bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CartoCell, a high-content pipeline for 3D image analysis, unveils cell morphology patterns in epithelia
Authors: Andrés-San Román Jesús A. , Gordillo-Vázquez Carmen , Franco-Barranco Daniel , Morato Laura , Fernández-Espartero Cecilia H. , Baonza Gabriel , Tagua Antonio , Vicente-Munuera Pablo , Palacios Ana M. , Gavilán María P. , Martín-Belmonte Fernando , Annese Valentina , Gómez-Gálvez Pedro , Arganda-Carreras Ignacio , Escudero Luis M.
Published: January 2023

Decades of research have not yet fully explained the mechanisms of epithelial self-organization and 3D packing. Single-cell analysis of large 3D epithelial libraries is crucial for understanding the assembly and function of whole tissues. Combining 3D epithelial imaging with advanced deep learning segmentation methods is essential for enabling this high-content analysis. We introduce CartoCell, a deep learning-based pipeline that uses small datasets to generate accurate labels for hundreds of whole 3D epithelial cysts. Our method detects the realistic morphology of epithelial cells and their contacts in the 3D structure of the tissue. CartoCell enables the quantification of geometric and packing features at the cellular level. Our Single-cell Cartography approach then maps the distribution of these features on 2D plots and 3D surface maps, revealing cell morphology patterns in epithelial cysts. Additionally, we show that CartoCell can be adapted to other types of epithelial tissues.

MOTIVATION

A major bottleneck in developing neural networks for cell segmentation is the need for labor-intensive manual curation in order to develop a training dataset. The present work addresses this limitation by developing an automated image analysis pipeline that utilizes small datasets to generate accurate labels of cells in complex, 3D epithelial contexts. The overall goal is to provide an automatic and feasible method to achieve high-quality epithelial reconstructions and to enable high-content analysis of morphological features, which can improve our understanding of how these tissues self-organize.
Distinct functions of TIR1 and AFB1 receptors in auxin signalling
Authors: Chen Huihuang , Li Lanxin , Zou Minxia , Qi Linlin , Friml Jiří
Published: January 2023

Auxin is the major plant hormone regulating growth and development (Friml, 2022). Forward genetic approaches in the model plantArabidopsis thalianahave identified major components of auxin signalling and established the canonical mechanism mediating transcriptional and thus developmental reprogramming. In this textbook view, TRANSPORT INHIBITOR RESPONSE 1 (TIR1)/AUXIN-SIGNALING F-BOX (AFBs) are auxin receptors, which act as F-box subunits determining the substrate specificity of the Skp1-Cullin1-F box protein (SCF) type E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. Auxin acts as a “molecular glue” increasing the affinity between TIR1/AFBs and the Aux/IAA repressors. Subsequently, Aux/IAAs are ubiquitinated and degraded, thus releasing auxin transcription factors from their repression making them free to mediate transcription of auxin response genes (Yuet al., 2022). Nonetheless, accumulating evidence suggests existence of rapid, non-transcriptional responses downstream of TIR1/AFBs such as auxin-induced cytosolic calcium (Ca2+) transients, plasma membrane depolarization and apoplast alkalinisation, all converging on the process of root growth inhibition and root gravitropism (Liet al., 2022). Particularly, these rapid responses are mostly contributed by predominantly cytosolic AFB1, while the long-term growth responses are mediated by mainly nuclear TIR1 and AFB2-AFB5 (Liet al., 2021; Priggeet al., 2020; Serreet al., 2021). How AFB1 conducts auxin-triggered rapid responses and how it is different from TIR1 and AFB2-AFB5 remains elusive. Here, we compare the roles of TIR1 and AFB1 in transcriptional and rapid responses by modulating their subcellular localization in Arabidopsis and by testing their ability to mediate transcriptional responses when part of the minimal auxin circuit reconstituted in yeast.

Short summary

Auxin receptors TIR1 and AFB1 have distinct functions in mediating transcriptional and non-transcriptional responses, respectively. Manipulation of their subcellular localizations revealed that these functional differences cannot be attributed to nuclear versus cytosolic enrichment of TIR1 and AFB1 but to different, specific properties of these proteins, not least to their ability to associate with ubiquitin ligase components.
Identification and characterization of metabolic subtypes of endometrial cancer using systems-level approach
Authors: Srivastava Akansha , Vinod P K
Published: January 2023

Background

Endometrial cancer(EC) is the most common gynaecological cancer worldwide. Understanding the metabolic adaptation and its heterogeneity in tumor tissues may provide new insights and help in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. In this study, we investigated metabolic alterations of EC to understand the variations in the metabolism within tumor samples.

Methods

We integrated the TCGA transcriptomics data of EC (RNA-Seq) with the human genome-scale metabolic model (HMR2.0) and performed unsupervised learning to identify the metabolic subtypes of EC and uncover the underlying dysregulated metabolic pathways and reporter metabolites in each subtype. The relationship between metabolic subtypes and clinical variables was explored. Further, we characterized each subtype at the molecular level and correlated the subtype-specific metabolic changes occurring at the transcriptome level with the genomic alterations.

