bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A special envelope separates extra-chromosomal from mammalian chromosomal DNA in the cytoplasm
Authors: Schenkel Laura , Wang Xuan , Le Nhung , Burger Michael , Kroschewski Ruth
Published: March 2023

Expression from transfected plasmid DNA is generally transient, but little do we know on what limits this. Live-cell imaging revealed that DNA transfected into mammalian cells was either captured directly in the cytoplasm, or was soon expelled from the nucleus, upon its entry. In the cytoplasm, plasmid DNA was rapidly surrounded by a double membrane and frequently colocalized with extra-chromosomal DNA of telomeric origin, also expelled from the nucleus. Therefore, we termed this long-term maintained structure exclusome. The exclusome envelope contains endoplasmic reticulum proteins, the inner-nuclear membrane proteins Lap2β and Emerin but differs from the nuclear envelope by the absence of the Lamin B Receptor, nuclear pore complexes and by the presence of fenestrations. Further, Emerin affects the frequency of cells with exclusomes. Thus, cells wrap chromosomes and extra-chromosomal DNA into similar yet distinct envelopes. Thereby, they distinguish, sort, cluster, package, and keep extra-chromosomal DNA in the exclusome but chromosomal DNA in the nucleus, where transcription occurs.
Marine predator spatial conservation priorities are taxon-specific
Authors: Boyse Elizabeth , Goodman Simon J. , Beger Maria
Published: March 2023

Marine predators are globally threatened by anthropogenic stressors, but are key for ecosystem functioning. Their worsening conservation statuses indicate that current management is failing, requiring us to urgently reimagine their conservation needs to ensure their survival. Their life histories, threats, and resource needs are diverse. Consequently, spatial conservation areas targeting all species will overlook such heterogeneity, contributing to the problem. Here, we demonstrate that marine mammals, elasmobranchs and teleost fishes return drastically different spatial conservation priority areas, based on Marxan scenarios for 42 marine predator species in the Mediterranean Sea. None of the marine predators are sufficiently covered by the current marine protected area (MPA) system, with marine mammals being the least protected despite having the greatest designated MPA extent, highlighting disconnects between conservation goals and current management outcomes. To save marine predators, taxon specific ecological requirements and resulting spatial heterogeneity need to be accounted for in marine spatial planning.
Clustered synapses develop in distinct dendritic domains in visual cortex before eye opening
Authors: Leighton Alexandra H. , Cheyne Juliette E. , Lohmann Christian
Published: March 2023

Synaptic inputs to cortical neurons are highly structured in adult sensory systems, such that neighboring synapses along dendrites are activated by similar stimuli. This organization of synaptic inputs, called synaptic clustering, is required for high-fidelity signal processing, and clustered synapses can already be observed before eye opening. However, how clustered inputs emerge during development is unknown. Here, we employed concurrentin vivowhole-cell patch clamp and dendritic calcium imaging to map spontaneous synaptic inputs to dendrites of layer 2/3 neurons in the mouse primary visual cortex during the second postnatal week until eye opening. We find that the number of functional synapses and the frequency of transmission events increase several fold during this developmental period. At the beginning of the second postnatal week, synapses assemble specifically in confined dendritic segments, whereas other segments are devoid of synapses. By the end of the second postnatal week, just before eye-opening, dendrites are almost entirely covered by domains of co-active synapses. Finally, co-activity with their neighbor synapses correlates with synaptic stabilization and potentiation. Thus, clustered synapses form in distinct functional domains presumably to equip dendrites with computational modules for high-capacity sensory processing when the eyes open.
Cell specialization and coordination inArabidopsisleaves upon pathogenic attack revealed by scRNA-seq
Authors: Delannoy Etienne , Batardiere Bastien , Pateyron Stéphanie , Soubigou-Taconnat Ludivine , Chiquet Julien , Colcombet Jean , Lang Julien
Published: March 2023

Plant defense responses involve several biological processes that allow plants to fight against pathogenic attacks. How these different processes are orchestrated within organs and depend on specific cell types is poorly known. Here, using scRNA-seq technology on three independent biological replicates, we identified 10 distinct cell populations in wild-typeArabidopsisleaves inoculated with the bacterial pathogenPseudomonas syringaeDC3000. Among those, we retrieved major cell types of the leaves (mesophyll, guard, epidermal, companion and vascular S cells) to which we could associate characteristic transcriptional reprogramming and regulators, thereby specifying different cell-type responses to the pathogen. Further analyses of transcriptional dynamics, based on inference of cell trajectories, indicated that the different cell types, in addition to their characteristic defense responses, can also share similar modules of gene reprogramming, allowing for instance vascular S cells, epidermal cells and mesophyll cells to converge towards an identical cell fate, mostly characterized by lignification and detoxification functions. Moreover, it appeared that the defense responses of these three cell types can evolve along a second separate path. As this divergence does not correspond to the differentiation between immune and susceptible cells, we speculate that this might reflect the discrimination between cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous responses. Altogether our data provide an upgraded framework to describe, explore and explain the specialization and the coordination of plant cell responses upon pathogenic challenge.
An accessible and generalizable in vitro luminescence assay for detecting GPCR activation
Authors: Miller Ruby M. , Sescil Jennifer , Sarcinella Marina C. , Bailey Ryan C. , Wang Wenjing
Published: March 2023

