bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RNA G-quadruplexes forming scaffolds for α-synuclein aggregation lead to progressive neurodegeneration
Authors: Matsuo Kazuya , Asamitsu Sefan , Maeda Kohei , Kawakubo Kosuke , Komiya Ginji , Kudo Kenta , Sakai Yusuke , Hori Karin , Ikenoshita Susumu , Usuki Shingo , Funahashi Shiori , Kawata Yasushi , Mizobata Tomohiro , Shioda Norifumi , Yabuki Yasushi
Published: July 2023

Synucleinopathies, including Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy, are triggered by the aggregation of α-synuclein, leading to progressive neurodegeneration1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. However, the intracellular mechanism of α-synuclein aggregation remains unclear. Here we show that assembly of RNA G-quadruplexes forming scaffolds for α-synuclein aggregation, contributing to neurodegeneration. Purified α-synuclein binds RNA G-quadruplexes directly through the N-terminus. RNA G-quadruplex itself undergoes phase separation and assembly by Ca2+, accelerating the sol–gel phase transition of α-synuclein. In α-synuclein preformed fibrils-treated neurons, RNA G-quadruplexes assembly composed of synaptic mRNAs co-aggregates with α-synuclein upon Ca2+excess influx into cytoplasm, eliciting synaptic dysfunction. Forced assembly of RNA G-quadruplexes using an optogenetic approach evokes α-synuclein aggregation, neuronal dysfunction and neurodegeneration. Administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid, a prodrug of protoporphyrin IX that prevents phase separation of RNA G-quadruplexes9, attenuating α-synuclein aggregation, neurodegeneration, and progressive motor deficits in α-synuclein preformed fibrils-injected synucleinopathy mice. Together, assembly of RNA G-quadruplexes due to dysregulation of intracellular Ca2+homeostasis accelerates α-synuclein phase transition and aggregation may contribute to pathogenesis of synucleinopathies.
Suppressive might of a few: T follicular regulatory cells impede auto-reactivity despite being outnumbered in the germinal centres
Authors: Schips Marta , Mitra Tanmay , Bandyopadhyay Arnab , Meyer-Hermann Michael
Published: July 2023

The selection of high-affinity B cells and the production of high-affinity antibodies are mediated by T follicular helper cells (Tfhs) within germinal centres (GCs). Therein, somatic hypermutation and selection enhance B cell affinity but risk the emergence of self-reactive B cell clones. Despite being outnumbered compared to their helper counterpart, the ablation of T follicular regulatory cells (Tfrs) results in enhanced dissemination of self-reactive antibody-secreting cells (ASCs). The specific mechanisms by which Tfrs exert their regulatory action on self-reactive B cells are largely unknown. We developed computer simulations to investigate how Tfrs regulate either selection or differentiation of B cells to prevent auto-reactivity. We observed that Tfr-induced apoptosis of self-reactive B cells during the selection phase impedes self-reactivity with physiological Tfr numbers, especially when Tfrs can access centrocyte-enriched GC areas. While this aided in selecting non-self-reactive B cells by restraining competition, higher Tfr numbers distracted non-self-reactive B cells from receiving survival signals from Tfhs. Thus, the location and number of Tfrs must be regulated to circumvent suchTfr distractionand avoid disrupting GC evolution. In contrast, when Tfrs regulate differentiation of selected centrocytes by promoting recycling to the dark zone phenotype of self-reactive GC resident pre-plasma cells (GCPCs), higher Tfr numbers were required to impede the circulation of self-reactive ASCs (s–ASCs). On the other hand, Tfr-engagement with GCPCs and subsequent apoptosis of s–ASCs can control self-reactivity with low Tfr numbers, but does not confer selection advantage to non-self-reactive B cells. The simulations predict that to restrict auto-reactivity, natural redemption of self-reactive B cells is insufficient and that Tfrs should increase the mutation probability of self-reactive B cells.
In-Silicoanalysis of Human Insulin Gene for Mirror repeat sequences
Authors: Yadav Manisha , Sehrawat Barkha , Yadav Pooja , Kumari Jyoti , Yadav Priyanka , Yadav Shivani , Yadav Rachna , Singh Amrita , Yadav Sandeep
Published: July 2023

