bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intrinsic macroscale oscillatory modes driving long range functional connectivity detected with ultrafast fMRI
Authors: Cabral Joana , Fernandes Francisca F. , Shemesh Noam
Published: January 2022

Spontaneous fluctuations in functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) signals correlate across distant brain areas, shaping functionally relevant intrinsic networks. However, the generative mechanism of fMRI signal correlations - and in particular their link with locally-detected ultra-slow oscillations - remain unclear. To investigate this link, we record ultrafast ultrahigh field fMRI signals (9.4 Tesla, temporal resolution = 38 milliseconds) from rat brains across three anesthesia conditions. Power at frequencies extending up to 0.3 Hz is detected consistently across rat brains, and is modulated by anesthesia level. Principal component analysis reveals a repertoire of modes, in which transient oscillations organize with fixed phase relationships across distinct cortical and subcortical structures. Oscillatory modes are found to vary between conditions, resonating at faster frequencies under medetomidine sedation and reducing both in number, frequency, and duration with the addition of isoflurane. Peaking in power within clear anatomical boundaries, these oscillatory modes point to an emergent systemic property, questioning current assumptions regarding the local origin of oscillations detected in fMRI and providing novel insights into the organizing principles underpinning spontaneous long-range functional connectivity.

One Sentence Summary

Oscillations in fMRI signals organize in stationary wave patterns driving condition-specific long-range correlations across brain structures
Structure of the human inner kinetochore CCAN complex and its significance for human centromere organization
Authors: Pesenti Marion E. , Raisch Tobias , Conti Duccio , Hoffmann Ingrid , Vogt Dorothee , Prumbaum Daniel , Vetter Ingrid R. , Raunser Stefan , Musacchio Andrea
Published: January 2022

Centromeres are specialized chromosome loci that seed the kinetochore, a large protein complex that effects chromosome segregation. The organization of the interface between the kinetochore and the specialized centromeric chromatin, marked by the histone H3 variant CENP-A, remains incompletely understood. A 16-subunit complex, the constitutive centromere associated network (CCAN), bridges CENP-A to the spindle-binding moiety of the kinetochore. Here, we report a cryo-electron microscopy structure of human CCAN. We highlight unique features such as the pseudo GTPase CENP-M and report how a crucial CENP-C motif binds the CENP-LN complex. The CCAN structure has also important implications for the mechanism of specific recognition of the CENP-A nucleosome. A supported model depicts the interaction as fuzzy and identifies the disordered CCAN subunit CENP-C as only determinant of specificity. A more speculative model identifies both CENP-C and CENP-N as specificity determinants, but implies CENP-A may be in a hemisome rather than in a classical octamer.
Joint copy number and mutation phylogeny reconstruction from single-cell amplicon sequencing data
Authors: Sollier Etienne , Kuipers Jack , Takahashi Koichi , Beerenwinkel Niko , Jahn Katharina
Published: January 2022

Reconstructing the history of somatic DNA alterations can help understand the evolution of a tumor and predict its resistance to treatment. Single-cell DNA sequencing (scDNAseq) can be used to investigate clonal heterogeneity and to inform phylogeny reconstruction. However, most existing phylogenetic methods for scDNAseq data are designed either for single nucleotide variants (SNVs) or for large copy number alterations (CNAs), or are not applicable to targeted sequencing. Here, we develop COMPASS, a computational method for inferring the joint phylogeny of SNVs and CNAs from targeted scDNAseq data. We evaluate COMPASS on simulated data and apply it to several datasets including a cohort of 123 patients with acute myeloid leukemia. COMPASS detected clonal CNAs that could be orthogonally validated with bulk data, in addition to subclonal ones that require single-cell resolution, some of which point toward convergent evolution.
Cross-talk between cAMP and Ca2+ signalling in cardiac pacemaker cells involves IP3-evoked Ca2+ release and stimulation of adenylyl cyclase 1
Authors: Bose Samuel J. , Read Matthew , Capel Rebecca A , Akerman Emily , Ayagama Thamali , Russell Angela , Terrar Derek A , Zaccolo Manuela , Burton Rebecca AB
Published: January 2022

