bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the conformational landscape of a lanthipeptide synthetase using native mass spectrometry
Authors: Weerasinghe Nuwani W. , Habibi Yeganeh , Uggowitzer Kevin A. , Thibodeaux Christopher J.
Published: September 2020

Lanthipeptides are ribosomally-synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide (RiPP) natural products that are biosynthesized in a multistep maturation process by enzymes (lanthipeptide synthetases) that possess relaxed substrate specificity. Recent evidence has suggested that some lanthipeptide synthetases are structurally dynamic enzymes that are allosterically activated by precursor peptide binding, and that conformational sampling of the enzyme-peptide complex may play an important role in defining the efficiency and sequence of biosynthetic events. These “biophysical” processes, while critical for defining the activity and function of the synthetase, remain very challenging to study with existing methodologies. Herein, we show that native nanoelectrospray ionization coupled to ion mobility mass spectrometry (nanoESI-IM-MS) provides a powerful and sensitive means for investigating the conformational landscapes and intermolecular interactions of lanthipeptide synthetases. Namely, we demonstrate that the class II lanthipeptide synthetase (HalM2) and its non-covalent complex with the cognate HalA2 precursor peptide can be delivered into the gas phase in a manner that preserves native structures and intermolecular enzyme-peptide contacts. Moreover, gas phase ion mobility studies of the natively-folded ions demonstrate that peptide binding and mutations to dynamic structural elements of HalM2 alter the conformational landscape of the enzyme, and that the precursor peptide itself exhibits higher order structure in the mass spectrometer. Cumulatively, these data support previous claims that lanthipeptide synthetases are structurally dynamic enzymes that undergo functionally relevant conformational changes in response to precursor peptide binding. This work establishes nanoESI-IM-MS as a versatile approach for unraveling the relationships between protein structure and biochemical function in RiPP biosynthetic systems.
Genome wide functional screen for calcium transients inE. coliidentifies decreased membrane potential adaptation to persistent DNA damage
Authors: Luder Rose , Bruni Giancarlo N. , Kralj Joel M.
Published: September 2020

1.

Calcium plays numerous critical roles in signaling and homeostasis in eukaryotic cells. Unlike eukaryotic cells, far less is known about calcium signaling in bacteria, and few genes controlling influx and efflux have been identified. Previous work inEscherichia colishowed calcium influx is induced by voltage depolarization, which were enhanced by mechanical stimulation, suggesting a role in bacterial mechanosensation. To identify proteins and pathways affecting calcium handling in bacteria, we designed a live cell screen to monitor calcium dynamics in single cells across a genome wide knockout panel inE. coli. The screen measured cells from the Keio collection of knockouts and quantified calcium transients across the population. Overall, we found 143 gene knockouts that decreased calcium transients, and 32 genes knockouts that increased transients. Knockouts involved in energy production and regulation appeared, as expected, as well as knockouts of the voltage sink, the F1Fo-ATPase. Knockouts in exopolysaccharide and outer membrane synthesis showed reduced transients and refined our model of electrophysiology mediated mechanosensation inE. coli. Additionally, knockouts annotated in DNA repair had reduced calcium transients and voltage. However, acute DNA damage did not affect voltage, and suggested that only long term adaptation to DNA damage decreased membrane potential and calcium transients. Our work showed a distinct separation between the acute and long term DNA damage responses in bacteria, which has implications for mitochondrial DNA damage in eukaryotes.

Importance

All eukaryotic cells use calcium as a critical signaling molecule. There is tantalizing evidence that bacteria also use calcium for cellular signaling, but much less is known about the molecular actors and physiological roles. To identify genes regulating cytoplasmic calcium inEscherichia coli, we created a single cell screen for modulators of calcium dynamics. The genes uncovered in this screen helped refine a model for voltage mediated bacterial mechanosensation. Additionally, we were able to more carefully dissect the mechanisms of adaptation to long term DNA damage, which has implications for both bacteria and mitochondria in the face of unrepaired DNA.
Anatomically distinct OFC-PCC circuits relay choice from value space to action space
Authors: Wang Maya Zhe , Hayden Benjamin Y. , Heilbronner Sarah R.
Published: September 2020