Results

EC patients are stratified into two robust metabolic subtypes (cluster-1 and cluster-2) that significantly correlate to patient survival, tumor stages, mutation, and copy number variations. We observed coactivation of pentose phosphate pathway and one-carbon metabolism along with genes involved in controlling estrogen levels in cluster-2, which is linked to poor survival. PNMT and ERBB2 are also upregulated in cluster-2 samples and present in the same chromosome locus 17q12, which is amplified. PTEN and TP53 mutations show mutually exclusive behavior between subtypes and display a difference in survival.

Conclusion

This work identifies metabolic subtypes with distinct characteristics at the transcriptome and genome levels, highlighting the metabolic heterogeneity within EC.
Resilience of genetic diversity in forest trees over the Quaternary
Authors: Milesi Pascal , Kastally Chedly , Dauphin Benjamin , Cervantes Sandra , Bagnoli Francesca , Budde Katharina B. , Cavers Stephen , Fady Bruno , Faivre-Rampant Patricia , González-Martínez Santiago C. , Grivet Delphine , Gugerli Felix , Jorge Véronique , Kupin Isabelle Lesur , Ojeda Dario I. , Olsson Sanna , Opgenoorth Lars , Pinosio Sara , Plomion Christophe , Rellstab Christian , Rogier Odile , Scalabrin Simone , Scotti Ivan , Vendramin Giovanni G. , Westergren Marjana , Lascoux Martin ,   GenTree Consortium, Pyhäjärvi Tanja
Published: January 2023

The effect of past environmental changes on the demography and genetic diversity of natural populations remains a contentious issue and has rarely been investigated across multiple, phylogenetically distant species. Here, we performed comparative population genomic analyses and demographic inferences for seven widely distributed and ecologically contrasted European forest tree species based on concerted sampling of 164 populations across their natural ranges. For all seven species, the effective population size,Ne, increased or remained stable over many glacial cycles and up to 15 million years in the most extreme cases. Hence, surprisingly, the drastic environmental changes associated with the Pleistocene glacial cycles have had little impact on the level of genetic diversity of dominant forest tree species, despite major shifts in their geographic ranges. Based on their trajectories ofNeover time, the seven tree species can be divided into three major groups, highlighting the importance of life history and range size in determining synchronous variation in genetic diversity, over time. Altogether, our results indicate that forest trees were able to retain their evolutionary potential over very long periods of time despite strong environmental changes.

One-Sentence Summary

Population genomic analyses reveal that forest trees retained their evolutionary potential over the Quaternary.
Accurate and Rapid Detection of Peritoneal Metastasis from Gastric Cancer by AI-assisted Stimulated Raman Cytology
Authors: Chen Xun , Wu Zhouqiao , He Yexuan , Hao Zhe , Wang Qi , Zhou Keji , Zhou Wanhui , Wang Pu , Shan Fei , Li Zhongwu , Ji Jiafu , Fan Yubo , Li Ziyu , Yue Shuhua
Published: January 2023

Peritoneal metastasis (PM) is the most common form of distant metastasis and one of the leading causes of death in gastric cancer (GC). For locally advanced GC, clinical guidelines recommend peritoneal lavage cytology for intraoperative PM detection. Unfortunately, current peritoneal lavage cytology is limited by low sensitivity (<60%). Here we established the stimulated Raman cytology (SRC), a chemical microscopy-based intelligent cytology. By taking advantages of stimulated Raman scattering in label-free, high-speed, and high-resolution chemical imaging, we firstly imaged 53951 exfoliated cells in ascites obtained from 80 GC patients (27 PM positive, 53 PM negative), at the Raman bands corresponding to DNA, protein, and lipid, respectively. Then, we revealed 12 single cell features of morphology and composition that were significantly different between PM positive and negative specimens, including cellular area, lipid protein ratio, etc. Importantly, we developed a single cell phenotyping algorithm to further transform the above raw features to feature matrix. Such matrix was crucial to identify the significant marker cell cluster, the divergence of which was finally used to differentiate the PM positive and negative. Compared with histopathology, the gold standard of PM detection, our SRC method assisted by machine learning classifiers could reach 81.5% sensitivity, 84.9% specificity, and the area under receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85, within 20 minutes for each patient. Such remarkable improvement in detection accuracy is largely owing to incorporation of the single-cell composition features in SRC. Together, our SRC method shows great potential for accurate and rapid detection of PM from GC.
Wheat plant height locusRHT25encodes a PLATZ transcription factor that interacts with DELLA (RHT1)
Authors: Zhang Junli , Li Chengxia , Zhang Wenjun , Zhang Xiaoqing , Mo Youngjun , Tranquilli Gabriela E. , Vanzetti Leonardo S. , Dubcovsky Jorge
Published: January 2023

