bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vagus nerve stimulation using an endovascular electrode array
Authors: Nicolai Evan N. , Arturo Larco Jorge , Madhani Sarosh I. , Asirvatham Samuel J. , Chang Su-youne , Ludwig Kip A. , Savastano Luis E. , Worrell Gregory A.
Published: February 2023

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), which involves a surgical procedure to place electrodes directly on the vagus nerve (VN), is approved clinically for the treatment of epilepsy, depression, and to facilitate rehabilitation in stroke. VNS at surgically implanted electrodes is often limited by activation of motor nerve fibers near and within the VN that cause neck muscle contraction. In this study we investigated endovascular VNS that may allow activation of the VN at locations where the motor nerve fibers are not localized. We used endovascular electrodes within the nearby internal jugular vein (IJV) to electrically stimulate the VN while recording VN compound action potentials and neck muscle motor evoked potentials in an acute intraoperative swine experiment. We show that the stimulation electrode position within the IJV is critical for efficient activation of the VN. We also demonstrate use of fluoroscopy (cone beam CT mode) and ultrasound to determine the position of the endovascular stimulation electrode with respect to the VN and IJV. At the most effective endovascular stimulation locations tested, thresholds for VN activation were several times higher than direct stimulation of the nerve using a cuff electrode; however, this work demonstrates the feasibility of VNS with endovascular electrodes and provides tools to optimize endovascular electrode positions for VNS. The ability to stimulate the VN with endovascular electrodes creates the possibility to stimulate at VN locations that would be otherwise too invasive and at VN locations where structures such as motor nerve fibers do not exist.
The unfolded protein response of the endoplasmic reticulum protectsCaenorhabditis elegansagainst DNA damage caused by stalled replication forks
Authors: Xu Jiaming , Sabatino Brendil , Taubert Stefan
Published: February 2023

All animals must maintain genome and proteome integrity, especially when experiencing endogenous or exogenous stress. To cope, organisms have evolved sophisticated and conserved response systems: unfolded protein responses (UPRs) ensure proteostasis while DNA damage responses (DDRs) maintains genome integrity. Emerging evidence suggests that UPRs and DDRs crosstalk, but this remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that depletion of the DNA primasespri-1orpri-2, which synthesize RNA primers at replication forks and whose inactivation causes DNA damage, activates the UPR of the endoplasmic reticulum (UPR-ER) inCaenorhabditis elegans, with especially strong activation in the germline. We observed activation of both the inositol-requiring-enzyme 1 (ire-1) and the protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (pek-1) branches of the UPR-ER. Interestingly, activation of the UPR-ER output gene heat shock protein 4 (hsp-4) was partially independent of its canonical activators,ire-1and X-box binding protein (xbp-1), and instead required the third branch of the UPR-ER, activating transcription factor 6 (atf-6), suggesting functional redundancy. We further found that primase depletion specifically induces the UPR-ER, but not the distinct cytosolic or mitochondrial UPRs, suggesting that primase inactivation causes compartment-specific rather than global stress. Functionally, loss ofire-1orpek-1sensitized animals to replication stress caused by hydroxyurea. Finally, transcriptome analysis ofpri-1embryos revealed several deregulated processes that could cause UPR-ER activation, including protein glycosylation, calcium signaling, and fatty acid desaturation. Together, our data show that the UPR-ER, but not other UPRs, responds to replication fork stress and that the UPR-ER is required to alleviate this stress.
Integrating lipid metabolism, pheromone production and perception by Fruitless and Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4
Authors: Sun Jie , Liu Wen-Kan , Ellsworth Calder , Sun Qian , Pan Yu-Feng , Huang Yi-Chun , Deng Wu-Min
Published: February 2023

Sexual attraction and perception, governed by separate genetic circuits in different organs, are crucial for mating and reproductive success, yet the mechanisms of how these two aspects are integrated remain unclear. InDrosophila, the male-specific isoform of Fruitless (Fru), FruM, is known as a master neuro-regulator of innate courtship behavior to control perception of sex pheromones in sensory neurons. Here we show that the non-sex specific Fru isoform (FruCOM) is necessary for pheromone biosynthesis in hepatocyte-like oenocytes for sexual attraction. Loss of FruCOMin oenocytes resulted in adults with reduced levels of the cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), including sex pheromones, and show altered sexual attraction and reduced cuticular hydrophobicity. We further identifyHepatocyte nuclear factor 4(Hnf4) as a key target of FruCOMin directing fatty acid conversion to hydrocarbons in adult oenocytes.fru- andHnf4-depletion disrupts lipid homeostasis, resulting in a novel sex-dimorphic CHC profile, which differs fromdoublesex- andtransformer-dependent sexual dimorphism of the CHC profile. Thus, Fru couples pheromone perception and production in separate organs for precise coordination of chemosensory communication that ensures efficient mating behavior.