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) serve critical physiological roles as the most abundant family of receptors. Here we describe the design of a generalizable and accessibleIn vitroGPCR splitNanoLuc ligandTriggeredReporter (IGNiTR), having broad and diverse applications. IGNiTR leverages the interaction between a conformationspecific binder and agonist-activated GPCR to reconstitute a split nanoluciferase. We have demonstrated IGNiTR with three Gs-coupled GPCRs and a Gi-coupled GPCR with three classes of conformation-specific binders: nanobodies, miniG proteins, and G-protein peptidomimetics. IGNiTR demonstrated binding efficacy and potency values of various Dopamine Receptor D1 (DRD1) ligands that agree well with reported values. IGNiTR also allows the use of a synthetic G protein peptidomimetic, providing easily standardized reagents for characterizing GPCRs and ligands. We demonstrated three applications of IGNiTR: 1) characterizing GPCR functionality during Nanodisc-based reconstitution process; 2) highthroughput screening of ligands against DRD1; 3) detection of opioids for in the field applications. Due to its convenience, accessibility and consistency, IGNiTR will find extensive applications in GPCR ligand detection, screening and GPCR characterization.
FK506 binding protein 5 regulates cell quiescence-proliferation decision in zebrafish epithelium
Authors: Li Yingxiang , Liu Chengdong , Bai Xuanxuan , Li Mingyu , Duan Cunming
Published: March 2023

The cell proliferation-quiescence decision plays fundamental roles in tissue formation and regeneration, and its dysregulation can lead to human diseases. In this study, we performed transcriptomics and genetic analyses using a zebrafish model to identify pathways and genes involved in epithelial cell quiescence-proliferation regulation. In thisin vivomodel, a population of GFP-labeled epithelial cells known as ionocytes were induced to reenter the cell cycle by a physiological stress. Transcriptomics analysis identified 1168 genes up-regulated and 996 genes down-regulated in the reactivated cells. GO and KEGG pathway analyses revealed that genes involved in transcription regulation, cell cycle, Foxo signaling, and Wnt signaling pathway are enriched among the up-regulated genes, while those involved in ion transport, cell adhesion, and oxidation-reduction are enriched among the down-regulated genes. Among the top up-regulated genes is FK506 binding protein 5 (Fkbp5), a member of the conserved immunophilin family. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Fkbp5 deletion abolished ionocyte reactivation and proliferation.

Pharmacological inhibition of Fkbp5 had similar effects. Further analyses showed that genetic deletion and inhibition of Fkbp5 impaired Akt signaling. Forced expression of a constitutively active form of Akt rescued the defects caused by Fkbp5 inhibition. These results uncover a previously unrecognized role of Fbkp5 in regulating the quiescence-proliferation decision via Akt signaling.

Impact Statement

Transcriptomic and genetic deletion studies unravel a new role of Fkbp5 in promoting cell reactivation via Akt signaling.

Highlights

Transcriptomic analysis reveals several molecular pathways altered during epithelial cell quiescence-proliferation transition.

Fkbp5 is highly up-regulated in reactivated and dividing cells.

Fkbp5 promotes epithelial cell reactivation and proliferation via Akt signaling.
The gut microbiome and resistome of conventionally- vs. pasture-raised pigs
Authors: Holman Devin B. , Gzyl Katherine E. , Kommadath Arun
Published: March 2023

