bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Expression of Vesicular Glutamate Transporter 1 (VGLUT1) in the Rat Larynx and Implications for Laryngeal Proprioception
Authors: Yu Victoria X. , Hernández-Morato Ignacio , Brenner-Morton Susan , Pitman Michael J. 
Published: March 2023

ABSTRACTProprioception plays a crucial role in laryngeal function. Further, dysfunctional proprioception likely contributes to disorders such as laryngeal dystonia, dysphagia and vocal fold paresis. Despite this, the physiology of laryngeal proprioception is not well-understood. Controversy remains over whether canonical proprioceptive organs, like muscle spindles (MS) even exist in the intrinsic laryngeal muscles (ILM). Vesicular Glutamate Transporter 1 (VGLUT1) expression has been described in the sensory afferents of MS. This study’s primary aim is to determine whether the ILM contain MS using VGLUT1. This is a novel approach, as prior studies have relied on morphology and myosin composition to study this question. Secondarily, we describe the pattern of VGLUT1 expression in the rat larynx, Larynges of 62 Sprague-Dawley rats distributed across 5 age groups (P3, P8, P11, P14-15, and adult), were sectioned and immunostained for VGLUT1 and beta-tubulin III. Other markers (S46, GNAT3, PLCβ2, S100b, CGRP) were used to further characterize identified afferent innervation. Of 62 rats, MS were identified in the lateral thyroarytenoid muscles of just three P8 rats, and no golgi tendon organs (GTO) were seen. VGLUT1-positive intramuscular receptor-like entities were observed ILM, and VGLUT1-positive nerve endings were observed in the laryngeal mucosa, concentrated around the arytenoid cartilage. Employing VGLUT1 immunostaining, this study shows that rat intrinsic laryngeal muscles rarely express MS and do not express GTO. This leaves open the possibility that the larynx exhibits a unique proprioceptive apparatus. VGLUT1-positive intramuscular and mucosal structures provide candidates for an alternative system. Further defining the role of these sensory organs will increase our understanding of vocal fold function and ultimately lead to better treatment of vocal fold disorders.KEY POINTSDysfunctional laryngeal proprioception likely contributes to disorders such as laryngeal dystonia, dysphagia, and vocal fold paresis. Unlike proprioception of skeletal muscles, proprioception of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles is poorly understood.In the present study we demonstrate that canonical proprioceptive organs (muscles spindles and Golgi tendon organs) are rarely expressed in the rat larynx, by studying the expression pattern of VGLUT1.We also demonstrate the presence of other sensory innervation and structures which may contribute to an alternative proprioceptive circuitry, which requires further study.
Glutamatergic neurons in the infralimbic cortex for motivational response of pain relief induced by electroacupuncture
Authors: Liu Hui , Chen Meiyu , Lu Jiaqi , Qin Chuan , Wang Can , Liu Sheng 
Published: March 2023

AbstractPeripheral neuromodulation by electroacupuncture (EA) is a promising tool for both experimental and clinical applications. However, whether EA signals reflect a multidimensional composite and evoke affective and motivational processes remains largely elusive. Here, we demonstrated that EA at ST.36 acupuncture point considerably attenuated pain hypersensitivity at 24h and 48h postincision. In conditioned place preference (CPP) model, one chamber becomes associated with EA through three-day repeated pairings, whereas the other chamber is associated with no EA stimulation. EA stimulation resulted in strong preference for the chamber paired with EA in incisional injury (INP) rats. In contrast, EA at non-acupuncture points in INP rats did not relief pain and produce CPP. Notably, EA with the context in sham-operated animals did not induce CPP. Next, we identified neurons activation in brain associated with affective and motivational aspects of pain after EA stimulation using immediate early gene c-Fos expression in SNI rats. EA stimulation increased c-Fos positive neurons in the IL, but not cingulate (Cg1) and prelimbic (PL) subregion of the mPFC. Sham EA did not increase c-Fos expression in the IL in spared nerve injury (SNI) rats. Using reversible inactivation of IL in rats, inactivation of the IL significantly abolished CPP of pain relief induced by EA. Optogenetic activation of IL glutamatergic neurons mimicked EA-induced analgesia and CPP behaviors, and inhibition of glutamatergic neurons in the IL reversed the effects of EA. The study directly demonstrates a novel and important role for glutamatergic neurons in the infralimbic cortex in acupuncture-induced motivational response of pain relief and provides a new perspective for investigating acupuncture analgesia.
5-iodotubercidin sensitizes cells to RIPK1-dependent necroptosis by interfering with NFκB signaling
Authors: Chauhan Chanchal , Kraemer Andreas , Knapp Stefan , Windheim Mark , Kotlyarov Alexey , Menon Manoj B. , Gaestel Matthias 
Published: March 2023

