bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of post-stroke cognitive impairment at three-month following first episode of stroke among patients attended at tertiary hospitals in Dodoma, central Tanzania: a protocol of a prospective longitudinal observational study
Authors: Alphonce Baraka , Meda John , Nyundo Azan
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Neurocognitive deficits after stroke are a common manifestation and pose a significant impact on the quality of life for patients and families; however, little attention is given to the burden and associated impact of cognitive impairment following stroke. The study aims to determine the prevalence and predictors of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) among adult stroke patients admitted to tertiary hospitals in Dodoma, Tanzania

Methodology

A prospective longitudinal study is conducted at tertiary hospitals in the Dodoma region, central Tanzania. Participants with the first stroke confirmed by CT/MRI brain aged ≥ 18 years who meet the inclusion criteria are enrolled and followed up. Baseline socio-demographic and clinical factors are identified during admission, while other clinical variables are determined during the three-month follow-up period. Descriptive statistics are used to summarize data; continuous data will be reported as Mean (SD) or Median (IQR), and categorical data will be summarized using proportions and frequencies. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis will be used to determine predictors of PSCI
A light sheet fluorescence microscopy protocol for Caenorhabditis elegans larvae and adults
Authors: Smith Jayson J. , Kenny Isabel W. , Wolff Carsten , Cray Rachel , Kumar Abhishek , Sherwood David R. , Matus David Q.
Published: August 2022

Light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) has become a method of choice for live imaging because of its fast acquisition and reduced photobleaching and phototoxicity. Despite the strengths and growing availability of LSFM systems, no generalized LSFM mounting protocol has been adapted for live imaging of post-embryonic stages of C. elegans. A major challenge has been to develop methods to limit animal movement using a mounting media that matches the refractive index of the optical system. Here, we describe a simple mounting and immobilization protocol using a refractive-index matched UV-curable hydrogel within fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) tubes for efficient and reliable imaging of larval and adult C. elegans stages.
Risk and Outcome of Second primary malignancy in patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Wang Fan
Published: August 2022

BACKGROUND

Hodgkin lymphoma survivors demonstrated increased risk of secondary primary malignancies (SPMs), but comprehensive analysis of the risk and outcome of SPMs in classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) patients has not yet been reported.

METHODS

Patients with classical Hodgkin Lymphoma from 1975 to 2017 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated for the risk of solid and hematologic SPMs in cHL patients compared to the general population. The outcome of cHL patients developing SPMs were assessed by performing survival, competing risks regression and cox proportional regression analyses.

RESULTS

In a follow-up of 26,493 cHL survivors for 365,156 person years, 3,866 (14.59%) secondary cancers were identified, with an SIR of 2.09 (95% CI: 2.02 - 2.15). The increased risk was still notable after follow-up of 10 years or more, and the risk is more pronounced for patients with female gender, younger age, advanced stage, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The overall survival is worse for cHL patients with SPMs after 5 years of follow-up (P < 0.0001). The main cause of death for cHL patients with SPMs is not cHL but other causes including SPMs. Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed SPMs as an independently adverse prognostic factor for cHL survivors (hazard ratio, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.03-1.14, P□=□0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a significantly increased risk of developing SPMs for cHL survivors. The overall survival is worse for cHL patients and SPMs is an independent prognostic factor for cHL.
Prosociality in a despotic society
Authors: Bhattacharjee Debottam , Cousin Eythan , Pflüger Lena S. , Massen Jorg J.M.
Published: August 2022

Humans possess remarkable prosocial tendencies beyond the confinement of kinship, which may be instrumental in promoting cooperative interactions and sociality at large. Yet, prosociality is an evolutionary conundrum as it does not provide immediate benefits to the actor. The ‘domestication’ and ‘cooperative-breeding’ hypotheses postulated that enhanced social tolerance and inter-individual dependence could nonetheless facilitate the evolution of prosociality. However, inconsistent results due to varying experimental paradigms, and restricted focus of research on tolerant and cooperatively breeding species, have impeded our understanding so far. Albeit counterintuitively, despotic societies with relatively low social tolerance levels represent an excellent opportunity to investigate prosociality due to their kin favoritism and potential interdependence among individuals in terms of social support. Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) live in strictly hierarchical matrilineal societies, where kin members have strong social bonds. Additionally, support from non-kins can be crucial to form coalitions and rank up in the hierarchy. Using a group-service paradigm, we tested prosociality in a semi-free-ranging group of Japanese macaques. In contrast to currently existing evidence, we found that individuals (n=25) can act prosocially and at comparably high rates as cooperative breeding- or self-domesticated species. The macaques benefitted not only their kin members but other individuals to whom they showed relatively high social tolerance. We emphasize the roles of complex socio-ecological conditions in facilitating individual prosocial tendencies. Furthermore, these results call for a novel evolutionary framework regarding prosociality that focuses on different forms of interdependence and expands beyond cooperative breeding- and (self-)domesticated species.

