bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reversible and gain modulation of neuronal responses and sensorimotor behavior by mid-infrared stimulation
Authors: Xiao Tong , Wu Kaijie , Ding Yali , Yang Xiao , Chang Chao , Yang Yan
Published: April 2022

Neuromodulation serves as a cornerstone for brain sciences and clinical applications. Mid-infrared stimulation (MIRS) has been recently reported to cause non-thermal modulation of brain functions. However little knowledge of mechanisms hampers its application. Here we bridge across ion channels, neuronal signals, and behavioral performances associated with sensorimotor transformation to provide evidence of how the alternation of neuronal activity by MIRS guides the change of behavioral performance in awake-behaving pigeons. We compared effects on visually-guided eye movements by applying MIRS and electrical stimulation (ES) in the pretectal nucleus lentiformis mesencephali (nLM). Distinct from ES, we found a specific gain modulation of MIRS to alter behavior in a manner of the strength of visual inputs. Our simultaneous extracellular recordings showed that MIRS can excite and inhibit the neuronal activity in the same pretectal neuron based on its ongoing sensory responsiveness levels in awake-behaving animals. We further applied computational simulations and found that MIRS can modulate the carbonyl group (-C=O) enriched on the potassium channel to resonate, and could affect action potential generation, alter neuronal responses to sensory inputs and then guide behavior. Our findings suggest that MIRS could be a promising approach for brain researches and neurological diseases, with gene free manipulation.
ATP6AP2-to-MMP14, a key pathway for osteoblast to osteocyte transition
Authors: Xiong Lei , Guo Hao-Han , Pan Jin-Xiu , Ren Xiao , Lee Daehoon , Mei Lin , Xiong Wen-Cheng
Published: April 2022

Osteocytes, derived from osteoblast (OB)-lineage, occupy lacunae within bone matrix and exhibit unique morphology with dendrite-like projections to form an inter-connected network. Such a network is essential for osteocytes to monitor and orchestrate bone homeostasis. Thus, it is of considerable interest to investigate how osteocytes are formed and how they built the network. Here we provide evidence for ATP6AP2, an accessory subunit of V-ATPase, in OB-lineage cells to be critical for OB-to-osteocyte transition, and osteocyte distribution, maturation, and morphogenesis. Mice (ATP6AP2Ocn-Cre) that selectively deplete ATP6AP2 in OB-lineage cells results in altered osteocyte distribution and morphology, impaired osteocyte maturation and dendrite-like processes, increased osteocyte cell death and cortical woven bone formation. Further mechanistic studies identify MMP14 (matrix metalloproteinase-14) as a critical downstream of ATP6AP2 for osteocyte differentiation. ATP6AP2 interacts with MMP14 and promotes MMP14 surface distribution largely in immature- or osteoid-osteocytes, where this pathway regulates bone matrix remodeling and osteocyte differentiation. Expression of MMP14 into ATP6AP2 knock out OB-lineage cells in the mouse cortical bone could diminish the deficits in osteocyte maturation, dendrite-like process formation, and survival. These results thus demonstrate an un-recognized function of ATP6AP2 in promoting OB-to-osteocyte transition and uncover a pathway from ATP6AP2-to-MMP14 in osteocyte differentiation.
Wastewater microorganisms impact microbial diversity and important ecological functions of stream periphyton
Authors: Carles Louis , Wullschleger Simon , Joss Adriano , Eggen Rik I.L. , Schirmer Kristin , Schuwirth Nele , Stamm Christian , Tlili Ahmed
Published: April 2022

Wastewater treatment plant effluents can impact microbial communities in receiving streams. However, little is known about the role of microorganisms in wastewater as opposed to other wastewater constituents, such as nutrients and micropollutants. We aimed therefore at determining the impact of wastewater microorganisms on the microbial diversity and function of periphyton, key microbial communities in streams. Periphyton was grown in flow-through channels that were continuously alimented with a mixture of stream water and unfiltered or ultra-filtered wastewater. Impacts were assessed on periphyton biomass, activities and tolerance to micropollutants, as well as on microbial diversity. Our results showed that wastewater microorganisms colonized periphyton and modified its community composition, resulting for instance in an increased abundance of Chloroflexi and a decreased abundance of diatoms and green algae. This led to shifts towards heterotrophy, as suggested by the changes in nutrient stoichiometry and the increased mineralization potential of carbon substrates. An increased tolerance towards micropollutants was only found for periphyton exposed to unfiltered wastewater but not to ultra-filtered wastewater, suggesting that wastewater microorganisms were responsible for this increased tolerance. Overall, our results highlight the need to consider the role of wastewater microorganisms when studying potential impacts of wastewater on the receiving water body.

