bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resilience! An intensifier for servant leadership? An employee engagement perspective
Authors: Goyal Richa , Sheoran Neha , Sharma Himani
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Drawing insights from the “Substitutes for Leadership” Theory, this study intends to examine the moderating role of resilience between servant leadership (SL) and employee engagement (EE). Particularly, relying on the issue that there are certain barriers, which hamper the effective execution of SL in the workplace, this study proposes to check that whether or not, resilience can intensify the effect of SL on EE.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 241 employees working in the Indian Banking and Insurance (B&I) sector using the SPSS (v20), and the AMOS software (v21).

Findings

The study’s results revealed that SL is significantly related to EE. Also, this relationship is stronger for the employees who experience a high level of resilience, thus denoting that resilience works as a booster for SL.

Research limitations/implications

This study has certain limitations like being cross-sectional in nature and covering only B&I sector employees.

Practical implications

Since resilience helps in intensifying the effect of SL on EE, the organizational HR managers should devote efforts to make their workforce resilient.

Originality/value

This paper is the first of its kind which empirically investigated the intensifying role of resilience for SL style.
Self-efficacy: implications for university employees' innovativeness
Authors: Namono Rehema , Hojops Odoch J.P. , Tanui Simon
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The current diversity in organizations requires innovative employees to cope up with the dynamism. A burgeoning body of literature has established the antecedent role of self-efficacy in employee innovativeness. However, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding the influence of self-efficacy on the different types of innovative work behaviour. The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of self-efficacy on the different types of innovative work behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted an explanatory design to examine the hypothesized relationship between the study variables. Regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between self-efficacy and different types of innovative work behaviour using a sample drawn from public universities in Uganda.

Findings

The study findings reveal that self-efficacy significantly influences the four types of innovative work behaviour. However, the magnitude of the influence is not uniform across the four types of innovative work behaviour. Idea implementation was highly influenced by self-efficacy, followed by generation of ideas. Championing and exploration are the least determinants of self-efficacy.

Originality/value

This research has both empirical and theoretical value. Empirically, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to show a direct relationship between self-efficacy and individual facets of innovative work behaviour in a public university setting in a developing nation like Uganda. Theoretically, the study expands on the applicability of the social cognitive theory by revealing that the influence of an individual's personality characteristics (such as self-efficacy) varies with the type of innovative work behaviour because the tasks involved in the various types of innovative work behaviour differ and are thus affected by self-efficacy differently. The study limitations and areas for further research are discussed.
A machine learning approach to predict classification of fans’ attitudes toward sponsors
Authors: Bian Junyi , Cork Benjamin Colin
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study aims to develop and validate an accurate machine learning model to categorize NBA fans into meaningful clusters based on their perceptions of sport sponsorship. Additionally, by predicting the intensity of NBA fans’ attitudes toward sponsors, the authors intend to identify the specific features that influence prediction, discuss these findings and offer implications for academics and practitioners in sport sponsorship.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a sample of 1,142 NBA fans who were recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). Fans identification, sponsorship fit, behavioral intentions, sponsor altruistic motive, sponsor normative motive, sponsor egoistic motive were surveyed as predictors, whereas fans’ attitudes toward sponsors was collected as the dependent variable. The LASSO regression, SVM, KNN, RF and XGboost were used to develop and validate the prediction model after verifying the measurement model by the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA).

Findings

The RF model had the best accurate in predicting the intensity of fans’ attitudes toward sponsors, achieving an AUC of 0.919 with a sensitivity of 0.872, a specificity of 0.828, a PPV of 0.873, a NPV of 0.828 and an accuracy of 0.848. The most influential feature in the model was “the fit of 0.301”. “Fans’ perceptions of sponsor’s normative motive”, “behavioral intentions supporting sponsors”, “fans’ identification with their favorite team”, “fans’ perceptions of sponsor’s altruistic motive” and “fans’ perceptions of sponsor’s egoistic motive” were exhibited in descending order.

Originality/value

This study is the first in sport sponsorship to accurately classify the intensity of fans’ attitudes toward sponsors as either high or low using machine learning models, and to formulate how fans’ attitudes formed toward sponsors from their perceptions of sponsorship process.
The effect of moral preferences on purchase intention toward unethical fashion companies’ products: the moderating role of collectivism and individualism
Authors: Lee Jihyun
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study aims to fill the gap between academia and reality by empirically confirming the effect of moral preferences on consumer responses (purchase intention) to fashion companies’ unethical activities. This study also explores the moderating effect of collectivism and individualism on the paths from moral preferences to purchase intention.

Design/methodology/approach

Respondents read a stimulus passage describing unethical activities of imaginary fashion brand A and the economic benefits of purchasing/using the brand's products. Then, they were asked to answer questions about homo moralis, homo economicus, individualism, collectivism and purchase intention.

Findings

Homo moralis significantly and negatively influenced respondents’ purchase intention. Homo economicus significantly and positively affected purchase intention. Collectivism further increased the negative influence of homo moralis on purchase intention. In contrast, individualism increased the positive effect of homo economicus on purchase intention.

