bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oligodendrocyte maturation alters the cell death mechanisms that cause demyelination
Authors: Chapman Timothy W. , Piedra Enrique T. , Hill Robert A.
Published: September 2023

Myelinating oligodendrocytes die in human disease and early in aging. Despite this, little is known about the mechanisms that govern cell death across the oligodendrocyte lineage. Here we used a combination of intravital imaging, single-cell ablation, and cuprizone intoxication to show that oligodendrocyte maturation dictates the dynamics and mechanisms of death. After single-cell genotoxic damage, oligodendrocyte precursor cells underwent programmed cell death within hours, while mature oligodendrocytes died weeks after the same acute damage. Targeting single cells that were actively undergoing oligodendrocyte generation revealed that a switch in the temporal dynamics and morphological progression of death occurs during differentiation. Consistent with this, cuprizone intoxication initiated a caspase-3-dependent form of rapid cell death in differentiating oligodendrocytes, while mature oligodendrocytes never activated this executioner caspase and exhibited delayed cell death initiation. Thus, oligodendrocyte maturation plays a key role in determining the mechanism of death a cell undergoes in response to the same insult. This means that different strategies are likely necessary to confer protection to the entire oligodendrocyte lineage to enable myelin preservation and facilitate the integration of new oligodendrocytes in aging and disease.
Diet-induced obesity impacts influenza disease severity and transmission dynamics in ferrets
Authors: Meliopoulos Victoria , Honce Rebekah , Livingston Brandi , Hargest Virginia , Freiden Pamela , Lazure Lauren , Brigleb Pamela H. , Karlsson Erik , Tillman Heather , Allen E. Kaity , Boyd David , Thomas Paul G. , Schultz-Cherry Stacey
Published: September 2023

Obesity, and the associated metabolic syndrome, is a risk factor for increased disease severity with a variety of infectious agents, including influenza virus. Yet the mechanisms are only partially understood. As the number of people, particularly children, living with obesity continues to rise, it is critical to understand the role of host status on disease pathogenesis. In these studies, we use a novel diet-induced obese ferret model and new tools to demonstrate that like humans, obesity resulted in significant changes to the lung microenvironment leading to increased clinical disease and viral spread to the lower respiratory tract. The decreased antiviral responses also resulted in obese animals shedding higher infectious virus for longer making them more likely to transmit to contacts. These data suggest the obese ferret model may be crucial to understanding obesity’s impact on influenza disease severity and community transmission, and a key tool for therapeutic and intervention development for this high-risk population.

Teaser

A new ferret model and tools to explore obesity’s impact on respiratory virus infection, susceptibility, and community transmission.
The impact of phage and phage resistance on microbial community dynamics
Authors: Alseth Ellinor O , Custodio Rafael , Sundius Sarah A , Kuske Rachel A , Brown Sam P. , Westra Edze R
Published: September 2023

Where there are bacteria, there will be bacteriophages. These viruses are known to be important players in shaping the wider microbial community in which they are embedded, with potential implications for human health. On the other hand, bacteria possess a range of distinct immune mechanisms that provide protection against bacteriophages, including the mutation or complete loss of the phage receptor, and CRISPR-Cas adaptive immunity. Yet little is known about how interactions between phages and these different phage resistance mechanisms affect the wider microbial community in which they are embedded. Here, we conducted a 10-day, fully factorial evolution experiment to examine how phage impact the structure and dynamics of an artificial four-species bacterial community that includes eitherPseudomonas aeruginosawild type or an isogenic mutant unable to evolve phage resistance through CRISPR-Cas. Our results show that the microbial community structure is drastically altered by the addition of phage, withAcinetobacter baumanniibecoming the dominant species andP. aeruginosabeing driven nearly extinct, whereasP. aeruginosaoutcompetes the other species in the absence of phage. Moreover, we find that aP. aeruginosastrain with the ability to evolve CRISPR-based resistance generally does better when in the presence ofA. baumannii, but that this benefit is largely lost over time as phage is driven extinct. Combined, our data highlight how phage-targeting a dominant species allows for the competitive release of the strongest competitor whilst also contributing to community diversity maintenance and potentially preventing the reinvasion of the target species, and underline the importance of mapping community composition before therapeutically applying phage.
A first morphological and electrophysiological characterization of Fañanas cells of the mouse cerebellum
Authors: Singer A. , Vinel L. , Trigo F. , Llano I. , Oheim M.
Published: September 2023

