bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A multi-transcriptomics approach reveals the coordinated action of the endoribonuclease DNE1 and the decapping machinery in orchestrating mRNA decay
Authors: Pouclet Aude , Pflieger David , Merret Rémy , Carpentier Marie-Christine , Schiaffini Marlene , Zuber Hélène , Gagliardi Dominique , Garcia Damien
Published: February 2024

Decapping is a crucial step of mRNA degradation in eucaryotes and requires the formation of the holoenzyme complex between the decapping enzyme DCP2 and the decapping enhancer DCP1. In Arabidopsis, we recently identified DNE1, a NYN domain endoribonuclease, as a direct protein partner of DCP1. The function of both DNE1 and decapping are necessary to maintain phyllotaxis, the regularity of organ emergence in the apex. In this study we combinedin vivomRNA editing, RNA degradome, transcriptomics and small RNA-omics to identify targets of DNE1 and study how DNE1 and DCP2 cooperate in controlling mRNA fate. Our data reveal that DNE1 mainly contacts and cleaves mRNAs in the CDS and has sequence cleavage preferences. We found that DNE1 targets are also degraded through decapping, and that both RNA degradation pathways influence the production of mRNA-derived siRNAs. Finally, we detected mRNA features enriched in DNE1 targets including RNA G-quadruplexes and translated upstream-ORFs. Combining these four complementary high-throughput sequencing strategies greatly expands the range of DNE1 targets and allowed us to build a conceptual framework describing the influence of DNE1 and decapping on mRNA fate. These data will be crucial to unveil the specificity of DNE1 action and understand its importance for developmental patterning.
Variation of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus content in fungi reflects their ecology and phylogeny
Authors: Pánek Matěj , Vlková Tereza , Michalová Tereza , Borovička Jan , Tedersoo Leho , Adamczyk Bartosz , Baldrian Petr , Lopéz-Mondéjar Rubén
Published: February 2024

Fungi are an integral part of the nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in trophic networks, as they participate in biomass decomposition and facilitate plant nutrition through root symbioses. Nutrient content varies considerably between the main fungal habitats, such as soil, plant litter or decomposing dead wood, but there are also large differences within habitats. While some soils are heavily loaded with N, others are limited by N or P. One way in which nutrient availability can be reflected in fungi is their content in biomass. In this study, we determined the C, N, and P content (in dry mass) of sporocarps of 214 fungal species to inspect how phylogeny and membership in ecological guilds (soil saprotrophs, wood saprotrophs, and ectomycorrhizal fungi) affect the nutrient content of fungal biomass. The C content of sporocarps (415 ± 25 mg g-1) showed little variation (324-494 mg g-1), while the range of N (46 ± 20 mg g-1) and P (5.5 ± 3.0 mg g-1) contents was within one order of magnitude (8-103 mg g-1and 1.0-18.9 mg g-1, respectively). Importantly, the N and P contents were significantly higher in the biomass of soil saprotrophic fungi compared to wood saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal fungi. While the average C/N ratio in fungal biomass was 11.2, values exceeding 40 were recorded for some fungi living on dead wood, typically characterized by low N content. The N and P content of fungal mycelium also showed a significant phylogenetic signal, with differences in nutrient content being relatively low within species and genera of fungi. A strong correlation was found between N and P content in fungal biomass, while the correlation of N content and the N-containing fungal cell wall biopolymer – chitin showed only weak significance. The content of macronutrients in fungal biomass is influenced by the fungal life style and nutrient availability and is also limited by phylogeny.
Host lipids regulate multicellular behavior of a predator of a human pathogen
Authors: Kidner Ria Q. , Goldstone Eleanor B. , Laidemitt Martina R. , Sanchez Melissa C. , Gerdt Catherine , Brokaw Lorin P. , Ros-Rocher Núria , Morris Jamie , Davidson W. Sean , Gerdt Joseph P.
Published: February 2024

As symbionts of animals, microbial eukaryotes benefit and harm their hosts in myriad ways. A model microeukaryote (Capsaspora owczarzaki) is a symbiont ofBiomphalaria glabratasnails and may prevent transmission of parasitic schistosomes from snails to humans. However, it is unclear which host factors determineCapsaspora’s ability to colonize snails. Here, we discovered thatCapsasporaforms multicellular aggregates when exposed to snail hemolymph. We identified a molecular cue for aggregation: a hemolymph-derived phosphatidylcholine, which becomes elevated in schistosome-infected snails. Therefore,Capsasporaaggregation may be a response to the physiological state of its host, and it may determine its ability to colonize snails and exclude parasitic schistosomes. Furthermore,Capsasporais an evolutionary model organism whose aggregation may be ancestral to animals. This discovery, that a prevalent lipid inducesCapsasporamulticellularity, suggests that this aggregation phenotype may be ancient. Additionally, the specific lipid will be a useful tool for further aggregation studies.
Bacterium secretes chemical inhibitor that sensitizes competitor to bacteriophage infection
Authors: Zang Zhiyu , Zhang Chengqian , Park Kyoung Jin , Schwartz Daniel A. , Podicheti Ram , Lennon Jay T. , Gerdt Joseph P.
Published: February 2024

