bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Persistence andin vivoevolution of vaginal bacterial strains over a multi-year time period
Authors: France Michael , Ma Bing , Ravel Jacques
Published: April 2022

It is not clear if the bacterial strains which comprise our microbiota are mostly long-term colonizers or transient residents. Studies have demonstrated decades long persistence of bacterial strains within the gut, but persistence at other body sites has yet to be determined. The vaginal microbiota (VMB) is often dominated byLactobacillus, although it is also commonly comprised of a more diverse set of other facultative and obligate anaerobes. Longitudinal studies have demonstrated that these communities can be stable over several menstrual cycles or can fluctuate temporally in species composition. We sought to determine whether the bacterial strains which comprise the VMB were capable of persisting over longer time-periods. We performed shotgun metagenomics on paired samples from 10 participants collected 1 and 2 years apart. The resulting sequences werede novoassembled and binned into high-quality metagenome assembled genomes. Persistent strains were identified based on the sequence similarity between the genomes present at the two timepoints and were found in the VMB of six of the participants, three of which had multiple. The VMB of the remaining four participants was similar in species composition at the two timepoints but was comprised of different strains. For the persistent strains, we were able to identify the mutations which fixed in the populations over the observed time period, giving insight into the evolution of these bacteria. These results indicate that bacterial strains can persist in the vagina for extended periods of time, providing an opportunity for them to evolve in the host microenvironment.

Importance

The persistence of strains within the vaginal microbiota has not yet been characterized. Should these strains be capable of persisting for extended periods of time, they could evolve within their host in response to selective pressures exerted by the host or by other members of the community. Here, we present preliminary findings which demonstrate that bacterial strains can persist in the vagina for at least one year and evolve over time. In several cases, multiple strains persisted together in a community, indicating that co-evolution between bacterial strains could occur in the vagina. Our observations motivate future studies which collect samples from more participants, at more timepoints and over even longer periods of time. Understanding which strains persist, what factors drive their persistence, and what selective pressures they face will inform the development and delivery of rationally designed live biotherapeutics for the vagina.
Life stage-specific effects of genetic susceptibility to higher body size on body fat and lean mass: prospective cohort study
Authors: Waterfield Scott , Richardson Tom G. , Smith George Davey , O’Keeffe Linda M. , Bell Joshua A.
Published: April 2022

Background/Objectives

Separate genetic variants are associated with larger body size in childhood and adulthood. Whether these variants predominantly influence adiposity, and whether these truly differ by life stage is unknown. We examined how genetic variants influence total body fat and total lean mass trajectories from childhood to young adulthood.

Methods

Data were from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children birth cohort. Sex-specific genetic risk scores (GRS) for childhood and adulthood body size were generated, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans were used to measure total body fat and lean mass 6 times between ages 9-25y. We used mutually-adjusted multilevel linear spline models to examine the independent sex-specific associations of childhood and adulthood body size GRSs with fat and lean mass trajectories from 9 -25y.

Results

In males, the childhood and adulthood GRS were associated with similar differences in fat mass from 9 to 18y; 8.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.1,11.6)) and 7.5% (95% CI: 4.3,10.8) higher fat mass at 18y per standard deviation (SD) higher childhood and adulthood GRS respectively. At 25y, childhood GRS associations with fat mass attenuated while adulthood GRS associations remained similar to those at 18y for males. Among females, associations for the childhood GRS were almost two-fold stronger than the adulthood GRS from 9 to 18y: 10.5% (95% CI: 8.5, 12.4) higher fat mass at 9y per SD higher childhood GRS compared with 5.1% (95% CI 3.2, 6.9) per SD higher adulthood GRS. At 25y, associations of the childhood and adulthood GRS with fat mass were similar; 5.0% (95% CI: 2.5, 7.5) and 5.8% (95% CI: 3.3, 8.3) higher fat mass per SD higher childhood and adulthood GRS respectively: Lean mass effect sizes were much smaller.

Conclusions

Genetic variants for body size are more strongly associated with adiposity than lean mass from childhood to early adulthood; childhood variants are more strongly associated with adiposity in females until early adulthood whereas childhood and adulthood variants are similarly associated with adiposity across early life in males. Findings may inform selection of instruments for life stage-specific adiposity in future Mendelian randomization studies.
Phenotypic associations with the HMOX1 GT(n) promoter repeat in European populations
Authors: Hamilton Fergus , Mitchell Ruth , Ghazal Peter , Timpson Nic
Published: April 2022