Plant height is an important agronomic trait with a significant impact on grain yield, as demonstrated by the positive effect of theREDUCED HEIGHT(RHT) dwarfing alleles (Rht1b) on lodging and harvest index in the “Green Revolution” wheat varieties. However, these gibberellic acid (GA) insensitive alleles also reduce coleoptile length, biomass production, and yield potential in some environments, triggering the search for alternative GA-sensitive dwarfing genes. Here we report the identification, validation and characterization of the gene underlying the GA-sensitive dwarfing locusRHT25in wheat. This gene, designated asPLATZ-A1 (TraesCS6A02G156600), is expressed mainly in the elongating stem and developing spike and encodes a plant-specific AT-rich sequence- and zinc-binding protein (PLATZ). Natural and induced loss-of-function mutations inPLATZ-A1reduce plant height and its over-expression increases it, demonstrating thatPLATZ-A1is the causative gene ofRHT25. PLATZ-A1 interacts physically and genetically with RHT1 (DELLA), and both genes have stronger effects on plant height in the presence of the wildtype than in the presence of the mutant allele of the other gene. These results suggest that PLATZ1 can modulate the effect of DELLA on wheat plant height. We identified four natural truncation mutations and one promoter insertion inPLATZ-A1that are more frequent in modern varieties than in landraces, suggesting positive selection during wheat breeding. These mutations can be used to fine-tune wheat plant height and, in combination with other GA-sensitive dwarfing genes, to replace the GA-insensitiveRht1balleles to search for grain yield improvements beyond those of the Green Revolution varieties.

Significance Statement

We have identified and characterized a previously unknown gene controlling plant height in wheat and named itPLATZ1. Mutations inPLATZ1reduce plant height while its overexpression results in taller plants.PLATZ1is expressed mainly in elongating stems and developing spikes and interacts physically and genetically with the “Green Revolution” dwarfing geneREDUCED HEIGHT 1(RHT1). We discovered five natural mutants in the A genome copy ofPLATZ1in common wheat that have been favored during breeding, suggesting an overall positive effect on wheat performance. These mutations can be used to fine-tune wheat plant height and, eventually, to replace theRHT1dwarfing alleles that impose limitations on planting depth and grain yield potential in some environments.
ChemGAPP; A Package for Chemical Genomics Analysis and Phenotypic Profiling
Authors: Doherty Hannah M. , Kritikos George , Galardini Marco , Banzhaf Manuel , Moradigaravand Danesh
Published: January 2023

High-throughput chemical genomic screens produce informative datasets, providing valuable insights into unknown gene function on a genome-wide level. However, there is currently no comprehensive analytic package publicly available. We developed and benchmarked ChemGAPP to bridge this gap. ChemGAPP allows integration of various steps in a streamlined and user-friendly format, including rigorous quality control measures to curate screening data. ChemGAPP provides three sub-packages for different chemical-genomic screens: ChemGAPP Big for handling large-scale high-throughput screens; ChemGAPP Small, designed for small-scale screen analysis and ChemGAPP GI for genetic interaction screen analysis. ChemGAPP is available athttps://github.com/HannahMDoherty/ChemGAPP.
The metabolic enzyme EXT1 is sufficient to induce the epithelial-mesenchymal transition program in cancers
Authors: Solaimuthu Balakrishnan , Khatib Anees , Hayashi Arata , Tanna Mayur , Lichtenstein Michal , Karmi Abdelrahman , Shaul Yoav D.
Published: January 2023

Carcinomas often exhibit aggressive characteristics, such as enhanced migration abilities, through the execution of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program. Heparan sulfate (HS) is a polysaccharide expressed on the surface of aggressive cancer cells, which acts as a co-receptor to stimulate EMT-associated signaling pathways. However, despite HS’ role in cancer aggressiveness, the mechanisms governing its EMT-dependent biosynthesis remains poorly understood. Here, we characterized the HS chain elongation enzyme, exostosin glycosyltransferase 1 (EXT1), as an essential component of the EMT program. We identified an EMT-dependent expression of EXT1 and its selective upregulation in aggressive tumor subtypes and cell lines. Overexpression of EXT1 in epithelial cells is sufficient to induce HS biosynthesis, cell migration, and invasion, form tumors in mice, and activate the STAT3 pathway. Moreover, its knockout in aggressive cells significantly inhibited their EMT-associated characteristics. These findings demonstrate a cellular mechanism by which metabolic processes regulate signaling pathways to govern cell state.
Critical assessment ofE. coligenome-scale metabolic model with high-throughput mutant fitness data
Authors: Bernstein David B. , Akkas Batu , Price Morgan N. , Arkin Adam P.
Published: January 2023

TheE. coligenome-scale metabolic model (GEM) is a gold standard for the simulation of cellular metabolism. Experimental validation of model predictions is essential to pinpoint model uncertainty and ensure continued development of accurate models. Here we assessed the accuracy of theE. coliGEM using published mutant fitness data for the growth of gene knockout mutants across thousands of genes and 25 different carbon sources. We explored the progress of theE. coliGEM versions over time and further investigated errors in the latest version of the model (iML1515). We observed that model size is increasing while prediction accuracy is decreasing. We identified several adjustments that improve model accuracy – the addition of vitamins/cofactors and re-assignment of reaction reversibility and isoenzyme gene to reaction mapping. Furthermore, we applied a machine learning approach which identified hydrogen ion exchange and central metabolism branch points as important determinants of model accuracy. Continued integration of experimental data to validate GEMs will improve predictive modeling of the mapping from genotype to metabolic phenotype inE. coliand beyond.