Atrial arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation (AF), are a major mortality risk and a leading cause of stroke. The IP3 signalling pathway has been proposed as an atrial specific target for AF therapy, and atrial IP3 signalling has been linked to the activation of calcium sensitive adenylyl cyclases AC1 and AC8. Here we investigated the involvement of AC1 in the response of intact mouse atrial tissue and isolated guinea pig atrial and sinoatrial node (SAN) cells to the α-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine (PE) using the selective AC1 inhibitor ST034307. The maximum rate change of spontaneously beating mouse right atrial tissue exposed to PE was reduced from 14.46 % to 8.17% (P = 0.005) in the presence of 1 μM ST034307, whereas the increase in tension generated in paced left atrial tissue in the presence of PE was not inhibited by ST034307 (Control = 14.20 %, ST034307 = 16.32 %; P > 0.05). Experiments were performed using isolated guinea pig atrial and SAN cells loaded with Fluo-5F-AM to record changes in calcium transient amplitude (CaT) generated by 10μM PE in the presence and absence of 1μM ST034307. ST034307 significantly reduced the beating rate of SAN cells (0.34-fold decrease; P = 0.004), but did not result in an inhibition of CaT amplitude increase in response to PE in atrial cells. The results presented here demonstrate the involvement of AC1 in the downstream response of atrial pacemaker activity to α-adrenoreceptor stimulation and IP3R calcium release.
A Computational Method to Dissect Colonization Resistance of the Gut Microbiota against Pathogens
Authors: Ke Shanlin , Xiao Yandong , Weiss Scott T. , Chen Xinhua , Kelly Ciaran P. , Liu Yang-Yu
Published: January 2022

The indigenous gut microbes have co-evolved with their hosts for millions of years. Those gut microbes play a crucial role in host health and disease. In particular, they protect the host against incursion by exogenous and often harmful microorganisms, a mechanism known as colonization resistance (CR). Yet, identifying the exact microbes responsible for the gut microbiota-mediated CR against a particular pathogen remains a fundamental challenge in microbiome research. Here, we develop a computational method --- Generalized Microbe-Phenotype Triangulation (GMPT) to systematically identify causal microbes that directly influence the microbiota-mediated CR against a pathogen. We systematically validate GMPT using a classical population dynamics model in community ecology, and then apply it to microbiome data from two mouse studies on C. difficile infection. The developed method will not only significantly advance our understanding of CR mechanisms but also pave the way for the rational design of microbiome-based therapies for preventing and treating enteric infections.
The Emergence of the Metabolic Signaling of the Nucleoredoxin-like Genes during Evolution
Authors: Aït-Ali Najate , Blond Frédéric , Clérin Emmanuelle , Morshedian Ala , Cesar Quénol , Delalande François , Koyanagi Mitsumasa , Birck Catherine , Han John , Ren Xiaoyuan , van Dorsselaer Alain , Terakita Akihisa , Fain Gordon L. , Léveillard Thierry
Published: January 2022

The nucleoredoxin-like genes NXNL1 and NXNL2 were identified through the biological activity of rod-derived cone viability factors (RdCVF and RdCVF2), the alternatively spliced variants produced by intron retention, that mediate signaling between rod and cone photoreceptors by stimulating glucose uptake. These therapeutic genes for inherited retinal degenerations also produce by splicing thioredoxin-like proteins that reduce oxidized cysteines in photoreceptor proteins. The first NXNL genes date from the first animal phyla. Intron retention produces an active RdCVF protein in the tentacles of Hydra vulgaris, a species without eyes. A Scallop RdCVF protein is produced by ciliated photoreceptors of the retina and binds its receptor, BSG1. In the lamprey, a descendent of early vertebrates, RdCVF metabolic signaling between rod and cones is fully established. In the mouse, the production of BSG1 by photoreceptors is regulated by cell-specific splicing inhibition. RdCVF signaling predates photoreceptors and evolved through two alternative splicing events.
Examining the Neural Correlates of Error Awareness in a Large fMRI Study
Authors: Dali Gezelle , Brosnan Méadhbh , Tiego Jeggan , Johnson Beth P. , Fornito Alex , Bellgrove Mark A. , Hester Robert
Published: January 2022

Goal-directed behaviour is dependent upon the ability to detect errors and implement appropriate post-error adjustments. Accordingly, several studies have explored the neural activity underlying error-monitoring processes, identifying the insula cortex as crucial for error awareness and reporting mixed findings with respect to the anterior cingulate cortex. Variable patterns of activation have previously been attributed to insufficient statistical power. We therefore sought to clarify the neural correlates of error awareness in a large event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. Four hundred and two healthy participants undertook the error awareness task, a motor Go/No-Go response inhibition paradigm in which participants were required to indicate their awareness of commission errors. Compared to unaware errors, aware errors were accompanied by significantly greater activity in a network of regions including the insula cortex, supramarginal gyrus, and midline structures such as the anterior cingulate cortex and supplementary motor area. Error awareness activity was related to indices of task performance and dimensional measures of psychopathology in selected regions including the insula, supramarginal gyrus and supplementary motor area. Taken together, we identified a robust and reliable neural network associated with error awareness.
The CAR mRNA-Interaction Surface is a Zipper Extension of the Ribosome A Site
Authors: Dalgarno Carol , Scopino Kristen , Raval Mitsu , Nachmanoff Clara , Sakkas Eric , Krizanc Daniel , Thayer Kelly M. , Weir Michael P.
Published: January 2022

