bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neural Heterogeneity Enhances Reliable Neural information Processing: Local Sensitivity and Globally Input-slaved Transient Dynamics
Authors: Wu Shengdun , Huang Haiping , Wang Shengjun , Chen Guozhang , Zhou Changsong , Yang Dongping 
Published: June 2024

AbstractCortical neuronal activity varies over time and across repeated stimulation trials, yet consistently represents stimulus features. The dynamical mechanism underlying this reliable representation and computation remains elusive. This study uncovers a mechanism that achieves reliable neural information processing, leveraging a biologically plausible network model with neural heterogeneity. We first investigate neuronal timescale diversity in reliable computation, revealing it disrupts intrinsic coherent spatiotemporal patterns, enhances local sensitivity, and aligns neural network activity closely with inputs. This leads to local sensitivity and globally input-slaved transient dynamics, essential for reliable neural processing. Other neural heterogeneities, such as non-uniform input connections and spike threshold heterogeneity, plays similar roles, highlighting neural heterogeneity’s role in shaping consistent stimulus representation. This mechanism offers a potentially general framework for understanding neural heterogeneity in reliable computation and informs the design of new reservoir computing models endowed with liquid wave reservoirs for neuromorphic computing.TeaserNeural diversity disrupts spatiotemporal patterns, aligning network activity with inputs for reliable information processing.
Imp and Sypin vivotemporal RNA interactomes uncover networks of temporal regulators ofDrosophilabrain development
Authors: Lee Jeffrey Y , Huang Niles , Samuels Tamsin J , Davis Ilan 
Published: June 2024

AbstractTemporal patterning of neural progenitors is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism generating neural diversity. InDrosophila, post-embryonic neurogenesis requires the RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) Imp/IGF2BP and Syp/SYNCRIP. However, how they co-achieve their function is not well understood. Here, we elucidate thein vivotemporal RNA interactome landscapes of Imp and Syp during larval brain development. Imp and Syp bind a highly overlapping set of conserved mRNAs encoding proteins involved in neurodevelopment. We identify transcripts differentially occupied by Imp/Syp over time, featuring a network of known and novel candidate temporal regulators that are post-transcriptionally regulated by Imp/Syp. Furthermore, the physical and co-evolutionary relationships between Imp and Syp binding sites reveal a combinatorial, rather than competitive, mode of molecular interplay. Our study establishes a newin vivoframework for dissecting the temporal co-regulation of RBP networks as well as providing a resource for understanding neural fate specification.
Sb-loaded MnOx/TiO2/CNTs catalysts for selective catalytic reduction of NOx: insight to the SO2 and H2O tolerance
Authors: Natarajan S. , S. Raja , K. Pitchandi , Loganathan Sivachandiran 
Published: July 2024

Purpose
This paper aims to synthesize and test Mn-Sb/TiO2-CNT catalysts with different Sb/Mn molar ratios to be used in NH3-SCR reaction.

Design/methodology/approach
A series of Sb-loaded carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-based Mn/TiO2 catalysts were prepared by the incipient wetness co-impregnation method and tested for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx with NH3.

Findings
The Sb-loaded Mn/TiO2-CNTs catalyst outperformed other catalysts and presented the highest activity in the temperature regime of 100–400°C. The catalyst loaded with Sb also showed good SO2 and H2O resistance and exhibited better thermal stability. A stepwise study of SO2 addition evidenced that Mn-Sb/TiO2-CNTs catalyst exhibited better SO2 resistance than the base catalyst Mn/TiO2, where the Sb doping greatly inhibited the sulphating of active phase of the catalyst.

Originality/value
In Sb-loaded catalysts, the formed SOx species fused with SbOx instead of MnOx. This favoured interaction of SO2 with SbOx successfully prevents the MnOx from being sulphated by SO2 which substantially improves the SO2 tolerance of Sb-loaded catalysts.
Can supervisors dwindle turnover in virtual teams?
Authors: Mosquera Pilar , Branco Mariana 
Published: July 2024

Purpose
Virtual teams allow companies to recruit the best talents, regardless of their geographic location, which is particularly relevant in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector given the high shortage of qualified human capital. However, the space and time flexibility of these professionals also present other challenges to Human Resource Management, such as work engagement and employee retention. This study aims to assess the extent to which supervisor support can influence work engagement and turnover intention in virtual teams.

Design/methodology/approach
We use a sample of 420 ICT Portuguese professionals who work in virtual teams to test a conceptual model with partial least squares (PLS).

Findings
The study results show that supervisor support decreases employee's intention to leave their job. We also found that work engagement mediates the relationship between supervisor support and work engagement. Results show that older employees present higher levels of work engagement and employees with longer tenure perceive less supervisor support.

