bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automated Xeno-Free Chondrogenic Differentiation from Human Embryonic Stem Cells: Enhancing Efficiency and Ensuring High-Quality Mass Production
Authors: Chen JunLong , Kataoka Oki , Tsuchiya Kazeto , Oishi Yoshie , Takao Ayumi , Huang Yen-Chih , Komura Hiroko , Akiyama Saeko , Itou Ren , Inui Masafumi , Enosawa Shin , Akutsu Hidenori , Komura Makoto , Fuchimoto Yasushi , Umezawa Akihiro
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Repairing damaged cartilage poses significant challenges, particularly in cases of congenital cartilage defects such as microtia or congenital tracheal stenosis, or as a consequence of traumatic injury, as the regenerative potential of cartilage is inherently limited. Stem cell therapy and tissue engineering offer promising approaches to overcome these limitations in cartilage healing. However, the challenge lies in the size of cartilage-containing organs, which necessitates a large quantity of cells to fill the damaged areas. Therefore, pluripotent stem cells that can proliferate indefinitely are highly desirable as a cell source. This study aims to delineate the differentiation conditions for cartilage derived from human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and to develop an automated cell culture system to facilitate mass production for therapeutic applications.

Methods

Cartilage cell sheets were derived from human ESCs (SEES2, clinical trial-compatible line) by forming embryoid bodies (EBs) with either conventional manual culture or a benchtop multi-pipetter and an automated medium exchange integrated cell incubator, using xeno-free media. Cell sheets were implanted into the subcutaneous tissue of immunodeficient NOG mice to obtain cartilage tissue. The properties of cartilage tissues were examined by histological staining and quantitative PCR analysis.

Results

We have optimized an efficient xeno-free system for cartilage production with the conventional culture method and successfully transitioned to an automated system. Differentiated cartilage was histologically uniform with cartilage-specific elasticity and strength. The cartilage tissues were stained by alcian blue, safranin O, and toluidine blue, and quantitative PCR showed an increase in differentiation markers such as ACAN, COL2A1, and Vimentin. Automation significantly enhanced the efficiency of human ESC-derived chondrocyte differentiation. The number of constituent cells within EBs and the seeding density of EBs were identified as key factors influencing chondrogenic differentiation efficiency. By automating the process of chondrogenic differentiation, we achieved scalable production of chondrocytes.

Conclusions

By integrating the differentiation protocol with an automated cell culture system, there is potential to produce cartilage of sufficient size for clinical applications in humans. The resulting cartilage tissue holds promise for clinical use in repairing organs such as the trachea, joints, ears, and nose.
Genome assembly and annotation of the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum)from India
Authors: Singhal Shivansh , Choudhary Chhavi , Basu Dipendra Nath , Seal Srijan , Khan Imroze , Shukla Jayendra Nath , Agashe Deepa
Published: May 2024

The largest insect order, Coleoptera, includes several economically important beetles that also serve as major model species for biological research. Perhaps foremost among these is the red flour beetle, a global pest of stored grains and flour whose genome was sequenced in 2008. However, the currently available reference genome (Tcas5.2) is incomplete, fragmented and contains many gaps, and the Y chromosome is not assembled. Here we present inTcas1, an updated genome assembly and annotation ofT. castaneumcollected from India, assembled using both short and long read sequencing, and annotated using two transcriptome datasets. We report that inTcas1 has fewer gaps, less fragmentation, and many new genes and new isoforms of previously annotated genes. This new resource provides a useful update, comparison, and reference for new beetle genome assemblies. The first Y chromosome assembly for this species also provides critical data to study the evolution of insect sex chromosomes and sex determination systems.

SIGNIFICANCE

We present here an improvedT. castaneumgenome assembly (inTcas1) for beetles sampled from India, including the first Y chromosome of this important pest and laboratory model species. The new genome should facilitate more comprehensive analysis of Coleoptera genome and transcriptome datasets, especially beetle populations from Asia – the previously available genome, Tcas5.2, was assembled using the GA2 strain from USA. The updated genome should also facilitate analyses of genome evolution, including sex determination and sex chromosome dynamics; and the new gene annotations can expand the genetic toolkit for this beetle.
PRR adjuvants restrain high stability peptides presentation on APCs
Authors: Li Bin , Zhang Jin , He Taojun , Yuan Hanmei , Wu Hui , Wang Peng , Wu Chao
Published: May 2024

