bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A rubrerythrin locus ofClostridioides difficileefficiently detoxifies reactive oxygen species
Authors: Knop Robert , Keweloh Simon , Dittmann Silvia , Zühlke Daniela , Sievers Susanne
Published: September 2024

As an intestinal human pathogen,Clostridioides difficileis the main cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Endospores of this gram-positive bacterium enter the intestinal tract via faecal-oral transmission, germinate into vegetative and toxin-producing cells and can trigger aClostridioides difficileinfection. The microaerophilic conditions (0.1 to 0.4 % O2) of the large intestine represent a challenge for the strictly anaerobic organism, which protects itself by a variety of oxidative stress proteins. Four of these are encoded in an operon that is assumed to be involved in the detoxification of H2O2and O2●-. This operon encodes a rubrerythrin (rbr), its own transcriptional repressor PerR (perR), a desulfoferrodoxin (rbo) and a putative glutamate dehydrogenase (CD630_08280) with an N-terminal rubredoxin domain, which is only expressed under high oxidative stress conditions.

In this study, the enzyme activity of Rbr, Rbo and CD630_08280 was testedin-vitro. Recombinant proteins were overexpressed inC. difficileand purified anaerobically by affinity chromatography.

A H2O2reduction potential was demonstrated for Rbr, Rbo and glutamate dehydrogenase. Rbr and glutamate dehydrogenase proved to synergistically detoxify H2O2very efficiently. Furthermore, Rbo was verified as a O2●-reductase and its activity compared to the superoxide dismutase ofE. coli.

The investigated gene locus codes for an oxidative stress operon whose members are able to completely neutralize O2●-and H2O2to water and could thus be vital forC. difficileto establish an infection in the host.
Limbic System White Matter in Children and Adolescents with ADHD: A Longitudinal Diffusion MRI Analysis
Authors: Connaughton Michael , Leemans Alexander , Silk Timothy J. , Anderson Vicki , O’Hanlon Erik , Whelan Robert , McGrath Jane
Published: September 2024

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is increasingly recognized as a disorder linked to atypical white matter development across large-scale brain networks. However, current research predominantly focuses on cortical networks, leaving the developmental trajectories of many subcortical networks, including the limbic system, largely unexplored. The limbic system is crucial for emotion and cognition, making it a key area of interest in ADHD research. This study employed multi-shell high angular resolution diffusion magnetic resonance imaging to map the development of limbic system white matter in individuals with ADHD (n = 72) and controls (n = 97) across three time points between ages 9 and 14. Diffusion kurtosis imaging and graph theory metrics were used to characterize limbic system white matter, alongside assessments of emotional regulation and ADHD symptom severity. Compared to controls, individuals with ADHD exhibited significantly lower microstructural organization, particularly in kurtosis anisotropy, within the bilateral cingulum bundle from childhood to adolescence. Brain-behavior analyses further revealed that higher ADHD symptom severity was associated with a lower number of limbic system white matter connections, notably decreased routing efficiency and network density. These findings offer novel insights into the role of disrupted limbic system white matter in ADHD pathophysiology, broadening our understanding of the disorder’s neural mechanisms and opening promising avenues for future exploration of subcortical brain networks.
Enhancing lysosome function via mTOR/TFEB activation reduces lipofuscin-like granules in early Age-related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Falcão Ana S , Lopes-da-Silva Mafalda , Antas Pedro , Escrevente Cristina , Pedro Margarida , Coelho Rita , Ferreira Inês S , Santos Inês P , Ciossek Thomas , Nicklin Paul , Tenreiro Sandra , Seabra Miguel C
Published: September 2024

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common blinding disease in the western world and is currently incurable. Although the exact causes of AMD are not clear, the primary origin of pathology appears to be in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). RPE is responsible for the daily digestion of photoreceptor outer segments (POS), which imposes a heavy continuous burden on the lysosomal network. POS feeding assayin vitrosuggested that the accumulation of autofluorescence granules (AFG), similar to lipofuscinin vivo,derives from lysosomal dysfunction. Here we show that synchronous phagocytosis of POS leads to early transient mTOR activation followed by inhibition in late phagosome maturation. One of its substrates, the transcription factor EB (TFEB) increases during phagosome maturation albeit mostly in its inactive phosphorylated form. We questioned whether induction of the mTOR/TFEB axis could improve digestion of POS and hence reduce AFG load. Treatment of POS-fed cells with rapamycin, an mTORC1 inhibitor after the appearance of AFG results in 30% reduction of AFG load. This effect is dependent on active lysosomal enzymes and induction of active dephosphorylated TFEB with consequent activation of GADD34 and lysosomal biogenesis. As a proof of concept, we show that overexpressing a constitutively active form of unphosphorylated TFEB dramatically reduces POS-dependent AFG accumulation. Overall, this study suggests that viral or pharmacological approaches activating the mTOR/TFEB axis in the RPE could be beneficial as cell-protective treatment of early/intermediate cases of AMD, acting to delay progression of the disease.
Representational shifts from feedforward to feedback rhythms index phenomenological integration in naturalistic vision
Authors: Chen Lixiang , Cichy Radoslaw Martin , Kaiser Daniel
Published: September 2024

