bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preclinical evaluation of a precision medicine approach to DNA vaccination in Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Postigo-Fernandez Jorge , Creusot Rémi J.
Published: June 2021

Antigen-specific immunotherapy involves the delivery of self-antigens as proteins or peptides (or using nucleic acids encoding them) to be presented with the goal of inducing tolerance. Approaches employing specific epitopes restricted to the subject’s MHC haplotypes have multiplied and offer a more focused and tailored way of targeting autoreactive T cells. In addition, the Endotope platform allows endogenously expressed epitopes to be processed and presented on appropriate MHC class I and II molecules. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of a DNA vaccine encoding epitopes selected and tailored for the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse compared to the expression of the proinsulin protein, one of the most successful antigens in prevention of NOD disease, and we assessed the influence of several parameters (e.g. route, dosing frequency) on preventing diabetes onset at normoglycemic and dysglycemic stages. First, encoded peptides should be secreted for effective disease prevention. Furthermore, short weekly treatments with Endotope and proinsulin DNA vaccines delay disease onset, but sustained treatments are required for long-term protection, which was more significant with intradermal delivery. Although epitopes can be presented for at least two weeks, reducing the frequency of antigen administration from weekly to every other week reduced efficacy. Finally, both Endotope and proinsulin DNA vaccines were effective in the dysglycemic stage of disease, but proinsulin provided better protection, particularly in subjects with slower progression of disease. Thus, our data support the possibility of applying a precision medicine approach based on tailored epitopes for the treatment of tissue-specific autoimmune diseases with DNA vaccines.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Antigen-specific immunotherapy is a targeted approach to treat autoimmune diseases by turning off responses to disease-relevant antigens only, leaving the rest of the immune system unaffected. Protein antigens contain many epitopes, but only a fraction of them can be presented on a specific HLA haplotype and the relative importance of different antigens vary between patients due to disease heterogeneity. Strategies based on specific epitopes do not only consider the HLA haplotype and immune profile of groups of patients but can also include important neoepitopes not present in protein antigens. Here, we provide proof-of-principle that such strategy applied to tolerogenic DNA vaccination is effective in a preclinical model of autoimmune diabetes, paving the way for precision medicine using endogenously encoded epitopes.
Efficient discovery of potently neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using LIBRA-seq with ligand blocking
Authors: Shiakolas Andrea R. , Johnson Nicole , Kramer Kevin J. , Suryadevara Naveenchandra , Wrapp Daniel , Periasamy Sivakumar , Pilewski Kelsey A. , Raju Nagarajan , Nargi Rachel , Sutton Rachel E. , Walker Lauren , Setliff Ian , Crowe James E. , Bukreyev Alexander , Carnahan Robert H. , McLellan Jason S. , Georgiev Ivelin S.
Published: June 2021

SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic antibody discovery efforts have met with notable success but have been associated with a generally inefficient process, requiring the production and characterization of exceptionally large numbers of candidates for the identification of a small set of leads. Here, we show that incorporating antibody–ligand blocking as part of LIBRA-seq, the high-throughput sequencing platform for antibody discovery, results in efficient identification of ultra-potent neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. LIBRA-seq with ligand blocking is a general platform for functional antibody discovery targeting the disruption of antigen–ligand interactions.
An image reconstruction framework for characterizing initial visual encoding
Authors: Zhang Ling-Qi , Cottaris Nicolas P. , Brainard David H.
Published: June 2021

We developed an image-computable observer model of the initial visual encoding that operates on natural image input, based on the framework of Bayesian image reconstruction from the excitations of the retinal cone mosaic. Our model extends previous work on ideal observer analysis and evaluation of performance beyond psychophysical discrimination, takes into account the statistical regularities of the visual environment, and provides a unifying framework for answering a wide range of questions regarding the visual front end. Using the error in the reconstructions as a metric, we analyzed variations of the number of different photoreceptor types on human retina as an optimal design problem. In addition, the reconstructions allow both visualization and quantification of information loss due to physiological optics and cone mosaic sampling, and how these vary with eccentricity. Furthermore, in simulations of color deficiencies and interferometric experiments, we found that the reconstructed images provide a reasonable proxy for modeling subjects’ percepts. Lastly, we used the reconstruction-based observer for the analysis of psychophysical threshold, and found notable interactions between spatial frequency and chromatic direction in the resulting spatial contrast sensitivity function. Our method is widely applicable to experiments and applications in which the initial visual encoding plays an important role.
Anal skin-like epithelium mediates colonic wound healing
Authors: Liu Cambrian Y. , Girish Nandini , Gomez Marie L. , Dubé Philip E. , Washington M. Kay , Simons Benjamin D. , Polk D. Brent
Published: June 2021

