bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scaling Logical Density of DNA storage with Enzymatically-Ligated Composite Motifs
Authors: Yan Yiqing , Pinnamaneni Nimesh , Chalapati Sachin , Crosbie Conor , Appuswamy Raja
Published: February 2023

DNA is a promising candidate for long-term data storage due to its high density and endurance. The key challenge in DNA storage today is the cost of synthesis. In this work, we proposecomposite motifs, a frame-work that uses a mixture of prefabricated motifs as building blocks to reduce synthesis cost by scaling logical density. To write data, we introduce Bridge Oligonucleotide Assembly, an enzymatic ligation technique for synthesizing oligos based on composite motifs. To sequence data, we introduce Direct Oligonucleotide Sequencing, a nanopore-based technique to sequence oligos without assembly and amplification. To decode data, we introduce Motif-Search, a novel consensus caller that provides accurate reconstruction despite synthesis and sequencing errors. Using the proposed methods, we present an end-to-end experiment where we store the text “HelloWorld” at a logical density of 84 bits/cycle (14–42×improvement over state-of-the-art.)
Starvation responses impact interaction dynamics of human gut bacteriaBacteroides thetaiotaomicronandRoseburia intestinalis
Authors: Liu Bin , Garza Daniel Rios , Gonze Didier , Krzynowek Anna , Simoens Kenneth , Bernaerts Kristel , Geirnaert Annelies , Faust Karoline
Published: February 2023

Bacterial growth often alters the environment, which in turn can impact interspecies interactions among bacteria. Here, we used anin vitrobatch system containing mucin beads to emulate the dynamic host environment and to study its impact on the interactions between two abundant and prevalent human gut bacteria, the primary fermenterBacteroides thetaiotaomicronand the butyrate producerRoseburia intestinalis. By combining machine learning and flow cytometry, we found that the number of viableB. thetaiotaomicroncells decreases with glucose consumption due to acid production, whileR. intestinalissurvives post-glucose depletion by entering a slow growth mode. Both species attach to mucin beads, but only viable cell counts ofB. thetaiotaomicronincrease significantly. The number of viable co-culture cells varies significantly over time compared to those of monocultures. A combination of targeted metabolomics and RNA-seq showed that the slow growth mode ofR. intestinalisrepresents a diauxic shift towards acetate and lactate consumption, whereasB. thetaiotaomicronsurvives glucose depletion and low pH by foraging on mucin sugars. In addition, most of the mucin monosaccharides we tested inhibited the growth ofR. intestinalisbut notB. thetaiotaomicron. We encoded these causal relationships in a kinetic model, which reproduced the observed dynamics. In summary, we explored howR. intestinalisandB. thetaiotaomicronrespond to nutrient scarcity and how this affects their dynamics. We highlight the importance of understanding bacterial metabolic strategies to effectively modulate microbial dynamics in changing conditions.
EMT induces cell-cycle-dependent changes of Rho GTPases and downstream effectors
Authors: Hosseini Kamran , Frenzel Annika , Fischer-Friedrich Elisabeth
Published: February 2023

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key cellular transformation for many physiological and pathological processes ranging from cancer over wound healing to embryogenesis. Changes in cell migration, cell morphology and cellular contractility were identified as hallmarks of EMT. These cellular properties are known to be tightly regulated by the actin cytoskeleton. EMT-induced changes of actin-cytoskeletal regulation were demonstrated by previous reports of cell-cycle-dependent changes of actin cortex mechanics in conjunction with characteristic modifications of cortex-associated f-actin and myosin. However, at the current state, the changes of upstream actomyosin signalling that lead to corresponding mechanical and compositional changes of the cortex are not well understood. In this work, we show in breast epithelial cancer cells MCF-7 that EMT results in characteristic changes of the cortical signalling of Rho-GTPases Rac1, RhoA and RhoC and downstream actin regulators cofilin, mDia1 and Arp2/3. In the light of our findings, we propose that cell-cycle-dependent EMT-induced changes in cortical mechanics rely on two hitherto unappreciated signalling paths - i) a cell-cycle-dependent interaction between Rac1 and RhoC and ii) an inhibitory effect of Arp2/3 activity on cortical association of myosin II.
A rapid and flexible microneutralization assay for serological assessment of influenza viruses
Authors: Rumfelt Kalee E. , Fitzsimmons William J. , Truscon Rachel , Monto Arnold S. , Martin Emily T. , Lauring Adam S.
Published: February 2023

Background

Serological responses from influenza vaccination or infection are typically measured by Hemagglutinin Inhibition (HAI) or Microneutralization (MN). Both methods are limited in feasibility, standardization, and generalizability. We describe a luciferase MN (LMN) assay that combines the advantages of the conventional MN assay with the ease of the HAI assay

Methods

Sera were obtained from the HIVE study. Plasmid transfection was used to generate recombinant influenza viruses expressing the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase of test strains, all other viral proteins from A/WSN33, and a NanoLuc reporter. Serum neutralization of luciferase-expressing targets was quantified as a reduction in Relative Light Unit (RLU) emission from infected cells. Neutralization titers were measured for cell- and egg-adapted versions of A/H3N2/Hong Kong/4801/2014 and A/H3N2/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016 and compared to HAI titers against egg-grown antigens.

