bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gene editing is suitable to treat GM1 Gangliosidosis: a proof-of-concept study
Authors: Leclerc Delphine , Goujon Louise , Jaillard Sylvie , Nouyou Bénédicte , Cluzeau Laurence , Damaj Léna , Dubourg Christèle , Etcheverry Amandine , Levade Thierry , Froissart Roseline , Dréano Stéphane , Guillory Xavier , Eriksson Leif A , Launay Erika , Mouriaux Frédéric , Belaud-Rotureau Marc-Antoine , Odent Sylvie , Gilot David
Published: April 2022

Ganglioside-monosialic acid (GM1) gangliosidosis, a rare autosomal recessive disorder, is frequently caused by deleterious single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in GLB1 gene. These variants result in reduced β-galactosidase (β-gal) activity, leading to neurodegeneration associated with premature death. Currently, no effective therapy for GM1 gangliosidosis is available. Three ongoing clinical trials aim to deliver a functional copy of the GLB1 gene to stop disease progression. Here, we show that 41% of GLB1 pathogenic SNVs might be cured by adenine base editors (ABEs). Our results demonstrate that ABE efficiently corrects the pathogenic allele in patient-derived fibroblasts, restoring a therapeutic level of β-gal activity. Unbiased off-target DNA analysis did not detect off-target editing activity in treated patient’s cells except a bystander edit without consequences on β-gal activity. Altogether our results suggest that gene editing is an alternative strategy to cure GM1 gangliosidosis, by correcting the root cause of disease and avoiding repetitive adeno-associated virus injections.
Uncovering the “ZIP code” for bZIP dimers reveals novel motifs, regulatory rules and one billion years of cis-element evolution
Authors: Li Miaomiao , Lin Wanru , Hinckley Will , Yao Tao , Muchero Wellington , Chen Jin-Gui , Huang S. Carol
Published: April 2022

Many eukaryotic transcription factors (TF) form homodimer or heterodimer complexes to regulate gene expression. For example, dimerization properties of the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) family play a critical role in regulating the unique biological functions in all eukaryotes. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the binding sequence and functional specificity of homo- versus heterodimers remains elusive. To fill this gap, we developed a double DNA Affinity Purification sequencing (dDAP-seq) technique that maps heterodimer DNA binding sites in an endogenous genome context. Our genome-wide binding profiles of twenty pairs of C/S1 bZIP heterodimers and S1 homodimers in Arabidopsis revealed that heterodimerization significantly expands the DNA binding preferences of bZIP TFs. Analysis of the heterodimer target genes in stress response and development suggest heterodimerization gives rise to regulatory responses that are distinct from the homodimers. In addition to the classic ACGT elements recognized by plant bZIPs, we found that the C/S1 heterodimers bound to motifs that might share an origin with the GCN4 cis-elements in yeast that diverged from plants more than one billion years ago. Importantly, heterodimer binding specificities can be distinguished by their relative preference for ACGT motifs versus GCN4-related motifs. More broadly, our study demonstrates the potential of dDAP-seq in deciphering the DNA binding specificities of interacting TFs that are key for combinatorial gene regulation.
Structure-based learning to model complex protein-DNA interactions and transcription-factor co-operativity incis-regulatory elements
Authors: Fornes O , Meseguer A , Aguirre-Plans J , Gohl P , Bota PM , Molina-Fernández R , Bonet J , Hernandez AC , Pegenaute F , Gallego O , Fernandez-Fuentes N , Oliva B
Published: April 2022

Transcription factor (TF) binding is a key component of genomic regulation. There are numerous high-throughput experimental methods to characterize TF-DNA binding specificities. Their application, however, is both laborious and expensive, which makes profiling all TFs challenging. For instance, the binding preferences of ~25% human TFs remain unknown; they neither have been determined experimentally nor inferred computationally. We introduce a structure-based learning approach to predict the binding preferences of TFs and the automated modelling of TF regulatory complexes. We show the advantage of using our approach over the state-of-art nearest-neighbor prediction in the limits of remote homology. Starting from a TF sequence or structure, we predict binding preferences in the form of motifs that are then used to scan a DNA sequence for occurrences. The best matches are either profiled with a binding score or collected for their subsequent modeling into a higher-order regulatory complex with DNA. Cooperativity is modelled by: i) the co-localization of TFs; and ii) the structural modeling of protein-protein interactions between TFs and with co-factors. As case examples, we apply our approach to automatically model the interferon-β enhanceosome and the pioneering complex of OCT4, SOX2 and SOX11 with a nucleosome, which are compared with the experimentally known structures.
Development of a high-density 665 K SNP array for rainbow trout genome-wide genotyping
Authors: Bernard Maria , Dehaullon Audrey , Gao Guangtu , Paul Katy , Lagarde Henri , Charles Mathieu , Prchal Martin , Danon Jeanne , Jaffrelo Lydia , Poncet Charles , Patrice Pierre , Haffray Pierrick , Quillet Edwige , Dupont-Nivet Mathilde , Palti Yniv , Lallias Delphine , Phocas Florence
Published: April 2022