Intestinal epithelial wound healing, which is essential for health, is compromised and represents a therapeutic target in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While studies have elucidated important subpopulations of intestinal epithelial cells in repair, these have yet to translate to therapies. Here, in mouse models of acute colitis, we demonstrate a distinct and essential source of wound-healing cells that re-epithelialize the distal colon. Using 3-d imaging, lineage tracing, and single-cell transcriptomics, we show that neighboring skin-like (squamous) cells of the anus rapidly migrate into the injured colon and establish a permanent epithelium of crypt-like morphology. These squamous cells derive from a small unique transition zone, at the boundary of colonic and anal epithelium, that resists colitis. The cells of this zone have a pre-loaded program of colonic differentiation and further upregulate key aspects of colonic epithelium during repair. Thus, heterologous cell-types at tissue junctions represent unique reserve cells capable of repair and plasticity.
Large-scale characterisation of the pregnancy vaginal microbiome and sialidase activity in a low-risk Chinese population
Authors: Ng Sherrianne , Chen Muxuan , Kundu Samit , Wang Xuefei , Zhou Zuyi , Zheng Zhongdaixi , Qing Wei , Sheng Huafang , Wang Yan , He Yan , Bennett Phillip R. , MacIntyre David A. , Zhou Hongwei
Published: June 2021

Vaginal microbiota-host interactions are linked to preterm birth (PTB), which continues to be the primary cause of global childhood mortality. Despite the majority of PTB occuring in Asia, studies of the pregnancy vaginal microbiota are largely limited to Northern American and European populations. Here, we characterised the vaginal microbiome of 2689 pregnant Chinese women using metataxonomics and in a subset (n=823), the relationship between vaginal microbiota composition, sialidase activity and leukocyte presence and pregnancy outcomes. Vaginal microbiota were most frequently dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus or L. iners, with the latter associated with vaginal leukocyte presence. Women with high sialidase activity were enriched for bacterial vaginosis-associated genera including Gardnerella, Atopobium and Prevotella. Vaginal microbiota composition, high sialidase activity and/or leukocyte presence was not associated with PTB risk suggesting underlying differences in the vaginal microbiota and/or host immune responses of Chinese women, possibly accounting for low PTB rates in this population.

Importance

Specific vaginal microorganisms or ‘vaginal microbiota’, are associated with preterm birth, which is the primary cause of death in children under 5yrs of age worldwide. Despite most preterm births occuring in Asia, almost all studies of the pregnancy vaginal microbiota have been limited to Northern American and European women. Here, we studied the vaginal microbiota in a large cohort of 2689 pregnant Chinese women and showed that it was most frequently dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus or L. iners. The latter was associated with leukocyte infiltration of vaginal secretions. Women with high activity of the enzyme sialidase, were frequently colonised by species associated with the common condition bacterial vaginosis, including Gardnerella, Atopobium and Prevotella species. Vaginal microbiota, high sialidase activity and/or leukocyte presence was not associated with preterm birth risk indicating differences in the microbe-host immune responses of Chinese women, possibly explaining why preterm birth rates in this population are low.
The RNA helicase Ded1 regulates translation and granule formation during multiple phases of cellular stress responses
Authors: Aryanpur Peyman P. , Mittelmeier Telsa M. , Bolger Timothy A.
Published: June 2021

Ded1 is a conserved RNA helicase that promotes translation initiation in steady-state conditions. Ded1 has also been shown to regulate translation during cellular stress and affect the dynamics of stress granules (SGs), accumulations of RNA and protein linked to translation repression. To better understand its role in stress responses, we examined Ded1 function in two different models: DED1 overexpression and oxidative stress. DED1 overexpression inhibits growth and promotes the formation of SGs. A ded1mutant lacking the low-complexity C-terminal region (ded1-ΔCT), which mediates Ded1 oligomerization and interaction with the translation factor eIF4G, suppressed these phenotypes, consistent with other stresses. During oxidative stress, a ded1-ΔCT mutant was defective in growth and in SG formation compared to wild-type cells, although SGs were increased rather than decreased in these conditions. Unlike stress induced by direct TOR inhibition, the phenotypes in both models were only partially dependent on eIF4G interaction, suggesting an additional contribution from Ded1 oligomerization. Furthermore, examination of the growth defects and translational changes during oxidative stress suggested that Ded1 plays a role during recovery from stress. Integrating these disparate results, we propose that Ded1 controls multiple aspects of translation and RNP dynamics in both initial stress responses and during recovery.
Relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and human leukocyte antigen variants
Authors: Zamani Ayse Gul , Yosunkaya Sebnem , Zamani Adil , Vatansev Hulya , Arslan Ahmet Burak , Yildirim Mahmut Selman
Published: June 2021

Background and aim

The obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common, complex and polygenic disease and it has high risk of serious complications. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system plays a crucial role in the regulation of immune function by discriminating self from non-self. In recent years there has been rapid advancement in “Next Generation Sequencing” technology. It enables the detection of HLA alleles in four or even six digits, providing a high level of precision. The aim of the present study was to investigate the genetic variants at HLA-A,-B,-C,-DQB1 and -DRB1 loci in OSA patients and unrelated healthy individuals by targeted NGS in the Turkish population.

