bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conditional Stomatal Closure in a Fern Shares Molecular Features with Flowering Plant Active Stomatal Responses
Authors: Plackett Andrew R.G. , Emms David M. , Kelly Steven , Hetherington Alistair M. , Langdale Jane A.
Published: March 2021

Stomata evolved as plants transitioned from water to land, enabling carbon dioxide uptake and water loss to be controlled. In flowering plants, the most recently divergent land plant lineage, stomatal pores actively close in response to drought. In this response, the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) triggers signalling cascades that lead to ion and water loss in the guard cells of the stomatal complex, causing a reduction in turgor and pore closure. Whether this stimulus-response coupling pathway acts in other major land plant lineages is unclear, with some investigations reporting that stomatal closure involves ABA but others concluding that closure is passive. Here we show that in the model fernCeratopteris richardiiactive stomatal closure is conditional on sensitisation by pre-exposure to either low humidity or exogenous ABA and is promoted by ABA. RNA-seq analysis andde novotranscriptome assembly reconstructed the protein coding complement of theC. richardiigenome with coverage comparable to other plant models, enabling transcriptional signatures of stomatal sensitisation and closure to be identified. In both cases, changes in abundance of homologs of ABA, Ca2+and ROS-related signalling components were observed, suggesting that the closure response pathway is conserved in ferns and flowering plants. These signatures further suggested that sensitisation is achieved by lowering the threshold required for a subsequent closure-inducing signal to trigger a response. We conclude that the canonical signalling network for active stomatal closure functioned in at least a rudimentary form in the stomata of the last common ancestor of ferns and flowering plants.

Significance Statement

Stomata are valve-like pores that control the uptake of CO2and the loss of water vapour in almost all land plants. In flowering plants, stomatal opening and closure is actively regulated by a stimulus-response coupling network. Whether active stomatal responses are present in other land plant lineages such as ferns has been hotly debated. Here we show that stomatal responses in the fernCeratopteris richardiiare active but depend on their past growth environment, and demonstrate that fern stomatal closure and sensitisation are associated with the altered expression of genes whose homologs function in the canonical stomatal regulatory network of flowering plants. Genetic pathways for active stomatal regulation therefore most likely evolved before the divergence of ferns and flowering plants.
Refining Convergent Rate Analysis with Topology in Mammalian Longevity and Marine Transitions
Authors: Treaster Stephen , Daane Jacob M. , Harris Matthew P.
Published: March 2021

The quest to map the genetic foundations of phenotypes has been empowered by the modern diversity, quality, and availability of genomic resources. Despite these expanding resources, the abundance of variation within lineages makes the association of genetic change to specific phenotypes improbable. Drawing such connections requires ana priorimeans of isolating the associated changes from background genomic variation. Evolution may provide these means via convergence; i.e., the shared variation that may result from replicate evolutionary experiments across independent trait occurrences. To leverage these opportunities, we developedTRACCER: Topologically Ranked Analysis of Convergence via Comparative Evolutionary Rates. As compared to current methods, this software empowers rate convergence analysis by factoring in topological relationships, because variation between phylogenetically proximate trait changes is more likely to be facilitating the trait. Pairwise comparisons are performed not with singular branches, but in reference to their most recent common ancestors. This ensures that comparisons represent identical genetic contexts and timeframes while obviating the problematic requirement of assigning ancestral states. We applied TRACCER to two case studies: marine mammal transitions, an unambiguous trait which has independently evolved three times, as well as the evolution of mammalian longevity, a less delineated trait but with more instances to compare. TRACCER, by factoring in topology, identifies highly significant, convergent genetic signals in these test cases, with important incongruities and statistical resolution when compared to existing convergence approaches. These improvements in sensitivity and specificity generate refined targets for downstream analysis of convergent evolution and identification of genotype-phenotype relationships.
Elevated N-glycosylation of immunoglobulin G variable regions in myasthenia gravis highlights a commonality across autoantibody-associated diseases
Authors: Mandel-Brehm Caleigh , Fichtner Miriam L. , Jiang Ruoyi , Winton Valerie J. , Vazquez Sara E. , Pham Minh C. , Hoehn Kenneth B. , Kelleher Neil L. , Nowak Richard J. , Kleinstein Steven H. , Wilson Michael R. , DeRisi Joseph L. , O’Connor Kevin C.
Published: March 2021

