bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tag attachment reduces the initiation of recruitment in the rock ant,Temnothorax rugatulus
Authors: Taylor Benjamin Z. , Rajagopal Supraja , Sasaki Takao
Published: August 2023

Technological advances continue to push the boundaries of scientific inquiry in animal behavior. One such development is the emergence of automated tracking systems, which enable the collection of high-resolution spatio-temporal information for animals. Although tag-based tracking systems provide valuable insights into animal movement and collective behavior, the attachment of devices can have detrimental effects in some cases. Here, we investigated the effects of recently developed miniature tracking tags using the rock ant,Temnothorax rugatulus, as a model system. To do so, we compared the foraging activities of tagged and untagged ants within partially tagged colonies. Additionally, we compared the foraging activities of these tagged colonies with those of untagged control colonies. We found that tags did not reduce individual activity, with tagged ants visiting the food source as frequently as untagged ants. However, our analysis revealed a marked difference in recruitment behavior—tagged ants were significantly less likely to participate in tandem runs. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that tracking tags can negatively impact ant behavior. Although tracking devices are powerful tools for understanding complex behavioral patterns, it is crucial to carefully consider their potential impact on animal behavior to ensure accurate conclusions.
BundleCleaner: Unsupervised Denoising and Subsampling of Diffusion MRI-Derived Tractography Data
Authors: Feng Yixue , Chandio Bramsh Q. , Villalón-Reina Julio E. , Thomopoulos Sophia I. , Joshi Himanshu , Nair Gauthami , Joshi Anand A. , Venkatasubramanian Ganesan , John John P. , Thompson Paul M.
Published: August 2023

We presentBundleCleaner, an unsupervised multi-step frame-work that can filter, denoise and subsample bundles derived from diffusion MRI-based whole-brain tractography. Our approach considers both the global bundle structure and local streamline-wise features. We applyBundleCleanerto bundles generated from single-shell diffusion MRI data in an independent clinical sample of older adults from India using probabilistic tractography and the resulting ‘cleaned’ bundles can better align with the atlas bundles with reduced overreach. In a downstream tractometry analysis, we show that the cleaned bundles, represented with less than 20% of the original set of points, can robustly localize along-tract microstructural differences between 32 healthy controls and 34 participants with Alzheimer’s disease ranging in age from 55 to 84 years old. Our approach can help reduce memory burden and improving computational efficiency when working with tractography data, and shows promise for large-scale multi-site tractometry.
An ancient role for theCYP73gene family int-cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylation, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and embryophyte development
Authors: Knosp Samuel , Kriegshauser Lucie , Tatsumi Kanade , Malherbe Ludivine , Wiedemann Gertrud , Bakan Bénédicte , Kohchi Takayuki , Reski Ralf , Renault Hugues
Published: August 2023

The phenylpropanoid pathway is a plant metabolism intimately linked to the transition to terrestrial life. It produces phenolic compounds that play essential roles in stress mitigation and ecological interactions. The pathway also provides the building blocks for hydrophobic polymers that form apoplastic diffusion barriers and make up a significant fraction of the land plant biomass. Despite its significance in embryophytes (i.e., land plants), the origin and evolutionary history of the phenylpropanoid pathway remain poorly understood. In particular, little is known about the organization and function of the pathway in bryophytes, the non-vascular embryophytes. In this study, we conducted a multidisciplinary analysis of theCYP73gene family that encodest-cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (C4H), the first plant-specific enzyme in the pathway. Our results indicate that C4H activity originated with the emergence of theCYP73gene family in an ancestor of land plants and was supported by an arginine residue that stabilizes its substrate in the active site. C4H deficiency in the mossPhyscomitrium patens, the liverwortMarchantia polymorphaand the hornwortAnthoceros agrestisresulted in a shortage of phenylpropanoids and abnormal plant development. The latter could be rescued in the moss by the exogenous supply ofp-coumaric acid, the product of C4H. Our findings establish the emergence of theCYP73gene family as a foundational event for the development of the canonical plant phenylpropanoid pathway and underscores the deep-rooted conservation of the C4H enzyme function in embryophyte biology.
Genetically encoded transcriptional plasticity underlies stress adaptation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Bei Cheng , Zhu Junhao , Culviner Peter H , Rubin Eric J. , Fortune Sarah M , Gao Qian , Liu Qingyun
Published: August 2023

Transcriptional regulation is a critical adaptive mechanism that allows bacteria to respond to changing environments, yet the concept of transcriptional plasticity (TP) remains largely unexplored. In this study, we investigate the genome-wide TP profiles ofMycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) genes by analyzing 894 RNA sequencing samples derived from 73 different environmental conditions. Our data reveal thatMtbgenes exhibit significant TP variation that correlates with gene function and gene essentiality. We also found that critical genetic features, such as gene length, GC content, and operon size independently impose constraints on TP, beyond trans-regulation. By extending our analysis to include two otherMycobacteriumspecies --M. smegmatisandM. abscessus -- we demonstrate a striking conservation of the TP landscape. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the TP exhibited by mycobacteria genes, shedding light on this significant, yet understudied, genetic feature encoded in bacterial genomes.
Cannabinoid Combination TargetsNOTCH1-Mutated T-ALL Through the Integrated Stress Response Pathway
Authors: Besser Elazar , Gelfand Anat , Procaccia Shiri , Berman Paula , Meiri David
Published: August 2023

