bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eyespots originated multiple times independently across the Lepidoptera
Authors: Hanotte Brian , Willink Beatriz , Monteiro Antónia
Published: February 2024

Eyespot colour patterns function as an effective defence against predators and have evolved numerous times independently across animals. In Nymphalid butterflies, eyespots have a single evolutionary origin close to the base of this clade, but eyespots are also present in many other lepidopteran lineages and may have multiple independent origins. Here we use phylogenetic comparative methods to investigate the evolution of eyespots across a multi-superfamily phylogeny of Lepidoptera, and to pinpoint lineages in which eyespots likely originated independently. We find a total of 30 separate origins of Discal eyespots (in the discal wing region) and 21 separate origins of Marginal eyespots (in the marginal wing region), a type of serial homologue. In four instances eyespots were preserved in most extant representatives of a subsequent species radiation. In one such instance, in the Nymphalidae, we found a Marginal eyespot common ancestor predating the origin of a Discal eyespot baring ancestor, while in the Saturniidae we observed the opposite. We conclude that eyespots do not appear to be homologous across the Lepidoptera. However, our phylogenetic inference provides a roadmap for future developmental and functional studies that can address whether discal and marginal eyespots share a homologous gene-regulatory network. This study, therefore, has implications for our understanding of the evolution of serial homologues and of convergent evolution of visual signals in insects.
Engineering an anti-CD206-synNotch receptor: insights into the development of novel synthetic receptors
Authors: Semeniuk Sofija , Qian Bin-Zhi , Cachat Elise
Published: February 2024

Immune cells play a pivotal role in the establishment, growth and progression of tumors at primary and metastatic sites. Macrophages, in particular, play a critical role in suppressing immune responses and promoting an anti-inflammatory environment through both direct and indirect cell-cell interactions. However, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying such interactions is limited due to a lack of reliable tools for studying transient interactions between cancer cells and macrophages within the tumor microenvironment. Recent advances in mammalian synthetic biology have introduced a wide range of synthetic receptors that have been used in diverse biosensing applications. One such synthetic receptor is the synNotch receptor, which can be tailored to sense specific ligands displayed on the surface of target cells. With this study, we aimed at developing a novelαCD206-synNotch receptor, targeting CD206+macrophages, a population of macrophages that play a crucial role in promoting metastatic seeding and persistent growth. Engineered in cancer cells and used in mouse metastasis models, such tool could help monitor and understand the effects cell-cell interactions between macrophages and cancer cells have on metastasis establishment. Here, we report the development of cancer landing pad cells for versatile applications, the engineering ofαCD206-synNotch cells, report the measurements of their activity and specificity, and discuss the unexpected caveats when considering theirin vivoapplications.
Endosomal LRBA regulates the endo-lysosomal pathway
Authors: Szentgyörgyi Viktória , Lueck Leon Maximilian , Overwijn Daan , Zoeller Nadia , Hondele Maria , Spang Anne , Bakhtiar Shahrzad
Published: February 2024

Deleterious mutations in theLRBA(Lipopolysaccharide Responsive Beige-like Anchor protein) gene cause severe childhood immune dysregulation. The clinical manifestations of LRBA deficiency syndrome are highly variable. Thus, the complexity of the symptoms involving multiple organs and the broad range of unpredictable clinical manifestations complicate the choice of therapeutic interventions. Although LRBA has been linked to Rab11-dependent trafficking of the immune checkpoint protein CTLA-4, its precise cellular role remains elusive. We show that LRBA, however, does not colocalize with Rab11. Instead, LRBA is recruited by members of the small GTPase Arf protein family to the TGN and to Rab4+endosomes, where it controls intracellular traffic. In patient-derived fibroblasts, loss of LRBA led to defects in the endosomal pathway yielding the accumulation of enlarged endolysosomes. Thus, LRBA appears to regulate flow through the endosomal system on Rab4+endosomes. Our data strongly suggest functions of LRBA beyond CTLA-4 trafficking and provide a conceptual framework to develop new therapies for LRBA deficiency.

LRBA-deficient patients exhibit enlarged functional endolysosomes due to defects in recycling to the plasma membrane. LRBA localization on Rab4+endosomes depends on Arf1 and Arf3, and is essential for a functional endosomal-lysosomal pathway. Our results could inform new treatment options.
TheStreptococcus pyogenesM protein is involved in phenotypic resistance to phage A25 infection in presence of human serum
Authors: Schiavolin Lionel , Steinmetz Jenny , Botquin Gwenaëlle , Delforge Valérie , Lakhloufi Dalila , Smeesters Pierre R. , Botteaux Anne
Published: February 2024

Streptococcus pyogenesis responsible for mild to life-threatening infections. Bacteriophages, or phages, and their virulence genes play a key role in the emergence and expansion of epidemics. However, relatively little is known about the biology ofS. pyogenesphages, particularly in biologically relevant environments. During infection,S. pyogenesconceals from the host immune system through the binding of human serum proteins. This evasion is mediated by surface proteins, such as the M protein which is a major virulence determinant ofS. pyogenes.Here, we demonstrate that human serum proteins also confer phenotypic resistance to phage A25 infection by impeding phage adsorption. We have found that, although not directly involved in phage A25 infection, the M protein is involved in this inhibition through the binding of both IgG and albumin, especially in absence of bound fatty acids. These findings highlight the importance of studying phages within a physiological context, specifically in the environmental conditions in which they will be used.