HO-1 is a key enzyme in the management of heme in humans. A GT(n) repeat length in the gene HMOX1, has previously been widely associated with a variety of phenotypes, including susceptibility and outcomes in diabetes, cancer, infections, and neonatal jaundice. However, studies are generally small and results inconsistent. In this study, we imputed the GT(n) repeat length in two European cohorts (UK Biobank, n = 463,005; and Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC n = 937), with the reliability of imputation tested in other cohorts (1000 Genomes, HGDP, and UK-PGP). Subsequently, we measured the relationship between repeat length and previously identified associations (diabetes, COPD, pneumonia and infection related mortality in UK Biobank; neonatal jaundice in ALSPAC) and performed a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) in UK Biobank. Despite high quality imputation (correlation between true repeat length and imputed repeat length >0.9 in test cohorts), no clinical associations were identified in either the PheWAS or specific association studies. These findings were robust to definitions of repeat length and sensitivity analyses. Despite multiple smaller studies identifying associations across a variety of clinical settings; we could not replicate or identify any relevant phenotypic associations with the HMOX1 GT(n) repeat.
The 2’,3’ cyclic phosphatase Angel1 facilitates mRNA degradation during human ribosome-associated quality control
Authors: Nicholson-Shaw Tim , Ajaj Yasmeen , Perelis Mark , Fulzele Amit , Yeo Gene W. , Bennett Eric J. , Lykke-Andersen Jens
Published: April 2022

The Ribosome-associated Quality Control (RQC) pathway serves to resolve ribosomes stalled during the translation process and degrade the associated mRNA and nascent polypeptide. Here we identify the 2’,3’ cyclic phosphatase Angel1 as a rate-limiting factor for this process in human cells. Angel1 associates with proteins of the RQC pathway and with mRNA coding regions, consistent with a factor that monitors the translation process. Depletion of Angel1 causes stabilization of reporter mRNAs that are targeted for RQC by the absence of stop codons, but not an mRNA targeted for nonsense-mediated decay. Angel1 catalytic activity is critical for its function in RQC, as a catalytic inactivating mutation causes loss of RQC function. We also identify N4BP2 as the human RQC endonuclease. Given the biochemical activity of Angel1 as a 2’,3’ cyclic phosphatase, our findings suggest that a rate-limiting step in RQC-mediated mRNA decay is the resolution of a cyclic phosphate, possibly one generated upon N4BP2 cleavage.
Structural and functional characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant BA.2 spike
Authors: Zhang Jun , Tang Weichun , Gao Hailong , Lavine Christy L. , Shi Wei , Peng Hanqin , Zhu Haisun , Anand Krishna , Kosikova Matina , Kwon Hyung Joon , Tong Pei , Gautam Avneesh , Rits-Volloch Sophia , Wang Shaowei , Mayer Megan L. , Wesemann Duane R. , Seaman Michael S. , Lu Jianming , Xiao Tianshu , Xie Hang , Chen Bing
Published: April 2022

The Omicron subvariant BA.2 has become the dominant circulating strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in many countries. We have characterized structural, functional and antigenic properties of the full-length BA.2 spike (S) protein and compared replication of the authentic virus in cell culture and animal model with previously prevalent variants. BA.2 S can fuse membranes more efficiently than Omicron BA.1, mainly due to lack of a BA.1-specific mutation that may retard the receptor engagement, but still less efficiently than other variants. Both BA.1 and BA.2 viruses replicated substantially faster in animal lungs than the early G614 (B.1) strain in the absence of pre-existing immunity, possibly explaining the increased transmissibility despite their functionally compromised spikes. As in BA.1, mutations in the BA.2 S remodel its antigenic surfaces leading to strong resistance to neutralizing antibodies. These results suggest that both immune evasion and replicative advantage may contribute to the heightened transmissibility for the Omicron subvariants.
Candidate Genes Underlying Wolbachia-Associated Plastic Recombination Revealed by Ovarian Transcriptomics of D. melanogaster
Authors: Frantz Sophia I. , Small Clayton M. , Cresko William A. , Singh Nadia D.
Published: April 2022

Phenotypic plasticity is prevalent in nature and can facilitate the acclimation of organisms to changing environments. Recombination rate is plastic in a diversity of organisms and under a variety of stressful conditions. However, the recent finding that Wolbachia pipientis induces plastic recombination in Drosophila melanogaster was surprising because Wolbachia is not strictly considered a stressor to this host. We investigate the molecular mechanisms of Wolbachia-associated plastic recombination by comparing the ovarian transcriptomes of D. melanogaster infected and uninfected with Wolbachia. Our data suggest that infection explains a small amount of transcriptional variation but specifically affects genes related to cell cycle, translation, and metabolism. We also find enrichment of cell division and recombination processes among genes with infection-associated differential expression. Broadly, the transcriptomic changes identified in this study provide insight for the mechanisms of microbe-mediated plastic recombination, an important but poorly understood facet of host-microbe dynamics.