In T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) more than 50% of cases display autoactivation of Notch1 signaling, leading to oncogenic transformation. We have previously identified a specific chemovar of Cannabis that induces apoptosis by preventing Notch1 maturation in leukemia cells. Here, we isolated three cannabinoids from this chemovar that synergistically mimic the effects of the whole extract. Two were previously known, Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabidivarin (CBDV); whereas the third cannabinoid, which we termed 331-18A, was identified and fully characterized in this study. We demonstrated that these cannabinoids act through Cannabinoid receptor type 2 and TRPV1 to activate the integrated stress response pathway by depleting intracellular Ca2+. This is followed by increased mRNA and protein expression of ATF4, CHOP and CHAC1, which is hindered by inhibiting the upstream initiation factor eIF2α. The increased abundance of CHAC1 prevents Notch1 maturation, thereby reducing the levels of the active Notch1 intracellular domain, and consequently decreasing cell viability and increasing apoptosis. Treatment with the three isolated molecules resulted in reduced tumor size and weight in-vivo and slowed leukemia progression in mice models. Altogether, this study elucidated the mechanism of action of three distinct cannabinoids in modulating the Notch1 pathway, and constitutes an important step in the establishment of a new therapy for treatingNOTCH1-mutated diseases and cancers such as T-ALL.
Targeting mosquito X-chromosomes reveals complex transmission dynamics of sex ratio distorting gene drives
Authors: Haber Daniella An , Arien Yael , Lamdan Lee Benjamin , Alcalay Yehonathan , Zecharia Chen , Krsticevic Flavia , Yonah Elad Shmuel , Avraham Rotem Daniel , Krzywinska Elzbieta , Krzywinski Jaroslaw , Marois Eric , Windbichler Nikolai , Papathanos Philippos Aris
Published: August 2023

Engineered sex ratio distorters (SRDs) have been proposed as a powerful component of genetic control strategies designed to suppress harmful insect pests. Two types of CRISPR-based SRD mechanisms have been proposed: X-shredding eliminates X-bearing sperm, while X-poisoning eliminates daughters inheriting disrupted X-chromosomes. These differences can have a profound impact on the population dynamics of SRDs when linked to the Y-chromosome: an X-shredder is invasive constituting a classical meiotic Y-drive, whereas X-poisoning is self-limiting, unable to invade but also insulated from selection. Here, we established the first X-poisoning strains in the malaria vectorAnopheles gambiaetargeting three X-linked genes during spermatogenesis resulting in male bias. Surprisingly, we found that sex distortion was primarily driven by a loss of X-bearing sperm with limited evidence for postzygotic lethality of daughters. By leveraging aDrosophila melanogastermodel, we show unambiguously that engineered SRD traits can operate differently in these two insects. Unlike X-shredding, X-poisoning could theoretically operate at early stages of spermatogenesis. We therefore explored premeiotic Cas9 expression to target the mosquito X-chromosome. We find that, by pre-empting the onset of meiotic sex chromosome inactivation, this approach may enable the development of Y-linked SRDs if mutagenesis of spermatogenesis-essential genes is functionally balanced.
A maximum of two readily releasable vesicles per docking site at a cerebellar single active zone synapse
Authors: Silva Melissa , Tran Van , Marty Alain
Published: August 2023

Recent research suggests that in central mammalian synapses, active zones contain several docking sites acting in parallel. Before release, one or several synaptic vesicles (SVs) are thought to bind to each docking site, forming the readily releasable pool (RRP). Determining the RRP size per docking site has important implications for short-term synaptic plasticity. Here, we take advantage of recently developed methods to count the number of released SVs at single glutamatergic synapses in response to trains of action potentials. In each recording, the number of docking sites was determined by fitting with a binomial model the number of released SVs in response to individual action potentials. After normalization with respect to the number of docking sites, the summed number of released SVs following a train of action potentials was used to estimate of the RRP size per docking site. To improve this estimate, various steps were taken to maximize the release probability of docked SVs, the occupancy of docking sites, as well as the extent of synaptic depression. Under these conditions, the RRP size reached a maximum value close to two SVs per docking site. The results indicate that each docking site contains two distinct SV binding sites that can simultaneously accommodate up to one SV each. They further suggest that under special experimental conditions, as both sites are close to full occupancy, a maximal RRP size of two SVs per docking site can be reached. More generally, the results validate a sequential two-step docking model previously proposed at this preparation.
Iron biomarkers predict peripheral artery disease in females: a cross-sectional analysis of HEIST-DiC and NHANES participants
Authors: Ruban Agarvas Anand , Kopf Stefan , Lopes Tiago J.S. , Thalmann Paul , Fernández-Real José Manuel , Nawroth Peter , Muckenthaler Martina U.
Published: August 2023