Author summary

The issues of antimicrobial resistance and resurgence of life-threatening infection, like the recent cases of invasiveS. pyogenesinfections, are prompting the scientific community to use phages as a complementary therapy. Phages are often characterized in laboratory conditions which are very different from the infection site. During human infection,Streptococcus pyogenesuses serum proteins to protect against the immune system. Our data illustrate how the human host environment also modulates phage susceptibility ofS. pyogenes. We found that human serum transiently protects a M25 strain against infection by the lytic phage A25. This protective effect is mediated in part by the M protein, a major virulence determinant and the target of current vaccines. This new function for the M protein highlights the need to characterize bacteria-phage interactions in a more physiological context to increase the chances of success of phage therapy.
Sensory Input Matching Visual Working Memory Guides Internal Prioritization
Authors: Koevoet Damian , Strauch Christoph , Naber Marnix , Van der Stigchel Stefan
Published: February 2024

Adaptive behavior necessitates the prioritization of the most relevant information in the environment (external) and in memory (internal). Internal prioritization is known to guide the selection of external sensory input, but the reverse may also be possible: Does the environment guide the prioritization of memorized material? Here we addressed whether reappearing sensory input matching visual working memory (VWM) facilitates the prioritization of other non-reappearing memorized items. Participants (totaln= 96) memorized three orientations. Crucially some, but not all, items maintained in VWM were made available again in the environment. These reappearing items never had to be reproduced later. Experiment 1 showed that the reappearance of all but one memory item benefited accuracy and speed to the same extent as a spatial retro cue. This shows that reappearing memory-matching items allow for the dynamic prioritization of another non-reappearing memorized item. What aspects of the reappearing sensory input drive this effect? Experiment 2 demonstrated that prioritization was facilitated most if reappearing items matched VWM content in terms of both location and orientation. Sensory input fully matching VWM is likely processed more efficiently, possibly leading to stronger prioritization of other memory content. We showed the robustness of our findings in Experiments 3 and 4. We propose that the link between sensory processing and VWM is bidirectional: internal representations guide the processing of sensory input, which in turn facilitates the prioritization of other VWM content to subserve adaptive behavior.

Public significance statement

Visual attention allows for the selective processing of objects in our environment but also the prioritization of contents held in working memory. To date, most studies have investigated the prioritization of working memory content using static displays. However, in everyday life, objects appear, disappear and reappear from our visual field within a matter of seconds. Here we investigated whether participants could leverage the dynamic nature of the world to guide working memory prioritization. In four experiments we demonstrate that humans capitalize on reappearing objects to prioritize other, non-reappearing maintained objects. Moreover, we found that whenever reappearing objects matched memory fully, prioritization of other material was most effective. Our results provide insights into how working memory prioritization may occur in more natural settings.
Positive serial dependence in ratings of food images for appeal and calories
Authors: Alais David , Carlson Thomas
Published: February 2024

Food is fundamental to survival and our brains are highly attuned to rapidly process food stimuli. Neural signals show foods can be discriminated as edible or inedible as early as 85 ms after stimulus onset1, distinguished as processed or unprocessed beginning at 130 ms2and as high or low density from 165 ms3. Recent evidence revealed specialised processing of food stimuli in the ventral visual pathway4-6, an area that underlies perception of faces and other important objects. For many visual objects, present perception can be biased towards recent perceptual history (known as serial dependence7,8). We examined serial dependence for food in two large samples (n>300) that rated sequences of food images for either ‘appeal’ or ‘calories’. Calorie ratings by males and females agreed closely but appeal ratings were higher in males. High calorie ratings were associated with high appeal, especially in males. Serial analyses testing if current trial ratings were influenced by the previous one showed both appeal and calorie ratings exhibited clear positive dependences (i.e., a high preceding rating increased current trial ratings). The serial effect for appeal was roughly twice that for calories and males showed a greater serial effect than females for both ratings. Serial amplitude was larger in those who reported a longer elapsed time since they last ate and was larger in the BMI>25 group compared to BMI<25. These findings square with recently found food selectively in visual temporal cortex, reveal a new mechanism influencing food decision-making and suggest a new sensory-level component that could complement cognitive strategies in diet intervention.
Catalytic-independent functions of INTAC in conferring sensitivity to BET inhibition
Authors: Fan Pengyu , Shang Xue-Ying , Song Aixia , Chen Shuo , Mao Run-Yuan , Chen Jiwei , Wang Zhenning , Zheng Hai , Tao Bolin , Xu Wei , Jiang Wei , Yang Huijuan , Xu Congling , Zhang Peng , Jiang Hai , Chen Fei Xavier
Published: February 2024

