bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electron microscopy mapping of the DNA-binding sites of monomeric, dimeric, and multimeric KSHV RTA protein
Authors: Calhoun Jayla C. , Damania Blossom , Griffith Jack D. , Costantini Lindsey M.
Published: May 2023

Molecular interactions between viral DNA and viral-encoded protein are a prerequisite for successful herpesvirus replication and production of new infectious virions. Here, we examined how the essential Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) protein, RTA, binds to viral DNA using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Previous studies using gel-based approaches to characterize RTA binding are important for studying the predominant form(s) of RTA within a population and identifying the DNA sequences that RTA binds with high affinity. However, using TEM we were able to examine individual protein-DNA complexes and capture the various oligomeric states of RTA when bound to DNA. Hundreds of images of individual DNA and protein molecules were collected and then quantified to map the DNA binding positions of RTA bound to the two KSHV lytic origins of replication encoded within the KSHV genome. The relative size of RTA or RTA bound to DNA were then compared to protein standards to determine whether RTA complexed with DNA was monomeric, dimeric, or formed larger oligomeric structures. We successfully analyzed a highly heterogenous dataset and identified new binding sites for RTA. This provides direct evidence that RTA forms dimers and high order multimers when bound to KSHV origin of replication DNA sequences. This work expands our understanding of RTA binding, and demonstrates the importance of employing methodologies that can characterize highly heterogenic populations of proteins.

Importance

Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a human herpesvirus associated with several human cancers, typically in patients with compromised immune systems. Herpesviruses establish lifelong infections in hosts in part due to the two phases of infection: the dormant and active phases. Effective antiviral treatments to prevent the production of new viruses are needed to treat KSHV. A detailed microscopy-based investigation of the molecular interactions between viral protein and viral DNA revealed how protein-protein interactions play a role in DNA binding specificity. This analysis will lead to a more in depth understanding of KSHV DNA replication and serve as the basis for anti-viral therapies that disrupt and prevent the protein-DNA interactions, thereby decreasing spread to new hosts.
Heron: A Knowledge Graph editor for intuitive implementation of python based experimental pipelines
Authors: Dimitriadis George , Svahn Ella , MacAskill Andrew , Akrami Athena
Published: May 2023

To realise a research project idea, an experimenter faces a series of conflicting design and implementation considerations, regarding both its hardware and software components. For instance, the ease of implementation, in time and expertise, should be balanced against the ease of future reconfigurability and number of ‘black box’ components. Other, often conflicting, considerations include the level of documentation and ease of reproducibility, resource availability as well as access to online communities. To alleviate this balancing act between opposing requirements we present Heron, a new Python-based platform to construct and run experimental and data analysis pipelines. Heron’s main principle is to allow researchers to design and implement the experimental flow as close as possible to their mental schemata of the experiment, in the form of a Knowledge Graph. Heron is designed to increase the implementation speed of experiments (and their subsequent updates), while minimising the number of incorporated black box components. It enhances the readability and reproducibility of the final implementation and allows the use of combinations of hardware and software otherwise impossible or too costly to achieve. Given this, Heron offers itself to sciences whose needs involve experiments with a large number of interconnected hardware and software components like robotics, neuroscience, behavioural sciences, physics, chemistry, environmental science, etc.. It is designed with those experimentalists in mind which: i) Demand full control of their setup. ii) Prefer not to have to choose between hardware and software that run only on a specific chip/operating system combination. iii) Appreciate the ease and speed that high-level languages (e.g. Python) and Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) offer them. It assumes an intermediate knowledge of the Python language and ecosystem, offering a flexible and powerful way to construct experimental setups. It removes any inaccessible corners, yet keeps implementation costs significantly reduced compared to using lower level languages. Finally, its use results in a much cleaner and easier to understand code base, amicable to documentation and reproducibility efforts.
Sex differences in socioemotional behavior and changes in ventral hippocampal transcription across aging in C57Bl/6J mice
Authors: Baumgartner Nina E. , Biraud Mandy C. , Lucas Elizabeth K.
Published: May 2023