Results

333 sera were collected from 259 participants between May 2016 and July 2018. Sampled participants ranged from 7 to 68 years of age and >80% were vaccinated against influenza. HAI and LMN titers were correlated for A/H3N2/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (ρ=0.45, p≤0.01) and A/H3N2/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016 (ρ=0.75, p≤0.01). LMN titers were lower for cell strains compared to egg strains (A/H3N2/Hong Kong/4801/2014 mean log2fold change = −2.66, p≤0.01 and A/H3N2/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016 mean log2fold change= −3.15, p≤0.01).

Conclusions

The LMN assay was feasible using limited sample volumes and was able to differentiate small antigenic differences, specifically between egg-adapted and cell-derived strains. The correspondence of these results with the commonly-used HAI confirms the potential utility of this assay for high-throughput studies of correlates of protection and vaccine response.
Rapid evolution of the embryonically-expressed homeobox geneLEUTXwithin primates
Authors: Lewin Thomas D. , Blagrove Josephine R. , Holland Peter W. H.
Published: February 2023

LEUTX is a homeodomain transcription factor expressed in the very early embryo with a function around embryonic genome activation. TheLEUTXgene is found only in eutherian mammals, including humans, but unlike the majority of homeobox genes, the encoded amino acid sequence is very different between divergent mammalian species. However, whether dynamic evolution has also occurred between closely related mammalian species remains unclear. In this work, we perform a comparative genomics study ofLEUTXwithin the primates, revealing dramatic evolutionary sequence change between closely related species. Positive selection has acted on sites in the LEUTX protein, including six sites within the homeodomain; this suggests that selection may have driven changes in the set of downstream targets. Transfection into cell culture followed by transcriptomic analysis reveals small functional differences between human and marmoset LEUTX, suggesting rapid sequence evolution has fine-tuned the role of this homeodomain protein within the primates.

Significance

Homeobox genes are key regulators of animal development and are therefore often highly conserved between divergent species. However, recent work has uncovered several apparently fast-evolving homeobox genes expressed during mammalian development, one of which isLEUTX. Here we show that theLEUTXgenes of primates are highly variable, and that these sequence changes have resulted in small modifications to its protein function. This continued rapid divergence of an embryonic gene between closely related species is significant to the areas of evolutionary, developmental and genome biology.
ATP synthase-associated CHCH domain proteins are critical for mitochondrial function inToxoplasma gondii
Authors: Usey Madelaine M. , Huet Diego
Published: February 2023

Coiled-coil-helix-coiled-coil-helix (CHCH) domains consist of two pairs of cysteine residues that are oxidized to form disulfide bonds upon mitochondrial import. Proteins containing these domains play important roles in mitochondrial ultrastructure and in the biogenesis, function, and stability of electron transport chain complexes. Interestingly, recent investigations of theToxoplasma gondiiATP synthase identified subunits containing CHCH domains. As CHCH domain proteins have never been found in any other ATP synthase, their role inT. gondiiwas unclear. Using conditional gene knockdown systems, we show that twoT. gondiiATP synthase subunits containing CHCH domains are essential for the lytic cycle as well as stability and function of the ATP synthase. Further, we illustrated that knockdown disrupts multiple aspects of mitochondrial morphology. Mutation of key residues in the CHCH domains also caused mislocalization of the proteins. This work provides insight into the divergent aspects of the apicomplexan ATP synthase, which could uncover future drug targets.
ATM phosphorylates the FATC domain of DNA-PKcsat threonine 4102 to promote non-homologous end joining
Authors: Lu Huiming , Zhang Qin , Laverty Daniel J. , Puncheon Andrew C. , Williams Gareth J. , Nagel Zachary D. , Chen Benjamin PC , Davis Anthony J.
Published: February 2023

Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) drives the DNA damage response via modulation of multiple signal transduction and DNA repair pathways. Previously, ATM activity was implicated in promoting the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway to repair a subset of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), but how ATM performs this function is still unclear. In this study, we identified that ATM phosphorylates the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs), a core NHEJ factor, at its extreme C-terminus at threonine 4102 (T4102) in response to DSBs. Phosphorylation at T4102 stabilizes the interaction between DNA-PKcsand the Ku-DNA complex and promotes assembly and stabilization of the NHEJ machinery at DSBs. Ablating phosphorylation at this site results in decreased NHEJ, radiosensitivity, and increased radiation-induced genomic instability. Collectively, these findings establish a key role for ATM in NHEJ-dependent repair of DSBs through positive regulation of DNA-PKcs.
Antigenic diversity in malaria parasites is maintained on extrachromosomal DNA
Authors: Ebel Emily R. , Kim Bernard Y. , McDew-White Marina , Egan Elizabeth S. , Anderson Timothy J.C. , Petrov Dmitri A.
Published: February 2023

