bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unveiling the Mechanisms to Bypass KRAS Inhibition:In VitroInsights into the Influence of Fibroblast-Secretome
Authors: Oliveira Susana Mendonça , Carvalho Patrícia Dias , Roma André , Oliveira Patrícia , Ribeiro Andreia , Carvalho Joana , Martins Flávia , Machado Ana Luísa , Oliveira Maria José , Velho Sérgia
Published: April 2024

Novel KRAS-targeted therapies unlocked new treatment options for previously untreatable patients. However, in colorectal cancer (CRC), resistance to KRAS-targeted therapy develops rapidly, making it imperative to understand its underlying mechanisms.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) induce therapy resistance by generating and maintaining cancer stem cells (CSCs). Additionally, CAFs secretome can modulate KRAS mutant CRC cells proteomic profile, independently of mutant KRAS. Hence, we investigated whether CAF-derived factors could induce resistance to KRAS inhibition by promoting a KRAS-independent stem-like phenotype.

Evaluation of KRAS-mutant CRC cell lines (HCT15, HCT116, and SW480) revealed unique basal stem cell marker expression levels. Silencing KRAS lead to up-regulation of CD24, down- regulation of CD49f and CD104, and reduced stemness. However, CAF-secreted factors attenuated these effects, restoring stem cell markers expression and increasing stemness. RNA sequencing showed that CAF-secreted factors upregulate pro-tumorigenic pathways in KRAS-silenced cells, including cell cycle control, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), NOTCH, and immune regulation, leading to increased cell cycling and exit from quiescence.

Overall, we provide mechanistic insights illuminating the role of fibroblasts in counteracting KRAS silencing-induced growth inhibition and enhancing stemness. Our results show that the limited success of KRAS-targeted therapies is not only derived from cell-intrinsic factors but also dependent on external factors derived from the tumor microenvironment, thus opening avenues to improve therapy responses in CRC.
A tale of two lakes: divergent evolutionary trajectories of twoDaphniapopulations experiencing distinct environments
Authors: Wersebe Matthew J. , Günther Torsten , Morton Philip K. , Weider Lawrence J. , Frisch Dagmar
Published: April 2024

Most studies of local adaptation substitute the correlation between spatial distance and environmental heterogeneity for the temporal dynamics over which local adaptation evolves. The availability of detailed ecological and genomic information from lake sediments provides an opportunity to study local adaptation with unparalleled clarity from the temporal perspective. Inference can be further enhanced by including multiple lakes along ecological axes to further isolate the effects of ecological change in driving local adaptation. Lakes throughout the world face the impact of numerous anthropogenically induced environmental changes. Top among these is the eutrophication of freshwaters from agriculture, development and land-use change. Here we use the genetic information recorded in lake sediments of two lakes experiencing contrasting histories of land-use change to study the evolution of local adaptation in the lakes’Daphnia pulicariapopulations. Utilizing nextRAD derived Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), we studied the evolutionary trajectories ofDaphnia pulicariain both lakes. Using gene-environment correlations and Fsttests for selection we found SNPs that appear to be under selection in both lakes. Specifically, we found more outlier SNPs in the highly impacted lake using Fst-based tests for selection. Conversely, gene-environment tests revealed the reverse pattern. We discuss numerous facets of experimental design that must be considered when using resurrection ecology to study local adaptation and critically evaluate how they may have impacted the results of this investigation.

Lay Summary

Resurrection ecology, the resuscitation or hatching of decades or centuries old dormant eggs, seeds or cysts provides the opportunity to study evolution in action. Here, we use resurrection ecology paired with Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) genotyping to study the evolutionary responses of two populations ofDaphnia pulicariato contrasting changes in the nutrient dynamics of their respective lakes. In the lake with more drastic changes in nutrient pollution, we find a stronger shift in allele frequencies through time and at a larger number of affected genomic positions compared with the environmentally more stable lake. However, Bayesian gene-environment correlations were stronger in the more stable lake reflecting higher power to detect correlations among allele frequency change and paleo-environmental variables in this location. Our results suggest that numerous factors might impact the ability to use different methodologies to detect local adaptation over time using resurrection ecology.
SqueakOut: Autoencoder-based segmentation of mouse ultrasonic vocalizations
Authors: Santana Gustavo M. , Dietrich Marcelo O.
Published: April 2024

Mice emit ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) that are important for social communication. Despite great advancements in tools to detect USVs from audio files in the recent years, highly accurate segmentation of USVs from spectrograms (i.e., removing noise) remains a significant challenge. Here, we present a new dataset of12,954annotated spectrograms explicitly labeled for mouse USV segmentation. Leveraging this dataset, we developedSqueakOut, a lightweight (4.6Mparameters) fully convolutional autoencoder that achieves high accuracy in supervised segmentation of USVs from spectrograms, with aDicescore of90.22.SqueakOutcombines a MobileNetV2 backbone with skip connections and transposed convolutions to precisely segment USVs. Using stochastic data augmentation techniques and a hybrid loss function,SqueakOutlearns robust segmentation across varying recording conditions. We evaluate SqueakOut’s performance, demonstrating substantial improvements over existing methods like VocalMat (63.82Dicescore). The accurate USV segmentations enabled bySqueakOutwill facilitate novel methods for vocalization classification and more accurate analysis of mouse communication. To promote further research, we release the annotated12,954spectrogram USV segmentation dataset and theSqueakOutimplementation publicly.
A Transcriptomic Hourglass In Brown Algae
Authors: Lotharukpong Jaruwatana S. , Zheng Min , Luthringer Remy , Drost Hajk-Georg , Coelho Susana M.
Published: April 2024

