bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction-error neurons in circuits with multiple neuron types: Formation, refinement and functional implications
Authors: Hertäg Loreen , Clopath Claudia
Published: August 2021

Predictable sensory stimuli do not evoke significant responses in a subset of cortical excitatory neurons. Some of those neurons, however, change their activity upon mismatches between actual and predicted stimuli. Different variants of these prediction-error neurons exist and they differ in their responses to unexpected sensory stimuli. However, it is unclear how these variants can develop and co-exist in the same recurrent network, and how they are simultaneously shaped by the astonishing diversity of inhibitory interneurons. Here, we study these questions in a computational network model with three types of inhibitory interneurons. We find that balancing excitation and inhibition in multiple pathways gives rise to heterogeneous prediction-error circuits. Dependent on the network’s initial connectivity and distribution of actual and predicted sensory inputs, these circuits can form different variants of prediction-error neurons that are robust to network perturbations and generalize to stimuli not seen during learning. These variants can be learned simultaneously via homeostatic inhibitory plasticity with low baseline firing rates. Finally, we demonstrate that prediction-error neurons can support biased perception, we illustrate a number of functional implications, and we discuss testable predictions.
Cell competition between wild-type and JAK2V617F mutant cells prevents disease relapse after stem cell transplantation in a murine model of myeloproliferative neoplasm
Authors: Zhang Haotian , Castiglione Melissa , Zheng Lei , Zhan Huichun
Published: August 2021

Disease relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplantation is a major cause of treatment-related morbidity and mortality in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). The cellular and molecular mechanisms for MPN relapse are not well understood. Here, we established a murine model of MPN relapse, in which ∼60% of the MPN recipient mice develop disease relapse after receiving stem cell transplantation with wild-type marrow donor. Using this model, we find that impaired wild-type cell function is associated with MPN disease relapse. We also show that competition between wild-type and JAK2V617F mutant cells can modulate the immune cell composition and PD-L1 expression induced by the JAK2V617F oncogene. These results suggest that cell competition between wild-type donor cells and JAK2V617F mutant recipient cells can prevent MPN disease relapse after stem cell transplantation.
Community-Based Accompaniment for Adolescents Transitioning to Adult HIV Care in Urban Peru: a Pilot Study
Authors: Vargas Valentina , Wong Milagros , Rodriguez Carly A. , Sanchez Hugo , Galea Jerome , Ramos Alicia , Senador Liz , Kolevic Lenka , Matos Eduardo , Sanchez Eduardo , Errea Renato A. , Ramos Karen , Beckhorn Catherine , Lindeborg Andrew , Benites Carlos , Lecca Leonid , Shin Sonya , Franke Molly F.
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Adolescents living with HIV (ALWH) face an elevated risk of poor health outcomes when transitioning into adult-oriented care; however, evidence-based interventions to support ALWH during this high-risk period are lacking, especially in Latin America. We conducted a pilot study of a community-based intervention designed to improve outcomes among ALWH transitioning to adult HIV care in Lima, Peru.

Methods

From October 2019 to January 2020, we enrolled adolescents transitioning to adult HIV care, either due to a recent diagnosis or having aged out of their pediatric clinic. ALWH previously lost from care during the transition process were also invited to participate. The nine-month intervention consisted of (1) logistical, adherence and social support delivered by entry-level health workers who accompanied adolescents during their transition to adult HIV care and (2) group sessions to improve health-related knowledge, skills and social support. We assessed intervention feasibility and effectiveness in improving medication adherence, psycho-social outcomes, and transition readiness after 6, 9, and 12 months.

Results

We enrolled 30 ALWH, ages 15-21 years; 11 were recently diagnosed and 19 had been living with HIV since infancy or early childhood. Participants included ten men who have sex with men, four young pregnant women and six adolescents who were previously lost during the transition to adult HIV care. Intervention participation was high with 90% of ALWH attending at least one in-person social support session and all attending at least one live online session. No ALWH withdrew from the intervention, study, or antiretroviral therapy. In transition readiness, we observed within-person improvements related to personal health (+1.9 points, p<0.001), healthcare usage (+2.4 points, p<0.001), knowledge (+3.3 points, p=0.001), and behavior (+3 points, p=0.003) at the end of the intervention, relative to baseline. We also observed strong evidence of improvements in medication adherence, social support, self-efficacy, and perceived stress, which were generally sustained three months after intervention cessation.

Conclusion

We identified a community-based intervention that is feasible and potentially effective for bridging the transition to adult HIV care among a diverse group of ALWH in Peru. A larger-scale effectiveness evaluation, including biological endpoints, is warranted.
Attitudes to health promotion among teaching staff in South West England: a qualitative study
Authors: Currie Jonny
Published: August 2021

Background

Young people spend much of their formative years in education, making schools appealing environments for health promotion. The World Health Organisation’s Health Promoting Schools framework has been proposed as a useful model. We sought to explore secondary school teachers’ experiences of implementing this model and their attitudes to health promotion.

