bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus in New York City
Authors: Meade Philip S. , Bandawane Pooja , Bushfield Kaitlyn , Hoxie Irene , Azcona Karla R. , Burgos Daneidy , Choudhury Sadia , Diaby Adama , Diallo Mariama , Gaynor Kailani , Huang Aaron , Kante Kadiatou , Khan Shehryar N. , Kim William , Ajayi Paul Kehinde , Roubidoux Ericka , Nelson Sasha , McMahon Rita , Albrecht Randy A , Krammer Florian , Marizzi Christine
Published: April 2024

Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of the H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b arrived in North America in the winter of 2021/2022. These viruses have spread across the Americas causing morbidity and mortality in both wild and domestic birds as well as some mammalian species, including cattle. Many surveillance programs in wildlife as well as commercial poultry operations have detected these viruses. Here we conducted surveillance of avian species in the urban environment in New York City. We detected highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses in six samples from four different bird species and performed full genome sequencing. Sequence analysis showed the presence of multiple different genotypes. Our work highlights that the interface between animals and humans that may give rise to zoonotic infections or even pandemics is not limited to rural environments and commercial poultry operations but extends into the heart of our urban centers.

Importance

While surveillance for avian influenza viruses is often focused on migratory routes and their associated stop-over locations, or commercial poultry operations, many bird species – including migratory birds – frequent or live in urban green spaces and wetlands. This brings them into contact with a highly dense population of humans and pets providing an extensive urban animal-human interface in which the general public may have little awareness of circulating infectious diseases. This study focuses on virus surveillance at this interface, combined with culturally responsive science education and community outreach.
Temperature adaptation of yeast phospholipid molecular species at the acyl chain positional level
Authors: Kelso Celine , Maccarone Alan T. , de Kroon Anton I.P.M. , Mitchell Todd W. , Renne Mike F.
Published: April 2024

The budding yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiaeis a poikilothermic organism and adapts its lipid composition to the environmental temperature to maintain membrane physical properties. Studies addressing temperature-dependent adaptation of the lipidome in yeast have described changes in the phospholipid composition at the level of sum composition (e.g.PC 32:1) and molecular composition (e.g. PC 16:0_16:1). However, to date, there is no information at the level of positional isomers (e.g.PC 16:0/16:1versusPC 16:1/16:0). In this study, combined Collision- and Ozone-Induced Dissociation (CID/OzID) mass spectrometry was deployed to investigate homeoviscous adaptation of PC, PE, and PSsn-molecular species composition. We determined the main species to be 16:1/16:1, 16:0/16:1, 16:1/18:1, 16:0/18:1, and 18:0/16:1. In general, at higher culture temperature, thesn-1 position is increased in saturated acyl chains, whereas thesn-2 position mainly is increased in acyl chain length. PC mainly increases in 16:0/16:1 and 16:0/18:1, at the expense of 16:1/16:1, whereas PS and PE increase in 16:1/18:1, at the expense of 16:1/16:1 and 16:0/16:1. Our data suggest distinct adaptation mechanisms of thesn-1 andsn-2 acyl chains, and different manners ofsn-molecular species adaptation between PC and PE/PS.
A lytic transglycosylase connects bacterial focal adhesion complexes to the peptidoglycan cell wall
Authors: Ramírez Carbó Carlos A. , Faromiki Olalekan G. , Nan Beiyan
Published: April 2024

The Gram-negative bacteriumMyxococcus xanthusglides on solid surfaces. Dynamic bacterial focal adhesion complexes (bFACs) convert proton motive force from the inner membrane into mechanical propulsion on the cell surface. It is unclear how the mechanical force transmits across the rigid peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall. Here we show that AgmT, a highly abundant lytic PG transglycosylase homologous toEscherichia coliMltG, couples bFACs to PG. Coprecipitation assay and single-particle microscopy reveal that the gliding motors fail to connect to PG and thus are unable to assemble into bFACs in the absence of an active AgmT. Heterologous expression ofE. coliMltG restores the connection between PG and bFACs and thus rescues gliding motility in theM. xanthuscells that lack AgmT. Our results indicate that bFACs anchor to AgmT-modified PG to transmit mechanical force across the PG cell wall.
The impact of package selection and versioning on single-cell RNA-seq analysis
Authors: Rich Joseph M , Moses Lambda , Einarsson Pétur Helgi , Jackson Kayla , Luebbert Laura , Booeshaghi A. Sina , Antonsson Sindri , Sullivan Delaney K. , Bray Nicolas , Melsted Páll , Pachter Lior
Published: April 2024

