bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single-cell RNA sequencing unveils intestinal eosinophil development and specialization
Authors: Gurtner Alessandra , Borrelli Costanza , Núñez Nicolás G. , Gonzalez-Perez Ignacio , Crepaz Daniel , Handler Kristina , Valenta Tomas , Basler Konrad , Becher Burkhard , Moor Andreas E. , Arnold Isabelle C.
Published: October 2021

Eosinophils are an integral part of the gastrointestinal (GI) immune system that contribute to homeostatic and inflammatory processes. Here, we investigated the existence of functional subsets that carry out specialized tasks in health and disease. We used single-cell transcriptomics and high-dimensional flow cytometry to delineate murine eosinophil subpopulations and their ontogenetic relationship in the steady state and during infection and inflammation. Profiling of eosinophils from bone marrow, blood, spleen and several GI tissues revealed five distinct subsets representing consecutive developmental and maturation stages across organs, each controlled by a specific set of transcription factors. Furthermore, we discovered a highly adapted PD-L1+CD80+eosinophil subset in the GI tract, characterized by its immune regulatory properties, bactericidal activity upon challenge infection and tissue-protective function during inflammation. Our data provide a framework for the characterization of eosinophil subsets in GI diseases and highlight their crucial contribution to homeostasis, immune regulation and host defense.
TRF1 poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation by PARP1 allows proper telomere replication through helicase recruitment in non-ALT cells
Authors: Maresca C. , Stritto A. Dello , D’Angelo C. , Petti E. , Vertecchi E. , Pompili L. , Berardinelli F. , Sgura A. , Antoccia A. , Graziani G. , Biroccio A. , Salvati E.
Published: October 2021

Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures at eukaryotic chromosome termini. Their stability is preserved by a six-protein complex named shelterin. Among these, TRF1 binds telomere duplex and assists DNA replication with mechanisms only partly clarified. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) is a chromatin associated enzyme which adds poly (ADP-ribose) polymers (PARs) to acceptor proteins by covalent hetero-modification. Here we found that TRF1 is covalently PARylated by PARP1 during DNA synthesis. PARP1 downregulation perturbs bromodeoxyuridine incorporation at telomeres in S-phase, triggering replication-dependent DNA damage and telomere fragility. PARylated TRF1 recruits WRN and BLM helicases in S-phase in a PARP1-dependent manner, probably through non-covalent PAR binding to solve secondary structures during telomere replication. ALT telomeres are less affected by PARP1 downregulation and are less sensitive to PARP inhibitors. This work unveils an unprecedented role for PARP1 as a “surveillant” of telomere replication, in absence of exogenous DNA insults, which orchestrates protein dynamics at proceeding replication fork.
Formation and recycling of an active epigenetic mark mediated by cell cycle-specific RNAs
Authors: Ebralidze Alexander K. , Ummarino Simone , Bassal Mahmoud A. , Zhang Haoran , Budnik Bogdan , Monteleone Emanuele , Kappei Dennis , Liu Yanjing V. , Tenen Danielle E. , Coffey Rory , Sheen Mee Rie , Zhang Yanzhou , Wanet Anaïs , Trinh Bon Q. , Poli Valeria , Angarica Vladimir Espinosa , Magallanes Roberto Tirado , Benoukraf Touati , Crane-Robinson Colyn , Di Ruscio Annalisa , Tenen Daniel G.
Published: October 2021

The mechanisms by which epigenetic modifications are established in gene regulatory regions of active genes remain poorly understood. The data presented show that the establishment and recycling of a major epigenetic mark, the acetylated form of the replacement histone H2A.Z, is regulated by cell cycle-specific long noncoding RNAs encoded in regions adjacent to the promoters of active genes. These transcripts, termed SPEARs (S Phase EArly RNAs), are induced in early S phase: their expression precedes that of the downstream genes on which they exert their regulatory action. SPEARs drive the modification and deposition of the acetylated form of histone H2A.Z by bringing together the replacement histone and the histone acetyl transferase TIP60. This widespread bimodal pathway constitutes a novel RNA-mediated mechanism for the establishment of epigenetic marks and cell-specific epigenetic profiles, thereby providing a unifying explanation for the accuracy and persistence of epigenetic marks on chromatin.
Early embryonic heat shock induces long-term epigenetic memory by affecting the transition to zygotic independence
Authors: Örkenby Lovisa , Skog Signe , Ekman Helen , Kugelberg Unn , Ramesh Rashmi , Roth Marie , Nätt Daniel , Öst Anita
Published: October 2021