Background

Iron overload has been proposed as a risk factor for atherosclerosis but the available data are controversial. Here we investigated whether iron biomarkers within physiological limits that frequently differ between sexes are associated with peripheral arterial disease (PAD)

Methods

Using two different analytical approaches (machine-learning and logistic regression), we studied the association between blood iron biomarkers and PAD in 368 individuals from the Heidelberg Study on Diabetes and Complications (HEIST-DiC) and in 5101 individuals from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999-2004).

Results

We found that iron biomarkers were among the top predictors of PAD in the machine-learning classification in both cohorts. In the HEIST-DiC cohort, ferritin, iron, and transferrin were ranked among the top predictive markers, while in the NHANES cohort ferritin, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TSAT) and iron showed high predictive power. In the regression analysis ferritin showed a positive interaction among females in the HEIST-DiC (OR 2.68, 95% CI 0.94-7.61,p=0.057) and NHANES cohorts (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.16-2.67,p=0.008). The multivariable regression analysis of the NHANES cohort, detected a nonlinear relationship between ferritin and PAD in that certain ferritin ranges (48-97 ng/mL: OR 14.59, 95% CI 1.6-135.93, p= 0.019; 98-169 ng/mL: OR 171.07, 95% CI 1.27-23404, p=0.039) in females associated positively with PAD.

Conclusion

Taken together our data show that iron biomarkers, importantly, elevated ferritin is associated with clinically apparent PAD in females. These findings add to the body of evidence suggesting sex differences in PAD and highlight a possible role of iron (directly or indirectly) in this relationship.
Resting state fMRI reveals pervasive thalamic hyperactivity and default mode network hypoactivity in epilepsy: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Qiao Yang , Fu Cong , Zhao Na , Lock Matthew , Yuan Zhen , Zang Yu-Feng
Published: August 2023

Objective

This coordinate-based meta-analysis incorporates studies employing local metrics like amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo), and studies utilizing independent component analysis (ICA) to probe the default mode network (DMN) in epilepsy.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science to identify relevant studies published up to July 2022. We included all studies that compared RS-fMRI local activity in epileptic patients and healthy controls.

Results

From 644 identified studies, 54 were included in the meta-analyses. Our analysis revealed a consistent increase in local activity in the right mediodorsal thalamus (MDT), bilateral medial temporal lobe, and bilateral sensorimotor cortex. Conversely, a notable decrease in local activity was observed within the DMN regions, including the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)/precuneus, medial prefrontal cortex, and bilateral inferior parietal lobule. Furthermore, a significant negative correlation between abnormal activity in the right MDT and PCC was identified through our meta-correlation analysis.

Conclusions

The findings from our study provide compelling evidence of increased local activity in the mediodorsal thalamus and decreased activity in the default mode network in epilepsy. These observations could potentially advance our understanding of epilepsy’s neural underpinnings and guide targeted intervention strategies.

What is already known on this topic?

Epilepsy involves abnormal brain activity, recurrent seizures, and possible thalamic and DMN involvement.

What this study adds?

This study reveals consistent thalamic hyperactivity, DMN hypoactivity in various epilepsy types, and a significant negative correlation between these activities.

How this study might affect research, practice, and/or policy?

Decreased DMN activity and increased thalamus activity could clarify epilepsy pathogenesis and suggest precise, targeted interventions.
Uncovering Spatiotemporal Dynamics of the Corticothalamic Network during Seizures
Authors: Panchavati Saarang , Daida Atsuro , Edmonds Benjamin , Miyakoshi Makoto , Oana Shingo , Ahn Samuel S. , Arnold Corey , Salamon Noriko , Sankar Raman , Fallah Aria , Speier William , Nariai Hiroki
Published: August 2023

Objective

Although the clinical efficacy of deep brain stimulation targeting the anterior nucleus (AN) and centromedian nucleus (CM) of the thalamus has been actively investigated for the treatment of medication-resistant epilepsy, few studies have investigated dynamic ictal changes in corticothalamic connectivity in human EEG recording. This study aims to establish the complex spatiotemporal dynamics of the ictal corticothalamic network associated with various seizure foci.

Methods

We analyzed ten patients (aged 2.7–28.1) with medication-resistant focal epilepsy who underwent stereotactic EEG evaluation with thalamic coverage. We examined both undirected and directed connectivity, incorporating coherence and spectral Granger causality analysis (GCA) between the diverse seizure foci and thalamic nuclei (AN and CM).