AbstractReceptor-interacting protein kinases (RIPK) −1 and −3 are master regulators of cell fate decisions in response to diverse stimuli and are subjected to multiple checkpoint controls. Earlier studies have established the presence of distinct IKK1/2 and p38/MK2-dependent checkpoints which suppress RIPK1 activation by directly phosphorylating it at different residues. In the present study, we investigated TNF-induced death in MAPK-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2)-deficient cells and show that MK2-deficiency or inactivation predominantly results in necroptotic cell death, even in the absence of caspase inhibition. While MK2-deficient cells can be rescued from necroptosis by RIPK1 inhibitors, RIPK3 inhibition seems to revert the process triggering apoptosis. To understand the mechanism of this necroptosis switch, we screened a 149-compound kinase inhibitor library for compounds which preferentially sensitize MK2-deficient MEFs to TNF-induced cell death. The most potent inhibitor identified was 5-Iodotubericidin, an adenosine analogue acting as adenosine kinase and protein kinase inhibitor. 5-ITu also potentiated LPS-induced necroptosis when combined with MK2 inhibition in RAW264.7 macrophages. Further mechanistic studies revealed that 5-Iodotubericidin induces RIPK1-dependent necroptosis in the absence of MK2 activity by suppressing IKK signaling. The identification of this role for the multitarget kinase inhibitor 5-ITu in TNF-, LPS- and chemotherapeutics-induced necroptosis will have potential implications in RIPK1-targeted therapies.
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Mechanotransduction Through Serum and Glucocorticoid Inducible Kinase -1 Promotes Interleukin-6 Production and Macrophage Accumulation in Murine Hypertension
Authors: Figueroa Mario , Hall SarahRose , Mattia Victoria , Mendoza Alex , Brown Adam , Xiong Ying , Mukherjee Rupak , Jones Jeffrey A. , Richardson William , Ruddy Jean Marie 
Published: March 2023

