bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A mechanical G2 checkpoint controls epithelial cell division through E-cadherin-mediated regulation of Wee1-Cdk1
Authors: Donker Lisa , Vliem Marjolein J. , Canever Helena , Gómez-González Manuel , Bosch-Padrós Miquel , Pannekoek Willem-Jan , Trepat Xavier , Borghi Nicolas , Gloerich Martijn
Published: November 2021

Epithelial cell divisions must be tightly coordinated with cell loss to preserve epithelial integrity. However, it is not well understood how the rate of epithelial cell division adapts to changes in cell number, for instance during homeostatic turnover or upon wounding of epithelia. Here, we show epithelial cells sense local cell density through mechanosensitive E-cadherin adhesions to control G2/M cell cycle progression. We demonstrate that tensile forces on E-cadherin adhesions are reduced as local cell density increases, which prompts the accumulation of the G2 checkpoint kinase Wee1. This elevated abundance of Wee1 results in inhibitory phoshorylation of Cdk1, and thereby establishes a pool of cells that is temporarily halted in G2-phase. Importantly, these cells are readily triggered to divide upon epithelial wounding, due to the consequent increase in intercellular forces and resulting degradation of Wee1. Our data thus demonstrate that epithelial cell division is controlled by a mechanical G2 checkpoint, which is regulated by cell density-dependent intercellular forces sensed and transduced by E-cadherin adhesions.
The regeneration factors ERF114 and ERF115 act as transducers of mechanical cues to developmental pathways
Authors: Canher Balkan , Lanssens Fien , Zhang Ai , Bisht Anchal , Mazumdar Shamik , Heyman Jefri , Augstein Frauke , Wolf Sebastian , Carlsbecker Annelie , Melnyk Charles W. , De Veylder Lieven
Published: November 2021

Plants show an unparalleled regenerative capacity, allowing them to survive severe stress conditions, such as injury, herbivory attack and harsh weather conditions. This potential not only replenishes tissues and restores damaged organs, but can also give rise to whole plant bodies, highlighting the intertwined nature of development and regeneration. It suggests that regeneration and developmental processes respond to the same upstream signals, but how a cell knows which of the two processes to engage is currently unknown. Here, we demonstrate that next to being regulators of regeneration, ETHYENE RESPONSE FACTOR 114 (ERF114) and ERF115 govern developmental growth in the absence of wounding or injury. Increased ERF114 and ERF115 activity is correlated with enhanced xylem maturation and lateral root formation, whereas their knockout results in a decrease in lateral roots and xylem connectivity following grafting. Moreover, we provide evidence that mechanical cues contribute to ERF114 and ERF115 expression in correlation with BZR1 mediated brassinosteroid signaling under both regenerative and developmental conditions. Antagonistically, negative regulation of cell wall extensibility via cell wall-associated mechanosensory FERONIA signaling suppresses their expression under both conditions. Our data suggest a molecular framework in which mechanical perturbations too great to be compensated by adaptive cell wall remodeling results in strong ERF114 and ERF115 expression, switching their role from developmental to regenerative regulators.
Hydrothermal Synthesis of Clove Bud-Derived Multifunctional Carbon Dots Passivated with PVP- Antioxidant, Catalysis, and Cellular Imaging Applications
Authors: Pandey Anurag Kumar , Bankoti Kamakshi , Nath Tapan Kumar , Dhara Santanu
Published: November 2021

The present study reports a one-step synthesis of PVP-passivated clove buds derived carbon dots (PPCCDs) using clove buds and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as the starting precursors via the hydrothermal route. The adopted technique is facile and environmentally friendly for the production of carbon dots (CDs) with in situ PVP passivation. The study evidenced the significant modulation in optical properties of passivated CDs as compared to non-passivated ones. Structural and morphological studies evidenced the spherical PPCCDs with a diameter of ∼ 2 nm and crystalline in nature with an interlayer spacing of 0.33 nm. The PPCCDs showed excellent antioxidant activity against DPPH and superoxide anion radicals and also showed good catalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine-B (Rh-B) dye under the studied conditions. Their bioimaging potential was evidenced through live-cell fluorescent imaging with 3T3 and L929 cell lines.
Fracture healing is delayed in the absence of gasdermin signaling
Authors: Sun Kai , Wang Chun , Xiao Jianqiu , Brodt Michael D. , Yuan Luorongxin , Yang Tong , Alippe Yael , Hu Huimin , Hao Dingjun , Abu-Amer Yousef , Silva Matthew J. , Shen Jie , Mbalaviele Gabriel
Published: November 2021