Conventional swine production typically houses pigs indoors and in large groups, whereas pasture-raised pigs are reared outdoors in lower stocking densities. Pigs in both production systems are usually fed a grain-based diet but pasture-raised pigs may also consume plants and soil. Antimicrobial use also differs with conventionally-raised pigs often being exposed to antimicrobials directly or indirectly to control and prevent infectious disease. However, antimicrobial use can be associated with the development and persistence of antimicrobial resistance. In this study, we used shotgun metagenomic sequencing to compare the gut microbiomes and resistomes of pigs raised indoors on a conventional farm with those raised outdoors on pasture. The microbial compositions as well as the resistomes of both groups of pigs were significantly different from each other. Bacterial species such asIntestinibaculum porci, Pseudoscardovia radai, andSharpea azabuensiswere relatively more abundant in the gut microbiomes of pasture-raised pigs andHallella faecisandLimosilactobacillus reuteriin the conventionally-raised swine. The abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) was significantly higher in the conventionally-raised pigs for nearly all antimicrobial classes, including aminoglycosides, beta-lactams, macrolides-lincosamides-streptogramin B, and tetracyclines. Functionally, the gut microbiomes of the two group of pigs also differed significantly based on their CAZyme profiles, with certain CAZyme families associated with host mucin degradation enriched in the conventional pig microbiomes. We also recovered 1,043 dereplicated strain-level metagenome-assembled genomes (≥ 90% completeness and <5% contamination) to provide taxonomic context for specific ARGs and metabolic functions. Overall, the study provides insights into the differences between the gut microbiomes and resistomes of pigs raised under two very different production systems.
A global pause generates nonselective response inhibition during selective stopping
Authors: Wadsley Corey G. , Cirillo John , Nieuwenhuys Arne , Byblow Winston D.
Published: March 2023

1

Response inhibition is essential for terminating inappropriate actions. Selective response inhibition may be required when stopping part of a multicomponent action. However, a persistent response delay (stopping-interference effect) indicates nonselective response inhibition during selective stopping. This study aimed to elucidate whether nonselective response inhibition is the consequence of a global pause process during attentional capture or specific to a nonselective cancel process during selective stopping. We hypothesised that the stopping-interference effect would be larger in response to stop than ignore signals, owing to stronger nonselective response inhibition for explicit selective stopping. Twenty healthy human participants of either sex performed a bimanual anticipatory response inhibition paradigm with selective stop and ignore signals. Frontocentral and sensorimotor beta (β)-bursts were recorded with electroencephalography. Corticomotor excitability (CME) and short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) in primary motor cortex were recorded with transcranial magnetic stimulation. Behaviourally, responses in the non-signalled hand were delayed during selective ignore and stop trials. The response delay was largest during selective stop trials and indicated that the stopping-interference effect could not be attributed entirely to attentional capture. A stimulus-nonselective increase in frontocentral β-bursts occurred during stop and ignore trials, whilst sensorimotor response inhibition was reflected in maintenance of β-bursts and SICI relative to disinhibition observed during go trials. Signatures of response inhibition in the sensorimotor cortex contralateral to the responding hand were not associated with the magnitude of stopping-interference. Therefore, nonselective response inhibition during selective stopping results primarily from a nonselective pause process but does not entirely account for the stopping-interference effect.

2

Significance statement

Selective stopping is a complex form of response inhibition where a person must execute and cancel part of an action at the same time. A stopping-interference effect exemplifies the complexity of selective stopping. The present study examined whether nonselective response inhibition during selective stopping results from a global pause during attentional capture or is specific to a deliberate cancel process. Behaviourally, the interference effect was larger during selective stop stimuli than selective ignore stimuli. However, neurophysiological signatures of nonselective response inhibition were elicited in response to both stop and ignore stimuli. These findings indicate that nonselective response inhibition during selective stopping results primarily from a nonselective pause process but does not entirely account for the stopping-interference effect.
Rett Syndrome astrocytes disrupt neuronal activity and cerebral organoid development through transfer of dysfunctional mitochondria
Authors: Tomasello Danielle L , Barrasa M. Inmaculada , Mankus David , Alarcon Katia I , Lytton-Jean Abigail KR , Liu X. Shawn , Jaenisch Rudolf
Published: March 2023

Studies on the function of Methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2) and the consequence ofMECP2deficiency and duplication have largely focused on neurons. The function of MECP2 in human glia, along with the comprehensive understanding of glial function in neurodevelopmental disorders, is much less understood. Using female and male human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines to modelMECP2loss-of-function (LOF) in Rett Syndrome (RTT) in the developing brain, we investigated the molecular underpinnings of astrocyte (AST) development and dysfunction, and the mechanisms by which AST contribute to neuronal activity. Here we show that hESC-derived RTT ASTs have fewer mitochondria yet similar levels of reactive oxygen species compared to isogenic controls (CTR). We identified significantly diminished mitochondrial respiration that was compensated by increased glycolysis, and that the molecular mechanism behind mitochondrial dysfunction were reduced key proteins around the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and electron transport chain (ETC). We found an increased abundance of cytosolic amino acids in RTT ASTs under basal conditions that was readily depleted when energy demands were increased. We determined that RTT AST can donate their mitochondria to hESC-derived cortical neurons, and that isolated mitochondria from RTT ASTs are sufficient to cause significant changes to neuronal activity, increasing local field potentials to a hyperexcitable state. To examine mitochondrial health in the developing brain, we derived cerebral organoids. Ultrastructural analysis indicated that mitochondria from RTT hESC-derived organoids were significantly smaller compared to mitochondria from CTR organoids, indicating decreased connectivity and function, and this phenotype was stronger in glia compared to neurons. Using a multiomics epigenetics approach, we found hallmarks of RTT developmental delay and glial specific gene expression changes that corroborate altered energy metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction. Based on these results, we propose that release of dysfunctional mitochondria from RTT ASTs to neurons furthers pathophysiology of the syndrome.
PIF4 promotes water use efficiency during fluctuating light and drought resistance in rice
Authors: Liu Sushuang , Essemine Jemaa , Liu Yanmin , Liu Chundong , Zhang Feixue , Xu Zhan , Qu Mingnan
Published: March 2023