The “feathered” cells of Fañanas (FCs) are cerebellar glia of unknown function. Initially described more than a century ago, they have been practically absent from the scientific literature. Here, we combined whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, dye loading and near UV-laser photolysis for a first characterization of FCs in terms of their morphology, electrophysiological properties and glutamate-evoked currents. FCs were identified in cerebellar slices by their small cell bodies located in the molecular layer and stubby processes. Despite a more compact shape compared to Bergmann glia (BGs) FCs had similar membrane resistances and basal currents, suggesting electrical coupling between neighboring glia. Dye filling and pharmacological experiments confirmed homo- and heterotypic gap junction coupling among FCs and BGs. Parallel-fiber stimulation evoked in FCs a slow inward current partially blocked by NBQX, along with superimposed fast (ms) transients. Repetitive stimulations resulted in a rapid desensitization of this AMPA-receptor mediated current, which recovered for stimulation intervals >0.5s. Laser photolysis of MNI-caged glutamate replicated fast inward currents with highest current densities in the distant process. We conclude that FCs respond with fast AMPA currents to local glutamate release, and that they integrate ambient glutamate to a slow inward current. Interestingly, FCs prevail throughout adulthood with markedly different densities among cerebellar lobes. Thus, FCs are not just displaced BGs as previously suggested, but they may have lobule specific functions, both locally and at the circuit level, yet to be uncovered.
Progressive community, biogeochemical and evolutionary remodeling of the soil microbiome underpins long-term desert ecosystem restoration
Authors: Chen Qiong , Yuan Mengyi , Jiang Liuyiqi , Wei Xin , Liu Zhen , Peng Chen , Huang Zinuo , Tang Dongmei , Wu Xiangrong , Sun Jing , Ye Cunqi , Liu Qing , Zhu Xiaowei , Gao Peng , Huang Laibin , Wang Meng , Jiang Mingkai , Jiang Chao
Published: September 2023

Ecological restoration of degraded lands is essential to human sustainability. Yet, an in-depth community, functional, and evolutionary microbial perspective of long-term restoration of damaged ecosystems is lacking. Herein, we comprehensively assessed the impact of long-term (up to 17 years) restoration of Tengger Desert, China, by multi-omic profiling of 1,910 topsoil samples. The soil biophysiochemical properties, especially soil hydraulics, microbiome stability, and functional diversity, significantly improved during restoration. The soil microbiome transitioned from an extreme oligotrophic and autotrophic community to a diverse copiotrophic ecosystem. The soil microbiota, including fungi, could mediate the soil physicochemical changes through metabolites. Importantly, the systematic rewiring of nutrient cycles featured the multi-domain preference of an efficient carbon fixation strategy in the extreme desert environment. Finally, the microbiome was evolving via positive selections of genes of biogeochemical cycles, resistance, and motility. In summary, we present a comprehensive community, functional, biogeochemical, and evolutionary landscape of the soil microbiome during the long-term restoration of desert environments. We highlight the crucial microbial role in restoration from soil hydraulic and biogeochemical perspectives, offering promising field applications.

Highlights

The desert soil microbiome transformed from simple oligotrophic to a diverse, stable, and nutrient-rich ecosystem with expanded functional diversity.

Restoration led to systematically rewired biogeochemical cycles, which are highly efficient in carbon fixation in the desert environment.

The microbiome was evolving via positive selections of genes involved in biogeochemical cycles and environmental adaptations.

Microbes and metabolites could facilitate desert restoration from hydraulic and biogeochemical aspects, offering promising field applications.
Peptidoglycan-tethered and free forms of the Braun lipoprotein are in dynamic equilibrium inEscherichia coli
Authors: Liang Yucheng , Hugonnet Jean-Emmanuel , Rusconi Filippo , Arthur Michel
Published: September 2023

Peptidoglycan (PG) is a giant macromolecule that completely surrounds bacterial cells and prevents lysis in hypo-osmotic environments. This net-like macromolecule is made of glycan strands linked to each other by two types of transpeptidases that form either 4→3 (PBPs) or 3→3 (LDTs) cross-links. Previously, we devised a heavy isotope-based PG full labeling method coupled to mass spectrometry to determine the mode of insertion of new-subunits into the expanding PG network (Atze et al., 2022). We showed that PG polymerization operates according to different modes for the formation of the septum and of the lateral cell walls, as well as for bacterial growth in the presence or absence of β-lactams in engineered strains that can exclusively rely on LDTs for PG cross-linking when drugs are present. Here, we apply our method to the resolution of the kinetics of the reactions leading to the covalent tethering of the Braun lipoprotein (Lpp) to PG and the subsequent hydrolysis of that same covalent link. We find that Lpp and disaccharide-peptide subunits are independently incorporated into the expanding lateral cell walls. Newly synthesized septum PG appears to contain small amounts of tethered Lpp. LDTs did mediate intense shuffling of Lpp between PG stems leading to a dynamic equilibrium between the PG-tethered and free forms of Lpp.
An enhancer RNA recruits MLL1 to regulate transcription ofMyb
Authors: Kim Juhyun , Diaz Luis F. , Miller Matthew J. , Leadem Benjamin , Krivega Ivan , Dean Ann
Published: September 2023

