bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved Identification of Host Cell Proteins in Monoclonal Antibodies by Combining Filter-Aided Sample Preparation and Native Digestion
Authors: Yang Yang , Wu Jing , Wang Fang , Lefers Mark
Published: January 2025

Host cell proteins (HCPs) in biotherapeutics can present potential safety risks or compromise product stability at trace levels. Therefore, removal, testing, and characterization of HCPs are critical throughout biotherapeutic process development. While enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the gold standard for quantifying HCPs, it does not provide information on HCP identity. As a result, HCP analysis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has gained prominence for its ability to identifying HCPs. However, compared to ELISA’s parts-per-billion sensitivity, LC-MS is limited by its dynamic range, often unable to cover magnitude difference between HCP and biotherapeutic concentrations. Thus, an effective HCP enrichment method is highly desirable. In this study, we propose a new strategy for HCP identification that combines filter-aided sample preparation (FASP) with native digestion, followed by shotgun proteomics analysis. This approach improves mAb removal compared to standard native digestion, enabling greater HCP enrichment and identification. Our method detects all spiked proteins at 1 ppm and most at 0.5 ppm, ranging from 12 to 470 kDa, demonstrating broad molecular weight coverage of HCPs. A proof-of-concept analysis using the NISTmAb standard demonstrates that our filter-aided native digestion identifies 155 more HCPs than the standard native digestion. When applying this strategy to an in-house antibody with low amounts of HCPs, we can quantify HCPs at levels as low as 0.03 ppm, demonstrating the high sensitivity in HCP characterization.
NMDA-dependent coplasticity in VIP interneuron-driven inhibitory circuits
Authors: Jabłońska Jadwiga , Wiera Grzegorz , Mozrzymas Jerzy W.
Published: January 2025

Inhibitory plasticity is emerging as a key regulator of excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance, a fundamental determinant of brain network dynamics. While significant progress has been made in understanding inhibitory plasticity at synapses targeting excitatory principal neurons (I→E), the mechanisms and functional implications of plasticity at interneuron-interneuron (I→I) synapses remain largely unexplored. Herein, we investigated the properties and plasticity of inhibitory inputs from vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) interneurons ontostratum oriensinterneurons (soINs) in the hippocampal CA1 region. Using optogenetics, patch-clamp electrophysiology, and morphological reconstructions, we characterized the kinetics, short-term plasticity, and NMDA receptor-dependent long-term plasticity at VIP→soIN synapses in two distinctsoIN subtypes: fast-spiking (FS) and oriens-lacunosum moleculare (OLM)/bistratified interneurons. Optogenetically evoked VIP→soIN IPSCs showed faster rise times and slower decay kinetics in FS interneurons compared to OLM/bistratified cells, although both subtypes exhibited similar short-term plasticity profiles. Brief NMDA receptor activation (1 min) induced long-term depression (iLTD) at VIP→OLM/bistratified synapses, but not at VIP→FS synapses, underscoring subtype-specific plasticity. However, prolonged NMDA exposure (2 min) elicited iLTD in both interneuron subtypes. Interestingly, excitatory inputs tosoINs demonstrated NMDA-induced long-term potentiation (E→I LTP) after brief NMDA exposure, but not after prolonged application. Notably, coplasticity analysis in individualsoINs revealed asymmetric co-expression of I→I LTD and E→I LTP in OLM/bistratified interneurons. In contrast, FS interneurons exhibited a duration-dependent transition between asymmetric and symmetric coplasticity. These findings reveal a target-cell-specific landscape of inhibitory I→I plasticity and its co-expression with excitatory plasticity, highlighting VIP interneurons as key modulators of E/I balance within local hippocampal circuits.
Stress, Epigenetic Remodeling and FKBP51: Pathways to Chronic Pain Vulnerability
Authors: Morgan Oakley B. , Singleton Samuel , Hestehave Sara , Sarter Tim , Wozniak Eva , Mein Charles A , Hausch Felix , Bell Christopher G. , Géranton Sandrine M.
Published: January 2025

Stress is thought to contribute to the persistence of pain and comorbid anxiety, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In our pre-clinical model, sub-chronic stress exacerbated subsequently induced inflammatory pain and accelerated the development of comorbid anxiety. DNA methylation analysis of spinal cord tissue after stress exposure revealed hypomethylation in theFkbp5promoter site for the canonical FKBP51 transcript and other stress-related genes. However, most epigenetic changes in key regulatory regions did not correlate with changes in gene expression assessed by RNA sequencing, suggesting that stress exposure had remodeled the epigenome without altering gene activity and primed genes for hyper-responsiveness to future challenges. FKBP51 inhibition during stress exposure reduced the exacerbation of inflammatory pain by stress and reversed several stress-induced DNA methylation changes in promoter regions of genes associated with stress and nociception, includingRtn4, Cdk5andNrxn1, but notFkbp5. These results indicate that sub-chronic stress leads to the hypomethylation ofFkbp5and increased susceptibility to chronic pain driven by FKBP51, but reversingFkbp5hypomethylation is not necessary to prevent chronic pain vulnerability, which is likely driven by complex epigenetic regulation of multiple stress-regulated genes.
Ultimate light-shining-through-a-wall experiments to establish QCD axions as the dominant form of dark matter
Authors: Hoof Sebastian , Jaeckel Joerg , Lucente Giuseppe
Published: January 2025

