bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Targeting Fatty Acid Desaturase I Inhibits Renal Cancer Growth Via ATF3-mediated ER Stress Response
Authors: Heravi Gioia , Liu Zhenjie , Herroon Mackenzie , Wilson Alexis , Fan Yang-Yi , Jiang Yang , Vakeesan Nivisa , Tao Li , Peng Zheyun , Zhang Kezhong , Li Jing , Chapkin Robert S. , Podgorski Izabela , Liu Wanqing
Published: March 2024

Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) play a pivotal role in maintaining endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis, an emerging hallmark of cancer. However, the role of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFAs) desaturation in persistent ER stress driven by oncogenic abnormalities remains elusive. Fatty Acid Desaturase 1 (FADS1) is a rate-limiting enzyme controlling the bioproduction of long-chain PUFAs. Our previous research has demonstrated the significant role of FADS1 in cancer survival, especially in kidney cancers. We explored the underlying mechanism in this study. We found that pharmacological inhibition or knockdown of the expression of FADS1 effectively inhibits renal cancer cell proliferation and induces cell cycle arrest. The stable knockdown of FADS1 also significantly inhibits tumor formationin vivo. Mechanistically, we show that while FADS1 inhibition induces ER stress, its expression is also augmented by ER-stress inducers. Notably, FADS1-inhibition sensitized cellular response to ER stress inducers, providing evidence of FADS1’s role in modulating the ER stress response in cancer cells. We show that, while FADS1 inhibition-induced ER stress leads to activation of ATF3, ATF3-knockdown rescues the FADS1 inhibition-induced ER stress and cell growth suppression. In addition, FADS1 inhibition results in the impaired biosynthesis of nucleotides and decreases the level of UPD-N-Acetylglucosamine, a critical mediator of the unfolded protein response. Our findings suggest that PUFA desaturation is crucial for rescuing cancer cells from persistent ER stress, supporting FADS1 as a new therapeutic target.
Exploring Pathogenic Mutation in Allosteric Proteins: the Prediction and Beyond
Authors: Zhang Huiling , Ju Zhen , Zhang Jingjing , Li Xijian , Xiao Hanyang , Chen Xiaochuan , li Yuetong , Wang Xinran , Wei Yanjie
Published: March 2024

Allosteric regulation that triggers the functional activity of a protein through conformational changes is an inherent function of the protein in numerous physiological and pathological scenarios. In the post-genomic era, a central challenge for disease genomes is the identification of the biological effects of specific somatic variants on allosteric proteins and the phenotypes they influence during the initiation and progression of diseases. Here, we analyzed more than 38539 mutations observed in 90 human genes with 740 allosteric protein chains. We found that existing allosteric protein mutations are associated with many diseases, but the clinical significance of the majority of mutations in allosteric proteins remains unclear. Next, we developed a machine-learning-based model for pathogenic mutation prediction of allosteric proteins based on the intrinsic characteristics of proteins and the prediction results from existed methods. When tested on the benchmark allosteric protein dataset, the proposed method achieves AUCs of 0.868 and AUPR of 0.894 on allosteric proteins. Furthermore, we explored the performance of existing methods in predicting the pathogenicity of mutations at allosteric sites and identified potential significant pathogenic mutations at allosteric sites using the proposed method. In summary, these findings illuminate the significance of allosteric mutation in disease processes, and contribute a valuable tool for the identification of pathogenic mutations as well as previously unknown disease-causing allosteric-protein-encoded genes.
Edinger-Westphal ghrelin receptor signalling regulates binge alcohol consumption in a sex specific manner
Authors: Pearl Amy , Pinares-Garcia Paulo , Shesham Arnav , Maddern Xavier , Anversa Roberta G , Brown Robyn M , Reed Felicia M , Giardino William J , Lawrence Andrew J , Walker Leigh C
Published: March 2024

Background

Rates of risky drinking are continuing to rise, particularly in women, yet sex as a biological variable has been largely ignored. An emerging yet understudied potential component of this circuitry is the central projecting Edinger-Westphal (EWcp), which is made up of two prominent, but distinct cell populations expressing either an array of neuropeptides (including cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript; CART) or vGlut2 (glutamatergic).

Methods

Here, we use a combination of approaches including genetic, molecular biology, behavioural testing, and electrophysiology to understand how the EWcp contributes to alcohol consumption in female versus male mice.

Results

Chemogenetic inhibition of EWcpCARTcells reduced binge drinking specifically in female, but not male mice. Further, inhibition of EWcpCARTcells prevented ghrelin induced drinking, and viral–mediated ghrelin receptor (Ghsr) knockdown in the EWcp reduced binge drinking in female, but not male mice. RNAscope revealedGhsrexpression across peptidergic (marked by CART) and glutamatergic populations in the EWcp, with neurons from female mice more sensitive to bath application of ghrelin than male mice. Targeted knockdown ofGhsrfrom distinct EWcp populations revealed GHSR signalling on peptidergic, but not glutamatergic cells mediate binge drinking in female mice. Finally, both a GHSR inverse agonist and antagonist delivered directly within the EWcp reduced binge drinking in female mice.