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays, also named « SNP chips », enable very large numbers of individuals to be genotyped at a targeted set of thousands of genome-wide identified markers. We used preexisting variant datasets from USDA, a French commercial line and 30X-coverage whole genome sequencing of INRAE isogenic lines to develop an Affymetrix 665 K SNP array (HD chip) for rainbow trout. In total, we identified 32,372,492 SNPs that were polymorphic in the USDA or INRAE databases. A subset of identified SNPs were selected for inclusion on the chip, prioritizing SNPs whose flanking sequence uniquely aligned to the Swanson reference genome, with homogenous repartition over the genome and the highest Minimum Allele Frequency in both USDA and French databases. Of the 664,531 SNPs which passed the Affymetrix quality filters and were manufactured on the HD chip, 65.3% and 60.9% passed filtering metrics and were polymorphic in two other distinct French commercial populations in which, respectively, 288 and 175 sampled fish were genotyped. Only 576,118 SNPs mapped uniquely on both Swanson and Arlee reference genomes, and 12,071 SNPs did not map at all on the Arlee reference genome. Among those 576,118 SNPs, 38,948 SNPs were kept from the commercially available medium-density 57K SNP chip. We demonstrate the utility of the HD chip by describing the high rates of linkage disequilibrium at 2 kb to 10 kb in the rainbow trout genome in comparison to the linkage disequilibrium observed at 50 kb to 100 kb which are usual distances between markers of the medium-density chip.
MetaPhage: an automated pipeline for analyzing, annotating, and classifying bacteriophages in metagenomics sequencing data
Authors: Pandolfo Mattia , Telatin Andrea , Lazzari Gioele , Adriaenssens Evelien M. , Vitulo Nicola
Published: April 2022

In the last decades, a great interest has emerged in the study and characterisation of the microbiota, especially the human gut microbiota, demonstrating that commensal microorganisms play a pivotal role in normal anatomical development and physiological function of the human body. To better understand the complex bacterial dynamics that characterize different environments, bacteriophage predation and gene transfer need to be considered as well, as they are important factors that may contribute to controlling the density, diversity, and network interactions among bacterial communities. To date, a variety of bacteriophage identification tools have been developed, differing on phage mining strategies, input files requested and results produced; however, new users approaching the bacteriophage analysis might struggle in untangling the variety of methods and comparing the different results produced. Here we present MetaPhage, a comprehensive reads-to-report pipeline that streamlines the use of multiple miners and generates an exhaustive report to both summarize and visualize the key findings and to enable further exploration of specific results with interactive filterable tables. The pipeline is implemented in Nextflow, a widely adopted workflow manager, that enables an optimized parallelization of the tasks on different premises, from local server to the cloud, and ensures reproducible results using containerized packages. MetaPhage is designed to allow scalability, reproducibility and to be easily expanded with new miners and methods, in a field that is constantly expanding. MetaPhage is freely available under a GPL-3.0 license at https://github.com/MattiaPandolfoVR/MetaPhage.
Multi-marker DNA metabarcoding detects suites of environmental gradients from an urban harbour
Authors: Robinson Chloe V. , Porter Teresita M. , McGee Katie M. , McCusker Megan , Wright Michael T.G. , Hajibabaei Mehrdad
Published: April 2022

There is increasing need for biodiversity monitoring, especially in places where potential anthropogenic disturbance may significantly impact ecosystem health. We employed a combination of traditional morphological and bulk macroinvertebrate metabarcoding analyses to benthic samples collected from Toronto Harbour (Ontario, Canada) to compare taxonomic and functional diversity of macroinvertebrates and their responses to environmental gradients. At the species rank, sites assessed using COI metabarcoding showed more variation than sites assessed using morphological methods. Depending on the assessment method, we detected gradients in magnesium (morphological taxa), ammonia (morphological taxa, COI sequence variants), pH (18S sequence variants) as well as gradients in contaminants such as metals (COI & 18S sequence variants) and organochlorines (COI sequence variants). Observed responses to contaminants such as aromatic hydrocarbons and metals align with known patchy distributions in harbour sediments. We determined that the morphological approach may limit the detection of macroinvertebrate responses to lake environmental conditions due to the effort needed to obtain fine level taxonomic assignments necessary to investigate responses. DNA metabarcoding, however, need not be limited to macroinvertebrates, can be automated, and taxonomic assignments are associated with a certain level of accuracy from sequence variants to named taxonomic groups. The capacity to detect change using a scalable approach such as metabarcoding is critical for addressing challenges associated with biodiversity monitoring and ecological investigations.
An atlas of genetic scores to predict multi-omic traits
Authors: Xu Yu , Ritchie Scott C. , Liang Yujian , Timmers Paul R. H. J. , Pietzner Maik , Lannelongue Loïc , Lambert Samuel A. , Tahir Usman A. , May-Wilson Sebastian , Johansson Åsa , Surendran Praveen , Nath Artika P , Persyn Elodie , Peters James E. , Oliver-Williams Clare , Deng Shuliang , Prins Bram , Foguet Carles , Luan Jian’an , Bomba Lorenzo , Soranzo Nicole , Angelantonio Emanuele Di , Pirastu Nicola , Tai E Shyong , van Dam Rob M , Davenport Emma E , Paul Dirk S. , Yau Christopher , Gerszten Robert E. , Mälarstig Anders , Danesh John , Sim Xueling , Langenberg Claudia , Wilson James F. , Butterworth Adam S. , Inouye Michael
Published: April 2022