How does the brain integrate complex and dynamic visual inputs into phenomenologically seamless percepts? Previous results demonstrate that when visual inputs are organized coherently across space and time, they are more strongly encoded in feedback-related alpha rhythms, and less strongly in feedforward-related gamma rhythms. Here, we tested whether this representational shift from feedforward to feedback rhythms is linked to the phenomenological experience of coherence. In an EEG study, we manipulated the degree of spatiotemporal coherence by presenting two segments from the same video across visual hemifields, either synchronously or asynchronously (with a delay between segments). We asked participants whether they perceived the stimulus as coherent or incoherent. When stimuli were presented at the perceptual threshold (i.e., when the same stimulus was judged as coherent 50% of times), perception co-varied with stimulus coding across alpha and gamma rhythms: When stimuli were perceived as coherent, they were represented in alpha activity; when stimuli were perceived as incoherent, they were represented in gamma activity. Whether the same visual input is perceived as coherent or incoherent thus depends on representational shifts between feedback-related alpha and feedforward-related gamma rhythms.
Seipin Regulates Caveolin-1 Trafficking and Organelle Crosstalk
Authors: Carpentier Maxime , Omrane Mohyeddine , Shaaban Rola , Träger Jennica , El Khallouki Naima , Zouiouich Mehdi , Palard Marie , Harayama Takeshi , Vigouroux Corinne , Le Lay Soazig , Giordano Francesca , Prieur Xavier , Thiam Abdou Rachid
Published: September 2024

Caveolin-1 (CAV1), the main structural component of caveolae, is essential in various biological processes, including mechanotransduction, lipid metabolism, and endocytosis1–4. Deregulation of CAV1 dynamics is linked to various pathologies, including cellular senescence, cancer, insulin resistance, and lipodystrophy5–9. However, mechanisms regulating CAV1 trafficking and function remain poorly understood. Here, we show that seipin, a crucial lipid droplet (LD) biogenesis factor10, modulates CAV1 trafficking. Deletion of seipin resulted in the accumulation of saturated lipids, leading to ceramide and sphingomyelin overproduction, which disrupted the membrane order of the trans-Golgi network (TGN). In seipin deficiency, CAV1 location to the plasma membrane (PM) was impaired, reducing caveolae. Instead, CAV1 accumulated in TGN and late endosome compartments, which fused with LDs and delivered the protein. In wild-type (WT) cells, this process was minimal but significantly enhanced by treatment with palmitate, ceramide, or Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) inhibition. Conversely, in seipin-deficient cells, inhibiting Fatty Acid Synthase (FASN) or overexpressing SCD1 restored CAV1 localization to the PM and reduced its accumulation in LDs. Our findings reveal that seipin controls the funneling of palmitate toward glycerolipids synthesis and storage in LDs versus conversion to ceramides in the ER. This balance is crucial to cellular protein trafficking by controlling the TGN membrane order. Therefore, our study identifies seipin as a critical regulator of cellular lipid metabolism, protein trafficking, and organelle homeostasis. These findings shed light on the processes regulating CAV1 trafficking and show that convergent pathophysiological mechanisms associated with defects in CAV1 and seipin contribute to metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance and lipodystrophies11–14.
Network-based estimation of therapeutic efficacy and adverse reaction potential for prioritisation of anti-cancer drug combinations
Authors: Ghosh Arindam , Fortino Vittorio
Published: September 2024

Drug combinations, although a key therapeutic agent against cancer, are yet to reach their full applicability potential due to the challenges involved in the identification of effective and safe drug pairs.In vitroorin vivoscreening would have been the optimal approach if combinatorial explosion was not an issue.In silicomethods, on the other hand, can enable rapid screening of drug pairs to prioritise for experimental validation. Here we present a novel network medicine approach that systematically models the proximity of drug targets to disease-associated genes and adverse effect- associated genes, through the combination of network propagation algorithm and gene set enrichment analysis. The proposed approach is applied in the context of identifying effective drug combinations for cancer treatment starting from a training set of drug combinations curated from DrugComb and DrugBank databases. We observed that effective drug combinations usually enrich disease-related gene sets while adverse drug combinations enrich adverse-effect gene sets. We use this observation to systematically train classifiers distinguishing drug combinations with higher therapeutic effects and no known adverse reaction from combinations with lower therapeutic effects and potential adverse reactions in six cancer types. The approach is tested and validated using drug combinations curated fromin vitroscreening data and clinical reports. Trained classification models are also used to identify novel potential anti-cancer drug combinations for experimental validation. We believe our framework would be a key addition to the anti-cancer drug combination identification pipeline by enabling rapid yet robust estimation of therapeutic efficacy or adverse reaction potential.
Survival cost sharing among altruistic full siblings in Mendelian population
Authors: Garay József , López Inmaculada , Varga Zoltán , Csiszár Villő , Móri Tamás F.
Published: September 2024

Background

We focus on Haldane’s familial selection in monogamous families in a diploid population, where the survival probability of each sibling is determined by altruistic food sharing with its siblings during starvation. An autosomal recessive-dominant or intermediate allele pair uniquely determines the altruistic or selfish behavior, which are coded by homozygotes. We focus on the case when additive cost and benefit functions determine the survival probability of each full sibling.

