bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coevolution of the Tlx homeobox gene with medusa development (Cnidaria: Medusozoa)
Authors: Travert Matthew , Boohar Reed , Sanders Steven M. , Nicotra Matthew L. , Leclère Lucas , Steele Robert E. , Cartwright Paulyn
Published: March 2022

The jellyfish, or medusa, is a life cycle stage characteristic of the cnidarian subphylum Medusozoa. By contrast, the other cnidarian subphyla Anthozoa and Endocnidozoa lack a medusa stage. Of the medusozoan classes, Hydrozoa is the most diverse in terms of species number and life cycle variation. A notable pattern in hydrozoan evolution is that the medusa stage has been lost or reduced several times independently. Although this loss of the jellyfish stage is thought to be due to heterochrony, the precise developmental mechanisms underlying this complex pattern of medusa evolution are unknown. We found that the presence of the homeobox gene Tlx in cnidarian genomes is correlated with those medusozoans that have a medusa stage as part of their life cycle. Although Tlx is conserved in Bilateria and Cnidaria, it is missing in the genomes of anthozoans, endocnidozoans, and those hydrozoans that have lost the medusa stage. Selection analyses of Tlx across medusozoans revealed that hydrozoans undergo relatively relaxed selection compared to the other medusozoan classes, which may in part explain the pattern of multiple medusa losses. Differential expression analyses on three distantly related medusozoan representatives indicate an upregulation of Tlx during medusa development. In addition, Tlx expression is spatially restricted to regions of active development in medusae of the hydrozoan Podocoryna carnea. Our results suggest that Tlx plays a key role in medusa development and that the loss of this gene is likely linked to the repeated loss of the medusa life cycle stage.
Antibiotic-induced recombination in bacteria requires the formation of double-strand breaks
Authors: Nath Arpita , Roizman Dan , Pachaimuthu Nivetha , Blázquez Jesús , Rolff Jens , Rodríguez-Rojas Alexandro
Published: March 2022

Recombination is an essential process in bacterial drug resistance evolution. Fluoroquinolones, an important class of antibiotics, are known to stimulate recombination in Escherichia coli. On the other hand, when bacteria are exposed to sublethal concentrations of different antibiotic families, including strong inducers of the SOS system, which upregulates recombination pathways, there is no detectable change in the recombination rate. Here we explore why fluoroquinolones, but not any other tested antimicrobials, increase recombination rates. One feature that makes the fluoroquinolones different from other antibiotics is the generation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). We tested whether other antimicrobials known for their ability to cause double-strand breaks, such as mitomycin C and bleomycin, are also affecting bacterial recombination rate. We found that both drugs indeed affected recombination rates in E. coli. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the number of DNA double-strand breaks and the recombination frequency. The manipulation of the level of DSBs directly impacted the recombination frequency. These results imply that recombination, at least in Gram-negative bacteria, is conservative, and even if multiple copies of a DNA sequence are available, the basal recombination rate is low. Our results highlight that homologous recombination is intended more for DNA damage repair than generating diversity, or at least that they occur at a very different scale. We also show that only antibiotics that cause DNA double-strand breaks can increase genetic diversity via recombination. The stimulation of recombination by DSBs-causing antimicrobials is an additional factor leading to the risk of antibiotic resistance evolution.
A protocol for a multi-site case control study to evaluate child and adolescent mental health service transformation in England using the i-THRIVE model
Authors: Moore A , Baron-Cohen Lindley , Simes E , Chen S , Fonagy
Published: March 2022

The National i-THRIVE Programme seeks to evaluate the impact of the NHS England-funded whole system transformation on child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). This article reports on the design for a model of implementation that has been applied in CAMHS across over 70 areas in England using the ‘THRIVE’ needs-based principles of care. The implementation protocol in which this model, ‘i-THRIVE’ (implementing-THRIVE), will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the THRIVE intervention is reported, together with the evaluation protocol for the process of implementation. To evaluate the effectiveness of i-THRIVE to improve care for children and young people’s mental health, a case-control design will be conducted. N = 10 CAMHS sites that adopt the i-THRIVE model from the start of the NHS England-funded CAMHS transformation will be compared to N = 10 ‘comparator sites’ that choose to use different transformation approaches within the same timeframe. Sites will be matched on population size, urbanicity, funding, level of deprivation and expected prevalence of mental health care needs. To evaluate the process of implementation, a mixed-methods approach will be conducted to explore the moderating effects of context, fidelity, dose, pathway structure and reach on clinical and service level outcomes. This study addresses a unique opportunity to inform the ongoing national transformation of CAMHS with evidence about a popular new model for delivering children and young people’s mental health care, as well as a new implementation approach to support whole system transformation. If the outcomes reflect benefit from i-THRIVE, this study has the potential to guide significant improvements in CAMHS by providing a more integrated, needs-led service model that increases access and involvement of patients with services and in the care they receive.
Genomic landscape of the DHA1 family in the newly emerged pathogen Candida auris and mapping substrate repertoire of the prominent member CauMdr1
Authors: Khatoon Rosy , Sharma Suman , Vishwakarma Poonam , Saini Amandeep , Aggarwal Parth , Lynn Andrew M. , Prakash Amresh , Prasad Rajendra , Banerjee Atanu
Published: March 2022

