bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fine-scale congruence in bacterial community structure from marine sediments sequenced by short-reads on Illumina and long-reads on Nanopore
Authors: Lemoinne Alice , Dirberg Guillaume , Georges Myriam , Robinet Tony
Published: June 2023

Following the development of high-throughput sequencers, environmental prokaryotic communities are usually described by metabarcoding with genetic markers on the 16S domain. However, short-read sequencing encounters a limitation in phylogenetic coverage and taxonomic resolution, due to the primers choice and read length. On these critical points, nanopore sequencing, a rising technology, suitable for long-read metabarcoding, was much undervalued because of its relatively higher error rate per read. Here we compared the prokaryotic community structure in a mock community and 52 sediment samples from two contrasted mangrove sites, described by short-reads on 16SV4-V5 marker (ca. 0.4kpb) analyzed by Illumina sequencing (MiSeq, V3), with those described by long-reads on bacterial nearly complete 16S (ca. 1.5 kpb) analyzed by Oxford Nanopore (MinION, R9.2). Short- and long-reads retrieved all the bacterial genera from the mock, although both showing similar deviations from the awaited proportions. From the sediment samples, with a coverage-based rarefaction of reads and after singletons filtering, co-inertia and Procrustean tests showed that bacterial community structures inferred from short- and long-reads were significantly similar, showing both a comparable contrast between sites and a coherent sea-land orientation within sites. In our dataset, 84.7 and 98.8% of the short-reads were assigned strictly to the same species and genus, respectively, than those detected by long-reads. Primer specificities of long-16S allowed it to detect 92.2% of the 309 families and 87.7% of the 448 genera that were detected by the short 16SV4-V5. Long-reads recorded 973 additional taxa not detected by short-reads, among which 91.7% were identified to the genus rank, some belonging to 11 exclusive phyla, albeit accounting for only 0.2% of total long-reads.
Translational approach to social isolation during a global pandemic: Hippocampal somatic mutation
Authors: Lee Bomee , Seo Yuri , Jung Sohee , Im Soojung , Choi Hyung Jun , Bae Jae Nam , Kim Yangsik
Published: June 2023

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has attributed to stress not only by the infection itself but also by social isolation owing to self-quarantine and social distancing. Stress has adverse effects on the mental health and chronic medical diseases; the potential of stress-induced somatic mutations in the brain to cause psychiatric disorders is being studied. Here we conducted behavioral studies, protein expression studies, single-nucleus sequencing (snRNAseq), and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of the hippocampus of mice that underwent early maternal separation and social isolation, and a demographic study of community populations who had been self-quarantined owing to COVID-19 exposure to investigate the link between somatic mutations and stress due to social isolation. The demographic study demonstrated more negative mental health findings among individuals who live alone or are single. Mice subjected to early maternal separation and social isolation demonstrated increased anxiety-like behaviors and stress-related corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1, and neurogenesis-related sex-determining region Y-box 2 and doublecortin expression. In snRNA-seq, differences, such as transthyretin increase, were observed in the maternal separation group, and somatic mutations, including insertion in the intron site of Tmem267, were observed in the social isolation group on WGS. The results of this study suggest that stress, such as social isolation, can cause changes at the genetic level, as well as behavioral and brain protein changes.
The proprotein convertase BLI-4 promotes collagen secretion during assembly of theCaenorhabditis eleganscuticle
Authors: Birnbaum Susanna K. , Cohen Jennifer D. , Belfi Alexandra , Murray John I. , Adams Jennifer R.G. , Chisholm Andrew D. , Sundaram Meera V.
Published: June 2023

Some types of collagens, including transmembrane MACIT collagens andC. eleganscuticle collagens, are N-terminally cleaved at a dibasic site that resembles the consensus for furin or other proprotein convertases of the subtilisin/kexin (PCSK) family. Such cleavage may release transmembrane collagens from the plasma membrane and affect extracellular matrix assembly or structure. However, the functional consequences of such cleavage are unclear and evidence for the role of specific PCSKs is lacking. Here, we used endogenous collagen fusions to fluorescent proteins to visualize the secretion and assembly of the first collagen-based cuticle inC. elegansand then tested the role of the PCSK BLI-4 in these processes. Unexpectedly, we found that cuticle collagens SQT-3 and DPY-17 are secreted into the extraembryonic space several hours before cuticle matrix assembly. Furthermore, this early secretion depends on BLI-4/PCSK; inbli-4and cleavage-site mutants, SQT-3 and DPY-17 are not efficiently secreted and instead form large intracellular aggregates. Their later assembly into cuticle matrix is reduced but not entirely blocked. These data reveal a role for collagen N-terminal processing in intracellular trafficking and in the spatial and temporal restriction of matrix assemblyin vivo. Our observations also prompt a revision of the classic model forC. eleganscuticle matrix assembly and the pre-cuticle-to-cuticle transition, suggesting that cuticle layer assembly proceeds via a series of regulated steps and not simply by sequential secretion and deposition.
Disentangling plant- and environment-mediated drivers of active rhizosphere bacterial community dynamics during short-term drought
Authors: Bandopadhyay Sreejata , Li Xingxing , Bowsher Alan W. , Last Robert L. , Shade Ashley
Published: June 2023