Complex multicellularity has emerged independently across a few eukaryotic lineages and is often associated with the rise of elaborate, tightly coordinated developmental processes. How multicellularity and development are interconnected in evolution is a major question in biology. The hourglass model of embryonic evolution depicts how developmental processes are conserved during evolution, predicting morphological and molecular divergence in early and late embryo stages, bridged by a conserved mid-embryonic (phylotypic) period linked to the formation of the basic body plan. Initially found in animal embryos, molecular hourglass patterns have recently been proposed for land plants and fungi. However, whether the hourglass pattern is an intrinsic feature of all developmentally complex eukaryotic lineages remains elusive. Here, we tested the prevalence of a (molecular) hourglass in the brown algae, the third most developmentally complex lineage on earth that has evolved multicellularity independently from animals, fungi, and plants. By exploring the evolutionary transcriptome of brown algae with distinct morphological complexities, we uncovered an hourglass pattern during embryogenesis in developmentally complex species. Filamentous algae without a canonical embryogenesis display an evolutionary transcriptome that is most conserved in multicellular stages of the life cycle, whereas unicellular stages are more rapidly evolving. Our findings suggest that transcriptome conservation in brown algae is associated with cell differentiation stages, but not necessarily linked to embryogenesis. Together with previous work in animals, plants and fungi, we provide further evidence for the generality of a developmental hourglass pattern across complex multicellular eukaryotes.
Oxytocin reduces subjective fear in naturalistic social contexts via enhancing top-down middle cingulate-amygdala regulation and brain-wide connectivity
Authors: Fu Kun , Xu Shuyue , Zhang Zheng , Liu Dan , Xu Ting , Zhang Yuan , Zhou Feng , Zhang Xiaodong , Lan Chunmei , Wang Junjie , Wang Lan , He Jingxian , Kendrick Keith M , Biswal Bharat , Liang Zhen , Zhao Weihua , Becker Benjamin
Published: April 2024

Accumulating evidence from animal and human studies suggests a fear-regulating potential of the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT), yet the clinical translation into novel interventions for pathological fear requires a behavioral and neurofunctional characterization under close-to-real life conditions. Here, we combined a naturalistic fMRI-design inducing high and immersive fear experience in social and non-social contexts with a preregistered between-subjects randomized double-blind placebo-controlled intranasal OT trial (24 IU, n = 67 healthy men). OT reduced subjective fear in non-social and social contexts with small or moderate effect sizes, respectively. In the social fear contexts, OT enhanced left middle cingulate cortex (lMCC) activation and its functional connectivity with the contralateral amygdala, with both neural indices significantly and inversely associated with subjective fear following OT. On the network level, OT enhanced communication between the dorsal attention network (DAN) with the fronto-parietal (FPN) and the default-mode network (DMN) as well as on the more fine-grained level brain-wide communication. These findings indicate a fear-reducing potential of OT under naturalistic conditions with pronounced effects in social contexts, suggesting a high treatment value in disorders with social context-related excessive fear.
Ultra-sensitivity metaproteomics redefines the gut “dark metaproteome”, uncovering host-microbiome interactions and drug targets in intestinal inflammatory diseases
Authors: Xian Feng , Brenek Malena , Krisp Christoph , Aguanno Doriane , Urbauer Elisabeth , Srikumar Tharan , Ravi Kumar Ranjith Kumar , Liu Qixin , Barry Allison M , Ma Bin , Krieger Jonathan , Haller Dirk , Schmidt Manuela , Gómez-Varela David
Published: April 2024

The gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem with significant inter-individual variability determined by hundreds of low-abundant species as revealed by genomic methods. Functional redundancy demands direct quantification of microbial biological functions to understand their influence on host physiology. This functional landscape remains unexplored due to limited sensitivity in metaproteomics methods. We present uMetaP, an ultra-sensitive metaproteomic solution combining advanced LC-MS technologies with a novel FDR- controlled de novo strategy. uMetaP improves the taxonomic detection limit of the gut "dark metaproteome" by 5,000-fold with exceptional quantification precision and accuracy. In a mouse model of colonic injury, uMetaP extended metagenomics findings and identified host functions and microbial metabolic networks linked to disease. We obtained orthogonal validation using transcriptomic data from biopsies of 204 Crohn’s patients and presented the concept of a "druggable metaproteome". Among the drug-protein interactions discovered are treatments for intestinal inflammatory diseases, showcasing uMetaP’s potential for disease diagnostics and data-driven drug repurposing strategies.
Microbiota from young mice counteracts susceptibility to age-related gout through modulating butyric acid levels in aged mice
Authors: Song Ning , Gao Hang , Li Jianhao , Liu Yi , Wang Mingze , Ma Zhiming , Zhang Naisheng , Zhang Wenlong
Published: April 2024