Objectives

To explore teachers’ experiences and perceptions of health promotion and compare practice with the HPS framework for school health.

Design

Qualitative study with semi-structured interviews

Setting

Nine state comprehensive schools in Bristol and surrounding areas.

Participants

25 teaching staff from school senior leadership teams, those working in health education and other subject teachers.

Analysis

Thematic analysis using NVivo 10.

Results

Teachers largely described educational approaches with less emphasis on school ethos or environment. Staff supported a role for schools in promoting health but felt restrained by limited family engagement, contradictory school practices, resource constraints and conflicting government policies.

Conclusions

Future reforms should ensure health is mainstreamed across school strategies, if we are to create the conditions that promote future generations’ health. Public health must build alliances with educationalists to support the priority-setting of health in school inspections, policy and practice.

Strengths and limitations of the study

In-depth exploration with teachers from different schools, levels of seniority and with varying experience of health promotion

Purposive sampling to ensure representation from schools of different geography, Ofsted rating and proportions of students from disadvantaged backgrounds

Possibility that schools with greater enthusiasm for health promotion disproportionately participated

Trend towards schools in more affluent areas participating
Adar-mediated A-to-I editing is required for establishment of embryonic body axes in zebrafish
Authors: Niescierowicz Katarzyna , Pryszcz Leszek , Navarrete Cristina , Tralle Eugeniusz , Kasprzyk Marta Elżbieta , Nahia Karim Abu , Misztal Katarzyna , Bochtler Matthias , Winata Cecilia
Published: August 2021

Adenosine deaminases (ADARs) catalyze the deamination of adenosine to inosine, also known as A-to-I editing, in RNA. Although A-to-I editing occurs widely across animals, and is well studied, new biological roles are still being discovered. Here, we study the role of A-to-I editing in early zebrafish development. We demonstrate that Adar, the zebrafish orthologue of mammalian ADAR1, is essential for establishing the antero-posterior and dorso-ventral axes and patterning. Genome-wide editing discovery revealed pervasive editing in maternal and the earliest zygotic transcripts, the majority of which occurred in the 3’-UTR. Interestingly, transcripts implicated in gastrulation as well as dorso-ventral and antero-posterior patterning were found to contain multiple editing sites. Adar knockdown or overexpression affected gene expression and global editing patterns at 12 hpf, but not earlier. Our study established that RNA editing by Adar is necessary for the earliest steps of embryonic patterning along the zebrafish antero-posterior and dorso-ventral axes.
Synovial Fluid Mitochondrial DNA Concentration Reflects the Degree of Cartilage Damage After Naturally Occurring Articular Injury
Authors: Seewald Lindsay A. , Sabino Isabella G. , Montney Kaylee L. , Delco Michelle L.
Published: August 2021

Posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) is a debilitating sequela to joint injury with no current therapeutics that can slow its progression. Early intervention, prior to the development of degenerative joint changes, has the potential for greater therapeutic success but requires early detection of joint injury. In other tissue types, trauma is associated with the extracellular release of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which serves as a mitochondria-specific Damage Associated Molecular Pattern (mDAMP) to perpetuate inflammation. We demonstrated that chondrocytes release mtDNA following cellular stress and that mtDNA is increased in equine synovial fluid following experimental and naturally occurring mechanical injury to the joint surface. Moreover, we found a strong correlation between the degree of cartilage damage and mtDNA concentration. Finally, impact-induced mtDNA release was mitigated by mitoprotective treatment. These data suggest synovial fluid mtDNA may represent a sensitive marker of early articular injury, prior to the onset of changes on standard diagnostic imaging modalities.

One Sentence Summary

Synovial fluid mitochondrial DNA increases after articular injury, is associated with the degree of cartilage damage, and is mitigated by mitoprotective treatment.
Post-stroke dendritic arbor regrowth – a cortical repair process requiring the actin nucleator Cobl
Authors: Ji Yuanyuan , Koch Dennis , Delgado Jule González , Günther Madlen , Witte Otto W. , Kessels Michael M. , Frahm Christiane , Qualmann Britta
Published: August 2021