Background

Mitigating the effects of climate stress on crops is important for global food security. The microbiome associated with plant roots, henceforth, the rhizobiome, can harbor beneficial microbes that alleviate stress impacts. However, the factors influencing the recruitment of the rhizobiome during stress are unclear. We conducted an experiment to understand bacterial rhizobiome responses to short-term drought for two crop species: switchgrass and common bean. We used 16S rRNA and 16S rRNA gene sequencing to investigate the impact of drought severity on the recruitment of active bacterial rhizobiome members. We included planted and unplanted conditions to distinguish the environment-versus plant-mediated drivers of the active rhizobiome.

Results

Though each crop had a distinct rhizobiome, there were differences in the active microbiome structure between drought and watered and between planted and unplanted treatments. Despite their different community structures, the drought rhizobiome dynamics were similar across the two crops. However, the presence of a plant more strongly explained the rhizobiome variation in bean (17%) than in switchgrass (3%), with a small effect of plant mediation during drought only observed for the bean rhizobiome. The switchgrass rhizobiome was stable despite differences in the rhizosphere metabolite profiles between planted and unplanted treatments. Specifically, steroidal saponins and diterpennoids were enriched in drought, planted switchgrass soils.

Conclusions

We conclude that rhizobiome benefits to resist short-term drought are crop-specific, with the possibility of decoupling of plant exudation and rhizobiome responses, as we observed in switchgrass. We propose bacterial taxa uniquely associated with common bean plants during the short-term drought, which could be further evaluated to determine any plant benefit during drought.
Multiscale modeling of HBV infection integrating intra- and intercellular viral propagation for analyzing extracellular viral markers
Authors: Kitagawa Kosaku , Kim Kwang Su , Iwamoto Masashi , Hayashi Sanae , Park Hyeongki , Nishiyama Takara , Nakamura Naotoshi , Fujita Yasuhisa , Nakaoka Shinji , Aihara Kazuyuki , Perelson Alan S. , Allweiss Lena , Dandri Maura , Watashi Koichi , Tanaka Yasuhito , Iwami Shingo
Published: June 2023

Chronic infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is caused by the persistence of closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in the nucleus of infected hepatocytes. Despite available therapeutic anti-HBV agents, eliminating the cccDNA remains challenging. The quantifying and understanding dynamics of cccDNA are essential for developing effective treatment strategies and new drugs. However, it requires a liver biopsy to measure the intrahepatic cccDNA, which is basically not accepted because of the ethical aspect. We here aimed to develop a non-invasive method for quantifying cccDNA in the liver using surrogate markers present in peripheral blood. We constructed a multiscale mathematical model that explicitly incorporates both intracellular and intercellular HBV infection processes. The model, based on age-structured partial differential equations (PDEs), integrates experimental data from in vitro and in vivo investigations. By applying this model, we successfully predicted the amount and dynamics of intrahepatic cccDNA using specific viral markers in serum samples, including HBV DNA, HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBcrAg. Our study represents a significant step towards advancing the understanding of chronic HBV infection. The non-invasive quantification of cccDNA using our proposed methodology holds promise for improving clinical analyses and treatment strategies. By comprehensively describing the interactions of all components involved in HBV infection, our multiscale mathematical model provides a valuable framework for further research and the development of targeted interventions.
Structural insights into the initiation of free radical formation in the Class Ib ribonucleotide reductases
Authors: Yadav Lumbini R. , Mande Shekhar C.
Published: June 2023

Class I ribonucleotide reductases consisting of R1 and R2 subunits convert ribonucleoside diphosphates to deoxyribonucleoside diphosphates involving an intricate free radical mechanism. The generation of free radicals in the Class Ib ribonucleotide reductases is mediated by reaction involving di-manganese ions in the R2 subunits and is externally assisted by flavodoxin-like NrdI subunit. This is unlike Class Ia ribonucleotide reductases, where the free radical generation is initiated at its di-iron centre in the R2 subunits with no external support from another subunit. Despite much work on the R2 subunits of Class Ib ribonucleotide reductases, also referred as NrdF, and its partner NrdI, the structural details of free radical generation remain largely unknown. In this study we have determined the crystal structures of Mycobacterial NrdI in oxidized and reduced forms, and similarly those of NrdF2: NrdI complex (NrdF2I). These structures provide the first atomic view of the mechanism of free radical generation in the R2 subunit. We propose that oxygen molecule accesses FMN through a well-formed channel in NrdI, seen clearly in the crystal structure, and upon electron transfer is converted to a superoxide ion. Similarly, a path for superoxide radical transfer between NrdI and NrdF2 is also observed. A delocalised Mn ion in the R2 subunit is seen in the electron density, which attacks Tyr 110 to produce a Tyr• free radical. Finally, a solvent channel to the dimanganese-binding site is observed to complete the cycle. The study therefore provides important structural clues on the initiation of free radical generation in the R2 subunit of the ribonucleotide reductase complex.