The ribosome CAR interaction surface behaves like an extension of the decoding center A site and has H-bond interactions with the +1 codon that is next in line to enter the A site. Through molecular dynamics simulations, we investigated the codon sequence specificity of this CAR-mRNA interaction and discovered a strong preference for GCN codons, suggesting that there may be a sequence-dependent layer of translational regulation dependent on the CAR interaction surface. Dissection of the CAR-mRNA interaction through nucleotide substitution experiments showed that the first nucleotide of the +1 codon dominates over the second nucleotide position, consistent with an energetically favorable zipper-like activity that emanates from the A site through the CAR-mRNA interface. The +1 codon/CAR interaction is also affected by the identity of nucleotide 3 of +1 GCN codons which influences the stacking of G and C. Clustering analysis suggests that the A site decoding center adopts different neighborhood substates that depend on the identity of the +1 codon.
Characterization of a novel peptide mined from the Red Sea Brine Pools and modified to enhance its anticancer activity
Authors: Abdou Youssef T. , Saleeb Sheri M. , Abdel-Raouf Khaled M. A. , Allam Mohamed , Adel Mustafa , Amleh Asma
Published: January 2022

Peptide-based drugs have emerged as highly selective and potent cancer therapy. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Multiple approaches have been developed towards cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation, and hormonal therapy; however, such procedures’ non-specificity, toxicity, and inefficiency present a hurdle. In this study, we developed a support vector machine (SVM) model to detect the potential anticancer properties of novel peptides through scanning the American University in Cairo Red Sea metagenomics library. Further, we performed in silico studies on a novel 37-mer antimicrobial peptide mined from SVM pipeline analysis. This peptide was further modified to enhance its anticancer activity, analyzed for gene oncology, and subsequently synthesized. The anticancer properties of this 37-mer peptide were evaluated via cellular viability and cell morphology of SNU449, HepG2, SKOV3, and HeLa cells, using MTT assay. Furthermore, we assessed the migration capability of SNU449 and SKOV3 via scratch wound healing assay. Moreover, the targeted selectivity of the peptide for cancerous cells was assessed by testing its hemolytic activity on human erythrocytes. The peptide caused a significant reduction in cellular viability and critically affected the morphology of hepatocellular carcinoma (SNU449 and HepG2), ovarian cancer (SKOV3), and to a limited extent, cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa), in addition to decreasing viability of human fibroblast cell line (1Br-hTERT). Peptide treatment significantly affected the proliferation and migration ability of SNU449 and SKOV3 cells. Annexin V assay was used to evaluate induced cell death upon peptide treatment, attributing programmed cell death (Apoptosis) as the main cause of cell death in SNU449 cells. Finally, we established broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties of the peptide on both gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains. Thus, these findings infer the novelty of the peptide as a potential anticancer and antimicrobial agent.
Exploring novel fluorine rich fuberidazole derivatives as hypoxic cancer inhibitors: design, synthesis, pharmacokinetics, molecular docking and DFT evaluations
Authors: Taj Muhammad Babar , Ali Omar Makarm
Published: January 2022

Sixteen fuberidazole derivatives as potential new anticancer bioreductive prodrugs are prepared and characterized. The in vitro anticancer potential is examined to explore their cytotoxic properties employing apoptosis, DNA damage, and proliferation tests on chosen hypoxic cancer cells. Overall, eight substances (Compound 5a, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5g, 5h, 5i, and 5m) showed good cytotoxic properties. The potential of compounds is also examined through in silico studies (against human serum albumin), including chem-informatics to understand the structure-activity relationship (SAR), pharmacochemical strength, and the mode of interactions responsible for their action. The DFT calculations revealed that only 5b compound showed the lowest ΔET (2.29 eV) while 5i showed relatively highest βtot (69.89 × 10-31 esu), highest αave (3.18 × 10-23 esu), and dipole moment (6.49 Debye). This study presents a novel class of fuberidazole derivatives with selectivity toward hypoxic cancer cells.
Multifunctional role of GPCR signaling in epithelial tube formation
Authors: Vishwakarma Vishakha , Le Thao Phuong , Chung SeYeon
Published: January 2022

Epithelial tube formation requires Rho1-dependent actomyosin contractility to generate the cellular forces that drive cell shape changes and rearrangement. Rho1 signaling is activated by G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling at the cell surface. During Drosophila embryonic salivary gland (SG) invagination, the GPCR ligand Folded gastrulation (Fog) activates Rho1 signaling to drive apical constriction. The SG receptor that transduces the Fog signal into Rho1-dependent myosin activation has not been identified. Here, we reveal that the Smog GPCR transduces Fog signal to regulate Rho kinase accumulation and myosin activation in the medioapical region of cells to control apical constriction during SG invagination. We also report on unexpected Fog-independent roles for Smog in maintaining epithelial integrity and organizing cortical actin. Our data supports a model wherein Smog regulates distinct myosin pools and actin cytoskeleton in a ligand-dependent manner during epithelial tube formation.
Assessing Bayesian Phylogenetic Information Content of Morphological Data Using Knowledge from Anatomy Ontologies
Authors: Porto Diego S. , Dahdul Wasila M. , Lapp Hilmar , Balhoff James P. , Vision Todd J. , Mabee Paula M. , Uyeda Josef
Published: January 2022