Ischemic stroke is a major cause of death and long-term disability. We demonstrate that middle cerebral artery occlusion in mice leads to a strong decline in dendritic arborization of penumbral neurons. These defects were subsequently repaired by an ipsilateral recovery process requiring the actin nucleator Cobl. Ischemic stroke and excitotoxicity, caused by calpain-mediated proteolysis, significantly reduced Cobl levels. In an apparently unique manner among excitotoxicity-affected proteins, this Cobl decline was rapidly restored by increased mRNA expression and Cobl then played a pivotal role in post-stroke dendritic arbor repair in peri-infarct areas. In Cobl KO mice, the dendritic repair window determined to span day 2-4 post-stroke in WT strikingly passed without any dendritic regrowth. Instead, Cobl KO penumbral neurons of the primary motor cortex continued to show the dendritic impairments caused by stroke. Our results thereby highlight a powerful post-stroke recovery process and identified causal molecular mechanisms critical during post-stroke repair.
BldD-based bimolecular fluorescence complementation for in vivo detection of the second messenger cyclic di-GMP
Authors: Halte Manuel , Wörmann Mirka E. , Bogisch Maxim , Erhardt Marc , Tschowri Natalia
Published: August 2021

The widespread bacterial second messenger bis-(3’-5’)-cyclic diguanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) is an important regulator of biofilm formation, virulence and cell differentiation. C-di-GMP-specific biosensors that allow detection and visualization of c-di-GMP levels in living cells are key to our understanding of how c-di-GMP fluctuations drive cellular responses. Here, we describe a novel c-di-GMP biosensor, CensYBL, that is based on c-di-GMP-induced dimerization of the effector protein BldD from Streptomyces resulting in bimolecular fluorescence complementation of split-YPet fusion proteins. As a proof-of-principle, we demonstrate that CensYBL is functional in detecting fluctuations in intracellular c-di-GMP levels in the Gram-negative model bacteria Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Using deletion mutants of c-di-GMP diguanylate cyclases and phosphodiesterases, we show that c-di-GMP dependent dimerization of CBldD-YPet results in fluorescence complementation reflecting intracellular c-di-GMP levels. Overall, we demonstrate that the CensYBL biosensor is a user-friendly and versatile tool that allows to investigate c-di-GMP variations using single-cell and population-wide experimental set-ups.

Importance

The second messenger c-di-GMP controls various bacterial functions including development of resistant biofilm communities and transition into dormant spores. In vivo detection of c-di-GMP levels is therefore crucial for a better understanding of how intracellular c-di-GMP levels induce changes of bacterial physiology. Here, we describe the design of a novel c-di-GMP biosensor and demonstrate its effective application in investigating fluctuations in intracellular c-di-GMP levels in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium on a population-based and single-cell level.
The entomopathogenic nematodeSteinernema hermaphroditumis a self-fertilizing hermaphrodite and a genetically tractable system for the study of parasitic and mutualistic symbiosis
Authors: Cao Mengyi , Schwartz Hillel T. , Tan Chieh-Hsiang , Sternberg Paul W.
Published: August 2021

Entomopathogenic nematodes, includingHeterorhabditisandSteinernema, are parasitic to insects and contain mutualistically symbiotic bacteria in their intestines (PhotorhabdusandXenorhabdus,respectively) and therefore offer opportunities to study both mutualistic and parasitic symbiosis. The establishment of genetic tools in entomopathogenic nematodes has been impeded by limited genetic tractability, inconsistent growthin vitro, variable cryopreservation, and low mating efficiency. We obtained the recently describedSteinernema hermaphroditumstrain CS34 and optimized itsin vitrogrowth, with a rapid generation time on a lawn of its native symbiotic bacteriaXenorhabdus griffiniae. We developed a simple and efficient cryopreservation method. Previously,S. hermaphroditumisolated from insect hosts was described as first-generation hermaphroditic and second-generation gonochoristic. We discovered that CS34, when grownin vitro,produced consecutive generations of autonomously reproducing hermaphrodites accompanied by rare males. We performed mutagenesis screens inS. hermaphroditumthat produced mutant lines with visible and heritable phenotypes. Genetic analysis of the mutants demonstrated that this species reproduces by self-fertilization rather than parthenogenesis and that its sex is determined chromosomally. Genetic mapping has thus far identified markers on the X chromosome and three of four autosomes. We report thatS. hermaphroditumCS34 is the first consistently hermaphroditic entomopathogenic nematode and is suitable for genetic model development to study naturally occurring mutualistic symbiosis and insect parasitism.
The transcriptomic signature of obligate parthenogenesis
Authors: Xu Sen , Huynh Trung , Snyman Marelize
Published: August 2021