Environmental implication

The present study investigates the impact of wastewater microorganisms on periphyton, i.e. communities forming the microbial skin of streambeds. We were able to disentangle specific effects of wastewater microorganisms in the context of the complex wastewater matrix. Indeed, wastewater microorganisms induced strong changes in periphyton community composition and function, suggesting the need to consider wastewater microbial communities as a stressor per se, similarly to, e.g., nutrients and micropollutants. Moreover, since periphyton is at the basis of the food web in streams, these changes may have consequences for higher trophic levels.
Differential genetic variation underlying Ammonium and Nitrate responses in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Katz Ella , Knapp Anna , Lensink Mariele , Stefani Jordan , Li Jia-Jie , Shane Emily , Tuermer-Lee Kaelyn , Bloom Arnold J. , Kliebenstein Daniel J.
Published: April 2022

Nitrogen is an essential element required for plant growth and productivity. Understanding the mechanisms and natural genetic variation underlying nitrogen use in plants will facilitate engineering plant nitrogen use to maximize crop productivity while minimizing environmental costs. To understand the scope of natural variation that may influence nitrogen use, we grew 1135 Arabidopsis thaliana natural genotypes on two nitrogen sources, nitrate and ammonium, and measured both developmental and defense metabolite traits. By using different environments and focused on multiple traits, we identified a wide array of different nitrogen responses. These responses are associated with a large number of genes, most of them not previously associated with nitrogen responses. Only a small portion of these genes appear to be shared between environments or traits while most of the detected genes are predominantly specific to a developmental or defense trait under a specific nitrogen source. Finally, by using a large population we were able to identify unique nitrogen responses, like preferring ammonium or nitrate, that appear to be generated by combinations of loci rather than a few large effect loci. This suggests that it may be possible to obtain novel phenotypes in complex nitrogen responses by manipulating sets of genes with small effects rather than solely focusing on large effect single gene manipulations.

One Sentence Summary

Using a large collection of natural genotypes, and studying both developmental and metabolic responses, we found a large number of genes that are involved in the plants nitrogen response.
Chromoanagenesis in the asy1 meiotic mutant of Arabidopsis
Authors: Guo Weier , Comai Luca , Henry Isabelle M.
Published: April 2022

Chromoanagenesis is a catastrophic event that involves localized chromosomal shattering and reorganization. In this study, we report a case of chromoanagenesis resulting from defective meiosis in the MEIOTIC ASYNAPTIC MUTANT 1 (asy1) background in Arabidopsis thaliana. We provide a detailed characterization of the genomic structure of this individual with a severely shattered segment of chromosome 1. We reveal more than 300 candidate novel DNA junctions in the affected region, confirming that asy1-related defective meiosis is a potential trigger for chromoanagenesis. This is the first example of chromoanagenesis associated with female meiosis and indicates the potential for genome evolution during oogenesis.
A human embryonic limb cell atlas resolved in space and time
Authors: Zhang Bao , He Peng , Lawrence John E , Wang Shuaiyu , Tuck Elizabeth , Williams Brian A , Roberts Kenny , Kleshchevnikov Vitalii , Mamanova Lira , Bolt Liam , Polanski Krzysztof , Elmentaite Rasa , Fasouli Eirini S , Prete Martin , He Xiaoling , Yayon Nadav , Fu Yixi , Yang Hao , Liang Chen , Zhang Hui , Blain Raphael , Chedotal Alain , FitzPatrick David R. , Firth Helen , Dean Andrew , Marioni John C , Barker Roger A , Storer Mekayla A , Wold Barbara J , Zhang Hongbo , Teichmann Sarah A
Published: April 2022

Human limbs emerge during the fourth post-conception week as mesenchymal buds which develop into fully-formed limbs over the subsequent months. Limb development is orchestrated by numerous temporally and spatially restricted gene expression programmes, making congenital alterations in phenotype common. Decades of work with model organisms has outlined the fundamental processes underlying vertebrate limb development, but an in-depth characterisation of this process in humans has yet to be performed. Here we detail the development of the human embryonic limb across space and time, using both single-cell and spatial transcriptomics. We demonstrate extensive diversification of cells, progressing from a restricted number of multipotent progenitors to myriad mature cell states, and identify several novel cell populations, including neural fibroblasts and multiple distinct mesenchymal states. We uncover two waves of human muscle development, each characterised by different cell states regulated by separate gene expression programmes. We identify musculin (MSC) as a key transcriptional repressor maintaining muscle stem cell identity and validate this by performing MSC knock down in human embryonic myoblasts, which results in significant upregulation of late myogenic genes. Through integration of multiple anatomically continuous spatial transcriptomic samples, we spatially map single-cell clusters across a sagittal section of a whole fetal hindlimb. We reveal a clear anatomical segregation between genes linked to brachydactyly and polysyndactyly, and uncover transcriptionally and spatially distinct populations of mesenchyme in the autopod. Finally, we perform scRNA-seq on murine embryonic limbs to facilitate cross-species developmental comparison at single-cell resolution, finding substantial homology between the two species.
Snip1 and PRC2 coordinate intrinsic apoptosis, cell division, and neurogenesis in the developing brain
Authors: Matsui Yurika , Djekidel Mohamed Nadhir , Lindsay Katherine , Samir Parimal , Connolly Nina , Chen Hongfeng , Fan Yiping , Xu Beisi , Peng Jamy C.
Published: April 2022