To overtake competitors, microbes produce and secrete secondary metabolites that kill neighboring cells and sequester nutrients. This natural product-mediated competition likely evolved in complex microbial communities that included viral pathogens. From this ecological context, we hypothesized that microbes secrete metabolites that “weaponize” natural pathogens (i.e., bacteriophages) to lyse their competitors. Indeed, we discovered a bacterial secondary metabolite that sensitizes other bacteria to phage infection. We found that this metabolite provides the producer (aStreptomycessp.) with a fitness advantage over its competitor (Bacillus subtilis) by promoting phage infection. The phage-promoting metabolite, coelichelin, sensitizedB. subtilisto a wide panel of lytic phages, and it did so by preventing the early stages of sporulation through iron sequestration. Beyond coelichelin, other natural products may provide phage-mediated competitive advantages to their producers—either by inhibiting sporulation or through yet-unknown mechanisms.
High density linkage to physical mapping in a unique Tall x Dwarf Coconut (Cocos nuciferaL.) outbred F2uncovers a major QTL for flowering time colocalized with theFLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)
Authors: Grattapaglia Dario , Alves Wellington Bruno dos Santos , Pacheco Cleso Antônio Patto
Published: February 2024

Introduction

The coconut tree crop (Cocos nuciferaL.) provides vital resources for millions of people worldwide. Coconut germplasm is largely classified into ‘Tall’ (Typica) and ‘Dwarf’ (Nana) types. While Tall coconuts are outcrossing, more productive, stress tolerant and late flowering, Dwarf coconut are inbred, flower early with a high rate of bunch emission. Precocity determines earlier production of a plantation and facilitates management and harvest.

Methods

We used a unique outbred F2population generated by intercrossing F1hybrids between Brazilian Green Dwarf from Jiqui (BGDJ) and West African Tall (WAT) cultivars. SNP markers fixed for alternative alleles in the two varieties, segregating in an F2configuration were used to build a high-density linkage map with ∼3,000 SNPs, anchored to the existing chromosome-level genome assemblies, and a QTL mapping analysis was carried out.

Results

The linkage map established the chromosomes numbering correspondence between the two reference genome versions and the relationship between recombination rate, physical distance and gene density in the coconut genomes. Leveraging the strong segregation for precocity inherited from the Dwarf cultivar in the F2, a major effect QTL with incomplete dominance was mapped for flowering time.FLOWERING LOCUS T(FT) gene homologs of coconut previously described as putatively involved in flowering time by alternative splice variant analysis, were colocalized within a ∼200kb window of the major effect QTL (LOD=11.86).

Discussion

Our work provides strong phenotype-based evidence for the role of the FT locus as the putative underlying functional variant for the flowering time difference between Dwarf and Tall coconuts. Major effect QTLs were also detected for developmental traits of the palm, plausibly suggesting pleiotropism of theFTlocus for other precocity traits. Haplotypes of the two SNPs flanking the flowering time QTL inherited from the Dwarf parent BGDJ caused a reduction in the time to flower of around 400 days. These SNPs could be used for high throughput marker assisted selection of early flowering and higher productivity recombinant lines, providing innovative genetic material to the coconut industry.
Modular mechanisms of immune priming and growth inhibition mediated by plant effector-triggered immunity
Authors: Chhillar Himanshu , Yeh Pei-Min , Nguyen Hoang Hung , Jones Jonathan DG , Ding Pingtao
Published: February 2024

Excessive activation of effector-triggered immunity (ETI) in plants inhibits plant growth and activates cell death. ETI mediated by intracellular Toll/Interleukin-1 receptor/Resistance protein (TIR) nucleotide-binding leucine-rich-repeat receptors (NLRs) involves two partially redundant signalling nodes in Arabidopsis, EDS1-PAD4-ADR1 and EDS1-SAG101-NRG1. Genetic and transcriptomic analyses show that EDS1-PAD4-ADR1 primarily enhances the immune component abundance and is critical for limiting pathogen growth, whereas EDS1-SAG101-NRG1 mainly activates the hypersensitive cell death response (HR) but is dispensable for immune priming. This study enhances our understanding of the distinct contributions of these two signalling modules to ETI and suggests potential strategies for improving disease resistance in crops without compromising yield.
Leveraging genomics and temporal high-throughput phenotyping to enhance association mapping and yield prediction in sesame
Authors: Sabag Idan , Bi Ye , Sahoo Maitreya Mohan , Herrmann Ittai , Morota Gota , Peleg Zvi
Published: February 2024