Molecular mechanism of intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) during fluctuating light (FL) was rarely understood. In this study, we investigated five parameters of iWUE under FL in 200 Minicore rice accessions. Among them, a novel trait, WUEFL(averaged iWUE during FL) has highest SNP heritability in these parameters. GWAS identifies six candidate genes, andPIF4is highly expressed in high iWUEFLrice subgroup. Nine SNPs were significantly associated with iWUEFL, and v3 SNP located at -1,075 bp ofPIF4promoter shows highest sensitives to light. Deletion of v3 in a rice cultivar, WYG7 (PIF4v3m) leads to ∼20% reduction in iWUEFL, and overexpressing PIF4 causes 25% increase in iWUEFLunder DS. There are 85% reduction in adenosine 3’,5’-diphosphate (PAP) amounts together with 73% increase inSAL1gene abundance in PIF4v3mthan WYG7. PIF4 transcriptionally repress and activateSAL1andNHX1, respectively, through binding to G-box motifs of the two genes, which leads to 16% reduction and 5% increase in iWUEFLin co-overexpression rice lines ofPIF4-SAL1andPIF4-NHX1, respectively, relative toPIF4-OE under DS. We proposed that PIF4 promotes iWUEFLand stomatal adjustment via targeting the G-box motif ofSAL1andNHX1genes during FL, eventually facilitating to drought resistance.
Development of a versatile LCM-Seq method for spatial transcriptomics of fluorescently-tagged cholinergic neuron populations
Authors: Rumpler Éva , Göcz Balázs , Skrapits Katalin , Sárvári Miklós , Takács Szabolcs , Farkas Imre , Póliska Szilárd , Papp Márton , Solymosi Norbert , Hrabovszky Erik
Published: March 2023

Single-cell transcriptomics are powerful tools to define neuronal cell types based on co-expressed gene clusters. Limited RNA input in these technologies necessarily compromises transcriptome coverage and accuracy of differential expression analysis. We propose that bulk RNA-sequencing of neuronal pools defined by spatial position offers an alternative strategy to overcome these technical limitations. We report an LCM-Seq method which allows deep transcriptome profiling of fluorescently-tagged neuron populations isolated with laser-capture microdissection (LCM) from histological sections of transgenic mice. Mild formaldehyde-fixation of ZsGreen marker protein, LCM sampling of ∼300 pooled neurons, followed by RNA isolation, library preparation and RNA-sequencing with methods optimized for nanogramm amounts of moderately degraded RNA enabled us to detect ∼15,000 different transcripts in fluorescently-labeled cholinergic neuron populations. The versatile LCM-Seq method showed excellent accuracy in quantitative studies, with 2,891 transcripts expressed differentially between the spatially defined and clinically relevant cholinergic neuron populations of the caudate-putamen and medial septum.
Light-evoked deformations in rod photoreceptors, pigment epithelium and subretinal space revealed by prolonged and multilayered optoretinography
Authors: Tan Bingyao , Li Huakun , Zhuo Yueming , Han Le , Mupparapu Rajeshkumar , Nanni Davide , Barathi Veluchamy Amutha , Palanker Daniel , Schmetterer Leopold , Ling Tong
Published: March 2023

Phototransduction involves changes in concentration of ions and other solutes within photoreceptors and in subretinal space, which affect osmotic pressure and the associated water flow. Corresponding expansion and contraction of cellular layers can be imaged using optoretinography (ORG), based on phase-resolved optical coherence tomography (OCT). Until now, ORG could reliably detect only photoisomerization and phototransduction in photoreceptors, primarily in cones under very bright stimuli. By employing a novel subpixel bulk motion correction algorithm, which enabled imaging of the nanometer-scale tissue dynamics during minute-long recordings, and unsupervised learning of spatiotemporal patterns, we discovered optical signatures of the other retinal structures’ response to visual stimuli. These include inner and outer segments of rod photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium, and subretinal space in general. High sensitivity of our technique enabled detection of the retinal responses to very dim stimuli: down to 0.01% bleach level, corresponding to natural levels of scotopic illumination. We also demonstrated that with a single flash, the optoretinogram can map retinal responses across a 12°field of view, potentially replacing multifocal electroretinography, with its long acquisition time and low spatial resolution. This new technique expands the diagnostic capabilities and practical applicability of optoretinography, providing a more complete replacement of electroretinography, while combining structural and functional retinal imaging in the same OCT machine.
Microbiome-enabled genomic selection improves prediction accuracy for nitrogen-related traits in maize
Authors: Yang Zhikai , Zhao Tianjing , Cheng Hao , Yang Jinliang
Published: March 2023