The last decade has witnessed the rise of extremely threatening healthcare-associated multidrug resistant non-albicans Candida (NAC) species, Candida auris. Thus, understanding the molecular basis of antifungal resistance has emerged as the single most important goal amongst the research community. Since besides target alterations, efflux mechanisms contribute maximally to antifungal resistance, it is imperative to investigate their contributions in this pathogen. Of note, within the Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) of efflux pumps, Drug/H+ antiporter family 1 (DHA1) has been established as a predominant contributor towards xenobiotic efflux. Our study provides a complete landscape of DHA1 transporters encoded in the genome of C. auris. This study identifies 14 DHA1 transporters encoded in the genome of the pathogen. We also construct deletion and heterologous overexpression strains for the most important DHA1 drug transporter, viz., CauMdr1 to map the spectrum of its substrates. While the knockout strain did not show any significant changes in the resistance patterns against the majority of the tested substrates, the ortholog when overexpressed in a minimal background S. cerevisiae strain, AD1-8u-, showed significant enhancement in the Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against a large panel of antifungal molecules. Altogether, the present study provides a comprehensive template for investigating the role of DHA1 members of C. auris in antifungal resistance mechanisms.
The chromatin associated Sin3B is a critical regulator of DNA damage repair through the engagement of the Non-Homologous End Joining
Authors: Morales-Valencia Jorge , Calderon Alexander , Saini Siddharth , David Gregory
Published: March 2022

Transcription and DNA damage repair act in a coordinated manner. The scaffolding protein Sin3B serves as a transcriptional corepressor of hundreds of cell-cycle-related genes. However, the role of Sin3B during the DNA damage response still remains unknown. Here, we show that Sin3B depletion delays the resolution of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and sensitizes cells to diverse DNA-damaging agents, including cisplatin and doxorubicin. Furthermore, Sin3B is rapidly recruited to DNA damage sites and interacts with other DDR proteins. Mechanistically, Sin3B promotes non-homologous end joining DNA repair by directing the accumulation of MDC1 at DBSs. Altogether, our findings impute an unexpected function for the transcriptional co-repressor Sin3B as a gatekeeper of genomic integrity, and point to the inhibition of the Sin3B chromatin modifying complex as a novel therapeutic vulnerability in cancer cells.
Single-cell multiome of the human retina and deep learning nominate causal variants in complex eye diseases
Authors: Wang Sean K. , Nair Surag , Li Rui , Kraft Katerina , Pampari Anusri , Patel Aman , Kang Joyce B. , Luong Christy , Kundaje Anshul , Chang Howard Y.
Published: March 2022

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of eye disorders have identified hundreds of genetic variants associated with ocular disease. However, the vast majority of these variants are noncoding, making it challenging to interpret their function. Here, we present a joint single-cell atlas of gene expression and chromatin accessibility of the adult human retina with >50,000 cells, which we used to analyze noncoding single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) implicated by GWAS of age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, myopia, and type 2 macular telangiectasia. We integrate this atlas with a HiChIP enhancer connectome, expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data, and base-resolution deep learning models to predict noncoding SNPs with causal roles in eye disease, assess SNP impact on transcription factor binding, and define their known and novel target genes. Our efforts nominate pathogenic SNP-target gene interactions for multiple vision disorders and provide a potentially powerful resource for interpreting noncoding variation in the eye.
AlphaFold Models of Small Proteins Rival the Accuracy of Solution NMR Structures
Authors: Tejero Roberto , Huang Yuanpeng J. , Ramelot Theresa A. , Montelione Gaetano T.
Published: March 2022

