bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intracellular and intercellular gene regulatory networks inference from time-course individual RNA-Seq
Authors: Kashima Makoto , Shida Yuki , Yamashiro Takashi , Hirata Hiromi , Kurosaka Hiroshi
Published: May 2021

Gene regulatory network (GRN) inference is an effective approach to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying biological events. Generally, GRN inference mainly targets intracellular regulatory relationships such as transcription factors and their associated targets. In multicellular organisms, there are both intracellular and intercellular regulatory mechanisms. Thus, we hypothesize that GRNs inferred from time-course individual (whole embryo) RNA-Seq during development can reveal intercellular regulatory relationships (signaling pathways) underlying the development. Here, we conducted time-course bulk RNA-Seq of individual mouse embryos during early development, followed by pseudo-time analysis and GRN inference. The results demonstrated that GRN inference from RNA-Seq with pseudo-time can be applied for individual bulk RNA-Seq similar to scRNA-Seq. Validation using an experimental-source-based database showed that our approach could significantly infer GRN for all transcription factors in the database. Furthermore, the inferred ligand-related and receptor-related downstream genes were significantly overlapped. Thus, the inferred GRN based on whole organism could include intercellular regulatory relationships, which cannot be inferred from scRNA-Seq based only on gene expression data. Overall, inferring GRN from time-course bulk RNA-Seq is an effective approach for understanding the regulatory relationships underlying biological events in multicellular organisms.
Label-free imaging flow cytometry: analysis and sorting of enzymatically dissociated tissues
Authors: Herbig Maik , Tessmer Karen , Nötzel Martin , Nawaz Ahsan Ahmad , Santos-Ferreira Tiago , Borsch Oliver , Gasparini Sylvia J. , Guck Jochen , Ader Marius
Published: May 2021

Biomedical research often relies on identification and isolation of specific cell types using molecular biomarkers and sorting methods such as fluorescence or magnetic activated cell sorting. Labelling processes potentially alter the cells’ properties and should be avoided, especially when purifying cells for clinical applications. A promising alternative is the label-free identification of cells based on their physical properties. Sorting real-time deformability and fluorescence cytometry (soRT-FDC) is a microfluidic technique for label-free analysis and sorting of single cells. In soRT-FDC, bright-field images of cells are analyzed by a deep neural net (DNN) to obtain a sorting decision, but sorting was so far only demonstrated for blood cells which show clear morphological differences and are naturally in suspension. Most cells, however, grow in tissues, requiring dissociation before cell sorting which is associated with additional challenges including survival, changes in morphology, or presence of aggregates. Here, we introduce methods for robust analysis and sorting of single cells from mammalian nervous tissue and provide DNNs which are capable of distinguishing visually similar cells. Exemplarily, we employ the DNN for image-based sorting to enrich photoreceptor cells from dissociated retina for transplantation into the mouse eye. Results provide evidence that the combination of machine learning and soRT-FDC allows label-free enrichment of target cells from dissociated tissues.
Growth-dependent heterogeneity in the DNA damage response inEscherichia coli
Authors: Jaramillo-Riveri Sebastián , Broughton James , McVey Alexander , Pilizota Teuta , Scott Matthew , El Karoui Meriem
Published: May 2021

In natural environments bacteria are frequently exposed to sub-lethal levels of DNA damage which leads to the induction of a stress response (the SOS response inEscherichia coli). Natural environments also vary in nutrient availability, resulting in distinct physiological changes in bacteria which may have direct implications on their capacity to repair their chromosomes. Here, we evaluated the impact of varying the nutrient availability on the expression of the SOS response induced by chronic sub-lethal DNA damage inE. coli. The expression of the SOS regulon was found to be highly heterogeneous at the single-cell level in all growth conditions. Surprisingly, we observed a larger fraction of high SOS-induced cells in slow growth as compared with fast growth, despite a higher rate of SOS induction in fast growth. This counter-intuitive result can be explained by the dynamic balance between the rate of SOS induction and the division rates of cells exposed to DNA damage. Taken together, our data illustrates how cell division and physiology come together to produce growth-dependent heterogeneity in the DNA damage response.
Structures of the human cholecystokinin 1 (CCK1) receptor bound to Gs and Gq mimetic proteins: insight into mechanisms of G protein selectivity
Authors: Mobbs Jesse , Belousoff Matthew J. , Harikumar Kaleeckal G. , Piper Sarah J. , Xu Xiaomeng , Furness Sebastian G.B. , Venugopal Hari , Christopoulos Arthur , Danev Radostin , Wootten Denise , Thal David M. , Miller Laurence J. , Sexton Patrick M.
Published: May 2021

