (body and brain size), climate, diet breadth and population density on food caching behaviour evolution at multiple taxonomic scales. We also used a long‐term dataset on caching behaviour of red squirrels (Tamiasciurus fremonti) to test key factors (climate and population density) on hoarding intensity.

Consistent with previous smaller scale studies, we found the mammalian ancestral state for food caching was larderhoarding, and scatterhoarding was derived. Caching strategy was strongly associated with brain size, population density and climate. Mammals with larger brains and hippocampal volumes were more likely to scatterhoard, and species living at higher population densities and in colder climates were more likely to larderhoard.

Finer‐scale analyses within families, sub‐families and tribes indicated that the behaviour is evolutionary labile. Brain size in family Sciuridae and tribe Marmotini was larger in scatterhoarders, but not in other tribes. Scatterhoarding in tribe Marmotini was more likely in species with lower population densities while scatterhoarding in tribe Sciurini was associated with warmer climates. Red squirrel larderhoarding intensity was positively related to population density but not climate, implicating food competition or pilferage as an important mechanism mediating caching behaviour.

Our results are consistent with previous smaller‐scale studies on food caching and indicate the evolutionary patterns of mammalian food caching are broadly generalizable. Given the lability of caching behaviour as evidenced by the variability of our results at finer phylogenetic scales, comparative analyses must consider taxonomic scale.

Applying our results to conservation could prove useful as changes in population density or climate may select for different food caching strategies and thus can inform management of threatened and endangered species and their habitats.
Local environment shapes milk microbiomes while evolutionary history constrains milk macronutrients in captive cercopithecine primates
Authors: Bornbusch Sally L. , Shinnerl Hannah E. , Gentry Lindsey , Keady Mia M. , Glick Virginia , Muletz‐Wolz Carly R. , Power Michael L.
Published: June 2024

Milk is a complex biochemical fluid that includes macronutrients and microbiota, which, together, are known to facilitate infant growth, mediate the colonization of infant microbiomes, and promote immune development. Examining factors that shape milk microbiomes and milk‐nutrient interplay across host taxa is critical to resolving the evolution of the milk environment. Using a comparative approach across four cercopithecine primate species housed at three facilities under similar management conditions, we test for the respective influences of the local environment (housing facility) and host species on milk (a) macronutrients (fat, sugar, and protein), (b) microbiomes (16S rRNA), and (c) predicted microbial functions. We found that milk macronutrients were structured according to host species, while milk microbiomes and predicted function were strongly shaped by the local environment and, to a lesser extent, host species. The milk microbiomes of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) at two different facilities more closely resembled those of heterospecific facility‐mates compared to conspecifics at a different facility. We found similar, facility‐driven patterns of microbial functions linked to physiology and immune modulation, suggesting that milk microbiomes may influence infant health and development. These results provide novel insight into the complexity of milk and its potential impact on infants across species and environments.
Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels and dermatomyositis: A 2‐sample mendelian randomization study
Authors: Feng Wei , Ma Xiao‐Na , Wu Qi , Zhong Xiao‐Qin , Chen Shu‐Lin , Lin Chang‐Song , Xu Qiang
Published: June 2024

Background

Previous studies have reported low serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in dermatomyositis (DM) patients, but the exact causal relationship between them remains elusive. Our aim is to confirm the causal relationship between 25(OH)D and DM risk through a Mendelian randomization study.

Methods

Retrieve genome‐wide association study (GWAS) data on 25(OH)D (n = 441 291) and DM (n cases = 201, n controls = 172 834) from the GWAS database (https://gwas.mrcieu.ac.uk/). Select single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) strongly correlated with 25(OH)D as instrumental variables (IVs). The primary analytical approach involves the use of the inverse‐variance weighted method (IVW), supplemented by MR‐Egger regression and weighted median methods to enhance the reliability of the results. Heterogeneity and sensitivity analyses were conducted using Cochran's Q and leave‐one‐out approaches, respectively.