Socioemotional health is positively correlated with improved cognitive and physical aging. Despite known sex differences in socioemotional behaviors and trajectory of aging, the interactive effects between sex and aging on socioemotional outcomes are poorly understood. We performed the first comprehensive assessment of sex differences in socioemotional behaviors in C57Bl/6J mice across aging. Compared to males, females exhibited decreased anxiety-like behavior and social preference, but increased social recognition. With age, anxiety-like behavior, cued threat memory generalization, and social preference increased in both sexes. To investigate potential neural mechanisms underlying these behavioral changes, we analyzed transcriptional neuropathology markers in ventral hippocampus and found age-related changes in genes related to activated microglia, angiogenesis, and cytokines. Sex differences emerged in timing, direction, and magnitude of these changes, independent of reproductive senescence in aged females. Interestingly, female-specific upregulation of autophagy-related genes correlated with age-related behavioral changes selectively in females. These novel findings reveal critical sex differences in trajectories of ventral hippocampal aging that may contribute to sex- and age-related differences in socioemotional outcomes.
Preservation of ∼12-hour ultradian rhythms of gene expression of mRNA and protein metabolism in the absence of canonical circadian clock
Authors: Zhu Bokai , Liu Silvia
Published: May 2023

Besides the ∼24-hour circadian rhythms, ∼12-hour ultradian rhythms of gene expression, metabolism and behaviors exist in animals ranging from crustaceans to mammals. Three major hypotheses were proposed on the origin and mechanisms of regulation of ∼12-hour rhythms, namely that they are not cell-autonomous and controlled by a combination of the circadian clock and environmental cues, that they are regulated by two anti-phase circadian transcriptional factors in a cell-autonomous manner, or that they are established by a cell-autonomous ∼12-hour oscillator. To distinguish among these possibilities, we performed apost-hocanalysis of two high temporal resolution transcriptome dataset in animals and cells lacking the canonical circadian clock. In both the liver of BMAL1 knockout mice andDrosophilaS2 cells, we observed robust and prevalent ∼12-hour rhythms of gene expression enriched in fundamental processes of mRNA and protein metabolism that show large convergence with those identified in wild-type mice liver. Bioinformatics analysis further predicted ELF1 and ATF6B as putative transcription factors regulating the ∼12-hour rhythms of gene expression independently of the circadian clock in both fly and mice. These findings provide additional evidence to support the existence of an evolutionarily conserved 12-hour oscillator that controls ∼12-hour rhythms of gene expression of protein and mRNA metabolism in multiple species.
Widespread Receptive Field Remapping in Early Visual Cortex
Authors: Denagamage Sachira , Morton Mitchell P. , Hudson Nyomi V. , Nandy Anirvan S.
Published: May 2023

Our eyes are in constant motion, yet we perceive the visual world as stable. Predictive remapping of receptive fields is thought to be one of the critical mechanisms for enforcing perceptual stability during eye movements. While receptive field remapping has been identified in several cortical areas, the spatiotemporal dynamics of remapping, and its consequences on the tuning properties of neurons, remain poorly understood. Here, we tracked remapping receptive fields in hundreds of neurons from visual Area V2 while subjects performed a cued saccade task. We found that remapping was far more widespread in Area V2 than previously reported and can be found in neurons from all recorded cortical layers and cell types. Surprisingly, neurons undergoing remapping exhibit sensitivity to two punctate locations in visual space. Furthermore, we found that feature selectivity is not only maintained during remapping but transiently increases due to untuned suppression. Taken together, these results shed light on the spatiotemporal dynamics of remapping and its ubiquitous prevalence in the early visual cortex, and force us to revise current models of perceptual stability.
Amyloid pathology reduces ELP3 expression and tRNA modifications leading to impaired proteostasis in Alzheimer’s disease models
Authors: Pereira Marisa , Ribeiro Diana R. , Berg Maximilian , Tsai Andy P. , Nho Kwangsik , Kaiser Stefanie , Moutinho Miguel , Soares Ana R.
Published: May 2023

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by the accumulation of abeta-amyloid aggregates, which triggers tau hyperphosphorylation and neuronal loss. While the precise mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in AD are not entirely understood, it is known that loss of proteostasis is implicated in this process. Maintaining neuronal proteostasis requires proper transfer RNA (tRNA) modifications, which are crucial for optimal translation. However, research into tRNA epitranscriptome in AD is limited, and it is not yet clear how alterations in tRNA modifying enzymes and tRNA modifications might contribute to disease progression. Here, we report that expression of the tRNA modifying enzyme ELP3 is reduced in the brain of AD patients and amyloid AD mouse models, suggesting ELP3 is implicated in proteostasis dysregulation observed in AD. To investigate the role of ELP3 specifically in neuronal proteostasis impairments in the context of amyloid pathology, we analyzed SH-SY5Y neuronal cells carrying the amyloidogenic Swedish familial AD mutation in the APP gene (SH-SWE) or the wild-type gene (SH-WT). Similarly to the amyloid mouse models, SH-SWE exhibited reduced levels of ELP3 which was associated with tRNA hypomodifications and reduced abundance, as well as proteostasis impairments. Furthermore, the knock-down of ELP3 in SH-WT recapitulated the proteostasis impairments observed in SH-SWE cells. Importantly, the correction of tRNA deficits due to ELP3 reduction rescued and reverted proteostasis impairments of SH-SWE and SH-WT knock-down for ELP3, respectively. Additionally, SH-WT exposed to the secretome of SH-SWE or synthetic amyloid aggregates recapitulate the SH-SWE phenotype, characterized by reduced ELP3 expression, tRNA hypomodification and increased protein aggregation. Taken together, our data suggest that amyloid pathology dysregulates neuronal proteostasis through the reduction of ELP3 and tRNA modifications. This study highlights the modulation of tRNA modifications as a potential therapeutic avenue to restore neuronal proteostasis in AD and preserve neuronal function.

