bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A transient burst of mutations occurs during the normal development of yeast colonies
Authors: Agier Nicolas , Vittorelli Nina , Chaux Frédéric , Gillet-Markowska Alexandre , O’Donnell Samuel , Fischer Gilles , Delmas Stéphane
Published: December 2023

Characterizing the pace of mutation accumulation is crucial for understanding how populations adapt to their environment and for unraveling the intricate dynamics between gradual processes and more sudden burst-like events occurring during cancer development. We engineered the genome ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaeto measure the rates of single and double mutations, including point mutations, segmental duplications and reciprocal translocations. We found that during the development of wild-type yeast colonies, double mutations occur at rates that are up to 17-fold higher than those expected on the basis of single mutation rates. We found that this excess of double mutations is partially dependent on theELG1/ATAD5clamp unloader. Additionally, the double mutants retain wild-type mutation rates, suggesting that they originated from genetically wild-type cells that transiently expressed a mutator phenotype. Numerical simulations based on the experimentally measured mutation rates, confirmed that the excess of double mutations can be accounted for by subpopulations of transient mutators within the colony. These subpopulations would be limited to less than a few thousand cells and temporarily adopt mutation rates multiplied by hundreds or thousands for less than five generations. We found that the majority of double mutations would accumulate sequentially in different cell cycles. The simultaneous acquisition of both mutations during the same cell cycle would be rare and possibly associated with systemic genomic instability. In conclusion, our results suggest that transient hypermutators play a major role in genomic instability and contribute significantly to the mutational load naturally accumulating during the growth of isogenic cell populations.

Significance statement

Understanding the pace at which mutations accumulate is of paramount importance in the field of genome dynamics and evolution. In our study, we unveiled a surprising burst of mutations within growing yeast colonies, occurring independently of external stressors. This discovery indicates that, during short intervals, a small subset of cells within the colonies undergoes a mutational overdrive. Notably, these mutator cells do not represent genetically stable mutators with mutations in genes associated with genome stability. Instead, they stem from a strong mutator phenotype that was transiently expressed in genetically wild-type cells. This phenomenon, previously underestimated or even overlooked, holds significant importance and may have far-reaching implications, particularly in the context of cancer development.
Model-based inference of synaptic plasticity rules
Authors: Mehta Yash , Tyulmankov Danil , Rajagopalan Adithya E. , Turner Glenn C. , Fitzgerald James E. , Funke Jan
Published: December 2023

Inferring the synaptic plasticity rules that govern learning in the brain is a key challenge in neuroscience. We present a novel computational method to infer these rules from experimental data, applicable to both neural and behavioral data. Our approach approximates plasticity rules using a parameterized function, employing either truncated Taylor series for theoretical interpretability or multilayer perceptrons. These plasticity parameters are optimized via gradient descent over entire trajectories to align closely with observed neural activity or behavioral learning dynamics. This method can uncover complex rules that induce long nonlinear time dependencies, particularly involving factors like postsynaptic activity and current synaptic weights. We validate our approach through simulations, successfully recovering established rules such as Oja’s, as well as more intricate plasticity rules with reward-modulated terms. We assess the robustness of our technique to noise and apply it to behavioral data fromDrosophilain a probabilistic reward-learning experiment. Notably, our findings reveal an active forgetting component in reward learning in flies, improving predictive accuracy over previous models. This modeling framework offers a promising new avenue for elucidating the computational principles of synaptic plasticity and learning in the brain.
Limited potexvirus diversity in eastern Gulf of Mexico seagrass meadows
Authors: Lim Shen Jean , Rosario Karyna , Kernbach Meredith E. , Gross Anthony J. , Furman Bradley T. , Breitbart Mya
Published: December 2023

2.

Turtlegrass virus X, which infects the seagrassThalassia testudinum, is the only potexvirus known to infect marine flowering plants. We investigated potexvirus distribution in seagrasses using a degenerate reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay originally designed to capture potexvirus diversity in terrestrial plants. The assay, which implements Potex-5 and Potex-2RC primers, successfully amplified a 584 nt RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) fragment from TVX-infected seagrasses. Following validation, we screened 74 opportunistically collected, apparently healthy seagrass samples for potexviruses using this RT-PCR assay. The survey examined the host speciesT. testudinum, Halodule wrightii, Halophila stipulacea, Syringodium filiforme, Ruppia maritima, andZostera marina. Potexvirus PCR products were successfully generated only fromT. testudinumsamples and phylogenetic analysis of sequenced PCR products revealed five distinct TVX sequence variants. Although the RT-PCR assay revealed limited potexvirus diversity in seagrasses, the expanded geographic distribution of TVX shown here emphasizes the importance of future studies to investigateT. testudinumpopulations across its native range and understand how the observed fine-scale genetic diversity a?ects host-virus interactions.

3.