Sequence variation among antigenicvargenes enablesPlasmodium falciparummalaria parasites to evade host immunity. Using long sequence reads from haploid clones from a mutation accumulation experiment, we detectvardiversity inconsistent with simple chromosomal inheritance. We discover putatively circular DNA that is strongly enriched forvargenes, which exist in multiple alleles per locus separated by recombination and indel events. Extrachromosomal DNA likely contributes to rapid antigenic diversification inP. falciparum.
Why is there so much variability in crop multi-model studies?
Authors: Wallach Daniel , Palosuo Taru , Mielenz Henrike , Buis Samuel , Thorburn Peter , Asseng Senthold , Dumont Benjamin , Ferrise Roberto , Gayler Sebastian , Ghahramani Afshin , Harrison Matthew Tom , Hochman Zvi , Hoogenboom Gerrit , Huang Mingxia , Jing Qi , Justes Eric , Kersebaum Kurt Christian , Launay Marie , Lewan Elisabet , Liu Ke , Luo Qunying , Mequanint Fasil , Nendel Claas , Padovan Gloria , Olesen Jørgen Eivind , Pullens Johannes Wilhelmus Maria , Qian Budong , Seserman Diana-Maria , Shelia Vakhtang , Souissi Amir , Specka Xenia , Wang Jing , Weber Tobias K.D. , Weihermüller Lutz , Seidel Sabine J.
Published: February 2023

It has become common to compare crop model results in multi-model simulation experiments. In general, one observes a large variability in such studies, which reduces the confidence one can have in such models. It is important to understand the causes of this variability as a first step toward reducing it. For a given data set, the variability in a multi-model study can arise from uncertainty in structure or in parameter values for a given structure. Previous studies have made assumptions about the origin of parameter uncertainty, and then quantified its contribution, generally finding that parameter uncertainty is less important than structure uncertainty. However, those studies do not take account of the full parameter variability in multi-model studies. Here we propose estimating parameter uncertainty based on open-call multi-model ensembles where the same structure is used by more than one modeling group. The variability in such a case is due to the full variability of parameters among modeling groups. Then structure and parameter contributions can be estimated sing random effects analysis of variance. Based on three multi-model studies for simulating wheat phenology, it is found that the contribution of parameter uncertainty to total uncertainty is, on average, more than twice as large as the uncertainty from structure. A second estimate, based on a comparison of two different calibration approaches for multiple models leads to a very similar result. We conclude that improvement of crop models requires as much attention to parameters as to model structure.
Epidemic patterns of emerging variants with dynamical social distancing
Authors: Sayyar Golsa , Röst Gergely
Published: February 2023

Motivated by the emergence of new variants during the COVID-19 pandemic, we consider an epidemiological model of disease transmission dynamics, where novel strains appear by mutations of the virus. In the considered scenarios, disease prevalence in the population is modulated by social distancing. We study the various patterns that are generated under different assumptions of cross-immunity. If recovery from a given strain provides immunity against all previous strains, but not against more novel strains, then we observe a very regular sequential pattern of strain replacement where newer strains predominate over older strains. However, if protection upon recovery holds only against that particular strain and none of the others, we find much more complicated dynamics with potential recurrence of earlier strains, and co-circulation of various strains. We compare the observed patterns with genomic analysis we have seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Omega 3 fish oil suppress radiation induced hepato and renal toxicity in mice through modulation in Wnt canonical pathway combined with NHEJ and Intrinsic Apoptotic pathway
Authors: Kumar Shashank , Malini Suttur S
Published: February 2023

Radiation is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, the latter of which contributes to activation of DNA damage and apoptosis. Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been reported to limit oxidative stress and DNA damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Omega 3 PUFA on antioxidant defence in male physiology on mice model. Liver and kidney tissues were obtained from whole body irradiated mice divided under 9 groups (Weight-10mg, 6-8 months old, n=5) and age-matched male controls (6-8 months old, n=5). 6 groups have been orally intubated with (50, 100 and 150) mg/kg BW with Omega 3 fish oil 1hr prior to the radiation exposure. Liver and kidney were surgically obtained after 24 hours and 30 days of radiation exposure. Omega 3 fish oil supplementation increased the level of mRNA expression of Lef1, Axin2, Survivin, Ku70, SOD1, SOD2, Cat, iNOS and decresed the level of Bax and Bcl2 in irradiated with omega 3 fish oil supplementation compare to irradiated alone. Omega 3 fish oil increased SOD scavenging, Catalase, Nitric oxide scavenging activity, Total antioxidant capacity and decrease the lipid peroxidation. The improvements in mRNA level of candidate genes of Wnt canonical pathway, NHEJ pathway, oxidative stress status serve as a stimulus for further investigation of Omega 3 fish oil as supplementation for patients undergo radiation therapy.
Qualitative properties and approximate solutions of thermostat fractional dynamics system via a nonsingular kernel operator
Authors: Ayari M. Iadh , Thabet Sabri T.M.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to study qualitative properties and approximate solutions of a thermostat dynamics system with three-point boundary value conditions involving a nonsingular kernel operator which is called Atangana-Baleanu-Caputo (ABC) derivative for the first time. The results of the existence and uniqueness of the solution for such a system are investigated with minimum hypotheses by employing Banach and Schauder's fixed point theorems. Furthermore, Ulam-Hyers (UH) stability, Ulam-Hyers-Rassias UHR stability and their generalizations are discussed by using some topics concerning the nonlinear functional analysis. An efficiency of Adomian decomposition method (ADM) is established in order to estimate approximate solutions of our problem and convergence theorem is proved. Finally, four examples are exhibited to illustrate the validity of the theoretical and numerical results.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper considered theoretical and numerical methodologies.