Standard single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis (scRNA-seq) workflows consist of converting raw read data into cell-gene count matrices through sequence alignment, followed by analyses including filtering, highly variable gene selection, dimensionality reduction, clustering, and differential expression analysis. Seurat and Scanpy are the most widely-used packages implementing such workflows, and are generally thought to implement individual steps similarly. We investigate in detail the algorithms and methods underlying Seurat and Scanpy and find that there are, in fact, considerable differences in the outputs of Seurat and Scanpy. The extent of differences between the programs is approximately equivalent to the variability that would be introduced in benchmarking scRNA-seq datasets by sequencing less than 5% of the reads or analyzing less than 20% of the cell population. Additionally, distinct versions of Seurat and Scanpy can produce very different results, especially during parts of differential expression analysis. Our analysis highlights the need for users of scRNA-seq to carefully assess the tools on which they rely, and the importance of developers of scientific software to prioritize transparency, consistency, and reproducibility for their tools.
Maturing giant kelp develop depth-specific microbiomes
Authors: Esaian Sevan , Bui An , DiFiore Bartholomew P. , Peters Joseph R. , Lepori-Bui Michelle , Husted Kelsey , Moeller Holly V. , Wilbanks Elizabeth G.
Published: April 2024

Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) is a photosynthetic macroalga that produces dissolved organic carbon (DOC), essential for marine bacteria and food webs. The bacterial communities residing on giant kelp blades consume and compete for complex carbohydrates, contributing to the microbiome community structure. In this study, we investigate how the microbiome changes in response to the age and depth of giant kelp blades and assess how these changes relate to differences in the host’s photophysiology. We find that the microbial community increases in richness and evenness as kelp blades age. While the microbiomes of juvenile blades are stochastic, communities on mature blades coalesce into less variable, depth-specific community types. Differentially abundant genera in mature microbiomes include members ofBacteroidiaandGammaproteobacteria, known for carbohydrate degradation, andPlanctomycetes, which often produce protective secondary metabolites. These shifts in microbiome communities are associated with increased maximum quantum yield of photosystem II of mature blades; therefore, they may be linked to enhanced DOC exudation. By shedding light on these dynamics, our study contributes to a better understanding of the complex interplay between macroalgae, their respective microbiomes, and the surrounding marine environment.
T4 phage RNA is NAD-capped and alters the NAD-cap epitranscriptome ofEscherichia coliduring infection through a phage-encoded decapping enzyme
Authors: Wolfram-Schauerte Maik , Moskalchuk Anastassiya , Pozhydaieva Nadiia , Rojas Adán Andrés Ramírez , Schindler Daniel , Kaiser Stefanie , Pazcia Nicole , Höfer Katharina
Published: April 2024

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) serves as a cap-like structure on cellular RNAs (NAD-RNAs) in all domains of life including the bacteriumEscherichia coli. NAD also acts as a key molecule in phage-host interactions, where bacterial immune systems deplete NAD to abort phage infection. Nevertheless, NAD-RNAs have not yet been identified during phage infections of bacteria and the mechanisms of their synthesis and degradation are unknown in this context. The T4 phage that specifically infectsE. colipresents an important model to study phage infections, but a systematic analysis of the presence and dynamics of NAD-RNAs during T4 phage infection is lacking. Here, we investigate the presence of NAD-RNAs during T4 phage infection in a dual manner. By applying time-resolved NAD captureSeq, we identify NAD-capped host and phage transcripts and their dynamic regulation during phage infection. We provide evidence that NAD-RNAs are – as reported earlier – generated by the host RNA polymerase by initiating transcription with NAD at canonical transcription start sites. In addition, we characterize NudE.1 – a T4 phage-encoded Nudix hydrolase – as the first phage-encoded NAD-RNA decapping enzyme. T4 phages carrying inactive NudE.1 display a delayed lysis phenotype. This study investigates for the first time the dual epitranscriptome of a phage and its host, thereby introducing epitranscriptomics as an important field of phage research.
Impact of temperature on short-range charge ordering in
LiFePO4/FePO4
Authors: Hammadi Souzan , Kullgren Jolla , Wolf Matthew J. , Brandell Daniel , Broqvist Peter
Published: April 2024

Energy is stored in a LiFePO4 battery electrode through the intercalation of Li. As Li incorporate into the crystal lattice of Fe(III)PO4, electrons reduce Fe(III) into Fe(II). The interactions of Li and its vacant site (Va) with these localized electrons (holes), so-called polarons, cause phase separation during battery operation. These fundamental interactions are however difficult to quantify using standard electronic structure calculations. In this paper, we utilize DFT+U with occupation matrix control to compute interaction energies at varying Li-Fe(II) and Va-Fe(III) pair separations. The increased energy with separation warrants the use of an electrostatic description. The DFT+U data are fitted to a Coulombic potential with two-body corrections and used in a Monte Carlo scheme. The coordination of the species determines their short-range ordering, showing that the Li and Va create chains bridged by their associated polarons which dissociate into dimers at higher temperatures. This dissociation happens at higher temperatures for Va than for Li, indicating a more pronounced clustering behavior during the formation of FePO4. Notably, a significant amount of uncoordinated Li exists at elevated temperatures, challenging the simplified picture of complete Li-Fe(II) pairing.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Resolving the polarization puzzles in
D0→VV
Authors: Cao Ye , Cheng Yin , Zhao Qiang
Published: April 2024