Gout is a prevalent form of inflammatory arthritis that occurs due to high levels of uric acid in the blood leading to the formation of urate crystals in and around the joints, particularly affecting the elderly. Recent research has provided evidence of distinct differences in the gut microbiota of patients with gout and hyperuricemia when compared to healthy individuals. However, the link between gut microbiota and age-related gout remained underexplored. Our study found that gut microbiota plays a crucial role in determining susceptibility to age-related gout. Specifically, we observed that age-related gut microbiota regulated the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and modulated uric acid metabolism. More scrutiny highlighted the positive impact of "younger" microbiota on the gut microbiota structure of old or aged mice, enhancing butanoate metabolism and butyric acid content. Experimentation with butyrate supplementation indicated that butyric acid exerts a dual effect, inhibiting inflammation in acute gout and reducing serum uric acid levels. These insights emphasize the potential of gut microbiome rejuvenation in mitigating senile gout, unraveling the intricate dynamics between microbiota, aging, and gout. It potentially serves as a therapeutic target for senile gout-related conditions.
The role of endospore appendages in spore-spore contacts in pathogenic bacilli
Authors: Jonsmoen Unni Lise , Malyshev Dmitry , Sleutel Mike , Kristensen Elise Egeli , Zegeye Ephrem Debebe , Remaut Han , Andersson Magnus , Aspholm Marina Elisabeth
Published: April 2024

Species within the spore-formingBacillus cereussensu lato group are recognized for their role in food spoilage and food poisoning.B. cereusspores are decorated with numerous pilus-like appendages, called S-ENAs and L-ENAs. These appendages are believed to play crucial roles in self-aggregation, adhesion, and biofilm formation. By using both bulk and single-cell approaches, we investigate the role of S-and L-ENAs as well as the impact of different environmental factors in spore-to-spore contacts and in the interaction between spores and vegetative cells. Our findings reveal that ENAs, and particularly their tip fibrilla, play an essential role in spore self-aggregation but not in the adhesion of spores to vegetative cells. The absence of L-BclA, which builds the L-ENA tip fibrillum, reduced both S-and L-ENA mediated spore aggregation, emphasizing the interconnected roles of S-and L-ENAs. Increased salt concentrations in the liquid environment significantly reduced spore aggregation, implying a charge dependency of spore-spore interactions. By elucidating these complex interactions, our study provides valuable insights into spore dynamics. This knowledge can guide future studies on spore behavior in environmental settings and aids in developing strategies to manage bacterial aggregation for beneficial purposes, like controlling biofilms in food production equipment.
Conservation of C4BP-binding Sequence Patterns inStreptococcus pyogenesM and Enn Proteins
Authors: Kolesiński Piotr , McGowan Matthew , Botteaux Anne , Smeesters Pierre R. , Ghosh Partho
Published: April 2024

Antigenically sequence variable M proteins of the major bacterial pathogenStreptococcus pyogenes(Strep A) are responsible for recruiting human C4b-binding protein (C4BP) to the bacterial surface, which enables Strep A to evade destruction by the immune system. The most sequence divergent portion of M proteins, the hypervariable region (HVR), is responsible for binding C4BP. Structural evidence points to the conservation of two C4BP-binding sequence patterns (M2 and M22) in the HVR of numerous M proteins, with this conservation applicable to vaccine immunogen design. These two patterns, however, only partially explain C4BP-binding by Strep A. Here, we identified several M proteins that lack these patterns but still bind C4BP, and determined the structures of two, M68 and M87 HVRs, in complex with a C4BP fragment. Mutagenesis of these M proteins led to identification of amino acids that are crucial for C4BP-binding, enabling formulation of new C4BP-binding patterns. Mutagenesis was also carried out on M2 and M22 proteins to refine or generate experimentally grounded C4BP-binding patterns. The M22 pattern was the most populated among M proteins, followed by the M87 and M2 patterns, while the M68 pattern was rare. These patterns, except for M68, were also evident in numerous M-like Enn proteins. Binding of C4BP via these patterns to Enn proteins was verified. We conclude that C4BP-binding patterns occur frequently in Strep A strains of differing M types, being present in their M or Enn proteins, or frequently both, providing further impetus for their use as vaccine immunogens.
Structural basis for the inhibition of coronaviral main proteases by PF-00835231
Authors: Zhou Xuelan , Lu Xiaolu , Lin Cheng , Zou Xiaofang , Li Wenwen , Zeng Xiangyi , Wang Jie , Zeng Pei , Wang Weiwei , Zhang Jin , Jiang Haihai , Li Jian
Published: April 2024