Findings

This paper contains the following findings: (1) Thermostat fractional dynamics system is studied under ABC operator. (2) Qualitative properties such as existence, uniqueness and Ulam–Hyers–Rassias stability are established by fixed point theorems and nonlinear analysis topics. (3) Approximate solution of the problem is investigated by Adomain decomposition method. (4) Convergence analysis of ADM is proved. (5) Examples are provided to illustrate theoretical and numerical results. (6) Numerical results are compared with exact solution in tables and figures.

Originality/value

The novelty and contributions of this paper is to use a nonsingular kernel operator for the first time in order to study the qualitative properties and approximate solution of a thermostat dynamics system.
Gender benders and job contenders: cosmetics in selection contexts for women and men
Authors: Bernard Liana , Park Lauren S. , Martinez Larry R. , Kulason Kay
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to contribute to the workplace diversity literature by experimentally manipulating gender expression through the use of makeup among women and men to determine makeup's impact on interpersonal discrimination in a real-world job selection context.

Design/methodology/approach

In an experimental field study, we applied either real (i.e. tinted) or placebo (i.e. transparent) cosmetic products to women and men confederate applicants. The women and men engaged in job inquiry and pre-interview conversations with store personnel in 136 retail stores across 3 shopping malls that were randomly assigned to one of 4 conditions in a 2 (confederate gender: women versus men) by 2 (cosmetic usage: real versus placebo) experimental design. The confederate applicants were accompanied by confederate observers and recorded interactions were later analyzed by naïve coders. The applicants, observers, and naïve coders rated interpersonal discrimination from store personnel in each interaction.

Findings

As hypothesized, women who enhanced their femininity through the use of makeup experienced significantly less interpersonal discrimination than women who did not. In contrast, there was no significant difference in interpersonal discrimination for men as a function of visual gender expression.

Originality/value

These findings highlight the pervasive gender norm expectations for women at work by examining gender non-conformity of women and men.
Workplace isolation during COVID-19 and work–family conflict among academicians: interplay of psychological stress and organizational identification
Authors: Shagirbasha Shameem , Iqbal Juman , Madhan Kumar , Chaudhary Swati , Dhall Rosy
Published: February 2023

Purpose

COVID-19 pandemic has overturned the work and family life challenging the world in unpredictable ways that were previously unimaginable. With universities shutting down and emergence of online classes, this phenomenon is prevalent among academicians as well. With this background, the current study aims to investigate the direct relationships between workplace isolation (WPI) during COVID-19 and work–family conflict (WFC) with psychological stress (PS) mediating and organizational identification (OI) moderating the relationship between the two.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employed time lagged survey and collected data at three different time intervals (T1, T2, T3) from 203 academicians working across various universities and colleges in India. The data were analyzed quantitatively using SPSS PROCESS Macro and AMOS.

Findings

The results indicated that WPI during COVID-19 has a significant positive relationship with PS and WFC . It was also found that PS partially mediated the relationship between WPI during COVID-19 and WFC. Further, OI emerged as a potential moderator.

Originality/value

Based on the current empirical studies, it remains unclear if WPI during COVID-19 is associated with WFC. Therefore, drawing upon stress–strain–outcome (SSO) model and the conservation of resource theory, this study makes a significant contribution to the existing body of literature by exploring the unexplored associations. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, such an association has not received much scholarly attention before.
Digitalization and artificial knowledge for accountability in SCM: a systematic literature review
Authors: Di Vaio Assunta , Latif Badar , Gunarathne Nuwan , Gupta Manjul , D'Adamo Idiano
Published: February 2023

Purpose

In this study, the authors examine artificial knowledge as a fundamental stream of knowledge management for sustainable and resilient business models in supply chain management (SCM). The study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of artificial knowledge and digitalization as key enablers of the improvement of SCM accountability and sustainable performance towards the UN 2030 Agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the SCOPUS database and Google Scholar, the authors analyzed 135 English-language publications from 1990 to 2022 to chart the pattern of knowledge production and dissemination in the literature. The data were collected, reviewed and peer-reviewed before conducting bibliometric analysis and a systematic literature review to support future research agenda.