Impact statement

Potexviruses are widespread in terrestrial plants; however, the recent discovery of TVX in the seagrassThalassia testudinumextends their host range to marine flowering plants. Here we use existing Potex-5 and Potex-2RC degenerate primers to explore potexvirus infections in several seagrass species. TVX sequence variants were detected inT. testudinumcollected from the eastern Gulf of Mexico, uncovering previously unknown genetic diversity of this poorly understood virus.

4.

Data summary

All sequence data are available in NCBI GenBank under the accession numbersOR827692-OR827705,OR854648,OR863396,OR879052-OR879056, andPP430548-PP430571. The authors confirm all supporting data, code and protocols have been provided within the article or through supplementary data files.
ER-anchored protein sorting controls the fate of two proteasome activators for intracellular organelle communication during proteotoxic stress
Authors: Langin Gautier , Raffeiner Margot , Biermann David , Franz-Wachtel Mirita , Spinti Daniela , Börnke Frederik , Macek Boris , Üstün Suayib
Published: December 2023

Proteotoxic stress, characterized by the accumulation of damaged proteins, poses a significant challenge to cellular homeostasis. To mitigate proteotoxicity eukaryotes employ the proteasome that is regulated by proteasome activators, e.g. transcription factors that promote gene expression of proteasome subunits. As proteotoxicity originates in different compartments, cells need to perceive signals from various locations. Understanding which components integrate signals to address proteotoxicity is essential to develop strategies to cope with proteotoxicity but remain elusive. Here, we identify that the proteasome autoregulatory feedback loop acts as a gatekeeper to facilitate the communication between nucleus and chloroplast. We reveal that the ER-anchored protein sorting system (ERAPS) controls the proteasomal degradation or nuclear translocation of proteasome activators NAC53 and NAC78. While both transcription factors activate the proteasome gene expression, they repress photosynthesis-associated nuclear genes during proteotoxicity through association with a conserved cis-element. Our data implicate a general trade-off between proteasome function and energy metabolism unravelling an unprecedented mechanism of how eukaryotic cells cope with proteotoxicity. Collectively, our discoveries provide a novel conceptual framework in which the proteasome autoregulatory feedback loop coordinates subcellular proteostasis and the trade-off between growth and defence.
Prediction of DNA i-Motifs Via Machine Learning
Authors: Yang Bibo , Guneri Dilek , Yu Haopeng , Wright Elisé P. , Chen Wenqian , Waller Zoë A. E. , Ding Yiliang
Published: December 2023

i-Motifs (iMs), are secondary structures formed in cytosine-rich DNA sequences and are involved in multiple functions in the genome. Although putative iM forming sequences are widely distributed in the human genome, the folding status and strength of putative iMs vary dramatically. Much previous research on iM has focused on assessing the iM folding properties using biophysical experiments. However, there are no dedicated computational tools for predicting the folding status and strength of iM structures. Here, we introduce a machine learning pipeline, iM-Seeker, to predict both folding status and structural stability of DNA iMs. The programme iM-Seeker incorporates a Balanced Random Forest classifier trained on genome-wide iMab antibody-based CUT&Tag sequencing data to predict the folding status and an Extreme Gradient Boosting regressor to estimate the folding strength according to both literature biophysical data and our in-house biophysical experiments. iM-Seeker predicts DNA iM folding status with a classification accuracy of 81% and estimates the folding strength with coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.642 on the test set. Model interpretation confirms that the nucleotide composition of the C-rich sequence significantly affects iM stability, with a positive correlation with sequences containing cytosine and thymine and a negative correlation with guanine and adenine.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Transposable elements may enhance antiviral resistance in HIV-1 elite controllers
Authors: Singh Manvendra , Leddy Sabrina M. , Iñiguez Luis Pedro , Bendall Matthew L. , Nixon Douglas F. , Feschotte Cédric
Published: December 2023

Less than 0.5% of people living with HIV-1 are elite controllers (ECs) - individuals who have a replication-competent viral reservoir in their CD4+T cells but maintain undetectable plasma viremia without the help of antiretroviral therapy. While the EC CD4+T cell transcriptome has been investigated for gene expression signatures associated with disease progression (or, in this case, a lack thereof), the expression and regulatory activity of transposable elements (TEs) in ECs has not been explored. Yet previous studies have established that TEs can directly impact the immune response to pathogens, including HIV-1. Thus, we hypothesize that the regulatory activities of TEs could contribute to the natural resistance of ECs against HIV-1. We perform a TE-centric analysis of previously published multi-omics data derived from EC individuals and other populations. We find that the CD4+T cell transcriptome and retrotranscriptome of ECs are distinct from healthy controls, treated patients, and viremic progressors. However, there is a substantial level of transcriptomic heterogeneity among ECs. We categorize individuals with distinct chromatin accessibility and expression profiles into four clusters within the EC group, each possessing unique repertoires of TEs and antiviral factors. Notably, several TE families with known immuno-regulatory activity are differentially expressed among ECs. Their transcript levels in ECs positively correlate with their chromatin accessibility and negatively correlate with the expression of their KRAB zinc-finger (KZNF) repressors. This coordinated variation is seen at the level of individual TE loci likely acting or, in some cases, known to act ascis-regulatory elements for nearby genes involved in the immune response and HIV-1 restriction. Based on these results, we propose that the EC phenotype is driven in part by the reduced availability of specific KZNF proteins to repress TE-derivedcis-regulatory elements for antiviral genes, thereby heightening their basal level of resistance to HIV-1 infection. Our study reveals considerable heterogeneity in the CD4+T cell transcriptome of ECs, including variable expression of TEs and their KZNF controllers, that must be taken into consideration to decipher the mechanisms enabling HIV-1 control.
Too much or not enough? Optimal level of human intracranial theta activity for rule-switching in the subthalamo-medio-prefrontal circuit
Authors: Laquitaine Maëva , Polosan Mircea , Kahane Philippe , Chabardes Stephan , Yelnik Jérôme , Fernandez-Vidal Sara , Domenech Philippe , Bastin Julien
Published: December 2023