Early-life stress can generate persistent life-long effects that impact adult health and disease risk, but little is known of how such programming is established and maintained. Previous use of the Drosophila strain wm4h show that an early embryonic heat shock result in stable epigenetic alteration in the adult fly. To investigate the potential role of small non-coding RNA (sncRNA) in the initiation of such long-term epigenetic effects, we here generated a fine timeline of sncRNA expression during the first 5 stages of Drosophila embryogenesis in this strain. Building on this, we show that (1) miRNA is increased following early embryonic heat shock, and (2) the increased miRNA is coming from two separate sources, maternal and zygotic. By performing long RNA sequencing on the same single embryo, we found that a subgroup of miRNA with maternal origin, had a strong negative correlation with a group of early zygotic transcripts. Critically, we found evidence that one such early zygotic transcript, the insulator binding factor Elba1, is a Su(var) for wm4h. The findings provide insights of the dynamics and stress-sensitivity of sncRNA during the first embryonic stages in Drosophila and suggest an interplay between miRNA, Elba1 and long-term epigenetic alteration.

HIGHLIGHTS

We provide a high-resolution timeline for sncRNA for Drosophila stage 1-5 embryos

Heat shock before midblastula transition (MBT) results in a massive upregulation of miRNA at cellularization

Heat shock-induced miRNAs negatively associate with downregulation of a specific subset of pre-MBT genes

Elba1 is a position-effect-variegation (PEV) modifier for wm4h

Heat shock-induces an “leaky” expression of genes that overlap with Elba 1-3 binding sites
Molecular, circuit, and stress response characterization of Ventral Pallidum Npas1-neurons
Authors: Morais-Silva Gessynger , Nam Hyungwoo , Campbell Rianne R. , Basu Mahashweta , Pagliusi Marco , Fox Megan E , Chan Savio , Iñiguez Sergio D , Ament Seth , Marin Marcelo Tadeu , Lobo Mary Kay
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Altered activity of the ventral pallidum (VP) underlies disrupted motivation in stress and drug exposure. The VP is a very heterogeneous structure comprised of many neuron types with distinct physiological properties and projections. Neuronal PAS 1-positive (Npas1+) VP neurons are thought to send projections to brain regions critical for motivational behavior. While Npas1+ neurons have been characterized in the globus pallidus external, there is limited information on these neurons in the VP. To address this limitation, we evaluated the projection targets of the VP Npas1+ neurons and performed RNA-seq on ribosome-associated mRNA from VP Npas1+ neurons to determine their molecular identity. Finally, we used a chemogenetic approach to manipulate VP Npas1+ neurons during social defeat stress (SDS) and behavioral tasks related to anxiety and motivation in Npas1-Cre mice. We employed a similar approach in females using the chronic witness defeat stress (CWDS). We identified VP Npas1+ projections to the nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area, medial and lateral habenula, lateral hypothalamus, thalamus, medial and lateral septum, and periaqueductal gray area. VP Npas1+ neurons displayed distinct transcriptomes representing distinct biological processes. Chemogenetic activation of VP Npas1+ neurons increased susceptibility to a subthreshold (S)SDS and anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze and open field while the inhibition of VP Npas1+ neurons enhanced resilience to chronic (C)SDS and CWDS. Thus, the activity of VP Npas1+ neurons modulates susceptibility to social stressors and anxiety-like behavior. Our studies provide new information into VP Npas1+ neuron circuitry, molecular identity, and their role in stress response.
PHB3 Regulates Lateral Root Primordia Formation via NO-mediated Degradation of AUX/IAAs
Authors: Li Shuna , Li Qingqing , Tian Xiao , Mu Lijun , Ji Meiling , Wang Xiaoping , Li Na , Liu Fei , Shu Jing , Crawford Nigel M. , Wang Yong
Published: October 2021

We previously showed that PHB3 regulates auxin-stimulated lateral root (LR) formation; however, the underlying molecular mechanism is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that PHB3 regulates LR development mainly through influencing lateral root primordia (LRP) initiation via affecting nitric oxide (NO) accumulation. The reduced LRP in phb3 was largely rescued by exogenous NO donor SNAP treatment. The decreased NO accumulation in phb3 caused a lower expression of GATA23 and LBD16 through inhibiting the degradation of IAA14/28. Overexpression of either GATA23 or LBD16 in phb3 mutant background recovered the reduced LRP number phenotype. These results indicate that PHB3 regulates LRP initiation via NO-mediated auxin signaling through regulating the degradation of IAA14/28.