Recent advances in molecular modeling using deep learning have the potential to revolutionize the field of structural biology. In particular, AlphaFold has been observed to provide models of protein structures with accuracy rivaling medium-resolution X-ray crystal structures, and with excellent atomic coordinate matches to experimental protein NMR and cryo-electron microscopy structures. Here we assess the hypothesis that AlphaFold models of small, relatively rigid proteins have accuracies (based on comparison against experimental data) similar to experimental solution NMR structures. We selected six representative small proteins with structures determined by both NMR and X-ray crystallography, and modeled each of them using AlphaFold. Using several structure validation tools integrated under the Protein Structure Validation Software suite (PSVS), we then assessed how well these models fit to experimental NMR data, including NOESY peak lists (RPF-DP scores), comparisons between predicted rigidity and chemical shift data (ANSURR scores), and 15N-1H residual dipolar coupling data (RDC Q factors) analyzed by software tools integrated in the PSVS suite. Remarkably, the fits to NMR data for the protein structure models predicted with AlphaFold are generally similar, or better, than for the corresponding experimental NMR or X-ray crystal structures. Similar conclusions were reached in comparing AlphaFold2 predictions and NMR structures for three targets from the Critical Assessment of Protein Structure Prediction (CASP). These results contradict the widely held misperception that AlphaFold cannot accurately model solution NMR structures. They also document the value of PSVS for model vs. data assessment of protein NMR structures, and the potential for using AlphaFold models for guiding analysis of experimental NMR data and more generally in structural biology.
DNA Double Strand Breaks cause chromosome loss through sister chromatid tethering in human embryos
Authors: Turocy Jenna , Marin Diego , Xu Shuangyi , Xu Jia , Robles Alex , Treff Nathan , Egli Dieter
Published: March 2022

Summary paragraph

Genome editing by DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) is currently being investigated as a tool to treat or even prevent heritable diseases1. However, DNA repair mechanisms in the human embryo remain poorly understood and DSBs may result in chromosome loss 2,3. Here we provide evidence of whole and segmental chromosome loss in over one third of chromosomes 16, 17 and X targeted by CRISPR/Cas9-induced DNA DSB, including pericentromeric and mid-arm sites. Chromosomal changes were asymmetric relative to the Cas9 cut site: segmental losses occurred on both centric as well as acentric chromosome arms, while gains were exclusively found on acentric arms, suggesting that centromeres in broken chromosomes continued to mediate sister chromatid separation. Using this pattern of chromosomal errors, we were able to define new genomic coordinates of the active centromere on chromosome 16. Asymmetry was also found in the attrition of gDNA at the break site: attrition occurred centromeric of the DSB, while telomeric to the break, chromosomal ends were protected. Thus, spindle forces at centromeres and end tethering and protection at DSBs are antagonistic forces that interfere with accurate segregation of sister chromatids. Thereby, a single DSB is sufficient to result in the loss of a chromosome from the embryo. These results highlight the risks of aneuploidy in CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, while also providing a mechanism for mitotically acquired aneuploidy caused by DNA breaks in human embryos.
Altered DNA repair pathway engagement by engineered CRISPR-Cas9 nucleases
Authors: Chauhan Vikash P. , Sharp Phillip A. , Langer Robert
Published: March 2022

CRISPR-Cas9 introduces targeted DNA breaks that engage competing DNA repair pathways, producing a spectrum of imprecise insertion/deletion mutations (indels) and precise templated mutations (precise edits). The relative frequencies of these pathways are thought to primarily depend on genomic sequence and cell state contexts, limiting control over mutational outcomes. Here we report that engineered Cas9 nucleases that create different DNA break structures engage competing repair pathways at dramatically altered frequencies. We accordingly designed a Cas9 variant (vCas9) that produces breaks which suppress otherwise dominant nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) repair. Instead, breaks created by vCas9 are predominantly repaired by pathways utilizing homologous sequences, specifically microhomology-mediated end-joining (MMEJ) and homology-directed repair (HDR). Consequently, vCas9 enables efficient precise editing through HDR or MMEJ while suppressing indels caused by NHEJ in dividing and non-dividing cells. These findings establish a new paradigm of targeted nucleases custom-designed for specific mutational applications.

Teaser

CRISPR-Cas9 can be designed to make otherwise infrequent precise editing pathways dominant in dividing and non-dividing cells
Structural consequences of deproteinating the 50S ribosome
Authors: Larsson Daniel S. D. , Sandesh Kanchugal P , Selmer Maria
Published: March 2022

Ribosomes are complex ribonucleoprotein particles. Purified 50S ribosomes subjected to high-salt wash, removing a subset of ribosomal proteins (r-proteins), were early shown competent for in vitro assembly into functional 50S subunits. We here used cryo-EM to determine the structure of such LiCl core particles derived from E. coli 50S subunits. A wide range of complexes with large variation in extent of ordered 23S rRNA and occupancy of r-proteins could be identified, and resolved to between 2.8 Å and 9 Å resolution. Many of these particles showed high similarity to in vivo and in vitro assembly intermediates, supporting the inherent stability or metastability of these states. Similar to states in early ribosome assembly, the main class showed ordered density for 23S rRNA domains 0, I, II, III, VI and the 5’-half of domain IV. In addition, smaller core particles were discovered, which show that the most stable part of the 50S under high-salt conditions includes parts of domain 0 and most of domains I, III and the 5’-half of domain IV and four to eight r-proteins. Our data support a multi-pathway disassembly process based on independent folding blocks, similar but reverse to the assembly process. The study provides examples of dependencies between complex tertiary RNA structure and RNA-protein interactions where protein extensions dissociate before the globular domains. We observe formation of a non-native RNA structure upon protein dissociation, demonstrating that r-proteins stabilize native RNA structure and prevent non-native interactions also after folding.