Graphical Abstract
Abolishing storage lipids induces protein misfolding and stress responses inYarrowia lipolytica
Authors: Zaghen Simone , Konzock Oliver , Fu Jing , Kerkhoven Eduard J
Published: May 2023

Summary/Abstract

Yarrowia lipolyticanaturally saves carbon excess as storage lipids. Engineering efforts allow redirecting the high precursor flux required for lipid synthesis towards added-value chemicals such as polyketides, flavonoids, and terpenoids. To redirect precursor flux from storage lipids to other products, four genes involved in triacylglycerol and sterol ester synthesis (DGA1, DGA2, LRO1, ARE1) can be deleted. To elucidate the effect of the deletions on cell physiology and regulation, we performed chemostat cultivations under carbon and nitrogen limitation, followed by transcriptome analysis. We found that storage lipid-free cells show an enrichment of the unfolded protein response, and several biological processes related to protein refolding and degradation are enriched. Additionally, storage lipid-free cells show an altered lipid class distribution with an abundance of potentially cytotoxic free fatty acids under nitrogen limitation. Our findings not only highlight the importance of lipid metabolism on cell physiology and proteostasis, but can also aid the development of improved chassy strains ofY. lipolyticafor commodity chemical production.

Highlights

Physiological and transcriptomic characterization of storage lipid free (Q4) strain

Storage lipid free strain shows an increased free fatty acid fraction on nitrogen limitation

Storage lipid free strain is more sensitive towards fatty acid supplementation

Unfolded protein response, chaperones, and ubiquitin are enriched in the storage lipid free strain
Direct translation of incoming retroviral genomes
Authors: Köppke Julia , Keller Luise-Elektra , Stuck Michelle , Arnow Nicolas D. , Bannert Norbert , Doellinger Joerg , Cingöz Oya
Published: May 2023

Viruses that carry a positive-sense, single-stranded (+ssRNA) RNA translate their genomes soon after entering the host cell to produce viral proteins, with the exception of retroviruses. A distinguishing feature of retroviruses is reverse transcription, where the +ssRNA genome serves as a template to synthesize a double-stranded DNA copy that subsequently integrates into the host genome. As retroviral RNAs are produced by the host cell transcriptional machinery and are largely indistinguishable from cellular mRNAs, we investigated the potential of incoming retroviral genomes to directly express proteins. Here we show through multiple, complementary methods that retroviral genomes are translated after entry. Our findings challenge the notion that retroviruses require reverse transcription to produce viral proteins. Synthesis of retroviral proteins in the absence of productive infection has significant implications for basic retrovirology, immune responses and gene therapy applications.
IL-6 is dispensable for causing cachexia in the colon carcinoma 26 model
Authors: Kwon Young-Yon , Hui Sheng
Published: May 2023

Various cytokines have been implicated in cancer cachexia. One such cytokine is IL-6, which has been deemed a key cachectic factor in mice inoculated with the colon carcinoma 26 (C26) cells, one of the most widely used models of cancer cachexia. Here to test the causal role of IL-6 in cancer cachexia, we used CRISPR/Cas9 editing to knock outIL-6in C26 cells. We found that growth of IL-6 KO C26 tumors was dramatically delayed. Most strikingly, while IL-6 KO tumors eventually reached the similar size as wild-type tumors, cachexia still took place, despite no elevation in circulating IL-6. We further showed an increase of immune cell populations in IL-6 KO tumors and the defective IL-6 KO tumor growth was rescued in immunodeficient mice. Thus, our results invalidated IL-6 as a necessary factor for causing cachexia in the C26 model and revealed instead its important role in regulating tumor growth via immune suppression.
Puromycin reveals a distinct conformation of neuronal ribosomes
Authors: Anadolu Mina N. , Sun Jingyu , Li Jewel T-Y. , Graber Tyson E. , Ortega Joaquin , Sossin Wayne S.
Published: May 2023