Results

We provide conditions for the existence of the altruistic and selfish homozygote. We show that the condition of evolutionary stability of altruism depends on the genotype-phenotype mapping. Furthermore, if the offspring size increases then the condition of evolutionary stability of altruism becomes stricter. Contrary to that, for the evolutionary stability of selfish behavior it is enough if the classical Hamilton’s rule does not hold. Moreover, when the classical Hamilton’s rule holds and the condition of evolutionarily stability of altruism does not hold, then the selfish and altruistic phenotypes coexist.

Conclusions

In summary, the classical Hamilton’s rule is a sufficient condition for the existence of altruism, but it alone does not imply the evolutionary stability of the pure altruistic homozygote population when the altruistic siblings share the cost of altruism.
Extensive PFAS accumulation by human gut bacteria
Authors: Lindell Anna E. , Grießhammer Anne , Michaelis Lena , Papagiannidis Dimitrios , Ochner Hannah , Kamrad Stephan , Guan Rui , Blasche Sonja , Ventimiglia Leandro , Ramachandran Bini , Ozgur Hilal , Zelezniak Aleksej , Beristain-Covarrubias Nonantzin , Yam-Puc Juan Carlos , Roux Indra , Barron Leon P. , Richardson Alexandra K. , Martin Maria Guerra , Benes Vladimir , Morone Nobuhiro , Thaventhiran James E. D. , Bharat Tanmay A.M. , Savitski Mikhail , Maier Lisa , Patil Kiran R.
Published: September 2024

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) – the so-called ‘forever chemicals’ – are a major cause of environmental and health concern due to their toxicity and long-term persistence1,2. Yet, no efficient mechanisms for their removal have been identified. Here we report bioaccumulation of PFAS by several gut bacterial species over a wide range of concentrations from nanomolar up to 500 μM. For bioaccumulating Bacteroides uniformis, a highly prevalent species, we estimate intracellular PFAS concentration in the mM range – above that of most native metabolites. Despite this high bioaccumulation, B. uniformis cells could grow appreciably up to 250 μM perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) exposure. Escherichia coli, which accumulated PFAS to a much lesser extent, substantially increased PFAS bioaccumulation when lacking TolC efflux pump indicating trans-membrane transport in PFAS bioaccumulation. Electron microscopy and cryogenic Focused Ion Beam-Secondary Ion Mass-spectrometry revealed distinct morphological changes and intracellular localisation of PFNA aggregates. Bioaccumulation of PFAS and transmembrane transport is also evident in proteomics, metabolomics, thermal proteome profiling, and mutations following adaptive laboratory evolution. In an in vivo context, mice colonized with human gut bacteria showed, compared to germ-free controls or those colonized with low-bioaccumulating bacteria, higher PFNA levels in excreted feces. As the gut microbiota is a critical interface between exposure and human body, our results have implications for understanding and utilizing microbial contribution to PFAS clearance.
Meat transfers follow social ties in the multi-level society of Guinea baboons but are not related to male reproductive success
Authors: O’Hearn William , Neumann Christof , Dal Pesco Federica , Mundry Roger , Fischer Julia
Published: September 2024

In human foraging societies, hunting skill is a male quality signal closely tied to reproductive success, because it serves to provision the family, connected households, and the wider community. However, the relationship between catching or sharing prey and male reproductive success remains largely unexplored in other primate taxa. Using the multi-level society of Guinea baboons as a parallel for human foraging societies, we combined records of 109 meat-eating events with nine years of behavioural data to test whether males who acquire and share meat more frequently have more females in their social units and for longer than other males. We further tested the hypothesis that the type of meat transfer varies with social ties. We found no evidence that females preferred to join or remain longer in the units of males who acquired or shared meat more frequently. Thus, hunting skills do not appear to signal male quality. However, meat transfers were more likely to occur along stronger social relationships, as in human foraging societies. Tolerant forms of transfer were most common at society’s base, decreasing in tolerance at upper social levels. Our results demonstrate the cross-taxa influence of social organisation on the movement of sharable resources.
Afterload-induced Decreases in Fatty Acid Oxidation Develop Independently of Increased Glucose Utilization
Authors: Piristine Hande C. , May Herman I. , Jiang Nan , Daou Daniel , Olivares-Silva Francisco , Elnwasany Abdallah , Szweda Pamela , Szweda Luke , Kinter Caroline , Kinter Michael , Sharma Gaurav , Wen Xiaodong , Malloy Craig R. , Jessen Michael E. , Gillette Thomas G. , Hill Joseph A.
Published: September 2024