Teaser

Fruitless and lipid metabolism regulator HNF4 integrate pheromone biosynthesis and perception to ensure robust courtship behavior.
Intravital imaging of osteocyteαvβ3integrin dynamics with locally injectable fluorescent nanoparticles
Authors: Matthews Melia , Cook Emily , Naguib Nada , Wiesner Uli , Lewis Karl
Published: February 2023

Osteocytes are the resident mechanosensory cells in bone. They are responsible for skeletal homeostasis and adaptation to mechanical cues. Integrin proteins play an prominent role in osteocyte mechanotransduction, however the details are not well stratifiedin vivo. Intravital imaging with multiphoton microscopy presents an opportunity to study molecular level mechanobiological eventsin vivo, and could be used to study integrin dynamics in osteocytes. However, fluorescent imaging limitations with respect to excessive optical scattering and low signal to noise ratio caused by mineralized bone matrix make such investigations non-trivial. Here we demonstrate that ultra-small and bright fluorescent core-shell silica nanoparticles (<7nm diameter), known as Cornell Prime Dots (C’Dots), are well-suited for thein vivobone microenvironment and can improve intravital imaging capabilities. We report validation studies for C’Dots as a novel, locally injectedin vivoosteocyte imaging tool for both non-specific cellular uptake and for targeting integrins. The pharmacokinetics of C’Dots reveal distinct sex differences in nanoparticle cycling and clearance in osteocytes, which represents a novel topic of study in bone biology. Integrin-targeted C’Dots were used to study osteocyte integrin dynamics. To the best of our knowledge, we report here the first evidence of osteocyte integrin endocytosis and recyclingin vivo. Our results provide novel insights in osteocyte biology and will open up new lines of investigation that were previously unavailablein vivo.
Striatal enkephalin supports maintenance of conditioned cocaine reward during extinction
Authors: Matsumura Kanako , Choi In Bae , Asokan Meera , Le Nathan N. , Natividad Luis , Dobbs Lauren K.
Published: February 2023

Drug predictive cues and contexts exert powerful control over behavior and can incite drug seeking and taking. This association and the behavioral output are encoded within striatal circuits, and regulation of these circuits by G-protein coupled receptors affects cocaine-related behaviors. Here, we investigated how opioid peptides and G-protein coupled opioid receptors expressed in striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) regulate conditioned cocaine seeking. Augmenting levels of the opioid peptide enkephalin in the striatum facilitates acquisition of cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP). In contrast, opioid receptor antagonists attenuate cocaine CPP and facilitate extinction of alcohol CPP. However, whether striatal enkephalin is necessary for acquisition of cocaine CPP and maintenance during extinction remains unknown. We generated mice with a targeted deletion of enkephalin from dopamine D2-receptor expressing MSNs (D2-PenkKO) and tested them for cocaine CPP. Low striatal enkephalin levels did not attenuate acquisition or expression of CPP; however, D2-PenkKOs showed faster extinction of cocaine CPP. Single administration of the non-selective opioid receptor antagonist naloxone prior to preference testing blocked expression of CPP selectively in females, but equally between genotypes. Repeated administration of naloxone during extinction did not facilitate extinction of cocaine CPP for either genotype, but rather prevented extinction in D2-PenkKO mice. We conclude that while striatal enkephalin is not necessary for acquisition of cocaine reward, it maintains the learned association between cocaine and its predictive cues during extinction learning. Further, sex and pre-existing low striatal enkephalin levels may be important considerations for use of naloxone in treating cocaine use disorder.
Oral CBD treatment is associated with an anti-inflammatory gene expression signature in myeloid cells of people living with HIV
Authors: Marini Simone , Huber Amanda , Cash Melanie N. , Salemi Marco , Cook Robert L , Borsa Paul , Mavian Carla N.
Published: February 2023

HIV-related comorbidities appear to be related to chronic inflammation, a condition characterizing people living with HIV (PLWH). Prior work indicates that cannabidiol (CBD) might reduce inflammation; however, the genetics underpinning of this effect are not well investigated. Our main objective is to detect gene expression alterations in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from PLWH after at least one month of CBD treatment.

We analyze ∼41,000 PBMCs from three PLWH at baseline and after CBD treatment (27-60 days). We obtained a coherent signature, characterized by an anti-inflammatory activity, of differentially expressed genes in myeloid cells.