Establishing the axion as the dark matter (DM) particle after a haloscope discovery typically requires follow-up experiments to break the degeneracy between the axion’s coupling to photons and its local DM abundance. Given that a discovery would justify more significant investments, we explore the prospects of ambitious light-shining-through-a-wall (LSW) setups to probe the QCD axion band. Leveraging the excellent mass determination in haloscopes, we show how to design LSW experiments with lengths on the order of 100 km and suitably aligned magnetic fields with apertures of around 1 m to reach well-motivated axion models across up to four orders of magnitude in mass. Beyond presenting a concrete plan for postdiscovery experimental efforts, we briefly discuss complementary experiments and future directions beyond LSW experiments.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Detection of dilute axion stars with stimulated decay
Authors: Di Haoran , Shi Haihao , Yi Zhu
Published: January 2025

The anomalous orbits of trans-Neptunian objects can be accounted for by the planet 9 hypothesis. One intriguing possibility is that planet 9 could be a dilute axion star captured by the Solar System, with the ratio of the axion star to dark matter being approximately 1/10. Although dilute axion stars can emit monochromatic signals through two-photon decay, the spontaneous decay signal is too weak to be detected by radio telescopes. However, we find that stimulated decay of the dilute axion star, which explains planet 9, can occur by directing a radio beam with a power of 50 MW into the star. The resulting echo can be detected by terrestrial telescopes such as SKA, FAST, ngLOBO, and LOFAR. Therefore, the dilute axion star can be distinguished from other planet 9 candidates, such as a primordial black hole or a free-floating planet captured by the Solar System.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Enhancing analog Unruh effect via superradiance in a cylindrical cavity
Authors: Zheng Hong-Tao , Zhou Xiang-Fa , Guo Guang-Can , Zhou Zheng-Wei
Published: January 2025

We propose a scheme to detect the Unruh effect in a circularly rotated Unruh-DeWitt detector enclosed within a cylindrical cavity. This technique relies on the enhanced atomic spontaneous emission rate related to the counter-rotating coupling between the detector and massless scalar fields. Our analysis demonstrates that the integration of a cylindrical cavity, coherent light excitation, and multiatom superradiation significantly enhances the signal strength, as the radiation rate associated with the standard rotating-wave coupling can be greatly suppressed within the cavity. Compared to linear acceleration, circular motion can significantly reduce the atomic acceleration path length, leading to increased detection efficiency and lower experimental difficulty. Our method provides an avenue for exploring relativistic effects on a compact, tabletop platform.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Maxwell origami tube
Authors: Imada Rinki , Tachi Tomohiro
Published: January 2025

Maxwell lattices are periodic frameworks characterized by a balance between the number of kinematic variables and constraints in each unit cell, attracting attention as a source of topological mechanical metamaterials. In particular, one-dimensional (1D) Maxwell lattices maintain a constant number of degrees of freedom (DOFs) as the number of unit cells increases, offering advantages in the design and control of their kinematics. Here, we construct a 1D Maxwell lattice with tunable DOFs, termed the Maxwell origami tube, by closing a triangulated origami tessellation, which is a 2D Maxwell lattice. In topological mechanics, the infinitesimal deformation modes of uniformly configured Maxwell lattices are classified into edge and bulk modes. Unlike conventional 1-DOF 1D Maxwell lattices, multi-DOF 1D Maxwell lattices exhibit a mixture of DOFs corresponding to edge and bulk modes, which we term eDOFs and bDOFs. This paper investigates how the eDOFs and bDOFs of the Maxwell origami tube depend on the crease patterns and folded states using a discrete dynamical system model. We find that ground states with zero and nonzero bDOFs can coexist within a single crease pattern. Additionally, in states with nonzero bDOF, the ratio of bDOF to total DOF decreases as the total DOF increases. In contrast, we present another origami tube with a constant DOF of 2, which represents the first overconstrained lattice to exhibit nonuniform bulk modes. This work highlights the versatility of Maxwell lattices and provides a theoretical foundation for designing novel mechanical metamaterials.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Development of the logistics service quality framework for railway transportation in Tanzania
Authors: Taifa Ismail W.R. , Twaha Ibrahim
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The research proposes a customised framework for improving logistics service quality (LSQ) in Tanzania's railway transportation, focusing on customer engagement and integrating customer-desired services.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey method obtained data from railway customers regarding the LSQ offered. Both probability and purposive sampling techniques were used to get the sample size. The open- and closed-ended questionnaires gathered the pertinent data. The data were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively using the IBM® SPSS® 21.0 and AMOS 21.0 software packages, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed to analyse data and establish relationships between variables.