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are critical regulators of cellular function acting via heterotrimeric G proteins as their primary transducers with individual GPCRs capable of pleiotropic coupling to multiple G proteins. Structural features governing G protein selectivity and promiscuity are currently unclear. Here we used cryo-electron microscopy to determine structures of the CCK1R bound to the CCK peptide agonist, CCK-8 and two distinct transducer proteins, its primary transducer Gq, and the more weakly coupled Gs. As seen with other Gq/11-GPCR complexes, the Gq-α5 helix bound to a relatively narrow pocket in the CCK1R core. Surprisingly, the backbone of the CCK1R and volume of the G protein binding pocket was essentially equivalent when Gs was bound, with the Gs α5 helix displaying a conformation that arises from “unwinding” of the far C-terminal residues, compared to canonically Gs coupled receptors. Thus, integrated changes in the conformations of both the receptor and G protein play critical roles in the promiscuous coupling of individual GPCRs.

One-Sentence Summary

Cryo-EM structures of the CCK-1R reveal key mechanisms for promiscuous G protein coupling.
Changes of the biophysical properties of voltage-gated Na+currents during maturation of the sodium-taste cells in rat fungiform papillae
Authors: Bigiani Albertino , Tirindelli Roberto , Bigiani Lorenzo
Published: May 2021

Taste cells are a heterogeneous population of sensory receptors that undergoes a continuous turnover. Different chemo-sensitive cell lines rely on action potentials to release the neurotransmitter onto nerve endings. The electrical excitability is due to the presence of a tetrodotoxin-sensitive, voltage-gated sodium current (INa) similar to that found in neurons. Since the biophysical properties ofINachange during neuronal development, we wondered whether the same also occurred in taste cells. Here, we used the patch-clamp recording technique to studyINain sodium sensing cells of rat fungiform papillae. We identified these cells by exploiting the known blocking effect of amiloride on ENaC, the sodium (salt) receptor. Then, based on the amplitude ofINaand a morphological analysis, we subdivided sodium cells into two broad developmental groups, namely immature and mature cells. We found that: the voltage dependence of activation and inactivation changed in the transition from immature to mature state (depolarizing shift); the membrane capacitance significantly decreased in mature cells, enhancing the density ofINa; a persistent sodium current, absent in immature cells, appeared in mature cells. mRNA expression analysis of the α-subunits of voltage-gated sodium channels in fungiform taste buds supported the electrophysiological data. As a whole, our findings provide evidence for a noticeable change in membrane excitability during development, which is consistent with the key role played by electrical signaling in the release of neurotransmitter by mature sodium cells.

Key Points Summary

Taste cells are sensory receptors that undergo continuous turnover while they detect food chemicals and communicate with afferent nerve fibers.

The voltage-gated sodium current (INa) is a key ion current for generating action potentials in fully differentiated and chemo-sensitive taste cells, which use electrical signaling to release neurotransmitters.

Here we report that in rat taste cells involved in salt detection, the properties ofINa, such as voltage dependence of activation and inactivation, undergo significant changes during the transition from immature to mature state.

Our results help understand how taste cells gain electrical excitability during turnover, a property critical to operate as chemical detectors that relay sensory information to nerve fibers.
Genomic characterization of endemic and ecdemic non-typhoidalSalmonella entericalineages circulating among animals and animal products in South Africa
Authors: Carroll Laura M. , Pierneef Rian , Mathole Masenyabu , Matle Itumeleng
Published: May 2021

Non-typhoidalSalmonella entericaimposes a significant burden on human and animal health in South Africa. However, very little is known about lineages circulating among animals and animal products in the country on a genomic scale. Here, we used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to characterize 63Salmonella entericastrains (n= 18, 8, 13, and 24 strains assigned to serotypes Dublin, Hadar, Enteritidis, and Typhimurium, respectively) isolated from livestock, companion animals, wildlife, and animal products in South Africa over a 60-year period. Within-serotype phylogenies were constructed using genomes sequenced in this study, as well as publicly available genomes representative of each respective serotype’s (i) global (n= 2,802 and 1,569S.Dublin and Hadar genomes, respectively) and (ii) African (n= 716 and 343S.Enteritidis and Typhimurium genomes, respectively) population. ForS.Dublin, the approaches used here identified a largely antimicrobial-susceptible, endemic lineage circulating among humans, animals, and food in South Africa, as well as a lineage that was likely recently introduced from the United States. ForS.Hadar, multiple South African lineages harboring streptomycin and tetracycline resistance-conferring genes were identified. AfricanS.Enteritidis could be primarily partitioned into one largely antimicrobial-susceptible and one largely multidrug-resistant (MDR) clade, with South African isolates confined to the largely antimicrobial-susceptible clade.S.Typhimurium strains sequenced here were distributed across the AfricanS.Typhimurium phylogeny, representing a diverse range of lineages, including numerous MDR lineages. Overall, this study provides insight into the evolution, population structure, and antimicrobial resistome composition ofSalmonella entericain Africa.