Adjuvants can affect APCs function and boost adaptive immune responses post-vaccination. However, whether they modulate the specificity of immune responses, particularly immunodominant epitope responses, and the mechanisms of regulating antigen processing and presentation remain poorly defined. Here, using overlapping synthetic peptides, we screened the dominant epitopes of Th1 responses in mice post-vaccination with different adjuvants and found that the adjuvants altered the antigen-specific CD4+T-cell immunodominant epitope hierarchy. MHC-II immunopeptidomes demonstrated that the peptide repertoires presented by APCs were significantly altered by the adjuvants. Unexpectedly, no novel peptide presentation was detected after adjuvant treatment, whereas peptides with high binding stability for MHC-II presented in the control group were missing after adjuvant stimulation, particularly in the MPLA- and CpG-stimulated groups. The low-stability peptide present in the adjuvant groups effectively elicited robust T-cell responses and formed immune memory. Collectively, our results suggest that adjuvants (MPLA and CpG) inhibit high-stability peptide presentation instead of revealing cryptic epitopes, which may alter the specificity of CD4+T-cell-dominant epitope responses. The capacity of adjuvants to modify peptide–MHC (pMHC) stability and antigen-specific T-cell immunodominant epitope responses has fundamental implications for the selection of suitable adjuvants in the vaccine design process and epitope vaccine development.
Pangenomic analysis ofHelcococcus ovisreveals widespread tetracycline resistance and a novel bacterial species,Helcococcus bovis
Authors: Cunha Federico , Zhai Yuting , Casaro Segundo , Jones Kristi L. , Hernandez Modesto , Bisinotto Rafael S. , Kariyawasam Subhashinie , Brown Mary B. , Phillips Ashley , Jeong Kwangcheol C. , Galvão Klibs N.
Published: May 2024

Helcococcus ovis(H. ovis) is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen of a wide range of animal hosts including domestic ruminants, swine, avians, and humans. In this study, we sequenced the genomes of 35Helcococcus sp.clinical isolates from the uterus of dairy cows and explored their antimicrobial resistance and biochemical phenotypes. Phylogenetic and average nucleotide identity analyses placed fourHelcococcusisolates within a cryptic clade-representing an undescribed species, for which we propose the nameHelcococcus bovissp. nov. We applied whole genome comparative analyses to explore the pangenome, resistome, virulome, and taxonomic diversity of the remaining 31H. ovisisolates. H. oviswas more often isolated from cows with metritis, however, there was no associations betweenH. ovisgene clusters and uterine infection. The phylogenetic distribution of high-virulence determinants ofH. ovisis consistent with convergent gene loss in the species. The majority ofH. ovisstrains (30/31) contain mobile tetracycline resistance genes, leading to higher minimum inhibitory concentrations of tetracyclines in vitro. In summary, this study showed that the presence ofH. ovisis associated with uterine infection in dairy cows, that mobile genetic element-mediated tetracycline resistance is widespread inH. ovis, and that there is evidence of co-occurring virulence factors across clades suggesting convergent gene loss in the species. Finally, we introduced a novelHelcococcusspecies closely related toH. ovis, calledH. bovissp. nov.

Highlights

The presence ofHelcococcus ovisis associated with uterine infection in dairy cows

Mobile genetic element-mediated tetracycline resistance is widespread inH. ovis

Co-occurring virulence factors across clades suggest convergent gene loss in the species

Helcococcus bovisis a novel species closely related toHelcococcus ovis
Context-dependent neural preparation for information relevance vs. probability
Authors: Peñalver José M.G. , González-García Carlos , Palenciano Ana F. , López-García David , Ruz María
Published: May 2024

Preparation is a top-down phenomenon known to improve performance across different situations. In light of recent electrophysiological findings that suggest that anticipatory neural preactivations linked to preparation are context-specific and do not generalize across domains, in the current study we used fMRI to investigate the brain regions involved in these differential patterns. We applied multivariate decoding to data obtained in a paradigm where, in different blocks, cues provided information about the relevance or probability of incoming target stimuli. Results showed that the anticipated stimulus category was pre-activated in both conditions, mostly in different brain regions within the ventral visual cortex and with differential overlap with actual target perception. Crucially, there was scarce cross-classification across attention and expectation contexts except on a patch of the fusiform gyrus, indicating mostly differential neural coding of anticipated contents in relevance and probability scenarios. Finally, a model-based fMRI-EEG fusion showed that these regions differentially code for specific conditions during preparation, as well as specifically preparing for category anticipation in a ramping-up manner. Overall, our results stress the specificity of anticipatory neural processing depending on its informative role while highlighting a key hub of commonality in the fusiform gyrus.
Impaired Functional Connectivity of Cortico-Amygdala Pathway Can Drive Social Behavior Deficits in Synucleinopathies
Authors: Zhou Wei , Daniels Samuel , Singh Vijay , Menard Marissa , Escobar Galvis Martha L , Chu Hong-Yuan
Published: May 2024