Findings

This study anticipated that the LSQ framework during the period of reviewing literature included three variables for freight transporting customers (tangible components, ways of fulfilment and information actions) and eight variables for passengers (tangible, reliability, assurance, responsiveness, comfort, empathy, connection and convenience). EFA and CFA dropped some factors. The retained factors were used as inputs to develop a framework. The qualitative analysis also established the improvement of customer’s desired services (CDS) and LSQ, which were the framework's processes for improving the LSQ. Ultimately, the study developed the LSQ framework for railway transportation.

Research limitations/implications

The study was conducted on Tanzania’s railways, which incorporated challenges in the Tanzanian context. However, many challenges in the developing countries are relatively the same. Therefore, modifications can be made to adopt the developed framework and be used in other countries to cover the geographical and other challenges in particular countries.

Originality/value

Tanzania’s railway infrastructures are somehow not fully utilised to meet the actual needs of the transportation sector. For example, one of the railway companies has a built capacity of 4 million tonnes carrying capacity per year, but the actual cargo transported by the railway is 200,000 tonnes. This comes from several challenges within the railway companies, including the quality of their services, thus leading to a need to develop a LSQ framework.
Examining the impact of fun in the workplace in hospitality internships
Authors: Tews Michael J. , Hoefnagels Ankie , Pons Sydney , Beaumont-Perez Fanny
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study examines the importance of fun in the workplace within the context of hospitality internships. It aims to determine the impact of three dimensions of fun – fun activities, coworker socializing and manager support for fun – on the perceived value of internships and students' commitment to pursuing a career in the hospitality industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The study involved a sample of 253 hospitality management students in The Netherlands. Data were collected through an online survey and analyzed using multiple regression to assess the relationships between fun in the workplace, internship value and industry commitment. The study also considered the influence of job characteristics, social support and work-life conflict.

Findings

The results indicated that coworker socializing had a positive relationship with both internship value and industry commitment. Manager support for fun positively influenced internship value but had a negative relationship with industry commitment. Fun activities did not significantly impact either outcome. Additionally, skill variety was found to be crucial for internship value, particularly for operational interns.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that while fun in the workplace can enhance the internship experience, it should not overshadow other critical factors such as skill variety, supervisor support and the presence of role models. Internship programs should focus on providing diverse and challenging tasks to maximize perceived value and industry commitment among students.

Originality/value

This study extends the research on workplace fun by focusing on its role in the internship experience within the hospitality industry. It provides insights into how different dimensions of fun affect internship outcomes and highlights the importance of balancing fun with other essential aspects of the work environment to foster positive student experiences and career aspirations.
AI adoption: a new perspective from accounting students in Vietnam
Authors: Bui Hung Quang , Phan Quyen Thi Bao , Nguyen Ha Thanh
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to examine the factors affecting accounting students’ adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in Vietnam.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs an empirical analysis based on hand-collected data from 275 accounting students in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The study model was performed using the partial least squares structural equation modelling methodology, facilitated by SmartPLS 4.0.

Findings

The study results show that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use (PEOU), AI literacy, social influence (SI), facilitating conditions and technology readiness are positively associated with AI adoption by accounting students. The findings suggest the important role of SI in shaping the relationship between PEOU and AI adoption.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to universities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with a small sample size, which may reduce the generalisability of findings to other cities in Vietnam or other countries due to different regulations. Future research could examine comparative and cross-country analyses within similar institutional settings.

Practical implications

The study findings suggest that universities should consider offering more AI-related subjects to improve students’ AI proficiency and capacity.

Originality/value

This study examines the determinants of AI adoption by accounting students in Vietnam, addressing a previously unexplored area in the literature.
Sowing seeds of flourishing: the mediating role of trust in the impact of resilience on school principals across career stages
Authors: Yu Dongqing , Chen Junjun , Kouhsari Masoumeh
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to examine the roles of principal resilience (psychological, social and spiritual) and trust in colleagues in predicting the flourishing of school principals, considering different career stages.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilising multigroup structural equation modelling and mediation analysis, data were collected from a sample of 1,274 school principals in China. The study investigates the direct impact of resilience on flourishing and the mediating role of trust in colleagues, with a focus on variations across different career stages.

