bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Microbiota-dependent inflammation promotes metabolic disorder via NF-κB-mediated inhibition of SREBP inDrosophilaadipocytes
Authors: Charroux Bernard , Royet Julien 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBacteria that colonize eukaryotic gut have profound influences on the physiology of their host. InDrosophila, many of these effects are mediated by the adipocytes that combine immune and metabolic functions. We show here that gut colonization by specific bacteria species stimulate lipogenesis in surrounding enterocytes but also in remote fat body cells and ovaries. This bacteria-dependent lipid production is mediated by SREBP and requires a functional insulin signaling. However, it is antagonized by microbiota-born peptidoglycan which by activating NF-κB signaling, cell-autonomously represses SREPP activation in adipocytes but not in enterocytes. We finally show that by reducing microbiota-derived PGN, the gut-produced PGRP-LB amidase balances host immune and metabolic responses of the fat body to gut-associated bacteria. In the absence of such modulation, uncontrolled immune pathway activation prevents lipid production by the fat body resulting in infection-dependent host death.BulletsGut microbiota activates lipogenesis locally in enterocytes and remotely in adipocytesBacteria-dependent activation of SREBP in adipocytes is mediated by insulin signalingActivation of lipid synthesis by microbiota is antagonized by NF-κB signaling triggered by gut-born peptidoglycanBy reducing peptidoglycan circulating levels, PGRP-LB maintains a balance between immune and metabolic response to microbiota
Imprinting on time-structured acoustic stimuli in ducklings
Authors: Monteiro Tiago , Hart Tom , Kacelnik Alex 
Published: April 2021

AbstractFilial imprinting is a dedicated learning process that lacks explicit reinforcement. The phenomenon itself is narrowly heritably canalized, but its content, the representation of the parental object, reflects the circumstances of the newborn. Imprinting has recently been shown to be even more subtle and complex than previously envisaged, since ducklings and chicks are now known to select and represent for later generalization abstract conceptual properties of the objects they perceive as neonates, including movement pattern, heterogeneity, and inter-component relationships of same or different. Here we investigate whether day-old Mallard ducklings (Anas platyrhynchos) imprint on the temporal separation between duos of brief acoustic stimuli, and whether they generalize such timing information to novel sound types. Subjects did discriminate temporal structure when imprinted and tested on natural duck calls, but not when using white noise for imprinting or testing. Our data confirm that imprinting includes the establishment of neural representations of both primary percepts and abstract properties of candidate objects, meshing together genetically transmitted prior knowledge with selected perceptual input.
Accounting, inequality and COVID-19 in Australia
Authors: Andrew Jane , Baker Max , Guthrie James 
Published: April 2021