The main protease (Mpro) of coronaviruses plays a key role in viral replication, thus serving as a hot target for drug design. It has been proven that PF-00835231 is promising inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Here, we report the inhibition potency of PF-00835231 against SARS-CoV-2 Mproand seven Mpromutants (G15S, M49I, Y54C, K90R, P132H, S46F, and V186F) from SARS-CoV-2 variants. The results confirm that PF-00835231 has broad-spectrum inhibition against various coronaviral Mpros. In addition, the crystal structures of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, SARS-CoV Mpro, MERS-CoV Mpro, and seven SARS-CoV-2 Mpromutants (G15S, M49I, Y54C, K90R, P132H, S46F, and V186F) in complex with PF-00835231 are solved. A detailed analysis of these structures reveal key determinants essential for inhibition and elucidates the binding modes of different coronaviral Mpros. Given the importance of the main protease for the treatment of coronaviral infection, structural insights into the Mproinhibition by PF-00835231 can accelerate the design of novel antivirals with broad-spectrum efficacy against different human coronaviruses.
Massively parallel reporter assays and mouse transgenic assays provide complementary information about neuronal enhancer activity
Authors: Kosicki Michael , Cintrón Dianne Laboy , Page Nicholas F. , Georgakopoulos-Soares Ilias , Akiyama Jennifer A. , Plajzer-Frick Ingrid , Novak Catherine S. , Kato Momoe , Hunter Riana D. , von Maydell Kianna , Barton Sarah , Godfrey Patrick , Beckman Erik , Sanders Stephan J. , Pennacchio Len A. , Ahituv Nadav
Published: April 2024

Genetic studies find hundreds of thousands of noncoding variants associated with psychiatric disorders. Massively parallel reporter assays (MPRAs) andin vivotransgenic mouse assays can be used to assay the impact of these variants. However, the relevance of MPRAs toin vivofunction is unknown and transgenic assays suffer from low throughput. Here, we studied the utility of combining the two assays to study the impact of non-coding variants. We carried out an MPRA on over 50,000 sequences derived from enhancers validated in transgenic mouse assays and from multiple fetal neuronal ATAC-seq datasets. We also tested over 20,000 variants, including synthetic mutations in highly active neuronal enhancers and 177 common variants associated with psychiatric disorders. Variants with a high impact on MPRA activity were further tested in mice. We found a strong and specific correlation between MPRA and mouse neuronal enhancer activity including changes in neuronal enhancer activity in mouse embryos for variants with strong MPRA effects. Mouse assays also revealed pleiotropic variant effects that could not be observed in MPRA. Our work provides a large catalog of functional neuronal enhancers and variant effects and highlights the effectiveness of combining MPRAs and mouse transgenic assays.
Crossing the digital divide: The workload of manual data entry for integration between mobile health applications and eHealth infrastructure
Authors: Feldacker Caryl , Usiri Joel , Kiruthu-Kamamia Christine , Waehrer Geetha , Weldemariam Hiwot , Huwa Jacqueline , Hau Jessie , Thawani Agness , Chapanda Mirriam , Tweya Hannock
Published: April 2024

Background

Many digital health interventions (DHIs), including mobile health (mHealth) apps, aim to improve both client outcomes and efficiency like electronic medical record systems (EMRS). Although interoperability is the gold standard, it is also complex and costly, requiring technical expertise, stakeholder permissions, and sustained funding.Manual data linkageprocesses are commonly used to “integrate” across systems and allow for assessment of DHI impact, a best practice, before further investment. For mHealth, the manual data linkage workload, including related monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities, remains poorly understood.

Methodology

As a baseline study for an open-source app to mirror EMRS and reduce healthcare worker (HCW) workload while improving care in the Nurse-led Community-based Antiretroviral therapy Program (NCAP) in Lilongwe, Malawi, we conducted a time-motion study observing HCWs completing data management activities, including routine M&E and manual data linkage of individual-level app data to EMRS. Data management tasks should reduce or end with successful app implementation and EMRS integration. Data was analysed in Excel.

Results

We observed 69:53:00 of HCWs performing routine NCAP service delivery tasks: 39:52:00 (57%) was spent completing M&E data related tasks of which 15:57:00 (23%) was spent on manual data linkage workload, alone.

Conclusion

Understanding the workload to ensure quality M&E data, including to complete manual data linkage of mHealth apps to EMRS, provides stakeholders with inputs to drive DHI innovations and integration decision making. Quantifying potential mHealth benefits on more efficient, high-quality M&E data may trigger new innovations to reduce workloads and strengthen evidence to spur continuous improvement.
The clinical and genetic spectrum of paediatric speech and language disorders in 52,143 individuals
Authors: Magielski Jan , Ruggiero Sarah M. , Xian Julie , Parthasarathy Shridhar , Galer Peter , Ganesan Shiva , Back Amanda , McKee Jillian , McSalley Ian , Gonzalez Alexander K. , Morgan Angela , Donaher Joseph , Helbig Ingo
Published: April 2024

Speech and language disorders are known to have a substantial genetic contribution. Although frequently examined as components of other conditions, research on the genetic basis of linguistic differences as separate phenotypic subgroups has been limited so far.

