Université Bourgogne Europe

Cross-cultural management (CCM) scholars have previously identified major paradigms guiding recent research in the field. There is still some debate as to whether these “paradigms” should be presented as mutually exclusive, in line with Thomas Kuhn’s concept of paradigmatic incommensurability, or whether they can be used in a complementary fashion. By applying them to a particular type of organisation, the “European University Alliance”, this article discusses to what extent four major “paradigms” (positivist, interpretivist, postmodern and critical) can be seen to provide complementary insights into organisational practices. It argues that their allegedly “paradigmatic” nature is often overstated, and instead sees them as alternative perspectives which function more cohesively than traditionally assumed. The article proposes a theoretical framework around “the duality of culture”, which integrates the four perspectives within a single paradigm. This can be a way to mitigate tensions and confusion among paradigms and open new avenues for research, also favouring the development of alternative, non-Western theoretical contributions. By clarifying the relationships between paradigms, this framework facilitates critical engagement with mainstream theories, supporting more inclusive and globally relevant scholarship in CCM. This work thus contributes to the ongoing debate on paradigmatic boundaries and offers a path towards theoretical innovation in the field.

Although both motor imagery (MI) and low-frequency sound listening have independently been shown to modulate brain activity, the potential synergistic effects that may arise from their combined application remains unexplored. Any further modulation derived from this combination may be relevant for motor learning and rehabilitation. We probed neurophysiological activity during these two processes, measuring alpha and beta band power amplitude by means of EEG recordings. Twenty healthy volunteers were instructed to (i) explicitly imagine right finger flexion/extension movements in a kinesthetic modality, (ii) listen to low-frequency sounds, (iii) imagine right finger movements while listening to low-frequency sounds, or (iv) stay at rest. We observed a bimodal distribution of alpha-band reactivity to the conditions, suggesting the presence of variability in brain activity across participants during both MI and low-frequency sound listening. One group of participants (12 individuals) displayed increased alpha power within contralateral sensorimotor and ipsilateral medial parieto-occipital regions during MI. Another group (eight individuals) exhibited a decrease in alpha and beta band power within sensorimotor areas. Interestingly, low-frequency sound listening elicited a similar pattern of brain activity within both groups. The combination of MI and sound listening did not result in additional changes in alpha and beta power amplitudes, regardless of group (groups based on individual alpha-band reactivity). Altogether, these findings shed significant insight into the brain activity and its variability generated during MI and low-frequency sound listening. The simultaneous engagement of MI and low-frequency sound listening did not further modulate alpha power amplitude, possibly due to concurrent cortical activation. It remains possible that sequential performance of these tasks could elicit additional modulation.

Background Multiple molecular diagnoses (MMD) involve distinct or overlapping phenotypes. They are not so rare in the field of congenital anomalies, given an overall 3.5%–8% rate. Mainly, MMD imply distinct genotypes. Exceptionally, genotypes are linked, involving a causal CNV by itself, facing a SNV for a recessive disorder resulting in a dual diagnosis. Methods An unrelated couple was referred at 21 + 3 weeks of gestation for talipes equinovarus, cerebellar hypoplasia, clenched fists, elevated hemidiaphragm, and micrognathia. Chromosomal microarray and exome sequencing analyses were performed. Results Both identified a pathogenic de novo 22q11.21 deletion (22q11.2del). Fetal autopsy revealed additional features (postaxial polydactyly, facial features, and abnormal lung lobulation), atypical for 22q11.2del syndrome. At the clinician's request, exome sequencing reanalysis identified a paternally inherited SCARF2 variant, in trans to the 22q11.2del causing autosomal recessive Van den Ende–Gupta syndrome. This dual diagnosis explains the entire fetus phenotype. Discussion This is a novel case of dual diagnosis, first prenatal and second case of this ultrarare association. It reflects the crucial role of precise phenotypic description, combined with the importance of considering dual diagnosis in case of atypical clinical presentation. Finally, prenatal phenotypes remain a challenge given the paucity of available known prenatal data for most rare diseases. Trial Registration ClinicalTrial.gov ID: NCT05182242