TheMybproto-oncogene encodes the transcription factor c-MYB, which is critical for hematopoiesis. Distant enhancers ofMybform a hub of interactions with theMybpromoter. We identified a long non-coding RNA (Myrlin) originating from the −81 kb murineMybenhancer.MyrlinandMybare coordinately regulated during erythroid differentiation.MyrlinTSS deletion using CRISPR/Cas9 reducedMyrlinandMybexpression and LDB1 complex occupancy at theMybenhancers, compromising enhancer contacts and reducing RNA Pol II occupancy in the locus. In contrast, CRISPRi silencing ofMyrlinleft LDB1 and theMybenhancer hub unperturbed, althoughMyrlinandMybexpression were downregulated, decoupling transcription and chromatin looping.Myrlininteracts with the MLL1 complex.MyrlinCRISPRi compromised MLL1 occupancy in theMyblocus, decreasing CDK9 and RNA Pol II binding and resulting in Pol II pausing in theMybfirst exon/intron. Thus,Myrlindirectly participates in activatingMybtranscription by recruiting MLL1.
Bacterial antiviral defense pathways encode eukaryotic-like ubiquitination systems
Authors: Chambers Lydia R. , Ye Qiaozhen , Cai Jiaxi , Gong Minheng , Ledvina Hannah E. , Zhou Huilin , Whiteley Aaron T. , Suhandynata Raymond T. , Corbett Kevin D.
Published: September 2023

Ubiquitination and related pathways play crucial roles in protein homeostasis, signaling, and innate immunity1-3. In these pathways, an enzymatic cascade of E1, E2, and E3 proteins conjugates ubiquitin or a ubiquitin-like protein (Ubl) to targetprotein lysine residues4. Bacteria encode ancient relatives of E1 and Ubl proteins involved in sulfur metabolism5,6but these proteins do not mediate Ubl-target conjugation, leaving open the question of whether bacteria can perform ubiquitination-like protein conjugation. Here, we demonstrate that a bacterial antiviral immune system encodes a complete ubiquitination pathway. Two structures of a bacterial E1:E2:Ubl complex reveal striking architectural parallels with canonical eukaryotic ubiquitination machinery. The bacterial E1 encodes an N-terminal inactive adenylation domain (IAD) and a C-terminal active adenylation domain (AAD) with a mobile α-helical insertion containing the catalytic cysteine (CYS domain). One structure reveals a pre-reaction state with the bacterial Ubl C-terminus positioned for adenylation, and the E1 CYS domain poised nearby for thioester formation. A second structure mimics an E1-to-E2 transthioesterification state, with the E1 CYS domain rotated outward and its catalytic cysteine adjacent to the bound E2. We show that a deubiquitinase (DUB) in the same pathway pre-processes the bacterial Ubl, exposing its C-terminal glycine for adenylation. Finally, we show that the bacterial E1 and E2 collaborate to conjugate Ubl to target-protein lysine residues. Together, these data reveal that bacteria possessbona fideubiquitination systems with strong mechanistic and architectural parallels to canonical eukaryotic ubiquitination pathways, suggesting that these pathways arose first in bacteria.
Mechanism for Vipp1 spiral formation, ring biogenesis and membrane repair
Authors: Naskar Souvik , Merino Andrea , Espadas Javier , Singh Jayanti , Roux Aurelien , Colom Adai , Low Harry H
Published: September 2023

ESCRT-III family proteins build dynamic filaments that remodel membrane. Although the transition of planar filaments into 3D membrane budding structures is fundamental for their function, the geometric changes in polymer architecture driving the transition remain obscure. Here we show how bacterial Vipp1 polymerises into dynamic planar sheets and spirals on membrane. The spirals converge to form a central ring like those known to bud membrane. To probe how Vipp1 morphs between polymers, we determine the architecture of multiple helical filaments. As well as describing filament constriction and membrane tubulation, the geometric relationship between helical and planar lattices enables Vipp1 sheets and spirals to be modelled. Moreover, the helical structures show filaments twisting – a process needed for Vipp1 to transition between planar and 3D architectures. Given the structural conservation between Vipp1 and ESCRT-III, our results may represent the broad changes in geometry required for some ESCRT-III filaments to switch between 2D and 3D forms.
Replication-dead gammaherpesvirus vaccine protects against acute replication, reactivation from latency, and lethal challenge in mice
Authors: Bland Wesley A. , Owens Shana , McEvoy Kyle , Hogan Chad H. , Boccuzzi Luciarita , Kirillov Varvara , Khairallah Camille , Sheridan Brian S. , Forrest J. Craig , Krug Laurie T.
Published: September 2023