Significance Statement

Though it is documented that Wolbachia is associated with increased recombination in D. melanogaster, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here we use ovarian transcriptomics in Wolbachia-infected and uninfected flies to identify candidate genes underlying Wolbachia-associated plastic recombination. We find that infection alters ovarian gene expression in subtle ways, and also identify exciting candidate genes for functional analysis in subsequent work. These candidate genes may be the first step in determining the molecular mechanisms underlying Wolbachia-associated plastic recombination. Moreover, our data contribute to the growing body of knowledge surrounding how Wolbachia affects host gene expression, and highlights how context-dependent these effects are.
Cryo-EM structure of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens T-pilus reveals the importance of positive charges in the lumen
Authors: Amro Jaafar , Black Corbin , Jemouai Zakaria , Rooney Nathan , Daneault Caroline , Zeytuni Natalie , Ruiz Matthieu , Bui Khanh Huy , Baron Christian
Published: April 2022

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a natural genetic engineer that transfers DNA into plants and this is the most frequently applied process for the generation of genetically modified plants. DNA transfer is mediated by a type IV secretion system localized in the cell envelope and extracellular T-pili. We here report the cryo-electron microscopic structures of the T-pilus at 3.2Å resolution and that of the related plasmid pKM101-determined N-pilus at 3Å resolution. Both pili contain a main pilus protein (VirB2 in A. tumefaciens and TraM in pKM101) and phospholipids arranged in a 5-start helical assembly. They contain positively charged amino acids in the pilus lumen and the lipids are positively charged in the T-pilus (phosphatidylcholine) conferring overall positive charge to the lumen. Mutagenesis of the lumen-exposed Arg91 residue in VirB2 resulted in protein destabilization and loss of pilus formation. Our results reveal that different phospholipids can be incorporated into type IV secretion system pili and that the charge of the lumen is of functional importance.
Induction of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants by a multivalent mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccine encoding SARS-CoV-2/SARS-CoV Spike protein receptor-binding domains
Authors: Zhang Qiong , Tiwari Shashi K. , Wang Shaobo , Wang Lingling , Li Wanyu , Zhang Lingzhi , Rawlings Stephen A. , Cheng Yong , Jokerst Jesse V. , Rana Tariq M.
Published: April 2022

To address the need for multivalent vaccines against Coronaviridae that can be rapidly developed and manufactured, we compared antibody responses against SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and several variants of concern in mice immunized with mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccines encoding homodimers or heterodimers of SARS-CoV/SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domains. All vaccine constructs induced robust anti-viral antibody responses, and the heterodimeric vaccine elicited an IgG response capable of cross-neutralizing SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan-Hu-1, B.1.351 (beta), and B.1.617.2 (delta) variants.
Allosteric inhibition of PRPS is moderated by filamentous polymerization
Authors: Hu Huan-Huan , Lu Guangming , Chang Chia-Chun , Li Yilan , Zhong Jiale , Guo Chen-Jun , Zhou Xian , Yin Boqi , Zhang Tianyi , Liu Ji-Long
Published: April 2022

Phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate (PRPP) is an important intermediate for the biosynthesis of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides, histidine, tryptophan, and cofactors NAD and NADP. Abnormal regulation of PRPP synthase (PRPS) has been associated with human disorders including Arts syndrome, retinal dystrophy and gouty arthritis. Recent studies have revealed that PRPS can form filamentous cytoophidia in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Here we resolve two distinct filament structures of E. coli PRPS at near-atomic resolution under Cryo-EM. Formation of two types of filaments is controlled by the binding of different ligands. While the type A filament attenuates the allosteric inhibition of PRPS by ADP, the type B filament enhances the inhibition. In addition, a novel conformation of the regulatory flexible loop of PRPS was found occupying the ATP binding site. AMP/ADP bound at a noncanonical allosteric site interacts with the regulatory flexible loop and facilitates the binding of ATP. Our findings not only reveal molecular mechanisms of the regulation of PRPS with structural basis, but also suggest a distinctive bidirectional regulatory system for PRPP production via PRPS polymerization.
Joint effect of temperature and insect chitosan on the heat resistance of Bacillus cereus spores in rice derivatives
Authors: Valdez Maria Ines , Maria Ubeda , Cristian Narvaes , Dolores Rodrigo , Antonio Martinez
Published: April 2022

The heat resistance of Bacillus cereus spores inoculated in a rice substrate supplemented with insect chitosan as an alternative antimicrobial was studied. Two concentrations of insect chitosan were considered in order to assess the role of the insect chitosan concentration during the heat process as an antimicrobial replacement for crustacean chitosan.