Morphology remains a primary source of phylogenetic information for many groups of organisms, and the only one for most fossil taxa. Organismal anatomy is not a collection of randomly assembled and independent ‘parts’, but instead a set of dependent and hierarchically nested entities resulting from ontogeny and phylogeny. How do we make sense of these dependent and at times redundant characters? One promising approach is using ontologies—structured controlled vocabularies that summarize knowledge about different properties of anatomical entities, including developmental and structural dependencies. Here we assess whether the proximity of ontology-annotated characters within an ontology predicts evolutionary patterns. To do so, we measure phylogenetic information across characters and evaluate if it is hierarchically structured by ontological knowledge—in much the same way as phylogeny structures across-species diversity. We implement an approach to evaluate the Bayesian phylogenetic information (BPI) content and phylogenetic dissonance among ontology-annotated anatomical data subsets. We applied this to datasets representing two disparate animal groups: bees (Hexapoda: Hymenoptera: Apoidea, 209 chars) and characiform fishes (Actinopterygii: Ostariophysi: Characiformes, 463 chars). For bees, we find that BPI is not substantially structured by anatomy since dissonance is often high among morphologically related anatomical entities. For fishes, we find substantial information for two clusters of anatomical entities instantiating concepts from the jaws and branchial arch bones, but among-subset information decreases and dissonance increases substantially moving to higher level subsets in the ontology. We further applied our approach to address particular evolutionary hypotheses with an example of morphological evolution in miniature fishes. While we show that ontology does indeed structure phylogenetic information, additional relationships and processes, such as convergence, likely play a substantial role in explaining BPI and dissonance, and merit future investigation. Our work demonstrates how complex morphological datasets can be interrogated with ontologies by allowing one to access how information is spread hierarchically across anatomical concepts, how congruent this information is, and what sorts of processes may structure it: phylogeny, development, or convergence.
An emergent temporal basis set robustly supports cerebellar time-series learning
Authors: Gilmer Jesse I. , Farries Michael A. , Kilpatrick Zachary , Delis Ioannis , Person Abigail L.
Published: January 2022

Learning plays a key role in the function of many neural circuits. The cerebellum is considered a ‘learning machine’ essential for time interval estimation underlying motor coordination and other behaviors. Theoretical work has proposed that the cerebellum’s input recipient structure, the granule cell layer (GCL), performs pattern separation of inputs that facilitates learning in Purkinje cells (P-cells). However, the relationship between input reformatting and learning outcomes has remained debated, with roles emphasized for pattern separation features from sparsification to decorrelation. We took a novel approach by training a minimalist model of the cerebellar cortex to learn complex time-series data from naturalistic inputs, in contrast to traditional classification tasks. The model robustly produced temporal basis sets from naturalistic inputs, and the resultant GCL output supported learning of temporally complex target functions. Learning favored surprisingly dense granule cell activity, yet the key statistical features in GCL population activity that drove learning differed from those seen previously for classification tasks. Moreover, different cerebellar tasks were supported by diverse pattern separation features that matched the demands of the tasks. These findings advance testable hypotheses for mechanisms of temporal basis set formation and predict that population statistics of granule cell activity may differ across cerebellar regions to support distinct behaviors.
Exploring Functional Brain Network Modularity in Educational Contexts
Authors: Weinberger Adam B. , Cortes Robert A. , Betzel Richard F. , Green Adam E.
Published: January 2022

The brain’s modular functional organization facilitates adaptability. Modularity has been linked with a wide range of cognitive abilities such as intelligence, memory, and learning. However, much of this work has (1) considered modularity while a participant is at rest rather than during tasks conditions and/or (2) relied primarily on lab-based cognitive assessments. Thus, the extent to which modularity can provide information about real-word behavior remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated whether functional modularity during resting-state and task-based fMRI was associated with academic learning (measured by GPA) and ability (measured by PSAT) in a large sample of high school students. Additional questions concerned the extent to which modularity differs between rest and task conditions, and across spatial scales. Results indicated that whole-brain modularity during task conditions was significantly associated with academic learning. In contrast to prior work, no such associations were observed for resting-state modularity. We further showed that differences in modularity between task conditions and resting-state varied across spatial scales. Taken together, the present findings inform how functional brain network modularity – during task conditions and while at rest – relate to a range of cognitive abilities.
Distinct responses to rare codons in select Drosophila tissues
Authors: Allen Scott R. , Stewart Rebeccah K. , Rogers Michael , Ruiz Ivan Jimenez , Cohen Erez , Laederach Alain , Counter Christopher M. , Sawyer Jessica K. , Fox Donald T.
Published: January 2022

