bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Meta-exoproteomics identifies active plant-microbe interactions operating in the rhizosphere
Authors: Lidbury Ian D.E.A. , Raguideau Sebastien , Liu Senlin , Murphy Andrew R. J. , Stark Richard , Borsetto Chiara , Fraser Tandra , Goodall Andrew , Bottrill Andrew , Jones Alex , Bending Gary D. , Tibbet Mark , Hammond John P. , Quince Chris , Scanlan David J. , Pandhal Jagroop , Wellington Elizabeth M. H.
Published: September 2021

The advance of DNA sequencing technologies has drastically changed our perception of the complexity and structure of the plant microbiome and its role in augmenting plant health. By comparison, our ability to accurately identify the metabolically active fraction of soil microbiota and their specific functional role is relatively limited. Here, we combined our recently developed protein extraction method and an iterative bioinformatics pipeline to enable the capture and identification of extracellular proteins (meta-exoproteomics) expressed in the rhizosphere of Brassica spp. First, we validated our method in the laboratory by successfully identifying proteins related to the host plant (Brassica rapa) and a bacterial inoculant, Pseudomonas putida BIRD-1, revealing the latter expressed numerous rhizosphere specific proteins linked to the acquisition of plant-derived nutrients. Next, we analysed natural field-soil microbial communities associated with Brassica napus L (Oil Seed rape). By combining deep-sequencing metagenomics with meta-exoproteomics, a total of 1882 proteins were identified in bulk and rhizosphere samples. Importantly, meta-exoproteomics identified a clear shift (p<0.001) in the metabolically active fraction of the soil microbiota responding to the presence of B. napus roots that was not apparent in the composition of the total microbial community (metagenome). This metabolic shift was associated with the stimulation of rhizosphere-specialised bacteria, such as Gammaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria and Flavobacteriia and the upregulation of plant beneficial functions related to phosphorus and nitrogen mineralisation. By providing the first meta-proteomic level assessment of the ‘active’ plant microbiome at the field-scale, this study demonstrates the importance of moving past a genomic assessment of the plant microbiome in order to determine ecologically important plant: microbe interactions driving plant growth.
Small proline-rich proteins (SPRRs) are epidermally produced antimicrobial proteins that defend the cutaneous barrier by direct bacterial membrane disruption
Authors: Zhang Chenlu , Hu Zehan , Lone Abdul G. , Artami Methinee , Edwards Marshall , Zouboulis Christos C. , Stein Maggie , Harris-Tryon Tamia A.
Published: September 2021

Human skin functions as a physical barrier, preventing the entry of foreign pathogens while also accommodating a myriad of commensal microorganisms. A key contributor to the skin landscape is the sebaceous gland. Mice devoid of sebocytes are prone to skin infection, yet our understanding of how sebocytes function in host defense is incomplete. Here we show that the small proline-rich proteins, SPRR1 and SPRR2 are bactericidal in skin. SPRR1B and SPPR2A were induced in human sebocytes by exposure to the bacterial cell wall component lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Further, LPS injected into mouse skin triggered the expression of the mouse SPRR orthologous genes, Sprr1a and Sprr2a, through stimulation of MYD88. Both mouse and human SPRR proteins displayed potent bactericidal activity against MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and skin commensals. Thus, Sprr1a-/-;Sprr2a-/- mice are more susceptible to MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa skin infection. Lastly, mechanistic studies demonstrate that SPRR proteins exert their bactericidal activity through binding and disruption of the bacterial membrane. Taken together, these findings provide insight into the regulation and antimicrobial function of SPRR proteins in skin and how the skin defends the host against systemic infection.
High-altitude adaptation and incipient speciation in geladas
Authors: Chiou Kenneth L. , Janiak Mareike C. , Schneider-Crease India , Sen Sharmi , Ayele Ferehiwot , Chuma Idrissa S. , Knauf Sascha , Lemma Alemayehu , Signore Anthony V. , D’Ippolito Anthony M. , Abebe Belayneh , Haile Abebaw Azanaw , Kebede Fanuel , Fashing Peter J. , Nguyen Nga , McCann Colleen , Houck Marlys L. , Wall Jeffrey D. , Burrell Andrew S. , Bergey Christina M. , Rogers Jeffrey , Phillips-Conroy Jane E. , Jolly Clifford J. , Melin Amanda D. , Storz Jay F. , Lu Amy , Beehner Jacinta C. , Bergman Thore J. , Snyder-Mackler Noah
Published: September 2021