Results of the study indicated that the DT values were clearly higher in the substrate without chitosan than in the substrate containing chitosan thus indicating a greater heat resistance to heat treatment of the microorganism inoculated in the substrate without chitosan. This behaviour was also evidenced in the survival curves. There were no great differences between either of the insect chitosan concentrations tested regarding the DT values. The z values were 9.8 ºC on rice substrate. 8.9 ºC on rice substrate supplemented with insect chitosan at 150 µg/mL and 10.7 ºC on rice substrate supplemented with 250 µg/mL of insect chitosan, the chitosan concentration appears to affect the z value of the microorganism. Our results indicate that the combination of heat with insect chitosan as an antimicrobial on foodstuffs subjected to cooking is feasible and can improve the safety of rice derivatives.
Quantitative analysis of surface wave patterns of Min proteins
Authors: Meindlhumer Sabrina , Kerssemakers Jacob , Dekker Cees
Published: April 2022

The Min protein system is arguably the best-studied model systems for biological pattern formation. It exhibits pole-to-pole oscillations in E. coli bacteria as well as a variety of surface wave patterns in in vitro reconstitutions. Such Min surface wave patterns pose particular challenges to quantification as they are typically only semi-periodic and non-stationary. Here, we present a methodology for quantitatively analyzing such Min patterns, aiming for reproducibility, user-independence, and easy usage. After introducing pattern-feature definitions and image-processing concepts, we present an analysis pipeline where we use autocorrelation analysis to extract global parameters such as the average spatial wavelength and oscillation period. Subsequently, we describe a method that uses flow-field analysis to extract local properties such as the wave propagation velocity. We provide descriptions on how to practically implement these quantification tools and provide Python code that can directly be used to perform analysis of Min patterns.
Dissecting the phase separation and oligomerization activities of the carboxysome positioning protein McdB
Authors: Basalla Joseph L. , Mak Claudia A. , Byrne Jordan , Ghalmi Maria , Hoang Y , Vecchiarelli Anthony G.
Published: April 2022

Across bacteria, protein-based organelles called bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) encapsulate key enzymes to regulate their activities. The model BMC is the carboxysome that encapsulates enzymes for CO2fixation to increase efficiency and is found in many autotrophic bacteria, such as cyanobacteria. Despite their importance in the global carbon cycle, little is known about how carboxysomes are spatially regulated. We recently identified the two-factor system required for the maintenance of carboxysome distribution (McdAB). McdA drives the equal spacing of carboxysomes via interactions with McdB, which associates with carboxysomes. McdA is a ParA/MinD ATPase, a protein family well-studied in positioning diverse cellular structures in bacteria. However, the adaptor proteins like McdB that connect these ATPases to their cargos are extremely diverse. In fact, McdB represents a completely unstudied class of proteins. Despite the diversity, many adaptor proteins undergo phase separation, but functional roles remain unclear. Here, we define the domain architecture of McdB from the model cyanobacteriumSynechococcus elongatusPCC 7942, and dissect its mode of biomolecular condensate formation. We identify an N-terminal intrinsically disordered region (IDR) that modulates condensate solubility, a central coiled-coil dimerizing domain that drives condensate formation, and a C-terminal domain that trimerizes McdB dimers and provides increased valency for condensate formation. We then identify critical basic residues in the IDR, which we mutate to fine-tune condensate solubility. Finally, we find that a condensate-defective mutant of McdB has altered association with carboxysomes and influences carboxysome enzyme content. The results have broad implications for understanding spatial organization of BMCs and the molecular grammar of protein condensates.
Control becomes habitual early on when learning a novel motor skill
Authors: Yang Christopher S. , Cowan Noah J. , Haith Adrian M.
Published: April 2022

When people perform the same task repeatedly, their behavior becomes habitual, or inflexible to changes in the goals or structure of a task. While habits have been hypothesized to be a key aspect of motor skill acquisition, there has been little empirical work investigating the relationship between skills and habits. To better understand this relationship, we examined whether and when people’s behavior would become habitual as they learned a challenging new motor skill. After up to ten days of practice, we altered the structure of the task to assess whether participants would flexibly adjust their behavior or habitually persist in performing the task the way they originally learned. We found that participants’ behavior became habitual early in practice—after only two days—at which point they were still relatively unskilled. These data demonstrate that motor skills become habitual after relatively little training, but can nevertheless further improve with practice.
An essential host dietary fatty acid stimulates TcpH inhibition of TcpP proteolysis enabling virulence gene expression in Vibrio cholerae
Authors: Demey Lucas M. , Sinha Ritam , DiRita Victor J.
Published: April 2022