IMPORTANCE

Globally,Salmonella entericais estimated to be responsible for more than 93 million illnesses and 150,000 deaths annually. In Africa, the burden of salmonellosis is disproportionally high; however, WGS efforts are overwhelmingly concentrated in world regions with lower salmonellosis burdens. While WGS is being increasingly employed in South Africa to characterizeSalmonella enterica, the bulk of these efforts have centered on characterizing human clinical strains. WGS data derived from non-typhoidalSalmonella entericaserotypes isolated from non-human sources in South Africa is extremely limited. To our knowledge, the genomes sequenced here represent the largest collection of non-typhoidalSalmonella entericaisolate genomes from non-human sources in South Africa to date. Furthermore, this study provides critical insights into endemic and ecdemic non-typhoidalSalmonella entericalineages circulating among animals, foods, and humans in South Africa and showcases the utility of WGS in characterizing animal-associated strains from a world region with a high salmonellosis burden.
CBMOS: a GPU-enabled Python framework for the numerical study of center-based models
Authors: Mathias Sonja , Coulier Adrien , Hellander Andreas
Published: May 2021

Cell-based models are becoming increasingly popular for applications in developmental biology. However, the impact of numerical choices on the accuracy and efficiency of the simulation of these models is rarely meticulously tested. We present CBMOS, a Python framework for the simulation of the center-based or cell-centered model. Contrary to other implementations, CBMOS’ focus is on facilitating numerical study of center-based models by providing access to multiple ODE solvers and force functions through a flexible, user-friendly API. We show-case its potential by evaluating the use of the backward Euler method for calculating the trajectories of two-dimensional cell populations. We confirm that although for moderate accuracy levels the backward Euler method allows for larger time step sizes than the commonly used forward Euler method, its additional computational cost due to being an implicit method prohibits its use for practical test cases.

CBMOS is available on GitHub1 and PyPI under an MIT license. It allows for fast prototyping on a CPU for small systems through the use of NumPy. Using CuPy on a GPU, cell populations of up to 10,000 cells can be simulated within a few seconds. As such, we hope it can also be of use to modelers interested in testing preliminary hypotheses before committing to more complex center-based model frameworks.

AMS subject classification

65Z05, 92C15, 92-10
The dynamic interplay of PIP2and ATP in the regulation of the KATPchannel
Authors: Pipatpolkai Tanadet , Usher Samuel G. , Vedovato Natascia , Ashcroft Frances M , Stansfeld Phillip J.
Published: May 2021

ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels couple the intracellular ATP concentration to insulin secretion. KATPchannel activity is inhibited by ATP binding to the Kir6.2 tetramer and activated by phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). Here, we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, electrophysiology and fluorescence spectroscopy to show that ATP and PIP2occupy different binding pockets that share a single amino acid residue, K39. When both ligands are present, K39 shows a greater preference to co-ordinate with PIP2than ATP. A neonatal diabetes mutation at K39 (K39R) increases the number of hydrogen bonds formed between K39 and PIP2, reducing ATP inhibition. We also find direct effects on nucleotide binding from mutating E179, a residue proposed to interact with PIP2. Our work suggests PIP2and ATP interact allosterically to regulate KATPchannel activity.
A novel class of TMPRSS2 inhibitors potently block SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV viral entry and protect human epithelial lung cells
Authors: Mahoney Matthew , Damalanka Vishnu C. , Tartell Michael A. , Chung Dong Hee , Lourenco André Luiz , Pwee Dustin , Mayer Bridwell Anne E. , Hoffmann Markus , Voss Jorine , Karmakar Partha , Azouz Nurit , Klingler Andrea M. , Rothlauf Paul W. , Thompson Cassandra E. , Lee Melody , Klampfer Lidija , Stallings Christina , Rothenberg Marc E. , Pöhlmann Stefan , Whelan Sean P. , O’Donoghue Anthony J. , Craik Charles S. , Janetka James W.
Published: May 2021

The host cell serine protease TMPRSS2 is an attractive therapeutic target for COVID-19 drug discovery. This protease activates the Spike protein of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and of other coronaviruses and is essential for viral spread in the lung. Utilizing rational structure-based drug design (SBDD) coupled to substrate specificity screening of TMPRSS2, we have discovered a novel class of small molecule ketobenzothiazole TMPRSS2 inhibitors with significantly improved activity over existing irreversible inhibitors Camostat and Nafamostat. Lead compound MM3122 (4) has an IC50of 340 pM against recombinant full-length TMPRSS2 protein, an EC50of 430 pM in blocking host cell entry into Calu-3 human lung epithelial cells of a newly developed VSV SARS-CoV-2 chimeric virus, and an EC50of 74 nM in inhibiting cytopathic effects induced by SARS-CoV-2 virus in Calu-3 cells. Further, MM3122 blocks Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) cell entry with an EC50of 870 pM. MM3122 has excellent metabolic stability, safety, and pharmacokinetics in mice with a half-life of 8.6 hours in plasma and 7.5 h in lung tissue, making it suitable for in vivo efficacy evaluation and a promising drug candidate for COVID-19 treatment.
Accuracy in near-perfect virus phylogenies
Authors: Wertheim Joel O. , Steel Mike , Sanderson Michael J.
Published: May 2021

