bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
lista-GEM: the genome-scale metabolic reconstruction ofLipomyces starkeyi
Authors: Almeida Eduardo , Ferreira Mauricio , Silveira Wendel
Published: September 2023

Oleaginous yeasts cultivation in low-cost substrates is an alternative for more sustainable production of lipids and oleochemicals.Lipomyces starkeyiaccumulates high amounts of lipids from different carbon sources, such as glycerol, and glucose and xylose (lignocellulosic sugars). Systems metabolic engineering approaches can further enhance its capabilities for lipid production, but no genome-scale metabolic networks have been reconstructed and curated forL. starkeyi. Herein, we proposelista-GEM, the first genome-scale metabolic model ofL. starkeyi. We reconstructed the model using two high-quality models of oleaginous yeasts as templates and further curated the model to reflect the metabolism ofL. starkeyi. We simulated phenotypes and predicted flux distributions in good accordance with experimental data. We also predicted targets to improve lipid production in glucose, xylose, and glycerol. The phase plane analysis indicated that the carbon availability affected lipid production more than oxygen availability. We found that the maximum lipid production in glucose and xylose required more oxygen than glycerol. Enzymes related to lipid synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum were the main targets to improve lipid production: stearoyl-CoA desaturase, fatty-acyl-CoA synthase, diacylglycerol acyltransferase, and glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase. The glycolytic genes encoding pyruvate kinase, enolase, phosphoglycerate mutase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and phosphoglycerate kinase were predicted as targets for overexpression. Pyruvate decarboxylase, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, acetyl-CoA synthetase, adenylate kinase, inorganic diphosphatase, and triose-phosphate isomerase were predicted only when glycerol was the carbon source. Therefore, we demonstrated thatlista-GEM provides multiple metabolic engineering targets to improve lipid production byL. starkeyiusing carbon sources from agricultural and industrial wastes.

Highlights

Lipomyces starkeyican accumulate high amounts of lipids from carbon sources found in agricultural and industrial wastes.

We reconstructedlista-GEM, the first genome-scale metabolic model ofL. starkeyi.

Simulated phenotypes were in line with experimental results ofL. starkeyi.

We identified key gene targets for improving lipid production using metabolic engineering.
Autophagy-dependent alternative splicing event produces a more stable ribosomal protein S24 isoform that aids in hypoxic cell survival
Authors: Kerry Jenna , Specker Erin J. , Mizzoni Morgan , Brumwell Andrea , Fell Leslie , Goodbrand Jenna , Rosen Michael N. , Uniacke James
Published: September 2023

Overlapping or convergent stress-activated molecular pathways exist to coordinate cell fate in response to stimuli such as hypoxia, oxidative stress, DNA damage, and unfolded proteins. Cells can remodel the splicing and translation machineries to mount a specialized gene expression response to certain stresses. Here, we show that hypoxic human cells in 2D and 3D culture models increase the relative abundance by 1.7- to 2.6-fold and 4.7- to 11.5-fold, respectively, of a longer mRNA variant of ribosomal protein S24 (RPS24L) compared to a shorter mRNA variant (RPS24S) by favoring the inclusion of a 22 bp cassette exon. Mechanistically, RPS24L and RPS24S are induced and repressed, respectively, by distinct parallel pathways in hypoxia: RPS24L is induced in an autophagy-dependent manner, while RPS24S is reduced by mTORC1 repression and in a HIF-dependent manner. RPS24L is a more stable mRNA in hypoxia and produces a more stable protein isoform compared to RPS24S. Cells overexpressing RPS24L display improved survival and growth in hypoxia relative to control cells and cells overexpressing RPS24S, which display impaired survival. Previous work from our group showed a correlation between RPS24L levels and tumor hypoxia in prostate cancer. These data highlight RPS24L as a stress-induced alternative splicing event that favors hypoxic cell survival, which could be exploited by cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment.
Genetic variability in pathways associates with pesticide-induced nervous system disease in the United States
Authors: Kosnik Marissa B. , Antczak Philipp , Fantke Peter
Published: September 2023

Nervous system disease development following pesticide exposure can vary in a population, but genetic susceptibility to chemicals is poorly characterized. We developed a framework to build Chemical – SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) – Disease linkages via biological pathways. We integrated these linkages with spatialized pesticide application data for the United States from 1992 – 2018 and nervous system disease rates for 2018 to characterize genetic variability in pesticide-induced nervous system disease. We found that the number of SNPs implicated per pesticide in US states positively correlates with disease incidence and prevalence for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson disease, and multiple sclerosis. Further, only 2% of pesticide sets used together over time overlapped between high disease occurrence and low disease occurrence states, with more SNPs implicated in pathways in high disease occurrence states. This supports that pesticides contribute to nervous system disease, and we developed priority lists of SNPs, pesticides, and pathways for further study.
TRIP13 localizes to synapsed chromosomes and functions as a dosage-sensitive regulator of meiosis
Authors: Chotiner Jessica Y. , Leu N. Adrian , Yang Fang , Cossu Isabella G. , Guan Yongjuan , Lin Huijuan , Wang P. Jeremy
Published: September 2023