Synopsis

E. coligenome-scale metabolic model flux balance analysis (FBA) prediction accuracy was quantified with published experimental data assaying gene knockout mutant growth across different carbon sources. Insights into model development trends and sources of inaccuracy were revealed.

Model representational power (size) has been increasing over time, while accuracy has been decreasing.

Adding vitamins/cofactors to the model environment and re-assigning reaction reversibility and isoenzyme gene-to-reaction mapping improves correspondence between model predictions and experimental data.

Machine learning reveals hydrogen ion exchange and central metabolism branch points as important features in the determination of model accuracy.
SCAR and the Arp2/3 complex polarise the actomyosin cortex and plasma membrane organization in asymmetrically dividing neuroblasts
Authors: Cazzagon Giulia , Roubinet Chantal , Baum Buzz
Published: January 2023

While the Formin-nucleated actomyosin cortex has been shown to drive the changes in cell shape that accompany cell division in both symmetric and asymmetric cell divisions, it is not clear whether or not Arp2/3-nucleated branched actin filament networks also play a role. In order to look for mitotic roles of the Arp2/3 complex, here we useDrosophilaneural stem cells as a model system. These cells are unusual in that they divide asymmetrically to produce a large and small daughter cell with different fates. Our analysis identifies a pool of Arp2/3-dependent actin-based membrane protrusions that form at the apical cortex of these cells as they enter mitosis. Strikingly, at metaphase, these protrusions co-localise with components of the SCAR complex. By perturbing Arp2/3 complex activity we show that this apical pool of actin likely functions to limit the accumulation of apical Myosin in metaphase. Following the onset of anaphase, the loss of these SCAR and Arp2/3 dependent structures then leads to a delay in the clearance of apical Myosin and to cortical instability at cytokinesis. These data point to a role for a polarised branched actin filament network in fine tuning the apical actomyosin cortex to enable the precise control of cell shape during asymmetric cell division.
Chronic evoked seizures in young pre-symptomatic APP/PS1 mice induce serotonin changes and accelerate onset of Alzheimer’s disease-related neuropathology
Authors: del Pozo Aaron , Knox Kevin M. , Lehmann Leanne M. , Davidson Stephanie , Rho Seongheon Leo , Jayadev Suman , Barker-Haliski Melissa
Published: January 2023

Objective

People with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are at elevated seizure risk. Further, chronic seizures in pre-symptomatic stages may disrupt serotonin pathway-related protein expression, precipitating the onset of AD-related pathology and burden of neuropsychiatric comorbidities.

Methods

2-3-month-old APP/PS1, PSEN2-N141I, and transgenic control mice were sham or corneal kindled for 2 weeks to model chronic seizures. Seizure-induced changes in glia, serotonin pathway proteins, and amyloid β levels in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were quantified.

Results

APP/PS1 mice experienced worsened mortality versus kindled Tg-controls. APP/PS1 females were also more susceptible to chronic kindled seizures. These changes correlated with a marked downregulation of hippocampal tryptophan hydroxylase 2 and monoamine oxidase A protein expression compared to controls; these changes were not detected in PSEN2-N141I mice. Kindled APP/PS1 mice exhibited amyloid β overexpression and glial overactivity without plaque deposition. PSEN2 protein expression was AD model-dependent.

Significance

Seizures evoked in pre-symptomatic APP/PS1 mice promotes premature mortality in the absence of pathological Aβ deposition. Disruptions in serotonin pathway metabolism are associated with increased glial reactivity and PSEN2 downregulation without amyloid β deposition. This study provides the first direct evidence that seizures occurring prior to amyloid β plaque accumulation worsen disease burden in an AD genotype-specific manner.

Highlights:

Seizures are a comorbidity in Alzheimer’s disease that may worsen disease burden.

Pathological overlap between both neurological disorders is understudied.

Young APP/PS1, but not PSEN2-N141I mice, have increased seizure-induced mortality.

Seizures reduce hippocampal serotonin pathway proteins only in young APP/PS1 mice.