Puromycin is covalently added to the nascent chain of proteins by the peptidyl transferase activity of the ribosome and the dissociation of the puromycylated peptide typically follows this event. It was postulated that blocking the translocation of the ribosome with emetine could retain the puromycylated peptide on the ribosome, but evidence against this has recently been published (Hobson et al., 2020https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.60048; Enam et al., 2020https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.60303). In neurons, puromycylated nascent chains remain in the ribosome even in the absence of emetine, yet direct evidence for this has been lacking. Using biochemistry and cryo-electron microscopy, we show that the puromycylated peptides remain in the ribosome exit channel in the large subunit in a subset of neuronal ribosomes stalled in the hybrid state. These results validate previous experiments to localize stalled polysomes in neurons and provide insight into how neuronal ribosomes are stalled. Moreover, in these hybrid-state neuronal ribosomes, anisomycin, which usually blocks puromycylation, competes poorly with puromycin in the puromycylation reaction, allowing a simple assay to determine the proportion of nascent chains that are stalled in this state. In early hippocampal neuronal cultures, over 50% of all nascent peptides are found in these stalled polysomes. These results provide new insights into the stalling mechanisms of neuronal ribosomes and suggest that puromycylated peptides can be used to reveal subcellular sites of hybrid-state stalled ribosomes in neurons.

Significance Statement

Puromycin can be covalently linked to the nascent polypeptide chain on ribosomes, followed by dissociation of the puromycylated polypeptide. Here, we conclusively show that in stalled ribosomes isolated from neuronal RNA granules, the puromycylated peptide remains in the polypeptide exit tunnel of the ribosome. This validates previous data using this technique to localize stalled ribosomes in neurons and suggests a unique ribosomal conformation in these cells. Further evidence for the unique state of these ribosomes is the resistance of puromycylation to the inhibitor anisomycin, which prevents puromycylation in all other cellular contexts. These results provide insight into the mechanism underlying neuronal ribosome stalling and resolve a controversy about using puromycin to localize ribosome stalling in neurons.
Uncovering the temporal dynamics and regulatory networks of thermal stress response in a hyperthermophile using transcriptomics and proteomics
Authors: Grünberger Felix , Schmid Georg , Ahmad Zubeir El , Fenk Martin , Vogl Katharina , Reichelt Robert , Hausner Winfried , Urlaub Henning , Lenz Christof , Grohmann Dina
Published: May 2023

Extremophiles, such as the hyperthermophilic archaeonPyrococcus furiosus, thrive under extreme conditions and must rapidly adapt to changes in the physical parameters of their natural environment for short-term and long-term survival. When inhabiting hydrothermal vents, these organisms face substantial temperature gradients, necessitating the evolution of adaptive thermal stress mechanisms. However, the dynamics and coordination of cellular responses at the transcriptome and proteome levels remain underexplored. This study presents an integrated analysis of RNA-sequencing and mass spectrometry data to elucidate the transcriptomic and proteomic responses to heat and cold shock stress and recovery inP. furiosus. Our results reveal surprisingly rapid and dynamic changes in gene and protein expression patterns associated with these stress responses. Heat shock triggers extensive transcriptome reprogramming, orchestrated by the transcriptional regulator Phr, which targets a broader gene repertoire than previously demonstrated. For heat shock signature genes, RNA levels swiftly return to baseline upon recovery, while protein levels remain persistently upregulated, reflecting a rapid but more sustained response. Intriguingly, cold shock at 4°C elicits distinct short-term and long-term responses at both RNA and protein levels. By conducting a cluster analysis, we identified gene sets with either congruent or contrasting trends in RNA and protein changes. Notably, these clusters represent well-separated arCOG groups and appear to be tailored to their individual cellular responses. Our study provides a comprehensive overview of the cellular response to temperature stress, advancing our understanding of stress response mechanisms in hyperthermophilic archaea and provide valuable insights into the molecular adaptations that facilitate life in extreme environments.
Sperm Toolbox – A selection of small molecules to study human spermatozoa
Authors: Gruber Franz S. , Richardson Anthony , Johnston Zoe C. , Myles Rachel , Norcross Neil , Day David , Georgiou Irene , Sanz Laura Sesma , Wilson Caroline , Read Kevin D. , da Silva Sarah Martins , Barratt Christopher L. R. , Gilbert Ian H. , Swedlow Jason R.
Published: May 2023