Research limitations/implications

The scope of future research should include various products and explore variables that help consumers perceive that the ethical issues of the industry are deeply related to themselves. Studies should also examine the intention not to purchase products from unethical companies as an outcome variable. The economic aspect that responds to incentives affects purchase intention more strongly than the moral aspect of consumers, which helps explain the behavior of consumers who think of themselves as ethical but purchase products from unethical companies.

Originality/value

This study can help fashion companies establish strategies such as corporate social responsibility that will lead to a positive effect on consumers’ purchase intention.
The feeling of being together in the metaverse: the positive influence of copresence on subjective well-being
Authors: Kim Do Yuon , Choi Dooyoung , Yoon Namhee , Lee Ha Kyung
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The synchronous interactivity in the metaverse afforded copresence, the feeling of being together with other users. Applying the flow theory, this study examines how copresence improves the subjective well-being of users through flow and escapism.

Design/methodology/approach

An online self-administered survey of 212 US adults who are currently using metaverse platforms is conducted. The collected data are analyzed by SPSS 27.0 for descriptive statistics and reliability analysis. AMOS 27.0 is employed for the confirmatory factor analysis. The bootstrapping analysis via the PROCESS Macro is used to analyze the mediating and moderating effects.

Findings

The results find that copresence, flow, and escapism improve the subjective well-being of metaverse users. A serial mediation analysis reveals that the influence of copresence on subjective well-being is mediated by flow and escapism. Additionally, the impact of escapism on subjective well-being is moderated by self-expansion.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to the metaverse literature and the industry by highlighting the role of copresence in improving user experience and subjective well-being.
The environment for a digitally enabled circular plastics economy in Africa: lessons from cross-sectional stakeholder engagements
Authors: Oyinlola Muyiwa , Kolade Oluwaseun , Schröder Patrick , Odumuyiwa Victor , Rawn Barry , Wakunuma Kutoma , Sharifi Soroosh , Lendelvo Selma , Akanmu Ifeoluwa , Whitehead Timothy , Mtonga Radhia , Tijani Bosun , Abolfathi Soroush
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to provide insights into the environment needed for advancing a digitally enabled circular plastic economy in Africa. It explores important technical and social paradigms for the transition.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted an interpretivist paradigm, drawing on thematic analysis on qualitative data from an inter-sectoral engagement with 69 circular economy stakeholders across the continent.

Findings

The results shows that, while substantial progress has been made with regard to the development and deployment of niche innovations in Africa, the overall progress of circular plastic economy is slowed due to relatively minimal changes at the regime levels as well as pressures from the exogenous landscape. The study highlights that regime changes are crucial for disrupting the entrenched linear plastic economy in developing countries, which is supported by significant sunk investment and corporate state capture.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of this study is with the sample as it uses data collected from five countries. Therefore, while it offers a panoramic view of multi-level synergy of actors and sectors across African countries, it is limited in its scope and ability to illuminate country-specific nuances and peculiarities.

Practical implications

The study underlines the importance of policy innovations and regulatory changes in order for technologies to have a meaningful contribution to the transition to a circular plastic economy.

Originality/value

The study makes an important theoretical contribution by using empirical evidence from various African regions to articulate the critical importance of the regime dimension in accelerating the circular economy transition in general, and the circular plastic economy in particular, in Africa.
The latest status of nitrogen saturation on Kureha Hill, Toyama, Japan, based on 20‐year observations
Authors: Takahashi Miyu , Kawakami Tomonori
Published: August 2024

Excessive anthropogenic nitrogen fixation alters the nitrogen cycle and increases nitrogen deposition, leading to nitrogen saturation, which in turns leads to forest decline and nitrate leaching into stream waters. Kureha Hill in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, is considered to be in nitrogen saturation, since many streams have contained high concentrations of nitrate for more than 20 years. In this study, the latest status of nitrogen saturation was verified by comparing most recent data with 20 years observational data, focusing on various indicators of nitrogen saturation, such as stream water quality, nitrogen budget of the watershed, and soil nitrification and mineralization potential. Both the nitrogen deposition on the Hyakumakidani watershed on Kureha Hill and the amount of nitrate leaching to the stream tended to decrease. The reduction in nitrate leaching could be attributed to the reduction in nitrogen deposition and other factors, such as nitrogen pools in the soil. Despite the recent decline in nitrate concentration of the Hyakumakidani stream, the pH level has remained unchanged. This may be due to decreased concentrations of sulfate and acid neutralizing capacity (ANC). The C/N ratio of the soil ranged from 12 to 18 from 2000 to 2023, which was lower than the nitrogen saturation threshold of 25. The net nitrification rate and net mineralization rate showed no significant changes between 2002 and 2023, indicating that the potential to produce nitrate has been unchanged. Similar values in net nitrification and net nitrogen mineralization rates reflected that the Hyakumakidani watershed remained in Stage‐3 nitrogen saturation.
Clinical features and outcomes of horses presenting with presumed equine immune mediated keratitis to two veterinary hospitals in the United Kingdom and Finland: 94 cases (2009–2021)
Authors: Preston Juliette F. , Mustikka Minna P. , Priestnall Simon L. , Dunkel Bettina , Fischer Maria‐Christine
Published: August 2024

Background

There is limited literature regarding equine immune mediated keratitis (IMMK) in Europe. North America‐based publications describe minimal blepharospasm, rare corneal ulceration and no uveitis; clinical impression suggests these are seen in Europe.