Vibrio cholerae is a Gram-negative gastrointestinal pathogen responsible for the diarrheal disease cholera. Expression of key virulence factors, cholera toxin and toxin-coregulated pilus, is regulated indirectly by two single-pass membrane-localized transcription regulators (MLTR), ToxR and TcpP, that promote expression of the transcription activator toxT. TcpP abundance and activity are controlled by TcpH, a single-pass transmembrane protein, which protects TcpP from a two-step proteolytic process known as regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIP). The mechanism of TcpH mediated protection of TcpP represents a major gap in our understanding of V. cholerae pathogenesis. Absence of tcpH leads to unimpeded degradation of TcpP in vitro and a colonization defect in a neonate mouse model of V. cholerae colonization. Here, we show that TcpH protects TcpP from RIP via direct interaction. We also demonstrate that a dietary fatty acid, α-linolenic acid, promotes TcpH-dependent inhibition of RIP via co-association of TcpP and TcpH molecules within detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs; also known as lipid rafts) in a mechanism requiring the TcpH transmembrane domain. Taken together our data support a model where V. cholerae cells use exogenous α-linolenic acid to remodel the phospholipid bilayer in vivo, leading to co-association of TcpP and TcpH within DRMs where RIP of TcpP is inhibited by TcpH, thereby promoting V. cholerae pathogenicity.

Significance Statement

V. cholerae continues to pose a significant global burden on health infection millions of people every year resulting in ∼100,000 deaths annually. The importance of toxT gene expression in V. cholerae pathogenesis has been well established. Our results show that TcpP, one of the major regulators of toxT gene expression, is protected from proteolysis by TcpH, via direct interaction, in the presence of α-linolenic acid, an essential dietary fatty acid. Here we identify a physiological relevant host factor that stimulates V. cholerae pathogenicity via TcpH-dependent antagonism of TcpP proteolysis.
Impact of human factors in aircraft accident mitigation and aircraft maintenance training needs in post COVID-19 aviation
Authors: C.S. Karunakaran , J. Ashok Babu
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of human factor training in aircraft maintenance accident mitigation and aircraft safety in post COVID-19 aviation scenarios. The cause of aircraft accidents and details of three decades of selective aircraft maintenance accidents are analyzed to arrive to the significant aviation safety factor. The effect of COVID-19 pandemic and related technological applications to maintain high standards of safety and their applications in aircraft maintenance with respect to the view of human factors are discussed in details.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper details the overview of the human errors, error mitigation and need of human factor applications in aircraft maintenance industry for safe air travel. The criticality of aircraft maintenance in keeping aircraft in airworthy condition to provide safe air transportation without delay and to support airline economy is discussed in this study.

Findings

The cause of aircraft accidents and details of three decades of selective aircraft maintenance accidents are analyzed to arrive to the significant aviation safety factor. The effect of COVID-19 pandemic and related technological applications to maintain high standards of safety and their applications in aircraft maintenance with respect to the view of human factors are discussed in details. The route of error mitigation and need of high standard technological training with human factor knowledge, to aircraft maintenance students are analyzed in detail with the opportunity of percentages of error reduction.

Originality/value

This study bridges, gained knowledge for aircraft maintenance error mitigation, current accident rates and future training needs for safest air travel through high standard quality maintenance in aircraft and its systems.
A guiding model for developing construction training programmes focusing on productivity and performance improvement for different qualification levels
Authors: Manoharan Kesavan , Dissanayake Pujitha , Pathirana Chintha , Deegahawature Dharsana , Silva Renuka
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The effectiveness of the construction industry highly depends on the quality of the work practices, education and training. Based on the industry’s need to strengthen the productivity and performance improvement scopes in the construction education/training practices, this study aims to develop a guiding tool for designing new training programmes in different qualification levels considering the industry’s near-future challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

The study methodology encompassed literature reviews, experts’ discussions/reviews and problem-based communication approaches with qualitative methods to obtain a set of expected competency outcomes (COs) for each qualification level. The necessary mapping frameworks were used to display the cross section of each CO.

Findings

The study has presented a guiding model comprising three categories of qualification levels, where each consists of 12 COs with the mapping outcomes against learning domains of a conceptual framework. The guiding model also displays the detailed steps to develop detailed curriculums for different qualification levels of training.

Research limitations/implications

Though the scope of the study was limited to the Sri Lankan context, the findings can be beneficial to many other countries in similar scenarios.

Practical implications

Overall study outcomes are expected to make an impact on the industry’s reskilling and upskilling practices resulting in a considerable level of improvement in the quality and productivity of work operations.

