bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Species Tree Topology Impacts the Inference of Ancient Whole-Genome Duplications Across the Angiosperm Phylogeny
Authors: McKibben Michael T. W. , Finch Geoffrey , Barker Michael S. 
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACTPremiseThe history of angiosperms is marked by repeated rounds of ancient whole-genome duplications (WGDs). Here we use state of the art methods to provide an up-to-date view of the distribution of WGDs in the history of angiosperms that considers both the uncertainty introduced by inference methods and alternative phylogenetic hypotheses.MethodsTranscriptomic and genomic data were used to infer and place WGDs across two hypothesized angiosperm phylogenies. Initial WGD hypotheses were made using rate corrections to the distribution of synonymous divergences (Ks) of paralogs and orthologs. WGD hypotheses were tested using syntenic inferences and Bayesian models of duplicate gene gain and loss across the phylogeny.Key resultsThe number of ancient WGDs in the history of angiosperms (∼170) is largely similar across different inference methods, but there is often variation in the precise placement of WGDs on the phylogeny. Ksbased methods often yield alternative hypothesized WGD placements largely due to variation in substitution rates among lineages. Phylogenetic models of duplicate gene gain and loss are more robust to topological variation, allowing for post hoc testing of WGD hypotheses. However, errors in species tree inference can still produce spurious WGD hypotheses regardless of method used.ConclusionsHere we show that different WGD inference methods largely agree on an average of 3.5 WGD in the history of angiosperm species. However, the precise placement of WGDs on the phylogeny is subject to the inference method and tree topology. As researchers continue to test hypotheses regarding the impacts ancient WGDs have on angiosperm evolution, it is important to consider the uncertainty of the phylogeny as well as WGD inference methods.
Emx2 is an essential regulator of ciliated cell development across embryonic tissues
Authors: Nguyen Thanh Khoa , Rodriguez John-Michael , Wesselman Hannah M. , Wingert Rebecca A. 
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACTCilia are hair-like organelles with vital physiological roles, and ciliogenesis defects underlie a range of severe congenital malformations and human diseases. Here, we report that theempty spiracles homeobox gene 2 (emx2)transcription factor is essential for cilia development across multiple embryonic tissues including the ear, neuromasts and Kupffer’s vesicle (KV), which establishes left/right axial pattern.emx2deficient embryos manifest altered fluid homeostasis and kidney defects including decreased multiciliated cells (MCCs), revealing thatemx2is essential to properly establish several renal lineages as well. Further,emx2deficiency disrupted ciliogenesis on renal monociliated cells and MCCs, and led to aberrant basal body positioning in kidney cells. Interestingly, we discovered thatemx2deficiency was associated with reduced expression of key factors which regulate prostaglandin biosynthesis: the transcriptional regulatorperoxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 1 alpha(ppargc1a) and its downstream targetprostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 1(ptgs1), which encodes a crucial enzyme for production of the prostanoid ligand prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Importantly, both ciliogenesis and renal fate changes were rescued whenemx2deficient embryos were provided with PGE2or transcripts encodingptgs1orppargc1a. Taken together, our findings reveal new essential roles ofemx2in cilia development across several tissues, and identifyemx2as a critical, novel regulator of prostaglandin biosynthesis during renal development and ciliogenesis.
Molecular mechanisms underlying single nucleotide polymorphism-induced reactivity decrease in CYP2D6
Authors: Becker Daniel , Bharatam Prassad V. , Gohlke Holger 
Published: January 2024

AbstractCytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is one of the most important enzymes involved in drug metabolism. Genetic polymorphism can influence drug metabolism by CYP2D6 such that a therapy is seriously affected by under- or overdosing of drugs. However, a general explanation at the atomistic level for poor activity is missing so far. Here we show for the 20 most common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CYP2D6 that poor metabolism is driven by four mechanisms. We found in extensive all-atom molecular dynamics simulations that the rigidity of the I-helix (central helix), distance between central phenylalanines (stabilizing bound substrate), availability of basic residues on the surface of CYP2D6 (binding of Cytochrome P450 reductase), and position of arginine 132 (electron transfer to heme) are essential for an extensive function of the enzyme. These results were applied to SNPs with unknown effects and potential SNPs that may lead to poor drug metabolism were identified. The revealed molecular mechanisms might be important for other drug-metabolizing Cytochrome P450 enzymes.Table of Contents Graphic
Examining the barriers to implementing design for deconstruction in the construction industry of a developing country
Authors: Pittri Hayford , Godawatte Godawatte Arachchige Gimhan Rathnagee , Agyekum Kofi , Botchway Edward Ayebeng , Dompey Annabel Morkporkpor Ami , Oduro Samuel , Asamoah Eric 
Published: January 2024

Purpose
Despite endeavors to alleviate construction and demolition waste and the indications that the process of deconstruction has the potential to steer waste reduction initiatives, there has not been a progressive increase in the adoption of Design for Deconstruction (DfD) in the global south, especially Ghana. This paper aims to identify and analyze the barriers to implementing DfD in developing countries.