Survival at high altitude requires adapting to extreme conditions such as environmental hypoxia. To understand high-altitude adaptations in a primate, we assembled the genome of the gelada (Theropithecus gelada), an endemic Ethiopian monkey, and complemented it with population resequencing, hematological, and morphometric data. Unexpectedly, we identified a novel karyotype that may contribute to reproductive isolation between gelada populations. We also identified genomic elements including protein-coding sequences and gene families that exhibit accelerated changes in geladas and may contribute to high-altitude adaptation. Our findings lend insight into mechanisms of speciation and adaptation while providing promising avenues for functional hypoxia research.
A conserved glutamate residue in RPM1-interacting protein4 is ADP-ribosylated by Pseudomonas effector AvrRpm2 to activate RPM1-mediated response
Authors: Yoon Minsoo , Middleditch Martin , Rikkerink Erik
Published: September 2021

Gram-negative bacterial plant pathogens directly inject effectors into their hosts to hijack and manipulate metabolism, eluding the frontier surveillance at the cell surface. The effector AvrRpm1Pma from Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola functions as an ADP-ribosyl transferase, modifying RPM1-interacting protein4 (RIN4), leading to the activation of Arabidopsis resistance protein RPM1. We identified the ADP-ribosyl transferase activity of another bacterial effector AvrRpm2Psa from Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae via infection using a Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strain following Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression of RIN4 in N. benthamiana. We conducted mutational analysis in combination with mass spectrometry to genetically locate the modified residue. We show that a conserved glutamate residue (E156) of AtRIN4 is the target site for AvrRpm2Psa by demonstrating the modified AtRIN4 with E156A substitution is no longer ADP-ribosylated. Accordingly, naturally occurring soybean and snap bean RIN4 homologs with no glutamate at the positions corresponding to the E156 of AtRIN4 are not ADP-ribosylated by AvrRpm2Psa. In contrast with another effector AvrB, modifications of potential phosphorylation sites including T166 in AtRIN4 affected neither ADP-ribosylation nor RPM1 activation by AvrRpm2Psa. This study suggests that separate biochemical reactions by different pathogen effectors may trigger the activation of the same resistance protein through distinct modifications of RIN4.

One sentence summary

A conserved glutamate residue (E156) in the C-NOI domain of RPM1-interacting protein4 is ADP-ribosylated by Pseudomonas effector AvrRpm2 to activate RPM1-mediated defence response, independently of phosphorylation at T166.
Fast and interpretable non-negative matrix factorization for atlas-scale single cell data
Authors: DeBruine Zachary J. , Pospisilik J. Andrew , Triche Timothy J.
Published: September 2021

Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) is a popular method for analyzing strictly positive data due to its relatively straightforward interpretation. However, NMF has a reputation as a less efficient alternative to the singular value decomposition (SVD), a standard operation that is highly optimized in most linear algebra libraries. Sparse single-cell sequencing assays, now feasible in thousands of subjects and millions of cells, generate data matrices with tens of thousands of strictly non-negative transcript abundance entries. We present an extremely fast NMF implementation made available in the RcppML (Rcpp Machine Learning library) R package that rivals the runtimes of state-of-the-art Singular Value Decomposition (SVD). NMF can now be run quickly on desktop computers to analyze sparse single-cell datasets consisting of hundreds of thousands of cells. Our method improves upon current NMF implementations by introducing a scaling diagonal to increase interpretability, guarantee consistent regularization penalties across different random initializations, and symmetry in symmetric factorizations. We use our method to show how NMF models learned on standard log-normalized count data are interpretable dimensional reductions, describe interpretable patterns of coordinated gene activities, and explain biologically relevant metadata. We believe NMF has the potential to replace PCA in most single-cell analyses, and the presented NMF implementation overcomes previous challenges with long runtime.
Nanobody-Functionalized Cellulose for Capturing and Containing SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Sun Xin , Yang Shaobo , Al-Dossary Amal A. , Broitman Shana , Ni Yun , Yang Mengdi , Li Jiahe
Published: September 2021

The highly transmissible severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected more than 217 million people, claiming ~ 4.5 million lives to date. Although mandatory quarantines, lockdowns, and vaccinations help curb viral transmission, safe and effective preventative measures remain urgently needed. Here, we present a generic strategy for containing SARS-CoV-2 by cellulose materials. Specifically, we developed a bifunctional fusion protein consisting of a cellulose-binding domain and a nanobody (Nb) targeting the receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2. The immobilization of the fusion proteins on cellulose substrates enhanced the capture efficiency of Nbs against SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses of the wildtype and the D614G variant, the latter of which has been shown to confer higher infectivity. Furthermore, the fusion protein was integrated into a customizable chromatography with highly porous cellulose for neutralizing virus from contaminated fluids in a continuous and cost-effective fashion. Taken together, our work leverages low-cost cellulose materials and recently developed Nbs to provide a complementary approach to addressing the pandemic.