Originality/value

The experts’ reviews highlight the developed model as a valuable tool that provides a platform for upgrading the construction education and training practices based on the industry’s near-future circumstances in productivity and performance improvement practices, also revealing its future influences in training accreditation processes.
Causes of cost overruns in building construction projects in Asian countries; Iran as a case study
Authors: Amini Shima , Rezvani Alireza , Tabassi Mohsen , Malek Sadati Seyed Saeed
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Cost overruns have been identified as the most significant challenge for construction sector stakeholders. Like many developing countries, the Iranian construction industry suffers from poor cost performance. So, the current research aims to investigate the causes of cost overrun in Iranian construction projects. This paper also reviews the findings of similar studies conducted in several Asian countries.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper includes a literature review and a quantitative method with a questionnaire survey. The review is limited to the studies investigating the causes of cost overrun in an Asian country in the last decade. Moreover, the current research was conducted through a questionnaire prepared based on 43 common factors identified through the literature review. The required data were gathered from the representatives involved in handling construction activities in Iran. The collected data were analyzed based on relative importance index (RII), using the SPSS software package.

Findings

The results showed that poor site management, improper planning, fluctuation of prices of materials, lack of experience, and poor economic condition are the critical reasons for cost overrun in Iranian construction projects. The findings also indicated that among the studies conducted in Asian countries, the first three factors have the highest frequency.

Originality/value

This paper highlighted most studies concerning the cost overrun factors in construction projects in different Asian countries in recent years. Up-to-date knowledge helps to understand the complexity of this field in various periods and therefore minimizes the risk of cost overrun. This research can also be used as a benchmark for further studies to clarify similar issues in other developing countries.
Investigating the role of spatial configuration on visitors’ spatial cognition in health-care spaces: case studies in Gilan, Iran
Authors: Mehrinejad Khotbehsara Elham , Safari Hossein , Askarizad Reza , Somasundaraswaran Kathirgamalingam
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to explore the impact of spatial configuration on behavioral patterns of visitors in the ground floor of health-care spaces.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the Space Syntax analysis was used to combine visibility graph analysis and axial line analysis with empirical observation of visitors’ activities. Two types of observation methods on visitors were conducted to discover the behavioral patterns of individuals, respectively, named “gate counts” and “people following.”

Findings

The outcomes of this research revealed that the spatial arrangements of pathways, public areas, vertical circulations, entrance space, lobby, emergency department, reception desk and pharmacy have a significant influence on the way that visitors perceive the health-care environment.

Research limitations/implications

The current research is limited to two aspects of effective wayfinding (configuration of health care and geometry). Future work can investigate the other potential factors coupled with the current factor as an integrated research for enhancing wayfinding and sustaining accessibility. Another limitation is that the observation results for this study had been conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic and future studies can compare these results with the current COVID-19 situation within health care environments.

Originality/value

A large amount of research has focused on the needs of populations in developed countries. This topic has not been investigated thoroughly by professionals in developing countries such as Iran. Accordingly, this study benefits environmental psychologists and architects by revealing the effective characteristics of legible spaces in health-care environments.
Reconstruction and storage of a low-cost three-dimensional model for a cadastre of historical and artistic heritage
Authors: Silva da Purificação Nathalia Rose , Henrique Vinícius Barbosa , Amorim Amilton , Carneiro Andrea , Souza Guilherme Henrique Barros de
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to compare methodologies for mapping a historic building, with image capture by smartphones and drones, using photogrammetric techniques for three-dimensional (3D) modeling of the structure. Processes and products are also analyzed, as well as possibilities for storing and visualizing data for structuring a cadastre of historical and artistic heritage are studied.

Design/methodology/approach

For mapping with smartphones, the overlapping of photographs was guaranteed, with data acquisition using three different cameras, on the same date as the aerial survey. The models were made from different combinations of camera use. For storage, a conceptual model based on ISO 19.152:2012 is proposed, which was implemented in the MongoDB, resulting in a database for storage. The visualization was carried out on the Cesium ion platform.

Findings

The results indicate that the terrestrial 3D reconstruction using smartphones is an efficient alternative to the historical and artistic cadastre, presenting texture quality superior to the aerial survey in a shorter production time. When dealing with the conceptual model, the LADM (Land Administration Domain Model) standardization guarantees interoperability and facilitates data exchange. In addition, it proved to be flexible for the creation of thematic profiles, supporting their effective storage. The insertion of data in the visualization platform was simple and effective, and it even generated sharing links for visualization of the models.

