bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Glycation renders ɑ-synuclein oligomeric strain and modulates microglia activation
Authors: Kumari Manisha , Kumar Bhoj , Bisht Krishna Singh , Maiti Tushar Kanti 
Published: January 2022

Abstractα-Synuclein is known to involve in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s diseases (PD) and related disorders. However, it is unclear how its aggregation causes neuronal degeneration and neuroinflammation. Due to intrinsic disorder nature, α-synuclein produces a large number of structural ensembles and diverse aggregation intermediates. The post-translational modifications add a new layer of complexity to the aggregation mechanism. Recently, it has been demonstrated that glycation of α-synuclein restricts into oligomeric intermediates and causes neuronal toxicity. However, the understanding of aggregation mechanism, dopaminergic neuronal death, and neuroinflammation by the glycated α-synuclein is yet to be elucidated. The present study aims to address how glycated synuclein differs in oligomerization and neuroinflammation. The glycation of α-synuclein perturbs the aggregation kinetics and prevents the fibrilization through the alteration of surface charges of N-terminal domain residues which prevents membrane binding and seed amplification mechanism. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis of BV2 cells treated with glycated oligomers provides evidence of alteration of endocytic mechanism, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammatory cascade. Here, we show that α-synuclein oligomers strongly bind to TLR2 and activate the TLR2 mediated signaling. However, glycated α-synuclein oligomers impair the TLR2 binding and compromise TLR2 signaling. Interestingly, we also find that the glycated α-synuclein oligomers favor NLRP3 inflammasome mediated neuroinflammation compared to non- glycated α-synuclein oligomers. In conclusion, our findings suggest that microglia response towards α-synuclein is conformation-specific and glycated oligomers can contribute to neurodegeneration differently.
Development and validation of the Symptom Burden Questionnaire™ for Long Covid: A Rasch analysis
Authors: Hughes Sarah E , Haroon Shamil , Subramanian Anuradhaa , McMullan Christel , Aiyegbusi Olalekan L , Turner Grace M , Jackson Louise , Davies Elin Haf , Frost Chris , McNamara Gary , Price Gary , Matthews Karen , Camaradou Jennifer , Ormerod Jane , Walker Anita , Calvert Melanie J 
Published: January 2022

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo describe the development and initial validation of a novel patient-reported outcome measure of Long COVID symptom burden, the Symptom-Burden Questionnaire for Long COVID (SBQ™-LC).Method and FindingsThis multi-phase, prospective mixed-methods study took place between April and August 2021 in the United Kingdom (UK). A conceptual framework and initial item pool were developed from published systematic reviews. Further concept elicitation and content validation was undertaken with adults with lived experience (n = 13) and clinicians (n = 10), and face validity was confirmed by the Therapies for Long COVID Study Patient and Public Involvement group (n = 25). The draft SBQ™-LC was field tested by adults with self-reported Long COVID recruited via social media and international Long COVID support groups (n = 274). Thematic analysis of interview and survey transcripts established content validity and informed construction of the draft questionnaire. Rasch analysis of field test data guided item and scale refinement and provided evidence of the final SBQ™-LC’s measurement properties. The Rasch-derived SBQ™-LC is composed of 17 independent scales with promising psychometric properties. Respondents rate symptom burden during the past 7-days using a dichotomous response or 4-point rating scale. Each scale provides coverage of a different symptom domain and returns a summed raw score that may be converted to a linear (0 – 100) score. Higher scores represent higher symptom burden.ConclusionsThe SBQ™-LC is a comprehensive patient-reported assessment of Long COVID symptom burden developed using modern psychometric methods. It measures symptoms of Long COVID important to individuals with lived experience and may be used to evaluate the impact of interventions and inform best practice in clinical management.
Human Mucosal Associated Invariant T cell proliferation is dependent on a MYC-SLC7A5-Glycolysis metabolic axis
Authors: Kedia-Mehta Nidhi , Pisarska Marta M. , Rollings Christina , O’Neill Chloe , Barra Conor De , Foley Cathriona , Wood Nicole AW. , Wrigley-Kelly Neil , Veerapen Natacha , Besra Gurdyal , Bergin Ronan , Jones Nicholas , O’Shea Donal , Sinclair Linda V. , Hogan Andrew E. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractMucosal Associated Invariant T (MAIT) cells are an abundant population of innate T cells which recognise bacterial ligands presented by the MHC class-I like molecule MR1. MAIT cells play a key role in host protection against bacterial and viral pathogens. Upon activation MAIT cells undergo proliferative expansion and increased production of effector molecules such as cytokines. The molecular and metabolic mechanisms controlling MAIT cell effector functions are still emerging. In this study, we found that expression of the key metabolism regulator and transcription factor MYC is upregulated in MAIT cells upon immune stimulation. Using quantitative mass spectrometry, we identified the activation of two MYC controlled metabolic pathways; amino acid transport and glycolysis, both of which are critical for MAIT cell proliferation. Finally, we show that MYC expression in response to immune activation is diminished in MAIT cells isolated from people with obesity, resulting in defective MAIT cell proliferation and functional responses. Collectively our data details for the first time the importance of MYC regulated metabolism for MAIT cell proliferation, and provides additional insight into the molecular defects underpinning functional failings of MAIT cells in obesity.Graphical Abstract
Business models for the digital transformation of audiovisual archives
Authors: Coelho Rodrigues José 
Published: January 2022