Investigating the origin of parthenogenesis through interspecific hybridization can provide insight into how meiosis may be altered by genetic incompatibilities, which is fundamental for our understanding of the formation of reproductive barriers. Yet the genetic mechanisms giving rise to obligate parthenogenesis in eukaryotes remain understudied. In the microcrustacean Daphnia pulex species complex, obligately parthenogenetic (OP) isolates emerged as backcrosses of two cyclically parthenogenetic (CP) parental species, D. pulex and D. pulicaria, two closely related but ecologically distinct species. We examine the genome-wide expression in OP females at the early resting egg production stage, a life-history stage distinguishing OP and CP reproductive strategies, in comparison to CP females of the same stage from the two parental species. Our analyses of the expression data reveal that misregulated genes (underdominant and overdominant genes) are abundant in OP isolates, suggesting widespread regulatory incompatibilities between the parental species. More importantly, underdominant genes (i.e., genes with expression lower than both parentals) in the OP isolates are enriched in meiosis and cell-cycle pathways, indicating an important role of underdominance in the origin of obligate parthenogenesis. Furthermore, metabolic and biosynthesis pathways enriched with overdominant genes (i.e., expression higher than both parentals) are another genomic signature of OP isolates.
Development of the first antibody targeting vitellogenin using the Palinurus elephas mRNA molecular pathway
Authors: Cannea Faustina B , Follesa Cristina , Porcu Cristina , Rossino Rossano , Olianas Alessandra , Rescigno Antonio , Padiglia Alessandra
Published: August 2021

Vitellogenin is an essential protein involved in ovary maturation in many animals. Detection of this protein correlated with reproductive capacity may be important if carried out on marine organisms such as the red spiny lobster Palinurus elephas, a crustacean economically important crop from wild fish catches. Moreover, in recent years, vitellogenin has assumed an important role as a possible biomarker of marine environmental pollution, as its expression levels can be influenced by the presence of similar oestrogen pollutants and affect the reproductive sphere of marine organisms such as crustaceans. The P. elephas vitellogenin protein and its coding gene have never been isolated, so there is little information about its presence in this lobster. The aim of the present study was to develop a molecular strategy to create, for the first time, an antibody for the detection and quantization of vitellogenin in P. elephas.
Impact of bacterial microcompartment-dependent ethanolamine and propanediol metabolism on Listeria monocytogenes interactions with Caco-2 cells
Authors: Zeng Zhe , Wijnands Lucas M. , Boeren Sjef , Smid Eddy J. , Notebaart Richard A. , Abee Tjakko
Published: August 2021

Bacterial microcompartment (BMC) dependent ethanolamine (eut) and propanediol utilization (pdu) has recently been shown to stimulate anaerobic growth of Listeria monocytogenes. This metabolic repertoire conceivably contributes to the competitive fitness of L. monocytogenes in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract, where these compounds become available following phospholipid degradation and mucus-derived rhamnose metabolism by commensal microbiota. Previous transcriptomics and mutant studies of eut and pdu L. monocytogenes suggested a possible role of eut and pdu BMC metabolism in transmission in foods and pathogenicity, but data on a potential role of L. monocytogenes interaction with human cells is currently absent. First, we ask which cellular systems are expressed in the activation of eut and pdu BMC metabolism and the extent to which these systems are conserved between the states. We find common and unique systems related to metabolic shifts, stress and virulence factors. Next, we hypothesize that these common and unique activated cellular systems contribute to a role in the interaction of L. monocytogenes interaction with human cells. We present evidence that metabolically primed L. monocytogenes with active eut and pdu BMCs, as confirmed by metabolic analysis, transmission electron microscopy and proteomics, show significantly enhanced translocation efficacy compared to non-induced cells in a trans-well assay using Caco-2 cells, while adhesion and invasion capacity was similar. Taken together, our results provide insights into the possible key cellular players that drive translocation efficacy upon eut and pdu BMC activation.
Single-cell chromatin and transcriptome dynamics of Synovial Fibroblasts transitioning from homeostasis to pathology in modelled TNF-driven arthritis
Authors: Armaka Marietta , Konstantopoulos Dimitris , Tzaferis Christos , Lavigne Matthieu D , Sakkou Maria , Liakos Anastasios , Sfikakis Petros P , Dimopoulos Meletios A , Fousteri Maria , Kollias George
Published: August 2021