Male contraceptive options and infertility treatments are limited. To help overcome these limitations we established a small molecule library as a toolbox for assay development and screening campaigns using human spermatozoa. We have profiled all compounds in our automated high-throughput screening platform and provide the dataset, which allows direct side-by-side comparisons of compound effects and assays using live human spermatozoa.
Challenges and considerations for reproducibility of STARR-seq assays
Authors: Das Maitreya , Hossain Ayaan , Banerjee Deepro , Praul Craig Alan , Girirajan Santhosh
Published: May 2023

High-throughput methods such as RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, and ATAC-seq have well-established guidelines, commercial kits, and analysis pipelines that enable consistency and wider adoption for understanding genome function and regulation. STARR-seq, a popular assay for directly quantifying the activities of thousands of enhancer sequences simultaneously, has seen limited standardization across studies. The assay is long, with more than 250 steps, and frequent customization of the protocol and variations in bioinformatics methods raise concerns for reproducibility of STARR-seq studies. Here, we assess each step of the protocol and analysis pipelines from published sources and in-house assays, and identify critical steps and quality control (QC) checkpoints necessary for reproducibility of the assay. We also provide guidelines for experimental design, protocol scaling, customization, and analysis pipelines for better adoption of the assay. These resources will allow better optimization of STARR-seq for specific research needs, enable comparisons and integration across studies, and improve the reproducibility of results.
Approximating lattice similarity
Authors: Andrews Lawrence C. , Bernstein Herbert J. , Sauter Nicholas K.
Published: May 2023

A method is proposed for choosing unit cells for a group of crystals so that they all appear as nearly similar as possible to a selected cell. Related unit cells with varying cell parameters or indexed with different lattice centering can be accommodated.
5-[(4-Methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-1-phenylthiopyrano[4,3-b]indole-3(5H)-thione dichloromethane monosolvate
Authors: Dassonneville Benjamin , Schollmeyer Dieter , Detert Heiner
Published: May 2023

Rhodium-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of carbon disulfide to o,N-dialkynyltosylanilines gives two isomeric indolothiopyranthiones, a violet and a red isomer. This is the first crystal structure of a red isomer, which crystallizes with one solvent molecule of dichloromethane in the asymmetric unit, C24H17NO2S3·CH2Cl2. In the extended structure, centrosymmetric pairs of the planar annulated system are arranged in strands and solvent molecules fill the space between the strands.
The influence of external governance mechanisms on the performance of microfinance institutions in Togo
Authors: Gadedjisso-Tossou Akouvi , Kouevi Tsotso , Gueyie Jean-Pierre
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the effects of external governance mechanisms on the performance of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Togo.

Design/methodology/approach

Using annual time series data from a sample of 30 MFIs during the period 2011–2015, the authors apply panel data econometrics in their estimations.

Findings

The results indicate that the notation by a rating agency positively and significantly affects the financial return of MFIs. The quality and the regularity of the audits negatively and significantly influence the financial performance (measured by return on assets and operating self-sufficiency) but favorably and significantly influence social performance (increased number of active borrowers (NAB) and reduced size of loans). Furthermore, supervision increases the amount of individual loans but decreases the NAB, which means deterioration in social performance. Overall, this paper shows that external governance mechanisms significantly affect the performance of Togolese MFIs, but with varying effects depending on the mechanism considered.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size of 30 MFIs is small, and the geographic coverage of the study is restricted to MFIs operating in the city of Lomé, Togo. The authors did not have access to the information regarding the portfolio at risk at 30 days, even though it is a measure of financial performance. Likewise, we did not have access to the appendices to the financial statements for the calculation of prudential ratios. This method, which consists of asking the institutions using a questionnaire if they comply with prudential standards, may be biased because this study cannot verify the authenticity of the responses given that the standards are quantitative.

Practical implications

The study findings advocate that improving the financial and social performance of MFIs requires improving the quality of external governance mechanisms. MFIs should then pay close attention to well-functioning external governance mechanisms.

Social implications

As MFIs are key social actors in a society, all mechanisms that contribute to their efficiency benefit society.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the corporate governance literature by showing that external governance mechanisms influence performance. These external mechanisms are complementary disciplinary measures to internal governance mechanisms and other tools.
The role of mentors’ paradox mindset on career mentoring: application of attachment theory
Authors: Yin Jun
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between mentors’ paradox mindset and career mentoring directly and indirectly through self-efficacy and work engagement, drawing insights from attachment theory.

Design/methodology/approach

A serial mediation model was tested using survey data from 297 employees working in a bank company in China.

Findings

Paradox mindset had a significant indirect effect on career mentoring through self-efficacy and work engagement, self-efficacy had a significant indirect effect on career mentoring through work engagement, and paradox mindset had a significant indirect effect on career mentoring through self-efficacy and work engagement.