Materials methods

Fifty newly diagnosed patients with OSA and 50 control subjects were enrolled in the study. OSA diagnosis was made by utilizing the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)≥5 in overnight polysomnography (PSG). Blood samples were obtained in the morning, after PSG. Controls were randomly selected from healthy volunteers who had a low risk for OSA. Genotyping of HLA-A, B, C, DRB1 and DQB1 genes were performed by using next generation sequencing.

Results

HLA-A*02:01, HLA-C*03:03:01, HLA-C*14:03, HLA DRB1*04:05 alleles were found more frequently in OSA patients, but not in the controls (p=0.036, p=0.007, p=0.043 and 0.013, respectively). The allele frequencies of HLA-A*03:01 and HLA-B*35:02 were significantly higher in controls compared to OSA patients (p=0.024 and p=0.043).

Conclusion

These results suggest that HLA-A*02:01, HLA-C*03:03:01, HLA-C*14:03, HLA DRB1*04:05 alleles may play a predisposing role in the Turkish population with OSA. In addition, HLA-A*03:01 and HLA-B*35:02 alleles may be protective in this population.
Genome-wide association study of problematic opioid prescription use in 132,113 23andMe research participants of European ancestry
Authors: Sanchez-Roige Sandra , Fontanillas Pierre , Jennings Mariela V , Bianchi Sevim , Huang Yuye , Hatoum Alex , Sealock Julia , Davis Lea K , Elson Sarah L ,   23andMe Research Team, Palmer Abraham A
Published: June 2021

The growing prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) constitutes an urgent health crisis. Ample evidence indicates that risk for OUD is heritable. As a surrogate (or proxy) for OUD, we explored the genetic basis of using prescription opioids ‘not as prescribed’. We hypothesized that misuse of opiates might be a heritable risk factor for OUD. To test this hypothesis, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of problematic opioid use (POU) in 23andMe research participants of European ancestry (N=132,113; 21% cases). We identified two genome-wide significant loci (rs3791033, an intronic variant ofKDM4A; rs640561, an intergenic variant nearLRRIQ3). POU showed a positive genetic correlation with the largest available GWAS of opioid dependence and OUD (rg=0.64-0.80). We also identified numerous additional genetic correlations with POU, including alcohol dependence (rg=0.74), smoking initiation (rg=0.63), pain relief medication intake (rg=0.49), major depressive disorder (rg=0.44), chronic pain (rg=0.42), insomnia (rg=0.39), and loneliness (rg=0.28). Although POU was positively genetically correlated with risk-taking (rg=0.38), conditioning POU on risk-taking did not substantially alter the magnitude or direction of these genetic correlations, suggesting that POU does not simply reflect a genetic tendency towards risky behavior. Lastly, we performed phenome- and lab-wide association analyses, which uncovered additional phenotypes that were associated with POU, including respiratory failure, insomnia, ischemic heart disease, and metabolic and blood-related biomarkers. We conclude that opioid misuse can be measured in population-based cohorts and provides a cost-effective complementary strategy for understanding the genetic basis of OUD.
Interim estimates of increased transmissibility, growth rate, and reproduction number of the Covid-19 B.1.617.2 variant of concern in the United Kingdom
Authors: Dagpunar John
Published: June 2021

This paper relates to data from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK, regarding Covid-19 genomic surveillance. We use a simple model to give point estimates of the effective reproduction numbers of the B.1.617.2 and B.1.1.7 lineages in England, from sequenced data as at 15 May 2021. Comparison with the estimated reproduction number of B.1.1.7 enables an estimate of the increased transmissibility of B.1.617.2. We conclude that it is almost certain that there is increased transmissibility that will rapidly lead to B.1.617.2 becoming the prevailing variant in the UK. The derived estimates of increased transmissibility have uncertainty relating to the actual distribution of the generation interval, but they do point, under present conditions of vaccination coverage and NPIs, to exponential growth of positive cases.
Augmentation of task-relevant variability enhances consolidation of motor learning
Authors: Pagano Mattia , Stochino Gaia , Casadio Maura , Ranganathan Rajiv
Published: June 2021