Conclusions

These findings suggest the EWcp is a region mediating excessive alcohol bingeing through GHSR actions on peptidergic cells (CART-expressing) in female mice and expand our understanding of the neural mechanism(s) underpinning how the ghrelin system mediates alcohol consumption.
Expansion of pneumococcal serotype 23F and 14 lineages with genotypic changes in capsule polysaccharide locus and virulence gene profiles post introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Blantyre, Malawi
Authors: Cave Rory , Kalizang’oma Akuzike , Chaguza Chrispin , Mwalukomo Thandie S. , Kamng’ona Arox , Brown Comfort , Msefula Jacquline , Bonomali Farouck , Nyirenda Roseline , Swarthout Todd D. , Kwambana-Adams Brenda , French Neil , Heyderman Robert S.
Published: March 2024

Since the introduction of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in Malawi in 2011, there has been persistent carriage of vaccine serotype (VT)Streptococcus pneumoniae, despite high vaccine coverage. To determine if there has been a genetic change within the VT capsule polysaccharide (cps) loci since the vaccine’s introduction, we compared 1,022 whole-genome-sequenced VT isolates from 1998 to 2019. We identified the clonal expansion of a multidrug-resistant, penicillin non-susceptible serotype 23F GPSC14-ST2059 lineage, a serotype 14 GPSC9-ST782 lineage and a novel serotype 14 sequence type GPSC9-ST18728 lineage. Serotype 23F GPSC14-ST2059 had an I253T mutation within the capsule oligosaccharide repeat unit polymerase Wzy protein, which is predictedin silicoto alter the protein pocket cavity. Moreover, serotype 23F GPSC14-ST2059 had SNPs in the DNA binding sites for the cps transcriptional repressors CspR and SpxR. Serotype 14 GPSC9-ST782 harbour a non-truncated version of the large repetitive protein (Lrp), containing a Cna protein B-type domain which is also present in proteins associated with infection and colonisation. These emergent lineages also harboured genes associated with antibiotic resistance, and the promotion of colonisation and infection which were absent in other lineages of the same serotype. Together these data suggest that in addition to serotype replacement, modifications of the capsule locus associated with changes in virulence factor expression and antibiotic resistance may promote vaccine escape. In summary, the study highlights that the persistence of vaccine serotype carriage despite high vaccine coverage in Malawi may be partly caused by expansion of VT lineages post PCV13 rollout.

Impact Statement

Our findings highlight the potential for clonal expansion of multidrug-resistant, penicillin-non-susceptible vaccine serotype lineages with capsule locus modifications, within a high carriage and disease burden population. This shift has occurred among young children where there has been high vaccine coverage, posing challenges for effective vaccine scheduling and design. Furthermore, this study emphasises the importance of ongoingStreptococcus pneumoniaegenomic surveillance as new or modified pneumococcal vaccines are implemented.

2. Data summary

Whole genome sequencing assemblies for the PCVPA survey have been deposited in the BioProject PRJNA1011974.
Somatic polyploidy supports biosynthesis and tissue function by increasing transcriptional output
Authors: Lessenger Alexander T. , Swaffer Mathew P. , Skotheim Jan M. , Feldman Jessica L.
Published: March 2024

Cell size and biosynthetic capacity generally increase with increased DNA content. Polyploidy has therefore been proposed to be an adaptive strategy to increase cell size in specialized tissues with high biosynthetic demands. However, if and how DNA concentration limits cellular biosynthesisin vivois not well understood, and the impacts of polyploidy in non-disease states is not well studied. Here, we show that polyploidy in theC. elegansintestine is critical for cell growth and yolk biosynthesis, a central role of this organ. Artificially lowering the DNA/cytoplasm ratio by reducing polyploidization in the intestine gave rise to smaller cells with more dilute mRNA. Highly-expressed transcripts were more sensitive to this mRNA dilution, whereas lowly-expressed genes were partially compensated – in part by loading more RNA Polymerase II on the remaining genomes. DNA-dilute cells had normal total protein concentration, which we propose is achieved by increasing production of translational machinery at the expense of specialized, cell-type specific proteins.
Protocols for counterfactual and twin-field quantum digital signatures
Authors: Rao Vinod N. , Utagi Shrikant , Pathak Anirban , Srikanth R.
Published: March 2024

Quantum digital signature (QDS) is the quantum version of its classical counterpart and can offer security against attacks of repudiation, signature forging, and external eavesdropping on the basis of quantum-mechanical no-go principles. Here we propose a QDS scheme based on quantum counterfactuality, which leverages the concept of interaction-free measurement. Employing the idea behind twin-field cryptography, we show how this two-way protocol can be turned into an equivalent noncounterfactual, one-way protocol that is both more practical and also theoretically helpful in assessing the experimental feasibility of the first protocol. The proposed QDS protocol can be experimentally implemented with current quantum technology.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Kaluza-Klein spectroscopy from neutron oscillations into hidden dimensions
Authors: Dvali Gia , Ettengruber Manuel , Stuhlfauth Anja
Published: March 2024