Elevated N-linked glycosylation of immunoglobulin G variable regions (IgG-VN-Glyc) is an emerging molecular phenotype associated with autoimmune disorders. To test the broader specificity of elevated IgG-VN-Glyc, we studied patients with distinct subtypes of myasthenia gravis (MG), a B cell-mediated autoimmune disease. Our experimental design included adaptive immune receptor repertoire sequencing to quantify and characterize N-glycosylation sites in the global B cell receptor repertoire, proteomics to examine glycosylation patterns of the circulating IgG, and production of human-derived recombinant autoantibodies, which were studied with mass spectrometry and antigen binding assays to confirm occupation of glycosylation sites and determine whether they alter binding. We found that the frequency of IgG-VN-Glycmotifs was increased in the B cell repertoire of MG patients when compared to healthy donors. Motifs were introduced by both biased V gene segment usage and somatic hypermutation. IgG-VN-Glyccould be observed in the circulating IgG in a subset of MG patients. Autoantigen binding, by patient-derived MG autoantigen-specific monoclonal antibodies with experimentally confirmed presence of IgG-VN-Glyc, was not altered by the glycosylation. Our findings extend prior work on patterns of variable region N-linked glycosylation in autoimmunity to MG subtypes. Although occupied IgG-VN-Glycmotifs are found on MG autoantigen-specific monoclonal antibodies, they are not required for binding to the autoantigen in this disease.
Invasive Earthworms Alter Forest Soil Microbiomes and Nitrogen Cycling
Authors: Jang Jeonghwan , Xiong Xianyi , Liu Chang , Yoo Kyungsoo , Ishii Satoshi
Published: March 2021

Northern hardwood forests in formerly glaciated areas had been free of earthworms until exotic European earthworms were introduced by human activities. The invasion of exotic earthworms is known to dramatically alter soil physical, geochemical, and biological properties, but its impacts on soil microbiomes are still unclear. Here we show that the invasive earthworms alter soil microbiomes and ecosystem functioning, especially for nitrogen cycling. We collected soil samples at different depths from three sites across an active earthworm invasion chronosequence in a hardwood forest in Minnesota, USA. We analyzed the structures and the functional potentials of the soil microbiomes by using amplicon sequencing, high-throughput nitrogen cycle gene quantification (NiCE chip), and shotgun metagenomics. Both the levels of earthworm invasion and soil depth influenced the microbiome structures. In the most recently and minimally invaded soils,NitrososphaeraandNitrospiraas well as the genes related to nitrification were more abundant than in the heavily invaded soils. By contrast, genes related to denitrification and nitrogen fixation were more abundant in the heavily invaded than the minimally invaded soils. Our results suggest that the N cycling in forest soils is mostly nitrification driven before earthworm invasion, whereas it becomes denitrification driven after earthworm invasion.
Event-Related Variability is Modulated by Task and Development
Authors: Naik Shruti , Adibpour Parvaneh , Dubois Jessica , Dehaene-Lambertz Ghislaine , Battaglia Demian
Published: March 2021

In carefully designed experiments, cognitive scientists interpret the mean event-related potentials (ERP) in terms of cognitive operations. However, the huge signal variability from one trial to the next, questions the representability of such mean events. We explored here whether this variability is an unwanted noise, or an informative part of the neural response. We took advantage of the rapid changes in the visual system during human infancy and analyzed the variability of visual responses to central and lateralized faces in 2-to 6-month-old infants and adults using high-density electroencephalography (EEG). We observed that neural trajectories of individual trials always remain very far from ERP components, only moderately bending their direction with a substantial temporal jitter across trials. However, single trial trajectories displayed characteristic patterns of acceleration and deceleration when approaching ERP components, as if they were under the active influence of steering forces causing transient attraction and stabilization. These dynamic events could only partly be accounted for by induced microstate transitions or phase reset phenomena. Furthermore, these structured modulations of response variability, both between and within trials, had a rich sequential organization, which, in infants, was modulated by the task difficulty. Our approaches to characterize Event Related Variability (ERV) expand and reinterpret classic ERP analyses, making them compliant with pervasive neural variability and providing a more faithful description of neural events following stimulus presentation.
GraphBreak: Network Community detection and annotation in biomedical regulatory informatics context
Authors: Singh Abhishek Narain
Published: March 2021

Graph network science is becoming increasingly popular, notably in big-data perspective where understanding individual entities for individual functional roles is complex and time consuming. It is likely when a set of genes are regulated by a set of genetic variants, the genes set is recruited for a common or related functional purpose. Grouping and extracting communities from network of associations becomes critical to understand system complexity, thus prioritizing genes for disease and functional associations. Workload is reduced when studying entities one at a time. For this, we present GraphBreak, a suite of tools for community detection application, such as for gene co-expression, protein interaction, regulation network, etc.Although developed for use case of eQTLs regulatory genomic network community study- results shown with our analysis with sample eQTL data-Graphbreak can be deployed for other studies if input data has been fed in requisite format, including but not limited to gene co-expression networks, protein-protein interaction network, signaling pathway and metabolic network. GraphBreak showed critical use case value in its downstream analysis for disease association of communities detected. If all independent steps of community detection and analysis are a step-by-step sub-part of the algorithm, GraphBreak can be considered a new algorithm for community based functional characterization. Combination of various algorithmic implementation modules into a single script for this purpose illustrates GraphBreak’s novelty. Compared to other similar tools, with GraphBreak we can better detect communities with overrepresentation of its member genes for statistical association with diseases, therefore target genes which can be prioritized for drug-positioning or drug-repositioning as the case be.
A global multiregional proteomic map of the human cerebral cortex
Authors: Guo Zhengguang , Shao Chen , Zhang Yang , Qiu Wenying , Li Wenting , Zhu Weimin , Yang Qian , Huang Yin , Pan Lili , Dong Yuepan , Sun Haidan , Xiao Xiaoping , Sun Wei , Ma Chao , Zhang Liwei
Published: March 2021