Motor memories undergo a period of consolidation before they become resistant to the practice of another task. Although movement variability is important in motor memory consolidation, its role is not fully understood in redundant tasks where variability can exist along two orthogonal subspaces (the ‘task space’ and the ‘null space’) that have different effects on task performance. Here, we used haptic perturbations to augment variability in these different spaces and examined their effect on motor memory consolidation. Participants learned a shuffleboard task, where they held a bimanual manipulandum and made a discrete throwing motion to slide a virtual puck towards a target. The task was redundant because the distance travelled by the puck was determined by the sum of the left and right hand speeds at the time of release. After participants initially practiced the task, we used haptic perturbations to introduce motor variability in the task space or null space, and subsequently examined consolidation of the original task on the next day. We found that regardless of the amplitude, augmenting variability in the task space resulted in significantly better consolidation. This benefit of increasing task space variability was likely due to the fact that it did not disrupt the pre-existing coordination strategy. These results suggest that the effects of variability on motor memory consolidation depend on the interplay between the induced variability and the pre-existing coordination strategy.
TDFragMapper: a visualization tool for evaluating experimental parameters in top-down proteomics
Authors: Dhenin Jonathan , Lima Diogo B , Dupré Mathieu , Chamot-Rooke Julia
Published: June 2021

Motivation

We present a new software-tool allowing an easy visualization of fragment ions and thus a rapid evaluation of key experimental parameters on the sequence coverage obtained for the MS/MS analysis of intact proteins. Our tool can deal with multiple fragmentation methods.

Results

We demonstrate that TDFragMapper can rapidly highlight the experimental fragmentation parameters that are critical to the characterization of intact proteins of various size using top-down proteomics.

Availability

TDFragMapper, a demonstration video and user tutorial are freely available at https://msbio.pas-teur.fr/tdfragmapper, for academic use; all data are thus available from the ProteomeXchange consortium (identifier PXD024643).

Contact

diogobor@gmail.com or julia.chamot-rooke@pasteur.fr
Genetic stability of Aedes aegypti populations following invasion by wMel Wolbachia
Authors: Lau Meng-Jia , Schmidt Tom , Yang Qiong , Chung Jessica , Sankey Lucien , Ross Perran A. , Hoffmann Ary A.
Published: June 2021

Background

Wolbachia wMel is the most used strain in mosquito rear and release strategies that aim to inhibit the transmission of arboviruses such as dengue, Zika, Chikungunya and yellow fever. However, the long-term establishment of wMel in natural populations of the dengue mosquito Aedes aegypti raises concerns that interactions between Wolbachia wMel and Ae. aegypti may lead to changes in the host genome, which could affect useful attributes of Wolbachia that allow it to invade and suppress disease transmission.

Results

We applied an evolve-and-resequence approach to study genome-wide genetic changes in Ae. aegypti from the Cairns region, Australia, where Wolbachia wMel was first introduced more than 10 years ago. Mosquito samples were collected at three different time points in Gordonvale, Australia, covering the phase before (2010) and after (2013 and 2018) Wolbachia releases. An additional three locations where Wolbachia replacement happened at different times across the last decade were also sampled in 2018. We found that the genomes of mosquito populations mostly remained stable after Wolbachia release, with population differences tending to reflect the geographic location of the populations rather than Wolbachia infection status. However, outlier analysis suggests that Wolbachia may have had an influence on some genes related to immune response, development, recognition and behavior.

Conclusions

Aedes aegypti populations remained geographically distinct after Wolbachia releases in North Australia despite their Wolbachia infection status. At some specific genomic loci, we found signs of selection associated with Wolbachia, suggesting potential evolutionary impacts can happen in the future and further monitoring is warranted.
Proprioceptive Genes as a Source of Genetic Variation Underlying Robustness for Flight Performance inDrosophila
Authors: Spierer Adam N. , Rand David M.
Published: June 2021

A central challenge of quantitative genetics is partitioning phenotypic variation into genetic and non-genetic components. These non-genetic components are usually interpreted as environmental effects; however, variation between genetically identical individuals in a common environment can still exhibit phenotypic variation. A trait’s resistance to variation is called robustness, though the genetics underlying it are poorly understood. Accordingly, we performed an association study on a previously studied, whole organism trait: robustness for flight performance. Using 197 of the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) lines, we surveyed variation across single nucleotide polymorphisms, whole genes, and epistatic interactions to find genetic modifiers robustness for flight performance. There was an abundance of genes involved in the development of sensory organs and processing of external stimuli, supporting previous work that processing proprioceptive cues is important for affecting variation in flight performance. Additionally, we tested insertional mutants for their effect on robustness using candidate genes found to modify flight performance. These results suggest several genes involved in modulating a trait mean are also important for affecting trait variance, or robustness, as well.