The ability to strategically switch between rules associating stimuli and responses as a function of changing environmental demands critically depend on a neural circuit including the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) and the basal ganglia. However, the precise neural implementations of rule switching remain unclear. To address this issue, we recorded local field potentials from two groups of rare patients performing a rule-switching paradigm: (1) deep brain recordings of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and (2) stereo-electroencephalogram from dmPFC of drug-resistant epileptic patients. We fitted a hierarchical drift-diffusion model (HDDM) to patients’ choice behavior and found that rule-switching was associated with a shift in the starting point of evidence accumulation (z), effectively disentangling rule switches from the selection of a new response. At the neural level, we found that theta band (5-10 Hz) activity increased in dmPFC and STN during switch compared to non-switch trials, while temporally delayed and excessive levels of theta activity led to premature switch errors. This seemingly opposing impact of increased theta rhythms in successful and unsuccessful switching could be explained mechanistically using a neural HDDM, as trial-by-trial fluctuations in theta power negatively correlated with the subjects’ starting point parameter. Together, these results shed a new light on the neural mechanisms underlying the rapid reconfiguration of stimulus-response associations, revealing a Goldilocks’ effect of theta band activity on rule switching behavior.
Single extracellular vesicle imaging and computational analysis identifies inherent architectural heterogeneity
Authors: Kapoor Kshipra S. , Kong Seoyun , Sugimoto Hikaru , Guo Wenhua , Boominathan Vivek , Chen Yi-Lin , Biswal Sibani Lisa , Terlier Tanguy , McAndrews Kathleen M. , Kalluri Raghu
Published: December 2023

Evaluating the heterogeneity of extracellular vesicles (EVs) is crucial for unraveling their complex actions and biodistribution. Here, we identify consistent architectural heterogeneity of EVs using cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) which has an inherent ability to image biological samples without harsh labeling methods and while preserving their native conformation. Imaging EVs isolated using different methodologies from distinct sources such as cancer cells, normal cells, and body fluids, we identify a structural atlas of their dominantly consistent shapes. We identify EV architectural attributes by utilizing a segmentation neural network model. In total, 7,576 individual EVs were imaged and quantified by our computational pipeline. Across all 7,576 independent EVs, the average eccentricity was 0.5366, and the average equivalent diameter was 132.43 nm. The architectural heterogeneity was consistent across all sources of EVs, independent of purification techniques, and compromised of single spherical (S. Spherical), rod-like or tubular, and double shapes. This study will serve as a reference foundation for high-resolution EV images and offer insights into their potential biological impact.
Gain of chromosome region 1q31.3 in human iPSCs confers growth advantage and alters contraction in derivative cardiomyocytes
Authors: Brandão Karina O. , Meraviglia Viviana , Salvatori Daniela , Cao Xu , Sala Luca , Yiangou Loukia , Mol Mervyn P.H. , Bellin Milena , Mummery Christine L. , Davis Richard P.
Published: December 2023

hPSCs can acquire chromosomal aberrations such as copy number variations during prolonged maintenancein vitro, conferring growth advantages. However, the effect of these culture-acquired mutations on the phenotypes of the differentiated hPSCs is largely unstudied. Here, we identified mosaicism in a hPSC line in which some cells showed a gain of chromosome 1q31.3. We subcloned the wild-type and variant hPSCs and could maintain both as stable lines. While both variant and wildtype lines differentiated efficiently to cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs), molecular analysis revealed the variant hPSC-CMs had increased expression ofTNNT2, a gene encoding one of the major sarcomere proteins mediating cardiomyocyte contractility and located within the gained chromosome 1q region. Moreover, the variant hPSC-CMs showed altered contraction kinetics. Together these results highlight the importance of careful monitoring of chromosome aberrations in hPSC lines as these could have confounding effects in various applications such as disease modelling and drug discovery.
Single molecule studies of the native hair cell mechanosensory transduction complex
Authors: Clark Sarah , Mitra Jaba , Elferich Johannes , Goehring April , Ge Jingpeng , Ha Taekjip , Gouaux Eric
Published: December 2023