Background

Metabolic substrate utilization in HFpEF (heart failure with preserved ejection fraction), the leading cause of heart failure worldwide, is pivotal to syndrome pathogenesis and yet remains ill defined. Under resting conditions, oxidation of free fatty acids (FFA) is the predominant energy source of the heart, supporting its unremitting contractile activity. In the context of disease-related stress, however, a shift toward greater reliance on glucose occurs. In the setting of obesity or diabetes, major contributors to HFpEF pathophysiology, the shift in metabolic substrate use toward glucose is impaired, sometimes attributed to the lower oxygen requirement of glucose oxidation versus fat metabolism. This notion, however, has never been tested conclusively. Furthermore, whereas oxygen demand increases in the setting of increased afterload, myocardial oxygen availability remains adequate for fatty acid oxidation (FAO). Therefore, a “preference” for glucose has been proposed.

Methods and Results

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) is the rate-limiting enzyme linking glycolysis to the TCA cycle. As PDK4 (PDC kinase 4) is up-regulated in HFpEF, we over-expressed PDK4 in cardiomyocytes, ensuring that PDC is phosphorylated and thereby inhibited. This leads to diminished use of pyruvate as energy substrate, mimicking the decline in glucose oxidation in HFpEF. Importantly, distinct from HFpEF-associated obesity, this model positioned us to abrogate the load-induced shift to glucose utilization in the absence of systemic high fat conditions. As expected, PDK4 transgenic mice manifested normal cardiac performance at baseline. However, they manifested a rapid and severe decline in contractile performance when challenged with modest increases in afterload triggered either by L-NAME or surgical transverse aortic constriction (TAC). This decline in function was not accompanied by an exacerbation of the myocardial hypertrophic growth response. Surprisingly, metabolic flux analysis revealed that, after TAC, fractional FAO decreased, even when glucose/pyruvate utilization was clamped at very low levels. Additionally, proteins involved in the transport and oxidation of FFA were paradoxically downregulated after TAC regardless of genotype.

Conclusions

These data demonstrate that cardiomyocytes in a setting in which glucose utilization is robustly diminished and prevented from increasing do not compensate for the deficit in glucose utilization by up-regulating FFA use.
Mechanistic studies of mycobacterial glycolipid biosynthesis by the mannosyltransferase PimE
Authors: Liu Yaqi , Brown Chelsea M. , Borges Nuno , Nobre Rodrigo N. , Erramilli Satchal , Dufrisne Meagan Belcher , Kloss Brian , Giacometti Sabrina , Esteves Ana M. , Timoteo Cristina G. , Tokarz Piotr , Cater Rosemary , Morita Yasu S. , Kossiakoff Anthony A. , Santos Helena , Stansfeld Phillip J. , Nygaard Rie , Mancia Filippo
Published: September 2024

Tuberculosis (TB), exceeded in mortality only by COVID-19 among global infectious diseases, is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The pathogenicity of Mtb is largely attributed to its complex cell envelope, which includes a class of glycolipids called phosphatidyl-myo-inositol mannosides (PIMs), found uniquely in mycobacteria and its related corynebacterineae. These glycolipids maintain the integrity of the mycobacterial cell envelope, regulate its permeability, and mediate host-pathogen interactions. PIMs consist of a phosphatidyl-myo-inositol core decorated with one to six mannose residues and up to four acyl chains. The mannosyltransferase PimE catalyzes the transfer of the fifth PIM mannose residue from a polyprenyl phosphate-mannose (PPM) donor. This step in the biosynthesis of higher-order PIMs contributes to the proper assembly and function of the mycobacterial cell envelope; however, the structural basis for substrate recognition and the catalytic mechanism of PimE remain poorly understood. Here, we present the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of PimE from Mycobacterium abscessus captured in its apo form and in a product-bound complex with the reaction product Ac1PIM5 and the by-product polyprenyl phosphate (PP), determined at 3.0 Å and 3.5 Å, respectively. The structures reveal the active site within a distinctive binding cavity that accommodates both donor and acceptor substrates/products. Within the cavity, we identified residues involved in substrate coordination and catalysis, which we confirmed through in vitro enzymatic assays and further validated by in vivo complementation experiments. Molecular dynamics simulations were applied to identify the access pathways and the dynamics involved in substrate binding. Integrating structural, biochemical, genetic, and computational experiments, our study provides comprehensive insights into how PimE functions, opening potential avenues for development of novel anti-TB therapeutics.
A cellular identity crisis? Plasticity changes during aging and rejuvenation
Authors: Gorelov Rebecca , Hochedlinger Konrad
Published: September 2024