Kindled young APP/PS1 mice have glial hyperactivity before amyloid β accumulation.
Emergence of brain-like mirror-symmetric viewpoint tuning in convolutional neural networks
Authors: Farzmahdi Amirhossein , Zarco Wilbert , Freiwald Winrich , Kriegeskorte Nikolaus , Golan Tal
Published: January 2023

Primates can recognize objects despite 3D geometric variations such as in-depth rotations. The computational mechanisms that give rise to such invariances are yet to be fully understood. A curious case of partial invariance occurs in the macaque face-patch AL and in fully connected layers of deep convolutional networks in which neurons respond similarly to mirror-symmetric views (e.g., left and right profiles). Why does this tuning develop? Here, we propose a simple learning-driven explanation for mirror-symmetric viewpoint tuning. We show that mirror-symmetric viewpoint tuning for faces emerges in the fully connected layers of convolutional deep neural networks trained on object recognition tasks, even when the training dataset does not include faces. First, using 3D objects rendered from multiple views as test stimuli, we demonstrate that mirror-symmetric viewpoint tuning in convolutional neural network models is not unique to faces: it emerges for multiple object categories with bilateral symmetry. Second, we show why this invariance emerges in the models. Learning to discriminate among bilaterally symmetric object categories induces reflection-equivariant intermediate representations. AL-like mirror-symmetric tuning is achieved when such equivariant responses are spatially pooled by downstream units with sufficiently large receptive fields. These results explain how mirror-symmetric viewpoint tuning can emerge in neural networks, providing a theory of how they might emerge in the primate brain. Our theory predicts that mirror-symmetric viewpoint tuning can emerge as a consequence of exposure to bilaterally symmetric objects beyond the category of faces, and that it can generalize beyond previously experienced object categories.
Different methods to estimate the phase of neural rhythms agree, but only during times of low uncertainty
Authors: Wodeyar Anirudh , Marshall Francois A , Chu Catherine J , Eden Uri T , Kramer Mark A
Published: January 2023

Rhythms are a common feature of brain activity. Across different types of rhythms, the phase has been proposed to have functional consequences, thus requiring its accurate specification from noisy data. Phase is conventionally specified using techniques that presume a frequency band-limited rhythm. However, in practice, observed brain rhythms are typically non-sinusoidal and amplitude modulated. How these features impact methods to estimate phase remains unclear. To address this, we consider three phase estimation methods, each with different underlying assumptions about the rhythm. We apply these methods to rhythms simulated with different generative mechanisms and demonstrate inconsistency in phase estimates across the different methods. We propose two improvements to the practice of phase estimation: (1) estimating confidence in the phase estimate, and (2) examining the consistency of phase estimates between two (or more) methods.
Two mutations in theSBDSgene reveal a diagnosis of Shwachman–Diamond syndrome in a patient with atypical symptoms
Authors: Spangenberg María Noel , Grille Sofia , Simoes Camila , Dell'Oca Nicolás , Boada Matilde , Guillermo Cecilia , Raggio Victor , Spangenberg Lucía
Published: January 2023

We present the case of a 53-yr-old woman with an inherited bone marrow failure coexisting with uncommon extrahematological symptoms, such as cirrhosis and skin abnormalities. Whole-exome sequencing revealed a diagnosis of Shwachman–Diamond syndrome (SDS) with an atypical presentation. Unexpected was the age of disease expression, normally around the pediatric age, with a predominantly median survival age of 36 yr. To our knowledge, she was the first adult patient with a molecular diagnosis of Shwachman–Diamond in Uruguay. The patient was referred to our service when she was 43-yr-old with a history of bone marrow failure with anemia and thrombocytopenia. All secondary causes of pancytopenia were excluded. Bone marrow aspirate and biopsy specimens were hypocellular for the patient's age. Numerous dysplastic features were observed in the three lineages. She had a normal karyotype and normal chromosomal fragility. A diagnosis of low-risk hypoplastic MDS was made. Dermatological examination revealed reticulate skin pigmentation with hypopigmented macules involving the face, neck, and extremities; nail dystrophy; premature graying; and thin hair. Extrahematological manifestations were present (e.g., learning difficulties, short stature). Last, she was diagnosed with cryptogenic liver cirrhosis CHILD C. This rules out all other possible causes of chronic liver disease. This clinical presentation initially oriented the diagnosis toward telomeropathy, so we did a telomeropathy NGS panel that came up negative. Finally, we did an exome sequencing that confirmed the diagnosis of SDS. Using whole-exome sequencing, we were able to find two compound heterozygous mutations in theSBDSgene that were responsible for the phenotype of a patient that was undiagnosed for 10 years. An earlier genetic diagnosis could have influenced our patient's outcome.
Visualization of Polytene Chromatin in Mosquito Cell Nuclei Using Three-Dimensional Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization
Authors: Bondarenko Simon M. , Liang Jiangtao , Sharakhova Maria V. , Sharakhov Igor V.
Published: January 2023