Amino-terminal fragments from proteolytically cleaved gasdermins (GSDMs) form plasma membrane pores that enable the secretion of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18. Excessive GSDM- mediated pore formation can compromise the integrity of the plasma membrane thereby causing the lytic inflammatory cell death, pyroptosis. We found that GSDMD and GSDME were the only GSDMs that were readily expressed in bone microenvironment. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that GSDMD and GSDME are implicated in fracture healing owing to their role in the obligatory inflammatory response following injury. We found that bone callus volume and biomechanical properties of injured bones were significantly reduced in mice lacking either GSDM compared with wild-type (WT) mice, indicating that fracture healing was compromised in mutant mice. However, compound loss of GSDMD and GSDME did not exacerbate the outcomes, suggesting shared actions of both GSDMs in fracture healing. Mechanistically, bone injury induced IL-1β and IL-18 secretion in vivo, a response that was mimicked in vitro by bone debris and ATP, which function as inflammatory danger signals. Importantly, the secretion of these cytokines was attenuated in conditions of GSDMD deficiency. Finally, deletion of IL-1 receptor reproduced the phenotype of Gsdmd or Gsdme deficient mice, implying that inflammatory responses induced by the GSDM-IL-1 axis promote bone healing after fracture.
The VINE complex is a VPS9-domain GEF-containing SNX-BAR coat involved in endosomal sorting
Authors: Shortill Shawn P. , Frier Mia S. , Davey Michael , Conibear Elizabeth
Published: November 2021

Membrane trafficking pathways perform important roles in establishing and maintaining the endolysosomal network. Retrograde protein sorting from the endosome is promoted by conserved SNX-BAR-containing coat complexes including retromer which enrich cargo at tubular microdomains and generate transport carriers. In metazoans, retromer cooperates with VARP, a conserved VPS9-domain GEF, to direct an endosomal recycling pathway. The function of the yeast VARP homolog Vrl1 has been overlooked due an inactivating mutation in commonly studied strains. Here, we demonstrate that Vrl1 has features of a SNX-BAR coat protein and forms an obligate complex with Vin1, the paralog of the retromer SNX-BAR protein Vps5. Unique features in the Vin1 N-terminus allow Vrl1 to distinguish it from Vps5, thereby forming what we have named the VINE complex. VINE occupies endosomal tubules and promotes the delivery of a conserved mannose 6-phosphate receptor-like protein to the vacuolar membrane. In addition to sorting functions, membrane recruitment by Vin1 is essential for Vrl1 GEF activity, suggesting that VINE is a multifunctional coat complex that regulates trafficking and signaling events at the endosome.
Distinct roles of the Na+ binding sites in the allosteric coupling mechanism of the glutamate transporter homolog, GltPh
Authors: Riederer Erika , Moenne-Loccoz Pierre , Valiyaveetil Francis I.
Published: November 2021

Glutamate transporters carry out the concentrative uptake of glutamate by harnessing the ionic gradients present across cellular membranes. A central step in the transport mechanism is the coupled binding of Na+ and substrate. The sodium coupled Asp transporter, GltPh is an archaeal homolog of glutamate transporters that has been extensively used to probe the transport mechanism. Previous studies have shown that hairpin-2 (HP2) functions as the extracellular gate for the aspartate binding site and plays a key role in the coupled binding of sodium and aspartate to GltPh. The binding sites for three Na+ ions (Na1-3) have been identified in GltPh but the specific roles of the individual Na+ sites in the binding process has not been elucidated. In this study, we developed assays to probe Na+ binding to the Na1 and Na3 sites and to monitor the conformational switch in the NMDGT motif. We used these assays along with a fluorescence assay to monitor HP2 movement and EPR spectroscopy to show that Na+ binding to the Na3 site is required for the NMDGT conformational switch while Na+ binding to the Na1 site is responsible for the partial opening of HP2. Complete opening of HP2 requires the conformational switch of the NMDGT motif and therefore Na+ binding to both the Na1 and the Na3 sites. Based on our studies we also propose an alternate pathway for the coupled binding of Na+ and Asp.
Pontin/Reptin-associated complexes differentially impact plant development and viral pathology
Authors: Chatterjee Snigdha , Xu Min , Shemyakina Elena A. , Brunkard Jacob O.
Published: November 2021

Pontin and Reptin are essential eukaryotic AAA+ ATPases that work together in several multiprotein complexes, contributing to chromatin remodeling and TARGET OF RAPAMCYIN (TOR) kinase complex assembly, among other functions. Null alleles of pontin or reptin are gametophyte lethal in plants, which has hindered studies of their crucial roles in plant biology. Here, we used virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) to interrogate the functions of Pontin and Reptin in plant growth and physiology, focusing on Nicotiana benthamiana, a model species for the agriculturally significant Solanaceae family. Silencing either Pontin or Reptin caused pleiotropic developmental and physiological reprogramming, including aberrant leaf shape, reduced apical growth, delayed flowering, increased branching, chlorosis, and decreased spread of the RNA viruses Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and Potato virus X (PVX). To dissect these pleiotropic phenotypes, we took a comparative approach and silenced expression of key genes that encode subunits of each of the major Pontin/Reptin-associated chromatin remodeling or TOR complexes (INO80, SWR-C/PIE1, TIP60, TOR, and TELO2). We found that many of the pontin/reptin phenotypes could be attributed specifically to disruption of one of these complexes, with tip60 and tor knockdown plants each phenocopying a large subset of pontin/reptin phenotypes. We conclude that Pontin/Reptin complexes are crucial for proper plant development, physiology, and stress responses, highlighting the multifaceted roles these conserved enzymes have evolved in eukaryotic cells.
Origins and breadth of pairwise epistasis in an α-helix of β-lactamase TEM-1
Authors: Birgy André , Roussel Clément , Kemble Harry , Mullaert Jimmy , Panigoni Karine , Chapron Audrey , Chatel Jérémie , Magnan Mélanie , Jacquier Hervé , Cocco Simona , Monasson Rémi , Tenaillon Olivier
Published: November 2021