Article Summary

We sought to understand the genetic architecture of robustness (variation in a trait caused by non-genetic factors) for flight performance. We used 197 Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) lines to find significant individual variants and pairs of epistatic interactions, many of which were involved in proprioception. Additionally, we validated significant genes identified from a prior study for the mean of flight performance, showing genes affecting trait means may also affect trait robustness.
Polycomb-dependent differential chromatin compartmentalization determines gene coregulation in Arabidopsis
Authors: Huang Ying , Sicar Sanchari , Ramirez-Prado Juan S. , Manza-Mianza Deborah , Antunez-Sanchez Javier , Brik-Chaouche Rim , Rodriguez-Granados Natalia Y. , An Jing , Bergounioux Catherine , Mahfouz Magdy M. , Hirt Heribert , Crespi Martin , Concia Lorenzo , Barneche Fredy , Amiard Simon , Probst Aline V. , Gutierrez-Marcos Jose , Ariel Federico , Raynaud Cécile , Latrasse David , Benhamed Moussa
Published: June 2021

In animals, distant H3K27me3-marked Polycomb targets can establish physical interactions forming repressive chromatin hubs. In plants, growing evidence suggests that H3K27me3 acts directly or indirectly to regulate chromatin interactions, although how this histone modification modulates 3D chromatin architecture remains elusive. To decipher the impact of the dynamic deposition of H3K27me3 on the Arabidopsis thaliana nuclear interactome, we combined genetics, transcriptomics, and several 3D epigenomic approaches. By analyzing mutants defective for histone H3K27 methylation or demethylation, we uncovered the crucial role of this chromatin mark in short- and previously unnoticed long-range chromatin loop formation. We found that a reduction in H3K27me3 levels led to a decrease in the interactions within Polycomb-associated repressive domains. Regions with lower H3K27me3 levels in the H3K27 methyltransferase clf mutant established new interactions with regions marked with H3K9ac, a histone modification associated with active transcription, indicating that a reduction in H3K27me3 levels induces a global reconfiguration of chromatin architecture. Altogether, our results reveal that the 3D genome organization is tightly linked to reversible histone modifications that govern chromatin interactions. Consequently, nuclear organization dynamics shapes the transcriptional reprogramming during plant development and places H3K27me3 as a key feature in the coregulation of distant genes.
Larson and socio-economic closures in public accountancy professionalization
Authors: Lee Thomas A.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The first purpose of this study is to respond to Matthews’ (2017) criticisms of Larson's (1977) professional project and accounting historians' past use of Larson (1977) when researching public accountancy professionalization. The second purpose is to use the response to Matthews (2017) as the foundation to construct a model of socio-economic closures of potential use for research and study.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to respond to Matthews (2017), the study provides an interpretive review of Larson (1977) and analyses historical professionalization research published in leading accounting journals over three decades. The review and response, together with prior theory contributions, form the foundation for the proposed model of closures.

Findings

Matthews’ (2017) criticisms of Larson (1977) and accounting historians' past use of Larson (1977) are, with some exceptions, not well-founded. Larson's (1977) professional project is an ideal model of professionalization and has been used appropriately by accounting historians to introduce and explain rather than a model or test public accountancy professionalization. The analyzed data from research journals are consistent with Larson (1977) in terms of identifiable historical phases of and specific closures actions in the professionalization process.

Research limitations/implications

The study analyses peer-reviewed studies in selected accounting research journals over a defined period.

Practical implications

The study provides a nuanced review of Larson (1977), clarifies evidence of the past use of Larson (1977) by accounting historians, challenges criticism of this use, identifies primary research that focuses on socio-economic closures and proposes a model of such closures for future research and study.

Originality/value

The study contains a comprehensive analysis of peer-reviewed research of public accountancy professionalization and proposes a model of closures inductively derived from empirical evidence and prior theoretical contributions.
Defining social value in the public procurement process for works
Authors: Gidigah Brandsford Kwame , Agyekum Kofi , Baiden Bernard K.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Though the Public Procurement Act of Ghana makes room for specific socio-economic policies (environmental, social, economic and other policies which are intended to promote social and economic impact), there is no explicit definition and provision for social value as an evaluation criterion, culminating in the absence of a definition in the Act. This paper elicits the conception and understanding of social value from stakeholders in the Ghanaian construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a qualitative method that relied on a semi-structured interview of 30 participants purposively drawn from Western, Western North and Central regions of Ghana. An inductive thematic analysis approach, which involved identifying repetitions, exploring similarities and differences, noting linguistic connectors, and a framework were employed to analyse the data.