Genetically predicted levels of multi-omic traits can uncover the molecular underpinnings of common phenotypes in a highly efficient manner. Here, we utilised a large cohort (INTERVAL; N=50,000 participants) with extensive multi-omic data for plasma proteomics (SomaScan, N=3,175; Olink, N=4,822), plasma metabolomics (Metabolon HD4, N=8,153), serum metabolomics (Nightingale, N=37,359), and whole blood Illumina RNA sequencing (N=4,136). We used machine learning to train genetic scores for 17,227 molecular traits, including 10,521 which reached Bonferroni-adjusted significance. We evaluated genetic score performances in external validation across European, Asian and African American ancestries, and assessed their longitudinal stability within diverse individuals. We demonstrated the utility of these multi-omic genetic scores by quantifying the genetic control of biological pathways and by generating a synthetic multi-omic dataset of UK Biobank to identify disease associations using a phenome-wide scan. Finally, we developed a portal (OmicsPred.org) to facilitate public access to all genetic scores and validation results as well as to serve as a platform for future extensions and enhancements of multi-omic genetic scores.
CD200R1 promotes IL-17 production by ILC3s, by enhancing STAT3 activation
Authors: Linley Holly , Ogden Alice , Jaigirdar Shafqat , Buckingham Lucy , Cox Joshua , Priestley Megan , Saunders Amy
Published: April 2022

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease with no cure. It is driven by the IL-23/IL-17A axis and TH17 cells but, recently group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) have also been implicated. However, the development, and factors regulating the activity of ILC3s remain incompletely understood.

Immune regulatory pathways are particularly important at barrier sites such as the skin, gut and lung, which are exposed to environmental substances and microbes. CD200R1 is an immune regulatory cell surface receptor which inhibits proinflammatory cytokine production in myeloid cells. CD200R1 is also highly expressed on ILCs, where its function remains largely unexplored. We previously observed reduced CD200R1 signalling in psoriasis skin, suggesting that dysregulation may promote disease. Here we show that contrary to this, psoriasis models are less severe in CD200R1-deficient mice due to reduced IL-17 production. Here we uncover a key cell-intrinsic role for CD200R1 in promoting IL-23-driven IL-17A production by ILC3s, by promoting STAT3 activation. CD200R1 is expressed on ILC precursors and is particularly high on neonatal ILC3s, suggesting CD200R1 may function during ILC development. Therefore, CD200R1 is required on ILC3s, potentially during their development, to promote IL-23-stimulated STAT3 activation triggering optimal IL-17 production.
SOAR elucidates disease mechanisms and empowers drug discovery through spatial transcriptomics
Authors: Li Yiming , Dennis Saya , Hutch Meghan R. , Ding Yanyi , Zhou Yadi , Li Yawei , Pillai Maalavika , Ghotbaldini Sanaz , Garcia Mario Alberto , Broad Mia S. , Mao Chengsheng , Cheng Feixiong , Zeng Zexian , Luo Yuan
Published: April 2022

Spatial transcriptomics provides researchers with a better understanding of gene expression within the tissue context. Although large volumes of spatial transcriptomics data have been generated, the lack of systematic curation and analysis makes data reuse challenging. Herein, we present Spatial transcriptOmics Analysis Resource (SOAR), a resource with an extensive, systematically compiled collection of spatial transcriptomics data across tissues, organs, and pathological conditions. SOAR is a comprehensive database with uniformly processed and annotated samples, facilitating future benchmark studies and method development. SOAR also offers multi-pronged analysis capability, including an integrative approach toward drug discovery that allows for efficient exploration of novel and targeted therapeutic uses for existing compounds.
(A)symmetric interaction between house prices, stock market and exchange rates using linear and nonlinear approach: the case of Iran
Authors: Mahmoudinia Davoud , Mostolizadeh Seyed Mohammad
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamic interactive link between housing prices, stock market price and effective exchange rate in the Iranian economy for a monthly period from April, 2004, to March, 2019. In addition, for a more accurate analysis, three control and determinates variables including real interest rate, real GDP and FDI have been added to the base model.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, we will consider this issue by developing the study of Lean & Smyth (2014), Ali & Zaman (2017) and Coskun et al (2017) in the framework of ADRL and NARDL models. Also, this study analyzed the asymmetric/non-linear impact of stock market indexes and effective exchange rate on Iran’s housing inflation. Asymmetries imply to both positive and negative changes in the variables.