PurposeThis study contributes to the understanding of how cultural organizations are using digital technologies to redesign their business models and enable sustainable and impactful audiovisual digital archives.Design/methodology/approachAn inductive multiple case research design was used. Five cases of audiovisual digital archives of independent films were selected. Data collected was based on desk research, onsite visits, interviews with top managers responsible for the digitalization of some of the archives and experimentation with the services provided. Data was collected and analyzed based on a theoretical framework defined from the literature for business models of cultural organizations.FindingsThe archives analyzed faced the challenge of aligning the commercial viability with a mission of making content available to increase cultural knowledge. A sustainable business model may be achieved by using different revenue models, while guaranteeing to offer a value proposition carefully aligned with stakeholders' expectations. Moreover, an impactful business model, i.e. a business model that enhances the creation of cultural value for customers and reaches wider audiences, requires careful audience management and the use of data analysis about audience behavior to adjust the offering. Finally, the business model must consider the resources, activities and infrastructure that ensure critical capabilities for the business and must be designed to ensure financial resilience of the organization.Originality/valueThis study contributes with a holistic analysis of business models for the digital transformation of cultural organizations, detailing alternative configurations for the most relevant components of a digital business model for audiovisual archives.
An ethnographic analysis of consumer information processing and decision-making at farmers’ markets
Authors: Garner Benjamin 
Published: January 2022

Purpose
Farmers’ markets have grown rapidly in recent years and at the same time consumers increasingly desire to eat healthfully and sustainably. This research aims to analyze the way consumers process information regarding local food claims such as sustainability and organics when shopping for local foods at farmers’ markets.

Design/methodology/approach
This research uses ethnographic methods that included interviews with 36 participants, more than 100 hours of participant observation and prolonged engagement over a two and half-year period.

Findings
The findings indicate that there are two dominant types of consumers at the farmers’ market, hedonistic and utilitarian consumers. Hedonistic consumers rely on heuristic cues such as aesthetics, their relationship with the farmer and other peripheral sources of information when making purchase decisions. Utilitarian consumers, by contrast, carefully analyze marketing messages using central route cues and tend to be more conscious of their purchase choices.

Practical implications
This study will help farmers more effectively position their marketing messages and help consumers be aware how they process information in this space.

Originality/value
Unlike previous studies of consumer behavior at farmers’ markets that primarily use survey methods, this study uses observational and ethnographic methods to capture in situ interactions in this complex buying context. Further, while much work has been done on broad concepts of local food and organic preferences, this study provides a more in-depth look at consumer information processing in the farmers’ market space that reflects a mixture of organic and non-organic food.
Governance quality and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: the dynamic panel model
Authors: Beyene Amsalu Bedemo 
Published: January 2022

PurposeThe main objective of this article is to analyze the role of governance quality in influencing the economic growth of 22 selected Sub-Saharan African Countries.Design/methodology/approachThe study applied the panel dynamic Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) to analyze the data obtained from the World Bank database over the period from 2002 to 2020.FindingsThe overall finding indicated that the composite governance index has a positive significant effect on the economic growth of the countries; where a unit improvement in the aggregate governance index leads to a 3.05% increase in GDP. The disaggregated result has shown that corruption control and government effectiveness have a negative significant effect on growth performance, whereas, the rule of law and regulatory quality showed a positive significant effect. Political stability and voice and accountability have an insignificant effect on economic growth.Research limitations/implicationsDue to data limitations, this study could not address the whole members of Sub Sahara African Countries and could not see the causal relationship.Practical implicationsThe study suggested a strong commitment to the implementation of policy and reform measures on all governance factors. This may add to the need to devise participatory corruption control mechanisms; to closely look at the proper implementation of policies and reforms that constitute the government effectiveness factors, and properly implement the rule of law at all levels of the government with a strong commitment to realizing it so that citizens at all levels can have full confidence in and abide by the rules of society.Originality/valueEven though there are some studies conducted using conventional methods of panel data analysis such as random effect or fixed effects, this empirical study used more advanced panel dynamic generalized moment of methods to examine the role of improvement in governance quality on economic growth.
Personal characteristics and risk tolerance in a natural experiment
Authors: Brous Peter , Han Bo 
Published: January 2022