Economic choice necessarily involves the transformation of abstract, object-based representations to concrete, action-based ones. This transformation is both determined and delimited by the neuroanatomical organization of the regions that implement it. In choice, the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) plays a key role in both abstract valuation and cognitive mapping. However, determining the neural processes underlying this transformation has proven difficult. We hypothesized that difficulty stems from in part from the fact that the OFC consists of multiple functionally distinct zones that are distinguished by their differing contributions to the abstract-concrete transformation, and that these functions reflect their differing long-range projections. Here we identify two such subregions, defined by stronger or weaker bidirectional anatomical connectivity with the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). We call these regions OFCinand OFCout, respectively. We find that OFCin, relative to OFCout, shows enhanced functional connectivity with PCC, as indicated by both spike-field coherence and mutual information. We find converging evidence that the OFCin-PCC circuit, but not the OFCout-PCC circuit, relays choice signals from an abstract value space to a concrete action space. Moreover, the OFCin-PCC circuit shows a putative bidirectional mutually excitatory pattern. Together, these results support the hypothesis that OFC-PCC subareal organization is critical for understanding the implementation of offer-action transformation in economic choice.
Impact of Rap-Phr system abundance on adaptation ofBacillus subtilis
Authors: Gallegos-Monterrosa Ramses , Christensen Mathilde Nordgaard , Barchewitz Tino , Koppenhöfer Sonja , Priyadarshini B. , Bálint Balázs , Maróti Gergely , Kempen Paul J , Dragoš Anna , Kovács Ákos T.
Published: September 2020

Microbes commonly display great genetic plasticity, which has allowed them to colonize all ecological niches on Earth.Bacillus subtilisis a soil-dwelling organism that can be isolated from a wide variety of environments. An interesting characteristic of this bacterium is its ability to form biofilms that display complex heterogeneity: individual, clonal cells develop diverse phenotypes in response to different environmental conditions within the biofilm. Here, we scrutinized the impact that the number and variety of the Rap-Phr family of regulators and cell-cell communication modules ofB. subtilishas on genetic adaptation and evolution. We examine how the Rap family of phosphatase regulators impacts sporulation in diverse niches using a library of single and doublerap-phrmutants in competition under 4 distinct growth conditions. Using specific DNA barcodes and whole-genome sequencing, population dynamics were followed, revealing the impact of individual Rap phosphatases and arising mutations on the adaptability ofB. subtilis.
Sequencing ultra-rare targets with compound nucleic acid cytometry
Authors: Sun Chen , Chang Kai-Chun , Abate Adam R.
Published: September 2020

Targeted sequencing enables sensitive and cost-effective analysis by focusing resources on molecules of interest. Existing methods, however, are limited in enrichment power and target capture length. Here, we present a novel method that uses compound nucleic acid cytometry to achieve million-fold enrichments of molecules >10 kbp in length using minimal prior target information. We demonstrate the approach by sequencing HIV proviruses in infected individuals. Our method is useful for rare target sequencing in research and clinical applications, including for identifying cancer-associated mutations or sequencing viruses infecting cells.
Application of an Optimized Annotation Pipeline to theCryptococcus DeuterogattiiGenome Reveals Dynamic Primary Metabolic Gene Clusters and Genomic Impact of RNAi Loss
Authors: Ferrareze Patrícia Aline Gröhs , Maufrais Corinne , Streit Rodrigo Silva Araujo , Priest Shelby J. , Cuomo Christina , Heitman Joseph , Staats Charley Christian , Janbon Guilhem
Published: September 2020

Evaluating the quality of ade novoannotation of a complex fungal genome based on RNA-seq data remains a challenge. In this study, we sequentially optimized a Cufflinks-CodingQuary based bioinformatics pipeline fed with RNA-seq data using the manually annotated model pathogenic yeastsCryptococcus neoformansandCryptococcus deneoformansas test cases. Our results demonstrate that the quality of the annotation is sensitive to the quantity of RNA-seq data used and that the best quality is obtained with 5 to 10 million reads per RNA-seq replicate. We also demonstrated that the number of introns predicted is an excellenta prioriindicator of the quality of the finalde novoannotation. We then used this pipeline to annotate the genome of the RNAi-deficient speciesCryptococcus deuterogattiistrain R265 using RNA-seq data. Dynamic transcriptome analysis revealed that intron retention is more prominent inC. deuterogattiithan in the other RNAi-proficient speciesC. neoformansandC. deneoformans. In contrast, we observed that antisense transcription was not higher inC. deuterogattiithan in the two otherCryptococcusspecies. Comparative gene content analysis identified 21 clusters enriched in transcription factors and transporters that have been lost. Interestingly, analysis of the subtelomeric regions in these three annotated species identified a similar gene enrichment, reminiscent of the structure of primary metabolic clusters. Our data suggest that there is active exchange between subtelomeric regions, and that other chromosomal regions might participate in adaptive diversification ofCryptococcusmetabolite assimilation potential.
Breathing new life into the critical oxygen partial pressure (Pcrit): a new definition, interpretation and method of determination
Authors: Seibel B. A. , Andres A. , Birk M. A. , Burns A. L. , Shaw C. T. , Timpe A. W. , Welsh C. J.
Published: September 2020

