bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A global lipid map defines a network essential for Zika virus replication
Authors: Leier Hans C. , Weinstein Jules B. , Kyle Jennifer E. , Lee Joon-Yong , Bramer Lisa M. , Stratton Kelly G. , Kempthorne Douglas , Navratil Aaron R. , Tafesse Endala G. , Hornemann Thorsten , Messer William B. , Dennis Edward A. , Metz Thomas O. , Barklis Eric , Tafesse Fikadu G.
Published: January 2020

Zika virus (ZIKV), an arbovirus of global concern, remodels intracellular membranes to form replication sites. How ZIKV dysregulates lipid networks to allow this, and consequences for disease, is poorly understood. Here, we performed comprehensive lipidomics to create a lipid network map during ZIKV infection. We found that ZIKV significantly alters host lipid composition, with the most striking changes seen within subclasses of sphingolipids. Ectopic expression of ZIKV NS4B protein resulted in similar changes, demonstrating a role for NS4B in modulating sphingolipid pathways. Disruption of sphingolipid biosynthesis in various cell types, including human neural progenitor cells, blocked ZIKV infection. Additionally, the sphingolipid ceramide redistributes to ZIKV replication sites and increasing ceramide levels by multiple pathways sensitizes cells to ZIKV infection. Thus, we identify a sphingolipid metabolic network with a critical role in ZIKV replication and show that ceramide flux is a key mediator of ZIKV infection.
Effect of irradiation on the survival and susceptibility of femaleAnopheles arabiensisto natural isolates ofPlasmodium falciparum
Authors: Guissou Edwige , Poda Serge , Hien François de Sales Domombabele , Yerbanga Serge Rakiswende , Da Dari Frédéric Yannick , Cohuet Anna , Fournet Florence , Roux Olivier , Maiga Hamidou , Diabaté Abdoulaye , Gilles Jeremie , Bouyer Jérémy , Ouédraogo Anicet G. , Rayaissé Jean-Baptiste , Lefèvre Thierry , Dabiré Kounbobr Roch
Published: January 2020

Background

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is a vector control strategy relying on the mass release of sterile males into wild vector populations. Current sex separation techniques are not fully efficient and could lead to the release of a small proportion of females. It is therefore important to evaluate the effect of irradiation on the ability of released females to transmit pathogens. This study aimed to assess the effect of irradiation on the survival and competence ofAnopheles arabiensisfemales forPlasmodium falciparum inlaboratory conditions.

Methods

Pupae were irradiated at 95 Gy, a sterilizing dose of gamma-rays from Caesium-137 source, and emerging adult females were challenged with one of 14 natural isolates ofP. falciparum. Seven days post-bloodmeal (dpbm), irradiated and unirradiated-control females were dissected to assess the presence of oocysts. On 14 dpbm, oocyst rupture in mosquito midguts and sporozoite dissemination in head/thoraces were also examined. Two assays were performed to gauge the effect of irradiation onAn. arabiensissurvival. First, the survivorship of irradiated and unirradiated-control mosquitoes exposed to each parasite isolate was monitored. Second, how parasite infection and irradiation interact to influence mosquito lifespan was also assessed by including a group of uninfected unirradiated mosquitoes.

Results

Overall, irradiation reduced the proportion of infected mosquitoes but this effect was inconsistent among parasite isolates. Second, there was no significant effect of irradiation on the number of developing oocysts. Third, the proportion of ruptured oocysts at 14 dpbm was higher in irradiated-than in control-unirradiated females, suggesting that irradiation might speed up parasite development. Fourth, irradiation had varying effects on female survival with either a negative effect (assay 1) or no effect (assay 2).

Conclusion

Combining these effects into an epidemiological model could help quantifying the net effect of irradiation on malaria transmission in this system. Together, our data indicate that irradiated femaleAn. arabiensiscould contribute to malaria transmission, and highlight the need for perfect sexing tools which would prevent the release of females as part of SIT programs.
Mapping heritability of obesity by brain cell types
Authors: Timshel Pascal N , Thompson Jonatan J , Pers Tune H
Published: January 2020