Chromatin and transcription regulators are critical to defining cell identity through shaping epigenetic and transcriptional landscapes, with their misregulation being closely linked to oncogenesis. Pharmacologically targeting these regulators, particularly the transcription activating BET proteins, has emerged as a promising approach in cancer therapy, yet intrinsic or acquired resistance frequently occurs with poorly understood mechanisms. Using genome-wide CRISPR screens, we find that BET inhibitor efficacy in mediating transcriptional silencing and growth inhibition depends on the auxiliary module of the INTAC complex, a global regulator of polymerase pause-release dynamics. This process bypasses a requirement for INTAC’s catalytic activities and instead leverages direct engagement of the auxiliary module with the RACK7/ZMYND8–KDM5C complex to remove histone H3K4 methylation. Targeted degradation of the COMPASS subunit WDR5 to attenuate H3K4 methylation restores sensitivity to BET inhibitors, highlighting how simultaneously targeting coordinated chromatin and transcription regulators can circumvent drug-resistant tumors.
Exploring the metabolic potential ofAeromonasto utilise the carbohydrate polymer chitin
Authors: Tugui Claudia G. , Sorokin Dimitry Y. , Hijnen Wim , Wunderer Julia , Bout Kaatje , van Loosdrecht Mark C.M. , Pabst Martin
Published: February 2024

Members of theAeromonasgenus are commonly found in natural aquatic ecosystems. However, they are also frequently present in non-chlorinated drinking water distribution systems. High densities of these bacteria indicate favorable conditions for microbial regrowth, which is considered undesirable. Studies have indicated that the presence ofAeromonasis associated with loose deposits and the presence of invertebrates, specificallyAsellus aquaticus. Therefore, a potential source of nutrients in these nutrient poor environments is chitin, the structural shell component in these invertebrates. In this study, we demonstrate the ability of twoAeromonasstrains, commonly encountered in drinking water distribution systems, to effectively degrade and utilize chitin as a sole carbon and nitrogen source. We conducted a quantitative proteomics study on the cell biomass and secretome of both strains, revealing a dedicated and diverse spectrum of hydrolytic enzymes and pathways for the uptake and metabolism of chitin. Furthermore, when the primary nutrient source was switched from glucose to chitin, more than half of theAeromonasproteome showed significant changes. Additionally, a genomic analysis ofAeromonasspecies found in drinking water distribution systems suggests a general potential ability of this genus to degrade and utilize a variety of carbohydrate biopolymers. This study indicates the relation between the utilization of chitin byAeromonasand their association with invertebrates such asA. aquaticusin loose deposits in drinking water distribution systems. This knowledge provides the foundation for the development of more effective water sanitation strategies.
An Atlas of Brain–Bone Sympathetic Neural Circuits
Authors: Ryu Vitaly , Gumerova Anisa , Witztum Ronit , Korkmaz Funda , Kannangara Hasni , Moldavski Ofer , Barak Orly , Lizneva Daria , Goosens Ki A. , Stanley Sarah , Kim Se-Min , Yuen Tony , Zaidi Mone
Published: February 2024

There is clear evidence that the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) mediates bone metabolism. Histological studies show abundant SNS innervation of the periosteum and bone marrow––these nerves consist of noradrenergic fibers that immunostain for tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine beta hydroxylase, or neuropeptide Y. Nonetheless, the brain sites that send efferent SNS outflow to bone have not yet been characterized. Using pseudorabies (PRV) viral transneuronal tracing, we report, for the first time, the identification of central SNS outflow sites that innervate bone. We find that the central SNS outflow to bone originates from 87 brain nuclei, sub–nuclei and regions of six brain divisions, namely the midbrain and pons, hypothalamus, hindbrain medulla, forebrain, cerebral cortex, and thalamus. We also find that certain sites, such as the raphe magnus (RMg) of the medulla and periaqueductal gray (PAG) of the midbrain, display greater degrees of PRV152 infection, suggesting that there is considerable site–specific variation in the levels of central SNS outflow to bone. This comprehensive compendium illustrating the central coding and control of SNS efferent signals to bone should allow for a greater understanding of the neural regulation of bone metabolism, and importantly and of clinical relevance, mechanisms for central bone pain.
FAMEWS: a Fairness Auditing tool for Medical Early-Warning Systems
Authors: Hoche Marine , Mineeva Olga , Burger Manuel , Blasimme Alessandro , Rätsch Gunnar
Published: February 2024