Findings

The findings reveal that all aspects of a principal’s resilience significantly impact their flourishing, with trust serving as a partial mediator. Notably, the influence of spiritual resilience on flourishing is significant only for principals in the later stages of their careers.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the expanding body of literature on educational leadership by highlighting the importance of resilience and trust in fostering principal flourishing. The insights gained offer valuable knowledge for developing support strategies to enhance the flourishing experiences of school principals throughout their careers.
Investor sentiment and equity mutual fund performance in Brazil
Authors: Silva Sabrina Espinele da , Fonseca Simone Evangelista , Roma Carolina Magda da Silva , Han Seung Hun , Iquiapaza Robert Aldo
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Focusing on the Brazilian equity mutual fund industry, this study analyzes whether including the investor sentiment index in asset pricing models is important for explaining fund alpha.

Design/methodology/approach

The investor sentiment index and risk factors in the Fama and French (1993) and Carhart (1997) models were estimated, the risk-adjusted performance of a sample of equity mutual funds in Brazil was evaluated, and a United States (US) sample was included for a complementary perspective. The sample period spans 2010–2019 for Brazil and 2010–2018 for the US.

Findings

The results contrasted with those evidenced in the US, where the sentiment index was an important factor in explaining the probability of alpha occurrence, especially in the case of winner funds, defined as those exhibiting a positive and statistically significant alpha at the 5% level. Overall, the findings suggest that, in the Brazilian market, pricing models incorporating investor sentiment as an additional factor fail to adequately capture the outperformance probability of equity mutual funds. These results suggest that the factors influencing fund performance may differ between the two countries and highlight the relevance of developing more suitable investor sentiment indicators for emerging markets.

Originality/value

This study examines the impact of the sentiment index on the performance of equity mutual funds in Brazil, specifically its influence on alpha generation.
University mission statements and anti-fraud disclosures: public vs private universities in Indonesia
Authors: Agustina Lidya , SeTin SeTin , Debbianita Debbianita
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Corruption remains a major issue in Indonesia, necessitating the commitment of various parties, including higher education institutions, to prevent and combat it. The primary aim of this study is to ascertain the extent of commitment by Indonesian universities, as expressed through their mission statements, in creating effective, accountable and transparent institutions (SDG No.16). This is examined by analyzing the amount of fraud and anti-fraud information disclosed on their websites. In addition, this study compares the commitment of public and private universities in disclosing anti-fraud information on their websites.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used content analysis of university mission statements and anti-fraud information disclosures on the websites of 25 public and 25 private universities in Indonesia, using the University Fraud Prevention Disclosure Index.

Findings

The findings indicate that public universities disclose mission statements encompassing a greater integrity structure compared to private universities. Consequently, public universities are more likely to disclose anti-corruption prevention efforts as part of their commitment to realizing SDGs No.16 than private universities.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis was conducted over a limited timeframe, with the possibility of periodic updates on university websites.

Originality/value

There is limited research examining university mission statement disclosures and the level of anti-corruption disclosure in higher education institutions in developing countries, such as Indonesia.
Coworkers’ self-leadership and employees’ knowledge sharing: a moderated chain mediation model
Authors: Zhang Lianghua , Wang Yongli , Guoqing Dong , Lu Hailing
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Self-leadership’s positive interpersonal influence is rarely considered in empirical research despite its significance to organizational social dynamics. Thus, this study aims to investigate self-leadership’s interpersonal effects and identify the underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical model is validated through a two-point time-lagged survey.

Findings

Coworkers’ self-leadership positively impacts employees’ knowledge sharing through admiration and relationship desire. The chain mediation effect is moderated by perceived competitive climate: the higher the perceived competitive climate, the stronger the positive indirect effect will be.

Practical implications

Organizations should prioritize fostering employee self-leadership to facilitate knowledge sharing, especially in highly competitive environments.

Originality/value

By identifying the interpersonal effects of self-leadership, this study provides a fresh perspective to the literature on self-leadership, enriching the consequences of self-leadership.
New pathways for international business governance via blockchain-based decentralized autonomous organizations
Authors: Alon Ilan , Klemetsen Haakon Stole , Šilenskytė Aušrinė , Gildin Ilan
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to explore the innovative governance structures enabled by blockchain-based decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) in the context of international business (IB). As nonhierarchical entities managed through collective voting and peer-to-peer interactions, DAOs challenge traditional assumptions of multinational corporation (MNC) governance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors perform a literature review, which combines qualitative content analysis of both academic papers on DAO and whitepapers with quantitative analysis of bibliometrics using VosViewer.

Findings

The findings highlight DAOs’ ability to generate new research questions and offer a foundation for future studies on decentralized governance in IB. Through a bibliometric analysis of 73 papers from Web of Science and qualitative content analysis, the authors identify four primary research streams in the DAO literature. A deep dive into financial DAOs, or DeFi DAOs, reveals insights into their governance mechanisms and implications for the studies in the field of IB.