Results

In our analysis of 36 seizures, coherence between seizure onset and thalamic nuclei increased across all frequencies, especially in slower bands (delta, theta, alpha). GCA showed increased information flow from seizure onset to the thalamus across all frequency bands, but outflows from the thalamus were mainly in slower frequencies, particularly delta. In the subgroup analysis based on various seizure foci, the delta coherence showed a more pronounced increase at CM than at AN during frontal lobe seizures. Conversely, in limbic seizures, the delta coherence increase was greater at AN compared to CM.

Interpretation

It appears that the delta frequency plays a pivotal role in modulating the corticothalamic network during seizures. Our results underscore the significance of comprehending the spatiotemporal dynamics of the corticothalamic network during seizures, and this knowledge could guide personalized neuromodulation treatment strategies.

Summary for Social Media

Twitter handles:@saarang_p; @BillSpeier

What is the current knowledge on the topic

Although the clinical efficacy of deep brain stimulation targeting the anterior nucleus and centromedian nucleus of the thalamus has been actively investigated for the treatment of medication-resistant epilepsy, few studies have investigated dynamic ictal changes in corticothalamic connectivity in human EEG recording.

What question did this study address

This study aimed to establish the complex spatiotemporal dynamics of the ictal corticothalamic network associated with various seizure foci.

What does this study add to our knowledge

The delta frequency plays a pivotal role in modulating the corticothalamic network during seizures. There are seizure-onset dependent spatiotemporal dynamics of the ictal corticothalamic network.

How might this potentially impact on the practice of neurology

This knowledge could guide personalized neuromodulation treatment strategies.
14K Prolactin Derived 14-Mer Antiangiogenic Peptide Targets Bradykinin-/Nitric Oxide-cGMP-Dependent Angiogenesis
Authors: Lee Jaeok , Jadaun Pavitra Kumar , Natarajan Suganya , Park So Hyeon , Majumder Syamantak , Sundaresan Lakshmikirupa , Muralidhar Kambadur , Choi Jong-Soon , Lee Hwa Jeong , Chatterjee Suvro
Published: August 2023

VEGF-targeted antiangiogenic therapy for cancers has been principally used but also faced a limitation due to resistance and adverse effects in clinical application. This observation further endorses the need for novel anti-angiogenesis molecules and/or understanding of the mechanisms of tumor angiogenesis before clinical trial. In the present study, we investigated the antiangiogenic properties of a novel 14-mer antiangiogenic peptide (14-MAP) derived from N-terminal 14kDa buffalo prolactin, followed by an exploration of its mode of action. 14-MAP at the picomolar concentration inhibited VEGF- and bradykinin (an autacoid peptide expressed in vascular tissues in pathophysiology)-stimulated endothelial nitric oxide (eNO) production, cell migration and proliferation in endothelial cells and vessel development in chick embryo. The crucial inhibitory effects of the peptide, however, were presented on the bradykinin-dependent angiogenic properties. Moreover, the interference of 14-MAP with the eNO synthase (eNOS)-cyclic GMP pathway was identified. A combination of low dose of Avastin, a widely used drug targeting VEGF-dependent angiogenesis, and 14-MAP significantly reduced tumor size in a mouse model of human colon cancer. These results suggest that 14-MAP, a bradykinin- and eNOS-dependent antiangiogenic peptide, can be useful for overcoming the limitation of VEGF-targeted antiangiogenic therapy in cancer patients.
Effect of temperature on electronucleation and growth mechanism of Zn–Ni alloy in deep eutectic solvent
Authors: Sun Haijing , Cui Jianing , Wang He , Yang Shuai , Xaikoua Souavang , Tan Yong , Zhou Xin , Wang Baojie , Sun Jie
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of temperature on Zn–Ni alloys in ChCl–Urea.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on cyclic voltammetry experiments, the deposition behavior and kinetics of the Zn–Ni alloy are studied. The nucleation process of the Zn–Ni alloy is studied in detail via chronoamperometry experiments. The effects of the deposition temperature on the microstructure, Ni content and phase composition of Zn–Ni alloy coatings are investigated via scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) combined with classical thermodynamics.

Findings

The results show that with increasing temperature, the reduction peak shifts toward a more positive electric potential, which is beneficial for the co-electric deposition process, and the diffusion coefficient is estimated. With increasing temperature, the nucleation process of the Zn–Ni alloy becomes a three-dimensional instantaneous nucleation, the typical kinetic parameters are determined using the standard 3D growth proliferation control model and the Gibbs free energy is estimated. The Zn–Ni alloy coatings are prepared via normal co-deposition. With increasing temperature, the degree of crystallinity increases, the coating gradually becomes uniform and compact and the XRD peak intensity increases.