We carry out a systematic analysis of the Cabibbo-favored and singly-Cabibbo-suppressed decays of D0→VV, and demonstrate that the long-distance mechanism due to the final-state interactions can provide a natural explanation for these mysterious polarization puzzles observed in D0→VV in experiments. More observables, which can be measured at BESIII, and possibly at LHCb, are also suggested.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Z
-boson decays into
S
-wave quarkonium plus a photon up to
O(αsv2)
corrections
Authors: Wang Guang-Yu , Zheng Xu-Chang , Wu Xing-Gang , Xu Guang-Zhi
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we calculate the decay widths and branching fractions for the decays Z→H+γ up to O(αsv2) accuracy within the framework of nonrelativistic QCD, where H stands for the S-wave quarkonium ηc, J/ψ, ηb, or ϒ, respectively. To compare with the leading-order terms, those corrections show good perturbative behavior as expected. It is found that contributions from the next-to-leading order QCD correction O(αsv0), the relativistic correction O(αs0v2) and their joint correction O(αsv2) are sizable and comparable to each other, especially for the charmonium case. Thus we need to take all of them into consideration for a sound estimation. For a high luminosity electron-positron collider running around the Z pole, due to Z-boson resonance effect, sizable events could be produced from those rare decay channels.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Unscreened forces in the quark-gluon plasma?
Authors: Bazavov Alexei , Hoying Daniel , Larsen Rasmus N. , Mukherjee Swagato , Petreczky Peter , Rothkopf Alexander , Weber Johannes Heinrich ,   HotQCD Collaboration
Published: April 2024

We study the correlator of temporal Wilson lines at nonzero temperature in 2+1 flavor lattice QCD with the aim to define the heavy quark-antiquark potential at nonzero temperature. For temperatures 153  MeV≤T≤352  MeV the spectral representation of this correlator is consistent with a broadened peak in the spectral function, position, or width of which then defines the real or imaginary parts of the heavy quark-antiquark potential at nonzero temperature, respectively. We find that the potential’s real part is not screened contrary to the widely held expectations. We comment on how this fact may modify the picture of quarkonium melting in the quark-gluon plasma.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Flavor anomalies in leptoquark model with gauged
U(1)Lμ−Lτ
Authors: Chen Chuan-Hung , Chiang Cheng-Wei
Published: April 2024

In addition to anomalies associated with the muon g−2 and the branching ratio (BR) of B→D(*)τν¯, Belle II recently observed an unexpectedly large BR in the B+→K+νν¯ decay. To resolve the anomalous excesses in these observables, we propose a framework involving a leptoquark, denoted by S1, which has the feature that down-type quarks merely couple to neutrinos but not the charged leptons, avoiding the strict constraint from the Bs→μ−μ+ decay. With the introduction of the U(1)Lμ−Lτ gauge symmetry, the Z′ with light mass not only resolves the muon g−2 anomaly, but also ensures that S1 couples exclusively to the third-generation leptons so that only τν¯τ and τ-neutrino modes are involved in the processes b→cℓν¯ and b→sνν¯, respectively. Under the dominant constraints from |ΔF|=2 processes, we find that the S1 contributions to the BRs of B→K(*)νν¯ and KL→π0νν¯ can be factorized into the same multiplicative factor multiplying the standard model predictions, and the enhancement can be up to a factor of 2. In particular, B(K+→π+νν¯) can reach the upper 1σ error of the experimental value, i.e., ≃15.4×10−11. We also show that the model can fit the new world averages of R(D(*)) and contribute significantly to the τ polarization in the B→Dτν¯ decay and B(Bc→τν¯).

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Spontaneously Sliding Multipole Spin Density Waves in Cold Atoms
Authors: Labeyrie G. , Walker J. G. M. , Robb G. R. M. , Kaiser R. , Ackemann T.
Published: April 2024

We report on the observation of spontaneously drifting coupled spin and quadrupolar density waves in the ground state of laser driven Rubidium atoms. These laser-cooled atomic ensembles exhibit spontaneous magnetism via light mediated interactions when submitted to optical feedback by a retroreflecting mirror. Drift direction and chirality of the waves arise from spontaneous symmetry breaking. The observations demonstrate a novel transport process in out-of-equilibrium magnetic systems.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Optimal antimicrobial response to a changing microbial background at a mucus interface
Authors: Bossa Guilherme Volpe , Bel Shai , Mugler Andrew , Erez Amir
Published: April 2024