Significance statement

Ribonucleotide reductases generate the deoxyribonucleotide pool in the cell for DNA replication and repair. The enzymes utilise free radical mechanism, where the mechanism of radical formation defines different classes of ribonucleotide reductases. Class Ib ribonucleotide reductases generate the free radical though di-manganese chemistry, assisted externally by NrdI. We describe here structural features required to achieve this mechanism. The structures clearly show a tunnel for oxygen access to the FMN site, tunnel to transport the consequent superoxide radical that is formed, a dislocated activated Mn, which appears to coordinate with a Tyrosine residue to form Tyr• radical and a water channel to complete the reaction cycle, thus enhancing our understanding of the steps of free radical generation.
Transgenic expression of Arabidopsis ELONGATION FACTOR-TU RECEPTOR (AtEFR) gene in banana enhances resistance to Banana Xanthomonas Wilt disease
Authors: Adero Mark Ochieng , Tripathi Jaindra Nath , Oduor Richard Okoth , Zipfel Cyril , Tripathi Leena
Published: June 2023

Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) caused byXanthomonas campestrispv. musacearum(Xcm) is a severe bacterial disease devastating banana production in East and Central Africa, where banana is cultivated as a staple crop. Classical breeding of banana is challenging because the crop is clonally propagated and has limited genetic diversity. Thus, genetic engineering serves as a viable alternative for banana improvement. Several studies have shown that interfamily transfer of theelongation factor Tu receptorgene (AtEFR) fromArabidopsis thalianato other plant families can increase broad-spectrum resistance against bacterial diseases. In this study, transgenic events of banana cultivar dwarf Cavendish expressing theAtEFRgene were generated and evaluated for resistance against Xcm under greenhouse conditions. The transgenic banana events were responsive to the EF-Tu-derived elf18 peptide and exhibited enhanced resistance to BXW disease compared to non-transgenic control plants. This study suggests that the functionality ofAtEFRis retained in banana with the potential of enhancing resistance to BXW disease under field conditions.
GLUT4 dynamic subcellular localization is controlled by AMP kinase activation as revealed by proximal proteome mapping in human muscle cells
Authors: Ray Anuttoma , Wen Jennifer , Yammine Lucie , Culver Jeff , Garren Jeonifer , Xue Liang , Hales Katherine , Xiang Qing , Birnbaum Morris J. , Zhang Bei B. , Monetti Mara , McGraw T.E.
Published: June 2023

Regulation of glucose transport into muscle and adipocytes, central for control of whole-body metabolism, is determined by the amount of GLUT4 glucose transporter in the plasma membrane (PM). Physiologic signals (activated insulin receptor or AMP kinase [AMPK]), acutely increase PM GLUT4 to enhance glucose uptake. Here we show in kinetic studies that intracellular GLUT4 is in equilibrium with the PM in unstimulated cultured human skeletal muscle cells, and that AMPK promotes GLUT4 redistribution to the PM by regulating both exocytosis and endocytosis. AMPK-stimulation of exocytosis requires Rab10 and Rab GTPase activating protein TBC1D4, requirements shared with insulin control of GLUT4 in adipocytes. Using APEX2 proximity mapping, we identify, at high-density and high-resolution, the GLUT4 proximal proteome, revealing GLUT4 traverses both PM proximal and distal compartments in unstimulated muscle cells. These data support intracellular retention of GLUT4 in unstimulated muscle cells by a dynamic mechanism dependent on the rates of internalization and recycling. AMPK promoted GLUT4 translocation to the PM involves redistribution of GLUT4 among the same compartments traversed in unstimulated cells, with a significant redistribution of GLUT4 from the PM distal Trans Golgi Network Golgi compartments. The comprehensive proximal protein mapping provides an integrated, whole cell accounting of GLUT4’s localization at a resolution of ∼20 nm, a structural framework for understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating GLUT4 trafficking downstream of different signaling inputs in physiologically relevant cell type and as such, sheds new light on novel key pathways and molecular components as potential therapeutic approaches to modulate muscle glucose uptake.
E3 ubiquitin ligase Deltex facilitates the expansion of Wingless gradient and antagonizes Wingless signaling through a conserved mechanism of transcriptional effector Armadillo/β-catenin degradation
Authors: Sharma Vartika , Sachan Nalani , Sarkar Bappi , Mutsuddi Mousumi , Mukherjee Ashim
Published: June 2023