The underlying cell types mediating predisposition to obesity remain largely obscure. Here we first integrated recently published single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from >380 peripheral and nervous system cell types spanning 19 mouse organs with body mass index (BMI) genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from >450,000 individuals. Leveraging a novel strategy for integrating scRNA-seq data with GWAS data, we identified 22, exclusively neuronal, cell types from the subthalamus, midbrain, hippocampus, thalamus, cortex, pons, medulla, pallidum that were significantly enriched for BMI heritability (P<1.6×10-4). Using genes harboring coding mutations leading to syndromic forms of obesity, we replicate four midbrain cell types from the anterior pretectal nucleus, superior nucleus, periaqueductal gray and pallidum (P<1.7×10-4). Testing an additional set of 347 hypothalamic cell types, ventromedial hypothalamic steroidogenic-factor 1 (SF1) and cholecystokinin b receptor (CCKBR)-expressing neurons (P=4.9×10-5) previously implicated in energy homeostasis and glucose control and three cell types from the preoptic area of the hypothalamus and the lateral hypothalamus enriched for BMI GWAS associations (P<4.9×10-5). Together, our results suggest brain nuclei regulating integration of sensory stimuli, learning and memory are likely to play a key role in obesity and provide testable hypotheses for mechanistic follow-up studies.
Molecular and cellular heterogeneity of gastric cancer explained by methylation-driven key regulators
Authors: Yoo Seungyeul , Chen Quan , Wang Li , Wang Wenhui , Chakravarthy Ankur , Busuttil Rita , Boussioutas Alex , Liu Dan , She Junjun , Fenton Tim R. , Zhang Jiangwen , Fan Xiaodan , Leung Suet-Yi , Zhu Jun
Published: January 2020

Gastric cancer (GC) is a heterogeneous disease of diverse genetic, genomic, and epigenetic alterations. Tumor microenvironment (TME) also contributes to the heterogeneity of GC. To investigate GC heterogeneity, we developed an Integrative Sequential Causality Test (ISCT) to identify key regulators of GC by integrating DNA methylation, copy number variation, and transcriptomic data. Applying ISCT to three GC cohorts containing methylation, CNV and transcriptomic data, 11 common methylation-driven key regulators (ADHFE1, CDO1, CRYAB, FSTL1, GPT, PKP3, PTPRCAP, RAB25, RHOH, SFN, and SORD) were identified. Based on these 11 genes, gastric tumors were clustered into 3 clusters which were associated with known molecular subtypes, Lauren classification, tumor stage, and patient survival, suggesting significance of the methylation-driven key regulators in molecular and histological heterogeneity of GC. We further showed that chemotherapy benefit was different in the 3 GC clusters and varied depending on the tumor stage. Both immune/stromal proportions in TME and tumor cell genomic variations contributed to expression variations of the 11 methylation-driven key regulators and to the GC heterogeneity.
Tailored polymeric, photovoltaic, and near-infrared-responsive neuroprosthesis
Authors: Leccardi Marta Jole Ildelfonsa Airaghi , Chenais Naïg Aurelia Ludmilla , Ferlauto Laura , Kawecki Maciej , Geneviève Zollinger Elodie , Ghezzi Diego
Published: January 2020

Organic materials, such as conjugated polymers, are attractive building blocks for bioelectronic interfaces. In particular, organic semiconductors showed excellent performances in light-mediated excitation and silencing of neuronal cells and tissues. However, the main challenges of these organic photovoltaic interfaces compared to inorganic prostheses are the limited stability of conjugated polymers in the aqueous environment and the exploitation of materials only responsive in the visible spectrum. In this report, we show a new photovoltaic organic interface tailored for neuronal stimulation in the near-infrared spectrum. Also, we adjusted the organic materials by chemical modification in order to improve the stability in aqueous environment and to modulate the photoelectrical stimulation efficiency. As proof of principle, we tested this interface for retinal stimulation. Our results provide an efficient, reliable, and stable implant applicable for neural stimulation.
Xenobiotic compounds modulate cytotoxicity of Aβ amyloids and interact with neuroprotective chaperone L-PGDS
Authors: Yi Kimberly Low Jia , Phillips Margaret , Pervushin Konstantin
Published: January 2020

A positive association of the exposure to different classes of xenobiotics such as commonly prescribed drugs and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) typically those found in air pollution-related particulate matter with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may point to direct physical interaction of those compounds with the amyloid formation and clearance processes. In this study, for the first time, we provide evidence of such interactions for three representative compounds from prescription drugs and air pollution, e.g. anticholinergic drugs Chlorpheniramine, a common antihistamine, and Trazodone, an antidepressant as well as 9,10-PQ, a common PAH anthraquinone abundantly present in diesel exhaust and associated with AD. We demonstrate that these three compounds bind to the lipophilic compound carrier and neuroprotective amyloid beta (Aβ) chaperone lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) with high affinity attenuating its neuroprotective chaperone function with Chlorpheniramine exhibiting markedly stronger inhibitory effects. We also show that these compounds directly interact with Aβ(1-40) increasing the fibril’s yield with altered fibril morphology and increased the cytotoxicity of the resulting fibrils. We propose that exposure to some xenobiotics in the peripheral tissues such as gut and lungs might result in the accumulation of these compounds in the brain facilitated by the carrier function of L-PGDS. This might lead to attenuation of its neuroprotective function and direct modification of Aβ amyloid morphology and cytotoxicity. This hypothesis might provide a mechanistic link between exposure to xenobiotic compounds and the increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Graphical Abstract
Highly Efficient Antibiofilm and Antifungal Activity of Green Propolis againstCandidaspecies in dentistry material
Authors: Bezerra Carolina Rabelo Falcão , Assunção Borges Katia Regina , Alves Rita de Nazaré Silva , Teles Amanda Mara , Pimentel Rodrigues Igor Vinicius , da Silva Marcos Antonio Custódio Neto , Nascimento Maria do Desterro Soares Brandão , Bezerra Geusa Felipa de Barros
Published: January 2020

Background

This study evaluated the influence of green propolis’ extract on the adhesion and biofilm formation ofCandidaspecies on dentistry material.