Objectives

Assess the prevalence of blepharospasm, corneal ulceration and uveitis and their impact on outcome in horses diagnosed with IMMK in Europe (UK and Finland).

Study design

Retrospective case series.

Methods

Clinical records of 94 horses with IMMK were evaluated. The UK and Finland populations were comparable; therefore, descriptive statistics were performed on combined data on subtypes of IMMK and clinical features. Odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for impact of blepharospasm, ulceration or presence of uveitis on the outcome of enucleation and treatment duration.

Results

IMMK subtype was classified as 10/94 (10.6%) epithelial, 50/94 (53.2%) anterior stromal, 14/94 (14.9%) mid‐stromal, 4/94 (4.25%) endothelial and 16/94 (17.0%) unrecorded. After excluding three horses with incidental corneal ulceration, blepharospasm was documented in 34/91 (37.4%), corneal ulceration in 26/91 (28.6%), and signs of uveitis in 23/91 (25.3%) horses. Increased odds of enucleation were significantly associated with the presence of blepharospasm (OR 5.5, 95% CI 1.6–19.4, p = 0.008) and signs of uveitis (OR 8.9, 95% CI 2.6–30.8, p < 0.001), but not corneal ulceration. The presence of blepharospasm, corneal ulceration or uveitis did not significantly alter the odds of ongoing medication.

Main limitations

Data were collected over a wide timeframe; the diagnosis was mainly made without histopathology; a broad definition of uveitis was used and there was a bias towards complicated cases being retained for follow‐up.

Conclusions

The clinical features of IMMK were similar between two European countries but differed to USA descriptions. Blepharospasm, corneal ulceration and signs of uveitis can occur with IMMK; presence of blepharospasm and uveitis increase the odds of enucleation.
Underwater image enhancement using contrast correction
Authors: Singh Nishant , Bhat Aruna
Published: August 2024

Light‐induced degeneration of underwater images occurs by physical features of seawater. According to the wavelength of the colour spectrum, light reduces intensity significantly when it moves through water. The greatest wavelength of light that is visible gets absorbed first. Red and blue absorb the most and least, respectively. Because of the reducing consequences of the light spectrum, underwater images having poor contrast can be obtained. As a result, the crucial data contained inside these images will not be effectively retrieved for later analysis. The recent research suggests a novel approach to enhance the contrast while decreasing noise in underwater images. The recommended approach involves image histogram transformation using two significant colour spaces, Red‐Green‐Blue (RGB) and Hue‐Saturation‐Value (HSV). The histogram of the dominant colour channel (blue channel) in the RGB colour model is extended towards the lower level, containing a maximum limitation of 95%, while the inferior red colour channel has been extended towards the upper side, containing a minimum limitation of 5%. During the entire dynamic range, the green colour channel having the dominant and inferior colour channels expands in each direction. The Rayleigh distribution has been utilized for developing various stretching actions within the RGB colour space. The image has been converted to the HSV colour space, having the S and V elements adjusted within 1% of their minimum and maximum values. The suggested approach is examined in both qualitative and quantitative analysis. According to qualitative analysis, the recommended approach substantially boosts image contrast, lowers its blue and green effect, and minimizes over‐enhanced and under‐enhanced sections in the final resultant underwater image. The quantitative examination of 500 large scale underwater images dataset reveals that the suggested technique generates better results. The dataset images are grouped into small fish images, blue coral images, stone wall images, and coral branch images. The quantitative examination of all these four groups have been evaluated and shown. The average mean square error, peak signal to noise ratio, underwater image quality measurement, and underwater colour image quality evaluation values of dataset images are 76.69, 31.25, 3.85, and 0.64, respectively. These values of our proposed work outperform six other previous methods.
Intent detection for task‐oriented conversational agents: A comparative study of recurrent neural networks and transformer models
Authors: Jbene Mourad , Chehri Abdellah , Saadane Rachid , Tigani Smail , Jeon Gwanggil
Published: August 2024