Findings

The study established no single definition or explanation for social value in the construction industry in Ghana. However, it was revealed from the study that the concept of social value could be defined from the functional perspective of the definer, particularly from the perspective of a Procurement Officer, Works Engineer, and a Quantity Surveyor. A new insight from the study that differs from the body of literature is that participants equated benefits derived from physically constructed projects as social value.

Social implications

The study has implication for public administration and practice regarding the decision-making process in the construction industry in Ghana. It provides a vital awakening on social value as a criterion in evaluating construction works procurement in Ghana. The ability of participants to equate the benefits derived from executed construction projects as social value creates a new perspective on understanding the meaning of social value in the procurement of works construction.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the state-of-the-art and ongoing discourse on the concept of social value globally. The findings create an important catalyst for social value research in the Ghanaian construction industry.
Students as partners in university innovation and entrepreneurship
Authors: Hall Randolph
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Students are an essential part of university innovation. Through their training, research and energy, students acquire and transfer knowledge to industry, and they help establish new businesses and start-up companies. This paper investigates how universities might capture the entrepreneurial energies of students toward the goal of university improvement and transformation while also educating students to pursue their aspirations to create new businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

A framework is presented for integrating “Students as Partners” (SaP) with entrepreneurship training to achieve “inside innovation,” meaning innovation to advance the practices of the university. Students participating in Blackstone Launchpad at three American universities were surveyed as to how they perceive innovation culture and support at their universities.

Findings

Common services (help with business plans, market assessment and entrepreneurial training) had the biggest positive effect on satisfaction with university support. Nevertheless, many students had sought to apply their innovations inside their university and, in so doing, found navigating bureaucracy and knowing “whom to talk to” to be the biggest obstacles. Respondents were least likely to agree with the statement that their institution was willing to accept risks.

Research limitations/implications

Survey included three universities. A larger sample would be useful for a broader assessment.

Practical implications

Partnered services, technology entrepreneurship, system add-ons and immersion are proposed as four strategies to overcome obstacles to make universities more innovative in their practices.

Social implications

The paper proposes a culture change toward engaging student entrepreneurs in innovation within universities to improve higher education practices.

Originality/value

A framework for how higher education leaders might use the SaP model to capture entrepreneurial energies of students for university improvement and transformation.
Investigation of the effects of geometrical parameters, eccentricity and perforated fins on natural convection heat transfer in a finned horizontal annulus using three dimensional lattice Boltzmann flux solver
Authors: Ashouri Mahyar , Zarei Mohammad Mehdi , Moosavi Ali
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of geometrical parameters, eccentricity and perforated fins on natural convection heat transfer in a finned horizontal annulus using three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann flux solver.

Design/methodology/approach

Three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann flux solver is used in the present study for simulating conjugate heat transfer within an annulus. D3Q15 and D3Q7 models are used to solve the fluid flow and temperature field, respectively. The finite volume method is used to discretize mass, momentum and energy equations. The Chapman–Enskog expansion analysis is used to establish the connection between the lattice Boltzmann equation local solution and macroscopic fluxes. To improve the accuracy of the lattice Boltzmann method for curved boundaries, lattice Boltzmann equation local solution at each cell interface is considered to be independent of each other.

Findings

It is found that the maximum heat transfer rate occurs at low fin spacing especially by increasing the fin height and decreasing the internal-cylindrical distance. The effect of inner cylinder eccentricity is not much considerable (up to 5.2% enhancement) while the impact of fin eccentricity is more remarkable. Negative fin eccentricity further enhances the heat transfer rate compared to a positive fin eccentricity and the maximum heat transfer enhancement of 91.7% is obtained. The influence of using perforated fins is more considerable at low fin spacing although some heat transfer enhancements are observed at higher fin spacing.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper is to study three-dimensional natural convection in a finned-horizontal annulus using three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann flux solver, as well as to apply symmetry and periodic boundary conditions and to analyze the effect of eccentric annular fins (for the first time for air) and perforated annular fins (for the first time so far) on the heat transfer rate.
Using Lean Six Sigma in small and medium-sized enterprises for low-cost/high-effect improvement initiatives: a case study
Authors: Panayiotou Nikolaos A. , Stergiou Konstantinos E. , Panagiotou Nikolaos
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is the implementation of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in a manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) in Greece in order to understand the contribution of LSS in its process improvement and to identify the parameters playing a crucial role in LSS adoption by SMEs. The ability to achieve high-effect improvements without cost investment is also examined to cope with low investment margin that is a characteristic of SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study is based on the combination of Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control (DMAIC) phases with the Yin's method for case studies for a complete and efficient implementation and presentation of the project.

