bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multivariate adaptive shrinkage improves cross-population transcriptome prediction for transcriptome-wide association studies in underrepresented populations
Authors: Araujo Daniel S. , Nguyen Chris , Hu Xiaowei , Mikhaylova Anna V. , Gignoux Chris , Ardlie Kristin , Taylor Kent D. , Durda Peter , Liu Yongmei , Papanicolaou George , Cho Michael H. , Rich Stephen S. , Rotter Jerome I. ,   NHLBI TOPMed Consortium, Im Hae Kyung , Manichaikul Ani , Wheeler Heather E.
Published: February 2023

Transcriptome prediction models built with data from European-descent individuals are less accurate when applied to different populations because of differences in linkage disequilibrium patterns and allele frequencies. We hypothesized methods that leverage shared regulatory effects across different conditions, in this case, across different populations may improve cross-population transcriptome prediction. To test this hypothesis, we made transcriptome prediction models for use in transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) using different methods (Elastic Net, Joint-Tissue Imputation (JTI), Matrix eQTL, Multivariate Adaptive Shrinkage in R (MASHR), and Transcriptome-Integrated Genetic Association Resource (TIGAR)) and tested their out-of-sample transcriptome prediction accuracy in population-matched and cross-population scenarios. Additionally, to evaluate model applicability in TWAS, we integrated publicly available multi-ethnic genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics from the Population Architecture using Genomics and Epidemiology Study (PAGE) and Pan-UK Biobank with our developed transcriptome prediction models. In regard to transcriptome prediction accuracy, MASHR models performed better or the same as other methods in both population-matched and cross-population transcriptome predictions. Furthermore, in multi-ethnic TWAS, MASHR models yielded more discoveries that replicate in both PAGE and PanUKBB across all methods analyzed, including loci previously mapped in GWAS and new loci previously not found in GWAS. Overall, our study demonstrates the importance of using methods that benefit from different populations’ effect size estimates in order to improve TWAS for multi-ethnic or underrepresented populations.
Uncovering bacterial hosts of class 1 integrons in an urban coastal aquatic environment with a single-cell fusion-polymerase chain reaction technology
Authors: Qi Qin , Ghaly Timothy M , Penesyan Anahit , Rajabal Vaheesan , Stacey Jeremy AC , Tetu Sasha G , Gillings Michael R
Published: February 2023

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a key driver of bacterial evolution via transmission of genetic materials across taxa. Class 1 integrons are genetic elements that correlate strongly with anthropogenic pollution and contribute to the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes via HGT. Despite their significance to human health, there is a shortage of robust, culture-free surveillance technologies for identifying uncultivated environmental taxa that harbour class 1 integrons. We developed a modified version of epicPCR (emulsion,pairedisolation andconcatenationpolymerasechainreaction) that links class 1 integrons amplified from single bacterial cells to taxonomic markers from the same cells in emulsified aqueous droplets. Using this single-cell genomic approach and Nanopore sequencing, we successfully assigned class 1 integron gene cassette arrays containing mostly AMR genes to their hosts in coastal water samples that were affected by pollution. Our work presents the first application of epicPCR for targeting variable, multi-gene loci of interest. We also identified theRhizobactergenus as novel hosts of class 1 integrons. These findings establish epicPCR as a powerful tool for linking taxa to class 1 integrons in environmental bacterial communities and offer the potential to direct mitigation efforts towards hotspots of class 1 integron-mediated dissemination of AMR.

Synopsis

We present a novel single-cell genomic surveillance technology for identifying environmental bacterial hosts of a class of mobile genetic elements that are linked to anthropogenic pollution and contribute to the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance.
Chemoresistome Mapping in Individual Breast Cancer Patients Unravels Diversity in Dynamic Transcriptional Adaptation
Authors: Dadiani Maya , Friedlander Gilgi , Perry Gili , Balint-Lahat Nora , Gilad Shlomit , Morzaev-Sulzbach Dana , Shenoy Anjana , Ben-Moshe Noa Bossel , Pavlovsky Anya , Domany Eytan , Barshack Iris , Geiger Tamar , Kaufman Bella , Gal-Yam Einav Nili
Published: February 2023

Emerging evidence reinforce the role of non-genetic adaptive resistance to chemotherapy, that involves rewiring of transcriptional programs in surviving tumors. We combined longitudinal transcriptomics with temporal pattern analysis to dissect patient-specific emergence of resistance in breast cancer. Matched triplets of tumor biopsies (pre-treatment, post-treatment and adjacent normal) were collected from breast cancer patients who received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Full transcriptome was analyzed by longitudinal pattern classification to follow patient-specific expression modulations. We found that dynamics of gene expression dictates resistance-related modulations. The results unraveled important principles in emergence of adaptive resistance: 1. Genes with resistance patterns are already dysregulated in the primary tumor, supporting a primed drug-tolerant state. 2. In each patient, multiple resistance-related genes are rewired but converge into few dysregulated modules. 3. Rewiring of diverse genes and pathway dysregulation vary among individuals who receive the same treatments. Patient-specific chemoresistome maps disclosed tumors’ acquired resistance and exposed their vulnerabilities.