The critical oxygen partial pressure (Pcrit) is most commonly defined as the oxygen partial pressure below which an animal’s standard metabolic rate can no longer be maintained. It is widely interpreted as measure of hypoxia tolerance, which influences a species’ aerobic scope and, thus, constrains biogeography. However, both the physiology underlying that interpretation and the methodology used to determine Pcritremain topics of active debate. The debate remains unresolved in part because Pcrit, as defined above, is a purely descriptive metric that lacks a clear mechanistic basis. Here we redefine Pcritas the PO2at which physiological oxygen supply is maximized and refer to these values, thus determined, as Pcrit-α. The oxygen supply capacity (α) is a species- and temperature-specific coefficient that describes the slope of the relationship between the maximum achievable metabolic rate and PO2. Thisαis easily determined using respirometry and provides a precise and robust estimate of the minimum oxygen pressure required to sustain any metabolic rate. To determineα, it is not necessary for an individual animal to maintain a consistent metabolic rate throughout a trial (i.e. regulation) nor for the metabolic rate to show a clear break-point at low PO2. We show that Pcrit-αcan be determined at any metabolic rate as long as the organisms’ oxygen supply machinery reaches its maximum capacity at some point during the trial. We reanalyze published representative Pcrittrials for 40 species across five phyla, as well as complete datasets from six additional species, five of which have not previously been published. Values determined using the Pcrit-αmethod are strongly correlated with Pcritvalues reported in the literature. Advantages of Pcrit-αinclude: 1) Pcrit-αis directly measured without the need for complex statistics that hinder measurement and interpretation; 2) it makes clear that Pcritis a measure of oxygen supply, which does not necessarily reflect hypoxia tolerance; 3) it alleviates many of the methodological constraints inherent in existing methods; 4) it provides a means of predicting the maximum metabolic rate achievable at any PO2, 5) Pcrit-αsheds light on the temperature- and size-dependence of oxygen supply and metabolic rate and 6) Pcrit-αcan be determined with greater precision than traditional Pcrit.
A Human Multi-Lineage Hepatic Organoid Model for Liver Fibrosis
Authors: Guan Yuan , Enejder Annika , Wang Meiyue , Fang Zhuoqing , Cui Lu , Chen Shih-Yu , Wang Jingxiao , Tan Yalun , Wu Manhong , Chen Xinyu , Johansson Patrik K. , Osman Issra , Kunimoto Koshi , Russo Pierre , Heilshorn Sarah C. , Peltz Gary
Published: September 2020

Background

To characterize fibrogenic mechanisms, genome engineering and a human hepatic organoid system was used to produce anin vitromodel for human liver fibrosis.

Methods and results

Human hepatic organoids that were engineered to express the most common causative mutation for Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD) developed the key features of ARPKD liver pathology (abnormal bile ducts and hepatic fibrosis) in only 21 days. Second harmonic generation microscopy confirmed that the ARPKD mutation increased collagen abundance and thick collagen fiber production in hepatic organoids; and we demonstrated that these changes mirrored that occurring in ARPKD liver tissue. Transcriptomic and other analyses indicated that the ARPKD mutation generates cholangiocytes with increased TGFβ-associated pathway activation, which are actively involved in collagen fiber generation. The abnormal cholangiocytes promote the expansion of collagen-producing myofibroblasts with markedly increased PDGFRβ protein expression and an activated STAT3 signaling pathway. Moreover, the transcriptome of ARPKD organoid myofibroblasts resembled that of myofibroblasts in liver tissue obtained from patients with commonly occurring acquired forms of liver fibrosis. The involvement of the PDGFRB pathway was confirmed by the anti-fibrotic effect observed when ARPKD organoids were treated with PDGFRB inhibitors.

Conclusions

Besides providing mechanistic insight into the pathogenesis of congenital (and possibly acquired) forms of liver fibrosis, ARPKD organoids could also be used to test the anti-fibrotic efficacy of potential anti-fibrotic therapies.
Sex-specific calibration of memory recall by glucocorticoid receptors on cortical astrocytes
Authors: Taylor WW , Imhoff BR , Sathi ZS , Garza KM , Dias BG
Published: September 2020

Dysfunctions in memory recall lead to pathological fear; a hallmark of trauma-related disorders, like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Heightened recall of an association between a cue and trauma, as well as impoverished recall that a previously trauma-related cue is no longer a threat both result in a debilitating fear toward the cue. Glucocorticoid-mediated action via the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) influences memory recall. This literature has primarily focused on GRs expressed in neurons or ignored cell-type specific contributions. To ask how GR action in non-neuronal cells influences memory recall, we combined auditory fear conditioning in mice and the knockout of GRs in astrocytes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a brain region implicated in memory recall. We found that GRs in astrocytes in the PFC calibrate recall in female but not male mice. Specifically, we found that knocking out GRs in astrocytes in the PFC of female mice (AstroGRKO) after fear conditioning resulted in higher recall of fear to the CS+ tone when compared to controls (AstroGRintact). While we did not find any differences in extinction of fear toward the CS+ between these groups, AstroGRKO female mice showed impaired recall of extinction training. We did not observe any significant results in male mice. These results suggest a sex-specific calibration of memory recall by GRs in astrocytes in the PFC. These data demonstrate the need to examine GR action in cortical astrocytes to elucidate the basic neurobiology underlying memory recall and potential mechanisms that underlie female-specific biases in the incidence of PTSD.
Induced Disassembly of a Virus-Like Particle under Physiological Conditions for Venom Peptide Delivery
Authors: Kelly M. Patrick , Napolitano Tanya , Anand Prachi , Ho Justin S. K. , Jabeen Shakeela , Kuppan Jessica , Manir Sujoy , Holford Mandë
Published: September 2020