Synovial fibroblasts (SFs) are specialized cells of the synovium that provide nutrients and lubricants for the maintenance of proper function of diarthrodial joints. Chronic TNF signals are known to trigger activation of SFs and orchestration of arthritic pathology via proinflammatory effector functions, secretion of cartilage degrading proteases and promotion of osteolysis. We performed single-cell (sc) profiling of SF’s transcriptome by RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) and of chromatin accessibility by scATAC-seq in normal mouse SFs and SFs derived from early and advanced TNF-driven arthritic disease. We describe here distinct subsets of SFs in the homeostatic synovium, serving diverse functions such as chondro- and osteogenesis, tissue repair and immune regulation. Strikingly, development of spontaneous arthritis by transgenic TNF overexpression primes the emergence of distinct pathology-associated SF subtypes. We reveal 7 constitutive and 2 disease-specific SF subtypes. The latter emerge in the early stage, expand in late disease and are localized in areas at the interface between the invasive pannus and the articular bone. The associated transcription profiles are characterized by enhanced inflammatory responses, promigratory behaviour, neovascularization and collagen metabolic processes. Temporal reconstruction of transcriptomic events indicated which specific sublining cells may function as progenitors at the root of trajectories leading to intermediate subpopulations and culminating to a destructive lining inflammatory identity. Integrated analysis of chromatin accessibility and transcription changes revealed key transcription factors such as Bach and Runx1 to drive arthritogenesis. Parallel analysis of human arthritic SF data showed highly conserved core regulatory and transcriptional programs between the two species. Therefore, our study dissects the dynamic SF landscape in TNF-mediated arthritis and sets the stage for future investigations that might address the functions of specific SF subpopulations to understand joint pathophysiology and combat chronic inflammatory and destructive arthritic diseases.
Radiation damage to biological samples: still a pertinent issue
Authors: Garman Elspeth F. , Weik Martin
Published: August 2021

An understanding of radiation damage effects suffered by biological samples during structural analysis using both X-rays and electrons is pivotal to obtain reliable molecular models of imaged molecules. This special issue on radiation damage contains six papers reporting analyses of damage from a range of biophysical imaging techniques. For X-ray diffraction, an in-depth study of multi-crystal small-wedge data collection single-wavelength anomalous dispersion phasing protocols is presented, concluding that an absorbed dose of 5 MGy per crystal was optimal to allow reliable phasing. For small-angle X-ray scattering, experiments are reported that evaluate the efficacy of three radical scavengers using a protein designed to give a clear signature of damage in the form of a large conformational change upon the breakage of a disulfide bond. The use of X-rays to induce OH radicals from the radiolysis of water for X-ray footprinting are covered in two papers. In the first, new developments and the data collection pipeline at the NSLS-II high-throughput dedicated synchrotron beamline are described, and, in the second, the X-ray induced changes in three different proteins under aerobic and low-oxygen conditions are investigated and correlated with the absorbed dose. Studies in XFEL science are represented by a report on simulations of ultrafast dynamics in protic ionic liquids, and, lastly, a broad coverage of possible methods for dose efficiency improvement in modalities using electrons is presented. These papers, as well as a brief synopsis of some other relevant literature published since the last Journal of Synchrotron Radiation Special Issue on Radiation Damage in 2019, are summarized below.
On the resolution function for powder diffraction with area detectors
Authors: Chernyshov Dmitry , Dyadkin Vadim , Emerich Hermann , Valkovskiy Gleb , McMonagle Charles J. , van Beek Wouter
Published: August 2021

In a powder diffraction experiment the resolution function defines the instrumental contribution to the peak widths as a function of the Bragg angle. The Caglioti formula is frequently applied to model the instrumental broadening and used in structural refinement. The parameters in the Caglioti formula are linked to physically meaningful parameters for most diffraction geometries. However, this link is lost for the now very popular powder diffraction geometry using large 2D area detectors. Here we suggest a new physical model for the instrumental broadening specifically developed for powder diffraction data measured with large 2D area detectors. The model is verified using data from two synchrotron diffraction beamlines with the Pilatus2M and MAR345 detectors. Finally, a functional form is proposed to replace the Caglioti formula for this geometry in the Rietveld method and profile refinements.
Teaching space-group diagrams to chemistry students through a peer-tutoring approach
Authors: Zheng Shao-Liang , Campbell Michael G.
Published: August 2021

Peer tutoring is a teaching strategy that offers a creative way of getting students more involved and accountable for their own learning in college-level chemistry courses. The authors have found that the `Symmetry and Space Group Tutorial' [Jasinski & Foxman (2007).Symmetry and Space Group Tutorial, V1.55. http://people.brandeis.edu/~foxman1/teaching/indexpr.html] lends itself well to a peer-tutoring approach in a crystallography course for chemistry students. This in-class activity provides an opportunity for students to learn space-group diagrams, understand basic symmetry concepts, organize what they have learned, and explain it to their peers, which leads to a deeper overall understanding of the subject. We report on our experience in planning peer tutoring, advise on best practices, and demonstrate the positive impact on student learning and engagement.
Understanding citizen engagement and concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic in China: a thematic analysis of government social media
Authors: Luo Lijuan , Duan Siqi , Shang Shanshan , Lyu Wenfei
Published: August 2021

Purpose

In crises such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, governments need to act in time to lead citizens toward rational reactions and disclose information effectively to the public. This paper aims to understand the content published by the government and identify how citizen engagement relates to content type and emotional valence.