The genetic material contains all the instructions necessary for the development, functioning & regulation of biological processes. This is also considering as a regulatory molecule. The structure constitute by its unique pattern of bases make it unique for every living being consider from bacteria to human. The varied pattern of bases in genomes or genes represents different types of repeats. These repeats types constitute the major fraction of the genomes. Among varied types Mirror repeats (MR’s) play crucial roles in the genome especially in formation of H-DNA structure by Non Watson pairing. Some studies suggest that mirror sequences responsible for neurological diseases also. Now days in modern era of technologyin silicotechniques were develop to extract any type of repeat sequences from any gene or genome. The major focus of current work is on identification of mirror repeats (MR’s) from human insulin gene sequence using anin silicoapproach. The approach is refer to as FPCB (FASTA Parallel Complement Analysis) were utilized to extract MR sequences. From the current study a total no of 210 MR sequenced were identified in Human insulin gene. The identified repeats vary in their length and majority of them are imperfect in nature. The maximum no of MR were reported in the region 3 & minimum is in the region 8 (8). In the remaining regions the no of MR sequences were lies in between maximum & minimum values. These sequences may be helpful in many molecular level studies.
Bursts of novel composite gene families at major nodes in animal evolution
Authors: Mulhair Peter O. , Moran Raymond J. , Pathmanathan Jananan S. , Sussfeld Duncan , Creevey Christopher J. , Siu-Ting Karen , Whelan Fiona J. , Pisani Davide , Constantinides Bede , Pelletier Eric , Lopez Philippe , Bapteste Eric , McInerney James O. , O’Connell Mary J.
Published: July 2023

A molecular level perspective on how novel phenotypes evolve is contingent on our understanding of how genomes evolve through time, and of particular interest is how novel elements emerge or are lost. Mechanisms of protein evolution such as gene duplication have been well established. Studies of gene fusion events show they often generate novel functions and adaptive benefits. Identifying gene fusion and fission events on a genome scale allows us to establish the mode and tempo of emergence of composite genes across the animal tree of life, and allows us to test the repeatability of evolution in terms of determining how often composite genes can arise independently. Here we show that ∼5% of all animal gene families are composite, and their phylogenetic distribution suggests an abrupt, rather than gradual, emergence during animal evolution. We find that gene fusion occurs at a higher rate than fission (73.3% vs 25.4%) in animal composite genes, but many gene fusions (79% of the 73.3%) have more complex patterns including subsequent fission or loss. We demonstrate that nodes such as Bilateria, Euteleostomi, and Eutheria, have significantly higher rates of accumulation of composite genes. We observe that in general deuterostomes have a greater amount of composite genes as compared to protostomes. Intriguingly, up to 41% of composite gene families have evolved independently in different clades showing that the same solutions to protein innovation have evolved time and again in animals.

Significance statement

New genes emerge and are lost from genomes over time. Mechanisms that can produce new genes include, but are not limited to, gene duplication, retrotransposition,de novogene genesis, and gene fusion/fission. In this work, we show that new genes formed by fusing distinct homologous gene families together comprise a significant portion of the animal proteome. Their pattern of emergence through time is not gradual throughout the animal phylogeny - it is intensified on nodes of major transition in animal phylogeny. Interestingly, we see that evolution replays the tape frequently in these genes with 41% of gene fusion/fission events occurring independently throughout animal evolution.
A large sensory and multi-omics evaluation unraveled chemical and genetic basis of orange flavor
Authors: Fan Zhen , Jeffries Kristen A. , Sun Xiuxiu , Olmedo Gabriela , Zhao Wei , Mattia Matthew R. , Stover Ed , Manthey John A. , Baldwin Elizabeth A. , Lee Seonghee , Gmitter Frederick G. , Plotto Anne , Bai Jinhe
Published: July 2023

Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) exhibits limited genetic diversity and high susceptibility to Huanglongbing (HLB). New HLB-tolerant orange-like hybrids are promising alternatives. However, the genetic control of key flavor compounds in oranges remains unknown. Evaluating 179 juice samples, including oranges, mandarins,Poncirus trifoliataand hybrids, distinct volatile compositions were found. A random forest model predicted untrained samples with 78% accuracy and identified 26 compounds crucial for orange flavor. Notably, seven esters—methyl hexanoate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl 3-hydroxyhexanoate, ethyl octanoate, methyl butanoate, ethyl butanoate, and ethyl 2-methylbutanoate—differentiated orange from mandarin. Cluster analysis showed six esters with shared genetic control. Differential gene expression analysis identifiedCsAAT1, analcohol acyltransferaseresponsible for ester production in orange. Its activity was validated through overexpression assays. A SNP-based DNA marker in the CDS region accurately predicted phenotypes. This study enhances our understanding of orange flavor compounds, their biosynthetic pathways, and expands breeding options for orange-like cultivars.
OrgaMapper: A robust and easy-to-use workflow for analyzing organelle positioning
Authors: Schmied Christopher , Ebner Michael , Ferré Paula Samsó , Haucke Volker , Lehmann Martin
Published: July 2023

Eukaryotic cells are highly compartmentalized by a variety of organelles that carry out specific cellular processes. The position of these organelles within the cell is elaborately regulated and vital for their function. For instance, the position of lysosomes relative to the nucleus controls their degradative capacity and is altered in pathophysiological conditions. The molecular components orchestrating the precise localization of organelles remain incompletely understood. A confounding factor in these studies is the fact that organelle positioning is surprisingly non-trivial to address. E.g., perturbations that affect the localization of organelles often lead to secondary phenotypes such as changes in cell or organelle size. These phenotypes could potentially mask effects or lead to the identification of false positive hits. To uncover and test potential molecular components at scale, accurate and easy to use analysis tools are required that allow robust measurements of organelle positioning.

