bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transcriptomic changes in oligodendrocytes and precursor cells predicts clinical outcomes of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Dehestani Mohammad , Kozareva Velina , Blauwendraat Cornelis , Fraenkel Ernest , Gasser Thomas , Bansal Vikas 
Published: May 2023

AbstractSeveral prior studies have proposed the involvement of various brain regions and cell types in Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathology. Here, we performed snRNA-seq on the prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate regions from post-mortem control and PD brain tissue. We found a significant association of oligodendrocytes (ODCs) and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) with PD-linked risk loci and report several dysregulated genes and pathways, including regulation of tau-protein kinase activity, regulation of inclusion body assembly and protein processing involved in protein targeting to mitochondria. In an independent PD cohort with clinical measures (681 cases and 549 controls), polygenic risk scores derived from the dysregulated genes significantly predicted Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)-, and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)-scores but not motor impairment (UPDRS-III). We extended our analysis of clinical outcome prediction by incorporating three separate datasets that were previously published by different laboratories. In the first dataset from the anterior cingulate cortex, we identified a correlation between ODCs and BDI-II. In the second dataset obtained from the substantia nigra (SN), OPCs displayed notable predictive ability for UPDRS-III. In the third dataset from the SN region, a distinct subtype of OPCs, labeled OPC_ADM, exhibited predictive ability for UPDRS-III. Intriguingly, the OPC_ADM cluster also demonstrated a significant increase in PD samples. These results suggest that by expanding our focus to glial cells, we can uncover region-specific molecular pathways associated with PD symptoms.
Rapid cloning-free mutagenesis of new SARS-CoV-2 variants using a novel reverse genetics platform
Authors: Kipfer Enja , Hauser David , Lett Martin J. , Otte Fabian , Urda Lorena , Zhang Yuepeng , Lang Christopher M. R. , Chami Mohamed , Mittelholzer Christian , Klimkait Thomas 
Published: May 2023

AbstractReverse genetic systems enable the engineering of RNA virus genomes and are instrumental in studying RNA virus biology. With the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, already established methods were challenged by the large genome of SARS-CoV-2. Herein we present an elaborated strategy for the rapid and straightforward rescue of recombinant plus-stranded RNA viruses with high sequence fidelity, using the example of SARS-CoV-2. The strategy called CLEVER (CLoning-free and Exchangeable system for Virus Engineering and Rescue) is based on the intracellular recombination of transfected overlapping DNA fragments allowing the direct mutagenesis within the initial PCR-amplification step. Furthermore, by introducing a linker fragment – harboring all heterologous sequences – viral RNA can directly serve as a template for manipulating and rescuing recombinant mutant virus, without any cloning step. Overall, this strategy will facilitate recombinant SARS-CoV-2 rescue and accelerate its manipulation. Using our protocol, newly emerging variants can quickly be engineered to further elucidate their biology. To demonstrate its potential as a reverse genetics platform for plus-stranded RNA viruses, the protocol has been successfully applied for the cloning-free rescue of recombinant Chikungunya and Dengue virus.
Prefrontal Manifold Geometry Explains Reaction Time Variability
Authors: Herikstad Roger , Libedinsky Camilo 
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACTThe stochastic drift-diffusion model proposes that the variability in reaction time is due to randomness during the accumulation of evidence until a decision threshold is reached. However, the neural mechanisms that explain both the randomness and implementation of the decision threshold in the model remain unclear. Here we address these questions using the dynamical systems approach to analyze primate frontal eye field activity and using microstimulation for causal manipulations. We built a mechanistic model in which signals associated with motor plans are bumped out of their attractor state by go-cue signals that emerge ∼60 ms after the go cue. The network then travels through a transition subspace towards a movement-initation subspace that emerges ∼35 ms before movement onset and implements the decision threshold. We postulate that the randomness in evidence accumulation, and hence in reaction times, is explained by the amplification of noise during movement preparation by the geometry of the frontal eye field manifold.
TOR1 dysfunction promotes phenotypic diversity in the asexual fungusCandida albicans
Authors: Zacchi Lucia F. , Anderson Mark T. , Southern Peter J. , Davis Dana A. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractGenetic variation is a primary contributor to phenotypic variation within a population. However, it is unclear how, or if, genetic variation is generated and maintained to promote phenotypic variation in asexual eukaryotes.C. albicans, an asexual fungus that causes opportunistic infections in susceptible hosts, has several phenotypic switching systems, including the colony morphology phenotypic switching (CMPS) system. CMPS, a penetrant change in colony morphology on solid mediumin vitro, is associated with incipient or fulminant clinical disease. CMPS results in the alteration of additional virulence properties, such as drug resistance and protease secretion, that are not tightly correlated with colony morphology. Importantly, it is unknown whether CMPS is a regulated or stochastic process. We found that specific mutants affecting theTargetofRapamycin (TOR) pathway showed an increase in CMPS frequency and CMPS in these mutant backgrounds was associated with changes in rapamycin sensitivity. We also identified growth conditions that promoted CMPS in clinical strains and found that CMPS in these backgrounds was also linked to the TOR pathway through changes in rapamycin sensitivity. These results demonstrate that CMPS promotes phenotypic variation through the TOR pathway, supporting a model that this is a regulated process. Since the TOR growth control pathway is conserved throughout the eukarya, the identification of TOR as a phenotypic diversity regulator likely has broad implications.
Remote autism assessments – lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic: a service evaluation
Authors: Hartley Jonny , Purrington Jack , Hartley Gemma 
Published: May 2023