IMPORTANCE

Ribosome assembly and stability remain only partially understood. Incubation of ribosomes with salts was early shown to induce dissociation of the more loosely bound ribosomal proteins (r-proteins) and formation of so-called core particles. In this work, cryo-EM imaging of 50S LiCl core particles from E. coli for the first time allowed structural characterization of such particles of different size. The smallest particles demonstrate what constitutes the smallest stable core of the 50S ribosomal subunit, and the sequential comparison with larger particles show how the ribosome disassembles and assembles in layers of rRNA structure stabilized by globular domains and extended tails of r-proteins. Major insights are that ribosomes disassemble along different paths, that dissociation of r-proteins can induce misfolding of rRNA and that extended tails of r-proteins dissociate from rRNA before the globular domains. The characterized particles can be used in future mechanistic studies of ribosome biogenesis.
Lamin A/C mediated invaginations in the nuclear surface allow the nucleus to pass unimpeded through a dense array of fiber-like obstacles
Authors: Katiyar Aditya , Zhang Jian , Antani Jyot D. , Yu Yifan , Scott Kelsey L. , Lele Pushkar P. , Reinhart-King Cynthia A. , Sniadecki Nathan J. , Roux Kyle J. , Dickinson Richard B. , Lele Tanmay P.
Published: March 2022

Migrating cells must deform their stiff cell nucleus to move through pores and fibers in tissue. Lamin A/C is known to hinder cell migration by limiting nuclear deformation and passage through confining channels, but its role in nuclear deformation and passage through fibrous environments is less clear. We studied cell and nuclear migration through discrete, closely spaced, slender obstacles which mimic the mechanical properties of collagen fibers. Nuclei bypassed slender obstacles while preserving their overall morphology by deforming around them with deep local invaginations of little resisting force. The obstacles did not impede the nuclear trajectory or cause a rupture of the nuclear envelope. Nuclei likewise deformed around single collagen fibers in cells migrating in 3D collagen gels. In contrast to its limiting role in nuclear passage through confining channels, lamin A/C facilitated nuclear deformation and passage through fibrous environments; nuclei in lamin-null (Lmna-/-) cells lost their overall morphology and became entangled on the obstacles. Analogous to surface tension-mediated deformation of a liquid drop, lamin A/C imparts a surface tension on the nucleus that allows nuclear invaginations with little mechanical resistance, preventing nuclear entanglement and allowing nuclear passage through fibrous environments.
A distant global control region is essential for normal expression of anterior HOXA genes during mouse and human craniofacial development
Authors: Wilderman Andrea , D’haene Eva , Baetens Machteld , Yankee Tara N. , Winchester Emma Wentworth , Glidden Nicole , Roets Ellen , Van Dorpe Jo , Vergult Sarah , Cox Timothy C. , Cotney Justin
Published: March 2022

Defects in embryonic patterning resulting in craniofacial abnormalities account for approximately 1/3 of birth defects. The regulatory programs that build and shape the face require precisely controlled spatiotemporal gene expression, achieved through tissue-specific enhancers. Large regions with coactivation of enhancer elements and co-regulation of multiple genes, referred to as superenhancers, are important in determining cell identity and perturbation could result in developmental defects. Building upon a previously published epigenomic atlas of human embryonic craniofacial tissue in which we identified over 75,000 putative embryonic craniofacial enhancer regions, we have identified 531 superenhancer regions unique to embryonic craniofacial tissue, including 37 which fall in completely noncoding regions. To demonstrate the utility of this data for the understanding of craniofacial development and the etiology of craniofacial abnormalities, we focused on a craniofacial-specific superenhancer in a ∼600kb noncoding region located between NPVF and NFE2L3. This region harbors over 100 individual putative craniofacial enhancer segments and 7 in vivo validated craniofacial enhancers from primary craniofacial tissue as well as strong enhancer activation signatures in a culture model of cranial neural crest cell (CNCC) development. However, none of the directly adjacent genes have been implicated in neural crest specification, craniofacial development, or abnormalities. To identify potential regulatory targets of this superenhancer region, we characterized three-dimensional chromatin structure of this region in CNCCs and mouse embryonic craniofacial tissues using multiple techniques (4C-Seq, HiC). We identified long range interactions that exclude most intervening genes and specifically target the anterior portion of the HOXA gene cluster located 1.2 to 1.8 Mb away. We demonstrate the specificity of the enhancer region for regulation of anterior HOXA genes through CRISPR/Cas9 editing of human embryonic stem cells. Mice homozygous for deletion of the superenhancer confirm the specificity of the enhancer region and demonstrate that the region is essential for viability. At fetal stages homozygotes develop at the same rate as heterozygous and wild type littermates but die at P0-P1 and have high penetrance of orofacial clefts that phenocopy previously described Hoxa2-/- mice. Moreover, we identified a de novo deletion partially overlapping the superenhancer in a human fetus with severe craniofacial abnormalities. This evidence suggests we have identified a critical noncoding locus control region that specifically regulates anterior HOXA genes and whose deletion is likely pathogenic in human patients.
The FUSION protein crystallization screen
Authors: Gorrec Fabrice , Bellini Dom
Published: March 2022