IMPORTANCE

The ongoing efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic center around the development of point-of-care diagnostics, preventative measures, and therapeutic strategies against COVID-19. In contrast to existing work, we have provided a complementary approach to target and contain SARS-CoV-2 from contaminated fluids and surfaces. Specifically, we present a generic strategy for the capture and containing of SARS-CoV-2 by cellulose-based substrates. This was archived by developing a bifunctional fusion protein consisting of both a cellulose-binding domain and a nanobody specific for the receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2. As a proof-of-concept, our fusion protein-coated cellulose substrates exhibited enhanced capture efficiency against SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus of both wildtype and the D614G mutant variants, the latter of which has been shown to confer higher infectivity. Furthermore, the fusion protein was integrated into a customizable chromatography with highly porous cellulose for neutralizing the virus from contaminated fluids in a highly continuous and cost-effective fashion.
Root-specific reduction of cytokinin perception enhances shoot growth with an alteration of trans-zeatin distribution in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Monden Kota , Kojima Mikiko , Takebayashi Yumiko , Suzuki Takamasa , Nakagawa Tsuyoshi , Sakakibara Hitoshi , Hachiya Takushi
Published: September 2021

Compelling evidence demonstrates that root-derived cytokinins (CKs) contribute to shoot growth via long-distance transport; therefore, we hypothesized that an increase in root-derived CKs enhances shoot growth. To demonstrate this, we grafted Arabidopsis Col-0 (WT) scion onto rootstock originated from WT or a double-knockout line of CK receptors AHK2 and AHK3 (ahk23) because the knockout line over accumulates CKs in the body due to feedback homeostasis regulation. The grafted plants (scion/rootstock: WT/WT and WT/ahk23) were grown in vermiculite pots or solid media under high and low nitrogen regimes for vegetative growth and biochemical analysis. The root-specific deficiency of AHK2 and AHK3 increased root concentrations of trans-zeatin (tZ)-type and N6-(Δ2-isopentenyl) adenine (iP)-type CKs, induced CK biosynthesis genes, and repressed CK degradation genes in the root. Shoot growth, shoot concentrations of tZ-type CKs, and shoot expression of CK-inducible marker genes were consistently larger in the WT/ahk23 plants than in the WT/WT plants. Moreover, the root-specific deficiency of AHK2 and AHK3 enhanced shoot growth in the WT scion more strongly than in the ahk23 scion. Given that tZ-type CKs are predominantly produced from iP-type CKs in the root and xylem-mobile, it is concluded that the root-specific reduction of CK perception would enhance shoot growth by increasing the amount of root-derived tZ-type CKs and their perception by the shoot. This study will present a novel approach to improve plant growth and productivity.
The dynamic relationship of knowledge management processes and project success: modeling the mediating role of knowledge worker satisfaction
Authors: Shahzadi Anum , Li Shuangyan , Sahibzada Umar Farooq , Malik Mehwish , Khalid Roshi , Afshan Gul
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Constructed upon a knowledge-based view, the purpose of this paper aims to empirically examine the entrepreneurial leadership impact as knowledge management enabler on knowledge management processes and knowledge management processes on project success. The study further ascertains the mediating role of knowledge worker satisfaction among knowledge management processes and project success.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the data collected from 302 project workers from the software industry, China. The research used structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the hypothesis relationships using smart-PLS 3.2.9.

Findings

The outcome of the study reveals that entrepreneurial leadership has a substantial significant impact on knowledge management processes, and knowledge management processes influence project success via knowledge worker satisfaction as a mediator both directly and indirectly. Moreover, the study found partial mediation of knowledge worker satisfaction between knowledge management processes and project success.

Practical implications

The current research identifies that entrepreneurial leadership may play a role in fostering knowledge management processes in project-based organizations (e.g. software industry) that can use the knowledge management processes to increase their chances of project success. More broadly, the current study contributes to the entrepreneurial leadership, knowledge management processes, knowledge worker satisfaction and project success existing literature and strengthens the relationship and suggest that how project manager's value knowledge worker satisfaction and help organizations gain competitive advantage and project success.

Originality/value

Although there is an increased significance of knowledge management in the software industry, there is a lack of research that examines the enabling factors and outcomes of knowledge management practices. The present study is one of the first studies to ascertain the relationship of entrepreneurial leadership, knowledge management processes, knowledge worker satisfaction and project success. This is one of the initial researches that not only empirically examines the interrelationships among these variables but also enlighten insights into the current literature by instantaneous investigation of the mediating role of knowledge worker satisfaction.
The global business cycle and speculative demand for crude oil
Authors: Neves Elisabete , Oliveira Vítor , Leite Joana , Henriques Carla
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to better understand if speculative activity is a factor or even the main factor in the run-up of oil prices in the spot market, particularly in the recent price bubble that occurred in the period from mid-2003 to 2008.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used is based on an existing vector autoregressive model proposed by Kilian and Murphy (2014), which is a structural model of the global market for crude oil that accounts for flow demand and flow supply shocks and speculative demand oil shocks.