Highlight

PHB3 regulates IAA28 and IAA14 degradation by controlling NO accumulation, and thereby regulating LR founder cell identification and the transition to asymmetric division.
Observation of non-dormant persister cells reveals diverse modes of survival in antibiotic persistence
Authors: Umetani Miki , Fujisawa Miho , Okura Reiko , Nozoe Takashi , Suenaga Shoichi , Nakaoka Hidenori , Kussell Edo , Wakamoto Yuichi
Published: October 2021

Bacterial persistence is a phenomenon in which a small fraction of isogenic bacterial cells survives a lethal dose of antibiotics. It is generally assumed that persistence is caused by cells with inactive growth generated prior to drug exposure. However, evidence from direct observation is scarce due to the extremely low frequencies of persisters. Here, we visualize the responses of more than 106 individual cells of wildtype Escherichia coli to lethal doses of antibiotics, sampling cells from different growth phases and culture media. We show that preexisting growth-arrested dormant persisters constitute only minor fractions of persistent cell lineages in populations sampled from exponential phase. Non-dormant persisters survive with radical morphological changes in response to drug exposure, including L-form-like morphologies or filamentation. Incubating cells under stationary phase conditions increases both the frequency and the probability of survival of dormant cells. While dormant cells in late stationary phase express a general stress response regulator, RpoS, at high levels, persistent cell lineages show lower levels of RpoS among the dormant cells. These results demonstrate that diverse survival pathways coexist within bacterial populations to achieve persistence and that persistence does not necessarily require dormant cells.
When inefficient speech-motor control affects speech comprehension: atypical electrophysiological correlates of language prediction in stuttering
Authors: Gastaldon Simone , Busan Pierpaolo , Arcara Giorgio , Peressotti Francesca
Published: October 2021

It is well attested that people predict forthcoming information during language comprehension. The literature presents different proposals on how this ability could be implemented. Here, we tested the hypothesis according to which language production mechanisms have a role in such predictive processing. To this aim, we studied two electroencephalographic correlates of predictability during speech comprehension ‒ pretarget alpha‒beta (8-30 Hz) power decrease and the post-target N400 event-related potential (ERP) effect, ‒ in a population with impaired speech-motor control, i.e., adults who stutter (AWS), compared to typically fluent adults (TFA). Participants listened to sentences that could either constrain towards a target word or not, allowing or not to make predictions. We analyzed time-frequency modulations in a silent interval preceding the target and ERPs at the presentation of the target. Results showed that, compared to TFA, AWS display: i) a widespread and bilateral reduced power decrease in posterior temporal and parietal regions, and a power increase in anterior regions, especially in the left hemisphere (high vs. low constraining) and ii) a reduced N400 effect (non-predictable vs. predictable). The results suggest a reduced efficiency in generating predictions in AWS with respect to TFA. Additionally, the magnitude of the N400 effect in AWS is correlated with alpha power change in the right pre-motor and supplementary motor cortex, a key node in the dysfunctional network in stuttering. Overall, the results support the idea that processes and neural structures prominently devoted to speech planning and execution support prediction during language comprehension.

Significance Statement

The study contributes to the developing enterprise of investigating language production and comprehension not as separate systems, but as sets of processes which may be partly shared. We showed that a population with impaired speech-motor control, i.e., adults who stutter, are characterized by atypical electrophysiological patterns associated with prediction in speech comprehension. The results highlight that an underlying atypical function of neural structures supporting speech production also affects processes deployed during auditory comprehension. The implications are twofold: on the theoretical side, the study supports the need for a more integrated view of language comprehension and production as human capabilities, while on the applied and clinical side, these results might open new venues for efficient treatments of developmental stuttering.
Ligand-induced transmembrane conformational coupling in monomeric EGFR
Authors: Srinivasan Shwetha , Regmi Raju , Lin Xingcheng , Dreyer Courtney A. , Chen Xuyan , Quinn Steven D. , He Wei , Carraway Kermit L. , Coleman Matthew A. , Zhang Bin , Schlau-Cohen Gabriela S.
Published: October 2021

Single pass cell surface receptors regulate cellular processes by transmitting ligand-encoded signals across the plasma membrane via changes to their extracellular and intracellular conformations. While receptor-receptor interactions are established as key aspects of transmembrane signaling, the contribution from the single helix of a monomeric receptor has been challenging to isolate due to the complexity and ligand-dependence of the receptor-receptor interactions. By combining membrane nanodiscs produced wtih cell-free expression, single-molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer measurements, and molecular dynamics simulations, we report that ligand binding induces intracellular conformational changes within monomeric, full-length epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Our observations establish the existence of extracellular/intracellular conformational coupling within a single receptor molecule. We implicate a series of electrostatic interactions in the conformational coupling and find the coupling is inhibited by targeted therapeutics and mutations that also inhibit phosphorylation in cells. Collectively, these results introduce a facile mechanism to link the extracellular and intracellular regions through the single transmembrane helix of monomeric EGFR, and raise the possibility that intramolecular transmembrane conformational changes are common to single-pass membrane proteins.
CEP120-mediated KIAA0753 recruitment onto centrioles is required for timely neuronal differentiation and germinal zone exit in the developing cerebellum
Authors: Chang Chia-Hsiang , Chen Ting-Yu , Lu I-Ling , Li Rong-Bin , Tsai Jhih-Jie , Lin Pin-Yeh , Tang Tang K.
Published: October 2021