Results

The IVW analysis confirmed a positive causal relationship between genetic variation in 25(OH)D levels and DM (OR = 2.36, 95% CI = 1.01–5.52, p = .048). Although not statistically significant (all p > .05), the other methods also suggested a protective effect of 25(OH)D on DM. Based on MR‐Egger intercepts and Cochran's Q analysis, the selected SNPs showed no horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated the robustness of the results against individual SNPs.

Conclusion

We provide the first evidence of a causal relationship between 25(OH)D levels and DM. Our findings support the importance of measuring serum 25(OH)D levels and considering vitamin D supplementation in clinical practice for patients with DM.
2024 multidisciplinary consensus on image‐guided lung tumor ablation from the Taiwan Academy of Tumor Ablation
Authors: Chang Ling Kai , Yang Shun Mao , Chien Ning , Chang Chao Chun , Fang Hsin Yueh , Liu Ming Cheng , Wang Kao Lun , Lin Wei Chan , Lin Frank Cheau Feng , Chuang Cheng Yen , Hsu Po Kuei , Huang Tsai Wang , Chen Chun Ku , Chang Yeun Chung , Huang Kai Wen
Published: June 2024

In this article, the multidisciplinary team of the Taiwan Academy of Tumor Ablation, who have expertise in treating lung cancer, present their perspectives on percutaneous image‐guided thermal ablation (IGTA) of lung tumors. The modified Delphi technique was applied to reach a consensus on clinical practice guidelines concerning ablation procedures, including a comprehensive literature review, selection of panelists, creation of a rating form and survey, and arrangement of an in‐person meeting where panelists agreed or disagreed on various points. The conclusion was a final rating and written summary of the agreement. The multidisciplinary expert team agreed on 10 recommendations for the use of IGTA in the lungs. These recommendations include terms and definitions, line of treatment planning, modality, facility rooms, patient anesthesia settings, indications, margin determination, post‐ablation image surveillance, qualified centers, and complication ranges. In summary, IGTA is a safe and feasible approach for treating primary and metastatic lung tumors, with a relatively low complication rate. However, decisions regarding the ablation technique should consider each patient's specific tumor characteristics.
Expression of mitochondrial oxidative stress response genes in muscle is associated with mitochondrial respiration, physical performance, and muscle mass in the Study of Muscle, Mobility, and Aging
Authors: Tranah Gregory J. , Barnes Haley N. , Cawthon Peggy M. , Coen Paul M. , Esser Karyn A. , Hepple Russell T. , Huo Zhiguang , Kramer Philip A. , Toledo Frederico G. S. , Zhang Xiping , Wu Kevin , Wolff Christopher A. , Evans Daniel S. , Cummings Steven R.
Published: June 2024

Gene expression in skeletal muscle of older individuals may reflect compensatory adaptations in response to oxidative damage that preserve tissue integrity and maintain function. Identifying associations between oxidative stress response gene expression patterns and mitochondrial function, physical performance, and muscle mass in older individuals would further our knowledge of mechanisms related to managing molecular damage that may be targeted to preserve physical resilience. To characterize expression patterns of genes responsible for the oxidative stress response, RNA was extracted and sequenced from skeletal muscle biopsies collected from 575 participants (≥70 years old) from the Study of Muscle, Mobility, and Aging. Expression levels of 21 protein‐coding RNAs related to the oxidative stress response were analyzed in relation to six phenotypic measures, including maximal mitochondrial respiration from muscle biopsies (Max OXPHOS), physical performance (VO2 peak, 400‐m walking speed, and leg strength), and muscle size (thigh muscle volume and whole‐body D3Cr muscle mass). The mRNA level of the oxidative stress response genes most consistently associated across outcomes are preferentially expressed within the mitochondria. Higher expression of mRNAs that encode generally mitochondria located proteins SOD2, TRX2, PRX3, PRX5, and GRX2 were associated with higher levels of mitochondrial respiration and VO2 peak. In addition, greater SOD2, PRX3, and GRX2 expression was associated with higher physical performance and muscle size. Identifying specific mechanisms associated with high functioning across multiple performance and physical domains may lead to targeted antioxidant interventions with greater impacts on mobility and independence.