Mapping the complexity of dysregulated pathways in individual patients revealed important insights on adaptive resistance mechanisms. To survive the toxic drug effect, tumor cells either sustain a drug-tolerant state or intensify it, specifically bypassing the drug’s interference. Depicting an individual road map to resistance can offer personalized therapeutic strategies.
Cholesteryl hemiazelate Identified in Cardiovascular Disease Patients Causesin vitroandin vivoInflammation
Authors: Domingues Neuza , Gaifem Joana , Matthiesen Rune , Saraiva Diana P. , Bento Luís , Marques André R.A. , Soares Maria I. L. , Sampaio Julio , Klose Christian , Surma Michal A. , Almeida Manuel S. , Rodrigues Gustavo , Gonçalves Pedro Araújo , Ferreira Jorge , Gouveia e Melo Ryan , Pedro Luís Mendes , Simons Kai , Pinho e Melo Teresa M. V. D. , Cabral M. Guadalupe , Jacinto Antonio , Silvestre Ricardo , Vaz Winchil , Vieira Otília V.
Published: February 2023

Oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in low-density lipoproteins (LDL) trapped in the arterial intima plays a critical role in atherosclerosis. Though there have been many studies on the atherogenicity of oxidized derivatives of unsaturated fatty acid esters of cholesterol, the effects of the oxidation end-products of these esters has been ignored in the literature.

Through lipidomics analyses of the plasma of cardiovascular disease patients and human endarterectomy specimens we identified and quantified cholesteryl hemiesters (ChE), end-products of oxidation of polyunsaturated-fatty acid esters of cholesterol. Cholesteryl hemiazelate (ChA) was the most prevalent ChE identified. Importantly human monocytes, monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) and neutrophils exhibit inflammatory features when exposed to sub-toxic concentrations of ChAin vitro. ChA increases the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-6 and modulates the surface markers profile of monocytes and MDM.In vivo, when zebrafish larvae were fed with a ChA-enriched diet they exhibited neutrophil and macrophage accumulation in the vasculature in a caspase 1- and cathepsin B-dependent manner. ChA also triggered lipid accumulation at the bifurcation sites of the vasculature of the zebrafish larvae and negatively impacted their life expectancy.

We conclude that ChA has pro-atherogenic properties and can be considered part of a damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) in the development of atherosclerosis.
New to Ehretiaceae:Keraunea. Re-evaluation of a genus of climbers from Brazil
Authors: Cheek Martin , Lombardi Julio A. , Simões Ana Rita G. , Zuntini Alexandre R.
Published: February 2023

We definitively placeKeraunea, a genus of showy forest climbers from remnants of the Mata Atlântica of Brazil, in Ehretiaceae. PreviouslyKerauneahad been ascribed to Convolvulaceae based on morphology, or divided between Malpighiaceae and Ehretiaceae based on molecular analyses (polyphyletic).Kerauneais morphologically anomalous in the Ehretiaceae, having fruits which are held in the centre of a large wing-like bract by adnation of the pedicel, and due the stem-twining habit of some species. However, morphologicallyKerauneashares two apomorphies with monotypicCortesiaCav., halophytic shrubs of Argentina: 1) “two parted endocarps” (the fruit contains two endocarps each with two 1-seeded cells, while four 1-seeded endocarps are plesiomorphic in Ehretiaceae) and 2) a large bract that subtends the flower (absence of bracts is plesiomorphic in Ehretiaceae). A combined tree using four markers (ITS,trnL-F,rbcL andmatK) places the three species ofKerauneasampled unambiguously in a clade withEhretia+Cortesia+Halganiaand monophyly forKerauneais shown with high support. In an ITS treeKerauneais sister toCortesiawith low support.

We expand the generic description ofKerauneaincluding the first account of the internal fruit structures and the seed, and present new data on the vegetative architecture including variation within the genus, some species being stem twiners while one species at least, is described as a scandent shrub.Keraunea lombardiana, previously included withinK. brasiliensis, is formally described from Minas Gerais and Bahia as the third species of the genus and both these species are described. In all five species are recognised but two, known to us only from digital images, are not formally described because sufficiently detailed descriptions cannot be made. All five species are mapped, and provisional conservation assessments are recorded, of either Endangered or Critically Endangered. The state of Bahia, with three species, has the highest species diversity, mainly in dry forest. Three species appear confined to moist coastal forest, extending southwards from Bahia to the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Keraunearemains incompletely known. Not one of the species has both anthetic flowers and fruits described. Studies on pollen, germination, anatomy, embryology and phytochemisty are entirely lacking. Field observations of pollination, seed dispersal and phenology are also required. However, the most urgent requirement is undoubtedly a formal taxonomic revision based on a full herbarium search and targeted fieldwork, with full IUCN 2012 extinction risk assessments for each taxon. This is urgent because it seems that all the taxa that we present in this paper (and more that can be expected to be found) appear to be highly range restricted and generally not to occur in protected areas, and so appear to be highly threatened.
Sequence-context dependency shown by eIF5G31Rmutant for UUG start codon selection inSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Ram Anup Kumar
Published: February 2023

