bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interactome Analysis of Visceral Adipose Tissue Elucidates Gene Regulatory Networks and Novel Gene Candidates in Obesity
Authors: Wang Lijin , Sesachalam Pratap Veerabrahma , Chua Ruiming , Ghosh Sujoy 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACTObjectiveVisceral adiposity is associated with increased proinflammatory activity, insulin resistance, diabetes risk and mortality rate. Numerous individual genes have been associated with obesity, but studies investigating gene-regulatory networks in human visceral obesity are lacking.MethodsWe analyzed gene-regulatory networks in human visceral adipose tissue (VAT) from 48 obese and 11 non-obese Chinese subjects using gene co-expression and network construction with RNA-sequencing data. We also conducted RNA interference-based tests on selected genes for adipocyte differentiation effects.ResultsA scale-free gene co-expression network was constructed from 360 differentially expressed genes between obese and non-obese VAT (absolute log fold-change >1, FDR<0.05) with edge probability >0.8. Gene regulatory network analysis identified candidate transcription factors associated with differentially expressed genes. Fifteen subnetworks (communities) displayed altered connectivity patterns between obese and non-obese networks. Genes in pro-inflammatory pathways showed increased network connectivities in obese VAT whereas the oxidative phosphorylation pathway displayed reduced connections (enrichment FDR<0.05). Functional screening via RNA interference identifiedSOX30andOSBPL3as potential network-derived gene candidates influencing adipocyte differentiation.ConclusionsThis interactome-based approach highlights the network architecture, identifies novel candidate genes, and leads to new hypotheses regarding network-assisted gene regulation in obese vs. non-obese VAT.What is already known about this subject?Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with increased levels of proinflammatory activity, insulin resistance, diabetes risk and mortality rate.Gene expression studies have identified candidate genes associated with proinflammatory function in VAT.What are the new findings in your manuscript?Using integrative network-science, we identified co-expression and gene regulatory networks that are differentially regulated in VAT samples from subjects with and without obesityWe used functional testing (adipocyte differentiation) to validate a subset of novel candidate genes with minimal prior reported associations to obesityHow might your results change the direction of research or the focus of clinical practiceNetwork biology-based investigation provides a new avenue to our understanding of gene function in visceral adiposityFunctional validation screen allows for the identification of novel gene candidates that may be targeted for the treatment of adipose tissue dysfunction in obesity
Mall relevance, shoppers' well-being and mall loyalty: moderating role of social media celebrity
Authors: Javed Hafiz Muhammad Usama , Yaqub Rana Muhammad Shahid , Ali Saqib , Sulaiman Mohammed Ali Bait Ali 
Published: December 2023

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to test the relationship between mall relevance dimensions [(functional relevance (FNR), symbolic relevance (SYR), social relevance (SOR) and environmental relevance (ENR)] and shoppers' well-being (SWB), which in turn influences mall loyalty (ML). In addition, this study aims to investigate the moderating effect of social media celebrities (SMCs) on the association between SWB and ML.Design/methodology/approachA mall intercept survey was used to collect responses from mall shoppers. The authors received 426 valid responses from mall shoppers in Pakistan's three metropolitan cities (i.e. Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad). To test the hypotheses, partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used.FindingsFindings reveal that FNR, SYR, ENR and SOR significantly and positively influence SWB. Similarly, SWB significantly affects ML. Moreover, SMCs moderate the positive relationship between SWB and ML.Originality/valueThis study is one of the pioneer studies examining mall relevance dimensions on SWB. In addition, this study contributes to the retailing literature by testing the moderation effect of SMCs on the relationship between SWB and ML. Likewise, this study provides insights for mall administration to focus on mall relevance in terms of FNR, SYR, ENR and SOR to enhance the current and prospects' SWB. Next, SMCs play a key role in enhancing SWB and ML.
Making it safe: linking healthcare workers' social media use to task performance during public health crises
Authors: Wang Youying , Zhang Shuqin , Gong Lei , Huang Qian 
Published: December 2023