Conversational assistants (CAs) and Task‐oriented ones, in particular, are designed to interact with users in a natural language manner, assisting them in completing specific tasks or providing relevant information. These systems employ advanced natural language understanding (NLU) and dialogue management techniques to comprehend user inputs, infer their intentions, and generate appropriate responses or actions. Over time, the CAs have gradually diversified to today touch various fields such as e‐commerce, healthcare, tourism, fashion, travel, and many other sectors. NLU is fundamental in the natural language processing (NLP) field. Identifying user intents from natural language utterances is a sub‐task of NLU that is crucial for conversational systems. The diversity in user utterances makes intent detection (ID) even a challenging problem. Recently, with the emergence of Deep Neural Networks. New State of the Art (SOA) results have been achieved for different NLP tasks. Recurrent neural networks (RNNs) and Transformer architectures are two major players in those improvements. RNNs have significantly contributed to sequence modelling across various application areas. Conversely, Transformer models represent a newer architecture leveraging attention mechanisms, extensive training data sets, and computational power. This review paper begins with a detailed exploration of RNN and Transformer models. Subsequently, it conducts a comparative analysis of their performance in intent recognition for Task‐oriented (CAs). Finally, it concludes by addressing the main challenges and outlining future research directions.
DISORIENTING EASTERN EUROPE: JUDITH HERMANN'S AFFECTIVE GEOGRAPHY
Authors: Gordinsky Natasha
Published: August 2024

This article presents a geocritical interpretation (based on the methodological approach developed by Robert Tally) of two of Judith Hermann's short stories – ‘Diesseits der Oder’ and ‘Osten’. Written almost twenty years apart, the first of these takes place amidst the Oderbruch, whilst the second comprises Hermann's only literary text about a journey to Ukraine. Drawing on interdisciplinary spatial research, I offer a close reading of both stories as they stage, in different ways, an affective experience of East European space. Moreover, I argue that through her critical investigation of the ‘East’ as an imagined and real space, Hermann emerges as a geocritic herself. Drawing on Sara Ahmed's queer phenomenology and Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht's notion of latency in post‐war culture, I contend that ‘Diesseits der Oder’ and ‘Osten’ are constituted as poetic texts that foreground disorientation through the mode of latency as a crucial phenomenological device. Once brought together into their historical and geopolitical contexts and explored through the aesthetic prism of representation of the ‘East’, Hermann's short stories are seen to advance a radical critique of perceptions of Eastern Europe in the German post‐war literary and geographic imagination.
Identification of cytomegalovirus in vitreous using the polymerase chain reaction*
Authors: Stewart James FG , Croxson Margaret C , Powell Kevin F , Polkinghorne Philip J
Published: August 2024

A presumptive clinical diagnosis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis was made in two patients presenting with atypical ophthalmologic findings. The diagnosis was confirmed by finding specific CMV DNA sequences in sampled vitreous fluid using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based assay. Neither of these patients yielded CMV on culture or PCR of peripheral blood leucocytes, nor was CMV present in tears or urine of either patient. Serum antibody titres were stable and did not help in establishing the diagnosis. This report suggests that CMV retinitis can occur in the absence of disseminated CMV disease.
Retinopathy after low‐dose retinal irradiation
Authors: Quinn Anthony G , Clemett Richard S
Published: August 2024

A 28‐year‐old man, after subtotal resection of a Grade l‐ll frontal lobe astrocytoma, received 5600 cGy of radiotherapy in 200 cGy fractions to residual intracranial tumour. One year later he presented with severe bilateral retinopathy which, in appearance was consistent with retinopathy from irradiation. Total irradiation received by the retina of each eye (< 50 to 1500 cGy) was far less than the dose which commonly produces radiation retinopathy. Also, the pattern of retinopathy did not reflect the distribution of radiation received by the eye. Alternative causes for the retinopathy were sought but not found. Proliferative retinopathy occurred in each eye and one eye developed a dense vitreous haemorrhage. Argon laser pan‐retinal photocoagulation controlled the neovascularisation in the other eye. This patient has developed severe retinal ischaemia after a low dose of retinal irradiation.
Severe epistaxis — an unusual complication of lacrimal probing
Authors: McCurrach Fiona , Elder James E
Published: August 2024

Severe epistaxis after combined nasolacrmal duct probing and cardiac catheterisation in a one‐year‐old child is reported. The epistaxis followed streptokinase infusion given as treatment for femoral artery thrombosis secondary to cardiac catheterisation and necessitated nasal packing and blood transfusion. The authors recommend that probing not be undertaken in conjunction with another procedure if anticoagulant and/or thrombolytic agents are likely to be required.
Restructuring Asbestos MINING in Western Canada
Authors: Bradbury John , Sendbuehler Michael
Published: August 2024

The cases of the asbestos‐mining towns of Cassiar in northern British Columbia and Clinton Creek, Yukon, are discussed in order to develop a framework for analysing the restructuring of the Canadian mining industry. Special reference is made to Massey and Meegan's (1982) analytical framework of the anatomy of job loss. We argue that restructuring in the mining industry is understood best through detailed locality studies of companies and company towns. Specific instances of production reorganization are described and discussed with reference to the cyclical nature of the industry, the realities of the world market‐place, and the health problems inherent in the production and use of asbestos.
Interbasin Water Transfers and the Régimes of Three Northwestern Ontario Rivers
Authors: Woo Ming‐Ko , Waylen Peter R.
Published: August 2024