Epistasis affects genome evolution together with our ability to predict individual mutation effects. The mechanistic basis of epistasis remains, however, largely unknown. To quantify and better understand interactions between fitness-affecting mutations, we focus on a 11 amino-acid α-helix of the protein β-lactamase TEM-1, and build a comprehensive library of more than 15,000 double mutants. Analysis of the growth rates of these mutants shows pervasive epistasis, which can be largely explained by a non-linear two-state model, where inactivating, destabilizing, neutral, or stabilizing mutations additively contribute to the phenotype. Hence, most epistatic interactions can be predicted by a non-linear model informed by single-point mutational measurements only. Deviations from the two-state model are consistently found for few pairs of residues, in particular when they are in contact. This result, as well as single-point mutation parameters, can be quantitatively found back through direct-coupling-analysis-based statistical models inferred from homologous sequence data. Our results thus shed light on the existence and the origins of the multiple determinants of the epistatic landscape, even at the level of small structural components of a protein, and suggest that the corresponding constraints shape the entire β-lactamase family.
Pancreas MRI segmentation into head, body, and tail enables regional quantitative analysis of heterogeneous disease
Authors: Bagur Alexandre Triay , Aljabar Paul , Ridgway Gerard R , Brady Michael , Bulte Daniel P
Published: November 2021

Pancreatic disease can be spatially inhomogeneous. For this reason, quantitative imaging studies of the pancreas have often targeted the 3 main anatomical pancreatic segments, head, body, and tail, traditionally using a balanced region of interest (ROI) strategy. Existing automated analysis methods have implemented whole-organ segmentation, which provides an overall quantification, but fails to address spatial heterogeneity in disease. A method to automatically refine a whole-organ segmentation of the pancreas into head, body, and tail subregions is presented for abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The subsegmentation method is based on diffeomorphic registration to a group average template image, where the parts are manually annotated. For a new whole-pancreas segmentation, the aligned template’s part labels are automatically propagated to the segmentation of interest. The method is validated retrospectively on the UK Biobank imaging substudy (scanned using a 2-point Dixon protocol at 1.5 tesla), using a nominally healthy cohort of 100 subjects for template creation, and 50 independent subjects for validation. Pancreas head, body, and tail were annotated by multiple experts on the validation cohort, which served as the benchmark for the automated method’s performance. Good intra-rater (Dice overlap mean, Head: 0.982, Body: 0.940, Tail: 0.961, N=30) as well as inter-rater (Dice overlap mean, Head: 0.968, Body: 0.905, Tail: 0.943, N=150) agreement was observed. No significant difference (Wilcoxon rank sum test, DSC, Head: p=0.4358, Body: p=0.0992, Tail: p=0.1080) was observed between the manual annotations and the automated method’s predictions. Results on regional pancreatic fat assessment are also presented, by intersecting the 3-D parts segmentation with one 2-D multi-echo gradient-echo slice, available from the same scanning session, that was used to compute MRI proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF). Initial application of the method on a type 2 diabetes cohort showed the utility of the method for assessing pancreatic disease heterogeneity.
Risk of Hospitalization, severe disease, and mortality due to COVID-19 and PIMS-TS in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Germany
Authors: Sorg AL , Hufnagel M , Doenhardt M , Diffloth N , Schroten H , v. Kries R , Berner R , Armann J
Published: November 2021

Background

Although children and adolescents have a lower burden of SARS-CoV-2-associated disease as compared to adults, assessing absolute risk among children remains difficult due to a high rate of undetected cases. However, without more accurate case numbers, reliable risk analyses are impossible.

Methods

We combine data from three sources — a national seroprevalence study (the SARS-CoV-2 KIDS study), the German statutory notification system and a nationwide registry on children and adolescents hospitalized with either SARS-CoV-2 or Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome (PIMS-TS) — in order to provide reliable estimates on children’s hospitalization, intensive care admission and death due to COVID-19 and PIMS-TS.

Results

While the overall hospitalization rate associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection was 35.9 per 10,000 children, ICU admission rate was 1.7 per 10,000 and case fatality was 0.09 per 10,000. Children without comorbidities were found to be significantly less likely to suffer from a severe or fatal disease course. The lowest risk was observed in children aged 5-11 without comorbidities. In this group, the ICU admission rate was 0.2 per 10,000 and case fatality could not be calculated, due to an absence of cases. The overall PIMS-TS rate was 1 per 4,000 SARS-CoV-2 infections, the majority being children without comorbidities.