Our study shows how CBD is associated with alterations of gene expression in myeloid cells after CBD treatment.
Long-term cellular and molecular signatures of pregnancy in the adult and ageing brain
Authors: Duarte-Guterman P , Richard JE , Lieblich SE , Eid RS , Lamers Y , Galea LAM
Published: February 2023

Pregnancy is marked by brain changes to volume, structure, connectivity, some of which are long-lasting. Few studies have examined possible mechanisms of these changes or the effects of multiple pregnancies. Here, we characterized various cellular and molecular signatures of parity (nulliparous, primiparous, biparous) in the hippocampus, an important area for cognitive and emotional regulation, and in plasma.

We investigated density of neural stems cells (Sox2) and microglia (Iba-1), and levels of the postsynaptic density protein (PSD-95), cell signalling pathways, hippocampal and peripheral inflammation and the tryptophan-kynurenine (TRP-KYN) pathway, at 1 week after weaning (7 months) and in middle-age (13 months). Parity increased PSD-95 levels in both age groups and prevented the age-related decrease in neural stem cell density observed in nulliparous rats. Biparity increased cell signalling phosphoproteins (pp706sk, S6RP) and number of microglia in the dentate gyrus, regardless of age. Parity resulted in transient changes to the TRP-KYN system and peripheral inflammation. Thus, parity has lasting effects on synaptic plasticity and alters the trajectory of hippocampal aging.

Highlights

- Parity increased the postsynaptic protein PSD-95 in the hippocampus, regardless of age.

- Biparity increased microglial density and cell signalling in the hippocampus, regardless of age.

- Parity prevented the age-related decline in hippocampal neural stem cells.

- Parity transiently increased tryptophan-kynurenine pathway metabolites.

- Aging reduced plasma cytokine levels, an effect more prominent with nulliparity.
Exploring tumor-normal cross-talk with TranNet: role of the environment in tumor progression
Authors: Amgalan Bayarbaatar , Day Chi-Ping , Przytycka Teresa M.
Published: February 2023

There is a growing awareness that tumor-adjacent normal tissues used as control samples in cancer studies do not represent fully healthy tissues. Instead, they are intermediates between healthy tissues and tumors. The factors that contribute to the deviation of such control samples from healthy state include exposure to the tumor-promoting factors, tumor-related immune response, and other aspects of tumor microenvironment. Characterizing the relation between gene expression of tumor-adjacent control samples and tumors is fundamental for understanding roles of microenvironment in tumor initiation and progression, as well as for identification of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for cancers.

To address the demand, we developed and validated TranNet, a computational approach that utilizes gene expression in matched control and tumor samples to study the relation between their gene expression profiles. TranNet infers a sparse weighted bipartite graph from gene expression profiles of matched control samples to tumors. The results allow us to identify predictors (potential regulators) of this transition. To our knowledge, TranNet is the first computational method to infer such regulation.

We applied TranNet to the data of several cancer types and their matched control samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Many predictors identified by TranNet are genes associated with regulation by the tumor microenvironment as they are enriched in G-protein coupled receptor signaling, cell-to-cell communication, immune processes, and cell adhesion. Correspondingly, targets of inferred predictors are enriched in pathways related to tissue remodelling (including the epithelial-mesenchymal Transition (EMT)), immune response, and cell proliferation. This implies that the predictors are markers and potential stromal facilitators of tumor progression. Our results provide new insights for the relationships between tumor adjacent control sample, tumor and the tumor environment. Moreover, the set of predictors identified by TranNet will provide a valuable resource for future investigations.

The TranNet method was implemented in python, source codes and the data sets used for and generated during this study are available at the Github sitehttps://github.com/ncbi/TranNet.
Structural and mechanistic insight into ribosomal ITS2 RNA processing by nuclease-kinase machinery
Authors: Chen Jiyun , Chen Hong , Li Shanshan , Lin Xiaofeng , Hu Rong , Zhang Kaiming , Liu Liang
Published: February 2023