Findings

The analysis of this case study revealed that by accomplishing specific critical success factors for the fulfillment of the LSS project, the company attained important benefits by utilizing only the working hours of employees. It was also found that the improvements of LSS projects can be measured using other metrics which can indirectly be translated into monetary terms.

Practical implications

The paper can be a useful guide of how SMEs can achieve high-impact improvements with low or no investment cost utilizing LSS initiatives in small-scale projects.

Originality/value

According to the literature, there is a need for more case studies concerning LSS implementation in SMEs. Examples of how low-cost/high-effect improvement initiatives can be implemented have not been adequately presented before. The assessment of the impact of improvement initiatives with non-monetary measures is also innovative.
Do macroeconomic uncertainty and financial development cause environmental degradation? Evidence from an emerging economy
Authors: Rakshit Bijoy , Neog Yadawananda
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The main purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the effect of macroeconomic uncertainty on environmental degradation in India over the period 1971–2016. Additionally, this paper considers the role of financial development, energy consumption intensity and economic growth in explaining the variation of environmental degradation in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors applied the power generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity model to measure inflation volatility and used it as a proxy for macroeconomic uncertainty. From a methodological perspective, the authors employ the autoregressive distributive lag bound testing model to establish the long-run equilibrium association between the variables. The Toda–Yamamoto causality approach has been used to examine the direction of causality between the variables.

Findings

Findings suggest that macroeconomic uncertainty exerts a positive effect on carbon emissions, indicating that higher inflation volatility, as a proxy for macroeconomic uncertainty, hinders India's environmental quality. Financial development, economic growth and energy consumption intensity have also adversely impacted environmental quality.

Practical implications

The negative association between macroeconomic uncertainty and environmental degradation calls for some stringent policy actions. While formulating policies to promote growth and maintain stability, policymakers and government stakeholders should take into account the environmental effects of macroeconomic policies. There is a need to implement more environmental-friendly technologies in the financial sector that could reduce carbon emission.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first that considers the role of macroeconomic uncertainty along with financial development and energy intensity in an emerging economy like India.
Vegetable interventions at unconventional occasions: the effect of freely available snack vegetables at workplace meetings on consumption
Authors: Immink Victor , Kornelis Marcel , Van Kleef Ellen
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Snacks at work are often of poor dietary quality. The main objective of the current study is to examine the effect of making vegetable snacks available at workplace meetings on consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

In three between-subjects field experiments conducted at a hospital and three ministries in the Netherlands, with meeting as the unit of condition assignment, attendees were exposed to an assortment of vegetables, varying in vegetable variety and presence of promotional leaflet in study 1 (N = 136 meetings), serving container in study 2 (N = 88 meetings) and additional presence of cookies in study 3 (N = 88 meetings). Consumption of vegetables and cookies was measured at meeting level to assess grams consumed per person.

Findings

Across the three studies, average consumption per meeting attendee was 74 g (SD = 43) for study 1; 78 g (SD = 43) for study 2 and 87 g (SD = 35) for study 3. In the first study, manipulation of perceived variety and information leaflets did not affect intake. In the second study, significantly more vegetables were eaten when they were offered in single sized portions (M = 97 g, SD = 45) versus in a shared multiple portions bowl (63 g, SD = 38) (p < 0.001). In the third study, no effect was found of the additional availability of cookies on vegetable consumption during the meeting.

Practical implications

The present studies show how availability of vegetables at unconventional occasions makes meeting attendants consume considerable portions of vegetables on average. As such, offering healthy snacks at the workplace may be a valuable part of workplace health promotion programs and positively change the “office cake culture”.

Originality/value

Vegetable intake is less than recommended in many countries worldwide. Many snacking occasions are at work, which makes office meetings a potential consumption occasion to encourage vegetable intake. Hence, the aim of this study is to examine whether free availability of vegetable snacks during meetings contributes to their consumption among meeting attendees and under what conditions consumption is optimal.
The transition from novice to serial crowdfunders: behavioral antecedents and well-being drivers
Authors: Efrat Kalanit , Wald Andreas , Gilboa Shaked
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Serial crowdfunders are vital to the advancement of crowdfunding, either by launching subsequent campaigns or by mentoring novice (first-time) crowdfunders. However, research on crowdfunders’ drivers has focused on either novice crowdfunders’ motivations or the factors contributing to serial crowdfunders’ success. The present study aims to complement existing knowledge on serial crowdfunders by exploring behavioral and well-being aspects that drive novice crowdfunders to become serial crowdfunders.

Design/methodology/approach

Data on crowdfunders were retrieved through in-depth interviews with 42 novice and 17 serial crowdfunders on a list provided by the largest crowdfunding platform in Israel. Complementary data were collected from interviews with the chief executive officers (CEOs) of two leading rewards and donations platforms in Israel and from the contents of the pages of crowdfunding campaigns. A four-stage process of content analysis was applied.