Meiotic progression requires coordinated assembly and disassembly of protein complexes involved in chromosome synapsis and meiotic recombination. The AAA+ ATPase TRIP13 and its orthologue Pch2 are instrumental in remodeling HORMA domain proteins. Meiosis-specific HORMAD proteins are associated with unsynapsed chromosome axes but depleted from the synaptonemal complex (SC) of synapsed chromosome homologues. Here we report that TRIP13 localizes to the synapsed SC in early pachytene spermatocytes and to telomeres throughout meiotic prophase I. Loss of TRIP13 leads to meiotic arrest and thus sterility in both sexes.Trip13-null meiocytes exhibit abnormal persistence of HORMAD1 and HOMRAD2 on synapsed SC and chromosome asynapsis that preferentially affects XY and centromeric ends. These findings confirm the previously reported phenotypes of theTrip13hypomorph alleles.Trip13heterozygous (Trip13+/-) mice also exhibit meiotic defects that are less severe than theTrip13-null mice, showing that TRIP13 is a dosage-sensitive regulator of meiosis. Localization of TRIP13 to the synapsed SC is independent of SC axial element proteins such as REC8 and SYCP2/SYCP3. The N- or C-terminal FLAG-tagged TRIP13 proteins are functional and recapitulate the localization of native TRIP13 to SC and telomeres in knockin mice. Therefore, the evolutionarily conserved localization of TRIP13/Pch2 to the synapsed chromosomes provides an explanation for dissociation of HORMA domain proteins upon chromosome synapsis in diverse organisms.
Modeling Cardiomyocyte Signaling and Metabolism Predicts Genotype to Phenotype Mechanisms in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Khalilimeybodi A. , Saucerman Jeffrey J. , Rangamani P.
Published: September 2023

Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a significant precursor of heart failure and sudden cardiac death, primarily caused by mutations in sarcomeric and structural proteins. Despite the extensive research on the HCM genotype, the complex, context-specific nature of many signaling and metabolic pathways linking the HCM genotype to phenotype has hindered therapeutic advancements for patients. To address these challenges, here, we have developed a computational systems biology model of HCM at the cardiomyocyte level. Utilizing a stochastic logic-based ODE method, we integrate subcellular systems in cardiomyocytes that jointly modulate HCM genotype to phenotype, including cardiac signaling, metabolic, and gene regulatory networks, as well as posttranslational modifications linking these networks. After validating with experimental data on changes in activity of signaling species in HCM context and transcriptomes of two HCM mouse models (R403Q-αMyHC and R92W-TnT), the model predicts significant changes in cardiomyocyte metabolic functions such as ATP synthase deficiency and a transition from fatty acids to carbohydrate metabolism in HCM. The model indicated major shifts in glutamine-related metabolism and increased apoptosis after HCM-induced ATP synthase deficiency. Aligned with prior experimental studies, we predicted that the transcription factors STAT, SRF, GATA4, TP53, and FoxO are the key regulators of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis in HCM. Using the model, we identified shared (e.g., activation of PGC1αby AMPK, and FHL1 by titin) and context-specific mechanisms (e.g., regulation of Ca2+sensitivity by titin in HCM patients) that could control genotype to phenotype transition in HCM across different species or mutations. We also predicted potential combination drug targets for HCM (e.g., mavacamten paired with ROS inhibitors) preventing or reversing HCM phenotype (i.e., hypertrophic growth, apoptosis, and metabolic remodeling) in cardiomyocytes. This study provides new insights into mechanisms linking genotype to phenotype in familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and offers a framework for assessing new treatments and exploring variations in HCM experimental models.
Ventral CA1 Population Codes for Anxiety
Authors: Lim Sean C. , Fusi Stefano , Hen René
Published: September 2023

The ventral hippocampus is a critical node in the distributed brain network that controls anxiety. Using miniature microscopy and calcium imaging, we recorded ventral CA1 (vCA1) neurons in freely moving mice as they explored variants of classic behavioral assays for anxiety. Unsupervised behavioral segmentation revealed clusters of behavioral motifs that corresponded to exploratory and vigilance-like states. We discovered multiple vCA1 population codes that represented the anxiogenic features of the environment, such as bright light and openness, as well as the moment-to-moment anxiety state of the animals. These population codes possessed distinct generalization properties: neural representations of anxiogenic features were different for open field and elevated plus/zero maze tasks, while neural representations of moment-to-moment anxiety state were similar across both experimental contexts. Our results suggest that anxiety is not tied to the aversive compartments of these mazes but is rather defined by a behavioral state and its corresponding population code that generalizes across environments.
Do we still need Illumina sequencing data?: Evaluating Oxford Nanopore Technologies R10.4.1 flow cells and v14 library prep kits for Gram negative bacteria whole genome assemblies
Authors: Lerminiaux Nicole , Fakharuddin Ken , Mulvey Michael R. , Mataseje Laura
Published: September 2023