Methods

Phytochemical analysis of green propolis’ extract was performed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Adhesion was quantified in a Neubauer chamber, counting the number of yeast cells adhered to the fragments; Biofilm formation was determined by counting the number of colony forming units (CFU). The intensity of biofilm formation adhesion was classified as negative, weak, moderate, strong and very strong. Fifteen compounds were identified in green propolis extract, mainly flavonoids.

Results

All strains were able to adhere and form biofilm on the surface of the orthodontic materials studied. In steel and resin, the adhesion intensity of the yeast cells was weak at all incubation times, except forC. parapsilosisandC. tropicaliswhich at 12hs showed moderate intensity. Regarding biofilm formation (24 and 48 hours), it was observed in the steel thatC. albicanshad moderate intensity at 24 and 48 hours;C. parapsilosisat 24 and 48 hours had very strong intensity;C. tropicalisat 24 hours had strong intensity and at 48 hours very strong. While in the resin, all species at 24 and 48 hours had strong intensity, except forC. tropicaliswhich at 48 hours had very strong intensity. Green propolis extract showed antifungal activity and was able to inhibit both adhesion and biofilm formation at 2.5 μg/mL.

Conclusions

This study reinforces the idea that green propolis has antifungal activity and interferes with virulence factors ofCandidaspecies.
Dietary and Biological Assessment of Omega-3 Status of Collegiate Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
Authors: Ritz Peter P. , Rogers Mark B. , Zabinsky Jennifer S. , Hedrick Valisa E. , Rockwell John A. , Rimer Ernest , Kostelnik Samantha , Hulver Matthew W. , Rockwell Michelle S.
Published: January 2020

Omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3 FA) play a number of important functions in health and human performance. While previous research has suggested that low ω-3 FA status is prevalent in the general population, little information about athletes’ ω-3 FA status is available. The purpose of this study was to assess the omega-3 fatty acid (ω-3 FA) status of collegiate athletes. Dietary ω-3 FA intake was evaluated in athletes from nine NCAA Division I institutions (n=1,528, 51% male, 19.9 ± 1.4 years of age, 29 sports represented) via food frequency questionnaire. Omega-3 Index (O3i) was assessed using a dried blood spot sample in a subset of these athletes (n=228). Only 6% (n = 93) of athletes achieved the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics’ recommendation to consume 500 mg of the ω-3 FA’s docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) per day. Use of ω-3 FA supplements was reported by 15% (n = 229) of participants. O3i was 4.33 ± 0.81%, with zero participants meeting the O3i benchmark of 8% associated with the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease. Every additional weekly serving of fish or seafood was associated with an absolute O3i increase of 0.27%. Overall, sub-optimal ω-3 FA status was observed among a large, geographically diverse group of male and female collegiate athletes. These findings may inform interventions aimed at improving ω-3 FA status of collegiate athletes. Further research on athlete-specific ω-3 FA requirements is needed.
Effects of C-peptide replacement therapy on bone microarchitecture parameters in streptozotocin-diabetic rats
Authors: Maurotti Samantha , Russo Cristina , Musolino Vincenzo , Nucera Saverio , Gliozzi Micaela , Scicchitano Miriam , Bosco Francesca , Morittu Valeria Maria , Ragusa Monica , Mazza Elisa , Gazzaruso Carmine , Britti Domenico , Valenti Maria Teresa , Deiana Michela , Romeo Stefano , Giannini Sandro , Carbonare Luca Dalle , Mollace Vincenzo , Pujia Arturo , Montalcini Tiziana
Published: January 2020

Pathological pathways involved in the development of diabetic complications are still unclear. Several studies suggested a pathogenic role of C-peptide deficiency in vascular and neuropathic complications. However, to date, the role of C-peptide on diabetes-related bone loss has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to test the effects of a 6-week regimen of rat C-peptide infusion on bone by combining micro-CT imaging with histological testing.

Twenty-three, four-month-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: Normal control group; Sham diabetic control group; Diabetic plus C-peptide group. Diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin. Rat C-peptide was delivered via subcutaneously osmopumps. We assessed several trabecular microarchitectural parameters and cellular and matrix proteins in bone tissue sections.