Runoff régimes of three northwestern Ontario river systems undergoing interbasin transfer of water were compared to the natural flow patterns of neighbouring rivers. Long‐term diversion effects can be identified by analysing the probability distributions of annual runoff, annual floods, and annual low flows, representing mean, maximum, and minimum flow conditions of each year, respectively. Rivers exporting water have reduced annual flow and highly variable peak runoff, accompanied by high probability of zero low flow. Rivers importing water exhibit smaller variations of annual flow and peak flow but more variable low flow than the unregulated streams. The Albany River‐English River systems are particularly interesting because they offer stream flow records for the periods before and after interbasin water transfer, making it possible to analyse the changes in their flow characteristics through time.
Daily low‐dose aspirin and blood pressure in community‐dwelling older adults
Authors: Ernst Michael E. , Phan Kevin , Nelson Mark R. , Woods Robyn L. , Fravel Michelle A. , Beilin Lawrence , Orchard Suzanne G. , Zhou Zhen , Polkinghorne Kevan R. , Broder Jonathan C. , Margolis Karen L. , Reid Christopher M. , Stocks Nigel , Chowdhury Enayet , Wolfe Rory
Published: August 2024

High‐quality randomized trial evidence is lacking on whether low‐dose aspirin exerts significant effects on blood pressure (BP) in older adults. The authors assessed longitudinal BP changes in participants enrolled in ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE), a randomized, placebo‐controlled trial of 100 mg daily aspirin in 19 114 community‐dwelling Australian and U.S. adults without cardiovascular disease (CVD), dementia, or independence‐limiting physical disability. Participants’ BP was recorded at baseline and annual study visits, and managed by their usual care provider. BP trajectories for aspirin versus placebo during 4.7 years of follow‐up were examined for systolic and diastolic BP separately, using linear mixed models to account for between and within‐individual variability in BP. Analyses by subgroups were also explored with inclusion of interaction terms in the models. The difference in mean change in systolic BP between aspirin and placebo during study follow‐up was −0.03 mm Hg (95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.13, 0.07; p = .541) (aspirin minus placebo), while the mean difference for change in diastolic BP was −0.05 mm Hg (95% CI: –0.11, 0.01; p = .094). These small, non‐significant differences in BP change between the aspirin and placebo groups were consistent across baseline levels of BP and antihypertensive treatment status (treated/untreated). Likewise, subgroups of age, sex, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and frailty revealed no interaction effect between the subgroup, aspirin treatment, and time. Interval‐censored Cox proportional hazards regression showed no difference in rates of incident treated hypertension between aspirin and placebo‐treated participants. The authors conclude that daily low‐dose aspirin does not significantly affect BP in older adults when managed by usual care.
A bibliometric analysis of coronary heart disease impacted by work stress elements and lifestyle disease
Authors: Venkataraman Chandhini , Rethinam Sudha Mekhala
Published: August 2024

Purpose

One psychosocial risk factor that has drawn attention is work‐related stress, although it is still unclear how exactly this risk factor relates to poor health. Prospective observational studies have found a 40%–50% raise in the incidence of coronary heart disease in those who experience chronic stress at work and in their personal lives.

Theoretical Framework

In the recent decade, there has been a rise in the requirement for firms to gather information on job stress on employees that leads to coronary heart disease. As a result, this study on trends in Coronary Heart Disease induced by Work Stress becomes necessary to examine all of these efforts.

Design/Methodology

This research employs bibliometric analysis and charting to describe the growth and structure of the research field of work‐related stress causing coronary heart disease. The field's conceptual framework and research boundaries, the connections between publications and the contributors, key phrases, the latest networks of collaboration, the most prevalent concepts, and the most cited authors are all revealed by our findings.

Findings

Research found that this field has seen a significant increase in research on coronary heart disease in recent years. Because it has been demonstrated that there is a rise in deaths from cardiovascular disease, researchers, academics, and professionals should be made aware of how stress can lead to coronary heart disease.

Originality/Value

The study suggests that workplace health should be a priority for both developed and developing nations, and it must be disseminated in several languages.
Anchorene, a carotenoid‐derived growth regulator, modulates auxin homeostasis by suppressing GH3‐mediated auxin conjugation
Authors: Ke Danping , Xie Yinpeng , Li Haipeng , Hu Liqun , He Yi , Guo Chao , Zhai Yahui , Guo Jinggong , Li Kun , Chu Zongyan , Zhang Junli , Zhang Xuebin , Al‐Babili Salim , Jiang Kai , Miao Yuchen , Jia Kun‐Peng
Published: August 2024