The Wnt/Wg pathway controls myriads of biological phenomena throughout the development and adult life of all organisms across the phyla. Thus, an aberrant Wnt signaling is associated with a wide range of pathologies in humans. Tight regulation of Wnt/Wg signaling is required to maintain proper cellular homeostasis. Here we report a novel role of E3 ubiquitin ligase Deltex in Wg signaling regulation.Drosophila dxgenetically interacts withwg and its pathway components. Further, Dx LOF results in a reduced spreading of Wg while its over-expression expands the diffusion gradient of the morphogen. We attribute this change in Wg gradient to the endocytosis of Wg through Dx which directly affects the short and long-range Wg targets. We also demonstrate the role of Dx in regulating Wg effector Armadillo where Dx down-regulates Arm through proteasomal degradation. We also showed the conservation of Dx function in the mammalian system where DTX1 is shown to bind with β-catenin and facilitates its proteolytic degradation, spotlighting a novel step that potentially modulates Wnt/Wg signaling cascade.
MYC is essential for induction of major ZGA and subsequent preimplantation development
Authors: Yamamoto Takuto , Wang Haoxue , Sato Hana , Honda Shinnosuke , Ikeda Shuntaro , Minami Naojiro
Published: June 2023

In mouse preimplantation development, zygotic genome activation (ZGA), which synthesizes new transcripts from the embryos, begins in the S phase of the one-cell stage, with major ZGA occurring especially at the late two-cell stage.Mycis a transcription factor expressed in parallel with ZGA, but its direct association with the major ZGA has not been clarified. In this study, we found that developmental arrest occurs at the two-cell stage when mouse embryos were treated with antisense oligos targetingMycor inhibitors specific for MYC from the one-cell stage. In order to identify when MYC inhibition affected development, we applied time-limited inhibitor treatment, and found that inhibition of MYC at the two-cell, four-cell, and morula stages had no effect on preimplantation development, whereas treatment with the inhibitor at the early two-cell stage arrested development at the two-cell stage. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis revealed that when MYC function was inhibited, genes expressed in the major ZGA phase were suppressed. These results suggest that Myc is essential for the induction of major ZGA and its subsequent development. Revealing the function ofMycin preimplantation development is expected to contribute to advances in assisted reproductive technology.
Salmonella entericaserovar Typhi uses two type 3 secretion systems to replicate in human macrophages and to colonize humanized mice
Authors: Hamblin Meagan , Schade Ruth , Narasimhan Ramya , Monack Denise M.
Published: June 2023

Salmonella entericaserovar Typhi (S.Typhi) is a human-restricted pathogen that replicates in macrophages. In this study, we investigated the roles of theS.Typhi Type 3 secretion systems (T3SSs) encoded onSalmonellaPathogenicity Islands (SPI) -1 (T3SS-1) and -2 (T3SS-2) during human macrophage infection. We found that mutants ofS. Typhi deficient for both T3SSs were defective for intramacrophage replication as measured by flow cytometry, viable bacterial counts, and live time-lapse microscopy. T3SS-secreted proteins PipB2 and SifA contributed toS.Typhi replication and were translocated into the cytosol of human macrophages through both T3SS-1 and -2, demonstrating functional redundancy for these secretion systems. Importantly, anS. Typhi mutant strain that is deficient for both T3SS-1 and -2 was severely attenuated in the ability to colonize systemic tissues in a humanized mouse model of typhoid fever. Overall, this study establishes a critical role forS.Typhi T3SSs during its replication within human macrophages and during systemic infection of humanized mice.

Importance

Salmonella entericaserovar Typhi is a human-restricted pathogen that causes typhoid fever. Understanding the key virulence mechanisms that facilitateS.Typhi replication in human phagocytes will enable rational vaccine and antibiotic development to limit spread of this pathogen. WhileS.Typhimurium replication in murine models has been studied extensively, there is limited information available aboutS.Typhi replication in human macrophages, some of which directly conflicts with findings fromS.Typhimurium murine models. This study establishes that both ofS.Typhi’s two Type 3 Secretion Systems (T3SS-1 and -2) contribute to intramacrophage replication and virulence.
Spontaneous human CD8 T cell and EAE-inducible human CD4/CD8 T cell lesions in the brain and spinal cord of HLA-DRB1*15-positive multiple sclerosis PBMC humanized mice
Authors: Papazian Irini , Kourouvani Maria , Dagkonaki Anastasia , Gouzouasis Vasileios , Dimitrakopoulou Lila , Markoglou Nikolaos , Badounas Fotis , Tselios Theodore , Anagnostouli Maria , Probert Lesley
Published: June 2023

Autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) such as multiple sclerosis (MS) are only partially represented in current experimental models and the development of humanized immune mice is crucial for better understanding of immunopathogenesis and testing of therapeutics. We describe a humanized mouse model with several key features of MS. Severely immunodeficient B2m-NOG mice were transplanted with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from HLA-DRB1-typed MS and healthy (HI) donors and showed rapid engraftment by human T and B lymphocytes. Mice receiving cells from MS patients with recent/ongoing Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation showed high B cell engraftment capacity. Both HLA-DRB1*15 (DR15) MS and DR15 HI mice, not HLA-DRB1*13 MS mice, developed human T cell infiltration of CNS borders and parenchyma. DR15 MS mice uniquely developed inflammatory lesions in brain and spinal cord grey matter, with spontaneous, hCD8 T cell lesions, and mixed hCD8/hCD4 T cell lesions in EAE immunized mice, with variation in localization and severity between different patient donors. Main limitations of this model for further development are poor monocyte engraftment and lack of demyelination, lymph node organization and IgG responses. These results show that PBMC humanized mice represent promising research tools for investigating MS immunopathology in a patient-specific approach.
Local and Global Measures of Information Storage for the Assessment of Heartbeat-Evoked Cortical Responses
Authors: Barà Chiara , Zaccaro Andrea , Antonacci Yuri , Riva Matteo Dalla , Busacca Alessandro , Ferri Francesca , Faes Luca , Pernice Riccardo
Published: June 2023