Originality/value
This study contributes to elucidate the role played by supervisors in influencing employee engagement and retention in virtual work environments.
Forecasting Australia’s international arrivals with climate indices
Authors: Craig Christopher A. 
Published: July 2024

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of climate on marine and urban tourism using climate indices in four of Australia’s busiest cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Climate is operationalized using the previously validated Holiday Climate Index (HCI)-beach for marine tourism HCI-urban for city tourism; international airport arrivals are the tourism behavior of interest.

Design/methodology/approach
HCI-beach and-urban indices were calculated using climate data: thermal comfort, cloud cover, windspeed and precipitation. Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models were calculated for airport arrivals only and airport arrivals with exogenous factors (i.e. HCI-beach and-urban).

Findings
Indices proved significant for each city where HCI-urban scores were more favorable on the aggregate than HCI-beach scores. HCI-beach improved model accuracy in Melbourne (3.11%), Sydney (15.77%) and Perth (37.38%); HCI-urban improved accuracy at Brisbane by 37.73%.

Research limitations/implications
The primary limitation is that airport arrival data was only available monthly. Using aggregated arrivals also precludes explicitly determining recreational intentions among travelers.

Practical implications
Results demonstrate climate indices can improve forecast accuracy for actual tourism behaviors, including destination arrivals.

Social implications
For tourists, results demonstrate the meteorological season and city where climate conditions are more or less favorable.

Originality/value
To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first known study to investigate the influence of climate indices on improving predictability of international arrival forecasts.
Effects of adverse geopolitical risk on price bubbles contagion from European natural gas prices to international energy prices
Authors: Iliyasu Jamilu , Mamman Suleiman O. , Abubakar Attahir B. , Sanusi Aliyu Rafindadi 
Published: June 2024

PurposeThe recent Russia–Ukraine conflict highlights the geopolitical importance of natural gas, especially in Europe. In this light, this study examines the impact of the Russia–Ukraine conflict on the spread of price bubbles from European natural gas to international energy prices.Design/methodology/approachThe Generalized Supremum Augmented Dickey-Fuller (GSADF) test is employed to detect the occurrence of price bubble episodes while the Dynamic Logit Model is used to examine price bubble contagion between the two markets. Further, a tri-variate VAR model is used to examine the determinants of the price bubble.FindingsThe findings reveal multiple bubble episodes in both European natural gas and international energy prices. Further, evidence of bilateral contagion between European natural gas and the international energy market is found. In addition, the Russia–Ukraine conflict triggers price bubble episodes in both markets. Finally, a counterfactual analysis suggests that the conflict increases the bubble contagion from the European natural gas market to the international energy market by about 40%. These findings imply that the Russia–Ukraine conflict is a significant driver of high upside risks to bubble occurrence and subsequent contagion to both European natural gas and international energy prices.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, this study contributes new empirical evidence that the Russian–Ukrainian conflict significantly impacts the spread of price bubbles from the European natural gas market to international energy markets.
Connectivity among the returns of sectoral indices of the Brazilian capital market
Authors: Tessmann Mathias Schneid , Passos Marcelo De Oliveira , Khodr Omar Barroso , Lima Alexandre Vasconcelos , Braga Vinícius 
Published: June 2024