Conclusion

Overall, the SARS-CoV-2-associated burden of a severe disease course or death in children and adolescents is low. This seems particularly the case for 5-11-year-old children without comorbidities. By contrast, PIMS-TS plays a major role in overall disease burden among all pediatric age groups.
On the Role of Financial Support Programs in Mitigating the Sars-CoV-2 Spread in Brazil
Authors: Albani Vinicius V. L. , Albani Roseane , Bobko Nara , Massad Eduardo , Zubelli Jorge P.
Published: November 2021

We calculate the impact of a socioeconomic program during 2020 as a measure to mitigate the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Brazil. For each Brazilian State, we estimate the time-dependent reproduction number from daily reports of COVID-19 infections and deaths using a Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered-like (SEIR-like) model. Then, we analyse the correlations between the reproduction number, the amount of individuals receiving governmental aid, and the index of social isolation based on mobile phone information. We conclude that socioeconomic programs had a significant impact on reducing the accumulated numbers of infections and deaths by allowing those in need to stay at home, adhering to social isolation.
sgDI-tector: defective interfering viral genome bioinformatics for detection of coronavirus subgenomic RNAs
Authors: Di Gioacchino Andrea , Legendre Rachel , Rahou Yannis , Najburg Valérie , Charneau Pierre , Greenbaum Benjamin D , Tangy Frédéric , van der Werf Sylvie , Cocco Simona , Komarova Anastasia V
Published: November 2021

Coronavirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerases produce subgenomic RNAs (sgRNAs) that encode viral structural and accessory proteins. User-friendly bioinformatic tools to detect and quantify sgRNA production are urgently needed to study the growing number of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data of SARS-CoV-2. We introduced sgDI-tector to identify and quantify sgRNA in SARS-CoV-2 NGS data. sgDI-tector allowed detection of sgRNA without initial knowledge of the transcription-regulatory sequences. We produced NGS data and successfully detected the nested set of sgRNAs with the ranking M>ORF3a>N>ORF6>ORF7a>ORF8>S>E>ORF7b. We also compared the level of sgRNA production with other types of viral RNA products such as defective interfering viral genomes.
Induction of mitochondrial heat shock proteins and mitochondrial biogenesis in endothelial cells upon acute methylglyoxal stress: Evidence for hormetic autofeedback
Authors: Bulkescher Ruben , Fleming Thomas , Rodemer Claus , Medert Rebekka , Freichel Marc , Mayer Matthias , Szendroedi Julia , Herzig Stephan , Zemva Johanna
Published: November 2021

Increased metabolic flux produces potentially harmful side-products, such as reactive dicarbonyl and oxygen species. The reactive dicarbonly methylglyoxal (MG) can impair oxidative capacity, which is downregulated in type 2 diabetes. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) of subfamily A (Hsp70s) promote ATP-dependent processing of damaged proteins during MG exposure which also involve mitochondrial proteins. Since the protection of mitochondrial proteins could promote higher production of reactive metabolites due to increased substrate flux, tight regulation of HspA-mediated protein handling is important. We hypothesized that stress-inducible HspAs (HspA1A/HspA1B) are pivotal for maintaining mitochondrial biogenesis during acute MG-stress. To analyze the role of stress-inducible HspA1A/HspA1B for maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis during acute MG exposure, we knocked out HSPA1A/HSPA1B in mouse endothelial cells. HSPA1A/HSPA1B KO cells showed upregulation of the mitochondrial chaperones HspA9 (mitochondrial Hsp70/mortalin) and HspD1 (Hsp60) as well as induction of mitochondrial biogenesis upon MG exposure. Increased mitochondrial biogenesis was reflected by elevated mitochondrial branching, total count and area as well as by upregulation of mitochondrial proteins and corresponding transcription factors. Our findings suggest that mitochondrial HspA9 and HspD1 promote mitochondrial biogenesis during acute MG stress, which is counterregulated by HspA1A/HspA1B to prevent mitochondrial overstimulation and to maintain balanced oxidative capacity under metabolic stress conditions. These data support an important role of HSPs in MG-induced hormesis.
Proposed waqf crowdfunding models for small farmers and the required parameters for their application
Authors: Azganin Hassan , Kassim Salina , Sa'ad Auwal Adam
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Small farmers are considered one of the most affected communities worldwide due to poverty. Hence, this paper aims to study how the proposed waqf crowdfunding models are intended to provide alternative sources of funds for the waqf institutions and farmers.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study employed a qualitative method by analysing the relevant literature on crowdfunding, waqf cash, waqf and agriculture, together with the primary sources of the Ḥadīth.

Findings

This paper provides the conceptual framework of two waqf crowdfunding model (WCM) and the required parameters for their application. It is found that crowdfunding can bring immense benefits to the agriculture sector and farmers if it is integrated with waqf. This system will enable underprivileged farmers to meet their necessities and participate in their country's economic development.

Research limitations/implications

Future research may consider a waqf crowdfunding integrated model targeting other businesses.

Originality/value

This study provides the required parameters for the application of the proposed models. Four areas were analysed and discussed: the regulatory compliance parameters, the shariah compliance parameters, the risk management parameters and, finally, waqf governance parameters. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first proposed waqf and crowdfunding integrated model for agricultural financing.
Factors influencing the intention to give zakāt on employment income: evidence from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Ur Rehman Aziz , Aslam Ejaz , Iqbal Anam
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This study aims to apply the extended theory of planned behaviour (ETPB) to investigate the factors influencing the intention to give zakāt on employment income.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws the required data through a survey in three main cities Makkah, Medina and Jeddah in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The final data sample is consisting of 650 useable questionnaires to analyse the objective of this study.