Joubert syndrome (JS) is a recessive ciliopathy in which all affected individuals have congenital cerebellar vermis hypoplasia. Here, we report that CEP120, a JS-associated protein involved in centriole biogenesis and cilia assembly, regulates timely neuronal differentiation and the departure of granule neuron progenitors (GNPs) from their germinal zone during cerebellar development. Our results show that depletion of Cep120 perturbs GNP cell cycle progression, resulting in a delay of cell cycle exit in vivo. To dissect the potential mechanism, we investigated the association between CEP120 interactome and the JS database and identified KIAA0753 (a JS-associated protein) as a CEP120-interacting protein. Surprisingly, we found that CEP120 recruits KIAA0753 to centrioles, and that loss of this interaction induces accumulation of GNPs in the germinal zone and impairs neuronal differentiation. Importantly, the replenishment of wild-type CEP120 rescues the above defects, whereas expression of JS-associated CEP120 mutants, which hinder KIAA0753 recruitment, does not. Together, our data reveal a close interplay between CEP120 and KIAA0753 for the germinal zone exit and timely neuronal differentiation of GNPs during cerebellar development, and mutations in CEP120 and KIAA0753 may participate in the heterotopia and cerebellar hypoplasia observed in JS patients.
Sequential in cis mutagenesis in vivo reveals various functions for CTCF sites at the mouse HoxD cluster
Authors: Amândio Ana Rita , Beccari Leonardo , Lopez-Delisle Lucille , Mascrez Bénédicte , Zakany Jozsef , Gitto Sandra , Duboule Denis
Published: October 2021

Mammalian Hox gene clusters contain a range of CTCF binding sites. In addition to their importance in organizing a TAD border, which isolates the most posterior genes from the rest of the cluster, the positions and orientations of these sites suggest that CTCF may be instrumental in the selection of various subsets of contiguous genes, which are targets of distinct remote enhancers located in the flanking regulatory landscapes. We examined this possibility by producing an allelic series of cumulative in cis mutations in these sites, up to the abrogation of CTCF binding in the five sites located on one side of the TAD border. In the most impactful alleles, the global chromatin architecture of the locus was modified, yet not drastically, illustrating that CTCF sites located on one side of a strong TAD border are sufficient to organize at least part of this insulation. Spatial colinearity in the expression of these genes along the major body axis was nevertheless maintained, despite abnormal expression boundaries. In contrast, strong effects were scored in the selection of target genes responding to particular enhancers, leading to the misregulation of Hoxd genes in specific structures. Altogether, while most enhancer–promoter interactions can occur in the absence of this series of CTCF sites, the binding of CTCF in the Hox cluster is required to properly transform a rather unprecise process into a highly discriminative mechanism of interactions, which is translated into various patterns of transcription accompanied by the distinctive chromatin topology found at this locus. Our allelic series also allowed us to reveal the distinct functional contributions for CTCF sites within this Hox cluster, some acting as insulator elements, others being necessary to anchor or stabilize enhancer–promoter interactions, and some doing both, whereas they all together contribute to the formation of a TAD border. This variety of tasks may explain the amazing evolutionary conservation in the distribution of these sites among paralogous Hox clusters or between various vertebrates.
Sustainability reporting in food industry: an innovative tool for enhancing financial performance
Authors: Buallay Amina
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study investigates the relationship between the level of sustainability reporting and Food Industry Performance (operational, financial and market).

Design/methodology/approach

Using data culled from 1426 observations from 31 different countries for ten years (2008–2017), an independent variable derived from environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) score is regressed against dependent manufacture performance indicator variables [return on assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE) and Tobin’s Q (TQ)]. Two types of control variables complete the regression analysis in this study: firm-specific and macroeconomic.

Findings

The findings elicited from the empirical results demonstrate that there is a significant relationship between ESG and financial performance (ROE). However, there is no significant relationship between ESG and operational performance (ROA) and market performance (TQ).

Originality/value

This paper presents a new framework that considers sustainability reporting as an innovation tool, examining innovation in terms of its positive or negative impact on financial performance. It contributes to research on the innovation paradigm and knowledge management by highlighting the significance of sustainability reporting as a tool of innovation in enhancing the financial performance.
Not just food: Exploring the influence of food blog engagement on intention to taste and to visit
Authors: Mainolfi Giada , Marino Vittoria , Resciniti Riccardo
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The present study investigates the impact of perceived enjoyment, blogger credibility and homophily on readers' engagement. Moreover, the study investigates the role exerted by blog engagement on intentions to follow blogger's recommendations. Despite the growing relevance of these issues, past studies have neglected the relevance of a joint analysis of such dimensions within the context of food blogs.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical research builds on an online survey with a sample of 821 blog readers (353 Italian and 468 American). The proposed model was tested through structural equation modelling.