Here, we present an analysis workflow for the faithful, robust, and quantitative analysis of organelle positioning phenotypes. Our workflow consists of an easy to use Fiji plugin and an R Shiny App. These tools enable users without background in image or data analysis to (1) segment single cells and nuclei and to detect organelles, (2) to measure cell size and the distance between detected organelles and the nucleus, (3) to measure intensities in the organelle channel plus one additional channel, and (4) to plot the results in informative graphs. Using simulated data and immunofluorescent images of cells in which the function of known factors for lysosome positioning has been perturbed, we show that the workflow is robust against common problems for the accurate assessment of organelle positioning such as changes of cell shape and size, organelle size and background.
FKBP14kyphoscoliotic Ehlers–Danlos syndrome misdiagnosed as Larsen syndrome: a case report
Authors: Wiegand Amy , Kastury Rama , Neogi Arpita , Mani Arya , Bale Allen , Cox Allison
Published: July 2023

Hereditary connective tissue disorders have overlapping phenotypes, particularly in regard to musculoskeletal features. This contributes to the challenge of phenotype-based clinical diagnoses. However, some hereditary connective tissue disorders have distinct cardiovascular manifestations that require early intervention and specific management. Molecular testing has increased the ability to categorize and diagnose distinct hereditary connective tissue disorders. A 42-yr-old female with a clinical diagnosis of Larsen syndrome from birth presented for genetic testing based on her recent diagnosis of premenopausal breast cancer. She had a past medical history of multiple carotid dissections. As she never had confirmatory molecular genetic testing for Larsen syndrome, whole-exome sequencing was utilized to assess both hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes and connective tissue disorders. A homozygous pathogenic variant in theFKBP14gene was identified associated withFKBP14kyphoscoliotic Ehlers–Danlos syndrome. We recommend that patients with a clinical diagnosis of Larsen syndrome undergo broad-based molecular sequencing for multiple hereditary connective tissue disorders. Molecular diagnosis is particularly crucial for all individuals who have a history of significant vascular events in the setting of a clinical diagnosis only. Early diagnosis of a hereditary connective tissue disorder with vascular features allows for screening and subsequent prevention of cardiovascular events.
Unified solution of some problems of rectangular plates with four free edges based on symplectic superposition method
Authors: Su Xin , Bai Eburilitu , Hai Guojun
Published: July 2023

Purpose

A unified framework for solving the bending, buckling and vibration problems of rectangular thin plates (RTPs) with four free edges (FFFF), including isotropic RTPs, orthotropic rectangular thin plates (ORTPs) and nano-rectangular plates, is established by using the symplectic superposition method (SSM).

Design/methodology/approach

The original fourth-order partial differential equation is first rewritten into Hamiltonian system. The class of boundary value problems of the original equation is decomposed into three subproblems, and each subproblem is given the corresponding symplectic eigenvalues and symplectic eigenvectors by using the separation variable method in Hamiltonian system. The symplectic orthogonality and completeness of symplectic eigen-vectors are proved. Then, the symplectic eigenvector expansion method is applied to solve the each subproblem. Then, the symplectic superposition solution of the boundary value problem of the original fourth-order partial differential equation is given through superposing analytical solutions of three foundation plates.

Findings

The bending, vibration and buckling problems of the rectangular nano-plate/isotropic rectangular thin plate/orthotropic rectangular thin plate with FFFF can be solved by the unified symplectic superposition solution respectively.

Originality/value

The symplectic superposition solution obtained is a reference solution to verify the feasibility of other methods. At the same time, it can be used for parameter analysis to deeply understand the mechanical behavior of related RTPs. The advantages of this method are as follows: (1) It provides a systematic framework for solving the boundary value problem of a class of fourth-order partial differential equations. It is expected to solve more complicated boundary value problems of partial differential equations. (2) SSM uses series expansion of symplectic eigenvectors to accurately describe the solution. Moreover, symplectic eigenvectors are orthogonal and directly reflect the orthogonal relationship of vibration modes. (3) The SSM can be carried to bending, buckling and free vibration problems of the same plate with other boundary conditions.
The neoliberalization of Indian business schools: how accreditation-linked institutional pressures shape academic subjectivities
Authors: Kumar Ritesh , Prasad Ajnesh
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study revisits the discourse on the neoliberalization of business schools and explores how accreditation-linked institutional pressures catalyze cultural change that adversely impact academic labor and academic subjectivities in the Global South.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on in-depth semi-structured interviews with academics from elite business schools in India.