Gammaherpesviruses (GHVs) are oncogenic viruses that establish lifelong infections and are significant causes of human morbidity and mortality. While several vaccine strategies to limit GHV infection and disease are in development, there are no FDA-approved vaccines for human GHVs. As a new approach to gammaherpesvirus vaccination, we developed and tested a replication-dead virus (RDV) platform, using murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68), a well-established mouse model for gammaherpesvirus pathogenesis studies and preclinical therapeutic evaluations. We employed codon-shuffling-based complementation to generate revertant-free RDV lacking expression of the essential replication and transactivator protein (RTA) encoded byORF50to arrest viral gene expression early afterde novoinfection. Inoculation with RDV-50.stop exposes the host to intact virion particles and leads to limited lytic gene expression in infected cells. Prime-boost vaccination of mice with RDV-50.stop elicited virus-specific neutralizing antibody and effector T cell responses in the lung and spleen. Vaccination with RDV-50.stop resulted in a near complete abolishment of virus replication in the lung 7 days post-challenge and virus reactivation from spleen 16 days post-challenge with WT MHV68.Ifnar1-/-mice, which lack the type I interferon receptor, exhibit severe disease upon infection with WT MHV68. RDV-50.stop vaccination ofIfnar1-/-mice prevented wasting and mortality upon challenge with WT MHV68. These results demonstrate that prime-boost vaccination with a GHV that is unable to undergo lytic replication offers protection against acute replication, reactivation, and severe disease upon WT virus challenge.

Importance

Gammaherpesviruses establish chronic infections that place a host at life-long risk for the development of lymphoproliferative disorders. While these viruses are endemic within the adult human population, there are currently no FDA-approved vaccines available to prevent acute infection or the later onset of lymphoproliferative disorders. We report here the use of a prime-boost vaccination strategy utilizing replication-dead virus strains to protect mice from acute disease following challenge with WT virus. We demonstrate that vaccination with replication-dead viruses is both safe and effective within immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice, and protects from viral replication, reactivation, and onset of severe disease.
Unveiling multi-drug resistant (MDR) gram negative pathogenic bacteria from poultry chickens in the Noakhali region of Bangladesh
Authors: Munim Md. Adnan , Das Shuvo Chandra , Hossain Md. Murad , Hami Ithmam , Topu Mridul Gope , Gupta Shipan Das
Published: September 2023

Rapidly increasing antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains in Bangladesh’s food and farm animals stem from the excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics. To assess the prevalence of multi drug resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacteria in poultry chicks, we sought to isolate and identify strains carrying antimicrobial resistance genes. Isolation and identification involved biochemical tests,16SrRNA sequencing, and PCR screening of species-specific genes. MDR patterns were evaluated using CLSI guidelines with seventeen antibiotics across twelve classes. Targeted gene sequences were amplified for detection of ESBL, carbapenem, tetracycline, sulfonamide, and colistin resistance genes. Common isolates, such asEscherichia coli,Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus penneri,andEnterobacter hormaechei, exhibited average Multiple Antimicrobial Resistance (MAR) indices of 0.66, 0.76, 0.8, 0.84, and 0.81, 0.76, 0.84, 0.41 for broiler and layer chicken, respectively.Providencia stuartiiandSalmonella enterica, exclusive to broiler samples, had MAR indices of 0.82 and 0.84, respectively. Additional isolatesMorganella morganii,Aeromonasspp., andWohlfahrtiimonas chitiniclasticawere found in layers (Average MAR indices: 0.73, 0.71, and 0.91). Notably,M. morganii, E. hormaechei and W. chitiniclasticawere identified for the first time in Bangladeshi poultry chicken, although their evolution is yet to understand. In this study, Pan-drug resistance was observed in oneP. stuartii(broiler) and oneAeromonasspp. (layer) with a MAR index 1, while all isolates exhibited MAR indices >0.2, indicating MDR. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene screening identifiedblaTEM,blaSHV,tetA, andsul1in a majority of the MDR strains. Interestingly,E. coli(lactose positive and negative) andE. hormaecheiwere exclusively found to possess thetetBgene. In addition,E. coli(lactose negative),Klebsiella pneumoniae,Enterobacter hormaechei,M. morganii, andP. stuartiiwere observed to carry the colistin-resistantmcr1gene, whereassul2was detected inE. coli(lactose positive and negative),E. hormaechei,P. stuartii, andP. penneri. These findings emphasize the health risk of our consumers of both broiler and layer chickens as they have turned to a potent reservoir of various AMR gene carrying MDR and Pan-drug resistant bacteria.
STK25 is an IRF5 kinase that promotes TLR7/8-mediated inflammation
Authors: Rice Matthew R. , Matta Bharati , Wang Loretta , Indukuri Surya , Barnes Betsy J.
Published: September 2023

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) represent a subset of pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) employed by the innate immune system to detect pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and initiate the response to invading microbes. The transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) functions as an important mediator of the inflammatory response downstream of MyD88-dependent TLR activation. While the dysregulation of IRF5 activity has been implicated in the development of several autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis, the factors that modulate TLR-induced IRF5 post-translational modifications (PTMs) are poorly understood. Therefore, the focus of this study was to identify and characterize the role(s) of novel kinases in the regulation of TLR7/8 signaling. We performed a kinome-wide siRNA screen in human THP-1 monocytic cells to identify mediators of TLR7/8-induced TNF-α and IL-6 production. We identified serine/threonine protein kinase 25 (STK25) as a positive regulator of proinflammatory cytokine release in response to TLR7/8 activation in human primary myeloid cells. We determined that STK25 phosphorylates IRF5in vitrovia multiple biochemical assays. Phosphopeptide mapping by mass spectrometry revealed that STK25 phosphorylates IRF5 at a highly conserved residue, Thr265, that leads to the transcriptional activation of IRF5 in HEK293T cells. We determined that STK25 undergoes autophosphorylation in response to a variety of TLR triggers in multiple immune cell types. We demonstrated that R848-induced IRF5 nuclear translocation and proinflammatory cytokine production was significantly attenuated in immune cells fromStk25-deficient mice compared to wild-type. Finally, we determined that STK25 autophosphorylation is increased at steady-state in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from SLE donors compared to healthy controls. Thus, our findings implicate STK25 as an important regulator of TLR7/8 signaling through the modulation of IRF5 activation.