PurposeThe authors explore the Australian Government's implementation of budgetary measures to manage the social and economic impacts of COVID-19, paying particular attention to how the country's history of inequality has shaped these actions, and the effect inequality may have on outcomes.Design/methodology/approachIn this qualitative case study of public budgeting, the authors draw on the latest research into inequality to consider the implications of policy responses to COVID-19 in Australia. In particular, we examine the short-term introduction of what we term “people-focused” budgetary measures. These appeared contrary to the dominant neoliberalist approach to Australian welfare policymaking.FindingsThis paper foregrounds the relationship between budgeting, public policy and inequality and explores how decades of increasingly regressive tax systems and stagnating living wages have made both people, and the state, vulnerable to crises like COVID.Social implicationsThere is still much to learn about the role of accounting in the shaping of growing economic inequality. In focusing on public budgeting within the context of COVID, the authors suggest ways accounting researchers can contribute to our understanding of economic inequality, both in terms of drivers and consequences. The authors hope to contribute to a growing body of accounting research that can influence social movements, political debates and policymaking, while also raising awareness of the consequences of wealth and income inequality.Originality/valueThe authors explore ways accounting scholars might help articulate a post-COVID future that avoids recreating the inequalities of the past and present.
Pandemic turned into pandemonium: the effect on supply chains and the role of accounting information
Authors: Velayutham Ajantha , Rahman Asheq Razaur , Narayan Anil , Wang Michael 
Published: April 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the disruptive effects of COVID-19 on supply chains and question the role of accounting information in managing these supply chains in the face of such disruptive effects.Design/methodology/approachThe study first explains the effects of COVID-19 on the supply chains of business entities. It then explains the role of accounting information in supply chain management, questions accounting information's ability to play such a role, and makes recommendations for better accounting disclosures and accounting research for supply chains of firms. To illustrate the salient points, a case study of Fisher and Paykel Healthcare is conducted. It identifies the risks and uncertainties of supply chains exposed by COVID-19 disruptions to businesses.FindingsCOVID-19 has affected Fisher and Paykel Healthcare from both the supply-side (upstream) and demand-side (downstream) perspectives. On the supply side, it has disrupted the supply of raw materials used in the manufacture of respiratory devices and the costs of importing such materials. On the demand side, it has disrupted market logistics and customer demand. This has subsequently affected production. Such disruptions can be overcome through the dissemination of appropriate accounting information for the different stages of the supply chain to the managers. Such accounting information can also be useful to external stakeholders for minimizing their risks.Originality/valueThe study attempts to create an awareness of the supply chain uncertainties faced by managers and stakeholders arising from exogenous shocks, such as a pandemic, and how these uncertainties can be mitigated by aligning accounting information flows with the supply chain activity flows. The observations made in this paper are at a conceptual level and, therefore, can be applied to any industry.
The street food experiences of the local-guided tour in the meal-sharing economy: the case of Bangkok
Authors: Cifci Ibrahim , Atsız Ozan , Gupta Vikas 
Published: April 2021

PurposeThis study aims to understand the components of the street food experiences of the local-guided tour in the meal-sharing economy based on the online reviews of tourists who experienced a meal-sharing activity with a local guide in Bangkok.Design/methodology/approachBased on the qualitative approach, this study involved a content analysis of 384 narratives on Withlocals.FindingsThe study identified five components that embrace the street food experience: a local guide’s attributes, perceived food authenticity, local culture, perceived hygiene or cleanliness. Results also revealed that the Thai street foods are unique and authentic and can reach this experience level through a local guide.Originality/valueAlthough the importance of international travellers' street food experiences and the popularity of the meal-sharing economy platforms are rapidly growing, there is no study which had combined both of these phenomena together to date. It is the first attempt to reveal the components of street food experiences in a meal-sharing platform.
Perceived authenticity of online-only brands (OOBs): a quali-quantitative study with online consumers
Authors: Jason Sit Kokho , Pino Giovanni , Pichierri Marco 
Published: April 2021

PurposeThe present study examines the dimensions that are meaningful to define the perceived authenticity of online-only brands (OOBs) (i.e. retail brands that trade exclusively online) from a consumer's perspective. Past frameworks of perceived authenticity exist in the branding literature but consistently focus on contexts beyond e-commerce settings like OOBs.Design/methodology/approachWe employed a mixed-method research design, consisting of quasi-qualitative and quantitative studies with online customers, to establish the dimensions meaningful for the perceived authenticity of OOBs. Our work has theory testing and building components.FindingsWe identify five dimensions that are meaningful to define consumers' perceived authenticity of OOBs. They are “honesty”, “connection”, “continuity”, “craftsmanship” and “accessibility”. Representing by multiple factors, “craftsmanship” serves as the most meaningful dimension followed by “accessibility”. Often being considered incompatible with perceived authenticity, we find accessibility particularly relevant to the context of OOBs. It describes the “convenient” and “affordable” aspects of OOBs, which typically serve as unique selling propositions.Originality/valueOur work confirms the utility of established dimensions to define consumers' perceived authenticity of OOBs. This highlights that consumers hold some consistent authenticity image between non-online and online brands. Our work also reveals the accessibility dimension being neglected by the branding literature, suggesting a more up-to-date perspective is needed when studying consumers' perceived authenticity of OOBs.
Examining the influence of financial inclusion on financial well-being of marginalized street vendors: an empirical evidence from India
Authors: Nandru Prabhakar , Chendragiri Madhavaiah , Velayutham Arulmurugan 
Published: April 2021