Accurately forecasting time series data remains a critical challenge, particularly in financial markets where volatility and noise obscure underlying patterns. Traditional deep learning approaches often struggle to simultaneously capture local and global dependencies, limiting their effectiveness in detecting directional changes. To address these challenges, we propose an innovative hybrid model that integrates Transformers with 1D Convolutional Neural Networks (1D-CNN), leveraging their complementary strengths. The self-attention mechanism of Transformers enhances the model’s ability to capture long-term dependencies, while 1D-CNN excels at extracting local patterns and refining feature representations. Unlike conventional models that aim to predict exact values, our approach is explicitly designed to learn and detect changes in trends rather than forecasting precise numerical values. The primary motivation of this work is to improve Directional Accuracy (DA) and Signal Directional Change Detection, two critical factors for robust time series forecasting in financial applications. Our model effectively mitigates the impact of market fluctuations by enhancing trend detection and reducing false signals. Performance evaluation is conducted using specialized metrics, including DA, Trend Consistency Index (TCI), Signal Shift Error (SSE), and Precision of Trend Change (PTC), ensuring a comprehensive assessment of the model’s predictive capabilities. Experimental results demonstrate that our hybrid model significantly outperforms both custom and state-of-the-art architectures, achieving superior accuracy in detecting trend reversals and signal shifts. This research contributes to advancing time series modeling by introducing a modular, scalable, and high-precision forecasting framework, applicable across various domains.

Biodiversity is vital for life on earth but faces many anthropogenic pressures. Mitigating these pressures and improving biodiversity status requires understanding the worldviews and values of actors involved in conservation or responsible for creating pressures on biodiversity. This paper contributes to the theoretical understanding of the interplay between worldviews and values and their potential influence on effective policy or practice actions. We investigated the worldviews and values of key European actors influencing a specific component of biodiversity conservation: wild pollinators and pollination. We collected qualitative and quantitative data through in‐depth interviews with 27 individuals from business, policymaking, NGOs and research. Bio‐ecocentric worldviews prevailed in our sample of interviews, with a consensus over the intrinsic value of all living beings, that human activities are negatively impacting nature, the existence of biophysical limits to economic growth and the need for environmental regulation. Furthermore, anthropocentric and relationship‐centred perspectives emerged on the use of pesticides, modes of economic growth (conventional vs. sustainable), the ability of human ingenuity and technological innovation to solve ecological problems and the fundamental resilience of nature to rapid change. Irrespective of overall worldviews on human–nature relationships, all stakeholder groups in our sample agreed on the irreplaceability of pollinators and their many benefits, their decline and that their conservation is a priority for which all sectors of society are responsible and should contribute. Interviewees agreed that in addition to the widely recognised ecological, nutritional, economic and cultural values that pollinators provide, there also exist relational values and moral responsibility to conserve pollinators. Non‐use values (e.g. ecological role) were highlighted by all stakeholder groups as being at least as important as use values (e.g. supporting human diets). Cultural use values (e.g. aesthetic) of pollinators were typically regarded as being less important relative to their non‐use relationship‐centred and moral values (e.g. responsibility to future generations). Policy implications. The diverse values of biodiversity create a complex conservation challenge amid competing societal priorities. The efficacy of public policy instruments critical to facilitate conservation actions can be improved by further integrating ecological, economic, social and moral‐ethical levers to achieve the long‐term sustainable management of biodiversity. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

At the beginning of the 1980s, measurements in the stratosphere revealed an enrichment of the heavy isotopes ¹⁷O and ¹⁸O in ozone O3, described as anomalous because it was much higher than statistically expected. In addition, this was roughly equal between ¹⁷O and ¹⁸O. This effect, called mass-independent fractionation (MIF), remains unexplained despite numerous theoretical and experimental studies. However, it has been shown that the origin of MIF is directly linked to strong isotopic effects found in the recombination reaction O + O2 + M → O3 + M, where M is a third body that absorbs excess energy. Here, we are interested in one of the elementary processes involved in this reaction, namely the rapid quasi-equilibrium process O + O2 ⇌ O3*, where O3* is metastable ozone. A fully quantum approach was used to calculate the quasi-equilibrium constant of this process, giving the most accurate value of this quantity to date for the ⁴⁹O3 isotopic variant of ozone. The present work represents an important step toward a better understanding of ozone formation and may help contribute to unraveling the mystery of MIF.