The small molecule protein α-synuclein forms insoluble aggregates in a group of neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), which are collectively called synucleinopathies. In PD and DLB, the amygdala has been identified as a particularly susceptible region in the brain for the deposition of Lewy-like α-synuclein aggregates. Though α-synuclein aggregation is closely associated with neurodegeneration, there is a poor correlation between neurodegeneration in the amygdala and the clinical features of PD/DLB. We hypothesize that, prior to neurodegeneration, α-synuclein aggregation disrupts functional cortical modulation of the amygdala circuits, leading to emotion dysregulation in synucleinopathies. In the present study, we combined electrophysiology, optogenetics, mouse model of synucleinopathies, and behavioral analysis to test this hypothesis. Using an α-synuclein preformed fibrils (PFFs)-based mouse model of synucleinopathies, we reported dynamic changes in the levels of α-synuclein pathology in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). Such dynamic changes of pathology associated with a decreased cortico-BLA connection strength prior to a significant loss of cortical axon terminals. In parallel to the reduced cortico-BLA connection, PFFs-injected mice manifested impaired social preference behavior. The impaired sociability of PFFs-injected mice could be rescued by chemogenetic stimulation of cortico-BLA inputs. Altogether, we presented a series of evidence to delineate key circuit events associated with α-synuclein pathology development in the amygdala circuits. The present work highlights the necessity of a thorough investigation of functional consequences of α-synuclein aggregation to advance our understand of pathophysiology of synucleinopathies and development of effective therapies.
The variability of multidimensional diffusion-relaxation MRI estimates in the human brain
Authors: Manninen Eppu , Bao Shunxing , Landman Bennett A. , Yang Yihong , Topgaard Daniel , Benjamini Dan
Published: May 2024

Diffusion-relaxation correlation multidimensional MRI (MD-MRI) replaces voxel-averaged diffusion tensor quantities and R1and R2relaxation rates with their multidimensional distributions, enabling the selective extraction and mapping of specific diffusion-relaxation spectral ranges that correspond to different cellular features. This approach has the potential of achieving high sensitivity and specificity in detecting subtle changes that would otherwise be averaged out. Here, the whole brain characterization of MD-MRI distributions and derived parameters is presented and the intrascanner test–retest reliability, repeatability, and reproducibility are evaluated to promote the further development of these quantities as neuroimaging biomarkers. We compared white matter tracts and cortical and subcortical gray matter regions, revealing notable variations in their diffusion-relaxation profiles, indicative of unique microscopic morphological characteristics. We found that the reliability and repeatability of MD-MRI-derived diffusion and relaxation mean parameters were comparable to values expected in conventional diffusion tensor imaging and relaxometry studies. Importantly, the estimated signal fractions of intra-voxel spectral components in the MD-MRI distribution, corresponding to white matter, gray matter, and cerebrospinal fluid, were found to be reproducible. This underscores the viability of employing a spectral analysis approach to MD-MRI data. Our results show that a clinically feasible MD-MRI protocol can reliably deliver information of the rich structural and chemical variety that exists within each imaging voxel, creating potential for new MRI biomarkers with enhanced sensitivity and specificity.
Endogenous opioid dynamics in the dorsal striatum sculpt neural activity to control goal-directed action
Authors: Gowrishankar Raajaram , Hjort Madelyn , Elerding Abigail J , Shirley Sofia E , Van Tilburg Josie , Marcus David J , Senthilkumar Pranav , Abrera Khalid A , Sumarli Dustin , Motovilov Kat , Lau Valerie , Gordon-Fennell Adam A , Zhou Zhe C , Dong Chunyang , Tian Lin , Stuber Garret D , Bruchas Michael R.
Published: May 2024

Endogenous neuropeptides are uniquely poised to regulate neuronal activity and behavior across multiple timescales. Traditional studies ascribing neuropeptide contributions to behavior lack spatiotemporal precision. The endogenous opioid dynorphin is highly enriched in the dorsal striatum, known to be critical for regulating goal-directed behavior. However, the locus, the precise timescale, or functional role of endogenous dyn-KOR signaling on goal-directed behavior is unknown. Here, we report that local, time-locked dynorphin release from the dorsomedial striatum is necessary and sufficient for goal-directed behavior using a suite of high resolution modern approaches includingin vivotwo-photon imaging, neuropeptide biosensor detection, conditional deletions and time-locked optogenetic manipulations. We discovered that glutamatergic axon terminals from the basolateral amygdala evoke striatal dynorphin release, resulting in retrograde presynaptic GPCR inhibition during behavior. Collectively, our findings isolate a causal role for endogenous neuropeptide release at rapid timescales, and subsequent GPCR activity for tuning and promoting fundamental goal-directed behaviors.
Kif1a and intact microtubules maintain synaptic-vesicle populations at ribbon synapses in zebrafish hair cells
Authors: David Sandeep , Pinter Katherine , Nguyen Keziah-Khue , Lee David S. , Lei Zhengchang , Sokolova Yuliya , Sheets Lavinia , Kindt Katie S.
Published: May 2024