Sesame (Sesamum indicum) is an important oilseed crop with rising demand due to its high oil quality. To meet these future demands, there is an urgent need to develop and integrate new breeding strategies. While genomic resources have advanced genetic research in sesame, implementation of high-throughput phenotyping and genetic analysis of longitudinal traits remains limited. Here, we combined high-throughput phenotyping and random regression models to investigate the dynamics of plant height, leaf area index, and five spectral vegetation indices throughout the sesame growing seasons in a diversity panel. Modeling the temporal phenotypic and additive genetic trajectories revealed distinct patterns corresponding to the sesame growth cycle. We also conducted longitudinal genomic prediction and association mapping of plant height using various models and cross-validation schemes. Moderate prediction accuracy was obtained when predicting new genotypes at each time point, and moderate to high values were obtained when forecasting future phenotypes. Association mapping revealed three genomic regions in linkage groups 6, 8, and 11 conferring trait variation over time and growth rate. Furthermore, we leveraged correlations between the temporal trait and seed-yield and applied multi-trait genomic prediction. We obtained an improvement over single-trait analysis, especially when phenotypes from earlier time points were used, highlighting the potential of using a high-throughput phenotyping platform as a selection tool. Our results shed light on the genetic control of longitudinal traits in sesame and underscore the potential of high-throughput phenotyping to detect a wide range of traits and genotypes that can inform sesame breeding efforts to enhance yield.
A shade-responsive microProtein in the ArabidopsisATHB2gene regulates elongation growth and root development
Authors: Edwards Ashleigh , Chiurazzi Maurizio Junior , Blaakmeer Anko , Vittozzi Ylenia , Sharma Ashish , Matton Sanne , Kruusvee Valdeko , Straub Daniel , Sessa Giovanna , Carabelli Monica , Morelli Giorgio , Wenkel Stephan
Published: February 2024

The ability of plants to thrive under suboptimal light conditions, such as shade, is crucial for their overall survival and reproductive success. Here, we show that Arabidopsis seedlings produce a large number of alternative transcripts when exposed to shade. Notably, one of the identified transcript candidates, which was upregulated in shade conditions, was found to be an alternative transcript of theATHB2gene. ATHB2 belongs to the HD-ZIPII class of transcription factors and is a well-established regulator of the shade avoidance response. The function of the alternative transcript and the small leucine zipper protein encoded by it, ATHB2miP, was investigated. We found that ATHB2miP is primarily expressed in the shoot meristem and interacts with full-length ATHB2 protein to inhibit its activity through a negative feedback mechanism. Deletion of the genomic region encoding the leucine zipper domain of theATHB2gene using CRISPR, resulted in plants exhibiting altered shade avoidance responses and root development. We show that the leucine zipper domain is required for dimerising and localising to nuclear photobodies. There is a significant overlap in deregulated genes between plants ectopically expressing ATHB2miP andathb2mutant plants. The analysis of gene ontology and clustering revealed that the most affected processes are auxin synthesis and signaling, root development, and iron homeostasis. Shade growth experiments at different iron concentrations revealed a role forATHB2in regulating iron uptake and showed that iron availability affects shade growth in anATHB2-dependent manner. This study identifies ATHB2miP as a novel regulator of shade avoidance responses in Arabidopsis, highlighting the intricate transcriptional regulation underlying these processes.
Dynamical chirality production in one dimension
Authors: Hayata Tomoya , Nakayama Katsumasa , Yamamoto Arata
Published: February 2024

We discuss the quantum computation of dynamical chirality production in lattice gauge theory. Although the chirality of a lattice fermion is complicated in general dimensions, it can be simply formulated on a one-dimensional lattice. The chiral fermion formalism enables us to extract the physical part of the chirality production that would be interpreted as the chiral anomaly in the continuous theory. We demonstrate the computation of the Z2 lattice gauge theory on a classical emulator.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Creating kinks with quantum mediation
Authors: Albayrak Omer , Vachaspati Tanmay
Published: February 2024

We consider the creation of kink-antikink pairs of a scalar field ϕ by the scattering of classical wave packets of a second scalar field ψ when there are no direct interactions between ϕ and ψ. The creation becomes possible only due to a quantum field that interacts with both ϕ and ψ. We scan parameter space and find it favorable for kink production when the initial wave packets have large total energy and wide spatial extent but scatter at low velocities.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Incompatibility of gravity theories with auxiliary fields with the standard model
Authors: Ventagli Giulia , Pani Paolo , Sotiriou Thomas P.
Published: February 2024