The best whole genome assemblies are currently built from a combination of highly accurate short-read sequencing data and long-read sequencing data that can bridge repetitive and problematic regions. Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) produce long-read sequencing platforms and they are continually improving their technology to obtain higher-quality read data that is approaching the quality obtained from short-read platforms such as Illumina. As these innovations continue, we were interested in evaluating how much ONT read coverage produced by the Rapid Barcoding Kit v14 (SQK-RBK114) is necessary to generate high-quality hybrid and long-read-only genome assemblies for a panel of carbapenemase-producingEnterobacteralesbacterial isolates. We found that 30X long-read coverage is sufficient if Illumina data is available, and that 100X long-read coverage is recommended for long-read-only assemblies. We found that Illumina polishing is still improving SNVs and INDELs in long-read-only assemblies. We also examined if antimicrobial resistance genes could be accurately identified in long-read-only data, and found that Flye assemblies regardless of ONT coverage detected > 94 % of resistance genes at 100% identity and length. Overall, the Rapid Barcoding Kit v14 and long-read-only assemblies can be an optimal sequencing strategy depending on the specific use case and resources available.
The ghost of selection past: evolution and conservation relevance of the kākāpō color polymorphism
Authors: Urban Lara , Santure Anna W. , Uddstrom Lydia , Digby Andrew , Vercoe Deidre , Eason Daryl , Crane Jodie ,   Kākāpō Recovery Team, Wylie Matthew J. , Davis Tāne , LeLec Marissa F. , Guhlin Joseph , Poulton Simon , Slate Jon , Alexander Alana , Fuentes-Cross Patricia , Dearden Peter K. , Gemmell Neil J. , Azeem Farhan , Weyland Marvin , Schwefel Harald G. L. , van Oosterhout Cock , Morales Hernán E.
Published: September 2023

The information contained in population genomic data can tell us much about the past ecology and evolution of species. We leveraged detailed phenotypic and genomic data of nearly all living kākāpō to understand the evolution of its remarkable feather color polymorphism. The kākāpō is an endangered and culturally significant parrot endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand, and the green and olive feather colorations are present at similar frequencies in the population. The presence of such a neatly balanced color polymorphism is remarkable because the entire population currently numbers less than 250 birds, which means it has been exposed to severe genetic drift. We dissected the color phenotype, demonstrating that the two colors differ in their light reflectance patterns due to differential feather structure. We used quantitative genomics methods to identify two genetic variants whose epistatic interaction can fully explain the species’ color phenotype. Our genomic forward simulations show that balancing selection might have been pivotal to establish the polymorphism in the ancestrally large population, and to maintain it during population declines that involved a severe bottleneck. We hypothesize that an extinct apex predator was the likely agent of balancing selection, making the color polymorphism in the kākāpō a “ghost of selection past”.
The genomic landscape of metallic color variation in ground beetles
Authors: Weng Yi-Ming , Kavanaugh David H. , Rubio-Perez Bryan , Salman Jad , Kats Mikhail A. , Schoville Sean D.
Published: September 2023

The metallic color variation of beetles is a spectacular feature that has inspired diverse human cultures. However, little is known about the genetic basis of this trait or its ecological importance. In this study, we characterize the geographical distribution, optical mechanism, genetic basis, and ecological and evolutionary importance of metallic color variation in theNebria ingenscomplex, an alpine ground beetle in the Sierra Nevada, California. We find that elytral color varies continuously across two allopatric species (from blackN. ingensto greenN. riversi), with hybrid populations showing intermediate coloration, and we demonstrate that the metallic color is generated from multilayer reflectors in the epicuticle of the elytra. By applying association mapping in natural populations (wild-GWAS) using high-density SNPs (1.2 million), we identify five promising candidate genes covarying with metallic variation, with known roles in cuticle formation and pigmentation pathways. Among these five genes, the geneyellow-like exhibits a heightened divergence pattern relative to the background genomic landscape and has been maintained despite gene flow. This finding, together with a significant correlation between color variation and water availability, suggests that metallic variation evolves as a local adaptation to environmental variation in theN. ingenscomplex.
Fluorescent Tools for Imaging and Ligand Screening of Dopamine D2-Like Receptors
Authors: Nagl Martin , Mönnich Denise , Rosier Niklas , Schihada Hannes , Sirbu Alexei , Konar Nergis , Reyes-Resina Irene , Navarro Gemma , Franco Rafael , Kolb Peter , Annibale Paolo , Pockes Steffen
Published: September 2023