The success and speed of atomic structure determination of biological macromolecules by X-ray crystallography depends critically on the availability of diffraction-quality crystals. However, the process of screening crystallization conditions often consumes large amounts of sample and time. An innovative protein crystallization screen formulation called FUSION has been developed to help with the production of useful crystals. The concept behind the formulation of FUSION was to combine the most efficient components from the three MORPHEUS screens into a single screen using a systematic approach. The resulting formulation integrates 96 unique combinations of crystallization additives. Most of these additives are small molecules and ions frequently found in crystal structures of the Protein Data Bank (PDB), where they bind proteins and complexes. The efficiency of FUSION is demonstrated by obtaining high yields of diffraction-quality crystals for seven different test proteins. In the process, two crystal forms not currently in the PDB for the proteins α-amylase and avidin were discovered.
Betting against real earnings management
Authors: Bansal Manish , Ali Asgar
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The study presents the zero investment strategies based on the pricing impact of real earnings management (REM) on stock returns after taking into account the direction and endogeneity nature of REM.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use standard portfolio methodology and Fama–Macbeth cross-sectional regression to analyze the data for this study. Both upward and downward form of REM has been examined. Accrual earnings management (AEM) has been controlled while examining the association between REM and stock returns.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that the REM anomaly exists in the Indian equity market and is consistent under different market conditions and investment horizons. It is robust after controlling for cross-sectional effects and AEM. Our subsequent analysis suggests that a decile-based zero investment portfolio strategy based on REM loadings generates an annual excess return of 17.90%. The presented annual excess return is highest among quantile and mean-based investment strategies. Further, the authors find that REM sorted proposed investment strategies outperform the AEM sorted investment strategies in all spheres.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that investors can form an arbitrage profitable investment strategy by taking a long position in the bottom 10% of negative REM stocks, and a short position in the top 10% of positive REM stocks.

Originality/value

This is the first study that examines the pricing impact of REM on stock returns and provides zero investment strategies by betting against REM.
Influence of stator segmentation on iron losses in PMSMs for traction applications
Authors: Garmut Mitja , Petrun Martin
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This paper presents a comparative study of different stator-segmentation topologies of a permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) used in traction drives and their effect on iron losses. Using stator segmentation allows one to achieve more significant copper fill factors, resulting in increased power densities and efficiencies. The segmentation of the stators creates additional air gaps and changes the soft magnetic material’s material properties due to the cut edge effect. The aim of this paper is to present an in-depth analysis of the influence of stator segmentation on iron losses. The main goal was to compare various segmentation methods under equal excitation conditions in terms of their influence on iron loss.

Design/methodology/approach

A transient finite element method analysis combined with an extended iron-loss model was used to evaluate discussed effects on the stator’s iron losses. The workflow to obtain a homogenized airgap length accounting for cut edge effects was established.

Findings

The paper concludes that the segmentation in most cases slightly decreases the iron losses in the stator because of the overall reduced magnetic flux density B due to the additional air gaps in the magnetic circuit. An increase of the individual components, as well as total power loss, was observed in the Pole Chain segmentation design. In general, segmentation did not change the total iron losses significantly. However, different segmentation methods resulted in the different distortion of the magnetic field and, consequently, in different iron loss compositions. The analysed segmentation methods exhibited different iron loss behaviour with respect to the operation points of the machine. The final finding is that analysed stator segmentations had a negligible influence on the total iron loss. Therefore, applying segmentation is an adequate measure to improve PMSMs as it enables, e.g. increase of the winding fill factor or simplifying the assembly processes, etc.