Design/methodology/approach

The grounded theory approach was adopted and nine types of content posted by the government were observed. The data were obtained from “People's Daily”, an official Sina Weibo account representing the voice of the Chinese government, from January 3 to June 22 in 2020.

Findings

The analysis shows that information related to emotional support and social mobilization were the most reposted, while those mentioning immoral and illegal incidents were the most liked and commented. Also, it was found that positive posts tend to attract more likes, yet with fewer reposts than neutral posts.

Originality/value

The authors adopted thematic analysis and focused on the impact of post content and valence on user participation behavior. This study expands the existing literature. The government can improve crises management capability by learning about citizen engagement behaviors on social media.
What drives customers towards mobile shopping? An integrative technology continuance theory perspective
Authors: Jain Nikunj Kumar , Kaul Dimple , Sanyal Priyavrat
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Existing studies examine the effect of mobile service quality (M-S-QUAL) on shoppers' intent to continue mobile shopping using various theoretical lenses to understand its underlying factors. However, there is limited research focusing on combining theories to integrate the understanding of the factors that contribute to continuance intention of customers towards mobile shopping. This study integrated M-S-QUAL, the technology adoption model (TAM) and technology continuance theory (TCT) to test our proposed conceptual model of mobile shopping use

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data from a survey of 193 respondents who frequently make purchases using mobile and its applications were analysed using partial least squares based on structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

This study found that M-S-QUAL and perceived usefulness (PU) positively influence shopping satisfaction and CI. PU and innovativeness, positively affect shopping satisfaction and CI. The study also found support for the mediating effect of satisfaction between M-S-QUAL and PU with CI.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to TCT by incorporating pre-purchase and post-purchase dimensions for mobile shopping through applications. Pre-purchase variables include technology-related and innovativeness-related features. In contrast, post-purchase variables include the service quality of forward and reverse logistics.

Practical implications

The service providers should focus on technology and innovativeness to increase the continuing intent of shoppers through mobile applications.

Originality/value

This study validates fulfilment, responsiveness and contact as key determinants of service quality in mobile shopping. It also identifies the practical implications to the managers for improving service quality, innovativeness and the PU of mobile shopping to retain customers.
Whether and how managers' negotiable fate belief and knowledge search affect enterprise innovation
Authors: Zhang Shanliang , Guo Chen , Wang Yongwei
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the mechanism and boundary condition of the effect of managers' negotiable fate belief (NFB) on enterprise incremental and radical innovation based on social cognition theory and social network theory.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used Mplus and SPSS (Statistical Product and Service Solutions) to test the proposed model with data from 278 enterprises that have established national or municipal enterprise technology centers. In this study, questionnaires were collected through commission and field investigation.

Findings

The results indicate that managers' NFB has a significant positive impact on local and cross-border knowledge search and on the incremental and radical innovation of enterprises. Knowledge search is positively correlated with enterprise innovation and can play a mediating role between the managers' NFB and enterprise innovation. Network capability can positively moderate the relationship between managers' NFB and cross-border knowledge search but has no significant impact on the relationship between managers' NFB and local knowledge search.

Originality/value

Although there have been many studies of managers' cognition, little is known about how managers' NFB influences enterprise behavior and enterprise innovation. This study incorporates managers' NFB and knowledge search into the research model and examines the moderating effect of network capability between managers' NFB and knowledge search from an interactive perspective. By verifying the research model, this study offers original views on whether and how managers' NFB and knowledge search affect enterprise innovation.
Embedding ensemble learning into simulation-based optimisation: a learning-based optimisation approach for construction planning
Authors: Feng Kailun , Chen Shiwei , Lu Weizhuo , Wang Shuo , Yang Bin , Sun Chengshuang , Wang Yaowu
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Simulation-based optimisation (SO) is a popular optimisation approach for building and civil engineering construction planning. However, in the framework of SO, the simulation is continuously invoked during the optimisation trajectory, which increases the computational loads to levels unrealistic for timely construction decisions. Modification on the optimisation settings such as reducing searching ability is a popular method to address this challenge, but the quality measurement of the obtained optimal decisions, also termed as optimisation quality, is also reduced by this setting. Therefore, this study aims to develop an optimisation approach for construction planning that reduces the high computational loads of SO and provides reliable optimisation quality simultaneously.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposes the optimisation approach by modifying the SO framework through establishing an embedded connection between simulation and optimisation technologies. This approach reduces the computational loads and ensures the optimisation quality associated with the conventional SO approach by accurately learning the knowledge from construction simulations using embedded ensemble learning algorithms, which automatically provides efficient and reliable fitness evaluations for optimisation iterations.