At the end of the study, both the normal control and diabetic plus C-peptide groups had a higher tibia weight than the diabetic control group (p= 0.05 andp= 0.02, respectively). C-peptide levels significantly and positively correlated with the trabecular thickness (r= 0.45, p=0.08) and negatively with structure model index (r= −0.40, p=0.09). Furthermore, it positively correlated with one of the histological assessments (i.e. PLIN1 score; p=0.02). Micro-CT evaluation showed significant inter-group differences in trabecular thickness (p=0.02), trabecular space (p= 0.05) and cross-sectional thickness (p=0.05). Diabetic plus C-peptide group showed a higher trabecular thickness (p<0.001), cross-sectional thickness (p=0.03) and a lower trabecular space (p=0.05) than the normal control group. Both the normal control and diabetic plus C-peptide groups had more Runx-2 and PLIN1 positive cells in comparison to the diabetic control group (p = 0.045 and p = 0.034).

For the first time we demonstrated that the diabetic rats receiving rat C-peptide had higher quality of trabecular bone, than diabetic rats not receiving it. C-peptide could have a role in the prevention of diabetes-related bone loss.
Systematically gap-filling the genome-scale metabolic model of CHO cells
Authors: Fouladiha Hamideh , Marashi Sayed-Amir , Li Shangzhong , Li Zerong , Masson Helen O. , Vaziri Behrouz , Lewis Nathan E.
Published: January 2020

Objective

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are the leading cell factories for producing recombinant proteins in the biopharmaceutical industry. In this regard, constraint-based metabolic models are useful platforms to perform computational analysis of cell metabolism. These models need to be regularly updated in order to include the latest biochemical data of the cells, and to increase their predictive power. Here, we provide an update toiCHO1766, the metabolic model of CHO cells.

Results

We expanded the existing model of Chinese hamster metabolism with the help of four gap-filling approaches, leading to the addition of 773 new reactions and 335 new genes. We incorporated these into an updated genome-scale metabolic network model of CHO cells, namediCHO2101. In this updated model, the number of reactions and pathways capable of carrying flux is substantially increased.

Conclusions

The present CHO model is an important step towards more complete metabolic models of CHO cells.
Abnormal center of mass control during balance: a new biomarker of falls in people with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: McKay J. Lucas , Lang Kimberly C. , Bong Sistania M. , Hackney Madeleine. E. , Factor Stewart A. , Ting Lena H.
Published: January 2020

Although Parkinson disease (PD) causes profound balance impairments, we know very little about how PD impacts the sensorimotor networks we rely on for automatically maintaining balance control. In young healthy people and animals, muscles are activated in a precise temporal and spatial organization when the center of body mass (CoM) is unexpectedly moved that is largely automatic and determined by feedback of CoM motion. Here, we show that PD alters the sensitivity of the sensorimotor feedback transformation. Importantly, sensorimotor feedback transformations for balance in PD remain temporally precise, but become spatially diffuse by recruiting additional muscle activity in antagonist muscles during balance responses. The abnormal antagonist muscle activity remains precisely time-locked to sensorimotor feedback signals encoding undesirable motion of the body in space. Further, among people with PD, the sensitivity of abnormal antagonist muscle activity to CoM motion varies directly with the number of recent falls. Our work shows that in people with PD, sensorimotor feedback transformations for balance are intact but disinhibited in antagonist muscles, likely contributing to balance deficits and falls.
Effects of pharmacological modulators of α-synuclein and tau aggregation and internalization
Authors: Dominguez-Meijide Antonio , Vasili Eftychia , König Annekatrin , Cima-Omori Maria-Sol , Leonov Andrei , Ryazanov Sergey , Zweckstetter Markus , Griesinger Christian , Outeiro Tiago F.
Published: January 2020

Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are common neurodegenerative disorders of the elderly and, therefore, affect a growing number of patients worldwide. Both diseases share, as a common hallmark, the accumulation of characteristic protein aggregates, known as Lewy bodies (LB) in PD, and neurofibrillary tangles in AD. LBs are primarily composed of misfolded α-synuclein (aSyn), and neurofibrillary tangles are primarily composed of tau protein. Importantly, upon pathological evaluation, most AD and PD/Lewy body dementia cases exhibit mixed pathology, with the co-occurrence of both Lewy bodies and neurofibrillary tangles, among other protein inclusions. Recent studies suggest that both aSyn and tau pathology can spread and propagate through neuronal connections. Therefore, it is important to investigate the mechanisms underlying aggregation and propagation of these proteins for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Here, we assessed the effects of different pharmacological interventions on the aggregation and internalization of tau and aSyn. We found that anle138b and epigallocatechin gallate decrease aSyn aggregation, that fulvic acid attenuates aggregation of the repeat domain of tau, and that dynasore reduces tau internalization. Establishing the effects of small molecules with different chemical properties on the aggregation and spreading of aSyn and tau will be important for the development of future therapeutic interventions.
Between-subject prediction reveals a shared representational geometry in the rodent hippocampus
Authors: Chen Hung-Tu , Manning Jeremy R. , van der Meer Matthijs A. A.
Published: January 2020