Findings

The results obtained from the ADRL and NARDL models suggest that the existence of cointegration relationship between housing market price and its determinants. From linear model, we found that the exchange rate and stock market price have a positive effect on the real estate inflation in the short run; this relationship is also confirmed in the long run. Other empirical results indicate that the GDP stimulates housing price in both long and short run cases, while FDI and real interest rate have an opposite effect. In addition, the results provided by the asymmetric model lead to the rejection of the null hypothesis of no co-integration between the variables. In addition, we found that the effect of stock price in the short and long term are asymmetric and there also is an asymmetric long-run effect of real exchange rate on the real estate price.

Originality/value

Finally, to analyze the sensitivity, we entered two explanatory variables of inflation and money supply to the baseline equation. The finding represented that in both linear and nonlinear framework, a positive correlation between these two variables with housing prices have been proved.
Benefits on productivity indicators after quality management implementation: evidence in the dairy industry
Authors: Ruales Guzmán Bertha Viviana , Castellanos Domínguez Oscar Fernando
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to address two objectives: to analyse how the benefits of quality management (QM) are perceived on specific productivity indicators of the Colombian dairy industry and to analyse the degree of QM implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used was a multiple case study and involved four companies in the Colombian dairy industry. The study variables were 32 QM practices and 7 productivity indicators. Data collection instruments were in-depth interviews and checklists.

Findings

Findings revealed that all productivity indicators exhibit changes after QM implementation. In addition, cases approaching ISO 9001 have the highest number of practices implemented, as well as evidence of control of all productivity indicators, which allows them to perceive greater benefits.

Originality/value

This research generates novel findings that contribute to the consolidation of theory by analysing changes in specific productivity indicators of the dairy industry after the QM implementation. At the same time, it provides valuable and useful information for managers, practitioners and policymakers.
Electric sliding wear performance optimization of rigid contact wire/strip pairs under DC passage
Authors: Mei Guiming
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to study the electric sliding wear performance of a rigid overhead line/contact strips and to find an optimal overhead line/contact strip pair to minimize the wear of the contact strip under direct current (DC) passage.

Design/methodology/approach

The tribological characteristics of an overhead line against four contact strips with DC were experimentally investigated using a block-on-disc tester. The wear and temperature of the contact strips were collected and analysed. The severe wear mechanism of the contact strips was discussed.

Findings

Using Taguchi’s method, DC was found to be the most important factor affecting the wear and temperature of current collectors, the normal force being the second and the sliding velocity the weakest. The abnormal wear of current collectors was attributed to arc ablation and poor thermal stability of collectors. The wear performances of current collectors could be optimized by matching different Cu-impregnated carbon strips with the Cu–Ag wire and the wear of current collectors could be reduced by selecting the appropriate normal force, DC and sliding velocity.

Originality/value

Among all test parameters such as the DC, normal force, sliding speed and collector type, DC was identified as the most important factor affecting the wear and temperature of contact strips for the first time. The arc ablation and thermal stability of collectors were considered to be two main factors affecting the wear of the collectors.
When cyberaggression is personal: gender differences in threats and betrayals of partners and friends
Authors: Eriksson Li , McGee Tara Renae , Rosse Viktoria , Bond Christine , Horstman Nicole
Published: April 2022

Purpose

New ways of perpetrating relational aggression have been facilitated by the increased availability and adoption of technology for communication, resulting in growing cyberaggression rates over the past few decades. Few studies have examined whether perpetrators of cyberaggression are more likely to target friends or romantic partners (or both) and whether this differs across the gender of the perpetrator. This is the key focus of the current study.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants completed an online survey which assessed three types of cyberaggression (threatened to share secrets, shared secrets and posted embarrassing pictures) against friends and then also against romantic partners. The sample included 678 undergraduate university students who were in a romantic relationship at the time of the survey (72.6% female and 27.4% male, age range 18–50 years, average 21.7 and SD = 4.5).

Findings

The results of this study showed that a significantly higher proportion of males than females perpetrated cyberaggression against friends and romantic partners. In addition, a significantly higher proportion of males engaged in “general” cyberaggression (targeting both friends and romantic partners), whilst a higher proportion of females engaged in “selective” cyberaggression (targeting either friends or romantic partners).