The family of dopamine D2-like receptors represent an interesting target for a variety of neurological diseases, e.g. Parkinson’s disease (PD), addiction or schizophrenia. In this study we describe the synthesis of a new set of fluorescent ligands as tools for visualization of dopamine D2-like receptors. Pharmacological characterization in radioligand binding studies identified UR-MN212 (20) as a high-affinity ligand for D2-like receptors (pKi(D2longR) = 8.24, pKi(D3R) = 8.58, pKi(D4R) = 7.78) with decent selectivity towards D1-like receptors. Compound20is a neutral antagonist in a Go1activation assay at the D2longR, D3R and D4R, which is an important feature for studies using whole cells. The neutral antagonist20, equipped with a 5-TAMRA dye, displayed rapid association to the D2longR in binding studies using confocal microscopy demonstrating its suitability for fluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, in molecular brightness studies, the ligand’s binding affinity could be determined in a single-digit nanomolar range that was in good agreement with radioligand binding data. Therefore, the fluorescent compound can be used for quantitative characterization of native D2-like receptors in a broad variety of experimental setups.
The Topological Properties of the Protein Universe
Authors: Madsen Christian D. , Barbensi Agnese , Zhang Stephen Y. , Ham Lucy , David Alessia , Pires Douglas E.V. , Stumpf Michael P.H.
Published: September 2023

Deep learning methods have revolutionized our ability to predict protein structures, allowing us a glimpse into the entire protein universe. As a result, our understanding of how protein structure drives function is now lagging behind our ability to determine and predict protein structure. Here, we describe how topology, the branch of mathematics concerned with qualitative properties of spatial structures, provides a lens through which we can identify fundamental organizing features across the known protein universe. We identify topological determinants that capture global features of the protein universe, such as domain architecture and binding sites. Additionally, our analysis also identified highly specific properties, so-called topological generators, that can be used to provide deeper insights into protein structure-function and evolutionary relationships. We used our approach to determine structural, functional and disease consequences of mutations, explain differences in properties of proteins in mesophiles and thermophiles, and the likely structural and functional consequences of polymorphisms in a protein. Overall, we present a practical methodology for mapping the topology of the known protein universe at scale.
An organism-wide ATAC-seq peak catalog for the bovine and its use to identify regulatory variants
Authors: Yuan Can , Tang Lijing , Lopdell Thomas , Petrov Vyacheslav A. , Oget-Ebrad Claire , Moreira Gabriel Costa Monteiro , Gualdrón Duarte José Luis , Sartelet Arnaud , Cheng Zhangrui , Salavati Mazdak , Wathes D. Claire , Crowe Mark A. ,   GplusE Consortium, Coppieters Wouter , Littlejohn Mathew , Charlier Carole , Druet Tom , Georges Michel , Takeda Haruko
Published: September 2023

We report the generation of an organism-wide catalog of 976,813cis-acting regulatory elements for the bovine detected by the assay for transposase accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq). We regroup these regulatory elements in 16 components by nonnegative matrix factorization. Correlation between the genome-wide density of peaks and transcription start sites, correlation between peak accessibility and expression of neighboring genes, and enrichment in transcription factor binding motifs support their regulatory potential. Using a previously established catalog of 12,736,643 variants, we show that the proportion of single-nucleotide polymorphisms mapping to ATAC-seq peaks is higher than expected and that this is owing to an approximately 1.3-fold higher mutation rate within peaks. Their site frequency spectrum indicates that variants in ATAC-seq peaks are subject to purifying selection. We generate eQTL data sets for liver and blood and show that variants that drive eQTL fall into liver- and blood-specific ATAC-seq peaks more often than expected by chance. We combine ATAC-seq and eQTL data to estimate that the proportion of regulatory variants mapping to ATAC-seq peaks is approximately one in three and that the proportion of variants mapping to ATAC-seq peaks that are regulatory is approximately one in 25. We discuss the implication of these findings on the utility of ATAC-seq information to improve the accuracy of genomic selection.
Study on the influence of different contents of impure CaO on the process of electromelting magnesia
Authors: Li Zhen , Qu Dian-li , Luo Xu-dong , Chen Na
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The aim of this study is to report the effect of different content of calcium oxide on the process of electromelting magnesia.

Design/methodology/approach

The process of molten magnesia was analyzed by finite element simulation and proved by scanning electron microscope.