Findings

Results from a survey on Italian and American consumers show that perceived enjoyment and homophily have a significant effect on blog engagement, which, in turn, positively influences both intention to taste and visit. Moreover, blogger credibility does not show a significant influence on blog engagement for Italian and American followers.

Originality/value

The study contributes to a better understanding of the influence exerted by blog engagement on intention to follow blogger's recommendations. The study also examines perceived enjoyment, credibility and homophily as antecedents of engagement, which have not been extensively researched in the past with respect to food blogs.
Addressing food loss and waste prevention
Authors: Kör Burcu , Krawczyk Adriana , Wakkee Ingrid
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Food waste is one of the most challenging issues humanity is currently facing. Therefore, there has been a growing interest in the prevention of food waste because of world hunger, environmental impacts, resource scarcity and economic costs. The purpose of the study is to investigate the factors that influence food waste and the role of technology in tackling food waste in India and the Netherlands.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to explore differences in food loss and waste further this study will examine a number of practices on both the production and the consumer side, in a developing country and a developed country with different culture/economic backgrounds: India and the Netherlands. The factors that influence food waste were examined with a preliminary qualitative study, which consists of semi-structured interviews, and quantitative research that comprises a survey. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in both India and the Netherlands, which consists of five interviews. The survey data was collected from 78 individuals from India and 115 individuals from the Netherlands.

Findings

One of the main findings of the research is food waste is divided into waste within agricultural production (i.e. food loss) and final household consumption (i.e. food waste). Different factors influence food loss in different stages in the supply chain. Some of these factors include wastage during processing, storage, transportation and at the market-place. New technologies can utilize food loss for new purposes, so food loss is reduced to the minimum. Food waste is mainly influenced by food passing expiry date, food that is left too long in the fridge and consumers buying too much food. In final household consumption, technologies such as digital platforms enable individuals or organizations to share and donate their food, thereby creating awareness on food waste prevention and the environmental and ethical benefits.

Originality/value

The authors examine to what extent and in which ways supporting consumers to minimize food waste can be achieved via three stages: (1) understanding and evaluating food loss and waste, (2) identifying the factors that influence food loss and waste, (3) understanding consumer behaviors to encourage food waste reduction and (4) identifying the technological impact that would reduce food waste. As such, this paper contributes to ongoing debates about food waste by looking at the role of context and culture and by exploring differences between developed and developing countries. Also, the authors advance the debate by exploring both the role of advanced technology such as blockchain and drones in both preventing loss and waste as well as non-technological mechanisms.
Factors influencing millennials' online healthy food information-sharing behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Sumaedi Sik , Sumardjo  , Saleh Amiruddin , Syukri Agus Fanar
Published: October 2021

Purpose

During Covid-19 pandemic, Millennials, which are familiar with the Internet, may contribute in facing the pandemic by consistently sharing healthy food information. Thus, it is important to improve Millennials online healthy food information-sharing behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic. This research aims to examine the simultaneous effects of e-health literacy, knowledge of the digital health communication media (DHCM) use, facilitating conditions, information quality and source credibility on Millennials' online healthy food information-sharing behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was performed to collect the data. The respondents of the survey are 205 DHCM millennial users who lived in Tangerang Regency and Tangerang City, Indonesia. This research performed a multiple regression analysis to test the conceptual model and proposed hypotheses.

Findings

Millennials' online healthy food information-sharing behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic was significantly affected by perceived threat of Covid-19, knowledge of the DHCM use and the facilitating conditions. However, it was not significantly affected by e-health literacy, information quality and source credibility.

Research limitations/implications

This research employed a purposive sampling technique. This research also was conducted only in Tangerang Regency and Tangerang City, Indonesia. In order to test the stability of the research findings, future research should be conducted in other contexts.

Practical implications

In order to improve Millennials' online healthy food information-sharing behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic, it was essential to educate Millennials on the importance of healthy food consumption during the Covid-19 pandemic and their relationships. It is also important to enrich Millennials' knowledge of reliable and trustworthy online health information sources, such as the DHCM, and the search method. Furthermore, the facilitating conditions of online healthy food information-sharing behaviour should be improved.