The Brodmann area (BA)-based map is one of the most widely used cortical maps for studies of human brain functions and in clinical practice; however, the molecular architecture of BAs remain unknown. The present study provided a global multiregional proteomic map of the human cerebral cortex by analyzing 29 BAs. These 29 BAs were grouped into 6 clusters based on similarities in proteomic patterns: the motor and sensory cluster, vision cluster, auditory cluster and Broca’s area, Wernicke’s area cluster, cingulate cortex cluster, and heterogeneous function cluster. We identified 474 cluster-specific and 134 BA-specific signature proteins whose functions are closely associated with specialized functions and disease vulnerability of the corresponding cluster or BA. The findings of the present study could provide explanations for the functional connections between the anterior cingulate cortex and sensorimotor cortex and for anxiety-related function in the sensorimotor cortex. The brain transcriptomic and proteomic comparison indicated that they both could reflect the function of cerebral cortex, but showed different characteristics. These proteomic data are publicly available at the Human Brain Proteome Atlas (www.brain-omics.com). Our results may enhance our understanding of the molecular basis of brain functions and provide an important resource to support human brain research.
Impact of isolation method on cellular activation and presence of specific tendon cell subpopulations duringin vitroculture
Authors: Nichols Anne E.C. , Miller Sarah E. , Green Luke J. , Richards Michael S. , Loiselle Alayna E.
Published: March 2021

Tendon injuries are common and heal poorly, due in part to a lack of understanding of fundamental tendon cell biology. A major impediment to the study of tendon cells is the absence of robust, well-characterizedin vitromodels. Unlike other tissue systems, current tendon cell models do not account for how differences in isolation methodology may affect the activation state of tendon cells or the presence of various tendon cell sub-populations. The objective of this study was to characterize how common isolation methods affect the behavior, fate, and lineage composition of tendon cell cultures. Tendon cells isolated by explant exhibited reduced proliferative capacity, decreased expression of tendon marker genes, and increased expression of genes associated with fibroblast activation compared to digested cells. Consistently, explanted cells also displayed an increased propensity to differentiate to myofibroblasts compared to digested cells. Explanted cultures from multiple different tendons were substantially enriched for the presence of scleraxis-lineage (Scx-lin+) cells compared to digested cultures, while the overall percentage of S100a4-lineage (S100a4-lin+) cells was dependent on both isolation method and tendon of origin. Neither isolation method preserved the ratios of Scx-lin+ or S100a4-lin+ to non-lineage cells seen in tendonsin vivo. Combined, these data indicate that further refinement ofin vitrocultures models is required in order to more accurately understand the effects of various stimuli on tendon cell behavior.

Statement of clinical significance

The development of informedin vitrotendon cell models will facilitate enhanced screening of potential therapeutic candidates to improve tendon healing.
Multiple bouts of high-intensity interval exercise reverse age-related functional connectivity disruptions without affecting motor learning in older adults
Authors: Greeley Brian , Chau Briana , Jones Christina B. , Neva Jason L. , Kraeutner Sarah N. , Campbell Kristin L. , Boyd Lara A.
Published: March 2021

Exercise has emerged as an intervention that may mitigate age-related resting state functional connectivity and sensorimotor declines. Here, 42 healthy older adults rested or completed 3 sets of high-intensity interval exercise for a total of 23 minutes, then immediately practiced an implicit motor task with their non-dominant hand across five separate sessions. Participants completed resting stage functional MRI before the first and after the fifth day of practice; they also returned 24-hours and 35-days later to complete short- and long-term retention. Independent component analysis of resting state functional MRI revealed increased connectivity in the frontoparietal, the dorsal attentional, and cerebellar networks and group. seed-based analysis showed strengthened connectivity between the limbic system and right cerebellum, and between the right cerebellum and bilateral middle temporal gyri in the exercise group. There was no motor learning advantage for the exercise group. Our data suggest that exercise paired with an implicit motor learning task in older adults can augment resting state functional connectivity without enhancing behaviour beyond that stimulated by skilled motor practice.