Brain development requires the intricate balance between division, death, and differentiation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Here, we report the discovery of Snip1 as a key regulator of these NPC phases. The conditional deletion of Snip1 in the mouse embryonic brain causes dysplasia with robust induction of caspase 9-dependent apoptosis. In NPCs, Snip1 suppresses the genetic programs of apoptosis and developmental signaling pathways and promotes the genetic programs of cell cycle, neurogenesis, and cortical development. Mechanistically, Snip1 binds to the Polycomb complex PRC2, co-occupies gene targets with PRC2, and regulates H3K27 marks. Deletion of PRC2 is sufficient to reduce apoptosis and brain dysplasia and partially restore genetic programs and tissue development in the Snip1-depleted brain. Our findings suggest that Snip1 exerts loci-dependent regulation of PRC2 and H3K27me3 to toggle between cell fates in the developing brain.
The antibiotic phazolicin displays a dual mode of uptake in Gram-negative bacteria
Authors: Travin Dmitrii Y. , Vigouroux Armelle , Inaba-Inoue Satomi , Qu Feng , Jouan Romain , Lachat Joy , Sutormin Dmitry , Dubiley Svetlana , Beis Konstantinos , Moréra Solange , Severinov Konstantin , Mergaert Peter
Published: April 2022

Phazolicin (PHZ) is a peptide antibiotic exhibiting narrow-spectrum activity against rhizobia closely related to its producer Rhizobium sp. Pop5. Using genetic and biochemical techniques, we here identified BacA and YejABEF as two importers of PHZ in a sensitive model strain Sinorhizobium meliloti Sm1021. BacA and YejABEF are members of SLiPT and ABC transporter families of non-specific peptide importers, respectively. The uptake of PHZ by two distinct families of transporters dramatically decreases the naturally occurring rate of resistance. Moreover, since both BacA and YejABEF are essential for the development of functional symbiosis of rhizobia with leguminous plants, the acquisition of PHZ resistance via the inactivation of transporters is further disfavoured since single bacA or yejABEF mutants are unable to propagate in root nodules. Crystal structures of the periplasmic subunit YejA from S. meliloti and Escherichia coli revealed fortuitous bound peptides, suggesting a non-specific peptide-binding mechanism that facilitates the uptake of PHZ and other antimicrobial peptides.

SIGNIFICANCE

Many bacteria produce antimicrobial peptides to eliminate competitors and create an exclusive niche. These peptides kill bacteria by either membrane disruption or inhibiting essential intracellular processes. The Achilles heel of the latter type of antimicrobials is their dependence on transporters to enter the susceptible bacteria since mutations in such transporters result in resistance. We describe here how the ribosome-targeting peptide phazolicin, produced by Rhizobium sp. Pop5, uses two different transporters, BacA and YejABEF, to get into the cells of the symbiotic bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti. This dramatically reduces the probability of resistance acquisition. Both transporters need to be inactivated for phazolicin resistance acquisition. Since these transporters are also crucial in S. meliloti for its symbiotic association with host plants, their inactivation in biological settings is highly unlikely. This makes PHZ an attractive lead for the development of a biocontrol agent with potential for use in agriculture.
Islamic Perspective on Nursing and the Philosophy of Science
Authors: Isworo Atyanti
Published: April 2022

Although nursing theory developed in the modern Western scientific tradition has universal aspects, it is important to consider the different philosophies, beliefs and cultures of each different society to enrich the perspective and practice of nursing that is more sensitive to the patient’s background. As supported by the Transcultural Nursing Theory, in treating patients a nurse needs to pay attention to and respect the cultural preferences and beliefs of the patient. In this context, this article wants to contribute by describing the Islamic perspective on nursing in the context of nursing philosophy. Methods: This literature review uses articles published from 2018-2022 with source from databased ScienceDirect, Scopus, Sage Journals, EBSCO-Host, Springer Link, and ProQuest. The keywords used are Islamic, perspective, nursing, caring. Article selection follows “PRISMA” flow. Results: This systematic review have a total of 8 articles meet the criteria for analysis. This article has relevance both in Muslim-majority countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Middle Eastern countries, as well as countries where Muslims are a minority. We found 8 articles presents a number of opinions or research results that examine nursing issues and those related to it from an Islamic perspective. From a number of opinions and research findings studied, it can be concluded that although it can be said to offer universal core values, the Islamic perspective has fundamental differences with Western nursing philosophy or theory, especially in terms of the source of knowledge, the basic view of humans, and the importance of spirituality in nursing.
Recent exposure to environmental stochasticity does not determine the resilience of natural populations
Authors: Cant James , Capdevila Pol , Beger Maria , Salguero-Gómez Roberto
Published: April 2022