Codon usage bias has long been appreciated to influence protein production. Yet, relatively few studies have analyzed the impacts of codon usage on tissue-specific mRNA and protein expression. Here, we use codon-modified reporters to perform an organism-wide screen in Drosophila melanogaster for distinct tissue responses to codon usage bias. These reporters reveal a cliff-like decline of protein expression near the limit of rare codon usage in endogenously expressed Drosophila genes. Near the edge of this limit, however, we find the testis and brain are uniquely capable of expressing rare codon-enriched reporters. We define a new metric of tissue-specific codon usage, the tissue-apparent Codon Adaptation Index, to reveal a conserved enrichment for rare codon usage in the endogenously expressed genes of both Drosophila and human testis. We further demonstrate a role for rare codons in restricting protein expression of an evolutionarily young gene, RpL10Aa, to the Drosophila testis. Rare codon-mediated restriction of this testis-specific protein is critical for female fertility. Our work highlights distinct responses to rarely used codons in select tissues, revealing a critical role for codon bias in tissue biology.
Lifetime of actin-dependent protein nanoclusters
Authors: Sarkar Sumantra , Goswami Debanjan
Published: January 2022

Protein nanoclusters (PNCs) are dynamic collections of a few proteins that spatially organize in nanometer length clusters. PNCs are one of the principal forms of spatial organization of membrane proteins and they have been shown or hypothesized to be important in various cellular processes, including cell signaling. PNCs show remarkable diversity in size, shape, and lifetime. In particular, the lifetime of PNCs can vary over a wide range of timescales. The diversity in size and shape can be explained by the interaction of the clustering proteins with the actin cytoskeleton or the lipid membrane, but very little is known about the processes that determine the lifetime of the nanoclusters. In this paper, using mathematical modelling of the cluster dynamics, we model the biophysical processes that determine the lifetime of actin-dependent PNCs. In particular, we investigated the role of actin aster fragmentation, which had been suggested to be a key determinant of the PNC lifetime, and found that it is important only for a small class of PNCs. A simple extension of our model allowed us to investigate the kinetics of protein-ligand interaction near PNCs. We found an anomalous increase in the lifetime of ligands near PNCs, which agrees remarkably well with experimental data on RAS-RAF kinetics. In particular, analysis of the RAS-RAF data through our model provides falsifiable predictions and novel hypotheses that will not only shed light on the role of RAS-RAF kinetics in various cancers, but also will be useful in studying membrane protein clustering in general.

Significance

Spatial organization of biomolecules shapes the behavior of a cell. It is particularly important during cell-signaling, where transient, dynamic organization of the biomolecules helps cells process signals and respond to them. Nanoclusters of peripheral membrane proteins, such as KRAS, a specific form of dynamic organization of biomolecules, play a critical part in the modulation of cell signals that control various cellular behaviors including cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. Although we have made significant progress in understanding the structure, size, and origin of the nanoclusters, very little is known about the biophysical processes that control their lifetime. In this paper, we present a mathematical framework that provides quantitative insights into these processes and explains how oncogenic mutations in KRAS may lead to cancers.
Synthesis, crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of dimethyl 3-(3-bromophenyl)-6-methyl-7-oxo-3,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazole-1,2-dicarboxylate
Authors: El Ajlaoui Rahhal , Hakmaoui Yassine , Rakib El Mostapha , Ketatni El Mostafa , Saadi Mohamed , El Ammari Lahcen
Published: January 2022

The title compound, C17H17BrN2O5, resulted from the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction between dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and (3-bromobenzylidene)-4-methyl-5-oxopyrazolidin-2-ium-1-ide in CHCl3. The dihedral angle between the pyrazole rings (all atoms) is 32.91 (10)°; the oxo-pyrazole ring displays an envelope conformation whereas the other pyrazole ring adopts a twisted conformation. The bromophenyl ring subtends a dihedral angle of 88.95 (9)° with the mean plane of its attached pyrazole ring. In the crystal, the molecules are linked by C—H...O hydrogen bonds and aromatic π–π interactions with an inter-centroid distance of 3.8369 (10) Å. The Hirshfeld surface analysis and fingerprint plots reveal that the molecular packing is governed by H...H (37.1%), O...H/H...O (31.3%), Br...H/H...Br (13.5%) and C...H/H...C (10.6%) contacts. The energy framework indicates that dispersion energy is the major contributor to the molecular packing.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (S)-N-methyl-1-phenylethan-1-aminium chloride
Authors: Kirchhoff Jan-Lukas , Brieger Lukas , Strohmann Carsten
Published: January 2022