Impact statement

Five separate bouts of exercise paired with skilled motor practice strengthens resting state networks in brain regions that are susceptible to declines in older adults without affecting motor acquisition or learning.
A comparative recombination analysis of human coronaviruses and implications for the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
Authors: Pollett Simon , Conte Matthew A , Sanborn Mark , Jarman Richard G , Lidl Grace M. , Modjarrad Kayvon , Berry Irina Maljkovic
Published: March 2021

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic prompts evaluation of recombination in human coronavirus (hCoV) evolution. We undertook recombination analyses of 158,118 public seasonal hCoV, SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV genome sequences using the RDP4 software. We found moderate evidence for 8 SARS-CoV-2 recombination events, two of which involved the spike gene, and low evidence for one SARS-CoV-1 recombination event. Within MERS-CoV, 229E, OC43, NL63 and HKU1 datasets, we noted 7, 1, 9, 14, and 1 high-confidence recombination events, respectively. There was propensity for recombination breakpoints in structural genes, and recombination severely skewed the temporal structure of these data, especially for NL63 and OC43. Bayesian time-scaled analyses on recombinant-free data indicated the sampled diversity of seasonal CoVs emerged in the last 70 years, with 229E displaying continuous lineage replacements. These findings emphasize the importance of genomic based surveillance to detect recombination in SARS-CoV-2, particularly if recombination may lead to immune evasion.
Multichromatic Near-Infrared Imaging to Assess Interstitial Lymphatic and Venous UptakeIn Vivo
Authors: Bernard Fabrice C. , Kaiser Jarred , Raval Sarvgna K. , Nepiyushchikh Zhanna V. , Doan Thanh N. , Willett Nick J. , Dixon J. Brandon
Published: March 2021

Significance

Changes in interstitial fluid clearance are implicated in many diseases. Using NIR imaging with properly sized tracers could enhance our understanding of how venous and lymphatic drainage are involved in disease progression or enhance drug delivery strategies.

Aim

We investigated multichromatic NIR imaging with multiple tracers to assessin vivomicrovascular clearance kinetics and pathways in different tissue spaces.

Approach

We used a chemically inert IR Dye 800CW (free dye) to target venous capillaries and a purified conjugate of IR Dye 680RD with a 40 kDa PEG (PEG) to target lymphatic capillariesin vivo. Optical imaging settings were validated and tunedin vitrousing tissue phantoms. We investigated multichromatic NIR imaging’s utility in twoin vivotissue beds – the mouse tail and rat knee joint. We then tested the ability of the approach to detect interstitial fluid perturbations due to exercise.

Results

In anin vitrosimulated tissue environment, free dye and PEG mixture allowed for simultaneous detection without interference. Co-injected NIR tracers cleared from the interstitial space via distinct routes allowed assessment lymphatic and venous uptake in the mouse tail. We determined that exercise after injection transiently increased lymphatic drainage as measured by lower normalized intensity immediately after exercise, while exercise pre-injection exhibited a transient delay in clearance from the joint

Conclusions

NIR imaging enables of simultaneous imaging of lymphatic and venous-mediated fluid clearance with great sensitivity and can be used to measure transient changes in clearance rates and pathways.
Differential Roles of Positive and Negative Valence Systems in the Development of Post-Traumatic Stress Psychopathology
Authors: Ben-Zion Ziv , Shany Ofir , Admon Roee , Keynan Nimrod Jackob , Avisdris Netanell , Balter Shira Reznik , Shalev Arieh Y. , Liberzon Israel , Hendler Talma
Published: March 2021

Negative and positive valence systems (NVS and PVS) pertain to processing of aversive and rewarding stimuli, respectively. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been typically associated with hyper-responsivity of the NVS, and more recently, with deficient PVS functionality. The respective roles of these systems in early PTSD development have yet to be resolved. Here, we assessed neurobehavioral indicators of PVS and NVS longitudinally among 171 adult civilians at 1-, 6-, and 14-months following trauma exposure (TP1, TP2, and TP3). Using the ‘Safe or Risky Domino Choice’ (SRDC) game during fMRI, NVS and PVS functionality (i.e., activity and connectivity) were indicated by the amygdala and ventral striatum (VS) responses to punishments and rewards, respectively. The complementary functionality of these systems was behaviorally assessed as the percentage of risky choices taken during the game. Results revealed that increased amygdala functionality at TP1 was associated with greater PTSD severity at TP1 and TP3, specifically with hyperarousal and intrusion. Decreased VS functionality at TP1 was associated with greater PTSD severity at TP3, specifically with avoidance. Explainable machine learning revealed the primacy of PVS over NVS functionality at TP1 in predicting PTSD severity at TP3. Behaviorally, fewer risky choices were associated with more severe symptoms at TP1, especially with intrusion and avoidance. Overall, these results suggest a differential and potentially complementary involvement of NVS and PVS in PTSD development following trauma. Early therapeutics for PTSD in the immediate aftermath of trauma may thus target both negative and positive valence processing.
The developing brain structural and functional connectome fingerprint
Authors: Ciarrusta Judit , Christiaens Daan , Fitzgibbon Sean P. , Dimitrova Ralica , Hutter Jana , Hughes Emer , Duff Eugene , Price Anthony N , Cordero-Grande Lucilio , Tournier J-Donald , Rueckert Daniel , Hajnal Joseph V , Arichi Tomoki , McAlonan Grainne , Edwards A David , Batalle Dafnis
Published: March 2021