Originality/value

The study analyses a low-cost method with the use of easily accessible devices, with a combination of methodologies and applied techniques. The data storage and visualization method is also simple and flexible, suitable for application in the cadastre of historical heritage.
Millennials’ staycation experience during the COVID-19 era: mixture of fantasy and reality
Authors: Moon Hyoungeun , Chan Hauyan
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the hotel industry has launched various marketing promotions to survive in business, such as those promoting the idea of “staycations.” This study aims to explore what drives millennials’ staycation consumption and experiential components of staycation experiences during the coronavirus pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking a qualitative approach, semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with a total of 25 participants who were millennials living in Hong Kong. Content analysis of the textual data was performed.

Findings

This study reveals that millennials’ staycation consumption is derived from the challenges they face in reality (disillusion of travelling) and from their own fantasy (illusion of travelling). Millennials’ staycation experience dynamically comprises their physical and cognitive activities, social interactions and emotional responses, whereby they gain a feeling of extraordinariness combined with the ordinariness of familiar surroundings.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the staycation-related literature by untangling the dynamics of millennials’ staycation experience. In the COVID-19 situation, millennials’ staycation experience entails feelings of both ordinariness and extraordinariness, in which they actualize their fantasy of travelling.

Practical implications

In a bid to gain millennials’ interests in the post-COVID-19 era, hotel management needs to continue designing Instagrammable rooms/amenities and developing variously themed packages by collaborating with local brands and nearby attractions.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the limited literature on staycations in hospitality by revealing the structure of staycation experience during the COVID-19 pandemic and future behavior toward staycations, especially from millennials’ perspective.
Development of wearable device designs for respiratory infection prevention
Authors: Hu Bowei , Koo Sumin
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study was to develop a smart wearable mask designed for the prevention of respiratory infectious diseases by understanding consumer's preferences in designs and functions of the smart wearable masks.

Design/methodology/approach

To develop a smart mask design, a survey was conducted on Chinese consumers in their 20–40s and analyzed their mask wearing behaviors, preferences and caring aspects of masks. The collected data were analyzed to identify the demographic characteristics of the subjects surveyed by using the SPSS program, and technical statistical analysis was conducted. To identify differences in demographic characteristics, an independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance and Scheffe's ad hoc test were conducted.

Findings

Based on the research results, design guidelines for wearable masks were defined, and four wearable mask designs were developed and presented in 2D and 3D images based on the design guidelines. There were significant differences among people with different backgrounds.

Originality/value

It is significant that this research presents smart wearable mask design guidelines and designs through supplementation and improvement of existing mask. It is expected that this research provides basic empirical data for mask designs through the planning of smart wearable mask designs and surveys assessing consumer perceptions, attitudes and satisfaction.
Whether corporate green bonds act as armour during crises? Evidence from a natural experiment
Authors: Sisodia Garima , Joseph Anto , Dominic James
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The present study examines the rationale behind the increased global presence of corporate green bonds as a green financing tool to facilitate sustainable practices and eco-friendly investing. The authors investigate the intriguing question of whether the companies that issue green bonds are valued more by investors or not, and further extend our analysis by exploring whether the green image of companies helps to minimize the value erosion during a crisis and enhance the resilience of the stocks?

Design/methodology/approach

To examine the association between environmental commitments and firm value, the authors use the COVID-19 crisis as an exogenous shock and create a perfect natural setting to eliminate the endogeneity bias from our estimations. Moreover, the authors use propensity score matching to choose a one-to-one match of green bond firms with a larger pool of brown bond firms and eliminate the “size effect” arising out of the disproportionate sample size of green and brown bond firms.

Findings

The results of the study indicate that green bond firms are valued more by investors compared to brown bonds firms. Hence, green bond issuance acts as a strong signal of a firm's environmental commitment and it is well recognized by the investors. One of the possible reasons for a higher value of green bond firms may be due to their ability to arrest value erosion during environmental shocks. The authors could not find any difference in the resilience of green and brown bond firms.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the growing literature in the area of impact investing, specifically on exponentially growing innovative instrument green bond. Our study integrates two areas of research, i.e. corporate finance and impact investing by examining the impact of green bond issuance on firm value and stock market returns. The results would help environmentally sensitive investors to devise their investment portfolios more efficiently.
To shift a paradigm or not: worldviews at play in responsible management education literature
Authors: Stough Talia , Ceulemans Kim , Craps Marc , Van Liedekerke Luc , Cappuyns Valérie
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study analyzes which worldviews on the interrelatedness of the economic, environmental and social systems are adopted in the literature on responsible management education (RME) and explores how this affects the way business schools educate future responsible managers.

Design/methodology/approach

The sustainability-focused relational worldviews of Kuruczet al.(2014) were used to perform a content analysis on 100 articles from the field of RME to understand which worldviews are adopted and to distill potential implications of the prevalence of such worldviews in the RME field.