In higher eukaryotes, the efficiency of start codon selection depends upon its sequence context A/GxxAUGG, especially at the −3 and +4 position. However,S. cerevisiaeprefers AAA/UAUGU sequence context surrounding the AUG start codon. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the first AUG codon on the mRNA serves as a signal for ribosomal recognition of the initiation site selection. In yeast, the G31R mutation in eIF5 shows Suppressor of initiation codon (Sui−) phenotype enabling 40S ribosome to initiate at UUG start codon. To understand whether the UUG codon recognition by the eIF5G31Rmutant is sensitive to the sequence context, we made differentHIS4-LacZreporter constructs with UUG as start codon and changed the sequence context at −3 and −2 positions. The HIS4UUG-LacZ transcripts that carry purine (A/G) at the −3-position showed better ß-Galactosidase activity than pyrimidine (U/C). Furthermore, on changing the −1 position for the AAA context, we discovered purines are more preferred at the −1 position for the UUG start codon selection.
PNMA2 forms non-enveloped virus-like capsids that trigger paraneoplastic neurological syndrome
Authors: Xu Junjie , Erlendsson Simon , Singh Manvendra , Regier Matthew , Ibiricu Iosune , Day Gregory S. , Piquet Amanda L. , Clardy Stacey L. , Feschotte Cedric , Briggs John A. G. , Shepherd Jason D.
Published: February 2023

Theparaneoplastic Ma antigen(PNMA) genes are associated with cancer-induced paraneoplastic syndromes that present with neurological symptoms and autoantibody production. How PNMA proteins trigger a severe autoimmune disease is unclear.PNMAgenes are predominately expressed in the central nervous system with little known functions but are ectopically expressed in some tumors. Here, we show thatPNMA2is derived from a Ty3 retrotransposon that encodes a protein which forms virus-like capsids released from cells as non-enveloped particles. Recombinant PNMA2 capsids injected into mice induce a robust autoimmune reaction with significant generation of autoantibodies that preferentially bind external “spike” PNMA2 capsid epitopes, while capsid-assembly-defective PNMA2 protein is not immunogenic. PNMA2 autoantibodies present in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with anti-Ma2 paraneoplastic neurologic disease show similar preferential binding to PNMA2 “spike” capsid epitopes. These observations suggest that PNMA2 capsids released from tumors trigger an autoimmune response that underlies Ma2 paraneoplastic neurological syndrome.
Vaginal microbial dynamics and pathogen colonization in a humanized microbiota mouse model
Authors: Mejia Marlyd E. , Mercado-Evans Vicki , Zulk Jacob J. , Ottinger Samantha , Ruiz Korinna , Ballard Mallory B. , Britton Robert A. , Patras Kathryn A.
Published: February 2023

Vaginal microbiota composition is associated with differential risk of urogenital infection. Although vaginalLactobacillusspp. are thought to confer protection through acidification, bacteriocin production, and immunomodulation, lack of anin vivomodel system that closely resembles the human vaginal microbiota remains a prominent barrier to mechanistic discovery. We performed 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of wildtype C57BL/6J mice, commonly used to study pathogen colonization, and found that the vaginal microbiome composition varies highly both within and between colonies from three distinct vivaria. Because of the strong influence of environmental exposure on vaginal microbiome composition, we assessed whether a humanized microbiota mouse (HMbmice) would model a more human-like vaginal microbiota. Similar to humans and conventional mice,HMbmice vaginal microbiota clustered into five community state types (hmCST). Uniquely,HMbmice vaginal communities were frequently dominated by Lactobacilli orEnterobacteriaceae. Compared to genetically-matched conventional mice,HMbmice were less susceptible to uterine ascension by urogenital pathobionts group BStreptococcus(GBS) andPrevotella bivia, but no differences were observed with uropathogenicE. coli. Specifically, vaginalEnterobacteriaceaeandLactobacilluswere associated with the absence of uterine GBS. Anti-GBS activity ofHMbmice vaginalE. coliandL. murinusisolates, representingEnterobacteriaceaeandLactobacillusrespectively, were characterizedin vitroandin vivo. AlthoughL. murinusreduced GBS growthin vitro, vaginal pre-inoculation withHMbmouse-derivedE. coli, but notL. murinus, conferred protection against vaginal GBS burden. Overall, theHMbmice are an improved model to elucidate the role of endogenous microbes in conferring protection against urogenital pathogens.