Escalating climatic and anthropogenic pressures expose ecosystems worldwide to increasingly frequent disturbances. Yet, our ability to forecast the responses of natural populations to these disturbances is impeded by a limited understanding for how exposure to stochastic environments shapes population resilience. Instead, the resilience, and vulnerability, of natural populations to ongoing global change is often presumed based on their contemporary exposure to environmental stochasticity. To test the validity of this assumption, we investigated the association between the resilience attributes (e.g., resistance and recovery) of natural animal and plant populations, and measures of local environmental stochasticity (e.g., spectral frequency and abiotic range); collating data from 2,242 populations across 369 animal, plant, and algal species. Unexpectedly, recent abiotic stochasticity regimes from the past 50 years do not predict the inherent ability of populations to resist or recover from disturbances. Instead, population resilience is strongly affected by phylogenetic relationships among species, with survival and developmental investments shaping their responses to stochastic regimes. Contrary to the classical assumption that exposure to recent environmental shifts confers a greater ability to cope with current and future global change, our findings suggest that population resilience is a consequence of evolutionary processes and/or deep-time environmental regimes.

Significance statement

Populations that currently endure more variable abiotic conditions are often expected to be less vulnerable to future increases in climatic variability. However, without defining the link between abiotic variability and the capacity for populations to resist and recover following disturbances (i.e., their resilience), we cannot predict the consequences of ongoing community reassembly. Evaluating the association between measures of abiotic variability and the resilience attributes of 2,242 animal, plant, and algae populations, we discredit the assumption that contemporary exposure to more frequent environmental shifts confers a greater ability to cope with future global change. Instead, the resilience attributes of natural populations appear to have been moulded over longer-term evolutionary timeframes and are thus not a response to more recent experiences.
The “LINC” in between Δ40p53-miRNA axis in the regulation of cellular homeostasis
Authors: Pal Apala , Ghosh Pritam Kumar , Das Saumitra
Published: April 2022

Previous research has shown that Δ40p53, the translational isoform of p53, can inhibit cell growth independently of p53 by regulating microRNAs. Here, we explored the role of Δ40p53 in regulating the long non-coding RNA-microRNA-cellular process axis, specifically focusing on LINC00176. Interestingly, LINC00176 levels were predominantly affected by the overexpression/stress-mediated induction and knockdown of Δ40p53 rather than p53 levels. Additional assays revealed that Δ40p53 transactivates LINC00176 transcriptionally and could also regulate its stability. RNA immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that LINC00176 sequesters several putative microRNA targets, which could further titrate several mRNA targets involved in different cellular processes. To understand the downstream effects of this regulation, we ectopically overexpressed and knocked down LINC00176 in HCT116 p53−/− (harboring only Δ40p53) cells, which affected their proliferation, cell viability, and expression of epithelial markers. Our results provide essential insights into the pivotal role of Δ40p53 in regulating the novel LINC00176 RNA-microRNA-mRNA axis independent of FL-p53 and in maintaining cellular homeostasis.
RNA-seq sample preparation kits strongly affect transcriptome profiles of a gas-fermenting bacterium
Authors: de Lima Lorena Azevedo , Reinmets Kristina , Nielsen Lars Keld , Marcellin Esteban , Harris Audrey , Köpke Michael , Valgepea Kaspar
Published: April 2022

Transcriptome analysis via RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) has become a standard technique employed across various biological fields of study. This rapid adoption of the RNA-seq approach has been mediated, in part, by the development of different commercial RNA-seq library preparation kits compatible with standard next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms. Generally, the essential steps of library preparation such as ribosomal RNA (rRNA) depletion and first-strand cDNA synthesis are tailored to a specific group of organisms (e.g. eukaryotes vs. prokaryotes) or genomic GC content. Therefore, the selection of appropriate commercial products is of crucial importance to capture the transcriptome of interest as closely to the native state as possible without introduction of technical bias. However, researchers rarely have the resources and time to test various commercial RNA-seq kits for their samples. This work reports a side-by-side comparison of RNA-seq data from Clostridium autoethanogenum obtained using three commercial rRNA removal and strand-specific library construction products by NuGEN Technologies, Qiagen, and Zymo Research and assesses their performance relative to published data. While all three vendors advertise their products as suitable for prokaryotes, we found significant differences in their performance regarding rRNA removal, strand-specificity, and, most importantly, transcript abundance distribution profiles. Notably, RNA-seq data obtained with Qiagen products were most similar to published data and delivered the best results in terms of library strandedness and transcript abundance distribution range. Our results highlight the importance of finding appropriate organism-specific workflows and library preparation products for RNA-seq studies.