Significance statement

What made humans so incredibly prosocial? Examining the evolutionary trajectory of prosocial acts led comparative psychologists to explore various taxa. Empirical evidence so far suggests that enhanced social tolerance and interdependence among individuals facilitate prosociality. Conventionally, despotism is characterized by low group-level tolerance, yet kin favoritism, nepotism, and high interdependence (in support and coalition formation) are also fundamental properties of despotic societies. Under such complex socio-ecological conditions, individual prosocial acts could thus be vital. We found, for the first time, high levels of prosociality in the very despotic Japanese macaques. Individuals benefitted both kin-relatives and others to whom they showed relatively high dyadic social tolerance. This study signifies that prosociality can be favored even in a highly despotic society.
Protein-protein complexes can undermine ultrasensitivity-dependent biological adaptation
Authors: Jeynes-Smith C. , Araujo R. P.
Published: August 2022

Robust Perfect Adaptation (RPA) is a ubiquitously-observed signalling response across all scales of biological organisation. A major class of network architectures that drive RPA in complex networks is the Opposer module – a feedback-regulated network into which specialised integral-computing ‘opposer node(s)’ are embedded. Although ultrasensitivity-generating chemical reactions have long been considered a possible mechanism for such adaptation-conferring opposer nodes, this hypothesis has relied on simplified Michaelian models, which neglect the presence of protein-protein complexes, and which are now widely acknowledged to make inaccurate predictions of signalling responses. Here we develop complex-complete models of interlinked covalent-modification cycles with embedded ultrasensitivity: explicitly capturing all molecular interactions and protein complexes. Strikingly, we demonstrate that the presence of protein-protein complexes thwarts the network’s capacity for RPA in any ‘free’ active protein form, conferring RPA capacity instead on the concentration of a larger protein pool consisting of two distinct forms of a single protein. Furthermore, compared to predictions by simplified models, the parametric requirements for RPA in this protein pool are much more severe, and RPA generally obtains over a narrower range of input stimuli. These surprising results raise fundamental new questions as to the biochemical requirements for adaptation-conferring Opposer modules within complex cellular networks.
A multiomics analysis of direct interkingdom dynamics between influenza A virus and Streptococcus pneumoniae uncovers host-independent changes to bacterial virulence fitness
Authors: Platt Maryann P. , Lin Yi-Han , Penix Trevor , Wiscovitch-Russo Rosana , Vashee Isha , Mares Chris A. , Rosch Jason W. , Yu Yanbao , Gonzalez-Juarbe Norberto
Published: August 2022

Background

For almost a century, it has been recognized that influenza A virus (IAV) infection can promote the development of secondary bacterial infections (SBI) mainly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn). Recent observations have shown that IAV is able to directly bind to the surface of Spn. To gain a foundational understanding of how direct IAV-Spn interaction alters bacterial biological fitness we employed combinatorial multi-omic and molecular approaches.

Results

Here we show IAV significantly remodels the global transcriptome, proteome and phosphoproteome profiles of Spn independently of host effectors. We identified Spn surface proteins that interact with IAV proteins (hemagglutinin, nucleoprotein, and neuraminidase). In addition, IAV was found to directly modulate expression of Spn virulence determinants such as pneumococcal surface protein A, pneumolysin, and factors associated with antimicrobial resistance among many others. Metabolic pathways were significantly altered leading to changes in Spn growth rate. IAV was also found to drive Spn capsule shedding and the release of pneumococcal surface proteins. Released proteins were found to be involved in evasion of innate immune responses and actively reduced human complement hemolytic and opsonizing activity. IAV also led to phosphorylation changes in Spn proteins associated with metabolism and bacterial virulence. Validation of proteomic data showed significant changes in Spn galactose and glucose metabolism. Furthermore, supplementation with galactose rescued bacterial growth and promoted bacterial invasion, while glucose supplementation led to enhanced pneumolysin production and lung cell apoptosis.

Conclusions

Here we demonstrate that IAV can directly modulate Spn biology without the requirement of host effectors and support the notion that inter-kingdom interactions between human viruses and commensal pathobionts can promote bacterial pathogenesis and microbiome dysbiosis.
Rational probe design for efficient rRNA depletion and improved metatranscriptomic analysis of human microbiomes
Authors: Tan Asako , Murugapiran Senthil , Mikalauskas Alaya , Koble Jeff , Kennedy Drew , Hyde Fred , Ruotti Victor , Law Emily , Jensen Jordan , Schroth Gary P. , Macklaim Jean M. , Kuersten Scott , Le François Brice , Gohl Daryl M.
Published: August 2022

Background

The microbiota that colonize the human gut and other tissues are dynamic, varying both in composition and functional state between individuals and over time. In studying the function of the human microbiome and the mechanisms of microbiota-mediated phenotypes, gene expression measurements provide additional insights to DNA-based measurements of microbiome composition. However, efficient and unbiased removal of microbial ribosomal RNA (rRNA) presents a barrier to acquiring metatranscriptomic data, as rRNA typically accounts >90% of total RNA in microbial cells.