Objective

Brain-heart interactions involve bidirectional effects produced by bottom-up input at each heartbeat, and top-down neural regulatory responses of the brain. While the cortical processing of the heartbeat is usually investigated through the analysis of the Heartbeat Evoked Potential, in this study we propose an alternative approach based on the variability in the predictability of the brain dynamics induced by the heartbeat.

Methods

In a group of eighteen subjects in whom simultaneous recording of the electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrocardiogram was performed in a resting-state, we analyzed the temporal profile of the local Information Storage (IS) to detect changes in the regularity of EEG signals in time windows associated with different phases of the cardiac cycle at rest.

Results

The average values of the local IS were significantly higher in the parieto-occipital areas of the scalp, suggesting an activation of the Default Mode Network, regardless of the cardiac cycle phase. In contrast, the variability of the local IS showed marked differences across the cardiac cycle phases.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that cardiac activity influences the predictive information of EEG dynamics differently in the various phases of the cardiac cycle.

Significance

The variability of local IS measures can represent a useful index to identify spatio-temporal dynamics within the neurocardiac system, which generally remain overlooked by the more widely employed global measures.
A framework proposition to identify astronaut value through the space station dynamic value stream mapping (SSDVSM)
Authors: Shan Hongying , Qin Mengyao , Zhang Libin , Meng Zunyan , Peng Peiyang , Shan Xinze
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The work efficiency and energy consumption of astronauts in the space station are the key issues in the operation of the space station, and how to evaluate the lean value of their activities is also complex and abstract. Combined with the idea of lean management, this paper aims to propose an space station dynamic value stream mapping system that can monitor and continuously improve the value flow and energy flow of astronauts in real time through lean methods.

Design/methodology/approach

Through systematic literature review, it is found that there is little research on the issue of lean management for astronauts. In manufacturing and services, value stream mapping is widely used for lean management. However, the static value stream map lacks the characteristics of real-time dynamics. This paper proposes to take the three modules of Muda detection, action recognition and energy monitoring as the basic content of the astronaut lean management framework to make the value stream and energy stream dynamic.

Findings

The theoretical framework of astronaut lean management is initially constructed, and the reasons for astronaut Muda and improvement ideas are also analyzed.

Originality/value

In fact, practitioners can use the proposed framework to identify the value of astronauts. Academically, these results collect research on dynamic value stream and lean management, providing a new way to identify value in aerospace using lean methods. Finally, the future research goals of astronaut lean management are put forward.
Leaving no one behind – improving uptake of the Covid 19 vaccination in underserved populations: the critical role of local collaboration and engagement with communities
Authors: Bailey Dawn Rachel Jane , Rankin Chloe , Sehmbi Vineeta , Grewal Parminder , Woodall James
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The paper offers commissioners and practitioners insights into how a gender and culturally sensitive Covid-19 vaccination clinic was set up in a local area that was experiencing lower uptake rates.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper seeks to examine and share a city-wide approach to improve vaccine uptake in a large metropolitan city in the UK.

Findings

In mitigating inequalities and ensuring underserved populations have access to the Covid-19 vaccine, there is a need to work with communities to develop vaccine clinics that provide a local, convenient and trusted offer that meets the needs of residents.

Originality/value

Developing a local Covid vaccine offer that meets cultural needs focusing on an area of low uptake in a large metropolitan city.
Identifying success factors of refugee entrepreneurs in the tourism and hospitality industry
Authors: Cifci Ibrahim , Cetin Gurel
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The immature research endeavor on refugee entrepreneurship has not adequately covered the success factors of refugees. The current work aims to address this gap through the theory of planned behavior and the theory of procedural utility to identify the success factors of refugee entrepreneurs in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The current work is based on a qualitative approach drawing on data from 24 semistructured interviews with refugee entrepreneurs in Istanbul-Türkiye.

Findings

The thematic analysis of the data set revolved around three interrelated themes: personal, organizational and environmental factors, which offer a better understanding of the elements defining successful refugee entrepreneurs.

Practical implications

The paper also offers various practical implications and policy recommendations for the economic integration of refugee entrepreneurs in the public and private sectors.