Hearing and balance rely on the conversion of a mechanical stimulus into an electrical signal, a process known as mechanosensory transduction (MT). In vertebrates, this process is accomplished by an MT complex that is located in hair cells of the inner ear. While the past three decades of research have identified many subunits that are important for MT and revealed interactions between these subunits, the composition and organization of a functional complex remains unknown. The major challenge associated with studying the MT complex is its extremely low abundance in hair cells; current estimates of MT complex quantity range from 3-60 attomoles per cochlea or utricle, well below the detection limit of most biochemical assays that are used to characterize macromolecular complexes. Here we describe the optimization of two single molecule assays, single molecule pull-down (SiMPull) and single molecule array (SiMoA), to study the composition and quantity of native mouse MT complexes. We demonstrate that these assays are capable of detecting and quantifying low attomoles of the native MT subunits protocadherin-15 (PCDH15) and lipoma HMGIC fusion partner-like protein 5 (LHFPL5). Our results illuminate the stoichiometry of PCDH15- and LHFPL5-containing complexes and establish SiMPull and SiMoA as productive methods for probing the abundance, composition, and arrangement of subunits in the native MT complex.

Impact Statement

In the present work, the authors develop and employ single molecule methods to detect, characterize, and quantitate attomole quantities of the hair cell mechanosensory transduction complex.
IGHMBP2 deletion suppresses translation and activates the integrated stress response
Authors: Park Jesslyn E. , Desai Hetvee , Liboy-Lugo José , Gu Sohyun , Jowhar Ziad , Xu Albert , Floor Stephen N.
Published: December 2023

IGHMBP2 is a non-essential, superfamily 1 DNA/RNA helicase that is mutated in patients with rare neuromuscular diseases SMARD1 and CMT2S. IGHMBP2 is implicated in translational and transcriptional regulation via biochemical association with ribosomal proteins, pre-rRNA processing factors, and tRNA-related species. To uncover the cellular consequences of perturbing IGHMBP2, we generated full and partial IGHMBP2 deletion K562 cell lines. Using polysome profiling and a nascent protein synthesis assay, we found that IGHMBP2 deletion modestly reduces global translation. We performed Ribo-seq and RNA-seq and identified diverse gene expression changes due to IGHMBP2 deletion, including ATF4 upregulation. With recent studies showing the ISR can contribute to tRNA metabolism-linked neuropathies, we asked whether perturbing IGHMBP2 promotes ISR activation. We generated ATF4 reporter cell lines and found IGHMBP2 knockout cells demonstrate basal, chronic ISR activation. Our work expands upon the impact of IGHMBP2 in translation and elucidates molecular mechanisms that may link mutant IGHMBP2 to severe clinical phenotypes.
Identification and validation of supervariants reveal novel loci associated with human white matter microstructure
Authors: Wang Shiying , Li Ting , Zhao Bingxin , Dai Wei , Yao Yisha , Li Cai , Li Tengfei , Zhu Hongtu , Zhang Heping
Published: December 2023

As an essential part of the central nervous system, white matter coordinates communications between different brain regions and is related to a wide range of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Previous genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have uncovered loci associated with white matter microstructure. However, GWASs suffer from limited reproducibility and difficulties in detecting multi-single-nucleotide polymorphism (multi-SNP) and epistatic effects. In this study, we adopt the concept of supervariants, a combination of alleles in multiple loci, to account for potential multi-SNP effects. We perform supervariant identification and validation to identify loci associated with 22 white matter fractional anisotropy phenotypes derived from diffusion tensor imaging. To increase reproducibility, we use United Kingdom (UK) Biobank White British (n = 30,842) data for discovery and internal validation, and UK Biobank White but non-British (n = 1927) data, Europeans from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study (n = 4399) data, and Europeans from the Human Connectome Project (n = 319) data for external validation. We identify 23 novel loci on the discovery set that have not been reported in the previous GWASs on white matter microstructure. Among them, three supervariants on genomic regions 5q35.1, 8p21.2, and 19q13.32 haveP-values lower than 0.05 in the meta-analysis of the three independent validation data sets. These supervariants contain genetic variants located in genes that have been related to brain structures, cognitive functions, and neuropsychiatric diseases. Our findings provide a better understanding of the genetic architecture underlying white matter microstructure.
Crystal structure of dilithium biphenyl-4,4′-disulfonate dihydrate
Authors: Kumagai Hitoshi , Kawata Satoshi , Ogihara Nobuhiro
Published: December 2023