Sensory hair cells of the inner ear utilize specialized ribbon synapses to transmit sensory stimuli to the central nervous system. This sensory transmission necessitates rapid and sustained neurotransmitter release, which relies on a large pool of synaptic vesicles at the hair-cell presynapse. Work in neurons has shown that kinesin motor proteins traffic synaptic material along microtubules to the presynapse, but how new synaptic material reaches the presynapse in hair cells is not known. We show that the kinesin motor protein Kif1a and an intact microtubule network are necessary to enrich synaptic vesicles at the presynapse in hair cells. We use genetics and pharmacology to disrupt Kif1a function and impair microtubule networks in hair cells of the zebrafish lateral-line system. We find that these manipulations decrease synaptic-vesicle populations at the presynapse in hair cells. Using electron microscopy, along within vivocalcium imaging and electrophysiology, we show that a diminished supply of synaptic vesicles adversely affects ribbon-synapse function.Kif1amutants exhibit dramatic reductions in spontaneous vesicle release and evoked postsynaptic calcium responses. Additionally, we find thatkif1amutants exhibit impaired rheotaxis, a behavior reliant on the ability of hair cells in the lateral line to respond to sustained flow stimuli. Overall, our results demonstrate that Kif1a-based microtubule transport is critical to enrich synaptic vesicles at the active zone in hair cells, a process that is vital for proper ribbon-synapse function.

Key points:

Kif1a mRNAs are present in zebrafish hair cells

Loss of Kif1a disrupts the enrichment of synaptic vesicles at ribbon synapses

Disruption of microtubules depletes synaptic vesicles at ribbon synapses

Kif1a mutants have impaired ribbon-synapse and sensory-system function
Bisphenol TMC disturbs mitochondrial activity and biogenesis, reducing lifespan and healthspan in the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Rathor Laxmi , Lee Ho Jeong , McElroy Taylor , Beck Steven , Bailey Julia , Wohlgemuth Stephanie , Kim Sung-Hwan , Heo Jeong-doo , Xiao Rui , Han Sung Min , Hyun Moonjung
Published: May 2024

Rising concerns about Bisphenol A (BPA) toxicity have prompted the search for safer alternatives. However, concerns persist regarding the safety of replacements like bisphenol TMC (BPTMC), a rapidly emerging BPA substitute. Utilizing thein vivomodel organismCaenorhabditis elegans(C. elegans), whose shared genes mirror human biology, we aim to unveil the potential toxicity of BPTMC on a live animal.C. elegansexposed to 1 mM BPTMC exhibited developmental delays, reduced reproduction, and diminished longevity. Furthermore, an investigation into mortality at various animal stages, oxidative stress, and thermal stress revealed additional compromised toxicity. Notably, exposure to BPTMC resulted in mitochondrial abnormalities, including reduced oxygen consumption, lowered mitochondrial membrane potential, and decreased ATP levels. Additionally, BPTMC increased ROS levels but decreased mitochondrial population. Transcriptome analysis revealed that BPTMC induces alterations in the expression of genes associated with mitochondrial biogenesis. Our findings raise crucial concerns about BPTMC as a safe BPA alternative. The observed widespread toxicity across key life stages suggests a need for further investigation into the potential toxicity of BPTMC on human health and environmental consequences.
Unraveling the impact of hyperleptinemia on female reproduction: Insights from transgenic pig model
Authors: Jamal Muhammad , Cheng Yixiao , Jiao Deling , Cheng Wen , Di Zou M , Wang Xia , Wei Taiyun , Guo Jianxiong , Xu Kaixiang , Zhao Heng , Pu Shaoxia , Yang Chang , Qing Yubo , Jia Baoyu , Li Honghui , Zhao Rusong , Zhao Hong-Ye , Wei Hong-Jiang
Published: May 2024

Background

Infertility is a growing global health concern affecting millions of couples worldwide. Among several factors, an extreme body weight adversely affects reproductive functions. Leptin is a well-known adipokine that serves as an endocrine signal between adiposity and fertility. However, the exact mechanisms underlying the effects of high leptin on female reproduction remain unclear.

Methods

Transgenic pig overexpressing leptin (11) were produced by back cross and screened for leptin overexpression, and the growth curve, fat deposition, reproductive performance, apoptosis, serum hormones and cholesterol production, RNA sequencing, and single nucleus RNA sequencing of the leptin-overexpressed pigs and control group were evaluated.

Results

Transgenic pig overexpressing leptin (11) were obtained, which exhibited significantly reduced body weight, body size, and back fat thickness. These pigs manifested late onset of puberty (327±48.5 vs 150±6.5 days), irregular estrous behavior characterized by increased inter-estrous interval (28.1±4.2 vs 21.3 ± 0.9 days), and more numbers of mating until pregnancy (at least 3 times). This reproductive impairment in leptin pigs was related to hormonal imbalances characterized by increased levels of FSH, LH, prolactin, E2, P4, and TSH, altered steroidogenesis such as increased levels of serum CE along with steroidogenic markers (STAR, CYP19A), and ovarian dysfunctions manifested by neutrophilic infiltration and low expression of caspase-3 positive cells on leptin pigs ovary. Meanwhile, bulk RNA sequencing of the ovaries also revealed neutrophilic infiltration followed by upregulation of inflammation-related genes. Further, leptin overexpression triggered immune response, suppressed follicle development and luteinization, imposing metabolism dysfunction and hormone imbalance in the ovary by single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq).