Findings

This study shows how academics encounter institutional pressures in Indian business schools. Three major themes emerged from the data: (1) the conception of the ideal academic that existed before accreditation, (2) how the conception of the ideal academic was fundamentally transformed during and after accreditation, and (3) the challenges academics experienced in achieving the performance targets introduced by accreditation-linked institutional pressures.

Originality/value

This study offers two contributions to the extant literature on business schools located in the Global South: (1) it illustrates how organizational changes within business schools in India are structured by accreditation-linked institutional pressures coming from the Global North, and (2) it adds to the growing body of work on neoliberal governmentality by highlighting the implications of accreditation-liked institutional pressures on academic subjectivities.
Building a community of allies and upstanders: UsingThe Assignmentto disrupt hate, bias and antisemitism
Authors: Koss Melanie D. , Greenblatt Deborah
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Recognizing that hate crimes and antisemitic attacks are increasing, the purpose of this article is to discuss waysThe Assignmentby Liza Wiemer, a contemporary young adult novel that depicts curriculum violence and its effects on students, acts as a “disruptor” in young adult literature. The authors present a rationale for using young adult literature on The Holocaust in high school classrooms to challenge the status quo and identify ways to become upstanders in the face of hate.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a content analysis using a critical literacy framework, the authors analyzedThe Assignmentfor pedagogical ways to use the novel to challenge educators and students to examine and rethink how they feel about hate, bias and antisemitism.

Findings

Four ways the novel can be used as a disrupter were identified: text structure and language, pedagogical practices and curriculum violence, the student/peer/authority figure power dynamic and challenging accepted beliefs that can lead to bias, hate and antisemitism.

Practical implications

Although all individuals can be impacted by hate and antisemitism, this article focuses on young adults as they are the novel’s target audience. However, the authors believe people of all ages have the potential to disrupt societal practices and become upstanders and suggest ideas in this article be applied broadly to other novels and teaching situations.

Originality/value

A focus is on the ways the novel can build a community of allies and upstanders – students as agents of change rather than complacent bystanders. As bias, hate and antisemitism are on the rise, this article presents a unique way to combat it through literature and critical discussion.
Gender disparities in financial resilience: insights from South Africa
Authors: Zeka Bomikazi , Alhassan Abdul Latif
Published: July 2023

Purpose

While the extant literature has explored issues related to the access, usage and availability of financial services, the ability of households to withstand financial adversities, particularly those living under economically vulnerable conditions, requires further attention. The paper presents a gendered analysis of financial resilience behaviour in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a nationally representative sample of 4,880 households, this paper constructs a financial resilience behaviour index (FRBI) covering savings, credit, insurance, and retirement planning behaviours. The gendered effect of demographic characteristics on financial resilience is examined using the ordinary least square and seemingly unrelated regression techniques.

Findings

The results show that low levels of financial resilience were present across the sample with insurance observed to be the greatest driver of financial resilience, followed by retirement planning, savings and credit respectively. Furthermore, the analysis highlights that a gender gap in financial resilience exists as men are characterized with higher financial resilience behaviour compared to women. The results also suggest that employed women and women with higher levels of education are associated with greater financial resilience.

Practical implications

Based on these results, improving access to higher education and employment opportunities for women will enhance their financial resilience and contribute towards addressing SDG (5) on gender equality.

Originality/value

As far as the authors are aware, this paper presents the first empirical analysis of the gender gaps in socio-demographic characteristics that explain financial resilience in South Africa.
Living with water: quantitative assessment of property-level resilience to urban flooding
Authors: Amadi Alolote , Adeniyi Onaopepo
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to quantitively assess the resilience of residential properties to urban flooding in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and assess whether they vary at spatially aggregated scales relative to the level of flood exposure.

Design/methodology/approach

The study synthesizes theoretical constructs/indicators for quantifying property level resilience, as a basis for measuring resilience. Using a two-stage purposive/stratified randomized sampling approach, 407 questionnaires were sent out to residents of 25 flood-prone areas, to solicit information on the resilience constructs as indicated by the adaptation behaviors of individual households and their property attributes. A principal component analysis approach is used as a mechanism for weighting the indicators, based on which aggregated spatial-scale resilience indices were computed for the 25 sampled areas relative to their levels of flood exposure.

Findings

Area 11 located in the moderate flood zone has the lowest resilience index, while Area 20 located in the high flood zone has the highest resilience index. The resilience indices for the low, moderate and high flood zone show only minimal and statistically insignificant differences indicating maladaptation even with incremental levels of flood exposure.

Practical implications

The approach to resilience measurement exemplifies a reproducible lens through which the concept of “living with floods” can be holistically assessed at the property level while highlighting the nexus of the social and technical dimensions.