Machine learning applications hold promise to aid clinicians in a wide range of clinical tasks, from diagnosis to prognosis, treatment, and patient monitoring. These potential applications are accompanied by a surge of ethical concerns surrounding the use of Machine Learning (ML) models in healthcare, especially regarding fairness and non-discrimination. While there is an increasing number of regulatory policies to ensure the ethical and safe integration of such systems, the translation from policies to practices remains an open challenge. Algorithmic frameworks, aiming to bridge this gap, should be tailored to the application to enable the translation from fundamental human-right principles into accurate statistical analysis, capturing the inherent complexity and risks associated with the system. In this work, we propose a set of fairness impartial checks especially adapted to ML early-warning systems in the medical context, comprising on top of standard fairness metrics, an analysis of clinical outcomes, and a screening of potential sources of bias in the pipeline. Our analysis is further fortified by the inclusion of event-based and prevalence-corrected metrics, as well as statistical tests to measure biases. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of considering subgroups beyond the conventional demographic attributes. Finally, to facilitate operationalization, we present an open-source tool FAMEWS to generate comprehensive fairness reports. These reports address the diverse needs and interests of the stakeholders involved in integrating ML into medical practice. The use of FAMEWS has the potential to reveal critical insights that might otherwise remain obscured. This can lead to improved model design, which in turn may translate into enhanced health outcomes.
Bidirectional relationship between sleep problems and long COVID: a longitudinal analysis of data from the COVIDENCE UK study
Authors: Vivaldi Giulia , Talaei Mohammad , Blaikley John , Jackson Callum , Pfeffer Paul E , Shaheen Seif O , Martineau Adrian R
Published: February 2024

Background

Studies into the bidirectional relationship between sleep and long COVID have been limited by retrospective pre-infection sleep data and infrequent post-infection follow-up. We therefore used prospectively collected monthly data to evaluate how pre-infection sleep characteristics affect risk of long COVID, and to track changes in sleep duration during the year after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods

COVIDENCE UK is a prospective, population-based UK study of COVID-19 in adults. We included non-hospitalised participants with evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and estimated odds ratios (ORs) for the association between pre-infection sleep characteristics and long COVID using logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders. We assessed changes in sleep duration after infection using multilevel mixed models. We defined long COVID as unresolved symptoms at least 12 weeks after infection. We defined sleep quality according to age-dependent combinations of sleep duration and efficiency. COVIDENCE UK is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov,NCT04330599.

Findings

We included 3994 participants in our long COVID risk analysis, of whom 327 (8.2%) reported long COVID. We found an inverse relationship between pre-infection sleep quality and risk of long COVID (mediumvsgood quality: OR 1.37 [95% CI 1.04–1.81]; medium–lowvsgood: 1.55 [1.12–2.16]; lowvsgood: 1.94 [1.11–3.38]). Greater variability in pre-infection sleep efficiency was also associated with long COVID (OR per percentage-point increase 1.06 [1.01–1.11]). We assessed post-infection sleep duration in 6860 participants, observing a 0.11 h (95% CI 0.08–0.13) increase in the first month after infection compared with pre-infection, with larger increases for more severe infections. After 1 month, sleep duration largely returned to pre-infection levels, although fluctuations in duration lasted up to 6 months after infection among people reporting long COVID.

Interpretation

Our findings highlight the bidirectional relationship between sleep and long COVID. While poor-quality sleep before SARS-CoV-2 infection associates with increased risk of long COVID thereafter, changes in sleep duration after infection in these non-hospitalised cases were modest and generally quick to resolve.

Funding

Barts Charity.
Unravelling the microplastic menace: different polymers work in synergy to increase bee vulnerability
Authors: Ferrante Federico , Pasquini Elisa , Cappa Federico , Bellocchio Lorenzo , Baracchi David
Published: February 2024

Microplastics (MPs) are growing and ubiquitous environmental pollutants and represent one of the greatest contemporary challenges caused by human activities. Current research has predominantly examined the singular toxicological effects of individual polymers, neglecting the prevailing reality of organisms confronted with complex contaminant mixtures and potential synergistic effects. To fill this research gap, we investigated the lethal and sublethal effects of two common MPs, polystyrene (PS - 4.8-5.8 μm) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA - 1-40 μm), and their combination (MIX), on the pollinating insectApis mellifera. For each treatment, we evaluated the oral toxicity of two ecologically relevant and one higher concentration (0.5, 5 and 50 mg/L) and analysed their effects on the immune system and worker survival. As immune activation can alter the cuticular hydrocarbon profile of honey bees, we used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to investigate whether MPs lead to changes in the chemical profile of foragers and behavioural assay to test whether such changes affect behavioural patterns of social recognition, undermining overall colony integrity. The results indicate a synergistic negative effect of PS and PMMA on bee survival and immune response, even at ecologically relevant concentrations. Furthermore, alterations in cuticle profiles were observed with both MPs at the highest and intermediate concentrations, with PMMA being mainly responsible. Both MPs exposure resulted in a reduction in the abundance of several cuticular compounds. Hive entry guards did not show increased inspection or aggressive behaviour towards exposed foragers, allowing them to enter the colony without being treated differently from uncontaminated foragers. These findings raise concerns not only for the health of individual bees, but also for the entire colony, which could be at risk if contaminated nestmates enter the colony undetected, allowing MPs to spread throughout the hive.
Capturing near-field circular dichroism enhancements from far-field measurements
Authors: Olmos-Trigo Jorge , Lasa-Alonso Jon , Gómez-Viloria Iker , Molina-Terriza Gabriel , García-Etxarri Aitzol
Published: February 2024