Findings

A large-scale project application shows that the proposed approach was able to reduce computational loads of SO by approximately 90%. Meanwhile, the proposed approach outperformed SO in terms of optimisation quality when the optimisation has limited searching ability.

Originality/value

The core contribution of this research is to provide an innovative method that improves efficiency and ensures effectiveness, simultaneously, of the well-known SO approach in construction applications. The proposed method is an alternative approach to SO that can run on standard computing platforms and support nearly real-time construction on-site decision-making.
An integrative framework of innovative work behavior for employees in SMEs linking knowledge sharing, functional flexibility and psychological empowerment
Authors: Yasir Muhammad , Majid Abdul , Yousaf Zahid , Nassani Abdelmohsen A. , Haffar Mohamed
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to propose a model based on knowledge sharing (KS) to explore that how functional flexibility (FF) and psychological empowerment (PE) plays a mediating role between KS and innovative work behavior (IWB) among employees of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

Cross-sectional plan was employed to investigate the hypothesized model. Survey instrument was used to collect data from 769 employees of SMEs through self-administered questionnaires. Furthermore, correlation and structural equation modeling approach was used for the analysis of collected data.

Findings

The findings revealed that KS has a significant positive relationship with IWB. Second, FF and PE fully mediate between KS and IWB.

Originality/value

This study offers empirical evidence how to flourish a mechanism of IWB among employees in SMEs. Furthermore, this study highlighted some facts that should be meaningful options for human resource managers to understand the nexus of KS, FF and PE for enhancing the IWB among workers in SMEs. Moreover, the study in hand provided significant implications for management by focusing on KS as a fundamental predictor for IWB via FF and PE.
Consequences of employee personality in the hospitality context: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Doan Tin , Kanjanakan Pattamol , Zhu Dan , Kim Peter B.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Personality provides a critical perspective for human resource managers on differences between employees. This study aims to systematically and meta-analytically synthesize the consequences of employee personality in the hospitality context.

Design/methodology/approach

After an extensive literature search, 105 empirical studies on the consequences of the big five personality factors (BFF; agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism and openness) along with proactive personality (PP) in the hospitality context were included for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Findings

The review highlighted a steady increase in the number of studies on hospitality employee personality. Job satisfaction and organizational citizenship behavior were identified as the most significant consequences for employee personality in the hospitality context. Five dimensions of personality traits varied in their consequences and differed from PP.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides insightful implications and suggestions for future studies in terms of methodological approaches, research topics and dimensions of employee personality that will extend the theoretical framework of individual differences.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study represents the first attempt to systematically investigate the consequences of employee personality in the hospitality context. The results reveal discrepancies in the relations between the dimensions of BFF and PP with a variety of consequences. These results offer research directions for hospitality scholars investigating employee personality.
Psychological resilience and its relationship to life stress among Al-Bayda University students
Authors: Al-dhuraibi Abdullah Mohammed , Ali Al-Abyadh Mohammed Hasan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The phenomenon of stress is a problem for a large number of interested people and researchers, and it has even become a global phenomenon in recent times. This is due to the effect of this phenomenon on the individual's performance, efficiency and satisfaction with the work he performs. This paper aims to know the level of psychological resilience, life stress and the relationship between them among a sample of Al-Bayda University students in the health-care context in Republic of Yemen.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the study objectives, the researchers applied the psychological resilience scale, which consisted of (40) items and prepared the psychological stress scale that consisted of (41) items.

Findings

The findings of the study indicated that the level of psychological resilience of Al-Bayda University students is high. The findings also indicated that there are statistically significant differences in psychological resilience depending on the gender variable in favor of males and that there are no statistically indicative significant differences according to the variables of specialization, academic level and marital status. The findings showed a high prevalence of life stresses among the members of the study sample and indicated that the sources of stress among the study sample individuals were arranged as follows: academic stress, future stress, social stress, family stress and economic stress.

Originality/value

The findings indicated significant differences among the study sample in the stress of life according to the variable of gender in favor of males and the presence of an inverse significant relationship between the level of psychological resilience and life stress among the study sample members.
How anthropomorphism affects trust in intelligent personal assistants
Authors: Chen Qian Qian , Park Hyun Jung
Published: August 2021

Purpose

With the continuous improvement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, intelligent personal assistants (IPAs) based on AI have seen unprecedented growth. The present study investigates the effect of anthropomorphism on cognitive and emotional trust and the role of interpersonal attraction in the relationship between anthropomorphism and trust.

Design/methodology/approach

A structural equation modeling technique with a sample of 263 consumers was used to analyze the data and test the conceptual model.