Importance

RNA-seq is a powerful technique for transcriptome profiling while involving elaborate sample processing before library sequencing. Our work is important as we show that RNA-seq library preparation kits can strongly affect the outcome of the RNA-seq experiment. Although library preparation benefits from the availability of various commercial kits, choosing appropriate products for the specific samples can be challenging for new users or for users working with unconventional organisms. Evaluating the performance of different commercial products requires significant financial and time investment infeasible to most researchers. Therefore, users are often guided in their choice of kits by published data involving similar input samples. We conclude that important consideration should be given to selecting of sample processing workflows for any given organism.
MTALTND4, a second protein coded by nd4 impacts mitochondrial bioenergetics
Authors: Kienzle Laura , Bettinazzi Stefano , Brunet Marie , Choquette Thierry , Khorami Hajar Hosseini , Roucou Xavier , Landry Christian R , Angers Annie , Breton Sophie
Published: April 2022

Recent evidence suggests that the coding potential of the mitogenome is underestimated. We found a downstream alternative ATG initiation codon in the +3 reading frame of the human mitochondrial nd4 gene. This newly characterized alternative open reading frame (altORF) encodes a 99-amino acids long polypeptide, MTALTND4, which is conserved in primates. This small protein is localized in mitochondria and cytoplasm and is also found in the plasma, and it impacts mitochondrial physiology. Alternative mitochondrial peptides such as MTALTND4 may offer a new framework for the investigation of mitochondrial functions and diseases.
The anatomy of tragedy: Starbucks as a politics of displacement
Authors: Carter David B. , Warren Rebecca , Steinhoff Anne
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This paper examines the 2012–2013 Starbucks tax crisis in the United Kingdom (UK) as an anatomy of tragedy. The tragedy in relation to Starbucks is the displacement of an opportunity to examine the relationship between financial capital and national capitalisms. The paper illustrates how the crisis displaced opportunities for substantive critique concerning financial capital, national capitalisms, multinationals, taxation and society.

Design/methodology/approach

As a critical, discursive intervention, the paper examines how rhetoric was employed in 157 media articles published in six UK newspapers and on two news portals (both in print and online). The paper employs rhetorical redescription to the document archive, presenting the finding and analysis as a play in the style of an Aristotelian tragedy.

Findings

Analysis of the Starbucks approach to transfer pricing identifies misunderstandings of accounting, taxation transfer pricing, and ‘‘resolution” and how the media's construction of Starbucks as immoral, anti-British, potentially illegal operated to confuse the politics. The effect of these misunderstandings and confusion was to take attention away from a politics concerning financial capital valorisation and national capitalisms (jurisdictions raising tax revenue for government spending and social services).

Originality/value

First, the paper explores the politics of displacement to illustrate the metonymic concealment of the primary identity of the political. Second, Aristotelian tragedy is employed to study and present methods of displacement. Third, the empirics are depicted in a dramatic format to illustrate how rhetorical interventions by the media and actors displaced the political focus away from financial capital and national capitalisms.
Improved radial basis function artificial neural network and exact-time extended state observer based non-singular rapid terminal sliding-mode control of quadrotor system
Authors: Ullah Mati , Zhao Chunhui , Maqsood Hamid
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design a hybrid robust tracking controller based on an improved radial basis function artificial neural network (IRBFANN) and a novel extended-state observer for a quadrotor system with various model and parametric uncertainties and external disturbances to enhance the resiliency of the control system.

Design/methodology/approach

An IRBFANN is introduced as an adaptive compensator tool for model and parametric uncertainties in the control algorithm of non-singular rapid terminal sliding-mode control (NRTSMC). An exact-time extended state observer (ETESO) augmented with NRTSMC is designed to estimate the unknown exogenous disturbances and ensure fast states convergence while overcoming the singularity issue. The novelty of this work lies in the online updating of weight parameters of the RBFANN algorithm by using a new idea of incorporating an exponential sliding-mode effect, which makes a remarkable effort to make the control protocol adaptive to uncertain model parameters. A comparison of the proposed scheme with other conventional schemes shows its much better performance in the presence of parametric uncertainties and exogenous disturbances.

Findings

The investigated control strategy presents a robust adaptive law based on IRBFANN with a fast convergence rate and improved estimation accuracy via a novel ETESO.

Practical implications

To enhance the safety level and ensure stable flight operations by the quadrotor in the presence of high-order complex disturbances and uncertain environments, it is imperative to devise a robust control law.