Findings

From the output of the authors’ structural model, the authors ruled out speculation as a factor of rising oil prices. The authors have found instead that the rapid oil demand caused by an unexpected increase in the global business cycle is the most accurate culprit. Despite the change of perspective in the speculative component, the authors’ conclusions concur with the findings of Kilian and Murphy (2014) and others.

Originality/value

As far as the authors are aware, this is the first time that a study has used as a spread oil variable, a speculative component of the real price, replacing the oil inventories considered by Kilian and Murphy (2014). Another contribution is that the model used allows estimating traditional oil demand elasticity in production and oil supply elasticity in spread movements, casting doubt on existing models with perfect price-inelastic output for crude oil.
How far the ownership structure is relevant for CSR performance? An empirical investigation
Authors: Pareek Ritu , Sahu Tarak Nath
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Taking hints from the lacunas in the field of ownership structure and corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance of the firms in India, especially when the moderating effect of certain corporate governance mechanism comes into play, this study aims to attempt to fulfill the gap by exploring the ownership structure of the firm (i.e. foreign ownership, institutional ownership and government ownership) and the CSR performance of the firm, when moderated by board independence of the firm. In an additional analysis, the study explores the non-linear effect of foreign ownership structure on the CSR performance in the Indian context.

Design/methodology/approach

The study incorporates a strongly balanced panel data set of 280 non-financial National Stock Exchange 500 listed firms for the study period of 2013–2019. The study uses both static and Arellano–Bond dynamic panel model under generalized method of moments (GMMs) framework to establish the relationship between the studied variables.

Findings

The study acknowledges a positive impact of the foreign investors in the CSR performance of Indian firms with a higher proportion of independent directors on the board. The study further finds a contrarian role of government ownership in Indian context among the sampled firms. The study also in its extended analysis finds a non-linear inverted U-shaped relationship between foreign ownership (FO) and the CSR performance, which shows that FO positively impacts the CSR performance until a threshold level of 34% after which the curve starts declining.

Practical implications

One of the major implications this study provides for the corporate policymakers is that the firms with a string penchant for philanthropic activities such as CSR should be concerned with attracting more foreign investors in their shareholding. Also, a higher proportion of independent directors on the board boost the engagement of the firm in CSR works.

Originality/value

The moderating effect of board independence in the ownership structure–CSR relationship attempted by this study is a rare attempt in a developing economy, such as India, and offers a fresh dimension to the study. Also, the non-linearity relationship between FO and the CSR performance and the threshold level providing the twofold effect of the variables is an innovative research attempt, especially in regard to a developing country like India.
Cybersecurity educational games: a theoretical framework
Authors: Hwang Mark I. , Helser Susan
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Computer games that teach cybersecurity concepts have been developed to help both individuals and organizations shore up their defence against cybercrimes. Evidence of the effectiveness of these games has been rather weak, however. This paper aims to guide the design and testing of more effective cybersecurity educational games by developing a theoretical framework.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the literature is conducted to explore the dependent variable of this research stream, learning outcomes and its relationship with four independent variables, game characteristics, game context, learning theory and user characteristics.

Findings

The dependent variable can be measured by five learning outcomes: information, content, strategic knowledge, eagerness to learn/time spent and behavioral change. Game characteristics refer to features that contribute to a game’s usefulness, interactivity, playfulness or attractiveness. Game context pertains to factors that determine how a game is used, including the target audience, the skill involved and the story. Learning theory explains how learning takes place and can be classified as behaviorism, cognitivism, humanism, social learning or constructivism. User characteristics including gender, age, computer experience, knowledge and perception, are attributes that can impact users’ susceptibility to cybercrimes and hence learning outcomes.

Originality/value

The framework facilitates taking stock of past research and guiding future research. The use of the framework is illustrated in a critique of two research streams. Multiple research directions are discussed for continued research into the design and testing of next-generation cybersecurity computer games.
“Prevention is better than cure”: challenges in engaging employees through gamification
Authors: Gupta Manish , Behl Abhishek , Kumar YLN
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Gamification, the use of game elements and techniques in the non-game contexts, is gaining popularity among human resources (HR) in an online mode. This paper intertwines the flow and engagement theories to know the challenges faced by companies in India in implementing gamification in their various HR practices to engage their employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews of only the information-rich cases including game designers and HR practitioners were conducted using snowball sampling technique. The interviews were transcribed and were analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

Three reviewed themes emerged from the data labelled as organization-, employee- and job-specific factors. Separate thematic maps drawn for each of the reviewed themes give particulars pertaining to the issues highlighted by the game designers and the HR practitioners in gamification.