Theories of gravity with auxiliary fields are of particular interest since they are able to circumvent Lovelock’s theorem while avoiding the introduction of new degrees of freedom. This type of theories introduces derivatives of the stress-energy tensor in the modified Einstein equation. This peculiar structure of the field equations was shown to lead to spacetime singularities on the surface of stars. Here we focus on yet another problem afflicting gravity theories with auxiliary fields. We show that such theories can generically introduce parametrically large deviations to the Standard Model unless one severely constrains the parameters of the theory, preventing them to produce significant phenomenology at large scales. We first consider the specific case of Palatini f(R) gravity, to clarify the results previously obtained in Ref. [1]. We show that the matter fields satisfy the Standard Model field equations which reduce to those predicted by general relativity in the local frame only at tree level, whereas at higher orders in perturbation theory they are affected by corrections that percolate from the gravity sector regardless of the specific f(R) model considered. Finally, we show that this is a more general issue affecting theories with auxiliary fields connected to the same terms responsible for the appearance of surface singularities.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Gamma-ray lines in 15 years of Fermi-LAT data: New constraints on Higgs portal dark matter
Authors: De La Torre Luque Pedro , Smirnov Juri , Linden Tim
Published: February 2024

Monoenergetic γ-ray spectral lines are among the cleanest signatures of dark matter annihilation. We analyze 15 years of Fermi-LAT data, find no spectral lines, and place strong constraints on dark matter annihilation to monoenergetic γ-rays. Additionally, we produce the first double-line analysis of the coupled signals from γγ and Zγ lines, which proves particularly powerful for dark matter masses above ∼150  GeV. From our constraints on a double-line feature, we investigate and constrain some minimal models where the Galactic Center Excess can be fit by dark matter annihilation through the Higgs boson into Standard Model particles.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Finite-Time Lyapunov Exponents of Deep Neural Networks
Authors: Storm L. , Linander H. , Bec J. , Gustavsson K. , Mehlig B.
Published: February 2024

We compute how small input perturbations affect the output of deep neural networks, exploring an analogy between deep feed-forward networks and dynamical systems, where the growth or decay of local perturbations is characterized by finite-time Lyapunov exponents. We show that the maximal exponent forms geometrical structures in input space, akin to coherent structures in dynamical systems. Ridges of large positive exponents divide input space into different regions that the network associates with different classes. These ridges visualize the geometry that deep networks construct in input space, shedding light on the fundamental mechanisms underlying their learning capabilities.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Hydrodynamics of quantum vortices on a closed surface
Authors: Xiong Yanqi , Yu Xiaoquan
Published: February 2024

We develop a neutral vortex fluid theory on closed surfaces with zero genus. The theory describes collective dynamics of many well-separated quantum vortices in a superfluid confined on a closed surface. Comparing to the case on a plane, the covariant vortex fluid equation on a curved surface contains an additional term proportional to Gaussian curvature multiplying the circulation quantum. This term describes the coupling between topological defects and curvature in the macroscopic level. For a sphere, the simplest nontrivial stationary vortex flow is obtained analytically and this flow is analogous to the celebrated zonal Rossby-Haurwitz wave in classical fluids on a nonrotating sphere. For this flow the difference between the coarse-grained vortex velocity field and the fluid velocity field generated by vortices is solely driven by curvature and vanishes in the corresponding vortex flow on a plane when the radius of the sphere goes to infinity.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Angle-resolved X-ray emission spectroscopy facility realized by an innovative spectrometer rotation mechanism at SPring-8 BL07LSU
Authors: Miyawaki Jun , Kosegawa Yuka , Harada Yoshihisa
Published: February 2024

The X-ray emission spectrometer at SPring-8 BL07LSU has recently been upgraded with advanced modifications that enable the rotation of the spectrometer with respect to the scattering angle. This major upgrade allows the scattering angle to be flexibly changed within the range of 45–135°, which considerably simplifies the measurement of angle-resolved X-ray emission spectroscopy. To accomplish the rotation system, a sophisticated sample chamber and a highly precise spectrometer rotation mechanism have been developed. The sample chamber has a specially designed combination of three rotary stages that can smoothly move the connection flange along the wide scattering angle without breaking the vacuum. In addition, the spectrometer is rotated by sliding on a flat metal surface, ensuring exceptionally high accuracy in rotation and eliminating the need for any further adjustments during rotation. A control system that integrates the sample chamber and rotation mechanism to automate the measurement of angle-resolved X-ray emission spectroscopy has also been developed. This automation substantially streamlines the process of measuring angle-resolved spectra, making it far easier than ever before. Furthermore, the upgraded X-ray emission spectrometer can now also be utilized in diffraction experiments, providing even greater versatility to our research capabilities.
Image registration for in situ X-ray nano-imaging of a composite battery cathode with deformation
Authors: Su Bo , Qian Guannan , Gao Ruoyang , Tao Fen , Zhang Ling , Du Guohao , Deng Biao , Pianetta Piero , Liu Yijin
Published: February 2024