Originality/value

The nucleation process of the Zn–Ni alloy at different temperatures is analyzed. The diffusion coefficient D and Gibbs free energy are calculated. The contribution of the three processes at different temperatures is analyzed. The effect of temperature on the morphology of the Zn–Ni alloy coatings is studied.
Impact of trust in virtual project teams: structural equation modelling approach
Authors: Sagar Sukhwant Kaur , Oladinrin Olugbenga Timo , Arif Mohammed , Kaushik Amit , Islam Rubina
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aims to focus on model development to analyse key factors affecting trust in virtual project teams (VPTs).

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was conducted on construction professionals participating in virtual teams. Structural equation modelling technique was performed to establish the effect of relevant factors on trust-building in VPTs.

Findings

Team performance is highly affected by the trust among the team members. Trust building can be enhanced by improving the quality of team communication, organisation culture, team bonding and team members’ characteristics.

Originality/value

The model developed in this study would benefit team productivity and team members’ learning in VPTs.
What resists millennials to adopt hotel booking apps? An empirical analysis based on extended innovation resistance theory
Authors: Kumar Sachin , Dhiman Neeraj , Kanojia Honey , Joshi Richa
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the factors determining the discontinuance intentions of millennials to use hotel booking apps.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative technique was followed to collect the data from the tourists, and partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was adopted to validate the proposed model.

Findings

Significant predictors of discontinuance intentions of hotel booking apps are usage barrier, values barrier, risk barrier, lack of facilitating conditions and digital self-efficacy.

Practical implications

The results of this study provide useful insights for tourism stakeholders and app developers to understand in real terms the setbacks that might be a hindrance to the users of such apps for hotel booking.

Originality/value

Despite the increasing focus of scholars toward understanding the determinants of technology adoption, the present study has extended innovation resistance theory with three novel constructs: social dependency, lack of facilitating conditions and digital self-efficacy.
Operational excellence of the steel industry using the Lean Six Sigma approach: a case study
Authors: Srinivasan Kumar , Sarulkar Parikshit , Yadav Vineet Kumar
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This article aims to focus on implementing Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in steel manufacturing to enhance productivity and quality in the galvanizing process line. In recent trends, manufacturing organizations have expressed strong interest in the LSS since they attempt to enhance its overall operations without imposing significant financial burdens.

Design/methodology/approach

This article used lean tools and Six Sigma's DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) with Yin's case study approach. This study tried to implement the LSS for the steel galvanizing process in order to reduce the number of defects using various LSS tools, including 5S, Value stream map (VSM), Pareto chart, cause and effect diagram, Design of experiments (DoE).

Findings

Results revealed a significant reduction in nonvalue-added time in the process, which led to improved productivity and Process cycle efficiency (PCE) attributed to applying lean-Kaizen techniques. By deploying the LSS, the overall PCE improved from 22% to 62%, and lead time was reduced from 1,347 min to 501 min. DoE results showed that the optimum process parameter levels decreased defects per unit steel sheet.

Practical implications

This research demonstrated how successful LSS implementation eliminates waste, improves process performance and accomplishes operational distinction in steel manufacturing.

Originality/value

Since low-cost/high-effect improvement initiatives have not been adequately presented, further research studies on adopting LSS in manufacturing sectors are needed. The cost-effective method of process improvement can be considered as an innovation.
Factors influencing attitude and intention to use autonomous vehicles in Vietnam: findings from PLS-SEM and ANFIS
Authors: Iranmanesh Mohammad , Ghobakhloo Morteza , Foroughi Behzad , Nilashi Mehrbakhsh , Yadegaridehkordi Elaheh
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore and ranks the factors that might determine attitudes and intentions toward using autonomous vehicles (AVs).

Design/methodology/approach

The “technology acceptance model” (TAM) was extended by assessing the moderating influences of personal-related factors. Data were collected from 378 Vietnamese and analysed using a combination of “partial least squares” and the “adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system” (ANFIS) technique.

Findings

The findings demonstrated the power of TAM in explaining the attitude and intention to use AVs. ANFIS enables ranking the importance of determinants and predicting the outcomes. Perceived ease of use and attitude were the most crucial drivers of attitude and intention to use AVs, respectively. Personal innovativeness negatively moderates the influence of perceived ease of use on attitude. Data privacy concerns moderate positively the impact of perceived usefulness on attitude. The moderating effect of price sensitivity was not supported.

Practical implications

These findings provide insights for policymakers and automobile companies' managers, designers and marketers on driving factors in making decisions to adopt AVs.

Originality/value

The study extends the AVs literature by illustrating the importance of personal-related factors, ranking the determinants of attitude and intention, illustrating the inter-relationships among AVs adoption factors and predicting individuals' attitudes and behaviours towards using AVs.
The leader of the pack: how Chewy became the alpha figure
Authors: Weinstein Art T. , Alegria Christopher , Araujo Daniela , Ramirez Carvallo Diana , Helena Cubides Luz , Salinas Annmarie
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Chewy, Inc. is a direct-to-consumer seller of pet food and supplies. Their approach involves a deep understanding of pet owners’ needs and behaviors to provide personalized product recommendations and exceptional customer service. This case study aims to describe Chewy’s growth strategies and how the company can remain a market leader.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the customer value assessment tool, the authors examine Chewy’s value proposition, including service, quality, image and price strategies.