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, μ-biphenyl-4,4′-disulfonato-bis(aqualithium), [Li2(C12H8O6S2)(H2O)2] or Li2[Bph(SO3)2](H2O)2, consists of an Li ion, half of the diphenyl-4,4′-disulfonate [Bph(SO3
−)2] ligand, and a water molecule. The Li ion exhibits a four-coordinate tetrahedral geometry with three oxygen atoms of the Bph(SO3
−)2 ligands and a water molecule. The tetrahedral LiO4 units, which are interconnected by biphenyl moieties, form a layer structure parallel to (100). These layers are further connected by hydrogen-bonding interactions to yield a three-dimensional network.
Fatigue crack growth rate and propagation mechanisms of SiC particle reinforced Al alloy matrix composites
Authors: Karci Adem , Erturun Veysel , Çakir Eşref , Çam Yakup
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the fatigue crack propagation behavior of SiC particle-reinforced 2124 Al alloy composites under constant amplitude axial loading at a stress ratio of R = 0.1. For this purpose, it is performed experiments and comparatively analyze the results by producing 5, 10, 15 Vol.% SiCp-reinforced composites and unreinforced 2124 Al alloy billets with powder metallurgy (PM) production technique.

Design/methodology/approach

With the PM production technique, SiCp-reinforced composite and unreinforced 2124 Al alloy billets were produced at 5%, 10%, 15% volume ratios. After the produced billets were extruded and 5 mm thick plates were formed, tensile and fatigue crack propagation compact tensile (CT) samples were prepared. Optical microscope examinations were carried out to determine the microstructural properties of billet and samples. To determine the SiC particle–matrix interactions due to the composite microstructure, unlike the Al alloy, which affects the crack initiation life and crack propagation rate, detailed scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies have been carried out.

Findings

Optical microscope examinations for the determination of the microstructural properties of billet and samples showed that although SiC particles were rarely clustered in the Al alloy matrix, they were generally homogeneously dispersed. Fatigue crack propagation rates were determined experimentally. While the highest crack initiation resistance was achieved at 5% SiC volume ratio, the slowest crack propagation rate in the stable crack propagation region was found in the unreinforced 2124 Al alloy. At volume ratios greater than 5%, the number of crack initiation cycles decreases and the propagation rate increases.

Originality/value

As a requirement of damage tolerance design, the fatigue crack propagation rate and fatigue behavior of materials to be used in high-tech vehicles such as aircraft structural parts should be well characterized. Therefore, safer use of these materials in critical structural parts becomes widespread. In this study, besides measuring fatigue crack propagation rates, the mechanisms causing crack acceleration or deceleration were determined by applying detailed SEM examinations.
How do employees’ strengths use for tasks and strengths use for relationships interact to influence their job performance?
Authors: Hai Shenyang , Park In-Jo
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Drawing on prior research on strengths use and job performance, this study aims to investigate how employees’ strengths use for tasks and strengths use for relationships jointly influence role breadth self-efficacy and subsequent job performance, specifically in- and extra-role performances.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the assumptions, the authors methodologically performed a polynomial regression with response surface analysis using data collected from multiple time points and sources (i.e. 312 employee–supervisor dyads in Chinese companies).

Findings

The results showed that the higher the congruence between strengths use for tasks and strengths use for relationships, the higher the employees’ role breadth self-efficacy. Employees’ role breadth self-efficacy was greater when both strengths use for tasks and strengths use for relationships were high. Furthermore, the congruence between strengths use for tasks and strengths use for relationships had indirect effects on in- and extra-role performances via role breadth self-efficacy.

Originality/value

This study uniquely contributes to the strengths use literature by offering a more nuanced understanding of the consequences of strengths use for tasks and strengths use for relationships in the Chinese context. It highlights the importance of both types of strengths use for improving employee performance in Chinese organizations. Furthermore, this study provides new theoretical insights into the relationship between strengths use and job performance by ascertaining the mediating effect of role breadth self-efficacy.
Preliminary cost forecasting and optimization for the construction of steel pedestrian bridges in Egypt
Authors: Badra Niveen , Hegazy Hosam , Mousa Mohamed , Zhang Jiansong , Syed Zakaria Sharifah Akmam , Aboul Haggag Said , Abdul-Rashied Ibrahim
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This research aims to create a methodology that integrates optimization techniques into preliminary cost estimates and predicts the impacts of design alternatives of steel pedestrian bridges (SPBs). The cost estimation process uses two main parameters, but the main goal is to create a cost estimation model.

Design/methodology/approach

This study explores a flexible model design that uses computing capabilities for decision-making. Using cost optimization techniques, the model can select an optimal pedestrian bridge system based on multiple criteria that may change independently. This research focuses on four types of SPB systems prevalent in Egypt and worldwide. The study also suggests developing a computerized cost and weight optimization model that enables decision-makers to select the optimal system for SPBs in keeping up with the criteria established for that system.

Findings

In this paper, the authors developed an optimization model for cost estimates of SPBs. The model considers two main parameters: weight and cost. The main contribution of this study based on a parametric study is to propose an approach that enables structural engineers and designers to select the optimum system for SPBs.