The rodent hippocampus constructs statistically independent representations across environments (“global remapping”) and assigns individual neuron firing fields to locations within an environment in an apparently random fashion, processes thought to contribute to the role of the hippocampus in episodic memory. This random mapping implies that it should be challenging to predict hippocampal encoding of a given experience in one subject based on the encoding of that same experience in another subject. Contrary to this prediction, we find that by constructing a common representational space across rats in which neural activity is aligned using geometric operations (rotation, reflection, and translation; “hyperalignment”), we can predict data of “right” trials (R) on a T-maze in a target rat based on 1) the “left” trials (L) of the target rat, and 2) the relationship between L and R trials from a different source rat. These cross-subject predictions relied on ensemble activity patterns including both firing rate and field location, and outperformed a number of control mappings, such as those based on permuted data that broke the relationship between L and R activity for individual neurons, and those based solely on within-subject prediction. This work constitutes proof-of-principle for successful cross-subject prediction of ensemble activity patterns in the hippocampus, and provides new insights in understanding how different experiences are structured, enabling further work identifying what aspects of experience encoding are shared vs. unique to an individual.
Anopheles gambiaematernal age and parous state control offspring susceptibility toPlasmodium falciparum
Authors: Mitri Christian , Thiery Isabelle , Lecoq Marie-Thérèse , Thouvenot Catherine , Touron Solange , Landier Annie , Bischoff Emmanuel , Bourgouin Catherine
Published: January 2020

Maternal effects have been reported in many organisms whereby exposure to environmental stress, either toxics or pathogens will impact on progeny response to these stresses. Here we show thatAnopheles gambiaesusceptibility toPlasmodium falciparumis dependent upon maternal effects driven by females not previously exposed to the parasite. The maternal effect involved both mother age and reproductive state. Offspring of old females or from a 4thgonotrophic cycle are more susceptible than offspring from young females. These maternal effects also contribute to overall better fitness of the offspring. As mosquito population age structure contributes heavily shaping malaria transmission, consequences of this novel finding should be taken into account in further strategies for controlling malaria transmission.
The Prorenin Receptor and its Soluble Form Contribute to Lipid Homeostasis
Authors: Gatineau Eva , Arthur Gertrude , Poupeau Audrey , Nichols Kellea , Spear Brett T. , Graf Gregory , Temel Ryan , Yiannikouris Frédérique
Published: January 2020

Obesity is associated with alterations in hepatic lipid metabolism. We previously identified the prorenin receptor (PRR) as a potential contributor to liver steatosis. Therefore, we aimed to determine the relative contribution of PRR and its soluble form, sPRR, to lipid homeostasis. PRR-floxed male mice were treated with an adeno-associated virus with thyroxine-binding globulin promoter driven Cre to delete specifically PRR in hepatocytes (Liver PRR KO mice). Hepatic PRR deletion did not change the body weight but increased liver weights. Liver PRR KO mice exhibited higher plasma cholesterol levels and lower hepatic LDLR protein than control mice. Surprisingly, hepatic PRR deletion elevated hepatic cholesterol, and up-regulated hepatic SREBP2 and HMG CoA-R genes. In addition, hepatic PRR deletion increased plasma sPRR levels.In vitrostudies in Hep-G2 cells demonstrated that sPRR treatment up-regulated SREBP2 suggesting that elevated plasma sPRR could contribute to hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis. Interestingly, PPARγ, PRR and total sPRR were elevated in the adipose tissue of Liver PRR KO mice suggesting that elevated plasma sPRR originated from the adipose tissue. In 3T3-L1 cells, sPRR treatment up-regulated PPARγ indicating that sPRR stimulates master regulator of adipocyte differentiation. Overall, this work support a new role for sPRR in lipid metabolism and adipose tissue – liver crosstalk.
Fiscal decentralization, preference for government innovation and city innovation
Authors: Yang Siying , Li Zheng , Li Jian
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether fiscal decentralization has impacts on city innovation level and to examine the moderating effects of the preference for government innovation in China.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a panel data of China’s 278 cities from 2003 to 2016, the authors first use fixed-effect model and quantile regression to analyze the impact of fiscal decentralization on city innovation level and the variations of impacts conditional on different innovation levels, followed by a mediating effect model to test the moderating effects of the preference for government innovation and its temporal and spatial heterogeneity.