Findings

The results show that with the increase of CaO content, the maximum temperature appreciation increases from 3,616°C To 3,729°C, showing an approximate nonlinear evolution. Low thermal conductivity and low specific heat of CaO result in higher temperature. With the increase of CaO content and temperature, the maximum flow velocity of MgO slag increases from 0.043 to 1.34 mm/s. Under different initial CaO contents, the distribution trend of CaO volume fraction is basically the same, and the CaO volume fraction is evenly distributed between 50 and 225 mm in the furnace.

Originality/value

The influence of different contents of impurity calcium oxide on the process of electromelting magnesia was analyzed and a theoretical system was established.
Detecting future financial statement fraud using a machine learning model in Indonesia: a comparative study
Authors: Riskiyadi Moh.
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study aims to compare machine learning models, datasets and splitting training-testing using data mining methods to detect financial statement fraud.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a quantitative approach from secondary data on the financial reports of companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in the last ten years, from 2010 to 2019. Research variables use financial and non-financial variables. Indicators of financial statement fraud are determined based on notes or sanctions from regulators and financial statement restatements with special supervision.

Findings

The findings show that the Extremely Randomized Trees (ERT) model performs better than other machine learning models. The best original-sampling dataset compared to other dataset treatments. Training testing splitting 80:10 is the best compared to other training-testing splitting treatments. So the ERT model with an original-sampling dataset and 80:10 training-testing splitting are the most appropriate for detecting future financial statement fraud.

Practical implications

This study can be used by regulators, investors, stakeholders and financial crime experts to add insight into better methods of detecting financial statement fraud.

Originality/value

This study proposes a machine learning model that has not been discussed in previous studies and performs comparisons to obtain the best financial statement fraud detection results. Practitioners and academics can use findings for further research development.
CEO education and corporate social performance: moderation effects of CEO characteristics and firm's governance quality
Authors: DasGupta Ranjan , Pathak Rajesh
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The authors examine if CEO education level and quality impacts firm's corporate social performance (CSP). Additionally, the authors investigate whether other CEO characteristics such as age, busyness, compensation and firm's governance quality moderate the relationship between CEO education and CSP.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use panel regression framework amid set of controls for their analysis. The authors additionally use two-stage least squares regression (2SLS) for robustness tests.

Findings

The authors show that CEOs with a post-graduate business degree (PGBUS) impact firm's CSP positively, whereas other educational degree directly do not influence CSP. However, CEO's age, busyness, compensation and firm's governance quality are found negatively moderating such relationship. The results survive set of robustness tests, and results are consistent the roles of upper echelons in Indian firms' strategic behaviors.

Originality/value

The results seek for an integration of more ethics and social responsibility discussions in the different education levels including undergraduate degree in India to help engender a stronger sense of moral consciousness toward firms' stakeholders as the Indian economy continues to develop.
A conceptual framework of barriers to data science implementation: a practitioners' guideline
Authors: Reddy Rajesh Chidananda , Mishra Debasisha , Goyal D.P. , Rana Nripendra P.
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The study explores the potential barriers to data science (DS) implementation in organizations and identifies the key barriers. The identified barriers were explored for their interconnectedness and characteristics. This study aims to help organizations formulate apt DS strategies by providing a close-to-reality DS implementation framework of barriers, in conjunction with extant literature and practitioners' viewpoints.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors synthesized 100 distinct barriers through systematic literature review (SLR) under the individual, organizational and governmental taxonomies. In discussions with 48 industry experts through semi-structured interviews, 14 key barriers were identified. The selected barriers were explored for their pair-wise relationships using interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and fuzzy Matriced’ Impacts Croise's Multiplication Appliquée a UN Classement (MICMAC) analyses in formulating the hierarchical framework.

Findings

The lack of awareness and data-related challenges are identified as the most prominent barriers, followed by non-alignment with organizational strategy, lack of competency with vendors and premature governmental arrangements, and classified as independent variables. The non-commitment of top-management team (TMT), significant investment costs, lack of swiftness in change management and a low tolerance for complexity and initial failures are recognized as the linkage variables. Employee reluctance, mid-level managerial resistance, a dearth of adequate skills and knowledge and working in silos depend on the rest of the identified barriers. The perceived threat to society is classified as the autonomous variable.

Originality/value

The study augments theoretical understanding from the literature with the practical viewpoints of industry experts in enhancing the knowledge of the DS ecosystem. The research offers organizations a generic framework to combat hindrances to DS initiatives strategically.
Talent retention challenges among non-family talented individuals: multiple case studies of family SMEs in Jordan
Authors: Alzbaidi Mohammad , Abu Madi Abdallah
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study explores the influence of Wasta, informal social network on the retention of non-family talented employees in family-owned SMEs in Jordan. Despite the increased attention received by talent management (TM) in the last decade, limited attention has focused on family-owned-SMEs. This study demonstrates while resource-based view explains how human capital provides sustainable competitive advantage the lack of strategic retention management may lead to losing this competitive advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple case study approach underpinned by a qualitative orientation was utilized to help explore the dynamics of TM practices in greater depth. The authors conducted a series of 18 semi-structured in-depth interviews with HR managers, non-family junior and middle managers from six family-owned enterprises.