Here, we performed an in-depth characterization of speech and language disorders in 52,143 individuals, reconstructing clinical histories using a large-scale data mining approach of the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) from an entire large paediatric healthcare network.

The reported frequency of these disorders was the highest between 2 and 5 years old and spanned a spectrum of twenty-six broad speech and language diagnoses. We used Natural Language Processing to assess to which degree clinical diagnosis in full-text notes were reflected in ICD-10 diagnosis codes. We found that aphasia and speech apraxia could be easily retrieved through ICD-10 diagnosis codes, while stuttering as a speech phenotype was only coded in 12% of individuals through appropriate ICD-10 codes. We found significant comorbidity of speech and language disorders in neurodevelopmental conditions (30.31%) and to a lesser degree with epilepsies (6.07%) and movement disorders (2.05%). The most common genetic disorders retrievable in our EMR analysis wereSTXBP1(n=21),PTEN(n=20), andCACNA1A(n=18). When assessing associations of genetic diagnoses with specific linguistic phenotypes, we observed associations ofSTXBP1and aphasia (P=8.57 x 10-7, CI=18.62-130.39) andMYO7Awith speech and language development delay due to hearing loss (P=1.24 x 10-5, CI=17.46-Inf). Finally, in a sub-cohort of 726 individuals with whole exome sequencing data, we identified an enrichment of rare variants in synaptic protein and neuronal receptor pathways and associations ofUQCRC1with expressive aphasia andWASHC4with abnormality of speech or vocalization.

In summary, our study outlines the landscape of paediatric speech and language disorders, confirming the phenotypic complexity of linguistic traits and novel genotype-phenotype associations. Subgroups of paediatric speech and language disorders differ significantly with respect to the composition of monogenic aetiologies.
The Causal Association between Gut Microbiota and Pancreatic Cancer: A Two-sample Mendelian Randomization Analysis in European and East Asian Populations
Authors: Xiao Yinbo , Li Xiang , Zou Long , Wall Daniel M. , Liang Zhiyong
Published: April 2024

Background and Aim

Alterations in the gut microbiota strongly correlate with the onset of pancreatic cancer (PC). However, any causal relationship between gut microbiota alterations and PC risk remains unknown.

Methods

We comprehensively investigated PC-related microorganisms in European and East Asian populations through the application of Mendelian randomization (MR). The PC genome-wide association study (GWAS) databases for European and East Asian individuals were acquired from the UK and Japanese Biobanks, respectively. Primary analytical methods, including the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, weighted median, Maximum likelihood method and MR PRESSO, were employed to estimate the potential causal association between gut microbiota and PC. Additionally, we performed sensitivity analysis and reverse MR analysis.

Results

By IVW method, overall 17 bacterial taxa were identified with potential causal correlations to PC. The PC-associated gut microbiota signatures varied across different populations. Among these, 4 specific taxa exhibited potential causality with PC, with statistical significance in all four MR methods. Specifically, theAlcaligenaceaefamily was identified as protective, while genusSutterella, orderBacillialesand genusEnterohabduswere associated with increased risk of PC. Among the European population within the UK biobank, theAlcaligenaceaefamily, genusSutterella, and orderBacillaleswere connected to PC, while genusEnterohabduswas linked to PC in the Japanese cohort.

Conclusion

Our study implicates certain members of the gut microbiota in PC onset based on genetics. Further investigations of the gut-pancreas axis may lead to the development of novel microbiome targeted prevention strategies for PC.
A One-Arm Pilot Trial of a Telehealth CBT-Based Group Intervention Targeting Transdiagnostic Risk for Emotional Distress
Authors: Flynt Sierra , Koscinski Brandon , Accorso Catherine , Knapp Ashley , Gorka Stephanie , Suhr Julie , Austin Megan , Allan Nicholas P.
Published: April 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on mental health, straining an already overburdened healthcare system. A modular, transdiagnostic approach to treating psychopathology may be ideal to target common transdiagnostic risk factors for emotional distress and related disorders likely to be impacted by circumstances related to this once-in-a-lifetime environmental stressor. Anxiety sensitivity (AS), or fear of anxious arousal, intolerance of uncertainty (IU), or distress when confronted with uncertainty, and loneliness are three transdiagnostic risk factors impacted by the pandemic and robust predictors of emotional distress beyond that. We completed a pilot feasibility, acceptability, and utility trial of Coping Crew, our group, telehealth-delivered transdiagnostic treatment protocol in 17 participants who completed the intervention (Mage = 22.00,SD= 4.46; 71% female). The intervention and study protocol were feasible to deliver and were rated as acceptable and useful to address intervention targets. Evidence was mixed regarding feasibility, acceptability, and usefulness of the mobile app component. Sixteen of 17 participants (94%) completed at least one survey a day on 80% of the days but only 6 participants (35%) completed at least 80% of the mobile app surveys delivered over the course of the intervention. Most participants rated use of the app as acceptable and relevant to psychological improvements made due to the intervention. Sizeable effect size reductions in transdiagnostic risk factors were found at post-intervention and maintained at 1- and 3-month follow-up, supporting next steps in the development of this modular transdiagnostic treatment.
Zeroth and second laws of black hole mechanics in Einstein-Maxwell-scalar effective field theory
Authors: Davies Iain
Published: April 2024