The title compound C9H14N+·Cl−, (1), can be synthesized starting from (S)-N-methyl-1-phenylethan-1-amine (2). Compound 2 upon addition of HCl·Et2O leads to crystallization of compound 1 as colorless blocks. The configuration of compound 1 is stable as well as preserved in space group P212121. Ammonium chlorides, like the title compound, are often observed as undesirable by-products in aminosilylation of chlorosilanes. Additionally, these by-products are usually soluble in selected organic solvents, which require difficult separation steps. Therefore, detailed studies on structural features and intermolecular interactions performed by Hirshfeld atom refinement (HAR) using NoSpherA2 [Kleemiss et al. (2021). Chem. Sci.
12, 1675–1692] and Hirshfeld surface analysis were used to address structural issues on that separation problem.
Influence of the perceived benefit of a social network-based sales promotion on the perceived quality of a heritage complex
Authors: Crespo-Almendros Esmeralda , Prados-Peña M. Belén , Porcu Lucia , Alcántara-Pilar Juan Miguel
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study seeks to analyze the influence of the consumer's perceived benefits deriving from two different promotional incentives offered via social media on the perceived quality of the heritage complex.

Design/methodology/approach

A quasi-experimental study was carried out among online users, implementing two different promotional stimuli. Facebook was selected as the social network through which the promotional incentives were offered in the experiment. The sample was obtained via a panel of Internet users provided by Sondea Internet SL.

Findings

The results showed that the benefits perceived by the tourists will depend on the sales promotion type offered. On the one hand, free VIP pass was found to be mostly related to hedonic benefits that positively affect perceived quality. On the other hand, 2 × 1 offer would be perceived as a utilitarian benefit and is likely to exert a fairly negative effect on perceived quality.

Practical implications

Tourism managers and practitioners are encouraged to analyze the characteristics of certain types of sales promotions, as each promotional incentive bears different values and associated benefits. The findings of this study suggest managers and practitioners to implement non-monetary promotions to enhance brand equity and perceived quality. Thus, it is paramount for the managers of cultural institutions and heritage sites to trust in sales promotions which can be very helpful if they are designed carefully.

Originality/value

This study pioneers the analysis of the impact of the benefits associated with different typologies of sales promotions on social networks on the perceived quality of a heritage site.
“Ambidexterity”: trump card for farm's innovativeness and competitiveness
Authors: Vecchio Yari , Francescone Martina , Adinolfi Felice , De Rosa Marcello
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The paper aims to analyze the relevance of networking and social capital in promoting the adoption of sustainable innovation, then reinforcing trajectories of multifunctional agriculture. It puts forwards a systemic perspective by focusing on agricultural knowledge and innovation systems. More precisely, we share the idea of “micro agricultural knowledge and innovation systems”, by addressing ambidexterity as engine for boosting sustainable innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical analysis is focused on sustainable innovation adopted by young farmers in Italy and on the mediation effect of ambidextrous relations in performing innovation adoption. Ambidextrous relations are analyzed within at the micro-AKIS level, through the lens of social capital. Relationships between social capital and innovation adoption are statistically measured.

Findings

The analysis shows how ambidexterity develops a mediation effect, with a strong impact on the farm's innovative capacity. Actually, our results confirm that ambidextrous relations reveal good performance and stimulate innovation and, consequently, farms' competitiveness, alongside the path of multifunctional agriculture. As a consequence, the relevance of networking activity in adoption of sustainable innovation may address possible policy action with the aim to strengthen ambidexterity and farm's innovativeness.

Originality/value

The paper tries to fill a gap in literature, by focusing on micro-AKIS which are explored through the lens of social capital.
Clean and green: the relevance of hotels' website quality and environmental management initiatives for green customer loyalty
Authors: Sun Hongzheng , Samad Sarminah , Rehman Shafique Ur , Usman Muhammad
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Customers' focus increasingly turns to the green practices of firms. Organizations need to rethink their strategies and position themselves concerning their environmental responsibility. The idea behind this study is to observe the influence of hotel website quality and hotel environmental management initiative (HEMI) on green customer loyalty in the Pakistan hotel industry with the mediating role of green trust (GT) and green satisfaction (GS).

Design/methodology/approach

The study is quantitative, and partial least squares structural equation modelling followed to test the proposed hypotheses. A total of 542 questionnaires were used for analysis through SPSS 25.0 and SmartPLS 3.2.9.

Findings

The findings confirm the proposed positive influence of hotel website quality and HEMI on green customer loyalty. Moreover, GT and GS significantly mediate the relationship, further enhancing the relevance of green practices for hotels.

Practical implications

Hotel management can get maximum customer loyalty to concentrate on hotel website quality, HEMI, GT and GS.