IMPORTANCE

An altered vaginal microbiota, typically with little to no levels ofLactobacillus, is associated with increased susceptibility to urogenital infections, although mechanisms driving this vulnerability are not fully understood. Despite known inhibitory properties ofLactobacillusagainst urogenital pathogens, clinical studies withLactobacillusprobiotics have shown mixed success. In this study, we characterize the impact of the vaginal microbiota on urogenital pathogen colonization using a humanized microbiota mouse model that more closely mimics the human vaginal microbiota. We found several vaginal bacterial taxa that correlated with reduced pathogen levels but showed discordant effects in pathogen inhibition betweenin vitroandin vivoassays. We propose that this humanized microbiota mouse platform is an improved model to describe the role of the vaginal microbiota in protection against urogenital pathogens. Furthermore, this model will be useful in testing efficacy of new probiotic strategies in the complex vaginal environment.
A highly efficient human cell-free translation system
Authors: Aleksashin Nikolay A. , Chang Stacey Tsai-Lan , Cate Jamie H. D.
Published: February 2023

Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) systems enable easyin vitroexpression of proteins with many scientific, industrial, and therapeutic applications. Here we present an optimized, highly efficient human cell-free translation system that bypasses many limitations of currently usedin vitrosystems. This CFPS system is based on extracts from human HEK293T cells engineered to endogenously express GADD34 and K3L proteins, which suppress phosphorylation of translation initiation factor eIF2α. Overexpression of GADD34 and K3L proteins in human cells significantly simplifies cell lysate preparation. The new CFPS system improves the translation of 5’ cap-dependent mRNAs as well as those that use internal ribosome entry site (IRES) mediated translation initiation. We find that expression of the GADD34 and K3L accessory proteins before cell lysis maintains low levels of phosphorylation of eIF2α in the extracts. Duringin vitrotranslation reactions, eIF2α phosphorylation increases moderately in a GCN2-dependent fashion that can be inhibited by GCN2 kinase inhibitors. We also find evidence for activation of regulatory pathways related to eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) phosphorylation and ribosome quality control in the extracts. This new CFPS system should be useful for exploring human translation mechanisms in more physiological conditions outside the cell.
Scalable co-sequencing of RNA and DNA from individual nuclei
Authors: Olsen Timothy R. , Talla Pranay , Furnari Julia , Bruce Jeffrey N. , Canoll Peter , Zha Shan , Sims Peter A.
Published: February 2023

The ideal technology for directly investigating the relationship between genotype and phenotype would analyze both RNA and DNA genome-wide and with single-cell resolution. However, existing tools lack the throughput required for comprehensive analysis of complex tumors and tissues. We introduce a highly scalable method for jointly profiling DNA and expression following nucleosome depletion (DEFND-seq). In DEFND-seq, nuclei are nucleosome-depleted, tagmented, and separated into individual droplets for mRNA and genomic DNA barcoding. Once nuclei have been depleted of nucleosomes, subsequent steps can be performed using the widely available 10x Genomics droplet microfluidic technology and commercial kits without experimental modification. We demonstrate the production of high-complexity mRNA and gDNA sequencing libraries from thousands of individual nuclei from both cell lines and archived surgical specimens for associating gene expression phenotypes with both copy number and single nucleotide variants.
An INDEL genomic approach to explore population diversity of phytoplankton
Authors: Devic Martine , Dennu Louis , Lozano Jean-Claude , Mariac Cédric , Vergé Valérie , Schatt Philippe , Bouget François-Yves , Sabot François
Published: February 2023

Background

Although metabarcoding and metagenomic approaches have generated large datasets on worldwide phytoplankton species diversity, the intraspecific genetic diversity underlying the genetic adaptation of marine phytoplankton to specific environmental niches remains largely unexplored. This is mainly due to the lack of biological resources and tools for monitoring the dynamics of this diversity in space and time.

Results

To gain insight into population diversity, a novel method based on INDEL markers was developed onBathycoccus prasinos(Mamiellophyceae), an abundant and cosmopolitan species with strong seasonal patterns. Long read sequencing was first used to characterise structural variants among the genomes of sixB. prasinosstrains sampled from geographically distinct regions in the world ocean. Markers derived from identified insertions/deletions were validated by PCR then used to genotype 55B. prasinosstrains isolated during the winter bloom 2018-2019 in the bay of Banyuls-sur-Mer (Mediterranean Sea, France). This led to their classification into eight multi-loci genotypes and the sequencing of strains representative of local diversity, further improving the available genetic diversity ofB. prasinos. Finally, selected markers were directly tracked on environmental DNA sampled during 3 successive blooms from 2018 to 2021, showcasing a fast and cost-effective approach to follow local population dynamics.