Cellular plasticity in adult multicellular organisms is a protective mechanism that allows certain tissues to regenerate in response to injury. Considering that aging involves exposure to repeated injuries over a lifetime, it is conceivable that cell identity itself is more malleable—and potentially erroneous—with age. In this review, we summarize and critically discuss the available evidence that cells undergo age-related shifts in identity, with an emphasis on those that contribute to age-associated pathologies, including neurodegeneration and cancer. Specifically, we focus on reported instances of programs associated with dedifferentiation, biased differentiation, acquisition of features from alternative lineages, and entry into a preneoplastic state. As some of the most promising approaches to rejuvenate cells reportedly also elicit transient changes to cell identity, we further discuss whether cell state change and rejuvenation can be uncoupled to yield more tractable therapeutic strategies.
A bibliometric analysis of the genesis, journey and current status of green supply chain management in the digital economy
Authors: Akram Hafiz Wasim , Ahmad Alam , Abbas Haidar , Akhter Samreen
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis of studies focusing on green supply chain management (GSCM) within the context of the digital economy.

Design/methodology/approach

We utilize the Web of Science database to search and filter relevant documents spanning the years 2003–2022. This extensive dataset enables us to analyze the growth and cutting-edge developments in research pertaining to GSCM in the digital economy.

Findings

The paper finds a significant increase in research interest and output, particularly noticeable from 2016 onwards, indicating the growing relevance of integrating GSCM with digital technologies. It is found that the prominent contribution of countries like China, England and the USA, underscoring a strong geographical diversity in research outputs. China leads in the number of publications, which reflects its significant role in shaping the discourse around GSCM in the digital economy. However, when it comes to citations, the USA leads, suggesting a higher impact or quality of research emanating from this region. Collaborative dynamics outlined in the study demonstrate extensive international cooperation, primarily among leading research countries, which is facilitated by shared digital platforms enhancing the research’s reach and impact. The study also highlights a range of emerging themes such as the adoption of blockchain technology, Internet of Things (IoT) and the circular economy within GSCM, indicating dynamic areas for future research.

Practical implications

The findings of this study hold significant practical implications for researchers, practitioners and policymakers. They shed light on the current state of research in GSCM within the digital economy, highlighting areas where further investigation is needed and pointing to the emerging trends in this field. Understanding the distribution of research and influential authors can guide future collaborative efforts and inform decision-making processes in the pursuit of sustainable supply chain practices in the digital era.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the evolving landscape of GSCM in the digital economy. It offers valuable insights into the growth patterns, key contributors and geographical distribution of research in this domain. This information is crucial for researchers and stakeholders seeking to stay at the forefront of sustainable supply chain practices in an increasingly digital world.
Big data analytics capabilities and leadership: catalysts of firm performance in telecommunications
Authors: Shafqat Hira , Zhang Baojian , Ahmed Muhammad , Ullah Muhammad Rizwan , Zulfiqar Muhammad
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The proliferation of big data analytics (BDA)-enabled tools and technologies has endowed organizations with the capacity to augment decision-making processes, optimize operational endeavors and foster innovation across diverse business domains. Consequently, BDA has been posited as a catalyst for enhanced customer relationship management, improved risk mitigation strategies and heightened operational efficiencies, all of which converge to augment overall firm performance. Thus, the purpose of this research is to introduce a conceptual framework aimed at explaining the influence of BDA capabilities on the performance of telecommunications firms in Pakistan. Additionally, it examines the potential mediating effect of talent capabilities and moderating effect of top management attitude on firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from a sample comprising 520 participants were collected via survey questionnaires. The study employed Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling to empirically evaluate the proposed model.

Findings

Results reveal a positive association between BDA technology and information capabilities with both BDA talent capabilities and firm performance. Furthermore, the analysis suggests that BDA talent capabilities mediate the relationship between BDA dynamic capabilities and firm performance, while top management attitude acts as a moderator, enhancing the relationship between BDA talent capabilities and firm performance.

Originality/value

There is a scarcity of research that has examined the relationship of BDA capabilities, top management attitude and firm performance. This study attempts to examine their interrelationships. First, it enhances the extant literature by elucidating the mediating role of BDA talent capabilities in the relationship between BDA technology and information capabilities and firm performance. Second, the study introduces a novel dimension by incorporating top management attitude as a moderator variable. This augmentation adds layers of complexity to comprehending BDA implementation dynamics, emphasizing leadership’s role in fostering an enabling environment for effective utilization of BDA capabilities.
Production-oriented approach for optimal mass-customisation of floor panel layouts in cross-laminated timber (CLT) buildings
Authors: Yousefi Elham , Ahmadian Fard Fini Alireza , Loganathan Santhosh
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study aims to develop a production-oriented approach for optimal mass-customisation of floor panel layouts in cross-laminated timber (CLT) buildings. The study enables meeting building clients’ unique floor plan requirements at an optimal cost and simultaneously enhances manufacturers’ profit by minimising material and manufacturing process waste.