Design/methodology/approach
A structured questionnaire survey was used to solicit the views of 240 design professionals in the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI). The questionnaire was developed by reviewing pertinent literature and complemented with a pilot review. Data were analyzed using descriptive and nonparametric statistics.

Findings
The findings revealed ten (10) significant impediments to implementing DfD within the construction industries in developing economies. These impediments revolve around cost, legal matters, storage, incentive and design-related matters. Key among these barriers is “For recovered materials, there are little performance guarantees,” “The absence of strict regulations regarding design for deconstruction,” “Lack of a large market enough for components that have been recovered,” “The need for building codes that address how to design with reused materials” and “Lack of effective design for deconstruction tools.”

Originality/value
The results of this research shed light on a relatively unexplored area within the construction sector, particularly in a developing country like Ghana. Furthermore, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the study contributes fresh and supplementary knowledge and perspectives regarding the challenges in implementing DfD practices.
Armani Exchange: the dilemma of store expansion
Authors: Dwivedi Hemverna , Kushwaha Rohit , Joshi Pradeep 
Published: January 2024

Learning outcomes
In the light of the case study and the accompanying case study questions, the incumbent would be able to gain a comprehensive understanding on the theoretical underpinnings of retail store expansion, identify the challenges for expanding a brand into emerging markets such as India and apply various marketing strategies aimed at in-depth analysis retail expansion. Learners can further comprehend the importance of brand communication incorporated by the brand to attract its customer subset.

Case overview/synopsis
It was in December 2022, when Mason Chatterjee, the Indian brand head of Armani Exchange (A|X), was confronted with the managerial dilemma whether launching the second store in the city of Ahmedabad would be a right decision. Another issue that was troubling him was how to go about launching a second store in a city which was not a home to other luxury sublabels. The case study illustrates the decisional aspect of retail expansion adopted by Chatterjee, considering the distinct managerial perspectives. Chatterjee found potential in the city of Ahmedabad, owing to an increased number of high-net-worth individuals and other macro factors. The case study is primarily an outcome of research carried out at A|X store at Ahmedabad One mall, Ahmedabad, for over a fortnight in the month of February 2023. The expansion decision of Chatterjee proved to be a success in the city of Ahmedabad reaching a sales figure of INR 1 crore (US$130,344.11) in the very first month of its launch. However, he was confronted with the managerial dilemma of further expansion, just six months after the launch of the latest expansion.

Complexity academic level
The case study is intended for advanced undergraduates or postgraduate programs in management or electives such as marketing, retail management and strategic management. It has not only been specifically designed for teaching the concept of retail expansion but can also be used to integrate contexts on brand’s merchandise mix, retail positioning, visual merchandising and brand communication. The case study has an overview of each of these elements. The instructor may choose them into the context for a wider encompassing detailed lesson or particularly on the main aspect of the case.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code
CSS8: Marketing
Evolving needs of men at the workplace: an Indian perspective
Authors: Sinha Sweta , Ghosh Koustab 
Published: January 2024

Purpose
This paper aims to explore the evolving needs of Indian men and their aspirations regarding work–life balance practices. The ultimate aim is to assess whether the available policies are helpful and to explore the various roadblocks in their implementation.

Design/methodology/approach
This study takes a qualitative approach and draws on the semi-structured interviews of Indian men (N = 19).

Findings
The analysis revealed an asymmetrical approach of organizations toward implementing employee benefit policies. The organizations remain plagued by the notion that “benefits policies” are needed only by women to carry out additional family responsibilities, whereas men remain aloof from such responsibilities, which takes its strength from the patriarchal roots of Indian society. This study reveals two major themes: lack of appreciation for gender egalitarianism arising among men at the work–family interface’ and the coping practices by men to address their ‘role strain arising due to work–family conflict. It is noted that there is a need to formulate policies and practices to cater to men’s evolving aspirations toward the family–work interface.

Originality/value
This study furthers the debate on inclusive policies for employees and examines the subsection of men for their evolving needs and aspirations. Although organizations live in the glory of having employee-friendly policies, they offer little help in advancing gender neutrality in the workplace. The inclusive policies shall also be helpful for females because it would increase the availability of their partners/spouses to share the family responsibilities.
Conductive panel cooling by using coupled effects of nano-jet impingement, double rotating cylinders and magnetic field under cross-flow
Authors: Selimefendigil Fatih , Oztop Hakan F. 
Published: January 2024

Purpose
This study aims to examine the effects of cross-flow and multiple jet impingement on conductive panel cooling performance when subjected to uniform magnetic field effects. The cooling system has double rotating cylinders.