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of this investigation was to demonstrate thatin vivoinduction of hypertension (HTN) andin vitrocyclic stretch of aortic VSMCs can cause SGK-1-dependent production of cytokines to promote macrophage accumulation as agents of vascular remodeling.MethodsHTN was induced in C57Bl/6 mice with AngiotensinII (AngII) infusion (1.46mg/kg/day x 21 days) with or without systemic infusion of EMD638683 (2.5mg/kg/day x 21 days), a selective SGK-1 inhibitor. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was recorded on days 0 and 21. At terminal study, abdominal aortas were harvested to quantify SGK-1 activity (pSGK-1:SGK-1) by immunoblot. Additional replicates were digested and analyzed by flow cytometry for abundance of CD11b+/F4-80+cells (macrophages). Plasma was analyzed by ELISA to quantify IL-6 and MCP-1. Aortic VSMCs from wild-type (WT) mice were subjected to 12% biaxial cyclic stretch for 3 or 12 hours +/- EMD638683 (10μM) and +/- SGK-1siRNA with subsequent QPCR for IL-6 and MCP-1 expression. Culture media was analyzed by ELISA for IL-6 and MCP-1. Aortic VSMCs from SGK-1flox+/+mice were transfected with Cre-Adenovirus to knockout SGK-1 (SGK-1KO VSMCs) and underwent parallel tension experimentation. Computational modeling was employed to simulate VSMC signaling due to mechanical strain and AngII. Statistical analysis included ANOVA with significance at p<0.05.ResultsSGK-1 activity (pSGK-1:SGK-1) was upregulated in the abdominal aorta of mice with HTN and significantly reduced by treatment with EMD638683. Concurrently, increased CD11b+/F4-80+cells and plasma IL-6 levels in the HTN group and reduction with EMD638683 was observed. This mirrored the increased abundance of IL-6 in media from Stretch WT VSMCs, and attenuation of the effect with EMD638683. Treating WT VSMCs with SGK-1siRNA likewise inhibited IL-6 expression. MCP-1 also demonstrated increased expression and secretion into the media in WT VSMCs with Stretch. Further supporting the integral role of mechanical signaling through SGK-1, target gene expression and cytokine secretion was unchanged in SGK-1KO VSMCs with Stretch, and computer modeling confirmed SGK-1 as an intersecting node of signaling due to mechanical strain and AngII. In summation, this data suggests a biomechanical link between aortic VSMC mechanotransduction and cytokine production to promote macrophage accumulation, mediated in-part by SGK-1 activation.ConclusionMechanotransduction through SGK-1 is instrumental in pro-inflammatory cytokine production and aortic macrophage accumulation in systemic HTN, therefore further investigation into targeting this kinase may present opportunities to modulate hypertensive vascular remodeling.
Impact of bank competition on financial stability-a study on Indian banks
Authors: Verma Divya , Chakarwarty Yashika 
Published: March 2023

Purpose
Nowadays, the competition is not only emerging from within the banking sector, but nonbanking companies like nonbanking financial companies (NBFCs) and FinTech are also growing in size and numbers, offering innovative financial products and services, giving a stiff competition to Indian banks. Thus, this study aims to investigate whether competition from within and outside the banking sector enhances or reduces the financial stability of the banking industry.

Design/methodology/approach
The study uses Herfindahl–Hirschman index to measure market share and Z score to measure financial stability. The study further examines the role of NBFCs and FinTech companies in impacting the financial stability by introducing variables like innovation, cybercrimes, systemically important institutions, etc. Thereafter, panel regression has been applied.

Findings
Empirical results show a positive relation of market share with financial stability, implying that increased competition in the Indian banking industry erodes the market power, adversely affecting the profit margins which encourages banks to take more risk and which may impact financial stability. The study shows a positive impact of innovation on financial stability which implies that the competition is acting as an enabler for banks. The authors find a negative relation of systemic important NBFCs with financial stability. The authors observe a negative association of cybercrimes with financial stability, reflecting that competition emerging from FinTech sector has exposed banks to new risks.

Research limitations/implications
The policymakers should make sure that the competition of banks with other financial institutions, such as FinTech sector, remains healthy; otherwise, it can jeopardize the entire financial system. It is for the policymakers to define a boundary for FinTech sector, as the development of this sector has exposed the banking industry to new kinds of risks potential to create financial instability. The banks should do a comprehensive check on the company to which it is granting loans, and the government should amend laws. Though big banks have huge potential, consolidations can pose challenges at a macroeconomic level.

Originality/value
FinTech firms are a new entrant in the financial world which are providing immense competition to the banking sector, and thus radically changing the entire financial system. Therefore, it is extremely vital to study and explore the role of NBFCs and the FinTech industry as the main variable to analyze bank competition, which to the best of the authors’ knowledge is completely missing in the previous studies.
Numerical simulation of Bratu’s problem using a new form of the Adomian decomposition technique
Authors: Umesh Umesh 
Published: March 2023

Purpose
This paper aims to discuss a new form of the Adomian decomposition technique for the numerical treatment of Bratu’s type one-dimensional boundary value problems (BVPs). Moreover, the author also addresses convergence and error analysis for the completeness of the proposed technique.

Design/methodology/approach
First, the author discusses the standard Adomian decomposition method and an algorithm based on Duan’s corollary and Rach’s rule for the fast calculation of the Adomian polynomials. Then, a new form of the Adomian decomposition technique is present for the numerical simulation of Bratu’s BVPs.