Virus-like nanoparticles (VLPs) show considerable promise for thein vivodelivery of therapeutic compounds such as bioactive venom peptides. While loading and targeting protocols have been developed for numerous VLP prototypes, induced disassembly under physiological conditions of neutral pH, moderate temperature, and aqueous medium, remain a challenge. Here, we implement and evaluate a ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) general mechanism for controllable VLP disassembly that is independent of cell-specific factors or the manipulation environmental conditions such as pH and temperature that cannot be readily controlledin vivo. The ROMP substrate norbornene is covalently conjugated to surface-exposed lysine residues of a P22 bacteriophage-derived VLP, and ROMP is induced by treatment of water-soluble ruthenium catalyst AquaMet. Disruption of the P22 shell and release of a GFP reporter is confirmed via native agarose electrophoresis and quantitative microscopy and light scattering analyses. Our ROMP disassembly strategy does not depend on the particular structure or morphology of the P22 nanocontainer and is adaptable to other VLP prototypes for the potential delivery of venom peptides for pharmacological applications.

Abstract Figure
Computationally assisted design and selection of maneuverable biological walking machines
Authors: Wang Jiaojiao , Park Junehu , Zhang Xiaotian , Park Insu , Kilicarslan Evin , Kim Yongdeok , Bashir Rashid , Gazzola Mattia
Published: September 2020

The intriguing opportunities enabled by the use of living components in biological machines have spurred the development of a variety of muscle-powered bio-hybrid robots in recent years. Among them, several generations of bio-hybrid walkers have been established as reliable platforms to study untethered locomotion. However, despite these advances, such technology is not mature yet, and major challenges remain. This study takes steps to address two of them: the lack of systematic design approaches, common to bio-hybrid robotics in general, and in the case of bio-hybrid walkers specifically, the lack of maneuverability. We then present here a dual-ring biobot, computationally designed and selected to exhibit robust forward motion and rotational steering. This dual-ring biobot consists of two independent muscle actuators and a 4-legged scaffold asymmetric in the fore/aft direction. The integration of multiple muscles within its body architecture, combined with differential electrical stimulation, allows the robot to maneuver. The dual-ring robot design is then fabricated and experimentally tested, confirming computational predictions and turning abilities. Overall, our design approach based on modeling, simulation, and fabrication exemplified in this robot represents a route to efficiently engineer biological machines with adaptive functionalities.
eEF2 kinase enhances the expression of PD-L1 by promoting the translation of its mRNA
Authors: Wu Yu , Xie Jianling , Jin Xin , Lenchine Roman V. , Wang Xuemin , Fang Danielle M. , Nassar Zeyad D. , Butler Lisa M. , Li Jing , Proud Christopher G.
Published: September 2020

Emerging advances in cancer therapy have transformed the landscape from conventional therapies towards cancer immunotherapy regimens. Recent discoveries have resulted in the development of clinical immune checkpoint inhibitors that are ‘game-changers’ for cancer immunotherapy. Here we show that eEF2K, an atypical protein kinase that inhibits the elongation stage of protein synthesis, actually promotes the synthesis of PD-L1, an immune checkpoint protein which helps cancer cells to escape from immunosurveillance. Ablation of eEF2K in prostate and lung cancer cells markedly reduced the expression levels of the PD-L1 protein. We show that eEF2K promotes the association ofPD-L1mRNAs with translationally active polyribosomes and that translation of thePD-L1mRNA is regulated by a uORF (upstream open reading-frame) within its 5’-UTR (5’-untranslated region) which starts with a non-canonical CUG codon. This inhibitory effect is attenuated by eEF2K thereby allowing higher levels of translation of the PD-L1 coding region and enhanced expression of the PD-L1 protein. Moreover, eEF2K-depleted cancer cells are more vulnerable to immune attack by natural killer cells. Therefore, control of translation elongation can modulate the translation of this specific mRNA, one which contains an uORF that starts with CUG, and perhaps others that contain a similar feature. Taken together, our data reveal that eEF2K regulates PD-L1 expression at the level of the translation of its mRNA by virtue of a uORF in its 5’-region. This, and other roles of eEF2K in cancer cell biology (e.g., in cell survival and migration), may be exploited for the design of future therapeutic strategies.
Synergistic activity of Nanog, Pou5f3, and Sox19b establishes chromatin accessibility and developmental competence in a context-dependent manner
Authors: Miao Liyun , Tang Yin , Bonneau Ashley R. , Chan Shun Hang , Kojima Mina L. , Pownall Mark E. , Vejnar Charles E. , Giraldez Antonio J.
Published: September 2020