Findings

The study finds that moral norm, injunctive norm, descriptive norm and past behaviour have a significant influence on the intention to pay zakāt on employment income. The perceived behavioural control and attitude have a negative and weak impact on the intention to give zakāt on income.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study can be useful for the policymakers and regulators to enhance peoples' awareness to give zakāt to eradicate poverty and inequality in Muslim societies. zakāt is for the deprived people, so the consequences of this study might help to improve their liveability.

Originality/value

This study is unique because it identified the behavioural factors that affect the peoples' intention to give zakāt in KSA have yet to be profoundly explored in the literature. This study has gathered primary data and applied the ETPB to identify the factors influencing the zakāt compliance behaviour in KSA.
Performance of initial public offerings (IPOs): the case of Shariah-compliant companies
Authors: Yaakub Nurwahida , Sherif Mohamed
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the informational value of Shariah-compliant disclosure in the Malaysian initial public offerings (IPOs) prospectus and whether Shariah-compliant status has an impact on the IPO initial return when adopted as a signalling mechanism.

Design/methodology/approach

It uses data from 320 IPOs for Shariah-compliant companies listed on the Bursa Malaysia between 2004 and 2013.

Findings

It finds that the degree of IPO underpricing for Shariah-compliant companies is 19.97 per cent with investors earning significant returns on the first trading day. For the effect of different factors on the degree of IPO, we find that the size and type of IPO offers have a significant impact on the degree of IPO underpricing. Other economic confidence factor models fail to yield economically plausible parameter values.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the literature in a number of ways. It is the first to evaluate the effect of Shariah-compliance status regulation in Malaysian market, hence it provides an insight into the effectiveness of such regulation. Second, while the existing Shariah-compliant IPO studies in the same market focus on Shariah status at the date of the studies being conducted, this study uses the information around IPO time. The information that investors receive around IPO time may influence investors’ decision and valuation of the IPOs in the aftermarket. Specifically, this study is different from the previous research, as it investigates whether Shariah-compliant companies would change the average degree of IPO underpricing for companies listed on Bursa Malaysia.
Does leverage level matter for return anomaly during rights issue announcements? The case of Islamic countries
Authors: Isiker Murat , Tas Oktay
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to measure investors' perception of the rights issue announcement of publicly listed companies in five stock markets of Islamic countries. Then, these firms are grouped according to their debt level to examine whether abnormal returns are different from those that are highly leveraged. Moreover, Sharīʿah compatibility of firms is checked to understand if return anomaly shows different behaviour around rights issue announcement days.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis period includes the years 2010–2019, which includes 362 rights issue announcements. The event study methodology is applied to measure the level of impact that is triggered by the rights issue announcements. Hereafter, one-way ANOVA test is performed to identify whether there exists a difference among the sample groups according to their debt level.

Findings

Findings suggest that rights issue announcements cause −3.90% fall in share prices on average for the whole sample. However, negative abnormal return is found significant only in Egypt and Turkey. Individual regression analysis results suggest that an increase in debt level worsens the return anomaly only in Egypt. This refers that the rights issue announcement is perceived as less favourable for highly leveraged companies compared to others in this country. Finally, Sharīʿah-compliant companies show better performance compared to non-compliant counterparts around the event dates.

Originality/value

This paper is novel in evaluating market reaction during rights issue announcements in multiple Islamic countries. Also, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempt to compare return behaviour of Sharīʿah-compliant and non-compliant firms around the rights issue announcements.
Non-linear relationship between foreign currency derivatives and firm value: evidence on Sharīʿah compliant firms
Authors: Zamzamir@Zamzamin Zaminor , Haron Razali , Ahmad Baharul Ulum Zatul Karamah , Othman Anwar Hasan Abdullah
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This study examines the impact of hedging on firm value of Sharīʿah compliant firms (SCFs) in a non-linear framework.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs the system-GMM for dynamic panel data to examine the influence of derivatives usage on firm value (Tobin's Q, ROA and ROE). The sample comprised of 59 non-financial SCFs engaged in derivatives from 2000 to 2017 (18 years). The Sasabuchi-Lind-Mehlum (SLM) test for U-shaped is performed to confirm the existence of the non-linear relationship.

Findings

This study concludes that hedging significantly contributes to firm value of SCFs based on the non-linear framework. This study suggests that, first, the non-linear relationship occurs due to the different degree of derivatives usage and risk. Second, firms practice selective hedging to maintain the upside potential of firm value.

Research limitations/implications

This study has important implications. First, the importance of risk management via derivatives to increase firm value, second, the evidence of selective hedging from the non-linear relationship between derivatives and firm value and third, the need for quality reporting on derivatives engagement by firms in line with the required accounting standard on derivatives.