Research limitations/implications

Research on DAOs is in its early stages, and the practice in IB is nascent. As the regulatory, economic and technological landscape for DAOs changes, more research will be needed on the governance mechanisms and their sustainability.

Originality/value

This paper advances the field by providing a multilevel analysis of DAOs’ potential impact on IB, considering macro (country), meso (MNC/DPE) and micro (multicultural team and individual) levels.
Optimizing global risk-conscious portfolios: the strategic role of Sharia-compliant and ESG investments
Authors: Mirza Nawazish , Tudor Cristiana Doina , Horobet Alexandra , Belascu Lucian
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to explore the strategic integration of Sharia-compliant and environmental, social and governance (ESG)-focused investments within global equity portfolio optimization frameworks, with a particular emphasis on variance minimization and dynamic rebalancing techniques.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses historical data from Sharia-compliant, ESG-focused and conventional equity exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Advanced mean-variance optimization methodologies via quadratic programming are employed, encompassing static optimization with and without a 50% cap on individual asset weights, dynamic optimization with monthly rebalancing and rolling window optimization.

Findings

Portfolios integrating Sharia-compliant investments frequently outperform those composed solely of conventional equity ETFs. Dynamic optimization with monthly rebalancing achieved the highest Sharpe ratio (1.3708) and demonstrated enhanced portfolio resilience during market turbulence, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Sharia-compliant investments showed substantial allocations during key periods, with weights reaching up to 100% in the first half of 2020. In contrast, ESG-focused investments exhibited more limited and sporadic allocations, reflecting a more opportunistic role in the portfolio.

Practical implications

The findings reaffirm the critical role of Sharia-compliant investments in well-diversified, risk-conscious portfolios while also providing nuanced insights into the more selective integration of ESG-focused assets. The results offer practical guidance for portfolio managers seeking to integrate ethical and sustainable investment principles within advanced portfolio optimization frameworks, particularly when focusing on minimizing variance and dynamically responding to evolving market conditions.

Social implications

The study contributes to the growing body of literature on ethical and sustainable investments, demonstrating that it is possible to balance ethical considerations with robust financial performance. The research underscores the potential for Sharia-compliant investments to play a significant role in global portfolios, potentially fostering greater financial inclusion and cross-cultural understanding in the investment community.

Originality/value

This research provides novel insights by focusing on Sharia-compliant investments within non-Muslim countries, an area that has been relatively underexplored. It also compares the outcomes of static, dynamic and rolling optimizations, highlighting the dynamic interplay between ethical investment principles and financial performance.
Does experience always make experts? Evaluating the influence of managerial experience on player selection outcomes in the NBA draft
Authors: Croom Randall , Wells Janelle
Published: January 2025

Purpose

We investigate whether/how various kinds of experience predict managers' selection outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from personnel selection and decision-making research, we used a multilevel model to examine whether various types of experience predict employee selection outcomes in the National Basketball Association. We examined 289 selection events of basketball players by 63 general managers. Measures of general manager experience included tenure, education level, family relations, experience as a college coach, experience as a National Basketball Association Player, experience as a National Basketball Association scout and experience as a National Basketball Association coach.

Findings

College coaching experience, tenure and vicarious experience through family relations improved selection decision outcomes, while experience as a basketball player reduced the quality of selection decision outcomes. Tenure was associated with general managers’ ability to select employees who made high individual contribution to team wins; vicarious experience improved ability to select players with high peak individual performance, and college coaching experience improved general managers’ ability to select employees with higher contributions to team wins, higher peak individual performances and higher average performances over the course of players’ careers.

Originality/value

Experience’s importance is taken for granted, but this paper demonstrates that all experience is not equally effective. Notably, experience as a professional athlete did not seem to make managers better decision-makers about personnel than people who did not have that experience.
Peritoneal dialysis fluid promotes the permeability in peritoneal vascular endothelial cells not through caveolae/caveolin‐1‐mediated endocytosis
Authors: Chen Wenke , Huang Ruojing , Weng Xiaoxue , Wang Qiang , Wen Wen , Yu Guoqing
Published: January 2025

Introduction

To clarify the expression of caveolin‐1 in human peritoneal vascular endothelial cells (HUM‐CELL‐0116) and investigate whether peritoneal dialysis fluid (PDF) can promote the permeability through caveolae/caveolin‐1‐mediated endocytosis.

Methods

HUM‐CELL‐0116 were passaged and divided into the following groups: control group, PDF group, Filipin group, DMSO group, and caveolin‐1 antibody group. The cells were cultured for 0, 4, 12, 24, and 48 h. Then, we detected the permeability of monolayer cells and the expression of caveolin‐1.