Molecular circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy faces significant limitations due to the inherent weakness of chiroptical light-matter interactions. In this view, resonant optical antennas constitute a promising solution to this problem, since they can be tuned to increase the CD enhancement factor, fCD, a magnitude describing the electromagnetic near-field enhancement of scatterers associated with a given helicity. However, an exact analytical expression of fCD remains elusive. Here, we derive an exact multipolar expansion of fCD, which is valid to deduce the integrated near-field CD enhancements of chiral molecules in the presence of scatterers of any size and shape under general illumination conditions. Our exact analytical findings extend previous approximate expressions of fCD that are restricted to the dipolar regime. In addition to this, and based on our exact analytical findings, we show that the near-field fCD factor can be related to magnitudes that can be computed in the far field, i.e., the scattering cross-section and the helicity expectation value. Strikingly, we show that in the case of lossless cylindrically symmetric samples, the near-field fCD factor can be inferred experimentally only from two far-field measurements at specific scattering angles. Our contribution paves the way for the experimental characterization of devices capable of enhancing molecular CD spectroscopy from far-field measurements.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Majorana Qubits and Non-Abelian Physics in Quantum Dot–Based Minimal Kitaev Chains
Authors: Tsintzis Athanasios , Souto Rubén Seoane , Flensberg Karsten , Danon Jeroen , Leijnse Martin
Published: February 2024

The possibility of engineering artificial Kitaev chains in arrays of quantum dots coupled via narrow superconducting regions has emerged as an attractive way to overcome the disorder issues that complicate the realization and detection of topological superconducting phases in other platforms. Although a true topological phase would require long chains, a two-site chain realized in a double quantum dot can already be tuned to points in parameter space where it hosts zero-energy states that seem identical to the Majorana bound states that characterize a topological phase. These states have been named “poor man’s Majorana bound states” (PMMs) because they lack formal topological protection. In this work, we propose a pathway for next-generation experiments on PMMs. The pathway starts with experiments to characterize a single pair of PMMs by measuring the Majorana quality and then moves on to initialization and readout of the parity of a PMM pair, which allows the measurement of quasiparticle poisoning times. The next step is to couple two PMM systems to form a qubit. We discuss measurements of the coherence time of such a qubit, as well as a test of Majorana fusion rules in the same setup. Finally, we propose and analyze three different types of braidinglike experiments that require more complex device geometries. Our conclusions are supported by calculations based on a realistic model with interacting and spinful quantum dots, as well as by simpler models to gain physical insight. Our calculations show that it is indeed possible to demonstrate non-Abelian physics in minimal two-site Kitaev chains despite the lack of a true topological phase. However, our findings also reveal that doing so requires some extra care, appropriately modified protocols, and awareness of the details of this particular platform.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Understanding extended homometry based on complementary crystallographic orbit sets
Authors: Zhang Zeyue , Shen Yihan , Sun Junliang
Published: February 2024

Extended homometry is a phenomenon in which distinct structures have the same X-ray diffraction (XRD) intensities, which may lead to incorrect results of structural analysis based on XRD methods. It is proposed and proved herein that half of a crystallographic orbit has the same powder X-ray diffraction intensity as its complementary set; three more theorems are deduced. These results are conducive to understanding the formation of extended homometric structures. Also analyzed are some reported or potential homometric or weakly homometric structures in the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database to confirm the theorems. This work presents a quick approach to analyze and construct extended homometric structures based on crystallographic orbits.
[4-(2-Aminoethyl)morpholine-κ2
N,N′]dibromidocadmium(II): synthesis, crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis
Authors: Chidambaranathan B. , Sivaraj S. , Vijayamathubalan P. , Abraham Rajasekar S. , Selvakumar S.
Published: February 2024