Anchorene, identified as an endogenous bioactive carotenoid‐derived dialdehyde and diapocarotenoid, affects root development by modulating auxin homeostasis. However, the precise interaction between anchorene and auxin, as well as the mechanisms by which anchorene modulates auxin levels, remain largely elusive. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of anchorene's bioactivities alongside auxin and observed that anchorene induces multifaceted auxin‐like effects. Through genetic and pharmacological examinations, we revealed that anchorene's auxin‐like activities depend on the indole‐3‐pyruvate‐dependent auxin biosynthesis pathway, as well as the auxin inactivation pathway mediated by Group II Gretchen Hagen 3 (GH3) proteins that mainly facilitate the conjugation of indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) to amino acids, leading to the formation of inactivated storage forms. Our measurements indicated that anchorene treatment elevates IAA levels while reducing the quantities of inactivated IAA–amino acid conjugates and oxIAA. RNA sequencing further revealed that anchorene triggers the expression of numerous auxin‐responsive genes in a manner reliant on Group II GH3s. Additionally, our in vitro enzymatic assays and biolayer interferometry (BLI) assay demonstrated anchorene's robust suppression of GH3.17‐mediated IAA conjugation with glutamate. Collectively, our findings highlight the significant role of carotenoid‐derived metabolite anchorene in modulating auxin homeostasis, primarily through the repression of GH3‐mediated IAA conjugation and inactivation pathways, offering novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms of plant bioactive apocarotenoids.
Forward Guidance under Imperfect Information
Authors: JIA CHENGCHENG
Published: August 2024

I study the effect of forward guidance in a flexible‐price economy in which both the private sector and the central bank are subject to imperfect information about the aggregate state of the economy. When forward guidance is provided, the central bank reveals its current imperfect information and commits to a policy rule that makes future policy conditional on perfect information that is only available in the future. The information provided by forward guidance makes individual prices more responsive to firm‐specific technology shocks, which increases production efficiency at the cost of higher cross‐sectional price variation. The net effect improves social welfare.
Obstetric outcomes of transabdominal cerclage: A retrospective observational study in Japan
Authors: Kasuga Yoshifumi , Tanigaki Shinji , Seo Kohei , Harada Ayumi , Kuwabara Yoshimitsu , Ishioka Shinichi , Tanaka Mamoru
Published: August 2024

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the obstetric outcomes of transabdominal cerclage (TAC) in Japan.

Methods

Questionnaires on TAC were sent to 183 institutions performing high‐quality perinatal management in Japan. As a first‐step questionnaire, we asked whether TAC was performed between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2022. In the second step of the questionnaire, the characteristics of all cases were asked from all institutions in which TAC was performed.

Results

The response rate for the first survey was 59% (108/183). Of the 108 institutions, 27 performed TAC (25%) in 133 pregnancies. Of these 27 institutions, 19 responded to the second survey. One hundred twenty‐five pregnancies were included in this study, five of which were aborted (gestational weeks <22 weeks), and 69 babies were born after 37 gestational weeks (55%). Eighty‐two open abdominal cerclages were performed at 17 institutions and 43 laparoscopic TACs at three institutions. There were no differences in the age at TAC, gestational weeks at TAC, operative time of TAC, gestational weeks at delivery, incidence rate of second‐trimester loss, or preterm delivery (before 37 gestational weeks) rate between the two groups. However, blood loss during open TAC was greater than that during laparoscopic TAC.

Conclusion

TAC is a rare surgery for cervical insufficiency in Japan. TAC may be a safe and useful method for preventing second‐trimester loss and preterm delivery in high‐risk patients. TAC may also be a key option in Japan to improve perinatal outcomes in patients with cervical insufficiency.
Bond strength and interfacial analysis of six CoCr alloys made by conventional casting and selective laser melting
Authors: Al Jabbari Youssef S. , Dimitriadis Konstantinos , Sufyan Aref , Zinelis Spiros
Published: August 2024

Purpose

To investigate the effects of the elemental composition and the manufacturing process of cobalt chromium–molybdenum (CoCr–Mo), cobalt chromium–tungsten (CoCr–W), and CoCr–Mo‐W alloys on metal–ceramic bond strength.

Materials and Methods

Six CoCr‐based alloys were included in this study, a were classified into three different groups depending on their elemental composition (Ν = 10, for each group). The first group had molybdenum (Mo) as the third alloying element, the second group contained tungsten (W) (without Mo), and the third group included both alloying elements. The groups were further divided by the manufacturing process (casting or selective laser melting, SLM). Interfacial analysis was carried out using backscattered electron imaging (BEI) and energy‐dispersive X‐ray microanalysis (EDX) operating in line scan mode. The metal‐ceramic bond strength was tested by a 3‐point bending test according to the ISO 9693 requirements. The fracture mode of all specimens was examined under a stereomicroscope. The bond strength results were statistically analyzed by 2‐way ANOVA and Tukey's multiple comparison post hoc test (a = 0.05).

Results

A continuous interface with the porcelain was found without pores, debonding areas, or other defects. Of the major elements found at the interface, Co showed the highest diffusion rate, while titanium (Ti) had the lowest diffusion rate. No statistically significant differences were identified in metal‐ceramic bond strength either among materials or between manufacturing processes. The fracture mode was found to be cohesive for all specimens.