Design/methodology/approach

The present research uses a hybrid approach consisting of field data collection, mathematical modelling, development of a Genetic Algorithm (GA) and scenario analysis. Field data includes engineered timber production information, design data and building code requirements. The study adopts the Flexible Demand Assignment (FDA) technique to formulate a mathematical model for optimising the design of mass timber buildings and employs GA to identify optimal production solutions. Scenario analysis is performed to validate model outputs.

Findings

The proposed model successfully determines the load-bearing wall placement and building spans and specifications of floor panels that result in optimal production efficiency and the desired architectural layout. The results indicate that buildings made of a single category of thickness of panels but customised in various lengths to suit building layout are the most profitable scenario for CLT manufacturers and are a cost-effective option for clients.

Originality/value

The originality of the present study lies in its mathematical and model-driven approach towards implementing mass customisation in multi-storey buildings. The proposed model has been developed and validated based on a comprehensive set of real-world data and constraints.
Fantasy of success, fear of failure and entrepreneurial choice: the moderating role of business vibrancy and failure experience
Authors: Cheng Yue , Zheng Yi , Schiavone Francesco , Escobar Octavio R.
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study investigates the impact of internal expectations, such as fantasy of success and fear of failure and external factors, such as social environment and past experiences, on entrepreneurial choice.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on achievement motivation and social cognitive theories, the authors construct hypotheses and use secondary data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) database and Economic Freedom Index report to empirically test the hypotheses. The authors also use propensity score matching to solve the endogeneity issue and test the robustness.

Findings

Internal expectations (fantasy of success and fear of failure) on business outcomes inversely affect entrepreneurial choices, with a vibrant business environment amplifying and past failure experience mitigating these effects.

Originality/value

Due to the economic recession, governments encourage small businesses. Thus, the complexity of individual entrepreneurial motivations and influencing factors necessitate deeper exploration. This study is one of the first research offering insights into entrepreneurial motivations from combined dimensions and providing theoretical support for strategies promoting public entrepreneurship.
Emotional intelligence as an antecedent of employees’ job outcomes through knowledge sharing in IT-ITeS firms
Authors: Verma Jyoti , Sinha Anamika , Bhattacharjee Shrabani B. , Tuan Luu Trong
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Job performance literature has evolved to address the aspects of performance thinking where knowledge sharing (KS) and emotions on the job are considered important. This study evaluates the influence of emotional intelligence (EI), mediated through KS, on job outcomes measured as job performance (JP) and job satisfaction (JS).

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modeling methods are used to investigate the degree of influence of EI on job outcomes through KS. The data for analysis has been collected from 227 project managers at Information Technology-Information Technology Enabled Services (IT-ITeS) firms.

Findings

The findings suggest that the EI has a positive and significant effect on KS. This implies that employees with high EI scores are more involved in the KS behavior. Furthermore, the findings suggest that KS partially mediates the relationship between EI and JP, and it fully mediates the relationship between EI and JS.

Research limitations/implications

For KS, the answer lies in the recruitment and retention of emotionally intelligent persons rather than investing only in information technology. The study enhances the literature on knowledge management, sharing and EI.

Practical implications

The proposed research model suggests a successful infusion of KS within IT-ITeS firms. Knowing the EI of employees and, accordingly, changing their behavior towards sharing knowledge is probably a distinctive, most efficacious and essential strategy for augmenting job outcomes.

Originality/value

The study establishes the role of KS in translating the impact of EI on JP and JS. Furthermore, it contributes a novel framework of KS behavior.
Gender diversity on corporate boards: international evidence on commitment to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Sultana Nigar , Biswas Pallab Kumar , Singh Harjinder , Chapple Larelle
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Countries globally have implemented policies or regulations promoting greater gender diversity in boardrooms. We investigate whether gender diversity on corporate boards leads to higher Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) commitment through these disclosures.

Design/methodology/approach

Using 16,659 firm-year observations across 42 countries for the years 2019 and 2020, we use disclosure data from the Refinitiv database to measure the sample firms’ stated commitment to sustainable development.

Findings

Our data provide useful comparative information on the countries, legal jurisdictions and types of SGDs currently being disclosed. Our analyses reveal that gender diverse boards are associated with greater levels of SDG disclosures, with such commitment being more significant when there is more than one woman on the board. We also find that women board members are associated most with the PEOPLE and PLANET groups within the SDGs, and our results are robust to additional analyses and endogeneity concerns.