Findings

The findings illustrate that the anthropomorphism of IPAs did not directly induce trust. Anthropomorphism led users to assign greater social attraction and task attraction to IPAs, which in turn reinforced cognitive or emotional trust in these assistants. Compared with task attraction, social attraction was more powerful in strengthening both cognitive trust and emotional trust. The present study broadens the current knowledge about interpersonal attraction and its role in AI usage by examining two types of interpersonal attraction of IPAs.

Originality/value

As trust plays an important role in the rapid development of human–computer interaction, it is imperative to understand how consumers perceive these intelligent agents and build or improve trust. Prior studies focused on the impact of anthropomorphism on overall trust in AI, and its underlying mechanism was underexplored. The findings can help marketers and designers better understand how to enhance users' trust in their anthropomorphic products, especially by increasing social interactive elements or promoting communication.
Owner-manager businesses and youth employee perceptions
Authors: Adeosun Oluyemi Theophilus , Owolabi Temitope
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the perspective of youth employees about owner manager businesses. The owner-manager business (a one-man business) is the most common in Lagos. Hence, an inquiry into their management style and how it impacts youth employees within the context of decent work is important to explore.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used the convenience sample technique to obtain data from 382 owner-managers and youth employees who work in owner-managed businesses across various sectors. They were administered a questionnaire with carefully structured questions, with an 81% return rate. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) technique was used to identify the prominent parameters, and the hypothesis tested and validated accordingly.

Findings

The study identified three prominent factors that youth consider when working for an owner-manager business, i.e. the workplace factor, geographical factors and employee benefit. Consequently, issues regarding sustainable employment, conducive working conditions, job security and pension are paramount in the youths' view. Many owner-managers do not respect labour laws, and job security is low in owner-managed businesses; hence, they experience high turnover as most youth work in one-man businesses to gain experience.

Originality/value

The owner-manager business is the most predominant in the country and yet is under-researched. Furthermore, the perception of youth employees regarding owner-manager businesses provides a better understanding of performance and expected satisfactory outcome required from youth employees and how they can be met through proper channelling of their energies to the right tasks.
Intention of coastal communities to support climate change mitigation policies for fish and marine ecosystem preservation
Authors: Galati Antonino , Tulone Antonio , Vrontis Demetris , Thrassou Alkis , Crescimanno Maria
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the willingness of individuals living in coastal communities affected by climate change to financially support mitigation policies towards the preservation of marine ecosystems and fish resources and to identify the key drivers of their behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was carried out involving 994 people living in three main Italian coastal communities. To investigate the main factors affecting Italian coastal communities’ willingness to pay (WTP) to support climate change mitigation measures to protect the marine ecosystem and fishery resources, a Tobit regression model was implemented.

Findings

The results show that these communities are likely to pay to safeguard fish resources and the marine ecosystem, owing to their social and economic importance for these communities. In particular, this study’s findings highlight that the individuals’ attitudes towards climate change, social pressures and their perception of the phenomenon play a significant role on their intention to support mitigation policies. Moreover, the findings demonstrate that the communities most threatened by the negative effects of climate change are more willing to contribute financially to protect fish resources and the marine ecosystem.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation is related to the adopted methodology. In particular individuals’ intention to adopt pro-environmental behaviours does not always translate into real WTP through additional taxes.

Originality/value

The value of the research stems from its unique collective cross-communal comparison of attitudes and intentions, its parallel identification of behavioural drivers at the individual level and its prescriptive conclusions of both scholarly and practical worth.
The implication of banking regulation on bank business model: evidence from the ASEAN countries
Authors: Sudrajad Oktofa Yudha
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine to what extent is the impact of Basel II adoption on bank business models in the emerging market of selected ASEAN member states.

Design/methodology/approach

To evaluate the impact of the Basel II regulation on banking business models, a difference-in-differences estimation approach is used. This study defines bank business models using diversification index of a modified Herfindahl–Hirschman Index.

Findings

The findings suggest that the Basel II framework only affects banks’ income diversification, while there is no evidence that it leads to funding and asset diversification. Under the Basel II accord, banks have adjusted their business models by diversifying their sources of income to avoid the obligation for keeping more capital; in contrast, a less developed financial market structure and a dependency on customer deposits are creating difficulties for banks in diversifying their funding and asset structure.

Research limitations/implications

The banking sample are taken only from ASEAN countries.

Practical implications

The findings provide important implication on the regulatory perspective, which is the implementation of Basel II framework induces higher intensity for the use of non-interest income activities. Including in these activities are trading and derivatives. Accordingly, the financial authorities should take with care the use of trading and derivatives products in the banking industry which is already embedded in current Basel framework, the Basel III Accord.

Originality/value

The paper provides direct evidence on the impact of Basel II on bank business models in the emerging markets of ASEAN banking sectors.