Originality/value

This study fills the gap in the literature in relation to the risk management strategies of SCFs in three aspects. First, re-examines the relationship using recent data. Second, examines the relationship in the non-linear framework as the limited studies found in the literature on Malaysian firms are only based on linear relationship. Third, determines whether hedging undertaken by firms is optimal as this can only be addressed using the non-linear framework. This study is robust to the various definitions of firm value (Tobin's Q, ROA and ROE) and non-linear methodologies.
Islamic equities and COVID-19 pandemic: measuring Islamic stock indices correlation and volatility in period of crisis
Authors: Abdullahi Shafiu Ibrahim
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to measure cross-country stock market correlation and volatility transmission during the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The paper traces trajectory of Islamic equity investments in order to get insights on the behavior of the markets during the crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses generalized method of moments (GMM), autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) and multivariate GARCH (MGARCH) models for analysis of dynamic causality, stock market cointegration, correlation and volatility transmission between Islamic stock indices.

Findings

The result of normal correlation analysis on the share indices show the markets move together. The result of ARDL cointegration test shows the markets returns are cointegrated as a group. To further make sense of the data; the indices were grouped into four different categories, then cointegration tests were conducted. The results of the analysis show that the subgroups are cointegrated except the low COVID-19 subgroup. Based on MGARCH findings, the possibility of volatility transmission between markets during the crisis is high. The market returns indices show the usual herd mentality common during the period of crisis.

Originality/value

Unlike other works in this area, this paper attempt to trace the trajectory of Islamic equity investment in order to get relevant insights and arrives at appropriate ways of responding to the crisis.
Paper money in Sheikh Ahmad Khatib Al-Minangkabawi's thought: a comparative and critical commentary
Authors: Sholihin Muhammad , Shalihin Nurus , Putra Apria
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The article examines Sheikh Ahmad Khatib Al-Minangkabauwi's initial concept of paper money, which in the early 20th century wrote Risala Raf'u Al-Iltibas.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a qualitative approach based on the critical extraction analysis that can reveal a set of concepts related to the thoughts of Sheikh Ahmad Khatib Al-Minangkabauwi on paper money.

Findings

Through an attentive reading of Sheikh Ahmad Khatib Al-Minangkabawi, the authors can formulate several significant results: First, Ahmad Khatib Al-Minangkabawi applies two methods in studying critically on paper money, namely, the comparative law method and qiyas. Second, Ahmad Khatib believes that paper money has similarities with dinars and dirhams, namely its nominal value function. It is just that the existence of these values is different. Briefly, there are set law consequences for those who used paper money in economic activities, i.e. payment ofzakāton paper money applies when used as business capital.

Research limitations/implications

Sheikh Ahmad Khatib Al-Minangkabawi's work related to paper money is written heavily from the perspective offiqh. Briefly, it is challenging to describe legal reasoning from work. As a result, articles are also thicker withfiqhanalysis.

Practical implications

Sheikh Ahmad Khatib Al-Minangkabawi's view regarding paper money becomes the foundation for the theory of the value of money in Islam. However, it is rarely disclosed. In this regard, this paper can serve as the foundation of the value for money offered by scholars from Indonesia in the early 20th century.

Social implications

Money is not a commodity. Still, it must be positioned as capital to be productive. It finally becomes why trade is compelling and becomes the most practical reason for paying outzakāt.

Originality/value

It is not easy finding out articles that attempt to reveal the concept of classical ulemas or clerics from Indonesia relating to paper money. This article manages to identify that, and at the same time, becomes a novelty.
Responses of Islamic banking variables to monetary policy shocks in Indonesia
Authors: Hafidh Aula Ahmad
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This paper investigates the structural model of vector autoregression (SVAR) of the interdependent relationship of inflation, monetary policy and Islamic banking variables (RDEP, RFIN, DEP, FIN) in Indonesia. By using monthly data for the period 2001M01-2019M12, the impulse response function (IRF), forecasting error decomposition variation (FEDV) is used to track the impact of Sharīʿah variables on inflation (prices).

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses quantitative approach with SVAR model to reveal the problem.

Findings

The empirical results of SVAR, the IRF show that policy shocks have a negative impact on all variables in Islamic banking except the equivalent deposit interest rate (RDEP). The impact of both conventional (7DRR) and Sharīʿah (SBIS) policies has a similar pattern. While the transmission of Sharīʿah monetary variables as a policy operational target in influencing inflation is positive. In addition, the FEDV clearly revealed that the variation in the Sharīʿah financial sector was relatively large in monetary policy shocks and their role in influencing prices.

Originality/value

The empirical results of SVAR, the IRF show that policy shocks have a negative impact on all variables in Islamic banking except the equivalent deposit interest rate ‘RDEP’. The impact of both conventional “7DRR” and Sharīʿah “SBIS” policies has a similar pattern. While the transmission of Sharīʿah monetary variables as a policy operational target in influencing inflation is positive. In addition, the FEDV clearly revealed that the variation in the Sharīʿah financial sector was relatively large in monetary policy shocks and their role in influencing prices.
Right to health for undocumented migrants in Mexico: from theory to practice in the context of the health system reform
Authors: Stoesslé Philippe , Gonzalez-Salazar Francisco
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Undocumented Central American migrants in Mexico are legally eligible for free access to the public health system through the new Instituto para la Salud y el Bienestar (INSABI) health program, but many experience structural vulnerability and stigmatization that prevent them from accessing health-care facilities. The purpose of this study is to investigate the discrepancy between the migrants’ Human Right to health, proclaimed by the Mexican Government and supposedly guaranteed by law, and the reality of the migration process.