Practical implications

The implications of this research from a practical perspective are that the study outlines a feasible approach to develop a computerized model that utilizes the capabilities of computing for quick cost optimization that enables decision-makers to select the optimal system for four common SPBs based on multiple criteria that may change independently and in concert with cost optimization during the preliminary design stage.

Social implications

The model can choose an optimal system for SPBs based on multiple criteria that may change independently and in concert with cost optimization. The resulting optimization model can forecast the optimum cost of the SPBs for different structural spans and road spans based on local unit costs of materials cost of steel structures, fabrication, erection and painting works.

Originality/value

The authors developed a computerized model that uses spreadsheet software's capabilities for cost optimization, enabling decision-makers to select the optimal system for SPBs meeting the criteria established for such a system. Based on structural characteristics and material unit costs, this study shows that using the optimization model for estimating the total direct cost of SPB systems, the project cost can be accurately predicted based on the conceptual design status, and positive prediction outcomes are achieved.
How can digitalisation help emerging marketing multinational companies improve innovation performance through international ambidexterity? Analysis of China’s healthcare industry
Authors: Xiao Peng , Zhang Haiyan , Yin Shimin , Xia Zhe
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore the role of international ambidexterity (IA) in improving the innovation capability of emerging market multinationals. In particular, the main purpose of this research is to study the relationship amongst digitalisation, IA and innovation performance (IP) amongst multinational enterprises in China’s healthcare industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this investigation were collected from 134 listed companies in China’s healthcare industry during the study period. This study tested the hypotheses by constructing a two-way fixed-effects model.

Findings

The results show that both the balance dimension and the combined dimension of IA have significant positive effects on IP. Digitalisation not only has a direct positive effect on IP but also positively moderates the positive correlation between IA and IP.

Originality/value

Previous studies have not captured the relationship between ambidexterity, digitalisation and IP, and this study helps to fill in the gap and examine these associations in China’s healthcare industry. The results of this study provide valuable insights for healthcare industry managers to understand the role of ambidexterity and digitalisation in innovation in the context of internationalisation.
Intention to use green energy among Chinese adults: an extended value-attitude-intention model
Authors: To Wai Ming , Lam King Hang
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Switching to green energy is a crucial step in achieving carbon neutrality. This study aims to explore what motivates people to use green energy and how much more people are willing to pay for green energy.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounded on the value–attitude–intention hierarchy, this study proposes that environmental consciousness as a human value influences attitudes including attitude toward environmental issues and attitude toward ecosocial benefits while attitudes, information and knowledge about green energy and quality and price of green energy influence people’s intention to use green energy. Data were collected from 342 Chinese adults.

Findings

Results showed that environmental consciousness significantly and positively influenced attitudes while attitude toward environmental issues had the greatest effect on people’s intention to use green energy, followed by quality and price of green energy. About 44% respondents were willing to pay 2.5% to <5% more money for green energy.

Originality/value

This study extended the use of value–attitude–intention hierarchy to investigate what motivates people to use green energy. Specifically, this study demonstrated that quality and price, and knowledge and information also significantly shaped people’s intention to use green energy significantly.
Interrogating the practice of integrity in Tanzania public service
Authors: Ackim Josephine , Rugeiyamu Rogers , Msendo Adam
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Deterioration of integrity is featured in public service across the globe, including Tanzania. Local government authorities (LGAs) are among the areas where such practices have been reported. However, factors compromising integrity in LGAs receives less attention from the literature. Citing 19 LGAs from Tanzania, this study aims to examine contributes to this debate.

Design/methodology/approach

A sequential explanatory research design was applied. Data were collected from 54 respondents through survey questionnaires, interviews and a documentary review. The study was guided by Hoekstra theoretical framework for assessing integrity practices in LGAs.

Findings

The findings revealed that maintaining integrity in Tanzania's LGAs is still challenging. Poor institutionalization processes, institutional unpreparedness, insufficient integrity policy execution and being less informed of moral development of recruited public servants are said to compromise integrity in Tanzania LGAs. This qualifies to conclude that institutional pathologies and moral history of public servants are the major factors contributing to integrity deterioration in Tanzania LGAs. This has resulted in subpar service delivery and the waste of public funds.

Research limitations/implications

This study confined itself to Tanzania LGAs. More studies could be conducted to LGAs in other countries struggling with the same problem. On the same ground, moral development should be studied more to ensure that the public service receives ethical public servants in the future.

Practical implications

The theoretical framework for assessing integrity systems in LGAs as proposed by Hoekstra (2022) could be applied by other countries struggling with the same challenge.