Genome-wide chromatin reprogramming is a fundamental requirement for establishing developmental competence in the newly-formed zygote. In zebrafish, Nanog, Pou5f3 and Sox19b play partially redundant roles in zygotic genome activation, however their interplay in establishing chromatin competency, the context in which they do so and their mechanism of action remain poorly defined. Here, we generated a triple maternal-zygoticnanog-/-;pou5f3-/-;sox19b-/-mutant and assessed the causal relationship between transcription factor (TF) occupancy, chromatin accessibility and genome activation. Analyses of this triple mutant and combinatorial rescues revealed highly synergistic and context-dependent activity of Nanog, Pou5f3, and Sox19b (NPS) in establishing chromatin competency at >50% of active enhancers. Motif analysis revealed a network of TFs that depend on NPS for establishing chromatin accessibility, including the endodermal determinant Eomesa, whose binding we show is regulated by NPS pioneer-like activity. Finally, we demonstrated that NPS play an essential role in establishing H3K27ac and H3K18ac at enhancers and promoters, and that their function in transcriptional activation can be bypassed by targeted recruitment of histone acetyltransferases to individual genes. Altogether, our findings reveal a large network of TFs that function to establish developmental competency, many of which depend on the synergistic and highly context-dependent role of NPS in establishing chromatin accessibility and regulating histone acetylation in order to activate the genome.
Species-Dependent Heterophilic and Homophilic Cadherin Interactions in Intestinal Intermicrovillar Links
Authors: Gray Michelle E. , Johnson Zachary R. , Modak Debadrita , Tyska Matthew J. , Sotomayor Marcos
Published: September 2020

Enterocytes are specialized epithelial cells lining the luminal surface of the small intestine that build densely packed arrays of microvilli known as brush borders. These microvilli drive nutrient absorption and are arranged in a hexagonal pattern maintained by intermicrovillar links formed by two non-classical members of the cadherin superfamily of calcium-dependent cell adhesion proteins: protocadherin-24 (PCDH24, also known as CDHR2) and the mucin-like protocadherin (CDHR5). The extracellular domains of these proteins are involved in heterophilic and homophilic interactions important for intermicrovillar function, yet the structural determinants of these interactions remain unresolved. Here we present X-ray crystal structures of the PCDH24 and CDHR5 extracellular tips and analyze their species-specific features relevant for adhesive interactions. In parallel, we use binding assays to identify the PCDH24 and CDHR5 domains involved in both heterophilic and homophilic adhesion for human and mouse proteins. Our results suggest that homophilic and heterophilic interactions involving PCDH24 and CDHR5 are species dependent with unique and distinct minimal adhesive units.
Discovery and characterization of llama VHH targeting the RO form of human CD45
Authors: Rokkam Deepti , Lupardus Patrick J.
Published: September 2020

CD45 is an abundant and highly active cell-surface protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) found on cells of hematopoietic origin. CD45 is of particular importance for T-cell function, playing a key role in the activation/inactivation cycle of the T-cell receptor signaling complex. The extracellular domain of CD45 is comprised of an N-terminal mucin-like domain which can be alternatively spliced to a core domain (RO) consisting of four domains with fibronectin 3 domain (FN3)-like topology. The study of CD45 has been hampered by a small set of publicly available antibodies, which we characterized as specific to the N-terminal FN3 domains of CD45 RO. To broaden the human CD45 reagent set, we identified anti-CD45 single domain VHH antibodies from a post-immune llama phage display library. Using a yeast display domain mapping system and affinity measurement we characterized seven unique clonotypes specific for CD45 RO, including binders that target each of the four FN3-like domains. These VHH molecules are important new tools for studying the role of CD45 in T-cell functionin vitroandin vivo.
The limits of institutional work: a field study on auditors' efforts to promote sustainability assurance in a trust society
Authors: Silvola Hanna , Vinnari Eija
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to enrich extant understanding of the role of both agency and context in the uptake of sustainability assurance. To this end, the authors examine auditors' attempts to promote sustainability assurance and establish it as a practice requiring the professional involvement of auditors.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying institutional work (Lawrence and Suddaby, 2006) and institutional logics (Thornton, 2002; Thorntonet al., 2012) as the method theories, the authors examine interview data and a variety of documentary evidence collected in Finland, a small society characterized by social and environmental values, beliefs in functioning institutions and public trust in companies behaving responsibly.

Findings

With this study, the authors make two main contributions to extant literature. First, the authors illustrate the limits that society-level logics related to corporate social responsibility, together with the undermining or rejected institutional work of other agents, place especially on the political and cultural work undertaken by auditors. Second, the study responds to Power's (2003) call for country-specific studies by exploring a rather unique context, Finland, where societal trust in companies is arguably stronger than in many other countries and this trust appears to affect how actors perceive the need for sustainability assurance.