Findings

The paper finds that fiscal decentralization significantly inhibited city innovation, and with the improvement of city innovation level, the inhibition demonstrated characteristics of “V” type variation. When the degree of fiscal decentralization is between 0.377 and 0.600, the inhibition of fiscal decentralization on city innovation level is the weakest. We further show that fiscal decentralization also inhibits the government's preference for innovation, reduces the proportion of fiscal expenditure on innovation and has a negative impact on city innovation. In addition, the influence of fiscal decentralization on city innovation present clear heterogeneity in space and in time. On one hand, the inhibition of fiscal decentralization on city innovation level in eastern China is significantly weaker than that in central and Western China; on the other hand, after the implementation of China’s innovation-driven development strategy in 2013, the negative impact of fiscal decentralization on city innovation disappeared.

Research limitations/implications

The research findings have certain policy implications. That is, in the process of decentralization reform, on the one hand, the central government should strengthen the supervision over the fiscal expenditure of local governments and ensure that the central government can play a leading role in the local development strategy, on the other hand, the central government should guard against the distortion of fiscal decentralization on local governments' fiscal expenditure behavior. In addition, the central government should also focus on the heterogeneity of the impacts of fiscal decentralization on cities under different strategic backgrounds and different levels of innovation.

Originality/value

This paper extends prior research by bringing the decentralization system reform into the study of city innovation system and analyzing its mechanism and its temporal and spatial heterogeneity.
More exposed but also more vulnerable? Climate change, high intensity precipitation events and flooding in Mediterranean Spain
Authors: Ribas Anna , Olcina Jorge , Sauri David
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of high intensity precipitation events in increasing the vulnerability to floods in Mediterranean Spain. Precipitation intensity in this area appears to have augmented in the last two decades in association with warming trends of the Mediterranean Sea. At the same time, intense urbanization processes, occupying and transforming flood prone land, have produced an important increase in exposure. The main objective is to assess whether higher intensity precipitation and changing patterns in exposure aggravate vulnerability to floods.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, vulnerability is understood as the result of the interrelationships between exposure, sensitivity, impacts and adaptive capacity. Consequently, methods used involved the compilation and analysis of published and unpublished precipitation data, population and land use data, data on insurance claims, and media sources related to those variables.

Findings

Changes toward episodes of more intense precipitation in the expanding urban areas of Mediterranean Spain increase exposure but not necessarily vulnerability, at least in terms of human deaths. However, adaptative capacity needs to be formulated. Actions that attempt to absorb and eventually reuse flood flows (as the flood park in Alicante) appear to be more effective than traditional hydraulic solutions (as in Majorca).

Originality/value

The paper provides a systematic and coherent approach to vulnerability analysis taking into account the changing dynamics of its components. Especially, it signals the limits of current adaptive approaches to flooding and advocates for changes toward a more circular and less linear approach to urban drainage.
Investors’ perceptions of the cybersecurity risk management reporting framework
Authors: Yang Ling , Lau Linda , Gan Huiqi
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a research model to examine the perception of non-professional investors toward the cybersecurity reporting framework developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling with data collected from Amazon's Mechanical Turk platform.

Findings

The findings conclude that investors' perceived benefits of the cybersecurity risk framework are positively related to investment intention. Information quality and cybersecurity awareness also positively influence perceived benefits of the risk framework and investment intention.

Practical implications

Findings of this study are relevant to both regulatory bodies and firms because non-professional investors’ perceptions of the benefits of the AICPA’s reporting framework are unveiled.

Originality/value

Findings from this research help to provide a more in-depth understanding of the impact of various factors on investor’s decision-making process and also significant insights into the non-professional investor’s attitude toward the AICPA’s framework.
Corporate governance and cost of capital in OECD countries
Authors: AlHares Aws
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of corporate governance mechanisms on the cost of capital in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.

Design/methodology/approach

A panel data of 240 companies from Anglo-American and European countries between 2010 and 2017 were used. The ordinary least-squares multiple regression analysis was used to examine the relationships. The results were also robust to alternative measures and endogeneities.

Findings

The results showed that the corporate governance index and director ownership were negatively related to the cost of capital. Moreover, the study also reports a positive correlation between block ownership and the cost of capital.

Originality/value

This study extended the corporate governance literature by offering new evidence on the effect of corporate governance mechanisms on the cost of capital. Our findings will help regulators and policymakers in the OECD countries to evaluate the adequacy of the current corporate governance reforms to prevent management misconduct and scandals.
The upstream-downstream interface of Sri Lanka’s tsunami early warning system
Authors: Haigh Richard , Sakalasuriya Maheshika Menike , Amaratunga Dilanthi , Basnayake Senaka , Hettige Siri , Premalal Sarath , Jayasinghe Arachchi Ananda
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to deliver a detailed analysis of the functioning of upstream–downstream interface process of the tsunami early warning and mitigation system in Sri Lanka. It also gives an understanding of the social, administrative, political and cultural complexities attached to the operation of interface mechanism, and introduces an analytical framework highlighting the significant dynamics of the interface of tsunami early warning system in Sri Lanka.