Originality/value

Collectively, this study tells us that whilst there has been wide examination of cyberaggression more broadly, very few studies explore who perpetrators target (i.e. the victim–offender relationship), especially across gender of the perpetrator. The current study is original in that it asks perpetrators to report who they target and then examines gender differences in perpetration rates across victim–offender relationships.
Cacao value chains and credence attributes: lessons from Ecuador
Authors: Villacis Alexis , Alwang Jeffrey , Barrera Victor
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Motivated by transformations in global food systems and increasing demand for multidimensional credence attributes, the authors analyze cacao value chains in Ecuador – the main producer of fine and flavor cacao worldwide. The authors identify opportunities and discuss how private and public sector initiatives can help meet emerging challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary information was collected through interviews of actors in the Ecuadorian industry during spring/summer 2020, including cacao producer associations, exporter associations, chocolate processing firms, public institutions and local universities. Two focus groups were also conducted with producers from associations in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Findings

Findings suggest new opportunities for cacao producers and chocolate processors have emerged from the global market transformation. To exploit these, firms need to personalize and differentiate their products, for example, by using quality certifications such as organic and fair trade. Market developments, such as European cadmium regulations and the necessity of worldwide traceability systems, are driving exporters to enhance Ecuador’s cacao value chains. The sector still requires coordination to reap the benefits associated with demands for credence attributes.

Originality/value

Findings are supported by two case studies. The first focuses on how associativity can help those producing high-quality beans to differentiate themselves in modern agri-food markets. The second describes the success of a local chocolate firm and its links with local farmers.
Credence attributes and opportunities: a cautionary tale of yerba mate in Paraguay
Authors: Alwang Jeffrey , Villacis Alexis , Barrera Victor
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study explores the determinants of growth of credence-based exports of yerba mate from Paraguay, potential for increased export growth, and the fragility of the credence-based export model. Much of the growth in value of yerba mate exports from Paraguay is due to positioning of the good within the universe of products where consumption is driven by perceptions of sustainable production and health benefits to consumers. Credence claims for yerba mate—benefits to indigenous producing communities, environmental sustainability under certain production processes, healthful alternatives to energy drinks—are now widely known, but the growth of this awareness came via a new entrepreneurial strategy of a single firm.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary information was collected through interviews of actors in the Paraguayan yerba mate value chain during spring/summer 2020. These included representatives from three exporting companies, processors, public institutions and indigenous producers.

Findings

The Paraguayan yerba mate export boom was stimulated through the careful cultivation of an image of healthful consumption and sustainable production processes. The cost of this cultivation was borne mainly by a single firm. Findings suggest that future marketing efforts will need to reinforce credence claims, highlighting the benefits to indigenous producers.

Research limitations/implications

This case study explores the determinants of growth of credence-based exports of yerba mate from Paraguay, potential for increased growth, and the fragility of the credence-based model.

Originality/value

Findings are supported by field interviews with value chain participants and detailed analysis of extant data. The paper is the first to discuss the fragility of relying on credence attributes for long-term demand growth.
Migration contexts in shaping community ethnic resources: a Forms of Capital approach on ethnic migrant entrepreneurs in Malaysia
Authors: Abd Hamid Hamizah , Everett André M.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to refine the concept of community/ethnic resources for migrant communities by focusing on the way ethnic migrant entrepreneurs (EMEs) use co-ethnic-based (CEB) resources in their entrepreneurial activities, taking into account their migration contexts. Migrants are usually considered as disadvantaged individuals given their restricted opportunities in the labor market and in the business arena; thus, they rely on ethnic resources for survival in the host country.

Design/methodology/approach

Through Bourdieu’s (1986) forms of capital model, the authors compare the experiences of EMEs from three migrant communities in Malaysia (specifically, the Indonesian, Pakistani and South Korean communities) with regard to their ethnic resources. The authors used a qualitative approach in analyzing our data, which includes interview narratives with 41 individuals consisting of EMEs, community leaders, embassy representatives and trade experts.

Findings

This study’s findings indicate that migration contexts influence the differences in the way ethnic resources are used by EMEs. The findings are synthesized into a framework of ethnic resources within the context of ethnic migrant entrepreneurship.

Research limitations/implications

Adopting a qualitative approach was useful in studying the subject, but the findings are still limited within the context of the study. As such, future research is encouraged to test the proposed framework and examine the underexplored aspects of migration in influencing the utilization of ethnic resources for entrepreneurial migrant communities.

Practical implications

A practical implication of this paper lies in the illustration of migrants’ usage of alternative routes for resources through co-ethnic networks, which is useful for policymakers and businesses focusing on migration and trade.

Originality/value

This framework contributes to the discourse of ethnic migrant entrepreneurship through further clarifying aspects shaping the utilization of community ethnic resources.
Algorithmic pricing in hospitality and tourism: call for research on ethics, consumer backlash and CSR
Authors: van der Rest Jean-Pierre , Sears Alan M. , Kuokkanen Henri , Heidary Kimia
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This viewpoint paper calls for research on the social impact that comes with implementing algorithmic pricing in hospitality and tourism, in particular online price discrimination. It seeks to broaden the literature on consumer backlash and corporate social responsibility (CSR) to include algorithmic pricing.