Originality/value

This is one of the few accounting studies that combines institutional logics and institutional work to study the uptake of a management fashion, in this case sustainability assurance.
Troubled beginnings: the adverse childhood experiences and placement histories of a detained adolescent population with developmental disorders
Authors: Morris Deborah J. , Webb Elanor Lucy , Parmar Emma , Trundle Grace , McLean Anne
Published: September 2020

Purpose

People with developmental disorders are significantly more likely to experience adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), although the impact of ACEs on this population is not well understood. Furthermore, considerably less is known about the exposure to, and impact of, ACEs in detained adolescents with complex developmental disorder needs. This paper aims to explore the exposure to ACEs in an adolescent population detained in a secure specialist developmental disorder service.

Design/methodology/approach

A retrospective file review was used to explore ACEs and placement histories within a specialist developmental disorder inpatient service. Data was collated for a convenience sample of 36 adolescents, 9 of whom were female, aged 13–20 years (M = 17.28 years).

Findings

A total of 33 participants (91.7%) had experienced at least 1 ACE, with 58% experiencing 4 or more ACEs and 36% experiencing 6 or more ACEs. The most common ACEs reported were physical abuse (61.6%), parental separation (58.3%) and emotional abuse (55.6%). The majority of participants had also experienced high levels of disruption prior to admission, with an average of four placement breakdowns (range 1–13, standard deviation = 3.1). ACEs held a significant positive association with the total number of placement breakdowns and total number of mental health diagnoses.

Practical implications

Adolescents detained in specialist developmental disorder secure care had, at the point of admission, experienced high levels of adversities and had been exposed to high levels of experienced and observed abuse. The level of exposure to adversity and ongoing disruptions in care suggests that Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services’ developmental secure services should consider adopting dual treatment frameworks of developmental disorder and trauma-informed care.

Originality/value

This study explored the early-life and placement experiences of a marginalised and understudied population.
A bibliometric analysis of recycled concrete research (1978–2019)
Authors: Oshodi Olalekan Shamsideen , Awuzie Bankole Osita , Akotia Julius , Ademiloye Adesola S. , Ngowi Alfred
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The use of recycled concrete (RC) can reduce the greenhouse emissions associated with the production of cement, which is one of the primary materials used for the execution of construction projects. This research aims to review the state of knowledge in the field of RC research. An understanding of the state of the art in the RC domain justifies future research in this field.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic and comprehensive search of RC-related literature was conducted using the Scopus database. In this research, the bibliometrix R-package was used for the analysis of bibliometric information of the selected papers. The software was used to create a map, which highlights the trends and gaps in the RC knowledge domain.

Findings

The results reveal the research themes, clusters, collaboration networks and advancement of knowledge in the field of RC research. The study integrates the literature focussed on RC research and provides a platform for progression of knowledge in this field.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the growing body of knowledge by providing an up-to-date RC knowledge map based on an analysis of bibliographic data. Information gleaned from previous studies suggests that bibliometric review can strengthen and complement the findings emerging from other forms of literature reviews. The study reported here is one of the first studies to provide insights into the evolution of RC research.
Aspirations and environmental performance feedback: a behavioral perspective for green supply chain management
Authors: Shou Yongyi , Shan Shuo , Chen Anlan , Cheng Yang , Boer Harry
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This study investigates the relationships between environmental performance feedback and green supply chain management (GSCM). It explores how environmental performance above or below aspirations affects the implementation of GSCM practices (specifically sustainable production [SP] and sustainable sourcing [SS]) through the lens of the behavioral theory of the firm (BTOF), which has received scant attention in the operations management literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used data from the sixth round of the International Manufacturing Strategy Survey (IMSS). It employed hierarchical linear regression to test the proposed hypotheses. Moreover, the study tested an alternate model to rule out the possible role of financial performance aspirations in explaining the implementation of SP and SS.

Findings

The results indicate that organizations determine their efforts put into the two GSCM practices according to environmental performance feedback: the greater the aspiration–environmental performance discrepancy, the stronger the efforts put into implementing GSCM practices.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the GSCM literature by revealing the impact of environmental performance aspirations on the implementation of GSCM practices through the lens of the BTOF. It also extends the BTOF by applying it in the GSCM context and indicating that performance feedback is based on environmental performance instead of financial performance in this specific context.
Smart epidemic tunnel: IoT-based sensor-fusion assistive technology for COVID-19 disinfection
Authors: Pandya Sharnil , Sur Anirban , Kotecha Ketan
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the presented IoT based sensor-fusion assistive technology for COVID-19 disinfection termed as “Smart epidemic tunnel” is to protect an individual using an automatic sanitizer spray system equipped with a sanitizer sensing unit based on individual using an automatic sanitizer spray system equipped with a sanitizer sensing unit based on human motion detection.