Originality/value

LGAs must implement an integrity-based self-reflection technique that will allow them to assess their current condition and come up with solutions. Furthermore, institutional policies must be strengthened to govern ethical behavior in LGAs.
Comparing job applicant deception in asynchronous vs synchronous video interviews, with and without AI-assisted assessments
Authors: Suen Hung-Yue , Hung Kuo-En
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Asynchronous Video Interviews (AVIs) incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI)-assisted assessment has become popular as a pre-employment screening method. The extent to which applicants engage in deceptive impression management (IM) behaviors during these interviews remains uncertain. Furthermore, the accuracy of human detection in identifying such deceptive IM behaviors is limited. This study seeks to explore differences in deceptive IM behaviors by applicants across video interview modes (AVIs vs Synchronous Video Interviews (SVIs)) and the use of AI-assisted assessment (AI vs non-AI). The study also investigates if video interview modes affect human interviewers' ability to detect deceptive IM behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a field study with four conditions based on two critical factors: the synchrony of video interviews (AVI vs SVI) and the presence of AI-assisted assessment (AI vs Non-AI): Non-AI-assisted AVIs, AI-assisted AVIs, Non-AI-assisted SVIs and AI-assisted SVIs. The study involved 144 pairs of interviewees and interviewers/assessors. To assess applicants' deceptive IM behaviors, the authors employed a combination of interviewee self-reports and interviewer perceptions.

Findings

The results indicate that AVIs elicited fewer instances of deceptive IM behaviors across all dimensions when compared to SVIs. Furthermore, using AI-assisted assessment in both video interview modes resulted in less extensive image creation than non-AI settings. However, the study revealed that human interviewers had difficulties detecting deceptive IM behaviors regardless of the mode used, except for extensive faking in AVIs.

Originality/value

The study is the first to address the call for research on the impact of video interview modes and AI on interviewee faking and interviewer accuracy. This research enhances the authors’ understanding of the practical implications associated with the use of different video interview modes and AI algorithms in the pre-employment screening process. The study contributes to the existing literature by refining the theoretical model of faking likelihood in employment interviews according to media richness theory and the model of volitional rating behavior based on expectancy theory in the context of AVIs and AI-assisted assessment.
Cognitive functioning and life satisfaction as predictors of subjective health complaints in elderly people
Authors: Serra Lídia , Silva Luís
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Effective cognitive functioning elucidates the orchestrated interplay of diverse mental faculties in addressing daily tasks, potentially indicative of an improved state of an individual’s health. Linked to this is the potential role of life satisfaction, which may aid individuals in better managing their health-related challenges. The purpose this study is to examine whether the cognitive functioning and life satisfaction levels of elderly individuals serve as predictors of their subjective health complaints.

Design/methodology/approach

The research involved a cohort of 126 elderly community residents. The assessment tools used encompassed a socio-demographic questionnaire, the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), the scale of subjective health complaints and a life satisfaction scale.

Findings

The findings reveal that both cognitive functioning and life satisfaction are predictive variables for subjective health complaints, validated in both the original sample and simulated samples.

Originality/value

This study’s innovation lies in highlighting the importance of cognitive functioning and life satisfaction among the elderly population as explanatory factors for subjective health complaints. Consequently, these dimensions warrant consideration in specialized intervention programs aimed at promoting the health and quality of life among the elderly.
Voices in the storm: Analyzing MakeMyTrip's crisis communication during COVID‐19 through a multivocality lens
Authors: Upadhyay Shalini , Upadhyay Nitin , Gour Alekh
Published: December 2023

The COVID‐19 pandemic's travel restrictions have created significant difficulties for travellers and online travel agencies (OTAs), such as MakeMyTrip (MMT). This research examines MMT's crisis communication during the pandemic through multivocality, using Twitter data to analyze actors, topics, emotions and interaction patterns. The results show complex relationships among travellers, government, media, airlines and MMT, revealing who assigns blame and who takes it, and displaying dominant emotions like anger, fear, anticipation and trust. Initially, MMT used denial, minimization and scapegoating as crisis response strategies but later switched to corrective action and mortification. The study advances the understanding of crisis communication by considering multivocality and interaction patterns, and its results can help organizations, particularly OTAs, understand the importance of multivocal communication during a crisis and how to respond effectively to customer complaints and concerns.
Energizing Small and Medium‐sized Enterprises for environmental sustainability in poor Europe: Do green finance and bureaucratic quality matter?
Authors: Liu Sufang , Okere Kingsley Ikechukwu , Muoneke Obumneke Bob
Published: December 2023

The sacrosanct role played by small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in shaping economic realities in Europe resonates the accompanying impact of their activities on the environment. Furthermore, the unequal access to green finance across various sizes of small and medium enterprises alongside low level of bureaucratic quality in low‐income nations in Europe further complicates the attainment of climatic targets by 2050. The study investigates the SME‐environmental sustainability link amidst the moderating role of green finance and bureaucratic quality in selected low‐income nations in Europe. Findings show that SMEs increased carbon emissions across all quantiles in the selected countries. The results from the interaction towed double‐ends; interaction between SMEs and green finance reduced carbon emissions significantly from lower to upper quantiles. The interaction between SMEs and bureaucratic quality aggravates the level of carbon emission across all quantiles. Relevant policy recommendations were proffered to the sovereign governments and relevant EU agencies within the manuscript.
Data‐driven modeling to enhance municipal water demand estimates in response to dynamic climate conditions
Authors: Johnson Ryan C. , Burian Steven J. , Oroza Carlos A. , Hansen Carly , Baur Emily , Aziz Danyal , Hassan Daniyal , Kirkham Tracie , Stewart Jessie , Briefer Laura
Published: December 2023