Design/methodology/approach
Cross-flow ratios (CFR) ranging from 0.1 to 1, magnetic field strength (Ha) ranging from 0 to 50 and cylinder rotation speed (Rew) ranging from −5,000 to 5,000 are the relevant parameters that are included in the numerical analysis. Finite element method is used as solution technique. Radial basis networks are used for the prediction of average Nusselt number (Nu), average surface temperature of the panel and temperature uniformity effects when varying the impacts of cross-flow, magnetic field and rotations of the double cylinder in the cooling channel.

Findings
The effect of CFR on cooling efficiency and temperature uniformity is favorable. By raising the CFR to the highest value under the magnetic field, the average Nu can rise by up to 18.6%, while the temperature drop and temperature difference are obtained as 1.87°C and 3.72°C. Without cylinders, magnetic field improves the cooling performance, while average Nu increases to 4.5% and 8.8% at CR = 0.1 and CR = 1, respectively. When the magnetic field is the strongest with cylinders in channel at CFR = 1, temperature difference (ΔT) is obtained as 2.5 °C. The rotational impacts on thermal performance are more significant when the cross-flow effects are weak (CFR = 0.1) compared to when they are substantial (CFR = 1). Cases without a cylinder have the worst performance for both weak and severe cross-flow effects, whereas using two rotating cylinders increases cooling performance and temperature uniformity for the conductive panel. The average surface temperature lowers by 1.2°C at CFR = 0.1 and 0.5°C at CFR = 1 when the worst and best situations are compared.

Originality/value
The outcomes are relevant in the design and optimization-based studies for electric cooling, photo-voltaic cooling and battery thermal management.
The determinants of life insurance companies profitability in South Africa: new evidence from a dynamic panel threshold estimation technique
Authors: Horvey Sylvester Senyo , Odei-Mensah Jones , Mushai Albert 
Published: January 2024

PurposeInsurance companies play a significant role in every economy; hence, it is essential to investigate and understand the factors that propel their profitability. Unlike previous studies that present a linear relationship, this study provides initial evidence by exploring the non-linear impacts of the determinants of profitability amongst life insurers in South Africa.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a panel dataset of 62 life insurers in South Africa, covering 2013–2019. The generalised method of moments and the dynamic panel threshold estimation technique were used to estimate the relationship.FindingsThe empirical results from the direct relationship reveal that investment income and solvency significantly predict life insurance companies' profitability. On the other hand, underwriting risk, reinsurance and size reduce profitability. Further, the dynamic panel threshold analysis confirms non-linearities in the relationships. The results show that insurance size, investment income and solvency promote profitability beyond a threshold level, implying a propelling effect on life insurers' profitability at higher levels. Below the threshold, these factors have an adverse effect. The study further points to underwriting risk, reinsurance and leverage having a reduced effect on life insurers' profitability when they fall above the threshold level.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that insurers interested in boosting their profit position must commit more resources to maintain their solvency and manage their assets and returns on investment. The study further recommends that effective control of underwriting risk is critical to the profitability of the life insurance industry.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the literature by providing first-time evidence on the determinants of life insurance companies' profitability by way of exploring threshold effects in South Africa.
Assessing the provisions for sustainability in economics degree programmes
Authors: Leal Filho Walter , Dinis Maria Alzira Pimenta , Morales Maria F. , Semitiel-García María , Noguera-Méndez Pedro , Ruiz de Maya Salvador , Alarcón-del-Amo María-del-Carmen , Esteban-Lloret Nuria , Pemartín María 
Published: January 2024

Purpose
Higher education institutions (HEIs) offer courses and programmes focusing on sustainability in economics, as courses on sustainable development (SD), which examine the economic, social and environmental dimensions of SD. This paper aims to examine sustainability integration in economics degree programmes.

Design/methodology/approach
Through an extensive literature review in Web of Science (WoS) and information search in Google, conducting to 28 relevant case studies, this paper elucidates the emphasis given to sustainability as part of economics degree programmes in HEIs.

Findings
The results suggest that, whereas the inclusion of sustainability components in this field is a growing trend, much still needs to be done to ensure that matters related to SD are part of the routine of university students studying economics.

Research limitations/implications
It is worth noting that the literature review conducted in WoS was primarily aimed at assisting in the selection of university case studies. The 28 university case studies scrutinised in this study may lack sufficient representation from numerous developing countries.