Findings

In the sample, the most adopted view was the intertwined view that imagines a balance between the economic, environmental, and social system (61% of the articles). The subsuming worldview (highlighting the business case for sustainability) accounted for 8% of articles in the sample. The embedded worldview (a new paradigm that respects the limitations of the environmental and social systems) accounted for 31% of the articles in the sample. The disparate view (representing classic economic views of discrete systems) was not adopted, indicating a rather uniform belief that RME is about moving management education away from this view. Examining the evolution of views over the last 20 years, it can be observed that the embedded view is growing in popularity. The continuing prevalence of the ambiguous and malleable intertwined view in the RME literature could explain why so many RME initiatives have been taken in the last two decades, while simultaneously critics remain vocal that business schools are not preparing future managers to engage with ethics, responsibility, and sustainability (ERS).

Originality/value

While sustainability-focused relational worldviews have been introduced in the RME literature, this study provides empirical evidence of the prevalence of such worldviews in the literature, allowing an exploration of the implications for the field. The presence of multiple — and at times competing — worldviews adds tension to the field of RME. Seen on the trajectory of increasingly progressive worldviews, the intertwined view is not limited by economic rationalism (like the subsuming view) but also stops short of requiring a full paradigm shift (like the embedded view).
From an association of individuals to communities of persons: how to foster complexity to understand diversity in organizations
Authors: Albert Marie-Noelle , Lazzari Dodeler Nadia
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose to move from the organization as an association of individuals to communities of persons.

Design/methodology/approach

This is primarily a conceptual paper. However, it nevertheless underlies very practical aspects.

Findings

An organization should recognize each person within it as a human whom we must take the time to know, and with whom we must interact sincerely. One that only focuses on performance-related goals would not perform well. Indeed, it would increase situations that would generate significant stress and therefore significant costs. To conceive of the generalized complexity of persons makes it possible to manage with the paradoxes and the uncertainties related to the human species, in all conscience. Thus, it is possible to move from diversity management to a management for diversity, where we recognize the contribution of the differences of each person to the organization and where everyone can influence the other.

Originality/value

This paper emphasizes theories and practices that seem non-efficient whereas it is the contrary.
Examining the effect of liquidity creation on banking profitability and stability: moderating role of political instability
Authors: Javid Misbah , Chandia Khurram Ejaz , Zaman Qamar Uz , Akhter Waheed
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The paper aims to test the effect of liquidity creation on profitability and stability with the moderating role of political instability and its level of implication on the overall banking sector of Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the panel data estimation technique, including fixed- and random-effect model, by taking sample data of 28 banks of Pakistan that are providing their services from 2006 to 2019. Moreover, this study uses the Genreralized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation technique to check the robustness of the results.

Findings

The empirical outcomes of this study found a negative relationship of liquidity creation with profitability meanwhile positive relation with banking stability. However, this study shows a negative relation of political instability with liquidity creation, profitability and stability of overall banks of Pakistan.

Practical implications

The findings of this paper recommended the vital role of liquidity creation in the profitability and stability of banks, especially in the decision-making process of the investors and bank managers, and how it is affected strongly in the presence of an unstable political situation. These findings may be helpful for policymakers to devise appropriate policies to maintain a fair field between state authority and financial institutions and also assist in formulating strategies to strengthen the banking sector of Pakistan to avoid financial turmoil in the future.

Originality/value

As per the knowledge of the authors, this study is the first contribution to examine the moderating effect of political instability on liquidity creation, profitability and stability of the overall banking sector of Pakistan.
Asynchronous network-based model and algorithm for sentiment analysis of online public opinions
Authors: Li Chong , Qu Yuling , Zhu Xinping
Published: April 2022

Purpose

A novel asynchronous network-based model is proposed in this paper for the sentiment analysis of online public opinions. This new model provides a new approach to analyze the evolution characteristics of online public opinion sentiments in complex environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, a new sentiment analysis model is proposed based on the asynchronous network theory. Then the graphical evaluation and review technique is employed and extended to design the model-based sentiment analysis algorithms. Finally, simulations and real-world case studies are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed model.

Findings

The dynamics of online public opinion sentiments are determined by both personal preferences to certain topics and the complex interactive influences of environmental factors. The application of appropriate quantitative models can improve the prediction of public opinion sentiment.

Practical implications

The proposed model-based algorithms provide simple but effective ways to explore the complex dynamics of online public opinions. Case studies highlight the role of government agencies in shaping sentiments of public opinions on social topics.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a new asynchronous network model for the dynamic sentiment analysis of online public opinions. It extends the previous static models and provides a new way to extract opinion evolution patterns in complex environment. Applications of the proposed model provide some new insights into the online public opinion management.