Precursor ribosomal RNA (pre-rRNA) processing is a key step in ribosome biosynthesis and involves numerous RNases. A HEPN nuclease Las1 and a polynucleotide kinase Grc3 assemble into a tetramerase responsible for rRNA maturation. Here, we report the structures of full-lengthSaccharomyces cerevisiaeandCyberlindnera jadiniiLas1-Grc3 complexes, andCyberlindnera jadiniiLas1. The Las1-Grc3 structures show that the central coiled coil domain of Las1 facilitates pre-rRNA binding and cleavage, while the Grc3 C-terminal loop motif directly binds to the HEPN active center of Las1 and regulates pre-rRNA cleavage. Structural comparison between Las1 and Las1-Grc3 complex exhibits that Grc3 binding induces conformational rearrangements of catalytic residues associated with HEPN nuclease activation. Biochemical assays identify that Las1 processes pre-rRNA at the two specific sites (C2 and C2′), which greatly facilitates rRNA maturation. Our structures and specific pre-rRNA cleavage findings provide crucial insights into the mechanism and pathway of pre-rRNA processing in ribosome biosynthesis.
The aberrant epigenome ofDNMT3B-mutated ICF1 patient iPSCs is amenable to correction, with the exception of a subset of regions with H3K4me3- and/or CTCF-based epigenetic memory
Authors: Poondi Krishnan Varsha , Morone Barbara , Toubiana Shir , Krzak Monika , Fioriniello Salvatore , Della Ragione Floriana , Strazzullo Maria , Angelini Claudia , Selig Sara , Matarazzo Maria R.
Published: February 2023

Bi-allelic hypomorphic mutations inDNMT3Bdisrupt DNA methyltransferase activity and lead to immunodeficiency, centromeric instability, facial anomalies syndrome, type 1 (ICF1). Although several ICF1 phenotypes have been linked to abnormally hypomethylated repetitive regions, the unique genomic regions responsible for the remaining disease phenotypes remain largely uncharacterized. Here we explored two ICF1 patient–derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and their CRISPR-Cas9-corrected clones to determine whetherDNMT3Bcorrection can globally overcome DNA methylation defects and related changes in the epigenome. Hypomethylated regions throughout the genome are highly comparable between ICF1 iPSCs carrying differentDNMT3Bvariants, and significantly overlap with those in ICF1 patient peripheral blood and lymphoblastoid cell lines. These regions include large CpG island domains, as well as promoters and enhancers of several lineage-specific genes, in particular immune-related, suggesting that they are premarked during early development. CRISPR-corrected ICF1 iPSCs reveal that the majority of phenotype-related hypomethylated regions reacquire normal DNA methylation levels following editing. However, at the most severely hypomethylated regions in ICF1 iPSCs, which also display the highest increases in H3K4me3 levels and/or abnormal CTCF binding, the epigenetic memory persists, and hypomethylation remains uncorrected. Overall, we demonstrate that restoring the catalytic activity of DNMT3B can reverse the majority of the aberrant ICF1 epigenome. However, a small fraction of the genome is resilient to this rescue, highlighting the challenge of reverting disease states that are due to genome-wide epigenetic perturbations. Uncovering the basis for the persistent epigenetic memory will promote the development of strategies to overcome this obstacle.
Forgetting dynamics for items of different categories
Authors: Georgiou Antonios , Katkov Mikhail , Tsodyks Misha
Published: February 2023

How the dynamic evolution of forgetting changes for different material types is unexplored. By using a common experimental paradigm with stimuli of different types, we were able to directly cross-examine the emerging dynamics and found that even though the presentation sets differ minimally by design, the obtained curves appear to fall on a discrete spectrum. We also show that the resulting curves do not depend on physical time but rather on the number of items shown. All measured curves were compatible with our previously developed mathematical model, hinting to a potential common underlying mechanism of forgetting.
Desert endophytic fungi improve reproductive, morphological, biochemical, yield and fruit quality characteristics of tomato under drought stress
Authors: Halo Boshra Ahmed , Al-Yahyai Rashid , Al-Sadi Abdullah , Al-Sibani Asma
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Crops are increasingly affected by drought; hence, the current study explored the potential role of three desert endophytic fungi, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus terreus and Talaromyces variabilis, in conferring drought tolerance in tomato plants.

Design/methodology/approach

Preserved endophytic fungi from a Rhazya stricta desert plant were adopted to obtain the required fungal treatment; tomatoes received fungal treatments directly in plastic trays and subsequently in pots. Drought was applied using 15% of PEG-6000 at two stages: flowering and fruiting. The following parameters were measured: pollen sterility, growth characteristics, morphological analysis and biochemical analysis, including proline, gibberellic acid (GA3) and chlorophyll measurements; thus, the data were analyzed statistically using SPSS software.

Findings

All applied endophytes significantly promoted pollen viability and tomato yield under stressed and nonstressed conditions. Interestingly, these endophytes significantly enhanced the number of trichomes under drought stress and promoted tomato fruit quality. The colonized tomato plants accumulated a high proline level under drought stress but lower than un-inoculated stressed plants. Also, a significant rise in growth characteristics was observed by A. fumigatus and A. terreus under normal conditions. Moreover, both raised GA3 levels under drought-stressed and nonstressed conditions. Also these two endophytes enhanced chlorophyll and carotenoid contents under drought stress. Fruit characteristics were enhanced by nonstressed T. variabilis and stressed A. fumigatus.