The structural and chemical evolution of battery electrodes at the nanoscale plays an important role in affecting the cell performance. Nano-resolution X-ray microscopy has been demonstrated as a powerful technique for characterizing the evolution of battery electrodes under operating conditions with sensitivity to their morphology, compositional distribution and redox heterogeneity. In real-world batteries, the electrode could deform upon battery operation, causing challenges for the image registration which is necessary for several experimental modalities, e.g. XANES imaging. To address this challenge, this work develops a deep-learning-based method for automatic particle identification and tracking. This approach was not only able to facilitate image registration with good robustness but also allowed quantification of the degree of sample deformation. The effectiveness of the method was first demonstrated using synthetic datasets with known ground truth. The method was then applied to an experimental dataset collected on an operating lithium battery cell, revealing a high degree of intra- and interparticle chemical complexity in operating batteries.
Lessons learned for infodemics management in future health crises by studying the fear of COVID-19 impact on health information seeking of general population
Authors: Kostagiolas Petros , Platis Charalampos , Belitsas Alkeviadis , Psomiadi Maria Elisavet , Niakas Dimitris
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The higher-level aim of this study is to investigate the impact of health information needs satisfaction on the fear of COVID-19 for the general population. The investigation is theoretically grounded on Wilsons’ model of information seeking in the context of inquesting the reasons for seeking health information as well as the information sources the general population deploy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional survey examines the correlations between health information seeking behavior and the COVID-19 generated fear in the general population through the application of a specially designed structured questionnaire which was distributed online. The questionnaire comprised four main distinct research dimensions (i.e. information needs, information sources, obstacles when seeking information and COVID-19 generated fear) that present significant validity levels.

Findings

Individuals were motivated to seek COVID-related health information to cope with the pandemic generated uncertainty. Information needs satisfaction as well as digital health literacy levels is associated with the COVID-19 generated fear in the general population. Finally, a conceptual framework based on Wilsons’ macro-model for information seeking behavior was developed to illustrate information needs satisfaction during the pandemic period. These results indicate the need for incentives to enhance health information needs satisfaction appropriately.

Originality/value

The COVID-19 generated fear in the general population is studied through the information seeking behavior lenses. A well-studied theoretical model for information seeking behavior is adopted for health-related information seeking during pandemic. Finally, digital health information literacy levels are also associated with the fear of COVID-19 reported in the authors’ survey.
Consumers’ evaluation of ethical luxury advertisements: the roles of ethical consumer guilt and self-construal
Authors: Shin Hanna , Li Yan , Youn Nara
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The authors investigated the factors influencing consumer evaluations of advertisements for ethical luxury products that incorporate animal rights and protection concerns. The authors empirically examined how ethical messages influence advertisement persuasiveness through ethical consumer guilt and positively impact consumer evaluations of ethical luxury products. Furthermore, the authors explored the moderating role of consumers’ independent versus interdependent self-construals.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted four experimental studies on the interplay among ethicality, luxury brand positioning and self-construal. Moderated mediation analyses revealed that moral emotions were responsible for the effect of ethical luxury advertisements that address animal welfare on brand attitude.

Findings

Advertisement messages signaling a luxury brand’s ethical efforts increase empathy through ethical consumer guilt, thereby generating favorable attitudes toward luxury products. However, this effect is limited to consumers with independent self-construal in South Korea and the United States of America.

Originality/value

The authors offer novel insights into the roles of ethical consumer guilt and empathy in the positive effects of ethical messages from luxury brands. Furthermore, the authors identified brand type and self-construal as boundary conditions for the effects observed across different consumer groups and markets.
The effect of nutrition labels on lunch buffet consumption: a real-life experiment
Authors: Junkkari Terhi , Kantola Maija , Arjanne Leena , Luomala Harri , Hopia Anu
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study aims to increase knowledge of the ability of nutrition labels to guide consumer choices in real-life environments.

Design/methodology/approach

Food consumption and plate waste data were collected from two self-service restaurants (SSR) with different customer groups over six observation days: three control and three intervention (with nutrition labelling) periods. Study Group 1 consisted of vocational school students, mostly late adolescents (N = 1,710), and Group 2 consisted of spa hotel customers, mostly elderly (N = 1,807). In the experimental restaurants, the same food was served to the buffets during the control and intervention periods.

Findings

The nutrition label in the lunch buffet guides customers to eat fewer main foods and salads and to select healthier choices. Increased consumption of taste enhancers (salt and ketchup) was observed in the study restaurants after nutritional labelling. Nutrition labelling was associated with a reduction in plate waste among the elderly, whereas the opposite was observed among adolescents.

Originality/value

The results provide public policymakers and marketers with a better understanding of the effects of nutrition labelling on consumer behaviour. Future studies should further evaluate the effects of nutrition labelling on the overall quality of customer diets and the complex environmental, social, and psychological factors affecting food choices and plate waste accumulation in various study groups.
The impact of directors’ green experience on firm environmental information disclosure: evidence from China
Authors: Liu Zhui , Sun Xiaoxuan , Yin Yishuai
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of directors’ green experience on the disclosure of environmental information by firms. Furthermore, it investigates the mediating role of firm green culture and the moderating effect of Confucianism in this mediation process.