Significance Statement

The transcription factor IRF5 functions as a master regulator of innate and adaptive immunity. While the hyperactivation of IRF5 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the mechanisms leading to the modulation of IRF5 activity are incompletely understood. Here, we conducted a screen of the human kinome to identify IRF5 kinases that function as positive regulators of TLR-induced inflammation. We demonstrate that STK25 directly phosphorylates IRF5 to drive proinflammatory cytokine responses downstream of TLR activation in both human and murine primary immune cells. Altogether, our findings implicate STK25 as a potential therapeutic target for the management of IRF5-mediated immunological disorders.
Modelling stranded wires using homogenization and the Cauer ladder method
Authors: Koester Niels , Pichler Franz , Biro Oszkar
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new method to model a stranded wire efficiently in 3D finite element simulations.

Design/methodology/approach

In this method, the stranded wires are numerically approximated with the Cauer ladder network (CLN) model order reduction method in 2D. This approximates the eddy current effect such as the skin and proximity effect for the whole wire. This is then projected to a mesh which does not include each strand. The 3D fields are efficiently calculated with the CLN method and are projected in the 3D geometry to be used in simulations of electrical components with a current vector potential and a homogenized conductivity at each time step.

Findings

In applications where the stranded wire geometry is known and does not change, this homogenization approach is an efficient and accurate method, which can be used with any stranded wire configuration, homogenized stranded wire mesh and any input signal dependent on time steps or frequencies.

Originality/value

In comparison to other methods, this method has no direct frequency dependency, which makes the method usable in the time domain for an arbitrary input signal. The CLN can also be used to interconnected stranded cables arbitrarily in electrical components.
Pyrit: A finite element based field simulation software written in Python
Authors: Bundschuh Jonas , Ruppert M. Greta , Späck-Leigsnering Yvonne
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the freely available finite element simulation software Pyrit.

Design/methodology/approach

In a first step, the design principles and the objective of the software project are defined. Then, the software’s structure is established: The software is organized in packages for which an overview is given. The structure is based on the typical steps of a simulation workflow, i.e., problem definition, problem-solving and post-processing. State-of-the-art software engineering principles are applied to ensure a high code quality at all times. Finally, the modeling and simulation workflow of Pyrit is demonstrated by three examples.

Findings

Pyrit is a field simulation software based on the finite element method written in Python to solve coupled systems of partial differential equations. It is designed as a modular software that is easily modifiable and extendable. The framework can, therefore, be adapted to various activities, i.e., research, education and industry collaboration.

Research limitations/implications

The focus of Pyrit are static and quasistatic electromagnetic problems as well as (coupled) heat conduction problems. It allows for both time domain and frequency domain simulations.

Originality/value

In research, problem-specific modifications and direct access to the source code of simulation tools are essential. With Pyrit, the authors present a computationally efficient and platform-independent simulation software for various electromagnetic and thermal field problems.
A model for improving the relationship between integrity and work performance
Authors: Konadu Kingsley , Opoku Mensah Abigail , Koomson Samuel , Abraham Ernest Mensah , Amuzu Joshua , Agyapong Joan-Ark Manu
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Senior executives and leaders of public sector institutions (PSIs) are responsible for the development, preservation or restoration of employee integrity (EI). This conceptual paper aims to address the direct impact of EI on work performance (WP). It also explores the interceding effects of job satisfaction (JS) and employee organisational identification (OI) and the context-conditional impact of purposeful leadership (PL).

Design/methodology/approach

This research builds a research framework coupled with suppositions by integrating literature from both theoretical and empirical works in the fields of integrity management, human resource management, performance management and leadership using a systematic literature review approach. Firstly, the authors explicitly express the authors’ list of goals through replicable design. Secondly, the authors find all research papers that would satisfy the requirements for inclusion. Thirdly, the authors evaluate the truthfulness of the results from the incorporated research, and, finally, the authors offer a summary and synthesis of the features and outcomes of the incorporated research.

Findings

This study finds that EI will be favourably linked to WP, and this encouraging connection will be favourably interceded by JS and OI, both independently and together. Also, PL will favourably moderate the EI–JS connection as well as the EI–OI linkage.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides a novel framework for specialists and academics in four multidisciplinary fields for improving the EI and WP of employees using JS and OI as strategic devices. It also considers the conditional influence of PL, which has been underexploited in the academic sphere. Thus, this research sets the stage for forthcoming academics to investigate this research framework empirically in diverse PSIs worldwide.