Neutrons and neutrinos are natural probes for new physics. Since they carry no conserved gauge quantum numbers, both can easily mix with the fermions from hidden sectors. A particularly interesting effect is the oscillation of a neutron or a neutrino into a fermion propagating in large extra dimensions. In fact, such a mixing has been identified as the possible origin of small neutrino mass. In this paper, we study neutron oscillations into an extradimensional fermion and show that this effect provides a resonance imaging of the Kaluza-Klein tower. The remarkable feature of this phenomenon is its generic nature: because of a fine spacing of the Kaluza-Klein tower, neutrons at a variety of energy levels, both free or within nuclei, find a bulk oscillation partner. In particular, the partner can be a Kaluza-Klein mode of the same species that gives mass to the neutrino. The existence of bulk states matching the neutron energy levels of nuclear spectra gives rise to tight constraints as well as to potentially observable effects. For a free neutron, we predict recurrent resonant oscillations occurring with the values of the magnetic field correlated with the KK levels. We derive bounds on extra dimensions from ultracold neutron experiments and suggest signatures for refined measurements, which, in particular, can probe the parameter space motivated by the hierarchy problem. Ultracold neutron experiments offer a unique way of Kaluza-Klein spectroscopy.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Defect two-point functions in 6D (2,0) theories
Authors: Chen Junding , Gimenez-Grau Aleix , Zhou Xinan
Published: March 2024

We consider correlation functions in 6D (2,0) theories of two 12-Bogomol’nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield (BPS) operators inserted away from a 12-BPS surface defect. In the large central-charge limit the leading connected contribution corresponds to sums of tree-level Witten diagram in AdS7×S4 in the presence of an AdS3 defect. We show that these correlators can be uniquely determined by imposing only superconformal symmetry and consistency conditions, eschewing the details of the complicated effective Lagrangian. We explicitly compute all such two-point functions. The result exhibits remarkable hidden simplicity.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Whitham approach to Generalized Hydrodynamics
Authors: Møller Frederik , Schüttelkopf Philipp , Schmiedmayer Jörg , Erne Sebastian
Published: March 2024

The formation of dispersive shock waves in one-dimensional Bose gas represents a limitation of Generalized Hydrodynamics (GHD) due to the coarse-grained nature of the theory. Nevertheless, GHD accurately captures long-wavelength behavior, thus indicating an implicit knowledge of the underlying microscopic physics. Such representations are already known through the Whitham modulation theory, where dispersionless equations describe the evolution of the slowly varying shock wave parameters. Here we study the correspondence between Whitham's approach to the Gross-Pitaevskii equation and GHD in the semiclassical limit and beyond. Our findings enable the recovery of the shock wave solution directly from GHD simulations, which we demonstrate for both zero and finite temperature. Additionally, we study how free expansion protocols affect the shock wave density and their implications for experimental detection. The combined picture of Whitham and GHD lends itself to additional physical interpretation regarding the formation of shock waves.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Improved multiple-Toeplitz matrices reconstruction method using quadratic spatial smoothing for coherent signals DOA estimation
Authors: Qi Bingbing , Xu Lijun , Liu Xiaogang
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to exploit the multiple-Toeplitz matrices reconstruction method combined with quadratic spatial smoothing processing to improve the direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation performance of coherent signals at low signal-to-noise ratio (SNRs).

Design/methodology/approach

An improved multiple-Toeplitz matrices reconstruction method is proposed via quadratic spatial smoothing processing. Our proposed method takes advantage of the available information contained in the auto-covariance matrices of individual Toeplitz matrices and the cross-covariance matrices of different Toeplitz matrices, which results in a higher noise suppression ability.

Findings

Theoretical analysis and simulation results show that, compared with the existing Toeplitz matrix processing methods, the proposed method improves the DOA estimation performance in cases with a low SNR. Especially for the cases with a low SNR and small snapshot number as well as with closely spaced sources, the proposed method can achieve much better performance on estimation accuracy and resolution probability.

Research limitations/implications

The study investigates the possibility of reusing pre-existing designs for the DOA estimation of the coherent signals. The proposed technique enables achieve good estimation performance at low SNRs.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for the DOA problem at low SNRs in communication systems.

Originality/value

The proposed method proved to be useful for the DOA estimation at low SNR.
Role of brand heritage and nostalgia in developing perceived brand authenticity
Authors: Kumar Vikas , Kaushal Vikrant
Published: March 2024

Purpose

With the increasing competition and rise in the number of brands in almost every product category, consumers need help to figure out authentic brands. Thus, it becomes imperative for marketers to examine the factors that influence the perceptions of brand authenticity (PBA) and its favorable outcomes for the brand. This paper aims to explore the critical antecedents (i.e. “brand heritage” and “brand nostalgia”) and consequences [i.e. “consumer brand engagement” (CBE) and “perceived brand ownership” (PBO)] of PBA in this study.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 368 responses were collected online through a self-administered survey method and were analyzed using structural equation modeling in AMOS v 25.