Complex lifeforms host microbiota, microbes that live synergistically with their host. Accordingly, hosts have mechanisms to defend against and tolerate the microbiota. The intestinal mucus, where these systems collide, plays a pivotal role in managing this relationship, yet lacks an integrative theoretical framework. We propose a minimal model to elucidate dynamics at this interface, focusing on the ileum's mucus defense. The model considers the effect of delay in host antimicrobial peptide secretion and how the host can use two different signals, from the bulk microbiota and from segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB), assuming that the SFB anticipate the bulk microbiota. We propose a theory whereby the host can optimize defense by minimizing antimicrobial peptide production and controlling bacterial exposure. Integrating two recent experiments, we show host dynamics are consistent with sensing both bulk and SFB, supporting our “optimal defense” hypothesis. Therefore, we propose that similar mechanisms could prove advantageous to other species and applicable beyond the ileum's mucus barrier.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Optimal run-and-tumble in slit-like confinement
Authors: Pietrangeli T. , Ybert C. , Cottin-Bizonne C. , Detcheverry F.
Published: April 2024

Run-and-tumble is a basic model of persistent motion and a motility strategy widespread in micro-organisms and individual cells. In many natural settings, movement occurs in the presence of confinement. While accumulation at the surface has been extensively studied, the transport parallel to the boundary has received less attention. We consider a run-and-tumble particle confined inside a slit, where motion in the bulk alternates with intermittent sojourns at the wall. We first propose a discrete-direction model that is fully tractable and obtain the exact diffusion coefficient characterizing the long-time exploration of the slit. We then use numerical simulations to show that with an adequate choice of parameters, our analytical prediction provides a useful approximation for the diffusion coefficient of run-and-tumble with continuous direction. Finally, we identify the conditions that maximize diffusion within the slit and discuss the optimal mean run time. For swimming bacteria, we find that the optimum is typically reached when the mean run length is comparable to the confinement size.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Make China great again: the strategies of Confucian accountants
Authors: Wang Yuheng , Ahn Paul D.
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to offer insight into how strategies within the accounting profession, which has been becoming more global, might be changed by the recent outbreak of the Second Cold War between the West and the Rest of the World.

Design/methodology/approach

We explore the strategies of those who called themselves “Confucian accountants” in China, a country which has recently discouraged its state-owned enterprises from using the services of the Big 4. We do this by employing qualitative research methods, including reflexive photo interviews, in which Big-4 accountants, recognised as the most Westernised accounting actors in China, and Confucian accountants are asked to take and explain photographs representing their professional lives. Bourdieu’s notions of “economy of practices” and “vision-of-division strategy” are drawn upon to understand who the Confucian accountants are and what they do strategically in their pursuit of a higher revenue stream and improved social standing in the Chinese social space.

Findings

The homegrown Confucian accountants share cultural-cognitive characteristics with neighbouring social actors, such as their clients and government officials, who have been inculcated with Confucianism and the state’s cultural confidence policy in pursuit of a “socialist market economy with Chinese characteristics”. Those accountants try to enhance their social standing and revenue stream by strategically demonstrating their difference from Big-4 accountants. For this purpose, they wear Confucian clothes, have Confucian props in their office, employ Confucian phrases in their everyday conversations, use Confucian business cards and construct and maintain guanxi with government officials and clients.

Originality/value

This paper is the first attempt to explore Confucian accountants’ strategies for increasing their revenue and social standing at the start of the Second Cold War.
A comparative study of capital structure compositions in grain marketing and input supply cooperatives
Authors: Grashuis Jasper , Jacobs Keri
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The objective of the study is to explore explanations for the capital structure compositions of farmer cooperatives, which have a unique equity structure with allocated equity as well as unallocated equity.

Design/methodology/approach

Data came from a panel of US grain marketing and input supply cooperatives for the 2010–2020 period. The study is concerned with the proportions of debt, allocated equity and unallocated equity, which requires the application of a fractional multinomial panel model to ensure predictions fall within the observed data range (i.e. 0–1).

Findings

Larger cooperatives have relatively high debt proportions. Diversification of the product portfolio has a positive effect on the debt proportion. Profitability is associated with higher debt proportions in input supply cooperatives and higher allocated equity proportions in grain marketing cooperatives. Over time, the proportion of unallocated equity increased. Overall, some results differ across grain marketing and input supply cooperatives.

Practical implications

Increasing proportions of unallocated equity warrant a debate about the future value of ownership and governance by members of farmer cooperatives.