Design/methodology/approach

This study reviewed relevant literature on the health risk factors, social and structural vulnerability, stigmatization and structural violence experienced by undocumented migrants as obstacles to their Human Right to health. It also reviews the current legal framework in Mexico and internationally.

Findings

This review demonstrates the lack of implementation of the current legal framework in Mexico and identifies a set of complex obstacles to effective access to health for undocumented migrants. Although the migration process itself was not found to be directly associated with major health issues, the social conditions of the migratory journey expose the migrants to serious threats, especially sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis.

Practical implications

This paper makes 10 practical recommendations for interventions collectively involving the state, international and civil organizations and the migrant community. These are especially relevant since the implementation of the INSABI health program in 2020.

Social implications

The paper lays the basis for influencing Mexican health system stakeholders to improve the health of migrants.

Originality/value

The sociological barriers to health access for undocumented populations in Mexico have not been fully explored. In addition, this paper provides a unique reflection on opportunities and challenges linked to the 2020 health system reform.
Explaining the relationship between ethical leadership and burnout facets in the academic context: the mediating role of illegitimate tasks
Authors: Julmi Christian , Pereira José Manuel , Bramlage Jack K. , Jackenkroll Benedict
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Although the literature shows that ethical leadership reduces the risk of burnout, research still lacks a comprehensive understanding of the mediating effects between ethical leadership and burnout. As media reports on working conditions in the academic context often tie the problem of unethical leadership practices to illegitimate tasks, this study focuses on illegitimate tasks as a mediator between ethical leadership and burnout.

Design/methodology/approach

The research model is tested using structural equation modeling and data from 1,053 doctoral and postdoctoral students in randomly selected German state universities.

Findings

The results significantly support all hypothesized effects, showing direct correlations between (1) ethical leadership and illegitimate tasks, (2) ethical leadership and burnout facets and (3) illegitimate tasks and burnout facets. The relationship between ethical leadership and burnout is thus partially mediated by illegitimate tasks.

Practical implications

The authors recommend three major fields of action for practice. These fields comprise (1) the leadership situation, (2) the leader and (3) the follower.

Originality/value

The presented model is the first that connects the relationship between ethical leadership and burnout with illegitimate tasks and looks at ethical leadership from a stress-as-offense-to-self (SOS) perspective.
Critical barriers to augmented reality technology adoption in developing countries: a case study of Nigeria
Authors: Oke Ayodeji Emmanuel , Arowoiya Victor Adetunji
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to identify the critical barriers to augmented reality technology (ART) in the Nigerian construction industry to allow wider adoption. The objectives are to reveal those hindrances to the wider usage of ART so that the obstacles can be tackled and overcome.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of construction professionals involved in the built environment was sent well-structured questionnaires in the study area. The professionals involved are quantity surveyors, architects, engineers, project managers and builders. Convenience sampling techniques were used in selecting those professionals. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analyzing the retrieved data.

Findings

The most ranked obstacles in adopting augmented realities are lack of technological awareness, difficulty in ease of ART system set up, the unwillingness of government and private bodies to invest in augmented reality research, lack of repository database, lack of portability for ART equipment system. The findings also revealed the difference in the opinions of professionals among the variables. The results showed that there is a significant difference in the opinions of respondents regarding 6 of the identified 15 variables.

Originality/value

The study gives deep insight into possible hindrances in the use of emerging technologies such as ART in construction. This study also enumerated some ways how these challenges can be tackled and solved in the Nigerian construction industry for better adoption and performance.
Anti‐feminist Conservative Women Intellectuals and the Rhetoric of Reaction
Authors: Gianoncelli Eve
Published: November 2021

The question of misogyny has been well documented in the existing literature on gender and politics, but studies have tended to focus on men's attitudes and discourses toward women and LGBTQI+ issues. In this article, a less common perspective is adopted: that of scrutinising the discourse of what can be labelled anti‐feminist conservative women intellectuals. The article examines what the author calls the UK #MeToo series and how female conservative intellectuals have reacted to it, rejected feminism and, in doing so, women's emancipation more generally. First, three reactionary anti‐feminist discourses around arguments about victimhood, conflation and fear are identified, followed by a discussion of how these anti‐feminist narratives fit into Albert Hirschman's pioneering work on the rhetoric of reaction, but also how they can enrich it. In relation to this, the article considers two reversal or retaliation strategies used by anti‐feminists, consisting first in presenting men as victims and second, in claiming to ally with women against feminism.
Improving our understanding of uterine activity during labour
Authors: Steer PJ
Published: November 2021

Linked article: This is a mini commentary on TM Hautakangas et al., pp. 976–984 in this issue. To view this article visit https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.17005
Modified Brixia chest X‐ray severity scoring system and correlation with intubation, non‐invasive ventilation and death in a hospitalised COVID‐19 cohort
Authors: Hanley Marion , Brosnan Conor , O’Neill Damien , Ni Mhuircheartaigh Neasa , Logan Mark , Morrin Martina M , Hurley Killian , Sulaiman Imran , O'Brien Emmet , Morgan Ross , Lee Michael J
Published: November 2021

Introduction

There are few existing severity scoring systems in the literature, and no formally widely accepted chest X‐ray template for reporting COVID‐19 infection. We aimed to modify the chest X‐ray COVID‐19 severity scoring system from the Brixia scoring system with placement of more emphasis on consolidation and to assess if the scoring tool could help predict intubation.