Findings

The findings reveal that both brand heritage and brand nostalgia can affect PBA. In addition, PBA engenders CBE and PBO among consumers toward the brand.

Practical implications

The study findings help the marketers to find ways to induce authenticity perceptions among consumers about their brands, which can further translate into PBO and CBE.

Originality/value

This study empirically verifies a model to enhance PBA through brand heritage and nostalgia. Further, it explores CBE and PBO as the potential outcomes of PBA.
Contested imaginaries: workfinding information practices of STEM-trained immigrant women in Canada
Authors: Caidi Nadia , Muzaffar Saadia , Kalbfleisch Elizabeth
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This pan-Canadian study examines the information practices of STEM-trained immigrant women to Canada as they navigate workfinding and workplace integration. Our study focuses on a population of highly skilled immigrant women from across Canada and uses an information practice lens to examine their lived experiences of migration and labour market integration. As highly trained STEM professionals in pursuit of employment, our participants have specific needs and challenges, and as we explore these, we consider the intersection of their information practices with government policies, settlement services and the hiring practices of STEM employers.

Design/methodology/approach

We conducted a qualitative study using in-depth interviews with 74 immigrant women across 13 Canadian provinces and territories to understand the nature of their engagement with employment-seeking in STEM sectors. This article reports the findings related to the settlement and information experiences of the immigrant women as they navigate new information landscapes.

Findings

As immigrants, as women and as STEM professionals, the experiences of the 74 participants reflect both marginality and privilege. The reality of their intersectional identities is that these women may not be well-served by broader settlement resources targeting newcomers, but neither are the specific conventions of networking and job-seeking in the STEM sectors in Canada fully apparent or accessible to them. The findings also point to the broader systemic and contextual factors that participants have to navigate and that shape in a major way their workfinding journeys.

Originality/value

The findings of this pan-Canadian study have theoretical and practical implications for policy and research. Through interviews with these STEM professionals, we highlight the barriers and challenges of an under-studied category of migrants (the highly skilled and “desirable” type of immigrants). We provide a critical discussion of their settlement experiences and expose the idiosyncrasies of a system that claims to value skilled talent while structurally making it very difficult to deliver on its promises to recruit and retain highly qualified personnel. Our findings point to specific aspects of these skilled professionals’ experiences, as well as the broader systemic and contextual factors that shape their workfinding journey.
The impact of Islamic of corporate social responsibility on social welfare with financial fraud as moderating: study in Indonesia
Authors: Tarjo Tarjo , Anggono Alexander , Zakik Zakik , Nordin Shahrina Md , Priyadi Unggul
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study aims to empirically examine the influence of Islamic corporate social responsibility (ICSR) on social welfare moderated by financial fraud.

Design/methodology/approach

The method used was the mix method. The number of respondents was 410. They combined the moderate regression analysis with PROCESS Andrew F Hayes to test the research hypothesis. After conducting the survey, it was continued by conducting interviews with the village community and the head of the village.

Findings

The first finding of this study is that ICSR has a significant positive effect on social welfare. The second finding is that financial fraud weakens the influence of ICSR on social welfare. The results of the interviews also confirmed the two findings of this study.

Research limitations/implications

The high level of bias in answering the questions is due to the low public knowledge of ICSR. In addition, the interviews still needed to involve the oil and gas companies and government.

Practical implications

The main implication is improving social welfare, especially for those affected by offshore oil drilling. Furthermore, stakeholders are more sensitive to the adverse effects of financial fraud. Finally, to make drilling companies more transparent and on target in implementing ICSR.

Originality/value

The main novelty in this research is using of the mixed method. In addition, applying financial fraud as a moderating variable is rarely studied empirically.
Challenges and sustainability of Indian mental health: evaluating volunteer-based community mental health clinics with a complex adaptive system framework
Authors: Kumar Manoj , Bos Rekha , de Wit Emma Emily , Bunders-Aelen J.G.F.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate how a community psychiatry model, referred to as the Mental Health Action Trust (MHAT) in India, provides decentralized care and comprehensive services to people with severe mental illness living in poverty. Using the complex adaptive system (CAS) framework, the authors aim to understand the factors that contribute to the diverse outcomes of the MHAT community mental health programme as observed in four different locations.

Design/methodology/approach

Four MHAT clinics were purposively chosen from two districts in Kerala. A comparative case study methodology was used to document each clinic’s MHAT services and activities, as found during field visits and interviews with staff members and volunteers.

Findings

The study shows that all four clinics met the basic aim of providing free, quality mental health care to the poorest populations, although not all aspects of the comprehensive model could be equally provided. Alignment with the MHAT vision, appropriate leadership, the relationship with partners and their level of community engagement determined the varied success between clinics.