Root-associated microbiomes in the rhizosphere (rhizobiomes) are increasingly known to play an important role in nutrient acquisition, stress tolerance, and disease resistance of plants. However, it remains largely unclear to what extent these rhizobiomes contribute to trait variation for different genotypes and if their inclusion in the genomic selection (GS) protocol can enhance prediction accuracy. To address these questions, we developed a microbiome-enabled GS (MEGS) method that incorporated host SNPs and ASVs (amplicon sequence variants) from plant rhizobiomes in a maize diversity panel under high and low nitrogen (N) field conditions. Our cross-validation results showed that the MEGS model significantly outperformed the conventional GS model for nearly all time-series traits related to plant growth and N responses, with an average relative improvement of 3.7%. The improvement was more pronounced under low N conditions (8.4% — 40.2% of relative improvement), consistent with the view that some beneficial microbes can enhance N nutrient uptake, particularly in low N fields. However, our study could not definitively rule out the possibility that the observed improvement is partially due to the ASVs being influenced by microenvironments. Using a high-dimensional mediation analysis method, our study has also identified microbial mediators that establish a link between plant genotype and phenotype. Some of the detected mediator microbes were previously reported to promote plant growth. The enhanced prediction accuracy of the MEGS models, demonstrated in a single environment, serves as a proof-of-concept for the potential application of microbiome-enabled plant breeding for sustainable agriculture.
Hematophagous triatomine bugs feed also on plants and express functional amylase
Authors: Da Lage Jean-Luc , Fontenelle Alice , Filée Jonathan , Merle Marie , Béranger Jean-Michel , Almeida Carlos Eduardo , Folly Ramos Elaine , Harry Myriam
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND

Blood feeding is a secondary adaptation in hematophagous bugs that ancestrally feed on plants. Many vector proteins are devoted to cope with the host’s defenses and to process the blood meal. In contrast, one can expect that some digestive enzymes devoted to phytophagous diet were lost during or after this peculiar adaptation. And yet, in many strictly hematophagous arthropods, alpha-amylases genes, coding the enzymes that digest starch from plants, are still present and transcribed, including in the blood-sucking bugRhodnius prolixusand its related speciesR. robustus(Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae). Triatominae bugs are vectors ofTrypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas’disease. Besides the parasitic human infection by the vector-borne route via an exposition to infected feces, an oral route is documented by the ingestion of contaminated food or juices made from palm fruit trees.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

We hypothesized that retaining alpha-amylase could be advantageous if the bugs happen to consume occasionally plant tissues. To this end, we surveyed hundreds of gut DNA extracts from the sylvatic speciesR. robustuscaught on palm trees to detect traces of plant meals. We found plant DNA in over 8 % of theR. robustussamples, mostly the palm treeAttalea speciosa. Moreover, we showed that theR. robustusalpha-amylase retained normal amylolytic activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Preserving alpha-amylase function could be an important way of optimally harness plant substrates, and plant feeding could be a way for bridging the gap between two blood meals. Our data indicate that plants are a common and yet underestimated food source in the wild for Triatomine.

Author Summary

Adaptation to a specific diet is often accompanied by metabolic, behavioral, physiological changes and hence by genetic changes like gene family expansion, gene losses or gains. In blood-sucking insects some adaptive features such as salivary components acting against blood clotting are known. However, it is intriguing that a digestive enzyme, alpha-amylase, which digests starch, is conserved in those animals, because blood does not contain starch nor related glucose polymers. This is the case in the blood-sucking bugs of theRhodniusgenus (Hemiptera, Reduviidae), which are vectors of the Chagas’disease, an important health issue in Latin America. In this study, we evidence for the first time that sylvatic bugsR. robustusalso consume plant tissues in the wild. We detected by PCR performed on DNA from digestive tract that a significant number of wild-caught individuals harbored plant DNA, especially fromAttaleapalm trees, on which they used to nest. We showed that the amylase enzyme is normally active on starch. We suggest plant feeding could be a way for bridging the gap between two blood meals but might not be linked to nutritional distress.
Sequence-based prediction of the solubility of peptides containing non-natural amino acids
Authors: Oeller Marc , Kang Ryan , Bolt Hannah , Gomes dos Santos Ana , Langborg Weinmann Annika , Nikitidis Antonios , Zlatoidsky Pavol , Su Wu , Czechtizky Werngard , De Maria Leonardo , Sormanni Pietro , Vendruscolo Michele
Published: March 2023