Originality/value

A new idea of incorporating an exponential sliding-mode effect instead of conventional approaches in the algorithm of the RBFANN is used, which makes the control law resistant to model and parametric uncertainties. The ETESO provides rapid and accurate disturbance estimation results and updates the control law to overcome the performance degradation caused by the disturbances. Simulation results depict the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.
Intellectual structure and pattern of publication in the International Journal of Innovation Science: a bibliometric study
Authors: Samanta Sasmita , Rautaray Bijayalaxmi , Swain Dillip K.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to sketch a bibliometric portrait of the International Journal of Innovation Science (IJIS) and attempts to evaluate its publication patterns from 2011 to 2020 by unfolding the key aspects of its publication trends for the audience of the journal and scholars of bibliometric studies as well.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzes papers published in the IJIS from 2011 to 2020 by using the required bibliometric measures to analyze the key aspects of the publishing trends of IJIS.

Findings

This study finds that a total of 487 authors published 271 articles in IJIS during 2011–2020. The USA leads the table with 89 papers followed by India (29 papers) and China (26 papers). The degree of collaboration in IJIS ranged from 0.36 to 0.94. Moreover, this study finds that the keyword “design/methodology/approach” is the central theme of research in IJIS around which all other keywords revolve.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses on the publication patterns of the IJIS over a period of ten years. Patterns of research output in 271 publications are comprehended and analyzed. For making a ten-year bibliometric study, the papers published before 2011 were excluded from the purview of research.

Practical implications

Readers of the IJIS, teachers and research scholars interested in bibliometric studies can benefit from insights into the scholarly papers published in IJIS from 2011 to 2020.

Originality/value

This study would provide the readers of IJIS to ascertain significant contributions, top cited papers, the most prolific authors, geographical distribution of papers, keyword co-occurrence and bibliographic coupling.
Women’s empowerment to alleviate poverty in coastal zones: a case study of fisherwomen in Pacitan, Indonesia
Authors: Susilowati Indah , Mafruhah Izza
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify problems that affect the empowerment of fisherwomen and to analyze the role of stakeholders in the process of empowering fisherwomen.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was a case study on 115 fisherwomen in the coastal areas of Pacitan Regency, East Java, Indonesia. The method used in this study was sequential mixed method using analytical hierarchy process analysis tool and qualitative using phenomenology by using a series of interviews with the participants.

Findings

The results show that the community empowerment process is influenced by three main factors, namely, internal, external and institutional, where each of these factors is divided into four factors. Another result obtained is that the government has an important role in empowerment which is indicated by the level of trust of fisherwomen to the government. The findings can be used as alternative guidelines to alleviate poverty of fisherwomen in coastal zones in Indonesia.

Originality/value

The formulation of an integrated fisheries system model in community empowerment innovation in coastal areas that involves all stakeholders from the government, academia, community, business and media was proposed in this study.
The long game of innovation and value creation
Authors: Klassen Mark , Wilson Grant Alexander , Dobni C. Brooke
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to emphasize the performance benefits of a long-term innovation and value creation perspective. This paper responds to the recent concept of the imagination premium method for valuing companies. It offers four key takeaways to create a long-term innovation-focused orientation for future value creation.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on both consulting experience and insight from several studies of executives that were supported by the U.S. Conference Board.

Findings

The research differentiates how high versus low innovators create long-term perspectives and value. High innovators have explicit processes that support innovation, leadership that focuses on long-term performance, resources committed to long-term projects and innovation and knowledge management systems that transfer knowledge throughout the organization.

Research limitations/implications

The research offers strategic directives aimed at creating long-term value but acknowledges that there are other means to accomplish such objectives.

Practical implications

This paper offers strategies for executives to create an innovation-focused organizational culture that drives lasting long-term value.

Social implications

Focusing on long-term innovation prioritizes larger social, environmental and business objectives over superficial short-term stock price changes, leading to greater value-creation.

Originality/value

This paper advocates that leadership play the long game and adopt a longer-term view of innovation due to its long-term competitive, employee engagement, sustainability and performance benefits.
Smart cruising: smart technology applications and their diffusion in cruise tourism
Authors: Buhalis Dimitrios , Papathanassis Alexis , Vafeidou Maria
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to explore and discuss the impact of digital innovations from a business eco-systemic perspective. Key smart technology application themes in the cruise industry are extracted and synthesised in a “Smart Cruise Ecosystem” (SCE) framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Information communication technologies (ICTs) advancements and smart tools revolutionise interactions and affect all transactions, transforming the cruise experience. Gradually a Smart Cruise Ecosystem emerges by incorporating all technologies available and involving cruise passengers, who as smart actors interact dynamically with stakeholders, creating value before, during and after the cruising experience. The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak stressed the need for touchless and digital interactions as well as real-time information, fast-tracking the deployment of smart technologies. The diffusion of ICTs in the cruise industry is multi-faceted and dynamic, resulting in a number of smart-technology use-cases.