There has been recent progress in extending the zeroth and second laws of black hole mechanics to gravitational effective field theories (EFTs). We generalize these results to a much larger class of EFTs describing gravity coupled to electromagnetism and a real scalar field. We also show that the zeroth law holds for the EFT of gravity coupled to electromagnetism and a charged scalar field.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
How to prompt brand love and eWOM intention? Exploring the role of brand interactivity, consumer involvement and consumer brand engagement
Authors: Gao Siyu , Shao Bilin
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how consumer brand engagement (CBE) promotes brand love and eWOM within the influence of brand interactivity and consumer involvement, especially in the context of the smartphone industry and Chinese social media marketing. This study also examines the important role of brand love and gender in this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 403 participants who are followers of the smartphone brand’s social media page was collected via an online survey. PLS-SEM was also used for examining the research model.

Findings

The findings of this research reveal that the (perceived) brand interactivity, and consumer involvement, are key factors influence CBE. As expected, brand love and consumers’ eWOM intention are significant outcomes of CBE. In particular, the relationship between CBE and consumers’ eWOM intention is mediated by brand love. However, gender did not moderate the proposed relationships.

Originality/value

By integrating social exchange theory and attribution theory, this study deepens the understanding of CBE and brand love by examining the relationship between brand interactivity, consumer involvement, CBE, brand love and eWOM in the context of smartphone and Chinese social media marketing.
JUST Capital
Authors: Fernstrom Aaron , Frank Mary Margaret , Lewis Samuel A. , Matos Pedro , Macfarlane John G.
Published: April 2024

The case examines the development and launch of an exchange-traded fund (ETF) based on JUST Capital's socially responsible corporate ranking methodologies. The case provides a market overview of Environment, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) and socially responsible investing (SRI), what has driven growth in those areas worldwide, and several best-practice investment approaches. Following the overview, the case describes the founding and development of JUST Capital, explores JUST Capital's ranking methodologies, and presents the decision point faced by the CEO: requisite selection of one of three strategies in order for JUST Capital to generate “self-sustaining” revenue.
3D electromagnetic analytical model for radial-flux eddy-current couplers
Authors: Messadi Mohammed , Hadjout Larbi , Takorabet Noureddine
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a new 3D analytical model in cylindrical coordinates to study radial flux eddy current couplers (RFECC) while considering the magnetic edge and 3D curvature effects, and the field reaction due to the induced currents.

Design/methodology/approach

The analytical model is developed by combining two formulations. A magnetic scalar potential formulation in the air and the magnets regions and a current density formulation in the conductive region. The magnetic field and eddy currents expressions are obtained by solving the 3D Maxwell equations in 3D cylindrical coordinates with the variable separation method. The torque expression is derived from the field solution using the Maxwell stress tensor. In addition to 3D magnetic edge effects, the proposed model takes into account the reaction field effect due to the induced currents in the conducting part. To show the accuracy of the developed 3D analytical model, its results are compared to those from the 3D finite element simulation.

Findings

The obtained results prove the accuracy of the new developed 3D analytical model. The comparison of the 3D analytical model with the 2D simulation proves the strong magnetic edge effects impact (in the axial direction) in these devices which must be considered in the modelling. The new analytical model allows the magnetic edge effects consideration without any correction factor and also presents a good compromise between precision and computation time.

Practical implications

The proposed 3D analytical model presents a considerably reduced computation time compared to 3D finite element simulation which makes it efficient as an accurate design and optimization tool for radial flux eddy current devices.

Originality/value

A new analytical model in 3D cylindrical coordinates has been developed to find the electromagnetic torque in radial flux eddy current couplers. This model considers the magnetic edge effects, the 3D curvature effects and the field reaction (without correction factors) while improving the computation time.
A bibliometric analysis of economic freedom: current status and future research directions
Authors: Sharma Anand
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine and identify the predominant themes in the literature on economic freedom. The paper also highlights the key journals, leading authors, top countries and organisations in the literature on economic freedom.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses the Scopus database to examine 1,512 articles covering the disciplines of economics, finance, business and social sciences from 1942 to 2022. Vosviewer software is used for creating bibliometric networks.