Findings

The results highlight that artificial knowledge and digitalization are linked to the UN 2030 Agenda. The analysis further identifies the main issues in achieving sustainable and resilient SCM business models. Based on the results, the authors develop a conceptual framework for artificial knowledge and digitalization in SCM to increase accountability and sustainable performance, especially in times of sudden crises when business resilience is imperative.

Research limitations/implications

The study results add to the extant literature by examining artificial knowledge and digitalization from the resilience theory perspective. The authors suggest that different strategic perspectives significantly promote resilience for SCM digitization and sustainable development. Notably, fostering diverse peer exchange relationships can help stimulate peer knowledge and act as a palliative mechanism that builds digital knowledge to strengthen and drive future possibilities.

Practical implications

This research offers valuable guidance to supply chain practitioners, managers and policymakers in re-thinking, re-formulating and re-shaping organizational processes to meet the UN 2030 Agenda, mainly by introducing artificial knowledge in digital transformation training and education programs. In doing so, firms should focus not simply on digital transformation but also on cultural transformation to enhance SCM accountability and sustainable performance in resilient business models.

Originality/value

This study is, to the authors' best knowledge, among the first to conceptualize artificial knowledge and digitalization issues in SCM. It further integrates resilience theory with institutional theory, legitimacy theory and stakeholder theory as the theoretical foundations of artificial knowledge in SCM, based on firms' responsibility to fulfill the sustainable development goals under the UN's 2030 Agenda.
Predictable by publication: discovery of early highly cited academic papers based on their own features
Authors: Tang Xiaobo , Zhou Heshen , Li Shixuan
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Predicting highly cited papers can enable an evaluation of the potential of papers and the early detection and determination of academic achievement value. However, most highly cited paper prediction studies consider early citation information, so predicting highly cited papers by publication is challenging. Therefore, the authors propose a method for predicting early highly cited papers based on their own features.

Design/methodology/approach

This research analyzed academic papers published in the Journal of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) from 2000 to 2013. Five types of features were extracted: paper features, journal features, author features, reference features and semantic features. Subsequently, the authors applied a deep neural network (DNN), support vector machine (SVM), decision tree (DT) and logistic regression (LGR), and they predicted highly cited papers 1–3 years after publication.

Findings

Experimental results showed that early highly cited academic papers are predictable when they are first published. The authors’ prediction models showed considerable performance. This study further confirmed that the features of references and authors play an important role in predicting early highly cited papers. In addition, the proportion of high-quality journal references has a more significant impact on prediction.

Originality/value

Based on the available information at the time of publication, this study proposed an effective early highly cited paper prediction model. This study facilitates the early discovery and realization of the value of scientific and technological achievements.
Because I'm happy: exploring the happiness of shopping in social enterprises and its effect on customer satisfaction and loyalty
Authors: Cachero-Martínez Silvia , García-Rodríguez Nuria , Salido-Andrés Noelia
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This research analyzes the role of happiness associated with sustainable purchases in social enterprises (SEs) as a key precursor of prosocial behavioral responses through satisfaction with such purchases.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper studies the relationships between past purchase in a social enterprise, consumer happiness, satisfaction and three indicators of loyalty: repurchase intention, word-of-mouth (WOM) intention and willingness to pay more. In addition, it analyzes the moderating role of altruistic motivation. A survey was designed to collect data from 380 consumers who had bought in a social enterprise.

Findings

Sustainable consumption is a source of happiness for ethical consumers to the extent that they feel that they meet a personal need or desire, and they contribute to achieving a social objective with their purchasing behavior.

Practical implications

SEs must appeal to the happiness of consumers as a strategic line to achieve their satisfaction and loyalty. Social enterprise practitioners and marketers should deploy organizational capabilities and resources in key performing areas such as communication, customer service or shopping experience, with the purpose of maximizing the happiness of ethical consumers with whom the firm is interacting for the first time.

Originality/value

This research highlights the importance of the social enterprise in the commercial setting, since it has been proven that purchases in these companies generate happiness and satisfaction in consumers. In addition, satisfaction has a great impact on their loyalty, which is a direct advantage for this type of company and an indirect one for society as a whole.
An image-based visual servo system to operate a flexible wire
Authors: Li Changle , Yao Chong , Xu Shuo , Zhang Leifeng , Fan Yilun , Zhao Jie
Published: February 2023

Purpose

With the rapid development of the 3C industry, the problem of automated operation of 3C wire is becoming increasingly prominent. However, the 3C wire has high flexibility, and its deformation is difficult to model and control. How to realize the automation operation of flexible wire in 3C products is still an important issue that restricts the development of the 3C industry. Therefore, this paper designs a system that aims to improve the automation level of the 3C industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper designed a visual servo control system. Based on the perception of the flexible wire, a Jacobi matrix is used to relate the deformation of the wire to the action of the robot end; by building and optimizing the Jacobi matrix, the robot can control the flexible wire.

Findings

By using the visual servo control system, the shape and deformation of the flexible wire are perceived, and based on this, the robot can control the deformation of the flexible wire well. The experimental environment was built to evaluate the accuracy and stability of the system for controlling the deformation of the flexible wire.