Originality/value

The current study evaluation stresses that community ownership is crucial. Careful attention must be paid to the characteristics of selected partners, including their leadership styles and ability to garner resources.
Unraveling the effects of COVID-19 on the textile industry in South Asia region: a comparative study of major players
Authors: Zahra Zainab , Elahi Ali Raza , Khan Waqas , Mehmood Bilal , Sohail Muhammad
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread disruptions to global industries, with the textile sector in South Asia being particularly hard hit. While previous studies have focused on the performance of textile sectors in individual countries, there is a gap in the literature on the comparative impact of the pandemic on the textile industry in South Asian nations. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the performance of the textile sector in South Asian countries and identifying best practices for overcoming the pandemic’s adverse effects.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a comparative approach, this study analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on the performance of the textile sector in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.

Findings

Our findings reveal that COVID-19 significantly negatively impacts the textile industry in Pakistan and India. However, Bangladesh has shown effective practices to support the textile industry and mitigate the pandemic’s adverse effects.

Practical implications

The findings of this study hold considerable implications for legislators, leaders, investors and supply chain management professionals operating within the South Asian textile sector. This research has the potential to inform policymakers in formulating strategies to facilitate the textile sector’s resilience during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originality/value

This paper provides significant theoretical additions to the current body of literature regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the textile sector in South Asia. The research uses the global value chain (GVC) theory as a theoretical framework to enhance understanding of the impact of global supply chains and interdependencies on the textile sector in the region.
Ship coping strategies for hurricane-induced port disruptions
Authors: Zhou Yan , Wang Chuanxu
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Disruptions at ports may destroy the planned ship schedules profoundly, which is an imperative operation problem that shipping companies need to overcome. This paper attempts to help shipping companies cope with port disruptions through recovery scheduling.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper studies the ship coping strategies for the port disruptions caused by severe weather. A novel mixed-integer nonlinear programming model is proposed to solve the ship schedule recovery problem (SSRP). A distributionally robust mean conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) optimization model was constructed to handle the SSRP with port disruption uncertainties, for which we derive tractable counterparts under the polyhedral ambiguity sets.

Findings

The results show that the size of ambiguity set, confidence level and risk-aversion parameter can significantly affect the optimal values, decision-makers should choose a reasonable parameter combination. Besides, sailing speed adjustment and handling rate adjustment are effective strategies in SSRP but may not be sufficient to recover the schedule; therefore, port skipping and swapping are necessary when multiple or longer disruptions occur at ports.

Originality/value

Since the port disruption is difficult to forecast, we attempt to take the uncertainties into account to achieve more meaningful results. To the best of our knowledge, there is barely a research study focusing on the uncertain port disruptions in the SSRP. Moreover, this is the first paper that applies distributionally robust optimization (DRO) to deal with uncertain port disruptions through the equivalent counterpart of DRO with polyhedral ambiguity set, in which a robust mean-CVaR optimization formulation is adopted as the objective function for a trade-off between the expected total costs and the risk.
How do online reviews influence answer adoption in virtual Q&A communities? A signaling theory perspective
Authors: Liang Jing , Li Ming , Shao Xuanya
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of online reviews on answer adoption in virtual Q&A communities, with an eye toward extending knowledge exchange and community management.

Design/methodology/approach

Online reviews contain rich cognitive and emotional information about community members regarding the provided answers. As feedback information on answers, it is crucial to explore how online reviews affect answer adoption. Based on signaling theory, a research model reflecting the influence of online reviews on answer adoption is established and empirically examined by using secondary data with 69,597 Q&A data and user data collected from Zhihu. Meanwhile, the moderating effects of the informational and emotional consistency of reviews and answers are examined.

Findings

The negative binomial regression results show that both answer-related signals (informational support and emotional support) and answerers-related signals (answerers’ reputations and expertise) positively impact answer adoption. The informational consistency of reviews and answers negatively moderates the relationships among information support, emotional support and answer adoption but positively moderates the effect of answerers’ expertise on answer adoption. Furthermore, the emotional consistency of reviews and answers positively moderates the effect of information support and answerers’ reputations on answer adoption.

Originality/value

Although previous studies have investigated the impacts of answer content, answer source credibility and personal characteristics of knowledge seekers on answer adoption in virtual Q&A communities, few have examined the impact of online reviews on answer adoption. This study explores the impacts of informational and emotional feedback in online reviews on answer adoption from a signaling theory perspective. The results not only provide unique ideas for community managers to optimize community design and operation but also inspire community users to provide or utilize knowledge, thereby reducing knowledge search costs and improving knowledge exchange efficiency.
Complement or substitute? A study of the impact of artificial intelligence on consumers’ resistance
Authors: Mou Yupeng , Gong Yixuan , Ding Zhihua
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI) is experiencing growth and prosperity worldwide because of its convenience and other benefits. However, AI faces challenges related to consumer resistance. Thus, drawing on the user resistance theory, this study explores factors that influence consumers’ resistance to AI and suggests ways to mitigate this negative influence.