Purpose
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in health services adapting the delivery of routine assessments, with many operating remotely. This paper aims to explore the lived experiences of individuals undertaking remote autism assessments during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach
A mixed-methods service evaluation was completed in an adult autism and neurodevelopmental service based in the north of England. A total of 24 participants, who had undergone remote autism assessments between March 2020 and July 2020, completed a questionnaire about their experiences. Thematic analysis was performed, and additional quantitative data were analysed descriptively to allow contextual information to be included.

Findings
The evaluation identified three main themes. The first, practical and sensory issues of remote assessment, indicated that internet connectivity problems were common and sometimes impeded a successful assessment. Additionally, participants identified some elements of the videocall impacted their sensory sensitivities. The second theme, emotional responses to remote assessment, demonstrated relief and exhaustion to be common following sessions. The ability to complete assessments from a safe space were favoured by most. The final theme, pros and cons of different assessment methods, highlighted the preference for video assessments above telephone and in person sessions.

Originality/value
This study provides an original contribution to the literature by gathering autistic adults’ perspectives on remote autism assessments. The findings suggest that video assessments were the most preferable, over face-to-face and then telephone. Services should offer video and face-to-face assessments while keeping telephone assessments to a minimum.
Digitalization as a driver of transformation towards sustainable performance in wine tourism – the Italian case
Authors: Festa Giuseppe , Cuomo Maria Teresa , Genovino Cinzia , Alam Gazi Mahabubul , Rossi Matteo 
Published: May 2023

PurposeThe main aim of this research was to investigate whether and how digitalization affects sustainability and performance in wine tourism.Design/methodology/approachBased on the data emerging from the 2019 National Report on Wine Tourism from the National Association of “Wine Cities” in Italy (the most extreme case in the world of wine), three macro-agglomerates were investigated: digitalization, sustainability and performance, adopting descriptive and inferential statistics.FindingsAlthough rigorous correlation between adopted digitalization and performed sustainability on one side and performed sustainability and market performance on the other cannot be verified for the 92 wineries under investigation, there is visible evidence that the more digitalized wineries are, the more sustainable they become and the better their performance. Evidence was not found to support the idea that the more sustainable wineries are, the more they are digitalized and the better their performance. Research implications and limitations to theoretical and practical application have been discussed.Originality/valueWine tourism, which is naturally associated with rural tourism, is a form of tourism in which sustainability has strong relevance, particularly considering the future needs/desires of post-pandemic tourists. At the same time, digitalization, especially in pandemic and post-pandemic tourism, is credited with developing a huge impact in this business, although wine tourism is most probably conceivable as a meta-market, with a strong cultural essence. In this respect, a digitalization > sustainability > performance approach seems practicable and globally profitable.
Factors influencing turnover intention among healthcare employees during the COVID-19 pandemic in the private hospitals of Bahrain
Authors: Alawi Haytham Yaseen , P. Sankar Jayendira , Ali Akbar Mahmood , Natarajan Vinodh Kesavaraj 
Published: May 2023

Purpose
This study aims to examine the relationship between polychronicity, job autonomy, perceived workload, work–family conflict and high work demand on the health-care employee turnover intention during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted quantitative research in private hospitals using a self-administered questionnaire, and 264 respondents participated. The authors also used an analysis of moment structures to determine the relationship between independent and moderating variables.