Design/methodology/approach

The presented research work discusses a smart epidemic tunnel that can assist an individual in immediate disinfection from COVID-19 infections. The authors have presented a sensor-fusion-based automatic sanitizer tunnel that detects a human using an ultrasonic sensor from the height of 1.5 feet and disinfects him/her using the spread of a sanitizer spray. The presented smart tunnel operates using a solar cell during the day time and switched to a solar power-bank power mode during night timings using a light-dependent register sensing unit.

Findings

The investigation results validate the performance evaluation of the presented smart epidemic tunnel mechanism. The presented smart tunnel can prevent or disinfect an outsider who is entering a particular building or a premise from COVID-19 infection possibilities. Furthermore, it has also been observed that the presented sensor-fusion-based mechanism can disinfect a person in a time of span of just 10 s. The presented smart epidemic tunnel is embedded with an intelligent sanitizer sensing unit which stores the essential information in a cloud platform such as Google Fire-base. Thus, the proposed system favours society by saving time and helps in lowering the spread of coronavirus. It also provides daily, weekly and monthly reports of the counts of individuals, along with in-out timestamps and power usage reports.

Practical implications

The presented system has been designed and developed after the lock-down period to disinfect an individual from the possibility of COVID-19 infections.

Social implications

The presented smart epidemic tunnel reduced the possibility by disinfecting an outside individual/COVID-19 suspect from spreading the COVID-19 infections in a particular building or a premise.

Originality/value

The presented system is an original work done by all the authors which have been installed at the Symbiosis Institute of Technology premise and have undergone rigorous experimentation and testing by the authors and end-users.
Corporate governance mechanisms and corporate performance of firms in Nigeria and Ghana
Authors: Coleman Martha , Wu Mengyun
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This study investigates the impact of corporate governance (CG) mechanisms with inclusion of compliance and diligence index on corporate performance (CP) of firms in Nigeria and Ghana. It further examines the moderating effect of financial distress on the relationship between CG and CP.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used panel data of 102 nonfinancial listed firms of Nigeria and Ghana stock exchange for the period 2012–2016 with total observation of 510. The study first used OLS in estimating the influence of CG mechanisms on CP. Due to multicollinearity in the independent variables, ridge regression was employed.

Findings

It was revealed that ownership structure index and board compliance and diligence index, board size, board disclosure, ownership structure, shareholders' right and board compliance and diligence index had positive influence on ROA and ROE. Growth of Tobin's Q depends on board procedure and board compliance and diligence index. Also, financial distress (ZFS) negatively moderates the relationship between board structure index, board disclosure index, board procedure index, shareholders' right and performance (ROA and ROE) but negatively moderates between ownership structure index and Tobin's Q.

Practical implications

This study provides interesting findings to policymakers in full implementation of CG codes as stated by OCED (2015) by West African firms with greater emphasis on compliance and diligence index since it positively influences all CP measures.

Originality/value

The study provides evidence of the importance of the introduction of the new index: compliance and diligence, which looks at disclosure of CSR activities. This has been overlooked by most researchers especially in Africa in assessing quality CG mechanisms.
Utilization of Olympic Stadiums: a conceptual stadium legacy framework
Authors: Preuss Holger , Plambeck Anke
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Olympic Stadiums are expensive and large constructions. The media often report on cost overruns based on the extravagant appearance of an Olympic Stadium and the lack of its postgames utilization. The aim of this paper is to provide a conceptual stadium legacy framework consisting of four dimensions and twelve functions that an Olympic Stadium can potentially have.

Design/methodology/approach

These were identified by an extensive literature research and an analysis of the findings. Additionally, we collected available data on the specific Olympic Stadiums under review (1984–2016).

Findings

The utilization of Olympic Stadiums varies greatly from city to city. However, 12 functions can be observed as being valid for Olympic Stadiums. The dimensions with its functions are interpreted by the positive/negative values which Olympic Stadiums can have for particular stakeholders. The benefits can be local, regional, national or international. The framework also delivers interconnections of the functions and shows how they interlock and how they can potentially boost the benefits.

Practical implications

Future bid cities that consider constructing a large stadium can plan their stadium legacy by developing business cases based on the 12 functions developed in this paper. This offers a direct link to marketing, as iconic stadiums and urban development support city marketing.

Originality/value

To date, the complexity of functions and their interconnections, as well as their potential values, have not been examined. Thus, many (media) critiques oversee the benefits an Olympic Stadium can have besides its proper sport utilization.
Estimating and assessing second-order constructs using PLS-PM: the case of composites of composites
Authors: Schuberth Florian , Rademaker Manuel Elias , Henseler Jörg
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is threefold: (1) to propose partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) as a way to estimate models containing composites of composites and to compare the performance of the PLS-PM approaches in this context, (2) to provide and evaluate two testing procedures to assess the overall fit of such models and (3) to introduce user-friendly step-by-step guidelines.

Design/methodology/approach

A simulation is conducted to examine the PLS-PM approaches and the performance of the two proposed testing procedures.