Non-natural amino acids are increasingly used as building blocks in the development of peptide-based drugs, as they expand the available chemical space to tailor function, half-life and other key properties. However, while the chemical space of modified amino acids (mAAs) is potentially vast, experimental methods for measuring the developability properties of mAA-containing peptides are expensive and time consuming. To facilitate developability programs through computational methods, we present CamSol-PTM, a method that enables the fast and reliable sequence-based prediction of the solubility of mAA-containing peptides. From a computational screening of 50,000 mAA-containing variants of three peptides, we selected five different mAAs for a total number of 30 peptide variants for experimental validation. We demonstrate the accuracy of the predictions by comparing the calculated and experimental solubility values. Our results indicate that the computational screening of mAA-containing peptides can extend by over four orders of magnitude the ability to explore the solubility chemical space of peptides. This method is available as a web server athttps://www-cohsoftware.ch.cam.ac.uk/index.php/camsolptm.
Functional trade-offs: exploring the temporal response of field margin plant communities to climate change and agricultural practices
Authors: Poinas Isis , Meynard Christine N , Fried Guillaume
Published: March 2023

Over the past decades, agricultural intensification and climate change have led to vegetation shifts. However, functional trade-offs linking traits responding to climate and farming practices are rarely analyzed, especially on large-scale empirical studies. Here we used a standardized yearly monitoring effort of agricultural field margin flora at the national scale to assess the temporal response of diversity and functional traits to variations in climate and intensity of agricultural practices. We examined temporal trends in climate (temperature, soil moisture), intensity of agricultural practices (herbicides, fertilization, margin management), plant species richness, and community-weighted means and variances of traits expected to vary both with climate and agricultural practices (e.g. seed mass, specific leaf area), across 555 sites in France between 2013 and 2021. We found clear temporal climatic trends (temperature increased while soil moisture decreased), whereas trends in agricultural practices were weak over the past decade, with only slight decreases in herbicides and margin management intensity. During the same period, functional changes in plant communities were significant, showing an increase of thermophilic species (including some Mediterranean species) with a conservative resource acquisition strategy (high stature, late and short flowering), mainly explained by climate change. The reduction in field margin management intensity (mainly mowing), also resulted in a vegetation shift towards a more conservative strategy. In contrast, there was no impact of the slight temporal changes of practices conducted within cultivated fields (herbicides, fertilization) on vegetation changes. Our findings suggest that species adapted to climate change (including Mediterranean and conservative species) have temporally increased in proportion. Importantly, we identified functional trade-offs indicating that these species are also the most vulnerable to intensive agricultural practices, as they are less adapted to high levels of resources and disturbances. We put these results into the conceptual framework of Grime’s CSR triangle and revealed a temporal decline of competitive and ruderal species in favor of stress-tolerant species better adapted to climate change. Choosing less intensive management can broaden the functional spectrum of agricultural plant communities, by maintaining the ability of stress-tolerant species selected by climate change to colonize habitats largely dominated by ruderals. Put together, these results suggest that climate change and agricultural intensification could have synergistic negative impacts on plant diversity in field margins, highlighting the need to study several biodiversity drivers at the same time in anthropized landscapes.
Implementation of augmented reality in BIM-enabled construction projects: a bibliometric literature review and a case study from China
Authors: Wang Kaiyang , Guo Fangyu , Zhou Ruijia , Qian Liang
Published: March 2023

Purpose

In recent years, augmented reality (AR) has shown its potential to assist various construction activities. Its use commonly requires additional refinement to be integrated into the building information modeling (BIM) process. Nevertheless, few studies have investigated AR implementation in BIM-enabled projects because of numerous challenges related to its implementation. This study aims to investigate the implementation of AR in construction and identify the critical mechanisms for implementing BIM-AR successfully.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed methodology was adopted for this study. First, this work presents a bibliometric analysis covering articles obtained from Scopus database published between 2000 and 2022. A sample size of 65 research papers pertinent to AR in construction was analyzed using VOSviewer software. Second, a participatory case study was conducted for a BIM-enabled project in China to gain insight into how BIM-AR implementation in construction is achieved.

Findings

The findings from the bibliometric analysis show an increasing interest in AR research within construction. The results indicate that AR research focuses on four clusters: real-time communication, project management, construction activities and education. Findings from the case study provide an empirical experience of AR application scenarios in a BIM-enabled project. Concomitantly, 15 critical success factors that influence BIM-AR implementation were finally identified and demonstrated.