PurposeThe study attempts to explore the determinants of financial inclusion. Subsequently, it examines the effect of financial inclusion on financial well-being of marginalized street vendors in India.Design/methodology/approachThe demand-side analysis of measuring financial inclusion with a sample of 371 marginalized street vendors is adopted. Both exploratory and descriptive research designs are employed in this study. The primary data collection is done by administering the structured interview schedule by using a convenience sampling technique. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) are performed to describe the latent constructs and their hypothetical relationships with adequate empirical evidence.FindingsOut of five dimensions of financial inclusion considered for the study, accessibility, availability, usage and affordability are found to be significant determinants of financial inclusion; however, the financial literacy dimension is found statistically insignificant. Further, the study results confirm that financial inclusion contributes substantially to the well-being of marginalized street vendors.Research limitations/implicationsThe outcome of the study will facilitate all the stakeholders including policymakers and financial institutions to enact policy guidelines to ensure financial well-being of the marginalized street vendors through financial inclusion initiatives.Originality/valueFinancial well-being through financial inclusion is possible even without the effect of financial literacy from the unorganized sector perspective specifically marglianized street vendors. Thus, it adds new dimension to the existing literature on demand side analysis of measuring financial inclusion.
Hybrid analysis for understanding contact tracing apps adoption
Authors: Duan Sophia Xiaoxia , Deng Hepu 
Published: April 2021

PurposeThis study aims to explore the adoption of contact tracing apps through a hybrid analysis of the collected data using structural equation modelling (SEM) and artificial neural networks (ANN), leading to the identification of the critical determinants for the adoption of contact tracing apps in Australia.Design/methodology/approachA research model is developed within the background of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) and the privacy calculus theory (PCT) for investigating the adoption of contact tracing apps. This model is then tested and validated using a hybrid SEM-ANN analysis of the survey data.FindingsThe study shows that effort expectancy, perceived value of information disclosure and social influence are critical for adopting contact tracing apps. It reveals that performance expectancy and perceived privacy risks are indirectly significant on the adoption through the influence of perceived value of information disclosure. Furthermore, the study finds out that facilitating condition is insignificant to the adoption of contact tracing apps.Practical implicationsThe findings of the study can lead to the formulation of targeted strategies and policies for promoting the adoption of contact tracing apps and inform future epidemic control for better emergency management.Originality/valueThis study is the first attempt in integrating UTAUT and PCT for exploring the adoption of contact tracing apps in Australia. It combines SEM and ANN for analysing the survey data, leading to better understanding of the critical determinants for the adoption of contact tracing apps.
Factors influencing touristic consumer behaviour
Authors: Santos Vasco , Ramos Paulo , Sousa Bruno , Almeida Nuno , Valeri Marco 
Published: April 2021