Results

(1) Expression of caveolin‐1: In the PDF group, Filipin group, and caveolin‐1 antibody group, the expression decreases after intervention. (2) Monolayer cell permeability: After culture, the permeability of monolayer cells in the PDF group, Filipin group, and caveolin‐1 antibody group was significantly higher than that in the control group.

Conclusion

Caveolae/caveolin‐1‐mediated endocytosis may exist in these cells. PDF can increase the permeability of HUM‐CELL‐0116 and albumin loss, but not through caveolae/caveolin‐1‐mediated endocytosis.
Who carries the burden of climate change? Heterogeneous impact of droughts in sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Pignède Edouard
Published: January 2025

Droughts can dramatically affect economic activities, especially in developing countries where more than half the labor force is in the agricultural sector. This paper highlights the causal impact of drought on income inequality using a new methodology known as the quantile treatment effect on the treated under the copula stability assumption. This method generalizes the difference‐in‐differences framework to the entire distribution. The methodology is applied to a geo‐referenced and nationally representative household survey of two sub‐Saharan African countries: Ethiopia and Malawi. The results show that droughts worsen income inequality in both countries. Lower income quantiles are subject to a higher decrease in per capita income, up to 40% for the lowest income quantile. In contrast, higher income quantiles are largely unaffected or appear to benefit from the drought. These results are robust to several specifications and offer quantitative insights into how extreme weather conditions affect inequality dynamics in developing countries. Inequality formation is driven by differences in the ability to cope with droughts. The results show that wealthier households have a higher capacity to find alternative sources of income to prevent a welfare drop. In contrast, the most vulnerable households, particularly those that are low in assets, remote, or headed by women or older individuals, are most seriously harmed. Finally, consumption‐smoothing behaviors and asset depletion strategies in middle income households are also observed.
Political Stability, Economic Risk, and Renewable Energy Technology Innovation: International Evidence
Authors: Shao Hanhua , Wang Yaning
Published: January 2025

Renewable energy technology innovation (RETI) is essential for addressing climate change and ensuring energy security, but the impact of political stability on RETI remains underexplored. Using panel data for 65 countries from 2002 to 2022, this paper systematically examines the direct and indirect effects of political stability on RETI, along with the substitution effect of economic risk on political stability, by integrating economic risk into the analysis. The results show that (1) political stability has a significant contribution to RETI, which still holds after robustness tests and the exclusion of endogeneity. (2) Mechanism analysis reveals that political stability influences RETI via three channels: financial stability, industrial stability, and R&D stability. (3) Heterogeneity analysis shows that political stability contributes more significantly to RETI in countries facing higher economic risks. A lower economic risk also promotes RETI and partially substitutes for political stability. The findings offer key insights for maintaining political stability and advancing RETI.
Patient‐centred outcome measures for oncological surgery: a narrative review
Authors: Blackman‐Mack Rachel , Chater George , Aggarwal Geeta
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Peri‐operative medicine is becoming increasingly relevant in the context of managing frail patients with cancer. This paper outlines how demographic shifts in populations are affecting cancer incidence and frailty rates, the relevance this holds to the management of cancer care, and the outcome measures that should be used to gauge best clinical practice to ensure patient‐centred care.

Methods

A targeted literature review was conducted using the search terms ‘surgical oncology’, ‘outcomes’, ‘frailty’, ‘quality of life’ and ‘end of life’ from 10 to 17 June 2024. Articles were reviewed by all authors and core themes from the literature review were identified. Core themes were then discussed by the authors to construct a narrative review.

Results

The review identified several core themes in relation to patient‐centred outcome measures for oncological surgery. The UK population is ageing and consequently, the number of older people being diagnosed with cancer is increasing. There is much evidence to show that older patients have poorer outcomes in terms of mortality and postoperative complications across all types and severities of cancer. Traditional outcome measures such as 30‐day mortality, duration of stay and recurrence rates fail to capture the outcomes that are most pertinent to this patient cohort. These include patient quality of life and treatment burden. We discuss the measurement of quality of life through the use of patient‐reported outcome measures and their limitations. We also highlight the need for patient‐centred, holistic care with the use of tools such as comprehensive geriatric assessment, which have been shown to improve patient outcomes.