Design/methodology/approach

This study tested four hypotheses across four studies by conducting lab experiments. Study 1 used a questionnaire to verify the hypothesis that AI’s “substitute” image leads to consumer resistance to AI; Study 2 focused on the role of perceived threat as an underlying driver of resistance to AI. Studies 3–4 provided process evidence by the way of a measured moderator, testing whether AI with servant communication style and literal language style is resisted less.

Findings

This study showed that AI’s “substitute” image increased users' resistance to AI. This occurs because the substitute image increases consumers’ perceived threat. The study also found that using servant communication and literal language styles in the interaction between AI and consumers can mitigate the negative effects of AI-substituted images.

Originality/value

This study reveals the mechanism of action between AI image and consumers’ resistance and sheds light on how to choose appropriate image and expression styles for AI products, which is important for lowering consumer resistance to AI.
Unveiling hidden patterns between managerial assumptions, international market orientation, and performance: an unexplored journey into Japanese SMEs
Authors: Abu Farha Allam , Elbanna Said , Al-kwifi Osama Sam , Uenishi Satoko
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study seeks to investigate how managerial assumptions shape international market orientation (IMO) and how IMO, in turn, affects the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), drawing from cognitive theory and the resource-based view (RBV) to provide the theoretical framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The study focuses on the relatively unexplored domain of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Japan. A survey was developed and tested using data from 303 Japanese SMEs. The study model was subsequently analyzed using the partial least squares (PLS) technique.

Findings

The study reveals a nuanced relationship between managerial frames of reference (FoRs) and IMOs. The results confirmed notable congruence between interfunctional market orientation and managers who exhibit a political FoR. They also revealed a positive correlation between professional FoR managers and customer market orientation. Additionally, the findings showed that entrepreneurial FoR managers displayed a significant association with competitive market orientation and Bureaucratic FoR matched with the three types of IMO. Finally, the results indicate that all three forms of IMO have a substantial impact on performance, albeit to varying degrees.

Research limitations/implications

The applicability of our results to multinational corporations (MNCs) has not been evaluated. Since the primary focus was to identify the types of associations among FoR and IMO, the causal pathways and explanatory factors that underpinned these observed relationships were not examined in this study. Additionally, due to the geographical concentration of our sample in Japan, we were unable to conduct tests on the suggested model in other countries to validate and potentially generalize the research findings.

Practical implications

By developing an implicit understanding of the market orientation fit within the organization’s FoR, managers can enhance their understanding of competitors' activities and enable them to respond with greater efficiency.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the rare papers that inspect the relationship between International market orientations and managerial assumptions as well as their effect on performance.
Introduction of new combination of bio-mordant from agriculture waste for eco-dyeing of wool yarns
Authors: Hosseinnezhad Mozhgan , Gharanjig Kamaladin , Adeel Shahid , Mahmoudi Nahavandi Alireza
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Agricultural waste and food sources are some of the pollutants of the environment. One of these wastes is the peel of fruits that cannot be consumed as food. In this regard, walnut husk (WH) and oleaster peel (PO) are known as two important sources of tannin and are bulky wastes. Because of the high percentage of tannin, these materials can be used as a natural source for the preparation of bio-mordant in the dyeing process.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, Reseda and Madder were used as natural dyes in the presence of a mixture of two bio-mordants. WH and PO were selected as bio-mordant. All natural resources are extracted to obtain the juice. The phenolic percentage of tannin-containing extracts was evaluated and then it was used for wool yarns by premordanting method. The results of evaluating the fastness properties using the ISO method.

Findings

The most important achievement of this research is the use of agricultural waste in the dyeing process to reduce environmental pollution and create added value. All compounds rich in tannin have some phenolic components, therefore the amount of phenolic content of these extracts was evaluated. The effect of mixing the mordant on the color characteristics of the yarns was investigated and the results showed that changing the ratio of the combination of two mordant is effective on the K/S values. The results of evaluating the fastness properties using the ISO method showed that the washing, rubbing and light fastness in the presence of mordant is good, good and moderate, respectively.

Originality/value

In this paper, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, for the first time, the combination of two natural extracts obtained from agricultural waste has been used to create a new bio-mordant on fibers and improve stability.
Seismic noise attenuation method based on low‐rank adaptive symplectic geometry decomposition
Authors: Yang Jie Fei , Luo Xia , Liu Dezhi , Gu Hanming , Sun Ming
Published: March 2024

The basic assumption of low‐rank methods is that noise‐free seismic data can be represented as a low‐rank matrix. Effective noise reduction can be achieved through the low‐rank approximation of Hankel matrices composed of the data. However, selecting the appropriate rank parameter and avoiding expensive singular value decomposition are two challenges that have limited the practical application of this method. In this paper, we first propose symplectic geometric decomposition that avoids singular value decomposition. The symplectic similarity transformation preserves the essence of the original time sequence as well as the signal's basic characteristics and maintains the approximation of the Hankel matrix. To select an appropriate rank, we construct the symplectic geometric entropy according to the distribution of eigenvalues and search for high‐contributing eigenvalues to determine the needed rank parameter. Therefore, we provide an adaptive approach to selecting the rank parameter by the symplectic geometric entropy method. The synthetic examples and field data results show that our method significantly improves the computational efficiency while adaptively retaining more effective signals in complex structures. Therefore, this method has practical application value.
Neighborhoods in the 21st century: What do we know, and what do we still have to learn?
Authors: Ellen Ingrid Gould
Published: March 2024