Findings

The simulation results show that the two-stage approach, its combination with the repeated indicators approach and the extended repeated indicators approach perform similarly. However, only the former is Fisher consistent. Moreover, the simulation shows that guidelines neglecting model fit assessment miss an important opportunity to detect misspecified models. Finally, the results show that both testing procedures based on the two-stage approach allow for assessment of the model fit.

Practical implications

Analysts who estimate and assess models containing composites of composites should use the authors’ guidelines, since the majority of existing guidelines neglect model fit assessment and thus omit a crucial step of structural equation modeling.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the understanding of the discussed approaches. Moreover, it highlights the importance of overall model fit assessment and provides insights about testing the fit of models containing composites of composites. Based on these findings, step-by-step guidelines are introduced to estimate and assess models containing composites of composites.
Knowledge, attitudes and practices of sustainability in two university populations, Colombia
Authors: Salas-Zapata Walter , Cardona-Arias Jaiberth Antonio
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The objective of this study was to analyze knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) on the sustainability in two populations of university students.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional analytical study with university students.

Findings

The scale employed showed remarkable psychometric properties of reproducibility and validity. Besides, KAP levels were found to be related in the studied population, with higher levels of knowledge and attitudes than those of practice. Knowledge was found to be related to educational cycle and age, attitudes with sex and age and practices with age.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies in the field of KAP related to sustainability and environmental issues in using a validated psychometric scale. As a consequence, this study also offers methodological details necessary to make comparisons with similar populations in other countries.
Planning for active office intervention in Thailand: survey and in-depth interview of university employees
Authors: Maphong Raweewan , Nakhonket Kasem , Sukonthasab Suchitra
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This study aimed to explore knowledge, attitude, behavior and causes of sedentary behavior (SB) among office workers and guidelines for active office intervention.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was comprised of a survey and an interview. In total, 39 nonacademic office workers responded to the Past-day Adults Sedentary Time-University (PAST-U) and workplace sitting break (SITBRQ) questionnaire to measure SB level, sitting bout, frequency and duration of sitting interrupted in 1 h and in whole working hours. Eleven executives and staffs participated in in-depth interviews to understand knowledge, attitude, behavior and cause of SB and guidelines for active office intervention.

Findings

Participants commonly spend most of their working time in SB (383.85 ± 93.03 min or 6 h 23 min). The interview indicated that at an individual level, participants lack knowledge and understanding of SB. The most common causes of SB are huge workload, personal characteristics and the weather. At the organizational level, there is no policy, no support from colleagues or organizations, while the physical environment is not conducive to reducing SB.

Originality/value

The outcomes of the study are used as basic information and guidelines for establishing an active office intervention in accordance with the culture and context of Thai society. There have been studies in Thailand that examine SB but no studies that have been conducted to study basic information on knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and causes of SB to be used in planning active office intervention to reduce SB.
Open innovation and patenting activity in health care
Authors: Orlando Beatrice , Ballestra Luca Vincenzo , Magni Domitilla , Ciampi Francesco
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The study aims to explore the interplay between open innovation and intellectual property. Differently from previous studies, we argue that open innovation fosters firm's patenting activity.

Design/methodology/approach

We use linear regression analysis to test model's hypotheses. Data are drawn from the Eurostat statistics and refer to a large sample of European firms (NACE Rev.2).

Findings

The findings confirm that open innovation fosters patenting activity in health care, also thanks to huge governments' expenditures in this market.

Research limitations/implications

The study focuses solely on European firms and it adopts a traditional linear approach. So, we cannot exclude that different dynamics may occur across European borders. Future research should address this concern by focusing on multi-country comparative studies.

Practical implications

Open innovation is the most suitable model for health industry, because it improves both innovation performance and intellectual capital of firms.

Originality/value

The study tackles an existing gap of the literature by considering how the presence of large customers impacts the strength of intellectual property protection.
Impact of blue economy factors on economic growth in the SAARC countries
Authors: Alharthi Majed , Hanif Imran
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine the influence of the blue economy factors on the economic growth of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Secondary data from 1995 to 2018 have been used for the analysis of eight countries. The contributing factors that measure the fishing production are total aquaculture production, total fisheries production and agriculture, forestry and fishing. Trade and the rate of inflation are used as control variables. Using the feasible generalized least square technique.

Findings

It was found that the blue economy factors play a statistically significant role in the economic growth of SAARC countries and contribute to the achievement of Goal 14 of the United Nations’ sustainable development goals: to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Originality/value

This study highlights the fact that proper management and utilization of water resources may assist the stimulation of economic growth and meet the challenges of food insecurity by improving the supply of seafood in developing South Asian countries. The study proposes that the sustainable management of water resources requires an alliance across nation states. The alliance will be useful in understanding the concept of the blue economy and the role it plays in ensuring economic growth in developing nations throughout the world.