Design/methodology/approach

Through the initial literature review, a conceptual framework was developed, highlighting the criteria against which the interface process can be assessed. This framework was used as the basis for developing data collection tools, namely, documentary analysis, semi-structured interviews and observations that focused on the key stakeholder institutions in Sri Lanka. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data according to the conceptual framework, and an improved and detailed framework was developed deriving from the findings.

Findings

The manner in which the interface mechanism operates in Sri Lanka’s tsunami early warning system is discussed, providing a detailed understanding of the decision-making structures; key actors; standardisation; technical and human capacities; socio-spatial dynamics; coordination among actors; communication and information dissemination; and the evaluation processes. Several gaps and shortcomings were identified with relation to some of these aspects, and the significance of addressing these gaps is highlighted in the paper.

Practical implications

A number of recommendations are provided to address the existing shortcomings and to improve the overall performance of tsunami warning system in Sri Lanka.

Originality/value

Based on the findings, a framework was developed into a more detailed analytical framework that depicts the interface operationalisation in Sri Lanka, and can also be potentially applied to similar cases across the world. The new analytical framework was validated through a focus group discussion held in Sri Lanka with the participation of experts and practitioners.
“Don’t look down on us”
Authors: Miles Glenn , Geyer Theresa , Ding Rachel , Blasé Olivia , Clark Katie
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Although some research has been done with entertainment workers in KTV bars, little has been done to gain a qualitative understanding of the vulnerabilities of masseuse women. This is due to a prevalent focus on girls under 18 years, thereby excluding most masseuses. The purpose of this paper is to understand the reality of life as perceived by Phnom Penh’s female masseuses in the lower-priced massage parlors is therefore largely unknown.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 98 female participants completed an interview answering both open and closed questions concerning relationships, stigma and discrimination and personal sexual abuse among other topics.

Findings

This study finds that many women working in the massage parlor industry are vulnerable to various threats, including sexual exploitation and abuse. Dependency structures within the massage parlor as well as with their families seem to play a key role in the life situations that can be positive as well as negative, and in some cases both.

Research limitations/implications

This is not a prevalence study so all figures are tentative. The women were deeply concerned that they might be stigmatized further so they may not have revealed the extent of their challenges.

Practical implications

More research and work with this vulnerable group is vital. They should be recognized as a vulnerable group who have rights.

Social implications

The findings provide a baseline evaluation of the vulnerable conditions of the massage industry for women in Cambodia. Specifically, that stigma, discrimination, physical and sexual abuse, as well as a lack of access to education are all vulnerabilities not commonly covered, especially with adult women working in the entertainment industry.

Originality/value

Understanding the reality of life as perceived by Phnom Penh’s female masseuses in the lower-priced massage parlors is therefore largely unknown so a study of this kind is necessary.
Evaluation of the Islamic interbank benchmark rate
Authors: Tlemsani Issam
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Islamic Interbank Benchmark Rate (IIBR) and investigate its relationship with conventional benchmark rates.

Design/methodology/approach

This study relies extensively on multivariate regression and Granger causality analysis, using data culled for the IIBR, conventional interest-dependent benchmark rates and oil prices. The data was collected daily over a period spanning from November 2011 to June 2015.

Findings

The main finding of this study is that there is a significant negative correlation between the IIBR and London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and other conventional interbank benchmark rates. This negative linear relationship is due to the IIBR representing a substitute investment for international investors when traditional rates fall in relation to the IIBR.

Practical implications

This study seeks to bring research on the IIBR and Sharia finance into the mainstream. It provides new insights into the IIBR as an independent interbank benchmark rate, exploring and confirming its status as a Sharia complaint financial tool.

Originality/value

This study is a comprehensive investigation of the relationship between the IIBR and conventional counterpart benchmark rates (LIBOR, Kuala Lumpur Interbank Offered Rate, effective federal funds rate and conventional rates in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries). The study contributes to the understanding of the IIBR’s framework principles and its value as a solution to current and future Sharia-complaint short-term interbank market funding for the Islamic finance industry.
Drivers of loyalty among non-Muslims towards Islamic banking in Malaysia
Authors: Mohd Thas Thaker Hassanudin , Sakaran K. Chandra , Nanairan N. Madhavan , Mohd Thas Thaker Mohamed Asmy , Iqbal Hussain Hafezali
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The growth of Islamic banking seems to be tremendous and significant in the context of Malaysia. Moreover, together with Muslim loyalty towards Islamic banking, non-Muslims are also showing positive acceptance towards Islamic banking in Malaysia. Thus, this paper aims to examine the drivers of loyalty among non-Muslim in their adoption of Islamic banking products in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

The primary data are collected from the survey administered to non-Muslim clients in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. The total number of respondents involved are n = 300. The analysis of data is conducted by using a partial least square analysis.