In the mature brain, structural and functional connectivity ‘fingerprints’ can be used to identify the uniqueness of an individual. However, whether the characteristics that make a brain distinguishable from others already exist at birth remains unknown. Here, we used neuroimaging data of preterm born neonates who were scanned twice during the perinatal period to assess the developing brain fingerprint. We found that 62% of the participants could be identified based on the congruence of the later structural connectome to the initial connectivity matrix derived from the earlier timepoint. In contrast, similarity between functional connectomes only allowed to identify 12% of the participants. These suggests that structural connectivity is more stable in early life and can represent a potential connectome fingerprint. Thus, a relatively stable structural connectome appears to support a changing functional connectome at a time when neonates must rapidly acquire new skills to adapt to their new environment.
The influences of Shariah governance mechanisms on Islamic banks performance and Shariah compliance quality
Authors: Alam Md. Kausar , Rahman Mohammad Mizanur , Runy Mahfuza Kamal , Adedeji Babatunji Samuel , Hassan Md. Farjin
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influences of Shariah governance (SG) mechanisms on Islamic banks' performance and Shariah compliance quality in the context of Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

A semi-structured personal interview tactic was applied to accomplish the research objectives. The data were collected from the regulators, Shariah supervisory boards, Shariah department executives and Shariah experts from the Central Bank (Bangladesh Bank) and Islamic banks in Bangladesh.

Findings

The study discovers that the quality of the Board of Directors (BODs), Shariah Supervisory Board (SSB), management and Shariah executives have both positive and negative influences on the Shariah compliance quality, image, goodwill and performance of Islamic banks' in Bangladesh. The compositions, formations and quality of SSB and Shariah officers positively influence the Islamic banks' fatwas, Shariah decisions, compliance quality and firm performance. The study also finds that prevailing banking pressure, current political situation, the willingness of BOD and management and social limitations impact Islamic banks' performance, Shariah compliance quality, image and goodwill.

Research limitations/implications

Based on our findings, if the regulators, BODs and Islamic banks can manage effective and efficient executives, it will create a positive impact on Islamic banks' performance, image, goodwill and quality compliance. As the prevailing banking pressure, current political situation and social limitations hinder the functions and employment system of the Islamic banks as well as result the Islamic banks' image, performance, Shariah implementations and compliance. Thus, the theorist needs to consider these mechanisms in extending the agency, stakeholder and resource dependence theories.

Originality/value

This research extends the literature concerning the influences of Islamic banks' SG mechanisms in Bangladesh. The study also argued not only the efficient and effective mechanisms but also the prevailing banking pressure, current political situation and social limitations impact on Islamic banks' performance and Shariah compliance quality.
Breaking through the classical determinants in the field of hyper urban planning
Authors: Abd Elsalam Mohamed Fathy
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This paper could be considered as the first step of grounding the ambitions and speculations about hyper urban planning. In other words, it is just a brief approach for the critical discussion of hyper urban planning field, without too many details or long explanations, so further studying, arguing and additional future research should be done.

Design/methodology/approach

The scientific methodology is based on descriptive and analytical methods, in addition to case study method of data collection. Therefore, the paper has reviewed 16 case studies, which could arguably be lumped under the title of “hyper urban planning.”

Findings

The study focuses on proposing a new way to view urban planning, that is the hyper urban planning, which could be considered as a sort of specialized urban branch of advanced level, characterized by special criteria, which stimulates innovative and creative proposals for the future smart cities.

Research limitations/implications

Hyper urban planning field generally aims to contribute to liberating and releasing the full creative imagination of the urban planners’ minds, outside the box and away from the exaggerated strict constraints.

Practical implications

The study has been based on theoretical aspects in addition to empirical experiments. The practical aspects reflect the potential and promising features of hyper urban planning, especially with regard to using creativity, sustainability and innovative technology solutions.

Social implications

The paper’s analyses show that many hyper urban proposals have a high potential sustainability, environmentally, socially and economically.