Design/methodology/approach

The selected sample for this study comprises the A-share listed firms from 2010 to 2020. The data on “directors’ green experiences,” “Confucianism” and “green culture” were manually collected and organized, while other data were obtained from China Stock Market & Accounting Research Database. After eliminating corporations with ST, *ST and missing data, a total of 29,419 samples were obtained. The hypotheses were tested using a multiple linear regression model, and statistical analysis was performed using Stata 16.0.

Findings

The findings of this study reveal that directors’ green experience positively influences firm environmental information disclosure, and firm green culture mediates this relationship. Moreover, Confucianism moderates the impact of directors’ green experience on firm environmental information disclosure, as well as the mediating role of green culture in the relationship between directors’ green experience and firm environmental information disclosure.

Originality/value

The disclosure of environmental information plays a significant role in promoting a firm’s environmental performance as well as its competitive advantage. While previous studies examine various factors leading to firms’ environmental information disclosure, the influence of managerial characteristics on firm environmental information disclosure has not received adequate research attention. The present study investigates the effect of directors’ green experience on environmental information disclosure, contributing to the existing literature on firms’ environmental information disclosure and managerial features. Meanwhile, it enriches the literature on firm governance and imprinting theory.
Sensemaking of sustainability in higher educational institutions through the lens of discourse analysis
Authors: Dziubaniuk Olga , Groop Catharina , Ivanova-Gongne Maria , Nyholm Monica , Gugenishvili Ilia
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the range of sustainability-related discourses by the stakeholders within a particular Finnish Higher Education Institution (HEI); interaction between the discourses and the context of the HEI; and the extent to which different understandings of sustainability cause challenges for the implementation of the university strategy for sustainability. Specifically, the paper explores how the employees within the HEI make sense of sustainability in their teaching, research and daily life and the extent to which sustainability-related discourses are aligned with the university strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

This research draws upon collected qualitative and quantitative data. It focuses on individual discourses by executives, teaching and research staff within an HEI regarding their understandings of sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Findings

This paper illustrates the key challenges of sustainability and SDG implementation that may emerge in HEIs due to varied understandings. The results indicate a need for efficient HEI strategic vision communication and consideration of the stakeholders’ multiplicity of sustainability values.

Originality/value

This paper sheds light on the challenges involved in seeking to enhance sustainable development in an academic setting with multiple disciplines and categories of staff guided by academic freedom. The analysis thus advances the understanding of academic sustainability-related discourses and framings as well as mechanisms through which the implementation of sustainability-related efforts can be enhanced in such a context.
SLAM-RAMU: 3D LiDAR-IMU lifelong SLAM with relocalization and autonomous map updating for accurate and reliable navigation
Authors: Chen Bushi , Zhong Xunyu , Xie Han , Peng Pengfei , Hu Huosheng , Zhong Xungao , Liu Qiang
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) play a crucial role in industrial and service fields. The paper aims to build a LiDAR-based simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) system used by AMRs to overcome challenges in dynamic and changing environments.

Design/methodology/approach

This research introduces SLAM-RAMU, a lifelong SLAM system that addresses these challenges by providing precise and consistent relocalization and autonomous map updating (RAMU). During the mapping process, local odometry is obtained using iterative error state Kalman filtering, while back-end loop detection and global pose graph optimization are used for accurate trajectory correction. In addition, a fast point cloud segmentation module is incorporated to robustly distinguish between floor, walls and roof in the environment. The segmented point clouds are then used to generate a 2.5D grid map, with particular emphasis on floor detection to filter the prior map and eliminate dynamic artifacts. In the positioning process, an initial pose alignment method is designed, which combines 2D branch-and-bound search with 3D iterative closest point registration. This method ensures high accuracy even in scenes with similar characteristics. Subsequently, scan-to-map registration is performed using the segmented point cloud on the prior map. The system also includes a map updating module that takes into account historical point cloud segmentation results. It selectively incorporates or excludes new point cloud data to ensure consistent reflection of the real environment in the map.

Findings

The performance of the SLAM-RAMU system was evaluated in real-world environments and compared against state-of-the-art (SOTA) methods. The results demonstrate that SLAM-RAMU achieves higher mapping quality and relocalization accuracy and exhibits robustness against dynamic obstacles and environmental changes.