Design/methodology/approach

As algorithmic pricing will become increasingly important in hospitality and tourism, the authors argue that scholarly attention should be directed to two topics.

Findings

First, there is a need for research on how algorithmic pricing triggers consumer backlash and online firestorms, and how these can be detected, prevented, and mitigated. Second, the authors need to increase our understanding of how deception, misconduct, dishonesty, and injustice in algorithmic pricing impact CSR performance, especially when differential pricing is enticed by deceptive yet legal algorithmic applications of indirect behavioral “self-selection” mechanisms.

Social implications

Algorithmic price discrimination has been criticized for its potential to harm consumers, and doubt is cast upon the current ability of legal frameworks to set minimum standards of behavior.

Originality/value

Algorithmic pricing includes a variety of computerized pricing applications aimed at increasing revenue and minimizing opportunity costs. With early use by airlines decades ago its diffusion has gradually extended to other sectors including hospitality and tourism. While algorithms are expected to increasingly impact pricing decisions, little research can be found on the topic, with the exception of a vigorous debate in the policy literature on its ethical implications and regulatory needs.
Communicated ethical identity disclosure (CEID) of Islamic banks under the AAOIFI and IFRS accounting regimes: a global evidence
Authors: Gadhoum Mohamed Anouar , Muhamad Sori Zulkarnain Bin , Ramadilli Shamsher , Mahomed Ziyaad
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the ethical disclosure of Islamic banks (IBs) under different accounting regimes and to ascertain whether the adoption of an Islamic accounting standards (Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions [AAOIFI]) promotes the practice of ethical disclosure.

Design/methodology/approach

An ethical identity disclosure index was developed to serve as a benchmark to assess the level of the communicated ethical identity disclosure (CEID) of 47 IBs over 18 countries using annual reports.

Findings

The findings suggest that, overall, there is poor ethical disclosure practices and even banks that had some initiatives towards disclosures had no proper reference to benchmark for effective implementation of ethical reporting standards and had no plans for ethical and socially responsible schemes. There was no evidence to suggest that IBs that adapted the religious-based accounting regime (AAOIFI) had better levels of ethical disclosure.

Research limitations/implications

Though poor practices of CEID are expected to increase reputational risks and the likelihood of loss of religious conscious customers and investors’ confidence and therefore market share and performance in the long-term, the current practice does not concur with this expectation. Furthermore, since there is no evidence to support the notion that the adoption of AAOIFI standards would support greater initiatives towards level of ethical identity disclosures, a mandatory requirement for effective disclosure through enforcement of AAOIFI’s financial reporting standards, specifically with regard to ethics and social and environmental commitment is needed.

Practical implications

In addition to introducing commonly accepted regulatory and supervisory guidelines and best practices that cater for the specificities of Islamic banking could significantly improve the level of CEID of IBs. In addition, the standardization of ethical (non-financial) reporting practices of IBs through guidelines and key performance indicators will facilitate CEID practices of IBs.

Originality/value

This paper contends that for Islamic bankers, ethics is an entrenched part of the business practice and should mitigate unethical behaviour, more so with the additional filter of Sharīʿah supervisory boards. Even if there are such practices due to ineffectiveness of Sharīʿah committees, management pressure to meet performance expectations and competitive pressures from peers in the conventional banking sector, it will not be in the interest of the banks to report them.
A systematic literature review of the effects of coworking spaces on the socio-cultural and economic conditions in peripheral and rural areas
Authors: Vogl Thomas , Akhavan Mina
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The literature on coworking spaces (CSs) is growing fast; notably, this topic has attracted a wide range of contributions from various disciplines during the past years. Although CSs first appeared in major cities, small towns and rural areas are also becoming attractive. To date, no literature review has systematically studied the effects of such collaborative-flexible new working spaces proliferating in non-urban areas. Therefore, this paper aims to present a systematic literature review about the effects of coworking spaces located in peripheral and rural areas.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodological approach is based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, also known as PRISMA. Following the PRISMA checklist items, this study provides different aspects and identifies indicators from various cross-studies published in 10 years (2011–2021).

Findings

Results show that, in the past decade, Europe has recorded the highest number of publications on the topic of coworking spaces (CSs); the main research focus was on spatial planning. CSs foster communities of specialized and high-skilled workers, attract businesses and venture capitalists and may accelerate urban revitalisation processes. The regeneration of spaces can positively affect the value of commercial properties in the vicinity and attract developers. Moreover, by establishing communities and networks beyond the working life, coworking was found to reduce depopulation and even foster the influx of non-urban areas.