Findings

The findings suggest that significant growth in the economic freedom literature has occurred in the last ten years. Considerable attention has been devoted to examining the relationship between economic freedom and growth. The paper also finds that most of the research on economic freedom has been undertaken in the context of developed countries.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first attempts to undertake a bibliometric analysis of economic freedom. The article also highlights the less-researched areas in the literature and thus provides directions for future research.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-09-2023-0690.
Actions speak: personality, nonverbal behaviors, and self-perceptions of vulnerability in college-aged women
Authors: Stewart Jayme , Swanek Jessie , Forth Adelle
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Despite representing a relatively small portion of the population, those who experience repeat victimization make up a significant share of all sexual and violent crimes, implying that perpetrators target them repeatedly. Indeed, research reveals specific traits (e.g. submissiveness) and behaviors (e.g. gait) related to past victimization or vulnerability. The purpose of this study is to explore the link between personality traits, self-assessed vulnerability and nonverbal cues.

Design/methodology/approach

In all, 40 undergraduate Canadian women were videotaped while recording a dating profile. Self-report measures of assertiveness, personality traits and vulnerability ratings for future sexual or violent victimization were obtained following the video-recording. The videotape was coded for nonverbal behaviors that have been related to assertiveness or submissiveness.

Findings

Self-perceived sexual vulnerability correlated with reduced assertiveness and dominance and increased emotionality (e.g. fear and anxiety). Additionally, nonverbal behaviors differed based on personality traits: self-touch was linked to lower assertiveness, dominance and extraversion and higher submissiveness, emotionality and warm-agreeableness.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study of its kind to consider the relationships between personality, self-perceived vulnerability and nonverbal behaviors among college-aged women. Potential implications, including enhancing autonomy and self-efficacy, are discussed.
Short-term effects of productive credit, savings and money demand on Ecuador’s economic growth, 2006–2020
Authors: Urdaneta Montiel Armando , Borgucci Garcia Emmanuel Vitorio , Camino-Mogro Segundo
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to determine causal relationships between the level of productive credit, real deposits and money demand – all of them in real terms – and Gross National Product between 2006 and 2020.

Design/methodology/approach

The vector autoregressive technique (VAR) was used, where data from real macroeconomic aggregates published by the Central Bank of Ecuador (BCE) are correlated, such as productive credit, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, deposits and money demand.

Findings

The results indicate that there is no causal relationship, in the Granger sense, between GDP and financial activity, but there is between the growth rate of real money demand per capita and the growth rate of total real deposits per capita.

Originality/value

The study shows that bank credit mainly finances the operations of current assets and/or liabilities. In addition, economic agents use the banking system mainly to carry out transactional and precautionary activities.
Does the Too-Big-To-Fail status affect depositor’s discipline: a Gaussian mixture model algorithm approach
Authors: Jain Arushi
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study empirically demonstrates a contradiction between pillar 3 of Basel norms III and the designation of Systemically Important Banks (SIBs), also known as Too Big to Fail (TBTF). The objective of this study is threefold, which has been approached in a phased manner. The first is to determine the systemic importance of the banks under study; second, to examine if market discipline exists at different levels of systemic importance of banks and lastly, to examine if the strength of market discipline varies at different levels of systemic importance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on all the public and private sector banks operating in the Indian banking sector. The Gaussian Mixture Model algorithm has been utilized to classify banks into distinct levels of systemic importance. Thereafter, market discipline has been observed by analyzing depositors' sentiments toward banks' risk (CAMEL indicators). The analysis has been performed by employing the system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) to estimate models with different dependent variables.

Findings

The findings affirm the existence of market discipline across all levels of systemic importance. However, the strength of market discipline varies with the systemic importance of the banks, with weak market discipline being a negative externality of the SIBs designation.

Originality/value

By employing the Gaussian Mixture Model algorithm to develop a framework for categorizing banks on the basis of their systemic importance, this study is the first to go beyond the conventional method as outlined by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Collective intelligence for fighting food waste: changing the way things are done with participatory design
Authors: Brennan Linda , Micallef David , Jenkins Eva L. , Parker Lukas , Alessi Natalia
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the use of a double diamond design method to engage the industry in a sector-wide response to the issues of food waste as constructed by consumers. This particular design method is achieved by an exploration of a collective intelligence-participatory design (CIPD) project to engage industry participants in understanding and responding to consumers’ perceptions of the role of packaging in reducing food waste.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the UK Design Council’s double diamond design method as a guiding conceptual principle, the project recruited industry participants from medium to large food businesses across various food categories. Two scoping workshops with industry were held prior to the initiation of a 12-stage project (n= 57), and then two industry workshops were held (n= 4 and 14). Eighty participants completed an online qualitative survey, and 23 industry participants took part in a Think Tank Sprint Series. The Think Tanks used participatory design approaches to understand barriers and opportunities for change within food industry sub-sectors and test the feasibility and acceptability of package designs to reduce consumer waste.

Findings

For CIPD to work for complex problems involving industry, it is vital that stakeholders across macro- and micro-subsystems are involved and that adequate time is allowed to address that complexity. Using both the right tools for engagement and the involvement of the right mix of representatives across various sectors of industry is critical to reducing blame shift. The process of divergence and convergence allowed clear insight into the long-term multi-pronged approach needed for the complex problem.