This article argues for more research on neighborhoods. Concern about neighborhood change, especially gentrification, has mounted in cities throughout the world. Not‐in‐My‐Backyard versus Yes‐in‐My‐Backyard (YIMBY) battles over local housing proposals have intensified. Meanwhile, people around the world are spending more time in their neighborhoods than they did previously, due to greater flexibility to work from home. But despite the increased public focus on neighborhoods, I argue that real estate economists are not paying enough attention. Although many have produced excellent, even pathbreaking, work on the trajectories of neighborhoods and their importance in shaping life outcomes, many real estate scholars focus on cities or metros as the unit of analysis, ignoring within‐city variation, and those who look within cities often treat neighborhoods as fixed effects to absorb unobserved variation, without giving much thought to what it is that is happening inside that black box of neighborhoods. I argue that neighborhoods are more interesting and puzzling than ever, they are more significant to our lives, and new data enhance our ability to analyze them. Specifically, I lay out seven key reasons to study neighborhoods and to study them now.
How will US households adjust their housing behaviors in response to climate change?
Authors: Schuetz Jenny
Published: March 2024

Americans are moving toward climate risk, even as property damage from climate stresses becomes more salient. Over the coming years, climate change is likely to affect housing decisions through a variety of channels, for instance, by making high‐risk locations less attractive both to live and to invest. Households can respond to climate change in multiple ways, reflecting their underlying risk tolerance, financial resources, social networks, lifestyle preferences, and access to information. Private market actors and governments can also alter their engagement with housing markets, including the pricing and availability of property insurance and mortgages and subsidies for climate‐friendly retrofits. In this article, I review the literature on how households are incorporating climate risks into their housing decisions, identifying knowledge gaps and priorities for policymakers. A growing body of work suggests that localized climate risks are capitalized into housing prices in high‐risk areas, particularly in the recent wake after high‐profile storms. Much less is known about consumer knowledge of, and responses to, chronic climate stresses. A notable research gap exists on the climate impacts on renter households and rental markets.
Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Data from literature review and a real‐world analysis
Authors: Zhang Yao , Li Huiting , Yu Bo , Sun Si , Hu Zhihuang , Wu Xianghua , Zhang Yang , Li Bin , Zhang Yawei , Xiang Jiaqing , Wang Jialei , Yu Hui
Published: March 2024

Background

Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy (NCIT) for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is supported by increasing data, but the sample size is limited, and the findings are not completely consistent. We conducted a real‐world study and a meta‐analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of NCIT in locally advanced ESCC.

Methods

We retrospectively assessed the outcomes of patients with locally advanced ESCC who completed NICT and subsequent esophagectomy at our hospital between January 2019 and December 2022, including pathological complete response (pCR) rate, major pathological response (MPR) rate, 1‐, 2‐, and 3‐year overall survival (OS) rates, disease control rate (DCR), objective response rate (ORR), 1‐year recurrence rate, R0 resection rate and adverse events. Moreover, a meta‐analysis of 27 published literatures was also conducted for comparison.

Results

In the analysis, 128 patients were studied, with 25% achieving pCR, 46.1% MPR, and 99.2% R0 resection. The 1‐, 2‐, and 3‐year OS rates were 91.41% (95% CI: 85.15%–95.63%), 75.00% (95% CI: 66.58%–82.23%) and 64.84% (95% CI: 55.91%–73.07%).ORR and DCR were 31.2% (95% CI: 23.31–39.99) and 64.1% (95% CI: 55.15%–72.38%), and the 1‐year recurrence rate was 26.7% (95% CI: 22.5%–38.1%). Treatment‐related events occurred in 96.1% but were acceptable. In a meta‐analysis of 27 studies with 1734 patients, pooled rates for pCR, MPR, ORR, DCR, and R0 resection were 29%, 52%, 71%, 97%, and 98%, respectively, with a 1‐year recurrence rate of 12%.