Originality/value

The present endophytic fungi provide impressive benefits to their host in normal and drought-stressed conditions. Consequently, they represent valuable sources as sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives to mitigate drought stress.
An efficient modeling approach of 1D-planar metamaterials in the high-frequency regime
Authors: Schiemer Melanie , Reum Thomas , Toepfer Hannes
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an alternative modeling approach in terms of the determination of a physically equivalent circuit model for one-dimensional (1D) planar metamaterials in the high-frequency regime, without a postprocessing optimization procedure. Thereby, an efficient implementation of physical relationships is aimed.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a method based on quasi-stationary simulations and mathematical conversions to derive the values for a physically equivalent circuit model is proposed. Because the electromagnetic coupling mechanisms are investigated in detail, a simplification for the considered multiconductor transmission line structure is achieved.

Findings

The results show that the proposed modeling approach is an efficient and physically meaningful alternative to classical full-wave simulation techniques for the investigated inhomogeneous transmission line structure in both the time domain as well as in the frequency domain. In the course of this, the effort is reduced while a comparable accuracy is maintained, whereby specific coupling mechanisms are considered in circuit simulations.

Originality/value

The process to obtain information about physically interpretable lumped element values for a given structure or to determine a layout for known ones is simplified with the aid of the proposed approach. An advantageous adaption of the presented procedure to other areas of application is well conceivable.
How to facilitate the educational inclusion of students with autism: learning from the experience of teachers in Spain
Authors: Muñoz-Martínez Yolanda , Simon Rueda Cecilia , Fernández-Blázquez MªLuz M.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study analyses the barriers and facilitators for the educational inclusion of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from the perspective of their teachers.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative methodology was applied, specifically a multiple case study from which 24 in-depth interviews were conducted with teachers who had worked previously with students with ASD. The participants were Spanish teachers from different educational stages (from early childhood education to baccalaureate) and with different roles (ordinary classroom teachers and support teachers).

Findings

The results show that collaboration amongst teachers, their attitudes, the way of understanding the supports, the creation of collaboration between students and the organisation of both the school and the classroom are important for the inclusion of students with ASD. The analyses and discussion of the facilitators for the inclusion of these students are especially relevant, since they provide useful guidance for teachers who want to respond to the right of these students to an inclusive education.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations and future research lines of this study are related to the logic of amplitude and depth, respectively. Regarding amplitude, the authors highlighted the importance of gathering the voices of professionals committed to the development of more inclusive practices; however, the authors also identified the need to expand the listening to the voices of teachers who do not have such experience. This raises a possible future research line: to explore how to reach teachers with no experience in inclusive education in order to contribute to the transformation of their practice.

Practical implications

There is extensive knowledge within the classrooms, which the authors aimed to demonstrate in this study, with the hope that others can learn from it. The obtained results are useful to every teacher who wishes to create an inclusive school. In agreement with the consideration of inclusive education as a process, this investigation identified strategies and resources that facilitate the learning and participation of students with ASD, as well as barriers that must be tackled to advance in this regard.

Originality/value

The authors aimed to contribute to understanding the advances in the development of the right to inclusive education. To this end, the authors gathered the voices of teachers (those from the ordinary classroom and those considered “support teachers”) from regular schools that welcome students with ASD and which had a history of commitment to the development of more inclusive education. There is extensive knowledge within the classrooms, which the authors aimed to demonstrate in this study, with the hope that others can learn from it. The obtained results are useful to every teacher who wishes to create an inclusive school.
The level of digital competencies for the provision of smart information service at academic libraries in Jordan
Authors: Hamad Faten , Al-Fadel Maha , Shehata Ahmed Maher Khafaga
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Technological advancement has forced academic libraries to change their traditional services and routines by adopting emerging technologies to respond to the changing information needs of their users who are now more technologically inclined and prefer to access information remotely and in a timely manner. Smart technologies are the recent trends in academic libraries. This research aims to investigate the level of smart information service implementation at academic libraries in Jordan. It also aimed to investigate the correlation between the level of smart information services offered by the libraries and the level of digital competencies among the library staff.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is designed using survey design to collect comprehensive information from the study participants. A questionnaire was disseminated to 340 respondents, and 246 questionnaires were returned and were suitable for analysis with a response rate of 72.4%.

Findings

The results indicated a moderate level of smart information service offered by academic libraries, as well as a moderate level of digital skills associated with the advocacy of smart information services. The results also indicated a strong and positive relationship between the level of smart information services at the investigated libraries and the level of digital competencies among the librarians.