Conclusion

Low body weight in leptin overexpression pigs adversely affects reproductive performance, causing delayed puberty, irregular estrous cycles, and reduced breeding efficiency. This is linked to metabolic imbalances, increased immune response, and altered ovarian functions. This study provided a theoretical basis for the complex mechanisms underlying leptin, and infertility by employing leptin-overexpressed female pigs.
Genetically Encoded and Modular SubCellular Organelle Probes (GEM-SCOPe) reveal lysosomal and mitochondrial dysfunction driven byPRKNknockout
Authors: Goldman Camille , Kareva Tatyana , Sarrafha Lily , Schuldt Braxton R. , Sahasrabudhe Abhishek , Ahfeldt Tim , Blanchard Joel W.
Published: May 2024

Cellular processes including lysosomal and mitochondrial dysfunction are implicated in the development of many diseases. Quantitative visualization of mitochondria and lysosoesl is crucial to understand how these organelles are dysregulated during disease. To address a gap in live-imaging tools, we developed GEM-SCOPe (Genetically Encoded and Modular SubCellular Organelle Probes), a modular toolbox of fluorescent markers designed to inform on localization, distribution, turnover, and oxidative stress of specific organelles. We expressed GEM-SCOPe in differentiated astrocytes and neurons from a human pluripotent stem cellPRKN-knockout model of Parkinson’s disease and identified disease-associated changes in proliferation, lysosomal distribution, mitochondrial transport and turnover, and reactive oxygen species. We demonstrate GEM-SCOPe is a powerful panel that provide critical insight into the subcellular mechanisms underlying Parkinson’s disease in human cells. GEM-SCOPe can be expanded upon and applied to a diversity of cellular models to glean an understanding of the mechanisms that promote disease onset and progression.
Improving Cell-type-specific 3D Genome Architectures Prediction Leveraging Graph Neural Networks
Authors: Wang Ruoyun , Ma Weicheng , Mohammadi Aryan Soltani , Shahsavari Saba , Vosoughi Soroush , Wang Xiaofeng
Published: May 2024

The mammalian genome organizes into complex three-dimensional structures, where interactions among chromatin regulatory elements play a pivotal role in mediating biological functions, highlighting the significance of genomic region interactions in biological research. Traditional biological sequencing techniques like HiC and MicroC, commonly employed to estimate these interactions, are resource-intensive and time-consuming, especially given the vast array of cell lines and tissues involved. With the advent of advanced machine learning (ML) methodologies, there has been a push towards developing ML models to predict genomic interactions. However, while these models excel in predicting interactions for cell lines similar to their training data, they often fail to generalize across distantly related cell lines or accurately predict interactions specific to certain cell lines. Identifying the potential oversight of excluding example genomic region interaction information from model inputs as a fundamental limitation, this paper introduces GRACHIP, a model rooted in graph neural network technology aiming to address this issue by incorporating detailed interaction information as a hint. Through extensive testing across various cell lines, GRACHIP not only demonstrates exceptional accuracy in predicting chromatin interaction intensity but showcases remarkable generalizability to cell lines not encountered during training. Consequently, GRACHIP emerges as a potent research tool, offering a viable alternative to conventional sequencing methods for analyzing the interactions and three-dimensional organization of mammalian genomes, thus alleviating the dependency on expensive and time-consuming biological sequencing techniques. It also offers an alternative way for researchers to investigate 3D chromatin interactions and simulate their changes in model systems to test their hypotheses.
Realisation of a key step in the evolution of C4photosynthesis in rice by genome editing
Authors: Jethva Jay , Hahn Florian , Giuliani Rita , Peeters Niels , Cousins Asaph , Kelly Steven
Published: May 2024

C4photosynthesis is a repeatedly evolved adaptation to photosynthesis that functions to reduce energy loss from photorespiration. The recurrent evolution of this adaptation is achieved through changes in the expression and localisation of several enzymes and transporters that are conventionally used in non-photosynthetic metabolism. These alterations result in the establishment of a biochemical CO2pump that increases the concentration of CO2around rubisco in a cellular environment where rubisco is protected from oxygen thus preventing the occurrence of photorespiration. A key step in the evolution of C4photosynthesis is the change in subcellular localisation of carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity from the mesophyll cell chloroplast to the cytosol, where it catalyzes the first biochemical step of the C4pathway. Here, we achieve this key step in C4evolution in the C3plantOryza sativa(rice) using genome editing. We show that editing the chloroplast transit peptide of the primary CA isoform in the leaf results in relocalisation of leaf CA activity from the chloroplast to the cytosol. Through analysis of fluorescence induction kinetics in these CA relocalisation lines we uncover a role a new role for chloroplast CA in photosynthetic induction. We also reveal that relocalisation of CA activity to the cytosol causes no detectable perturbation to plant growth or leaf-level CO2assimilation. Collectively, this work uncovers a novel role for chloroplast CA in C3plants, and demonstrates that it is possible to achieve a key step in the evolution of C4photosynthesis by genome editing.