Practical implications

The results offer practical insights for human resource managers by investigating how mentors’ mindsets affect their psychological states and behaviors. By training and developing mentors’ paradox mindset, mentors can better deal with tensions with a high level of self-efficacy and work engagement in the increasingly changing and demanding work environment and foster functional mentoring relationships.

Originality/value

Findings of this study provide fresh insights into the relationship between individual differences and mentoring relationships by uncovering the critical role of paradox mindset in enhancing self-efficacy and work engagement. Moreover, the interaction of mentors’ paradox mindset and self-efficacy advances previous studies on attachment theory by investigating the underlying mechanisms of mentoring relationships involving affectionate or emotional factors.
A relational view of unethical pro-organisational behaviour
Authors: Popoola Ifeoluwa Tobi , Novicevic Milorad , Johnson Paul , Matthew Mervin
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the relational view of unethical pro-organisational behaviour (UPB) to explain interpersonal paths of influence on employees’ engagement in UPB. The proposed relational view of UPB is grounded in Darwall’s second-person philosophy.

Design/methodology/approach

This research design involves two quantitative studies – a pilot study with 340 subjects and the main study with 310 employees. The structural equation modelling data analysis was conducted using the R language software.

Findings

The findings provided initial support for the relational view of UPB. Study 1 revealed that employees’ accountability (perceived as personal obligation) influenced their engagement in UPB. Furthermore, Study 2 strengthens the theory and findings from Study 1 that employees’ moral organisational identification influences their engagement in UPB over the influence of employees’ identification with the organisation.

Research limitations/implications

The findings extend the nomological network of UPB and extant theoretical knowledge on the moral self by uncovering how moral accountability and personal obligation have a “dark side”.

Practical implications

The findings indicate that practitioners should address the impact of employee interpersonal relationships on their perceived obligation to engage in UPB.

Originality/value

The authors provided an original use of Darwall’s second-person standpoint as the philosophical foundation to integrate accountability and identity theories, to explain interpersonal influences on employees’ engagement in UPB.
Research on the friction, lubrication and temperature rise characteristics of silicon nitride full ceramic ball bearing at low temperature
Authors: Sun Jian , Zhang Guangxiang , Xia Zhongxian , Bao Zhigang , Yao Jinmei , Fang Xin , Zhang Zhe , Guan Renyun
Published: May 2023

Purpose

To understand the service performance of full ceramic ball bearings under extreme working conditions and improve their service life, dynamic characteristic tests of full ceramic ball bearings under ultra-low temperature conditions were carried out by a low-temperature bearing life testing machine, and temperature rise and friction were measured under extreme low-temperature environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The heat-flow coupling model of bearing was established by CFD software, and the test results were further analyzed.

Findings

The results show that the temperature rise of the bearing is not obvious in the liquid nitrogen environment. With the increase of the chamber temperature, the lubrication state of the bearing changes, resulting in the temperature rise of the outer ring of the bearing. As the temperature of the test chamber increases, the friction force on the bearing increases first and then decreases under the action of multifactor coupling.

Research limitations/implications

The research results provide test data and theoretical basis for the application of all-ceramic ball bearings in aerospace and other fields and have important significance for improving the service life of high-end equipment under extreme working conditions.

Practical implications

The research results provide test data and theoretical basis for the application of full ceramic ball bearings in aerospace and other fields and have important significance for improving the service life of high-end equipment under extreme working conditions.

Social implications

The research results provide test data and theoretical basis for the application of full ceramic ball bearings in aerospace and other fields and have important significance for improving the service life of high-end equipment under extreme working conditions.

Originality/value

The research results provide test data and theoretical basis for the application of full ceramic ball bearings in aerospace and other fields and have important significance for improving the service life of high-end equipment under extreme working conditions.
Ethical and unethical behaviour of built environment professionals in the Ghanaian construction industry
Authors: Kuoribo Ewald , Owusu-Manu De-Graft , Yomoah Roland , Debrah Caleb , Acheampong Alex , Edwards David John
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The construction industry is an enabler of economic growth in developing countries, but its performance is governed by the professional behaviour of construction professionals. Unethical behaviour (UB) breaches codes of practice and undermines economic performance hence, ubiquitous academic attention has been given to understanding this phenomenon. This paper aims to contribute to the ensuing discourse by reporting upon the most critical ethical behaviours (EBs and UBs) of professionals in the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI).

Design/methodology/approach

The study compounded identified factors into a closed-ended questionnaire in a quantitative research strategy. Data analysis was conducted using the relative importance index and one samplet-test. To measure the reliability of the scale, Cronbach’s alpha was used, which indicated that all measured items were reliable for further analysis.