Originality/value

The study moves beyond theoretical conceptualization, to empirically quantify the complex concept of property-level flood resilience.
Investment decisions determinants in the GCC cryptocurrency market: a behavioural finance perspective
Authors: Abdeldayem Marwan , Aldulaimi Saeed
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of financial and behavioural factors on investment decisions in the cryptocurrency market within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the cross-sectional absolute deviation methodology developed by Changet al.(2000) to determine the existence of herding behaviour during extreme conditions in the cryptocurrency market of four GCC countries: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and UAE. In addition, a questionnaire survey was distributed to 322 investors from the GCC cryptocurrency markets to gather data on their investment decisions.

Findings

The study finds that the herding theory, prospect theory and heuristics theory account for 16.5% of the variance in investors' choices in the GCC cryptocurrency market. The regression analysis results show no multicollinearity problems, and a highF-statistic indicates the general model's acceptability in the results.

Practical implications

The study's findings suggest that behavioural and financial factors play a significant role in investors' choices in the GCC cryptocurrency market. The study's results can be used by investors to better understand the impact of these factors on their investment decisions and to develop more effective investment strategies. In addition, the study's findings can be used by policymakers to develop regulations that consider the impact of behavioural and financial factors on the GCC cryptocurrency market.

Originality/value

This study adds to the body of literature in two different ways. Initially, motivated by earlier research examining the impact of behaviour finance factors on investment decisions, the authors look at how the behaviour finance factors affect investment decisions of the GCC cryptocurrency market. To extend most of these studies, this study uses a regime-switching model that accounts for two different market states. Second, by considering the recent crisis and more recent periods involving more cryptocurrencies, the authors have contributed to several studies examining the impact of behavioural financial factors on investment decisions in cryptocurrency markets. In fact, very few studies have examined the impact of behavioural finance on cryptocurrency markets. Therefore, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to investigate how behavioural finance factors influence investment decisions in the GCC cryptocurrency market. This allows to better illuminate the factors driving herd behaviour in the GCC cryptocurrency market.
Factors causing delays in the UAE construction industry amid the Covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Alajmani Haitham , Ahmed Salma , El-Sayegh Sameh Monir
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to measure the severity, frequency and importance of the factors causing delays in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) construction industry following the Covid-19 pandemic onset. The study also measures the likelihood of the effects caused by these delays.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed approach of both qualitative and quantitative. Literature review was conducted to extract 40 factors of delays and 10 effects of delays. A survey was then administered to construction professionals in the UAE to collect the perceptions on the severity and frequency of factors of the causes of delays using a Likert Scale of 1–5 where 1 represented very low and 5 represented very high. Similarly, the respondents were also asked to rate the likelihood of the occurrence of the effects of the delays based on a Likert scale of 1–5 as well. Furthermore, Spearman’s rank correlation was also conducted to compute the level of agreement between the different parties; owner, consultants and contractors.

Findings

The results revealed that the top five factors of delays include: award the project for the lowest bidder, delay in progress payment, change orders by the owner, poor subcontractor performance and inadequate planning and scheduling by the contractor. The findings of this study emphasize the financial challenges and economic crisis brought upon the construction industry due to the pandemic. Furthermore, the pandemic also shifted the perceptions of construction professionals, who are now more aware of the delays caused by awarding the project to the lowest bidder who would not have the required qualifications to conduct efficient planning and scheduling that are relevant in the case of extraordinary events such as Covid-19. Moreover, a high level of agreement between the consultants and contractors was observed, with a Spearman’s rank correlation of 0.804. Additionally, the most likely effects of delays concluded from this study were time overrun/extension and poor quality of work.

Originality/value

Literature review is very rich in the field of construction projects delays. However, there is very limited research on the impact of Covid-19 in the context of construction projects delays, and insights from construction professionals regarding this matter are particularly lacking in literature. Therefore, this paper bridges the gap in literature by providing perceptions of construction professionals on the impact of Covid-19 on the factors causing delays in the UAE construction industry. The findings of this research are expected to be an invaluable resource for future to help the construction industry heal faster when encountering similar epidemics or extraordinary events.
Value relevance of audit opinions in an emerging market: evidence from Morocco
Authors: El Badlaoui Amine , Cherqaoui Mariam
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to determine whether audit opinions in Morocco, an emerging market, are value relevant to the stock market, through the investigation of the market reaction to the issuance of modified audit opinions (MAOs).

Design/methodology/approach

The event study approach is used. The data are derived from the financial reports of listed companies on the Casablanca Stock Exchange over a period of 10 years from 2010 to 2019.

Findings

This paper does not find evidence that the market reacts to the issuance of MAOs when grouped together. When partitioning the sample by types, there is an evidence of a stock market reaction to qualified audit opinions and the qualified audit opinions with observation paragraph when they are combined with a negative variation of earnings per share. Examination of the impact of different natures of qualifications shows no consistent results and that the market does not distinguish between natures of qualifications.