Conclusions

This method, which involves (i) pre-identifying the genetic diversity ofB. prasinosin environmental samples by PCR, (ii) isolating cells from selected environmental samples and (iii) identifying genotypes representative ofB. prasinosdiversity for sequencing, can be used to comprehensively describe the diversity and population dynamics not only inB. prasinosbut also potentially in other generalist phytoplankton species.
Exclusive doubly charged Higgs boson pair production in
pp
collisions at the LHC
Authors: Duarte Laura , Gonçalves Victor P. , Martins Daniel E. , de Melo Téssio B. , Queiroz Farinaldo S.
Published: February 2023

The type II seesaw model predicts the existence of a doubly charged Higgs boson (H±±), which can be produced through the Drell-Yan process and photon-induced interactions at hadronic colliders. In recent years, such reactions have been largely investigated in inclusive processes, where both incident protons breakup and a large number of particles is produced in addition to the doubly charged Higgs pair. In this paper, we investigate, for the first time, the possibility of searching for H±± in exclusive processes, which are characterized by two rapidity gaps and two intact very forward protons in final state. We estimate the associated cross section making use of the exclusive nature of the final state, together with the use of timing information provided by forward proton detectors. Moreover, the background is estimated considering distinct amounts of pileup. Our results indicate that the exclusive doubly charged Higgs pair production is a promising way to search for signatures of the type II seesaw mechanism and to obtain lower mass bounds on H±±.

Published by the American Physical Society
2023
The work of growing young people con Cariño: a reconstructive lens on one white teacher’s anti-racist approach to teaching immigrant-origin Latinx students
Authors: Lomelí Karla
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to highlight a reconstructive lens on one white teacher’s critical approach to teaching literacy. This work equally highlights the importance of anti-racist approach to critical pedagogies centered on a humanizing ethic of cariño.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on portraiture and qualitative methods, this paper uses the reconstructive analysis of one white teacher’s efforts to disrupt white supremacy through critical pedagogies.

Findings

The author posits that Mr Hope was able to take on critical approaches to teaching literacy and design anti-racist pedagogies by honoring his students’ lived experiences. An ethic of cariño is embodied to design critical pedagogical choices and interactional moves that center the experience of immigrant-origin Latinx youth.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to a growing body of literature on reconstructive discourse analysis. The author suggests that taking a “reconstructive” approach to discourse analysis requires that researchers move beyond a narrow focus on transcripts of classroom interaction. The author suggests that a reconstructive lens requires that focus is not solely placed on the interactional level of the transcript, but rather that interactional data be put in conversation with other data sources.

Practical implications

The author offers pedagogical implications for anti-racist teaching perspectives and offers key elements to critical pedagogies that engage Latinx students and center their experiential knowledge as a catalyst for curriculum design.

Originality/value

To date, few studies have explored how teachers of immigrant-origin Latinx students are intentionally resisting white supremacy and crafting anti-racist approaches to critical pedagogies.
Service quality in health care: empathy as a double-edged sword in the physician–patient relationship
Authors: Cadet Fabienne , Sainfort François
Published: February 2023

Purpose

As one of the five major dimensions of service quality, empathy has been and continues to be regarded as a requirement for a successful service encounter. This paper focuses on the highly customer-centric service industry of health care. The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the potential negative effects of empathy on both the physician and the patient.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on an in-depth review of literature and well-established service quality models, the authors propose a new model for understanding the complex role of physician empathy in the physician–patient encounter. The trait, emotional intelligence (EI), is presented as a moderator for physician empathy levels.

Findings

The Health Care Optimal Physician Empathy (HOPE) model enables further characterization and analysis of the tradeoffs between patient satisfaction and physician burnout and determining when empathy optimally works to the benefit of both the physician and the patient to maximize service quality. The HOPE model provides a systematic way to understand and determine the appropriate level of physician empathy that results in optimal outcomes for both physicians and their patients by demonstrating the tradeoffs between physician burnout and patient satisfaction.

Originality/value

The authors highlight the potential detrimental effects on physicians themselves, and, in turn, on service quality. The theoretical and practical implications in this paper provide insights into the development and implementation of empathy-focused interventions and best practices to optimize service quality in the physician–patient interaction. The HOPE model is the first of its kind in shedding light on the manifestation of physician empathy.
Facilities management strategic roles and services quality performance in Nigeria’s banking sector
Authors: Ikediashi Dubem Isaac
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Facilities management (FM) as a strategic management tool has been an attractive research topic among scholars and practitioners alike for decades. The primary purpose of this paper is threefold: to assess the extent of use of FM roles (strategic, tactical and operational); to examine user satisfaction of service quality performance; and to analyse the influence of FM roles on service quality performance using data from Nigeria’s banking sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Relying on exploratory cross-sectional survey, 350 copies of a structured questionnaire were purposively distributed to senior management staff, bank staff, FM supervisors and bank customers in Lagos, Nigeria. One hundred and forty valid responses were returned to give a response rate of 40%. Data collected were analysed using descriptive, Spearman rank correlation and Kruskal–Wallis tests.