Results

Here we describe a probe set that achieves efficient enzymatic rRNA removal of complex human-associated microbial communities. We demonstrate that the custom probe set can be further refined through an iterative design process to efficiently deplete rRNA from a range of human microbiome samples, including adult and infant gut, as well as oral and vaginal communities. Using synthetic nucleic acid spike-ins, we show that the rRNA depletion process does not introduce substantial quantitative error in the resulting gene expression profiles. Successful rRNA depletion allows for efficient characterization of taxonomic and functional profiles, including during the development of the human gut microbiome.

Conclusions

The pan-human microbiome enzymatic rRNA depletion probes described here provide a powerful tool for studying the transcriptional dynamics and function of the human microbiome.
Prion propagation is dependent on key amino acids in Charge cluster 2 within the prion protein
Authors: Bhamra Savroop , Arora Parineeta , Manka Szymon W. , Schmidt Christian , Brown Craig , Rayner Melissa L. D. , Klöhn Peter-Christian , Clarke Anthony R. , Collinge John , Jat Parmjit S.
Published: August 2022

Prions consist of assemblies of aberrantly folded cellular prion protein (PrPC) upon template-assisted conversion and propagation of disease-associated PrP. To dissect the N-terminal residues critical for efficient prion propagation, we generated a library of point, double, or triple alanine replacements within residues 23-111 of PrP, stably expressed them in cells silenced for endogenous mouse PrPC and challenged the reconstituted cells with four mouse prion strains. Amino acids (aa) 105-111 of Charge Cluster 2 (CC2), which is disordered in PrPC, were required for propagation of all four prion strains; other residues had no effect or exhibited strain-specific effects. Replacements in CC2, including aa105-111, dominantly inhibited prion propagation in the presence of endogenous wild type PrPC whilst other changes were not inhibitory. Single alanine replacements within aa105-111 identified leucine 108 and valine 111 or the cluster of lysine 105, threonine 106 and asparagine 107 as critical for prion propagation. These residues mediate specific ordering of CC2 in the prion fibrils from Rocky Mountain Laboratory (RML) and ME7 mouse prion strains.
Implementation of the β-hydroxyaspartate cycle increases growth performance of Pseudomonas putida on the PET monomer ethylene glycol
Authors: von Borzyskowski Lennart Schada , Schulz-Mirbach Helena , Castellanos Mauricio Troncoso , Severi Francesca , Gomez Coronado Paul A. , Glatter Timo , Bar-Even Arren , Lindner Steffen N. , Erb Tobias J.
Published: August 2022

Ethylene glycol (EG) is a promising next generation feedstock for bioprocesses. It is a key component of the ubiquitous plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and other polyester fibers and plastics, used in antifreeze formulations, and can also be generated by electrochemical conversion of syngas, which makes EG a key compound in a circular bioeconomy. The majority of biotechnologically relevant bacteria assimilate EG via the glycerate pathway, a wasteful metabolic route that releases CO2 and requires reducing equivalents as well as ATP. In contrast, the recently characterized β-hydroxyaspartate cycle (BHAC) provides a more efficient, carbon-conserving route for C2 assimilation. Here we aimed at overcoming the natural limitations of EG metabolism in the industrially relevant strain Pseudomonas putida KT2440 by replacing the native glycerate pathway with the BHAC. We first prototyped the core reaction sequence of the BHAC in Escherichia coli before establishing the complete four-enzyme BHAC in Pseudomonas putida. Directed evolution on EG resulted in an improved strain that exhibits 35% faster growth and 20% increased biomass yield compared to a recently reported P. putida strain that was evolved to grow on EG via the glycerate pathway. Genome sequencing and proteomics highlight plastic adaptations of the genetic and metabolic networks in response to the introduction of the BHAC into P. putida and identify key mutations for its further integration during evolution. Taken together, our study shows that the BHAC can be utilized as ‘plug-and-play’ module for the metabolic engineering of two important microbial platform organisms, paving the way for multiple applications for a more efficient and carbon-conserving upcycling of EG in the future.
Harmonin homology domain-mediated interaction of RTEL1 helicase with RPA and DNA provides mechanistic insight into its role in DNA repair
Authors: Kumar Niranjan , Taneja Arushi , Ghosh Meenakshi , Rothweiler Ulli , Sundaresan Nagalingam Ravi , Singh Mahavir
Published: August 2022