Peroxisomes have gained increasing attention and are now considered vital players in normal physiological functions. To gain further insight into how peroxisomal defects influence cellular functions, we developed BV-2 microglial models featuring CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited mutations in peroxisomal Acox1 or Abcd1 and Abcd2 genes. The Acox1−/− BV-2 cell line we generated lacks acyl-CoA oxidase 1, the key enzyme that initiates peroxisomal β-oxidation. In contrast, the double mutant Abcd1/d2−/− BV-2 cell line carries mutations in the genes encoding the membranous ABC transporters ABCD1 and ABCD2, which are responsible for transporting fatty acyl-thioesters inside peroxisome. Here, for the first time, we used analytical fractionation to compare these three genotypes. Through flow cytometry, we observed an increase in cell granularity in these mutant cells, which could be associated with alterations in peroxisome distribution and mitochondrial dynamics. Additionally, the analysis of organelle markers in microglial cells, employing differential centrifugation, exhibited an enrichment of peroxisomes particularly in both L and P fractions of these BV-2 cell line models. The use of an isopycnic Nycodenz density gradient showed that peroxisomes sedimented with a median density of 1.18 g/ml. Notably, our results revealed no significant differences in the distribution profiles of organelles when comparing microglial BV-2 Wt cells with deficient Acox1‒/‒ or Abcd1/d2−/‒ BV-2 cells, which lack peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation. Our study is the first to report on the fractionation of brain-derived microglial cells, laying valuable groundwork for future proteomic and/or metabolomic analyses of peroxisome fractions.

The microbiota, comprising all the microorganisms within the body, plays a critical role in maintaining good health. Dysbiosis represents a condition resulting from an imbalance or alteration of the microbiota. This study comprehensively investigates the patent literature on dysbiosis over the past 20 years. image

BACKGROUND During atherogenesis, macrophages turn into foam cells by engulfing lipids present within the atheroma plaques. The shift of foam cells toward proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory phenotypes, a critical step in disease progression, is still poorly understood. LXRs (liver X receptors) play a pivotal role in the macrophage response to lipid, promoting the expression of key genes of cholesterol efflux, mitigating intracellular cholesterol accumulation. LXRs also exert balanced actions on inflammation in human macrophages, displaying both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects. METHODS Our study explored the role of LXRs in the functional response of human macrophage to lipid-rich plaque environment. We used primary human macrophages treated with atheroma plaque extracts and assessed the impact of pharmacological LXR inhibition by GSK2033 on cholesterol homeostasis and inflammatory response. Ultimately, we evaluated macrophage and endothelial cell cross talk by assessing the impact of macrophage-conditioned supernatants on the human endothelial cell. RESULTS LXR inhibition by GSK2033 resulted in increased levels of cholesterol and oxysterols in human macrophages, alongside notable changes in the cholesterol ester profile. This was accompanied by heightened secretion of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL (interleukin)-6 and TNFα (tumor necrosis factor-α), despite a transcriptional repression of IL-1β. Conditioned media from GSK2033-treated macrophages more effectively activated ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1) and CCL2 (C-C motif ligand 2) expression in endothelial cells. CONCLUSIONS Our findings illustrate the intricate relationship between LXR function, cholesterol metabolism, and inflammation in human macrophages. While LXR is required for the proper handling of plaque lipids by macrophages, the differential regulation of IL-1β versus IL-6/TNFα secretion by LXRs could be challenging for potential pharmacological interventions.

Phase change materials for reconfigurable photonic integrated circuits Pierre Noé, Benoît Cluzel, Stéphane Malhouitre, and Benoît Charbonnier, discuss phase change materials for reconfigurable photonic integrated circuits. Phase-change materials (PCMs) have gained increasing interest over the past decade for their potential in photonic applications. This article reviews their properties, key advantages over competing reconfigurable photonic technologies, and the challenges limiting their widespread adoption.

Omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and polyphenols have attracted interest to counteract ocular diseases and more specifically age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). This eye disease, which is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in industrialized countries, is characterized by damage to the central part of the retina, the macula. Despite therapeutic advances with the use of anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monoclonal antibodies, numerous resistance mechanisms that worsen visual impairment have been identified. In this context, we highlight the exceptional potential of polyphenols and PUFA in addressing AMD through their actions on the different molecular mechanisms involved in AMD progression. More specifically, this review focuses on the current understanding of the effects of resveratrol, as well as docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids, two prominent omega‐3 PUFA, and the combination of these compounds. We also discuss the limitations and explore future directions for the combined use of these natural products as preventive or complementary therapies to preserve vision and slow disease progression.