Originality/value

The influence of stator segmentation on iron losses was analysed. An in-depth evaluation was performed to determine how the discussed changes influence the individual iron loss components. A workflow was developed to achieve a computationally cheap homogenized model.
Finite element analysis and design of beam steering devices with global control
Authors: Alkhateeb Osama , Hossain A.N.M. Shahriyar , Tsukerman Igor , Ida Nathan
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to design metaguide- or metasurface-based compact inexpensive beam-steering devices, which play an important role in modern cellular networks, radar imaging and satellite communication.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses finite element analysis to study, design and optimize arrays of resonating elements as beam steering devices. The first set of such devices involves metamaterial-based apertures fed by a waveguide, tunable via the permittivity of the host material. In the second approach, dynamic beam steering is effected by alternating between two or more waveguide feeds.

Findings

Particular examples show how the direction of the main lobe of the radiated beam can be reliably switched by approximately 30° in one of the quadrants by changing a single global control parameter within a very reasonable range.

Research limitations/implications

The findings pave the way for the design and fabrication of inexpensive compact beam steering devices. This study anticipates that the proposed designs can be further improved and fine-tuned using “heavy duty” optimization packages.

Originality/value

In many published designs of similar beam-steering devices, the radiation pattern of an array of resonating elements is controlled by complex circuitry, so that each radiating element is tuned separately. In contrast with these existing approaches, the designs rely just on a simple global control parameter.
Measuring national intellectual capital and its effect on country’s competitiveness
Authors: Vo Duc Hong , Tran Ngoc Phu
Published: March 2022

Purpose

National intellectual capital is generally considered a strategic advantage for national competitiveness. However, the measurement of intellectual capital across countries for comparison purposes appears to receive little attention. This study aims to use a new index of national intellectual capital (INIC) to examine the relationship between national intellectual capital and national competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses the INIC, developed by Vo and Tran (2021), to measure, compare and contrast differences in the level of national intellectual capital across 104 countries. INIC comprises the most crucial intellectual capital components: human capital, structural capital and relational capital. Various economic and social indicators are used as the proxies for these components of intellectual capital. Principal component analysis is used to derive INIC.

Findings

The results indicate that during the study period the level of national intellectual capital gradually increased. Europe has attained the highest level of national intellectual capital, whereas Africa has achieved the lowest level. This study’s findings confirm a close relationship between the national intellectual capital level and the national income level. Among the ten biggest countries, the USA achieved the highest national intellectual capital level, and China has significantly improved its cumulative level. Finland achieved the highest level of national intellectual capital in the world. National intellectual capital enhances a country’s competitiveness.

Practical implications

Findings in this study shed light on an international comparison of intellectual capital across countries and understanding how national intellectual capital contributes to and improves national competitiveness. Policymakers can consider and use these findings to support the accumulation of national intellectual capital and boost national competitive advantage, especially low-income countries and emerging markets.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to estimate a degree of national intellectual capital around the world and examine its impact on national competitiveness based on publicly available data.
Sustenance of the digital transformations induced by the COVID-19 pandemic response: lessons from Tanzanian public sector
Authors: Shao Deo , Mwangakala Hilda , Ishengoma Fredrick , Mongi Hector , Mambile Cesilia , Chali Frederick
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected organizations differently, leading to adopting alternative business operation models, including digital technologies. The rapid adoption of digital technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates how adaptive technologies intersect with human and social institutions in potentially risky or inequitable ways. However, the sustenance of the digital transformations (DTs) induced by the COVID-19 crisis is still unclear. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the sustenance of DTs accelerated by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic response in the Tanzanian context amid the crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a qualitative approach that included a literature review and semi-structured interviews with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) personnel from selected public institutions in Tanzania. The interviews elicited interviewees’ perspectives on the following: the digital revolution that occurred during the COVID-19 outbreak; how it affects their work; and the country’s future digital landscape. Additionally, a literature analysis established and generalized the practices used by the governments during the COVID-19 crisis.

Findings

The results show that there is enormous, colossal press toward adopting digital solutions. The use of digital technologies, such as digital payments, e-commerce, telemedicine and online education, has attracted the attention of businesses and individuals in Tanzania. Consequently, the move has enabled the country to cope with the cascading impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and progressive economic recovery to achieve its development goals. Furthermore, the findings offer policy strategies for taking the induced DTs to the next level and sustaining it.

Originality/value

This study reports the lessons from the DTs induced by COVID-19 and their sustenance. It also contributes toward forward-thinking reforms and policy measures that could help Tanzania and the likes harness the DTs'’ potential in the wake of the pandemic.
The best is the earliest: a reflection of vaccination uptake amidst the pandemic in Vietnam
Authors: Le Xuan Cu , Vu Thi Thuy Linh
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Vaccination is widely conceded as a pivotal measure to achieve community immunization and eradicate COVID-19. The purpose of this paper is to understand vaccination behavior based on the association between the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and health belief model (HBM).

Design/methodology/approach

A self-administered questionnaire was designed to collect data from 438 participants through social media in Vietnam and later analyzed using SPSS and AMOS to examine the research model.