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the effect of social media use on healthcare workers’ psychological safety and task performance and the moderating role of perceived respect from patients during public health crises.Design/methodology/approachTo test the proposed moderated mediation model, a survey was conducted in 12 Chinese medical institutions. A total of 637 valid questionnaires were collected for data analysis.FindingsThe results revealed that psychological safety mediated the relationships between task-related social media (TSM) use and social-related social media (SSM) use and task performance. In addition, perceived respect from patients moderated the relationship between TSM use and psychological safety, as well as the indirect relationship between TSM use and task performance through psychological safety.Originality/valueThis study sheds new light on understanding how different types of social media use influence task performance in the context of public health crises. Furthermore, this study considers the interactions of healthcare workers with colleagues and patients and examines the potential synergistic effects of these interactions on healthcare workers’ psychological state and task performance.
An economic geography approach to the implementation of circular economy – comparing three examples of industry-specific networks in West Sweden
Authors: Ström Patrik , Hermelin Brita 
Published: December 2023

Purpose
The circular economy (CE) has been endorsed as representing a model that is able to achieve environmental protection through decreased use of raw materials, together with changing economic values and social inclusion thanks to its demand for a wide variety of skill profiles. This has motivated many policy initiatives to support the implementation of the CE. The purpose of this study is to follow such policy initiatives in three geographically anchored industry-specific networks.

Design/methodology/approach
The study contributes to the research debate on the CE through a spatial approach with a focus on how the implementation of the CE is conditioned by spatial and regional contexts. The authors investigate three different networks in Sweden for CE with different locations and industrial profiles.

Findings
The findings reveal the difficulty that exist in relation to the implementation of the CE. The network and support functions in combination with private industry are vital. The risk of sustaining an uneven regional economic development is evident.

Originality/value
Although research on the development of the CE has proliferated, geographical approaches to this development are comparably rare to date. The authors seek to contextualise the strategy development and policy implementation of a CE policy.
Employee workplace wellbeing amid disruptions
Authors: Mattar Dorine Maurice , Haddad Joy , Nammour Celine 
Published: December 2023

Purpose
This study aims to assess the effect of job insecurity, customer incivility and work–life imbalance on Lebanese bank employee workplace well-being (EWW), while investigating the moderating role that positive and negative affect might have.

Design/methodology/approach
Quantitative data was collected from 202 respondents and analyzed using structural equation modeling system through IBM SPSS and AMOS.

Findings
Results revealed that each of the independent variables has a negative, statistically significant effect on Lebanese bank EWW. The positive affect and the negative one are shown to have a moderating effect that lessens and boosts, respectively, these negative effects.

Theoretical implications
The study adds to the literature on EWW while highlighting the high-power distance and collectivist society that the research took place in.

Research limitations/implications
Limitations include the sample size that was hoped to be larger, in addition to the self-reporting issue and what it entails in the data collection process.

Practical implications
The study has many practical implications, including the validation of a questionnaire in a developing Arab country, hence providing a reliable tool for researchers. HR specialists should lean toward applicants with positive affect, ensuring that their workplace is occupied by members with enhanced resilience. Furthermore, employers should support their employees’ professional growth, thus, boosting their employability during turmoil and consequently making them less vulnerable in times of economic recession.

Originality/value
The study’s unique context, depicted in the harsh economic and financial crisis, makes the findings on EWW of a high value.
Early‐season mass‐flowering crop cover dilutes wild bee abundance and species richness in temperate regions: A quantitative synthesis
Authors: Riggi L. G. A. , Raderschall C. A. , Fijen T. P. M. , Scheper J. , Smith H. G. , Kleijn D. , Holzschuh A. , Aguilera G. , Badenhausser I. , Bänsch S. , Beyer N. , Blitzer E. J. , Bommarco R. , Danforth B. , González‐Varo J. P. , Grab H. , Le Provost G. , Poveda K. , Potts S. G. , Rundlöf M. , Steffan‐Dewenter I. , Tscharntke T. , Vilà M. , Westphal C. , Berggren Å. , Lundin O. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Pollinators benefit from increasing floral resources in agricultural landscapes, which could be an underexplored co‐benefit of mass‐flowering crop cultivation. However, the impacts of mass‐flowering crops on pollinator communities are complex and appear to be context‐dependent, mediated by factors such as crop flowering time and the availability of other flower resources in the landscape. A synthesis of research is needed to develop management recommendations for effective pollinator conservation in agroecosystems.