Findings

This study documented that loyalty among non-Muslim Islamic banking customers in Malaysia was mainly driven by convenience, product pricing, reliability and responsiveness, operational risk and security and value added services. Only one variable was found to be insignificant, which was accessibility.

Practical implications

The results from this research is expected to provide important inputs on the critical factors for consideration by Islamic banks in maintaining further loyalty among their non-Muslim customers, thus enhancing the development of Islamic banking in Malaysia.

Originality/value

This paper provides further literature evidence on the factors contributes to loyalty by considering non-Muslims patronization of Islamic banking in Malaysia.
Cause-related marketing, legitimacy and internationalization of professional service firms
Authors: Arslan Ahmad , Golgeci Ismail , Haapanen Lauri , Tarba Shlomo , Cooper Cary , Degbey William Y.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the role of legitimacy in internationalization to Africa of a Finnish professional service microfirm, which uses cause-related marketing (CRM) as the business model.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper consists of a single case study of a microfirm (two employees) originating from Finland, which has successfully internationalized to many African countries. Due to the uniqueness of the context, the authors use semi-structured interviews to collect founders’ insights to the issue being addressed. Moreover, along with interviews, secondary sources related to football talent scouting in Africa are also utilized in the paper.

Findings

The authors found that the case company was established with the aim of helping and uplifting poor African footballers, so the business model is CRM. It has scouted many of them for professional football clubs in Europe. The authors further found that sociopolitical legitimacy plays a major role in dealing with African footballers and local stakeholders, while cognitive legitimacy helped the case firm gain the trust of European football clubs.

Originality/value

Internationalization of microfirms operating in the service sector is a rather under-researched area compared to the internationalization of SMEs and large MNEs. The paper is one of the first to study internationalization of a professional service microfirm involved in scouting football talent in Africa and matchmaking them with European football clubs. It contributes to extant CRM and internationalization literature by being one of the first to analyze a firm whose business model revolves around CRM and discussing specific roles of different kinds of legitimacies needed for internationalization to Africa in this specific service sector.
Sticky cost behavior and its implication on accounting conservatism: a cross-country study
Authors: Makni Fourati Yosra , Chakroun Ghorbel Rania , Jarboui Anis
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impact of cost stickiness on conditional conservatism.

Design/methodology/approach

The research sample consists of listed companies from 18 countries, using stock market indices of the BRICS, MIST, North Africa, USA and EU over the period ranging from 1997 to 2015. The authors use the firm-fixed effects method in the estimation of the models.

Findings

The results provide evidence of the existence of cost stickiness and conditional conservatism in the international context, using the Banker et al. (2016) model. They also argue that the conditional conservatism model (Basu, 1997) is overstated because it does not control for cost stickiness. In additional analyses, the authors conclude that the association between cost stickiness and accounting conservatism changes across country groups and across industries. The authors also document that the employee intensity and free cash-flow, as cost stickiness determinants, remain significant in the model including accounting conservatism. Moreover, the findings show that sticky cost behavior distorts inferences about standard demand drivers of conservatism such as leverage and size.

Originality/value

The findings are interesting and provide a better understanding of cost stickiness and conditional conservatism, and the interaction between these two phenomena in the international context, across country groups and across industries. To the best of the author’s knowledge, the study is the first one including free cash flow as a proxy for agency problem in the full model combining conservatism and cost stickiness models (Banker et al., 2016).
The performance ofShariah-compliant companies during and after the recession period – evidence from companies listed on the FTSE All World Index
Authors: Tahir Muhammad , Ibrahim Salma
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relative performance ofShariah-compliant companies (SCCs) compared to conventional companies. This study focuses on two periods, the first being the recession period of 2007-2010 and the second, the non-recession period of 2011-2014.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach is adopted using an ordinary least square regression model. The chosen variables are those used by previous researchers in conventional studies of corporate performance. Data are selected from individual companies listed on the FTSE All World Index. This study examines two periods of time: the recession of 2007-2010 and the post-recession years of 2011-2014 to analyse performance measured by accounting returns (return on equity, return on asset and earnings per share) and market returns (stock return and price/earnings ratio).

Findings

The study found that SCCs outperformed non-Shariahcompliant companies, in terms of both accounting and market returns during both periods. It was also found that size has a negative effect on performance during both periods. The degree of risk, leverage and growth has no significance in either period, but cash flow from operations has a positive effect on performance in both.

Research limitations/implications

The study could beneficially be extended by the inclusion of corporate governance variables to assess how these affect performance in SCCs.

Originality/value

In contrast to previous research carried out on indices, this study uses data from individual companies listed on the FTSE All World Index. It provides insight into the wayShariahethics can influence performance and suggests that some of the features could be useful if adopted by conventional companies.