Originality/value

As urban problems and built environment challenges have become more complex, the proposed vertical eco-cities under the umbrella of hyper urban planning field may arguably be promising and more sustainable urban solutions for the previously mentioned challenges.
Differences between end user innovators and embedded user innovators in diffusion channel selection: the moderating role of technological advances
Authors: Yu Xin
Published: March 2021

Purpose

In heterogeneously segmented markets, collaborating with product users in product innovation is important for business success. End user innovators and embedded user innovators differ in terms of their prior embeddedness in the target industry. The purpose of this study is twofold. First, the authors empirically compare these two types of user innovators in terms of their diffusion channel selection. Second, the authors analyze how the technological advances of their innovations affect this difference.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an online questionnaire survey, this study collected a sample of 237 user-generated innovations in Japan and analyzed several hypotheses using quantitative statistical approaches.

Findings

The analysis shows that embedded user innovators are more likely than end user innovators to transfer their innovations to producers rather than peers. As the technological advances of their innovations increase, end user innovators' likelihood of transferring their innovation to producers increases more significantly than that of embedded user innovators.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to investigate the difference between end user innovators and embedded user innovators with respect to their diffusion channel selection as well as the moderating role of technological advances. The findings bring new perspectives to the domains of user–producer collaboration and technology transfer.
Corporate tensions and drivers of sustainable innovation: a qualitative study in the food industry
Authors: Román Sergio , Bodenstab Stefan , Sánchez-Siles Luis Manuel
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Companies are increasingly aware of the importance of delivering economic, social and environmental benefits through sustainable innovation. This study aims to examine how companies manage tensions derived from sustainable innovation and identify internal and external factors that facilitate its successful implementation in the food industry.

Design/methodology/approach

An abductive and qualitative research approach was followed. Data from a multinational food manufacturer were collected from a variety of sources, which included 23 in-depth interviews with respondents from 9 different countries as well as public documents of the company under study.

Findings

Results suggest that there is no “one-size-fits-all” strategy for dealing with tensions (derived from sustainable innovations), and more than one type of strategy (i.e. win–win, trade-offs) can be used simultaneously. In addition, sustainable innovation drivers do not seem to operate in isolation and follow a particular pattern where external factors motivated the development of a new set of values, which in turn were picked up and integrated into transformations at the strategic and operational level.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the theoretical and practical discussion on sustainable innovation management by providing real business case evidence of how corporate tensions derived from sustainable innovation are managed and offers a comprehensive taxonomy of sustainable innovation drivers in the food industry.
College students' readiness for connectivist learning: the development and validation of a scale
Authors: Atay Bulut , Sumuer Evren
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the components of college students' readiness for connectivist learning in technology-enhanced learning environments through the development of the readiness for connectivist learning scale (RCLS).

Design/methodology/approach

After the constructs of the scale had been identified, their items were created based on the relevant literature. In order to ensure the content validity of the items, a sorting procedure was implemented and they were reviewed by experts in the field. The construct validity of the scale was tested using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with data from 718 students from a university in Turkey.

Findings

The findings of the current study indicated a four-factor solution, which includes information and communication technology (ICT) self-efficacy (seven items), autonomous learning (seven items), information literacy (eight items) and learning networks (five items). A significant, strong and positive correlation of students' scores on the RCLS with those of the online learning readiness scale (Hunget al., 2010) supported the criterion-related validity of the scale. The value of Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the RCLS showed good reliability for the scale.

Originality/value

With the assessment of college students' readiness level for connectivist learning, it is possible for them to anticipate their success in connectivist learning environments themselves and thereby to improve the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for their success in these environments.
Riding out the storm of industry convergence: how do alliance and acquisition experience matter for firm survival?
Authors: Hsu Sean Tsuhsiang
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate how alliances and acquisitions matter for the adaptation of firms facing industry convergence. Building on the disruptive innovation perspective, this study theorizes that during industry convergence, as firms' inter-industry alliance (acquisition) experience increases, those that have more intra-industry alliance (acquisition) experience will exhibit higher survival chances than those that do not.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal panel data set of 147 firms' alliances, acquisitions and exit data was constructed in the context of convergence between the US telecommunications equipment and computer networking industries from 1989 to 2003. The survival analysis method was used to test hypotheses. Firms' patent and product-market portfolio data reveal a steady rise in the extent of convergence between the two industries within the period of the study.

Findings

The results suggest that both hypotheses gain support, having only inter-industry alliance experience negatively affects firm survival and the survival-enhancing impact of combined inter- and intra-industry acquisition experience is weaker than the impact of combined inter- and intra-industry alliance experience.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the industry convergence literature and disruptive innovation research by furnishing evidence that the combination of inter- and intra-industry alliance (acquisition) experience can be a valuable source of survival-enhancing benefits during industry convergence that has pernicious influences on firms.
Ethical beliefs and behaviour of university educators: evidence from Russia
Authors: Timofeyev Yuriy , Dremova Oksana
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This exploratory study aims, firstly, to analyse and categorise judgements on ethical behaviour and actual behaviour of university educators. Secondly, the study addresses the impact of demographic data, such as gender, age and role on these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

We utilised online survey data from academic employees of four leading universities in Russia, who are involved in teaching activities. In this study, we used correlation, regression and factor analyses.