The regulator of telomere elongation helicase 1 (RTEL1) is an Fe-S cluster containing helicase that plays important roles in telomere DNA maintenance, DNA repair, and genome stability. It is a modular protein comprising a helicase domain, two tandem harmonin homology domains 1 & 2 (HHD1 and HHD2), and a Zn2+binding RING domain. In this study, we have unravelled a novel interaction between RTEL1 and replication protein A (RPA) and shown their co-localization upon DNA damage in the cells. Using NMR spectroscopy, we show that 32C domain of RPA and DNA competitively bind with HHD2 of RTEL1. To understand the structural basis of HHD2 – 32C and HHD2 - DNA interactions, we have determined a 1.6 Å resolution crystal structure of HHD2. NMR chemical shift perturbations-based mapping revealed the 32C and DNA binding surface on HHD2 of RTEL1. Together, these results establish an interplay among RTEL1, RPA, and DNA that provide mechanistic insights into the RTEL1 recruitment at DNA during the processes of replication, repair, and recombination.
Structure and mechanism of the type I-G CRISPR effector
Authors: Shangguan Qilin , Graham Shirley , Sundaramoorthy Ramasubramanian , White Malcolm F
Published: August 2022

Type I CRISPR systems are the most common CRISPR type found in bacteria. They use a multisubunit effector, guided by crRNA, to detect and bind dsDNA targets, forming an R-loop and recruiting the Cas3 enzyme to facilitate target DNA destruction, thus providing immunity against mobile genetic elements. Subtypes have been classified into families A-G, with type I-G being the least well understood. Here, we report the composition, structure and function of the type I-G Cascade CRISPR effector from Thioalkalivibrio sulfidiphilus, revealing key new molecular details. The unique Csb2 subunit processes pre-crRNA, remaining bound to the 3’ end of the mature crRNA, and seven Cas7 subunits form the backbone of the effector. Cas3 associates stably with the effector complex via the Cas8g subunit and is important for target DNA recognition. Structural analysis by cryo-Electron Microscopy reveals a strikingly curved backbone conformation with Cas8g spanning the belly of the structure. Type I-G Cascade is one of the most streamlined Class 1 CRISPR effectors. These biochemical and structural insights shed new light on the diversity of type I systems and open the way to applications in genome engineering.
An efficient and robust tool for colocalisation: Pair-wise Conditional and Colocalisation (PWCoCo)
Authors: Robinson Jamie W , Hemani Gibran , Babaei Mahsa Sheikhali , Huang Yunfeng , Baird Denis A , Tsai Ellen A , Chen Chia-Yen , Gaunt Tom R , Zheng Jie
Published: August 2022

Genetic colocalisation is an important tool to test for shared genetic aetiology and is commonly used to strengthen causal inference in genetic studies of molecular traits and drug targets. However, the single causal variant assumption of the original colocalization method is a considerable limitation in genomic regions with multiple causal effects.

We integrated conditional analyses (GCTA-COJO) and colocalisation analyses (coloc), into a novel analysis tool called Pair-Wise Conditional Colocalization (PWCoCo). PWCoCo performs conditional analyses to identify independent signals for the two tested traits in a genomic region and then conducts colocalisation of each pair of conditionally independent signals for the two traits using summary-level data. This allows for the stringent single-variant assumption to hold for each pair of colocalisation analysis.

We found that the computational efficiency of PWCoCo is on average better than colocalisation with Sum of Single Effects Regression using Summary Stats (SuSiE-RSS), with greater gains in efficiency for high-throughput analysis. In a case study using GWAS data for multiple sclerosis and brain cortex-derived eQTLs (MetaBrain), we recapitulated all previously identified genes, which showcased the robustness of the method. We further found colocalisation evidence for secondary signals in nine additional loci, which was not identifiable in conventional GWAS and/or colocalisation.

PWCoCo offers key improvements over existing methods, including: (1) robust colocalisation when the single variant assumption is violated; (2) independent colocalisation of secondary signals, which enables identification of novel disease-causing variants; (3) an easy-to-use and computationally efficient tool to test for colocalisation of high-dimensional omics data.
Apolipoprotein A1 and high-density lipoprotein limit low-density lipoprotein transcytosis by binding scavenger receptor B1
Authors: Fung Karen Y. Y. , Ho Tse Wing Winnie , Xu Zizhen , Neculai Dante , Beauchemin Catherine A. A. , Lee Warren L. , Fairn Gregory D.
Published: August 2022