By combining 22 datasets from 13 publications conducted in nine temperate countries (20 European, 2 North American), we investigated if mass‐flowering crop flowering time (early or late season), bloom state (during or after crop flowering) and extent of non‐crop habitat cover in the landscape moderated the effect of mass‐flowering crop cover on wild pollinator abundance and species richness in mass‐flowering crop and non‐crop habitats.

During bloom, wild bee abundance and richness are negatively related to mass‐flowering crop cover. Dilution effects were predominant in crop habitats and early in the season, except for bumblebees, which declined with mass‐flowering crop cover irrespective of habitat or season. Late in the season and in non‐crop habitats, several of these negative relationships were either absent or reversed. Late‐season mass‐flowering crop cover is positively related to honeybee abundance in crop habitats and to other bee abundance in non‐crop habitats. These results indicate that crop‐adapted species, like honeybees, move to forage and concentrate on late‐season mass‐flowering crops at a time when flower availability in the landscape is limited, potentially alleviating competition for flower resources in non‐crop habitats. We found no evidence of pollinators moving from mass‐flowering crop to non‐crop habitats after crop bloom.

Synthesis and applications: Our results confirm that increasing early‐season mass‐flowering crop cover dilutes wild pollinators in crop habitats during bloom. We find that dilution effects were absent late in the season. While mass‐flowering crop cultivation alone is unlikely to be sufficient for maintaining pollinators, as part of carefully designed diverse crop rotations or mixtures combined with the preservation of permanent non‐crop habitats, it might provide valuable supplementary food resources for pollinators in temperate agroecosystems, particularly later in the season when alternative flower resources are scarce.
Practicing modernity at home: Expert discourses and women's narratives on household in late socialist Poland
Authors: Stańczak‐Wiślicz Katarzyna 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis article explores gendered notions of modernity in late socialist Poland in the context of the household. It examines the scenarios of modernity for the household that were developed by various expert bodies and popularised by the mass media, and women's memoirs written as competition entries that describe their everyday practices. The main aim of this analysis is to examine how the memoirists responded to expert discourses about gendered modernity at home. The article shows that although they appear to have understood how to produce their life stories to interweave their experiences with official political discourse, the memoirs can be considered a valuable source that describes how individuals understood modernity, and how expert discourses affected their value system.
The triple threat: How green technology innovation, green energy production, and financial development impact environmental quality?
Authors: Zulfiqar Muhammad , Fatima Arooj , Ullah Muhammad Rizwan , Huo Weidong , Pervaiz Amber , Ghafoor Sadeen 
Published: December 2023

AbstractAn exponential and sustained increase in carbon emissions is worsening environmental quality and causing a global warming crisis. Climate change and global warming are now considered a major environmental threat to human civilization. The study, thus, intends to analyze the impact of green technological innovation, green energy production and financial development on environmental quality. For the analysis, the study uses two different measures of environmental quality: carbon emissions and ecological footprints. We collected panel data from various South Asian countries from 2000 to 2021. After observing the basic characteristics of data, we employ Fully Modified and Dynamic Ordinary Least Square models to examine the data. The study reports significant contributions of green energy production, green technological innovation, and financial development in determining environmental quality across the South Asian region. The study recommends increasing green energy production, technological innovation, and financial development to improve environmental quality.
Effects and molecular mechanism of sugar transporter ESA_RS15745 on desiccation resistance, motility, and biofilm formation of Cronobacter sakazakii
Authors: Ping Li , Zhengyang Zhang , Mohan Si , Ruihong Wang , Zhengang Li , Wen Lv , Xuemeng Ji , Yue Cheng , Xinjun Du , Shuo Wang 
Published: December 2023