Abstract

Phylogenetic trees from real-world data often include short edges with very few substitutions per site, which can lead to partially resolved trees and poor accuracy. Theory indicates that the number of sites needed to accurately reconstruct a fully resolved tree grows at a rate proportional to the inverse square of the length of the shortest edge. However, when inferred trees are partially resolved due to short edges, “accuracy” should be defined as the rate of discovering false splits (clades on a rooted tree) relative to the actual number found. Thus, accuracy can be high even if short edges are common. Specifically, in a “near-perfect” parameter space in which trees are large, the tree length ξ (the sum of all edge lengths), is small, and rate variation is minimal, the expected false positive rate is less than ξ/3; the exact value depends on tree shape and sequence length. This expected false positive rate is far below the false negative rate for small ξ and often well below 5% even when some assumptions are relaxed. We show this result analytically for maximum parsimony and explore its extension to maximum likelihood using theory and simulations. For hypothesis testing, we show that measures of split “support” that rely on bootstrap resampling consistently imply weaker support than that implied by the false positive rates in near-perfect trees. The near-perfect parameter space closely fits several empirical studies of human virus diversification during outbreaks and epidemics, including Ebolavirus, Zika virus, and SARS-CoV-2, reflecting low substitution rates relative to high transmission/sampling rates in these viruses.
Strategic management, management control practices and public value creation: the strategic triangle in the Swedish public sector
Authors: Höglund Linda , Mårtensson Maria , Thomson Kerstin
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to enhance understanding of the conceptualisation and operationalisation of public value in practice by applying Moore's (1995) strategic triangle as an analytical framework to study strategic management and management control practices in relation to public value.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses an interpretative longitudinal case study approach including qualitative methods of document studies and interviews between 2017 and 2019.

Findings

In the strategic triangle, the three nodes of authorising environment, public value creation and operational capacity are interdependent, and alignment is a necessity for a strategy to be successful. But this alignment is vulnerable. The findings suggest three propositions: (1) strategic alignment is vulnerable to management control practices having a strong focus on performance measurements, (2) strategic alignment is vulnerable to standardised management control practices and (3) strategic alignment is vulnerable to politically driven management control practices.

Originality/value

With the strategic triangle as a base, this paper tries to understand what kind of management control practices enable and/or constrain public value, as there has been a call for this kind of research. In this way it adds to earlier research on public value, to the growing interest in the strategic triangle as an analytical framework in analysing empirical material and to the request for more empirical studies on the subject. The strategic triangle also embraces political factors, government agendas and political leadership for which there has also been a call for more research.
Corporate social responsibility advertising in social media: a content analysis of the fashion industry's CSR advertising on Instagram
Authors: Kwon Kyeongwon , Lee Jaejin
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has received significant attention and has become a global trend that challenges the role of business. The purpose of this study is to examine how the fashion industry responds to public pressure in terms of sustainability by promoting its CSR commitments through CSR advertising.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative content analysis was conducted to examine how the fashion industry advertises its CSR commitments on social media. To explore the trend and various perspectives of CSR advertising presented by the fashion industry, the top six fashion brands that are well known for their sustainability performance were selected and their Instagram posts from 2019 were fully investigated.

Findings

The findings from the study indicate that the fashion industry uses different strategies for CSR advertising campaigns. It provides evidence that fashion brands, overall, focus on sustainability efforts for the environment and visually communicate their CSR practices through a framework that highlights greenness and environmentally friendly messages in CSR advertising.

Originality/value

CSR allows organizations to communicate with consumers about how business can be operated for a sustainable future. CSR advertising is an emerging field as company's CSR practices can create strategic benefits when the practices have high visibility. However, little work has been done to analyze CSR advertising on social media. Therefore, the present study adds values to the existing literature on CSR advertising, which is important to both academic researchers and practitioners.
An exploration of obstacles to identity play during unemployment
Authors: Mühlhaus Julia , Bouwmeester Onno , Khapova Svetlana N.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This study seeks to explore the key themes in identity play during unemployment and the potential obstacles faced by unemployed individuals.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative study is based on 23 interviews with unemployed individuals in Germany.