Altered precipitation and temperature patterns from a changing climate will affect supply, demand, and overall municipal water system operations throughout the arid western U.S. While supply forecasts leverage hydrological models to connect climate influences with surface water availability, demand forecasts typically estimate water use independent of climate and other externalities. Stemming from an increased focus on seasonal water demand management, we use the Salt Lake City, Utah municipal water system as a test bed to assess model accuracy versus complexity trade‐offs between simple climate‐independent econometric‐based models and complex climate‐sensitive data‐driven models to average to extreme wet and dry climate conditions—representative of a new climate normal. The climate‐independent model displayed low performance during extreme dry conditions with predictions exceeding 90% and 40% of the observed monthly and seasonal volumetric demands, respectively, which we attribute to insufficient model complexity. The climate‐sensitive models displayed greater accuracy in all conditions, with an ordinary least squares model demonstrating a measurable reduction in prediction bias (3.4% vs. −27.3%) and RMSE (74.0 lpcd vs. 294 lpcd) compared to the climate‐independent model. The climate‐sensitive workflow increased model accuracy and characterized climate‐demand interactions, demonstrating a novel tool to enhance water system management.
Maternal metabolic profiling across body mass index groups: An exploratory longitudinal study
Authors: Skytte Hege Nyhus , Roland Marie Cecilie Paasche , Christensen Jacob Juel , Holven Kirsten Bjørklund , Lekva Tove , Gunnes Nina , Michelsen Trond Melbye
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Increased BMI has been identified as a risk factor for most pregnancy complications, but the underlying metabolic factors mediating the detrimental effects of BMI are largely unknown. We aimed to compare metabolic profiles in overweight/obese women (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m2) and normal weight/underweight women (BMI < 25 kg/m2) across gestation. We also explored how gestational weight gain (GWG) affected maternal metabolic profiles.

Material and methods

Exploratory nested case–control study based on a prospective longitudinal cohort of women who were healthy prior to pregnancy and gave birth at Oslo University Hospital from 2002 to 2008. The sample consisted of 48 women who were overweight/obese and 59 normal‐weight/underweight women. Plasma samples from four time points in pregnancy (weeks 14–16, 22–24, 30–32 and 36–38) were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and 91 metabolites were measured. Linear regression models were fitted for each of the metabolites at each time point.

Results

Overweight or obese women had higher levels of lipids in very‐low‐density lipoprotein (VLDL), total triglycerides, triglycerides in VLDL, total fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, saturated fatty acids, leucine, valine, and total branched‐chain amino acids in pregnancy weeks 14–16 compared to underweight and normal‐weight women. Docosahexaenoic acid and degree of unsaturation were significantly lower in overweight/obese women in pregnancy weeks 36–38. In addition, overweight or obese women had higher particle concentration of XXL‐VLDL and glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA) at weeks 14–16 and 30–32. GWG did not seem to affect the metabolic profile, regardless of BMI group when BMI was treated as a dichotomous variable, ≥25 kg/m2 (yes/no).

Conclusions

Overweight or obese women had smaller pregnancy‐related metabolic alterations than normal‐weight/underweight women. There was a trend toward higher triglyceride and VLDL particle concentration in overweight/obese women. As this was a hypothesis‐generating study, the similarities with late‐onset pre‐eclampsia warrant further investigation. The unfavorable development of fatty acid composition in overweight/obese women, with possible implication for the offspring, should also be studied further in the future.
The ASQ did not predict low IQ scores when children born VPT were six years
Authors: Borg Kristine , Hansen Bo Mølholm , Klamer Anja , Zachariassen Gitte
Published: December 2023

Aim

There is a need for methods that can provide valid assessment tools in a follow‐up programme without great financial costs. This study assessed the accuracy of the 60‐month Ages and Stages Questionnaire as a screening tool to predict a low intelligence quotient score at 6 years in children born very preterm.

Methods

Totally, 54 children participated in a six‐year follow‐up study, which included an intelligence quotient test at 6 years of age and a 60‐month Ages and Stages Questionnaire at four and a half or 5 years of age at respond. We used the receiver operating characteristic curve and evaluated the optimal cut‐off score to predict a low intelligence quotient score.

Results

At four and a half years, the optimal cut‐off value for predicting a low intelligence quotient score was 242, with a sensitivity of 67% and a specificity of 59%. At 5 years, only one child had a low intelligence quotient score, and the analysis was not performed.

Conclusion

Our results did not support the use of the 60‐month Ages and Stages Questionnaire as a valuable screening tool to predict a low intelligence quotient score in children born very preterm at 6 years of age.