PurposeThis paper examines students' decisions when playing an in-class version of the TV game, Deal or No Deal (DOND), to study the relation between personal characteristics and individual decision-making under risk.Design/methodology/approachThis study analyzes DOND game play data collected from 374 students in 13 university finance classes, and their personal characteristics collected in a post-game survey. It uses ordered probit, OLS and probit regression analysis to examine the impact of personal characteristics on an individual's risk tolerance.FindingsThe key finding is that international students are significantly more risk averse than US domestic students. Additionally, given the natural control for age and education, the study finds that gender, race and religion have a limited impact on an individual's risk tolerance. Finally, the study provides evidence that the structure of the DOND game, in general, rewards risk-taking as long as it is not excessive. Once participant behavior becomes risk-seeking, the correlation between risk-taking and game payoff becomes negative.Research limitations/implicationsThe homogeneous set of contestants (business students) analyzed in this study presents some limitations yet provides opportunities to examine risk tolerance differences between the US and international students, and whether gender, race or religious affiliation has an impact on the level of risk tolerance given a natural control for age and education level.Practical implicationsThe evidence suggests that culture and environmental unfamiliarity may impact an individual's risk tolerance. This finding is useful when providing financial advice to diverse clients or when conducting international business. Additionally, understanding that education and financial literacy reduces differences in risk tolerance across gender, race and religion can impact the way we interact with others. A broader practical implication for all investors is that, while under normal circumstances, risk-taking is rewarded with a higher expected return, excessive risk-taking may harm their investment performance.Originality/valueThis paper utilizes a unique data set, collected through a class activity and post-class survey. While there have been empirical studies using DOND data, this is the first study that examines the impact of personal characteristics on game participants' behavior, thereby generating unique findings not reported in previous studies employing DOND data.
Adaptive practices in SMEs: leveraging dynamic capabilities for strategic adaptation
Authors: Quansah Emmanuel , Hartz Dale E. , Salipante Paul 
Published: January 2022

PurposeA global pandemic, broken supply chains, workforce constraints, technological advancements in artificial intelligence, etc. illustrate the continual threats that SMEs face. Extending the dynamic capability concepts of sensing, seizing and transforming, this research investigates practices by which SMEs successfully adapt over time.Design/methodology/approachA comparative case study method was employed using a purposive sample of SMEs, consisting of three American firms and one Canadian firm.FindingsThree sets of organizational practices, termed adaptive practices, that underlie dynamic capabilities for successful adaptation were identified: (1) continuous learning and process improvement, (2) leveraging reciprocal relationships and (3) communicating effectively.Research limitations/implicationsThe selected cases are from two countries in North America. Using a qualitative, inductive process, the authors are able to identify patterns of actions within various organizations; however, they are not able to establish causality.Practical implicationsThis study provides practical guidance for leaders to take action to improve their SME's dynamic capabilities for adaptation through creating coherent bundles of specified adaptive practices.Social implicationsBetter understanding of how SMEs successfully adapt to high uncertainty and business viability threats can result in multidimensional (e.g. financial, emotional) and multi-level (individual, family, community), positive outcomes for societal stakeholders.Originality/valueThe findings of this study build on the literature of dynamic capabilities and organizational practices and provide a practical foundation for effective adaptation, labeled as adaptive practices.
Green purchasing behaviour of international tourists in Malaysia using green marketing tools: theory of planned behaviour perspective
Authors: Patwary Ataul Karim , Mohamed Muharis , Rabiul Md Karim , Mehmood Waqas , Ashraf Muhammad Umair , Adamu Adamu Abbas 
Published: January 2022

Purpose
This study aims to examine the effects of green marketing tools on tourists’ behavioural intention to buy green products by measuring individuals’ subjective norms, attitudes and perceived behavioural control.

Design/methodology/approach
A total of 421 international tourists from several tourist attractions in Malaysia, selected through convenience sampling, participated in a survey.

Findings
The analysis results using partial least squares structural equation modelling suggest that behavioural intention of international tourists is firmly influenced by attitude, perceived behavioural control, subjective norms and green marketing tools. However, the subjective norm does not work as a mediator.

Practical implications
The relationships established in this study provide insight into hoteliers’ knowledge for further implementation of green marketing strategies (eco-label, eco-brand, environmental advertising), which can enhance green attitudes and behavioural intention of purchasing green products in the hospitality industry.