Atherosclerosis results from the deposition and oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and immune cell infiltration in the sub-arterial space leading to arterial occlusion. Numerous studies have shown that transcytosis transports circulating LDL across endothelial cells lining the blood vessels. LDL transcytosis is initiated by binding to either Scavenger Receptor B1 (SR-B1) or Activin A receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1) on the apical side of endothelial cells leading to its transit and release on the basolateral side. Individuals with elevated levels of circulating high-density lipoprotein (HDL) are partly protected from atherosclerosis due to its ability to remove excess cholesterol and act as an antioxidant. Apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1), an HDL constituent, can bind to SR-B1, raising the possibility that APOA1/HDL may also compete with LDL for SR-B1 binding and thereby limit LDL deposition in the sub-arterial space. To examine this possibility, we usedin vitroapproaches to quantify the internalization and transcytosis of fluorescent LDL in coronary endothelial cells. Using microscale thermophoresis and affinity capture, we find that SR-B1 and APOA1 directly interact, and that binding is enhanced when using the cardioprotective variant of APOA1 termed Milano (APOA1-Milano). In a murine model, transiently increasing the levels of HDL reduced the acute deposition of fluorescently labeled LDL in the atheroprone inner curvature of the aorta. Reduced LDL deposition was also observed when increasing circulating wild-type APOA1 or the APOA1-Milano variant, with a more robust inhibition from the APOA1-Milano. The results suggest that HDL may limit SR-B1-mediated LDL transcytosis and deposition, adding to the mechanisms by which it can act as an atheroprotective particle.
Monkeypox virus contamination in an office-based workplace environment, England 2022
Authors: Atkinson Barry , Gould Susan , Spencer Antony , Onianwa Okechukwu , Furneaux Jenna , Grieves James , Summers Sian , Crocker-Buqué Tim , Fletcher Tom , Bennett Allan M , Dunning Jake
Published: August 2022

In May 2022, an office worker attended their place of work while experiencing prodromal symptoms of monkeypox infection. Environmental sampling performed four days later identified only low levels of monkeypox virus DNA contamination of the worker’s desk, and no contamination elsewhere within the office. Replication-competent virus was not identified.
IFT-A Structure Reveals Carriages for Membrane Protein Transport into Cilia
Authors: Hesketh Sophie J. , Mukhopadhyay Aakash G. , Nakamura Dai , Toropova Katerina , Roberts Anthony J.
Published: August 2022

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) trains are molecular machines that traffic proteins between cilia and the cell body. With a molecular weight over 80 MDa, each IFT train is a dynamic polymer of two large complexes (IFT-A and -B) and motor proteins, posing a formidable challenge to mechanistic understanding. Here, we reconstituted the complete human IFT-A complex and obtained its structure using cryo-EM. Combined with AlphaFold prediction and genome-editing studies, our results illuminate how IFT-A polymerizes; interacts with IFT-B; and uses an array of β-propeller and TPR domains to create “carriages” of the IFT train that engage TULP adaptor proteins. We show that IFT-A·TULP carriages are essential for cilia localization of diverse membrane proteins, as well as ICK – the key kinase regulating IFT train turnaround. These data establish a structural link between IFT-A’s distinct functions, provide a blueprint for the IFT-A train, and shed light on how IFT evolved from a proto-coatomer ancestor.
Spike-specific CXCR3+ TFH cells play a dominant functional role in supporting antibody responses in SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination
Authors: Zhang Jian , He Rongzhang , Liu Bo , Zheng Xingyu , Wu Qian , Wen Bo , Wang Qijie , Liu Ziyan , Chang Fangfang , Hu Yabin , Xie Ting , Liu Yongchen , Chen Jun , Yang Jing , Teng Shishan , Bai Tingting , Peng Yanxi , Liu Ze , Peng Yuan , Huang Weijin , Terzieva Velislava , Wang Youchun , Liu Wenpei , Li Yi-Ping , Qu Xiaowang
Published: August 2022

CD4+ T follicular helper (TFH) cells are required for high-quality antibody generation and maintenance. However, the longevity and functional role of these cells are poorly defined in COVID-19 convalescents and vaccine recipients. Here, we longitudinally investigated the dynamics and functional roles of spike-specific circulating TFH cells and their subsets in convalescents at the 2nd, 5th, 8th, 12th and 24th months after COVID-19 symptom onset and in vaccinees after two and three doses of inactivated vaccine. SARS-CoV-2 infection elicited robust spike-specific TFH cell and antibody responses, of which spike-specific CXCR3+ TFH cells but not spike-specific CXCR3− TFH cells and neutralizing antibodies were persistent for at least two years in more than 80% of convalescents who experienced symptomatic COVID-19, which was well coordinated between spike-specific TFH cell and antibody responses at the 5th month after infection. Inactivated vaccine immunization also induced spike-specific TFH cell and antibody responses; however, these responses rapidly declined after six months with a two-dose standard administration, and a third dose significantly promoted antibody maturation and potency. Functionally, spike-specific CXCR3+ TFH cells exhibited better responsiveness than spike-specific CXCR3− TFH cells upon spike protein stimulation in vitro and showed superior capacity in supporting spike-specific antibody secreting cell (ASC) differentiation and antibody production than spike-specific CXCR3− TFH cells cocultured with autologous memory B cells. In conclusion, spike-specific CXCR3+ TFH cells played a dominant functional role in antibody elicitation and maintenance in SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination, suggesting that induction of CXCR3-biased spike-specific TFH cell differentiation will benefit SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development aiming to induce long-term protective immune memory.

Highlights

SARS-CoV-2 infection elicited robust spike-specific TFH cell and antibody responses, which persisted for at least two years in the majority of symptomatic COVID-19 convalescent patients.

Inactivated vaccine immunization also elicited spike-specific TFH cell and antibody responses, which rapidly declined over time, and a third dose significantly promoted antibody maturation and potency.