Practical implications

The findings will help other academic libraries understand how to respond to the emergent change in users’ information-seeking behavior by understanding their available human resources competencies and the requirement to undergo this emergent change.

Originality/value

This paper provides insights and practical solutions for academic libraries in response to global information trends based on users’ behaviors. This research was conducted in Jordan as one of the developing countries and hence it provides insights of the situation there. It will help academic libraries in Jordan and the region to handle and cope with the challenges associated with technology acceptance based on its staff level of digital competencies. The contribution of this research that it was done in a developing country where progress in the filed can be considered slow because of many factors, mainly economics, where institutions focus on essential library objectives, which are information resources development and databases subscriptions.
Linking decentralization in decision-making to resilience outcomes: a supply chain orientation perspective
Authors: Adana Saban , Manuj Ila , Herburger Michael , Cevikparmak Sedat , Celik Hasan , Uvet Hasan
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Global supply chains are increasingly becoming more prone to high-impact disruptions, which has been fairly evident with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The capacity to address disruptions is essential for the survival of any organization. Coping with increasing complexity and uncertainties requires a systemic view of supply chains. Furthermore, a comprehensive understanding of the governance structure and timely decision-making are critical in times of disruptions. Although several aspects of supply chain resilience (SCRES) are broadly studied in the literature, the relationship between supply chain orientation (SCO), decentralization in decision-making and SCRES is an understudied area.

Design/methodology/approach

This study takes a longitudinal approach to address this research gap with a comprehensive meta-analytic review to explore the relationships between the constructs of interest through the lenses of contingency and dynamic capability theories. Furthermore, 2 surveys with sample sizes of 250 and 200 were conducted with supply chain professionals to test the research framework before and after the pandemic to compare the findings.

Findings

Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis indicates a positive relationship between SCO and decentralization and between decentralization and SCRES. The post-COVID-19 analysis further validates the influence of agility, collaboration and situational awareness related to decentralization and resilience. More importantly, capabilities have a higher impact on resilience during the pandemic than before.

Practical implications

The results entreat organizations to attain decentralized decision-making vis-à-vis dedicated functional teams charged with reacting timely to disruptions. The teams should be empowered to leverage their knowledge and experiences regardless of their position in the hierarchy.

Originality/value

Although SCRES is an active research stream, the structural aspects of SCRES and its relationship with SCO are understudied. Therefore, this research puts forth a research framework and empirically tests hypotheses that frame the relationship between SCO, decentralization and resilience outcomes in pre- and post-COVID environments.
Evaluating sustainability reporting on GRI standards in developing countries: a case of Pakistan
Authors: Khan Ismail , Fujimoto Yuka , Uddin Muhammad Jasim , Afridi Muhammad Asim
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine sustainability reporting through the lens of global reporting initiative (GRI) standards in developing economies, particularly in Pakistan, from the perspective of stakeholder theory, legitimacy theory, and system theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative and quantitative analyses on economic, social and environmental areas of sustainability reporting based on the GRI standards are applied across 57 organizations listed on the Pakistan stock exchange over the years 2016–2020.

Findings

The results from the content analysis and descriptive statistics show that overall sustainability reporting increased persistently over time and limited organizations disclose economic, social and environmental sustainability based on GRI standards. Moreover, the result from the two-tailed correlation analysis shows positive relations between economic, social and environmental sustainability reporting.

Research limitations/implications

Following the GRI standards, the regulators, government and policymakers need to assess the sustainability reporting based on GRI standards to improve corporate operations' transparency, stakeholder trust and legitimacy. The organizations should move beyond the compliance of regulatory norms and adopt the globally accepted sustainability GRI standards to improve sustainability reporting. The same kind of sustainability reporting is also advised for other countries with similar backgrounds and sustainability challenges.

Social implications

The integrated sustainability reporting framework based on GRI standards enables the organizations to work as a system of interconnected economic, social and environmental sustainability to resolve the issue of sustainability reporting, ensure the trust of multiple stakeholders and legitimize their business operations in society.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge and thorough review of literature, this is the first study that examines the sustainability reporting based on GRI in the developing country of Pakistan to extend the findings of previous studies from conventional sustainability reporting to the globally accepted GRI based sustainability reporting. Using system theory, this study provides an additional contribution to the consideration concerning sustainability reporting based on GRI standards in the context of Pakistan.
The mediation effect of audit committee quality and internal audit function quality on the firm size–financial reporting quality nexus
Authors: Islam Manirul , Slof John , Albitar Khaldoon
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study examines the effects of firm size on financial reporting quality (FRQ) through the mediating effects of audit committee (AC) quality and internal audit function (IAF) quality.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on data from a questionnaire survey and archival sources of non-financial companies listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the authors perform both structural equational modeling and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression to test the developed hypotheses.