Originality/value

This study aims to develop a research model to incorporate hotel website quality, HEMI, GT, GS and green customer loyalty by using signalling theory and natural resource-based view theory that prior studies ignored.
Social interactions and mutual fund portfolios: the role of alumni networks in China
Authors: Liang Quanxi , Liao Jiangshan , Ling Leng
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the influence of social interactions on mutual fund portfolios from the perspective of alumni network in China.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a data set that consists of 162 actively managed equity funds in China during the time period of 2003–2014, this study employs multiple linear regression model to control for organization- and location-based interpersonal connections as well as other confounding factors and clarify the causality relationship between alumni networks of mutual fund managers and their portfolios.

Findings

After controlling for organization- and location-based interpersonal connections, we find that mutual fund managers who graduated from the same college/university have more similar stock holdings and are more likely to buy or sell the same stocks contemporaneously. As a result, alumni managers exhibit a higher correlation of fund returns. Moreover, the effect of alumni relationship on mutual fund investments becomes weaker when more managers are connected within the network. We also find that valuable information is shared among alumni managers: (1) the average returns for the alumni common holdings portfolios is significantly higher than those for non-alumni holdings portfolios and (2) a long-short strategy composed of stocks purchased minus sold by alumni managers yields positive and significant risk-adjusted returns.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that information dissemination among connected fund managers could be one of the driving forces for mutual fund herding behavior, and that a portfolio of funds whose managers are educationally connected could be highly exposed to certain stocks and risks.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the growing finance literature addressing the influence of personal connections on information dissemination that specifically contributes to price formation. It corresponds more closely to Cohen et al. (2008), who investigate college alumni connections between fund managers and corporate board members. Since the authors simultaneously examine three potentially overlapped social networks, which are based on education, locality and fund family, the authors are able to disentangle their effects on fund managers' investment decisions. Moreover, the findings suggest that institutional investors make investment decisions based on share private information, and therefore, it also contributes to the literature on fund herding behaviors (Grinblatt et al., 1995; Wermers, 1999).
Ecological restoration through natural regeneration in Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary – a protected area of South-East Bangladesh
Authors: Mamun Abdullah Al , Hossain Mohammed Kamal , Hossain Md. Akhter
Published: January 2022

Purpose

In this paper, the authors show that ecological restoration potential through natural regeneration of degraded tropical rainforest is possible. This is significant because at present most of the tropical forest of the world, including of Bangladesh, are degraded.

Design/methodology/approach

Regeneration status of Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) was assessed through stratified random sampling method using sample plots of 5 × 5 m in size covering 269 sample plots.

Findings

A total of 3,256 regenerating seedlings/saplings of 105 species belonging to 35 families were recorded from CWS. From regenerating tree species, maximum (37.83) family importance value (FIV) index was found for Euphorbiaceae followed by Myrtaceae (18.03). Maximum importance value index (IVI) was found for Aporosa wallichii (21.62) followed by Grewia nervosa (16.41). Distribution of seedlings into different height classes of regenerating tree species was also calculated.

Practical implications

Forest scientists are working to find out the best nature-based solution for ecological restoration of tropical rainforests to attain climate resilient ecosystem in a sustainable way. Tropical rain forest has huge plant diversity, and we find that ecological restoration is possible through natural regeneration from its rich soil seed bank. Natural regeneration is the best nature-based solution for sustainable management of the forest.

Social implications

The authors believe that the findings presented in our paper will appeal to the forest and environmental scientists. The findings will allow readers to understand degraded tropical hill forest ecosystem and its management strategy.

Originality/value

The authors believe that this manuscript will give a clear picture about degraded tropical hill forest ecosystem and its genetic composition, diversity and soil seed bank status to apply appropriate management strategy.
A disruptive model for delivering higher education programs within the context of entrepreneurship education
Authors: de Waal Gerrit Anton , Maritz Alex
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this practitioner paper is to explore whether the principles of Design Thinking and the Lean Startup could be employed in developing a disruptive model for delivering educational programs within higher education in a way that attempts to eliminate the multitude of problems facing this industry, while simultaneously adhering to the principles of frugal innovation and meeting relevant sustainability goals.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors followed a design thinking approach, employing tools such as empathy mapping, customer journey, value proposition and semi-structured interviews to obtain a deep level of understanding of the problems educators and students within the context of entrepreneurship education are facing. Throughout the process they drew on the practice of emergent inquiry and customer co-creation to help guide decision making.

Findings

The authors successfully derived a conceptual solution in the form of a Minimum Viable Product of which the features were tested against the multitude of user needs and requirements. It was possible to demonstrate how the solution meets all nine of the requirements for frugal innovations while simultaneously adhering to applicable sustainability principles.

Practical implications

The proposed solution offers a potential opportunity to first-movers in chosen academic disciplines to become leaders in online education.