Findings

The results indicated that attitude toward vaccination is positively influenced by perceived risk and perceived benefits. Additionally, background constructs of TPB (i.e. social norms, attitude and perceived behavioral control) and HBM (i.e. perceived risk, response efficacy, perceived benefits and knowledge about COVID-19) are underlying motivations for individual intention to receive vaccine. Moreover, age is a demographic predictor of vaccination intention. Finally, vaccination intention facilitates COVID-19 vaccination.

Practical implications

The findings will assist health-care bodies and authorities to understand public perceptions, attitude and behaviors and encourage their participation in vaccination campaigns.

Originality/value

To date, this is the first investigation of how disease knowledge and perceived benefits drive vaccination intention in Vietnam. Moreover, this study may be initially successful in adding current health-care behavior literature by combining TPB with HBM. With most studies on vaccination intention at the early stage of COVID-19 outbreak in developed nations, this work provides new insights by testing vaccination behavior in the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreak and in a developing nation.
Cocreation of gastronomy experience through cooking classes
Authors: Yoo Joanne Jung-Eun , Park Junkyu , Cho Meehee
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Following previous research highlighting the importance of gastronomy experience through cooking classes, this study aims to explore the relationships among gastronomy experience, cocreation, experience satisfaction, subjective well-being (SWB) and quality of life (QOL).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were obtained from domestic tourists who attended the Korean temple food cooking classes. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to verify the hypothesized relationships. The degree of cocreation was also tested for its potential moderating role on the relationships between gastronomy experience and experience satisfaction using a multigroup analysis.

Findings

Results revealed the strong and positive effects of the four dimensions of gastronomy experience on satisfaction. Furthermore, experience satisfaction was found to indirectly influence QOL through SWB. The effects of the education and entertainment experiences on satisfaction were found to be more positive in the high degree of cocreation group compared with the low degree of cocreation group. However, the influence of the escapism experience on satisfaction was greater in those less involved with the cocreated experiential activity.

Research limitations/implications

Findings may assist tourism marketers and local stakeholders to better understand the nature of gastronomy experiences and the importance of cocreation when designing and promoting gastronomy tourism experiences.

Originality/value

This study introduced an integrative framework that provides a better knowledge of the cocreated experience in the context of gastronomy tourism, and this model may be useful in designing impactful gastronomy experiences that lead to true value cocreation and consequently enhancing QOL.
Oil industry in the international context, 2010–2017: an analysis of efficiency through the network DEA model
Authors: Navarro-Chávez César Lenin , Delfin-Ortega Odette V. , Guardado Ibarra Enrique
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the level of technical efficiency of the main oil countries worldwide during the period 2010–2017.

Design/methodology/approach

The use of the network data envelopment analysis model (NDM) is proposed, in which the technical efficiency of each node is calculated. For the development of the model, three main nodes were identified: exploration and production, industrial transformation and commercialization. Finally, NDM for the international oil industry will be structured, and efficiency will be calculated at the global level and at each node.

Findings

The analysis of the results of the application of the NDM raised that the most efficient node was exploration and production, whereas the efficient oil countries were the USA, France, the United Arab Emirates and Angola.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation presented in this investigation was the availability of data.

Practical implications

The practical implications of this type of study are that, through the results obtained, proposals can be made in the oil industry to improve each of the nodes or areas in which efficiency was not reached, as well as make better use of the resources available to this industry in each country.

Social implications

The social implications of this study are the basis for developing energy policies in the oil industry to help improve the quality of life of users.

Originality/value

The value and originality of this study is based on the joint implementation of the NDM methodology.
Signaling downsizing intentions after a major crisis: does managerial authenticity matter?
Authors: Jancenelle Vivien E. , Buccieri Dominic
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the link between downsizing cues and market performance prior to and after a major crisis. We use a recent exogenous shock – the COVID-19 pandemic – to test hypotheses on the nature of the relationship between downsizing cues and market performance within two distinct groups: pre and post-crisis. We purport that the sudden increase in uncertainty brought about by a major crisis widens information asymmetry between firms and their shareholders, and that top managers sending downsizing cues to the market with high levels of authenticity may be more likely to trigger positive market reactions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors rely on computer-assisted text analysis (CATA) methodology, event-study methodology and a data set of 952 pre- and post-crisis earnings conference calls held by 476 S&P 500 firms to test the hypotheses in this study.

Findings

The authors find that downsizing cues have no effect on market performance in the pre-crisis group, but are negatively related to market performance in the post-crisis group. The authors also find that authenticity cues positively mitigate the relationship between downsizing cues and market performance relationship in the post-crisis group.