Findings

Chewy has built a loyal customer base that values the company’s commitment to their pets’ health and well-being. Future opportunities include focusing on pet wellness products and services, collaborating with veterinary providers in telemedicine and international expansion.

Research limitations/implications

This work is largely conceptual and presents a descriptive case study which reviews Chewy’s marketing strategy based on industry research as well as a customer value assessment via the service-quality-image-price framework.

Practical implications

Corporate leaders must adapt to market change and create business strategies to deliver superior value for customers. This requires innovative products, services and processes. The strategic insights are applicable to retailers, service and technology firms and entrepreneurial companies seeking to scale their businesses.

Originality/value

Chewy’s highly competitive market includes Amazon, e-commerce pet supply companies and big-box pet stores. But it has dominated the online sector and has substantial growth prospects. This paper concludes with recommendations for management and questions for consideration.
Female perpetrators of child sexual abuse in the United States
Authors: Scurich Nicholas
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Research on women who sexually abuse children is relatively scarce and tends to rely on small or unrepresentative convenience samples. The purpose of the current descriptive study is to examine characteristics female perpetrators of child sexual abuse using a large and contemporary dataset.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzes data collected by the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, which is a census of all child protective services investigations or assessments conducted in all 50 states, as well as in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico from October 1, 2018, to September 30, 2019.

Findings

Only substantiated cases of sexual abuse were analyzed (n= 51,442 cases). Overall, 7.6% of the perpetrators were female, though the percentage of female perpetrators varied dramatically across states from less than 1% to over 36%. Female perpetrators tended to have younger victims than did male perpetrators. For children aged 2 or less, female perpetrators constituted approximately 20% of the abusers. Female perpetrators were more likely to victimize male and female children, whereas male perpetrators predominantly had female victims. More female perpetrators had a prior finding of maltreatment than did male perpetrators (32.3% vs 23.5%).

Research limitations/implications

These findings add to the limited research base on female perpetrators of child sexual abuse and highlight avenues for further research into the differences between male and female sexual abusers.

Originality/value

This study is a replication of previous research but also provides additional novel findings.
Modelling the WELL building concepts for office environments: PLS-SEM approach
Authors: Tan Carmen Y.M. , Rahman Rahimi A. , Lee Yong Siang
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The health, well-being and productivity (i.e. WELL) of office building occupants are vulnerable to poor office environments. Therefore, this study aims to identify new features and concepts of office buildings in supporting occupants’ WELL. To achieve that aim, this study: explores new WELL features for office buildings, develops new WELL concepts for office buildings and examines the influence of the newly developed WELL concepts on existing WELL building standard (WELL v2) concepts.

Design/methodology/approach

The first phase involved ten experts to assign weightage for health, well-being and productivity. In the second phase, 206 questionnaire survey data were collected from office building occupants throughout Malaysia. Exploratory factor analysis established new WELL concepts for office buildings. Partial least-squares structural equation modelling examined the influence of the newly developed WELL concepts on the existing WELL v2 concepts.

Findings

Two new WELL concepts were developed: “space and services”, consisting of sufficient space, workstation privacy, office layouts, building automation systems, cleanliness and information technology (IT) infrastructure, and “building security”, consisting of security systems and safety at parking lots. Here, “space and services” influences all existing WELL v2 concepts, and “building security” influences the water, nourishment, mind and community concepts of WELL v2.

Originality/value

This study uncovers holistic WELL building concepts to support occupants’ health, well-being and productivity with additional new features and concepts for construction industry policymakers to establish holistic building assessment tools.
Factors influencing residential location choice: learnings from the Indian context
Authors: Saini Preety , Pandit Debapratim
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of the present study is to explore the factors that influence the residential location choice of households in the Indian context.

Design/methodology/approach

Two sub-urban towns of Kolkata, i.e. Biddhanagar Municipal Corporation and Rajarhat Newtown, are taken as case studies. In total, 34 variables are considered related to the household's socioeconomic background (10), dwelling (3), travel (2) and level of importance of neighborhood characteristics (19). A revealed preference household survey is conducted, which resulted in the collection of 390 samples. Firstly, 19 level of importance variables are deduced to 3 latent factors using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. After that, a utility function is estimated using a multinomial logit regression to identify significant factors.

Findings

The results indicate the significance of car ownership, work travel time, work mode, monthly income, proximity to work, proximity to family/relative/friends, proximity to quality schools, quality of physical infrastructure such as water availability, power availability and housing typology among others in the residential location choice of households.

Research limitations/implications

Kolkata, a major metropolitan area in eastern India, has been experiencing space constraints to cater to the housing demand of the ever-increasing population. Although satellite towns are being developed, the infrastructure landscape in such towns is uneven, resulting in more housing demand in one area than another. The study furnishes significant findings to develop more informed policies to attract households in low-demand areas and manage high-demand areas to achieve sustainable planning.