PurposeAs specific objectives, we intend to: (1) measure the connectivity between the spillovers of returns from the financial and nonfinancial sectors of the Brazilian stock market; (2) estimate the spillovers of individual returns for each sector to identify periods of higher and lower profits over a period of around eight years; (3) investigate the existence of relationships between these repercussions between pairs of sectoral indices, evaluating how much each specific sector transfers to each other and the market as a whole and (4) examine whether the connectivity of the Brazilian stock market itself and future interest rates in the USA and Brazil as well as the risk of the Brazilian economy, were explanatory variables of the dynamics of interdependence in the returns of these indices.Design/methodology/approachWith a daily series of closing prices of sectoral indices from March 3, 2015, until June 21, 2023, we researched eight of the most relevant sectoral indices on the São Paulo Stock Exchange (B3). With this data, we estimate the Diebold–Yilmaz spillover index and frequency decompositions of Barunik–Krehlik.FindingsThe conclusions indicate that there is an overall connection of 66% in the financial and nonfinancial sectoral indices, with a peak of 83%. The consumer, energy and public services sectors stand out as significant sources of primary spillovers. When we classified secondary effects into periods, we saw that the shocks dissipated as time passed and the returns of the commodity index remained resilient across all periods.Originality/valueOur conclusions highlight the influence of three main factors in sectors with a high degree of connectivity: periods of increased uncertainty; negative externalities in post-crisis periods and the impact of financial news on market sentiment. We think this study provides information that can be useful for policymakers, investors, investment portfolio managers, economists (financial, monetary and industrial), investment consultants and researchers who are interested in the complex interconnection among emerging market stock indices.
Executive individualism and the tone of firms' annual reports
Authors: Jiang Wei , Shi Chuyue , Li Yu , Xie Sujuan 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBased on the literature on cross‐cultural psychology, this study examines the effect of executive individualism on the tone of the management discussion and analysis (MD&A) sections of firms' annual reports within one country. By employing an executive's place of origin in northern (southern) China to measure executive individualism (collectivism), we find that executive individualism increases the positive tone of the MD&A sections of firms' annual reports. Further analyses show that the positive relationship between executive individualism and MD&A tone is more pronounced when the executive has a longer tenure or is a local (vs. a non‐local). Finally, we find that executive individualism reduces the informativeness of MD&A in predicting firms' future accounting performance. In sum, the findings of this study suggest that executives' personal traits have important implications for the tone and informativeness of corporate non‐financial reporting.
Insights into microstructure and expression of markers of proliferation, apoptosis and T cells in the spleen of cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Authors: Abdellatif Ahmed M. , Basha Walaa Abdelwahab Abdelghani 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe spleen is the largest secondary lymphoid organ with significant roles in pathogen clearance. It is involved in several avian diseases. The cattle egret is a wild insectivorous bird of agricultural and socioeconomic importance. Data related to microstructural features of cattle egret spleen are lacking. The present study investigated the gross anatomical, histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of the cattle egret spleen. Proliferation (PCNA and PHH3), apoptosis (cleaved caspase 3, C.CASP3) and T‐cell (CD3 and CD8) markers were assessed. Grossly, the spleen appeared brownish red, oval‐shaped and located at the oesophago‐proventricular junction. Histologically, the spleen was surrounded by a thin capsule sending a number of trabeculae which contained branches of the splenic vessels. The white pulp consisted of the periarteriolar lymphoid sheath and periellipsoidal lymphatic sheath (PELS). The red pulp was formed of sinusoids and cords. The penicillar capillaries, which represent the terminal segments of the splenic arterial tree were highly branched, wrapped by prominent ellipsoids and directly connected to the splenic sinusoids, suggesting a closed type of circulation. Immunohistochemically, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)‐expressing cells were distributed with high counts throughout the splenic parenchyma, being highest within the splenic cords and PELS. Both PHH3‐ and C.CASP3‐expressing cells revealed a similar pattern to that of PCNA, although with fewer counts. Large numbers of T cells were observed throughout the splenic parenchyma, mainly within the cords, as revealed by CD3 and CD8 immunoreaction. The present study provides a clear insight into the precise structure of the spleen in cattle egrets and thus improves our understanding about birds' immunity.
The gross reproductive morphology of the male Temminck's pangolin Smutsia temminckii (Smuts, 1832)
Authors: Tink Lauren Nicole , Jansen Raymond , Steyn Christine 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe Temminck's pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) is one of eight pangolin species worldwide and the only pangolin present in southern Africa. Historically, pangolins have not been able to reproduce successfully in captivity and this may be in part due to the lack of knowledge and understanding with regards to the pangolin reproductive system (anatomy, physiology, biology) in all eight species. This original study describes the gross anatomy of the male Temminck's pangolin from three adult individuals investigated. The male Temminck's pangolin presented a short, conical penis with ascrotal (internal) testes, similar to many other myrmecophagous mammals such as the aardvark (Orycteropus sp.) and anteaters (suborder: Vermilingua). However, the orientation of the penis of the Temminck's pangolin differed in that it was oriented cranioventrally, in contrast to the caudal orientation of the giant anteater. The testes were found to be bilaterally flattened with an elongate oval shape, similar to the aardvark. The specific characteristics of the reproductive tract of the male Temminck's pangolins are thought to be adaptations to their peculiar lifestyle as the male portrays characteristics that indicate adaptation to a lower basal metabolic rate and body temperature as well as to their defensive mechanism of rolling up into a ball. Our study suggests the male Temminck's pangolin reproductive anatomy is most similar and comparable to the Xenarthrans and the aardvark that display the same fossorial activities as pangolins, and the male morphology is not comparable to the phylogenetically closely‐related Carnivora.