The utilization of gelatin capsule waste (GCW) poses a challenge for the industry. This study investigates its potential as a functional food ingredient by evaluating the physico-chemical, rheological, and techno-functional properties of gelatin capsule waste powder (GCWP). To achieve this, the gelatin capsule waste (GCW) was mixed with maltodextrin at varying ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, and 1:5) and subjected to spray drying. The findings highlight maltodextrin’s crucial role in stabilizing the drying process, reducing stickiness, and enhancing handling and storage properties. All the obtained GCWP samples appeared light white and had a slightly sticky texture. The 1:5 (w/w) GCW-to-maltodextrin ratio produced the highest powder recovery with minimal stickiness, indicating enhanced drying efficiency. Increasing maltodextrin reduced gel strength, texture, and foaming properties while raising the glass transition temperature. The FTIR analysis indicated a decline in protein–protein interactions and increased polysaccharide interactions at higher maltodextrin levels. The rheological analysis demonstrated lower elastic and loss moduli with increased maltodextrin, affecting GCWP’s structural behavior. For overall properties, the GCW mixed with maltodextrin at a 1:1 ratio (GCW-1M) is recommended for future applications, particularly for its gelling characteristics. The GCW-1M, being rich in amino acids, demonstrates its potential as a functional food ingredient. However, certain properties, such as gel strength and powder stability (hygroscopicity and stickiness), require further optimization to enhance its industrial applicability as a functional food ingredient.

Across two studies, we examine the role of transparency and peer punishment in promoting cooperation and addressing economic inequality in public good contributions. With global inequality rising and the wealthiest few amassing a greater share of resources, its impact on social cohesion and business environments is increasingly significant. Financial secrecy further compounds these issues by allowing for income and wealth concealment at both societal and organizational levels. Our experimental findings reveal that transparency paired with peer punishment significantly boosts cooperation, particularly among advantaged individuals. In contrast, peer punishment alone proves insufficient to mitigate the adverse effects of inequality without the support of transparency. These results underscore the need for ethical governance structures that incorporate transparency, fairness, and accountability—principles essential for organizations committed to fostering trust and social responsibility in unequal settings.

Managers often say that they want to make their company more profitable by increasing the unit margin, operating margin, or margin rate, making these strategic objectives. There is some confusion in their language, as these three metrics seem to be equivalent to maximum profit. We use simple microeconomic theory to show that they are inconsistent with the objective of maximum profit: the output is lower, and the price is generally higher, when these alternative objectives are chosen instead of the maximum profit. Output is lowest when the unit margin is chosen; the highest output corresponds to maximum profit; the output derived from maximizing operating margin or markup is the same and lies between the two previous maximums. Prices are in the reverse order under imperfect competition for normal goods. Maximizing margin metrics results in lower profit than maximizing profit. This has implications for how companies communicate, both internally and externally, and for their governance.

We show that the hyper‐Kähler varieties of OG10‐type constructed by Laza–Saccà–Voisin (LSV) verify the Lefschetz standard conjecture. This is an application of a more general result, stating that certain Lagrangian fibrations verify this conjecture. The main technical assumption of this general result is that the Lagrangian fibration satisfies the hypotheses of Ngô's support theorem. Verifying that the LSV tenfolds do satisfy those hypotheses is of independent interest. Another point of independent interest of the paper is the definition and the study of the Lefschetz standard conjecture in the relative setting, and its relation to the classical absolute case.

Stimulation of muscle afferents by local vibration (LV) can lead to two distinct perceptual and motor responses: the tonic vibration reflex (TVR) or the movement illusion. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of TVR and movement illusion on corticospinal excitability. In two experiments, EMG activity of the vibrated flexor carpi radialis (FCR) muscle (80 Hz, 6 min) and the extensor carpi radialis (ECR) muscle were recorded. Illusion was assessed using questionnaires. LV conditions were adjusted to favour either TVR (visual attention focused on the vibrating wrist) or ILLUSION (hidden hand, visual attention focused on the EMG of the FCR muscle). Motor‐evoked potential (MEP) and cervicomedullary motor‐evoked potential (CMEP) were recorded at rest for both muscles before (10 and 0 min) and after (0 and 30 min) each LV condition. Only the TVR condition increased EMG of the FCR muscle (+490% compared to resting, P = 0.005), while movement illusion was greater in the ILLUSION condition (P < 0.001). Concerning the vibrated muscle at P0, TVR reduced the amplitude of CMEP (−13.8 ± 15.8%, P = 0.011) without altering MEP (0.3 ± 27.9%, P = 1), whereas the opposite occurred with movement illusion (i.e. CMEP: −4.5 ± 13.7%, P = 0.891; MEP: −25.1 ± 17.2%, P = 0.002). Cortical excitability (MEP/CMEP ratio) of the vibrated muscle was reduced by 24 ± 13.3% on average compared to values obtained before LV, only in the ILLUSION condition. In conclusion, this study highlights the relevance of measuring and reporting the perceptual and motor responses induced during LV, demonstrating that TVR and movement illusion partly determine the acute effects on the neural network. image Key points Tonic vibration reflex and movement illusion are rarely controlled and measured in studies investigating the effect of LV on corticospinal excitability. The application of LV with visual attention focused on the vibrated muscle promotes the presence of a tonic vibration reflex (TVR). The absence of visual feedback on the latter promotes the presence of an illusion of movement. The cortical excitability of the vibrated muscle is influenced differently according to the perceptual and motor responses induced during LV, with an opposite effect on the cortical excitability of the antagonist muscle. Improved control of LV application conditions, quantification of perceptual and motor responses, and reporting of results (e.g. EMG activity of the vibrated muscle or illusion of movement during the protocol) are required to enhance our understanding of the physiological mechanisms associated with LV use and, consequently, the effectiveness of LV as a therapeutic modality.