Chromosomes are intricately folded within the cell nucleus and interact with peripheral nuclear proteins. The chromatin architecture has a profound effect on how the genome is organized. 3D-FISH is a powerful technique that can reveal the structural and functional organization of chromosomes in the nuclear space. Here, we present a protocol for visualizing specific genomic regions in whole-mount paraformaldehyde-fixed cell nuclei ofAnophelesmosquitoes. This protocol was tested in our laboratories and has been showed to be effective and reliable for visualizing genomic regions of various lengths—from 1-kb gene-scale fragments to chromosome-scale segments of DNA.
XenopusHusbandry
Authors: Harland Richard M. , L. Sive Hazel
Published: January 2023

Adult frogs that are well-cared-for will give high-quality eggs and embryos for use in everyXenopusprotocol. Thoughtful frog husbandry is thus pivotal to successful research using these organisms. Protocols for successfully raising tadpoles, establishing and maintaining water quality, and detecting specific pathogens are key to maintaining healthy frog populations.
Phytotherapies for COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC): Implications for present and future pandemics
Authors: Husaini Danladi Chiroma , Orisakwe Orish Ebere , Mphuthi David Ditaba , Garba Sani Maaji , Obasi Cecilia Nwadiuto , Nwachukwu Innocent Ejiofor
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This review aims to provide synoptic documentation on acclaimed anecdotal plant-based remedies used by Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) communities to manage COVID-19. The theoretical approaches that form the basis for using the anecdotally claimed phytotherapies were reviewed against current scientific evidence.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper plant-based remedies for managing COVID-19 were searched on social and print media to identify testimonies of people from different communities in LAC countries. Information was extracted, evaluated and reviewed against current scientific evidence based on a literature search from databases such as Journal Storage (JSTOR), Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), SpringerLink, Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholar and Medline to explore the scientific basis for anecdotal claims.

Findings

A total of 23 medicinal plants belonging to 15 families were identified as phytotherapies used in managing COVID-19 in LAC communities.

Originality/value

The plant-based remedies contained valuable phytochemicals scientifically reported for their anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant and anticancer effects. Anecdotal information helps researchers investigate disease patterns, management and new drug discoveries. The identified acclaimed plant-based remedies are potential candidates for pharmacological evaluations for possible drug discovery for future pandemics.
The underlying coherent behavior in intraday dynamic market equilibrium
Authors: Shi Leilei , Guo Xinshuai , Fenu Andrea , Wang Bing-Hong
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This paper applies a volume-price probability wave differential equation to propose a conceptual theory and has innovative behavioral interpretations of intraday dynamic market equilibrium price, in which traders' momentum, reversal and interactive behaviors play roles.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors select intraday cumulative trading volume distribution over price as revealed preferences. An equilibrium price is a price at which the corresponding cumulative trading volume achieves the maximum value. Based on the existence of the equilibrium in social finance, the authors propose a testable interacting traders' preference hypothesis without imposing the invariance criterion of rational choices. Interactively coherent preferences signify the choices subject to interactive invariance over price.

Findings

The authors find that interactive trading choices generate a constant frequency over price and intraday dynamic market equilibrium in a tug-of-war between momentum and reversal traders. The authors explain the market equilibrium through interactive, momentum and reversal traders. The intelligent interactive trading preferences are coherent and account for local dynamic market equilibrium, holistic dynamic market disequilibrium and the nonlinear and non-monotone V-shaped probability of selling over profit (BH curves).

Research limitations/implications

The authors will understand investors' behaviors and dynamic markets through more empirical execution in the future, suggesting a unified theory available in social finance.

Practical implications

The authors can apply the subjects' intelligent behaviors to artificial intelligence (AI), deep learning and financial technology.

Social implications

Understanding the behavior of interacting individuals or units will help social risk management beyond the frontiers of the financial market, such as governance in an organization, social violence in a country and COVID-19 pandemics worldwide.

Originality/value

It uncovers subjects' intelligent interactively trading behaviors.
Innovation sharing a remedial measure: the case of Covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Ali Sumran , Ashraf Jawaria , Ghufran Muhammad , Xiaobao Peng , Zhiying Liu
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study has aimed to analyse the role of innovation-sharing collaboration in the large-scale manufacturing of Covid-19 vaccination across the globe and its impact on the mortality rate of the countries where the pharmaceutical manufacturers received such innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have relied upon the difference-in-difference (DID) approach by utilizing the data available on public platforms such as World Health Organization (WHO) databank, organization for economic co-operation and development (OECD) data bank, istat, Indian bureau of statistics and European centre for disease prevention and control (ecdc) from 2020 to 2021 to establish the empirical inference of the analysis.

Findings

This study’s results present that after the invention and commercialization of the vaccine, the Covid-19 impact was still intact and people were dying continuously. However, it was impossible to fulfil the demand of the 7 billion population in a short time. In the light of these facts, the WHO encouraged sharing vaccine innovation with other countries to enhance production capacity. The authors found that after vaccine innovation sharing, Covid-19’s devastation slowed: the fatality rate was marginally reduced, and economic conditions started their recovery journey.