PurposeThis paper aims to present a content analysis of two major constructs among tourism settings, namely involvement and emotions, strictly related to tourist behaviour, due to the fact that there are still some critical gaps in the knowledge about tourists' emotions and involvement.Design/methodology/approachAn in-depth content analysis of involvement and emotions was adopted as the methodological approach. This methodology addressed an amalgam of different definitions, frameworks, mixed theoretical and practical applications and approaches, results, comparisons as well as a blend of a set of scales of involvement and emotions by confrontating of authors.FindingsThe major findings state that emotions and involvement demonstrate greater progress and scientific development to the level of tourism, marketing and consumer behaviour, representing an important issue for the integrated tourism experiences.Originality/valueThis study presents a critical reflection on the importance of emotions and involvement in specific contexts of leisure and tourism.
Applying analytical hierarchy process (AHP) in selecting best maintenance strategies for newly established chemical fertilizers plants
Authors: Abdul Jawwad Abdul Kareem , AbuNaffa Ibrahim 
Published: April 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to help newly established plants with minimal or no historical machine data select best maintenance strategies that suit their specific working setup and at the same time satisfy relevant selection criteria.Design/methodology/approachAnalytical hierarchy process (AHP) was applied successfully in this study to select the maintenance strategy at a newly established chemical fertilizers plant. Implementation started by identifying main and sub-criteria pertinent to maintenance practice in this particular industry. Pair-wise comparisons and consistency calculations were carried out on the chosen criteria and then were used to assess candidate maintenance strategies through a special scoring process. The methodology included the use of surveys, brainstorming and expert consultation.FindingsThe results have shown that the most important main criteria are cost, resources, failures, management, operations, quality and safety. The final maintenance strategy selected for the plant under consideration included a mix of condition-based predictive maintenance (PDM), time-based preventive maintenance (PM) and corrective maintenance (CM). The best balance between the three maintenance activities, which satisfies the maintenance criteria with technical applicability, was found to be 50, 23 and 19% for PDM, PM and CM, respectively.Originality/valueThe present paper is a novel application of AHP coupled with deterministic application-specific ranking for devising a procedure for selecting viable and applicable comprehensive maintenance strategies for newly established chemical fertilizers plants with no historical data on machine failures.
Human resource practices, employee competencies and firm performance: a 2-1-2 multilevel mediational analysis
Authors: Kaur Sukhpreet , Kaur Gurvinder 
Published: April 2021

PurposeThis study aims to understand the role of employee competencies in terms of the relationship between Human Resource Practices (HRPs) and firm performance.Design/methodology/approachA sample of 60 HR managers and 546 employees from large-scale food processing firms were considered for the study. The study presents a 2-1-2 multilevel mediational analysis in which HRPs and firm performance are measured at the firm level (Level-2) and employee competencies are measured at employee level (Level-1).FindingsPositive relationship was found between HRPs and firm performance, which was partially mediated by employee competencies.Practical implicationsThe study highlights the importance of employee-related factors by focusing on the wider dimensions of human capital (e.g. academic qualification, job experience) in HRPs–performance relationship.Originality/valueThe study undertakes a 2-1-2 multilevel mediational analysis, which is rarely applied in HRM studies; however, this interaction between macro- and microlevel effects will create a better understanding of organization studies from an integrated and multilevel context.
Vibrio cholerae toxin coregulated pilus provokes inflammatory responses in Coculture model of Caco‐2 and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) leading to increased colonization
Authors: Ghasemi Maryam , Bakhshi Bita , Khashei Reza , Soudi Sara , Boustanshenas Mina 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe aim of this study was to assess the modulatory effect of TcpA in the expression of CEACAM1 adhesin molecule and IL‐1, IL‐8, and TNF‐α pro‐inflammatory cytokines in the Coculture model of Caco‐2/PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cell) that can mimic the intestinal milieu. The TcpA gene from Vibrio cholerae ATCC14035 was cloned in pET‐28a and transformed into Escherichia coli Bl‐21. The recombinant TcpA‐His6 protein was expressed and purified using Ni‐column chromatography. The sequencing of transformed plasmid and Western blot analysis of purified protein confirmed the identity of rTcp. The cytotoxicity of different concentrations of recombinant protein for human colon carcinoma cell line (human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell [Caco‐2 cell]) was assessed by MTT assay and showed viability of 92%, 82%, and 70%, for 10 µg/mL of TcpA after 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Co‐cultures of Caco‐2 and PBMCs were used to mimic the intestinal milieu and treated with different concentrations of rTcpA (1, 5, 10, and 50 µg/mL). Our data showed about 2.04‐, 3.37‐, 3.68‐, and 42.7‐fold increase in CEACAM1 gene expression, respectively, compared with the nontreated Caco‐2/PBMC Coculture. Moreover, the expression of IL‐1, IL‐8, and TNF‐α genes was significantly increased up to 15.75‐, 7.04‐, and 80.95‐folds, respectively. In conclusion, V. cholerae TcpA induces statistically significant dose‐dependent stimulatory effect on TNF‐α, IL‐,1, and IL‐8 pro‐inflammatory cytokines expression. Of these, TNF‐α was much more affected which, consequently, elevated the CEACAM1 expression level in IECs. This suggests that TcpA protein is a critical effector as an inducer of increased adhesion potential of V. cholera as well as inflammatory responses of host intestinal tissue.
Cwl0971, a novel peptidoglycan hydrolase, plays pleiotropic roles in Clostridioides difficile R20291
Authors: Zhu Duolong , Patabendige Hiran Malinda Lamabadu Warnakulasuriya , Tomlinson Brooke Rene , Wang Shaohui , Hussain Syed , Flores Domenica , He Yongqun , Shaw Lindsey N. , Sun Xingmin 
Published: April 2021