Findings
The reliability and validity of the proposed technique are examined by calculating the absolute errors of Bratu’s problem for some different values of Bratu parameter λ. Numerical simulation demonstrates that the proposed technique yields higher accuracy than the Bessel collocation and other known methods.

Originality/value
Unlike the other methods, the proposed technique does not need linearization, discretization or perturbation to handle the non-linear problems. So, the results obtained by the present technique are more physically realistic.
Future time perspective and consumer well-being of millennials: implications for consumer resilience
Authors: She Long , Ray Arghya , Ma Lan 
Published: March 2023

PurposeThe study investigated the relationship between future time perspective and financial well-being among Chinese working millennials and its serial mediators, such as financial goal clarity, subjective financial knowledge and responsible financial behaviour, to foster consumer resilience in the financial realm.Design/methodology/approachA total of 526 Chinese working millennials (Mage = 31.78) participated in the online survey in response to questions on demographic characteristics and items to measure the variables adopted in the research model. Covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM) and AMOS version 27 were used to test the research hypotheses.FindingsThe results revealed a positive correlation between future time perspective and financial well-being. Moreover, the results showed that financial goal clarity, subjective financial knowledge and responsible financial behaviour serially mediated the correlation between future time perspective and financial well-being.Practical implicationsThe findings provide implications for companies and policymakers to refine their intervention programmes to boost young millennials' future time perspectives in reinforcing their financial knowledge and financial goal clarity which in turn fosters their responsible financial behaviour in contributing to financial well-being in boosting their overall consumer resilience. Future studies should deepen the way in which the studied factors are leveraged as a tool to improve individuals' resilience in the economic realm.Originality/valueThe findings of this study shed light on the underlying mechanisms that drive and promote the financial well-being of Chinese working millennials.
Urbanization, renewable energy, and carbon dioxide emissions: a pathway to achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Abdulqadir Idris Abdullahi 
Published: March 2023

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate sustainable green economy in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries over the period 1990–2019 using a quantile regression approach, considering the nexus between urbanization, economic growth, renewable energy, trade and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Design/methodology/approach
The study used a dynamic panel quantile regression to investigate the conditional distribution of CO2 emissions along the turn-points of urbanization, economic growth, renewable energy, trade and the regressors via quadratic modeling specifications.

Findings
The main findings are established as follows. There is strong evidence of the Kuznets curve in the nexus between urbanization, economic growth, renewable energy, trade and CO2 emissions, respectively. Second, urbanization thresholds that should not be exceeded for sustainability to reduce CO2 emissions are 0.21%, and 2.70% for the 20th and 75th quantiles of the CO2 emissions distribution. Third, growth thresholds of 3.64%, 3.84%, 4.01%, 4.36% and 5.87% across the quantiles of the CO2 emissions distribution. Fourth, energy thresholds of 3.64%, 3.61%, 3.70%, 4.02% and 4.34% across the quantiles of the CO2 emissions distribution. Fifth, trade thresholds of 3.37% and 4.47% for the 20th and median quantiles of the CO2 emissions distribution, respectively.

Practical implications
The empirical shreds of evidence offer policy implications in such that building sustainable development and environment requires maintaining the critical mass, not beyond those insightful thresholds to achieving sustainable development and environmentally friendly SSA countries.

Social implications
Sustainable cities and communities in an era of economic recovery path COVID-19 mitigate greenhouse gas. The policy relevance is of particular concern to the sustainable development goals.

Originality/value
The study is novel considering the extant literature by providing policymakers with avoidable thresholds for policy formulations and implementations in the nexus between urbanization, economic growth, renewable energy and trade openness.
Orchestrating firm-specific resource integration to achieve customer service performance: an investigation in the hotel context
Authors: Rini Gilang Puspita , Kusumawardhani Amie 
Published: March 2023

Purpose
This study aims to identify factors that can improve customer service performance by verifying the relationships between these factors, such as customer orientation, firm-specific resource integration, transactive memory system and service innovation capability. In other words, this study identifies the determinants of customer service performance from the perspective of the resource advantage theory of competition.