Practical implications

The results of the study are expected to help the organizations make an informed decision about whether they should go ahead with risking their resources as they expect improved engagement levels at work.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to the online engagement literature by exploring its antecedents in the context of gamification of HR practices for higher engagement at work.
Multidisciplinary approach to assessment and intervention of feeding problems in children with autism spectrum disorders: a clinical perspective
Authors: Beaudry-Bellefeuille Isabelle , Pomoni Maria , Welch Angharad , Moriyón-Iglesias Tania , Suárez-González Marta , Ramos-Polo Eduardo
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to share the details of a multidisciplinary approach, which includes occupational therapy, and to review the factors that should be considered in the evaluation and treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who are excessively selective in their food choices. Issues in this area are complex and often related to several complementary domains (medical, nutritional, psychosocial, sensorimotor, etc.). However, feeding disorders are frequently assessed and treated from a single discipline and important issues are missed or confounded.

Design/methodology/approach

A team of experienced clinicians in the field of paediatric feeding disorders gathered the knowledge and experience they acquired from working with individuals with ASD as well as with individuals with other neurodevelopmental diagnosis. A review of current literature in paediatric feeding disorders was used to document and explicate the multifactorial nature of feeding disorders in children with ASD and justify the need for a multidisciplinary approach to issues in this area.

Findings

Feeding disorders in children with ASD are linked to multiple sensory, motor, behavioural, nutritional and gastrointestinal comorbidities. A multidisciplinary approach is needed and increasingly recommended. However, multidisciplinary teams, specialised in the care of children with ASD and feeding issues, continue to be difficult to locate and access for families. The authors sought to highlight the signs of feeding problems in children with ASD from different domains and share a model of a multidisciplinary approach that can lead to more successful interventions.

Originality/value

The detailed description of the domains linked to feeding issues and the clinical descriptions provided throughout the paper create a roadmap for other clinicians aiming to set up similar teams.
The intersectionality of teacher immediacy, emotioncy and willingness to communicate in higher education context
Authors: Amini Asieh , Weisi Hiwa
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Given the significance of willingness to communicate and its integral role in the field of foreign/second language acquisition (F/SLA), this quantitative study intends to examine the relationship between sensory emotioncy types and teacher immediacy with second language learners' willingness to communicate (WTC).

Design/methodology/approach

A total number of 280 students majoring in teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), and English Language and Literature completed three scales of Sensory Emotioncy Type (SET), Willingness to Communicate and Teacher Immediacy (TI). For data analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient, multiple regression analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) were employed.

Findings

The results of SEM showed that learners' WTC was significantly predicted by emotioncy and teacher immediacy. Further, reports from correlational and regression analyses revealed a significantly positive correlation, first, between teacher immediacy and learners' WTC, secondly, between emotioncy and learners' WTC.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of this study was that the participants were selected from one context with relatively a small sample which might restrict the generalization. Nonetheless, the present study findings might extend ancillary horizons and provided worthwhile insights into the perception of teacher immediacy and emotioncy on students' willingness to communicate.

Practical implications

The significance of the current study lies in its theoretical contribution to the notion of WTC and its pedagogical implications and suggestions to the benefits of rejuvenating second language teaching and learning. Findings of this study help pre-service and in-service teachers in providing them more robust picture of learners' individual differences; and hence exert the most appropriate tasks which learners have the most degree of familiarity and better to say, emotioncy.

Originality/value

In the current study notable results were obtained which would be efficacious to the present literature on the EFL teacher immediacy, emotioncy and willingness to communicate. First and foremost, the findings added to a growing body of literature on emotioncy as a relatively novel concept in academic settings and teacher immediacy , and willingness to communicate which have gained scant attention in the field.
Community frailty team workforce development – a personal reflection
Authors: Corbett Eleanor , Lewis Lucy
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper represents a personal view of a newly appointed consultant practitioner trainee in frailty. This role was created as a result of a rapid workforce review of a Frailty Support Team (FST) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The FST traditionally worked alongside other community services. A “One Team” approach was developed whereby prior silos of community nursing, therapy and frailty teams became a single, locality based and mutually supportive integrated community service. This significantly increased capacity for an urgent community response for older people with complex needs and improved clinical management and coordination of care. As a workforce review identified the need for skills development, new roles for trainee advanced frailty practitioners (AFPs) and a consultant practitioner trainee in frailty were established.

Findings

Staff experience of the “One Team” model was positive. The changes were thought to encourage closer and more efficient working between primary care and a range of community health services. The improved communication between professionals enabled more personalised care at home, reducing pressure on emergency hospital services. A rapid review of the workforce model has enabled the enhanced team capacity to cover a wider geographical area and improved recruitment and retention of staff by introducing a new pathway for career progression within the expanding specialism of frailty.