Findings

It was discovered that strategic facilities planning, IT planning strategy and real estate decisions are the most important FM roles at the strategic level; resource management, data control and planning change at the tactical level; and implementations, building operations and emergencies at the operation level. Findings equally revealed that visual appealing of materials associated with services (tangibles), insisting on error-free records (reliability), willing to help (responsiveness), having the knowledge to answer questions (assurance) and giving individualised attention (empathy) were the most important service quality performance indicators. Furthermore, the study revealed that strategic FM roles significantly influenced tangibles, reliability and responsiveness of staff and the services. Besides, tactical FM roles significantly influenced all service quality indicators except assurance, while operational FM roles had significant influence on tangibles, responsiveness and empathy.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study has provided first ever insight into the extent of FM strategic roles in the banking sector and influence of FM roles on service quality performance.
Move the mind of fashion consumers with low environment saliency: use well- and healed-baby appeals and increase anticipated positive emotions
Authors: Choi Dooyoung , Lee Ha Kyung
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effects of sick-, well- and healed-baby appeals used in fashion products on purchase intentions through anticipated emotions. Consumers' perceived saliency of the environmental issues in the fashion industry was examined as an influencing factor that further explains the persuasion of the advertising appeals.

Design/methodology/approach

Two sets of experimental studies were conducted with 201 participants in Study 1 and 186 participants in Study 2.

Findings

The results demonstrated that well- and healed-baby appeals increased purchase intentions fully mediated by anticipated positive emotions. In particular, the mediation effect was conditionally significant when individuals' saliency of environmental issues was low. The three types of advertising appeals did not differ in consumers with high saliency for environmental issues. A sick-baby appeal did not induce purchase intentions through anticipated negative emotions. The mediation effect of anticipated negative emotions did not work with any appeal type.

Originality/value

Retail marketers can use the findings to create commercial messages to persuade their fashion consumers. If the brand has consumers with low saliency, either educating consumers about the importance of environmental issues in the fashion industry or using a well- or healed-baby approach in their advertising can increase purchase intentions due to the increased anticipated positive emotions. Increasing the threat level of environmental problems by using a sick-baby appeal would not work, as consumers' anticipated negative emotions (e.g. feeling of guilt from not buying green products) would not convince them to purchase the green product.
Revisiting the concept of Islamic financial literacy in a boundaryless context: cross-country comparison of Islamic financial literacy
Authors: Dinc Yusuf , Çetin Mehmet , Jahangir Rashed
Published: February 2023

Purpose

There is a growing body of literature that recognizes the importance of Islamic financial literacy (IFL) while it is at the heart of our understanding of the overall financial system. To date, insufficient attention has been paid to Turkey, the Balkans and other potential Islamic finance hubs like Suriname. In fact, there have been no attempts to examine IFL in those regions or economies. The purpose of this paper is to test and validate the IFL scale developed by Dinc et al. (2021) in an international setting. By doing so, this study elaborates on possible antecedents and levels of IFL across countries and economic systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of the questionnaire used is based on the principles of Islamic finance and covers all the segments. The total number of collected observations is 3,579. This study uses the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to ascertain the factor structure and test the revised scale fit with the original form. Besides, IBM AMOS 25 Graphics is used for calculating the fit indexes for the scale.

Findings

The results from the CFA revealed that the scale has a good fit for its original and kept the four-dimensional structure. In addition, it also indicates that the predeveloped IFL scale is valid for different cultures, countries and individuals either having conventional or Islamic financial institutions preferences. Furthermore, results of empirical tests demonstrate that Turkey is significantly higher in Islamic financial awareness, whereas other countries' group is higher on all other subdimensions of the scale. On the other hand, female respondents indicate significantly higher levels of Islamic financial awareness, and male respondents show significantly higher levels of Islamic financial knowledge. Finally, the most prominent finding to emerge from the analysis is that the principles of Islamic finance are well accepted, except for some liberal views on the concept of “interest” (riba).

Research limitations/implications

Because of the diverse demography of the collected sample observations, this revised scale has a homogeneous set of implications. This IFL scale can accurately measure the level of IFL attained by an individual, group, society or nation, as well as suggest necessary actions based on its four-dimensional structure.

Originality/value

This study tests the IFL scale by considering two key elements: increased sample size and vast geographical coverage. To ensure that the developed scale is universal, this study took into account more than 3,000 observations from 28 different countries. These amendments ensure the uniqueness of this paper and its originality.
An international comparative study of the audit and accountability arrangements of supreme audit institutions
Authors: Ferry Laurence , Hamid Khalid , Hebling Dutra Paula
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to compare the audit and accountability arrangements of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) internationally.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on a theorisation of regulatory space, extended by new audit spaces of public audit, the scope of the research is the 196 SAIs that are full members of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI). The study is based on documentation review, workshops with a steering panel, a survey of all SAIs (response rate of 64%, being 125 of 196 members), workshops with the seven regions of INTOSAI and discussion at Congress.

Findings

The paper suggests that the audit and accountability arrangements for SAIs is underpinned by INTOSAI's global voice, a country's regulatory space and a SAIs organization, capacity and scope that are themes used to structure the comparison. The results show there is diversity in the organization, capacities and scope of SAIs, but also an opportunity for recognising the positive potential of INTOSAI in fulfilling its global voice leveraged from the results of its work with its regions and members.