Conclusion

NCIT is safe and provides potential survival benefits for patients with locally advanced ESCC. However, randomized phase 3 trial data is still needed.
Prevention of age‐related neuromuscular junction degeneration in sarcopenia by low‐magnitude high‐frequency vibration
Authors: Bao Zhengyuan , Cui Can , Liu Chaoran , Long Yufeng , Wong Ronald Man Yeung , Chai Senlin , Qin Ling , Rubin Clinton , Yip Benjamin Hon Kei , Xu Zhihong , Jiang Qing , Chow Simon Kwoon‐Ho , Cheung Wing‐Hoi
Published: March 2024

Neuromuscular junction (NMJ) degeneration is one of pathological factors of sarcopenia. Low‐magnitude high‐frequency vibration (LMHFV) was reported effective in alleviating the sarcopenia progress. However, no previous study has investigated treatment effects of LMHFV targeting NMJ degeneration in sarcopenia. We first compared morphological differences of NMJ between sarcopenic and non‐sarcopenic subjects, as well as young and old C57BL/6 mice. We then systematically characterized the age‐related degeneration of NMJ in SAMP8 against its control strain, SAMR1 mice, from 3 to 12 months old. We also investigated effects of LMHFV in SAMP8 on the maintenance of NMJ during the onset of sarcopenia with respect to the Agrin‐LRP4‐MuSK‐Dok7 pathway and investigated the mechanism related to ERK1/2 signaling. We observed sarcopenic/old NMJ presented increased acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) cluster fragmentation and discontinuity than non‐sarcopenic/young NMJ. In SAMP8, NMJ degeneration (morphologically at 6 months and functionally at 8 months) was observed associated with the sarcopenia onset (10 months). SAMR1 showed improved NMJ morphology and function compared with SAMP8 at 10 months. Skeletal muscle performance was improved at Month 4 post‐LMHFV treatment. Vibration group presented improved NMJ function at Months 2 and 6 posttreatment, accompanied with alleviated morphological degeneration at Month 4 posttreatment. LMHFV increased Dok7 expression at Month 4 posttreatment. In vitro, LMHFV could promote AChRs clustering in myotubes by increasing Dok7 expression through suppressing ERK1/2 phosphorylation. In conclusion, NMJ degeneration was observed associated with the sarcopenia onset in SAMP8. LMHFV may attenuate NMJ degeneration and sarcopenia progression by increasing Dok7 expression through suppressing ERK1/2 phosphorylation.
Inhibition of the endoplasmic reticulum stress‐associated IRE‐1 pathway alleviates preterm birth
Authors: Qiu Liyin , Liu Hui , Chen Shali , Wu Yiting , Yan Jianying
Published: March 2024

Background

Premature birth (PTB) remains a major global health concern due to its association with neonatal morbidity and mortality. The unfolded protein response (UPR) within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is tightly regulated by Inositol‐requiring enzyme type 1 (IRE‐1), a pivotal cellular modulator. This study seeks to elucidate the role of the ER stress (ERS)‐related IRE‐1 pathway in PTB.

Methods

Human placental trophoblast cells HTR8/Svneo were exposed to the ER‐stress inducer tunicamycin (TM). The expression of IRE‐1 and ERS‐associated proteins ATF6, GRP78, and XBP‐1 was assessed in placental tissues and TM‐treated cells. Cellular viability, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were evaluated through a series of experimental assays. Additionally, various methods were employed to assess and verify the activation of autophagy, using the autophagy marker, microtubule‐associated protein 1A/1B‐light chain 3 (LC3). Additionally, TUDCA (an ERS inhibitor) was used to assess its potential to counteract the TM‐induced cell effects.

Results

Elevated levels of ATF6, GRP78, and XBP‐1 were observed in PTB tissues and cells. TM treatment substantially reduced cell viability, migration, and invasion while promoting apoptosis. Treatment with TUDCA (an ERS inhibitor) counteracted the effects of TM on the cells. Furthermore, we identified an overexpression of IRE‐1 in PTB tissues and cells and its knockdown enhanced cell viability, migration, and invasion while suppressed apoptosis and autophagy under TM stimulation. Notably, IRE‐1 was found to modulate the activity of the IRE‐1/XBP1/CHOP signaling pathway in TM‐treated cells.

Conclusion

The upregulation of IRE‐1 in PTB placental tissues is implicated in the pathogenesis of PTB. Importantly, inhibiting the ERS‐associated IRE‐1/XBP1/CHOP pathway may be a good strategy in mitigating PTB.
Novel features of degenerative retinoschisis identified using ultra‐widefield multicolor channels: A review of 139 eyes
Authors: Orr Samantha , Hatamnejad Amin , Sodhi Simrat , Golding John , Pattathil Niveditha , Choudhry Netan
Published: March 2024

Background/Objective

To utilize ultra‐widefield multimodal imaging (Optos PLC) to describe novel findings in degenerative retinoschisis.

Methods

This retrospective, non‐comparative case series of degenerative retinoschisis received a waiver of consent from Advarra IRB, Protocol 00066379. Initial ultra‐widefield pseudocolour, colour‐separated, autofluorescence, and peripheral OCT imaging were analysed for characterizing features.

Results

In total, 139 eyes were included. A hyporeflective reticular pattern associated with retinoschisis was seen on pseudocolour images in 39% of cases, but visible in 53% on green‐separated images. Fine hyper‐reflective foci were observed in 49%. In 27%, retinoschisis was confirmed with OCT.

Conclusions

Ultra‐widefield pseudocolour and green‐separated images are valuable for the diagnosis and characterization of degenerative retinoschisis. The findings described may prompt the evaluation of subtle retinoschisis with peripheral OCT.