AbstractCronobacter sakazakii, an important Gram‐negative foodborne pathogen, can cause neonatal meningitis and sepsis with high rates of infection and death. Gene ESA_RS15745 encodes a sugar transporter protein, which is not only essential for osmotic pressure maintenance during bacterial growth and reproduction but also associated with their desiccation tolerance, motility, and biofilm formation. Here, a mutant strain of ESA_RS15745 (ΔESA_RS15745) and the complementation strain (cpESA_RS15745) were constructed using a suicide vector knockout and gene complementation. ΔESA_RS15745 was found to have a decrease in its ability to transport maltose and trehalose and resist desiccation, whereas an increase in the ability of motility and biofilm formation, implying that ESA_RS15745 may positively regulate sugar transport and desiccation tolerance and negatively regulate motility and biofilm formation. To further investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the function of related genes, RNA‐seq was performed to explore the differentially expressed genes in the mutants. RNA‐seq results showed the upregulation of 114 genes (mainly including those regulating chemotaxis and flagellar motility) and the downregulation of 22 genes (mainly including those regulating sugar transport). qRT‐PCR analysis supported the RNA‐seq results and showed that ESA_RS15745 may influence the dehydration tolerance though decreasing the intracellular trehalose content and negatively regulate the motility though the chemotactic signaling pathway. In addition, the biofilm formation of C. sakazakii should also be speculated to negatively regulate by ESA_RS15745 by consuming the extracellular carbohydrates concentration and then downregulating the intracellular cyclic diguanosine monophosphate. This study offers a reference for comprehending the molecular mechanism of gene ESA_RS15745 in C. sakazakii.
Flours from Spondias mombin and Spondias tuberosa seeds: Physicochemical characterization, technological properties, and antioxidant, antibacterial, and antidiabetic activities
Authors: Oliveira Felipe Carlos de Macêdo , Holanda Tatiana Moura Vasconcelos , de Assis Cristiane Fernandes , Xavier Júnior Francisco Humberto , de Sousa Júnior Francisco Canindé 
Published: December 2023