Findings

The study confirmed that professionals within the GCI are aware of the existence of UBs and revealed that the most prevalent ethical conducts exhibited, namely, level of accuracy, accountability, honesty, reliability, fairness and respect for colleagues. Common unethical conducts exhibited included: favouritism, bribery and corruption, professional negligence, falsification, fraud and overbilling.

Research limitations/implications

The study reported on the dominant ethical conduct among built environment professionals. The claims put forward in the analysis are, thus, affected by Ghana’s social, economic and political environments, which could restrict the generalization of the findings.

Practical implications

Incipient findings presented from this research will guide stakeholders to develop and device strategies that will aid alleviate persistent ethical issues within the built environment.

Social implications

The study highlights individuals’ perspectives on ethical issues persistent in the built environment. The findings suggest individuals adhere to ethical practices in a project environment by the evidence presented.

Originality/value

This pioneering study is a novel assessment on EBs and UBs of built environment professionals in the GCI. The study supplementary adds value to the literature on ethical and unethical practices. By identifying these practices, construction firms have a competitive edge in combating UB and promoting EB among built environment professionals in the GCI.
Policy analysis to maximize the firm value: performing firm valuation using system dynamics
Authors: Khan Aima , Qureshi Muhammad Azeem
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is firm value management through corporate finance policy design and scenario analysis to maximize the firm value.

Design/methodology/approach

The study develops a system dynamics model for an oil firm and incorporates the financial and physical processes to perform the firm valuation. The model is simulated under the current and alternative investment, capital structure and dividend policies of the case firm, assuming different oil and gas price and tax rate scenarios to identify which combination of policies maximizes the firm value.

Findings

The simulation results suggest that lowering the volume of investments, increasing the debt ratio and reducing the dividend payments from the current level increases the share price, given increased oil and gas price expectations and lower tax rates. However, the total firm value outperforms with increased investments toward the end of the simulation period. In case of decreased oil and gas price expectations, lower volume of investments, lower debt ratio and lower dividend payments increase the share prices, given lower taxes.

Originality/value

This study entails significance as it provides a comprehensive financial planning model for an oil firm, which incorporates the complex interactions of key financial and physical processes of the firm. The study contributes to debates on corporate finance policies by integrating multiple theories, accounting for accumulation processes and feedback loops and their non-linear interactions. The study proposes the consideration of combined impact of policies for firm value management.
Engaging diverse learners: lessons learned from a dialogic, technology-enabled social studies curriculum
Authors: Martinez Calvit Adriana I. , Ford Donna Y.
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present insights from the implementation of a dialogic social studies curriculum and its potential to support diverse learners. Policymakers and educators must attend to the learning needs of diverse/minoritized (Note: In this paper, the authors use minoritized and diverse interchangeably) students who have been marginalized in public education. A critical goal is to close racial, ethnic and socioeconomic achievement gaps by increasing, for example, students’ engagement with curriculum and instruction. In this paper, the authors bridge research on dialogic instruction and culturally relevant and responsive education with the goal of informing curricular design and instructional practice.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper discusses the utility of dialogic instruction in improving learning outcomes for minoritized student populations. While some researchers have examined the positive effects of dialogic instruction on underperforming students (e.g. Murphy et al., 2009; Pillinger and Vardy, 2022), few scholars have examined dialogic instruction through a culturally relevant and responsive lens. The authors argue that the application of this critical lens may improve learning outcomes for diverse learners who have been marginalized in public education systems.

Findings

The authors present illustrative vignettes and insights from a pilot study of a novel social studies curriculum. This curriculum applies a social justice lens by guiding students in the exploration of complex social issues that affect them. Given the diversity of their collaborating teachers’ classrooms (55% are racially minoritized students), the authors applied principles of culturally relevant and responsive education (e.g. Ford, 2010; Gay, 2000; Ladson-Billings, 1995) when designing and piloting the curriculum. Prior personal and professional experiences by the first author point to the potential of dialogic instruction to meaningfully support minoritized students’ learning.

Originality/value

This paper builds on two bodies of literature – dialogic instruction and culturally relevant and responsive education – to identify how an innovative social studies curriculum may improve learning for diverse student populations. It calls for the advancement of a research agenda that applies a culturally relevant and responsive lens to inform instructional practice. The authors begin this discussion with two vignettes.
Adoption intentions of electronic procurement among public sector organisations (PSOs) in Ghana: emerging economy perspective
Authors: Ofori Daniel , Light Osman , Ankomah Joseph
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Electronic government procurement is an important platform that promotes efficient, transparent, competitive and agile delivery of procurement activities in public sector organisations. Implementing units who play a major role exhibits different attitude towards new technology. The purpose of this paper is to assess if there is any significant difference between optimistic and discomfort implementing units in relation to the implementation and intention to use the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS).