Discussion

There is need for a greater emphasis on quality‐of‐life measures alongside mortality and patient‐reported outcome measures. We argue that holistic care approaches should play a greater role in enabling the measurement of outcome states beyond simply dead or alive.
Interpersonal trust and distrust at work: Scale validation and theoretical exploration
Authors: Wildman Jessica L. , Thayer Amanda L. , Warren Catherine , Fiore Stephen M. , Salas Eduardo
Published: January 2025

Interpersonal trust is one of the most widely studied topics in organizational research. One notable theoretical controversy that has remained over the decades is the potential distinction between trust and distrust. The current research advances this debate by developing and validating theory‐based measures of trust and distrust. We take an attitude theory approach to develop scales based on the Lewicki et al. (1998) conceptualization of trust and distrust. Across four studies utilizing a variety of work‐based samples and contexts, we present evidence of internal consistency, reliability, factor structure, construct validity, and criterion‐related validity. These studies support the primary theoretical assertions from Lewicki et al. that trust and distrust are distinguishable attitudes with differing nomological networks and that individuals can experience attitudinal ambivalence (i.e., the existence of both positive and negative attitudes toward the same target). Findings extend trust and distrust theory by demonstrating that competence and intent are further sub‐facets of trust and distrust attitudes and that distrust in one's supervisor at work predicts incremental variance in emotional exhaustion and counterproductive work behaviors beyond trust. Ultimately, the scale presented enables future research and practice focused on disentangling trust and distrust in the workplace.
Aging Skin: A Dermatitis To Which All Flesh Is Heir?
Authors: Murphy George F.
Published: January 2025

The human body is composed mostly of water fortified by a variety of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, all organized into an elegant structurally complex and functionally efficient machine in which our consciousness resides. This heterogeneous assemblage of essential ingredients is enclosed in a container known as the integument, or simply, the skin. The container is as important as its contents; when itself devoid of structural and functional integrity, it will both leak as well as become infused with potentially harmful external agents. As we age, skin loses its integrity, and over time it is not unreasonable to conceive of the skin as becoming progressively “leaky.” With this deterioration, skin becomes dry, scaly, accessible to microbes, pruritic, and inflamed, the latter setting up the potentially vicious cycle known as “inflammaging.” One major example of the effects of chronological aging on the barrier function of skin involves depletion of filaggrin, a 37‐kD histidine‐rich protein which originates within keratohyaline granules of the epidermis. Some of the consequences of age‐related filaggrin depletion may be inferred by experiments of nature known as ichthyosis vulgaris and atopic dermatitis (AD), the latter with atopy being the most common inflammatory disease worldwide. In AD, loss of function mutations in the FLG gene encoding for the filaggrin precursor, profilaggrin, are associated with skin that, as with aging, is also dry, scaly, accessible to microbes, pruritic and inflamed. In this mini‐review, AD will be compared and contrasted with aging in terms of the consequences of deficient filaggrin barrier function. The goal is to enhance recognition that one of the most clinically symptomatic and visible signs of aging is a subtle yet ubiquitous form of “dermatitis” due to “leaky” skin, one that may be addressed therapeutically with smart combinatorial strategies that restore the molecular basis for skin barrier dysfunction.
Developing and Validating a Scale of Artificial Intelligence Anxiety Among Chinese EFL Teachers
Authors: Liu Xinyu , Liu Yijia
Published: January 2025

As artificial intelligence (AI) technology continues to advance, its influences across various industries have grown, leading to increasing levels of anxiety, including that in education. Nonetheless, in terms of current knowledge, the literature lacks a valid scale to measure AI anxiety among EFL teachers, particularly university EFL teachers. Moreover, the underlying dimensions of this construct have yet to be clarified. Against these gaps, this study aims to develop and validate a scale to assess AI anxiety among university EFL teachers in China. We used qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys combined to identify the key dimensions of AI anxiety of university EFL teachers. In so doing, 251 Chinese EFL teachers completed a newly designed scale. The result of exploratory factor analyses indicated five dimensions and 21 items in the questionnaire. Five dimensions were identified: technical proficiency, job displacement, technological support, student experience and research development. Next, another 415 Chinese EFL teachers participated in validating the scale. The result of confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the scale demonstrated strong reliability, validity and an acceptable model fit. This new scale provides a useful tool for assessing AI anxiety in EFL teachers and highlights the unique challenges they face in adapting to AI, offering a basis for future research and targeted support.
The Role of Gender Differences in Pre‐Service Turkish Physical Education Teachers' Attitudes Towards Teaching Profession: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Işıkgöz Mustafa Enes
Published: January 2025

The aim of this study is to estimate the role of gender differences in the teaching profession in a meta‐analytic way, based on empirical findings analysing Turkish pre‐service physical education teachers' attitudes towards the teaching profession. For this purpose, studies, that were published in Türkiye between 2015 and 2023 were searched by following the PRISMA Protocol. As a final search we reached 65 studies and 28 of them met the criteria for inclusion in the meta‐analysis. The data analysis was made with JASP 0.16.4.0 software. As a result of the analysis, it was found that the effect of gender difference on the attitudes of Turkish pre‐service physical education teachers towards the teaching profession was weak (g = −0.159, 95% CI [−0.262, −0.055]). Also, the effect size distribution of the examined studies was found to be heterogeneous (Q = 112.350; p < 0.001; I2 = 81.178), and it was confirmed that there was no publication bias by Egger's (z = −0.853; p > 0.05) and Rosenthal's FSN (N = 438,000, p < 0.001) tests. In conclusion, the results of this meta‐analysis indicate that the impact of gender on the attitudes of Turkish pre‐service physical education teachers towards the teaching profession is relatively weak and appears to favour women. It is recommended that further research be conducted to ascertain whether this gender‐based difference in attitudes will evolve over time. Additionally, it would be prudent for higher education institutions and education policymakers to implement measures to mitigate the influence of gender stereotypes in the teaching profession.
A Novel Hyper‐Tuned Multilayer Perceptron With Effective Stochastic Learning Strategies for Missing Values Imputation
Authors: Siddiqi Muhammad Hameed , Alruwaili Madallah , Alhwaiti Yousef , Alanazi Saad , Khan Faheem
Published: January 2025