Findings

Evidence showed that family Wasta accelerate employee dissatisfaction among non-family talented individuals and in turn enhances their intention to leave due to organizational injustice and lack of organizational support.

Practical implications

This study could help managers in family-owned organizations enforce the concept of organizational justice by implementing solid performance management systems and talent reviews to strengthen the social exchange with non-family competent employees.

Originality/value

First, this study demonstrates how access to Wasta accelerate the mobility of non-family talented individuals and in turn enhances their intention to leave. Second, this study provides a theoretical and contextual framework to deepen the authors’ understanding of the impact of social networks on strategic retention performance.
Smart tools to facilitate digitalisation of facilities management service delivery: stakeholders’ perspectives
Authors: Hou Huiying (Cynthia) , Ho Daniel C.W. , Yau Yung
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Facilities management (FM) activities affect citizens’ health and safety, long-term urban environmental sustainability and the relationships between the built and natural environments of cities. This study aims to comprehend the status of smart FM tools application, how they are used to improve the delivery of FM services and the barriers to their implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

To investigate the current smart solutions that leverage the quality of FM service, a case study based on the FM practice in Hong Kong was carried out. The case study was conducted in two phases of data acquisition based on a qualitative research methodology. After conducting in-depth interviews to determine the application of smart FM tools in different types of properties and to identify the initiatives and barriers to smart FM tool application, three workshops were conducted to validate the findings and further investigate the influence of FM professionals on smart FM tools application in Hong Kong.

Findings

The findings of the case study revealed, firstly, that four types of smart FM tools – user-centric, safety and hygiene, maintenance and sustainability-oriented – are used to assist the delivery of FM services. Secondly, smart FM tools are shown to be useful in assisting FM activities. Thirdly, the existing barriers to smart FM tool application manifest differently in shopping malls, office buildings and residential buildings. Fourthly, smart FM tools are used to address the four attributes of user needs: comfort, health and wellbeing, convenience and information to occupants.

Originality/value

The value of this study lies in its focus on the industry level (FM industry) and the application process of smart FM tools in different types of property, revealing the benefits, initiatives and barriers to their future application. This study provides a comprehensive picture of the current status and elaborates the barriers to smart FM tool application, which will help FM practitioners to make strategic decisions on selecting and developing smart FM tools. Also, this study will facilitate smart FM tool application policy development.
A critical review of work values: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Solanki Manjeet , Chaudhary Kuldeep , Chauhan Nisha
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study aims to empirically examine the research related to work values published in the two major databases Scopus and Web of Science.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper opted for a bibliometric study using the R (Bibliometric R package). The bibliometric analysis was conducted on 498 papers after removing duplicates published between 1964 and 2022.

Findings

This study finds that the number of articles and citations is limited but growing. Journal of Applied Psychology was regarded as the most influential journal with maximum citations. Maximum citations and publications came from the USA. The study revealed that maximum collaborations were done between authors located in the USA and China.

Research limitations/implications

The researcher used only two databases in the study, so papers included in other databases are left, which can affect the study results.

Practical implications

This research may be beneficial for both human resource practitioners and researchers because it identifies the research gaps and future research needs in the field of work values. Besides, this paper will help the researchers to understand the publishing trends in the subject area.

Originality/value

This research incorporates bibliometric analysis for a critical analysis of Work Value literature. This research contributes to the existing literature and assists fellow researchers in future studies.
Components and factors affecting adolescent resilience promotion education in disasters: a systematic review
Authors: Karimi Kivi Hamid , Rezaee Rita , Peyravi Mahmoudreza , Ahmadi Marzaleh Milad
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Community-based disaster management and access to social resilience during disasters are fundamentally based on the concept of participation of all social groups. Up to now, no comprehensive study has been done regarding adolescents’ roles and experiences in all stages of disaster management, and discussions existing in the domain of adolescents’ engagement in disaster risk management are usually restricted to children’s participation. Thus, this study aims to extract the effective components and factors in disaster education to improve adolescents’ resilience to disasters.

Design/methodology/approach

This systematic review was done through English databases and three Persian databases between August 18, 2001, and August 31, 2021. The articles were searched based on the PRISMA checklist using four key dimensions of “resilience,” “disasters,” “adolescents” and “education.” Finally, the effective components and factors in disaster education for improving adolescents’ resilience during disasters were extracted.