Findings

Smart technology constitutes a comprehensive smart ecosystem to manage all actors, controls, devises and systems to optimise ship operations and management, while co-creating value for guests and crew in an effective way. The multiplex SCE proposed is enabled by digital technologies collecting, storing, accessing and processing big data dynamically, including: object detection, Internet of Things, Internet of Everything, satellite communications, Big Data, automation, robotics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learnin, Cloud Computing, Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality. A range of interoperable and interconnected supporting systems form the basis of the smart ecosystem.

Originality/value

The proposed framework offers a holistic perspective of the smart-cruising domain, highlighting innovations, interfaces, dependencies, along with the corresponding key limitations and challenges. The synthesis and conceptual structure provided serves as a topology for guiding and connecting further research in smart cruising.
Religiosity versus profit-loss sharing: how Islamic banks brand fidelity influence the Muslim consumers’ commitment
Authors: Junaidi Junaidi
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of study examine the relationship between religiosity, consumers’ materialism, brand fidelity, attitude and consumers’ commitment to Islamic banking products using evidence from Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consists of 658 Muslim and bank consumers obtained through a survey study and using structural equation modeling to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The empirical results indicate that religiosity has significant and positive effects on consumers’ materialism, brand fidelity and attitude, also mediating variables. Furthermore, the mediator variables partially mediate religiosity and consumers’ commitment based on consumers’ culture theory.

Research limitations/implications

This study is validated by Indonesian Muslims; therefore, future study is required to analyze across the culture and region. It can help Islamic bank managers and scholars to observe the correlation between religion, Islamic banks products and Muslims’ commitment.

Practical implications

The current study enlightened the consumers’ Islamic bank principle operation from marketing and religiosity. The government and the shariah supervisory board need to enhance the control and promote to make sure that Islamic banking operations have compliant with Islamic law.

Originality/value

The result of this study provided the Muslim decision-making process by developing and testing a model of religious determinants toward Islamic bank products.
Corporate occupiers’ attitude to flex spacein the post-Covid environment
Authors: Cooke Howard , Fiorentino Stefania , Harris Rob , Livingstone Nicola , McAllister Pat
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This paper investigates how large UK corporate occupiers perceive the potential role of flexible office space in their office portfolios in a post-pandemic context.

Design/methodology/approach

The research methodology is qualitative and applied. For a longitudinal survey, convenience sampling was used to obtain co-operation from 11 corporate real estate managers with responsibility for managing large corporate real estate portfolios spread across a range of business sectors and countries. Semi-structured interviews were selected as the core research method to seek and to optimise the balance between discovery and generalisability.

Findings

Although the pandemic has led corporate occupiers to fundamentally re-appraise where and when different work tasks are performed, it is not yet clear whether this has major implications for the flex space sector. The flex space model, with its blending of various occupiers and activities, is perceived to be poorly aligned with an increasing emphasis on the office as a core corporate hub facilitating connection, collaboration, enculturation, learning and creativity. Since most flex space is concentrated in central locations, it is also not well positioned to benefit from any decentralisation of office functions. However, as the flex space sector evolves in response to structural shifts in employment and working practices and business change, its various products are likely to be a continuing requirement from corporate occupiers for short-term solutions to demand shocks, the need for rapid market entry, accommodation for short-term projects and access to desk space in multiple locations.

Practical implications

Understanding occupiers' drivers in their decision-making on selecting the method of occupation will assist investors in how they might adjust what they offer in the marketplace.

Originality/value

Whilst there has been a substantive number of surveys of corporate occupiers' perceptions and intentions regarding their office portfolio, this paper focusses on a specifically on the flex space sector. Whilst previous research has mainly been extensive, this research study is intensive.
Incorporating the student perspective in designing a virtual team classroom environment: an elaborated action design science research approach
Authors: Kutz Diane , Cumbie Barry , Mullarkey Matthew
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to address the long-standing problem of suboptimal student team experiences for instructors and students by incorporating the student voice by co-creating a virtual team collaborative environment to improve team collaboration in the online classroom.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a novel design science research approach and relates two elaborated action design science research (eADSR) cycles that design, implement and evaluate the student team experience in online courses requiring teamwork.

Findings

The outcome is a holistic view of a virtual team classroom environment specified with technologies and practices that may be employed to optimize the student team experience. The eADSR process yields non-obvious diagnoses and actionable steps for continually incorporating the ever-changing social aspects unique to students in addition to the evolving technological landscape.

Practical implications

This paper is valuable to faculty members interested in applying eADSR processes to incorporate the student voice to address pedagogical and learning challenges in the classroom. Additionally, it provides a DSR-based model that can be implemented in the classroom to improve student team collaboration as well as transparency for the instructor and the students in terms of team member contributions with the goal to alleviate student and faculty frustrations. This topic is particularly relevant in light of COVID-19 as students and faculty alike are thrust into new online classroom environments.