A vast amount of data in many different formats is produced and stored daily, offering machine learning a valuable resource to enhance its predictive capabilities. However, the pervasiveness of inaccuracies in real‐world data presents a significant barrier that can seriously limit the effectiveness of learning algorithms. The ensemble models and hyper‐tuned multi‐layer perceptron (MLP) with need‐based hidden neuron layers are effective frameworks for data imputation. Addressing the issue of missing data is a complex and demanding task, and much remains to be explored in developing effective and precise methods for predicting and imputing missing values across different datasets. The study offers important perspectives on using algorithms in machine learning to predict and impute gaps in data in recently updated datasets. The findings indicate that finely tuned MLP classifiers notably improve prediction accuracy and dependability compared to models with a static or reduced number of neurons. Furthermore, the study highlights the promising potential of ensemble models within the error‐correcting output code (ECOC) framework as an effective approach for this task. It also suggests future research directions to refine further and strengthen machine learning‐based imputation methods regarding precision and stability. ECOC framework includes all kinds of MLP classifiers and regressors such as binary classifiers, multi‐class classifiers, or regression models. MLP models predict complex relationships in modern datasets. Hugging Face, COSMIC, SKlearn, and Kaggle have relevant and updated datasets. The weighted average recognition (96%) shows that the proposed MLP‐based stochastic learning strategies achieved better results.
Hybridizing Machine Learning Algorithms With Numerical Models for Accurate Wind Power Forecasting
Authors: Abad‐Santjago Álvaro , Peláez‐Rodríguez C. , Pérez‐Aracil J. , Sanz‐Justo J. , Casanova‐Mateo C. , Salcedo‐Sanz S.
Published: January 2025

An accurate prediction of wind power generation is crucial for optimizing the integration of wind energy into the power grid, ensuring energy reliability. This research focuses on enhancing the accuracy of wind power generation forecasts by combining data from mesoscale and reanalysis models with Machine Learning (ML) approaches. We utilized WRF forecast data alongside ERA5 reanalysis data to estimate wind power generation for a wind farm located at Valladolid, Spain. The study evaluated the performance of ML models based on WRF and ERA5 data individually, as well as a combined model using inputs from both datasets. The hybrid model combining WRF and ERA5 data with ML resulted in a 15% improvement in root mean square error (RMSE) and a 10% increase in compared with standalone models, providing a more reliable 1‐h forecast of wind power generation. Additionally, the availability of data over time was addressed: WRF provides the advantage of projecting data into the future, whereas ERA5 offers retrospective data.
Automatic Code Summarization Using Abbreviation Expansion and Subword Segmentation
Authors: Liang Yu‐Guo , Fan Gui‐Sheng , Yu Hui‐Qun , Li Ming‐Chen , Huang Zi‐Jie
Published: January 2025

Automatic code summarization refers to generating concise natural language descriptions for code snippets. It is vital for improving the efficiency of program understanding among software developers and maintainers. Despite the impressive strides made by deep learning‐based methods, limitations still exist in their ability to understand and model semantic information due to the unique nature of programming languages. We propose two methods to boost code summarization models: context‐based abbreviation expansion and unigram language model‐based subword segmentation. We use heuristics to expand abbreviations within identifiers, reducing semantic ambiguity and improving the language alignment of code summarization models. Furthermore, we leverage subword segmentation to tokenize code into finer subword sequences, providing more semantic information during training and inference, thereby enhancing program understanding. These methods are model‐agnostic and can be readily integrated into existing automatic code summarization approaches. Experiments conducted on two widely used Java code summarization datasets demonstrated the effectiveness of our approach. Specifically, by fusing original and modified code representations into the Transformer model, our Semantic Enhanced Transformer for Code Summarizsation (SETCS) serves as a robust semantic‐level baseline. By simply modifying the datasets, our methods achieved performance improvements of up to 7.3%, 10.0%, 6.7%, and 3.2% for representative code summarization models in terms of BLEU‐4, METEOR, ROUGE‐L and SIDE, respectively.