Conclusions

The metal‐ceramic bond strength is independent of the current CoCr alloy type and manufacturing process when comparing conventional casting and SLM. Interfacial analysis revealed no differences between the tested groups.
Long‐term evaluation of the initial response to therapy in 60 dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy
Authors: Hodel Susan , Brugger Daniel , Kook Peter Hendrik
Published: August 2024

Background

Dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE) are typically classified into food‐responsive enteropathy (FRE), antibiotic‐responsive enteropathy (ARE), immunomodulator‐responsive enteropathy (IRE), and nonresponsive enteropathy (NRE) based on response to therapy(ies). Reassessment of initial categorization (especially IRE and NRE) is lacking.

Objectives

Investigate validity of categorization scheme when reassessed at least 1 year after diagnosis.

Animals

Sixty client‐owned dogs with CIE.

Methods

Retrospective study. Clinical information was gathered from records and owners from time of diagnosis (TD), time of initial response (TIR), and at least 1 year after diagnosis (T≥1y). Category change was defined as a switch between groups.

Results

Median disease activity index (CIBDAI) at TD was 9 and reduced significantly to 1 at T≥1y (P < .0001). At TIR, dogs were categorized as: FRE 27/60 (45%, 95% binomial confidence intervals [CI], 0.32‐0.58), IRE 30/60 (50%, CI 0.37‐0.63), ARE 0/60 (0%), NRE 3/60 (5%, CI −0.01 to 0.11). Seventeen of 27 (63%) FRE dogs had previously had at least 1 unsuccessful diet trial. At T≥1y, categorization changed to FRE 44/60 (73%, CI 0.62‐0.85), IRE 14/60 (23%, CI 0.13‐0.34), ARE 0/60 (0%), NRE 2/60 (3%, CI −0.01 to 0.08). Group changes were found for 24/60 (40%) dogs, largest change was from IRE to FRE (19/24, 79%). Immunosuppressive dosages were administered as sole treatment in 1/30 (3%) IRE dogs at TIR.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Chronic inflammatory enteropathy categorization based on initial response to therapy needs reassessment after 1 year. Frequent change from IRE to FRE suggests that dogs initially categorized as IRE might have been initially categorized as FRE if multiple dietary trials had been performed. In our study, antibiotics were not needed to achieve satisfying clinical responses.
A fair go? How belief in a just world shaped attitudes, intentions, and behaviors before and after the Australian referendum on a First Nations voice to parliament
Authors: Bartholomaeus Jonathan , Strelan Peter
Published: August 2024

In October 2023, Australia voted on whether to enshrine in the constitution an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander “Voice” to Parliament. Debate around the Voice raised questions of justice and deservingness for a marginalized group within Australian society. The belief in a just world, the perception of fairness in this world for others (BJW‐other) and the self (BJW‐self), was, therefore, central to how people formed and expressed their opinions. In this longitudinal study (N = 253), we examined associations between BJW‐other, BJW‐self, and attitudes, intentions, and actions towards the Voice before and after the vote. Analysis indicated broadly negative associations between T1 BJW‐other and pro‐Voice outcomes (at both timepoints), while BJW‐self was positively related. Findings were, however, inconsistent when controlling for a broad range of sociopolitical covariates. These findings make an important contribution to justice motive theory by illustrating the role of justice beliefs in the political context.
Production of Four‐Gene (GTKO/hCD55/hTBM/hCD39)‐Edited Donor Pigs and Kidney Xenotransplantation
Authors: Yang Chang , Wei Yunfang , Li Xinglong , Xu Kaixiang , Huo Xiaoying , Chen Gang , Zhao Heng , Wang Jiaoxiang , Wei Taiyun , Qing Yubo , Guo Jianxiong , Zhao Hongfang , Zhang Xiong , Jiao Deling , Xiong Zhe , Jamal Muhammad Ameen , Zhao Hong‐Ye , Wei Hong‐Jiang
Published: August 2024

Background

The number of multigene‐modified donor pigs for xenotransplantation is increasing with the advent of gene‐editing technologies. However, it remains unclear which gene combination is suitable for specific organ transplantation.

Methods

In this study, we utilized CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, piggyBac transposon system, and somatic cell cloning to construct GTKO/hCD55/hTBM/hCD39 four‐gene‐edited cloned (GEC) pigs and performed kidney transplantation from pig to rhesus monkey to evaluate the effectiveness of these GEC pigs.

Results

First, 107 cell colonies were obtained through drug selection, of which seven were 4‐GE colonies. Two colonies were selected for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), resulting in seven fetuses, of which four were GGTA1 biallelic knockout. Out of these four, two fetuses had higher expression of hCD55, hTBM, and hCD39. Therefore, these two fetuses were selected for two consecutive rounds of cloning, resulting in 97 live piglets. After phenotype identification, the GGTA1 gene of these pigs was inactivated, and hCD55, hTBM, and hCD39 were expressed in cells and multiple tissues. Furthermore, the numbers of monkey IgM and IgG binding to the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of the 4‐GEC pigs were markedly reduced. Moreover, 4‐GEC porcine PBMCs had greater survival rates than those from wild‐type pigs through complement‐mediated cytolysis assays. In pig‐to‐monkey kidney xenotransplantation, the kidney xenograft successfully survived for 11 days. All physiological and biochemical indicators were normal, and no hyperacute rejection or coagulation abnormalities were found after transplantation.