Originality/value

The challenge of COVID-19 has prompted rapid service redesign to create an enhanced “One Team in the community.” The innovative workforce model looks beyond traditional roles, values the experience and capabilities of staff and develops the skills and confidence required to provide a more integrated and person-centred specialist community pathway for people living with frailty.
Which Italian SMEs fall in love with digitalisation? An exploration into the determinants
Authors: Raimo Nicola , Turi Ivano De , Rubino Michele , Vitolla Filippo
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Digitalisation represents an important opportunity for SMEs or, in other words, a fundamental factor to help them implement competitive strategies aimed at innovation, cost reduction and internationalization. This study aims to investigate the determinants of the level of digitalisation of Italian SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study firstly involves a survey based on short telephone interviews to measure the level of digitalisation of 101 Italian SMEs and, secondly, uses a regression model to identify the drivers of this level of digitalisation.

Findings

Empirical findings reveal that the Italian SMEs have an average level of digitalisation. Besides, they show that firm size, firm profitability and financial leverage represent drivers that positively influence the digitalisation of the Italian SMEs.

Originality/value

This study provides an important contribution to the academic literature by providing a first operationalization of the concept of business digitalisation and by broadening the knowledge of the drivers of the level of digitalisation in the SMEs context.
Potential for optimising organisational structures in the technical due diligence for real estate transactions in Germany
Authors: Oetken Yannis Steffen , Hofstadler Christian , Meckmann Felix
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The individual levels involved in real estate management are thoroughly discussed in the literature. This paper provides a structured meta-analysis of the different theoretical approaches in German-speaking countries. It also investigates the integration of transaction management and technical due diligence into the concepts of organisation theory. In this process, the interfaces are analysed and optimised models are developed for transferring the technical due diligence findings to the operational level.

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews with transaction management experts were conducted based on a narrative literature review. These interviews shed light on how the components of transaction management and due diligence are integrated into the transaction process, with a particular focus on technical due diligence. They also provide insights into how the related results are taken into account in relation to the transaction, and how they are transferred into the operational phase.

Findings

It becomes apparent that the role of transaction management is not clearly defined and delimited in the structural model of the real estate industry. Technical due diligence findings are usually transferred to the operation of the property via several, manual interfaces with corresponding losses of knowledge. The related models derived and developed for the purpose of operational optimisation define the role of transaction management against a technical background and identify the interfaces to be considered.

Practical implications

The significance of transaction management for subsequent operations is discussed and elaborated on. More specifically, transferring safety-relevant, high-priority findings from the technical due diligence exercise plays a crucial role for the modelling stage. On the implementation level, the derived models serve as a basis for customising the internal organisational structure.

Originality/value

In Germany, there has hardly been any research into the involvement of technical experts in the real estate transaction process to date. This paper provides initial approaches to optimising organisational structures and sustainably integrating technical due diligence findings into real estate operations.
Model for promoting green certification of buildings in developing nations: a case study of Nigeria
Authors: Ebekozien Andrew , Ikuabe Matthew , Awo-Osagie Andrew Igiebor , Aigbavboa Clinton , Ayo-Odifiri Solomon Oisasoje
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Several studies have shown that climate change is a threat to sustainable human living and high consumption of energy by buildings is a contributory factor. However, green practices in buildings have been proved as one of the successful technologies to mitigate global warming. Previous studies have shown lax green practices in developing countries’ buildings, but how far concerning green certification of buildings in Nigeria is yet to be explored. Therefore, this paper investigated the barriers to green certification of buildings (GCB). Also, the paper proposed a model for promoting GCB in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Eighteen experts with green building certification knowledge were engaged across three of Nigeria’s cities (Benin City, Abuja and Lagos) via scheduled WhatsApp video and teams calls. Collated interview data were analysed and presented in themes.

Findings

Findings show that there is an absence of a framework to promote GCB in Nigeria. Hence, GCB is low across the states. Twelve main sub-themes emerged as the barriers to GCB in Nigeria. Also, eight key sub-themes emerged as the possible concepts that can be used to improve GCB in Nigeria and formulated into a proposed framework to promote GCB in Nigeria.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is limited to GCB in Nigeria and only 18 participants were engaged. Thus, this paper suggests that a mixed-methods approach should be conducted in future studies with wider coverage. This may assist to validate the paper’s findings.

Practical implications

Findings from this paper will stir up practitioners in green building and influence the promotion of GCB in the sector. As part of this study’s implications, suggestions through the paper’s proposed framework will benefit Nigeria’s policymakers to make decisions towards achieving GCB. This can be achieved via the proposed framework to promote the concept across Nigeria.

Originality/value

This paper is probably the first that attempted to investigate the barriers and proffer policy solutions via a framework to promote GCB in Nigeria and by extension in other developing countries.
The impact of education to the transition from unemployment to employment in Egypt
Authors: Gad Amany Yashoa
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the level of contribution of different levels of education to remaining in unemployment as well as the transition from unemployment to employment in Egypt.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, transition probabilities matrix differentiated by gender, age groups, educational levels, marital status and place of residence based on worker flows across employment, unemployment and out of labor force states during the period 2012–2018 using Egypt Labor Market Panel Survey of 2018. The results point to the highly static nature of the Egyptian labor market. Employment and the out of labor force states are the least mobile among labor market states. This is because employment state is very desirable and the out of labor force is the largest labor market states, especially for females. Also, this study examines the impact of different educational levels separately on remaining in unemployment and transition from unemployment to employment state using eight binary logistic regression models.