Originality/value

This study provides a rich insight into the understanding and awareness of implementing AR. First, the findings are beneficial to construction practitioners and researchers because they provide a concentrated perspective of AR for emerging activities in the construction industry. Second, the results obtained from the case study could provide a useful guide for effectively implementing AR in a BIM-enabled construction project. Overall, this study may stimulate further research on AR-related studies in construction, such as BIM integration, factor analysis and construction education.
How can organizations tackle the challenge of pursuing a social mission? The role of dynamic managerial capabilities
Authors: Iglesias Ana Elisa A. , Maksimov Vladislav
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Nearly 200 Business Roundtable CEOs have recently pledged to run their companies for the long-term benefit of all of their stakeholders, including the communities where they operate. This article explores the central role of dynamic managerial capabilities in allowing organizations to fulfill their social mission, which involves fostering socioeconomic inclusion of disenfranchised members of society.

Design/methodology/approach

We draw on research in management, international business, and entrepreneurship to articulate why organizations need dynamic managerial capabilities to reconfigure organizational resources and practices for the pursuit of a social mission.

Findings

This article brings out how each dimension of dynamic managerial capabilities – human capital, social capital, and cognition may influence this pursuit. It also provides suggestions on how to develop these capabilities.

Originality/value

We contend that organizations need dynamic managerial capabilities to address the complex and dynamic interactions between the organizations and structural forces in the society perpetuating exclusion. Such capabilities are not built in but can be developed.
Environmentally specific authentic leadership and team green creative behavior based on cognitive-affective path systems
Authors: Farrukh Muhammad , Raza Ali , Rafiq Muhammad
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the role of environmentally specific authentic leadership (ESAL) and cognitive-affective path systems (team passion and goal clarity) in enhancing green creativity at the team level.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from hotel employees through a structured questionnaire.

Findings

According to the investigation of 130 teams, ESAL influences team green creative behavior (TGCB), and this link was mediated by the team environmental goal clarity (TEGC). Furthermore, the study also finds a moderating role of team environmental harmonious passion (TEHP) between the hypothesized links. Based on these findings, the study discusses theoretical and practical implications.

Practical implications

Hospitality organizations looking to encourage teams to participate in TGCB as a whole should make sure that leaders are able to express their true selves. Further, leaders should focus on developing team members’ environmental passion and awareness of their TGCB.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that summarizes the literature on ESAL, TEHP and TEGC in the new managerial framework of TGCB. The analysis also advances the creativity literature by further expanding green creativity research to the hotel/ tourism discipline and adding authentic leadership to the subtle body of predictors for green creativity at the team level.
Can engagement and performance be improved through online training on emotional intelligence? A quasi-experimental approach
Authors: Junça Silva Ana , Almeida Norton
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Online learning is an effective training strategy to help students, as one of the success factors is academic engagement. Therefore, the use of online training courses to influence academic engagement and performance in emotional intelligence learning experiences is worthy of investigation. This study explores the influence of emotional intelligence as an online training course and its impact on academic engagement and learning outcomes–performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a quasi-experimental study with two groups of participants who were randomly assigned (experimental e control) and with pretest–posttest measurements of the online training. The emotional intelligence online training (for the experimental group) was conducted during a single semester, with eight hours of training. The methodology of reflective, role-playing, case study and group work was followed. Measurements of student academic engagement and emotional intelligence were collected before (one week before the training) and after the intervention (on the last training session). Performance was measured after the intervention.

Findings

The mean scores improved for all the variables, with the differences being statistically significant. The students assessed their learning positively. The results also showed that emotional intelligence was positively related to academic engagement but not to performance. This means that emotional intelligence training was effective in increasing the academic engagement of university students.

Practical implications

The results are promising in terms of the students retaining the competencies acquired. Therefore, this type of online training is recommended for the emotional intelligence and academic engagement of future human resources professionals. Moreover, according to the results, it would be possible to use emotional intelligence training programs in schools, besides other programs, to promote the academic engagement and performance of students.

Originality/value

The design of the study provides evidence that is an added value for higher education institutions.
Sustainable business model innovation: external and internal factors on SMEs
Authors: Utaminingsih Adijati , Widowati Sri Yuni , Witjaksono E.H.
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the internal and external factors of the acceptance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to implemented sustainable business model innovations (SBMI) that depend on external factors, dynamic performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, social influence, effort expectancy, hedonic motivation and factor internal speed.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a quantitative method research project conducted through a survey of SMEs in Semarang, Central Java, from February to June 2021. SMEs that have been operated to sustainable business were chosen purposively as samples. Based on the requirement, there are 220 entities used in this study. Data analysis was conducted by using Structural Equation Model.

Findings

The results of this study provide empirical support that the factors studied affect the acceptance of SME business actors toward the implementation of SBMI. The application of this SBMI is used to design and implement a sustainable business model for SME businesses. This study has identified, explained and empirically supported the behavioral structures (composites and factors) that influence the adoption of SBMIs that are commonly available for business modeling.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of this research is the static view of the structure (construction) that influences the use or application of SBMI by SME actors which often changes over time, experience and failure.