Research limitations/implications

These results may be due to the fact that some investors have information about the audit opinion long before it is made public, due to privileged access to audit opinions, or that investors underestimate audit opinions relative to other financial indicators.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing literature by investigating an emerging market, not previously tested, after the introduction of several regulatory reforms in Moroccan market aimed at enhancing transparency in financial reporting. It refines the market reaction models used in previous studies by using both ordinary least squares and the Scholes–Williams techniques that correct for the effect of thin trading on the market index. In addition, special attention is given to studying the market reaction to each type of MAOs and to each natures of qualifications.
Inverse data envelopment analysis optimization approaches with flexible measures
Authors: Jahani Sayyad Noveiri Monireh , Kordrostami Sohrab , Ghiyasi Mojtaba
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to estimate inputs (outputs) and flexible measures when outputs (inputs) are changed provided that the relative efficiency values remain without change.

Design/methodology/approach

A novel inverse data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach with flexible measures is proposed in this research to assess inputs (outputs) and flexible measures when outputs (inputs) are perturbed on condition that the relative efficiency scores remain unchanged. Furthermore, flexible inverse DEA approaches proposed in this study are used for a numerical example from the literature and an application of Iranian banking industry to clarify and validate them.

Findings

The findings show that including flexible measures into the investigation effects on the changes of performance measures estimated and leads to more reasonable achievements.

Originality/value

The traditional inverse DEA models usually investigate the changes of some determinate input-output factors for the changes of other given input-output indicators assuming that the efficiency values are preserved. However, there are situations that the changes of performance measures should be tackled while some measures, called flexible measures, can play either input or output roles. Accordingly, inverse DEA optimization models with flexible measures are rendered in this paper to address these issues.
Real Estate Insights Unleashing the potential of ChatGPT in property valuation reports: the “Red Book” compliance Chain-of-thought (CoT) prompt engineering
Authors: Cheung Ka Shing
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This viewpoint article explores the transformative capabilities of large language models (LLMs) like the Chat Generative Pre-training Transformer (ChatGPT) within the property valuation industry. It particularly accentuates the pivotal role of prompt engineering in facilitating valuation reporting and advocates for adopting the “Red Book” compliance Chain-of-thought (COT) prompt engineering as a gold standard for generating AI-facilitated valuation reports.

Design/methodology/approach

The article offers a high-level examination of the application of LLMs in real estate research, highlighting the essential role of prompt engineering for future advancements in generative AI. It explores the collaborative dynamic between valuers and AI advancements, emphasising the importance of precise instructions and contextual cues in directing LLMs to generate accurate and reproducible valuation outcomes.

Findings

Integrating LLMs into property valuation processes paves the way for efficiency improvements and task automation, such as generating reports and drafting contracts. AI-facilitated reports offer unprecedented transparency and elevate client experiences. The fusion of valuer expertise with prompt engineering ensures the reliability and interpretability of valuation reports.

Practical implications

Delineating the types and versions of LLMs used in AI-generated valuation reports encourage the adoption of transparency best practices within the industry. Valuers, as expert prompt engineers, can harness the potential of AI to enhance efficiency, accuracy and transparency in the valuation process, delivering significant benefits to a broad array of stakeholders.

Originality/value

The article elucidates the substantial impact of prompt engineering in leveraging LLMs within the property industry. It underscores the importance of valuers training their unique GPT models, enabling customisation and reproducibility of valuation outputs. The symbiotic relationship between valuers and LLMs is identified as a key driver shaping the future of property valuations.
The influence of subordinates' proactive personality, supervisors' I-deals on subordinates' affective commitment and occupational well-being: mediating role of subordinates' I-deals
Authors: Bhawna  , Sharma Sanjeev Kumar , Gautam Prashant Kumar
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study intends to investigate how an employee's proactive personality and a supervisor's idiosyncratic deals (i-deals) relate to their subordinates' affective commitment (AC) and occupational well-being (OWB), in light of the mediating role of subordinates' i-deals, using proactive motivation theory and the job demand–resource (JD-R) model as theoretical foundations.

Design/methodology/approach

The study consisted of 342 employees working in the hospitality industry. To examine the proposed model, the researchers used the structural equation modelling approach and bootstrapping method in AMOS.

Findings

The results affirmed the influence of subordinates' proactiveness on AC and OWB, but no direct influence of supervisors' prior i-deals on subordinates' AC and OWB was established. When investigating the mediational role of subordinates' i-deals, a partial mediation effect was found between subordinates' proactive personality with AC and OWB, whereas full mediation was established between supervisors' i-deals and subordinates' AC and OWB.

Practical implications

These findings shed light on how i-deals improve AC and OWB for both groups of supervisors and subordinates. In an era of increasing competition amongst organizations operating within the hospitality industry, i-deals serve as a human resource strategy to recruit, develop and retain talented individuals.