Effect of impeller rotational phase on the FDA blood pump velocity fields
Authors: Ucak Kagan , Karatas Faruk , Pekkan Kerem 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) blood pump is an open‐source benchmark cardiovascular device introduced for validating computational and experimental performance analysis tools. The time‐resolved velocity field for the whole impeller has not been established, as is undertaken in this particle image velocimetry (PIV) study. The level of instantaneous velocity fluctuations is important, to assess the flow‐induced rotor vibrations which may contribute to the total blood damage.MethodsTo document these factors, time‐resolved two‐dimensional PIV experiments were performed that were precisely phase‐locked with the impeller rotation angle. The velocity fields in the impeller and in the volute conformed with the previous single blade passage experiments of literature.ResultsDepending on the impeller orientation, present experiments showed that volute outlet nozzle flow can fluctuate up to 34% during impeller rotation, with a maximum standard experimental uncertainty of 2.2%. Likewise, the flow fields in each impeller passage also altered in average 33.5%. Considerably different vortex patterns were observed for different blade passages, with the largest vortical structures reaching an average core radii of 7 mm. The constant volute area employed in the FDA pump design contributes to the observed velocity imbalance, as illustrated in our velocity measurements.ConclusionsBy introducing the impeller orientation parameter for the nozzle flow, this study considers the possible uncertainties influencing pump flow. Expanding the available literature data, analysis of inter‐blade relative velocity fields is provided here for the first‐time to the best of our knowledge. Consequently, our research fills a critical knowledge gap in the understanding of the flow dynamics of an important benchmark cardiovascular device. This study prompts the need for improved hydrodynamic designs and optimized devices to be used as benchmark test devices, to build more confidence and safety in future ventricular assist device performance assessment studies.
Climate change, production and trade in apples
Authors: Larue Bruno , Ker Alan P. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIn this paper, we investigate the impacts of climate extremes on the production and trade of apples. Apple production being notoriously sensitive to climate shocks, we show that March and April temperatures and precipitations beyond estimated thresholds cause large yield reductions in Quebec and Ontario. In years when climate shocks are large and highly correlated across space, large variations in national production cause major variations in trade flows. Hence, we exploit the theoretical foundations of a sectoral structural gravity model to implement counterfactual trade experiments about harvest shocks in Canada and the United States. We report changes in tariffs, imports, exports, farmgate prices, and in consumer welfare. The shocks greatly impact trade between North American countries but have little impact on other countries except for Chile and New Zealand which see their exports grow.
Projecting investment potential of an emerging forest bioeconomy market: An EU—Australian benchmarking study
Authors: Garvie Leanda C. , Brown Mark , Lee David J. , Kulišić Biljana 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn emerging markets, investment costs tend to be associated with uncertainty, especially if the investment is policy driven. Globally, nations have agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to keep the temperature increase below 1.5°C by 2100. Australia faces challenges in achieving its Paris Agreement Nationally Determined Contributions and Agenda 2030 commitments, mostly given the extraction profile of its economy. Introducing renewable carbon from forest residues in the niche markets could increase the competitiveness of the forest industry not only in terms of reduced energy costs but also in terms of ‘greening’ the primary product. Growing interest in the bioenergy market, linked with large volumes of available biomass feedstocks including forest residues, presents opportunities in Australia. Yet, ambiguity about costs and concerns about biomass supply throttle the investment potential. This paper aims to estimate a range of forest residue costs along the supply chain for the Australian market by projecting the biomass supply costs from a mature bioenergy market onto it using a benchmarking process reinforced by expert opinion. A three‐round Delphi method in which experts indicated direction and range of costs along the forest biomass supply chain revealed that roadside costs of forest residues (other than stumps), and biomass transportation costs, are lower than or equal to and equal to or higher than, the EU costs respectively. Experts ranked investment and supply‐side support as priority areas for the development of forest bioenergy in Australia. The expert estimations of forest residue cost ranges along the supply chain offer the first layer for framing a national policy for forest bioenergy within the broader bioeconomy.
Nutritional and functional aspects of fermented algae
Authors: Sarıtaş Sümeyye , Duman Hatice , Karav Sercan 
Published: June 2024

SummaryIn recent years, there has been an increasing emphasis on natural and healthy nutrition, leading to increased interest in fermented foods and their associated health benefits. In line with this trend, fermentation is employed to enhance the exceptional properties of algae, including their nutritional value and digestibility, rendering them suitable for consumption as food. Fermentation of algae involves the conversion of carbohydrates into alcohol or organic acids by microorganisms, including bacteria or yeast. First of all, the fermentation process results in enhanced antioxidant activity, antimicrobial effects, anti‐inflammatory properties, immunomodulatory effects, anti‐glycation activity, antihypertensive effects and neuroprotective activity by increasing the bioavailability of bioactive compounds in algae. In addition, this method encourages the incorporation of algae into food products. In this process, both the flavour and texture are enhanced, while simultaneously preserving and enriching the beneficial nutrients and compounds present in algae. Despite the availability of various fermented algae products in the market, their widespread adoption has yet to be realised. The incorporation of fermented algae into food products not only enhances their nutritional content but also fosters the emergence of a new segment within the fermented food market. Herein, the concept of fermented algae, the fermentation process, its nutritional value and its health benefits are explored.