Originality/value

Although gender diversity has been examined within a corporate social responsibility and ethical, social and governance lens, this examination needs to be extended to the SDGs, given the latter’s multi-year horizon and involvement from governments, the private sector and a very broad cross-section of the global community. Our results reinforce global calls for increasing gender representation at the highest levels of organisations to meet the expectations of a greater range of stakeholders in terms of SDG commitment.
Efficiency-centered vs novelty-centered: unpacking the impact of business model design on services in manufacturing firms
Authors: Wu Yuntao , Liu Along , Gu Jibao
Published: September 2024

Purpose

How does business model design play a role in enabling manufacturing firms’ services? This study aims to investigate the impact of two distinct types of business model design, namely, efficiency-centered business model design (EBMD) and novelty-centered business model design (NBMD), and their effects in balanced and imbalanced configurations, on two types of services: product- and customer-oriented services.

Design/methodology/approach

Using matched survey data of 390 top managers and objective performance data of 195 Chinese manufacturing firms, this study uses hierarchical regression, polynomial regression and response surface analysis to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that while EBMD positively affects product-oriented services, NBMD positively affects customer-oriented services. Both types of services exert a significant influence on firm performance. Furthermore, the degree of product- and customer-oriented services increases with an increasing effort level with a balance between EBMD and NBMD. Asymmetrical, imbalanced configuration effects reveal that the degree of product-oriented services is higher when the EBMD effort exceeds the NBMD effort, and the degree of customer-oriented services is higher when the NBMD effort exceeds the EBMD effort.

Originality/value

This study enriches the understanding of designing business models to facilitate service growth in manufacturing firms, ultimately benefiting firm performance. In addition, exploring balanced and imbalanced configurations of EBMD and NBMD offers new insights into business model dual design research.
Exploring the effect of collaboration modes on firms’ breakthrough technological innovation: a perspective from the innovation ecosystem
Authors: Xu Xueguo , Yuan Hetong
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Breakthrough technological innovation is of vital significance for firms to acquire and maintain sustainable competitive advantages. The construction of an innovation ecosystem and the interaction with heterogeneous participants have emerged as a new dominant model for driving sustained breakthrough technological innovation in firms. This study aims to explore the effects of collaborative modes within the innovation ecosystem on firms’ breakthrough technological innovation and the ecological legitimacy mechanisms involved.

Design/methodology/approach

The research employs data from 212 innovative firms and conducts empirical research using a two-stage structural equation modeling (SEM) and artificial neural network (ANN) analysis.

Findings

The results indicate that firm-firm collaboration (FF), firm-user collaboration (FU), firm-government collaboration (FG), firm-university-institute collaboration (FUI) and firm-intermediary collaboration (FI) all have significant positive effects on breakthrough technological innovation (BTI), with FU being particularly crucial. Furthermore, the results confirm the positive moderating effects of ecological legitimacy (EL) on the relationships between FF and BTI, as well as between FU and BTI. Conversely, EL has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between FUI and BTI, as well as between FI and breakthrough technological innovation. Additionally, EL does not have a significant influence on the relationship between FG and BTI.

Originality/value

Through resource dependence theory (RDT), this study unveils the black box of how collaboration modes within innovation ecosystems impact breakthrough technological innovation. By introducing ecological legitimacy as a contextual factor, a new research perspective is provided for collaboration innovation within innovation ecosystems. The study employs a combination of SEM and ANN for modeling, complementing nonlinear relationships and obtaining robust results in complex mechanisms.
Shades in technological frames: exploring police attitudes toward body-worn cameras in Chicago
Authors: St. Louis Ermus
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study employed technological frames of reference (TFR) theory to explore officer attitudes toward body-worn cameras (BWCs) in the Chicago Police Department (CPD), identifying frames that may undermine compliance.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 officers, focusing on their perceptions of the BWCs’ purpose, adoption catalysts, effectiveness metrics and benefits and drawbacks.

Findings

Officers viewed BWCs primarily as tools for oversight and cited external influences and the department’s desire to be perceived as progressive as key catalysts for BWC adoption. There was widespread uncertainty regarding the criteria CPD uses to gauge BWC effectiveness. The protective feature of the cameras was cited as the primary benefit of the technology, while privacy intrusion and discretion were identified as key drawbacks. Noteworthy nuances were observed across these perceptual domains.

Research limitations/implications

The study focuses on a single police agency, limiting its generalizability. Nevertheless, it holds value for departments experiencing BWC policy compliance issues and those preparing to implement the cameras.

Practical implications

Insights into officers’ technological frames help identify perspectives that threaten desired use of BWCs and highlight necessary training and policy interventions that align officers' BWC readings with departmental goals to enhance policy compliance.