Originality/value

Considering the importance of geographical context, it is the first study on residential location choice, providing a perspective of household behavior from eastern India. It also shows the importance of physical infrastructure attributes in residential location choice for developing countries, which is seldom employed in the current practice. Moreover, previous studies (although few) done in India consider the objective value of location characteristics. The present study focuses on subjective value or the level of importance perceived by respondents.
Reflections on theses of experimental reports for the master of translation and interpreting in China (2012–2022)
Authors: Zou Deyan , Wang Binghui
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The number of universities offering Master of Translation and Interpreting (MTI) in China has increased to 316 in 15 years. This paper aims to take a closer look at the production patterns of experimental report theses in terms of total number, distribution across universities, supervision model and research content, reflects on the problems and suggests improvements, provides a reference for MTI education in China and beyond.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of the published final theses of experimental reports for the MTI in China between the years 2012 and 2022, the period during which this type of thesis was produced, to identify the production patterns of these theses.

Findings

The number of experimental reports published by the nine leading universities accounts for 80% of the total 296 papers. The uneven development is also reflected in the supervision model and research content. Most universities can structure the main content of theses according to the suggestions of the MTI Guidance Training Outline. However, there are still deficiencies in the areas of experimental design, experimental validity, research questions and academic standards.

Originality/value

This paper reflects on the problems of MTI theses of experimental reports. Also, suggestions are made for linking top-level design and university education, for joint progress in faculty development and talent training and for integrating industrial aspects and international visions, to provide a reference for MTI education in China and beyond.
Wearable sensors for human activity recognition based on a self-attention CNN-BiLSTM model
Authors: Huafeng Guo , Changcheng Xiang , Shiqiang Chen
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aims to reduce data bias during human activity and increase the accuracy of activity recognition.

Design/methodology/approach

A convolutional neural network and a bidirectional long short-term memory model are used to automatically capture feature information of time series from raw sensor data and use a self-attention mechanism to learn select potential relationships of essential time points. The proposed model has been evaluated on six publicly available data sets and verified that the performance is significantly improved by combining the self-attentive mechanism with deep convolutional networks and recursive layers.

Findings

The proposed method significantly improves accuracy over the state-of-the-art method between different data sets, demonstrating the superiority of the proposed method in intelligent sensor systems.

Originality/value

Using deep learning frameworks, especially activity recognition using self-attention mechanisms, greatly improves recognition accuracy.
Numerical study on the effect of pillar material on the frequency shift of coupled quartz crystal resonator with pillar
Authors: Xie Yi , Zheng Baojin
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to apply the novel numerical model to analyze the effect of pillar material on the response of compound quartz crystal resonator (QCR) with an array of pillars. The performance of the proposed device compared to conventional QCR method was also investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

A finite element method model was developed to analyze the behavior of QCR coupled with an array of pillars. The model was composed of an elastic pillar, a solution and a perfectly matched layer. The validation of the model was performed through a comparison between its predictions and previous experimental measurements. Notably, a good agreement was observed between the predicted results and the experimental data.

Findings

The effect of pillar Young’s modulus on the coupled QCR and pillars with a diameter of 20 µm, a center-to-center spacing of 40 µm and a density of 2,500 kg/m3 was investigated. The results indicate that multiple vibration modes can be obtained based on Young’s modulus. Notably, in the case of the QCR–pillar in air, the second vibration mode occurred at a critical Young’s modulus of 0.2 MPa, whereas the first mode was observed at 3.75 Mpa. The vibration phase analysis revealed phase-veering behavior at the critical Young’s modulus, which resulted in a sudden jump-and-drop frequency shift. In addition, the results show that the critical Young’s modulus is dependent on the surrounding environment of the pillar. For instance, the critical Young’s modulus for the first mode of the pillar is approximately 3.75 Mpa in air, whereas it increases to 6.5 Mpa in water.

Originality/value

It was concluded that the performance of coupled QCR–pillar devices significantly depends on the pillar material. Therefore, choosing pillar material at critical Young’s modulus can lead to the maximum frequency shift of coupled QCR–pillar devices. The model developed in this work helps the researchers design pillars to achieve maximum frequency shift in their measurements using coupled QCR–pillar.
Perspectives on the scientific legacy of J. Philip Grime
Authors: Fridley Jason D. , Liu Xiaojuan , Pérez‐Harguindeguy Natalia , Chapin F. Stuart , Crawley Mick , De Deyn Gerlinde , Díaz Sandra , Grace James B. , Grubb Peter , Harrison Susan , Lavorel Sandra , Liu Zhimin , Pierce Simon , Schmid Bernhard , Stevens Carly , Wardle David A. , Westoby Mark
Published: August 2023

Perhaps as much as any other scientist in the 20th century, J.P. Grime transformed the study of plant ecology and helped shepherd the field toward international prominence as a nexus of ideas related to global environmental change. Editors at the Journal of Ecology asked a group of senior plant ecologists to comment on Grime's scientific legacy.