The title compound, [CdBr2(C6H14N2O)], was synthesized upon complexation of 4-(2-aminoethyl)morpholine and cadmium(II) bromide tetrahydrate at 303 K. It crystallizes as a centrosymmetric dimer, with one cadmium atom, two bromine atoms and one N,N′-bidentate 4-(2-aminoethyl)morpholine ligand in the asymmetric unit. The metal atom is six-coordinated and has a distorted octahedral geometry. In the crystal, O...Cd interactions link the dimers into a polymeric double chain and intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonds form R
2
2(6) ring motifs. Further C—H...Br and N—H...Br hydrogen bonds link the components into a three-dimensional network. As the N—H...Br hydrogen bonds are shorter than the C—H...Br interactions, they have a larger effect on the packing. A Hirshfeld surface analysis reveals that the largest contributions to the packing are from H...H (46.1%) and Br...H/H...Br (38.9%) interactions with smaller contributions from the O...H/H...O (4.7%), Br...Cd/Cd...Br (4.4%), O...Cd/Cd...O (3.5%), Br...Br (1.1%), Cd...H/H...Cd (0.9%), Br...O/O...Br (0.3%) and O...N/N...O (0.1%) contacts.
How to promote consumers’ imaginative use in online shopping platforms: the matching effect of character cues and product types
Authors: Zhou Run , Dong Xuebing
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The symbolic presentation of products through images in online environments allows consumers to use or experience products only through imagination. Existing literature has demonstrated that providing sensory cues is an effective way to promote imaginative use or experience. However, such an approach seems to have been proposed for product that requires the use of body-related information (e.g. sensory information) for evaluation (high body-involving product). There is less literature on how to facilitate consumers’ imaginative use of product that requires relatively less bodily information (low body-involving product). Considering this, this research proposes a factor that influences the imaginative use of both high and low body-involving products, the character cues in the product image.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, two studies are conducted to verify the matching effect about presence or absence of character cues with product type (high body-involving vs. low body-involving) in facilitating imaginative use and the downstream effect.

Findings

The experimental results indicate that high (low) body-involving product display images are suitable for present (absent) character cues, which can promote the mental imagery of use the product, increase perceived image attractiveness and ultimately increase purchase intentions. The research also verified the influence of distance between the product and the character cues on the above effects.

Originality/value

We expand on the importance of character cues in product display images in an e-commerce environment and enrich the research about imaginative use in online environment.
Model of an E-cored probe over layered conductor containing corrosion for eddy current testing
Authors: Zhang Siquan
Published: February 2024

Purpose

In eddy current nondestructive testing, ferrite-cored probes are usually used to detect and locate defects such as cracks and corrosion in conductive materials. However, the generic analytical model for evaluating corrosion in layered conductor using ferrite-cored probe has not yet been developed. The purpose of this paper is to propose and verify the analytical model of an E-cored probe for evaluating corrosion in layered conductive materials.

Design/methodology/approach

A cylindrical coordinate system is adopted and the solution domain is truncated in the radial direction. The magnetic vector potential of each region excited by a filamentary coil is derived first, and then the expansion coefficients of the solution are obtained by matching the boundary and interface conditions between the regions and the subregions. Finally the closed-form expression of the impedance of the multi-turn coil is derived by using the truncated region eigenfunction expansion (TREE) method, and the impedance calculation is carried out in Mathematica. In the frequency range of 100 Hz to 10 kHz, the impedance changes of the E-cored coil and air-cored coil due to the layered conductor containing corrosion are calculated, respectively, and the influences of corrosion on the coil impedance change are investigated.

Findings

An analytical model for the detection and evaluating of corrosion in layered conductive materials using E-cored probe is proposed. The model can quickly and accurately calculate the impedance change of E-cored coil due to corrosion in layered conductor. The correctness of the analytical model is verified by finite element method and experiments.

Originality/value

An accurate theoretical model of E-cored probe for evaluating corrosion of multilayer conductor is presented. The analytical model can be used to detect the inhomogeneity of layered conductor, design ferrite-cored probe or directly evaluate the corrosion defects of layered conductors.
Developing a scale is not enough: on the importance of nomological validity
Authors: Kock Florian , Berbekova Adiyukh , Assaf A. George , Josiassen Alexander
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper, a critical reflection, is twofold. First, by comprehensively reviewing scale development procedures in hospitality research, a concerning lack of nomological validity testing is demonstrated. Second, the need for nomological validity testing is discussed and both conceptually and empirically reasoned.

Design/methodology/approach

This research systematically reviews scale development studies in three leading hospitality journals, including Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management and International Journal of Hospitality Management over ten years (2012–2021) to analyze the completeness of scale development procedures. Specifically, the authors evaluate whether the reviewed studies engage in testing the nomological and predictive validity of the newly developed measures.

Findings

The results indicate a concerning gap in the current practices in hospitality research. Specifically, only 33.3% of the examined studies assess nomological validity. These findings collectively underscore the need for improving the comprehensiveness of scale development processes in hospitality research.