Practical implications

The findings of this study can be transferred to policymakers to be considered in designing tailored policies in non-urban areas and also places-that-don't matter.

Originality/value

By date, this study is the first attempt to conduct a systematic review of the literature on the effects of coworking spaces in peripheral and rural areas. This is important since this typology of flexible-collaborative working space is gaining public attention, especially during the pandemic and the development of such spaces in non-urban areas.
Review of fault detection techniques for predictive maintenance
Authors: Divya D. , Marath Bhasi , Santosh Kumar M.B.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to bring awareness to the developing of fault detection systems using the data collected from sensor devices/physical devices of various systems for predictive maintenance. Opportunities and challenges in developing anomaly detection algorithms for predictive maintenance and unexplored areas in this context are also discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

For conducting a systematic review on the state-of-the-art algorithms in fault detection for predictive maintenance, review papers from the years 2017–2021 available in the Scopus database were selected. A total of 93 papers were chosen. They are classified under electrical and electronics, civil and constructions, automobile, production and mechanical. In addition to this, the paper provides a detailed discussion of various fault-detection algorithms that can be categorised under supervised, semi-supervised, unsupervised learning and traditional statistical method along with an analysis of various forms of anomalies prevalent across different sectors of industry.

Findings

Based on the literature reviewed, seven propositions with a focus on the following areas are presented: need for a uniform framework while scaling the number of sensors; the need for identification of erroneous parameters; why there is a need for new algorithms based on unsupervised and semi-supervised learning; the importance of ensemble learning and data fusion algorithms; the necessity of automatic fault diagnostic systems; concerns about multiple fault detection; and cost-effective fault detection. These propositions shed light on the unsolved issues of predictive maintenance using fault detection algorithms. A novel architecture based on the methodologies and propositions gives more clarity for the reader to further explore in this area.

Originality/value

Papers for this study were selected from the Scopus database for predictive maintenance in the field of fault detection. Review papers published in this area deal only with methods used to detect anomalies, whereas this paper attempts to establish a link between different industrial domains and the methods used in each industry that uses fault detection for predictive maintenance.
Using personalization for cause-related marketing beyond compassion fade on social media
Authors: Kim Jihye , Kim Minseong
Published: April 2022

Purpose

In light of the increasing occurrences of social issues and natural disasters, the number of people who need financial assistance is also growing. Using the compassion fade framework, marketing scholars have focused on the impact of the number of victims in need of monetary donations. Situated in the cause-related marketing context, the purpose of this study is to test whether personalization and perceived social visibility moderate the influence of compassion on social engagement intention to participate in a company’s charity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted an online experiment with a 2 (number of children in need: single vs group) x 2 (personalization: personalized vs general) between subjects’ design and measured perceived social visibility as a numeric variable divided into three groups. Two-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), a simple moderation analysis, and a moderated mediation analysis using the PROCESS macro were conducted to test the hypotheses.

Findings

Compassion fade occurred in general advertisements whereas the opposite tendency occurred in personalized advertisements. The positive effect of compassion on social engagement intention was stronger at a high level of perceived social visibility; the effect was significant but weak in the low perceived social visibility condition. The indirect effects from the number of children to social engagement intention via compassion were significant in the personalized ads with medium/high social visibility conditions and general ads with medium/high social visibility conditions; the indirect effects were insignificant in the personalized ads with low social visibility and general ads with low social visibility conditions.

Practical implications

The findings of this study should help companies develop and implement effective cause-related marketing strategies via social media, providing consumers with an opportunity to show others how they support social and environmental issues.

Originality/value

This study increases the understanding of the influence of the number of children in need on social media posts incorporating cause-related marketing and emphasizes the interaction effects of compassion, personalization and perceived social visibility.
Boosting ecological food consumption behavior among millennials: role of health consciousness, perceived consumer effectiveness and ethical self-identity
Authors: Amin Sanjida , Tarun Md Touhiduzzaman
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The aim of the current study is to examine the effect of health consciousness, perceived consumer effectiveness and ethical self-identity on customers green purchase intention and actual behavior through an antecedent–focus–outcome relationship in the context of Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

For this study, research design was cross sectional and self-administered questionnaire was used for collecting data from the sample respondents. Primary data for this current study were collected from the segment termed as “millennium generation” which consists of young adults between the ages of 18–39 years. Sample technique of this study was judgmental, and a part of non-probability sampling was used for data collection. Statistical tools like SPSS and partial least square (PLS) were employed for the study to examine the impact of the constructs on green purchase intention and behavior.

Findings

After analyzing the data, the empirical findings obtained via smart Partial Least Square (PLS) approach confirmed out that all the four factors have significant positive relationship with green purchase intention which is also positively related with actual purchase behavior regarding ecological food products.