Practical implications

To guarantee that PSIs draw, grow and preserve workers who symbolise the beliefs of the institution, their leadership must uphold a “values-grounded approach” to all facets of its human resource practises – comprising recruitment, performance appraisals, training, leadership development platforms and promotions.

Social implications

This study reveals the importance of improving integrity in PSIs and the diverse mechanisms through which EI translates into WP. It also highlights the possible benefits that purposeful leaders can offer as well as the problems that they can potentially help mitigate.

Originality/value

This research adds to the sparse literature on the construct of PL within PSIs’ settings and offers a new conceptual model for boosting employee WP through the facilitating roles of JS and OI, both separately and together.
The mediating performance role of staffing options in MNE subsidiary strategies within rapidly deteriorating environments
Authors: Georgopoulos Antonios , Aggelopoulos Eleftherios , Paraschi Elen Paraskevi , Kalogera Maria
Published: September 2023

Purpose

In an environment of intensive global mobility, this study aims to investigate the performance role of staffing choices within diverse MNE subsidiary strategies. Incorporating the integration-responsiveness (IR) framework with a contingency perspective, this study proposes that the performance success of distinct MNE subsidiary strategies depends on staffing choices. This study argues that performance differences of staffing choices such as assigned expatriates, self-initiated expatriates, former inpatriates and host-country nationals derive from their different knowledge/experience advantages regarding the intra-firm environment and local market conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

The study utilizes a unique sample of 169 foreign subsidiaries located in Greece that faced the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic (in 2020). For robustness reasons, this study also captures the imposition of capital controls (in June 2015).

Findings

This study finds important mediating performance effects of a diversified human resource portfolio across distinct subsidiary strategies in difficult times. Integration strategy tends to use more assigned expatriates, locally responsive strategy tends to utilize more host-country nationals, whereas multi-focal strategy favors self-initiated expatriates and former inpatriates, with positive subsidiary performance effects accordingly. So, staffing policies that are suitable to balance the needs of Human Resource Management (HRM) portfolio differ from strategy to strategy. Moreover, this study finds that managing HRM diversity is crucial in turbulent times.

Originality/value

While the empirical evidence has been predominantly accumulated from large economies, largely neglecting performance effects of MNE subsidiary staffing in crisis contexts, the analysis sheds light on a small open economy (i.e. the Greek context) emphasizing rapidly environmental deterioration. The findings extend existing theorizing on international performance and HRM management by providing an integrative conceptual framework linking integration-responsiveness motivated strategies with distinct groups of high-quality human resources under contingency considerations, so creatively synthesizing largely fragmented IB and HRM research streams. The study provides valuable insights into the performance role of non-conventional staffing choices such as self-initiated expatriates and former inpatriates, given that relevant studies examine either exclusively expatriates or compare expatriates with host country nationals, reaching inconclusive results.
The impact of mobile applications on airline ticket purchasing behavior: a quasi-experiment
Authors: Chen Yanhong , Liu Luning , Zhang Zhenyuan
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the causal inferences between mobile application adoption and changes in travelers’ purchasing behavior regarding services supported by the travel and tourism industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a quasi-experiment conducted by an airline, data sets from more than 10,000 travelers were collected, and hypotheses were tested using propensity score matching and difference-in-difference methods.

Findings

Mobile application adoption has a significant positive effect on the total purchasing frequency of services and a significant adverse effect on booking tickets in advance and purchasing frequency from self-owned websites. Besides, this finding also suggested that members or travelers who had high average purchases in the past tend to buy more air tickets on average after mobile application adoption, while the number of days to book tickets in advance and purchase auxiliary services declined after mobile application adoption. However, males purchased more auxiliary services via mobile applications.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on the causal effect of mobile application adoption on purchasing behavior. Nevertheless, the theoretical basis remains relatively weak. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms that cause the changes in purchasing behavior via mobile applications need to be elucidated.

Practical implications

This study enriches the hospitality and tourism literature on mobile application adoptions, multichannel purchasing behavior and revenue management. First, a quasi-experimental design is used to verify a causal relationship between mobile applications’ adoption and travelers’ purchasing behavior in the travel and tourism industry. Second, this study adds to examining travelers’ multichannel purchasing behavior in the travel and tourism industry. Third, this work enriches the current literature that explores auxiliary services and revenue management in the travel industry.