Originality/value

This study’s findings present that the Covid-19 vaccine played a pivotal role in tackling the Covid-19’s devastating impact on the entire world. It emphasizes the role of innovation-sharing collaborations in curtailing hazardous consequences, including the mortality rate during a crisis, and such collaborations’ impact on the countries where institutions involved in them reside.
Diffusion between groups: the influence of social brokers on content adoption in social networks
Authors: Yang Zhi , Yang Cai , Lu Chongyu , Wang Feng , Zhou Wei
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and investigate social brokers who belong to and connect multiple groups in a social network. This paper also reveals the differential effects of innovative and following social brokers on content diffusion in terms of adoption timing, speed and size.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper collected field data related to 69,086 users on the largest social network platform in China and analysed their adoption behaviours of 2,492 pieces of content.

Findings

The analysis reveals that social brokers encourage content diffusion and accelerate the speed of content adoption in a social network. Specifically, following social brokers play a greater role than innovative social brokers in accelerating the speed of content adoption and expanding the size of content adoption. However, in the early stage of content diffusion within the social network, innovative social brokers could predict the success of content adoption more effectively than following social brokers.

Research limitations/implications

This research extends the current diffusion literature by introducing the social broker and examining the effect of social brokers on the process of content adoption.

Practical implications

The findings provide suggestions to marketing managers on how to improve the diffusion of marketing-related content, such as by seeding specific people – that is, social brokers – with content, so they can serve as content transmitters in marketing campaigns. In addition, the findings suggest that to optimise content adoption in a social network, managers should strategically target innovative social brokers or following social brokers at various stages of content seeding-based marketing campaigns.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first to test the effects of social brokers on content adoption and identify innovative and following social brokers. The findings enrich the literature on content marketing by providing new perspectives on social structures in social networks.
Review, rapid recall and reposition: how one HEI adapted delivery and design in the digital world in response to COVID-19
Authors: Stephenson Megan , Torn Alison
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The study explores the original positioning of the higher education institution in the teacher education market in March 2020. The case study identifies how the university operated prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the adaptations made to teaching and learning pedagogy throughout academic year (AY) 2019–2020, the impact and the experience it had on staff and students and the subsequent lessons learnt.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a comprehensive narrative the authors explore how, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the academic staff had to upskill themselves in the world of digital technology, drawing on the theoretical framework of community of inquiry (Garrison, 2009; Garrison et al., 2000, 2010). The article describes and analyses the impact of change through the timeline of the pandemic across the AYs 2019–2020 and 2020–2021. Training delivered and adapted from “Active Digital Design” (ADD), was adopted to plan, teach and deliver all centre-based training from September 2021.

Findings

The article describes how the leaders across the university and within the teacher education department used this time and space as an opportunity to revaluate whole pedagogical delivery and curricular programme design, effectively transitioning to a blended learning strategy. The rapid adoption of online resources, adjustments made to programmes and school placements and the peaks and troughs of engaging students with online learning are all evaluated. The authors conclude on a reflective note, thanks to excellent leadership and management the majority of the ADD programme that was received positively by academics and students. A continuous cycle of review means adaptations to programme delivery continue to be adopted via the learning communities formed as a result of the experience.

Originality/value

The impact of the pandemic and school closures on the graduating cohorts of 2020 and 2021 are evaluated. Reflecting on the experience and expertise of the team a truly comprehensive, consistent and balanced curricular is set to shape AY 2022–20/23.
Defensive pessimism and its effect on supply chain performance
Authors: Ekezie Uchenna Peter , Hong Seock-Jin
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This paper addresses a gap in task performance research, with a focus on supply chain operations, by exploring the role that defensive pessimism (DP)—a phenomenon sparsely studied in supply chain literature—has in the workplace. It investigates the roles that task complexity, perceptions of control and employee situatedness in the workplace play as predictors of DP, as well as addresses the relationship between defensive pessimism and supply chain performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Five hypotheses are developed and empirically tested employing the data-generating method, Monte Carlo simulation and then applying factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) to survey data from practitioner members of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.

Findings

The results reveal that task complexity and external locus of control heighten perceptions among employees that task completion could be outside their locus of control. The increased tendency to be defensively pessimistic about workplace commitments negatively impacts supply chain performance. This study found that task complexity and external locus of control encourage DP, negatively impacting supply chain performance (SCP).

Originality/value

This study explored underlying causes of defensive pessimism, a self-limiting behavior among supply chain professionals. In understanding the role of DP, it is possible to enhance SCP by managing task complexity, external locus of control and job autonomy—predictors of defensive pessimism in work commitments.
The influence of service innovation on police performance: an empirical investigation
Authors: Alnuaimi Sultan Bin Abdulla , Abdulhabib Abdulla Awadh
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Many organisations attempt to improve their performance through innovation but innovative activities exert an undefined influence on police performance. Furthermore, studies on determining the role of creative leadership and knowledge sharing on the relationship between service innovation and police performance are scarce. Thus, the aforementioned relationship was empirically analysed in this study using creative leadership and knowledge sharing as moderating variables.