AbstractYellow mombin (Spondias mombin) and Brazil plum (Spondias tuberosa) seeds are byproducts of exploiting their pulp and currently have no relevant food or industrial applications. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical, technological, and functional characteristics of flours obtained from yellow mombin (YMF) and Brazil plum (BPF) residues. The flours presented a high percentage of insoluble fiber (68.8–70.2 g/100 g) and low carbohydrate (2.7–4.0 g/100 g) and caloric (91.9–95.3 kcal) values. The flours showed potential for technological application. In addition, the highest concentration of total phenolic content (31.1–50.2 mg GAE/g) was obtained with 70% acetone, which provided excellent results for antioxidant capacity evaluated by 2,2′‐azinobis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (81.0%–89.7%) and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (60.6%–69.1%) radical scavenging capacity assays. Flour extracts in 70% acetone also exhibited inhibition of α‐amylase (63.3%–78.8%) and amyloglucosidase (63.5%–71.0%). The antibacterial study revealed that extracts inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Burkholderia cepacia, and Burkholderia multivorans. Therefore, this study suggests the use of yellow mombin and Brazil plum residues for different food or industrial applications.Practical ApplicationThe knowledge gained from this study will open a new approach to add value to yellow mombin and Brazil plum fruit seeds as sources of fiber and bioactive compounds, with promising application in the formulation of functional and nutraceutical products, benefiting both a sustainable environment and a sustainable industry.
Effect of ultrasound and thermal pretreatments on antioxidant activity of egg white hydrolysate
Authors: Prawulanari Astri Suryani , Noisa Parinya , Thumanu Kanjana , Yongsawatdigul Jirawat 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe use of ultrasonic (US) treatment of egg white prior to enzymatic hydrolysis to produce hydrolysate with antioxidant activity was investigated. The state of egg white (raw vs. cooked form) along with two levels of Alcalase (1% and 10% (w/w) protein) was applied. Hydrolysis and antioxidant activity of hydrolysate increased by US pretreatment at intensity of 41.53 W/cm2. The hydrolysate prepared from US treatment on raw egg white hydrolyzed by 1% Alcalase (US‐R1%) showed the lowest degree of hydrolysis (DH); however, its 2,2′‐azinobis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power activities were the highest. In contrast, the highest cytoprotective effect and intracellular reactive oxygen species scavenging activity were more notable in the hydrolysate prepared from US treatment of boiled egg white hydrolyzed by 10% Alcalase (US‐B10%), which also exhibited the highest DH and metal chelation ability. The hydrolysate possessing cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) showed the highest proportion of small molecular weight peptides (<200 Da). Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy revealed an increase of N‐ and C‐terminal ends at 1500 and 1400 cm−1, respectively, in concomitant with a decrease of amide I. Principal component analysis showed clear differentiation of spectra from different levels of enzyme according to their DH, C‐terminal ends, and antioxidant activity. Our findings suggested that cooked egg white followed by US pretreatment was beneficial to produce hydrolysate containing high CAA.
Lipoteichoic acid restrains macrophage senescence via β‐catenin/FOXO1/REDD1 pathway in age‐related osteoporosis
Authors: Cheng Weike , Fu Yong , Lin Zexin , Huang Mouzhang , Chen Yingqi , Hu Yanjun , Lin Qingrong , Yu Bin , Liu Guanqiao 
Published: December 2023

AbstractOsteoporosis and its related fractures are common causes of morbidity and mortality in older adults, but its underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we found that lipoteichoic acid (LTA) treatment could ameliorate age‐related bone degeneration and attenuate intramedullary macrophage senescence. FOXO1 signaling, which was downregulated and deactivated in aging macrophages, played a key role in the process. Blocking FOXO1 signaling caused decreased REDD1 expression and increased phosphorylation level of mTOR, a major driver of aging, as well as aggravated bone loss and deteriorated macrophage senescence. Moreover, LTA elevated FOXO1 signaling through β‐catenin pathway while β‐catenin inhibition significantly suppressed FOXO1 signaling, promoted senescence‐related protein expression, and accelerated bone degeneration and macrophage senescence. Our findings indicated that β‐catenin/FOXO1/REDD1 signaling plays a physiologically significant role that protecting macrophages from senescence during aging.
Agri‐food trade channel and the ASEAN macroeconomic impacts from output and price shocks
Authors: Raghavan Mala , Khan Faisal , Devadason Evelyn S. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis paper examines the diffusion of external (output and price) shocks to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) through the agri‐food trade channel for the 1990Q1 to 2020Q4 period. For that purpose, the study develops a Global Vector Autoregressive (GVAR) model to simulate the region's economic resilience (output, inflation, interest rate and exchange rate) from various external shocks. We find that the agri‐food channel is relevant in the shock propagation to ASEAN. There are more pronounced output effects on ASEAN from global output shocks relative to regional output shocks channeled through agri‐food trade. However, the macroeconomic responses of ASEAN to global price shocks are not uniform due to the different consumption intensities of oil and raw materials, with negative and positive output effects from oil price shocks and raw material price shocks, respectively. Overall, ASEAN is more vulnerable to oil price shocks than to raw material price shocks. Our results emphasize that the distributional impacts of the agri‐food trade channel and the ASEAN region's ability to mitigate the effects of global shocks depend on the degree of trade linkages and the region's capacity to counter the demand contractions and supply disruptions. The findings suggest that ASEAN should be cautious about the global shocks penetrating through the agri‐food channel to address its macroeconomic vulnerabilities and better manage its economic resiliency.