Findings
The results show a significant positive relationship between polychronicity, job autonomy, perceived workload, work–family conflict and high work demand, affecting turnover intention. This study also found the moderating effect of high work demand on work–family conflict and turnover intention.

Research limitations/implications
This research was limited to hospitals in Bahrain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the findings highlight the factors associated with health-care employee turnover intention and only five factors were identified.

Practical implications
This study enhances the theoretical and practical effects of turnover intention. The results provide a competitive benchmark for hospital managers, administrators and governing bodies of employee retention.

Social implications
It advances economics and management theory by enhancing the understanding of health-care employees’ turnover intention in Bahrain. It serves as a basis for future large-scale studies to test or refine existing theories.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to adopt extrinsic variables in self-determination theory to measure the turnover intention of health-care employees. However, using resources in a crisis can be applied to any disaster.
Women on boards and on top management positions and excess cash holdings: a quantile regression approach
Authors: Jilani Ibtissem , Lakhal Faten , Lakhal Nadia 
Published: May 2023

Purpose
This paper aims to examine the impact of gender diversity on boards and on top management positions on excess cash holdings.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors adopt the quantile regression approach to test the relation between gender diversity and excess cash holding. The sample consists of 1,235 firm-year observations for the period 2005–2017.

Findings
The authors find that board gender diversity negatively influences the level of excess cash. This result suggests that women appointed in the boardroom are effective in monitoring managerial actions, including financing policies. The results also show that by forcing companies to have a quota of women on their boards, the presence of women no longer has a negative impact on excess cash holdings. However, when women stand at the chief executive officer or chief financial officer position, they tend to accumulate cash for precautionary motives. These results suggest that women behave differently regarding excess cash holding as monitors compared to their role as decision-makers.

Practical implications
The results may be of interest to legislators who may decide to break the glass ceiling, preventing women from gaining greater access to senior management positions. This is in line with the recommendations of the AFEP-MEDEF Governance Code of 2020, which strongly recommends the recruitment of women to senior management positions. The results are also important to investors, who might be likely to trust companies in which women hold positions on boards of directors which may increase firm value. The results may also have a social impact. Indeed, the role of women in society may be enhanced if such initiatives are taken to increase their representation on leadership positions and in society in general.

Social implications
The results may also have a social impact. Indeed, the role of women in society may be enhanced if such initiatives are taken to increase their representation on leadership positions and in society in general.

Originality/value
This study investigates the role of women both as controllers and decision-makers in holding excessive amounts of cash. It also highlights new evidence on the impact the approach of appointing women on boards (enabling/coercive and market-based) can have on the relation between gender diversity and excess cash holdings.
Does mandatory corporate social responsibility expenditure affect the financial performance of food and agribusiness firms? Evidence from India
Authors: Ali Jabir 
Published: May 2023

Purpose
This paper aims to analyse the effect of mandatory corporate social responsibility expenditure (CSRE) on the performance of food and agribusiness firms in India.

Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on the firm-level data collected from the Prowess database of the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy in the year 2019. The data on key characteristics, business performance and CSRE has been compiled from 362 food and agribusiness firms. The descriptive statistics, t-test for equality of means and Spearman correlation analysis have been undertaken to understand the relationship between mandatory CSRE and firm performance across food and agribusiness sectors.

Findings
Out of 362 food and agribusiness firms, 52.2% have reported expenditure in the implementation of social initiatives under their corporate social responsibility. The results show a significant difference in the firm’s characteristics vis-à-vis with and without CSRE. Further, the findings highlight a positive and significant correlation and causal impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on return on sales, return on assets and profit after tax.

Practical implications
The study provides insights for implementing strategic CSR in food and agribusiness firms and gives an adequate justification for incurring CSRE.