Research limitations/implications

The result of the current study provides better understanding and information for the organizations to give more emphasis on the association of health consciousness, ethical self-identity and perceived consumer effectiveness with green purchase intention and actual behavior. The present study will assist as a guide to provide several implications and recommendations to organizations, business owners, academicians and policymakers aiming to encourage green products adoption rate thereby reducing natural degradation and increasing environmental sustainability.

Originality/value

This research establishes the findings that more concentration should be given to enhance ecological consumption and environmental awareness to achieve environmental sustainability and ecological balance in Bangladesh and all other developing countries. The outcomes of the study also contribute to the existing literature by adding new insights to customers' environmental concern and green consumption behavior in the context of Bangladesh.
Effect of various thermal processing methods and pretreatment methods to reduce phosphorus content of chicken meat for CKD patients
Authors: Uenishi Kozue , Tomita Keiko , Kido Shinsuke
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The management of dietary phosphorus in chronic kidney disease patients is an important issue. Phosphorus is often found with protein in foods. However, excessive protein restriction worsens the nutritional status of the patient; thus, phosphorus must be selectively restricted. This study aims to assess the effects of various pretreatments readily available in ordinary households on phosphorus loss in foodstuffs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study evaluated the retention of phosphorus in cooked chicken meat (boiled, baked, steamed and microwaved). In addition, this study incorporated various pretreatments (pounding, stabbing, cutting and enzymatic treatment) to the method exhibiting the lowest phosphorus retention (boiling) and assessed the effects on phosphorus retention.

Findings

Boiling (65%, vs baking, p < 0.001; vs steaming, p = 0.013; vs microwaving, p = 0.002) of the chicken meat resulted in the lowest phosphorus retention compared to the other cooking methods (baking [89%], steaming [73%] and microwaving [75%]). In addition, stabbing (58%, p = 0.009) or cutting (46%, p < 0.001) further reduced the retention of phosphorus in boiled chicken meat. The retention of phosphorus in enzyme-pretreated boiled chicken was reduced by approximately 10% compared to untreated chicken (p = 0.01). The cooking method that reduced phosphorus retention to the greatest extent was enzyme treatment prior to cutting and boiling.

Originality/value

This paper investigates the effects of common household cooking methods and combinations of methods on the phosphorus content of meat.
Findings from a field study of urban microclimate in Korea using mobile meteorological measurements
Authors: Kim Hyoungsub , Kim Se Woong , Jo Yongjun , Kim Eujin Julia
Published: April 2022

Purpose

First, the contributions of spatial characteristics to microclimate were analyzed. And the results from mobile measurements were compared to those from fixed measurements to examine accuracy of mobile method. Air temperature and physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) profiles were plotted to explore the impacts of the spatial characteristics of that urban square and local street.

Design/methodology/approach

This research investigates the effects of urban canyons and landscape on air temperature and outdoor thermal comfort in an open square in Seoul, Korea, a city of diverse thermal environments. Mobile field measurements were carried out to obtain local meteorological data based on higher spatial resolution.

Findings

On a day in October under clear sky, air temperature and PET differences of up to 1.77 °C and 9.6 °C were observed at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. These were mainly from the impact of shading effects caused by surrounding obstacles. The current layout and volume of vegetation in the square seemed not effective for reducing air temperature and improving thermal comfort, which needs further study.

Originality/value

The authors tested a way to investigate time delay when using mobile measurements by correcting measured local data using adjacent meteorological observatory data. The findings of and limitations on mobile station-based field measurement and analysis are discussed herein.
Setting the three-stage R&D shared portfolio methodology: an innovative approach to industry–university collaboration
Authors: Bagno Raoni Barros , Freitas Jonathan Simões
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an approach to start industry–university (I-U) collaboration through a stepped process aimed at building a portfolio of research and development (R&D) projects.

Design/methodology/approach

It devises from an 18-month action-research program held between a multinational automotive manufacturer and the a top-ranked Brazilian university.

Findings

The three-stage R&D shared portfolio methodology results from a combined application of quality function deployment-like correlation matrices and roadmapping. A first matrix tackles industry interests and correlates product performance dimensions and components to reveal broad research areas of interest. A second matrix correlates research areas and engineering competences, highlighting the types of the required know-how from the university standpoint. Thirdly, academic experts help to fill a roadmap-like layer with possible collaborative R&D deliverables over time.

Research limitations/implications

Since the study lies on a single experience, extensions to other contexts should be made with care. However, the proposal offers robust rationale and a set of supporting tools to nurture new applications.

Practical implications

Theoretical and methodological reflections help managers tackling the long-standing problem of setting a shared R&D agenda.

Originality/value

Literature on I-U collaboration tends or to over-emphasize the role of technology transfer offices in promoting the partnerships or to seek implications for public policy. This research offers a valuable approach to build shared R&D project portfolio from a managerial viewpoint, filling an academic gap and offering guidance for managers in both sides.