This commentary piece includes individual responses of 14 scientists from around the world attesting to Grime's foundational role in plant functional ecology, including his knack for sparking controversy, his unique approach to theory formulation involving clever experiments and standardized trait measurements of large numbers of species, and the continued impact of his work on ecological science and policy.
Seasonal shifts in community composition and proteome expression in a sulphur‐cycling cyanobacterial mat
Authors: Grim Sharon L. , Stuart Dack G. , Aron Phoebe , Levin Naomi E. , Kinsman‐Costello Lauren , Waldbauer Jacob R. , Dick Gregory J.
Published: August 2023

Seasonal changes in light and physicochemical conditions have strong impacts on cyanobacteria, but how they affect community structure, metabolism, and biogeochemistry of cyanobacterial mats remains unclear. Light may be particularly influential for cyanobacterial mats exposed to sulphide by altering the balance of oxygenic photosynthesis and sulphide‐driven anoxygenic photosynthesis. We studied temporal shifts in irradiance, water chemistry, and community structure and function of microbial mats in the Middle Island Sinkhole (MIS), where anoxic and sulphate‐rich groundwater provides habitat for cyanobacteria that conduct both oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis. Seasonal changes in light and groundwater chemistry were accompanied by shifts in bacterial community composition, with a succession of dominant cyanobacteria from Phormidium to Planktothrix, and an increase in diatoms, sulphur‐oxidizing bacteria, and sulphate‐reducing bacteria from summer to autumn. Differential abundance of cyanobacterial light‐harvesting proteins likely reflects a physiological response of cyanobacteria to light level. Beggiatoa sulphur oxidation proteins were more abundant in autumn. Correlated abundances of taxa through time suggest interactions between sulphur oxidizers and sulphate reducers, sulphate reducers and heterotrophs, and cyanobacteria and heterotrophs. These results support the conclusion that seasonal change, including light availability, has a strong influence on community composition and biogeochemical cycling of sulphur and O2 in cyanobacterial mats.
The significance of renewable energy, globalization, and agriculture on sustainable economic growth and green environment: Metaphorically, a two‐sided blade
Authors: Aziz Ghazala , Sarwar Suleman , Waheed Rida , Khan Mohd Saeed
Published: August 2023

The study investigates the effects of renewable energy, globalization, and agriculture on long‐term economic progress and the environment. Using a data set of Gulf Council of Countries (GCC) from 1980 to 2019, the study used panel fully modified ordinary least squares and dynamic ordinary least squares techniques. Panel data analysis results indicate the relevance of globalization, foreign investment, and trade in enhancing long‐term economic growth. Capital and globalization are the fundamental sources of environmental degradation, whereas renewable energy and trade are essential variables for mitigating environmental externalities. Agriculture has no effect on economic advancement or environmental quality in certain countries. In cross country analysis, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Saudi Arabia are found to be significant but negatively related to economic growth. Capital formation and globalization have a substantial positive impact on the environment for all countries. Renewable energy and agriculture have been found to be insignificantly connected to all GCC nations' economic growth. The study urges the policymakers to consider the current scenario of Gulf countries, as they are on the cusp of a double‐edged sword. The findings have numerous policy ramifications, notably for GCC countries.
Form follows function: Applying photographic content analysis to forensic firearm identification
Authors: Chaikovsky Alan , Pasternak Zohar , Finkelstein Nir , Chattah Netta Lev Tov , Silchenko Alexander , Levy Ophir , Cohen Amit
Published: August 2023

Drawing forensic conclusions from an image or a video is known as “photographic content analysis.” It involves the analysis of an image, as well as objects, actions, and events depicted in images or video. In recent years, photographic depictions of objects suspected as illegal firearms have substantially increased, appearing on CCTV surveillance footage, captured by mobile phones and shared on social media. However, the law in Israel states that a person can be charged with illegally possessing a firearm only if it can be proven that the object is capable of shooting with lethal bullet energy. This becomes more challenging in cases where the firearm was not physically seized, and the evidence exclusively consists of images and video. In this study, photographic content analysis was applied to images and video where objects suspected as commercial or improvised firearms had been depicted. An image and event sequence reconstruction video databases of both firearms and replicas were created in order to better define firearm‐specific functional morphological features. We demonstrate that it is possible to classify an object as a firearm by analyzing the functional, and not only the esthetic, morphology in images and video. It is also shown that event sequence reconstruction in video may be used to infer that an object suspected as a firearm has the capacity to shoot by confirming the occurrence of a shooting act or shooting process. Thus, photographic content analysis may be used to forensically establish that an object depicted in an image or a video is a firearm by ruling out other known scenarios, and without physically seizing it.