Findings

The authors identify three obstacles to identity play during unemployment: a lack of psychological safety to explore possible selves, a lack of opportunity to try out possible selves and a lack of social validation for possible selves. Several interviewees highlight the impact of social context, creating an absence of institutional support and a limited identity “playspace.” As such, the authors illustrate that when faced with these obstacles, the unemployed individuals of this study predominantly focus on identity work instead of identity play. Only a few interviewees seem to engage in and sustain identity play. The authors propose that the elaborate nature of their possible selves and their focus on future opportunities may overshadow the present self and immediate obstacles.

Originality/value

The authors argue that identity play is not readily available to all individuals in all situations. Instead, they suggest that some psychologically and socially threatening contexts such as unemployment are characterized by obstacles that constrain individuals' identity play and prevent the adoption of new work identities. Hence, the authors call for a more balanced and localized understanding of identity play.
The transformative role of firm information transparency in triggering retail investor's perceived financial well-being
Authors: Naveed Muhammad , Farah Maya F. , Hasni Muhammad Junaid Shahid
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Based on transformative service research (TSR), the study explores the mechanisms by which a firm's information transparency influences a retail investor's perceived financial well-being (PFW). It proposes a model exploring the mediating roles of the investor's financial risk tolerance (RT) and financial self-efficacy (FSE) in the relationship between a firm's information transparency and the consumer's PFW.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted by including a sample of 310 retail investors from Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) to test the proposed hypotheses. Data analysis was based on a series of multiple regressions, moderation and serial mediation analyses.

Findings

The findings show that a firm's information transparency harnesses investors' PFW. Information transparency also positively affects investors' RT toward the firm and their FSE while dealing with financial challenges.

Research limitations/implications

The findings call for a deeper understanding of financial services' interventions and their underlying mechanisms to improve consumer’s financial well-being (FWB). On a methodology level, future studies could apply a mixed-method approach and SEM to explore new avenues for predicting investors' FWB.

Practical implications

Besides validating TSR, the study has several implications for listed firms to adopt more transparent information reporting practices to improve investors' PFW. Accordingly, regulators should take initiatives to compel firms to comply with higher standards of information transparency.

Originality/value

The proposed model explores a concrete mechanism that helps listed firms to strengthen investors' PFW via information transparency.
Exploring COBRAs, its antecedents and consequences in the context of banking brands
Authors: Mishra Aditya Shankar
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Brands have started investing heavily in their social media pages. Especially for banks having credence nature, the importance of engaging customers with the brand-related content on their social media pages has become a challenge. The present study explores the role of various characteristics of a brand's social media marketing efforts (SMME) and individual customer's general online social interaction propensity (GOSIP) on the customers' engagement/online brand-related activities (COBRAs). The subsequent effect of COBRAs on key banking outcomes such as satisfaction, trust and loyalty has also been evaluated. The moderating role of the customer–brand relationship length has also been evaluated.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-stage mixed-method approach was used for the data collection. Two focus group discussions were conducted for the preliminary stage, which resulted in identifying five Indian banking brands as stimuli for further study. For the main study, an online survey link was shared with the members of the stimuli banking brands' social media pages. A total of 552 useable responses were collected. After performing the exploratory factor analysis and common method bias tests, the collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and multi-group analysis.

Findings

The results of the present study have added all five characteristics (namely, entertainment, interaction, trendiness, customization and electronic word of mouth) of SMME and GOSIP as the key antecedents of the customers' engagement with brand content on social media pages or COBRAs. COBRAs have been found influencing the customers' satisfaction, but evidence of influence on the trust and loyalty has not been found. The length of the relationship between customers and the banking brand has been observed as an important moderator for the satisfaction–trust–loyalty relationship.

Originality/value

The present study has three unique contributions to the literature. Firstly, the study evaluates the role of customer-brand engagement on the banking brand's favorable outcomes such as satisfaction, trust and loyalty. Secondly, the exploration of the role of various social media marketing activities that can enhance customer–brand engagement. And finally, the study tests the moderating role of the customer–brand length of the relationship on the complete set of marketing activities–engagement–loyalty relationships.
Developing marketing curriculum to make students workforce ready
Authors: Edmondson Diane , Matthews Lucy
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how to overcome the dilemma of the lack of student workforce readiness upon graduation. Based on experiential learning theory, the authors propose an innovative three-step approach to marketing curriculum to help address this dilemma.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines both quantitative and qualitative data. First, quantitative results were obtained from 5,222 end-of-course surveys of students taking an experiential learning course at a southeastern United States public university. Results were also obtained from 111 end-of-course surveys of students taking experiential learning courses in marketing. Second, qualitative results were obtained through a critical review of self-reflection assignments from over 1,000 students taking a variety of experiential learning marketing courses.