Findings

Results show that the firm size is positively related to IAF quality. Firm size, AC quality and IAF quality are significantly associated with abnormal accruals (FRQ). Moreover, the authors find a mediation effect of the IAF quality on the relationship between firm size and FRQ, while no mediation effect is observed for AC quality. Thus, the study advocates companies focus on AC quality and IAF quality to enhance FRQ as it has a significant impact on corporate disclosure and investor decisions.

Research limitations/implications

First, the study is restricted to the survey questions that cover particular areas of the AC and IAF. Second, the sample selection focuses on relatively big industries in terms of the number of firms and excludes small sectors.

Practical implications

The findings provide significant implications for professionals and policymakers in making regulatory reforms and revising existing policies to improve governance monitoring performance and FRQ.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore the mediation effect of AC quality and IAF quality on firm size–FRQ nexus in a developing country.
Customer involvement in technological development of smart products: empirical evidence from a coffee-machine producer
Authors: Sabatini Andrea , Pascucci Federica , Gregori Gian Luca
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how customer involvement unfolds in the development of a smart product. Smart product development poses new challenges to firms. In particular, the buyers’ and users’ involvement has shown novel dynamics in smart product development. These peculiarities are linked with the specific characteristics of the digital technology embedded into the smart products. This study’s rationale is to analyse the frictions arising from potential divergent objectives between the focal firm and its customers when digital technologies are embedded in traditional products.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted an explorative and qualitative approach to investigate new emerging dynamics of customer involvement during technological development. A coffee machine producer is selected as a case study to uncover new insights and a novel perspective on the phenomenon of customer involvement in smart product development. Data analysis followed an abductive approach that allowed to identify the dimensions of friction emerging during the technological development process.

Findings

The case study analysis depicts that smart product development presents novel customer involvement dynamics. In particular, this study abductively identifies dimensions of friction emerging between the focal firm and buyers/users. Friction arises in the technological interface between the actors involved. These dimensions of friction address the complexities of developing technology in terms of smart products with customer involvement. This study suggests that embedding of technology into an existing product might change how customers are involved.

Originality/value

Even though customer involvement in product innovation has been extensively studied in management literature, this paper focused on a new type of innovation, smart products. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no previous studies have yet empirically explored customers’ involvement while embedding digital technologies into existing products to create smart products. In particular, this study sheds light on the dimensions of friction emerging between the focal firm and the actors of the business network. This study unfolds novel contributions to the Industrial Marketing and Purchasing literature on technological development.
Alert but somewhat unaligned: public sector organisations' social media listening strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Erkkilä Taina , Luoma-aho Vilma
Published: February 2023

Purpose

During the COVID-19 pandemic, public sector organisations produced thousands of social media messages weekly answering citizens questions and informing the public on safety related matters. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the pandemic shaped social media listening in Finland's public sector organisations and how these organisations aligned their listening and strategic communication to address emerging questions, news (real and fake) and rumours during the pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on a theoretical background from strategic communication, organisational listening, digital marketing and public sector communication, qualitative interview data included communicators (N = 14) from all central Finnish public sector organisations in charge of COVID-19 communication. Findings were themed and analysed qualitatively to understand the level of alignment of strategic communication on social media.

Findings

The findings revealed that the pandemic had strained public sector organisations' communication capabilities, forcing them to align their processes and resources reactively to enable useful content and limit false/misleading content. The results confirmed that organisational listening remained somewhat unaligned. A dual role of public sector communication as speakers but increasingly as listeners was highlighted.

Originality/value

The study’s findings point to organisational listening on social media being a central requisite for public sector organisations overcoming a crisis.
Knowledge assets, innovation ambidexterity and firm performance in knowledge-intensive companies
Authors: Asiaei Kaveh , Bontis Nick , Askari Mohammad Reza , Yaghoubi Mehdi , Barani Omid
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to build upon resource orchestration theory to theorize and empirically test a model that demonstrates how knowledge assets and innovation ambidexterity trigger a synergy in favor of firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on a survey of 158 Iranian knowledge-intensive companies, this study uses the partial least squares based on structural equation modeling to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that two elements of knowledge assets, namely, structural and relational capital, indirectly affect firm performance through the full mediation of innovation ambidexterity. The findings indicate that human capital has no relationship with both innovation ambidexterity and firm performance.

Practical implications

This study offers fresh insights into the issue of how organizations can create value from an effective orchestration of various strategic resources and capabilities, including knowledge assets and innovation ambidexterity.