Findings

Totally, 29,856 articles were extracted through the systematic review. After studying the titles, abstracts and contents of the extracted articles, 17 were selected for the final analysis. Among these articles, 3, 12 and 2 had qualitative, quantitative and mixed research designs, respectively. The extracted components were categorized into five major categories including education, community, adolescents, resilience and governing policies and approaches.

Research limitations/implications

Unfortunately, due to sanctions, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences did not have access to the Embase database, and consequently, this database could not be used.

Originality/value

The results of this systematic review presented an overall view of the effective components of adolescents’ disaster resilience education. The formation of thoughts developed feelings, and social knowledge in this age group provides a wide range of opportunities for social empowerment and intergenerational knowledge transfer.
Exploring the elements of strengthening online higher education in disaster risk reduction: a perspective of sustained strategy in post COVID-19
Authors: Kawane Tomo , Adu-Gyamfi Bismark , Shaw Rajib
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has compelled higher educational institutions to implement alternative educational strategies that rely heavily on internet accessibility and utilisation to monitor and evaluate students. This study aims to find certain indicators for planning and designing future courses of inclusive online education in the domain of disaster risk reduction (DRR).

Design/methodology/approach

The study reviews and analyses online teaching and learning experiences of DRR courses. It uses online surveys and interviews to derive the perspectives of selected students and educators in universities in Asia and the Pacific region.

Findings

Active engagement is considered to be achieved when students are active in chat boxes, through presentations, through assignments and when the video cameras of students are turned on. On the contrary, students perceive active engagement differently because they face emotional disturbances and health issues due to prolonged screen/digital device use, have inadequate information and communications technology infrastructure or have digital literacy deficiencies among others. The study finds that online courses have many sets of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, when they are balanced, they can improve DRR courses in the future.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on the outcome of interviews with 10 experienced educators in DRR courses as well as students from different schools taking courses in DRR education. However, the students are not necessarily taking the courses of the educators interviewed due to the inability of some educators to avail themselves and the challenge of contacting the students. This notwithstanding, the results of this study give a general overview of the situation to be considered in the planning and design of online and distance education.

Social implications

The results do not reflect the reaction of students and tutors of the same course. Future studies of collecting and analyzing the responses from the students and the educators with the same course could provide tailored solutions.

Originality/value

This study attempts to find solutions to bridging two different perspectives on teaching and learning. The results would be important to strengthening and designing future online courses.
Metaverse in the urban destinations in China: some insights for the tourism players
Authors: Zhang Jiale , Quoquab Farzana
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Although the metaverse has gained popularity in recent days, research on metaverse tourism in urban destinations is still lacking. Drawing on existing cases in Chinese urban destinations, this paper aims to provide valuable insights into the development of metaverse tourism in China and provides managerial implications for future urbanmetaverse tourismplayers.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature from Chinese and international sources was reviewed to highlight the current status of metaverse tourism in the context of Chinese urban tourism. This paper also draws on information provided by online materials, especially the official websites of tour organizers and news media.

Findings

This paper outlines important aspects of metaverse in Chinese urban tourism. First, cities are the hotbeds of metaverse development, and the metaverse has become a new way to attract urban tourists and a significant element in various exhibitions. Second, the combination of metaverse with China’s extensive and profound traditional culture has made urban tourism full of vitality. Third, China’s game companies are progressively empowering the metaverse tourism industry.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the existing knowledge on metaverse tourism based on the Chinese urban tourism context. Furthermore, it highlights the state of the metaverse in Chinese urban tourism during and after the pandemic situation. Lastly, it provides thoughtful implications for tourism players and future tourism development.
Does FinTech adoption increase the diffusion rate of digital financial inclusion? A study of the banking industry sector
Authors: Aloulou Myriam , Grati Rima , Al-Qudah Anas Ali , Al-Okaily Manaf
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to discuss the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) favorable attitude toward the financial sector’s digital transformation and the development of FinTech due to the rise of financial technology. FinTech blends innovation and technology to provide financial inclusion to stakeholders through various new products and services such metaverse and artificial intelligence.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative research approach was used to empirically validate the suggested research model by using 260 Emirates-based banking authorities and administrators’ data.

Findings

The findings indicate that FinTech adoption had a substantial impact on the competitiveness and performance of the UAE banking industry during COVID-19 times. The research indicates that adequate FinTech implementation and alignment with technology management directly influence the performance of the UAE’s banking sector in difficult times.