Originality/value

An image-based visual servo system is proposed to operate the flexible wire, including the vision system, visual controller and joint velocity controller. It is a scheme suitable for flexible wire operation, which has helped to automate flexible wire-related industries. Its core is to correlate the motion of the robot end with the deformation of the flexible wire through the Jacobian matrix.
How to enter paradise on earth: a case study of Aava
Authors: Haq Zia Ul
Published: February 2023

Theoretical basis

This case has been tested twice in the classroom of 40 students in two leading Indian institutions, IIM Ahmedabad (among a group of 40 faculty development programme participants) and Central University of Kashmir (among a group of 40 MBA marketing students). The teaching note has been well prepared and all modifications in both the main case as well as teaching note stand updated.

Research methodology

The data for the case was collected using both primary and secondary sources. The author managed to have a face-to-face interview with the company's Vice President, Mr Sheroy Mehta at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and get the preliminary data for the case. The author could also manage to carry out personal interactions with PureMax mineral water owners, a leading brand in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Some of the supplementary data were sourced from secondary sources and properly referenced.

Case overview/synopsis

The discussion questions invite students to consider several environmental challenges often faced by entrepreneurs. Students are encouraged to demonstrate their practical and theoretical knowledge by addressing genuine challenges across a typically broad entrepreneurial management spectrum, including product design, positioning and sustainability. This case was written following extensive interaction with the founding entrepreneurs at Ahmedabad, Gujarat, using a critical marketing perspective and the author's primary research. This case is targeted at postgraduate and undergraduate management students taking a marketing, strategic management or entrepreneurship course.

Complexity academic level

This case study is relevant for marketing management and brand management courses and could also be used for strategic management classes. This case was written to view the general requirement of the MBA marketing syllabus in most Asian universities in general and Indian universities in particular. This case can also be used for undergraduate students of business management and commerce.
Knowledge transfer based on disseminative capacity, absorptive capacity, and learning: a comparative study between Brazil and Germany
Authors: de Sousa Paulo Renato , de Castro José Márcio , Gohr Claudia Fabiana , Barbosa Marcelo Werneck
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to assess suppliers’ learning from knowledge transfers with a global truck manufacturer, considering both source and supplier capacity, and the cultural proximity between the parties.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study was conducted between two factories, one in Brazil and one in Germany. This study adopted a mixed-method sequential explanatory approach, which involves a quantitative phase followed by a qualitative one to provide a better understanding of the studied phenomenon. Quantitative data were collected from the automaker’s suppliers in both countries and analyzed using factor and inferential analyses. Qualitative data were obtained from the automaker’s purchasing executives, and from the company’s suppliers in both countries. Content analysis was used to analyze data.

Findings

Results suggest that both the source’s disseminative capacity and suppliers’ absorptive capacity had a positive effect on suppliers’ learning during knowledge transfers. The study also found out that cultural proximity among parties positively moderates the relationship between suppliers’ absorptive capacity and their learning. However, cultural proximity does not moderate the relationship between a source’s disseminative capacity and supplier learning.

Practical implications

This study’s findings are important to foster knowledge transfers by developing absorptive and disseminative capabilities in the automakers industry, in which the implementation of interorganizational learning is quite challenging due to the large number of strategic providers.

Originality/value

This study contributes to theoretical and conceptual consolidation of knowledge transfer, which includes cultural proximity among parties and the source’s and supplier’s disseminative and absorptive capacities, respectively. This study constructs and validates a model of knowledge transfer using a large automaker with a worldwide presence.
An investigation of the impact of interpersonal and institutional trust on knowledge sharing in companies: invisible hands for knowledge sharing
Authors: Sabetzadeh Farzad , Chen Yanzi
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of different subtypes of trust on the willingness of companies to share knowledge. To measure improvement in work performance, three perspectives of interpersonal trust, institution-based trust and their combined effect on fostering trust are examined.

Design/methodology/approach

A comparative analysis and quantitative measurement are used in this study (with a sample size of 147) to determine which knowledge-sharing channels need to be established to increase effectiveness and efficiency.

Findings

This study found that both interpersonal and institutional trust can positively influence employees' willingness to share personal knowledge. Despite this, the combination of these two types of trust cannot outperform the scenarios in which one type of trust can reach its maximum. As a result of institutional trust, trustees are more likely to trust others when they feel protected.

Research limitations/implications

Trust may take on multiple dimensions in different business contexts and industries. In this study, the limited sample size and domain may only reveal some of these aspects of trust, which may not be representative of other contexts.