Originality/value

Employing eADSR in the classroom is a novel and unique approach to create a replicable model for virtual team collaboration that can be added to the classroom.
Survey of the blood pressure lowering potential of medicinal plants used in the management of hypertension in herbal homes in Zango Kataf, Kaduna, Nigeria
Authors: Patrick Esther Badugu , Otimenyin Sunday O. , Bukar Bukata B.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine the blood pressure (BP) lowing potential of some herbs used by the indigenous people of Zango Kataf, Kaduna State, Nigeria, to treat hypertension.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 17 herbal healers and 15 hypertensive patients who use herbs to treat hypertension in Zango Kataf, Kaduna State, Nigeria, were consulted between 2019 and 2020. Participants were selected via purposeful sampling. BP was measured before and after the ingestion of a herbal preparation. Three plant preparations were screened: Newbouldia laevis, Hibiscus cannabinus and Pavetta crassipes.

Findings

H. cannabinus produced a significant decrease of 16, 12 and 14 mmHg in SBP at 2, 3 and 4 h, respectively (p = 0.001 at 2 h, p = 0.04 at 3 h, p = 0.01 at 4 h). While P. crassipes produced a significant decrease in SBP of 12, 15, 19 and 20 mmHg at 1, 2, 3 and 4 h, respectively (p = 0.04 at 1 h, p= 0.00 at 2 h, p = 0.00 at 3 h and p = 0.00 at 4 h). The findings for N. laevis were not reported due to incomplete information.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size of this study was small. The researcher could not meet with some hypertensive clients owing to the poor cooperation of some herbal healers. Further, some hypertensive patients rejected the offer to participate in the study.

Originality/value

This study reveals that treatment with H. cannabinus and P. crassipes significantly decrease BP in hypertensive patients.
The transformation to data analytics in Big-Four financial audit: what, why and how?
Authors: Liew Angela , Boxall Peter , Setiawan Denny
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to explore the implementation of data analytics in the Big-Four accounting firms, including the extent to which a digital transformation is changing the work of financial auditors, why it is doing so and how these firms are managing the transformation process.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted 23 interviews with 20 participants across four hierarchical levels from three of the Big-Four accounting firms in New Zealand.

Findings

The firms have entered the era of “smart audit systems”, in which auditors provide deep business insights that are communicated more effectively through data visualisation. The full potential, however, of data analytics depends not only on the transformation process within accounting firms but also on improvement in the quality of IT systems in client companies. The appointment of transformation managers, the recruitment of technology-savvy graduates and the provision of extensive training are helping to embed data analytics in the Big-Four firms. Accounting graduates in financial audit now need to show that they have the aptitude to become “citizen data scientists”.

Practical implications

The findings explain how data analytics is being embraced in the Big-Four auditing firms and underline the implications for those who work in them.

Originality/value

The findings challenge the “technological reluctance” thesis. In contrast, the authors observe a climate of positive attitudes towards new technology and accompanying actions in the Big-Four firms. The authors show how branches of the Big-Four firms operating distantly from their global headquarters, and with smaller economies of scale, are implementing the new technologies that characterise their global firms.
Seismic response of the long-span steel truss arch bridge with the thrust under multidimensional excitation
Authors: Zhang Yongliang , Ma Jibei , Chen Xingchong , Wang Yun
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Under different ground motion excitation modes, the spatial coupling effect of seismic response for the arch bridge with thrust, seismic weak parts and the internal force components of the control section of main arch ribs are analyzed.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking a 490 m deck type railway steel truss arch bridge as the background, the dynamic calculation model of the whole bridge was established by SAP2000 software. The seismic response analyses under one-, two- and three-dimension (1D, 2D and 3D) uniform ground motion excitations were carried out.

Findings

For the steel truss arch bridge composed of multiple arch ribs, any single direction ground motion excitation will cause large axial force in the chord of arch rib. The axial force caused by transverse and vertical ground motion excitation in the chord of arch crown area is 1.4–3.6 times of the corresponding axial force under longitudinal seismic excitation. The in-plane bending moment caused by the lower chord at the vault is 4.2–5.5 times of the corresponding bending moment under the longitudinal seismic excitation. For the bottom chord of arch rib, the arch foot is the weak part of earthquake resistance, but for the upper chord of arch rib, the arch foot, arch crown and the intersection of column and upper chord can all be the potential earthquake-resistant weak parts. The normal stress of the bottom chord of the arch rib under multidimensional excitation is mainly caused by the axial force, but the normal stress of the upper chord of the arch rib is caused by the axial force, in-plane and out of plane bending moment.

Originality/value

The research provides specific suggestions for ground motion excitation mode and also provides reference information for the earthquake-resistant weak part and seismic design of long-span deck type railway steel truss arch bridges.