Originality/value

This is the most comprehensive research study of SAIs and the research underpinning this study enables SAIs to compare themselves regionally and internationally.
The well-being outcomes of multi-actor inter-organisational value co-creation and co-destruction within a service ecosystem
Authors: Chen Xin Ming Stephanie , Schuster Lisa , Luck Edwina
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Emerging transformative service research (TSR) studies adopt a service system lens to conceptualise well-being across the micro, meso and macro levels of aggregation, typically within an organisation. No TSR has yet examined well-being across multiple interconnected organisations at the highest level of aggregation, the meta or service ecosystem level. This study aims to explore how value co-creation and, critically, co-destruction among different actors across interacting organisations enhances or destroys multiple levels of well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses semi-structured, in-depth interviews to collect data from five types of key actors (n = 35): players, team owners, tournament operations managers, casters and viewers, across 29 interconnected organisations in the oceanic esports industry. The interviews were coded using NVivo 12 and thematically analysed.

Findings

Resource integration on each level of aggregation within a service ecosystem (micro, meso, macro and meta) can co-create and co-destroy value, which leads to the enhancement and destruction of multiple levels of well-being (individual, collective, service system and service ecosystem). Value co-creation and co-destruction, as well as the resultant well-being outcomes, were interconnected across the different levels within the service ecosystem.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first to incorporate a multi-actor perspective on the well-being consequences of value co-creation and value co-destruction within a service ecosystem as opposed to service system. Thus, this research also contributes to the minimal research which examines the outcomes of value co-destruction, rather than value co-creation, at multiple levels of aggregation.
Environmental drivers of delays in reporting crimes
Authors: Wesselbaum Dennis
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Extensive literature studies the causes of crime and crime reporting behaviour. In contrast, there is hardly any scholarship on delays in reporting a crime and what drives them. Understanding delays in reporting crimes is important for various reasons, for example, because they could decrease the likelihood of an arrest or lead to an issue with the statute of limitations. This paper is the first to analyse the delay in reporting crimes and environmental drivers of these delays.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors construct a novel data set combining all crimes reported in New York City from 2006 to 2020 (N = 2,442,288) with station-level data on weather variables (temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, visibility and wind speed) and four types of air pollutants (carbon monoxide, ozone, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide). Matching these three data sets using the geolocation occurs at an hourly frequency. Importantly, the crime data provided by the NYPD allows us to control for several other factors that could potentially affect crime reporting behaviour.

Findings

The authors show that 30 percent of reported crimes in New York City were reported with a delay. The average reporting delay was 10.79 days. Carbon monoxide influences for delays in reporting violent crimes and rainfall affects delays in reporting property crimes. Relative humidity, as a driver of wet bulb temperature, affects delays in reporting violent crimes as well.

Research limitations/implications

The authors present novel facts about delays in reporting crimes and how these are related to weather and air pollution. The authors’ findings have implications for government regulation of air pollution as well as for real-time crime forecasting. They should also aid victim support groups in providing services.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to analyse the impact of environmental factors on the delay in reporting crimes.
Transgender and gender diverse consumers on navigating the stigmatized process of gender affirmation in the Central Plains USA
Authors: Meyer Heather M. , Mocarski Richard , Holt Natalie R. , Hope Debra A. , Woodruff Nathan
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals who choose to begin a gender affirmation journey often find the experience challenging. This can be a highly stigmatized process, and TGD consumers must strategically interact with brands and products to successfully construct authentic identities. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to obtain a better understanding of the TGD individual’s identity transformation within the consumption context.

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews were conducted with 27 TGD individuals about their gender affirmation journeys. The process of in vivo coding and thematic coding were applied for inductive analysis. Through subsequent analysis, parities with concepts from stigma management theory and Alvesson’s (2010) self-identity metaphors were identified.

Findings

The results of this study illustrated seven themes of TGD consumption patterns in relation to the gender affirmation journey. Awakening marks the watershed realization of a TGD identity, a cessation of some consumption habits and an emergence of new ones. Exhibiting is a form of information control and often transpired with new clothing purchases. Shifting one’s name and pronouns on identification documents is a means of covering. Remaking typically involves the procurement of medical services such as hormonal prescriptions and/or surgical procedures. Disclosing to individuals in one’s reference groups is a method of assessing (and maintaining) the wise, the curious and the oblivious. Rebelling against the stereotypes of masculinity and femininity in media portrayals and leisure activities is a technique to express one’s eccentricity and quirkiness. Finally, releasing describes the potentially waning TGD label and a somewhat stabilizing pattern of consumption. A model of TGD consumers is presented, and key assertions are discussed.