Design/methodology/approach

Technology Readiness, Technology Acceptance and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology and Diffusion Innovation Theory constituted the theoretical foundation. Guided by a cross sectional survey design, quantitative data from a sample of 181 procurement officers was collected using structured questionnaires. The hypothesised relationships were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

Although there were some observable differences, the bootstrap results show that the difference was not significant, implying that these two groups do not differ much about the GHANEPS introduction and implementation. This is justifiable in the case of Ghana because public policies are made by top officials, and those in the grassroot or implementation domain have no choice but to act accordingly.

Research limitations/implications

This study focused on metropolitan, municipal, district assemblies, public hospitals, tertiary institutions and senior high schools.

Practical implications

The study contributes to the critical antecedents for electronic procurement implementation and public sector management literature. It provides public institutions and practitioners with empirical evidence on how beliefs and perceptions of implementing units about electronic public procurement has some influence on attitude towards usage and intention to use. Positive attitudes and perceptions of the public procurement officers can be reinforced through adequate training and awareness creation.

Social implications

This study outcomes can serve as philosophical underpinnings for societal development.

Originality/value

This study used a multi-group analysis to examine if there is any significant difference between these two categories of implementing units (optimistic group and discomfort group) in relation to facilitating conditions, personal innovativeness, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and ultimately to attitude and intention to use GHANEPS.
Strategic waste management practices for environmental sustainability – a case of Indian university
Authors: Sawalkar Rohini Suresh , Undale Swapnil , Muluk Sonal , Mude Girish , Saxena Vimal Deep , Pasumarti Srinivas
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Individuals generate plenty of waste that is affecting the life while consumption of air and water at the base. The increasing industrialization, population and waste generation without proper measures of waste management are leading to major challenges to environmental sustainability. Considering these challenges, the present study focuses on the types and sources of waste generation and waste reduction by encouraging the reduction, recycling and reuse of waste products. The study aims to provide a well-functioning sustainable waste management system, that incorporates feedback loops, focuses on processes, embodies adaptability and diverts waste from disposal.

Design/methodology/approach

The university under study is situated at the central location of Pune City in India. The university has diverse units like academic and admin buildings, canteens and mess, hostels, a clinic, workshops and gardens. To fulfil the objective of this study a qualitative case study approach of research was adopted. A total of thirty-three representatives and waste management personnel from various units of the university were interviewed. The interviews were semi-structured and the duration of it was around 25–55 min. The interview transcripts were coded, and qualitative analysis was conducted.

Findings

This study proposes a strategic sustainable waste management model for environmental sustainability that brings circularity by closing the loops and focusing on sustainable development goals.

Practical implications

The findings of this research can guide universities to manage the waste generated through various sources and attain sustainable development goals and environmental sustainability at large by closing the loops. The study provides insights into waste management and environmental sustainability. The universities can make their resources more circular by following the strategies of reducing, reusing and recycling (3R). This study recommends customization according to the needs of specific universities and institutions. Researchers can take this study further by testing and customizing it as per requirement. Also, an effort can be extended to implement the model in other related areas.

Originality/value

This research is a unique attempt to advance knowledge of waste management practices for sustainable development by exploring different techniques opted by for individual entities from the university campus to understand the environmental impact.
Food delivery applications and fast-food consumption during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Aldhamen Walaa , Aldoulah Maryam , Alghazwi Zainab , Almoathen Batool , Almossa Yassmin , Alsalem Zahraa , Algarni Razan , Purayidathil Tunny , Abuzaid Omar , Algindan Yassmin , Khattab Rabie
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the lockdown and the increased spread of food delivery applications (FD Apps) during COVID-19 pandemic have augmented the consumption of fast foods.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 673 adults from different regions of Saudi Arabia using an online questionnaire.

Findings

Data showed that 61% (N = 410) of participants used FD Apps during the pandemic. Among those users, 54.9% (225) were females and 70.5% were in the 18–44 years old group. Most FD Apps’ users were university graduates (74.4%). The increased use of FD Apps during the pandemic significantly affected the eating behavior and the nutritional pattern. It has further significantly augmented the consumption of fast foods (p-value < 0.05).

Originality/value

This study reports on the use of FD Apps during COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia and its impact on consumer eating pattern. This study shows the need for prudent use of these applications to limit ordering fast foods and consider healthier choices. It further calls for education programs, awareness campaigns, legislative measures and formal policies to rationalize the use of such applications for better nutrition, health and well-being.