Originality/value

This empirical study extends our knowledge of the influence of a major crisis on the relationship between downsizing and market performance by leveraging the revelatory power of an exogenous environmental shock. The authors also explore the role played by managerial authenticity and find that the market is more inclined to accept post-crisis downsizing efforts when top managers are perceived as authentic.
Encouraging more creativity in organizations: the importance of employees’ intrinsic motivation and work engagement
Authors: Aldabbas Hazem , Pinnington Ashly Hervey , Lahrech Abdelmounaim
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the contribution of perceived organizational support (POS), work engagement (WE) and intrinsic motivation (IM) on employee creativity (EC).

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted a questionnaire survey obtaining 370 respondents employed in the United Arab Emirates in 6 organizations operating in services industries. The authors test their hypothetical model based on regression analysis.

Findings

The main findings are that WE mediates the relationship between POS and EC. Further, the effect of POS on EC is moderated by IM. The results also indicated that the indirect effect of POS on EC through WE was moderated by IM. The path effect is stronger for employees with high IM.

Originality/value

This study sheds light on the effect of POS on EC through WE and IM in the workplace, making a significant contribution to the POS and EC literatures by offering insights on when and how IM and WE enhances EC.
How does sovereign bond volatility interact between African countries?
Authors: Emenike Kalu O.
Published: March 2022

The importance of sovereign bond as a source of financing revenue deficit, benchmarking for corporate bonds and debt management in Africa, calls for continual monitoring of its volatility dynamics. This study evaluates the nature of sovereign bond volatility interaction between African countries using bivariate BEKK-GARCH (1, 1) model. Based on a sample of eight African countries, the results show evidence of unidirectional volatility spillover from Morocco sovereign bond to Egypt sovereign bond. Next, the results show absence of volatility interaction between Ghana and Nigeria sovereign bonds. The results further show the existence of bidirectional volatility transmission between Uganda and Kenya. Finally, the results indicate evidence of bidirectional volatility interaction between Botswana and South Africa. Overall, the results show existence of full interaction between Uganda–Kenya and Botswana–South Africa sovereign bond returns, partial interaction between Egypt and Morocco sovereign bond returns and no interaction between Ghana and Nigeria sovereign bonds markets. Thus, these results provide valuable implications for sovereign and corporate credit risk management, as well as strategy for monitoring and minimising negative effect of sovereign bond volatility spillover in Africa.
The housing cycle as shaped by prices and transactions: a tentative application of the honeycomb approach for Italy (1927–2019)
Authors: Marzano Elisabetta , Piselli Paolo , Rubinacci Roberta
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a dating system for the Italian residential real estate market from 1927 to 2019 and investigate its interaction with credit and business cycles.

Design/methodology/approach

To detect the local turning point of the Italian residential real estate market, the authors apply the honeycomb cycle developed by Janssen et al. (1994) based on the joint analysis of house prices and the number of transactions. To this end, the authors use a unique historical reconstruction of house price levels by Baffigi and Piselli (2019) in addition to data on transactions.

Findings

This study confirms the validity of the honeycomb model for the last four decades of the Italian housing market. In addition, the results show that the severe downsizing of the housing market is largely associated with business and credit contraction, certainly contributing to exacerbating the severity of the recession. Finally, preliminary evidence suggests that whenever a price bubble occurs, it is coincident with the start of phase 2 of the honeycomb cycle.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that the honeycomb approach has been tested over such a long historical period and compared to the cyclic features of financial and real aggregates. In addition, even if the honeycomb cycle is not a model for detecting booms and busts in the housing market, the preliminary evidence might suggest a role for volume/transactions in detecting housing market bubbles.
Intellectual capital efficiency and firms' financial performance based on business life cycle
Authors: Xu Jian , Haris Muhammad , Liu Feng
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of intellectual capital (IC) and its components (human, structural, relational and innovation capitals) on financial performance (FP) at different life cycle stages.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the data from Chinese manufacturing listed companies during 2014–2018. The modified value added intellectual coefficient (MVAIC) model is employed as the measurement of IC efficiency. Finally, multiple regression analysis is used to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

This study shows that the impact of IC on FP is different across life cycle stages. Specifically, at the birth stage, human capital (HC), structural capital (SC) and innovation capital (INC) have a positive impact on FP. At the growth and mature stages, all IC components contribute to FP improvement. HC and SC play an important role at the revival stage, while only HC positively affects FP at the decline stage.

Practical implications

The findings may help corporate managers to make optimal strategies to improve FP by effective utilization of IC resources in the complex and competitive business environment. Meanwhile, companies can invest in the core elements of IC at different stages of development, so as to maximize the contribution of IC to company value.

Originality/value

This is among the few studies to explore the impact of IC on FP of manufacturing listed companies in the Chinese context from the perspective of life cycle. It also makes novel contributions in measuring IC by the MVAIC model with the inclusion of relational capital and INC that are largely neglected in previous research.