Methods

A severity chest X‐ray scoring system was modified from the Brixia scoring system. PCR positive COVID‐19 positive patient’s chest X‐rays admitted to our hospital over 3 months were reviewed and correlated with; non‐invasive ventilation, intubation and death. An analysis was performed using a receiver operating curve to predict intubation from all admission chest X‐rays.

Results

The median score of all 325 admission chest X‐rays was 3 (Interquartile range (IQR) 0–6.5). The median score of admission chest X‐rays of those who did not require ICU admission and survived was 1.5 (IQR 0–5); and 9 (IQR 4.75–12) was median admission score of those requiring intubation. The median scores of the pre‐intubation ICU chest X‐rays was 11.5 (IQR 9–14.125), this increased from a median admission chest X‐ray score for this group of 9 (P‐value < 0.01). A cut‐off score of 6 had a sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 73% in predicting the need for intubation.

Conclusion

Higher chest X‐ray severity scores are associated with intubation, need for non‐invasive ventilation and death. This tool may also be helpful in predicting intubation.
Treat‐and‐extend regimens of anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for retinal vein occlusions: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Nanji Keean , Khan Mohammad , Khalid Muhammad F. , Xie Jim S. , Sarohia Gurkaran S. , Phillips Mark , Thabane Lehana , Garg Sunir J. , Kaiser Peter , Sivaprasad Sobha , Wykoff Charles C. , Chaudhary Varun
Published: November 2021

Objective

To investigate treat‐and‐extend (T&E) regimens of anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor (anti‐VEGF) therapy for the treatment of macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusions (RVOs).

Methods

Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE and CENTRAL were searched on 25 February 2021. Randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case–control studies and case series were included. The primary outcome was the change in Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Score (ETDRS) letters from baseline. Conversions from Snellen to ETDRS letters were performed utilizing a published protocol. Secondary outcomes included improvement in retinal thickness from baseline, number of anti‐VEGF injections and frequency of adverse events. Outcomes were examined at 12 and 24 months. Certainty of evidence was assessed utilizing GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessments, Development and Evaluations) guidelines.

Results

Seven hundred eighty‐six eyes from 16 studies were included. Meta‐analysis demonstrated a mean improvement of 15.7 (95% CI: 13.3–18.0) ETDRS letters at 12 months. Central retinal thickness improved 269.7 μm (95% CI: 233.64–305.90) at 12 months. Injections were performed 8.1 (95% CI: 7.4–8.7) and 13.1 (95% CI: 9.4–16.8) times at 12 and 24 months respectively. Adverse events were infrequent across all studies. Grading of Recommendations Assessments, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) certainty of evidence was very low across all outcomes.

Conclusions

The results support the viability of T&E regimens for the treatment of macular oedema secondary to RVOs.
Urinary incontinence and use of incontinence surgery after radical prostatectomy: a national study using patient‐reported outcomes
Authors: Parry Matthew G. , Skolarus Ted A. , Nossiter Julie , Sujenthiran Arunan , Morris Melanie , Cowling Thomas E. , Berry Brendan , Aggarwal Ajay , Payne Heather , Cathcart Paul , Clarke Noel W. , van der Meulen Jan
Published: November 2021

Objectives

To investigate whether patient‐reported urinary incontinence (UI) and bother scores after radical prostatectomy (RP) result in subsequent intervention with UI surgery.

Patients and Methods

Men diagnosed with prostate cancer in the English National Health Service between April 2014 and January 2016 were identified. Administrative data were used to identify men who had undergone a RP and those who subsequently underwent a UI procedure. The National Prostate Cancer Audit database was used to identify men who had also completed a post‐treatment survey. These surveys included the Expanded Prostate Cancer Composite Index (EPIC‐26). The frequency of subsequent UI procedures, within 6 months of the survey, was explored according to EPIC‐26 UI scores. The relationship between ‘good’ (≥75) or ‘bad’ (≤25) EPIC‐26 UI scores and perceptions of urinary bother was also explored (responses ranging from ‘no problem’ to ‘big problem’ with respect to their urinary function).

Results

We identified 11 290 men who had undergone a RP. The 3‐year cumulative incidence of UI surgery was 2.5%. After exclusions, we identified 5165 men who had also completed a post‐treatment survey after a median time of 19 months (response rate 74%). A total of 481 men (9.3%) reported a ‘bad’ UI score and 207 men (4.0%) also reported that they had a big problem with their urinary function. In all, 47 men went on to have UI surgery within 6 months of survey completion (0.9%), of whom 93.6% had a bad UI score. Of the 71 men with the worst UI score (zero), only 11 men (15.5%) subsequently had UI surgery.

Conclusion

In England, there is a significant number of men living with severe, bothersome UI after RP, and an unmet clinical need for UI surgery. The systematic collection of patient‐reported outcomes could be used to identify men who may benefit from UI surgery.