Originality/value

This study applies resource orchestration theory to concurrently the areas of knowledge resources and organizational ambidexterity to show how innovation ambidexterity plays a role in translating three various knowledge assets into performance.
The influence of the two-tier network of a regional innovation system on knowledge emergence
Authors: Su Yi , Yan Yuehan
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the characteristics of a two-tier network featuring internal subject cooperation and external embedded cooperation in the context of regional innovation systems (RISs) and explore the influence of network characteristics on knowledge emergence.

Design/methodology/approach

Using social network analysis, a two-tier internal and external cooperation network of a RIS is constructed. A negative binomial regression method is used to explore the effects of the characteristics of these two-tier internal and external networks on knowledge emergence, the moderating effect of the cooperation knowledge base in this context is investigated and grouping and quantile regressions are used to conduct heterogeneity analysis.

Findings

The scale of the internal cooperation network has a positive effect on knowledge emergence, and the betweenness centralization of the internal cooperation network has an inverted U-shaped effect on knowledge emergence. The scale and structural holes of the external embedded network have an inverted U-shaped effect on knowledge emergence. Furthermore, the internal cooperation knowledge base weakens the influence of the external embedded network on knowledge emergence.

Practical implications

This research may enlighten policymakers with respect to improving the scale and structure of the RIS cooperation network and matching the embedded network based on the internal cooperation knowledge base to promote knowledge emergence.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the study of knowledge emergence by exploring the influence of a two-tier network structure and scale characteristics on knowledge emergence in RISs. This paper also extends the framework of relevant research by integrating the internal cooperation knowledge base into the analysis of externally embedded cooperation and knowledge emergence.
The next frontier of the Internet of Behaviors: data-driven nudging in smart tourism
Authors: Kwok Andrei O. J.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This conceptual study examines the implications of the Internet of Behaviors (IoB) for tourism stakeholders in a hyper-connected and data-driven world.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on nudge theory, a literature review and empirical evidence from multidisciplinary research, this study explores the implications of the IoB for smart tourism.

Findings

This study reviews the literature, presents a conceptual framework and proposes a research agenda with areas for future research.

Originality/value

The research on the IoB is nascent. Therefore, it is critical to understand how data-driven nudging influences tourist behavior.
The bright and dark side of smart working in the public sector: employees' experiences before and during COVID-19
Authors: Todisco Lucio , Tomo Andrea , Canonico Paolo , Mangia Gianluigi
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The paper aims to understand how the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) influenced public employees' perception of smart working and how this approach was used during the pandemic. The authors asked about smart working's positive and negative aspects and how these changed during the pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors explored the strengths and weaknesses of smart working before and after COVID-19. The authors interviewed 27 Italian public employees who had experienced smart working before the pandemic. The questions and discussion aimed to broadly explore the strengths and weaknesses of smart working and smart working's impact on working performance, work relationships and work–life balance (WLB).

Findings

Smart working had a widespread and positive impact on organizational flexibility. Smart working improved the response and resilience of Italian public organizations to the pandemic. However, some critical factors emerged, such as the right to disconnect and the impact on WLB.

Research limitations/implications

The authors suggest that the pandemic exposed the need for public administrations to consolidate work flexibility practices, such as smart working, by paying more attention to the impact of these practices on the whole organization and human resources management (HRM) policies and practices.

Originality/value

This study makes an important contribution to the literature on the public sector by discussing the positive and negative aspects of smart working. The study also provides managerial and policy implications of the use of smart working in public administrations.
Value activation to increase consumers' intention to purchase green apartments
Authors: Nguyen Hung Vu , Do Long Thanh , Hoang Cuong Van , Nguyen Phuong Thi Tung
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study examines the motivational forces of self-transcendence and self-enhancement values in consumers' green apartment purchase intention since the values have been seen as the key determinants of environmental beliefs and concerns that motivate pro-environmental behaviour adoption amongst consumers regardless of external barriers. Additionally, this study identifies the role of environmental content in strengthening the effects of self-transcendence value.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data were collected from 234 residents of three high-rise apartment buildings in Hanoi, Vietnam. Measure reliability and validity were tested by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) before hierarchical ordinal least squares regression (OLS) was conducted to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The research results reveal a significant positive relationship between self-transcendence value and consumers' green apartment purchase intention. However, environmental problem-related content exposure was found to weaken the effect of self-transcendence value on the purchase intention whilst the effect was reported to be strengthened by pro-environmental action-related content exposure.

Originality/value

Theoretically, this study emphasizes the importance of interaction effects between external factors and personal values in explaining consumer's decisions and behaviours. Practically, the research results provide valuable insights for marketers and developers into fostering the adoption of green building apartments amongst consumers.