Originality/value

The novelty of this research lies in its specific investigation of the combined influence of proactive personality as an individual factor and supervisors' i-deals as an organizational factor on subordinates' i-deals within the context of the hospitality industry. Furthermore, it aims to analyse the potential impact of these factors on AC and OWB.
Punish or reward? How to strengthen supervision of nucleic acid testing
Authors: Kai Ji , Liu Ming , Wang Yue , Zhang Ding
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Nucleic acid testing is an effective method of accurate prevention and control and a key measure to block the spread of the epidemic. However, the fraud in nucleic acid testing occurred frequently during epidemics. This paper aims to provide a viable scheme for the government to strengthen the supervision of nucleic acid testing and to provide a new condition for the punishment for the negative act of the government and the upper limit of the reward for nucleic acid testing institution of no data fraud.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper formulates an evolutionary game model between the government and nucleic acid testing institution under four different mechanisms of reward and punishment to solve the issue of nucleic acid testing supervision. The authors discuss the stability of equilibrium points under the four distinct strategies and conduct simulation experiments.

Findings

The authors find that the strategy of dynamic reward and static penalty outperforms the strategies of static reward and static penalty, dynamic reward and static penalty, static reward and dynamic penalty, dynamic reward and dynamic penalty. The results reveal the appropriate punishment for the negative act of the government can enhance the positivity of the government's supervision in the strategy of dynamic reward and static penalty, while the upper limit of the reward for nucleic acid testing institution of no data fraud cannot be too high. Otherwise, it will backfire. Another interesting and counterintuitive result is that in the strategy of dynamic reward and dynamic penalty, the upper limit of the penalty for data fraud of nucleic acid testing institution cannot be augmented recklessly. Otherwise, it will diminish the government's positivity for supervision.

Originality/value

Most of the existing evolutionary game researches related to the reward and punishment mechanism and data fraud merely highlight that increasing the intensity of reward and punishment can help improve the government's supervision initiative and can minimize data fraud of nucleic acid institution, but they fall short of the boundary conditions for the punishment and reward mechanism. Previous literature only study the supervision of nucleic acid testing qualitatively and lacks quantitative research. Moreover, they do not depict the problem scenario of testing data fraud of nucleic acid institution regulated by the government via the evolutionary game model. Thus, this study effectively bridges these gaps. This research is universal and can be extended to other industries.
Beyond mission drift: understanding the spaces of vulnerability in social enterprises’ missions
Authors: Golbspan Lutz Fernanda , Petrini Maira , Aguilar Delgado Natalia
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Previous literature has emphasized that social enterprises (SEs) are challenged by their pursuit of divergent social and financial goals, often resulting in tensions leading to a mission drift. This study aims to provide an alternative view wherein these organizations fail to make deliberate and exclusive choices between their goals. In this paper, the authors critically review previous findings on mission drift and present a new concept built on the paradox theory.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper draws upon previous literature on mission drift in SEs. The authors took an integrative review approach to provide an overview of the topic in which the research is still interdisciplinary. The paradox theory approach has been used to guide the discussion and expand the findings.

Findings

The authors put forward the concept of spaces of vulnerability, which arise from the tensions faced by SEs between their social and financial objectives and which can lead them to suffer mission drift. The authors propose to shift attention from the sources and strategies of mission drift to the processes involved in the composition of those spaces where missions can become more vulnerable but not necessarily drift.

Practical implications

This perspective adds value to practitioners by increasing the likelihood of SEs surviving multiple logics and clarifying conflicts between social and financial goals in advance. Founders and managers might not only balance their dual missions but also understand their respective roots underlying typologies with regards to decision-making.

Originality/value

The authors enrich the literature by exploring how SEs can deal with tensions related to their multiple goals and sustain their social mission in the long term by offering a theoretical discussion and new forms to consider their dual objectives.
Drivers of sustainability: technological and relational factors influencing young consumers’ green buying intentions and green actual consumption behavior
Authors: Khan Naseer Abbas , Hassan Sajid , Pravdina Natalya , Akhtar Maria
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore the factors that influence young green actual consumption behavior (GACB) by examining the relational and technological aspects that are dependent on technology and youth green buying intention (GBI). Additionally, this study endeavors to examine the moderating effect of adolescent green organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) on the association between young consumer GBI and young GACB.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this study was collected from a sample of 282 university students located in the southern region of China. A time lag approach was used in this study, with data being gathered during two separate intervals spaced apart by duration of two months.

Findings

The findings of this study demonstrate that both technological and relational factors play a significant role in predicting young consumer GBI, which in turn predicts young GACB. Additionally, the results indicate that GBI is a crucial facilitator in the investigation. Furthermore, the results reveal that young green OCB serves as a significant moderator, enhancing the association between young consumer GBI and young consumer GACB.