Snow algal blooms influence snow and glacier melt dynamics, yet the mechanisms involved in community assemblage, development, and dispersal are not well understood. While microbial swimming behavior contributes significantly to the productivity and organization of aquatic and terrestrial microbiomes, the potential impact of algal cell motility in melting snow on the formation of visible, large-scale surface bloom patterns is largely unknown. Here, using video tracking and phototaxis experiments of unique isolates, we evaluated the motility of diverse snow algal taxa from green, red, and golden colored snow blooms in response to light and thermal gradients. We show that many species are efficient cryophilic microswimmers with speed thermal optima below 10°C although taxa with cryotolerant swimming traits were also identified. The significant motility of snow algae at low temperatures, a result of specialized adaptations, supports the importance of active movement in the life histories of algae inhabiting snow meltwater. However, diversity in swimming performance and behavior reveal a range of evolutionary outcomes and sensitivity of motile life stages to dynamic environments. IMPORTANCE Swimming motility is a fundamental mechanism that controls the assembly, structure, and productivity of microbiomes across diverse environments and is highly sensitive to temperature. Especially, the role of cell swimming activity in algal bloom formation at the very low temperatures of snowmelt has been hypothesized, but not studied. By examining the movement patterns of snow algae and modeling the thermal response curves of swimming speed, the data reveal the key role of active cell movement that may have further important impacts on the microbial ecology and melt rates of snow and ice in polar and alpine regions.

RAB3A encodes a small GTP-binding protein that is abundant in brain synaptic vesicles and crucial for the release of neurotransmitters and synaptic plasticity. Here we identified RAB3A as a candidate gene for autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia by two independent approaches: linkage in a large dominant ataxia family and, in parallel, an untargeted computational genetic association approach, analyzing the 100,000 Genomes Project datasets. To further validate the role of RAB3A in ataxia, we next screened large rare disease databases for rare heterozygous RAB3A variants in probands with ataxia features. In total, we identified 18 individuals from 10 unrelated families all sharing a cerebellar ataxia phenotype. Notably, 9 out of 10 families carried a recurrent variant in RAB3A, p.Arg83Trp, including one de novo occurrence. In addition, our screening revealed three families with a neurodevelopmental phenotype and three unique RAB3A variants, which were either de novo or loss-of-function variants. In line with the different RAB3A variant types, protein domains, and predicted functional consequences, a comprehensive set of complementary methods was used to functionally characterize the identified variants. As expected, GTPase-activating protein (GAP)-dependent GTP hydrolysis was reduced for those two missense variants located in the GAP binding domain of RAB3A (Arg83Trp, Tyr91Cys). In a Drosophila Rab3 loss-of-function model, these two missense variants also failed to rescue a synaptic phenotype. Overexpression of Rab3 variants in Drosophila wildtype background did not cause an obvious phenotype, making a dominant negative effect of these variants unlikely. Lastly, exploring interactors of RAB3A variants by using co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry showed differential changes in variant-specific interactions with known RAB3A key regulatory and effector proteins. In sum, our results establish RAB3A as a neurological disease gene. It represents an autosomal dominant gene for cerebellar ataxia with different variants associated with disease, including the frequent reoccurring variant p.Arg83Trp. Our study sheds light on the variant-specific interactome of RAB3A. Finally, we suggest an association of RAB3A with a neurodevelopmental phenotype, as reported for variants in several RAB3A interaction partners and as seen in Rab3A-deficent mice, although this possible association warrants further investigation by future studies.