Originality/value

Few researchers have examined the degree of trust and its impact on knowledge dissemination using relevant parameters. Their focus is solely on the interaction between interpersonal trust and knowledge sharing. As a result of this study, the concept of “trust” was quantified, with more tangible metrics to provide better estimates when assessed in different business contexts.
Multi‐scale elastic full‐waveform inversion in a hybrid domain based on deconvolution objective function
Authors: Zhang Huixing , Wang Xin , Wang Wangyang , He Bingshou , Yang Tao
Published: February 2023

High‐precision P‐wave and S‐wave velocity models are very important for seabed exploration. Elastic full‐waveform inversion is an effective way to obtain the velocity models. Full‐waveform inversion is strongly dependent on source wavelet, and inaccurate wavelet estimation will severely affect the inversion results. Furthermore, elastic full‐waveform inversion is a highly non‐linear problem and has larger calculation and memory cost. Based on the deconvolution method, we develop a multi‐scale source‐independent elastic full‐waveform inversion method in a hybrid domain to alleviate the non‐linearity, to improve computation efficiency and decrease memory cost and to reduce the influence of source wavelet. We reconstruct the deconvoluted objective function and further derive the adjoint source and gradient formulas for elastic full‐waveform inversion with the adjoint‐state method. We can obtain good inversion results by using this objective function, adjoint source and gradient even if the source wavelet is unknown. In order to illustrate the influence of different reference traces on the objective function, we provide the theoretical formula of the objective function changing with the variation of reference traces. Experiments show that the deconvolution objective function cannot completely eliminate the influence of inaccurate source wavelet on the inversion, and the inversion effect depends on the selection of reference trace. Different inversion results of the Marmousi2 model indicate that the minimum offset trace is the best reference trace. Comparison of the inverted Marmousi2 model by the proposed method and the conventional elastic full‐waveform inversion method using correct wavelet shows that the two inversion results are very close, which proves the effectiveness of the proposed method and indicates a potential application of the method in seabed exploration.
Sevoflurane induces neurotoxic effects on developing neurons through theWNK1/NKCC1/Ca2+/Drp‐1 signalling pathway
Authors: Bai Ya‐Fan , Li Wen‐Jing , Ji Yu‐Wei , An Li‐Xin , Zhang Li , Li Jun‐Fa
Published: February 2023

Children repeatedly exposed to anaesthesia have a high risk of cognitive impairment, but the mechanism of its regulation in this context is unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible toxic mechanism of sevoflurane through the WNK1/NKCC1/Ca2+/Drp‐1 signalling pathway. The hippocampal neuronal HT22 cell line was used in this study. The intervention group was treated with the WNK1 inhibitor WNK‐463, CaN inhibitor FK506 and Drp‐1 inhibitor Mdivi‐1 respectively in the medium for 30 min before sevoflurane anaesthesia. The sevofluane group and all intervention group treated with 4.1% sevoflurane for 6 h. Compared with the control group, sevoflurane treatment decreased cell viability and increased cellular apoptosis. Our study found that WNK‐463, FK506 and Mdivi‐1 can all alleviate the sevoflurane‐induced reduction in cell viability, decrease the cell apoptosis. In addition, WNK‐463 pretreatment could inhibit the increase of WNK1 kinase and NKCC1 protein concentration caused by sevoflurane. Further, sevoflurane anaesthesia causes intracellular calcium overload, increases the expression of CaN and induces the dephosphorylation of Drp‐1 protein at ser637, while CaN inhibitor FK506 pretreatment could reduce the dephosphorylation of Drp‐1. Therefore, the WNK1/NKCC1/Ca2+/Drp‐1 signalling pathway plays an important role in sevoflurane‐related neurotoxicity. Reducing intracellular calcium influx may be one of the important mechanism to ameliorate sevoflurane toxicity.
Decision‐making modes regarding the inclusive dilemmas of students with educational challenges in mainstream classrooms
Authors: Shauli Sophie , Heiman Tali , Olenik‐Shemesh Dorit
Published: February 2023

In the last 20 years, increasing numbers of students with educational challenges (SECs) have been included in mainstream schools. Inclusion creates complex classroom situations for mainstream teachers who need to have excellent decision‐making skills and the ability to face and resolve ethical dilemmas. College students and pre and in‐service teachers were asked about their attitudes towards SEC inclusion, as well as three open‐ended dilemmas during vignettes depicting challenging situations in inclusive class forcing decision‐making. An online closed and open‐ended questionnaire was administered (n = 489). The analysis revealed significant differences in the type of solution to these dilemmas in the three groups. There was a significant interaction between high sensitivity to the feelings of the inclusive students and the participants' overall tendency to support the inclusion of the SECs, positive attitudes towards inclusion, low expression of stigma and a higher sense of self‐efficacy. Implications and practical offers are discussed.
Physician patient sharing relationships within insurance plan networks
Authors: Graves John A. , Lee Dennis , Leszinsky Lena , Nshuti Leonce , Nikpay Sayeh , Richards Michael , Buntin Melinda B. , Polsky Daniel
Published: February 2023

Objective

To quantify shared patient relationships between primary care physicians (PCPs) and cardiologists and oncologists and the degree to which those relationships were captured within insurance networks.

Data Sources

Secondary analysis of Vericred data on physician networks, CareSet data on physicians' shared Medicare patients, and insurance plan attributes from Health Insurance Compare. Data validation exercises used data from Physician Compare and IQVIA.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional study of the PCP‐to‐specialist in‐network shared patient percentage (primary outcome). We also categorized networks by insurance market segment (Medicare Advantage [MA], Medicaid managed care, small‐group or individually purchased), insurance plan type, and network breadth.