Originality/value

The present study provides a novel perspective on the examination of how technology and relational factors impact young consumers, offering a deeper understanding of their intentions and actual consumption behavior. The findings of this study offer both theoretical and practical implications for academics, policymakers, senior managers and practitioners, providing valuable insights into the field.
Better bushfire safety decision‐making: Making sense of complexities and challenges surrounding ‘Stay or Go’ and the Australian Fire Danger Rating System
Authors: Dwyer Graham , Schauble John
Published: July 2023

In the context of bushfires (and other emergencies), state agencies should avoid developing policy and/or advice that locks people into rigid binary choices. In Victoria, Australia post‐fire inquiries have found the bushfire safety advice often referred to as ‘Stay (and defend your property) or Go (early before the fire arrives)’ to be contradictory and competing in its logic. However, this advice continues to provide a basis for positive community safety outcomes. It can still be used effectively by policy makers and practitioners within emergency management agencies to inform and educate a highly urbanised society that has become experientially detached from bushfire. With the introduction of the Australian Fire Danger Ratings System and climate challenges ahead, it appears that logics at the core of ‘Stay or Go’ will continue to offer communities located alongside complex bushfire risk in urban, regional, and rural areas a basis for appropriate safety decisions using the best available information.

Points for practitioners

Provides guidelines for ways in which ‘Stay or Go’ advice can continue to be used by emergency management policy makers and practitioners as a basis for positive community safety outcomes from bushfire risk.

Challenges suggestions from significant bushfire inquiries that the logics at the core of ‘Stay or Go’ contradict each other. Staying and defending a home or leaving early offer a basis for surviving bushfire depending on individual circumstances—practitioners should ensure that this is a key message of bushfire education campaigns.

Provides pathways for practitioners and the community to work together and co‐create collaborative bushfire plans whereby preparing for bushfire risk is a shared responsibility.
State‐Owned Enterprises and Cross‐Border Alliances
Authors: Huang Chenchen , Ozkan Neslihan , Xu Fangming
Published: July 2023

This study examines the international alliance activities of state‐owned enterprises (SOEs). We find that country‐level political and economic factors, such as autocracy, foreign ownership restrictions, foreign currency reserve, and industry dissimilarity, increase the likelihood of SOEs’ participation in cross‐border alliances. Our analyses further reveal that foreign firms tend to collaborate with local SOEs when facing high expropriation risks and the presence of a state‐dominated banking system in the host country. Further, foreign firms experience higher announcement returns when they ally with local SOEs rather than with non‐SOEs. This result suggests that the exclusive benefits from SOEs are value‐creating for the international alliance partners. Overall, our findings provide novel insights into the determinants and wealth effect of SOEs’ engagement in international alliance activities.
Longitudinal assessment of strength and body composition in a mouse model of chronic alcohol‐related myopathy
Authors: Ganjayi Muni Swamy , Brown Austin M. , Baumann Cory W.
Published: July 2023

Background

Excessive, chronic alcohol consumption can result in muscle atrophy and weakness (i.e., alcoholic myopathy) that impairs the quality of life. However, the precise mechanisms responsible for ethanol's detrimental impact on skeletal muscle have not been fully elucidated, in part due because the time course of disease development and progression are not well established. Therefore, we examined muscle strength and body composition longitudinally using an established preclinical mouse model of chronic alcoholic myopathy.

Methods

To establish a time course of chronic alcoholic myopathy, we fed High Drinking in the Dark (HDID) female mice (n = 7) 20% ethanol for ~32 weeks (following a 2‐week ethanol ramping period). We assessed in vivo isometric contractility of the left ankle dorsiflexor and lean mass via NMR every 4 weeks. Outcomes were compared with age‐matched control HDID mice that did not consume ethanol (n = 8).

Results

At study completion, mice who consumed ethanol were 12% weaker than control mice (p = 0.015). Compared to baseline, consuming ethanol resulted in an acute transient reduction in dorsiflexion torque at Week 4 (p = 0.032) that was followed by a second, more sustained reduction at Week 20 (p < 0.001). Changes in lean mass paralleled those of dorsiflexor torque, with ~40% of the variance in dorsiflexor torque being explained by the variance in lean mass of the ethanol group (p < 0.001). Dorsiflexor torque normalized to lean mass (mN·m/g lean mass) did not differ between the ethanol and control groups from Weeks 4 to 32 (p ≥ 0.498).

Conclusions

These results indicate that reductions in muscle mass and strength due to chronic, excessive ethanol intake are dynamic, not necessarily linear, processes. Moreover, the findings confirm that ethanol‐induced weakness is primarily driven by muscle atrophy (i.e., loss of muscle quantity). Future studies should consider how chronic alcoholic myopathy develops and progresses rather than identifying changes after it has been diagnosed.