Findings

The authors identify a three-step process that can be used to develop curriculum that will better prepare students for entering the workforce. The advantages and disadvantages associated with this type of curriculum are also discussed. The outcomes indicate that an entire curriculum focused on experiential learning, self-reflection and ePortfolios will allow students to not only be better prepared for the workforce but also will help them be better communicators on what they have learned.

Originality/value

In this paper, the authors contribute to the literature by providing a curriculum-based approach to learning in order to minimize the gap between academic knowledge and workforce preparedness. Sample course projects, reflective prompts and grading rubrics are provided to aid others in the implementation of this type of curriculum.
Demographic dividend and economic growth in emerging economies: fresh evidence from the SAARC countries
Authors: Jafrin Nusrat , Mahi Masnun , Masud Muhammad Mehedi , Ghosh Deboshree
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The study attempts to establish the relationship between demographic dividend and GDP growth rate by utilising panel data from 1990 to 2017 in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs the pooled OLS model, using data from the World Bank's database for the period 1990–2017 for five selected South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries.

Findings

The results reveal that demographic dividend affects economic growth in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, thereby supporting the demographic dividend hypothesis. For the country-specific analysis, it was also observed that demographic dividend impacts the economic growth of the five SAARC countries. In addition, growth of gross capital formation is highly significant for both aggregated and country-specific analyses. However, economic growth is unaffected by trade openness and unemployment rates. Moreover, the rate of labour force participation is negatively related to the GDP growth rate in the aggregated model.

Originality/value

This paper bestows insight into the fact that the impact of demographic dividend on the economic growth of the SAARC regions cannot be fully actualised if the workforce are underutilised. This region needs to adopt appropriate policies to strengthen the considerable benefits of demographic dividend on the economic growth.
Money creation process, banking performance and economic policy uncertainty: evidence from Tunisian listed banks
Authors: Khalfaoui Hamdi , Derbali Abdelkader
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between money creation process and banking performance for Tunisian listed banks, particularly in the context of increased economic policy uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

In the relevant literature, there are two theories of money creation. The theory of money creation out of nothing, by using the central bank for refinancing and the theory of financial intermediation, from which money creation is made from preexisting savings. In this paper, the authors utilize a panel data for a sample composed of 11 Tunisian banks during the period of study from 1999 to 2019.

Findings

The study’s empirical analysis show that both forms of money creation have a positive impact on bank profitability as measured by the return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) ratios. However, the same analysis shows that the channel of money creation out of nothing is the most profitable for banks. Also, the authors show that economic policy uncertainty negatively influences the relationship between money creation and banking profitability only when credit creation is derived from savings.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature by explaining the nexus between money creation and Tunisian banking performance which depends on the implementation of stable and conducive economic and political environment. Also, this link requires the implementation of monetary measures to encourage savings and develop an efficient capital market and judicious monetary policy enabling the central bank to inject more liquidity into the economy.
Do firm boundaries matter? The impact of Chinese imports on US conglomerates
Authors: Kim Ryoonhee
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this paper is to use China’s World Trade Organization accession as a quasi-natural experiment and examine whether conglomeration affects firmss’ ability to respond to a significant increase in competitive pressure. Conglomerate segments have higher sales growth and higher profitability than singlesegment firms, when they face intensified import competition. Conglomerates’ outperformance is not observed when the markets in which segments operate already have high product market competition. Overall, conglomeration encourages competitiveness, and internal resources are allocated to relatively competitive segments.
Dividend month premium in the Korean stock market
Authors: Koo Bonha , Chae Joon
Published: May 2021

The dividend month premium is the phenomenon that firms have abnormal returns in predicted dividend month. This study aims to examine the dividend month premium in the Korean stock market, using common stocks listed on the KOSPI and KOSDAQ from January 1999 to December 2016. Abnormal returns are estimated using the following asset price models: capital asset pricing model, Fama–French three-factor model and the Fama–French–Carhart four-factor model. This study finds positive abnormal returns in predicted dividend months, and even for the within-firm portfolio that buys stocks in the predicted dividend months and sells the same stocks in other months. The price impact and the subsequent reversals are greater with lower liquidity and higher dividend yield, implying that the price pressure from dividend-seeking investors affects this dividend month premium. In addition, the anomalies with the pre-declaration stock are smaller than the post-declaration stock, suggesting the necessity to improve the cash dividend policy of post-declaration for market efficiency.
The effect of uncertainty on the information content of term spread and its components
Authors: Kim Jun Sik
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impact of uncertainty on the predictive power of term spread and its components for future stock market returns and economic activity in Korea and the USA. This paper finds that the stock market’s expected excess return and growth of economic activity are positively related to the risk-neutral expectation, one of the term spread’s components, particularly during high uncertainty periods. These findings are consistent with the importance of the monetary policy by the central bank in a high uncertainty environment created by unexpected shocks. The results are robust to alternate definitions of high uncertainty periods.
Machine learning applications for sustainable manufacturing: a bibliometric-based review for future research
Authors: Jamwal Anbesh , Agrawal Rajeev , Sharma Monica , Kumar Anil , Kumar Vikas , Garza-Reyes Jose Arturo Arturo
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The role of data analytics is significantly important in manufacturing industries as it holds the key to address sustainability challenges and handle the large amount of data generated from different types of manufacturing operations. The present study, therefore, aims to conduct a systematic and bibliometric-based review in the applications of machine learning (ML) techniques for sustainable manufacturing (SM).