Design/methodology/approach
This research was conducted through an online survey of hotel managers and supervisors in Indonesia, which produced 327 questionnaires that could be processed with a response rate of 70.6%. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data and test the hypotheses with the help of AMOS 23.

Findings
This study confirms that firm-specific resource integration can improve customer service performance, with the antecedents of the former being customer orientation and a transactive memory system.

Research limitations/implications
This research was conducted with a sample of three-, four- and five-star hotels, which have different conditions. In future research, it would be interesting to compare how such hotels over a larger geographical area behave in improving customer service performance using the investigated variables.

Originality/value
This research provides additional insight into the resource advantage theory of competition, namely, that integrated enterprise-specific resources are good antecedents for innovation and customer service performance.
From purely physical to purely online pharmacies: exploring different shopper profiles and discussing some widespread beliefs
Authors: Vera-Martínez Jorge 
Published: March 2023

Purpose
Up until now, some internet shopper profiles based on certain findings have been generally accepted. It is widely believed that internet shoppers tend to be more innovative, less averse to risk, more variety-seeking, more information-seeking, more impulsive and more interested in pursuing convenience. This paper aims to discuss some of these assumed characteristics by contrasting and comparing customers of three different types of pharmacies.

Design/methodology/approach
Three exploratory-descriptive design studies are conducted to profile customers from three different types of pharmacies in Mexico. Data from three samples are assessed, including 198 customers of physical drugstores without an e-channel, 150 customers of physical pharmacies with an e-channel and 271 customers of online pharmacies.

Findings
Shoppers from physical pharmacies purchase more food and drinks than actual medicine. Shoppers from physical pharmacies with e-channels tend to use the internet to acquire information about pharmaceutical products but do not make purchases online; they prefer to obtain products immediately from a physical drugstore instead of waiting for delivery from an e-channel. Contrasting with the two former customer types, shoppers who use e-pharmacies are specific in the numbers and types of products they purchase, medicines being the main priority.

Originality/value
The three types of customers and their preferred shopping platforms may show important profile differences. Despite the evidence in previous literature, shoppers at physical pharmacies are not necessarily non-convenience oriented (time and effort), noninformation analyzing, non-price conscious or less positive in their attitude about shopping; instead, they may simply be averse to technology.
Diversification and performance of microfinance institutions: does Islamic microfinance model matter?
Authors: Ben Salem Asma , Ben Abdelkader Ines 
Published: March 2023

Purpose
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of income and geographic diversification on the double bottom line of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries where conventional and Islamic MFIs coexist. The idea is to explore whether diversification impacts MFIs' financial performance and outreach differ for Islamic microfinance.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors test the effect of diversification and business models of MFIs on their performance and poverty outreach. The authors’ data set is an unbalanced panel sample of 81 (Islamic and conventional) MFIs in MENA countries covering 1999–2018, comprising 743 MFI-year observations.

Findings
The authors find that increasing income diversification in microfinance and focusing on rural areas decreases the financial performance of MFIs in MENA countries. Islamic MFIs benefit from income diversification by increasing their financial performance. The results provide evidence of a nonlinear relationship between income diversification and the financial performance of MFIs. Although conventional MFIs improve their depth of outreach by diversifying their income, Islamic MFIs have a lower breadth of outreach because they show a higher degree of income diversification.

Practical implications
This research contributes to the ongoing debate of whether MFIs should focus on or diversify their services to Islamic microfinance. Therefore, the findings of this study are practically crucial for MFIs' stakeholders to understand the contribution of diversification strategies in improving the Islamic MFIs to achieve both financial and social objectives.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first research that addresses the impact of diversification strategies in Islamic microfinance. Additionally, using a panel data set of conventional and Islamic MFIs in MENA countries spanning 1999–2018, this study provides empirical evidence on the diversification versus focus issue from the microfinance industry and the subset of Islamic microfinance.