Originality/value

This study supports the execution of sustainable innovation initiatives that have yet to be investigated at the strategic, operational and tactical levels. This is especially true when beginning a firm, because entrepreneurs encounter uncertainty while putting their plans into action at one of three levels: strategic, operational or tactical.
Assessing and improving co-creation in services: the customer-centric matrix
Authors: Chatmi Arbia , Elasri Karim , Ponsignon Frédéric
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The strategy of co-creation with customers is a fast-growing topic within the academic community, which companies are trying to master. This study aims to elucidate the range of possible co-creation strategies and identify how service firms can assess and improve co-creation to reap the most benefits.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines 13 companies from five service industries, using netnography to analyse how they approach co-creation. The firms’ co-creation strategy is analysed according to the forms of co-creation they choose and the type of activities involved in the value chain, primary, support and corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Findings

This study identifies three co-creation axes (C3) for companies: primary activities, support activities and CSR activities. Then, four levels of customer involvement (A4) are defined as follows: levels zero (await), one (advise), two (assist) and three (act). As such, this study positions firms according to the A4C3 customer-centric matrix.

Practical implications

In this co-creation benchmark, firms should use the A4C3 customer-centric matrix to understand their positions vis-à-vis competitors. This allows firms to establish an appropriate co-creation strategy for their services so that customers are the actors in their personalised service.

Originality/value

This study is the first to propose a framework through which a company can identify three types of co-creation activities (primary, secondary, CSR; C3), using it to increase co-creation and draw inspiration from other companies.
Urban Vietnamese consumers’ preferences for attributes of sustainably produced rice
Authors: Trang Nguyen Thuy , Kopp Steven W. , Tu Vo Hong , Yabe Mitsuyasu
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of the present research is to examine the comparative values that urban Vietnamese consumers place on attributes of rice that is produced using environmentally friendly methods. The authors consider the impacts that this may have on the livelihoods of rural Vietnamese small farmers. Rice is an “impure public good” that includes both “private” and “public” attributes that consumers consider in their purchase decisions. Consumers make tradeoffs between environmentally and socially beneficial practices (public goods) and perceptions of product quality (private goods). The authors used latent class modeling to investigate the values associated with attributes of rice that is produced using sustainable farming practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a discrete choice experimental design in which consumers stated their choices among combinations of rice attributes. The survey provided responses from 360 urban Vietnamese consumers and allowed to estimate the preferences and nonpecuniary values for rice grown using different levels of environmentally beneficial production methods.

Findings

The results identify two segments of rice consumers: one group of consumers who are sensitive to price and the other group who are sensitive to environmental issues. The individual characteristics are reflected in the choices of production methods and in the willingness to pay for environmentally beneficial outcomes of those methods.

Research limitations/implications

Given the number of independent variables measured, the sample was relatively small, such that confirmatory statistical methods were inconclusive. However, the authors used multiple analytical tools that provide corroboration of the significant determinants of the utility functions for the two segments.

Practical implications

The results provide directions for production of rice at a national level, as well as practical implications for consumer-oriented communications.

Social implications

Results suggest that the emerging middle class of Vietnamese consumers are willing to pay more for rice that is produced using methods that are beneficial to the environment. Results also indicate challenges to provide sustainably-produced rice to poorer groups of consumers.

Originality/value

The study provides important context for consumer preferences within emerging economies. This also adds to a growing literature that uses the choice experiment method to estimate consumer valuation of the outcomes of various agricultural practices.
Audit partner tenure and earnings management: evidence from Vietnam
Authors: Tran Tan Thi Giang , Nguyen Tri Tri , Pham Bich Thi Ngoc , Tran Phuong Thi Thu
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between audit partner tenure and earnings management of companies listed on Vietnamese stock exchanges.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a sample of 1,363 observations from 2016 to 2019. This study manually collects data on audit partner tenure. Using Datastream financial data, this study calculates abnormal accruals using the modified-Jones models (Jones, 1991; Dechow et al., 1995; Kothari et al., 2005), which are used as the proxy for earnings management. This study runs Ordinary Least Squares regressions to test this study’s hypothesis.

Findings

The results show that audit partner tenure is positively related to abnormal accruals. Cross-sectional analyses indicate that the relationship between audit partner tenure and abnormal accruals is more pronounced for firms that are audited by non-Big Four auditors and for firms that have chief executive officer-chairperson duality, suggesting that weak corporate governance is a channel for the established relationship. The evidence also shows that audit partner tenure is negatively associated with the magnitude of income-decreasing accruals but has no relationship with income-increasing accruals. This study’s findings are robust for several tests, including using the propensity score matching approach.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to provide evidence of the relationship between audit partner tenure and earnings management in Vietnam.