Significance statement

C4photosynthesis is a highly efficient adaptation to photosynthesis that fuels the world’s most productive crop plants. It evolved from conventional C3photosynthesis through a series of changes in leaf biochemistry and anatomy. Here we achieve a key evolutionary step on the path to C4photosynthesis in rice using genome editing. Specifically, we alter the primary location of carbonic anhydrase activity in the rice leaf from the chloroplast to the cytosol. In doing so, we uncover a novel role for carbonic anhydrase in facilitating the rapid induction kinetics of photosystem II, and initiate a new era of C4engineering using precision breeding techniques.
Integrating aesthetics and sustainability: evaluating the aesthetic perception of photovoltaic installation on the apartment building façade in Jordan
Authors: Abu Qadourah Jenan , Alnusairat Saba
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study evaluates the aesthetic perception of photovoltaic (PV) systems situated at various locations on an apartment building facade, comparing them with the original facade. It also aims to understand how aesthetic dimensions influence the perception of PV installations in diverse building locations. Moreover, it aims to create a framework that will guide for installing PV installations considering both their functionality and aesthetics.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a mixed-method approach, including qualitative and quantitative approaches. It includes a literature review and a questionnaire. 418 participants evaluated different PV-embedded facades using a Likert scale across various aesthetic variables.

Findings

The findings indicate that aesthetic perceptions of PV vary by the location of installation. It also shows that all aesthetic dimensions affect PV installation aesthetics, with location-specific preferences. For original elevation, compatibility and simplicity are given precedence over blending and coherence for windows, creativity and harmony for facades, functionality and harmony for balconies, and innovation potential and simplicity for roofs.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses on a single building type; further investigation is required to examine other building types. It also examined one PV technology with common visual properties, but future studies can examine others. Additional research is needed to compare the participating groups and the effect of their sociodemographic factors, using on-site surveys and interviews.

Originality/value

Few studies have investigated how PV systems affect apartment building users' architectural aesthetic perception. The results of this study make a valuable contribution to the field of sustainable architecture by providing practical guidance for architects, engineers, stakeholders, and researchers who are interested in integrating aesthetic, user-centric considerations into renewable energy solutions.
Advancing teacher competencies: assessing the influence of faculty development programs (FDP) on embracing modern innovations in teaching
Authors: Kulal Abhinandan , Nanjundaswamy Abhishek , Dinesh Sahana , Suraj Neethu , Mallika N.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The present research aimed to examine the role of FDP in enhancing the teachers' competencies through modern technological tools and innovative teaching methods. And also, to evaluate the impact of FDPs on teachers' attitudes and motivation to integrate modern teaching innovations into their classroom practices.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a pre-post study design, the study was conducted in two phases, Phase I was conducted one week before conducting FDP (14th to 20th August 2023) and Phase II was conducted after one week of FDP (15th to 21st September 2023). The data were gathered through structured questionnaires from the participants in FDP and collected data were processed and analyzed through a statistical package for social sciences.

Findings

The study found that undergoing FDP by teachers significantly influences the adoption of advanced pedagogical approaches and technology integration during their teaching practice. This indirectly helps in promoting quality education at large and contributes to the UNSDG-4. The study also revealed that the effective FDP not only helps in advancing teaching methods but also influences instructors' philosophies and attitudes towards students' overall learning and development.

Practical implications

These findings have several key implications for higher education institutions, policymakers and teachers at large. Firstly, HEIs should prioritize undertaking FDPs that promote in adopting advanced pedagogical approaches. This indirectly equips the instructors with the knowledge and skills necessary to integrate modern teaching methods into their real classroom practices. Further, by adopting FDP as a strategic initiative to improve the quality of education and work by aligning these programs with broader SDG goals.

Originality/value

Advancing education for enhancing the overall quality of learning depends on the competencies of instructors. The competencies of instructors rely upon the involvement of instructors in life-long learning, level of adoption of technology, innovative approaches used, etc. This study may help higher education institutions adopt FDP as a strategic initiative to improve the quality of education and work by aligning these programs with broader SDG goals.
Dynamic content layout optimization for news website front pages
Authors: Shen Shuaiqi Roger , Balakrishnan Jaydeep , Cheng Chun Hung
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The home page design of a digital news website is a key factor in determining its attractiveness to readers. This study aims to propose an approach to manage the frequent adjustment of the dynamic layout of the news content on the website home page in a real-time environment to increase its attractiveness to readers.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper shows that this news website layout design problem can be modeled as an optimization problem based on the information of news contents that change within a multiple-period planning horizon similar to the dynamic facility layout problem. A hybrid genetic algorithm-based approach integrated with local search heuristic methods is also proposed to improve the solution.

Findings

This paper finds that the DPLP model is effective in modeling the changing layout of a digital news website. The problem can solved in a timely manner using the proposed hybrid genetic algorithm.

Research limitations/implications

This paper was based on hypothetical data and on the assumption of equal section size. Actual data would help fine-tune the application of the dynamic facility layout model. As well the algorithm could be enhanced for unequal size sections.