Originality/value
This study expands the theory of planned behaviour by including green marketing tools to measure international tourists’ green buying tendency in Malaysia.
Linear and non‐linear effects of infrastructures on inclusive human development in Africa
Authors: Nchofoung Tii N. , Asongu Simplice A. , Njamen Kengdo Arsène A. , Achuo Elvis D. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe objectives of this paper are to verify the linear and the non‐linear effects of infrastructural development on inclusive human development in Africa. The results of the system generalized method of moments (system GMM) estimations show a positive effect of infrastructural development on inclusive development across all the infrastructural development indexes employed, except the information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructural composite index, which presents an insignificant negative effect. Besides, a non‐linear effect of infrastructures on inclusive development is established across all the infrastructure indicators except for the ICT indicator. Negative thresholds for complementary policies are established for the African Infrastructure Development Index (AIDI) and the transport index whereas positive thresholds are apparent for the electricity index and the water and sanitation infrastructure index (WSS). Accordingly, in order to sustain the positive incidence of the AIDI and transport index on human development, complementary policies should be engaged to avoid an overall negative effect on human development when the indexes are, respectively, 31.12 and 25.56. In the same vein, the electricity index and WSSI should exceed critical levels of, respectively, 49.79 and 41.92, to engender an overall positive effect on inclusive human development.
Predictive role of fluctuating biochemical parameters for mortality in hemodialysis patients
Authors: Mülling Nils , ter Huurne Jan , Kahl Anna Lena , Tokmak Faruk , Spitthöver Ralf , Kribben Andreas , Reinhardt Walter 
Published: January 2022

AbstractIntroductionHigh inflammation parameters like C‐reactive protein and low albumin levels are considered as risk factors in CKD stage 5 patients. Due to dynamic changes in these parameters, there is evidence of an association between their variation and mortality in hemodialysis patients.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 153 patients on chronic hemodialysis. Dialysis‐specific biochemical parameters were measured at three‐month intervals over a 42‐month period. Fluctuations were calculated as the percentage change in two subsequent measurements.ResultsMedian age was 70 years. 41.10% of the patients died over the study period. Higher fluctuation rates in albumin and CRP were significantly associated with a higher mortality rate. Regression analysis revealed that only the fluctuations in albumin proved to be a predictive variable for the end point “death.” If the fluctuation in albumin increases by 1%, the mortality risk rises by 22%.ConclusionFluctuations in albumin are of predictive importance in patients on chronic hemodialysis.
Economic benefits of implementing trading zones for Australian livestock disease outbreaks of limited duration
Authors: Hafi A , Addai D , Breed AC , Bradhurst R , Capon T , Garner MG , Miller C , Pinol J , Seitzinger AH , Tapsuwan S 
Published: January 2022

ObjectiveThe objective is to estimate the economic benefits of trading zones as part of foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) control measures for limited duration outbreaks.DesignThe proposed trading zones for FMD at the state level are determined using multiple tools. Eleven individual incursion scenarios in six Australian states are simulated within the Australian Animal Disease Spread epidemiological model to identify the potential geographic extent of outbreaks, as well as the number of animals infected and the duration of outbreaks. The disease spread information is used to identify the boundaries of trading zones. The outbreak duration data are combined with historical export data to estimate the share of Australian exports that could be embargoed. The market impacts of the potential export embargoes including changes in equilibrium quantities, prices and revenue are simulated within the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences' AgEmissions partial equilibrium model of Australian agriculture.ResultsResults emphasize the importance of jurisdictional and outbreak characteristics in determining trading zones. Should Australia effectively implement trading zones at the state level in response to small FMD outbreaks, the potential reductions of embargoed exports lead to a reduction in estimated producer revenue losses compared with losses under a national embargo. Producer revenue losses are reduced between $3 billion and $9 billion estimated in present value terms over 10 years at a 7% discount rate.ConclusionEconomic analysis of the implications of trading zones identifies additional investments that would be of value to livestock industries.
Witnessed inclusion improves identification of Duchenne and non‐Duchenne smiles
Authors: Fischer Paige , Jakobsen Krisztina V. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractSocial exclusion threatens a person's need to belong and prompts them to behave in ways that often facilitate reaffiliation. For adults, direct exclusion increases attention to social information and facial cues, including an enhanced identification of Duchenne and non‐Duchenne smiles. Furthermore, inclusion can buffer or mitigate the effects of exclusion. This study investigated children's (N = 44) and adults’ (N = 52) sensitivity to perceptual changes in smiles following witnessed inclusion and exclusion and inclusion's mitigating and buffering effects on perceptual abilities. Contrary to our predictions, participants in our study demonstrated improved accuracy after witnessing inclusion, rather than exclusion, and showed no buffering or mitigating effects of inclusion. This contradiction with previous findings points to a further need to explore the effects of witnessed versus direct inclusion and exclusion, especially if witnessed inclusion and exclusion have the ability to impact perception and shape our behavior.