Originality/value

Participatory design has been useful within various behaviour change settings. This paper has demonstrated the application of the double diamond model in a social marketing setting, adding value to an industry-wide project that included government, peak bodies, manufacturing and production and retailers.
Influence of the demand side management on the daily performance of microgrids in smart environments using grey wolf optimizer
Authors: Jouma Haider , Mansor Muhamad , Abd Rahman Muhamad Safwan , Jia Ying Yong , Mokhlis Hazlie
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the daily performance of the proposed microgrid (MG) that comprises photovoltaic, wind turbines and is connected to the main grid. The load demand is a residential area that includes 20 houses.

Design/methodology/approach

The daily operational strategy of the proposed MG allows to vend and procure utterly between the main grid and MG. The smart metre of every consumer provides the supplier with the daily consumption pattern which is amended by demand side management (DSM). The daily operational cost (DOC) CO2 emission and other measures are utilized to evaluate the system performance. A grey wolf optimizer was employed to minimize DOC including the cost of procuring energy from the main grid, the emission cost and the revenue of sold energy to the main grid.

Findings

The obtained results of winter and summer days revealed that DSM significantly improved the system performance from the economic and environmental perspectives. With DSM, DOC on winter day was −26.93 ($/kWh) and on summer day, DOC was 10.59 ($/kWh). While without considering DSM, DOC on winter day was −25.42 ($/kWh) and on summer day DOC was 14.95 ($/kWh).

Originality/value

As opposed to previous research that predominantly addressed the long-term operation, the value of the proposed research is to investigate the short-term operation (24-hour) of MG that copes with vital contingencies associated with selling and procuring energy with the main grid considering the environmental cost. Outstandingly, the proposed research engaged the consumers by smart meters to apply demand-sideDSM, while the previous studies largely focused on supply side management.
Do proportions of rooting ramets in the clone affect the overall growth of the stoloniferous clonal plant Zoysia japonica?
Authors: Chen Jing , Li De‐Zhi , Yun Xiao‐Tao , Wang Ying , Li Ling‐Ling , Jia Jing , Rasool Samreen Ghulam
Published: April 2024

It is naturally common that different proportions of ramets in a clone lose rooting conditions due to habitat stress or obstacles, which potentially affects the overall growth of the clonal plant to different extents. However, so far, little attention has been paid to such phenomena and much less to the underlying ecological mechanisms. Taking Zoysia japonica as material, through an experiment with two nutrition levels in the habitats and five rooting ramet proportions in the clones, the impacts of proportions of rooting ramets in the clone on the overall growth were tested and the ecological mechanisms were analyzed. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the total clonal biomasses among the clones with five rooting ramet proportions under high and low nutrition levels, except for that with 0% rooting ramet proportion. Under both high and low nutrition levels, the lower rooting ramet proportions (0% and 25%) in the clones significantly decreased the number of the so‐called A‐ and B‐ramets, root biomass, stolon length per unit biomass, and root–shoot ratio, but significantly increased the stolon biomass of the clones. Stolon elongation was promoted under high nutrient level, and biomass allocations to stolons and roots increased under low nutrition levels. A‐ramet biomasses accounted for about 50% and 30% of the total biomasses of the whole clone under high and low nutrition levels, respectively. These results might be reasonably explained in terms of clonal integration, compensatory growth, division of labor, and bet‐hedging strategy.
Exploring conventional and emerging dehydration technologies for slurry/liquid food matrices and their impact on porosity of powders: A comprehensive review
Authors: Sultana Afroza , Aghajanzadeh Sara , Thibault Bruno , Ratti Cristina , Khalloufi Seddik
Published: April 2024

The contribution of dehydration to the growing market of food powders from slurry/liquid matrices is inevitable. To overcome the challenges posed by conventional drying technologies, several innovative approaches have emerged. However, industrial implementation is limited due to insufficient information on the best‐suited drying technologies for targeted products. Therefore, this review aimed to compare various conventional and emerging dehydration technologies (such as active freeze, supercritical, agitated thin‐film, and vortex chamber drying) based on their fundamental principles, potential applications, and limitations. Additionally, this article reviewed the effects of drying technologies on porosity, which greatly influence the solubility, rehydration, and stability of powder. The comparison between different drying technologies enables informed decision‐making in selecting the appropriate one. It was found that active freeze drying is effective in producing free‐flowing powders, unlike conventional freeze drying. Vortex chamber drying could be considered a viable alternative to spray drying, requiring a compact chamber than the large tower needed for spray drying. Freeze‐dried, spray freeze‐dried, and foam mat‐dried powders exhibit higher porosity than spray‐dried ones, whereas supercritical drying produces nano‐porous interconnected powders. Notably, several factors like glass transition temperature, drying technologies, particle aggregation, agglomeration, and sintering impact powder porosity. However, some binders, such as maltodextrin, sucrose, and lactose, could be applied in controlled agglomeration to enhance powder porosity. Further investigation on the effect of emerging technologies on powder properties and their commercial feasibility is required to discover their potential in liquid drying. Moreover, utilizing clean‐label drying ingredients like dietary fibers, derived from agricultural waste, presents promising opportunities.