Originality/value

Previous empirical investigations of the capital structure compositions of cooperatives lacked a distinction between allocated and unallocated equity. Our results show that the proportions of the two equity accounts respond differently to given predictors. Furthermore, much of the prior empirical literature fails to separate cooperatives on the basis of economic activities (i.e. marketing, supply and mixed).
An analysis of long-term and short-term impact of climate change on rice production in India
Authors: Singh Arshdeep , Arora Kashish , Babu Suresh Chandra
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Climate change-related weather events significantly affect rice production. In this paper, we investigate the impact of and interrelationships between agriculture inputs, climate change factors and financial variables on rice production in India from 1970–2021.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on the time series analysis; the unit root test has been employed to unveil the integration order. Further, the study used various econometric techniques, including vector autoregression estimates (VAR), cointegration test, autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model and diagnostic test for ARDL, fully modified least squares (FMOLS), canonical cointegrating regression (CCR), impulse response functions (IRF) and the variance decomposition method (VDM) to validate the long- and short-term impacts of climate change on rice production in India of the scrutinized variables.

Findings

The study's findings revealed that the rice area, precipitation and maximum temperature have a significant and positive impact on rice production in the short run. In the long run, rice area (ß = 1.162), pesticide consumption (ß = 0.089) and domestic credit to private sector (ß = 0.068) have a positive and significant impact on rice production. The results show that minimum temperature and direct institutional credit for agriculture have a significant but negative impact on rice production in the short run. Minimum temperature, pesticide consumption, domestic credit to the private sector and direct institutional credit for agriculture have a negative and significant impact on rice production in the long run.

Originality/value

The present study makes valuable and original contributions to the literature by examining the short- and long-term impacts of climate change on rice production in India over 1970–2021. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, The majority of the studies examined the impact of climate change on rice production with the consideration of only “mean temperature” as one of the climatic variables, while in the present study, the authors have considered both minimum as well as maximum temperature. Furthermore, the authors also considered the financial variables in the model.
Oil price uncertainty and excess value of diversification
Authors: Singh Amanjot
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study examines the value implications of oil price uncertainty for investors in diversified firms using a sample of 922 USA firms from 2001 to 2019.

Design/methodology/approach

Our study employs a panel dataset to examine the value implications of oil price uncertainty for diversified firm investors. We consider several alternative specifications to account for unobserved factors and measurement errors that could potentially bias our results. In particular, we use alternative measures of the excess value of diversified firms and oil price uncertainty, additional control variables, fixed-effects models, the Oster test, impact threshold for confounding variable (ITCV) analysis, two-stage least square instrumental variable (2SLS-IV) analysis and the system-GMM model.

Findings

We find that the excess value of diversified firms, relative to a benchmark portfolio of single-segment firms, increases with high oil price uncertainty. The impact of oil price uncertainty is asymmetric, as corporate diversification is value-increasing for diversified firm investors only when the volatility is due to positive oil price changes and amidst supply-driven oil price shocks. The excess value increases irrespective of diversified firms’ financial constraints and oil usage. Diversified firms become conservative in their internal capital allocations with high oil price uncertainty. Such conservatism is value-increasing for diversified firm investors, as it supports higher performance in response to oil price uncertainty.

Originality/value

Our study has three important implications: first, they are relevant to investors in understanding the portfolio value implications of oil price uncertainty. Second, they are helpful for firm managers while comprehending the value-relevant implications of internal capital allocations. Finally, our findings are policy relevant in the context of the future of diversified firms in developed markets.
Localization of asparagus spears using time-of-flight imaging for robotic harvesting
Authors: Peebles Matthew , Lim Shen Hin , Duke Mike , Mcguinness Benjamin , Au Chi Kit
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Time of flight (ToF) imaging is a promising emerging technology for the purposes of crop identification. This paper aim to presents localization system for identifying and localizing asparagus in the field based on point clouds from ToF imaging. Since the semantics are not included in the point cloud, it contains the geometric information of other objects such as stones and weeds other than asparagus spears. An approach is required for extracting the spear information so that a robotic system can be used for harvesting.

Design/methodology/approach

A real-time convolutional neural network (CNN)-based method is used for filtering the point cloud generated by a ToF camera, allowing subsequent processing methods to operate over smaller and more information-dense data sets, resulting in reduced processing time. The segmented point cloud can then be split into clusters of points representing each individual spear. Geometric filters are developed to eliminate the non-asparagus points in each cluster so that each spear can be modelled and localized. The spear information can then be used for harvesting decisions.

Findings

The localization system is integrated into a robotic harvesting prototype system. Several field trials have been conducted with satisfactory performance. The identification of a spear from the point cloud is the key to successful localization. Segmentation and clustering points into individual spears are two major failures for future improvements.