Originality/value

Mobile application adoption significantly impacted the travel and tourism industry. Besides, To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first empirical studies that examined changes in purchasing behavior due to mobile application adoption from the perspective of service type. The findings provide the first evidence of the impact of mobile application adoption on service purchasing in the travel industry.
Organizational resilience as the mediator of relation between brand performance and organizational performance – reflections from the perspective of crisis times
Authors: Zabłocka-Kluczka Anna , Sałamacha Anna Katarzyna
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The role of brand management in contemporary organizations is very important and consistently growing due to the increasingly difficult competitive conditions on the market. Moreover, the significance of organizational resilience in this process should be noticed, especially in the times of emerging crises. In this context, the purpose of this article is to examine the mediating role of organizational resilience in the relation between brand performance and organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to verify the potential relations, empirical studies were conducted in 268 organizations located in Poland. The CAWI method was used in this research, while the companies were selected on the basis of the purposive manner. The reliability of the scales used in the survey was tested and afterwards the mediation model was built, confirming the presumed relationships between the variables. The calculations were made using the PS Imago Pro and Process macro for SPSS ver. 3.4 by Andrew F. Hayes.

Findings

It has been proven that organization's resilience partially mediates the relationship of brand performance and organizational performance.

Research limitations/implications

First of all, the scope of the research covered only Poland, and the obtained results may differ between countries with diversified market characteristics. Second of all, the study was not carried out in a representative manner, it concerned 268 companies that were selected based on the purposive method. Third of all, consideration focused only on one feature – organizational resilience. It would be valuable to include other features to discussion. Finally, the research was conducted in December 2019, so it seems justified to repeat the survey in conditions of modern reality.

Originality/value

This study is the first that showed the relationship between brand performance and organizational resilience and its meaning for organizational performance.
The rise of regenerative hospitality
Authors: Inversini Alessandro , Saul Lionel , Balet Sarah , Schegg Roland
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The concept of “regenerative business” is thriving in current business literature. The present study seeks to contribute to the current academic debate by investigating the nature and scope of regenerative hospitality, here seen as a steppingstone of regenerative tourism.

Design/methodology/approach

Exploratory in nature and with the goal of understating the nature and scope of regenerative hospitality, nineteen semi-structured interviews with academics, consultants and self-proclaimed regenerative hoteliers were conducted.

Findings

Results provide a regenerative hospitality framework to move from the current sustainability paradigm towards local and systemic regenerative approaches in hospitality by applying place and people intelligence.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the current academic debate about the future of travel, particularly focussing on the future of hospitality in relation to the multidisciplinary field of regenerative economy. Particularly, the paper has been designed to contribute to the current discussion in the Journal of Tourism Futures about the transformation and regenerative future of tourism.
The cultural logics of mothering practices: agency capacity of the university-educated Chinese mothers in Singapore and Hong Kong
Authors: Yeung Sin Sin
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study aims to reveal and compare the cultural logics of university-educated Chinese mothers in Singapore and Hong Kong in their mothering practices to improvise their femininities in constituting their work–family interactions.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative research, with the ethnographic elements, has included 32 Chinese mothers to share about their mothering experiences through semi-structured interviews. This methodological design with feminist lens embraces women’s own narratives as sources of knowledge and learns their voices to reinvent their role and bodily engagement in shaping their family dynamics.

Findings

This discussion basically reaffirms the argument where the mother’s involvement in their children’s schoolwork becomes one of the core elements in their actual everyday mothering practices. It has further reflected the dynamics of family quality time in the light of mothers’ cultural logics as much as their attentive agency capacity to present their respectable femininity in the form of mothering.

Research limitations/implications

This research process has revealed the actual experiences of the participants from their own narratives. For future research development, data collection can be extended to include the husbands’ profiles and their narratives in understanding their wives’ mothering experiences.

Originality/value

This discussion enriches the work-family literature by extending it to the Asian Chinese context. While the concepts of cultural capital and habitus have been addressed in previous studies, this discussion highlights the agency capacity of the university-educated Chinese mothers in their cultural logics to deliver their respective mothering practices. This filtering process to transmit cultural capital to their children is as much as they involve in reproducing status boundaries for the family.
Patients with keratinization disorders due to ABCA12 variants showing pityriasis rubra pilaris phenotypes
Authors: Takeichi Takuya , Hamada Takahiro , Yamamoto Mayuko , Ito Yasutoshi , Kawaguchi Aya , Kobashi Haruka , Yoshikawa Takenori , Koga Hiroshi , Ishii Norito , Nakama Takekuni , Muro Yoshinao , Ogi Tomoo , Akiyama Masashi
Published: September 2023

Pathogenic variants in ABCA12 are important causative genetic defects for autosomal recessive congenital ichthyoses (ARCI), which include congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (CIE), harlequin ichthyosis, and lamellar ichthyosis. In addition, pathogenic variants in ABCA12 are known to cause a localized nevoid form of CIE due to recessive mosaicism. We previously reported siblings who carried an ABCA12 variant but did not show a “congenital” phenotype. They were considered to have pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP). Here, we present a further patient with ABCA12 variants whose phenotype was not congenital ichthyosis, in an independent family. Notably, these three patients had geographic unaffected areas. Such areas are not usually found in patients with ARCI who have ABCA12 variants, suggesting mild phenotypes for these patients. Interestingly, the histological features of the ichthyotic lesions in these patients resembled those of PRP. All three patients had homozygous pathogenic missense variants in ABCA12. Our findings expand the phenotypic spectrum of patients with ABCA12 variants.
Diversity of seed storage behavior of tree species from tropical lowland rainforests in Sri Lanka, a global biodiversity hotspot
Authors: Samarasinghe B. R. Chandima P. , Jayasuriya K. M. G. Gehan , Gunaratne A. M. Thilanka A. , Dixon Kingsley W. , Senanayaka Mahesh C.
Published: September 2023