Originality/value

The results enhance the understanding of successful refugee entrepreneurship in their new hosting environment, contributing to the existing research agenda by identifying the key themes of refugee entrepreneurs’ success factors.
Experiences of refugee children living with disabilities: a systematic review
Authors: Malloy Alix , Rogers Corinne Marie , Caine Vera , Clandinin D. Jean
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Refugees living with disabilities are among the most vulnerable, isolated and marginalized populations, and, of this group, children are particularly vulnerable. The purpose of this study is to identify current knowledge and research gaps specific to the experiences of refugee families who have children with disabilities. The authors assess the quality of evidence and describe the theoretical underpinnings of research that focuses on refugee families who have children with disabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors searched nine electronic databases from database inception for English language, peer-reviewed publications. The authors identified themes from the included studies.

Findings

The authors identified 10 studies that fit their inclusion criteria and shown key findings in the form of six themes. Families who have children with disabilities experience structural barriers; their experiences are impacted by family factors and the degree and kind of support received, as well as the knowledge of parents about their rights. Gender differences made visible the precarious situations experienced by girls with disabilities. Gaps in educational standards and the capacity of schools, particularly in refugee camps, were highlighted.

Research limitations/implications

The authors show that there is a lack of evidence-based research focusing on refugee children’s own experiences of living with disabilities. Children’s experiences that were visible were, for the most part, attended to through other’s accounts of their experiences. Many studies that the authors found (the current knowledge to date) describe children with disabilities through third-party accounts, including parents, caregivers and those who provided services to this population. There is an urgent need to explore the experiences of children who have disabilities and are displaced from their home country.

Originality/value

This systematic review focuses on refugee children experiences that has not been conducted before and identifies the research gaps for this group. Attention to how disabilities are understood philosophically and who are defined as refugees are needed in order for the research to accrue in ways that build a consistent body of literature. Without some consistency, it is not possible for studies to build on one another.
Behind the curtain of payday lending: revealing consumer insights and ethical challenges in Indonesia and the USA using web-scraping methods
Authors: Hati Sri Rahayu Hijrah , Latip Hamrila Abdul
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the consumer insights and ethical concerns surrounding the online payday loan services available in the Google Play Store. This research was conducted to compare whether the presence or absence of debt collection protection acts in a country creates differences in consumer experiences regarding the ethics of payday loan collection. Specifically, the study compares customers’ experiences in both the Indonesian and US markets.

Design/methodology/approach

Indonesia and the USA were chosen because they have very different regulatory structures for the payday loan industry. The data was scraped using Python from 27 payday loan apps on the Indonesian Play Store, resulting in a total of 244,697 reviews extracted from the Indonesian market. For the US market, 446,010 reviews were extracted from 14 payday loan apps. The data was further analyzed using NVIVO.

Findings

The results suggest that consumers of payday loans in Indonesia and the USA hold positive views about the benefits of payday loan apps, as revealed by the word frequency and word cloud analysis. Notably, customers in both countries did not express any negative sentiments regarding the unethical interest rate charged by the payday loan, contradicting what is commonly reported in academic literature. However, a distinct pattern of unethical conduct was observed in both countries concerning marketing communication and debt collection practices. In the Indonesian market, payday loan companies were found to engage in unethical debt collection activities. In the US market, payday lenders exhibited unethical behavior in their marketing communication, particularly through deceptive advertising that makes promises to consumers that are not delivered.

Originality/value

The study aims to provide evidence on the various experiences of customers in the presence and absence of debt collection regulations using a novel methodology and a large sample, which strengthens the results and conclusions of the study. The study also intends to inform policymakers, particularly the Indonesian government, about the need for specific laws to regulate the debt collection process and prevent unethical practices. Ultimately, the study is expected to protect the rights of consumers from a deceptive marketing communication or unethical debt collection practices in both the Indonesian and US markets.
The emergence of data sharing along complex supply chains
Authors: Legenvre Hervé , Hameri Ari-Pekka
Published: June 2023

Purpose

To improve supply chain performance, companies are now exploring new pathways including industry-wide data sharing initiatives along complex supply chains. The purpose of this paper is to stimulate research in this field by describing the benefits, obstacles and the governance required for supply chain data sharing initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on publicly available information complemented by interviews with practitioners, the authors describe how companies are establishing ambitious data sharing infrastructure and initiatives along their supply chains.

Findings

The authors describe how data sharing along supply chains is becoming increasingly important for many companies and how the automotive sector is working towards establishing a digital infrastructure for data sharing that could support a wide range of use cases. The article emphasises the importance of studying the governance of data ecosystems using new theoretical approaches. Finally, the authors suggest three areas for future research on data ecosystems, including their governance, the learning dynamics that will drive their adoption and their relationship with broader system-level changes.

Originality/value

This paper is the first, to the authors’ knowledge, that depicts how industry-wide data-sharing initiatives are expected to have an impact on supply chain performance. The authors highlight factors that affect the development and implementation of these initiatives along supply chains.
Driving the talk: examining professional truck drivers' motivations to engage in eco-driving
Authors: Jazairy Amer , Pohjosenperä Timo , Sassali Jaakko , Juga Jari , von Haartman Robin
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This research examines what motivates professional truck drivers to engage in eco-driving by linking their self-reports with objective driving scores.