Originality/value

Compared to other SOTA methods in simulation and real environments, SLAM-RAMU showed higher mapping quality, faster initial aligning speed and higher repeated localization accuracy.
Big data innovation and implementation in projects teams: towards a SEM approach to conflict prevention
Authors: Owolabi Hakeem A. , Oyedele Azeez A. , Oyedele Lukumon , Alaka Hafiz , Olawale Oladimeji , Aju Oluseyi , Akanbi Lukman , Ganiyu Sikiru
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Despite an enormous body of literature on conflict management, intra-group conflicts vis-à-vis team performance, there is currently no study investigating the conflict prevention approach to handling innovation-induced conflicts that may hinder smooth implementation of big data technology in project teams.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses constructs from conflict theory, and team power relations to develop an explanatory framework. The study proceeded to formulate theoretical hypotheses from task-conflict, process-conflict, relationship and team power conflict. The hypotheses were tested using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) to understand key preventive measures that can encourage conflict prevention in project teams when implementing big data technology.

Findings

Results from the structural model validated six out of seven theoretical hypotheses and identified Relationship Conflict Prevention as the most important factor for promoting smooth implementation of Big Data Analytics technology in project teams. This is followed by power-conflict prevention, prevention of task disputes and prevention of Process conflicts respectively. Results also show that relationship and power conflicts interact on the one hand, while task and relationship conflict prevention also interact on the other hand, thus, suggesting the prevention of one of the conflicts could minimise the outbreak of the other.

Research limitations/implications

The study has been conducted within the context of big data adoption in a project-based work environment and the need to prevent innovation-induced conflicts in teams. Similarly, the research participants examined are stakeholders within UK projected-based organisations.

Practical implications

The study urges organisations wishing to embrace big data innovation to evolve a multipronged approach for facilitating smooth implementation through prevention of conflicts among project frontlines. This study urges organisations to anticipate both subtle and overt frictions that can undermine relationships and team dynamics, effective task performance, derail processes and create unhealthy rivalry that undermines cooperation and collaboration in the team.

Social implications

The study also addresses the uncertainty and disruption that big data technology presents to employees in teams and explore conflict prevention measure which can be used to mitigate such in project teams.

Originality/value

The study proposes a Structural Model for establishing conflict prevention strategies in project teams through a multidimensional framework that combines constructs like team power conflict, process, relationship and task conflicts; to encourage Big Data implementation.
The effect of online company responses on app review quality
Authors: Su Qiuli , Namin Aidin , Ketron Seth
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate textual characteristics of customer reviews that motivate companies to respond (sentiment negativity and sentiment deviation) and how aspects of these company responses (response intensity, length and tailoring) affect subsequent customer review quality (comprehensiveness and readability) over time.

Design/methodology/approach

Leveraging a large data set from a leading app website (Shopify), the authors combine text mining, natural language processing (NLP) and big data analysis to examine the antecedents and outcomes of online company responses to reviews.

Findings

This study finds that companies are more likely to respond to reviews with more negative sentiment and higher sentiment deviation scores. Furthermore, while longer company responses improve review comprehensiveness over time, they do not have a significant influence on review readability; meanwhile, more tailored company responses improve readability but not comprehensiveness over time. In addition, the intensity (volume) of company responses does not affect subsequent review quality in either comprehensiveness or readability.

Originality/value

This paper expands on the understanding of online company responses within the digital marketplace – specifically, apps – and provides a new and broader perspective on the motivations and effects of online company responses to customer reviews. The study also extends beyond the short-term focus of prior works and adds to literature on long-term effects of online company responses to subsequent reviews. The findings provide valuable insights for companies (especially those with apps) to enhance their online communication strategies and customer engagement.
“Thriving at work” or not? Research on the effects of performance pressure based on achievement motivation theory and two-factor theory
Authors: He Qi , Fu Jingtao , Wu Wenhao , Feng Siqi
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Based on achievement motivation theory and two-factor theory, this research aimed to synergize cooperative goal interdependence (refer to possessing incentive factors) and illegitimate tasks (refer to the absence of security factors) and build a triple interaction model in the process of performance pressure affecting employees’ thriving at work.

Design/methodology/approach

This research collected 291 valid data through a two-point time-lagged method to test the direct effect of performance pressure on employees’ thriving at work and its moderating mechanism.

Findings

Performance pressure has a significant positive effect on employees’ thriving at work. Cooperative goal interdependence imposes an enhanced moderating effect between performance pressure and employees’ thriving at work. Illegitimate task imposes an interfering moderating effect between performance pressure and employees’ thriving at work and further interferes the enhanced moderating effect of cooperative goal interdependence.

Practical implications

Under the premise of advocating for employees to internalize performance pressure originating from the organizational performance management system into their own achievement motivation, leaders should establish incentive systems and security systems for employees to realize self-achievement through the process of goal management and task management.