Originality/value

Most crop localizations in agricultural robotic applications using ToF imaging technology are implemented in a very controlled environment, such as a greenhouse. The target crop and the robotic system are stationary during the localization process. The novel proposed method for asparagus localization has been tested in outdoor farms and integrated with a robotic harvesting platform. Asparagus detection and localization are achieved in real time on a continuously moving robotic platform in a cluttered and unstructured environment.
Framing and feelings on social media: the futures of work and intelligent machines
Authors: Ocal Ayse , Crowston Kevin
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Research on artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential effects on the workplace is increasing. How AI and the futures of work are framed in traditional media has been examined in prior studies, but current research has not gone far enough in examining how AI is framed on social media. This paper aims to fill this gap by examining how people frame the futures of work and intelligent machines when they post on social media.

Design/methodology/approach

We investigate public interpretations, assumptions and expectations, referring to framing expressed in social media conversations. We also coded the emotions and attitudes expressed in the text data. A corpus consisting of 998 unique Reddit post titles and their corresponding 16,611 comments was analyzed using computer-aided textual analysis comprising a BERTopic model and two BERT text classification models, one for emotion and the other for sentiment analysis, supported by human judgment.

Findings

Different interpretations, assumptions and expectations were found in the conversations. Three subframes were analyzed in detail under the overarching frame of the New World of Work: (1) general impacts of intelligent machines on society, (2) undertaking of tasks (augmentation and substitution) and (3) loss of jobs. The general attitude observed in conversations was slightly positive, and the most common emotion category was curiosity.

Originality/value

Findings from this research can uncover public needs and expectations regarding the future of work with intelligent machines. The findings may also help shape research directions about futures of work. Furthermore, firms, organizations or industries may employ framing methods to analyze customers’ or workers’ responses or even influence the responses. Another contribution of this work is the application of framing theory to interpreting how people conceptualize the future of work with intelligent machines.
Improving the sustainability of banks using insightful corporate governance practices: a qualitative inquiry in an emerging economy
Authors: Wuaku David Kofi , Koomson Samuel , Abraham Ernest Mensah , Markwei Ummu , Agyapong Joan-Ark Manu
Published: April 2024

Purpose

In the past few years, researchers across the world have been attracted to corporate governance (CG) and sustainability studies in the banking space. However, inconsistencies remain, which have created a lack of alignment in existing research. To address this problem, this paper aims to re-examines the CG–bank sustainability relationship using a qualitative design, which has been underused in the field, to generate in-depth, useful and novel analysis and insights that may hide behind the numbers.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative inquiry was conducted using key informants in Ghana’s banking industry. This study made use of purposive and snowball sampling techniques, an interview guide and the thematic approach to qualitative data analysis.

Findings

Firstly, this research finds that while larger boards do not promote bank sustainability, those who are independent and have diversified expertise and experiences do. Secondly, CEO duality can boost bank sustainability only if the CEO is actively engaged and performing. Thirdly, this study finds that foreign-owned and managed banks make more profits only if they have good knowledge of the local market.

Research limitations/implications

This research makes the call that upcoming researchers should replicate this research in other banking settings worldwide to validate the results.

Practical implications

Practical lessons for local and foreign-owned banks and their shareholders are discussed to advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 8.

Originality/value

This research shares novel insights that offer clarity to the literature and move the CG and sustainability fields forward.
How can healthcare organisations increase doctors’ research engagement? A scoping review
Authors: Brandenburg Caitlin , Stehlik Paulina , Noble Christy , Wenke Rachel , Jones Kristen , Hattingh Laetitia , Dungey Kelly , Branjerdporn Grace , Spillane Ciara , Kalantari Sharmin , George Shane , Keijzers Gerben , Mickan Sharon
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Clinician engagement in research has positive impacts for healthcare, but is often difficult for healthcare organisations to support in light of limited resources. This scoping review aimed to describe the literature on health service-administered strategies for increasing research engagement by medical practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

Medline, EMBASE and Web of Science databases were searched from 2000 to 2021 and two independent reviewers screened each record for inclusion. Inclusion criteria were that studies sampled medically qualified clinicians; reported empirical data; investigated effectiveness of an intervention in improving research engagement and addressed interventions implemented by an individual health service/hospital.

Findings

Of the 11,084 unique records, 257 studies were included. Most (78.2%) studies were conducted in the USA, and were targeted at residents (63.0%). Outcomes were measured in a variety of ways, most commonly publication-related outcomes (77.4%), though many studies used more than one outcome measure (70.4%). Pre-post (38.8%) and post-only (28.7%) study designs were the most common, while those using a contemporaneous control group were uncommon (11.5%). The most commonly reported interventions included Resident Research Programs (RRPs), protected time, mentorship and education programs. Many articles did not report key information needed for data extraction (e.g. sample size).