Spike-specific CXCR3+ TFH cells exhibited more durable responses than spike-specific CXCR3− TFH cells, correlated with antibody responses and showed superior capacity in supporting ASC differentiation and antibody production than spike-specific CXCR3− TFH cells.
The quality of management schools, the ethical behavior of firms and sustainability level: a cross-country investigation
Authors: Guidara Achraf
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This paper examines the association between the quality of management schools and sustainability and investigates whether ethical behavior of firms moderates relationship between the quality of management schools and sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consists of 500 country-year observations over the period of 2014-2017. Sustainability is collected from the Global Sustainable Competiveness Index reports for 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, while the quality of management schools and ethical behavior of firms are collected from the Global Competiveness Report for the same years.

Findings

The findings of this study suggest that the quality of management schools is positively associated with sustainability. When testing for the moderating effect of ethical behavior of firms on the association between quality of management schools and sustainability, results show that the positive association becomes positive and more significant for countries where firms operate with high ethical behaviors, while the association becomes insignificant for settings where firms operate with low ethical behaviors. Findings also show that the quality of management schools and ethical behavior of firms play a complimentary role in improving sustainability.

Social implications

The findings emphasize the role played by business schools and business ethics in improving sustainability. These results may have policy implications for governments aiming to improve sustainability by emphasizing on education for sustainable development in management schools’ 2019 programs enforcing standards dealing with business ethics and controlling firms’ 2019 compliance with them.

Originality/value

The findings of this study highlight the importance of education, as proxied by the quality of management schools, in the development of sustainable societies and economic systems. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study that tries to empirically link business schools programs to sustainability efforts and how business ethics may affect this association.
Challenging cisnormativity, gender binarism and sex binarism in management research: foregrounding the workplace experiences of trans* and intersex people
Authors: Köllen Thomas , Rumens Nick
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to challenge the cisnormative and binary assumptions that underpin the management and gender scholarship. Introducing and contextualising the contributions that comprise this special issue, this paper critically reflects on some of the principal developments in management research on trans* and intersex people in the workplace and anticipates what future scholarship in this area might entail.

Design/methodology/approach

A critical approach is adopted to interrogate the prevailing cisnormative and binary approach adopted by management and gender scholars.

Findings

The key finding is the persistence of cisnormativity and normative gender and sex binarism in academic knowledge production and in society more widely, which appear to have hindered how management and gender scholars have routinely failed to conceptualise and foreground the array of diverse genders and sexes.

Originality/value

This paper foregrounds the workplace experiences of trans* and intersex people, which have been neglected by management researchers. By positioning intersexuality as an important topic of management research, this paper breaks the silence that has enwrapped intersex issues in gender and management scholarship. There are still unanswered questions and issues that demand future research from academics who are interested in addressing cisnormativity in the workplace and problematising the sex and gender binaries that sustain it.
Capacity issues in primary health care implementation: examples from Ghana
Authors: Appiah-Agyekum Nana Nimo , Kayi Esinam Afi , Appiah-Agyekum Josephine , Tetteh Nyanyofio Joseph Gerald , Otoo Desmond Dzidzornu
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Resources as well as the capacity to employ them judiciously may well be the key to the attainment of the SDGs and other related health goals through primary health care (PHC). Within this PHC framework, however, the source of resources for PHC as well as the systems for managing these associated resources remain unclear, complex and lack substantive integration systems of implementing ministries, departments and agencies (both local and international) in Ghana. These issues are addressed by this study.

Design/methodology/approach

The framework approach to thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data collected from key PHC managers in Ghana selected purposively from the national, regional and district levels. Data were collected through in-depth interviews specially designed in line with the study objectives. The study was also governed by the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research which provided ethical clearance for the study.

Findings

As per Alma Ata's recommendation, PHC in its purest form is a resource dense activity with far-reaching implications on individuals and communities. Without adequate resources, PHC implementation remained merely on paper. Findings show that the key capacities required for PHC implementation were finance, human resource, technology and logistics. While significant cases of shortages and inadequacies were evident, management and maintenance of these capacities appeared to be another significant determinant of PHC implementation. Additionally, the poor allocation, distribution and sustainability of these capacities had a negative effect on PHC outcomes with more resources being concentrated in capital towns than in rural areas.

Research limitations/implications

This study has significant implications on the way PHC is seen, implemented and assessed not in Ghana but in other developing countries. In addition to examining the nature and extent of capacities required for PHC implementation, it gives significant pathways on how limited resources, when properly managed, may catalyse the attainment of the PHC goals. Subsequently, PHC implementation will profit from stakeholder attention and further research into practical ways of ensuring efficiency in the allocation, distribution and management of resources especially considering the limited resources available and the budding constraints associated with the dependency on external stakeholders for PHC implementation.