Originality/value

It is well known that online healthy food information-sharing behaviour is important during Covid-19 pandemic. However, there is lack of study that specifically focused on Millennials' online healthy food information-sharing behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic. This paper is the first that develops and tests a model of Millennials' online healthy food information-sharing behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic. The model can be used to understand the behaviour and develop intervention strategy.
Need to downsize? Your future employees may like the idea of cutting pay more
Authors: Yoon Yeongjoon
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Studies comparing the consequences of payroll cost reduction methods (i.e. cutting pay and downsizing) have been limited, with no studies comparing these methods' impact on job-seeker attraction. The current research tries to close this gap by comparing the effects of cutting pay and downsizing on job-seeker attraction outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Two studies are conducted. The first study compares the effects of the two payroll cost reduction methods (i.e. cutting pay vs downsizing) on job-seeker attraction through a within-subject design experiment of people in the United States. The second study analyzes secondary data in South Korea to compare the two methods' effects on the number of job applicants applying for job openings.

Findings

The results demonstrate that organizations with a history of pay cuts yield more favorable job-seeker attraction outcomes than organizations with a history of downsizing.

Practical implications

Although firms that choose to downsize may better maintain the morale of surviving employees, the decision of downsizing can have long-term costs, such as having a worse capability to attract job-applicants than firms that choose to cut pay and share the pain as a group.

Originality/value

The research provides an insight into which payroll cost reduction method yields better outcomes in terms of job-seeker attraction. The research responds to the call in the payroll cost reduction method literature of identifying a feasible alternative to downsizing in terms of various outcomes other than the morale of current (or remaining) employees.
Groundwater potentiality mapping using ensemble machine learning algorithms for sustainable groundwater management
Authors: Sarkar Showmitra Kumar , Talukdar Swapan , Rahman Atiqur , Shahfahad  , Roy Sujit Kumar
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The present study aims to construct ensemble machine learning (EML) algorithms for groundwater potentiality mapping (GPM) in the Teesta River basin of Bangladesh, including random forest (RF) and random subspace (RSS).

Design/methodology/approach

The RF and RSS models have been implemented for integrating 14 selected groundwater condition parametres with groundwater inventories for generating GPMs. The GPM were then validated using the empirical and bionormal receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve.

Findings

The very high (831–1200 km2) and high groundwater potential areas (521–680 km2) were predicted using EML algorithms. The RSS (AUC-0.892) model outperformed RF model based on ROC's area under curve (AUC).

Originality/value

Two new EML models have been constructed for GPM. These findings will aid in proposing sustainable water resource management plans.
Double rotations of cylinders on thermosolutal convection of a wavy porous medium inside a cavity mobilized by a nanofluid and impacted by a magnetic field
Authors: Aly Abdelraheem M. , El-Sapa Shreen
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to work out the magnetic forces on heat/mass transmission in a cavity filled with a nanofluid and wavy porous medium by applying the incompressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics (ISPH) method.

Design/methodology/approach

The cavity is filled by a nanofluid and an undulating layer of a porous medium. The inserted two circular cylinders are rotated around the cavity’s center by a uniform circular velocity. The outer circular cylinder has four gates, and it carries two different boundary conditions. The inner circular cylinder is carrying Th and Ch. The Lagrangian description of the dimensionless regulating equations is solved numerically by the ISPH method.

Findings

The major outcomes of the completed numerical simulations illustrated the significance of the wavy porous layer in declining the nanofluid movements, temperature and concentration in a cavity. The nanofluid movements are declining by an increase in nanoparticle parameter and Hartmann number. The variations on the boundary conditions of an outer circular cylinder are changing the lineaments of heat/mass transfer in a cavity.

Originality/value

The originality of this study is investigating the dual rotations of the cylinders on magnetohydrodynamics thermosolutal convection of a nanofluid in a cavity saturated by two wavy horizontal porous layers.
The effects of conflict type and conflict expression intensity on conflict management
Authors: Todorova Gergana , Goh Kenneth Tohchuan , Weingart Laurie R.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to add to the current knowledge about conflict management by examining the relationships between conflict type, conflict expression intensity and the use of the conflict management approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test theory-based hypotheses using a field study of new product development teams in an interdisciplinary Masters program (Study 1) and an experimental vignette study (Study 2).

Findings

Results show that people are more likely to respond to task conflict and conflicts expressed with less intensity using collectivistic conflict management approaches (i.e. problem-solving, compromising and yielding), and to relationship conflicts and conflicts expressed with higher intensity through forcing, an individualistic conflict management approach. Information acquisition and negative emotions experienced by team members mediate these relationships.

Practical implications

Knowing how the characteristics of the conflict (type and expression intensity) affect conflict management, managers can counteract the tendency to use dysfunctional, forcing conflict management approaches in response to high intensity conflicts, as well as to relationship conflicts and support the tendency to use collectivistic conflict management approaches in response to low intensity conflict, as well as task conflicts.