Findings

Our results demonstrate that teaching, while too distressed to be effective, is a common experience among university educators. By contrast, the rarest categories include teaching under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In addition, there is a high congruence between beliefs and respective behaviours. Females are typically more ethical in both judgements and actual behaviour. Factor analysis of behaviours yielded 16 interpretable factors.

Practical implications

Firstly, the salary of the university educators should be adequate and competitive and match with their workload. Secondly, the work of the educators should be given recognition that may become their stimuli for improvement in university teaching. Thirdly, universities should develop ethics centres, which help faculty members and students to take the right decisions in situations involving questionable behaviour in the classroom. Lastly, the development of ethical codes, for faculty members and students, may become their guidance in situations with ethical dilemmas.

Originality/value

This study contributed to the very limited research on the ethical aspects of higher education in Russia.
Legal and institutional frameworks for capital market regulation in Nigeria: recasting the agendas beyond compliance-based regulation
Authors: Nwosu Edith O. , Ajibo Collins C. , Nwoke Uchechukwu , Okoli Ikenna
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to explore the legal and institutional frameworks for optimal regulation of capital market beyond compliance-based regulation, to enable the market to deliver on its strategic role as the enabler of efficient allocation of resources and economic growth.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper relies on doctrinal approach to assess the existing regulatory approaches and prospects for the future.

Findings

The paper found that the regulatory authorities unduly concentrate on compliance-based and sanction-based regimes without sufficient emphasis on innovations and transformative solutions that foster diversification and efficiency in the market. The paper also found that the deployment of innovations and transformative solutions complemented with robust regulation is positively correlated with capital market growth.

Originality/value

The paper offers fresh insights on the optimal approaches to regulation of capital market that transcend compliance-based and sanction-based regimes to reliance on innovative tools that expand, diversify and effectuate the functionality and utility of capital market.
Change ubiquity: employee perceptions of change prevalence from three countries
Authors: Brazzale Paulette L. , Cooper–Thomas Helena D. , Haar Jarrod , Smollan Roy K.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address assumptions about the prevalence of change in human resource management (HRM) and organizational change literature, providing evidence from employee perceptions across three countries. The results indicate change was commonplace even before the pandemic disruptions of 2020.

Design/methodology/approach

Given this study's exploratory, employee perspective, a cross-sectional self-report survey was used. Three survey panel samples were collected in 2017: US (n = 718), Australia (n = 501) and New Zealand (n = 516). Analysis of variance was used to test whether the prevalence of change differed significantly between countries or specific groups of employees. An analysis of comments on change types and emotional response provides further insights.

Findings

The paper provides evidence of the ubiquity of change: 73% of employees are experiencing change at work and 42% perceived it as moderate to massive, with little variation between countries. Employees commonly experience more than one change, with those experiencing large amounts of change reporting predominantly negative emotional impacts.

Research limitations/implications

The research provides a snapshot across three countries during a prosperous and relatively stable period, providing a point of comparison for the turbulent times we have faced in 2020. Since change can be arduous, the authors recommend that HRM researchers consider change prevalence as a contextual factor, and practitioners heed employee reactions to change, particularly during periods of significant change.

Originality/value

In providing foundational evidence of change ubiquity in contemporary workplaces, this paper enables more accurate discussions regarding change.
Does workplace spirituality influence reflexivity in ongoing teams? Examining the impact of shared transformational leadership on team performance
Authors: Prabhu Nandan , Ramaprasad Badrinarayan Srirangam , Prasad Krishna , Modem Roopa
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This study explores the mediating influences of team reflexivity and workplace spirituality in the shared transformational leadership-team performance relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting the cross-sectional research design, this study collected data from 130 ongoing teams working in India's information technology (IT) sector. The study collected data on shared transformational leadership by adopting the referent-shift consensus method while collecting data on team performance from managers. Thus, the study explored the relationships among the constructs of this research by using multi-source data.

Findings

This study has shown that shared transformational leadership induces workplace spirituality and team reflexivity among team members. This research's results show that workplace spirituality mediates the shared transformational leadership-team performance and shared transformational leadership-team reflexivity relationships. This research has also demonstrated that team reflexivity mediates the shared transformational leadership-team performance relationship.

Practical implications

Necessity to facilitate relational job design changes, knowledge sharing, intellectual stimulation is the primary managerial implication of this study. This study also articulates the need to pay attention to create organizational conditions for the emergence of workplace spirituality.