Tropical lowland rainforests are considered to be ecologically important refugia of national and global significance, yet wide‐scale deforestation and degradation of tropical lowland rainforests lead to losses in biodiversity. Seed storage behavior information is required for the effective restoration of these forests. Here, we studied the seed storage behavior of 42 selected tropical lowland rainforest tree species from Sri Lanka with the aim to test the reliability of current experimental methods and predictive models to predict the desiccation sensitivity of seeds. Seed storage behavior was experimentally determined through the 100 seed method and the results were compared with three predictive models; thousand seed weight–moisture content (TSW–MC), seed coat ratio–seed mass (SCR–SM), and phylogenetic affiliation models. Based on the 100 seed method, 28 species were identified as desiccation sensitive and 14 species were identified as desiccation tolerant. Compared to the 100 seed method, the predictability of the SCR–SM model was 70%, whereas the TSW–MC and phylogenetic affiliation models showed 52% and 58% predictability, respectively. Due to its higher predictability, the SCR–SM model has a high potential to be an effective predictive tool of seed storage behavior. This study revealed that tropical lowland rainforests are dominated by trees producing desiccation‐sensitive seeds. Further, species dispersing seeds in the peak rainy season have desiccation‐sensitive seeds, while those dispersing seeds in the normal wet season have desiccation‐tolerant seeds. Another key finding was that 100% of the subcanopy species produce nonorthodox, that is, desiccation‐sensitive seeds, which gradually decrease from subcanopy to understory.
Maternal mortality during war time in Tigray, Ethiopia: A community‐based study
Authors: Legesse Awol Yemane , Teka Tseghay Hale , Abraha Hiluf Ebuy , Fisseha Girmatsion , Ebrahim Mohamedawel Mohamedniguss , Tsadik Mache , Berhe Bereket , Gebrekurstos Gebrehaweria , Ayele Brhane , Gebremeskel Tesfit , Gebremariam Tsega , Hadush Marta Yemane , Hagos Tigist , Gebreziabiher Abreha , Muez Kibrom , Mulugeta Afework , Tesfay Haile , Godefay Hagos
Published: September 2023

Objective

This study seeks to examine the impact of war on maternal mortality following an exacerbation in the dynamics of inequality in maternal health caused by the continuing conflict.

Design

Community‐based cross‐sectional study.

Setting

Tigray region of Northern Ethiopia, between November 2020 and May 2022.

Population

This study surveyed a total of 189 087 households from six of the seven zones of Tigray in 121 tabiyas from 31 districts selected. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used to select the districts and tabiyas.

Methods

The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, reproductive‐age deaths that occurred during the study period were screened. In the second phase, verbal autopsies were conducted at the screened households.

Main Outcome Measures

Maternal mortality ratio level and cause‐specific mortality.

Results

The results of the study showed that the maternal mortality ratio was 840 (95% CI 739–914) per 100 000 live births. Haemorrhage, 107 (42.8%), pregnancy‐induced hypertension, 21 (8.4%), and accidents, 14 (5.6%), were the main causes of mortality. Additionally, 203 (81.2%) of the mothers died outside of a health facility.

Conclusions

This study has shown a higher maternal mortality ratio following the dynamics of the Tigray war, as compared with the pre‐war level of 186/100 000. Furthermore, potentially many of the pregnancy‐related deaths could have been prevented with access to preventive and emergency services. Given the destruction and looting of many facilities, the restoration and improvement of the Tigray health system must take precedence.
Dynamic feature analysis of handwritten electronic signatures based on Fourier transform
Authors: Yang Yang , Han Xingzhou , Qin Da
Published: September 2023

The utilization of handwritten electronic signatures has expanded in various application scenarios, leading to an increased demand for identification. Unlike handwriting signatures, handwritten electronic signatures offer the advantage of extracting dynamic feature data, including writing pressure, velocity, and acceleration. In this study, the Fourier transform was employed to extract 18 characteristics from the time domain and frequency domain of writing pressure, velocity, and acceleration. The experimental findings revealed distinguishable differences between genuine signatures and random forgeries in writing pressure. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in writing velocity and writing acceleration. Moreover, significant differences were detected in most characteristics when comparing genuine signatures with freehand imitation forgeries and tracing imitation forgeries. The canonical discriminant analysis was performed between the genuine and Non‐genuine signatures; the cross‐validation estimated the discriminating power of these characteristics with a satisfactory result. The study proposed a new approach to analyzing handwritten electronic signatures using time‐domain and frequency‐domain characteristics and demonstrated its effectiveness in the examination.