Design/methodology/approach

Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is illustrated in an embedded, single-case study of a Finnish carrier with 17 of its truck drivers. Data are obtained through in-depth interviews with drivers, their fuel-efficiency scores generated by fleet telematics and a focus group session with the management.

Findings

Discrepancies between drivers’ intentions and eco-driving behaviors are illustrated in a two-by-two matrix that classifies drivers into four categories: ideal eco-drivers, wildcards, wannabes and non-eco-drivers. Attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control are examined for drivers within each category, revealing that drivers’ perceptions did not always align with the reality of their driving.

Research limitations/implications

This study strengthens the utility of TPB through data triangulation while also revealing the theory’s inherent limitations in elucidating the underlying causes of its three antecedents and their impact on the variance in driving behaviors.

Practical implications

Managerial insights are offered to fleet managers and eco-driving solution providers to stipulate the right conditions for drivers to enhance fuel-efficiency outcomes of transport fleets.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to give a voice to professional truck drivers about their daily eco-driving practice.
The real exchange rate and economic growth: a meta-analysis
Authors: Ridhwan Masagus M. , Ismail Affandi , Nijkamp Peter
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Empirical studies regarding the impact of the real exchange rate (RER) on economic growth are extensively available. However, the literature as a whole appears to report varying results, while the causes of such differences have not been analyzed systematically. The present study aims to fill the gap in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors compile 543 empirical estimates from 51 studies of the exchange rate-growth nexus in order to meta-analyze its relationship. Meta-analysis allows the authors to quantitatively synthesize previous empirical studies and explain the variation in the results. This method also enables us to investigate the possibility of publication bias, as there is a tendency in research only to report results that are both statistically significant and show the expected signs.

Findings

After addressing publication bias and heterogeneity in the estimates, the meta-regression results show that RER depreciation (or undervaluation) genuinely favors economic growth. On average, RER depreciation has a greater impact on economic growth in developing countries than the developed ones. The study’s results imply that maintaining an undervalued RER could be favorable to spur economic growth, especially in developing countries.

Originality/value

Initially predominant in the medical literature, meta-analysis has been on a rising edge in economics. This progress has produced many systematic quantitative review analyses with continuously improved statistical-econometric practices related to economic variables. However, to the authors’ knowledge, no comprehensive meta-regression analysis of the relationship between exchange rate and economic growth has been conducted and published in any publicly accessible academic outlet. Therefore, this study aims to fill this gap in the literature.
Family-supportive supervisor behaviours and family cohesion: the roles of job crafting and passion for work
Authors: Saleem Maryam , Ahmed Balqees , Zhang Yi , Baqrain Abdelrahman
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Drawing on social support theory, this study empirically investigates the relationship between family-supportive supervisor behaviours (FSSBs) and the family cohesion of employees in the presence of job crafting as a mediator and passion for work as a moderator.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a structural equation modelling technique on three-wave, time-lagged primary data (N = 305) collected from employees of service sector firms in Pakistan.

Findings

The results reveal that FSSBs enhance the family cohesion of employees through the underlying mechanism of job crafting. Using passion for work as a moderator, the conditional analysis shows that the link between FSSBs and job crafting becomes stronger in the presence of high passion for work.

Originality/value

This study extends the literature on the link between FSSBs and job crafting and provides insightful theoretical contributions. This study advances social support theory by providing support for and detailing practical implications of promoting FSSBs, thus enhancing the understanding of the positive impact of job crafting behaviours across non-work spheres.
Bad apples or poisonous tree? Corporate culture’s role in the Wells Fargo scandal
Authors: Mullen Deborah M. , Wheatley Kathleen , Lamb Nai
Published: June 2023

Research methodology

This case investigation used firsthand statements, reports, testimony and regulatory records. While widely publicized in the popular press, this case is based on primary documents. On their website, many documents were obtained from Wells Fargo’s Corporate newsroom, such as the internal audit report shared with shareholders and press releases. Most other sources were from US regulatory websites (.gov) or congressional testimony. In a few places, quotes and comments came from reliable journalistic sites that cite their sources and follow a journalist’s code of ethics and conduct, ensuring that the reported remarks and data were verified.