Design/methodology/approach

In the present study, the authors use a bibliometric review approach that is focused on the statistical analysis of published scientific documents with an unbiased objective of the current status and future research potential of ML applications in sustainable manufacturing.

Findings

The present study highlights how manufacturing industries can benefit from ML techniques when applied to address SM issues. Based on the findings, a ML-SM framework is proposed. The framework will be helpful to researchers, policymakers and practitioners to provide guidelines on the successful management of SM practices.

Originality/value

A comprehensive and bibliometric review of opportunities for ML techniques in SM with a framework is still limited in the available literature. This study addresses the bibliometric analysis of ML applications in SM, which further adds to the originality.
The role of events and affect in perceived organizational support: a within-person approach
Authors: Woznyj Haley M. , Shanock Linda R. , Heggestad Eric D. , Banks George C.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose is to understand how affective events employees experience at work, and emotions those events elicit, influence within-person fluctuations in perceived organizational support (POS). The authors explore the possibility of socioemotional needs as a boundary condition of the effects. They integrate affective events theory with organizational support theory to develop their arguments.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a diary study method, 55 working adults responded to three surveys per day for ten days (876 total datapoints).

Findings

The results suggest POS fluctuates daily. Furthermore, workplace affective events are significantly related to discrete emotions (happiness and anger), which are significantly related to fluctuations in POS. Indirect effects were generally stronger when socioemotional needs were high compared to low, though the moderation was not statistically significant.

Research limitations/implications

The authors extend organizational support theory by integrating affective events theory; they highlight the role of affective events and transient emotion in relation to momentary changes in POS and explore socioemotional needs as a moderator of those relationships.

Practical implications

Organizations can be mindful of employees' daily experiences when considering how to foster POS; minimizing negative affective events and maximizing supportive affective events may enhance POS.

Originality/value

This study is the first to consider predictors of short-term fluctuations in POS. Moreover, the authors integrate affective events and discrete emotions to consider the role of affect in organizational support theory.
Electromagnetic and microwave absorption properties of MWCNTs based polymer nanocomposites
Authors: Geeri Satish , Kolakoti Aditya
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the present work is to fabricate composite with strong absorbing nature and with more strength. The usage of wireless communication is increasing day by day, electromagnetic absorbing material is required to reduce this pollution. In the present experimental investigation, composites were fabricated for zero and 45° fiber orientation and as a filler material of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) for the proposed percentage in the composites. Microwave absorbing properties were investigated for both perfect electric conductor (PEC)-backed composites and without PEC-backed composites.

Design/methodology/approach

The electromagnetic absorbing performance was analyzed based on complex permeability, complex permittivity, dielectric tangent and magnetic tangent losses. The experimentation was done by Vector Network Analyzer in the frequency range of 8.2 to 12.4 GHz by X-band. The surface morphological study was done. The mechanical and thermal properties are also investigated for these composites.

Findings

By investigating the experimental values, the induced percentage of MWCNTs and PEC of composites affects the electromagnetic and microwave absorption properties of the composites. The microwave absorption properties improved when the composites were able to absorb wide bandwidth and low reflection loss. The best results are obtained for PEC-backed composites for 5%, which is about −43.56 dB at 11.1 GHz compared to without PEC-backed composites. The reflection loss is developed by the dielectric loss initiated from MWCNTs and by PEC.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no work was reported on hand lay-up method and PEC-backed composites in electromagnetic absorption properties with regression analysis.
Relationship between biochemical markers and measles viral load in patients with immunologically naive cases and secondary vaccine failure: LDH is one of the potential auxiliary indicators for secondary vaccine failure
Authors: Kurata Takako , Kanbayashi Daiki , Komano Jun , Motomura Kazushi
Published: May 2021

This study investigated the correlation between biochemical markers and viral load among 38 measles cases, including 15 immunologically naive patients and 23 patients with secondary vaccine failure (SVF). We examined four biochemical markers, namely, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, C‐reactive protein, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and their relationship between virus genome copy numbers in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and throat swabs as well as the concentration of measles‐specific IgG. Although viral genome copies in both clinical specimens showed a significant correlation with specific IgG concentration, they had a higher correlation in PBMCs (Pearson's product‐moment correlation coefficient, −0.662; p < .0001) than in throat swabs (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, −0.443; p = .0078). The viral load in PBMCs also significantly correlated with LDH values (correlation coefficient, 0.360; p = .036). Thus, the serum LDH level might be a potential auxiliary indicator to distinguish immunologically naive patients with measles from those with SVF.
Tree species mixing reduces biomass but increases length of absorptive fine roots in European forests
Authors: Wambsganss Janna , Beyer Friderike , Freschet Grégoire T. , Scherer‐Lorenzen Michael , Bauhus Jürgen
Published: May 2021