Originality/value

The authors examine an alternative to the prevailing view that conflict management serves as a moderator of the relationship between conflict and team outcomes. The research shows that conflict type and intensity of conflict expression influence the conflict management approach as a result of the information and emotion they evoke. The authors open avenues for future research on the complex and intriguing relationships between conflict characteristics and the conflict management approach.
Does LMX always promote employee voice? A dark side of migrant working in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Arain Ghulam Ali , Bhatti Zeeshan Ahmed , Crawshaw Jonathan R. , Ali Imran , Papa Armando
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Drawing on the self-consistency theory, this study aims to test a model where employees' supervisor-based self-esteem (SBSE) is positively related to their promotive and prohibitive voice and mediate the positive relationship between leader–member exchange social comparison (LMXSC) of an employee's promotive and prohibitive voice, but only for local rather than migrant workers.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the study hypotheses, multi-source data were collected from 341 matched supervisor–supervisee dyads working in a diverse range of organizations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Findings

As predicted, employees' SBSE is positively related to their promotive and prohibitive voice and mediates a positive relationship between their LMXSC and their promotive and prohibitive voice, but only for local workers. The study findings support the self-consistency theory perspective on LMX and provide new insight into the “dark side” of migrant working – a lack of voice.

Originality/value

This study responds to calls for more research that explores the roles played by macro-environmental factors on employees' voice. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
The role of human resource practices in the implementation of digital transformation
Authors: Nicolás-Agustín Álvaro , Jiménez-Jiménez Daniel , Maeso-Fernandez Francisco
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Professionals and academics need to know what human resource practices are necessary in this Industry 4.0 environment and digital revolution. This research studies some human resource practices in the digital age that favor the implementation of digital transformation. The authors’ arguments suggest that for personnel to be a key asset in digital transformation processes, a strategic alignment is necessary to drive the company toward these objectives.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses were tested in a representative sample of 184 manufacturing companies with ten or more employees located in the southeast of Spain, using partial least squares.

Findings

The authors’ findings show that human resource practices partially mediate the relationship between strategic alignment and digital transformation. Based on the contingent approach, the authors also maintain that the company must implement human resource practices that encourage employee behaviors that are consistent with the organization's strategy. This strategic alignment and these human resource practices enable companies to achieve digital transformation in search of superior performance.

Research limitations/implications

Longitudinal and multilevel studies could increase the strength of the research, which could also include companies from other sectors. Although the technology component is fundamental in digital transformation processes, human capital management is even more important. This research highlights the mediating role of human resource management, where practices such as teleworking, teamwork and employee engagement are essential to foster innovative behavior and implement the digital transformation process.

Practical implications

In the new digital environment, companies must adopt a set of human resource practices that favor innovative employee behavior that helps digitally transform their businesses.

Originality/value

To the best of authors’ knowledge, this empirical study has not been previously carried out. The theoretical model and hypothesis testing provide strategic value for understanding some of the determinants of digital transformation in relation to human resource management.
Economic and social impact of Malaysian higher education: stakeholders' perspectives
Authors: Muhamad Suriyani , Kusairi Suhal , Aziz Nazli , Kadir Rokiah , Wan Kassim Wan Zulkifli
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study examined the economic and social impact of Malaysian universities on their communities from stakeholders' perspectives. It analysed whether university stakeholders' spending, human capital (HC) and knowledge exploration (KE) will impact aggregate income (AI), quality of life (QOL) and business growth (BG) in surrounding communities.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted among 540 university stakeholders from the southern, northern and eastern regions of Malaysia, representing the alumni, community and industry. Data were subjected to factor analysis using structural equation modelling (SEM).

Findings

Results showed that universities impacted communities' economic development and wellbeing, thereby fulfilling their community-related role.

Originality/value

This study addressed universities' role in communities' economic growth and social development. Universities' contributions towards communities can be improved through the proposed model, which suggests ways to maximise their impact. A more detailed study of a particular university is needed to identify other factors that can strengthen universities' impact, even at national and global levels.
Illicit financial outflows, informal sector size and domestic resource mobilization in selected African countries
Authors: Uzoechina Benedict Ikemefuna , Ibikunle Joseph Afolabi , Olasehinde-Williams Godwin , Bekun Festus Victor
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The growth of both the informal sector and illicit financial outflows necessitated this study, in order to investigate how countries in Africa respond to these realities in terms of mobilization of domestic resources. These are the main motivation for the current study to the extant literature in conjunction with the adoption of employing second-generation econometric techniques which take into account cross-sectional dependence and country-specific heterogeneity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study therefore examined the capacity of Africa to mobilize domestic resources amidst rising illicit financial outflows and informal sector size in selected African countries between 2000 and 2018. Second-generation econometric techniques such as cross-sectional dependence tests, slope homogeneity tests, Westerlund (2007) long-run co-integration tests, Eberhardt and Teal (2010) augmented mean group estimations and Kónya (2006) panel causality testing were employed.