Originality/value

This study is critical because the UAE banking sector serves diverse nationalities, and its success is contingent on FinTech and its competitive edge.
Research on influencing factors and path of digital transformation of manufacturing enterprises
Authors: Zhang Yue , Wang Jiayuan
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Under the influence of the digital economy, the digital transformation of manufacturing enterprises has attracted widespread attention from scholars at home and abroad due to its uniqueness and importance. However, the existing literature is still deficient in the inner mechanism of digital transformation and lacks research on the digital transformation process. Through in-depth interviews and rooted theory, this paper focuses on the key factors of digital development of manufacturing enterprises and constructs a model of the digital transformation process.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper takes China's manufacturing enterprises as research projects. First, through a literature search, the authors proposed three key factors for constructing sustainable competitiveness from digital transformation, that is, core technology innovation, business model re-engineering and organizational structure optimization. Second, the authors adopted the grounded theory approach to identify three sustainable competitive factors of manufacturing enterprises resulting from digital transformation and constructed a theoretical model. Third, based on Chinese manufacturing enterprises data, the authors used an empirical study to validate the three influencing factors. Finally, the authors identified the inner mechanism of the digital transformation of enterprises and put forward suggestions for enterprises to maintain sustainable competitiveness.

Findings

First, based on the existing literature, this paper identified the importance of digital transformation of manufacturing enterprises, and the essence of digital transformation of manufacturing companies was found to lie in the change in the combined effect of technological, market and organizational innovation. Second, based on the grounded theory, through in-depth interviews with manufacturing enterprises on digital transformation and open coding of interview transcripts, it was concluded that the key factors for the digital transformation manufacturing companies are core technology change, business model re-engineering and organizational structure optimization. Third, based on a dynamic perspective, the authors evaluated and validated digital transformation. The study found that manufacturing enterprises can improve their digital transformation capabilities through the trajectory of “core technology change – business model re-engineering – organizational structure optimization” to improve their sustainable competitive advantage.

Originality/value

Firstly, this study proposed three key factors for constructing sustainable competitiveness from digital transformation, that is, core technology innovation, business model re-engineering and organizational structure optimization, which enriched the theory of transformation and upgrading. Secondly, this study constructs the structural equation model of digital transformation and discovers the key factors pf digital transformation.
Evaluating the policy response to curb the opioid prescribing behaviour of physicians in the United States
Authors: Das Roshni
Published: September 2023

Purpose

In 2017, the opioid epidemic was declared a public health emergency in the United States. The federal and state governments are still struggling to contain the crisis through various legislations and to stem the tide of overdoses and deaths. This paper looks specifically at the issue of high prescriptions of opioids disbursed to patients by physicians.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper evaluates this evolving policy issue through a critical review and synthesis of academic literature, government policy documents (at states and national levels) and articles in the popular press.

Findings

Over-prescription is a legal problem because it inevitably leads to diversion of these substances for non-medical usage. The Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) laws have been passed by all 50 states and the main policy responses are covered. However, there are hindrances to their effectiveness, which have to be addressed. Two state level policy alternatives are discussed as potential solutions — PDMP mandates and Pain Management Clinic Laws (PMCLs). After a comparative evaluation, it is recommended that all states should pass the mandatory PDMP review and usage laws urgently.

Originality/value

This is the first detailed policy evaluation on the specific and time-sensitive aspect of physician over-prescribing, within the larger opioid abuse problem. Moreover, critique on the public health leadership issue is raised.
Investigations on friction stir spot welding to overcome bed size limits of material extrusion (MEX) 3D printers
Authors: Tiwary Vivek Kumar , Padmakumar Arunkumar , Malik Vinayak R.
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Material extrusion (MEX) 3D printers suffer from an intrinsic limitation of small size of the prints due to its restricted bed dimension. On the other hand, friction stir spot welding (FSSW) is gaining wide interest from automobile, airplane, off-road equipment manufacturers and even consumer electronics. This paper aims to explore the possibility of FSSW on Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene/Polylactic acid 3D-printed components to overcome the bed size limitation of MEX 3D printers.

Design/methodology/approach

Four different tool geometries (tapered cylindrical pin with/without concavity, pinless with/without concavity) were used to produce the joints. Three critical process parameters related to FSSW (tool rotational speed, plunge depth and dwell time) and two related to 3D printing (material combination and infill percentages) were investigated and optimized using the Taguchi L27 design of experiments. The influence of each welding parameter on the shear strength was evaluated by analysis of variance.

Findings

Results revealed that the infill percentage, a 3D printing parameter, had the maximum effect on the joint strength. The joints displayed pull nugget, cross nugget and substrate failure morphologies. The outcome resulted in the joint efficiency reaching up to 100.3%, better than that obtained by other competitive processes for 3D-printed thermoplastics. The results, when applied to weld a UAV wing, showed good strength and integrity. Further, grafting the joints with nylon micro-particles was also investigated, resulting in a detrimental effect on the strength.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that the welding of dissimilar 3D-printed thermoplastics with/without microparticles is possible by FSSW, whilst the process parameters have a considerable consequence on the bond strength.