Originality/value

This scoping review demonstrated that, despite a large volume of research, issues like poor reporting, infrequent use of robust study designs and heterogeneous outcome measures limited application. The most compelling available evidence pointed to RRPs, protected time and mentorship as effective interventions. Further high-quality evidence is needed to guide healthcare organisations on increasing medical research engagement.
Too much of a good thing: the dual effect of executive equity incentives on corporate social responsibility performance
Authors: Zhao Shifang , Jiang Xu , Ahn Yoojung
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Research on the effect of executive equity incentives is equivocal. Based on agency theory, some scholars take the convergence of interest logic to highlight the benefits of executive equity incentives. In contrast, others adopt the entrenchment logic to emphasize the increased agency costs. This study attempts to reconcile the debate on executive equity incentives and integrates the opposing views to unveil how executive equity incentives impact corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the panel dataset of Chinese A-share listed firms from 2006 to 2022, this study integrates the convergence of interest and entrenchment logic to examine how executive equity incentives affect CSR performance.

Findings

We find that the relationship between executive equity incentives and CSR performance follows an inverted U-shaped form. According to the convergence of interest logic, executive equity incentives reduce agency costs when allocating resources to engage in CSR activities and enable firms to increase their CSR investments, ultimately realizing increased CSR performance. After a threshold, however, the accumulation of extensive equity incentives causes the entrenchment effect, resulting in declined CSR performance. Our empirical results also shed new light on its contingent perspective – the inverted U-shaped relationship is attenuated when firms’ stock liquidity is high.

Originality/value

This study attempts to reconcile the debate on executive equity incentives and integrates the opposing views to unveil the inverted U-shaped relationship between executive equity incentives and CSR performance. Our study opens promising avenues for further research on corporate governance and CSR strategies.
Impacts of investment relations service quality on corporate information transparency and intangible value: the moderating role of competitive intensity
Authors: Chan Ricky Y.K. , Shen Jianfu , Cheng Louis T.W. , Lai Jennifer W.M.
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study aims at proposing and testing a model delineating how and when the quality of a special B2B professional service, investment relations (IR), would drive corporate intangible value.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a proprietary dataset on voting records of an annual investment relations (IR) awards event and the corresponding company-level archival data for analysis. Regression analysis is used to test hypotheses.

Findings

IR service quality not only directly enhances corporate intangible value, but also indirectly boosts it via information transparency. While competitive intensity does not moderate the relationship between IR service quality and corporate intangible value, its moderating effect on the relationship between information transparency and this value is negative.

Research limitations/implications

The findings advance academic understanding of the mechanism and boundary conditions underlying the complex and dynamic relationships among IR service quality, information transparency, corporate intangible value and competitive intensity. Future research endeavors to verify the present findings in other service and/or geographic settings would help establish their external validity.

Practical implications

The findings advise companies to expand the traditional role of IR by taking it as a powerful communication and relationship marketing tool to improve their visibility and attract investors.

Social implications

The findings suggest that superior IR service would strengthen the company’s social bonding with institutional investors and effectively signal to them its commitment to good corporate governance practices.

Originality/value

Matching a proprietary dataset on IR voting records with the corresponding company-level archival data over a five-year period to investigate the performance implications of IR service quality within the Hong Kong context rectifies methodological limitation and geographic confinement of prior IR research.
Advances in encapsulation systems of Antarctic krill oil: From extraction to encapsulation, and future direction
Authors: Gao Yuhang , Ding Zhansheng , Liu Yuanfa , Xu Yong‐Jiang
Published: April 2024

Antarctic krill oil (AKO) is highly sought after by consumers and the food industry due to its richness in a variety of nutrients and physiological activities. However, current extraction methods are not sufficient to better extract AKO and its nutrients, and AKO is susceptible to lipid oxidation during processing and storage, leading to nutrient loss and the formation of off‐flavors and toxic compounds. The development of various extraction methods and encapsulation systems for AKO to improve oil yield, nutritional value, antioxidant capacity, and bioavailability has become a research hotspot. This review summarizes the research progress of AKO from extraction to encapsulation system construction. The AKO extraction mechanism, technical parameters, oil yield and composition of solvent extraction, aqueous enzymatic extraction, supercritical/subcritical extraction, and three‐liquid‐phase salting‐out extraction system are described in detail. The principles, choice of emulsifier/wall materials, preparation methods, advantages and disadvantages of four common encapsulation systems for AKO, namely micro/nanoemulsions, microcapsules, liposomes and nanostructured lipid carriers, are summarized. These four encapsulation systems are characterized by high encapsulation efficiency, low production cost, high bioavailability and high antioxidant capacity. Depending on the unique advantages and conditions of different encapsulation methods, as well as consumer demand for health and nutrition, different products can be developed. However, existing AKO encapsulation systems lack relevant studies on digestive absorption and targeted release, and the single product category of commercially available products limits consumer choice. In conjunction with clinical studies of AKO encapsulation systems, the development of encapsulation systems for special populations should be a future research direction.
Quantum dots as advanced nanomaterials for food quality and safety applications: A comprehensive review and future perspectives
Authors: Zou Yucheng , Shi Yongqiang , Wang Tianxing , Ji Shengyang , Zhang Xinai , Shen Tingting , Huang Xiaowei , Xiao Jianbo , Farag Mohamed A. , Shi Jiyong , Zou Xiaobo
Published: April 2024