Case overview/synopsis

Since 2016, Wells Fargo Bank has faced multiple customer mistreatment investigations and resultant fines. Public outcry and distrust resulted from Wells Fargo employees creating hidden accounts and enrolling people in bank services without their knowledge to meet desired levels of sustained shareholder growth. Over the past five years, Wells Fargo has been fined and returned to customers and stockholders over $3bn. Wells Fargo executives spent the first year of the scandal citing improper behavior by employees. Leadership did not take responsibility for setting the organizational goals, which led to employee misbehavior. Even after admitting some culpability in creating the extreme sales culture, executives and the Board of Directors tried to distance themselves from blame for the unethical behavior. They cited the organizations’ decentralized structure as a reason the board was not quicker in seeing and correcting the negative behaviors of these ‘bad apple’ employees. Wells Fargo faced multiple concurrent scandals, such as upselling services to retirees, inappropriately repossessing service members’ vehicles, adding insurance and extra fees to mortgages and other accounts and engaging in securities fraud. As time has passed, the early versions of a handful of “bad apples” seem to be only a part of the overall “poison tree.”The dilemma, in this case, is who is responsible for the misbehavior and the inappropriate sales of products and services (often without the customer’s knowledge)? Is strategic growth year-over-year with no allowances for environmental and economic factors a realistic and reasonable goal for corporations? This case is appropriate for undergraduates and graduate students in finance, human resources, management, accounting and investments.

Complexity academic level

An active case-based learning pedagogical approach is suggested. The materials include a short podcast, video and other materials to allow the faculty to assign pre-class work or to use in the classroom before a case discussion.
UK Metropolitan police: reverse mentoring in a small pilot programme aiming to build community trust
Authors: Moore Amy Fisher , Johnstone Rhys
Published: June 2023

Research methodology

The case was written from secondary materials.

Case overview/synopsis

This case is designed to support learning objectives in a Human Relations class of a university management course. The case explores how the UK Metropolitan police, working with the Girls’ Network, piloted a reverse mentoring programme for six months in 2021. Three senior officers were mentored by a trio of teenage girls from disadvantaged London boroughs. The aim of the programme was to address falling trust in the police by creating more understanding and empathy in the mentees for the issues facing the communities where the mentors lived, and to give the mentors more confidence from the experience of representing their communities. Each mentor–mentee pair focused on a specific policing issue that was relevant to the mentor’s neighbourhood: knife crime, domestic abuse or social inequality. Through the process, the senior Met police officers gained a deeper understanding of the challenges in the communities they served. Now that the pilot had been completed, the Met faced a decision point. Should the programme be spread further through the Met?Through reading and discussing the case, students are expected to explore the importance of empathy in the workplace and how reverse mentoring, when having the right support and overall intent, could be used in organisations.

Complexity academic level

This case is appropriate for university management courses. This case has a difficulty level appropriate for undergraduate and postgraduate courses. This case could be incorporated into a unit on human behaviour, leadership or coaching.
Myths of Modernism: Austrian Art after 1918
Authors: Rampley Matthew
Published: June 2023

The development of art in Austria after 1918 remains little explored; the main focus of research continues to be fin‐de‐siècle Vienna. Where interwar Austrian modernism is studied at all, interest is mostly limited to the municipal housing sponsored by the Social Democratic council. The main concern of this essay is to examine the reasons for this inconsistency and comparative neglect. It explores the ways in which the historiography of Austrian post‐war modernism has been informed by wider historical assumptions, about the role of the First World War as a cultural‐political caesura, for instance, or by ambivalence about interwar Austrian history and its slide into fascism, or valorization of the avant‐garde. A comparison is also drawn with accounts of art in interwar Czechoslovakia, where modernist practices are much celebrated since they have assumed a legitimating function for Czech and Slovak culture in the present.
‘I just wanted a change, a positive change’: Locating hope for young people engaged with residential alcohol and drug services in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Caluzzi Gabriel , MacLean Sarah , Gray Rebecca , Skattebol Jen , Neale Joanne , Bryant Joanne
Published: June 2023

In this article, we investigate young people’s involvement with residential alcohol and other drug (AOD) services as part of their broader engagement with hope. This study draws on qualitative interviews conducted with 20 young people aged 17–23 from Victoria, Australia, who were either in, or had recently left, residential AOD services. Interviews explored their experiences with AOD services and included questions about their hopes for the future. We found hope located in social relationships, productive discourses and AOD settings themselves. Hope also presented differently according to the external resources young people had available to them, giving some young people greater capacity to action their hoped‐for futures than others. Given many young people seek reimagined futures as part of their use of residential AOD services, this creates a valuable opportunity for services to help shape achievable hopes and boost service engagement. We suggest that hope can materialise in a variety of ways but caution against relying on it as a motivational strategy without providing young people with other resources. A more sustainable narrative of hope may require a solid foundation of resources, allowing young people with AOD problems to gain a sense of control over their lives and their imagined futures.
Thinker, Gaoler, Soldier, and Spy: Sir John Peyton (1544–1630) and Early Modern Intelligence‐Brokering in the Tower of London
Authors: SHAW DANNIELLE
Published: June 2023

Through analysing local administrative records, state administrative records, and personal correspondence, this article demonstrates how Sir John Peyton's role as Lieutenant of the Tower of London (1597–1603) provides us with a hitherto unexamined opportunity for commissioning, extracting, brokering, and obtaining intelligence. In doing so, it makes the case for re‐examining the often‐overlooked contribution of Elizabethan and Jacobean administrators to the history of intelligence‐gathering in early modern England, here focussing on the position of the Lieutenant of the Tower of London.