Data Extraction

We analyzed data on 219,982 PCPs, 29,400 cardiologists, and 22,745 oncologists who, in 2021, accepted MA (n = 941 networks), Medicaid managed care (n = 293), and individually‐purchased (n = 332) and small‐group (n = 501) plans.

Principal Findings

Networks captured, on average, 64.6% of PCP‐cardiology shared patient ties, and 61.8% of PCP‐oncologist ties. Less than half of in‐network ties (44.5% and 38.9%, respectively) were among physicians with a common organizational affiliation. After adjustment for network breadth, we found no evidence of differences in the shared patient percentage across insurance market segments or networks of different types (p‐value >0.05 for all comparisons). An exception was among national versus local and regional networks, where we found that national plans captured fewer shared patient ties, particularly among the narrowest networks (58.4% for national networksvs. 64.7% for local and regional networks for PCP‐cardiology).

Conclusions

Given recent trends toward narrower networks, our findings underscore the importance of incorporating additional and nuanced measures of network composition to aid plan selection (for patients) and to guide regulatory oversight.
The price‐to‐rent ratio: A macroprudential application
Authors: Gilbukh Sonia , Haughwout Andrew , Landau Rebecca J. , Tracy Joseph
Published: February 2023

We examine the potential for the price‐to‐rent ratio to be used as a macroprudential tool. In addition to using standardized appraisal methods, appraisers could estimate the current market rent for a property. The resulting price‐to‐rent ratio would provide a useful signal for speculative pressures. We show this by estimating price‐to‐rent ratios using the American Housing Survey. The distribution of price‐to‐rent ratios shifted up dramatically during the housing boom with the 75th and 95th percentile reaching a historic peak in 2006 at 22 and 44, respectively. We propose a lending policy that incorporates the price‐to‐rent ratio to generate countercyclical loan‐to‐value ratios.
Heat and let dye: Part II – Rapid heat‐fixing of blood traces
Authors: Grimberg Ziv , Zinger Alex , Mero On , Sirota Noam , Wiesner Sarena
Published: February 2023

Blood‐contaminated shoeprints and footmarks contain valuable operational information as they may bind an individual who stepped in the crime scene with the incident and not merely with the location. As determining the age of a bloodstain remains a challenge, while processing the scene, it is difficult to determine whether the blood is completely, or partially, dry. Thus, executing a dye staining protocol may wash these marks away as they might still be soluble. However, to meet this challenge, it is possible to fix blood marks using heat. This study aims to find a solution for floor surfaces covered by heavier blood traces (shoeprints and footmarks). For this purpose, a new pseudo‐operating device was constructed for examining the blood‐fixing process of both mentioned trace types. Two trials were performed with depletion marks. The results revealed that fully developed fresh and heavily blood deposits were obtained by heating to 200°C for 7.5 min using the fixing device, followed by a staining protocol using amido black solution. The achieved sharp resolution of the examined bloody prints demonstrates that in certain cases the dehydration mechanism of heating is preferred over precipitating the proteins attributed to 5‐sulfosalycilic acid; thus, reducing the risk of washing blood evidence while processing the crime scene.
Remnant cholesterol is independently associated with diabetes, even if the traditional lipid is at the appropriate level: A report from the REACTION study
Authors: Li Binqi , Zhou Xin , Wang Weiqing , Gao Zhengnan , Yan Li , Qin Guijun , Tang Xulei , Wan Qin , Chen Lulu , Luo Zuojie , Ning Guang , Mu Yiming
Published: February 2023

Background

The association between remnant cholesterol (RC) and diabetes remains unclear because of limited study and data. This study attempted to explore the association between RC and diabetes in a large sample, multicenter general population.

Methods

The current study included 36 684 participants from eight provinces across China. Subjects were quartered according to the RC quartile. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between RC and diabetes.

Results

After adjusting for potential confounding factors, RC was still significantly associated with diabetes (Q4: odds ratio [OR]:1.147, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.049–1.254, p = .003). In addition, RC and diabetes were still significantly associated when triglycerides (TG) were <1.7 mmol/L (Q4: OR: 1.155, 95% CI: 1.005–1.327, p = .042), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) <3.4 mmol/L (Q4: OR: 1.130, 95% CI: 1.011–1.264, p = .032), or HDL‐C (high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol) ≥1.0 mmol/L (Q4: OR: 1.116, 95% CI: 1.007–1.237, p = .037). In the stratification analysis, elevated RC was significantly associated with diabetes in subjects with systolic blood pressure (SBP) <140 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) <90 mm Hg, 60 ≤ estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≤90 ml/min per 1.73 m2, younger than 55 years old and female.

Conclusion

In the Chinese community, RC is significantly correlated with diabetes, even when TG, LDL‐C, or HDL‐C were controlled within the appropriate range recommended by the guidelines.