Practical implications
This study highlights challenges in integrating the SD into economics degree programmes, suggesting the need for curriculum adjustments as underscoring operational issues, acting as barriers. The inclusion of sustainability in economics programmes must navigate operational issues stemming from packed timetables and busy schedules, requiring innovative solutions.

Social implications
As far as the authors are aware, this study holds substantial importance in its emphasis on implementing sustainability within HEIs’ economics programmes, assisting in pursuing SD.

Originality/value
The novelty of this study lies in addressing sustainability with the specific economics focus programmes within the HEIs context.
Mutually beneficial? Middle school educators’ perceptions about the benefits and challenges of a school–university partnership
Authors: DiCicco Michael , Faulkner Shawn A. 
Published: January 2024

PurposeThe paper identifies and explores the perspectives of middle school educators regarding the benefits and challenges of an ongoing, emerging school–university partnership. Over five years, professors at one comprehensive, Midwestern university, formed a partnership with a local middle school. While progress has been made to develop the partnership, the authors recognized a lack of shared governance (Essential 7). In particular, they were unsure the partnership was mutually beneficial. The authors interviewed teachers, the principal, assistant principals, guidance counselors, the instructional coach and the youth service center director to gain their perspectives on the partnership.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used an intrinsic, evaluative case study to examine educators perceptions of the benefits and challenges of the partnership (Guba & Lincoln, 1981; Patton, 2002). This approach was used because within this bounded system the authors have an interest in obtaining information to help improve the program and partnership.FindingsResults suggest the partnership was beneficial in a number of ways including hiring of and offering fresh ideas to teachers. Educators also felt there were many benefits for university candidates. Challenges included scheduling, technology access and candidate disposition. Implications are discussed.Research limitations/implicationsInherent within the research methodology, researchers’ inclusion in the data collection process may affect participants responses.Practical implicationsResearchers discuss the implications of this work, including the role of hiring candidates and clear articulation of a mission for the partnership.Originality/valueThis work adds to research on school site stakeholders’ perspectives on the value of school–university partnerships and includes teachers and the schools’ entire leadership team.
Dynamics in eukaryotic algal communities regulate bacterial and fungal communities as biocrusts develop in a temperate desert in Central Asia
Authors: Kang Zhao , Lei Zhang , Fei Wang , Kaikai Li , Yali Zhang , Bingchang Zhang 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Eukaryotic algae, as the primary group of photosynthetic autotrophs, exert a significant influence on the development and functions of biological crusts in dryland ecosystems. Despite their importance, there are substantial knowledge gaps on the composition of eukaryotic algal communities and their effects on the distributions of bacteria and fungi in dryland soils.

This study examined the eukaryotic algal community along a successional sequence of biocrusts in the Gurbantunggut desert, while also investigating their patterns of co‐occurrence with bacteria and fungi through high‐throughput sequencing and bioinformatic analyses.

The results showed that nitrogen and phosphorus levels played a crucial role in the regulation of changes in the abundance and composition of the algal community. In particular, changes in the structure of the algal community arise primarily from fluctuations in the main species, rather than from loss and appearance of species during the biocrust succession. The accumulation of nitrogen and phosphorus in the biocrust was associated with the decrease in the relative abundance of Chlorophyta. The results also indicated that eukaryotic algae played an important role in the affecting bacterial and fungal communities and significantly improved the stability of the microbial community, reflected by the robustness of co‐occurrence networks. The network analysis further indicated that eukaryotic algae affected the stability of microbial co‐occurrence networks either by acting as keystone taxa or associating with the keystone bacterial and fungal taxa.

These findings reveal a clear mechanism by which soil nitrogen and phosphorus levels affected the composition of eukaryotic algae communities and further regulated bacterial and fungal communities during biocrust development, providing valuable information on the development and functional execution of biocrusts in dryland ecosystems.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
The effectiveness and consequences of the government's interventions for Hong Kong's residential housing markets
Authors: Deng Yongheng , Han Congyan , Li Teng , Wang Yonglin 
Published: January 2024

AbstractWe study the effectiveness, consequences, and transmission mechanisms of the government's interventions for Hong Kong's residential housing market between 2009 and 2017. We use granular microlevel transaction data and adopt a regression discontinuity design to conduct the empirical analysis. We find that mortgage‐tightening measures effectively curbed the overheated market by reducing price and volume while specific submarkets occasionally experienced volatility. Tax‐driven measures effectively suppressed trading activity but triggered price volatilities across submarkets. Several rounds of measures had a spillover effect on subsidized public housing. Our findings have implications for policymakers seeking to review and revise property market intervention policies in Hong Kong and elsewhere.