Originality/value

This study is part of a series on PHC implementation in Ghana. Quite apart from putting core implementation issues into perspective, it presents first-hand information on Ghana's PHC implementation journey and is thus relevant for researchers, students, practitioners and the wider public.
Value co-creation in the multinational technology standard alliance: a case study from emerging economies
Authors: Zhou Qing , Zhang Yue , Yang Wei , Ren Liqin , Chen Ping
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to explore and analyze how a focal firm, coming from emerging economies, of the multinational technology standard alliance ecosystem engages different actors of the alliance in value co-creation practice, contributing to product collaborative innovation and reciprocal standards cooperation.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on in-depth interviews, primary company, and secondary documents, this paper conducts an exploratory single case study of TechAlpha to investigate the practice of value co-creation in the multinational technology standard alliance (MTSA).

Findings

Based on the extended resource-based view (ERBV), this paper finds that in the MTSA ecosystem, actor engagement sets the anchor for the focal firm in the MTSA to dominate the resource interaction, achieving a greater interaction through goal co-discussion, standard co-construction and achievement co-sharing. Resource interaction is composed of standard resource identification, standard resource sharing, and standard resource alignment, putting a high value on the practice of value co-creation. Value co-creation dominated by the focal firm of the MTSA is embodied in the synergy of actor engagement and resource interaction.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the relevant literature by illustrating how the focal firm coming from emerging economies of the MTSA enables value co-creation through adjusting the situation of actor engagement and exerting its standards resource interaction. This paper also advances the process of acquisition, integration, and reconstruction of heterogeneous resources throughout the MTSA by offering a new supplementary perspective and new evidence from a Chinese firm.
Consumer data vulnerability, peer privacy concerns and continued usage intention of sharing accommodation platforms: the moderating roles of perceived benefits
Authors: Liu Tingting , Li Wenqian , Jia Xingping
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study aims to explore the relationships between consumer data vulnerability, peer privacy concerns and consumers' continued usage intention of sharing accommodation platforms, as well as the moderating effects of the various benefits perceived by consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 327 consumers of sharing accommodation platforms in China. Partial least squares (PLS)-structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The results suggest that both consumer data vulnerability and peer privacy concerns have negative effects on consumer's continued usage intention of sharing accommodation platforms, which can be further mitigated by consumer perceived economic, social and emotional benefits. This study also finds that consumer data vulnerability has a positive effect on consumer's peer privacy concerns.

Practical implications

This study gives that managers of sharing accommodation platforms a better understanding of how consumers respond to their data vulnerability on sharing accommodation platforms. In addition, this study also highlights the measures that platforms may employ to mitigate the negative influence of consumer data vulnerability and consumers' peer privacy concerns, as well as the measures to reduce consumers' peer privacy concerns.

Originality/value

While previous studies mainly examined the driving forces of consumers' engagement in sharing accommodation, this study focuses on the impediment. With communication privacy management theory to explore the relationships between consumer data vulnerability, peer privacy concerns and continued usage intention of sharing accommodation platforms, as well as the moderating effects of consumers' perceived benefits, this study facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of consumers' engagement in sharing accommodation.
Policy uncertainty, social responsibility and corporate M&A
Authors: Li Cong , Lan Gongxu , Zhang Guitao , Cheng Peiyue , Shi Yangyan , Gao Yangfei
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on corporate social responsibility in relation to economic policy uncertainty in mergers and acquisitions (M&A). The following questions are addressed: How does policy uncertainty impact corporate M&A? Does social responsibility play a mediating role in this process? How does policy uncertainty affect corporate M&A through social responsibility?

Design/methodology/approach

This paper selects the major M&A events in China as the research object, and uses the Probit model to analyze the impact of policy uncertainty on M&A behavior and the business performance after the event, and further analyzes the internal mechanisms that cause these phenomena.

Findings

This paper shows that the higher the policy uncertainty, the lower the probability of a successful M&A, and the worse the business performance of the business after the event.

Originality/value

This paper provides useful reference for the study of M&A and social responsibility in different policy environments. At the same time, it provides direct empirical evidence to enhance the success rate of M&A.
Favor reciprocity, innovation and inefficiency: the double-edged sword of business-to-businesswastarelations
Authors: AlHussainan Omar , Guo Ying , Rammal Hussain Gulzar , Tang Ryan W. , Golgeci Ismail
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the dark side of business-to-business (B2B) relationships in traditional business practices worldwide that rely on strong networks.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies a questionnaire survey to collect data from buyers in 224 Kuwaiti firms and uses the partial least squares structural equation model for data analysis.