Conclusion

These results indicate that the GTKO/hCD55/hTBM/hCD39 four‐gene modification effectively alleviates immune rejection, and the pig kidney can functionally support the recipient monkey's life.
Crossing numbers of cable knots
Authors: Kalfagianni Efstratia , Mcconkey Rob
Published: August 2024

We use the degree of the colored Jones knot polynomials to show that the crossing number of a ‐cable of an adequate knot with crossing number is larger than . As an application, we determine the crossing number of 2‐cables of adequate knots. We also determine the crossing number of the connected sum of any adequate knot with a 2‐cable of an adequate knot.
Presynaptic quantal size enhancement counteracts post‐tetanic release depression
Authors: Nair Anu G. , Bollmohr Nasrin , Schökle Levin , Keim Jennifer , Melero José María Mateos , Müller Martin
Published: August 2024

Repetitive synaptic stimulation can induce different forms of synaptic plasticity but may also limit the robustness of synaptic transmission by exhausting key resources. Little is known about how synaptic transmission is stabilized after high‐frequency stimulation. In the present study, we observed that tetanic stimulation of the Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) decreases quantal content, release‐ready vesicle pool size and synaptic vesicle density for minutes after stimulation. This was accompanied by a pronounced increase in quantal size. Interestingly, action potential‐evoked synaptic transmission remained largely unchanged. EPSC amplitude fluctuation analysis confirmed the post‐tetanic increase in quantal size and the decrease in quantal content, suggesting that the quantal size increase counteracts release depression to maintain evoked transmission. The magnitude of the post‐tetanic quantal size increase and release depression correlated with stimulation frequency and duration, indicating activity‐dependent stabilization of synaptic transmission. The post‐tetanic quantal size increase persisted after genetic ablation of the glutamate receptor subunits GluRIIA or GluRIIB, and glutamate receptor calcium permeability, as well as blockade of postsynaptic calcium channels. By contrast, it was strongly attenuated by pharmacological or presynaptic genetic perturbation of the GTPase dynamin. Similar observations were made after inhibition of the H+‐ATPase, suggesting that the quantal size increase is presynaptically driven. Additionally, dynamin and H+‐ATPase perturbation resulted in a post‐tetanic decrease in evoked amplitudes. Finally, we observed an increase in synaptic vesicle diameter after tetanic stimulation. Thus, a presynaptically‐driven quantal size increase, likely mediated by larger synaptic vesicles, counterbalances post‐tetanic release depression, thereby conferring robustness to synaptic transmission on the minute time scale.

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Key points

Many synapses transmit robustly after sustained activity despite the limitation of key resources, such as release‐ready synaptic vesicles.

We report robust synaptic transmission after sustained high‐frequency stimulation of the Drosophila neuromuscular junction despite a reduction in release‐ready vesicle number.

An increased postsynaptic response to individual vesicles, likely driven by an increase in vesicle size due to endocytosis defects, stabilizes synaptic efficacy for minutes after sustained activity.

Our study provides novel insights into the mechanisms governing synaptic stability after sustained neural activity.
Perspectives for Improvements on Real-Time GNSS Positioning with the Use of New Observables
Authors: Junior Osvaldo Tavares de Camargo , Junior Paulo Sergio de Oliveira , Bezerra Lucas dos Santos
Published: August 2024

The research aims to analyze Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning solutions using the Precise Point Positioning (PPP) method in kinematic mode, in which the position is obtained epoch by epoch through data from only one GNSS receiver, precise ephemerides, and satellite clock corrections, both with high accuracy. In this context, the adopted methodology employs the open-source software RTKLIB, which, through its data post-processing capability, enables the evaluation of kinematic PPP performance by incorporating new observables such as L5 and E5a bands, crucial for enhancing positional accuracy and mitigating multipath effects. Additionally, for survey simulations, data from the UFPR and POVE stations of the Brazilian Network for Continuous Monitoring of GNSS (RBMC) were utilized. The selected stations are located in the Northern and Southern regions of Brazil. The GNSS data were processed with the same tracking duration for a 45-minute cold-start, aimed at observing solution convergence. Subsequently, the estimated outputs in RTKLIB were obtained based on station origins using coordinates provided by SIRGAS-CON. Moreover, by utilizing precise ephemerides data, it was possible to conclude that the addition of new observables for triple-frequency positioning led to an improvement in the accuracy of the obtained coordinates, particularly in the Vertical component. In this regard, the increase in accuracy in experiments using only triple-frequency data with a 15° elevation mask was approximately 25% at the UFPR station and about ~37% at the POVE station. Furthermore, it was observed that reducing the elevation mask from 15° to 10° had a positive impact on dual-frequency positioning at the UFPR station, resulting in gains of over 3% in the East component and around ~21% in the North component compared to values obtained with the 15° mask. Similarly, during triple-frequency positioning at the POVE station, gains exceedingly approximately 16% in the North component and around ~22% in the Vertical component were observed.