Findings

Findings revealed the existence of cross-sectional dependence and slope homogeneity in the data series. Findings also supported the existence of depressing long-run impacts of IFOs and ISS on domestic savings. Causality test results were not uniform across variables among countries. Policy recommendations favour formalizing the largely informal African economies through budgetary policy adjustments and commitment to building stronger institutions.

Practical implications

The fragility of the African countries economy and its macroeconomic indicators is suggestive for more policy construction.

Originality/value

This economic reality about the nature of the informal sector is one that has negated the traditional view which holds that economic reforms would make the informal sector shrink as it transits to formal sector. Experiences from Latin America and Africa in fact indicate that the informal sector is actually on an expansionary path in the wake of adjustment and policy reforms. It is often called the unobserved, unorganized or unprotected economy. With this sector growing in size, the possibility of a reverse may not be in sight, owing to the increasing poverty levels and unemployment prevalent in most African countries. Uncertain foreign investment and aid inflows coupled with lower export revenues and high levels of indebtedness have created new impetus to examine the capacity of Africa's fiscal policy regime to mobilise domestic resources for the development of the region. Surprisingly, the last decade witnessed continued rise in Africa's illicit financial outflows amidst large informal sector size (ISS).
Entrepreneurial behavior of family firms in the Indian community: adoption of a technology platform as a moderator
Authors: Chatterjee Sheshadri , Chaudhuri Ranjan , Vrontis Demetris
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the generalizability of Daniela Weismeier-Sammer’s (2011) replication study on entrepreneurial behavior and extended the model by considering the adoption of a technology platform as a moderator in the Indian family entrepreneurship community.

Design/methodology/approach

The earlier replication study was conducted in Austria, and this one has been conducted in India with 372 respondents of Indian family firms. The study has used the structural equation modeling technique for analysis purposes. The study has also used multi-group analysis for understanding the moderator impact.

Findings

Willingness to change, generational involvement, perceived technological opportunities and corporate entrepreneurship for the Indian family business community, along with strategic planning, as a moderating factor, formed the earlier model. In the context of strategic planning, this study observes a similarity, but due to the consideration of the additional moderator, the role of generational involvement has become insignificant.

Research limitations/implications

This study adds value to the overall body of literature on the family business community, digital entrepreneurship and technology adoption in the family business community. The study provides valuable inputs on the digital entrepreneurship and family business firms which could be used by entrepreneurs, policymakers and practitioners for different purposes. The sample size is small and India specific so the proposed model cannot be generalizable.

Originality/value

This study has used replication and validation techniques in the digital entrepreneurship community and new venture creation in the Indian context. Very few studies have explored the digital entrepreneurship phenomenon in the Indian family business community context. Also, the use of adoption of technology platform as a moderator enhances the model from the earlier study. Thus, this study is deemed to be a unique research study.
The evaluation of wastewater treatment plant performance: a data mining approach
Authors: Aldaghi Tahmineh , Javanmard Shima
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the performance of the Mashhad No. 5 wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) using a combination of data mining (regression) algorithms and artificial neural networks.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, the performance of WWTP located in Mashhad, Iran, has been evaluated using two data mining models, neural network and regression model.

Findings

The proposed model has the potential of implementing in other WWTPs in Iran or other countries.

Originality/value

The authors would also like to thank Mashhad No.5 WWTP for data access.
Entrepreneurship in superdiverse societies and the end of one-size-fits-all policy prescriptions
Authors: Andersson David Emanuel , Bögenhold Dieter , Hudik Marek
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the entrepreneurial and policy consequences of the structural changes associated with postindustrialization.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach uses Schumpeterian and institutional theories to predict the consequences of postindustrialization on four types of innovative markets: global mass markets; global niche markets; local mass markets and local niche markets.

Findings

The paper makes two key predictions. First, global mass markets will account for most cost-cutting process innovations. Second, niche markets, whether global or local, will provide the bulk of product innovations. Opportunities for product innovations in niche markets multiply both as the result of a more complex economy and as the result of heterogeneous preferences of consumers with divergent learning trajectories.

Social implications

The key implication of the theoretical pattern prediction of this paper is that there are increasing opportunities for entrepreneurs to introduce novelties that cater to niche demands, and this includes new lifestyle communities. The increasing diversity of values and preferences implies that one-size-fit-all policies are becoming increasingly inimical to the entrepreneurial discovery of higher-valued resource uses.

Originality/value

This paper takes a standard prediction of entrepreneurial theories – that innovations become more common with an increase in economy-wide product complexity – and extends this to increasing complexity on the consumption side. With increases in opportunities for learning, consumers diverge and develop disparate lifestyles. The resultant super-diversity, which multiplies consumption niches to a much greater extent than what ethnicity-based diversity indices would imply, makes it more difficult to achieve consensus about the desirability of public policies.