Findings

Drawing on the social exchange theory, we test the relationships between B2B wasta, relationship satisfaction, innovation and efficiency. The findings show that despite the belief that wasta brings long-term benefits when applied in B2B relationships, it negatively impacts the firm’s efficiency.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing literature on B2B relationships by identifying important issues related to the multifaceted nature of B2B wasta relationships. The study confirms the importance of relational and innovation benefits over economic consequences based on elements of social exchange theory, which extends our current understanding of the application of SET in B2B wasta relationships.
Impacts of IT capability and supply chain collaboration on supply chain resilience: empirical evidence from China in COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Zhou Jie , Hu Lingyu , Yu Yubing , Zhang Justin Zuopeng , Zheng Leven J.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Building supply chain resilience is increasingly recognized as an effective strategy to deal with supply chain challenges, risks and disruptions. Nevertheless, it remains unclear how to build supply chain resilience and whether supply chain resilience could achieve a competitive advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

By analyzing the data collected from 216 firms in China, the current study empirically examines how information technology (IT) capability and supply chain collaboration affect different forms of supply chain resilience (external resilience and internal resilience) and examines the performance implications of these two forms of supply chain resilience.

Findings

Results show that IT capability is positively related to external resilience, whereas supply chain collaboration is positively related to internal resilience. The combination of IT capability and supply chain collaboration is positively related to external resilience. In addition, internal resilience is positively related to firm performance.

Research limitations/implications

This study used only cross-sectional data from China for hypothesis testing. Future studies could utilise longitudinal data and research other countries/regions.

Practical implications

The findings systematically assess how IT capability and supply chain collaboration contribute to supply chain resilience and firm performance. The results provide a benchmark of supply chain resilience improvement that can be expected from IT capability and supply chain collaboration.

Originality/value

The study findings advance the understanding of supply chain resilience and provide practical implications for supply chain managers.
Sustainable performance in tourism SMEs: a soft modeling approach
Authors: Núñez-Ríos Juan E. , Sánchez-García Jacqueline Y. , Ramirez-Nafarrate Adrian
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to present a model to incentivize sustainable performance (SUP) in small- and medium-sized tourism by strengthening inner relations to adapt to a complex environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopted the systemic approach complementing analytic, tourism, partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM), social network analysis (SNA) and systemic approach tools as follows: frame the problem through the soft systems methodology and SNA and identify the conflicting relationships; apply PLS-PM to validate the model; and propose new interactions for small- and medium-sized enterprises conducive to SUP based on the viable system model.

Findings

Considering the results, the authors pinpointed factors and relationships managers can address to foster SUP, highlighting the need to reinforce feedback loops and reduce inconsistencies between primary operations with coordination and management mechanisms.

Research limitations/implications

This work is limited to the organizational domain. Although the results apply to the Mexican context, this could be overcome using methodological complementarity to extend the ideas to other organizations.

Practical implications

This study invites discussing methods and viewpoints for rethinking SUP because of multiple factors. This requires adopting methodological complementarity to generate alternatives and reconfiguring inner organizational interactions.

Originality/value

The model captures minimum but sufficient components advising leaders about SUP. This proposal differs from previous studies because it suggests exploiting methodological complementarity to capture the insights of key operative actors to conceive the model. Hence, the authors suggest new relations among organizational factors so managers can develop strategies for adaptability.
Uncovering the effect of responsible leadership on employee creative behaviour: from the perspective of knowledge-based pathway
Authors: Zulfiqar Salman , Khan Zoia , Huo Chunhui
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The study aims to explore ‘motivational climate', which designs the recurring patterns associated with employees' attitudes, behaviour, and feelings. If organizations successfully adopt a motivational climate, such climate influences the performance and behavior of employees to a great extent. Responsible leadership plays a constructive role in injecting a motivational climate in an organization to ensure information flow. In a motivational climate, top management or leaders reward their employees for individual progress, improvement and mastery. Knowledge sharing is supported in a mastery climate because such a climate can reduce the motive of knowledge hiding and instead further help in stimulating creativity.

Design/methodology/approach

Study was to scrutinize a moderated-mediation model, a quantitative hypothetic deductive approach to verify the hypotheses of the study. The data were gathered from employees and supervisors of advertising agencies and marketing departments in metropolitan cities of Punjab, Pakistan. Such firms and departments are considered because they offer a great opportunity to relevant variables and their relations. These organizations and departments are the most creativity-seeking domains and involve frequent interactions (for instance, regular meetings) between leaders with their employees and among peers. Data were primarily gathered from managerial employees performing their duties in the areas mentioned above.

Findings

Current study reveals that RL has a positive and significant relation with employee creative behaviour. Increasing RL characteristics can ultimately boost employee performance in the creativity domain. Being a responsible leader becomes mandatory for leaders to foster employee creativity to maintain the sustainability of an organization. It is confirmed from the results that responsible leadership articulates the mind thinking of employees, which creates an open environment of information while persuading creative and similar behaviour.

Originality/value

The current research investigates how responsible leadership can efficiently leverage the stakeholder approach in influencing employees through a knowledge-based pathway to boost their creative behaviour. The current study tends to uncover the mediating effect of the basic construct of knowledge management, which is knowledge sharing. Knowledge sharing enables employees to exchange their information while creating mutual understanding, which helps in the smooth flow of knowledge within the organization; this flow enriches employees to think openly in a creative and appreciative environment.