Findings

The main results of transitions from unemployment to employment are relatively large for males, elder-age, uneducated workers as well as workers who are not married and urban residents, and the results of the logistic regression models consistent with the transition probabilities matrix results, except for few cases. Based on the above findings, there is enough evidence to accept the null hypothesis that no education has a positive significant impact to transition unemployed individuals from unemployment to employment, while less than intermediate as well as higher education have a negative significant impact to transition unemployed individuals from unemployment to employment.

Originality/value

This paper proposes to address the problem of the unemployment among highly educated which is much higher compared with illiterates and try to understand the impact of different levels of education separately on the transition from unemployment to employment, to help the policymakers to eradicate the gap between education and the demand of the labor market in Egypt.
Chronological evaluation of treatment effect for tinea unguium with efinaconazole: Possibility of an early estimation of treatment effects
Authors: Takenaka Motoi , Murota Hiroyuki , Nishimoto Katsutarou
Published: September 2021

The topical antifungal efinaconazole was applied to 27 nails (17 patients), and the treatment effects were monitored over a stipulated period (after 3, 6, and 12 months). Fourteen nails were observed for 18 months. Effects of the treatment were determined on the basis of the improvement rate of the turbidity ratio compared with that before treatment. After 12 months, five nails were cured and marked improvement was noted, whereas moderate and marked improvements were noted in 11 and six nails, respectively. The cured patients exhibited a significantly better improvement rate at 6 months (68.8%) than the other groups. Only 10.6% improvement was observed at the same point in time for the mild improvement group. Thus, in cases where the improvement rate after 6 months of treatment was 10% or less, it was judged that oral treatment should be considered. Furthermore, of the nails monitored for 18 months, those that exhibited further growth in improvement rates at 12 months was 51.6%, suggesting that an improvement rate of 50% at 12 months after starting treatment could be used as an indicator to determine switching to oral treatment.
Multiple strategies of plant colonization by beneficial endophytic Enterobacter sp. SA187
Authors: Synek Lukas , Rawat Anamika , L'Haridon Floriane , Weisskopf Laure , Saad Maged M. , Hirt Heribert
Published: September 2021

Although many endophytic plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria have been identified, relatively little is still known about the mechanisms by which they enter plants and promote plant growth. The beneficial endophyte Enterobacter sp. SA187 was shown to maintain the productivity of crops in extreme agricultural conditions. Here we present that roots of its natural host (Indigofera argentea), alfalfa, tomato, wheat, barley and Arabidopsis are all efficiently colonized by SA187. Detailed analysis of the colonization process in Arabidopsis showed that colonization already starts during seed germination, where seed‐coat mucilage supports SA187 proliferation. The meristematic zone of growing roots attracts SA187, allowing epiphytic colonization in the elongation zone. Unlike primary roots, lateral roots are significantly less epiphytically colonized by SA187. Root endophytic colonization was found to occur by passive entry of SA187 at lateral‐root bases. However, SA187 also actively penetrates the root epidermis by enzymatic disruption of plant cell wall material. In contrast to roots, endophytic colonization of shoots occurs via stomata, whereby SA187 can actively re‐open stomata similarly to pathogenic bacteria. In summary, several entry strategies were identified that allow SA187 to establish itself as a beneficial endophyte in several plant species, supporting its use as a plant growth‐promoting bacterium in agriculture systems.
Comprehensive analysis of the regulatory network of blue‐light‐regulated conidiation and hydrophobin production in Trichoderma guizhouense
Authors: Li Yifan , Sun Tingting , Guo Degang , Gao Jia , Zhang Jian , Cai Feng , Fischer Reinhard , Shen Qirong , Yu Zhenzhong
Published: September 2021

Conidia of Trichoderma guizhouense (Hypocreales, Ascomycota) are frequently applied to the production of biofertilizers and biocontrol agents. Conidiation of some Trichoderma species depends on blue light and the action of different blue light receptors. However, the interplay between different blue‐light receptors in light signalling remained elusive. Here, we studied the functions of the blue light receptors BLR1 and ENV1, and the MAP kinase HOG1 in blue light signalling in T. guizhouense. We found that the BLR1 dominates light responses and ENV1 is responsible for photoadaptation. Genome‐wide gene expression analyses revealed that 1615 genes, accounting for ~13.4% of the genes annotated in the genome, are blue‐light regulated in T. guizhouense, and remarkably, these differentially expressed genes (DEGs) including 61 transcription factors. BLR1 and HOG1 are the core components of the light signalling network, which control 79.9% and 73.9% of the DEGs respectively. In addition, the strict regulation of hydrophobin production by the blue light signalling network is impressive. Our study unravels the regulatory network based on the blue light receptors and the MAPK HOG pathway for conidiation, hydrophobin production and other processes in T. guizhouense.
The role of three‐tandem Pho Boxes in the control of the C‐P lyase operon in a thermophilic cyanobacterium
Authors: Jin Haojie , Wang Yan , Fu Yujie , Bhaya Devaki
Published: September 2021