Mixed‐species forests often enhance the provision of ecosystem functions, both above‐ and below‐ground. Several of these effects are mediated by the amount and spatial distribution of tree tissues. However, previous studies on tree diversity effects on fine‐root biomass (FRB) have returned inconsistent results and did not distinguish between absorptive and transport fine roots. Furthermore, owing to the lack of species‐specific data, it is not well understood whether complementarity or selection effects contribute more to these mixing effects.

Here, we analysed tree species mixing effects on fine‐root traits while considering the respective tree species contributions and root functional types. Specifically, we tested whether tree species mixing increases FRB and root length density (RLD) and results in vertical root stratification. We quantified FRB and RLD in 30‐cm deep soil profiles for 13 tree species in mixed and pure stands across four widespread European forest types. The differentiation of different fine‐root species in mixtures allowed us to disentangle complementarity and selection effects.

Across all sites, mixtures supported on average less FRB than pure stands, which was reflected in negative complementarity and selection effects. RLD of absorptive fine roots did not change across the soil profile and even increased in the topsoil, which was associated with positive complementarity effects. There was no evidence for vertical root stratification. Conifer proportion, which was mainly associated with selection effects, dampened net diversity effects. Root functional type further influenced tree species mixing effects.

Synthesis. Despite the underyielding of FRB in mixtures, overall soil occupation by absorptive fine roots (RLD) did not decrease in mixtures, pointing to morphological root trait adaptations associated with higher resource‐use efficiency. Increased RLD in the most nutrient‐rich layer in mixtures further indicates complementary interactions among species and a greater resource uptake capacity. This work illustrates that considering only one aspect of trait‐functioning relationships, for example, root biomass, may not capture the full effect of plant diversity on ecosystem functioning. The integration of a larger range of relevant traits is required. Moreover, traditional classification of fine roots based on the 2‐mm diameter cut‐off may obscure responses of roots to environmental changes.
Everything Changes, But It All Stays the Same. Labour Market Parties, Corporatism and Norwegian Sick Pay Policies 1978–2014
Authors: Thesen Gunnar
Published: May 2021

Since the adoption of a generous and universal sick pay scheme in 1978, the key elements of Norwegian sick pay policies have remained the same. The present study focuses on the gradual developments in welfare corporatism and policymaking during this period, arguing that these changes paved the way for new and surprising strategies and behaviour among the labour market parties. Tracking several retrenchment attempts across decades, the analyses show how policymaking in corporatist committees was gradually replaced by less predictable processes. Successive governments of different colors have tried to bypass the social partners and legislate hierarchically, thus signaling a break with traditional corporatist norms and decision rules. Labour and business groups adapted by negotiating a pact that kept the existing distribution of economic risks in the sick pay scheme off the political agenda, and by backing each other and creating negative attention to government in the media to protect the pact. In sum, although sick pay policies have remained largely unchanged, this is a status quo upheld by processes of welfare policymaking that have changed substantially. The pact between the social partners and the state is currently a new vetopoint for welfare policymaking. But the piecemeal institutional transformation witnessed in this period, together with the need for conflictual media strategies and new alliances to protect the pact, suggest that it could be a fragile veto‐point.
Analysing the impacts of Universal Basic Income in the changing world of work: Challenges to the psychological contract and a future research agenda
Authors: Perkins Graham , Gilmore Sarah , Guttormsen David S. A. , Taylor Stephen
Published: May 2021

Technological developments within advanced economies are impacting organisations and working lives. With the advent of ‘Industry 4.0’, Universal Basic Income (UBI) is being cast as a potential ‘buffer’—a social safety net—to the restructuring of organisations, jobs, and economies that are already underway. The Covid‐19 pandemic is providing an additional impetus as governments instigate similar safety nets as employment falls in the wake of the virus. To date, much of the debate concerning UBI has taken place in disciplines outside the auspices of Human Resource Management with most commentary occurring within the spheres of economics and social policy. This conceptual study is one of the first within the human resource management (HRM) field to address the potential impacts of UBI on orientations to work and the management of employees. To do this, we focus on a central underpinning theory within HRM, the psychological contract and how this might be affected by its introduction. Finally, a research agenda is developed that provides options by which we might explore the implications of UBI for the practice of HRM when and if such schemes are implemented.