The importance of food quality and safety lies in ensuring the best product quality to meet consumer demands and public health. Advanced technologies play a crucial role in minimizing the risk of foodborne illnesses, contamination, drug residue, and other potential hazards in food. Significant materials and technological advancements have been made throughout the food supply chain. Among them, quantum dots (QDs), as a class of advanced nanomaterials with unique physicochemical properties, are progressively demonstrating their value in the field of food quality and safety. This review aims to explore cutting‐edge research on the different applications of QDs in food quality and safety, including encapsulation of bioactive compounds, detection of food analytes, food preservation and packaging, and intelligent food freshness indicators. Moreover, the modification strategies and potential toxicities of diverse QDs are outlined, which can affect performance and hinder applications in the food industry. The findings suggested that QDs are mainly used in analyte detection and active/intelligent food packaging. Various food analytes can be detected using QD‐based sensors, including heavy metal ions, pesticides, antibiotics, microorganisms, additives, and functional components. Moreover, QD incorporation aided in improving the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of film/coatings, resulting in extended shelf life for packaged food. Finally, the perspectives and critical challenges for the productivity, toxicity, and practical application of QDs are also summarized. By consolidating these essential aspects into this review, the way for developing high‐performance QD‐based nanomaterials is presented for researchers and food technologists to better capitalize upon this technology in food applications.
Use of surgical procedure manager to standardise operation steps and monitor surgeon performance in open repair of inguinal hernia
Authors: Cheung Yue Sun , Lok Hon Ting , Fung Andrew Kai Yip , Lai Paul Bo San
Published: April 2024

Objectives

To study the feasibility of using surgical procedure manager (SPM), a digital checklist platform, to standardise surgical steps of open hernia repair and monitor the operative performance.

Methodology

A retrospective study on all open mesh repair of inguinal hernia under local anaesthesia from September 2019 to November 2021 at the Prince of Wales Hospital was performed. The operative outcomes of patients having operations with or without the use of SPM were compared. Procedures using SPM had operation steps shown as a digital checklist inside the theatre. The time used for each surgical step was recorded and analysed. The operative performance of the surgeons was analysed by observing the trend of the mean operation time over time.

Results

A total of 123 patients were recruited, of which 52 were using the SPM. The median age of patients was 75 (range 49–93) years. A decreasing trend in the mean operation time for dissection, mesh placement, wound closure and total operation time was observed in surgeries using SPM. There was no significant difference in the operation time, theatre time, total length of stay, blood loss and readmission rate between the SPM and non‐SPM groups. The proportion of basic surgical trainees as coached surgeons in the SPM group was significantly higher (SPM = 52% vs non‐SPM = 28%, P = .07).

Conclusions

The use of SPM did not significantly prolong the operation time and produce comparable operative outcomes in open hernia repair. It provided the additional advantage of standardising operation steps and monitoring the performance of surgical trainees during their training.
The effect of germinated black lentils on cookie quality by applying ultraviolet radiation and ultrasound technology
Authors: Levent Hacer , Aktaş Kübra
Published: April 2024

Black lentils contain protein, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins, as well as phytochemicals and various bioactive compounds. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation and ultrasound (US) methods are innovative technologies that can be used to increase the efficiency of the germination process in grains and legumes. To improve the nutritional value and bioactive compounds of the cookies, black lentils germinated by applying UV radiation and US technology were used in the cookie formulation. Before the germination process, UV, US, and their combination (UV+US) were applied, and pretreated and unpretreated germinated black lentil flours were used at a level of 20% in the cookie formulation. The results revealed that pretreatment application increased the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity more than the lentil sample germinated without any treatment. In addition, the pretreatments applied further reduced the amount of phytic acid in black lentils and the lowest phytic acid content was obtained with the UV–US combination. Compared to cookies containing unpretreated germinated black lentil flour, higher L* values and lower a* values were obtained in the cookie samples containing pretreated germinated black lentil flour. Cookies containing all pretreated germinated lentils generally exhibited higher Ca and K content. This study demonstrated that UV radiation and US improved the nutritional value and bioactive components of the germinated black lentil flour and the cookies in which it was used, compared to the black lentils germinated without any treatment.

Practical Application

Pretreatment of black lentils with UV/US application before germination resulted in a greater increase in total phenolic content and antioxidant activity compared to the control sample. The applied pretreatments caused a further decrease in the amount of phytic acid in black lentil samples. Black lentils germinated with the UV+US combination revealed higher Ca, Fe, K, and Mg content compared to the sample germinated without any treatment.