Practical implications

The model should help online newspapers apply sophisticated algorithms to optimize the layout of news websites dynamically in a timely manner.

Social implications

News websites are increasingly the desired medium to consume news. So it has an important role in educating society. Thus optimizing and improving the process will help in this regard.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first one to apply the DPLP model to the digital newspaper website dynamic design problem.
Efficiency decomposition in three-stage data envelopment analysis with undesirable and returnable factors
Authors: Malmir Mohammad , Hosseinzadeh Lotfi Farhad , Kazemi Matin Reza , Ahadzadeh Namin Mahnaz
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficiency of a series network system with undesirable and unreturnable simultaneously.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was conducted by applying data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach to measure the efficiency score of a system and substages with an undesirable output of the second and third stages separately. For each case, new production technology was introduced, and based on them, novel DEA models were proposed.

Findings

One of the most important issues in the development of a country is the banking industry. In this study, 51 branches of commercial banks as a three-stage system with undesirable and unreturnable outputs in the second stage are considered. Then, the efficiency of each branch and substages is measured by using proposed models.

Originality/value

The efficiency of a three-stage network in the presence of undesirable and unreturnable outputs was assessed. In this model, Kousmanen’s technology was used.
Conceptualising performance in public services co-production: from ideas to measures in neighbourhood watch schemes
Authors: Sorrentino Daniela , Ruggiero Pasquale , Braga Alessandro , Mussari Riccardo
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This paper delves into a pivotal juncture within the co-production literature, intersecting with the ongoing debate about performance challenges in public sector accounting scholarship. It explores how public managers conceive and measure the performance of co-produced public services.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study is conducted on three instances of neighbourhood watching – that is, a type of collective co-production – in a homogeneous institutional setting. The analysis and interpretation of empirical data are guided by a systematic conceptual space delineating the qualities that performance criteria can take in contexts where public services are produced.

Findings

Findings reveal that when the co-production activation is driven by both state and lay actors, public managers tend to conceptualise and measure its performance in a way that contributes to building a more structured co-productive space, where the roles to play, how to interact and what to achieve are clearly defined.

Originality/value

This paper breaks new ground by scrutinising the conceptualisation of performance in settings where public services involve actors beyond traditional public administrations. By exploring the diverse “shapes” and meanings that performance can take in co-production arrangements, this paper enriches discussions on how public sector accounting can inform co-production literature.
Understanding mobile augmented reality apps in Pakistan: an extended mobile technology acceptance model
Authors: Khan Salman , Zhang Qingyu , Khan Safeer Ullah , Khan Ikram Ullah , Khan Rafi Ullah
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Augmented reality (AR) adoption has boomed globally in recent years. The prospective of AR to seamlessly integrate digital information into the actual environment has proven to be a challenge for academics and industry, as they endeavor to understand and predict the influence on users' perceptions, adoption intentions and usage. This study investigates the factors affecting consumers’ behavioral intention to adopt AR technology in shopping malls by offering the mobile technology acceptance model (MTAM).

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual framework is based on mobile self-efficacy, rewards, social influence and enjoyment of existing MTAM constructs. A self-administered questionnaire, constructed by measuring questions modified from previous research, elicited 311 usable responses from mobile respondents who had recently used AR technology in shopping malls. This analysis was performed using SmartPLS3.0.

Findings

Grounded on the findings of the study, it was found that, aside from factors such as mobile usefulness, ease of use and social influence, the remaining independent variables had the most significant impact on adopting AR technologies. Considering the limitations of this study, the paper concludes by discussing the significant implications and insinuating avenues for future research.

Originality/value

To better investigate mobile AR app adoption in Pakistan’s shopping malls, the researchers modified the newly proposed MTAM model by incorporating mobile self-efficacy theory, social influence, rewards and perceived enjoyment. However, the extended model has not been extensively studied in previous research. This study is the first to examine the variables that affect an individual’s intention to accept mobile AR apps by using a novel extended MTAM.
An egalitarian talent selection model to support learning organizations
Authors: Leao Jose , Fontana Marcele
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to develop a talent selection model for learning organizations capable of connecting two groups, candidates in a talent hiring process and managers of the hiring company, in a reliable process, promoting organizational learning and increasing employee satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper integrates egalitarian principles, an artificial intelligence mechanism founded on stable matching algorithms, and evaluating critical soft skills to enhance recruitment practices within learning organizations. The authors conduct a numerical real-world application in Python to showcase the model’s effectiveness. Five candidates were evaluated for five job positions. Moreover, 26 soft skills were analyzed by the five company leaders, relating them to the requirements of each job position and by all candidates, as a self-assessment process.

Findings

The model promoted egalitarian talent management because it motivates the candidates to choose the preferred position in a company, and the employers hire the best candidate. It is satisfactory for all participants in a company’s hiring process if the parties intend to be fair and egalitarian. The benefits of the process can be considered isolated (parties’ satisfaction) or a part of a company’s effort to stimulate an egalitarian culture in organizational values.