SummaryClostridioides difficile is a Gram‐positive, spore‐forming, toxin‐producing anaerobe that can cause nosocomial antibiotic‐associated intestinal disease. Although the production of toxin A (TcdA) and toxin B (TcdB) contribute to the main pathogenesis of C. difficile, the mechanism of TcdA and TcdB release from cell remains unclear. In this study, we identified and characterized a new cell wall hydrolase Cwl0971 (CDR20291_0971) from C. difficile R20291, which is involved in bacterial autolysis. The gene 0971 deletion mutant (R20291Δ0971) generated with CRISPR‐AsCpfI exhibited significantly delayed cell autolysis and increased cell viability compared to R20291, and the purified Cwl0971 exhibited hydrolase activity for Bacillus subtilis cell wall. Meanwhile, 0971 gene deletion impaired TcdA and TcdB release due to the decreased cell autolysis in the stationary/late phase of cell growth. Moreover, sporulation of the mutant strain decreased significantly compared to the wild type strain. In vivo, the defect of Cwl0971 decreased fitness over the parent strain in a mouse infection model. Collectively, Cwl0971 is involved in cell wall lysis and cell viability, which affects toxin release, sporulation, germination, and pathogenicity of R20291, indicating that Cwl0971 could be an attractive target for C. difficile infection therapeutics and prophylactics.
‘This Really has the Potential to Destroy us’: Jeremy Corbyn's Management of the Problem of Anti‐semitism in the Labour Party1
Authors: Shaw Eric 
Published: April 2021

AbstractDuring Jeremy Corbyn's period as leader, Labour was convulsed by a row over claims of widespread anti‐semitism in the party, with Corbyn under sustained attack for his alleged complacency—and even connivance. The main purpose of this article is to help explain how the Corbyn leadership managed the ‘anti‐semitism crisis’. The first section reviews the sequence of events, the key aspects of the crisis and the various steps taken by the Corbyn leadership. The article then analyses the two sets of factors which drove Corbyn's response. The second section utilises the concept of ‘schemas’, cognitive shortcuts to shed light on how the leadership framed the problem of alleged endemic anti‐semitism. It argues that the Corbyn leadership's schemas of Israel were integrally linked to those it held on anti‐semitism and played a major role in determining the course of action it took. The third section contends that the Corbyn leadership's decisions and choices were also governed by its approach to party management, in particular by its two central precepts, ‘the adversarial frame of reference’ and the ‘ethic of ultimate ends’. The overall conclusion is that the inadequacy of the Corbyn leadership's schematic understanding of anti‐semitism and of its managerial precepts help explain its failure to resolve the anti‐semitism crisis.
Total returns to single‐family rentals
Authors: Demers Andrew , Eisfeldt Andrea L. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe market value of U.S. single‐family rental assets totals more than $2.3 trillion. We provide the first systematic analysis of total returns to single‐family rentals in a long, broad, and granular panel. Total returns are approximately equalized across U.S. cities at 8.5%, similar to average equity returns. On average, net rental yields and house price appreciation each contribute half total returns. However, they are negatively correlated in the cross section of cities. High‐price‐tier cities accrued more capital gains, whereas low‐price‐tier cities had higher net rental yields. Within cities, lower‐price‐tier ZIP codes have higher total returns.