Findings

Novice and serial crowdfunders follow different logics. While novice crowdfunders’ motivations and behavior can mostly be explained by the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and follow a more rational process, serial crowdfunders’ motivations and behavior are guided by aspects of well-being.

Originality/value

The findings show that the more rational process described by the TPB and the dimensions of well-being interacts in a circular way to motivate serial operations by crowdfunders. Well-being is also manifested in the maintenance of social ties and the development of social capital, which are crucial for serial entrepreneurs.
Mitigation of stress through yoga nidra (meditation) intervention
Authors: Dwivedi Manish Kumar
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of Yoga Nidra in mitigating stress. This study has also investigated the impact of demographic profiles such as age, marital status and gender on stress.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample selected for this study consists of 200 respondents. The two groups were divided into the study: control and experimental groups. The data has been collected from the respondents pre and post-test administration of Yoga Nidra intervention within an interval of one month. The subjects have been instructed to practice Yoga Nidra. There is one follow-up at an interval of one month to assess the level of stress.

Findings

It has been observed that the stress level of participants reduced after administrating the intervention of Yoga Nidra. The findings suggested that Yoga Nidra is an effective mechanism in mitigating stress.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this study is that it might be possible that the respondents would have also practiced any other yogic techniques. Therefore, it is difficult to examine the impact of one yogic technique independently on stress.

Practical implications

The implication of this study exists in promoting the health of the people by improving the well-being at a minimal cost. It also results in saving the medical expenditure of the people.

Social implications

The practice of Yoga Nidra helps to improve the well-being of people. Ultimately, it has an impact on boosting the economy of the nation as a whole by reducing the medical expenses incurred in treating people suffered from various diseases.

Originality/value

This study is novel, which helps to make the society free from distress. It provides an effective stress management mechanism that provides relaxation at physical, mental and emotional levels. It ultimately results in saving medical expenditure and cost incurred in the treatment of various kinds of diseases.
How to estimate expected credit losses – ECL – for provisioning under IFRS 9
Authors: Gubareva Mariya
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper provides an objective approach based on available market information capable of reducing subjectivity, inherently present in the process of expected loss provisioning under the IFRS 9.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops the two-step methodology. Calibrating the Credit Default Swap (CDS)-implied default probabilities to the through-the-cycle default frequencies provides average weights of default component in the spread for each forward term. Then, the impairment provisions are calculated for a sample of investment grade and high yield obligors by distilling their pure default-risk term-structures from the respective term-structures of spreads. This research demonstrates how to estimate credit impairment allowances compliant with IFRS 9 framework.

Findings

This study finds that for both investment grade and high yield exposures, the weights of default component in the credit spreads always remain inferior to 33%. The research's outcomes contrast with several previous results stating that the default risk premium accounts at least for 40% of CDS spreads. The proposed methodology is applied to calculate IFRS 9 compliant provisions for a sample of investment grade and high yield obligors.

Research limitations/implications

Many issuers are not covered by individual Bloomberg valuation curves. However, the way to overcome this limitation is proposed.

Practical implications

The proposed approach offers a clue for a better alignment of accounting practices, financial regulation and credit risk management, using expected loss metrics across diverse silos inside organizations. It encourages adopting the proposed methodology, illustrating its application to a set of bond exposures.

Originality/value

No previous research addresses impairment provisioning employing Bloomberg valuation curves. The study fills this gap.
Structured product investment behavior in low-interest rate environments
Authors: Fushiya Hirotaka , Kitamura Tomoki , Nakasato Munenori
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of interest rates, the underlying asset and investment experience on the investment behavior of Japanese retail investors toward structured products (SPs).

Design/methodology/approach

Three treatments are constructed through internet-based survey experiments: interest rate, underlying asset framing and investment experience treatments. The interest rate treatment includes high- and low-interest rate environments. The underlying asset framing treatment includes equity and foreign exchange rates for the SP. The investment experience treatment includes experienced and inexperienced respondents for SPs.

Findings

The main finding of this study concerns the effect of the interaction between low-interest rates and investment experience. Specifically, SP-experienced investors tend to choose SPs in a low-interest rate environment and prefer equity-linked SPs, even though such SPs are overpriced. This finding is useful for financial regulators in formulating policies that protect retail SP investors in low-interest rate environments worldwide.

Originality/value

This study is the first to measure the sensitivities of investment behavior regarding the relative attractiveness of SPs to low-risk straight bonds, given interest rates, the underlying asset and investment experience. It provides evidence to support the development of SP regulations.