Originality/value

This study is among the few that employ TFR theory to examine officer perceptions of BWCs in a large urban police agency.
CLASS AT THE CROSSROADS: Reframing Disadvantage in Organizing Daily Wage Work in Western India
Authors: Parpiani Maansi
Published: September 2024

Across Indian cities, daily wagers gather every morning at large intersections or crossroads (nakas) where they seek work for the day from small construction contractors. In the satellite city of Navi Mumbai (New Mumbai), some of these daily wagers are reconstituting themselves into a class of ‘disadvantaged, crossroad workers’. This article provides an ethnographic narration of how class is experienced, constituted and asserted at a street crossroad. Through the space of the naka, daily wagers combine their different experiences of caste, religious and regional disadvantage into a collective identity of crossroad workers. As a collective, they seek and gain recognition as workers by the state, even if their everyday terms of work continue to be largely unprotected by law. While such reframing of disadvantage has long been part of social movements in western India, their contemporary politics is conditioned by workers’ alienation from new town‐making projects, where they are seen as temporary labor migrants and must contend with landed, socio‐politically dominant groups vying for control over the city. This article contributes to growing scholarship on the resocialization of labour movements, as both work and class organizing change dramatically, particularly in contentious urban spaces like Navi Mumbai.
A meta‐analysis of the effects of democratic innovations on participants’ attitudes, behaviour and capabilities
Authors: THEUWIS MARIE‐ISABEL , VAN HAM CAROLIEN , JACOBS KRISTOF
Published: September 2024

Democratic innovations aim to strengthen citizen participation in democratic decision‐making processes. Building on theories of deliberative democracy, participatory democracy and direct democracy, different types of democratic innovations have been developed, ranging from mini‐publics, to participatory processes and referendums and citizens’ initiatives. Over the last four decades, an expanding number of scholars have investigated the effects of these democratic innovations on citizens. However, even though a considerable amount of research has been done, there currently exists no overview of the effects of different types of democratic innovations on citizens’ attitudes, behaviour and capabilities. In addition, it is unclear which effects prove robust across studies, and which effects require more investigation.

The aim of this paper is to systematically evaluate what we know and what we do not know yet about the effects of democratic innovations on citizens who participate in them. In order to do so, we conduct a meta‐analysis of 100 quantitative empirical studies published between 1980 and 2020. We find, perhaps unsurprisingly, that mini‐publics are widely researched for their effects on citizens, whereas studies into the effects of participatory processes and referendums and citizens’ initiatives on participating citizens are much less frequent. We also find that participation in mini‐publics changes citizens’ policy attitudes and positively affects citizens’ political attitudes, knowledge, internal efficacy and reasoning skills. For participatory processes, our analyses indicate that they appear to have a positive effect on participants’ political attitudes and knowledge and no effect on participants’ internal efficacy, but there are too few studies to draw robust conclusions. Participation in referendums and citizens’ initiatives appears to have a positive effect on participants’ knowledge and internal efficacy, even though these findings should also be considered preliminary due to the limited number of studies.
HLA‐DR+ regulatory T cells and IL‐10 are associated with success or failure of desensitization outcomes
Authors: Zhou Xiaoying , Dunham Diane , Sindher Sayantani B. , Long Andrew , Fernandes Andrea , Chang Iris , Assa'ad Amal , Pongracic Jacqueline , Spergel Jonathan M. , Tam Jonathan , Tilles Stephen , Wang Julie , Boyd Scott D. , Chinthrajah R. Sharon , Nadeau Kari C.
Published: September 2024

Background

Omalizumab (XOLAIR®)‐assisted multi‐food oral immunotherapy (mOIT) has been shown to safely, effectively, and rapidly desensitize patients with multiple food allergies. In our clinical trial (NCT02626611) on omalizumab‐assisted mOIT, different desensitization outcomes (success or failure of desensitization) were observed following a period of either continued or discontinued mOIT. However, the association between the immunological changes induced by omalizumab‐assisted mOIT and desensitization outcomes has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, due to the key roles of regulatory T (Treg) cells and the type 2 helper T cell (Th2) pathway in immune tolerance to food allergens, we aimed to characterize their association with the desensitization outcomes of omalizumab‐assisted mOIT.

Methods

Mass cytometry and multiplex cytokine assays were performed on blood samples obtained from participants with allergies to peanut, cashew, or milk in our phase 2 clinical study (NCT02626611). Comprehensive statistical and bioinformatic analyses were conducted on high‐dimensional cytometry‐based single‐cell data and high‐throughput multiplex cytokine data.

Results

Our results demonstrated that the frequency of HLA‐DR+ Treg cells, and the production of Th2 cytokines (IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐13, and IL‐9) as well as the immunoregulatory cytokine IL‐10 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was significantly increased in cultures with allergen compared to cultures with media alone at baseline (Week 0). We also observed increased frequency of allergen responsive HLA‐DR+ Treg cells and enhanced production of IL‐10 by PBMCs in participants who achieved successful desensitization compared to those with failure of desensitization. However, the production of Th2 cytokines by PBMCs did not show significant differences between participants with different desensitization outcomes (success vs. failure of desensitization), despite omalizumab‐assisted mOIT inducing a significant reduction in the production of Th2 cytokines.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that the frequency of HLA‐DR+ Treg cells and IL‐10 cytokine production by PBMCs are associated with desensitization outcomes of omalizumab‐assisted mOIT. These findings suggest potential immunological parameters that could be targeted to enhance desensitization success rates.