Originality/value

This is the first study that has positioned shared transformational leadership and workplace spirituality as the antecedents of team reflexivity. This research has shown the value and limitation of team reflexivity in ongoing teams.
Efficacy and safety of topical benzoyl peroxide for prolonged acneiform eruptions induced by cetuximab and panitumumab: A multicenter, phase II trial
Authors: Tsutsui Keita , Kikuchi Katsuko , Nozawa Keiko , Takashima Atsuo , Tsuchiyama Kenichiro , Namikawa Kenjiro , Aiba Setsuya , Yamazaki Naoya
Published: March 2021

The most common adverse event of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, used to treat colorectal, non‐small cell lung, and head and neck cancers, is acneiform eruption, with a profound effect on treatment continuation. Prolonged acneiform eruptions treated with topical corticosteroids, a standard management, may be associated with secondary bacterial infections, thus there is a need for new treatments. We conducted a multicenter, phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical benzoyl peroxide for epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor‐induced prolonged acneiform eruptions. Patients with colorectal, non‐small lung cell, and head and neck cancers who received epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors for >10 weeks and had persistent acneiform eruptions were eligible. Topical benzoyl peroxide was applied to the affected area of the face once daily for 8 weeks; a clinical evaluation was performed every 2 weeks. The primary endpoint was a change in acneiform eruption severity evaluated between disease onset and end of the treatment period. The quality of life of patients was assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Of the 14 enrolled patients, 11 completed the trial. The protocol‐specified grade of acneiform eruptions from baseline to week 8 improved from 2.0 to 1.0 (P < 0.01). The dermatology life quality index score from baseline to week 8 improved from 3.0 to 1.0 point (P < 0.01). No patient experienced severe adverse events. Overall, topical benzoyl peroxide may be effective for treating and managing prolonged acneiform eruptions induced by epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors.
Bird communities in African cocoa agroforestry are diverse but lack specialized insectivores
Authors: Jarrett Crinan , Smith Thomas B. , Claire Tabe T. R. , Ferreira Diogo F. , Tchoumbou Melanie , Elikwo Malange N. F. , Wolfe Jared , Brzeski Kristin , Welch Andreanna J. , Hanna Rachid , Powell Luke L.
Published: March 2021

Forests are being converted to agriculture throughout the Afrotropics, driving declines in sensitive rainforest taxa such as understorey birds. The ongoing expansion of cocoa agriculture, a common small‐scale farming commodity, has contributed to the loss of 80% rainforest cover in some African countries. African cocoa farms may provide habitat for biodiversity, yet little is known about their suitability for vertebrate fauna, or the effect of farm management on animal communities.

Here, we report the first in‐depth investigation into avian diversity and community composition in African cocoa, by assembling a dataset of 9,566 individual birds caught across 83 sites over 30 years in Southern Cameroon. We compared bird diversity in mature forest and cocoa using measures of alpha, beta and gamma diversity, and we investigated the effect of cocoa farm shade and forest cover on bird communities.

Gamma diversity was higher in cocoa than forest, though alpha diversity was similar, indicating a higher dissimilarity (beta diversity) between cocoa farms. Cocoa farms differed from forest in community composition, with a distinctive decrease in relative abundance of insectivores, forest specialists and ant‐followers and an increase in frugivores.

Within cocoa farms, we found that farms with high shade cover in forested landscapes resulted in higher relative abundance and richness of sensitive forest species; shady farms contained up to five times the proportion of forest specialists than sunny farms.

Synthesis and applications. Sunny African cocoa farms were less able to support sensitive bird guilds compared with shaded farms in forested landscapes. Our findings support the notion that certain ecological and dietary guilds, such as ant‐followers and forest specialists are disproportionately affected by land‐use change. In light of the current push to increase cocoa production in sub‐Saharan Africa, our results provide policymakers opportunities for more wildlife‐friendly cocoa schemes that maximize avian diversity.
Paenibacillus polymyxa, a Jack of all trades
Authors: Langendries Sarah , Goormachtig Sofie
Published: March 2021

The bacterium Paenibacillus polymyxa is found naturally in diverse niches. Microbiome analyses have revealed enrichment in the genus Paenibacillus in soils under different adverse conditions, which is often accompanied by improved growth conditions for residing plants. Furthermore, Paenibacillus is a member of the core microbiome of several agriculturally important crops, making its close association with plants an interesting research topic. This review covers the versatile interaction possibilities of P. polymyxa with plants and its applicability in industry and agriculture. Thanks to its array of produced compounds and traits, P. polymyxa is likely an efficient plant growth‐promoting bacterium, with the potential of biofertilization, biocontrol and protection against abiotic stresses. By contrast, cases of phytotoxicity of P. polymyxa have been described as well, in which growth conditions seem to play a key role. Because of its adjustable character, we propose this bacterial species as an outstanding model for future studies on host–microbe communications and on the manner how the environment can influence these interactions.