Research limitations/implications

The study offers important implications for hospitality researchers. The paper provides an extensive discussion on the importance and benefits of testing for nomological validity in scale development studies, contributing to the completeness and consistency of scale development procedures in the hospitality discipline.

Originality/value

This research critically assesses prevalent, and widely accepted, scale development procedures in hospitality research. This research empirically demonstrates the neglect of nomological validity issues in scale development practices in hospitality research. Scale development is an essential scientific practice used to create a research instrument in a field of study, improving our understanding of a specific phenomenon and contributing to knowledge creation. Considering the significance of scale development in advancing the field of hospitality research, the validation procedures involved in the scale development processes are of utmost importance and should be thoroughly applied.
Age is just a number, but with number comes prejudice: exploring workplace ageism and charting directions
Authors: Anand Amitabh , James Liji , Varma Aparna , Dhal Manoranjan
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Ageism has deleteriously influenced individuals and society for nearly half a century. Despite receiving increased attention, it remains under-researched regarding how it might be reduced in the workplace. Even though its prevalence and allure, review studies on workplace ageism (WA) are also scarce, and thus a review is warranted.

Design/methodology/approach

To fill the preceding void, this study will systematically review the existing literature on WA using data from the past four decades.

Findings

This study identified the various antecedents and the intervention mechanism through which WA may be reduced. Additionally, through reviews, the authors advance the research by offering promising avenues for future research.

Originality/value

This review contributes to human resources managers and will inspire future scholars to delve deeper into combating age discrimination, stereotypes and bias toward employees in workplaces.
Machine learning prediction of factors affecting Major League Baseball (MLB) game attendance: algorithm comparisons and macroeconomic factor of unemployment
Authors: Park Juho , Cho Junghwan , Gang Alex C. , Lee Hyun-Woo , Pedersen Paul M.
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study aims to identify an automated machine learning algorithm with high accuracy that sport practitioners can use to identify the specific factors for predicting Major League Baseball (MLB) attendance. Furthermore, by predicting spectators for each league (American League and National League) and division in MLB, the authors will identify the specific factors that increase accuracy, discuss them and provide implications for marketing strategies for academics and practitioners in sport.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used six years of daily MLB game data (2014–2019). All data were collected as predictors, such as game performance, weather and unemployment rate. Also, the attendance rate was obtained as an observation variable. The Random Forest, Lasso regression models and XGBoost were used to build the prediction model, and the analysis was conducted using Python 3.7.

Findings

The RMSE value was 0.14, and the R2 was 0.62 as a consequence of fine-tuning the tuning parameters of the XGBoost model, which had the best performance in forecasting the attendance rate. The most influential variables in the model are “Rank” of 0.247 and “Day of the week”, “Home team” and “Day/Night game” were shown as influential variables in order. The result was shown that the “Unemployment rate”, as a macroeconomic factor, has a value of 0.06 and weather factors were a total value of 0.147.

Originality/value

This research highlights unemployment rate as a determinant affecting MLB game attendance rates. Beyond contextual elements such as climate, the findings of this study underscore the significance of economic factors, particularly unemployment rates, necessitating further investigation into these factors to gain a more comprehensive understanding of game attendance.
Reducing dishonest disclosures during expense reimbursement: investigating the predictive power of the technology acceptance model with a corporate governance perspective
Authors: Tan Kim-Lim , Hii Ivy S.H. , Huang Yijing , Yan Yaru
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Companies allowing employees to self-report business expenses face the risk of expense fraud because some occasionally engage in dishonest behavior to receive reimbursements for their use. Drawing on the technology acceptance model, this study aims to investigate the effects of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and perceived security on the trust in e-reimbursement systems and the relationship with honest disclosure intention.

Design/methodology/approach

A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 254 respondents, with the partial least squares structural equation modeling used to analyze the data.

Findings

The findings showed that perceived security and perceived usefulness explained trust in e-reimbursement systems, whereas perceived ease of use had no significant effect on it. Corporate governance and trust in e-reimbursement systems have a positive relationship with whistleblowing intention. At the same time, corporate governance mediates the relationship between trust in e-reimbursement systems and honest disclosure intention.

Originality/value

This study sheds light on using e-reimbursement systems within organizations to prevent fraudulent reimbursements and offers recommendations to management on enhancing employees’ intention to engage in honest disclosure behavior through e-reimbursement systems.
Underdog entrepreneurship: a model to predict the success of poor entrepreneurs
Authors: Sajjad Amber , Talat Amina
Published: February 2024

Purpose

While extensive research exists on how positive life circumstances and positive personality traits promote entrepreneurship, there is little research focusing on how negative personal circumstances may potentially breed entrepreneurship. This study aims to build upon the theory of underdog entrepreneurship to examine the effect of challenging life circumstances such as poverty on the development of entrepreneurial traits in underdog entrepreneurs. This research analyzed the effect of risk-taking (RT) on the entrepreneurial success (ES) of underdog entrepreneurs and the role of optimism (OPM) and persistence (P) as mediating variables and poverty as a moderator variable.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect data from 400 micro-finance borrowers of Akhuwat Foundation Pakistan. Akhuwat provides interest-free small loans to the poor segment of society. Preliminary testing of the survey questionnaire with a sample of 35 borrowers of Akhuwat Foundation in Lahore city was conducted before data collection. Data was collected from four randomly selected branches in Lahore city.