Practical implications

The information generated by the model is used to refine its selection process and improve its understanding of the job requirements and candidate profiles of the company. The model supports this idea, using the concepts of indifference, stability, egalitarianism and the soft skills required and identified to be more effective and learn about themselves.

Social implications

This paper discusses an egalitarian point of view in the recruitment process. It is satisfactory for all participants in a company’s hiring process if the parties intend to be fair and egalitarian. The process’s benefits can be considered part of a company’s effort to stimulate an egalitarian culture in organizational values.

Originality/value

This paper brings an excellent future perspective and points to the company’s development of talent retention. The model simultaneously solves the evolution of talent management processes through new technologies and soft skills emerging in the postpandemic scenario.
Density‐dependent influence of ribbed mussels on salt marsh nitrogen pools and processes
Authors: Williams Sydney L. , Fischman Hallie S. , Angelini Christine , Smyth Ashley R.
Published: May 2024

Bivalves are becoming an increasingly popular tool to counteract eutrophication, particularly in vegetated coastal ecosystems where synergistic interactions between bivalves and plants can govern important N sequestration pathways. In turn, new calls to evaluate how bivalve densities modify N pools and processes across multiple scales have surfaced.

Ribbed mussels, Geukensia demissa, and their relationship with smooth cordgrass present a classic demonstration of positive bivalve‐plant interactions and offer a useful model for assessing density dependence. We measure porewater ammonium concentrations, N stable isotope signatures in cordgrass tissue, and sediment N fluxes in mussel aggregations and in cordgrass‐only plots across a southeastern U.S. salt marsh.

In addition to measuring the effect of mussel presence, we evaluate mussel density dependence through a multiscale approach. At the patch scale, we quantify mussel density effects within their aggregations (individuals m−2) while at a larger landscape scale, we quantify mussel density effects on the cordgrass‐only areas they neighbour (individuals ~30 m−2).

Porewater ammonium concentrations were halved in mussel biodeposits relative to sediments in cordgrass‐only areas and negatively related to mussel density within aggregations. Leaf clip ẟ15N signatures were nearly 2‰ higher in cordgrass growing among mussel aggregations and increased with increasing patch mussel density. Microcosm incubations showed that mussels enhanced N2 flux (i.e., nitrogen removal) and DIN flux (i.e., N regeneration) into the water column, where only nitrogen removal increased with increasing patch‐scale mussel density. Across the marsh landscape, mussel coverage drove ammonium accumulation and N2 flux in sediments.

Synthesis. Our results suggest that, at the patch scale, mussels stimulate the microbial metabolism of N, the assimilation of this bioavailable N by cordgrass, and nitrogen removal in a positive, density‐dependent manner. Tidal currents redistribute mussel biodeposits from mussel aggregations to surrounding areas, influencing biogeochemical transformations at scales beyond their physical footprint. We emphasize that the N regeneration potential of bivalve populations is a significant metric contributing to their mitigation potential and that bivalve density effects may be non‐linear, vary across patch to ecosystem scales, and have differing implications for the plants with which they interact.
Unpicking Torts: Elements, Conditions of Actionability and Standing Rules
Authors: Murphy John
Published: May 2024

There is a clear tendency among judges and scholars to regard torts like chemical compounds: as things comprising a fixed list of elements (such as duty, breach, causation etc). But it is sometimes said that claimants in tort cases must also demonstrate that a condition of actionability has been met, or that a standing requirement within a particular tort has been satisfied. The use of these other terms raises two important questions. First, how a tort's elements may be distinguished from (1) conditions of actionability and (2) standing rules; and secondly, why any such distinction matters. This article addresses these questions and makes three key claims. The first such claim is that conditions of actionability may indeed be distinguished from elements. The second is that rules described as standing requirements within certain torts have no discrete juridical identity. The final claim is that appreciating the distinction between elements and conditions of actionability is important in both practical and theoretical terms.
How do employees form initial trust in artificial intelligence: hard to explain but leaders help
Authors: Xu Yi , Huang Yijie , Wang Jiahe , Zhou Dong
Published: May 2024

This study experimentally investigates initial trust formation in the organizational context of an artificial intelligence (AI) system in human resource management (HRM). Drawing on social exchange theory and leader‐member exchange theory, we identify factors that contribute to initial trust in AI through cognitive and affective processing from the perspective of employees in the Chinese context. An online survey (N = 426) was conducted with a 2 (explanation of AI: without vs with) × 2 (trust in leaders: low vs high) design. Our findings demonstrate that initial trust plays a crucial role in AI adoption, and a trustworthy leader increases employees' AI trust and intention to adopt. Providing AI's benefits and risks moderates initial trust and the pathway to adoption. Moreover, familiarity with AI's application in HRM and organizational collectivism is also beneficial. Our findings suggest that organizations should prioritize cultivating initial trust in AI with employee‐oriented strategies, including trusted leadership and supportive training resources.