Originality/value
This paper increases the understanding of CSR in the food and agribusiness sector. Besides, provisioning mandatory CSR seems to be a beneficial proposition for enhancing a firm’s performance.
A multidimensional grey relational model considering reverse indicators and its application to the influencing factors of green finance in China
Authors: Yan Shuli , Xia Luting 
Published: May 2023

PurposeAs an important measure to promote sustainable development, green finance has developed rapidly in recent years. In order to comprehensively analyze the positive and negative indicators of the influencing factors of green finance, this paper puts forward a grey relational method of spatial-temporal panel data from the perspective of the development trend of the object dimension indicators and the performance difference between the time dimension indicators.Design/methodology/approachFrom the different perspectives of object dimension and time dimension, the positive and negative indicators are standardized differently considering the reverse of indicators and characterizing factors. The grey absolute relational degree is used to define the matrix sequence. This method reflects the development trend of objects in time and the difference characteristics among objects, which comprehensively represents the correlation between the reference panel and the comparison panel.FindingsThe results show that: (1) The object dimension reflects the internal driving force of the development of green finance in each provincial administrative region and the time dimension reflects the relationship between regional differences of influencing factors and green finance. (2) From the object dimension, the influencing factors of green finance from high to low are economic development potential, economic development level, air temperature, policy support, green innovation and air quality. (3) From the time dimension, the influencing factors of green finance from high to low are green innovation, air quality, economic development potential, economic development level, policy support and air temperature.Originality/valueThe different standardized processing methods of positive and negative indicators proposed in this paper not only eliminate the sample dimension, but also study the grey relational degree among the indicator panels from different reference dimensions. The proposed model is applied to identify the influencing factors of green finance, which expands the practical application scope of the grey relational model. The research results can provide reference for relevant departments to better promote the development of green finance.
Revealing contribution mechanisms of project managers' technical competencies toward success in oil and gas projects
Authors: Abdulla Hazem , McCauley-Smith Catherine , Moradi Sina 
Published: May 2023

PurposeProject managers' competencies contribute toward project success in a considerable manner. The significance of technical competencies' (TCs) contribution toward success in Oil and Gas (O&G) projects is even higher due to the complexity and the technology-intensive nature of these projects. However, technical competencies have often been overlooked in favor of behavioral competencies or simply identified and listed in terms of their significance. Thus, there is currently very limited research-based knowledge concerning the contribution mechanisms of technical competencies toward project execution success. Hence, the aim of this study is to explore the contribution mechanisms of TCs toward success in O&G projects.Design/methodology/approachA case study was employed as the research strategy through which data was collected from project professionals in O&G projects in the Kingdom of Bahrain using semi-structured interviews. Transcripts of the interviews were then analyzed through thematic analysis method with the aid of NVIVO 12.FindingsThe findings reveal six mechanisms through which technical competencies of project managers contribute toward execution success in O&G projects. TCs not only act as a launch pad toward project success, but also help in optimizing engineering designs throughout the project life cycle.Originality/valueInstead of simply identifying and listing TCs, the obtained results enhance our current understanding of their contribution mechanisms toward project success in O&G projects.
Joint foreign ownership and global value chains effects on productivity: a comparison of firms from Poland and Germany
Authors: Szymczak Sabina , Parteka Aleksandra , Wolszczak-Derlacz Joanna 
Published: May 2023

PurposeThe study aims to examine the joint effects of foreign ownership (FO) and involvement in global value chains (GVCs) on the productivity performance of firms from a catching-up country (Poland) and a leader economy (Germany).Design/methodology/approachThe authors use micro-level data on firms combined with several sector-level GVC participation measures. The authors investigate whether the link between productivity and the overall sectoral degree of involvement in global production structures depends on a firm's ownership. The authors verify the robustness of the obtained results by using an instrumental variables approach and weighted regression.FindingsThe results show that domestically owned firms are less productive than foreign ones, which is particularly true at low GVC participation levels. However, as GVC involvement increases, the FO productivity premium decreases, leading to productivity catching up between foreign and domestically owned firms. This mechanism is similar in Poland and Germany. However, in the leader country (Germany), the productivity performance of domestically owned firms is more stable along the distribution of GVC involvement.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the foreign direct investment (FDI)–productivity literature by comparing the catching-up and developed countries' perspectives and incorporating the productivity–GVC relationship into the FDI analysis. The authors show that the FO premium is not confined to the developing context but is also present in a leader country. Moreover, the link between productivity and the overall sectoral degree of involvement in global production structures depends on a firm's ownership.