Cyanobacteria have an inherited advantage in phosphonate phytoremediation. However, studies on phosphonate metabolism in cyanobacteria are rare and mostly focus on physiology and ecology. Here, C‐P lyase gene cluster regulation in an undomesticated thermophilic Synechococcus OS‐B′ was examined in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, a unicellular cyanobacterial model. Phylogenetic and cluster synteny analysis of C‐P lyase genes revealed a closer relationship between Syn OS‐B′ and Thermus thermophilus, than with other cyanobacteria. Pho boxes were identified in the 5′‐end‐flanking region of the C‐P lyase gene cluster, through which the downstream gene expression was regulated in a phosphate concentration‐dependent manner. Unexpectedly, the phosphate concentration that thoroughly inhibited Pho boxes was almost two orders of magnitude higher than that of any natural or anthropogenic wastewater reported so far. The Pho boxes mediated regulation was achieved through the Pho regulon two‐component system, and the absence of either SphS or SphR ablated the cell's ability to sense ambient phosphate changes. The three tandems of Pho boxes maintained inequivalent roles, of which the third tandem was not essential; however, it played a role in adjusting Pho boxes response in both positive and negative manner under phosphorus limitation.
Cryptic genetic structure and copy‐number variation in the ubiquitous forest symbiotic fungus Cenococcum geophilum
Authors: Dauphin Benjamin , de Freitas Pereira Maíra , Kohler Annegret , Grigoriev Igor V. , Barry Kerrie , Na Hyunsoo , Amirebrahimi Mojgan , Lipzen Anna , Martin Francis , Peter Martina , Croll Daniel
Published: September 2021

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi associated with plants constitute one of the most successful symbiotic interactions in forest ecosystems. ECM support trophic exchanges with host plants and are important factors for the survival and stress resilience of trees. However, ECM clades often harbour morpho‐species and cryptic lineages, with weak morphological differentiation. How this relates to intraspecific genome variability and ecological functioning is poorly known. Here, we analysed 16 European isolates of the ascomycete Cenococcum geophilum, an extremely ubiquitous forest symbiotic fungus with no known sexual or asexual spore‐forming structures but with a massively enlarged genome. We carried out whole‐genome sequencing to identify single‐nucleotide polymorphisms. We found no geographic structure at the European scale but divergent lineages within sampling sites. Evidence for recombination was restricted to specific cryptic lineages. Lineage differentiation was supported by extensive copy‐number variation. Finally, we confirmed heterothallism with a single MAT1 idiomorph per genome. Synteny analyses of the MAT1 locus revealed substantial rearrangements and a pseudogene of the opposite MAT1 idiomorph. Our study provides the first evidence for substantial genome‐wide structural variation, lineage‐specific recombination and low continent‐wide genetic differentiation in C. geophilum. Our study provides a foundation for targeted analyses of intra‐specific functional variation in this major symbiosis.
Bacterial community dynamics on bats and the implications for pathogen resistance
Authors: Li Aoqiang , Li Zhongle , Dai Wentao , Parise Katy L. , Leng Haixia , Jin Longru , Liu Sen , Sun Keping , Hoyt Joseph R. , Feng Jiang
Published: September 2021

The bats skin microbiota plays an important role in reducing pathogen infection, including the deadly fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative agent of white‐nose syndrome. However, the dynamic of skin bacterial communities response to environmental perturbations remains poorly described. We characterized skin bacterial community over time and space in Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, a species with high resistance to the infection with P. destructans. We collected environmental covariate data to determine what factors influenced changes in community structure. We observed significant temporal and spatial shifts in the skin bacterial community, which was mainly associated with variation in operational taxonomic units. The skin bacterial community differed by the environmental microbial reservoirs and was most influenced by host body condition, bat roosting temperature and geographic distance between sites, but was not influenced by pathogen infection. Furthermore, the skin microbiota was enriched in particular taxa with antifungal abilities, such as Enterococcus, Burkholderia, Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas, Corynebacterium and Rhodococcus. And specific strains of Pseudomonas, Corynebacterium and Rhodococcus even inhibited P. destructans growth. Our findings provide new insights in characterizing the variation in bacterial communities can inform us about the processes of driving community assembly and predict the host's ability to resist or survive pathogen infection.