Originality/value

This research confirmed the joint determination of incentive effect and insecurity effect on employees’ achievement motivation by cooperative goal interdependence and illegitimate task and revealed the boundary conditions of employees’ choice of thriving at work.
Waqf for accelerating socioeconomic development: a proposed model with focus on Pakistan
Authors: Ayub Muhammad , Khan Khurram , Khan Mansoor , Ismail Muhammad
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The unique institution of waqf that was ignored during the colonization of the Muslim areas has to be revived to play its role in shared growth, social inclusion and cohesion in society. This research paper aims to explore the role of waqf as an instrument for a sustainable growth system and to suggest a model for socioeconomic development in an economy like that of Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative research is based on analytical methods to arrive at the frameworks and a model that could facilitate the revival of waqf for community development/social inclusion in economies like that of Pakistan.

Findings

As most of the OIC member states like Pakistan are facing serious financial problems due to debt servicing obligations, promoting Waqf for various socioeconomic and cultural functions is a vital requirement for such economies. The inability of the state institutions in providing necessary civic, health and education facilities to the public is causing serious harm to the balance of the society. It requires promoting a formal system of charity and using FinTech for waqf-based donations and financing the micro businesses. The perpetuity complimented by the profitability of the waqf properties makes the waqf institutions sustainable and effective when compared to individual charities.

Research limitations/implications

This is conceptual research discussing the potential of waqf in light of its historical role. Researchers may undertake empirical studies on awqaf operations in various jurisdictions and their role in the empowerment of the poor.

Practical implications

The research will provide the researchers with insight into the potential of waqf as a tool for community development. Besides, it will enable policymakers and implementation authorities to socialize charity for sustained benefits and welfare.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first major research that discusses the role of waqf in economies facing budgetary and trade deficits in the eradication of poverty and the promotion of social and economic entrepreneurship in realizing the community development targets for the economies like that of Pakistan.
Is ‘more’ better? Testing the assumption that larger local governments are more sustainable
Authors: Drew Joseph , Miyazaki Masato , McQuestin Dana
Published: February 2024

It is commonly assumed that bigger local governments will be more financially sustainable. Indeed, public policymakers are often prompted to make boundary change decisions according to idealised structures that they assume will lead to stronger local governments. In addition, many local government regulators urge councillors to work for growth in order to become sustainable. However, the assumption that size is associated with financial sustainability has seldom been put to robust empirical test. In this work, we first explore the theoretical considerations relevant to the supposed association between size and sustainability. Following this, we employ a comprehensive 5‐year panel of data to test the association. The evidence we derive stands in stark contrast to the assumptions of many policy architects. We conclude our work with an enumeration of the surprising implications that our results point to with respect to future public policy prescriptions.

Points for practitioners

Theoretical considerations are ambiguous with respect to the assumption that larger local governments might be more financially sustainable.

A regression of a 5‐year panel of data demonstrates that larger local governments are indeedlessfinancially sustainable.

Our results suggest the need for a radical re‐appraisal of policies surrounding amalgamation, de‐amalgamation, and which local governments are most at risk of financial failure.
Feminist Corporate Social Responsibility: Reframing CSR as a Critical Force for Good
Authors: Spence Laura J. , Taylor Scott
Published: February 2024

While corporate social responsibility (CSR) research is now impressively broad, we identify fresh opportunities at the intersection of feminist and critical analysis to reframe this field as a force for good. We focus on the epistemological grounding of CSR in its potential to understand and change how managerial activity is interpreted and influenced for progressive ends. We approach this through a reading of the debate on CSR's limited practical use, to imagine a better methodological and purposeful future for CSR. This involves a different, feminist, political and ethical stance for researchers in relation to CSR as an object, to bring CSR theory and practice into alignment in order to revive its sense of purpose as a driving organizational force for good. Our change‐orientated approach is based on a reading of Judith Butler's notion of critique as praxis of values; it is politically aware, reflexive, and focused on the goal of good organization to address grand, often existential, challenges. We conclude by showing how this approach to CSR brings a more transparent way of analysing practice, requiring reflexive action on the part of those working with CSR initiatives both as practitioners and as researchers to co‐produce better futures.
Critique refigured: art, activism, and politics in post‐recession Dublin
Authors: Morningstar Natalie
Published: February 2024

This article argues that the anthropology of critique has been hampered by an implicit framing of critique as the content of knowledge rather than an orientation to knowledge about the world. It does so building on an ethnographic account of a group of critical citizens in post‐recession Dublin, Ireland. It stages a comparison between two different forms of critique of importance to them: art and activism. Contrary to the assumption that activism and detachment, and moral advocacy and empiricism, are at odds, this ethnographic comparison reveals that here the ultimate critical skill is thought to be the ability to take up different critical attitudes. Moreover, it isn't a lack of detachment but the creation of a ‘critical community’ that makes critique political. Drawing from this ethnographic instance of what counts as critique, this article thus makes a case for an anthropology of critique as itself a critical practice – one that is becoming increasingly urgent as critique as we know it has come to exhibit a hegemony of form in the social sciences and public cultures of debate.