Originality

The variety and complexity of consumer purchases associated with gender affirmation journeys were investigated, and it was revealed that many of these consumption choices aided in the TGD individual’s stigma management as well. The key assertions presented here progress the literature on gender affirmation journeys by predicting patterns of consumption.
The impact of COVID-19 on the banking sector. Are we heading for the next banking crisis?
Authors: Tomczak Kamila
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the banking sector and to assess if COVID-19 was a trigger for the banking crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the main objective, the beta of the banking sector was calculated and analysed. In addition, a fixed panel regression model was applied over the period from the 30th of December 2019 until the 24th of September 2021.

Findings

The results suggest that the pandemic contributed to higher volatility and risk in banking sector but did not confirm a systematic banking crisis.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature by analysing the COVID-19 pandemic as a potential trigger for a banking crisis. This paper also contributed by studying the effects of COVID-19 on the banking sector, especially the risk in the banking sector.
Spatial and seasonal variations in soil respiration in a subtropical forest in Okinawa, Japan
Authors: Matsumoto Kazuho , Terasawa Kei , Taniguchi Shingo , Ohashi Mizue , Katayama Ayumi , Kume Tomonori , Takashima Atsushi
Published: February 2023

To clarify soil respiration (soil CO2 efflux, Rs) characteristics in a subtropical evergreen broad‐leaved natural forest in Yambaru, Okinawa, Japan, we examined spatiotemporal variation in Rs and its determining factors. We then compared yearly Rs with the value in other forests. The spatial variation in Rs (coefficient of variation [CV] = 38.9%) was not significantly related to temperature or soil water content but was evidently dependent on ground surface litter coverage. Rs was greater in summer (ca. 7–10 μmol m−2 s−1), and its seasonal variation was exponentially related to soil temperature (Q10 = 2.16). As a function of soil temperature, we estimated a yearly mean stand‐scale Rs of 5.17 μmol m−2 s−1, and a total carbon efflux from the soil of 1959 g C m−2 year−1 for 2014. Despite showing similar seasonal patterns as those in temporal forests, the Rs in this ecosystem is very high throughout the year, and the yearly value is much higher for natural mature forests. A mass balance approach suggests that the large amount of belowground carbon allocation of plants contributed to the high CO2 emissions from the soils.
The social diagnoses of digital addictions: Technophobic ambivalences, the limits of the natural and imperatives of self‐governance in the information age
Authors: Taylor Kris
Published: February 2023

The contemporary visibility of ‘digital addictions’ to online gaming, watching pornography, social media and so on suggests the discovery of some new form of technologically facilitated disease. Yet, what we actually see in the symptoms of these various behaviours when described as ‘addictions’ are a series of social problems that range from the interpersonal to the sociocultural. In the current article, I work to step outside of the individualising tendency of an addiction taxonomy to instead view digital addictions as a process of social diagnosis. In this way, digital addictions are understood as a reaction to historically and socioculturally informed forces. Specifically, I contend that a social diagnosis of the digital addiction concept tells us a great deal about contemporary cultural anxiety towards the ubiquity of digital media in our social worlds as it rubs up against concerns for productivity, socially lauded ideas of ostensibly ‘natural’ behaviours and worries about self‐governance and self‐control. I conclude with a series of pertinent questions about digital technologies, which are elided—if not actively foreclosed—within an addiction framework and which can better be made sense of by understanding digital addictions as a process of social diagnosis rather than the expression of a new kind of Internet borne illness.
Transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitoring during prolonged apnoea with high‐flow nasal oxygen
Authors: Pape Pernille , Piosik Zofia M. , Kristensen Camilla M. , Dirks Jesper , Rasmussen Lars S. , Kristensen Michael S.
Published: February 2023

Background

The duration of apnoeic oxygenation with high‐flow nasal oxygen is limited by hypercapnia and acidosis and monitoring of arterial carbon dioxide level is therefore essential. We have performed a study in patients undergoing prolonged apnoeic oxygenation where we monitored the progressive hypercapnia with transcutaneous carbon dioxide. In this paper, we compared the transcutaneous carbon dioxide level with arterial carbon dioxide tension.

Methods

This is a secondary publication based on data from a study exploring the limits of apnoeic oxygenation. We compared transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitoring with arterial carbon dioxide tension using Bland–Altman analyses in anaesthetised and paralysed patients undergoing prolonged apnoeic oxygenation until a predefined limit of pH 7.15 or PCO2 of 12 kPa was reached.

Results

We included 35 patients with a median apnoea duration of 25 min. Mean pH was 7.14 and mean arterial carbon dioxide tension was 11.2 kPa at the termination of apnoeic oxygenation. Transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitoring initially slightly underestimated the arterial tension but at carbon dioxide levels above 10 kPa it overestimated the value. Bias ranged from −0.55 to 0.81 kPa with limits of agreement between −1.25 and 2.11 kPa.

Conclusion

Transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitoring provided a clinically acceptable substitute for arterial blood gases but as hypercapnia developed to considerable levels, we observed overestimation at high carbon dioxide tensions in patients undergoing apnoeic oxygenation with high‐flow nasal oxygen.