Design/methodology/approach

In this quantitative cross-sectional study, data were collected from 435 Ajman police employees using an online questionnaire. The hypothesised associations were tested using partial least squares structural equation modelling.

Findings

The statistical findings clearly demonstrated that service innovation favourably influenced the Ajman police performance. Creative leadership positively moderated the relationship between service innovation and police performance while knowledge sharing did not.

Research limitations/implications

The results presented a wide range of theoretical and practical implications. Police performance can be improved by promoting service innovation, which can be enhanced by creative leadership.

Originality/value

Empirical research that examined the connection between innovation and police performance is scarce. Additionally, the role of creative leadership and knowledge sharing in this relationship is unknown. Thus, this research aims to close the knowledge gap and provided data to support the hypotheses. This study is unique as these factors are used in police agencies.
Rural non-farm employment diversification in India: the role of gender, education, caste and land ownership
Authors: Das Kashmiri , Mahanta Amarjyoti
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Non-farm employment has transitioned from a residual to a dominant livelihood option in rural India. Despite the sector’s diverse welfare implications, it is still a male-dominant sector with limited scope for female’s participation. Several socio-economic and cultural factors are responsible for such disparities in occupational choices. The purpose of this study is to examine this gender dimension of occupational diversification for rural India and focuses on the role of education, caste and land ownership in explaining employment probabilities across gender.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses secondary data on employment and unemployment from the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) for rural India and pooled the data for three periods that include 61st (2004–2005), 66th (2009–2010) and 68th (2011–2012) round comprising a total of 235,722 individuals. The study applies a multinomial logit regression model.

Findings

The results show that education facilitates females to diversify to sectors like manufacturing, mining and construction while educated males are more likely to diversify to services. However, the likelihood of diversification by educated females is low for those belonging to land-owning households. On the contrary, land ownership facilitates educated males to join sectors like mining and quarrying and services. It is also found that females belonging to Scheduled Tribe/Scheduled Caste (ST/SC) households diversify to low return activities like manufacturing and construction while males are more likely to join services.

Originality/value

This study has contributed to the literature on employment diversification by considering not only the gender aspect of diversification but also examining how education, caste and land would explain occupational choices between males and females. It is evident from the findings that education can be a liberating factor for females to participate actively in sectors outside agriculture but the status quo associated with land ownership in rural India declines their possibility of economic participation compared to males. Even educated females are confined to manufacturing and construction in the absence of proper non-farm employment opportunities for them.
Economic and political factors on herding in Islamic GCC stock markets during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Loang Ooi Kok , Ahmad Zamri
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the existence of herding and the impact of economic and political factors in the Shariah-compliant stocks of Gulf Cooperation Council markets, namely, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. This study also seeks to explore the existence of herding under market stress and cross-stocks herding between Shariah-compliant and conventional stocks.

Design/methodology/approach

The data period is from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2021. Panel data regression and panel quantile regression are used to examine herding.

Findings

The results show that herding tends to exist in Shariah stocks before the pandemic but is more pronounced in both types of stocks during the pandemic. The empirical evidence shows that economic factors are significant to herding before and during pandemic, whereas the political factors are only shown to be significant before COVID-19. Conventional stocks are correlated to the herding of Shariah stocks but the Shariah stocks have no significant impact on the herding of conventional stocks. Panel quantile regression shows that herding exists in extreme conditions but not all markets perform similarly.

Originality/value

The results of this study imply that the political factor can lead investors to herd. This political factor represents information that is used by investors to herd, consistent with the prediction of information-based theory of herding. Hence, policymakers and regulators need to be wary of any change in the political factors as they may cause movement in stock prices that deviate from fundamental value because of investor herding.
Bridging social marketing and technology in the disability field: an empirical study on the role of cybernetic avatar and social inclusion
Authors: Moriuchi Emi
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to determine the perception and attitude of consumers toward the presence of cybernetic avatars (CAs) as part of a social inclusion initiative.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed method was used to conduct the study using facial recognition expressions and surveys. Three studies were conducted. Study 1 examines consumers’ attitudes and perceptions of a CA and what it can do to promote social inclusivity among people who have mobility disabilities but wish to work. Study 2 tests a conceptual model to determine the factors that affect consumers’ intention to visit an establishment that uses CAs as their employees. Study 3 extends Study 2 and tests two moderators predicted to influence consumers’ attitudes toward CAs and their intention to visit an establishment that uses CAs.

Findings

The results show that consumers generally accept and are excited about such technological developments. Study 2 further supports this positive perception with its conceptual model. Study 3 provides insights into how the moderating factors influence a consumer’s attitude toward CAs and their intention to visit the establishment. Between consumers who have a mobility disability and those who do not, those who have mobility disabilities showed a more positive attitude and intention to patronize such an establishment.

Originality/value

Studies on CAs are still in the infancy stage. This study provides insight into how society can use technology to promote social inclusion, contrary to prior opposing arguments towards integrating robots into society.