Findings

The authors found that OPM and P significantly mediate the relationship between RT and ES. In addition, the authors analyzed the moderating effect of poverty on the relationship between OPM and ES and found a negative moderating effect. A strong positive moderating effect of poverty was found on the relationship between P and ES. The results of multi-group analysis show that successful and unsuccessful underdog entrepreneurs differ in their RT propensity, which is significantly mediated by OPM and P.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence on entrepreneurial traits and success of poor entrepreneur in an emerging economy. This work is original and has not been submitted elsewhere.
Beyond numbers: rethinking host professionalism on Airbnb
Authors: Leoni Veronica , Pattitoni Pierpaolo , Vici Laura
Published: February 2024

Purpose

We challenge the conventional approach to distinguish between professional and non-professional Airbnb hosts by solely using the number of managed listings.

Design/methodology/approach

We leverage the recently released platform policy that categorizes hosts' professionalism by their self-declared status. Our multinomial modeling approach predicts true host status, factoring in the number of managed listings and controlling for listing and host traits. We employ data from five major European cities collected through scraping the Airbnb webpage.

Findings

Our research reveals that relying solely on the number of listings managed falls short of accurately predicting the host type, leading to difficulties in evaluating the platform's impact on the local housing market and reducing the effectiveness of policy intervention. Moreover, we advocate using more fine-grained measures to differentiate further between semi-professional and professional hosts who exhibit heterogeneous economic behaviors.

Research limitations/implications

Reliable professionalism metrics are essential to curb unethical practices, promote market transparency and ensure a level playing field for all market participants.

Originality/value

This work pioneers the revelation of the inadequacy of a commonly used measure for predicting host professionalism accurately.
Sustainability in family business settings: a strategic entrepreneurship perspective
Authors: Jamil Mahwish , Stephens Simon , Md Fadzil Ahmad Firdause
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Family business sustainability is a critical issue. This study considers if adopting a strategic entrepreneurship orientation can support the sustainability of a family business.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach is used, in which semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve family business owners. Data collected during the interviews provides insights into understanding, practices, motivations, behaviours and attitudes relating to sustainability.

Findings

Although awareness of sustainability processes and procedures is found to be low, sustainability is important to the family business. However, sustainability is not managed or implemented systematically.

Originality/value

The paper presents a new model to describe the sustainability practices of family businesses. Adoption of strategic entrepreneurship is advocated as mechanism for improving sustainability. Practical and policy implications are suggested to enhance the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives in family business settings.
Institutionalisation of sustainability reporting in Pakistan: the role of field-configuring events and situational context
Authors: Mahmood Zeeshan , Blaber Zlatinka N. , Khan Majid
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the role of field-configuring events (FCEs) and situational context in the institutionalisation of sustainability reporting (SR) in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses insights from the institutional logics perspective and qualitative research design to analyse the interplay of the institutional logics, FCEs, situational context and social actors’ agency for the institutionalisation of SR among leading corporations in Pakistan. A total of 28 semi-structured interviews were carried out and were supplemented by analysis of secondary data including reports, newspaper articles and books.

Findings

The emerging field of SR in Pakistan is shaped by societal institutions, where key social actors (regulators, enablers and reporters) were involved in the institutionalisation of SR through FCEs. FCEs provided space for agency and were intentionally designed by key social actors to promote SR in Pakistan. The situational context connected the case organisations with FCEs and field-level institutional logics that shaped their decision to initiate SR. Overall, intricate interplay of institutional logics, FCEs, situational context and social actors’ agency has contributed to the institutionalisation of SR in Pakistan. Corporate managers navigated institutional logics based on situational context and initiated SR that is aligned with corporate goals and stakeholder expectations.

Practical implications

For corporate managers, this paper highlights the role of active agency in navigating and integrating institutional logics and stakeholders’ expectations in their decision-making process. For practitioners and policymakers, this paper highlights the importance of FCEs and situational context in the emergence and institutionalisation of SR in developing countries. From a societal point of view, dominance of business actors in FCEs highlights the need for non-business actors to participate in FCEs to shape logics and practice of SR for wider societal benefits.

Social implications

From a societal point of view, dominance of business actors in FCEs highlights the need for non-business actors to participate in FCEs to shape logics and practice of SR for wider societal benefits.

Originality/value

This paper focuses on the role of FCEs and situational context as key social mechanisms for explaining the institutionalisation of SR.