Originality/value

Even in an industry such as higher education there is a dire need for frugality and finding sustainable solutions for educators and students in both developed and developing markets. With this paper the authors succeed in presenting innovative combinations of digital artefacts, platforms and infrastructure to arrive at a novel crowd-sourced solution that is unique in its design.
Sustainable cities through household waste management: an unexplored approach to challenges confronting private solid waste management
Authors: Ebekozien Andrew , Aigbavboa Clinton , Nwaole Angeline Ngozika Chibuike , Aginah Ibeabuchi Lawrence , Aigbedion Marvelous
Published: January 2022

Purpose

In less than a decade to sustainable development goals (SDGs) there is a threat of household waste emanating from sub-urban sprawl especially in developing countries. Private approaches with government-enabling environments have been proved a successful platform for urban services such as housing provision and telecommunication in developing cities. Still private solid waste management (PSWM) seems different in Nigeria. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the possible perceived hindrances facing PSWM organisations and proffer feasible policies to enhance sustainable clean and healthy cities.

Design/methodology/approach

Seven communities within Benin City sub-urban environs were adopted as the study area to accomplish the research’s objectives via a phenomenology type of qualitative research design. The study analysed the collated data from the knowledgeable participants via a thematic approach.

Findings

Lax legislative, absence of institutional framework, inadequate economic motivation, inadequate technical operations, among others, emerged as the encumbrances faced by PSWM firms. Wastes dumped along unethical locations such as streets, roads, uncompleted buildings, culverts and drainage channels, and undeveloped plots emerged as the encumbrance outcomes. Findings show that proffering feasible policy solutions to tackle identified hindrances can promote the achievement of SDGs across semi-urban locations in Nigeria.

Research limitations/implications

This research is restricted to urban household waste management by PSWM within Nigeria. Also, the study identified the challenges and proffer policy solutions to enhance improved clean environment within the sub-urban and urban cities.

Practical implications

As part of this study’s implications, results from this research intend to guide government policymakers and PSWM firms to encourage collaboration in designing appropriate strategic and educational programmes for the householders (customers) in sub-cities. It will be achieved via feasible policies that are tailored towards achieving sustainable health and environment-friendly sub-urban locations.

Originality/value

This paper intends to enhance proper PSWM and create sustainable cities via collaboration. Also, the paper engaged key stakeholders via a qualitative research design to proffer possible solutions to the menace of sub-urban and urban household waste management.
Mortgage delinquency during COVID-19: do financial literacy and personality traits matter?
Authors: Chhatwani Malvika
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Mortgage delinquency has become a major crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explored mortgage delinquency antecedents, focusing on two individual-level factors: financial literacy and personality traits.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a large sample of 2,511 consumers, we examined the direct effect of financial literacy and its interaction with personality traits to predict mortgage delinquency based on logistic regression analysis. We further provide several robustness tests to validate our findings.

Findings

We find that financially literate consumers are 6% less likely to delay their mortgage repayment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, personality traits such as neuroticism and extroversion positively and conscientiousness negatively moderate the given linkage between financial literacy and mortgage delinquency.

Practical implications

Banks and financial companies may devise relevant policies to reduce mortgage repayment by knowing the interplay between financial literacy and personality traits. Personality traits can be considered one of the parameters while sanctioning mortgages to prospective customers.

Originality/value

Our research examines the linkage between financial literacy, personality traits and mortgage delinquency based on a large nationally representative sample. Our findings suggest that personality traits moderate the effect of financial literacy on mortgage delinquency.
Purchase intention of Indian customers: a study on solar PV technology
Authors: Atulkar Sunil
Published: January 2022

Purpose

With the growing acceptance of renewable energy sources in the world, new energy sources are pursued and investigated by customers. In India, residential PV technology is in an early stage of development and very less in demand among households. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify the major variables and its impact on customers purchase intention towards solar PV technology, especially in the context of central India.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on literature reviews, this study identifies six major independent variables having a relationship with purchase intentions. Using convenience sampling method, 413 customers’ data has been collected by the researcher and was investigated through structural equation modelling, using SmartPLS 2.0 and SPSS-20 software.

Findings

The study findings suggested that the construct promotional strategies, societal influence, customer awareness and government initiative plays an important role in generating customers purchase intention towards solar PV technology. While the constructs environmental concern and availability & cost having relationship, showed insignificant influence.

Research limitations/implications

The study outcomes provide some valuable insights to the government and policymakers in designing their policies and strategies to increase customer involvement in solar PV technology. This study suggested that the service providers need to offer more benefits in the form of subsidies and schemes that motivate customers to willingly show their purchase intention.

Originality/value

The major contribution of this study is the empirical analysis of six independent variables, which affects the customer purchase intentions towards solar PV technology over available conventional energy sources in an emerging Indian market.